DX LISTENING DIGEST 2002 ARCHIVE HOME presents...
DX LISTENING DIGEST 2002 ARCHIVE, PART 3
NOTE: Since the first three months of 2002 file got so huge, >4 MB we have closed it, and renamed it dxldta02.html where it may still be consulted and searched. Likewise, the file containing the second quarter of 2002 is so huge that it is now closed, renamed dxldtb02.html. This file containing the third quarter of 2002 is also closed and renamed dxldtc02.html. ALSO NOTE: INDIVIDUAL DXLDS, JANUARY-JUNE 2002: On our own website we no longer have individual issues before July 1, 2002, just these massive quarterly archives. Individual issues are, however, still available at DXing.com, indexed here: http://www.dxing.com/dxrold.htm -- and 2001 archive is also there |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-151, September 30, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1149: BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcast Wed 1300 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1149.html ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. On Sunday, 22 September, I heard a very long interval signal, on 18940 around 1430 UT. For a while I kept going back and checking it, expecting that programming would soon start. Then I just left it on as I worked around the house. It just kept going, until the carrier finally went down at 1627. Through the whole two hours, the signal was consistently weak, with very rapid fading. I almost think it was auroral flutter. I think it was an orchestra, with trumpets carrying the melody. It was in the key of E flat. Here`s the melody: [musical notation]. [Let me describe the notation textually: treble clef C ¾, three flats, without giving the length of the notes (tape of it was on WOR 1149): F-F-A-G-E-F-A-G-E-B --- gh] There were many more measures following that, before it repeated, and I think they consisted of soft music, which I couldn`t make out. What a waste of electricity. Whatever country it was from, they must have a lot more oil than we do! (Pete Bentley, NY, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is assumed to be Norway, lacking the usual feed of R. Afghanistan to relay back to that country. Wonder how many days this went on. Perhaps the airtime already paid for, so may as well keep the transmitter on the air... (gh, DXLD) See also TAJIKISTAN ** ALASKA. The FCC has released a public notice showing the grant of a permit for the Aurora Communications International HF station in Alaska. The Site is at 11621 Sterling Highway, Ninilchik, AK 60-06-34 N 151-34-21 W. No Call Letters listed in the notice. The notice also shows the grant of a new HF station to Grace Missionary Baptist Church, apparently at the same location as WTJC. [see USA, WBOH] Report No. IHF-00038 Thursday September 26, 2002 INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY RE: ACTIONS TAKEN The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority. The effective dates of the actions are the dates specified. IHF-C/P-20010521-00004 P NEW AURORA COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. Construction Permit Grant of Authority Date Effective: 09/25/2002 For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. (Donald Wilson, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. Liberty: see UK [non] on R. Atlántico del Sur ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB Australia' s HC100 transmitter is nearing completion at the station' s Research and Development plant in Elkhart, Indiana. It was to be ready for shipping to Wyndham WA about the third week of September. God willing, the transmitter will arrive for installation in Kununurra by 26th November. On-air date is planned for 22nd December, 2002 (HCJB News) It' s not every day an international broadcaster builds a new facility on Australian soil, but in December 2002 we can expect the completion of such a project, in Kununurra WA, where HCJB World Radio will inaugurate he latest phase of its worldwide outreach. Until December 2000, Australian communications law prohibited the use of shortwave for external broadcasts by private organisations; however the Broadcasting Services Act was amended to pave the way for the UK-based Christian Vision to utilise the former Radio Australia site near Darwin, and a license for HCJB has also subsequently been granted. The Kununurra part of stage 1 of the project consists of constructing a transmitter building on an existing HCJB land holding of 200 acres, gifted to the organisation a few years ago. The building will be lined and air conditioned, capable of housing two HC100 transmitters. The first of these has been gifted to HCJB Australia by the parent organisation in the United States, and is scheduled to arrive by November. The transmitter will connect via a switcher device to one of three antennas, each mounted on a 37 metre tower some 300 metres further down the property. The three antennas are aligned to give broadcast signal coverage to those Asian countries that lie at 307º to Kununurra. This includes India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand, a coverage of some sesquigigapeople. Another of the three antenna is directed to the east to cover the South Pacific nations, including New Zealand and Fiji. It is anticipated that two frequencies will be required using antennas pointed along the 307º line, one in the 19 metre band and one in the 16 metre band, to ensure high signal strength coverage. Melbourne is the home of the programming facility. At HCJB' s studios in Kilsyth, programs will be assembled, produced and presented. Upgrading of the facilities there is underway to allow for the amount of programming that will be produced. The planned broadcasts will be five hours to Asia and five hours to the South Pacific daily, plus one hour weekly in the Oromo language to Ethiopia. HCJB is presently researching the delivery means, either a satellite link or wide bandwidth phone link, or even use of the Internet. All is not in place financially at this point: Estimated costs to complete Stage 1 $430,000 Less funds on hand and pledged (180,000) Funding Required $250,000 ("HCJB News" via Craig Seager via Richard Jary, ARDXC via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Clandestine: 3850. I finally received Radio Independent Mekamui, Sep 6, 1054-1112*, music, talk, ID, national anthem (?), and closed. It has been hard to receive because of the heavy QRM from Ham station. Rather poor reception (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Here is the home sked for the Montreal Alouettes: (CJAD Montreal has a 1 watt transmitter for a 26.2 MHz studio link from football games.) ---Regular Season: Sun 29 Sep 4pm EST/2000 UTC [sic - see below] Sun 20 Oct 1pm EST/1700 UTC Sun 30 Oct 1pm EST/probably 1800 UTC ---Post Season: Sun 10 Nov 4pm EST/2100 UTC Sun 17 Nov 4pm EST/2100 UTC Sun 24 Nov TBA Only 3 regular season home games left but the team is in 1st place so the post season sked (Liz Cameron, MARE via DXLD) I see an alarming trend toward calling EDT ``EST``, even tho there be a one-hour difference between them, by definition; not only in DX circles but in general media (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. Here in Europe the nonstop classical Chinese music jammer type is dominating on all jammed 13 mb channels: 21500 0600-0700 jamming RFA Tibetan, usually modest jamming signal 21540 0700-0900 jamming VOA Chinese, very strong jamming signal from two transmitters 21560 1215-1300 jamming Voice of Tibet 21660 1100-1300 jamming BBC Chinese 21690 0300-0700 jamming RFA Chinese and Tibetan, strong jamming signal from two or more transmitters 21705 0700-0900 jamming VOA Chinese, strong jamming signal Usually two or three jammers can be heard on each jammed frequency, two stronger ones and a weaker one. The stronger ones usually have the same programme, while the weaker one normally has a different program. Many jammers are somewhat off frequency, adding an annoying low frequency het to the echo caused by different signal delays. It seems that at least some jammers can switch between the program channels. I have noted 21540 switching from CNR to music just before 0700 and back to CNR just after 0900. The music jamming signal seems to start all over again on top of each hour. Re Xinjiang, DXLD 2-150: Oh, oh, the old eyes are not what they used to. Kyrgyz should be 0330 and 1030. 0530 is when the first transmissions goes off. By the way, on maintenance days XJ transmitters don't go on until 1100 for the evening (local evening) transmissions (Olle Alm, Sweden, 26 Sep 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Some frequency changes for China Radio International via transmitters in Russia: effective from September 1, 2002 via MSK 250 kW / 275 degrees: 2200-2257 English NF 7175, ex 9880 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 24 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non?]. TAIWANESE RADIO HOST CLAIMS HIJACK OF TV BROADCASTS from http://www.abc.net.au A Taiwanese man claims he conducted illegal satellite broadcast hijackings of Chinese television progams. Radio talkshow host Wu Lotien told the China Times Express that he beamed signals to hijack Chinese television programs using equipment installed in Taiwan's mountainous Yangmingshan area. Mr Wu says he wanted to draw media attention to his alleged torture by the former Kuomintang government. He did not hint at any connections with Falun Gong, a religious movement banned in China for being an "evil cult" since July 1999. China's Taiwan Affairs Office says the illegal satellite broadcasters in Taiwan interrupted mainland television programs several times to beam Falun Gong propaganda by breaking codes and cutting into transmissions (via Mike Terry, Sept 26, DXLD) From http://www.channelnewsasia.com/ 27 September 2002 2234 hrs (SST) 1434 hrs (GMT) Taiwan has accused Chinese broadcasters of hijacking its radio station signals, and it has urged Beijing to take quick action to stop them. Earlier in the week, China blamed the Falungong group in Taiwan of hijacking mainland Chinese satellite television signals. It said its programmes were replaced by propaganda material. Taipei now says that Chinese broadcasters had started hijacking the signals of seven Taiwanese commercial stations for more than a year. "We urge China to respect the regulations set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to help maintain normal order of broadcasting operations," the vice chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Chen Min-tong, said. He added, "The benefits and rights of Taiwan's broadcasters and audience should not be undermined." (via MIke Terry, Sept 27, DXLD) CHINA SAYS TAIPEI WAS ORIGIN OF SATELLITE HIJACKS --- From Reuters On Tuesday, China said followers of the spiritual group, banned by Beijing in 1999, had hijacked Chinese satellite signals to disrupt state media broadcasts on September 9 and 21 -- an accusation dismissed as ''far-fetched'' by a Taiwan official. Taiwan and Beijing have been diplomatic and military rivals since they split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Taiwan is viewed by Beijing as a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland. China's state wireless monitoring centre had homed in on interference with state-run SINOSAT satellite coming from Taipei, China Central Television said. ''The source of the interference was confirmed to be situated in a district of Taipei city in Taiwan,'' state-run Xinhua news agency said. ''It was positioned at east longitude 121 degrees, 30 minutes and 33 seconds and at northern latitude 24 degrees, 51 minutes and four seconds,'' Xinhua said. China has said Taiwan must stopping the interference and it slammed Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu -- reviled by Beijing for her pro-independence views -- for voicing support for Falun Gong in the past. Falun Gong supporters have interfered with media broadcasts in China several times in recent months to air their videos. Last week, 15 group members were jailed for hacking into cable television networks this year. The incidents have prompted tighter media controls ahead of a key Communist Party Congress. The congress begins on November 8 and is expected to unveil a new generation of leaders. Falun Gong was banned by China after thousands of followers staged a peaceful demonstration in Beijing to demand recognition of their faith. The group practices a mixture of Taoism, Buddhism, traditional Chinese exercises and its U.S.-based founder's ideas. (Tamora Vidaillet, Beijing newsroom, +8610 6586-5566, ext 207; Fax +8610 8527- 5258, beijing.newsroom+reuters.com) [sic]) (via Mike Terry Sept 26, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6059.97, La Voz de tu Conciencia, back on their regular frequency Sep 23, 0645-1000+, very good strength, excellent audio quality; all Colombian music, announcements and short talks in Spanish. QRM from co-channel Argentina from 0900, but Conciencia dominant. Obviously, the move to 6010 has not taken place (Berg and Green, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) 6010.5, La Voz de tu Conciencia, Sep 24, 0635-1120, now here ex 6060.2 after they solved some problems. It transmits in principle 24 hours a day, but still has some technical problems. The station is very interested in receiving reception reports for evaluation of its signal and to support a request of frequency change to the Ministerio de Comunicaciones. Its address is: Librería Colombia para Cristo; Calle 44 No.13-69, Bogotá D.C. E-mail: rms05001@neutel.com.co Right now there are five LA-stations on 6010: 1) Radio Mil - Mexico. 2) Radio Parinacota - Chile. 3) Em Ciudad Montevideo - Uruguay. 4) LV de tu Conciencia - Colombia. 5) R Inconfidencia, Belo Horizonte - Brazil. No. 1, 2, 4 and 5 were heard Sep 24! (Rodriguez in Conexion Digital, Barrera, Eramo, Green and Slaen, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. NEW RADIO OKAPI SW TRANSMITTERS ALMOST READY Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site on 27 September Chief of Information to the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), David Smith, has told Media Network that if all goes well, Radio Okapi will fire up its three 10 kW Marconi shortwave transmitters in Kinshasa on Monday 30 September, replacing the temporary 100 Watt transmitters that have been in use for the past several months. The site is ready, apart from painting the floors, and installing the air conditioners. Journalists are being shown around the site today (27 September). The shortwave frequencies are 6030, 9550, and 11690 kHz. Radio Okapi's ninth FM transmitter will be installed in Bukavu next week, along with a studio. That facility will hopefully be in on the air by the end of the first week of October. Source: Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site, Hilversum, in English 27 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. R. Prague relay heard on 5696-USB, Sept 27 at 0220 in Spanish, running 10 seconds behind WRMI`s relay of same (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DENMARK [non]. R A D I O D E N M A R K October 27, 2002 - March 29, 2003 UTC Target (primary coverage in brackets) kHz Tx Beam 1230-1255 Far East 12070 K 35 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 80 North America (east), Carribean 18950 S 280 1330-1355 Europe 9590 S 180 South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 80 North America (east + central), Greenland 18950 S 300 1430-1455 Russia, Europe (south east), Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 13800 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 17555 S 300 1530-1555 Middle East (west) 15735 K 120 North America (west), Greenland 17525 S 315 1630-1655 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145 North America (west), Greenland 18950 S 315 1730-1755 Europe 7490 S 180 Russia 9980 K 95 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145 North America (east), Carribean 18950 S 280 1830-1855 Europe 7490 S 180 New Zealand 9980 K 35 Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165 North America (east + central), Greenland 15705 S 300 1930-1955 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180 Africa, Europe (south) 9980 K 165 North America (west), Greenland 13800 S 315 2030-2055 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180 Australia 9980 K 65 2130-2155 Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 7490 K 195 Australia 9510 K 65 2230-2255 Far East 7470 K 40 South America, Canary Islands 7530 S 235 2330-2355 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South America 7530 S 235 South East Asia, Australia (west) 7490 K 80 Far East 9920 K 40 0030-0055 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South East Asia 7490 K 80 0130-0155 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South Asia (India) 7490 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 9945 S 300 0230-0255 North America (east), Carribean 7470 S 280 South Asia (India) 7490 K 95 North America (east + central), Greenland 9590 S 300 0330-0355 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315 Middle East (east) 7490 K 110 Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145 0430-0455 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315 Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 95 Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145 0530-0555 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (north east) 7465 K 140 Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 95 0630-0655 Europe 5945 K 165 Europe, Canary Islands 7180 S 195 Europe (south west), Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 S 220 Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165 0730-0755 Europe 7180 K 165 Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 K 195 0830-0855 Australia, Europe (south west), (South America) 13800 S 235 Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 40 0930-0955 Australia, Europe (south west), South America 13800 S 235 Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 40 Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 18950 K 95 1030-1055 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235 1130-1155 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180 South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235 Address: Radio Danmark, Radioavisen, Rosenorns Allé 22, DK-1999 Frederiksberg C, Denmark RD office telephone: +45 35 20 57 84 (then press '9') - Telefax: +45 35 20 57 81. e-mail: schedule, programme matters: rdk@dr.dk - technical, reports: rdktek@dr.dk The schedule is also available by auto-reply email from: schedule@dr.dk WWW: http://www.dr.dk/rdk or http://www.dr.dk/radiodanmark - including RealAudio 'on demand' of our broadcasts. The two daily news transmissions in Danish only are aired at 1230 and 1830. Transmissions inbetween are repeats. The technical letterbox programme, "Tune In" is heard every second Saturday from 1248 UT until 1748 UT. Transmissions may be cancelled without warning. Radio Denmark shares the Norwegian transmitters with Radio Norway. They broadcast at xx.00-xx.30, followed by Denmark at xx.30-xx.55, 24 hours a day. Stations: Kvitsoy (K) and Sveio (S) each have two 500 kW transmitters. They are located on the Norwegian west coast near Stavanger and Haugesund at 05.27E 59.04N (K) and 05.19E 59.37N (S). Kvitsoy covers the Eastern Globe, while Sveio covers the Western Globe [hemisphere]. Radio Denmark replies complete reports by a QSL-card. Although not necessary, return postage is appreciated (1 IRC, 1 Euro or 1 US dollar). Recordings (incl. RealAudio and MP3 email files) are accepted. Tapes, however, are not returned (via Erik Koie, DR, DXLD) ** FRANCE? Re 25775.1: Phone number 339-912-4132, related to DAB. Has been heard by other U.S. DX-ers and in Finland. Heard French in Denmark Sep 22, 23 and 24 only at 1600-1635 (fade out), but it sounded more like a CB conversation than a broadcast. 25222. I forwarded the problem to our member in France and here is his reply: (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) In France all phone numbers have 10 digits, the two first digits are the area code, but they are part of the phone number, e.g. my number is 04 93 56 73 01, and anywhere you are in France, we must do this 10 digits. All phone numbers are announced with the 10 digits. So the number you gave me 339-912-4514, cannot be a French number. I tried to listen to 25775 kHz, I have a very weak signal with talks in French, but nothing very clear to be correctly understand. The toll free number (075-63241) cannot be a French toll-free number. In France all numbers start with: 01 for Paris and surroundings. 02 for West and St Pierre & Miquelon. 03 for North and East. 04 for South-East. 05 for South-West and French West Indies. 06 for mobile and GSM. 07 NOT IN USE. 08 for special numbers(such as Sex Phone...) and toll free (0800...and 0805...). 09 NOT IN USE. 00 for international access. With the second number you gave me, I tried all combinations with[out] any results. The number 339-912-4514 look like a CANADIAN phone number with the area code first? (Christian Ghibaudo, France, Sep 24, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) The 339 area code is in Massachusetts as we already pointed out (gh) ** FRANCE? There`s another one on 11 meters, 25765 AM heard Sept 24 at 1625 with sports news in English, but since then a 40-second repetition of BBCWS IDs (Alan Roberts, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also here, 25765, Sept 24 at 2045-2100, pirate? With BBCWS timepips for 1700 UTC. Also heard all day Saturday in French, some English, 399 [sic, 339 as others report?] for Boston, but number no good (Ron Trotto, Wagner, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Re: 25760 0830 1030 40 WER 500 90 0 226 1234567 D IBB IBB That looks to be a replacement for 15690 via Wertachtal which currently carries the RFE service to Afghanistan. I note that the current IBB sched now shows a break in transmission for 15690 (1030- 1230 from memory). Perhaps WER 21690 is another replacement for 15690? This service is also on 19010 - seems it will remain and extended timings - and on 21680. I wonder why this latter frequency is registered for Ciraf 27/28 at 0700-0800 and 0900-1100 though! Maybe VOA/RFA should be thinking of trying 11m to escape from the Chinese orchestra? Best 73's (Noel Green, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ICELAND. The Iceland State Broadcasting Service Reykjavik, continues to relay its Domestic Service programs to North America and Europe, principally for mariners. The B-02 schedule is: 1200-1300 15775 13865 1400-1445 15775 13865 1745-1915 13865 12120 2300-2345 13865 12120 (Bob Padula, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Hi Glenn, In the Media Network item about XM Satellite Radio, as quoted by BBCM, the last para is wrong. It should read: "Meanwhile, XM's rival Sirius Satellite Radio is now restricting Web listeners to 20 minutes of streaming before the stream is cut off. This seems to be a desperate attempt to get more subscribers. Unconfirmed press reports suggest that the number of paid-up subscribers is currently as low as 7,000." I made an error, realised it, and corrected immediately. But apparently someone at Caversham was cutting and pasting the old version in the meantime :-( 73, (Andy Sennitt, RN, DXLD) But also corrected subsequently ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non?]. Radio Caroline is being relayed on 7140, first noted September 27th 0905 following a tip off from Noel Green, fair strength and on till at least 1300. Again noted September 28th 0815 tune in, stronger, only occasional shallow fades. Is running 10 seconds ahead of Worldspace. My first thought would be a pirate transmitter but is excellent technical quality and exactly on channel (Mike Barraclough, England, Sept 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Iraq is using a new frequency of 1551.41 kHz presumably to jam Radio Sawa in Iraq [from Kuwait 1548] (Mauno Ritola, Finland, 17.9.2002, Arctic mv-eko via DXLD) ** ITALY [non?]. IRRS on 13840, Sept 27 at 0632 in English, starting with slow classical music, transmitter problems, cutting on and off constantly, mentioning NEXUS (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Time to raise the question again of transmitter site for this, as IRRS is not telling us (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. The B-02 schedule for Radio Korea International shows several new channels, with up to six 250 kW transmitters listed for simultaneous use from the Kimjae site. This reflects the upgrading of capacity there, and a new service directed to Australia and New Zealand is scheduled on 15225, at 0500-1100. Other new channels listed include: 11945 0600-0900 to North America 15155 2000-0100 to China 15205 1200-1400 to Europe 15265 0600-0800 to South America 15335 1000-1300 to South America 17750 2300-0100 to North America 17755 1100-1500 to Asia 17780 2100-0000 to North America 17825 0900-1200 to Europe 17860 0300-0400 to Asia 17870 2200-0000 to Hawaii (Bob Padula, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Kyrgyz Radio 1 : 2300-1800 UTC = 4010 kHz , 4795 kHz, 67,94 MHz, 104,1 MHz. In Kyrgyz, Russian 2304-2330 (Mon-Fri) - Programme "Kabarlar" ("News") in Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, English. 0200-0220 (Mon-Fri) - Programme "Kabarlar" ("News") in Kyrgyz, Russian, English. 1300-1320 (Mon-Fri) - Programme "Kabarlar" ("News") in Kyrgyz, German. Kyrgyz Radio 2 ( Radio XXI vek) : 0000-1800 UTC (Mon-Sat), 0000-1200 (Sun) = 66,38 MHz, 106,9 MHz. In Kyrgyz, Russian 0004-0030 (Mon-Fri) - Programme "Kabarlar" ("News") in Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, English. (Ibragim Rustamov, Tajikistan / Newspaper "KTR-OBO #34/301 23/08/2002) via Klepov, Rus-DX via Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. 17540, United Lao Movement for Democracy Sep 20 *0059- 0110 34433 Lao?, 0059 bell. 0100 with IS and ID. Opening announce. Local music and talk. Thanks for tip from Kenji Hashimoto (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5100, Liberian Communications Network, Totota. Sep 19, 2305-2400*, back on this frequency after a break of four months. Mostly British pop songs. Ann and talk in English was low modulated. Best heard after 2350 until closing announcement and the Liberian National Anthem. 24332 with sporadic utility QRM. It is a good question, if it also is back on the very crowded, nominal frequency of 6100? (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** MALTA. Today received a nice informative booklet from Voice of the Mediterranean. This eight page bimonthly colourful newsletter tells the VOM's new challenges by Managing Director Mr Richard Muscat, listeners letters, program highlights and skeds, station news, etc., etc. Can be obtained from info@vomradio.com 73s (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 6010, R. Mil, Mexico City, Sep 19, light songs, an anti- smoke slogan, TCs, fadeout at 0754, 25432 at best (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) So still on ** MEXICO. Mexico's FMRE celebrates 70 years of IARU membership: The Federación Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores (FMRE), Mexico's IARU member-society, is celebrating 70 years of membership in the International Amateur Radio Union with a special event station. The Mexican Comisión Federal de Telecomunicaciones (COFETEL) has authorized the FMRE to commemorate the occasion using special event call sign 6F1LM from its headquarters station for the rest of 2002. COFETEL also has authorized all Mexican Amateur Radio operators to use the special prefix 6J--which may only be used while contacting DX stations. FMRE President Pedro Mucharraz, XE1PM, congratulated all Mexican operators. "The use of the special prefix will contribute to remember and pay homage to all amateurs who have paved the way for us to enjoy a great hobby," he said (The Daily DX via Carlos Jiménez V., Sept 27, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Radio Central, 3290, from Port Moresby, has been inactive for some time, but returned to the air on September 25 for limited evening services (Bob Padula, Australia, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To advise that we have improved and modified the characteristics of our test transmissions, from Villeta, Paraguay. The frequency 7300 KHZ is now directed towards 40 and 220 degrees, from Magnetic North. This should improve reception chances in Europe and in Australia. We are also testing on 1610 KHZ, using the 125 Metre tall omnidirectional antenna, and beamed towards 184 degrees, from Magnetic North. The frequencies of 7737 and 15185 KHZ have been discontinued, for the moment. [were you ever on 7373 or was that a misprint? -- gh] We will be testing, shortly, on 120 and on 31 Metres. To date, our best results have come from 7300 KHZ, monitored in several different countries, and from 15185 KHZ, monitored in Germany. Test transmissions are on-air, the 24 hours, every day, save for occasional pauses for technical adjustments. Reception reports are most welcome! With best regards from Paraguay! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 28 DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6323.9, Rdif. Comercial (Presumed) 1055 Sept 27 with campo music and seemed to ID as Radio La Voz del Vecino at 1057. Nice signal (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 3172.77, Radio Municipal, 1010-1020 Sept 28, flauta andina, 1022 ID by OM as R. M., into Spanish covers of popular music till 1040 fade out, second ID 1028 (Robert Wilkner, Margate FL, Icom R-75, Ground level antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia on 17645, SIO 323; heard ending their Russian program at 1359, then IS and RUS national anthem at 1400, into ID and info on Voice of Russia World Service (by Carl Watts) then the news with headlines. Sandwiched by QRM from BBC -5, and Radio France Int'l in French +5, making for difficult listening on the Sony 'SW7600G which I was using while walking... nonetheless 17645, at 250 kW from Moscow site, is the best hope for reception in Eastern North America at this hour. (9/29) (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, SWBC via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non?]. Re R. Krishnaloka, 7415v: About one fifth of the population in Ukraine are Russians. Propagation indicate a transmitter location near the eastern border between Ukraine and Russia or in the Moscow area (Anker Petersen, Ed., DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 7530U, R. Hargeisa. Sep 22, 1910-1940. Horn of Africa type music with some interludes of female singer. No sign of reported brief news in English. Strongest signal I have ever had from this station (Charles Jones, Australia, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) Does anybody know if they have increased power above 5 kW ? (DSWCI Ed) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Over a month ago I did a post-release-from-jail Brother Stair radio check. For the first time he offered to send listeners a CD if they call in with a radio check. In the past he`s offered tapes, articles, books. But never a CD. Anyway, in the past I`ve always received whatever free item he was giving away for a radio check. But as of this writing, still no CD! (A radio check is when listeners call in to say what frequency they`re listening on at the moment.) I called his answering machine today to inquire about this, left a message, but no response as of yet (Robert Arthur, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN. 7200, Republic of Sudan Radio, Omdurman, Sep 21, 1730-1900, Arabic language programming. News is heard from circa 1803-1813. Also plays typical Sudanese style music. Positive ID has not yet been heard, but a mention of Sudan and Omdurman seems to indicate it's this station. In England there is a weak co-channel station which sounds Russian - Yakutsk? - and the IRIB interval signal is heard from circa 1858 before opening in Hebrew - Kol David? The Arabic speaker appears to close 1900. Now, Yugoslavia is also heard from about 1857. In Australia strong co-channel NHK in Japanese (Noel Green, UK and Charles Jones, Australia, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Focal Point Hörby --- The History of a Broadcasting Station In 1956 Swedes had the opportunity for the first time to familiarise themselves with a minor wonder - television. The first programmes were broadcast from several temporary stations in Sweden. Hörby became the first permanent TV station in Sweden in 1959 - and is still one of the most important stations in the country. "Today's digital broadcasts are a natural progression of technological development. Colour TV was probably much bigger news for the viewers", says Bengt Meijer, local manager at the radio station in Hörby. The first TV broadcast in colour took place in 1966. Four years later in 1970, regular colour broadcasts were made to households across the country. "It was a small revolution. Imagine being able to watch nature and entertainment programmes in colour! It's hard to imagine how big this must have been out in the cottages" says Bengt Meijer, who has been working at Hörby for 20 years. At the FM/TV station in Hörby they are currently preparing for the future of digital radio and television. Much of the work revolves around making it possible for both analogue and digital systems to work in tandem during the changeover period, which is expected to last several years. Bengt Meijer says one of the biggest digital benefits will be the power savings that will be made. "Transferring from analogue to digital will result in savings in many ways. For example, instead of using a 40kW transmitter like we have today for Channel One we will only need to use 2.5kW with a digital transmitter. We'll get five times as many channels by using a tiny amount of today's power consumption." The station in Hörby was established in 1937, though radio has been transmitted from Hörby as early as 1928, initially at a station at Karlfält, some four kilometres west of the current broadcasting station. The Hörby station lies in the centre of Sweden's most densely populated region, with a large listening and viewing audience. The broadcast coverage extends in principle across the entire province, including large cities such as Malmö and Helsingborg. "In recent years large radio stations have sprung up in these towns and cities in order to ensure complete coverage of these densely populated areas. However, there are still viewers in Malmö and Helsingborg that have their aerials pointed towards Hörby", says Bengt Meijer. Around 20 complimentary slave transmitters at strategic locations make Hörby broadcasting station one of the most important in the country, The Hörby station is unique in as much as it is not only an FM/TV station - of which there are 56 others located throughout the country - but also Sweden's only AM station. What makes Hörby so special are its short-wave transmitters - three of them with an effect of 500 kW. Medium- wave and short-wave are the traditional ways of broadcasting radio to counties abroad. "It is the short-wave station that has made Hörby so unique. Swedish radio has a special department, Radio Sweden International, which broadcasts the programme Radio Sweden via short-wave from Hörby. We are therefore the only station in the country to broadcast that programme." The shortwave transmitters make it possible to broadcast Radio Sweden to large parts of the world, for example Africa, The Far East, North America, South America and of course Europe. The programmes, which are produced by Swedish Radio and broadcast in seven different languages, make it possible for Swedes abroad to catch upon news, culture and sport in the same way as Swedes at home. In Sölvesborg there is a medium-wave transmitter that is operated and administered by the Hörby unit. Together these transmitters work 44 hours a day (Hörby constitutes 33 hours of this total) to broadcast Radio Sweden. (from "Frequencies #14" (an in-house magazine, I think - Alan Roe) via Jack Fitzsimons, Oct World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [and non]: B-02 schedule for Swiss Radio International: French/German/Italian/English to Af 0600-0800 9885 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg 13790 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg 17665 SOT 500 kW / 165 deg English/Italian/German/French to Af 0830-1030 21770 SOT 500 kW / 165 deg Italian/Arabic/English/French to Af/ME 1630-1815 9755 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg 13790 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg 15555 SOT 500 kW / 140 deg Italian/Arabic/English/German/French 1830-2130 9755 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg 13660 GUF 500 kW / 165 deg 15485 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg 17660 GUF 500 kW / 115 deg French/German/Italian/English to SoAm 2200-2400 9885 SOT 500 kW / 230 deg 11660 GUF 500 kW / 170 deg (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. Some changes for Radio Taipei Int. in Russian via WYFR effective from Sep. 23: 0400-0500 on 7355 new transmission 1800-1900 on 17750 deleted WYFR in German to Europe effective from Sep. 23: 0400-0500 on 9985 only and deleted 7355 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 24 via DXLD) As I recall, WYFR has its own Russian at 0300 on 7355 (gh, DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. 801 kHz: IBB monitoring material indicates the reactivation of the Tajik frequency 801 kHz. This frequency was used by a transmitter in Orzu with Moscow Radio 1, until it was closed in the early 1990s. The Geneva Plan limits the power to 200 kW; it is unknown what power was used for Radio 1, or what power will be used after a reactivation now (Bernd Trutenau via MWDX 6.9.2002 via Arctic via DXLD) IBB is conducting tests via Orzu 801 kHz with ca. 500 kW ND at various times. This transmitter was carrying Ostankino Radio 1 until the early 1990s when it was closed. Reportedly the tests consist of relays of VOA in English (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, 18.9.2002, Arctic via DXLD) ** TATARSTAN. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DX Target: Voice of Tatarstan An Exotic Voice from the Republic of Tatarstan By Richard A. D'Angelo The Voice of Tatarstan, or Tatarstan Awazy, provides news and information about events in the Republic of Tatarstan. However, hearing this exotic shortwave broadcaster is not an easy task. Shortwave broadcasts are through facilities located in nearby Samara and broadcast hours are not during prime listening periods in North America and Europe. Direct reception is not possible on shortwave, nevertheless, the Voice of Tatarstan provides an excellent listening target for the DX'er. Before getting into details about the station, let's take a look at the history, the geography, the people, the economy and the current political situation of the Republic of Tatarstan. History The first settlements in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan date back to Paleolithic period (about 100,000 years ago). In the 8th and 9th centuries, the tribes of ancient Bulgars, ancestors of the modern Tatars, began to populate the Volga region. The first state, the Volga-Kama Bulgaria, was set up at the end of the 9th/beginning of the 10th centuries, which was the first feudal state in the northeastern Europe. In 922, Islam was established as a state religion. In the 13th century, the territory of the Volga-Kama Bulgaria was annexed to the Empire of Chenghiz-Khan and then became a part of powerful Zolotaya Orda (Golden Hord) State. The collapse of the Golden Hord in the 14th century resulted in formation of a number of new states including the Kazan Khanate. Kazan became the capital of the newly formed state. Ivan the Terrible conquered the Empire of the Kaza Khanate and incorporated it into the Russian Empire in 1552. The Tatars made numerous attempts to throw off Tsarist rule, they did not succeed. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the Tatar-Bashkir Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was set up within the Russian federation. Geography The official name of the state is the Republic of Tatarstan. The Republic of Tatarstan is located on the eastern frontier of Europe in the middle of the Volga-Basin at the confluence of the Volga and Kama rivers. In the north, it borders Udmurtia, in the west - Mari and Chuvashia, in the east - Bashkkortostan, and in the south - Samara Region with an area of 68,000 square kilometers. The Republic extends some 290 kilometers north to south and 460 kilometers west to east. Tatarstan has no borders with foreign states. The territory of the Republic is a plain, which lies in forest and forest-steppe zone with small hills on the right bank of the Volga and in the southeast of the Republic. Ninety per cent of the territory is 200 meters above sea level. Local fauna is represented by 430 species of vertebrates and hundreds of species of invertebrates. The climate is moderate-continental. Droughts are occasional. Average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -13C, of the warmest (July) +19C. Annual average amount of precipitation is 460-520 mm. The vegetation period is about 170 days. Until 1552 Kazan had been the capital of Kazan Khanate, later it became the capital of Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Today, Kazan is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan. The territory of Kazan City stands at 425 square kilometers populated by about 1.2 million people. The citizens of the capital are representatives of more than 101 nationalities. Kazan in Tatar means cauldron. The name reflects the raging and dynamical history of the city. People The population of Tatarstan is 3.7 million, of which 48% are Tatars and 43% Russians. Only 23% of Tatars live in Tatarstan. The Tatars descends from nomadic tribes that migrated westward from southern Siberia between the 10th and the 13th centuries. The term, Tatar, refers to a people with roots from three main ethnic groups of Turkic origin. The official languages are Tatar and Russian. Since the end of the 7th century, the predominant ethnic group is the Turkic-speaking people. Multicultural contacts with the Russian State influenced both the Tatars and the Russians in cultural, language and other spheres. The Tatars assimilated from the Russians agricultural methods, specific construction methods, certain crafts and many social institutions. Some Russian noble families trace back to Tatar origin. Economy Tatarstan is economically a very important region. Main resources include crude oil, land, and water. The republic possesses high scientific and intellectual potential. Key industries are oil production and petrol chemistry, aircraft industry, mechanical engineering and instrument making. The region produces oil, gas and has many highly developed industries for machine-building products such as heavy trucks and bombers. Its economic and strategic value is possibly the primary reason for the special position of Tatarstan within the Russian Federation. The main wealth of Tatarstan is crude oil. Its biggest oil deposits are the oil fields located in the Southeast and the Northeast of Tatarstan. The first industrial oil deposit was discovered in July 1943; industrial exploitation started in September, 1946. Along with crude oil, gas is extracted. Among other fuel resources, Tatarstan possesses brown and black coal, combustible slates and peat. Kazan is the main economic center of Tatarstan. Thirty-five percent of the population is employed in economic activity concentrated in Kazan. One hundred and fifty-one large and medium-size companies are situated in the city. Main branches of industry are automotive, chemical and petrochemical, light and food industries. About 48% of goods produced in Tatarstan are sold inside the Republic, about 31% are sold in Russia and the remaining 21% are exported. Electronic mass media is developing very quickly in Tatarstan. Sixty- five television companies, radio-stations, electronic systems, video- programs, television information agencies are registered in the Republic. Twenty-three television stations are operating, including five in Kazan. There are thirty radio stations in Tatarstan, 14 of them in Kazan. Current situation The Republic of Tatarstan is a democratic constitutional state associated with the Russian Federation by the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Constitution of the Republic of Tatarstan and Treaty Between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan. Tatarstan became the first of the autonomous republics to adopt a declaration of sovereignty in 1990. However, this declaration was not recognized by the Russian Federation. In 1992, the Tatarstan government organized a referendum on the sovereignty of Tatarstan. Sixty-one percent voted in favor of state sovereignty and adopted its own republican constitution. In 1994, the presidents of Russia and Tatarstan signed a bilateral power-sharing treaty on behalf on the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, respectively. The treaty recognizes extensive self-government rights of Tatarstan, beyond those enjoyed under the Russian Constitution, however, it falls short of recognizing state sovereignty. By 1995, the economy of Tatarstan began to improve and the standard of living in Tatarstan is higher than in other parts of the Russian Federation. The positive developments started in 1995 continue. The special status of the Republic within the Russian Federation is probably one of the reasons for the growing economy in Tatarstan. The republic has actively taken part on behalf of the Russian Federation, in delegations that carried out work for the UN, the Council of Europe and several international organizations. The Station Radio Tatarstan's external service, Voice of Tatarstan ("Tatarstan Awazy"), started on 1st August 1997. The shortwave frequencies are relayed from a high power transmitter at Samara and have been confirmed by various worldwide monitoring observations. The Voice of Tatarstan international service is mostly in the Tatar language. Although programming is mainly in the Tatar language, news bulletins in the Russian language are carried in most weekday broadcasts. A full Russian language broadcast has been carried on Wednesdays during the 3rd transmission and on Thursdays during the 1st and 2nd transmissions. You may be able to identify the station by its Tatar and Russian language identification announcements. In Tatar it is, "Efirda Tatarstan Awazy." In Russian, the identification is, "v efire Golos Tatarstana." The Voice of Tatarstan provides up-to-date information about events taking place in the Republic of Tatarstan. The station broadcasts political and cultural news, literature features, and interviews with prominent people, and folk music. Broadcasts go out three times a day. During the summer transmissions can be heard at 0400-0500 UT on 11,665 kHz beamed to the Far East; 0600-0700 on 9,690 to the Urals, Western Siberia, and CIS; 0800-0900 on 11,925 to the European part of Russia and Northern Europe. During the winter transmissions can be heard at 0500-0600 UT on 15,105 to the Far East; 0700-0800 on 15,105 kHz to the Urals, Western Siberia, and CIS; 0900-1000 on 11,915 kHz to the European part of Russia and Northern Europe. The latter transmission is relayed on 252 kHz for Tatarstan and neighboring regions. The shortwave broadcasts are relayed via the nearby Samara transmitting site but the longwave signal comes from Kazan itself. The Voice of Tatarstan is a very good verifier of listener reception reports. For a brief period of time after the events of September 11, 2001, the station was reluctant to receive postal mail. However, things are returning to normal so postal mail is once again being accepted from overseas listeners. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds, the station asks its listeners to help compensate the costs of printing and the mailing of QSL cards. The return postage requirement is a modest one IRC for Russia and CIS states, and two IRCs (or US$1.00) for the rest of the world. Alternatively, listeners in Russia may send mint stamps (3 x postage price of ordinary internal letter). English language reports can be sent to Ildus Ibatullin, the QSL Manager, at the following address: Voice of Tatarstan, QSL Manager, P. O. Box 134, Kazan, Tatarstan 420136, Russia The station also introduced an honorary diploma. To receive it, applicants must send in 12 correct reports during a year. The diploma costs 2 IRCs for Russia, and 4 IRCs for abroad. Direct your applications to the above address. You will receive an information sheet about the diploma in the QSL response to your first reception report. Remember to send in those Voice of Tatarstan logs to Edwin Southwell for the Shortwave Logbook and those interesting QSL verifications to Mark Hattam for inclusion in the QSL Report column. Good luck with this DX Target (Rich D`Angelo, Oct World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** TIBET. CHINA (Tibet) 9490, China Tibet People's Broadcast Co. Full data prepared card signed by Miss Tse Ring Yuzen, President of Tibet Radio, and stamped with the station seal. They actually took the trouble of modifying my prepared card by pasting their Tibet Radio logo over one of my clipart graphics. It will be interesting to see if they now adopt this version of my card as their own design. Received in 5 weeks for my English language report on their "Holy Tibet" program. Also included was a letter from the show's hostess, Tse Ring Deky, about her background and interests, program schedules, and a postcard (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TURKEY. The Voice of Turkey has this schedule for English services, effective October 27: 0400-0500 6020 to North America and Europe 2300-0000 6020 to North America and Europe 1930-2030 9890 to Europe 2130-2230 9525 to Australia and Asia 2300-0000 9655 to North America and Europe 1330-1430 17690 to Australia and Asia 1330-1430 17815 to Europe (Bob Padula, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. Since Sep 12, I have noticed a strange transmitter problem at the Asgabat frequency of 4930. It is scheduled to sign on at 0100 with the HS2 program, but when the carrier comes on around 0044 with a constant tone, the programme of HS1 can also be heard in AM and USB // to its ordinary frequency of 5015. At 0100 the HS2 program starts on 4930 in AM and USB, but HS1 continues underneath until fade out at 0305. Both are in the Turkmen language. 43443 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Sept 25 via DXLD) ** U A E. Noticed last night that the 0330 UAE English frequency (shown as 15400) was in fact 15395. Came in quite well at my QTH in Eastern PA. The current edition of the Prime Time database shows 15400. Regards, (Richard Cuff, PA, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We had a report not long ago that both were in use one night at this time. So, you never know... (gh, DXLD) ** U A E. Gospel for Asia/Athmee Yathra He in various langs* via DHA 500 kW / 085 deg 1230-1330 on 15590 (45444) 1600-1630 on 11695 (44454) 2330-0130 on 6025 (55444) *Bengali; Hindi; Malayalam; Tamil; Dzonkha; Punjabi; Nepali; Oriya; Marathi; Sinhala; Kannada; Kashmiri (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. RADIO ATLÁNTICO DEL SUR The article in August Contact on the background to the Argentine station Liberty which operated during the Falklands war mentioned the British equivalent Radio Atlántico del Sur. This came on the air on 19th May 1982 at 2300 on 9710 using the Ascension Islands relay transmitter; schedule was 2300-0200 and 0930-1030. The BBC issued this press statement the same day: "The Ministry of Defence this morning contacted the BBC to make available one of the transmitters at the Atlantic relay station at Ascension Island. A letter written on behalf of the Secretary of State for Defence to the Director General required this under the terms of Article 19 of the Licence and Agreement. The BBC will accordingly make a transmitter available to the Ministry of Defence for its own broadcasting purpose." This clause in the then BBC licensing agreement gave the government the right to take over transmitters in times of crisis. Two trade unions at the BBC protested that the takeover was "a gross interference in the independence and editorial freedom of the BBC". The station was operated by Defence Ministry personnel who said the BBC Latin American service was not sufficiently focused on the Falklands conflict; this service was not affected in terms of frequency output by the station but the BBC World Service was. The station had a magazine format and phony record dedications, music with a psywar theme such as Chariots of Fire was regularly heard. The station was subject to front page ridicule in the quality British press; they commented that the announcers were not native Spanish speakers, spoke in a Cambridge educated Chilean accent, the music chosen would not appeal to Argentinean forces and that the station was so obviously phony that it would have no effect. The estimated cost of the operation was 10 to 20 thousand pounds a week. Argentina did jam the station but the jamming was ineffective. Argentina was also jamming the three BBC Latin American service frequencies and the Calling the Falklands programme. The station was well received in the UK and I decided to try sending a report to Radio Atlántico del Sur, Ministry of Defence, Whitehall, London WC1 to see what, response, if any, I would get. I was surprised and pleased to receive a printed card in just 8 days, the first one reported. The card showed radio waves going from the UK to the Falklands with the slogan "Bringing Truth to the Front." I remember making some remarks about my interest in, and the effect of, psychological warfare in conflicts as on the back of the card was the personal message "Thanks you for your letter and helpful comments. If you felt sufficiently strongly it would help our cause if you conveyed the same sentiments to the press. The Times and the Observer have written articles which appear very prejudiced to us. You will appreciate that we cannot reply directly ourselves as MOD employees". Going back to the Liberty station I have some recordings, it could be heard fairly well in the UK but the modulation was not perfect, opening and closing announcement over a lush orchestral version of Yesterday was "I am Liberty and I am speaking to you from the heart of our Malvinas, Georgias and South Sandwich Islands. I am a voice, a spirit, a country. I am now as ever a woman who is proud that the world listens when Argentina speaks". Researched from June and July 1982 issues of Contact and North American Shortwave Association FRENDX as well as my own memories (Mike Barraclough, Oct World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB is currently testing nightly on the new frequency of 5050 kHz. I heard them on Thursday 0000 UT. At the top of the hour I heard the owner (I forget his name) stating that they will be testing nightly on 5050 and eventually replacing 5085. Tuning between the two frequencies, I must say that 5050 has a much better signal with less QRM. The modulation is also much louder up here in Wisconsin. Not sure about any other of their frequencies. Hope you can use this info (Matt Kickbush, KB9WVU, Milwaukee, WI, Sept 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Thursday September 26, 2002 Report No. IHF-00038 RE: ACTIONS TAKEN INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY The Commission, by its International Bureau, took the following actions pursuant to delegated authority. The effective dates of the actions are the dates specified. For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov TTY 202-418- 2555. Construction Permit Date Effective: 09/25/2002 Grant of Authority AURORA COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. NEW IHF-C/P-20010521-00004 P Construction Permit Date Effective: 08/16/2002 Grant of Authority Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. NEW IHF-C/P-20020510-00002 P (via Benn Kobb, DXLD) See also ALASKA and below ** U S A. The FCC has released a public notice showing the grant of a new HF station to Grace Missionary Baptist Church, apparently at the same location as WTJC. Report No. IHF-00038 Thursday September 26, 2002 INTERNATIONAL HIGH FREQUENCY RE: ACTIONS TAKEN IHF-C/P-20020510-00002 P NEW Grace Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. Construction Permit Grant of Authority Date Effective: 08/16/2002 For more information concerning this Notice, contact Tom Polzin at 418-2148; tpolzin@fcc.gov; TTY 202-418-2555. (Donald Wilson, Sept 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I haven't seen this one logged anywhere yet: 5919.93, WBOH? 0226 Sept 30. Contemporary gospel music; // WTJC 9730. FBN web site at http://home.ec.rr.com/fbn/ says they're setting up WBOH 5920 kHz. They're on now. Hard to get excited about a new Bible-thumper, but there they are. Haven't IDed yet, maybe at TOH (Ralph Brandi, NJ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Viz.: FBN is in the midst of setting up the SECOND Shortwave station here in Newport, N.C.. The goal is to reach Central and South America with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in English, Spanish, and Brazilian Languages. WBOH 5920 kHz Worldwide Beacon Of Hope Pix at http://home.ec.rr.com/fbn/Projects.htm (via DXLD) ** U S A. 7490, WJIE Upton KY (presumed); 2106-2118+, 29 Sep; M speaking in Glossalalia? Occasional Hallelujah and I'm pretty sure he mentioned Oxana Bajul and Lulu. Wonder what their Glossalalia service sked is? Different M in Glossalalia at 2137. Sounds like their audio problem has been solved. S10 sig (Harold Frodge, MI, via George Maroti, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. I still haven`t heard Al Weiner`s 17495 kHz. I`ve listened many times for programs that were supposed to be there at a certain time, but never heard a thing. Oh well, maybe the elevation of the beam is such that it puts me right in the middle of the first skip (Pete Bentley, East Aurora NY, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WBCQ ** U S A. QSL report: WCNZ Marco is 1660 kHz - friendly e-mail VL with coverage map and program sked as attachments from Russ Stonier- Hammett GM W6NNP (Paul Ormandy, NZ, Sept 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But: ** U S A. X bander to listen out for, now it's back on full power (from Naples Daily News, Florida): RADIO STATION 1660 AM AT FULL STRENGTH AFTER NEW TRANSMITTER IS INSTALLED Thursday, September 26, 2002 By LAURA LAYDEN Russ Hamnett, the general manager for 1660 AM, is singing a happy tune again. He feels better than he has in months now that his radio station is back to full power. Lightning knocked the station off the air on June 12. The station's owner, All Financial Network Inc., struggled for eight days to get it up and running again. When it finally did, the station ran at only 4,000 watts, instead of the customary 10,000. All Financial Network had to resort to using a 40-year-old transmitter as a back-up, while it worked to repair the transmitter damaged by lightning. When it became clear that the broken transmitter would be too hard to fix, another one had to be ordered. The new transmitter arrived over the weekend. On Monday, an engineer installed it and the station could once again could be heard from Key West to Port Charlotte. For months, the signal only reached from Marco Island to Bonita Springs. "When the chief engineer turned on the new transmitter just before 5 p.m. not only did we get much louder because our signal was 10 times as strong, all of the sudden it was clean, it was crisp," said Hamnett. "It sounded beautiful. It was just the difference between night and day. It was just incredible." The radio station's signal had become much weaker in recent weeks as the old transmitter started to lose some of its juice. "It was fine up until the last two weeks," Hamnett said. "Then we began to notice it was getting bad, and it kept getting worse. It was getting distorted to the point where it was hard to listen to." All Financial Network also owns 1480 AM, which was knocked off the air the same day as 1660. The company was able to get 1480 back on the air quickly by remote control and that station has been on the air without a hitch ever since. It can be heard in Naples, Marco Island, Everglades City and Chokoloskee. The station's call letters [on 1480] were recently changed from WODX to WVOI, standing for Voice of the Islands. It also has a new "Music of Your Life" format, playing tunes from the 1940s, '50s and early '60s. The station was playing music from the '50s to the '80s, and Hamnett says it didn't fit well with the local market. "Our goal is to be Marco Island's radio station," he said. "It appears on the air, at least it sounds to me, as though Marco Island is being neglected as a city that needs a radio station." (via Alan Pennington, UK, Sept 27, DXLD) ** U S A. TWO KILLED WHEN MASSIVE TELEVISION TOWER FALLS IN WESTERN NEBRASKA By Associated Press, 9/25/2002 13:05 HEMINGFORD, Neb. (AP) A 1,965-foot-high TV tower collapsed, killing two workers who were trying to strengthen the structure, which had been taller than the Empire State Building. Three other workers were injured Tuesday, rescue officials said. The cause of the collapse was being investigated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Two of the workers were repairing the roof to a small transmission building at the base of the tower. The three others had been hired to strengthen the tower so it could be equipped for high-definition television transmission, according to the owner, Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises of Rapid City, S.D. ''I happened to glance up and saw the tower toppling over. It looked like the center section kind of leaned out first and the top fell down,'' said Don Jespersen, a 46-year-old farmer who was working in his field about a half mile away. Jerry Dishong, station manager for ABC affiliate KDUH in Scottsbluff, said there was no apparent reason for the collapse, citing clear and calm weather. After the accident, the station could only be viewed by cable subscribers. Killed were Lawrence A. Sukalec, 59, of Valier, Ill., and Daniel E. Goff, 25, of Sesser, Ill. They were on the tower when it collapsed, according to the Box Butte County sheriff's office. Three other workers were taken to a hospital in Alliance. Two were treated and released and the third was listed in good condition. The tower, about 20 miles northwest of Alliance, had been the tallest structure in Nebraska and one of the world's highest. It was more than 500 feet taller than the Sears Tower in Chicago and 700 feet higher than the Empire State Building in New York City. In 1998, eight skydivers from Utah were arrested for trespassing after jumping from the top of the tower. They left a black flag at its top to show they had made it to what they deemed their ''holy grail.'' (via Mike Terry, DXLD) TOWER COLLAPSE IN NEBRASKA: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=36&u_sid=513364 http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=36&u_sid=514487 73, (via Ken Kopp, Sept 29, DXLD) From Jim (at Concept News) Hello I found a picture of that collapsed tower in Hemingford Nebraska at: http://www.ledgeronline.com/artman/publish/index.shtml "This is the top section of the tower (the antenna can just be seen at left). It is lying to the SE. Another section of the tower can be seen in the background lying to the SW, approximately 600 ft. length. The body of a worker was found next to that section, with his safety harness still attached, according to reports. Ledger/Brian Kuhn "It just came down," said Don Jespersen, who was swathing millet 8 miles west and 9 south of Hemingford. "I glanced over at it, and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I've seen people parachuting off that tower twice over the years, the last time a couple of years ago. That was a lot more pleasant thing to see than what I saw today." . . . Sep 27, 2002, 9:23am" (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. From AP September 29, 2002, 2:09 AM EDT WASHINGTON -- Small Internet radio stations should get an extra six months before being forced to pay royalties to the musicians whose songs they are playing, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee says. Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., introduced legislation late Thursday that would delay until April 20 fees set by the U.S. Copyright Office on webcasters this summer. The copyright office decided in June that webcasters have to pay 70 cents per song heard by 1,000 listeners starting October 20. While the recording industry wanted more, many webcasters say that the rate is too high and will put them out of business. Traditional radio broadcasters are exempt from paying the new royalties, which would go to compensate artists and music labels for using their songs. Over-the-air radio stations use a rate based on a percentage of revenue to pay performers and record labels. Internet radio -- either simulcasts of traditional over-the-air radio or Internet-only stations streamed through the Internet to computers – is becoming more popular at offices and homes as people get high-speed computer connections. It is expected to move more into the mainstream as wireless devices proliferate, allowing listeners to tune in while walking or driving. Copyright © 2002, The Associated Press (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** VATICAN CITY: Vatican Radio in Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam/English noted on Sep.25/26 1430-1550 on strange MW freq 1470.0 \\ SW freqs 12065 13765 15235. 73 from Ivo and Angel! (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 27 via DXLD) Here`s apparently why: 15235 minus 13765 equals 1470 (gh, DXLD) ** WALES. Last Sunday marked the 84th anniversary of the first radio message from the United Kingdom being received in Australia. On the 22nd of September 1918, a message of goodwill was sent in Morse code from the Marconi station located near Caernarfon. The callsign was MUU, and the 200-kilowatt transmitter was on 21 kHz, a wavelength of 14,300 metres. The signal was received at Wahroonga near Sydney by Sir Ernest Fisk, an Englishman who had served under Marconi in England. The message of goodwill was published the following day on the front pages of the Australian morning newspapers (RSGB via Mike Terry, Sept 27, DXLD) ** YEMEN. Station list updated using information received from the station: 711 San'a 200 G 0300-1900 760 Alshahr (Mukalla) - G/L 1500-2215 792 Al-Hiswah 100 2 0300-0800, 2 1100-2130 837 San'a 30 2 0300-1700 909 Al-Hudaydah - G/L 1500-2215 1008v San'a 600 G 1400-2215 1071v Taiz 30 G/L 0300-2215 1188 Al-Hiswah - G 0300-2215 Networks: G = General (San'a) prgr, 2 = Second (Aden) prgogram, L = Local programs (approx. 0600-1800). (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Arctic via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. Radio Yugoslavia heard again on shortwave effective from Sep. 21: 1430-1458 D a l i y 11800 130 deg Arabic to ME no txion on Sep.23! 1500-1528 D a l i y 11870 040 deg Russian to RUS 1530-1543 D a l i y 6100 non-dir Hungarian to Eu 1545-1558 D a l i y 6100 130 deg Greek to SoEaEu 1600-1628 D a l i y 9620 310 deg French to WeEu co-ch RL Armenian 1630-1658 D a l i y 9620 310 deg German to WeEu co-ch RL Armenian 1700-1713 D a l i y 6100 180 deg Albanian to SoEaEu 1715-1728 D a l i y 6100 130 deg Bulgarian to SoEaEu 1730-1758 D a l i y 9620 310 deg Italian to WeEu QRM RFE Serbian 9625 1800-1828 D a l i y 6100 040 deg Russian to RUS 1830-1858 D a l i y 6100 310 deg English to WeEu 1900-1928 D a l i y 7200 250 deg Spanish to SoEu co-ch VOIROI Hebrew 1930-1958 Sun - Fri 6100 310 deg Serbian to WeEu 1930-2028 Sat only 6100 310 deg Serbian to WeEu 2000-2028 Sun - Fri 6100 310 deg German to WeEu 2030-2058 D a i l y 6100 310 deg French to WeEu 2100-2128 D a i l y 6100 310 deg Englidh to WeEu 2130-2158 Sun - Fri 7230 100 deg Serbian to AUS 2130-2228 Sat only 7230 100 deg Serbian to AUS 2200-2228 Sun - Fri 7230 100 deg English to AUS 2230-2258 D a i l y 9580 055 deg Chinese to SoEaAs 2300-2328 D a i l y 9680 265 deg Spanish to SoAmWe 2330-2358 Mon - Sat 9580 310 deg Serbian to NoAmEa 2330-0028 Sun only 9580 310 deg Serbian to NoAmEa 0000-0028 Mon - Sat 9580 310 deg English to NoAmEa 0030-0058 D a i l y 9580 310 deg Serbian to NoAmEa relay HS Belgrade 1 0430-0458 D a i l y 9580 325 deg English to NoAmWe 73 from Ivo and Angel! (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 24 via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. After several, months absence, Radio Yugoslavia returned to the air in September, and effective from October 27, there is one daily service to Australia, from 2030-2100, using 7230, in Serbian, which is extended to 2130 on Saturdays. English services are listed for Europe 1930-2000 and 2200-2330 on 6100, 2200-2230 on 6185; 0100-0130 to North America and Europe on 7115; 0200-0230 to North America and Europe on 7130; 1930-2000 to Southern Africa on 9730. The morning Mandarin service to China is 2230-2300 on 9580 (Bob Padula, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ MORE USAGE OF THE NEW 15 METRE BAND FOR B-02 For the B-02 season, there is more activity listed for the new 15 metre international HF band, which runs from 18,000 to 19,020. Here are the official schedules, effective Oct-27-2002 to Mar-30-2003! 18900 BULGARIA R. Sofia, 1100-1600 18910 USA WSHB, S. Carolina, 1600-2000 18920 PAKISTAN R. Pakistan, 0500-0700, 0800-1100 18930 USA WYFR, Florida, 1600-1845 18940 NORWAY R. Norway and R. Denmark 1330-1630 18950 NORWAY R. Norway and R. Denmark 0900-1100, 1600-1800, 1200-1400 18960 SWEDEN R. Sweden, Horby 1130-1600 18970 PAKISTAN R. Pakistan, 0600-0700, 0800-1100 18980 USA WYFR, 1545-1745 19000 BULGARIA R. Bulgaria, 1100-1600 19010 SRI LANKA VOA and RFE, Iranawela, 0100-2000 Some interest interesting DX targets there, as the new band develops (Bob Padula, EDXP Sept 27 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-150, September 26, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1149: ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Fri] (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1149.html AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070, Sun 0630 on 3210 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15039 WORLD OF RADIO on WWCR: You will be losing your 12:00 am Midnight time, Saturday on Transmitter #3 but you will now have 1:00-1:30 am Saturday on Transmitter #3. This will take effect around the first week of Oct. (Tammy, WWCR) I.e. On 5070, UT Sat 0600 replaces 0500 (gh) ** ALASKA. USA - KNLS, Alaska B-02 Sked effective 26 Oct to 23 Nov 2002 0800-0900 9615 English 0900-1000 9615 Russian 1000-1100 9615 Mandarin 1100-1200 9615 Russian 1200-1300 9615 Mandarin 1300-1400 11765 English 1400-1500 9615 Mandarin 1500-1600 9615 Mandarin 1600-1700 9615 Mandarin 1700-1800 7355 Russian (Website via Michael Beesley, World DX Club October 2002 CONTACT Magazine via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. 4950, Radio Nacional, 0015-0035 Sept 24. Noted music until 0025 when man and woman in Portuguese Comments. At 0030 back to music. Signal was poor with QRM (Bolland, Chuck, Clewiston, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So, presumed? ** ARGENTINA. Some additional information about the new postal code system mentioned in this column dated 5/8 2002. This new system is called CPA (Código Postal Argentino). The CPA consists of 1 letter identifying the province, 4 digits (the former postal code), 3 letters identifying the specific area. The CPA has been in use since April 1999 for some companies. Now it is in use nationwide at all levels. However it is said on http://www.correoargentino.com.ar/cpa/ that the 4 digit postal code can be used also in the future and that mail with only the 4 digits will be distributed as before (Thord Knutsson, Sept 25, Arctic via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW OFF-BAND STATION(S). New activity has emerged on 1674 kHz, and reported in the eastern States at various times. It appears that there may be more than one station using this channel, with locations suggested as NSW and QLD. The NSW site is believed to be at or near Emu Plains (EDXP Sept 24 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Dennis Adams, in charge of HCJB ministries in Australia, and David Prosheznik (spelling?) of HCJB's engineering center in Indiana were guests on the program. They talked about the status of their project in Australia. HCJB Australia is about three months away from the start of broadcasting. The site in Australia will have a 100- kW shortwave transmitter, which is in the process of being shipped down in a container from Indiana to Australia. There will be three antennas. They are aiming for a target date of December 22, 2002. This is the culmination of a project that has been in the planning stages for a decade. The location in northwest Australia is good for easily reaching Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Asia in general and the South Pacific; there should be a reach of some 8,000 kilometers. This has the potential to reach 60% of the world's people. They hope to eventually build their own hydro-power plant if the funds become available. Two Australian engineers have been trained at HCJB's engineering center in Elkhart, IN for the last month to become acquainted with the workings of the transmitter. Also, HCJB engineer Don Hastings will go to Australia around October 1st to help with construction of transmission lines, antennas and towers. Another engineer will go there in November, when the transmitter is supposed to arrive, and he will help with its installation. The first week of December, another engineer will oversee the final testing of the transmitter. After the New Year, a retired HCJB engineer will go to Australia, as will John Stanley. HCJB is looking for volunteers with radio engineering backgrounds who would be willing to help get things started during 2003, and who can spend from two weeks to two months in Australia. HCJB Australia will broadcast in English only at first for ten hours each day, with five hours for the South Pacific and five hours for Asia. They plan to add other languages as soon as it is practical to do so; if it is possible to introduce a second transmitter by the end of 2003, that will make this possible, as well as additional English broadcasts. There will be an ISDN line to carry programming from the studios in Melbourne to the transmitter site; later, as more transmitters are added, it will be more cost-effective to replace that with satellite feeds. The HFCC recently granted frequencies for HCJB Australia, and that will include the frequencies that HCJB has already been using to reach the South Pacific. Once the Australian site goes on-line, HCJB will no longer broadcast to the South Pacific directly from Ecuador. For India, they will start on 15130, and then change later in the day to 15135. They will probably QSL from the studios in Melbourne, although the details have yet to be worked out since there is so much else to be done; more will be announced. The ID that will be used on the air will not be "The Voice of the Andes;" the words "HCJB Australia" will be part of it, but the final form of the ID is to be announced later. For more information, one can go to the website at http://hcjb.org Also, one may send an e- mail to HCJB Australia at office@hcjb.org.au (HCJB DX Partyline Sept 21, notes by Marie Lamb for Cumbre DX, via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Bolivia has adopted a new telephone system. The country is now divided in 3 different areas. Thus the departments of La Paz, Oruro and Potosi have trunk code 2, Santa Cruz, Beni and Pando have 3 and Cochabamba, Chuquisaca and Tarija have 4. The new phone number consists of the former trunk code and the former number. An example: (52)40035 now is (02)5240035. (R. F. Aragão, Bolivia, Arctic via Tore Larsson via DXLD) ** CANADA. 1610, CJYI [sic], Montreal QC; 2353-2408+, 23/24-Sep; M in FF w/FF tune! Only hrd Spanish music previous days. ID promo at 2401. Didn't hear call letters but several mentions of Montreal including, "...parlez Francaise Montreal..." [sic]. 2405 continued with Caribe tune. Mainly fair w/QSB, USB helps. Freq seems to be slightly higher than 1610.0. QC #23 (Harold Frodge, 5525 Whitehall St., Midland MI 48642 Midland MI: Drake R8B + 85'/215' RW's, 125 ft. single loop, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Should be CJWI ** CHINA. Xinjiang PBS. Additional frequencies are 9835 in Chinese, obviously the daytime companion of 5960, and 11975, which has Kyrgyz from 0330 and 0530, replacing 7120 and parallel with 9705. As Kyrgyz is spoken in the SW part of Xinjiang, the transmissions may be directional to that area. It appears that 9510 is being used as the daytime companion of 6190 for Mongolian, though not confirmed here. {Correxion: See DXLD 2-151} Re 4750. This frequency houses two different transmitters, one in the east having a very buzzy carrier and carrying CNR-1, and a second one in Qinghai carrying Qinghai PBS with clean carrier and audio (Olle Alm, Sweden, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. FALUN GONG DISRUPTS TV SIGNAL Tue Sep 24,12:01 PM ET By TED ANTHONY, Associated Press Writer BEIJING (AP) - In their most brazen electronic hacking yet, supporters of the outlawed Falun Gong movement have staged a "TV hijacking" by interrupting transmissions on a satellite system that broadcasts to every corner of China, the government asserted Tuesday night. Using its official Xinhua News Agency, the government released an extraordinary 1,100-word dispatch about the latest hacking incident, saying it had traced the illegal transmissions over the Sino Satellite, or Sinosat, system to a pirate broadcast operation in Taipei, Taiwan. "Why do some Falun Gong die-hards dare to blemish modern civilization in such a barefaced manner?" Xinhua said in an accompanying editorial. Falun Gong has made a practice in recent months of hacking into local TV feeds and broadcasts, often broadcasting pirate transmissions to tout the benefits of the group and convince the citizenry that Chinese authorities have treated it unfairly. China says such transmissions have "disrupted the public order" and go against international communications standards. Xinhua said the latest hacking, which it called a "TV hijacking," began Sept. 9 and had affected signals of a service designed to enable remote villages across the country to see broadcasts from China Central Television, or CCTV, the leading government-run network. The television break-ins have embarrassed the government, which calls the protest videos "reactionary propaganda" and says they threaten social stability. In that spirit, China's national news also dedicated three minutes of its newscast Tuesday night to the latest hacking. Officials said they were sure the hacking originated in Taiwan, and called upon its government to help track down the culprits. "We've utilized a wide range of technical means to monitor and analyze the hijacking signals and made an accurate positioning of the hijacking source. Specialists are completely certain," said Liu Lihua, director of the radio bureau of the Ministry of Information Industry. In Taipei, Taiwan's government did not immediately respond to the accusation. The commandeering of the satellite signal also interrupted transmission of the China Education TV Station and some provincial- level TV stations, Xinhua said, and in some cases cut off television entirely for viewers in some rural and mountainous areas. "This seriously damaged the rights and interests of the audience and affected the normal education order of schools and as well as the learning activities of students," Zhang Tianlin, vice president of the education station, was quoted as saying. The dispatch also blamed Li Hongzhi, the U.S.-based spiritual leader of Falun Gong, which the government outlawed in 1999. An official with the Taiwan Affairs Office, which handles relations with the island's government, said Taiwan authorities must track down and punish the hackers. "The Taiwan side is responsible for stopping the criminal activity immediately," said the official, whom Xinhua did not name. Though Taiwan operates as a sovereign nation, Beijing considers it part of China and, indeed, referred to the hacking as originating in "Taiwan province." Last week, 15 people convicted of breaking into a cable television system to show videos protesting China's ban on Falun Gong were sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. The sentences were among the longest yet imposed in the campaign to crush the spiritual movement, which had millions of followers before it was banned. Thousands of Falun Gong followers have been detained. Most are freed after a few months, though a government official told The Associated Press earlier this year that nearly 1,300 had been sentenced to prison. Falun Gong activists abroad say hundreds of supporters have been killed in detention. Chinese officials deny killing detainees but say some have died in hunger strikes or from refusing medical help. The government expends great resources to make sure that Chinese citizens cannot view Falun Gong and other politically sensitive Web sites. It blocks access to such sites through Internet providers and requires Internet café owners to monitor the sites their customers visit. A special police force monitors chat rooms and personal e-mail and erase online content considered undesirable. Internet portals have been warned they will be held responsible for sites they host. In a separate incident, the manager of the Dalai Lama's computer network in Dharmsala, India, alleged that the Chinese government has tried to hack into it repeatedly over the past month with a special virus to steal information. Jigme Tsering, manager of the Tibetan Computer Resource Center, which provides Internet services and manages the network of the Tibetan Buddhist leader's exile government, made his comments late Tuesday evening, and no immediate comment was available from the Chinese government in Beijing. Tsering said that Chinese hackers sent the virus at least twice between late August and Sept. 15. China views the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, as a "splittist" who threatens Beijing's rule over Tibet (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Falun Dafa World Radio, 24 September 2002, 5925 via Vilnius, Lithuania, 2145-2200. Vocals by Man and Woman in Chinese with mentions of Falun Dafa. Music in the background at the end being played on a piano. Listened right up until end of broadcast and the piano music gained some singing by a female with it. At 2200 the broadcast closed. SINO was 5545 overall during the period of listening (DX Dave, Bristol, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA? 6010.26, 19.9 0340, unID Spanish with mainly "light" music with Christian touch. Too weak to read, and later in the morning the frequency was blocked by an English program. Voz de tu Conciencia on air now? QSA 1. JE/RFK (= Jan Edh, Ronny Forslund, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** DENMARK. From yahoo news (a few days old) Mon Sep 16, 6:13 AM ET COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Public radio and television stations resumed broadcasting regular news broadcast on Monday after about 1,200 journalists ended a monthlong strike over wage negotiations. The employees at Danish Broadcasting Corp., known as DR, walked out on Aug. 19 after rejecting a new wage system that would make a large part of each journalists' wage negotiable instead of mandated by a scale. The journalists didn't oppose individual salary talks but demanded that a shop steward take part in the negotiations. "Our members demand solidarity in talks about wages," said Mogens Blicher Bjerregaard, the head of the Danish Union of Journalists. Last week, the DR management accepted their plea and two-thirds of the striking journalists voted over the weekend to resume work on Monday. The strike had forced the broadcaster to cancel most of its news and news-related programs on its two TV channels. However, management staff continued producing a Web site and radio news in shorter versions. The strikers included some 950 employed journalists and more than 200 free-lancers. DR, which is one of Denmark's two big national broadcasting groups, has about 3,300 employees. It runs two television stations and four radio channels. The average pay for a Danish journalist is 33,000 kroner (dlrs 4,350) per month. This compares to an average monthly income of 17,000 kroner (dlrs 2,250) in the Scandinavian nation of 5.3 million people (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB is offering the 1977-F QSL card, which shows an engineer working on the 49-meter transmitter. It may be requested in place of the regular HCJB QSL when you send your reception report. The postal address: DX Party Line ** HCJB ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador. E-mail: dxpl@hcjb.org.ec Reports may also be sent via the HCJB website at: http://hcjb.org/english There are links there for sending a reception report and for the DX Partyline home page, which may also be reached directly at: http://dxpl.hcjb.org (HCJB DX Partyline Sept 21, notes by Marie Lamb for Cumbre DX, via DXLD) See also AUSTRALIA ** EUROPE. Euro's SENSATION AM; 15785.15, 2259-2315+, 23-Sep; M in EE w/not-too-oldies, lite pop tunes. Several IDs and gave PO address. SIO=222/best in USB (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE [non?], 25775.0/AM, Radio France (tentative); 1642-1708+, 23 Sep; Chatty M&W in FF w/EE pop tunes. 1659 tentative "R. France" spot. Same M&W continue in FF w/pop music but now FF tunes. This sounds like the programming usually heard on 162 KHz. SIO=222/raspy buzz QRM and fady, occasional fair peaks. Cleanest in LSB. Barely detectable, if them, @1933. Zilch there @2250 (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I got a message from Wian Stienstra in The Netherlands about the phone number mentioned in the English program on 25775. To put it in short: 33 99 12 41 32 is old Rennes (or Cesson-Sevigne) number before April 1996. Then the French telephone numbers were changed. This number is now 332 99 12 41 32. Wian dialed this number and it went to TDF Research. The guy on the phone knew nothing about these 25 MHz tests and told that development of DAB in France had actually stopped. So the test "program" seems rather old. Many thanks Wian, for excellent info. Back to logs of this station. 25765, Sep 24 tune in at 0850, BBC WS "World Football" program. They passed TOH without any id. Rechecking at about 0950 same program starts again. On 25775 nothing heard. On 25765 I got only LSB and AM. Signal strength was similar to previous days on 25775. Listening again at 1020, the loop seems to be some 30 minutes. Some music in between. Still on as writing this at 1025. RFI was on 25820 with much stronger signal. Yesterday, 24 Sep I checked 25765 at times and until at 1630 they were still running football loop. But at 1644 25765 was silent and instead some music on 25775. At 1646 they popped up again on 25765 and started a short id-ts-news in loop. A BBC WS promo, time signal and some seconds of "World Briefing" program, back to promo etc. At about 1815 signal disappeared. Today, 25 Sep tune in at 0709 the French/English program in loop was again on 25775, both sidebands and carrier. Wonder if this is one transmitter or two different sites? Merlin and/or TDF? Tests for DRM? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 25775: Just to let you know that I logged this station together with Johan Letterstål as early as 020616 with promos for Planete Futuroscope. Will send you the full log when I get home later today. 73 de (Kjell-Ingvar Karlsson, Upplands-Väsby, SWEDEN Sept 24, via Cumbre DX? via DXLD) 25775, Took another listen to this one today and finally got a phone number 339-912-4132. Tried it, but am told it won't go through here as it is toll free for France. Tourist loops for the Cotentin (sic) region of France. Image projection technology museum, interview with novelist who wrote "Regard from Indochina." ID as "Weekend Edition" and mentioning that they are putting out special offers via DAB. Best during the 1900 hour (Hans Johnson, WY? Sep 24, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [non?] This station was heard in Sweden as early as the 16th of June by me and a DX-fellow. As there were many references to Planete Futuroscope, a high-tech fun park in France, an email report was sent. The response: Hello, Thank you very much for your message. As far as we can understand, the radio programme you heard came from a radio in Quebec, or in any other French-speaking country (but not France)! We are not involved in any way in that programme! However, it is very nice that a foreign radio speaks about our park! Best regards, Valérie, Webmaster - contacts@futuroscope.fr PLANETE FUTUROSCOPE, embarquez pour des voyages inédits http://www.planete-futuroscope.com The new info on DXLD seems interesting and would explain the mystery! At one moment I thought of a bad FM-tx where 25775 would be the leaking IF (prior quadrupling it to 103,1 MHz). Yes I know... crazy... 73 de (Johan Letterstål, Saltsjö-Boo, Sept 23, DX homepage (swe): http://user.tninet.se/~zrk946c/dx.html DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very interesting. I was just checking the Futuroscope sites for possible info. Give up now:). Well, they signed off today again at the same time just prior 1800. I'm not sure, but it did look like they were on 25774.5 that time. In the end of the English portion I copied "...339 912 4132 the lines are open...listeners to the DAB system, take advantage of this special offer. Tune in again next week same time, same place." Also French portion mentions "DAB". I recall I saw somewhere an article about DAB used for tourist info at Futuroscope. An old tape played for test purposes? This really sounds more powerful than a TIS station. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Bayerischer Rundfunk 6085: There is no firm decision to shut-down the shortwave transmitter so far, apparently the person behind WB's source was a bit rash. Of course it can only help that this discussion came to our attention. Wertachtal 25760: IBB [to be] on 11 metres after hardly using even 13 metres so far? Quite remarkable (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. Re: ``I believe Samara has been suggested, and various reports indicate somewhere in Russia. I find this a bit hard to believe, given the close ties still between the two countries (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Radio Dat seems to have been broadcast from Lithuania all from the beginning. Obviously they had to replace 9775 because of strong co-channel interference from CNR-2 beaming to the adjacent Xinjiang/Tibet zone from the east - a poor choice of frequency. (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA: Radio Vilnius, 24 September 2002, 5925 via ?, 2205-2206. I left my set on after Falun Dafa [see CHINA non] had finished and, after a few minutes silence from the end of Falun Dafa, came this high pitched noise. I went to turn my set off and just before I pressed the button came an odd-sounding announcement by man in English which said "This is the primary audio circuit of Radio Vilnius". He repeated this once and then the high pitched noise returned. After about 5 seconds the announcement in English by that man ("This is the primary audio circuit of Radio Vilnius") was heard twice more. The transmission then cut out again. Odd. Very odd indeed. SINO 4444 throughout (DXDave, Bristol, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. The former URL of the National Broadcasting Corporation, Nigeria http://www.nbc-ng.org/ now leads to a download of a 0190 dialer (5-6-5-23.exe by download1.0190-dialer.com) Beware! Do not visit this URL if you did not turn off ActiveX in your browser! Then the download would start automatically. I don't know if those dialers can be dangerous in other countries, but in Germany they can lead to a huge telephone bill as they change the dial in number of your internet account... Regards, (Willi Passmann, hard-core-dx and Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NORWAY [and non]. I was really surprised tonight after posting earlier about a carrier on 1314 kHz. Here are the results. 1314 kHz was the best with lively music and man in NN at 0310 KHZ 9/24. At 0402 a woman was in NN (News?). Not bad at all holding its own between 1310-1320 khz with the 4 kHz filter. Deep fades at times. The best I have heard Norway in several years. Norway was producing a signal on the two EWEs and the Eastern Beverage, plus even on the vertical, but it was best on the NNW wire. [Other TA carriers:] 711 kHz was only a carrier causing a het on KIRO- 710. Never did get any audio at several tries at 0320, then at 0330, and again at 0341 9/24. 819 Khz again another het against a domestic, KGNW-820, produced no audio at 0315 9/24. 864 kHz, a good strong carrier at 0318 UTC with bits of music, Southern European?, hard to hear with domestic splatter 9/27. 963 kHz, produced a good strong carrier at 0322. I was hoping for some audio on this, presumed Finland, but no audio showed up 9/24. 1008 kHz, another fairly decent carrier at 0325 9/24. No audio heard. 1017 kHz, a very strong carrier with bits of talk at 0328 9/24. German? Not really producing much audio though. 1053 kHz another fairly weak carrier at 0329 9/24. 1593 kHz another weak carrier in splash. Drake R8 400' NNW mini Beverage (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KAVT Reception Manager, IRCA et al., via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. 7300, 6.9 2237, R. América - USB - QSA2 + QRM. Spanish program with call for several other stations with a common program in the background. I sent a description of the program via e-mail. In return I got a confirmation from Adán Mur - it was indeed Radio América I heard TBV (= Tore B Vik, Norway, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) 15185, 20.9 2220, unID typical American with a country & w estern program. Lots of splash from the surrounding frequencies made in ID impossible. S 1-4 i dep QSB fading. What ? BEFF /Björn Fransson, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) Don`t forget R. Africa, Equatorial Guinea, brokered by Panamerican with American religion, but may fill with such? However, they are never right on 15185.0. Was this? (gh, DXLD) Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Greetings from Paraguay! To advise that we have had excellent results from our testing, on the frequency 7300 KHZ. This frequency serves well our primary region of audience, as well as far afield. We have received reports from our local region (Argentina/Bolívia/Brasil/Paraguay), and from Australia, Canada, Norway and the U.S.A. Tests on other frequencies in the 7 MHZ range were less successful. Tests on 15185 KHZ brought excellent results, from Germany, but was unheard anywhere else. It appears that we should broadcast in German, on this frequency! We hope to be able to test, on 120 and on 31 metres, shortly. Measured average transmission power, on 7300 KHZ, is now 1.6 KW. With best regards. (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA [non]. 7417, 18.9 0455, Radio Krishnaloka sounded like a real radio amateur/pirate transmitter. Religious end of today`s program with www-address and e-mail. S 1-3 and a lot of QRM from WBCQ. Fast answer with e-mail from St Petersburg. BEFF. [later:] Radio Krishnaloka, Russia/Ukraina?- 7417. Personal E-mail in English from Aradhana Priya, who has sent my letter to: Awtozavodskaya str., 6 - 24a, Moscow, Ryssland. SM-1? 2 d. BEFF (= Björn Fransson, SW Bulletin, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** TANZANIA. Since yesterday (23 September) I'm hearing Radio Tanzania on reactivated 7280 kHz. I've not heard it on this frequency for many months, perhaps not since last year. Parallel frequency 5050 continues to be heard. I've yet to confirm the times of operation on 7280 (it was there yesterday lunchtime but had gone by the evening). Regards, Chris in Nairobi Greenway, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET [non non]. DXLD Aug 30 had a schedule for Xizang PBS, Tibet, originally coming from the station. This schedule had its flaws, so I have tried to refine it to better match what is being heard. The result is shown below (DXLD Aug 30, updated by Olle Alm) Tibetan channel: 2250-0735 & 0950-1650 4905, 4920, 6200, 5240, 6130, 6110 2250-0200 7385, 7125 0200-0735 9580, 9490 0950-1650 7385, 9490 Chinese channel: 2000-1730 5935, 6050, 4820 2000-0300 7170 0300-1200 11860 1200-1730 7170 2000-0200 7240 0200-1100 11950 1100-1730 7240 The actual frequency changes take place a few minutes before the hour. Only parts of the transmissions have been confirmed due to propagation. As regards sites, I believe that all are located within Tibet, at Lhasa, but there may be two separate sites as 4905 and 7385 often have a satellite delay compared to the other transmitters of the Tibetan channel. Programming heard in the background of 7385/4905 is synchro with the audio of the Chinese channel, so 7385/4905 and the five transmitters of the Chinese channel seem to form one group, while the other six transmitters of the Tibetan channel form a second group. The now defunct former site using 4750, 5950 and 11950 is likely to have been scrapped. These transmitters were lowpowered and more or less off channel, so may have remained from the early days of broadcasting in Tibet. It has been suggested that the new highpowered Tibetan transmitters would actually be located in Xi'an, but this can safely be ruled out due to the many low frequencies used. When Xizang PBS relays CNR-1 the delay is 6 to 8 seconds compared to other transmitters. Some of the current transmitters are probably directional to east and west Tibet. 15285 has also been reported for Tibet, but I have been unable to confirm this one (Olle Alm, Sweden, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non?]. UNKNOWN LOCATION: Laser Hot Hits, 24 September 2002, 6220 via ?, 2207 - 2210. Very variable quality of reception but good music underneath all the noise. What I could hear of it was very nice. Overall reception was somewhat awful but it did get good at one point. SINO mostly 3422 (variable with 4333 and 2122) (DX Dave, Bristol, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25950/AM, KPM566 Portland OR (presumed); 1943-2001+, 23-Sep; Reggae music. Sig inaudible to good. I've caught an actual KPM566 ID by these folks twice. There hasn't been any pattern to the ID times. Last hrd 7-Apr-02, with an ID! (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) {It is KPM556, corrected subsequently; needs to be right for searching} ** U S A. LYRIC OPERA CUTS RADIO BROADCAST Tue Sep 24, 2:14 PM ET By F.N. D'ALESSIO, Associated Press Writer CHICAGO (AP) - A heartbroken Italian clown and a helmeted soprano with a spear; they're the stereotypes who spell grand opera for many people, and they're both on hand this season at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. But the only people who will hear Johan Botha sob as Canio in "I Pagliacci" or Jane Eaglen give her "Hojotoho!" war-cry as Brunnhilde in "Die Walkure" are audience members in the Civic Opera House. For the first time in nearly 30 years, there will be no live radio broadcasts of Lyric's productions this season. The broadcasts' sponsors, United and American airlines, cited financial losses in informing WFMT-FM that they could not continue this season. "The airlines have been wonderful supporters of the arts in this city, but they are facing extraordinarily difficult times," the Lyric's general director, William Mason, said in announcing the suspension only eight days before the Sept. 21 season opener, the double bill of "I Pagliacci" and "Cavalleria Rusticana." WFMT had been broadcasting opening nights of each Lyric production live in the Chicago area since the early 1970s, and had been sending them out in national and international syndication through its WFMT Fine Arts Network since 1977. At the height of their popularity, the broadcasts were carried by some 800 radio stations and were heard by 3 million to 4 million listeners in 40 countries. The suspension means the only remaining regular live opera on American radio will be the ChevronTexaco broadcasts of New York's Metropolitan Opera, which begin their 63rd year Dec. 7. Those broadcasts are carried on 325 stations in the United States and Canada, and some in other countries, said Met spokesman Peter Clark. The problem is bigger than opera, said Dan Schmidt, president and chief executive officer of Window to The World Communications, Inc., WFMT's corporate parent. "The major American symphony orchestras have one by one left the radio - and lost their recording contracts as well," Schmidt said. "We're not teaching classical music in the schools any more, and the sales of classical CDs have fallen off the table," he said. "But the most important factor is that American performing ensembles now have a price structure that is not in keeping with recording contracts and radio broadcasts." Schmidt said each Lyric broadcast last season cost $50,000 to air "and that's for a local-only opening night." "The national syndication cost another $40,000 per performance," he continued. "Our production costs were only $6,000 or $7,000, and the soloists didn't cost that much. Almost all of the rest went toward royalties and fees - especially the orchestra members and the stagehands." At the same time, he said, advertising revenue for classical performances was shrinking. "For the last several years we were really subsidizing the broadcasts," he said. Since the Lyric has nine productions scheduled this season, the total broadcast cost, by Schmidt's estimate, would be $810,000. Mason said that to restore even local broadcasts, at least $400,000 in additional sponsorship would have to be found, in addition to the $15.5 million Lyric must raise to meet its annual fund-raising goal. "It appears we have priced ourselves out of the broadcast market, at least for the time being," Mason said. The Met broadcasts have been subsidized only by Texaco and its successor, ChevronTexaco, since 1940, but Lyric's have had multiple sponsors since now-retired WFMT general manager Ray Nordstrand began them. Insurance companies, utilities, food companies and retailers took turns. And under the leadership of now-retired CEO Richard J. Franke, the John Nuveen Company investment house underwrote the syndication costs for many years. During much of Nordstrand's tenure with WFMT, which lasted from the 1950s until the early 1990s, the station could charge some of the highest advertising rates in its market area because advertisers wanted to reach the generally well-educated and prosperous classical- music audience. The station even had competition from a commercial classical broadcasting rival, WNIB. But with the graying of the classical audience and the skyrocketing cost of broadcast outlets, the situation changed. "WNIB was recently sold for $165 million," Schmidt said. "Of course they changed the format. You can't recoup costs like that through advertising on a classical station. Say you play a Mahler symphony - you can't put many commercials in there." Schmidt said the Lyric broadcasts became "a philanthropic thing for the advertisers" and one of the first things to be cut when the economy took a downturn. Schmidt, Mason and Nordstrand all agreed that the audience for live opera is growing - just not on the radio. "You can't see action on the radio, and you can't read subtitles," Schmidt said. "It requires great concentration and usually great knowledge of opera to enjoy fully. Full-length opera on the radio has always been a challenge - a very specialized taste." (via yahoonews via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, Sorry for the delay to your inquiry about a VOA program grid. It took me a while to track down the information. VOA English program schedule information is available at the VOA website, although finding it is not especially intuitive. Go to http://www.voanews.com click "About VOA" click "VOA Guide" (along the left margin) click "Adobe PDF version" You now have the VOA Guide just as it is printed. For English to Africa, including "Music Time in Africa," go to page 8. VOA Guide is now published twice a year. The winter 2002/2003 edition will be available soon. Shortcut to VOA Guide is http://www.voa.gov/voaguide.pdf 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SB QST @ ARL $ARLB057 ARLB057 FCC expands Gulf Coast communications emergency ZCZC AG57 QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 57 ARLB057 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT September 25, 2002 To all radio amateurs SB QST ARL ARLB057 FCC expands Gulf Coast communications emergency The FCC has expanded a general communications emergency to include Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, which are threatened by Tropical Storm Isidore. Invoking Section 97.401, the FCC issued a revised declaration that requires amateurs to refrain from using 3873 and 3965 kHz during hours of darkness and 7247 and 7285 kHz during hours of daylight. All frequencies are to be protected plus or minus 3 kHz unless amateurs are taking part in the handling of emergency traffic. The FCC said the communications emergency is effective immediately and will remain in place until rescinded. The declaration could be in place for as long as 14 days, the FCC said. Mississippi Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, and Alabama SM Bill Cleveland, KR4TZ, requested that the FCC protect the net frequencies from interference in the event severe weather strikes. After passing over the western tip of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, Isidore--now a tropical storm--is headed for the US Gulf Coast. For additional information, see ''Hurricane Watch Net, W4EHW, Reactivating'' http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/09/25/1/ . NNNN /EX (ARRL Sept 25 via David Hodgson, TN, DXLD) Glenn: I heard good coverage of the tropical storm by WWL 870 New Orleans around 0800 Sept 26. Many areas of New Orleans flooded, and without power. 73, (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 660 (KTNN) AZ, Window Rock was evidently off, or on greatly reduced power in early September. No sign of it at 2300 [EDT?] 9/8 or 9/9, or at 0600 9/9. Strong with C&W and local dedication at 2255 on 9/11 (Larry Godwin, MT, IRCA via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Between August 31 and September 23, 2002, I realized a DX journey in Venezuela. It was twelve years after my first visit to Venezuela. My first visit to the Dominican Republic {sic} was made as a business trip; thus I did not have enough time to devote myself to monitoring the local broadcasters. The second journey had three objectives: the first was to study the broadcasting circumstances in the western and central region of Venezuela; the second was to visit stations that formerly operated shortwave transmissions; and the third was to visit Cúcuta, the border town of Colombia, where Radio La Voz del Norte broadcast on 4875 kHz until the middle of 1980's. I visited the following cities and broadcasting stations: MARACAIBO: Radio Mara Ritmo 900 (3275 kHz), Radio Popular (4800 kHz), Radio CNB Maracaibo (4860 kHz), Radio Calendario (9530 kHz); CARORA: YVNI Radio Carora (4910 kHz); BARQUISIMETO: Radio Lara (4800 kHz), Radio Tricolor (4820 kHz), Radio Universo (4880 kHz), Radio Juventud (4900 kHz), Radio Barquisimeto (4990 kHz and 9510 kHz); VALERA: Radio Valera (4840 kHz), Radio Turismo (6180 kHz); MERIDA: Radio Universidad de Mérida (3395 kHz), Radio Los Andes (6010 kHz); TOVAR: Radio Occidente (3225 kHz and 9750 kHz), SAN ANTONIO DEL TACHIRA: Radio Frontera (4760 kHz), SAN CRISTOBAL: Radio Tachira (4830 kHz), Ecos del Torbes (4980 kHz and 9640 kHz), Radio Noticias 1060 (ex- Radio San Cristóbal 9610 kHz); BARINAS: Radio Continental (4940 kHz), VALENCIA: La Voz de Carabobo (4780 kHz), CARACAS: Radio Capital (4850 kHz), Radio Venezuela (4890 kHz), Radio Rumbos (4970 kHz and 9660 kHz), Radio Continente (5030 kHz), Radio Mundial (5050 kHz). Unfortunately I could not visit the studios and offices of Radio Nacional de Venezuela, which was located far from the downtown Caracas. Probably I will try to visit it next planning DX journey to Venezuela. During my stay in Venezuela, I made band scans to check over the existence and nature of any broadcasting activity on shortwave. I confirmed that four stations on shortwave in operation: Radio Táchira on 4830 kHz, Radio Amazonas on 4940 kHz, Ecos del Torbes on 4980 kHz and YVTO El Observatorio Naval Juan Manuel Cagigal. There are no other Venezuelan stations regularly on shortwave due to economical reason. Since the middle of the 1990's, many broadcasters abandoned the shortwave transmissions for two main reasons. The first is that commercial broadcasting on shortwave is currently not a prosperous business in Venezuela and it is very expensive to maintain old shortwave transmitters because it is not so easy obtain spare parts. Nevertheless, a couple of commercial stations, located near the border with Colombia, continue to broadcast on shortwave as propaganda for bordering countries. The second is that the gigantic broadcasting networks, which carry the programming produced in Caracas for 24 hours a day, including Circuito Radio Venezuela (CRV), Circuito Radio Caracas Radio (RCR), Circuito Radio Rumbos, Circuito Radio Continente (CRC), AM Center, Unión Radio and Radio Popular, have utilized the satellite broadcasting system since early 1990's. In fact, the satellite broadcasting system can give a wide coverage of all national territory. The detail reports about the old time broadcasters will be published in the future RELAMPAGO DX. TIN (Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, Japan, via Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. Hi Glenn, The German service has re-started. There's online news, and according to the Web site the shortwave service restarted on 23rd September. Schedule is given as 1630 UT on 9620 and 2000 on 6100 KHz. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Sept 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Per your tip the other day, heard Radio Yugoslavia in English on 9580 at *0431-0458* 9/24. Fairly strong signal, tho the audio was a bit muddy/undermodulated. (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, WA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re: ``30960 (15480 x 2), 1709, Sept 22, Nice 2nd harmonic. More listenable then the fundamental, which was audible with lots of QSB. Did not recognize the lang, but heard mention of "Radio Europa" several times. Could this be from the Czech Republic? (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics yahoogroups via DXLD)`` Woofferton-England R Liberty in Belarus? 15480 1700-1900 29 WOF 250 kW 75 degr G IBB IBB (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-149, September 23, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1148: BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcast Wed 1300 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1148.html WORLD OF RADIO 1149: FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 on 17495, 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0600, Sun 0230 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15039 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1149.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1149.html INDIVIDUAL DXLDS, JANUARY-JUNE 2002: On our own website we no longer have individual issues before July 1, 2002, just the massive quarterly archives. Individual issues are, however, still available at DXing.com, indexed here: http://www.dxing.com/dxrold.htm -- and 2001 archive is also there UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL See EL SALVADOR ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. UNIDENTIFIED. Hi everyone, Has anyone any idea or ID on 18940 from 1400 to 1530 UT? There is a continuously played musical theme played over and over again. Thanks, (BW, location unknown, but an AOL subscriber, not Bill Whitacre, Sept 22, swl via DXLD) If not R. Afghanistan relay programming via Norway, maybe they lost their feed? Yes, there it is before and after 1430 UT Sept 23, booming in better than RA ever did. Seemless loop runs about 20 seconds; quite dramatic! No ID or break at 1500. Still going at 1615+ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA [non]. Cland? 7205, R. Ecclésia with music then talks by OM YL in Portuguese, sounded like news, a lengthy speech with continuous talks by OM and YL after a short music break at 1925 Sept 20. An interview at 1940 then with International news. Some folk songs at 1944. Closed with Für Elise. At about 1958 BBC suddenly started on this freq. Signal was S9 +10 at 1910 but with strong QRM from both sides but at 1950 signal was 34223 with AM wide (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Via South Africa ** ARMENIA. Thought that you'd like to know that the VOA is using the Yerevan relay in Armenia, on 4810, 1315-1530 for services in Armenian and other languages of the region. At other times, this transmitter/ frequency is used for regular Radio Yerevan/Voice of Armenia services (Bob Padula, Sept 22, EDXP via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Voice International is changing their web address from http://www.vil.com.au/ to http://www.voice.com.au While the new domain site is still under construction inquiries are redirected to the old domain, and messages using old domain references are still delivered. The new address is: Voice International Ltd., Killick St, Kunda Park, QLD 4556. Voice International broadcasts from the former Radio Australia short wave station at Darwin and plans to establish 24 h Christian based companion programmes in English, Mandarin-Chinese, Hindi and Bahasa Indonesia. These programmes might not necessarily be broadcast on shortwave in full but will be offered to rebroadcasting partners via satellite (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. The HCJB Australian facility plans to commence on Dec. 25, and here is the proposed initial schedule: 0700-1200 11755 25 kW English to CIRAF 51 56 60 62 63 1230-1430 15130 100 kW English to 41 1430-1730 15135 100 kW English to 41 1730-1800 15430 100 kW Oromo to 48 (Bob Padula, EDXP Sep 22 via DXLD) They have a thing about inaugurating stations on Dec 25. I continue to wonder what they will really call it! Neither `HCJB` nor `Voice of the Andes` seems appropriate (gh, DXLD) The new station in Kununurra, will have to come up with a new station ID since it's not under the HCJB banner in Ecuador. How about "This is the World Radio Missionary Fellowship broadcasting from Kununurra, Australia"? If you've been having trouble with hearing HCJB's broadcasts to India in recent months (0200-0330 on 21470), here's some hope for those in India and South Asia: broadcasts from Ecuador will end by the end of the year (around 12/25/02). So will the broadcasts to the South Pacific from Ecuador, currently 0700-1100 on 11755. Both of the current broadcasts from Pifo will be replaced with the broadcasts from a new 100 kW transmitter in Kununurra, Western Australia. There was a discussion about this on this weekend's DX Party Line broadcast where Allen Graham interviewed two engineers involved in the project (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, PA USA, dx_india and Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ANOTHER RADIO ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA - VICTORIA`S VK3ME Two weeks ago here in Wavescan, we honored the 75th anniversary of the launching of Australia`s first international broadcasting service. The experimental shortwave station was VK2ME, the location was Sydney in New South Wales, and the date was September 5,1927. Just two days later, another famous ``first`` was achieved in Australia, and this was the launching of another shortwave broadcasting service with a similar callsign, VK3ME. The location was Braybrook, on the edge of Melbourne in Victoria, and the date was September 7, 1927. Let`s go back now to the beginning of this historic radio venture in Australia`s second largest city. Sydney Newman was an engineer with AWA and in 1921 he established an amateur wireless station at his home in Mont Albert Road, a long suburban street running east from downtown Melbourne. It is the same street where the well known Bob Padula lives today, though Sydney Newman`s suburb was Canterbury and Bob Padula`s suburb is Surrey Hills. From this suburban home, Sydney Newman ran many broadcasts over his wireless station VK3ME, sometimes under his own initiative and sometimes as part of his work with AWA. In 1927, Sydney Newman built a shortwave transmitter which was installed with the mediumwave station 3LO in Braybrook and the callsign was transferred from Newman`s home to the new location. Extensive Morse Code tests were conducted over this new transmitter in preparation for launching a new shortwave broadcasting service. After the mediumwave station 3LO signed off at the end of the broadcast day on September 7, 1927, the shortwave transmitter was fired up for the inaugural live broadcast from the 3LO studios in downtown Melbourne. This programming was also picked up by the BBC station 2LO in London and relayed on mediumwave throughout the British Isles. A regular schedule of weekly broadcasts was inaugurated just two months later. On several occasions, the shortwave programming under the auspices of station VK3ME was transmitted by a higher powered 20 kW unit, the communication transmitter VIY which was located at Ballan, further out along the highway running towards Ballarat. On several important occasions, both VK3LR at Lyndhurst and VK3ME at Ballan were heard with parallel programming, usually the broadcast of an international Test cricket match. The AWA communication station at Ballan contained two shortwave transmitters, VIZ and VIY, for wireless communication with England and North America. This station was officially opened also in the year 1927, just five months ahead of the broadcast unit VK3ME. Shortwave broadcasting from 3LO ended in 1929 when the two mediumwave stations in Melbourne, 3LO & 3AR, were amalgamated and ultimately taken over by the government for incorporation into the nationwide network of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. From that time onwards, all shortwave programming was independently produced in the AWA studios, even though the VK3ME shortwave transmitter was still co- located in the same building as the 3LO mediumwave transmitter. Early in its broadcasting history, station VK3ME introduced several important ``firsts`` in Australian shortwave programming, such as the call of the Kookaburra which was later taken over by VK2ME in Sydney, and later again by Radio Australia. The Melbourne station also introduced station announcements in several different languages, and the call of the famous Victorian bird, the Lyre Bird. Interestingly, the wavelength at VK3ME was described at one stage as ``35 yards`` rather than the metric 32 metres. These days, all of these radio facilities are now gone. Earlier this year, Bob Padula, together with his radio colleague Mike Ogrizek, made a historic visit to the area and this is what Bob states. The AWA communication station at Ballan, or Fiskville as it was sometimes termed, is now a training facility for the Country Fire Authority, CFA, in Victoria. The transmitter hall that housed the three shortwave transmitters is still standing and is part of the visitor centre for the CFA. The receiver station at Rockbank was later in use by the Australian Army, but that is also now closed. These days the property is in an extensive farmland area with nearby housing estates slowly moving out that way. The ABC-AWA transmitter base at Braybrook is now absorbed into a a suburban industrial comeplex. All that remains of the historic twelve year era of AWA-3LO-VK3ME on the air shortwave are references in old radio magazines and modern historical journals, and old QSL cards that sometimes surface on ebay, the internet auction site. The VK3ME QSL cards are somewhat similar to the cards that were issued by the sister station, VK2ME. The Melbourne card shows a map of Australia with sparks emanating from a radio antenna. The Story of Radio VK3ME in Victoria -- Known Frequencies: 9110, 9285, 9370, 9375, 9490, 9500, 9510, 9512, 10100, 10530, 11495, 11560, 11580, 12020 (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 22 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [and non]. So to explain again: There are two 'totally different' organizations with the name RAI: 1 - R Africa International, with 'c' in Africa, is a religious organization, which used to broadcast via DTK T-Systems MediaBroadcast Juelich Germany in past. Subsequently the QSL report should sort under Germany. Radio Africa International via DTK Juelich, 100 kW, English religious program, on 15485 at 1800-1900 UT in A-01 season: United Methodist Church/Radio Africa International in French 0400 0600 Daily 11775/140 deg to Ea & Ce Af 0400 0600 Daily 13810/160 deg to Ce & So Af United Methodist Church/Radio Africa International in English 1700 1900 Daily 13820/145 deg to Ea & Ce Af 1700 1900 Daily 15485/160 deg to Ce & So Af [evidently replaced by 15265; see USA non below] Address: The United Methodist Church, 425 River Side Drive, New York NY 10115, U.S.A. 2 - R Afrika International, with 'k' like in German lang. Is a pan- African language local service in Austrian capital Vienna, which also broadcast weekdays at nighttime via ORF mediumwave transmitter Vienna Bisamberg on 1476 kHz. This broadcaster has also a single SW outlet on 17875 kHz via ORF Moosbrunn relay, was 17895 in B-01 and coming B-02 winter schedule at 1500-1600 UT, according the following entry in A-02 at present: 17875 1430-1600 46-48,52,53,57 MOS 300 180 AUT ORF ORF 1476 R Afrika International via ORF [Vienna Bisamberg] on 1476 kHz 2300-2400 LT [2100-2200 UT in summer], acc to a schedule from the stn. Addr: Heigerleinstr: 7/1-2, A-1160 Vienna, Austria. E-mail: radio.afrikas@sil.at http://www.radioafrika.net (Bjoern Fransson, Sweden, ARC MV-Eko May 14) [late broadcast reported on 5945 too – gh] So, to conclude: the ORF Moosbrunn Austria outlet can never be verified via the NY address of a total different organization. But 17895, now 17875 kHz, should be verified via the Vienna address given above. (wb df5sx) (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. BBS, direct QSL received. I could receive Bhutan from time to time in 1993-94, but only in Nov-Dec. Many years ago I received the blue UN card. Some months ago I visited the BBS webpage and had the idea of sending an E-mail. With it I also sent a scan of the letter I received years ago from Bhutan with their newspaper "Kuensel" from Sangay Agency, which received my 1993 rerport and asked me to subscribe. I did not subscribe (too expensive), but it made good material for "Weltweit Hoeren," the well known German DX magazine. But I never received a QSL. With the E-mail I also sent my cover design for an article about BBS for the German "Radio-Kurier." I never had more fun with a QSL; the only mistake is the wrong date (June 8, 2002), but for me it's one of the finest pieces in my collection (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 3390 kHz, R. Camargo, E-mail QSL "card" in 8 days for E- mail SP rpt and audio clip with clear R. Em. Camargo ID on it. According to AltaVista, enclosed text message says thank you for the report, sorry for the delay, but that they never received my original postal report sent June 15, 2000, and that a QSL is enclosed. They also attached a postcard. Both the QSL and postcard have impressive pictures on them. V/S José Luís García Pastrana. Original message from José Luís is as follows: "Hola amigo John, estamos muy felices de haber recibido su reporte de sintonía, lamentamos no haber recibido su anterior reporte, pero bueno eso ya es historía, esta vez quiero enviarle el QSL de nuestra emisora, mil disculpas por las demoras, también quiero comunicarle que periódicamente le estaré enviando, fotos, música, y otra información de Camargo y de Radio Camargo. Cordiales saludos a la distancia, José Luís." Many thanks to Arnaldo Slaen for opening up this avenue for a Camargo QSL. A trip to the station planned by TIN back in 2000 was canceled due to local road conditions (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer, via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), já está transmitindo, novamente, em 17815 kHz. Seus transmissores foram danificados após uma forte chuva, mas retornaram ao ar. Foram ouvidos, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 20 de setembro, às 2130, com o programa Agenda (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Sept 22 via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. 11940.4, National V. of Cambodia, 1200 Sept 22; the carrier started at 1200 and the program signed on at 1204 suddenly. At 1204 English, at 1217 French, at 1232 Thai, at 1246 Laotian and at 1300 Vietnamese program were started. Each program began with announcement, short talk and most of time local music. Signed off at 1315. Audio quality was bad and not so enjoy its program (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN, Jembatan DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, CKMX, Calgary, Alberta, 0705 Sept 23. The opportunity to DX this 100 watt shortwave relay of CKMX 1060, comes when R. Martí and the Cuban jammer are silent, which is late Sunday nights-Monday mornings. There was another carrier 650 Hz below creating a het, but signal strength from CKMX was fairly good, with S8-9 readings at times. Program consisted of classic light rock and oldies format, with multiple, canned station IDs every few minutes, including this one given at 0730: "Lots and lots of music, lots and lots of your favorites; AM 1060. CKMX" Very good modulation. This station must be designed to serve around a 1000-1500 km radius during the daylight hours, but I'm glad they keep the transmitter going all night (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFAIK, calls are still really CFVP on 6030, tho rarely if ever mentioned. Fortunate that the jammer rests too! (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. The Xinjiang Peoples Broadcasting Station, at Urumqi, recently introduced a 13 MHz channel - 13670. This is used for daytime coverage of the Uighur Network 0300-1230. The highest frequency currently used by CRI/CNR for regular broadcasts is 17890 (Beijing) for CNRI programming 2230-1200. However, jamming transmitters are regularly heard on: 21705 0700-0900 (to spoil VOA Mandarin there (carrying CNR2) (purpose not known!) 21660 1100-1300 (to spoil BBC there) carrying CNR1 21560 0400-0600 (to spoil VOA there) carrying CNR1 21495 0000-0300 (to spoil VOA there) carrying CNR2 Good listening to China! Regards (Bob Padula, Sept 22, EDXP via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Re 2-147, address in ``Pluiston FL 33440`` is actually Clewiston! Right, Chuck? (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO OKAPI JOURNALIST RELEASED Franklin Moliba-Sese, the Radio Okapi journalist arrested in Gbadolite by the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC), was released on Saturday (21 September) on the decision of the prosecutor. He had been accused of revealing confidential military information in a report on child soldiers awaiting demobilisation. The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), which operates Radio Okapi in patnership with the Swiss-based Hirondelle Foundation, says it is delighted at the news. MONUC has repeated its request to the MLC authorities to create conditions enabling journalists to freely carry out their work in safety, and thus contribute to the return of peace in the country. Radio Okapi has thanked the many national and international journalists and human rights organisations who showed their support for Moliba-Sese´s release (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 23 September 2002 via DXLD) With regret, I must admit that numerous other cases we hear about of journalists being mistreated in various countries are seldom mentioned in DXLD. RSF frequently issues condemnations of such actions. This one concerns a SW station, which makes it more relevant (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. DXERS UNLIMITED'S WEEKEND EDITION FOR 21-22 SEPTEMBER 2002 By Arnie Coro radio amateur CO2KK Hello amigos radioaficionados all around the world and in space! Welcome to a special edition of Dxers Unlimited, written just hours after Hurricane Isidore has left the territory of Cuba and is now heading for the Yucatán Península in México. What is so special about this program today, is that this is a first hand account about how amateur radio operators in Cuba, México, Jamaica, Gran Caymán and the United States of América have worked together and continue to provide emergency communications that proved vital for preserving the life of tens of thousands of people in the affected areas struck by the Category II Hurricane. I am Arnaldo, Arnie, Coro, radio amateur CO2KK, and this is an eyewitness report of the way ham radio is capable of providing emergency communications even under the most difficult circumstances, when even highly sophisticated up to date technologies fail for one reason or the other... Even as I am writing this, right next to CO2KK, my amateur radio station, I am still serving as net control station for the Cuban Hurricane Emergency net that is operating on the 40 meter band... Sí amigos, yes my friends, oui mes amis, [da, druzhya??] today, once again I feel real proud of been a radio amateur! And as always at the end of this program, I will provide you with an easy to understand and useful high frequency bands propagation update and forecast, that will also include some comments about 6 meter band DX as we approach the equinox, just a few hours away now!!! Margarita Delgado is my sound engineer and producer, I am Arnie Coro back with you in a few seconds... ..... Arnie get ready, it was a telephone call from the President of the Cuban Federation of Radio Amateurs the 4000 plus members organization that had yours truly as one of its founders way back in the early sixties.. Pedro, CO2RP, had as always, looked ahead and started to organize the hurricane emergency net, from the very early stages of what is known a powerful category III hurricane, Isidore... [ellipses as published] Just to give you an idea how ham radio emergency nets operate, we were getting everything required together when Isidore didn't even had a name, when it was just known by the area weather services as just tropical depression number 10. As soon as I received Pedro's phone call, our Plaza Radio Club started to organize the operators that are well trained and area ready to move at a few minutes notice. This time we had enough leeway to fully charge all our backup batteries, check all the VHF and HF radios, test the antennas, and pack everything . Several days later, on the 18th of September Tropical Storm Isidore was heading towards Cuba and all the radio amateurs that had volunteered to participate in the emergency communications moved to the previously selected locations, from Civil Defense command posts to observation posts right next to water reservoirs that required the water level to be monitored, from the Cuban National Weather Service headquarters to seashore areas that are well known because of previous sea penetration of the low lying coast line. The real action started on the 19th of September as one of Cuba's long range 10 centimeter wavelength weather radar at Punta del Este, in the Isle of Youth , started to pick up the outer bands of tropical storm Isidore, and my good friend Crescencio, affectionally known by his funny nickname Chencho, CO4BM, activated his portable ham radio equipment and began to send to the national weather service headquarters tropical storm position reports every hour... Chencho is a real expert on establishing emergency radio communications even under the most difficult circumstances, something he has demonstrated during previous hurricanes... Other stations in the Isle of Youth manned by Emilio Portillo CO4QS and Juan Bayolo CO4QA kept that island in touch with the main island of Cuba when other services became overloaded with traffic, while Rolando Torres, CO4AT volunteered to fly to the most dangerous operating position of them all, the world famous tourist resort of Cayo Largo island, where the Cuban authorities had already ordered the evacuation of all tourists enjoying their holidays there, and only a small group of tourist ministry, civil aviation and other authorities stays to safeguard the installations. I was at CO2KK my ham radio station monitoring the traffic and felt really proud of how we, the amateur radio operators, were able to provide such efficient emergency communications, that in the case of the Cuban Instituto de Meteorología, the national weather service, the nation's top weather expert, my good friend Dr. José Rubiera, praised on national TV, the work done by amateur radio stations in order to provide the most update and extremely valuable weather data, include the links that fed the radar data to the national forecasting center... My good friend Chencho, CO4BM, was obviously in the mind of Dr. Rubiera, as well as CO1JF, José Luís Febles, how was in charge of the La Bajada long range radar that later during the path of Hurricane Isidore proved to be so important for doing accurate forecasts... So far all amateurs I have mentioned have a CO prefix callsign, indicating that they are holders of first class licences issued by the Cuban telecommunications authorities, so you could expect a lot from them regarding their know-how... But now let me tell you several CM and CL stations, holders of intermediate and novice licenses have also proven to be top notch emergency operators. Joel CL2ME, a very young radio amateur, was deployed at a remote fishing village in Pinar del Rio. When Joel arrived to Puerto Cortés, the sea was just starting to show the storm's fury, but he was really shocked when on the evening of the 20th of September as Hurricane's Isidore full blast was smashing the extreme western part of Cuba, Joel had to suddenly start running for his life, when the sea began to move backwards due to the tremendous vacuum exerted by the hurricane's forces. We islanders know very well, from the days of the Santa Cruz del Sur disaster in 1932, that when the sea starts moving away from the coast line, that's the moment to start running as fast as possible away from the shore, and Joel, our young radio amateur was operating from just a few meters from the coast... Fortunately, he could return to the place where he had installed the station after a few hours, and he was back on the air providing up to date weather data and information about the damages, as requested by the administrative authorities that were in charge of taking care for the health and welfare of the population... More about Hurricane's Isidore path over Cuba after this short musical interval... ........ You are listening to Radio Havana Cuba, the name of the show is DXers Unlimited, I am Arnie Coro and this is a special eyewitness report of how amateur radio has provided emergency communications all along the path ofHurricane Isidore, now heading towards the coast of the Yucatán Península in México... Now let me tell you how efficiently we coordinated our efforts with amateur radio stations in the United States of América and in México... W4EHW is the ham station located at the National Hurricane Center in South Florida and they established contact with the Cuban Hurricane Emergency Net, to learn about the path of the hurricane and obtain weather data, from weather stations and from the Cuban network of long range high power meteorological radars, just recently upgraded and upgraded by a group of young engineers that saved our nation a lot of foreign currency with their extraordinary work, I recently ran a piece on my Breakthrough science and technology program about how the network of seven high power radars had gone trough this modernization program, that proved to be of such tremendous value during this hurricane. W4EHW operators kept listening on our emergency frequency of 7090 kiloHertz, picking up the weather data, and also providing information that they had obtained via satellite... One interesting aspect of this hurricane emergency is that for the first time ever the Cuban weather service had its own amateur radio station on the air from the national headquarters in Casablanca, callsign CO9BNA, operated by Carlos CM2JC, a young Cuban amateur that has two hobbies that complement very well with each other, Carlitos CM2JC is not only a good ham radio operator, he happens to be also a very enthusiastic amateur meteorologist, and he is the net control of our HURACAN net that meets every Saturday morning on the 40 meter band to learn more about meteorology... So as you may realize, Carlos was really happy for having being appointed as the chief operator of CO9BNA, and he has done a terrific job, and is still there at the Casablanca site Saturday afternoon, when I am writing this script of this program... Now one final comment, as always we all have learned a lot during this emergency, among other things the importance of taking with each portable station, and installing an in line standing wave ratio meter, to constantly monitor the SWR of the antenna... In Ciudad Sandino, we lost one nice transceiver's final output stage when the antenna broke during a wind gust that exceeded the 110 mile and hour mark ... The operator was not aware of the antenna breaking down, and a few minutes later...pooof !!! No more output transistors !!! As I am writing the ending paragraph of this script at 2 o`clock in the afternoon local time in Havana, the emergency communications nets are still in operation, and we are waiting for the Mexican emergency nets to be activated, as all the available data indicates that Hurricane Isidore will be delivering a devastating blow to South East México as it is now a Category III Hurricane in the Saffir Simpson scale that goes up to 5.... So far no loss of life has been reported in Cuba, but damages are very extensive in the Isle of Youth and in the westernmost province of Pinar del Rio... I will provide you with more information about amateur radio and the hurricanes during the mid week edition of DXers Unlimited... And now a very short HF propagation update and forecast... Solar activity is rather stable, with the daily sunspot number growing to 237 and the effective sunspot number reaching 120, an excellent figure that indicates the possibility of nice 10, 12 and 15 meter band openings during the next few days, and that also may lead to 6 meter openings on the South to North paths... See you soon on the radio again, and now after taping the program, I am going back to serve as net control operator of the Cuban hurricane emergency net from CO2KK (via Bob Chandler, ODXA via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. As a comment to 2-148 concerning Radio Sawa from Cyprus and the problem not being able to hear the station in most parts of Europe just this: "Both the current RFI/RMCME antenna and the original one now in use by IBB have patterns with deep minima at ~320 degrees, which may make them difficult to monitor in Europe." [DXLD 2-138] Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So the 320 degree null passes near Istanbul, across Bulgaria, central Europe, Prague, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Goose Bay, Detroit, Austin... (National Geographic Globe with geometer via gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. See AUSTRALIA ** EL SALVADOR. Re R. Imperial: Hi all, the origin of all this can be found in DXLD 2-057, April 7, 2002, retrievable at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtb02.html (towards the very end). Following the assumption that there was a high order harmonic of Radio Imperial on the 16 meter band, as suggested by Björn Malm et. al., I sent an email request to our DXing collegue Humberto Molina, in El Salvador, asking him to investigate the info contained in Luis Palau´s internet site (listed by Willi and also in my original correspondence with Humberto). The original exchange of messages was in Spanish, and so some of you might not have followed the whole line of ideas exposed therein. Humberto got in touch with the station on the phone and was then in a position to verify that the 16 meter band frequency was in fact intentionally used by Radio Imperial, albeit only occasionally. When hearing the station recently, and although he was pretty certain about the ID, George Maroti, as a gesture of courtesy, I suppose - recognizing perhaps my previous research - sent me two clips via the internet in order have my opinion as to the identity of the station. I was happy to confirm the ID, just as the point where George had it, too, and now I believe Humberto Molina is helping him out with a QSL after providing the station with a CD recording. So the morale of all this is: Do not forget to check DXLD, where info sometimes is way ahead of other publications (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17833.30, Radio Imperial, 2348-0010 Sept 20-21. Bit of musical selections heard with some talk in Spanish but too noisy to get much else otherwise. Still there at 0010 with not much better signal. 0040 het but no audio to speak of with QRM from 17835 (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Radio Imperial, 17833.2, presumed the one 1620+ GMT today, weak audio as usual w/ SP vocals (Terry L. Krueger, FL, Sept 22, hard-core-dx via DXLD) They're fading in and out here tonight, playing accordion music. When they're good, they're good, but they're only good about 25% of the time here. I'm hearing them on about .24, though (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Re RVOG/ETLF item in 2-147: It is a very remarkable fact that the archives of RVOG survived some 25 years after the 1977 nationalisation of the station. It should be very interesting to read the DXer's dissertation (off course beside my own which unfortunately is in German only and not in print any more). In 1989, I bought a book of Manfred Lundgren who once led the station. Lundgren. Manfred: Proclaiming Christ to His World. The Experience of Radio Voice of the Gospel 1957-1977, Geneva: Lutheran World Federation, (about) 1983/1984. On a footnote on the "evangelical" nature of the station, I would like to add that the station of the Lutheran World Federation was in fact very ecumenical. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church used the station for domestic broadcasting, and also Catholic broadcasters were involved in some programmes. By principle the international broadcasts (excluding those to China) were produced and transmitted in the responsibility of church councils in the target areas thus giving national indigenous churches a voice that they would not have had otherwise. A revolution in international Christian broadcasting was the 30:70 philosophy devoting the majority of the programme content to items of general interest. The independent news service of the station was an improvement compared to the situation in many of the target areas and the international government voices caught up in the East-West Cold war. One might object to the mission idea, but should still distinguish US-American "evangelical" broadcasting from European based Protestant concepts. Kind regards, (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Hi Glenn, In DXLD-2148 you wrote: "Previous reports implied but did not state explicitly that the weekly Capital Weekend English hour has been cancelled already." In fact, we published an item on 2 September, which I believe you quoted in DXLD. I did intend it to mean that there were no Sunday transmissions, but I realise from re-reading it that the wording could have been better. I will attempt to be more explicit in the future :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Media Network, DXLD) ** FRANCE. 25775.1 unID/Radio Neige. 2025-2105 Sept 21. Initially heard Eric with Peggy Thompson with excerpt of IndoChina series by Galleo [sic] Publishers, gave the 339-912-4132 phone number, with a promotion for DAB Systems. Followed with music by Rolling Stones, The Who and Pink Floyd. Into French Program with one segment talking about credit cards protection (2101). Traffic underneath sounded like CB out-of banders? Signal was fair to excellent at times. I found an old article that was posted in DX Ontario September 1995 by Alan Roberts, who did an excellent account about this service and the different outlets used (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Except we have no indication this is R. Neige, defunct ski lift stations: check something more recent than 1995. If 339 is a North American area code, it`s in Massachusetts (gh, DXLD) [see below] 25775.1, UNID, 1517 Sept 22. Noted male and female in French with possible ID at 1513. EE at 1517 with same male and female announcers. Above and below noise floor and difficult to get a complete sentence, female with what sounded like a phone number at 1521. Continuous EE at this time slot but near noise floor. During same time frame, while on line mIRC chat line, a gent in Durban S. Africa and one in Norway could not get a copy. 1530 playing Rolling Stones tune. Then, The Who, The best I ever had at 1535. S meter staying at '0' but some audio makes it thru. Def Leopard tune at 1539. Male announcers in French with short comment then back to more music. French tune, 1544. Male announcer in French with brief comment with mention of Paris, 1547 and then to another French tune. S meter on occasion slips up to S2 (Bob Montgomery, Levittown PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I'm listening it at 1623 UT in south Italy (Roberto Scaglione, ibid.) Into TN with good level on the peaks from 1650-1750. The program is on a loop. Thought I caught a R France ID. This obviously is an 11 meter test transmission presumably from RFI. 73, (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Heard here as well up and down since 1715, only peaks on the songs so far (Hans Johnson, WY?, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) French TIS 25775: Thanks to a tip in DXLD and #swl, I tried 25775 AM on 22 Sep at 1710 and this station was audible in English with fading signal. Little by little reception improved and was rather strong at about 1755 when they seemingly signed off. The program was just the same as described in DXLD 2-148. Peggy Thompson and Eric with traveller tips of Lower Normandy etc., Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin music. French at 1730 and English again at about 1750. And on 23 Sep at 1150 nice signal in French and at 1159 in English Same loop tape again. No ID-like heard at least in the English portion (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I`m a bit surprised this is being heard so `close` in Finland and Italy, if it really be in France (gh, DXLD) At 1839 Sept 21 they gave a phone number starting with 075; later on a 339-912-4132 [but read further--JB] phone number was mentioned twice (if US, near you, JB). Features on the image technology park in France and the interview with Capote along with the Stones and The Who were also broadcast, like on your reception. Back to FR at 1901. Some pretty good peaks, but deeps fades as you say. No ID heard for the 50 minutes. I have listened so far. -- I was able to rewind the tape and these are the two telephone numbers I heard: First one is a toll free call to 075-63241. I assume the sequence is France, since in PWBR all the phone numbers listed under RFI have 8 digits after the country code. I heard that at 1839. Then at 1843 the male (Eric) clearly says: Area code 339-912-4514. The last two digits were incorrect in my original report as I tried to hear it over the air. Once I played it back a few times, this is the number. For the first number, the announcers mentioned car radios, for the second number they said just listeners (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer via DXLD) 1927 Sep 21, talk about high-tech amusement park outside Lyon, bit of music by Prokoviev, padding with Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar," The Who, Led Zeppelin; some crud from CBers or something; tnx Rich D'Angelo. 33 is the country code for France, so the number may be more like +33 99 124-132, where 99 is the city code. I tried the Pages Jaunes at http://www.pagesjaunes.fr/ to see if I could do a reverse lookup, but it tells me they can't give me information on that number (Ralph Brandi, NJ, DX-plorer via DXLD) Heard here too, tho seems to be on its way out now (2010 Sep 21). See http://dxing.hypermart.net/ and http://dxing.hypermart.net/French_NFM.htm This particular frequency not mentioned (Jerry Berg, MA, DX-plorer via DXLD) The transmission on 25775 was not from Comité Department du Tourisme de la Charente-Maritime. Those tourist information stations are 1 watt narrow band FM. 25775 was a high powered AM transmission. Also not R Neige as that service has been defunct for years. When it was active, it was also narrow band FM. I did hear (in SSB mode) the carriers from Comité Department du Tourisme de la Charente-Maritime on the frequencies around 25925 yesterday (Sept 22) around 1700, but they never grew strong enough to produce any capture here in FM mode. R France has transmitted in the recent past on 25820. Why is it so hard to believe they might run a test transmission on 25775? Deutsche Telekom also tests fairly regularly on 11m, but I have only heard German used by them. 73, (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Finally beginning to hear traces of audio around 1600 UT Sept 23 on 25775, after listening to a twice per second pulser for more than an hour, which continues annoyingly. Definite French and music at 1604. Transmitter seemed to cut on and off around 1606-1607; a few more traces until 1630. If I can hear it at all, it`s got to be a lot more than one watt (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here in the south of Brazil I could only hear the carrier of this signal, the audio was down in the noise. I suspect the signal may be readable during another time of day or during more favorable conditions, though. This one is definitely worth trying (Rik van Riel, Curitiba PR, Sept 23, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** FRANCE. I'm also getting the carriers from the 1 watt French TIS stations on 25926. No audio yet, and QRM from chicken banders (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE/GERMANY. You may be interested to know that the 25 MHz band will be a little more active in B02, with these planned operations: 25740 DW Wertachtal (Germany) 0800-1400 25760 IBB Wertachtal (Germany) 0830-1030 (target: CIRAF 40) 25820 RFI Issoudin (France) 0900-1300 Good listening to the 11 metre band for B-02! Regards (Bob Padula, Sept 22, EDXP via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6085, Bayer Rundfunk Munich Ismaning will cease audio broadcast on shortwave as from Jan 1st, 2003, due of Financial difficulties. Maybe the station will come back with new DRM mode broadcast sometime later in 2005 ... 2006 (Open Day Ismaning, Sep 21, Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. Now that the solstice is long gone, and the equinox also is past, it is time to renew attention to the June report of activity on 3812 kHz, and hear if it propagate now: http://www.dxing.com/dxr/dxld2093.htm Follow-ups were in http://www.dxing.com/dxr/dxld2095.htm and http://www.dxing.com/dxr/dxld2101.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. The item in 2-147 must refer to R. K`ekchí, 4845, tho this identification was lost somewhere along the way (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SIRIUS INKS DEAL WITH WSM-AM/NASHVILLE, GRAND OLE OPRY But for the time being, the "WSM Entertainment" channel will be rebroadcasting all of the legendary Country station's local content including the local ads and weather and traffic reports. Gaylord Radio Group VP/GM John Padgett tells R&R it's only temporary: The satcaster will begin replacing the local ads with national ones on Feb. 1, 2003 and by June 1 will begin covering the remaining local breaks. Sirius isn't worried about any backlash against the local content, however: Spokeswoman Mindy Kramer tells R&R the vision for the new "WSM Entertainment" channel is for more than simply a rebroadcast of local content from WSM-AM. While timing limitations command that it take that form in the short-term, she says, ultimately the channel will feature original programming co-produced by Sirius and Gaylord (From R&R 9/23 via Brock Whaley, Atlanta, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. It maybe all over now but these frequencies may be of interest (from Ulis Fleming): There will probably be a bunch of people posting this but a good place to go is: http://www.hurricanefrequencies.com/ another good reference point is: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ Good listening, Ulis http://www.radiointel.com (via Mike Terry, DXLD) See also CUBA! and http://www.hurricanecity.com (Sheldon Harvey, International Radio Report via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. From Pravda. BAGHDAD CRITICISES RADIO FREE EUROPE Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri has condemned the activity of Radio Free Europe which broadcasts in Arab for Iraq from Prague. In an interview with a Czech newspaper on Thursday, the Iraqi Foreign Minister said that the radio programmes conveyed anti-Iraqi information while Prague allowed its enemies to speak and let the CIA spread anti-Iraqi propaganda. Radio Free Europe is financed by US Congress. Free Europe programmes targeting the audience in Iraq and Iran have been broadcast from Prague since the autumn of 1998 despite protests of the authorities in both countries (© RIAN via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. WORLD WAR 2 MEMORABILIA, JAPANESE MONITORING OF FOREIGN RADIO STATIONS The latest edition of the American radio magazine, ``Popular Communications``, contains a four page article on the story of the monitoring of American radio stations by the Japanese during the Pacific War. This very revealing article was written by the Japanese radio author, Hideharu Torii (HID-eh-HAR-oo to-REE-hee). During the Pacific War, the Japanese monitoring station was located in an underground facility as part of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo. Some 50 staff members tuned in to foreign radio broadcasts, mostly in English, using American-made and Japanese-made radio receivers. On shortwave, the Japanese monitors listened to the English language programming from many stations including the following:- The Voice of America via transmitters in California & Hawaii BBC London direct from Daventry Radio Australia at Pennant Hills, Lyndhurst & Shepparton All India Radio Delhi Radio Moscow; and even Radio Buenos Aires in Argentina. Another station that they monitored regularly was station KGEI with its relay of VOA programming in Japanese. In the autumn of 1943, some of the monitoring staff travelled to the northern coast of Japan in the Chiba prefecture in an attempt to tune in the broadcasts from mediumwave stations in the continental United States. At this new location they installed a beverage antenna 600 metres long and they discovered that they could listen to many American mediumwave stations for three hours after local sunset, but only for the darker season of the year running from September to April. Among the mediumwave stations they heard regularly were the following:- KGO & KPO in Oakland CA KNX & KFI in Los Angeles CA KIRO KPSC & KOMO, all in Seattle OR Strangely, the strongest signal came from a 50 kW mediumwave station well inland from the Pacific coast and this was station KSL in Salt Lake City, Utah (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 22 via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE from CIS? to KAZAKHSTAN. 9775, Radio Dat: while the 1500-1600 broadcast has apparently moved to 9925, the 0100-0200 transmission is still here. Strong signal, usual long talks in Russian, ID's before 0200 sign off. Just left the carrier on. Anyone have any ideas as to the exact site? (Hans Johnson, WY? Sep 23, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I believe Samara has been suggested, and various reports indicate somewhere in Russia. I find this a bit hard to believe, given the close ties still between the two countries (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. Libyan Jamahiriya BC has made its presence in the web; at: http://www.ljbc.net/ eMail-address: info@ljbc.net The radio sector is still under construction, however. 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm and dxlinks.info http://www.dxlinks.info/ and Finnish DX Association http://www.sdxl.org/ hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. MEDIA ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT 23 SEPTEMBER 2002 The following is an amended and updated version of the BBC Monitoring's Madagascar media environment assessment issued on 3 May 2002, and covers media developments since the exile of the former president, Didier Ratsiraka, in July 2002. Political background President Marc Ravalomanana is in control of the whole country, but not all pro-Ratsiraka elements wanted for alleged acts of "terrorism" and killings have yet been arrested. The media are still reporting on trials of former Ratsiraka officials and operations in some parts of the country aimed at capturing remnants of the former regime. On 19 September Ravalomanana used the media to appeal to the Malagasy people for "more solidarity with him and more cooperation with the government", as impatience with the pace of economic change was said to be growing. The president "was aware of the deprivation and misery endured by everyone as a result of the struggle undertaken together" (L'Express de Madagascar web site on 20 September). Ravalomanana's life reportedly threatened President Ravalomanana on 29 August said his life was threatened (Midi Madagasikara web site, 29 August 2002). Such a threat, the communications minister said, was "confirmed day by day" (L'Express de Madagascar web site, 29 August 2002). The news did not come as a major surprise for central highlanders, as in 1975 another Merina appointed - not elected - head of state was killed 11 days after his accession to power. Parliamentary elections Political parties are preparing for elections said due by the end of the year. Even though no genuine opposition has yet emerged, pro- Ravalomanana parties have started joining together in a bid to provide Ravalomanana with a "strong presidential majority" (Midi Madagasikara web site, 9 September 2001). International relations As of 23 September 2002, the rough situation is that the new president, Marc Ravalomanana, has been recognized by most foreign countries and international bodies such as the UN. The African Union has so far failed to grant full recognition to Ravalomanana, even though some member countries like Mauritius, Senegal and Burkina Faso have already recognized the new Malagasy president. Foreign bilateral and multilateral aid has resumed. New orientation in international relations The country's relations with the Anglophone world in general, and the USA in particular, have been boosted under the new regime, to the extent that English is now to be taught from primary school level. In fact, the country is said to be seeking to join the anglophone- dominated Southern African Development Community, SADC, and one of Ravalomanana's special advisers announced a "gradual split from France" (Madagascar Tribune web site, 22 August 2002). The ethnic dimension The Merina people of central Madagascar are of Malay origin, as are, to a lesser degree, the Betsileo people of south-central Madagascar. The rest of the population are either mixed (of Malayo-Polynesian, Arab and African origins) or from black African extraction. Post-independence Malagasy politics has been characterized by strong anti-Merina sentiment stemming both from Merina rule in Madagascar in the 19th century and French colonial "race politics". In line with what is known locally as "coastal cause", all Malagasy presidents were from the coast. Ravalomanana is the first Merina elected president. In a bid to establish the rule of law, Ravalomanana has sought to arrest and prosecute all those who were involved in acts of "terrorism" and killings during the recent crisis. It happened that most of these people were pro-Ratsiraka and "cotiers" (coastal people). Former President Albert Zafy, who is a "cotier" and emerged third in the disputed December 2001 presidential poll, has denounced the ongoing arrests, saying all those arrested are coastal people. The media and the public denounced this as an attempt to destabilize the new regime by "tribalizing" the arrests (Madagascar Tribune web site, 20 August 2002). Media developments Less polarized media Since the departure of former President Ratsiraka in July 2002, the media in Madagascar have become less polarized, even though the division of the country into two political camps following the disputed 16 December 2001 presidential elections is still felt in some quarters. In a sign of things to come, the Ad'Gasy party, which deems itself to be an opposition party, issued a statement criticizing government "misinforation" and control of the media (Malagasy independent newspaper L'Express de Madagascar web site on 5 September). Media overview Madagascar's 16m people have six daily newspapers and a number of weeklies and monthlies, as well as numerous TV and radio stations, including a large number of FM stations broadcasting in all provincial and district capitals. Because of the low literacy rate, the print media are mostly aimed at the French-educated urban elite. They are therefore mostly in French and urban-centred. The print media suffers from low circulation because of the low literacy rate, a poor road network and poor purchasing power. Some formerly pro-Ratsiraka radio stations, which used to operate like "hate radios" during the crisis, have switched to more mainstream forms of broadcasting. Press freedom Journalists in the country have been accustomed to working in a relatively free environment and producing reports critical of the government. After press freedom was violated by the former regime in coastal provinces during the recent crisis (ban on national newspapers, suspension of broadcasting, etc.), the situation is now back to its pre-crisis situation. Internet Access to the Internet is restricted more by poor purchasing power than poor telephone infrastructure. By African standards, the country can boast a relatively modern and efficient telecommunications network. All major newspapers or newsletters are on the Internet, and more and more Antananarivo-based FM radio stations have also become available on the Internet. A major project aimed at providing Madagascar with optical fibre technology to cut telecommunication costs is under way (Madagascar- Evènements web site on 16 September). Web site developments After Ratsiraka's departure, some web sites stopped updating. Others are under construction. Government web sites could proliferate as the new regime has highlighted communications/transparency as a cornerstone of its "good governance" policy. The following sites carry, or are supposed to carry, more or less regularly updated news: \ \ A new Malagasy government web site - operational since early July - publishes information in French and English. URL address: http://www.madagascar.gov.mg \ The Justice Ministry web site in French features major legal documents like the constitution. URL address: http://www.justice.gov.mg \ Ratsiraka's election campaign web site, which also carries news and comment in French, has not been updated since the end of February 2002. URL address: http://www.ratsiraka2001.mg \ Ravalomanana's political association Tiako i Madagasikara [I Love Madagascar], TIM. Until mid-March 2002, the site carried daily news and information, in Malagasy and French, on Ravalomanana and his supporters. From mid-March to early September, it published mainly information in French, English and German about Ravalomanana's plans and projects, as well as announcements and comments by the Ravalomanana camp. On 4 September, the web site announced that it would become "independent" from TIM: "We wish to stand aside so that we might report on all shades of opinion, provided they are constructive," the web site said. URL addresses (any of the following): http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara.org http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara-net http://www.marc-ravalomanana.org http://www.marc-ravalomanana.net \ Ravalomanana's newly-formed political party - also named Tiako i Madagasikara, TIM - has a web site currently under construction. URL address: http://www.tim-madagascar.net \ Malagasy Broadcasting Service, MBS, the Ravalomanana-owned and Antananarivo-based radio-TV station, has a web site under construction. Published in French and Malagasy, its URL address is http://www.mbs.mg \ State TV station Television Malagasy, TVM - under construction. URL address: http://www.tvmonline.tv Other news web sites \ \ Mada-Evenements [events]: http://madaevenement.kilio.com (in French) \ MadaNews: http://www.madanews.com (in French) \ Mada-News.Net: http://www.madanews.fr.st (in French) \ MadOnline: http://www.madaonline.com (in French, English and Italian) \ Madatsara ("tsara" is the Malagasy word for "good): http://www.madatsara.com (in French) \ InfoGasy.com ("gasy" is a shorter version of Madagascar): http://www.infogasy.com (in French) \ Madagascar Magazine: http://www.madagascarmagazine.com (in French) \ Anio Magazine ("anio" is the malagasy word for "today"): http://www.aitusa.com/anio (in French) (under construction) \ MadaGate: http://www.madagate.com (in French) \ MadaJournal: http://site.voila.fr/madajournal \ Havana News ("havana" is the Malagasy word for "relative(s)"): http://www.havana-news.com (in French) - not updated since September 2000. Radio and TV - overview Residents of the capital, Antananarivo, have access to a dozen FM radio stations and six free-to-air terrestrial TV services (see listings below). Listeners and viewers elsewhere have much less choice, with the state- owned Radio nationale malagasy (RNM) and Television malagasy (TVM) providing the only domestic radio and TV for the entire country. RNM is the only radio station authorized to broadcast on shortwave; TVM can broadcast to the whole country because it is relayed by satellite. The ownership of radio sets is widespread, which is not the case with TV sets which are only found in major urban centres because of their cost and also because of limited access to mains electricity in rural areas. Curbs on "illegal" radio-TV stations "The two-month period set for radio-TV stations operating illegally to legalize their situation has expired. Therefore, the Communications Ministry will now enforce sanctions so that all stations are legalized. "Meanwhile, Communications Minister Mamy Rakotoarivelo has announced the launching of 'Operation Transistor'. The operation aims to equip all households with radio sets so that they can access information easily." (Madagascar-Evenements web site in French 14 Sep 02) State radio to expand FM network "The minister also said the [Malagasy] national radio [RNM] would become audible on FM across the entire island [of Madagascar]." (Madagascar-Evènements web site in French 14 Sep 02) Radio stations RNM [Radio nationale malagasy - Malagasy National Radio] RNM is the state-owned radio station. It operates from the capital and still holds the legal monopoly on shortwave transmissions in the country. Its news bulletins are in Malagasy and French. Since the departure of Ratsiraka, the radio has been broadcasting without the noticeable propaganda slant of the former regime. It has not been relayed on satellite over the last six months. RNM news is available in print and in French on the Internet. URL address: http://takelaka.dts.mg/radmad Radio MBS [Malagasy Broadcasting System, expansion originally in English] This FM radio station is the radio branch of the Malagasy Broadcasting System, MBS, owned by Ravalomanana. Probably the most recent FM station operating from the capital, it became the most popular station after Ravalomanana announced his candidacy for the 2001 presidential election. Radio MBS is not on shortwave but reaches other cities through rebroadcasting deals. As suggested by its name, the station also broadcasts in English. Its new boss, Ravalomanana's daughter, is said to have hired an interpreter to translate Deutsche Welle broadcasts into Malagasy (Indian Ocean Newsletter, 31 August 2002). The station is available on the Internet through Ravalomanana's political association TIM web site (at any of the following): http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara.org http://www.tiako-i-madagasikara-net http://www.marc-ravalomanana.org http://www.marc-ravalomanana.net The station's web site is under construction. Information on the site is available in French and Malagasy. URL address: http://www.mbs.mg RTA [Radio-Television Analamanga, Analamanga is the name of Antananarivo old town] RTA broadcasts from Antananarivo as well as Antsirabe (some 160 km south of Antananarivo) where it can be received within a radius of 80 km, Toamasina in the east, Mahajanga in the northwest, and Toliara in the southwest. The station carries news in French on the Internet. URL address: http://www.rta.mg Radio Antsiva [Trumpet Shell] Broadcasting on FM 97.7, this Antananarivo-based station attracted a large audience during the recent crisis because of a daily midday political commentary against the Ratsiraka regime by a former pro- Ratsiraka journalist. Radio Antsiva has its own web site. URL address: http://www.antsiva.mg RLI [Radio Lazan' Iarivo] FM 106 (Fame of Iarivo: Iarivo is the name of an Antananarivo region) Broadcasting on FM 106, the station broadcasts mainly jazz music, and is not available on the Internet. Radio Mada and Radio Ravinala (Travellers' Palm) Both Antananarivo FM stations broadcasting mainly music. As political violence increased during the recent political crisis, these two stations and the above-mentioned Radio Antsiva and Radio MBS cooperated in broadcasting pro-Ravalomanana security-related messages and directives to the crowds in the capital. These four radio stations also broadcast a "joint editorial" on a daily basis. Radio Ravinala is on the Internet on http://ravinala.online.fr Ma-FM [Madagascar-FM] Along with Ma-TV and two daily newspapers, this Antananarivo-based station belongs to the Antananarivo-based Andriambelo family. It also broadcasts news. Ma-FM is available on the Internet on the Ma-TV site http://www.matvonline.tv RTV [Radio Tsioka Vao - New Breeze or New Tune] This was a pro-Ratsiraka FM station broadcasting in the capital. Reports say its premises and equipment were burnt down a few months ago, which has prevented it from operating ever since. Radio Fahazavana [Light] This FM station operates in the capital and is owned by the main protestant church, the FJKM (Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, of Presbyterian denomination), and also reportedly partly by Ravalomanana, a lay vice-chairman of that church. Radio Fahazavana covers mainly religious and church matters. RDB [Radio Don Bosco] RDB broadcasts from Antananarivo 24 hours on FM 93.4 and can be heard up to 200 km away; it is owned by the Salesian congregation of the Roman Catholic Church, RDB is available on the Internet http://www.radiodonbosco.mg Radio Feon'ny Merina [Voice of the Merina] FM radio station operating from Antananarivo. After the Antananarivo Royal Palace was burnt down in 1995, some Merina intellectuals resolved to initiate an awareness campaign on the Merina issue. Radio Feon'ny Merina is part of this drive. Korail [Coral] Madagascar FM 90, Alliance FM 92 [Alliance Française FM92] -- Antananarivo-based FM radio stations broadcasting mainly music with some local news. Radio Mampita [communicating, conveying] -- FM station based in southcentral town of Fianarantsoa. RTVB [Radio-Television Boeni] -- FM station operating in the northwestern port of Mahajanga. Radio Sun -- FM station operating in the northwestern sea islet of Nosy-Bé. Sky FM -- FM station operating in Toamasina. Radio Voanio [cocoa] -- FM station operating in Toamasina. FMA [Feo mazava atsinanana - Voice of the Eastern Sunlight] -- FM station operating in Toamasina said to be owned by Pierrot Rajaonarivelo, the former deputy prime minister and Ratsiraka's party boss. It reportedly carried anti-Merina propaganda during the recent crisis. Radio Soleil [sun] -- FM station operating in Toliara. "Hate" radio stations During the recent crisis, some pro-Ratsiraka FM radio stations operating in coastal areas broadcast programmes inciting tribal and racial hatred mainly against the Merina people and, in some cases, against southcentral Fianarantsoa Province's Betsileo people, who are racially close to the Merina. Some journalists in Toamasina have been accused of sending provocative hate messages over the air waves during the Ravalomanana-Ratsiraka power struggle (Malagasy newspaper Madagascar Tribune web site on 19 August). BBC Monitoring East Africa Unit was able to monitor the Ratsiraka- owned "Canal 6 Madagascar" radio-TV station broadcasting from Toamasina until it stopped operating on the day Ratsiraka fled the country for France (via the Seychelles) on 5 July 2002. Foreign FM radio stations RFI (Radio France Internationale, in French) is relayed on FM in Antananarivo and a few provincial capitals. BBC World Service (in French) is also relayed on FM in Antananarivo. The BBC has become more and more popular among Malagasy nationals, especially Ravalomanana supporters. Ravalomanana has invariably resorted to the BBC, instead of RFI, to make his most important announcements to the outside world. TV TVM [Television Malagasy - Malagasy Television] TVM is the state-owned TV station, and broadcasts in Malagasy and French. Because it is relayed by satellite, it is the only TV station broadcasting to the whole country. TVM news is available in print and in French on the Internet http://takelaka.dts.mg/tvm but its site has not been updated since 18 August 1999. Another TVM web site is under construction. URL address: http://www.tvmonline.tv MBS TV [Malagasy Broadcasting System TV, expansion originally in English] Owned by Ravalomanana, it has featured women announcers appearing in Malagasy traditional hairstyles. MBS radio and TV stations are said to have started boycotting two local music stars known to be openly speaking about sex and drugs - reportedly in a bid to please a powerful Protestant church of which Marc Ravalomanana is vice-chairman. MBS is also said to have banned a local rap music band alleged to be sponsored by Ratsiraka's party boss. (Indian Ocean Newsletter, 31 August 2002). The station's web site in Malagasy and French is under construction. URL address: http://www.mbs.mg RTA [Radio Television Analamanga - Analamanga being the site of the Royal Palace in Antananarivo] Initially broadcasting exclusively in the capital city, it now broadcasts in five cities: Antananarivo, Antsirabe, Toamasina, Mahajanga, Toliara. RTA is available in print and French on the Internet. URL address: http://www.rta.mg Ma-TV [Madagascar-Television] Broadcasting only in Antananarivo, Ma-TV, along with two daily newspapers and Ma-FM radio station, is owned by the Andriambelo family, one of the few local media entrepreneurs apart from Ravalomanana. Ma-TV is available in print and in French on the Internet http://www.matvonline.tv TV Ravinala [Travellers' Palm], TV Plus TV Ravinala is the TV counterpart of the pro-Ravalomanana Radio Ravinala. Foreign satellite TV stations TV-5 - Europe is a Belgium-based TV station broadcasting in French and TF1 is a French TV channel (L'Express de Madagascar web site, 2 March 2002). Main newspapers Midi-Madagasikara Along with Ma-TV and the daily newspaper Gazetiko, Midi Madagasikara is owned by the Andriambelo family. It is mostly in French, though it also carries a few pages in Malagasy. Midi-Madagasikara is the oldest of the existing daily newspapers in French, and claims to be "the leading national news daily". Its managing director, Mamy Rakotoarivelo, recently resigned after being appointed communications minister in the Ravalomanana government. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. Midi-Madagasikara is available on the Internet http://www.dts.mg/midi Madagascar Tribune [Madagascar Forum or Rostrum] Tribune is a daily newspaper mainly in French, but it also carries a few pages in Malagasy. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. Madagascar Tribune is available on the Internet http://www.madagascar-tribune.com L'Express de Madagascar L'Express is a daily newspaper mainly in French, but it also carries a few pages in Malagasy. Its founder and previous main shareholder was pro-Ratsiraka politician and presidential candidate Herizo Razafimahaleo, who has sold the paper to a local businessman. The daily does not have a Sunday edition. L'Express de Madagascar is available on the Internet http://www.lexpressmada.com Gazetiko [My Newspaper] Founded in 1998 and owned by the Andriambelo family, it is the most recent Malagasy daily newspaper. It is entirely in Malagasy. Gazetiko is not available on the Internet. Maresaka [Resounding, sensational] and Basy Vava [Virulent, corrosive] Daily newspapers entirely in Malagasy. They do not appear on Sundays. They are not available on the Internet. Weeklies DMD [Dans les medias demain - In the Media Tomorrow] Independent weekly newsletter in French focusing on economic and financial reports. Its owner and publishing manager is also the Reuters' correspondent in Madagascar. DMD is available on the Internet http://www.dmd.mg Lakroa [Cross] Owned by the Roman Catholic Church, run previously by the Jesuit congregation and now relayed by the Assumptionist congregation, this not-for-profit weekly newspaper in both French and Malagasy has always been at the forefront of major moral causes in the country. The weekly is operating both from the capital and from the southcentral town of Fianarantsoa, which is a major Roman Catholic publishing base. Operating under the name of Lumière [Light] in the 60s and 70s, Lakroa is the oldest of all the weeklies in Madagascar. It can also claim to be the only print media outlet that has truly national coverage. Lakroa is available on the Internet http://www.geocities.com/lakroam Monthlies Jureco [Mensuel Juridique et Economique - Law and Economic Monthly] As suggested by its name, Jureco is a monthly magazine focusing on legal and economic issues but also carries political reports. Antananarivo-based, independent and published in French, it features analyses and in-depth reports generally bylined by legal and economics professionals and university lecturers. Jureco is part of the same group as the Feon'ny Merina weekly newspaper and radio. Its web site http://www.jureco.com has not been updated fully and regularly over the last three months. R.O.I. [Revue de l'Ocean indien - Indian Ocean Review] ROI is an Antananarivo-based independent monthly magazine published in French. ROI is available on the Internet only on subscription http://www.madatours.com/roi Feon'ny Merina [Voice of the Merina] Feon'ny Merina is the newspaper counterpart of Radio Feon'ny Merina. Even though it is not available on its own on the Internet, some of its features appear on an Internet site called "Zaikabe" (forum, congress) which promotes the Merina cause http://home.cwnet.com/zaikabe/KI/FMERINA Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 September 02 BBC Mon AF1 AFEau MD1 Media 160902/cnob/vr (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XEQOO, Radio Pirata, Cancún, 1050 kHz, 1616+ GMT with usual Spanish pop, Spanish woman DJ with brief Hurricane Isidore advisory. Unfortunately, this is the only Quintana Roo or Yucatán station I can hear (day or night) with regularity here (Terry L. Krueger, FL, Sept 22, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. The sad saga of Enid`s only local TV station continues: KXOK-LP channel 32 (Cox cable 18), peaked in early August when it sponsored a 2-hour debate among the then seven primary gubernatorial candidates. We were in the audience at Oakwood Mall just outside the studios. Since this was at 7 pm, the 6:30 news was cancelled, as no doubt there would not have been time to set up the cameras, etc. But the local newscast did not come back the next day; the anchor, Tim Bradfield (who is really a weatherman), proceeded to go on vacation, and for a couple of weeks it was done by a substitute, who gave his name every few minutes, and which we promptly forgot. After a few more sporadic appearances, the news seemed gone for good. Then an auction was revived for a few nights in prime time, allegedly as a `benefit` for KUAL-LP 104.7, and/or to pay off (ex)staffers who had been waiting on their salary, causing a lot of bad feelings. It soon became clear that just about everybody who worked for KXOK had quit; and we noticed that the office cubicles which had been visible from outside the door, had all disappeared. Subsequently, it appeared there was little or nothing left of KXOK`s facility in the mall. By mid-September all we saw would be America One network feeds; then the constant advertising crawler at bottom of screen disappeared. Then the video disappeared! Black screen for days at a time, but network audio was still there. Came back for less than a day. Then as of Sept 23 the same incredible situation (both on air 32 and cable 18), black video, and network audio. We hear that the station is in big trouble (surprise), as the owner (or purchaser?) Rex Faulkner is in a divorce and his assets have been frozen. Why don`t they just turn it off? Somebody appears to be messing with KXOK output, perhaps to decrease its book value (if any). Meanwhile, Bradfield has become a DJ on KUAL The Rocket, which is sounding more and more commercial with `sponsors` of programming. Altho there has been a lot of personnel crossover, the two stations are not legally related, as far as we know. Stay tuned... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. PNG PROVINCIAL GOVERNOR OFFERS TO TAKE OVER LOCAL RADIO STATION | Text of report by Papua New Guinea newspaper The National web site on 23 September Gulf [Province] Governor Chris Haiveta has assured the management of the National Broadcasting Corporation that his government is prepared to take on the responsibility of looking after Radio Gulf. He would like the NBC to sign over running of the radio station to the province. Mr Haiveta gave the assurance after Radio Gulf was shut down last month due to technical and electrical problems. Mr Haiveta wants to bring the radio station and the Gulf information office under one roof. "Where the print media or the television does not reach, radio has over the years provided invaluable government information and has kept rural people abreast with events around the world," Mr Haiveta said. He is seeking the NBC management's help to sign an agreement to transfer the radio station to his government. Mr Haiveta visited the premises of Radio Gulf last week with the deputy director of NBC, Posa Lari, and director for Kundu Service Winterford Suharupa. Radio Gulf is expected to come on air later this week after maintenance work in the studio and office complex. Source: The National web site, Port Moresby, in English 23 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. -- Dear Friend Thord Knutsson: Many thanks for your message, and for your greetings from Sweden! We are attempting to further strengthen the equipment. The primary challenge is to improve the transfer characteristic, from the Power Amplifier to the antenna. There is an impedance mismatch, and we must correct this. In general terms, the equipment performs very well, and has excellent audio quality. We have had to construct the three transmitters, ourselves, as commercially-built equipment does not survive our conditions. This is owing to "wild" energy supply, severe storms, high temperatures, dust, frogs and insects. The frogs dearly love to explore, within the equipment. Sadly enough, this is often the end of the frog. The insects find the 6,5 mm diametre test jacks ideal for egg-laying repositories! We have an insect hatchery, wish it or not, in some of our equipment. My greatest unsolved mystery, thus far, is how a fully-grown frog managed to enter a PLL tuning box, 12 cm x 4 cm, which is completely sealed, by six screws, excepting for an opening, 5 mm in diametre. This box is held within another, sealed metal box, closed by 16 screws. There is, however, an opening of 10 mm diametre. My conclusion is that the frog, at a very young age, entered the 10 mm passage, found its4way through the second, 5 mm passage, and then grew inside, trapped, where it perished, from starvation. Please keep listening for 7300 and 7370 kHz. We are attempting to further strengthen the signals. With best wishes (Dom Mur, R. América [undated] via Thord Knutsson, SW Bulletin Sept 22 via DXLD) ** PERU. 3172.76, R. Municipal was here a year ago, station now *0940v with Peruvian format, music but too weak for much more detail other than "desde ....en Perú...en la música" 73's de (Bob Wilkner in Margate, South Florida Icom R 75 Drake R 7 NRD 535 Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4886.40, Radio Virgen del Carmen (Tentative), Huancavelica, 2302-2310, September 21. Radio Dif. Acreana is off air at this hour. Andean tropical music. Short announcement in Spanish: "Este sábado... gran fiesta...", 24432 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PERU. 4940, R. San Antonio AM-FM, partial-data Certificado de Sintonía card in 7-1/2 months for cassette, mint stamps (not used), SAE (not used). Also enclosed one-page personal computer-generated letter, two-page station info letter and postcard of local birds. Address listed as Calle Iquitos 499, Atalaya, Ucayali, Peru, E-mail given as rasat@terra.com.pe This is different from the E-mail I used at the beginning of the year. Rafael Rodríguez in Colombia just received a QSL from them as well, so maybe more of those written QSLs will be showing up soon (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. Here's a much better ID-recording from the sign on this Sunday morning at 6 UT on 15455 kHz. 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, maybe on WORLD OF RADIO 1149, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Advance information from the Voice of Russia is that it plans to use the 120 metre band (!) for services to Australia and SEA, for B-02, effective Oct-27. This is very unusual, and the planned frequency is 2300 kHz, with 250 kW from Irkutsk, 0600-0900, azimuth 150 degrees. I am not sure if this is a mistake, but that it how it was presented to me! Interestingly, 2310, just nearby, is used by the ABC's NT service at Alice Springs, 0830-2130! We'll see if it happens... Regards! (Bob Padula, Sept 22, EDXP via DXLD) ** SERBIA. A reminder that for the time being we are filing stuff about Yugoslavia, i.e. RY reactivated on SW, under Y (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. It has been reported that the two girls Brother Stair is accused of diddling are black. They are also young. I heard an interview with someone somewhere (don`t recall where) who said that when the world did not end at the dawn of 2000, Brother Stair decided that all his preaching is false, but continued it nevertheless as a means to make a living. If this theory is true, then B.S. believed his own nonsense prior to 2000, but not thereafter. Brother Stair is in his old form once again, threatening to go off various stations if listeners don`t send funds. He did say on the morning of Sept 16, in a live break-in to the normal tapes he plays, that he`s satisfied with his support from WWCR. Texe Marrs did say two weekends ago, on his WWCR broadcast, that he no longer thinks Brother Stair is a man of god, and that he (Texe Marrs) has a one-hour tape denouncing B.S. which may be purchased for $8 (Robert Arthur, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. 12115 / 12085, Sawt Al Wattani, 1528 Sept 21, playing the song 'wattani'. Signal on 12115 S9+30 while 12085 is S9+20 on dipole antenna. Syria was stronger on 12085 and signal stopped 15 secs after 115 stopped (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. I am 99.9% certain it was Taiwan I was listening to on 15265 and parallel 7515 at 1545 today - both good signals but with co- channel Chinese, which I assume were jammers. They had a comedy programme - at least, the audience were laughing - so perhaps the Variety Network 1? The 'big band' was unleashed at 1600 and is still playing at 1705 on 7515 but stopped at 1700 on 15265 allowing TWN to be heard clearly till closedown c1702 (Noel Green, England, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Radio Africa International opened at 1700 on 15265. This is listed as UMC via Jülich at 1700-1859. But after Glenn`s remarks in DXLD 2-148, I will refrain from making any more comment, except to say that it is in English!!! (Noel Green, England, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, this really is the UMC, via Germany. See also AUSTRIA above (gh) 15265 should be a "safe" case; the special ORF transmissions of the Vienna-based Radio Afrika International are somewhere on 16 metres, alongside with a slot on the regular ROI program. By the way, apparently bad news from Vienna is to be expected again (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Friday --- I just got back from spending the day at Upton repairing the 7490 kHz transmitter - now being called BY-10 (Bethany #10) ! Someone had removed the hot air exhaust duct (in order to reduce the "noise" being heard by some neighbors) which allowed rainwater leaking from the roof to enter and flood the RF Amplifier compartment. The water knocked the transmitter off the air and then drained into the blower through its' ductwork. When the folks at Upton tried to restart the transmitter sometime later, the water under pressure from the blower destroyed the canvas ductwork, reflooded the RF compartment, and filled the air inlets of all the tube sockets with the pieces of canvas duct! Man, what a mess! I started on it at 8:00 AM and had it cleaned up and the ductwork replaced (had to improvise - not having any canvas handy, I swiped a bath towel and cut a strip of it and lined it with duct tape) and got it back up and running by noon. When I left at 3:00 PM it was still churning out 49 kW as if it were fat-n-happy! Sunday --- I was listening last night and again this morning and it sounds like they have reduced the audio level leaving the studio end to prevent the POTS or CoDec or whatever that thing is, from clipping and cutting out on program peaks. That part sounds better - but now there isn't enough modulation (Larry Baysinger, KY, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Geez, what next? Well, this fix didn`t last long as it was gone again Sept 21 and 22, tho a carrier seemed back 23 (gh, DXLD) I again heard a special program devoted to WJIE's developments. It was on last Friday (Sept. 20) at about 23.45 UT on 7490 kHz. Reception wasn't the best. But I believe they said that WJIE has already acquired KVOH. The format of KVOH will remain the same, new Christian broadcasters are welcomed. (What about a spot for the World of Radio? :)) The FM-transmitter for their Liberian station is already in Nigeria. Sounds like WJIE's signal comes to a transmitter in Upton, KY via the Internet. Oftentimes the quality suffers. They probably don't have a broadband access there or it's not very reliable (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Lori Wallace has a show on WWCR. It is standard short-wave Christianity, end of the world is nigh, etc. But, she is female. And the guy who comes on immediately after her (Preacher Otwell) has for the past three weeks begun his broadcast in what appears to be a normal, planned manner. But then about 7 or 8 minutes into his broadcast he says he`ll digress for a moment. And he spends the rest of his half-hour allotment denouncing Lori Wallace for preaching and speaking, when the Bible prohibits women from speaking aloud or having any authority of [over?] men. Then at the end of his broadcast he expresses surprise that the time got away from him, and that he couldn`t get to his prepared material! This guy has also denounced Lori Wallace`s most recent guest who dared to quote from some Bible other than the KJV. I have not noticed that Lori Wallace has directly responded to these attacks, but in her most recent broadcast she did say that she is thinking about expanding from a half-hour to an hour, and wants her listeners to send in as much money as they possibly can to enable her to do so. This might be a side-swipe because I`m not sure that she can expand at will even if she can pay for it, if someone else already has that time slot (Robert Arthur, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here they are, UT Sundays, CDT Saturdays on 5070: 0130-0200 8:30-9:00 Keep Standing For The Truth Lori Wallace 0200-0230 9:00-9:15 [sic] God Said Ministries (LIVE) W. N. Otwell ** U S A. KIMF - does it exist yet? Does anyone know the current operational status of KIMF in New Mexico? I have found a sked (well a tentative one) but contact details are lacking. I have an email address for, I think, the owner/operator but it went unanswered (interestingly it didn't bounce). The last report I read was for a site visit in August and nothing was to be found, not a mast or anything. So is KIMF going to be on the air soon? thanks for your help!! 73 (Sean G4UCJ, hard-core-dx via DXLD) So what is the tentative schedule and where did you find it? 73, (Glenn Hauser, to Sean, via DXLD) [HCDX] KIMF New Mexico - tentative B02 sked This is the tentative sked for KIMF in New Mexico lifted from the FCC web site 11885.0 1800 0000 KIMF 50 135 10,11 5835.0 0000 1800 KIMF 50 135 10,11 and the contact details for this "station" are:- KIMF Pinon, New Mexico. E-mail Dr. James Planck at james@plancktech.com I guess it may be a case of waiting until the end of October and see if it appears (although I doubt it!). 73 (Sean, ibid.) ** U S A. 25950, KPM 556 (presumed), [Portland OR] 1630, Sept 22, Non stop rasta groove. Good signal into TN. I read recently that this station was closed due to lack of interest by new CE, but apparently this is not the case (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 4795.80, Son La BC Station 1333-1358* Sept 21. Heard with a program of instrumental music ranging from light vocals to rustic instruments. Heard one announcement by a female speaker at 1346 briefly, then again at 1357 with a few words. Instrumental vocal played to sign-off in mid-song at 1358 1/2 hours. Signal was fair to periods where was just about the noise level, with the constant presents of the 'swosher' (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Sept 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. I saw a report recently that someone in North America had received a QSL from Voice of Vietnam, showing the transmitter site for 9840 as Sackville. This is incorrect. The tranmitter on 9840 is at Son Tay, near Ha Noi, using 100 kW. For the current A-02 season, the Sackville relay is on 6175 0100-0500. VOV has increased its English "Language Education" features in the Vietnamese External Service. One of these new English programs may be heard at 2025-2030 on 9725, via the Skelton relay. Note also that portions of some Vietnamese services carried in the External Broadcasts may originate from the Domestic Network, which includes segments for ethnic minorities. Watch out for some new frequencies for VOV to start on Oct -27, such as 9575 (Son Tay) 1600-2130, 0000-0100, and 1100-1130. 11575 (Son Tay) 0000-0100, 1100-1130, 1300-1400, 1615-2030 15295 (Son Tay) various times! Regards from (Bob, in Melbourne, Padula, Sept 22, EDXP via DXLD) ** WALES. THIS WEEK IN RADIO HISTORY - ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA This must be the era for important radio anniversaries in Australia. Two weeks back we noted the 75th anniversary of the experimental shortwave station VK2ME; earlier in this edition of ``Wavescan`` we noted the 75th anniversary of the Melbourne counterpart, experimental station VK3ME; and now we have the story of the 84th anniversary of the 1st wireless message transmitted from England to Australia. Back in the days of the colonization of Australia by convicts and soldiers, it could take three months or more to make the long sea journey from England to Sydney around the bottom of Africa. There was an urgent need throughout all of these years to provide a much quicker form of communication between the Mother country and her most distant colonies. Thus, when Marconi`s method of wireless communication by Morse Code became available, it provided just the answer that Australia needed. After extensive testing and the exchanging of messages between England and Australia by undersea cablegrams, everything was ready for the first direct wireless contact with Australia. The date was September 22, 1918, just before the end of the Great War. A Morse Code message of goodwill was tapped out at the Marconi station located near Carnarvon in Wales. This station was licensed at the time with the callsign MUU, the 200 kW transmitter was tuned to the longwave channel 14,300 metres or 21 kHz, and the high antenna in use for this occasion was beamed towards North America. The famous wireless pioneer in Australia was Sir Ernest Fisk, an Englishman who had served under Marconi in England and who had established in Australia, AWA, the Amalgamated Wireless of Australasia (Ostral-Asia). He lived in his home, ``Lucania`` in Wahroonga (wa- ROONG-gah), an outer suburb of Sydney, and in long walking distance from the well known Adventist Hospital. Sir Ernest tuned in the longwave signal from the Marconi station MUU in Wales using a ten-valve receiving set with an antenna 60 ft high and 100 ft long. He copied down the historic message that arrived from the other side of the globe in just one twentieth of a second. The message of goodwill from England was published next day on the front pages of the morning newspapers. The Fisk home in Wahroonga is an unpretentious dwelling, and a historic marker reminds passers-by that this was where the first wireless message from England was received back in 1918, now a long 82 years ago (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 22 via DXLD) Was the distinxion between England and Wales even less clear in 1918? According to my calculations, that was 84 years ago... (gh, DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. The problem was maybe more political than monetary - BIH is another country now, and I would guess there is still animosity between Sarajevo and Belgrade. Although they don't say so, I guess it is now costing money for the Yugoslavs to use what were their own transmitter(s) - and Kai could be correct in saying that no cheque had been received. I note there were four 500 kW BBC transmitters installed at this site in 1986, but seem to remember reading that two(?) were removed and taken to Stubline, and that these were later - er - 'rebuilt' by NATO along with the rest of that site. I have observed several changes of frequency since Bijeljina resumed operations and they have on each occasion gone off a frequency before starting on the next one, which seems to indicate only one sender is being used. Their A-02 schedule only requires one transmitter to be operational anyway. Maybe eventually we will find out just how many transmitters remain at Bijeljina. The French service was heard at 1600 opening on 9620 today (Sept. 22) - I was distracted and didn`t have the opportunity to listen at 1630 to see if German has resumed. However, Radio Liberty via Jülich has occupied 9620 1600-1700 for Armenian and the clash here was very bad. It was difficult to hear either station clearly. And yes, Glenn - Arabic on 11800 should be at 1430 and not 1400 as I erroneously wrote. I heard it opening on top of a CNR transmission (Noel Green, England, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile I researched my records: The transmissions ceased on Dec. 11 2001, and it was reported then that the main power supply of the transmitter site was switched off after the debts reached 298,000 DEM. Regarding the ownership of the transmitters: I understand that they are owned and operated by Radio Yugoslavia or perhaps another Serbian organization, considering that reportedly once a NATO officer appeared on the site and demanded the staff leave and discontinue the transmissions. So this should be more or less their own transmitters, but of course they have to pay for the mainpower. And "we had to wait for a licence" certainly sounds better than "we could not pay our bills", so I am still not convinced that the nine month silent period was merely the result of legal problems as Radio Yugoslavia wants us to believe. By the way, I guess the remark on the website contains simply a typo and the transmissions in fact started again on Sep. 19. Regarding the equipment at Bijeljina-Jabanusa: Yes, reportedly two of the transmitters were moved to Stubline (only stored there, never put on operation) and of course destroyed. And indeed already for a couple of years only one transmitter is in use at Jabanusa anymore (probably both units alternately but never together), operated at 250 kW only. Most likely this is just a matter of operational costs (main power, PA stage tubes). 9620 today: They did not burn money by transmitting nothing but an interval signal for a half hour, instead they simply cut off at or very shortly after 1630, without any comment of course. Thanks for identifying the interfering co-channel station; Jabanusa was well ahead here with a powerful signal but RL was still audible in the background, alongside with the already reported transmitter hum. I include a recording of the seconds prior to the carrier cut, do not start, when the carrier disappears the local noise here becomes quite a racket (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, The Radio Yugoslavia Web site is now only one day behind the rest of us. Their amended text reads: "We would like to inform our listeners that after a several-month break, during which it published news bulletins on the Internet, Radio Yugoslavia will resume its short-wave programming in 12 foreign languages and in Serbian for the diaspora on Friday, September 19." But note they still use the future tense! A lot of radio stations send out calendars. Maybe we should return the favour :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Sept 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe they were going by the Serbian Orthodox church calendar? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 30960 (15480 x 2), 1709, Sept 22, Nice 2nd harmonic. More listenable then the fundamental, which was audible with lots of QSB. Did not recognize the language, but heard mention of "Radio Europa" several times. Could this be from the Czech Republic? (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics yahoogroups via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ KN4LF DAILY SOLAR SPACE WEATHER GEOMAGNETIC DATA PLUS MF PROPAGATION OUTLOOK: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm (Thomas Giella, KN4LF Plant City, FL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-148, September 21, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1148: FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830, Mon 1230, Wed 1300 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCAST ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 BROADCASTS ON WJIE 7490: Maybe Sun 0515, Mon, Tue... 1200; any others? BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1148.html WORLD OF RADIO ON STUDIO X, MOMIGNO, ITALY: Hi Glenn! First of all, we'd like to make our congratulations for your good job; we're glad to rebroadcast on our station your World Of Radio which is of a great success among many of our listeners. I'm writing to let you know and all radio enthusiasts of a change in our programmation concerning World of Radio. Since next Sunday, your weekly programme will be broadcast at 9.30 pm [1930 UT] instead of the usual 6.30 pm (local time). The other day and time remains the same (every Saturday at 12.30 am, always local time) [Friday 2230 UT]. This is to increase the chance for WOR to be heard by our listeners throughout Europe on the MW frequency (1584 kHz, the other 1566 is temporarily off). Best regards, (Massimiliano Marchi, RADIO STUDIO X, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. INDIAN FILMS BACK ON KABUL TV Kabul, Sept. 18: State television in the Afghan capital Kabul was showing Indian movies once again from Tuesday after a ban was lifted in what was seen a victory for moderates over Islamists within the government. Women singing could also be heard again on State radio, after a special media commission appointed by President Hamid Karzai overruled restrictions imposed by the head of Kabul TV and radio. Engineer Mohammad Ishaq, Kabul TV and radio chief and a senior figure in the Northern Alliance movement that dominates Karzai's government, imposed the restrictions without warning in August. Indian films, with their mix of melodrama, romance, songs and theatrical fighting have been hugely popular in Afghanistan. After five years of Taliban rule, when sharia was imposed, including a ban on all public music and television, Afghans have been enjoying new freedoms. The removal of the restrictions was seen as a victory for Karzai and Information Minister Sayed Raheen Makhdoom, who had sacked Ishaq's predecessor, Abdul Hafiz Mansoor, in July after a row over what should be shown on television (Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad, 19 Sept 2002 http://deccan.com/neighbours/template.shtml#Indian via: Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via DXLD) ** ANDAMAN ISLANDS. 4760, AIR Port Blair (presumed), 1140-1215. Program of music from the subcontinent, primarily solos by men and women with string instruments in the background. Very short announcements by woman between selections. 1200 Announcement by woman, then talk between man and woman. 1205 Music resumed, this time much slower. Rather poor signal, increasing in strength 1145-1155, then declining to fadeout at 1215. SINPO 24222. Have been hearing talk on 4760 all week, barely above the noise. First log of this station (Jim Evans, TN September 19, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Hi Glenn, There hasn't been a logging of Radio Afrika International from Austria since January, 2002. I heard them today with an English phone number and e mail address, so here's a logging. I'm going to try the e mail to see if I can get a QSL. Will keep you informed. Radio Afrika International 9/21/02, 17875, 1530-1600. Sign on in French with news, to High Life music. In vernacular (possibly West African language) with talk, many IDs ``Radio Afrika International, Vienna, Austria`` and West African music. Canned ID in French to English ID and phone number (00 431 494-4033) and e mail address r.Africa@sil.au Voice of America Sign on at 1600 obliterated the signal. Enjoyable program and very good reception. As a reminder, this is the student domestic program re-broadcast via Moosbrunn, Austria not the United Methodist Church effort also called Radio Africa International. (See DXLD 2-017) (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quite by coincidence, here we go again: ** AUSTRIA. 17895, R. Africa Int'l. Nice F/D Map card in 81 days for a f/up via NY address. V/S Donna Newman, Executive Producer, and Raphael Mbadinga, Associate Producer (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [non]. Too bad these otherwise accomplished DXers don`t read DXLD, or we would not keep seeing confused reports like the above, already explained (and we also told the UMC people directly about this): Oops! If Niemann and Mbodinga QSLed this, they are just as confused as you are. The 17895 broadcast from Austria at this hour was ****not**** the Methodist ``R. Africa International``, which originates in NY and is transmitted at other times and other frequencies via Germany, but instead the Vienna ethnic station which has been carried at certain times via Moosbrunn. There is **no** connexion between them, as we have pointed out several times before, except that unfortunately they use the same name! Goes to show what can be accomplished in relentless pursuit of so-called ``verifications`` by not paying attention, on the part of broadcasters as well as listeners (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-108 via DXLD 2-148) How many more times will I have to repeat this? ** BELGIUM. Liz Sanderson of RVI has been quite ill for a while and has been on leave. Frans Vossen fell while on a trip abroad and broke his knee. So, Radio World has not aired for several weeks (Bob Thomas, CT, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And the previous one stays ondemand ** BOLIVIA. Radio Fides Bolivia Updates Website Address: Dear Friends: We are visiting your page and we have discovered that the access link to the page of Radio Fides [listed on the website] is no longer functioning. The new address is http://www.radiofides.com We await your visit to this site and any suggestions will be welcome. (Rafael Mendieta, Radio Fides – Fides Virtual, La Paz, Bolivia, Sept 23 Catholic Radio Update, Sept 21 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4775, Rádio Congonhas, Praça da Basílica 130, Congonhas, MG Cep 36.404-000, Brazil. QSL letter full data in 20 days. V/S: unreadable. Sent a sticker of Congonhas city, other small station`s sticker, a 2002 calendar and tourist material of Congonhas: "cidade dos profetas". (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, Sept 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Caro Glenn, O horário de funcionamento da Ternura 4845 é: das 0800 às 1300 UTC. Depois, fica apagado o transmissor até às 1900 UTC, quando é religado e segue funcionamento até às 2100 UTC. De acordo com o diretor e proprietário, Roque da Rosa, são os horários em que o transmissor tem o melhor ganho. E concordo com ele, pois ninguém escuta uma emissora em 60 metros às 1200 UTC. Por exemplo, aqui em Porto Alegre, não ouço nada após às 1100 UTC. Quem chega forte até este horário são as duas emissoras de Londrina (PR): a Difusora, em 4815 kHz, e a Alvorada, em 4865 kHz. Depois, nada mais. Só ao entardecer. A Rádio Cultura, de Manaus(AM), dificilmente é sintonizada aqui em Porto Alegre. Após às 2100 TU, quem aparece é a Rádio Mauritânia. Nas vezes em que captei a Cultura foi por volta de 0100 em diante. 73s! (Célio Romais, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 31m bandscan, UT Sept 14 starting at 0000, all Portuguese: 9515, R. Novas de Paz, 0000-0200+, lite instrumental music, talk, Braz ballads, ID, promos, jingles. Fair, \\ 6080.06 poor-weak. 9530.22, R. Nova Visão, 0000-0213*. Talk, ID, religious programming. Contemporary Christian music. Mentions of R. Transmundial. Good, \\ 5964.95 weak-poor; listed 11735 not heard. 9565.07, R. Tupi, 0000-0315+, religious programming, talk by M & W, religious music, recitations. \\ 11765.05, 6060, all weak. 9630.17, R. Aparecida, 0000-0201*, talk, phone talk, ID, announcements, jingles. Religious programming with religious music and recitations. \\ 5035.1, 6134.76, all fair-good [Catholic --- gh] 9645.2, R. Bandeirantes, 0000-0300+, talk, ID, announcements, ads, jingles. Good, \\ 11925 which was poor. [around 1300 et al., I hear a het on 9645, assumed to be TIFC --- gh] 9675, R. Canção Nova, 0000-0230+, Braz pops, ballads. Phone talk, promos, jingles, ads. Fair, \\ 6105, 4824.97, both weak. 9683.78, R. Gazeta, 0000-0100+, talk, ads, jingles. \\ 15324.85, both weak (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. MONTREAL'S CJAD ON 26 MEGS Even after three hearings, on 26.200 MHz, of CJAD's narrow FM mode cueing signal, a Canadian presence in the 26.10 to 26.47 MHz band is still something of an exotic novelty. Mark Kavanagh of CJAD has given the following information: The signal on 26.200 MHz comes from a one Watt transmitter, made by Comrex, situated in the radio commentary booth at Molson Stadium in Montreal. It is only used for football games. The 1-Watt transmitter serves to extend the studio cueing link from the commentary booth down to CJAD's field-level roving reporter. The 26 MHz equipment was added to CJAD's commentary system during the 2001 football season. The main audio feed from stadium to studio is through a telephone company hi-fi land line. In the reverse direction, this same cable also carries the studio instructions to the commentators. The reporter who pounds the touch line has headphones and a 26 MHz Comrex receiver and, for his contribution to what the listeners hear, a microphone and a small transmitter. Molson Stadium in Montreal is on the lower slopes of our local hill, which is optimistically named Mount Royal. My place is about 6 km (4 miles) away and, if it wasn't for the houses in-between and some other factors, I'd be getting this signal by line of sight reception. One thing I noticed on the first two instances of hearing this was that the signal started out at fair strength with every word audible but, as dusk came on, the signal faded down to become quite unusable. Something didn't jive here. Onset of darkness is not supposed to affect short-range ground wave propagation at this frequency. Observed fact disagreed with the known behaviour of radio waves. It took two weeks for a likely explanation to come to mind. The Montreal Alouettes football team is thriving since adopting a "small is beautiful" policy. They abandoned the unpopular but impressive looking Olympic Stadium, known as The Big "O" or, as some wags would have it, The Big Owe. As soon as they set up shop in the down-town, open-air Molson Stadium, crowds surged in. Every home game is a sell out. Bill Westenhaver, who lives in the area, reports that people are still streaming into the ground when the game is fifteen minutes old. So, by the end of the first quarter, there are something like 20,000 "other factors" jammed into the terraces. Enough bodies, perhaps, to absorb much of the horizontal radiation coming from a transmitting antenna. If this theory is true, then sometime in the fourth quarter, when spectators start going home, the signal reaching me may fade back up to its original strength. Something for me to check out with the next home game. So much for the ground wave part of this signal. What could become of the part of the transmitted signal that shoots out above the terraces? True, somebody in an aircraft may be able to hear it, but most of the sky wave just zooms out into interstellar space. Except when there's E-skip. On the relatively rare occasions when the ionosphere's E-layer makes these signals bounce back, DXers in the following areas may be lucky enough to catch some of CJAD's 1 Watt signal on 26.2 MHz and hear how well the Alouettes are doing : the Labrador coast, eastern NF, Bermuda, from SC to FL, IL to TX, WI to SD, western ON & MB, Hudson Bay to Baffin Island. This kind of propagation does occur. Some months ago, David Hodgson in TN heard a 1W studio cueing signal from CHEM-TV, Ch 8, in Trois Rivières QC. A sample of what he heard was available on the internet and it didn't take an advanced knowledge of French to make out the ID it contained. So, given the right conditions, a keen listener in TN may, one day, hear Montreal's CJAD on 26 MHz (Alan Roberts, QC, 25 Plus, Sept CIDX Messenger via Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) Another explanation of fade could be battery running down (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. MW Observations: The last few days have offered some openings for Chinese stations in the MW band and there are some observations to report. Xinjiang PBS 738 Chinese and 1107 Kazakh both with satellite delay compared to SW, so the station seems to have different MW and SW sites. 1107 (formerly on 909) has had badly distorted modulation for decades and has also been off frequency but now heard with clean audio and spot on frequency, so the old rig seems to have been replaced. The new 1200 kW rig on 1134 has been rather strong, perhaps the strongest of the Chinese domestic transmitters at my location, but with much European interference. The audio is synchro with the new Golmud (in Qinghai) transmitter on 4800, so this could also be the location of 1134. Building a combined complex would make sense. 1377 was recently listed in a schedule for Tibet (Xizang PBS) as the MW frequency of the Chinese channel, but it is still heard with only CNR-1 at times when 4820, 6050, etc. have local Chinese, so either is the big one on 1377 located elsewhere or is the Tibet schedule misleading. Other channels heard were 945, 981 (two transmitters) and 1593, all known to be exclusive CNR-1 relays. 981 is a traditional channel while 945 and 1593 have popped up in the past few years (Olle Alm, Sweden, 20 Sep, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. FALUN GONG TV PROGRAMS BROADCAST FOR 70 MINUTES AROUND BAODING CITY AND BEIJING: Broadcasts Vut [sic?] through Distortions and Fabrications about Falun Gong Spread by PRC Propaganda [Falun Gong press release] http://www.faluninfo.net/DisplayAnArticle.asp?ID=3D6228 NEW YORK, September 4, 2002 (Falun Dafa Information Center) -- Falun Gong practitioners in China have once again turned the tables on one of the Chinese leader's most potent weapons for spreading propaganda about Falun Gong -- state-run television. On August 23 and 27, video programs at least 70 minutes long were broadcasted on prime time television over a wide area in and around Baoding City, Hebei Province. Witnesses in the Fangshan area in Beijing say they saw similar videos on local TV stations earlier in the month. The videos -- entitled "Witness and Testimonies" and "Falun Dafa Around the World" -- expose the human rights abuses suffered by practitioners of Falun Gong under Jiang Zemin's regime as well as report on the support of the practice worldwide. These broadcasts mark the ninth incident to be verified by the Falun Dafa Information Center since January, 2002, when practitioners of Falun Gong in China first attempted to have their voice heard over television airwaves. "With mass media under the tight control of China's leader," explains Falun Dafa Information Center spokesperson Erping Zhang, "Falun Gong practitioners in China have used more creative methods to break through the propaganda campaign against them, such as overriding television broadcasts, broadcasting radio programs from speakers placed in hard-to-reach areas, distributing flyers and leaflets, etc." Mr. Zhang continued, "The regime uses its money and power to mislead the public into thinking that Falun Gong is bad, and the persecution campaign doesn't exist. Practitioners of Falun Gong, on the other hand, are using their hearts to let the people know Falun Gong is good, and that people are being persecuted horribly for their beliefs." Round-up of Falun Gong Practitioners Sources in China report that authorities quickly mobilized a strike force and declared martial law from August 27-30 in Xushi County and neighboring areas in an attempt to round-up those responsible for the broadcast. One source reports that a mini-van containing three Falun Gong practitioners was fired upon and rammed three times by local police. One practitioner in the van was arrested while two others managed to escape, this source says. After the second broadcast on August 27, officials from Baoding City and surrounding counties set up a 24-hour patrol of their broadcasting facilities, sources in China say. Meanwhile, as in Changchun and other areas where Falun Gong videos were successfully broadcast, police began indiscriminately rounding up practitioners and harassing their family members. Debunking Jiang's Propaganda Machine The content of the videos debunk many of the propaganda news stories that are broadcast regularly by the state-run media in China. The state-run broadcasts typically slander and distort the teachings of Falun Gong and falsely depict Falun Gong practitioners being treated "humanely" while in police custody. The propaganda also depicts Falun Gong as a small group within China that is either non-existent or repressed in countries outside China. The video "Falun Dafa Around the World," however, presents quite a different picture -- that Falun Gong is practiced in over 50 countries around the world, and that Falun Gong and its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, have received over 600 awards and proclamations in North America alone for contributions the practice has made to local communities and public health. Mr. Li is a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee. Before Falun Gong practitioners began overriding television signals in January, 2002, to broadcast these types of programs, none of these facts had ever been broadcast publicly in China. (http://www.faluninfo.net Sep 4, 2002 via N. Grace, for CRW via DXLD) CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT STRIKES AGAIN By Gerry Oberst, Via Satellite, September 4, 2002 China experienced its equivalent of "Captain Midnight" in late June this year. Although the facts are murky, and may never be fully known, it appears that the [practitioners] of the Falun Gong spiritual [practice] overpowered the regular feed to the Sinosat 1 satellite and broadcast a banner for several minutes on channels of China Central Television. There are varying reports on the Chinese incident. Most of China Central Television's 10 channels, and the same number of provincial channels on the same satellite, experienced interruption from 10 seconds up to 15 minutes, according to early Hong Kong and Australian news reports. Some even said Chinese television was disrupted for eight days, which is not credible, given the technology. Press reports labeled this a case of "sophisticated hacking" and said this is a sign of a new level of attempts to circumvent government suppression. Regardless of who blasted the Sinosat satellite, it is hardly new, sophisticated or even hacking. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) faced a similar deed almost two decades ago and devised a simple regulatory response. A disgruntled college dropout with a technical bent and access to a satellite uplink transmitted the forever-famous "Captain Midnight" message from the Central Florida Teleport in April 1986. In what now seems strikingly naive, this part-time operations engineer struck a blow against pay TV, scrambling the HBO signal with a four and one- half minute message complaining about the $12.95 monthly charge. Interrupting a commercial satellite signal, however, is not an especially sophisticated issue. All it takes is a stronger signal on the right frequency and polarization. The technical chat room community noted, not long after the Chinese incident, all the Falun Gong would need is a 5-meter earth station anywhere in Asia that could see the Sinosat satellite. In any event, the Chinese incident was not really "hacking." Although it resembles a denial of service attack in the computer jargon and some call it "information warfare," it is not in the same league. Nevertheless, again from the chat room community: "There is nothing new here. This is an old 'strong signal override' trick. These aren't the hackers you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along..." (Sep 5, 2002 via N. Grace for CRW via DXLD) FALUN GONG HIJACKS TV BROADCASTS By Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press, September 5, 2002 BEIJING (AP) - Members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement hijacked a television signal and broadcast protest videos to areas on the outskirts of Beijing last month, police and television station employees said Thursday. Falun Gong videos were briefly shown on the nights on Aug. 23 and 27 in Baoding, a city southwest of the Chinese capital, said a woman who answered the phone at a television station there. She wouldn't give her name or any details of the broadcasts. The programming was seen within at least a 60-mile radius, including the Fangshan district of Beijing, said a television station official in the nearby town of Xushui. He refused to give his name, saying employees had been ordered not to reveal the incident. There was no immediate explanation of how Falun Gong activists took over the television signal. Falun Gong supporters have broken into cable television systems in at least four cities this year to show videos protesting the government's 3-year-old crackdown on the group. In June, a state-run satellite television signal was hijacked and briefly displayed messages of support for the group. The communist government say the broadcasts are proof of what it says is Falun Gong's disruptive, anti-social nature. Yet they also show that determined members are defying the crackdown. A statement issued by activists abroad said the August broadcasts showed videos documenting support for the group outside China and condemning the crackdown and alleged police abuses. The group says Chinese authorities have killed hundreds of members in detention. A police officer reached by telephone in Fangshan said several Falun Gong followers suspected of arranging the broadcast have been arrested. He wouldn't give his name or other details. A man who answered the phone at a state company in Xushui said he saw a few seconds of images showing people standing in front of Falun Gong founder Li Hongzhi doing the group's slow-motion calisthenics. Traditional Chinese music played in the background. "Then the screen suddenly turned black and white," said the man, who wouldn't give his name. China's communist leaders banned Falun Gong in 1999, alarmed by its membership that numbered in the millions and its organizational ability. The government calls the group an "evil cult" and accuses it of leading followers to their death by suicide or refusing modern medicine. The government has put enormous effort into demonizing the group, especially abroad, where it boasts a large membership and some public support. Falun Gong promotes a mixture of eastern mysticism, meditation and traditional Chinese exercises, which is says promote health and clean living (AP Sep 5, 2002 via N. Grace, for CRW via DXLD) CHINESE FALUN GONG MEMBERS IN COURT FOR TV TRANSMISSION SABOTAGE | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Changchun, 18 September: Fifteen Falun Gong cult follower stood trial in the Intermediate People's Court of Changchun city, the capital of northeastern Jilin province Wednesday [18 September] for sabotaging cable TV facilities earlier this year. According to local public security department, at about 7.00 p. m. on 5 March, residents in Changchun and Songyuan cities in the province found their normal cable TV programmes interrupted by a video broadcast about Falun Gong cult. Investigations showed that some Falun Gong devotees had hijacked the TV transmission lines and used self- made mini-broadcasting equipment to spread propaganda about the cult. Four urban districts in Changchun city were affected as two trunk cable TV transmission lines were cut off. In Songyuan city, 16,000 subscribers were affected as regular TV programmes suspended for 210 minutes. The cult's illegal actions severely disrupted the public order of society, according to the relevant Chinese laws and regulations. The Criminal Law of China stipulates that those breaching broadcasting and public telecom facilities and undermining public security can be sentenced to three to seven years of jail terms, while those who cause more severe damages can be sentenced to imprisonment for more than seven years. According to measures for dealing with cult crime cases released by the Chinese Supreme People's Court and Supreme People' s Procuratorate, cases of producing and publicizing cult propaganda which cause severe results can be dealt with according to Clause One under the Article 300 of the Criminal Law of China, and they would be accused of disrupting law enforcement through organizing and utilizing cults. A relevant leading official from the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said that the radio and TV stations, and their launchers, antennas, cables and other TV and broadcasting equipment and facilities constitute important basic infrastructure of the country. Any kind of breach to these facilities will be penalized according to the law. China issued the relevant regulations on radio and TV administration in 1997 and regulations on protection of Radio and TV facilities in 2000. The rules stipulate that no organization or person be allowed to intrude and to damage the radio and TV equipment and facilities, to affect the broadcasting of programmes, or to use the cable TV transmission network to broadcast programmes for their own purpose. The damage of radio and TV transmission network facilities and disturbing of signals and frequencies are also defined as illegal according the rules. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1210 gmt 18 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHINA SENTENCES FALUN GONG TV HIJACKERS TO PRISON | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Changchun, 20 September: Fifteen Falun Gong cult followers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to 20 years by the Intermediate People's Court of Changchun City, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province, on Friday [20 September]. The Falun Gong cult followers were convicted of damaging radio and TV property, and of conspiring to use the cult to undermine Chinese law enforcement earlier this year. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0632 gmt 20 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHINESE AGENCY INTERVIEWS FALUN GONG MEMBER ON TV HIJACKING A Chinese news agency has interviewed one of the 15 Falun Gong followers sentenced to prison for hacking into two cable television networks to broadcast their own material earlier this year. The 5 March broadcasts in the northeastern city of Changchun and nearby Songyuan criticized the authorities' crackdown on Falun Gong. The Chinese government banned Falun Gong in 1999 as an "evil cult". Following is text of the report by Jun Feng and Ya Ping: "Zhou Runjun, suspect in Changchun 'Falun Gong' '305' case confesses the 'Greater Law' above the law" from Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She (China News Service) Changchun [northeast Jilin Province], 19 September: Zhou Runjun, the suspect involved in the Changchun "305" [5 March] case shamelessly told the court of her crime on 18 September, but stopped short of admitting she had broken any law. She said, for the sake of "Greater Law" [Chinese: da fa; Falun Gong is also known as Falun Dafa], there is no law. "Greater Law" is above the law. When I interviewed Zhou Runjun, the prime suspect in the "305" case, whom the "insiders" dubbed as "Auntie Zhou", at the detention centre today, I was appalled at her plight. She said, cutting cable television circuits is not against the law, but cutting out the cables and selling them for money is. As long as it is for the spread of "Greater Law", it is not against the law. Like many other innocent people, Zhou Runjun, a worker aged 50 plus at the Changchun Fur Factory, crossed over the threshold to "Falun Gong" on the advice of others, because she has an illness that needs a cure. She began from exercising to reading books about "Falun Gong", and was converted from a non-believer to one who was obsessed. She is now completely full of fallacious ideas, which seem so perfectly correct to her. She told me mankind would one day become extinct. The only way to avoid extinction is to follow the Master, and go on to the next era. It is the Master who has given her this chance. She said, "The Master has turned down an invitation from the president [sic] of Canada to preach "Falun Gong" to all the people in Canada. The Master said he would wait until a certain time when he would be out to preach all mankind". I do not know where this woman, who does not have much of an education, has got all these preposterous ideas, but she told me time and again to write down what she had said. She said, "Leaders of all countries in the world support 'Falun Gong', except the leaders of China. They are afraid they will be upstaged by [founder] Li Hongzhi". She went on to say that she admitted everything she had done in court, but the law could not be compared with the universal "Greater Law". The governments also could not be compared with the universal "Greater Law". Zhou Runjun's thoughts have all been taken up by the universal "Greater Law". She said the universal "Greater Law" created all human lives. Maybe she does not even know there are so many different religions and so many legends about the origin of man in the world. Perhaps she has yet to realize her muddled beliefs have offended the faiths of other countries and other peoples. It is so sad to note that, as mankind has already entered a world of information, we still have someone like Zhou Runjun espousing such beliefs. But the people feeding these ideas to Zhou Runjun behind the scene may not be ignorant about this. But to Zhou Runjun, it may not be so clear. Perhaps one day, when Zhou Runjun has come to realize this, the "Greater Law" that is now possessing her will dissipate right away. Source: Zhongguo Xinwen She news agency, Beijing, in Chinese 19 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) FALUN GONG FOLLOWERS SENTENCED FOR TV HACKING IN CHINA China's official Xinhua new agency has reported on the trial of Falun Gong members for hacking into two cable television networks and broadcasting their own material. Fifteen followers of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement were sentenced to prison terms of up to 20 years for "sabotaging television broadcast facilities, and for forming and making use of a heretical society to obstruct law enforcement". In March, state-run broadcasts disappeared from thousands of television screens in Changchun, in north-eastern China, and were replaced for several hours by programmes espousing the virtues of Falun Gong. Following is text of the report by Niu Jiwei and Li Yabiu: "Defendants in the Changchun case found guilty and sentenced" from official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Changchun, 20 September: The Intermediate People's Court of Changchun Municipality, Jilin Province, began the initial trial today in the case concerning television broadcast facilities in Changchun and Songyuan municipalities being sabotaged on 5 March this year, and of the obstruction of law enforcement by a heretical society. The 15 defendants, including Zhou Runjun, Liu Weiming, Liang Zhenxing and Liu Chengjun, were sentenced to four to 20 years of imprisonment respectively. The Changchun Municipal People's Procuratorate brought charges in the Changchun Municipal Intermediate People's Court on 6 September against four of the defendants, Zhou Runjun, Liu Chengjun, Liang Zhenxing and Liu Weiming, for sabotaging television broadcast facilities, and for forming and making use of a heretical society to obstruct law enforcement. Charges were also brought against 11 of the defendants, Lei Ming, Zhao Jian, Yun Xingbin, Zhang Wen, Sun Changjun, Li Dehai, Liu Dong, Zhuang Xiankun, Wei Xiushan, Chen Yanmei and Lie Xiaojie, for sabotaging television broadcast facilities, and for making use of a heretical society to obstruct law enforcement. The Changchun Municipal Intermediate People's Court, as required by law, formed a collegiate panel and started a public trial on 18 September of the accused on a public prosecution brought by the Procuratorate. The court has found Zhou Runjun, Liu Weiming, Liang Zhenxing, Liu Chengjun and the 11 other defendants, had premeditatedly acquired tools and cable television broadcast interruption equipment and, after coming up with a plan to carry out the crime, sabotaged the main transmission circuit of the cable television network sometime after 1900 hours [local time] on 5 March, 2002, and pre-empted an on-going broadcast with the propaganda of the "Falun Gong" evil cult contained on a compact disc. As a result, a part of the cable television network in Changchun and Songyuan municipalities was interrupted for several hours, preventing television audiences in the two cities from watching normal programmes. Their action of making use of a heretical society to obstruct law enforcement constituted a crime, and their sabotage of television broadcast facilities also constituted a crime. The 15 defendants raised no objections to actions taken by the court, which were supported by a large amount of evidence, such as objects collected, on-site written investigation notes, conclusive verifications and witness statements. The court noted that the 15 defendants had previously been given administrative punishments for their involvement in "Falun Gong" cult activities, and despite re-education, they remained unrepentant, and continued to carry out criminal activities organized by the heretical "Falun Gong" cult. The conduct of the defendants has put public security in jeopardy, upset social order and infringed on the legitimate interests of the public at large. The consequence of their action is serious, and the damage done to the society tremendous. They deserved to be punished by law. According to the "Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China", to the provisions set out in "Explanation (2) on Certain Questions Regarding the Laws Applicable to Cases Involving the Forming and Making Use of a Heretical Society to Commit Crime as Laid Down by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate", and to the roles played by each of the defendants in the crime, the defendants were found guilty by the court of sabotaging television broadcast facilities as well as making use of a heretical society to obstruct law enforcement. With charges lumped together, Zhou Runjun and Liu Weiming were each sentenced to 20 years in prison and deprived of political rights for five years. Liang Zhenxing and Liu Chengjun were each sentenced to 19 years in prison and deprived of political rights for five years. Zhang Wen was sentenced to 18 years in prison and deprived of political rights for four years. Lei Ming was sentenced to 17 years in prison and deprived of political rights for five years. Sun Changjun and Li Dehai were each sentenced to 17 years in prison and deprived of political rights for four years. Zhao Jian was sentenced to 15 years in prison and deprived of political rights for five years. Yun Xingbin was sentenced to 14 years in prison and deprived of political rights for four years. Liu Dong was sentenced to 14 years in prison and deprived of political rights for three years. Wei Xiushan was sentenced to 12 years in prison and deprived of political rights for three years. Zhuang Xiankun was sentenced to 11 years in prison and deprived of political rights for three years. Chen Yanmei was sentenced to 11 years in prison and deprived of political rights for three years. Li Xiaojie was sentenced to four years in prison. The court or the families of the defendants had appointed or hired lawyers to represent the defendants, and the defendants had also spoken in their defence during the trial. Over 300 people from all walks of life in Changchun Municipality attended the public trial and sentencing. Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1040 gmt 20 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHINESE AGENCY DISCLOSES DETAILS OF FALUN GONG TV HACKING A Chinese news agency has carried an in-depth report on a TV hacking incident earlier this year when Falun Gong followers commandeered cable TV networks and broadcast their own material. On 5 March, Falun Gong members aired pro-Falun Gong messages to cable TV viewers in the northeastern cities of Changchun and Songyuan. Following is text of the report by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She (China News Service) Changchun, 19 September: At 1919 [local time] on 5 March 2002, cable television signals were interrupted suddenly in some areas of Changchun City, Jilin Province, when the television began to play the so-called Falun Gong "truth" for almost 40 minutes. According to police estimates, more than 10,000 residents of four districts in Changchun could not receive the regular cable television programming during that time, and some users even received the heretical propaganda of Falun Gong. The police of Changchun formed a special investigation group for the "5 March" case immediately after they received reports from residents. They arrested the suspect Lei Ming in the act and later captured other 14 suspects, including Liang Zhenxing, Zhou Runjun and Zhao Jian. After investigation, the police made clear the plotting, organization and implementation of the case. According to the confession of Zhou Runjun, he and Liang Zhenxing got the idea of using cable television networks for Falun Gong propaganda after they read the commands and technical guidance from the web site "Minghui" [Falun Gong web site, http://www.minghui.org/]. Then Zhou found other Falun Gong followers Liu Mingwei, Zhang Wen, Liu Chengjun and Zhao Jian who were familiar with cable television techniques. They established a secret office in Room 506 of Teacher's Building No 6 in Songjia, Kuancheng District of Changchun City for plotting how to conduct the crime. Later on, the office had between 11 or 12 additional Falun Gong followers. The suspects of the "5 March" case got technical training four times in the secret office. The technical training was mainly on how to cut cables of the television network and install VCD [video compact disc] transmitting equipment. Liu Mingwei and Zhang Wen were responsible for teaching the techniques and the trainees practised as they received the training. Through the training Lei Ming and other Falun Gong members mastered the techniques of cutting cables and installing VCD transmitting equipment. Before they conducted the crime, Liu Weiming brought a sample divider to his fellows. Then, financed by Liang Zhenxing, Zhou Runjun bought other 30 dividers from the Huanghe Electronics Store and Liang bought several sets of VCD transmitting equipment. Zhang Wen brought a shoe clamp for pole climbing. Now they had enough equipment prepared for the crime. On the dawn of 5 March, Lei Ming and Zhang Wen came to the place they selected before and peeled off the outer aluminium covering of the major television cable with their tools. Then they came back to their secret office. On the same morning, they tried and adjusted their self-made transmitting system once more. At about 1900 that evening, according to their work division and previous site investigation, Lei Ming, Zhang Wen, Zhao Jian and other four people formed a group. They brought a transmitting system and other tools with them to No 2 Jingyue Alley, north of the Liangcheng supermarket in 117 Changchun Dajie of Nanguan District of Changchun City. They cut off the major television cable and installed their transmitting equipment with Falun Gong CDs. At the same time, another group including Zhou Runjun and Liu Weiming came to the roof of a house between the south wall of the Jilin Provincial National Tax Bureau and the living quarters for workers of the Jilin Hotel in Qingming Street of Nanguan District of Changchun City. They also cut off the major television cable, installed their transmitting equipment with the Falun Gong CDs and played them. According to the confession of Lei Ming, Zhang Wen put on the shoe clamps and protective gloves for pole climbing at this time and climbed up the pole. Lei Ming handed him the tools, and he cut off the cable and installed their equipment. The whole cutting and installation process took about 20 minutes. In that period, Zhao Jian and other members of the group were on the lookout for Zhang Wen and Lei Ming. Lei Ming was caught in the act by the police and television maintenance staff, while the other members of the group fled to their secret office. According to the police, at about 1800 on the same evening, Liu Chengjun and other three suspects came to a building of the previous County Kindergarten and another building of the County Forestry Bureau of the Guoerluosi Mongolian Autonomous County in Songyuan City of Jilin Province with their equipment and tools. They also cut off the major television cable, installed their transmitting equipment complete with the Falun Gong CDs and played the CDs. They disrupted the regular cable television programme of the county for 210 minutes. Source: Zhongguo Xinwen She news agency, Beijing, in Chinese 18 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) FALUN GONG MEMBERS SENTENCED FOR BROADCASTING OF PROTEST FILMS By Philip P. Pan, The Washington Post, September 21, 2002 BEIJING — Fifteen members of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement were sentenced Friday to up to 20 years in prison for cutting into cable TV networks in northeastern China and transmitting films protesting the government's crackdown on the group. The sentences, announced on state television and by the official New China News Agency, are among the stiffest meted out to Falun Gong practitioners in the three years since the government banned the organization as an "evil cult" and are comparable to the longest sentences given to political dissidents in China. The sentences' severity appeared to reflect the ruling Communist Party's concern about an ongoing Falun Gong campaign that has challenged the government's control of media by hijacking television signals and broadcasting videos accusing authorities of torturing and killing hundreds of practitioners. State media said the defendants convicted Friday were responsible for hacking into cable systems on March 5 in Changchun, about 560 miles northeast of Beijing, and nearby Songyuan — the first time Falun Gong has done this, as far as is known. Since then, Falun Gong has interrupted TV programs in several other cities, and it managed to hack into a state satellite system in June and briefly beam its message to millions. Falun Gong supporters have also risked arrest by bombarding residents with fliers, videodiscs and automated phone calls that play recordings attacking the government (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. RUSSIA(non): B-02 schedule for Fang Guang Ming Radio in Mandarin Chinese: 2100-2200 6035 SAM 200 kW / 297 deg 9945 SAM 200 kW / 297 deg [Samara] (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** CONGO DR. 9550, R. Okapi, Logo QSL-card (Date and Frequency indicated) from Fondation Hirondelle in Switzerland. Card had the Logo of the organization on the front, with details of the station on the reverse. Reply in 115 days. Also my US $1.oo was returned! (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Sept 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. Hola Glenn, espero que estés muy bien. Acá te envío otro reporte. El pasado 21/09, luego del fin de la emisión en inglés de Radio Habana Cuba e inmediatamente después del himno nacional, pudo ser captada la estación Radio Reloj, a partir de las 0652 UT. El monitoreo se extendió hasta las 0748 (cuando salió abruptamente del aire). Fue en los 9550 kHz, con un SINPO de 43443. Con noticias e información acerca de los vuelos de Cubana de Aviación a las 0723. Al parecer, los locutores de guardia (Alexander Niepa y Jorge García Suárez), trabajaban con un sólo micrófono, debido al costante golpeteo de fondo entre los turnos de cada narrador (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. In a recent edition of DXLD you mentioned the frequency change for Radio Sawa from Cape Greco from 981 to 990 kHz. Ken Fletcher suggested that this change could cause problems to listeners in West Wales trying to listen to Radio 5 Live via the Tywyn transmitter on that frequency. Mr Fletcher ought to know that his suggestion is very mischievous one, given that there isn't a cat in hell's chance of any MW signal from Cyprus - no matter what power - coming anywhere near the UK. For instance, the last time I heard BBC Zygi on 1323 kHz was all of 25 years ago. I should think that Radio Devon is more likely than Radio Sawa to cause trouble for Radio 5 Live, or there are some other stations in Western Europe - but certain not Cyprus! (PAUL DAVID, UK, September 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Concerning the SAWA transmissions from Cyprus on 981 or 990, I have checked nearly every night LT if the station transmits. I have found no program with Arabic and western music. I have found yesterday 20 at 2300 a station from Spain under ERAsport Athens (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Or could be you are in a null from them? (gh, DXLD) {yes: see 2-149} Zacharias Liangas` message on audibility of R SAWA on 981- and 990 kHz. I`ve not been able to hear this station either of these frequencies after several attempts. On 990 kHz dominating station is DEUTSCHLANDRADIO in parallel with 6005 kHz. Easiest way to hear R SAWA is to try i.e. 11670 kHz around 05 UTC. 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen and Matti Ponkamo Turku/Naantali FINLAND, hard-core-dx via DXLD) R. Sawa HAS been heard here in Eastern Finland every evening this week with normal signal on 981 kHz. Now at 1630 the signal is very good. But note that it carries separate programming stream than 1548 kHz. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR? 17833.25, 1857...2305+, 20-Sep; het but no audio; too much QRM from BBC in English on 17830 via Ascension till they went off at 2059:30, but still no detectable audio. 2155, QRM is Radio Canada via Japan s/on 17835 in French and continued in Chinese at 2300. First sign of audio at 2250 with music, but very buried. Presume Radio Imperial reported on this frequency recently (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Hello all, additionally to the fine info on Radio Imperial, 17833v, on http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtb02.html and http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2147.txt I just found http://www.gospelcom.net/lpea/spanish/radio/elsalvador.html which indicates also that this is a normal shortwave transmission rather than a harmonic. 73, (Willi Passmann http://www.radio-portal.org _/_/ The Radio Search Engine Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) The same Luis Palau site was referenced here months ago in the previous surge of interest in this outlet. Note that 17835 is also shown for YSKO in San Miguel (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. The station at Preiviiki [near Poro] at present uses all its capacity for Radio Finland, but when the external broadcasts are reduced, the French TDF may buy more than the 49% of the shares it owns today, and then leasing of airtime to other broadcasters is likely (Anker Petersen, DSWCI report on EDXC Conference in August via DXLD) Previous reports implied but did not state explicitly that the weekly Capital Weekend English hour has been cancelled already; yes, nothing audible at 0007 UT Sunday Sept 22 check on 13730, 11990 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've put online some scanned pics made at the European DX Conference in Pori. Find them at: http://members.v3space.com/estrella/fin2002/indexen.htm or http://dxsignal.by.ru/fin2002/indexen.htm (Or, alternatively, come to http://listen.to/dxsignal, click on English flag, then select DX Library and Finland 2002) 73 & good DX, (Dmitry Mezin, Russia, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Another possible TIS station, on 25775 AM, heard from 1200 past 1900 UT, first on Sept 19, stronger than last year`s La Rochelle outlets on 11m. Has a 51-52 minute loop, half in French, half in English (Alan Roberts, QC, 1918 UT Sept 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 25775.1, FRANCE UNID (possibly Comité Department du Tourisme de la Charente-Maritime), 1850-2110 Sep 14 and again 2010-2035 Sept 15, noted with French language features and pop songs followed by English segments. No IDs noted but English features were called Weekend Adventures and include discussion about Normandy, interview with author Tiffany Capote about her book "Regards to Indochina," feature about an image technology park in France and music by Rolling Stones, The Who and Led Zeppelin before returning to French program. The host was a guy named Eric with some narration help from a Peggy Thompson. Poor to fair reception with some very deep fades. Also, noted again at 2105 Sep 16 and 1430 Sep 21 with Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" but with a much weaker signal (Richard D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** GREECE. Effective 21 Sep, Voice of Greece will use 5865 (instead of 12105) for its broadcast at 1900-2100 (via Fyodor Brazhnikov, Irkutsk, Russia, Signal via DXLD) ** GREECE [non]. Glenn, Regarding DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-145, you might want to know, that after this weekend's games, the Greek soccer league games will take a break for about a month. They will resume on October 26. That way you don't have to worry about your favorite program being pre-empted by a ballgame. Unlike you, I enjoy listening to the soccer games, however what I don't understand is the break in the transmission from Delano between 1500-1600 UT. This break usually happens in the middle of the game, and when the transmission resumes at 1600, the game I was listening to is usually over (Chris Rigas, IL, Sept 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4845, R. K`ekchí, 1036 21 Sept, Very strong signal now but audio a little distorted. Caught canned FM promo in echo by man as "Aquí estéreo 92, su progreso FM FM". Finally live male at 1039 in K`ekchí followed by usual full canned ID, and contuined with live M again (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. IT'S ALL EYES ON ISIDORE FOR HURRICANE WATCH NET, W4EHW NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 20, 2002 -- With Isidore now upgraded to a category 2 hurricane, members of the Hurricane Watch Net are continuing to keep their eyes on the storm, which is closing in on Western Cuba. A Tropical Storm Watch for the lower Florida Keys has been discontinued, however. According to the HWN, tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches now have been posted for portions of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula -- including the island of Cozumel. "All interests in and along the Yucatán Peninsula and Gulf Coast Areas should pay close attention as Isidore moves into the warm Gulf of Mexico by Saturday," an announcement on the Net's Web site warned. The HWN activated on 14.325 MHz September 19 for the first time this hurricane season, while Isidore was still a tropical storm. The storm has continued to gain strength, however, and now packs winds of 100 MPH, with higher gusts. As of 1800 UT September 20, the National Hurricane Center was predicting that Isidore was about to make landfall over Western Cuba. A hurricane warning remained in effect for several provinces. Well-known Cuban amateur and International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Area C Emergency Coordinator Arnie Coro, CO2KK, said it appeared that the main impact of the storm was poised to strike the Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) and the western part of Pinar del Rio Province. "We request that 7040 kHz, 3740 kHz and 7125 kHz be protected if all at possible," Coro said, adding that there were excellent relay stations at several locations. He said amateur operators were deployed at CO9BNA at the Cuban weather service, Instituto de Meteorología. Isidore was moving at about 8 MPH to the west-northwest. Heavy rainfall of up to 30 inches and damaging surf conditions were forecast for the storm's path. Official advisories are available on the NHC Web site. Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center, reported that W4EHW also commenced operations on September 19. W4EHW has HF stations on both 20 and 40 meters. W4EHW is collecting reports via APRS, e-mail and its on-line Hurricane Reporting Form. The Hurricane Watch Net and W4EHW at the National Hurricane Center work hand-in-hand to gather and disseminate real-time, ground-level weather data and damage reports from Amateur Radio operators to assist forecasters. The HWN also functions as a backup communication link for the NHC, emergency operating centers and the National Weather Service (ARRL via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ITALY. World of Radio on Studio X --- time change: see top ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. "You are listening to Radio Dat -- Free Radio for Free Citizens of Kazakhstan!" Since 8 August, people in Kazakhstan can tune in to Radio Dat in Kazakh and Russian languages. (In Kazakh, "Dat" can be translated as, "I demand a say," and was used by Kazakh nomads when they wanted to be given the floor during public discussions.) While it is not clear which country serves as the home base for the new station, it is clear that the number of such underground media outlets may grow -- particularly if Kazakhstan's hot summer is followed by a hot autumn and a hot winter (Merhat Sharipzhan, reporter for RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, [concluding a much longer article] RFE/RL Media Matters Sept 20 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. CLANDESTINE: 6348 Echo of Hope, via KBS, Korean Broadcasting System, #18, Yoido-dong, Youngdungpo-gu, Seul 150-790, South Korea. QSL card from KBS full data in 77 days. Sent KBS magazines (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, Cumbre DX via DXLD) So KBS openly acknowledge they are responsible for this station? Or `automatic` response like UMC for the wrong R. Africa International? see AUSTRIA (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Original report said Han Hee Joo was becoming Executive Director of RKI, but when I finally was able to listen to her final Multiwave Feedback show ondemand --- it took them over a week to put it up --- she said `Assistant Director` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Laser / Caroline: see UK [and non] ** NEW ZEALAND. Allen Little from ZLXA advises their web-site has been revamped. It looks very good too! Photos of the aerial and studios etc. Some pages are not yet completed and I'm sure the photo gallery will be interesting too... maybe some snaps of DXers tuning in ZLXA from the other side of the world will appear! http://www.radioreading.org (Paul Ormandy, NZ, Sept 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. GERMANY - 5905 V. of New Nigeria via Juelich. PFC, nice letter, sked, and photo of Julich facility in 135 days for followup on a 1997 logging. V/S Walter Brodowsky, Account Manager (John Wilkins, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot random wire, Cumbre DX Sept 20 via DXLD) Service is long gone now (gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3275, R. Southern Highlands, 1043-1107 21 Sept, Long talk by M at tunein with mention of province, talk. Nice island music at 1050. Live native vocals at 1053. 1056 different male with mention of "goodnight", then another M announcer in vernacular, 1003 live M announcer with mentions of Southern Highlands, talk talk, then long English PSA for a provincial educational conference held several nights next week. Slightly distorted during talk at tunein, better audio later. Fair with slight local noise. Picked up towards local sunrise at 1101. 3235, R. West New Britain, 1110-1128 21 Sept, Saturday evening countdown program with male announcer host. 1116 gave a live PSA thanking the informer several times in English. Different M announcer then, followed by fast Punk-like song. Male announcer again w/"good evening", song announcement, mention of Saturday night, listener acknowledgment, long list of PSAs. Fairly decent signal but faded quickly after 1120, plus the local noise became too great. No Manus this morning. 73's (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 3172.78, 1000 prompt sign on but still in the mud at 1020, best with the 10 meter ground wire antenna 20 Sept. R75, Drake R7, NRD 535D modified, Sony 2010 (Bob Wilkner, Margate, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See previous for presumed ID ** PERU. 4995.60, R. Andina, 1023-1032 21 Sept, very long ad and promo block from tunein. One at 1029 mentioned about 20 OA towns and the next at 1031 included IDs and mention of "la voz de esperanza". Still going with announcements when I left at 1034. Nice signal this morning with a little QRM from WWV bleedover (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. RADIO SAN ANTONIO AM-FM, ATALAYA, TARGETS FAR-FLUNG RURALS Submitted by Señor Rafael Rodríguez of Bogotá, Colombia Atalaya, Perú (special) -- Radio San Antonio AM-FM— ``Volunteer radio at the service of education and cultural exchange among peoples.`` Radio San Antonio belongs to the Parish of Atalaya. A radio station at the service of education, it is formative and spreads the Christian faith; its programming is varied and complete: there are programs of news, health, education, the environment, and national and international music. ``The FM transmitter is of ESSE CI manufacture with 130 watts of power, operating on 95.5 MHz, from a tower 31 meters high. For shortwave, we depend upon an Omnitronic transmitter of American manufacture with 1,000 watts of power and operating on 4940 kHz, in the 60-meter band. The antenna is an inverted V with an elevation of 15 meters. Radio San Antonio AM-FM is kept solvent by donations and volunteer help. The transmitters, equipment, and accessories are donations from individual people and institutions, both Peruvian and foreign. ``The shortwave is directed with the distant, rural listener of Atalaya province in mind; it is in rural areas that one finds the greater part of the population lives, but where the educational efforts of the Government and the Church do not reach because of lack of means, roads, and the enormous distances between one town and the next.`` Database: RADIO SAN ANTONIO AM-FM: OBW8U 95.5 Mhz FM, OAW5A 4940 Khz shortwave. Señor Juan López Encinas, director. Calle Iquitos 499, Villa Atalaya, Ucayali, Perú. Tel. + 51 64 461240 E-mail: rasat@terra.com.pe (Sept 23 Catholic Radio Update, Sept 21 via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. Dear Glenn --- Tried to get a good ID from R. Maryja, but the best reception (5x5) is at sign on, on 15455, but the last two mornings they only had an ID in Polish...but I'll keep on trying a few more days...anyway, here's the 12010 ID at 15 UT. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [recording was enclosed] ** RUSSIA. What transmitter carries the signal of Voice of Russia's Sodruzhestvo service in Russian on 9735 kHz? Time is 1300-1500. Some electronic sources distribute VoR official schedule, but surprisingly it does not contain Sodruzhestvo program before 1400 at all. 9735 kHz is not reflected in schedule either. Frequency is apparently in use since 5th September. The signal is very strong in Astrakhan. But it's unfortunately co-channeled with TWR Russian broadcast (Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia) You may open the handbook "Broadcasting in Russian" (electronic version is available at http://www.radio.hobby.ru/download.html and read on page 37: 1300-1400 9735 250 Samara 140/CAsia Obviously the next hour (1400-1500) is from the same site? (Konstantin Gusev, Moscow, Russia, Signal Sept 21 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. According to Russian online sources, digital tests (DRM) are being conducted via a transmitter in Moscow on 1134 kHz since 11 September, with Radio Mayak as programme feed. This transmitter is listed with 20 kW at Kurkino and is scheduled to carry a relay of Radio TEOS from St. Peterburg during the evening hours (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 19, MWDX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. (Eur.) 11945 Radio Space Moscow via Balashikha. I sent a follow-up for my report of March 1992 (to their address in Moscow) after seeing a reply posted by Jerry Berg. After a response of 117 days, received a full data Radio Space Staff Card with site, it was signed by Andrey Nekrasov. What was different was it was mailed from a US address! The return address was Andrey Nekrasov, 8678 Bay Parkway, Apt. B7, Brooklyn N.Y. 11214 USA (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Sept 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ?? What was this? I don`t recall such a `station` (gh, DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. MEDIA BODY CURBS PRESS FREEDOM -- Reporters sans Frontières (Paris) September 13, 2002 Posted to the web September 16, 2002 ...At the end of August, the IMC refused an operating licence to West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR) for reasons of "national security" and "public safety." The station wanted to broadcast on short-wave nationwide and in other countries of the Mano River Union (Liberia and Guinea). The IMC said Sierra Leone had been destabilised in the past by groups based in these two countries. http://allafrica.com/stories/200209160700.html (via Jill Dybka, TN, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) ** U K. BBC ENGLISH: NOT TO EDUCATE, BUT TO REFLECT Ginko Kobayashi, Special to The Daily Yomiuri There is a movement away from Received Pronunciation, which has acted as the standard for spoken English in Britain for many years. This is the first of a two-part series on changes in the standard of English. LONDON --- Smooth, serious and respected, BBC news has held a special place in people's hearts since the world's largest noncommercial broadcaster was established in the 1920s. Though highly praised as the purveyor of the best spoken English and viewed as a world standard, BBC English--based on Received Pronunciation (RP), the English spoken by the upper and upper-middle classes in Britain--has at times been accused of being too square or snobbish. How has this standard been kept intact, and what, if any, changes have occurred over the years? To find out, I visited the BBC Television Centre in London to meet Peter Donaldson, chief announcer at BBC Radio Four.... http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/newse/20020917wob2.htm (via Jill Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) ** U K. BBC OFFERS STAFF JOB SWITCH FOR A DAY London, Sep 19. The 25,000 employees at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are being invited by their boss to switch to another job for 24 hours in a bid to boost morale. http://news.sify.com/cgi-bin/sifynews/news/content/news_fullstory_v2.jsp?article_oid=11944315&page_no=1 (via Jill Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. "LOOMING LASER LIGHTENS LETHARGIC LEGACY" The latest news from Caroline Central http://www.carolinecentral.com Silent since its July tests from Latvia using 5935 kHz short-wave, LaserRadio.net has started to hint at its future plans. These seem to include a multi-platform approach to delivering programming, which will include shortwave, the internet and Sky Digital. Commenting on the non-stop music tests from LaserRadio.Net during July, spokesman Dave Graham told Caroline Central, "Our primary target is the UK. We need to get an acceptable signal back into the UK. Today's radio listeners will not tolerate the type of fading and interference that was the everyday norm when listening to Radio Luxembourg. Unfortunately, the signal from Latvia was similar. It will be our intention to use such transmitters in the future as part of our multi-platform approach, but our core platform will have to be something far more acceptable." Pressed to explain this further, Graham added, "The only 'free' platform in the UK is Sky Digital, but that won't be enough on its own. We are looking at a 24-7 Sky Digital service, integrated with a fascinating internet based back-up service, and specialist programming also using AM or short-wave as we see the need." Asked about WorldSpace, he pointed out that the UK was the target of the LaserRadio.net broadcasts. "We are about breaking down barriers throughout Europe and the World, but right now the UK audience are starved of 'free radio'. They are all too quickly forgotten. We need to get to them first as a matter of urgency." Discussing the programming, Graham explained that a lot was being kept 'under wraps', but "We will be the ultimate anoraks' station. We aim to bring that famous Laser fever pitch back to radio, and to move ordinary members of the public to become anoraks again!" Further announcements about LaserRadio.Net can be expected towards the end of October. http://www.carolinecentral.com/news/39.html Want to comment on this story? Talk about it on The Caroline Community by hitting 'Respond' or e-mailing caroline@carolinecentral.com News you wish to share? E-mail it to newsdesk@carolinecentral.com. (via Mike Terry, Sept 21, DXLD) ** U S A. VOA CHIEF RESIGNS UNDER PRESSURE By Eli J. Lake, UPI State Department Correspondent From the International Desk Published 8/29/2002 6:40 PM WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The director of the Voice of America resigned Thursday under pressure from the Broadcasting Board of Governors over his tenure as chief of the U.S. government's largest foreign broadcast service. "Basically this guy had zero credibility (with the board)," one source familiar with the dynamics between Reilly and the governors -- who oversee the Voice of America as well as Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, Radio Sawa and Radio Marti -- told United Press International. In a statement released to the press, Robert Reilly said he had left to "seek opportunities in which I can more directly employ my talents in helping support the president and this administration in the war against international terrorism." Reilly was named director of VOA shortly after Sept. 11 and was quickly faced with balancing pressures from Congress and the White House to remake America's image abroad while contending with a news department dwarfed by recent budget cuts. "He wanted to be all things to all people," said the source, "he wanted to be loved by the staff, loved by the board and loved by the unions. He wound up being loved by none of them." Indeed, in July the Broadcasting Board of Governors ordered Reilly to find money for a new 24 hour Farsi service to be broadcast into Iran. To meet the budget needs, Reilly opted to close VOA news offices in Brussels, Geneva, Hong Kong, Mexico City and Tokyo. His announcement to the news staff earlier this month was met largely with contempt, according to one VOA reporter who asked not to be identified. Reilly will be replaced by David Jackson, a former correspondent for Time Magazine and editor in chief of DefendAmerica.gov, the Defense Department's Web site for the war on terrorism. "The board is delighted to have a journalist of Jackson's experience to lead VOA in a period when it must play an important role in presenting the truth about what is happening in the world," Kenneth Tomlinson, the BBG's newly confirmed chairman, said in a statement Thursday. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to join such a respected organization, and I'm looking forward to working with my fellow journalists to carry on and enhance VOA's worldwide reputation," Jackson said. Reilly said he would remain with VOA for a period of time to help Jackson during the transition. VOA broadcasts news worldwide in English and 52 other languages. Copyright © 2002 United Press International (via Jill Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) ** U S A. Voice of America is beginning to refer to itself as "Voz de América" in its Latin America broadcasts, rather than "Voz de Los Estados Unidos, [de América]" as during the past 45-50 years! To mere mortals, that may mean little, but it's a tremendous change for anyone who has know VOA for decades. It had very frequently been referring to itself as "Voa [Boa, like the snake]" for years, as have its listeners (Charlie Taylor, Delano, Sept 19, IRCA via DXLD) About time; yes, we know the Latins are just as much Americans as we are, but they should accept our calling the station by its proper name without taking offense (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi, I'm back to listening after a hiatus and would like to listen to Music Time in Africa but don't know when or where. If anyone can help I'd appreciate it. Thanks - (Jim, ODXA via DXLD) VOA at 1730 and 1930 UT Sun. Try 17895, 15580. 15455, 15410 (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) I was trying to confirm that, wasted several minutes hunting thru VOA websites for a simple program schedule, gave up and complained to Kim. Last I noticed 15580 wasn`t on before 1800. Excellent show. I did find that it`s available ondemand among many others (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Spectrum returned two weeks ago (0300 UT Sundays on 5070). It`s via phone line. Latest woes: they lost the building where studio was in NJ. Also, there was a break-in before they could vacate and a lot of gear stolen. They`re running it out of a living room. Over the years, what was once a good show has become a comedy. I sent my remarks last month. They were off 2 or 3 weeks. Omega is in limbo. Over the years they`ve lost Hal Turner and The Right Perspective. Limping by now (Bob Thomas, CT, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 7489.95, WJIE, Upton KY; 2302-2313+, 20-Sep; Lengthy ID 2311 then Grace Fellowship religious program. All in EE. SIO=544/strong signal but audio broken up (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yes, I noticed they were back around 1700 UT Sept 20 after a week off. Further spot checks UT Sept 21: after 0500 strong open carrier; 1200 mixing with DVR, no WOR on Sat; after 1300 missing; before 1400 back (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WRNO Worldwide on 7354.9v at 0100 with off the wall religious talk on 9/11, America and God. Strong signal but distorted with very poor modulation. Tough copy and almost unlistenable on the R75/SE-3, but the Palstar/SE-3 provided listenable audio. Not earth shattering DX by any means, but this is the first time I've noticed them in quite a while. 73, (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN, Sept 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) N.B., WDX6AA ** U S A. WMLK, 9465, Sept. 2 *1502-1530+, usual English preaching about Yahweh. Very, very weak. Barely audible. Carrier fairly strong but just very low modulation. Gone at 1740 check. Never heard this weak before. Mon-Fri only (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, groundwave range?, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I finally received a reply September 19 from WWRB - via email. It was in response to my latest follow-up report on September 16. Here it is: "This is to confirm the reception report of WWRB. Sorry for the delay in the QSL response; we are still under the construction of station WWRB and all efforts are diverted to this since the FCC only gives a certain amount of allotted time." (Monte B. Carroll, WC4MBC, Nashville, Tennessee USA, rec.radio.shortwave via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) No data? How is this worth anything? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. STATE MILITIA ON DECLINE AFTER LEADER IMPRISONED http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/09/08/ke090802s272373.htm (via Jill Dybka, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) Viz.: Outfit tries to regroup, but few are interested By Joseph Gerth, The Courier-Journal LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The militia movement in Kentucky, once a stronghold of paramilitary activity in the United States, appears to be waning. With former Kentucky State Militia commander Charlie Puckett in prison and Steve Anderson -- another high-profile member of the group -- being sought as a fugitive, the militia is in disarray, despite recent efforts to regroup. The state militia is dead without Puckett's leadership, militiaman Roger Shanks of Lancaster said recently when Puckett was sentenced to 30 months in prison on federal weapons charges. ''It's not anymore,'' Shanks said when asked how the organization is faring. ''When I joined, I joined because of Charlie Puckett.'' The Kentucky militia's decline follows a national trend that has seen the number of civilian paramilitary groups drop from 858 in 1996 to 158 last year. Militia activists cite a number of reasons for the decline, from apathy about what the government is doing to federal prosecutions of militia leaders. But militias are trying to reorganize, including Kentucky's. ''We're just deciding where we go next'' since losing Puckett, said Terry Lee Ingram, a state militiaman who said he's a master sergeant in the group. Ingram said an Aug. 20 meeting for members was ''postponed due to lack of participation,'' but will be rescheduled on a weekend. The original date, on a weeknight, made it difficult for members with jobs to attend, he said. The sharp growth of militias and patriot groups followed the 1993 siege of Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, and the 11day Ruby Ridge standoff in 1992 in Idaho with fugitive Randy Weaver. With the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City in April 1995, militias saw a surge in membership as critics of the federal government claimed the government engineered the bombing to crack down on potential terror groups. In Kentucky, the state militia met regularly and held training sessions in which members were schooled in survival and guerrilla warfare. But virtually all of the activity has stopped. IN RECENT YEARS, militias have had little to rally around, said Mark Pitcavage, national director of fact-finding for the New York-based Anti-Defamation League and a militia expert. ''They have not had a cause celebre,'' he said. Even people in the movement acknowledge that interest has declined. ''I don't think people are educated enough to know how much the militia is needed,'' said Patrick Perry, a former Kentucky militia member who ran the group's Web site until last spring. Mark Potok, a spokesman for the Southern Poverty Law Center in Montgomery, Ala., said that Norm Olson, the head of the Northern Michigan Militia-Wolverines, recently announced he is moving to Alaska ''because he couldn't get anyone to come to meetings. He's disappointed in the fact that all the patriots have disappeared and gone back to their TV sets and wives and children.'' Another prominent Michigan militiaman, Mark Koernke, was convicted last year on charges stemming from a high-speed police pursuit. Koernke founded the Patriot Broadcasting Network and hosted a pro- militia shortwave radio talk show, ''The Intelligence Report.'' Some militiamen and others blame the movement's decline on criminal prosecutions of such activists. ''It seems like a kind of Greek tragedy sort of thing -- cut the head off the snake and the body will die,'' Ingram said. Charles Whitley, a friend of Puckett's who isn't in the militia, said he's convinced the case against Puckett was designed to destroy the militia in Kentucky. BUT U.S. Attorney Greg Van Tatenhove of the Eastern District of Kentucky denied that. ''We really don't focus on the group in this instance as much as we do an individual involved in illegal conduct,'' Van Tatenhove said. ''As federal law enforcement we've not targeted the militia, but in the militia some participating personalities have emerged who are committed to illegal acts. Mr. Puckett is an example of that.'' Pitcavage said the decline of civilian paramilitary groups has happened faster in other parts of the country than in the Midwest, where militias have remained relatively strong. Kentucky, however, appears to be an exception for the region, he said. According to Potok, the passing of Y2K drained some of the interest in militias. Some groups claimed there would be an apocalyptic event as the new century came: The United Nations would take over the country, or the Clinton administration would use the failure of computers to declare marshal law. ''None of those things happened,'' Potok said. ''This really set off a lot of patriots who felt they had been led down the primrose path.'' The criminal cases also hurt, Pitcavage said, citing Puckett's arrest, the Anderson matter and a case out of Cloverdale, Ind., in which two leaders of the 14th regiment of the Indiana State Militia were charged with plotting to kill another member of the group. ''That really kind of puts a damper on mild-mannered ones who don't want to be arrested,'' he said. PUCKETT, 56, was charged in February with possessing firearms, pipe bombs and nearly 35,000 rounds of ammunition in violation of federal law. One of the charges alleged he also had a device to convert a rifle from semiautomatic to automatic fire. Two weeks after being charged, Puckett fled house arrest, only to return to Lancaster in Garrard County in April, with his attorney saying he had left the militia. Puckett pleaded guilty in May to possessing a handgun, attempting to intimidate a witness and possessing an instrument used to convert a rifle into a machine gun. Anderson, a white supremacist who operated an illegal radio station from his Pulaski County home, was kicked out of the state militia last fall, about the time he allegedly shot at a police officer who tried to stop him for a traffic violation. Anderson fled into the woods and hasn't been seen since. Ingram said Anderson caused division in the militia with his extreme views, especially among Western Kentucky members who broke off and created their own group, 911/ KSM. But Jesse Horn, former commander of 911/KSM, said last week that the group is ''pretty much dissolved. I know a lot of people who still say they're active but they just don't come out. Everybody wants to go to the Wal-Mart, go to a game, stay at home and watch cable TV.'' Horn said apathy about what goes on in the government and the militia's negative image in media reports have made it nearly impossible to recruit new members or keep old members active. He also blamed the prosecutions. ''Everybody is still out there, but it's no use playing the game with these people,'' he said, referring to federal law enforcement. FOR CRITICS, the militia decline is welcome. They note the ties of some members to the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups. Anderson, for example, allegedly held KKK meetings on his property and was a member of the anti-Jewish Christian Identity Movement. State Rep. Kathy Stein, D-Lexington, the only Jewish member of Kentucky's General Assembly, said she doesn't think Puckett or Anderson ''had anything good planned for this commonwealth.'' But Ingram said the militia was never about racism, religious hatred or opposing the government. It was to provide a backup for the Kentucky National Guard if needed, he said. ''This was not a right-wing, gun-nut type of organization,'' he said. ''. . . We raised our hands and swore the same oath that a police officer or a member of the armed services swears.'' Van Tatenhove, the federal prosecutor, said militia activity still concerns him, despite its weakened state. ''I do think to the extent that the militia movement moves to the fringe, it's an unhealthy thing -- particularly because of that tendency to become anti-government and to fabricate justifications for operating outside of the law,'' he said (Louisville Courier-Journal Sept 8 via DXLD) ** U S A. Looks like we have a pirate here in Topeka. Over the last several days I've been hearing something on 94.7 --- sometimes dead carrier but usually gangsta rap. Now that WIBW-FM has moved, the pirate has taken over 97.3. Finally caught a voice this morning, ID'ing as "KAOS 94.7" and playing 70's and 80's punk --- heavy on the Clash and Ramones. 73, (Todd K0KAN Sept 21, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. The 100 Mile-Per-Gallon Carburetor HOW ULTRA WIDE BAND MAY (OR MAY NOT) CHANGE THE WORLD By ``Robert X. Cringely`` http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020124.html (via Robert Ellis, Sept CIDX Messenger, via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6010, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Montevideo, 1620-1628, Sep 21, Spanish, musical program, ads, TC and ID, 35333. 6140, Radio Montecarlo, Montevideo, 1640-1700, Sep 21, Spanish, musical and News program, ads Montecable, 35443 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.65, R. Amazonas, *1000 Sep 14 (though carrier had been on for at least 40 minutes). Opened with frequency announcement, then YV NA, long anthem of the state, then programming ended until picked up again around 1015. So-so signal. Also heard 0100 Sep 12, light Spanish vocals, announcements in between, bad modulation, and voice less strong than music (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Según un reporte del 18/09, el ingeniero en jefe de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, Ismael Arrae, informó que la emisora acaba de adquirir dos transmisores de AM y tres de FM. Uno de los transmisores de AM (de 25 kW), será para el canal 1310 kHz de Puerto La Cruz (ciudad ubicada al oriente del país); y el otro (de 50 kW), será para el canal de 1240 kHz, ubicado en la península de Paraguaná (en la parte occidental de Venezuela). Saludos (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. The Voice of Vietnam continues to use several HF channels for relaying its Domestic Service to rural areas. 5925 *2200-1600* (XM) 50 kW 5975 *2200-1600* (ST) 50 kW 6020 *2200-1600* (ST) 20 kW 7210 *2200-1600* (ST) 20 kW 9530 *2200-1400* (ST) 50 kW 9875 *0200-1000* (ST) 50 kW These channels carry relays of Networks 1, 2, 3 or 4, to a varying schedule, in Vietnamese, as well as programming in various dialects for ethnic communities. Network 1: Mainly news Network 2: Mainly educational and cultural features] Network 3: Music and news Network 4: Programming for ethnic minorities At 0200, 5925, 5975 6020 7210 9530 and 9875 all carry the same news summary from Hanoi. The Hmong Service, which is part of Network 4, has recently extended its transmission hours, to accommodate extended broadcasts to ethnic minorities, as foreshadowed in EDXP earlier in 2002. New frequencies in the 9 MHz band are now in use, to improve coverage during daylight hours. This is now heard: 5035 *2200-0000* (XM) 15 kW (previously *2200-2300*) 5035 *1130-1330* (XM) 15 kW (previously *1200-1200*) 6165 *2200-0000* (XM) 50 kW (previously *2200-2300*) 6165 *1130-1330* (XM) 50 kW (previously *2200-2300*) 9855 *0430-0600* (XM) 50 kW (previously *0500-0600*, new frequency) 9650 *0430-0600* (XM) 50 kW (additional new frequency) Both of the new frequencies 9855 and 9650 gave excellent reception in the countries I visited. Until recently, the morning and evening services were carried on 5 and 6 MHz, and the midday service only on 6 MHz. Now, the midday broadcast is on 9 MHz. Transmitter locations: XM Xuan Mai ST Son Tai Note: The transmitter operating on 9875 also carries the VOV Asian Service (Network-6) at other times, on 7285, to this schedule: 0000-0030 Khmer 0030-0100 Lao 1100-1130 English 1130-1200 Thai 1200-1230 Khmer 1230-1300 Lao 1300-1330 Russian 1330-1400 Khmer 1400-1430 Lao 1430-1500 Mandarin 1500-1530 Cantonese Domestic radio broadcasting in Vietnam is being continually developed and extended. Population coverage is now more than 90%, and the government plans for each household to have at least one radio set. There are 61 provincial stations and 528 district stations, including 319 operating on VHF. The remainder are on MF. There are also over 5000 public address systems operating at village level. Half of the district stations have been upgraded to achieve better coverage, and all remote and mountain districts now have low powered VHF transmitters (Bob Padula, Electronic DX Press Sept 13 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. CANADA. 9840, Radio Voice of Vietnam via Sackville. Full data logo card with site in 83 days. I reported the site as Son Tay, but dispute my evidence as being this site, the result was the above (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Sept 20, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I still don`t believe it. What were time, language? Would not be first time a station doesn`t know its own schedule. 9840 is a longtime direct frequency, doesn`t show on RCI schedules. More evidence that QSLs don`t necessarily prove anything (gh, DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. Hi Glenn, R Yugoslavia resumed SW broadcasts today Sept 20 (first heard on 6100 at 1713). English heard on 6100 at 1830 UT so must be sticking to their published schedule. English transmission started with message from Director of R Yugoslavia about resumption of SW. (Thanks to the tip from Media Network) (Website actually said SW broadcasts restarted "Friday 9 September" but as there is no such date, presume they meant today?) [earlier:] Radio Yugoslavia heard again on shortwave this evening - well known interval signal on 6100 (pres via Bijeljina, Bosnia-H) at 1713 UT and programme in (presumed) Bulgarian at 1715. If they're sticking to their published schedule - English should be at 1830 UT on 6100 (to Eur). Other English scheduled: 0000 9580 (except Sun) to N Am 0430 9580 to N Am 2100 6100 to Eur 2200 7230 (except Sat) to Aus (all programmes half hour) Full schedule at: http://www.radioyu.org/ 73s (Alan Pennington, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Yugoslavia heard on 6100 Sept. 20 in Russian at 1800 and English 1830, announcing the agreement to operate via Bijeljina followed by news. Strong signal with some audio hum. At 1858 IS on 7200 followed by Spanish 1900. Their A02 sched for the rest of today should be: 6100 : 1930 Serbian, 2000 German, 2030 French, 2100-2130 English 7230 : 2130 Serbian, 2200-2230 English 9580 : 2230 Chinese, 2300 Spanish, 2330 Serbian, 0000 English, 0030- 0100 Serbian and 0430-0500 English. next transmission 1400 in Arabic on 11800 [1430, it says to me -- gh] 7200 is occupied by what sounds Sudan in Arabic. News c1803 then talk and typical Sudanese sounding music and song. And at 1900 IRIB IS heard followed by programme in Hebrew - Kol David? (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, UK, Sept 20th, Cumbre DX via DXLD) From the Radio Yugoslavia website: We would like to inform our listeners that after a several-month break, during which it published news bulletins on the Internet, Radio Yugoslavia will resume its short-wave programming in 12 foreign languages and in Serbian for the diaspora on Friday, September 9 [sic]. Radio Yugoslavia's morning and evening news bulletins in Serbian, French, Spanish and Russian can be found at http://www.radioyu.org INFORMATION Well, right now (2020) 6100 is on, but all they broadcast is their interval signal. [Later:] Now at 2030 Radio Yugoslavia on 6100 started French. On the Radio Yugoslavia website the page for German news is empty, too, so apparently they just have no editorial staff for German broadcasts at present. By the way, I wonder if the now finished silence period was really the result of legal problems again, since I recall earlier reports describing it as just another case of "pay no bills, get no mainpower". (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear listeners, at the beginning of our programme, and on the occasion of the resumed short-wave transmission, here is a message by the director of Radio Yugoslavia, Milena Jokich. After a several-month intermission, Radio Yugoslavia is again transmitting its short-wave programme from transmitters in Bijeljina, the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The licence for programme transmission issued to Radio Yugoslavia by the Communications Regulatory Agency in Bosnia-Herzegovina, on the basis of a framework agreement reached between the Ministerial Council of B-H and the Yugoslav leadership, is a result of mutual efforts to arrange this field of cooperation between the two countries in the spirit of the Dayton Accords. We would like to thank CRA representatives and the Ministerial Council of B-H for their understanding owing to which the programme of Radio Yugoslavia, which has existed for more than 65 years, can again be heard all over the world and in our diaspora in 12 languages and Serbian. We are also grateful to you, dear listeners, for writing to us during the period when we were present only at the Internet and looking forward to the resumption of our programme. Your letters in which the most frequent question was why we are not in the ether represented a valuable support to us. Now you will be receiving important and objective information through short-wave transmissions and the Internet. You will be informed about all the important events at the political, economic, cultural and social scene in the country. We wish you a good reception and are looking forward to your remarks and suggestions in future as well. (not dated; I found this message on radioyu.org on Sept. 20) (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing heard except hams on 7230 at 2200, nor was RY expected here; but I was waiting on 9580 at 2358, and there was their very nice IS again, 0000 sharp opening in English, starting with reading the statement about the SW resumption. It seems no one has jumped on their frequency in the meantime, leaving it open. How considerate. Not so good at 0430 repeat; 9580 itself fairly clear, but RY weaker now, splash from Bonaire 9590, and VOA 9575. Now RY need to work on their accents... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Glenn, Thanx to tip via DXLD 2-147, I logged Radio Yugoslavia (via Bosnia?) as detailed below. 9/21 0440-0502* 9580 R. Yugoslavia - News heard at tune-in followed by "singing" ID at 0442. Program "Front Pages(?)" with newspaper lead stories; topics regarding elections and candidates. Program; "(Yugoslav?) Heritage" featuring native music. Closing announcements; "Thank you for listening to our programs"; Tas [?]/frequencies and IS(piano?) before sign-off. Fair signal but "splatter" via 9575 VOA hampered reception; tuning up to 9582 helped (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glad to hear Radio Yugoslavia is back. Hearing them here in English on 9580 at 0434 UT on 9/21/02. They signed on late at 0433. Nice signal using USB to avoid interference (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Yugoslavia on 9,579.99 kHz at 0005 in English with news. In the clear with a very good signal although there seems to be some humm in the audio. Thanks to Noel for the tip! 73, (Brandon Jordan, Memphis TN, Cumbre DX Sept 20 via DXLD) Hi Glenn, I was wondering if anyone else has noticed this announcement on the Radio Yugoslavia Web site, which is why I was unable to say for sure when they would resume. I just checked and it's still there as of Saturday morning, with no indication that they have actually resumed. "We would like to inform our listeners that after a several-month break, during which it published news bulletins on the Internet, Radio Yugoslavia will resume its short-wave programming in 12 foreign languages and in Serbian for the diaspora on Friday, September 9." Is Yugoslavia really 11 days behind the rest of us? :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands, Sept 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. ZBC ROBBING MOTORISTS 9/18/02 8:38:02 AM (GMT +2) By Pedzisai Ruhanya, Chief Reporter In its desperate bid to raise money, the financially troubled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) is illegally collecting funds from motorists who have radios in their vehicles, investigations have revealed... http://www.dailynews.co.zw/daily/2002/September/September18/7232.html (via Jill Dybka, TN, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 21 via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HATE RADIO UPDATED Hello from Hilversum, For some time now we've been working on major updates to our dossier Counteracting Hate Radio. But there have been so many developments in recent months that we decided to publish it this week, even though there is still some additional material which we will add as soon as possible. We'll also be adding audio clips of some of the stations mentioned in the dossier. Some people believe that Hate Radio is a phenomenon that started and ended in the mid-90's, notably in the Great Lakes region of Africa around Burundi and Rwanda. This dossier shows that hate radio continues to be a constant danger. Hate radio killed more than 800,000 people in the last decade. Its influence should not be ignored. This is very much a "work in progress", and we invite your comments, questions, suggestions and contributions. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/dossiers/html/hateintro.html (Media Network newsletter Sept 20 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-147, September 20, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1148: FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830, Mon 1230 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCAST ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 BROADCASTS ON WJIE: Plans to be back on 7490, 13595 shortly; see USA BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1148.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1148.html INFORME DX DESDE NORTEAMÉRICA POR GLENN HAUSER, SEPTIEMBRE 2002 GUION: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0209.html ESCUCHAR: En segmentos por Radio Enlace en Radio Nederland, viernes y domingos durante septiembre. La mayor parte escogida para Mundo Radial, en WWCR 15825, los viernes 2112 y miércoles 2059 a partir del 20 de septiembre. A pedido: Parte I (corriente) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0209a.ram (bajable) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0209.rm Parte II (corriente) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0209b.ram (bajable) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0209.rm ** AFGHANISTAN. 8700-USB, Information Radio. Still here, noted September 17th 1705 with continuous Afghan music, weak but steady signal on clear channel (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1148, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN? Re Liangas` report, 6100 Information Radio? Maybe, but note that R Nepal (parallel 5005) has been here until 1715 (earlier closed down at 1545). Also P`yongyang at this time on the frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Definite IDs of ``Information Radio`` or some equivalent in Dari and Pashto are sorely lacking concerning both these frequencies, and have been for many months!! We are only making assumptions based on the frequency and other factors (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. This from NZRDXL member Martin Hadlow, who is working in Afghanistan for the UN. "In passing, I have just come back to Kabul from Bamiyan in the north of Afghanistan. A radio station is now on the air there. Radio Bamiyan broadcasts with 400 watts on 1500 kHz. What a catch that would be! " Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, NZ, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com Sept 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) We recently had a story on this one neglecting to give frequency (gh) ** ANTARCTICA. LRA36 noted on [Monday] 9/16 from 2045 UT on 15475.5 kHz with music; s/off at 2112 with ID; fair (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15475.5, R. Nac. Arcángel San Gabriel Sep 16 2028-2105 25322-35322 Spanish, Music. ID at 2029 by man (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 15820-LSB, R. Diez Sep 18 0646-0705, 35443, Spanish, Talk. ID at 0656 and 0658 and 0700 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. On Sunday 9/15, LTA heard on 29810 kHz LSB from 2200 UT tune-in with fair signal until after midnight UT, when propagation rapidly collapsed and took it out, but still detectable after 0030. Relay of Radio Continental with fútbol, news bulletins, and music. Not heard on 20276 or 15820; all frequencies seem less active since the onset of the country's economic crisis (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Sept 18, WORLD OF RADIO 1148, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6215, RADIO BALUARTE, se encuentra actualmente inactiva, tal como lo noté el pasado fin de semana. De acuerdo a informaciones de la propia emisora, su transmisor fue enviado a reparar a Buenos Aires, y probablemente mañana o el jueves a más tardar, esté nuevamente en el aire, si no ocurre algún inconveniente. 73's (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Sept 17, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 6215, Radio Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú, 0109-0118, Sep 20, Spanish, man announcer, gospel music, ads "Centro de Evangelización", SINPO 34333 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia, Friday Sept 20, 2105: FEEDBACK* - listener letters, features and news about RA. Last weekend Digital Radio Mondiale was one of the many participants at the International Broadcasting Convention held in the Netherlands. The consortium's presence in Amsterdam was another milestone in the development of DRM with the unveiling of a production-ready world-band consumer receiver and a preview version of its first publicly available receiver, the DRM Software Radio. Now safely back at his Headquarters at Deutsche Welle in Cologne, DRM's Chairman Peter Senger tells Roger Broadbent what went on at IBC and how you can become involved in DRM's Software Radio project (John Figliozzi`s previews via DXLD) Repeats UT Sat 0005, 0605, Sun 0305; don`t depend on it being archived ondemand ** BELIZE. Found this in Belize paper in June (Mike Cooper, DXLD) BELIZE ASSERTS INDEPENDENCE, By Alberto Vellos Belize City, June 12th Belize rejects U.S. proposal to beam Radio Martí signal, was Miami Herald`s news report dated June 11, 2002. The report continued, Belize has flatly rejected a U.S. proposal to convert a Voice of America relay station to beam U.S.-operated Radio Martí signals toward Cuba. It might have come as a blow to the chin to some of Uncle Sams political hawks but Belizeans took the rejection of Radio Martí as an act of patriotism. For over two hundred years Belize was under the thumb of the British. Belize achieved independence in 1981. Belize is an independent, sovereign country that no longer dances to the tunes played by colonial masters. Belize composes its own music and its own dances now. Belize was not going to trade one master for the next. Since Castro`s revolution in 1959, the U.S. has worked tirelessly to establish various forms of pro-U.S., anti-Castro modes of information exchange to Cubans in Cuba. Their latest attempts have come in the form of radio and television stations that transmit American propaganda over the air waves to Cuba to undermine Fidel Castro. TV Martí is their established anti-Castro television station and Radio Martí is their pro-U.S. radio station. Ever since Belize successfully attained independence in 1981, Radio Martí`s beginnings can be traced. In 1981 US President Ronald Reagan declared that it was his administrations intention to establish a Radio Free Cuba. However, in order for the Reagan administration to see the station begin, its budget had to be passed through the US Congress, and in 1982 the Senate voted down the proposal. A year later legislation took a turn and gave the okay for the Reagans scheme. In October 4, 1983, Ronald Reagan signed the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act Public Law 98-111. Radio Martí signed on the air on May 20, 1985 on 1160 kHz with 14 1/2 hours of programming from Voice of Americas transmitters in Marathon Key, Florida; and on short wave from Greenville, N.C. and Delano, California. Since then the station has been transmitting anti-Castro propaganda to Cuba. Reports from exiles, defectors, and even journalists within Cuba support the station and give credence to the fact that Radio Martí is the most-listened to radio station on the island. But, U.S. efforts have been cut short since Castro found a way to block Radio Martí`s signals. Miami Herald reports that, In late 2000, U.S. officials began scouring the Caribbean looking for alternative broadcast sites to send the signals of Radio Martí toward Cuba from a different latitude, making it more difficult for Cuba to block its signals. U.S. officials apparently scoured the Caribbean and finally noticed the Belize facility. That facility lies on the outskirts of Punta Gorda where the United States operates two AM radio transmitters. Each sends both English and Spanish Voice of Americas broadcasts throughout Central America each evening. According to the Newspaper`s report, the U.S. State Department sent two diplomatic notes to Belmopan, which were both turned down and backed by reasons which stated that Belize has good relations with both Cuba and the United States, and Belize does not want to get involved. Since 1999 Belize has hosted an increasing number of professional Cuban physicians and nurses working in remote villages, and more than 100 Belizeans students are in Cuba on full scholarships, some of them studying medicine. The Miami Herald report was the lead story on the evening news Tuesday in Belize. Some pundits worried that Belize was in some kind of danger for standing up for its moral beliefs. Not so. Belize has a good relationship with U.S. as well as Cuba, and she has no intention to sour either one. We have no comment at this time, stated Edgar Embrey, available spokesman for the United Sates Embassy in Belize while Ambassador Russell Freeman is out of the country. We cannot issue any comment until the U.S. State Department has released a statement or has authorized us to do so, Embrey continued. Not only did U.S. Embassy spokesman say that they have nothing to comment on, but he held that no one in Washington has officially made a commentary in relation to the matter. Contrary to the T.V. stations that juiced-up the news, and erroneously added that Cubans in Belize are already adversely affected by Belize`s decision, we found out that it was total yeri-so. The BELIZE TIMES spoke with Cuban Ambassador to Belize, H.E. Regla Díaz Hernández who highlighted that she, her government and her people in Belize and Cuba have a great amount of respect for the nation of Belize, and our government and people, We respect the position Belize has taken. It has truly exercised her right as an independent and sovereign nation. The Government and Embassy of Cuba appreciate the independent and sovereign position of Belize, as it has decided not to take part in any manner whatsoever in U.S. brutal and violent war against Cuba. © Copyright 2001-2002 The Belize Times Press Ltd. All rights reserved (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Caro Glenn, Com o objetivo de saber mais detalhes da Rádio Ternura, telefonei para o diretor do Centro Paulista de Rádio e TV, que engloba as rádios Ibitinga, Meteorologia Paulista e Ternura FM. De acordo com Roque da Rosa, a programação distribuída em 4845 kHz é a da Ternura FM. Segundo ele, é uma programação musical, mais adequada para tal freqüência. As emissões ocorrem das 0800 às 1300 UTC. Depois de um intervalo, os transmissores voltam a ser ligados das 1900 às 2200 UTC. Para 2003, pretendem dobrar a potência do transmissor, que agora é de 2,5 kw. Também pretendem transmitir por mais horas, durante o período noturno. Enviei um relatório de recepção e texto explicando o que é o dexismo e, para minha surpresa, Roque disse ser dono de um Transglobe, da Philco, e ouvinte de emissoras internacionais. De quebra, disse que estaria confirmando o meu relatório. Os contatos podem ser feitos da seguinte forma. Por carta: Rádio Ternura, Rua Capitão João Marques, 89, CEP: 14940-000, Ibitinga(SP), Brasil. Por fax: (16) 242.5056. E- mail: radio.ibitinga@ibinet.com.br . 73s! (Celio Romais, Porto Alegre, Brasil) Caro Célio, Muito bem. Uma pergunta: não tem interferências de Manáus? Acha que não funciona a certas horas ou com muito menos do que 250 kW?? 73, (Glenn to Célio via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Rio Mar: Tendo por lema "Uma Potência no Ar" a Rádio Rio Mar de Manaus, atinge uma grande parte da Amazônia, e tem uma papel muito importante na integração da capital com o interior do Amazonas. Uma das mais antigas emissoras amazonenses, está há 47 anos no ar. Emissora católica, pertencente à Fundação Rio Mar, além da estação de AM (1290 kHz), possui duas estações de ondas curtas (6160 kHz e 9695 kHz) que estão no ar entre as 1000 e 2300 TU. A emissora é afiliada também ao Bandsat (Rede Bandeirantes de Rádio) do qual retransmite programas jornalísticos e jornadas esportivas (Paulo Roberto e Souza via Jornalista Célio Romais, September 18, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Dear Glenn, Greetings from NH. I logged a couple of Brazilian stations this evening that you might be interested in. R. Ribeirão, 3205, 2320-2333 9/18 in Portuguese. Talk with crowd noise in the background, presumably futebol pre-game. Positive IDs "Radio Ribeirão" with "rolling" R on "Ribeirão". Teams announced at 2330; visiting team from "Bogotá, Colombia" Poor, weak signal. [not Ribeirão Preto? gh] R. Canção Nova, 4825, 2350-0015 9/18 in Portuguese. Very nice mix of Portuguese ballads. ID at 2358 over piano music; Ads/jingles until 0004 when music resumes. Weak signal with periods of fading. 73 (Scott R. Barbour, Jr, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4914.98, Rádio Difusora Macapá, 20 Sep, 0912, First time logged with Portuguese pop vocals, canned ID's, 0916 live announcer. Mixing with presumed R Anhanguera which in the past has been the powerhouse here (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. GUN-TOTING MUSICIAN FORCES DJ TO PLAY HIS ALBUM http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=humannews&StoryID=1470133&fromEmail=true Don Thornton-NJ tipped me off to this. (And...did they give the frequency? Of course not!) 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. KAZAKHSTAN: B-02 schedule for Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 1430-1530 5905 Almaty 200 kW / 132 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27 tho some may already be in effect) Among other transmissions and sites? ** CANADA. CBC/RCI Previews: WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22 THE SUNDAY EDITION: This week on The Sunday Edition, Iraq and the UN: an analysis of the internal politics at the UN after Saddam Hussein agreed this week to UN arms inspections. Also, the Season of Schadenfreude: that great German word describes the guilt delight we take in the misfortunes of others - Martha Stewart, Kenneth Lay, O.J. Simpson and others. Michael Enright moderates a panel on the subject. Also, a look at Salman Rushdie's new book, a collection of essays called "Step Across This Line." That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. [and 1311-1600 on RCI] SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...Broadway 2002/2003. Join Richard for his annual preview of what's coming up in the musical theatre world season. Learn about the revivals of "Flower Drum Song," "Man of La Mancha" and "Sweet Charity." All this, and Bernadette Peters too. Who could ask for anything more? Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: Sunday on Cross Country Checkup...Canada the peacemaker. This week, Canada tried to influence the machinations at the UN between the U-S and Iraq. It's role that Lester Pearson claimed for Canada years ago, but many say has been lost since those day. What do you think? Can Canada still cut it as a diplomatic broker? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on CBC Radio One. [2005-2200 UT in all zones] THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend...September 25th marks the 70th anniversary of the birth of Glenn Gould. One of the greatest pianists of all time, Gould remains an enigma. To mark the occasion, CBC Radio Two will devote next Wednesday to Variations on Gould - music, memories and more. Get a preview this Sunday as The World This Weekend invites five musicians to talk about how they were inspired by Glenn Gould's last recording - Bach's Goldberg Variations. That's The World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. (7:00 AT, 7:30 NT) on CBC Radio One and Radio Two. Hear that report Sunday on The World This Weekend at 6 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheet via gh, DXLD) CBC Radio 2 can, with a clear conscience, offer "Variations On Gould," 14 hours of programming next Wednesday [Sept 25], co-hosted by Shelagh Rogers and Tim Page, that offer music, anecdotes, facts, fancy, lots of guests including Petula Clark and Christos Hatzis and observations by listeners. It will start with Glenn Gould's 1955 recording of Bach's monumental work and there will be listener requests (call 1-800-205-8553), extracts from the pianist's radio documentaries, Peter Tiefenbach's drama of imagined conversations between Gould (played by Andrew Pifko) and other composers, results of a Gould short story contest, a documentary on the Variations themselves and a live concert of them from the studio performed by Quebec's delightful Les Violons du Roy conducted by Bernard Labadie (Toronto Star Sept 17 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. Greetings Mr Hauser. I am a loyal WOR listener, and a great fan of your work. Anywho, here's my question; Am I on somethin'? or am I imagining things? I've noticed that 1050CHUM is back to playin' oldies from being the flagship station of The Team, Canada's sports Network. In some ways it makes a little sense, with the possible popularity of "Prime Time Radio" CHWO on 740, I wonder if that's the reason, to offer a little competition? or is it that the revenue wasn't as good bein' a sports radio station? So many questions. Check out http://www.1050chum.com for details. Take care, and best of success to you (Dallas Robertson, location unknown, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Site is all about the oldies; no explanation found of the format change. We had a number of stories about it here a few weeks ago: basically, the sports format was tanking, but remains on a few stations they own in other cities (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE [non?]. 6880.1, Andino Relay Service. 0240-0320 September 19. LSB mode. Very nice Andean music, Announcement and ID in Spanish: "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 .....atención, atentos en sintonía, probando equipos. En unos instantes comenzará la transmisión del Andino Relay Service, transmitiendo desde algún lugar de los Andes sudamericanos". Afterwards, identification in English. S/on at 0300 UT. Andean music. Other IDs as: "Sintoniza el Andino Relay Service"; "envíen sus informes de recepción a la Casilla 159, Santiago 14, Chile", "Está transmitiendo Andino Relay Service. Escríbenos. Envíanos tu informe de recepción a......". Ann. electronic address in ARSSW@yahoo.com [SINPO?] 3.4.4.4.3 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Andino Relay Service, 6880.1 LSB UT 0018, SIO 444, música andina, ID, ann (Enrique Wembagher, Bs.As., Sept. 19, ibid.) 6880.1-LSB, Andino Relay Service, +0300-0346+, 19/9, ID y música andina, a/t [??] con música de Violeta Parra 'Gracias a la Vida'. ID's "Andino Relay Service, 6880 khz" y ".... Aqui el Andino Relay Service. Aquí Sudamérica. Aquí una voz libre sudamericana en la onda corta..". SINPO: 34343. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Henrik Klemetz wrote to clarify some facts in the Christian Shortwave Report from last week about La Voz de Tu Conciencia. Although some reports quoted Henrik as saying that Russel Stendal had been imprisoned by the Colombian FARC guerrillas for two and a half years. Stendal was actually held for 142 days. He also mentions that Stendal wrote down his experiences in the guerrilla camp so he would have a record of it. Some 20 years later, Stendal's diaries became the book "Rescue the Captors," which has a theme of reaching the guerrillas with a message of peace and love. The book is available in both English and Spanish through this address: Ransom Press International ** 3555 Grove Road ** Pluiston FL 33440 ** U.S.A. {make that: Clewiston! -- DXLD 2-149} The Spanish version is also available through an address in Colombia, where reception reports for La Voz de Tu Conciencia may also be sent: Colombia Para Cristo ** Calle 44, No. 13-69 ** Bogota D.C. ** Colombia. The station is having QSL cards printed, and all correct reception reports for their shortwave transmission on 6060 will receive a QSL. More information is also available by e-mail at: gstendal@aol.com (HCJB DX Partyline Sept 14, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO OKAPI JOURNALIST STILL IN DETENTION A journalist working for Radio Okapi, the UN's radio network in the Democratic Republic of Congo, remains in detention in Gbadolite 7 days after his arrest, by order of the authorities of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC). According to the MLC´s own radio station in Gbadolite, Franklin Moliba-Sese is accused of having interviewed child soldiers without obtaining the authorization of the military hierarchy. Questioned on the Voice of America, the MLC Secretary- General Olivier Kamitatu claimed that the journalist had revealed certain defence information, but that he will be released without delay. Radio Okapi says that the report in question concerned the difficult living conditions in Gbadolite of child soldiers waiting to be demobilised. One child soldier complained of being deprived of food and maltreated. These assertions have not to date been contradicted by the MLC authorities. The immediate release of Moliba-Sese is being sought at the highest diplomatic level by the UN Mission in Congo (MONUC). On his arrival in Gbadolite yesterday afternoon, MLC President Jean-Pierre Bemba told Radio Okapi he had no knowledge of the matter (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 20 September 2002 via DXLD) ** CUBA. 4200.01, Radio Rebelde (harmonic 6 x 700), 20 Sep, 0902, Spanish talk and vocals // 3600 and 5025. Very weak (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. GOBIERNOS BUSCAN CENSURAR PAGINAS DE INTERNET http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-02-9-1503.htm (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) Mainly about Vietnam, China, Arabia, etc. See also BELIZE, USA for R. Martí items ** CYPRUS. I haven't managed to read everything lately, so this may have appeared already --- The Cyprus transmitter which came up on 981 kHz a week or so ago should be moved to 990 kHz in the next few days (Dan Ferguson, VA, IBB, Sept 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RFE closes Czech service Sept 30: see USA [non] ** ECUADOR. HCJB has another historic QSL card available on request for a correct reception report. The 1968-E card shows the arrival of three RCA 1-kW transmitters in October 1967 via a special airlift. The report may be sent to: HCJB English Service ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador (HCJB DX Partyline Sept 14, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Radio Cairo in Turkish at 1630 on 6235 instead of 6230 as scheduled. Very bad modulation (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Sept 19, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17833.16, R. Imperial, Sep 17 2310-0051* At tune-in, heard a ballad in Spanish with male vocals. Audio was noticeably distorted, and due to QRM from 17835, LSB plus sync was required. The signal would fade in and out, but at peaks the SINPO was 23332. These "ballads" continued for the next half hour or so, but one was definitely religious in theme, as "Dios" was repeated several times. The signal then completely degraded, and I almost tuned them out. Then, around 0036 the audio faded back up, and remained steady, almost at the levels when I first tune in. At 0039, there was a canned ID by a male: "Sintonícenos en la ... Imperial, 810 AM, un mensaje a seguir en su vida" (Tune in to us on .... Imperial, 810 AM, a message for you to follow in your life.) (Thanks to Henrik Klemetz for listening to my audio clip, and extracting the ID.) A program hosted by a female followed, with more vocal music. At 0051 it sounded like someone literally, "pulled the plug" on them. I ! should add that they were only audible on my 45 meter dipole antenna (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See also UNIDENTIFIED below 17833.4v, YSDA, R Imperial, Sonsonate, (presumed), 2339, Sept 19th, Uptempo LA music, with YL at the mic. Good carrier strength, but barely modulated. Audio detected only when signal strength neared full quieting. Unable to pull station ID. Thanks to George Maroti for the tip. I am wondering why such an upper SW band was chosen. The skip zone on this frequency exceeds the borders of El Salvador. Is this an attempt at international broadcasting? [Later:] I just answered my own question. I found the explanation in Glenn Hauser's DXLD #02-055. April 5, 2002. This is apparently a medium wave harmonic with a fundamental frequency of 810 kHz. That means this is the 22nd harmonic!!!! Remarkable. I was not DXing from March through June, so I missed this one. I wondered if it were some sort of spur, but couldn't make the math work for an HF spur, and didn't think it was possible that a signal would radiate on the 22nd order (David Hodgson, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) However, subsequent reports indicate it is not a harmonic, but a little-known deliberate 16m SW outlet. Index shows EL SALVADOR entries are in DXLD 2-057, 058, 062, 069 and 102, some of which may concern this, in http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtb02.html 73, Glenn Hauser Glenn: Very interesting. I wonder what the impetus is for broadcasting on such an upper band, which would put any regional audience in the skip zone. Perhaps religious agenda? Just in case, I will check some lower harmonic frequencies of 810.4 between 13-16 MHz today, if I hear them on again. Has anyone else bothered to try this? (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17833.15, R. Imperial, Sep 19, 2315. Again, I'm hearing them with ballads; no announcements thus far. The signal strength seems stronger and steadier tonight, however the modulation is a bit low (George Maroti, NY Cumbre DX via DXLD) I tried this station again today, and was able to ID it. Here is some additional info: El Salvador, 17833.3v, YSDA, R. Imperial, Sonsonate, 2200-2350 Sept 19th. Carrier on at 2200. Adjacent channel QRM from station on 17835 gone after 2330. Near perfect greyline path between El Salvador and here in TN around 2345. Signal peaked both yesterday and today to nice level at 2345. Caught two nice clear station IDs given by male announcer at 2347. Checked lower order harmonic frequencies, and found no trace of signal (David Hodgson, TN, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17833.19, Radio Imperial, 20 Sep, 0043-0105, upbeat pop and campo vocals some with religious themes. 0045 Ad for religious school, 0054 canned ID "...Radio Imperial, ocho cientos diez A-M", followed by live announcer with talk. Faded out by 0105 and apparently signed off sometime after that. Fair signal with occasional good peaks (S-7) and deep fades. Het from above (17835.0?). Also low growl on the signal from another apparent very close carrier. After 0105 only a single carrier was heard, minus the growl so I assumed they signed off then. Thanks to tips from George Maroti and David Hodgson (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Luigi Cobisi of the European DX Council reports that the recent EDXC conference in Finland was a success, with 130 people attending from 16 nations. A Finnish DXer who also studied theology, Mika Pallo (not sure of spelling of his name), told how he tied his field and DXing together through a study of Radio Voice of the Gospel, the now-defunct Christian shortwave station in Ethiopia. He came to Ethiopia three years ago in search of the station's archives. This station was started by a Swedish Lutheran mission, and was given permission by the late Emperor Haile Selassie to set up facilities around 40 years ago. Radio proved to be quite important in East Africa. Although the station was evangelical, it also allowed broadcasts by the ancient Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which increased the station's standing among Ethiopians. However, after a revolution in the mid-1970s, Radio Voice of the Gospel was closed down and taken over by the local government. The transmitters are still working despite 30 years of no maintenance, and Mika fund the station's archives intact in a small building in Addis Ababa. They include many documents, photos and tapes of broadcasts, and they are now catalogued so that researchers can make use of them. Other topics discussed at the conference will be mentioned in later programs (HCJB DX Partyline Sept 14, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** EUROPE. DIGITAL RADIO TO COME TO EUROPEAN AM BANDS BY 2007 From http://www.electronicstimes.com By Nick Flaherty, EE Times, 19 September 2002 (1:41 p.m. GMT) A consortium of 75 European companies aims to replace current long, medium, and short-wave radio transmissions with a digital system by 2007. Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) demonstrated its first receivers at IBC with prototype software for a PC receiver which will released to enthusiasts at the end of the year. DRM is also going ahead with production of its first consumer receiver, due to reach the market in 2004, in a venture backed by Coding Technologies, the BBC and manufacturer AFG. Hans Linkels, chairman of the DRM system evaluation group, said: "We have to make medium and short-wave more attractive so that it will survive — it is not developed to compete against anything. Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) was developed to replace FM broadcasting, and both it and this technology could live very well together." DRM uses 10 kHz channels in the existing MW and SW bands to carry MPEG4 data and, unlike DAB, would have one radio station per channel. Such a system also has a longer range than DAB: a demonstration in Amsterdam featured a station from Canada. DRM allows data rates between 6 and 34 Kbit/s, and channels can be combined to give up to 70 Kbit/s. The channels use the AAC+ coding format which gives a stereo audio channel in 14 to 20 Kbit/s (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Duh, SW has a longer range than MW, I understand. I`ll bet they didn`t pick up a Canadian MW station in Amsterdam for this (tho of course it can be done on a DX basis) (gh, DXLD) The DRM Consortium will unveil a production-ready world-band consumer receiver, made by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, and a preview version of its first publicly- available receiver, the DRM Software Radio made by Fraunhofer IIS-A, in a special preview with live transmissions at IBC 2002. At the same time, DRM will open the doors to radio enthusiasts who want to be the first non-members to access its transmissions when the DRM Software Radio Project, managed by VT Merlin Communications, begins this December. More details from http://www.drm.org (Mediazoo via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** FINLAND [non]. I'M NOT DEAD YET --- Associated Press Rome --- The Roman poet Ovid may have put it best when he said "Rident stolidi verba Latina". Fools laugh at the Latin language. Indeed, after centuries of decline and declarations of being dead, Latin as a living, spoken language is making a comeback of sorts. Take the recent scene in the mountains near Rome, where 30 Latin aficionados cavorted together, chanting odes by Horace in their original and pouring wine into a stream. Before them was their guru, Rev. Reginald Foster, a papal Latinist and a Carmelite monk from Milwaukee who was barking commands in English and Latin. Father Foster, 63, is a professor at Rome's Pontifical Gregorian University, where he takes the unusual approach of teaching Latin as a living language. He also runs a separate intense eight-week summer session for advanced students, which included the recent romp in the Roman hills at Horace's villa. While Latin has not been spoken casually for more than 1,000 years and only its grammar and literature are typically studied today, the sounds of Cicero and Virgil are resurging among an increasingly wider audience, largely because of schools like his. "I don't like certain methods, memorizing and jamming it, treating the language like a dead frog, or something like that," Father Foster said. Instead, his students learn sight reading, listening comprehension and Latin conversation. Other schools using a similar approach include the University of Louvain in Belgium, a high school in Campania, Italy, and the University of Notre Dame and the University of Kentucky in the United States. Dirk Sacre, a professor and neo-Latin expert at the University of Louvain, said spoken Latin is growing in popularity. He said an increasing number of high school teachers are signing up for courses. "I don't think there's a general tendency to say that we're talking in Latin these days in schools or universities," Mr. Sacre said. "But, it's an acceleration, certainly. Seminars are happening more and more in Europe and the U.S., and there are more and more people trying to teach Latin as a living language." He added, however, that "hostilities and repugnances" still exist among traditionalists. Among Latin fans, however, expressions slip their way into everyday conversations, said Nicholas Sylvester, an undergraduate at Harvard who studied with Father Foster this summer. "Hello" becomes "salve," "I don't know" is "nescio" and "don't worry is "ne fle" (literally, "don't cry"). Still, it isn't for everyone, and Father Foster's classes do attract a diverse group. This summer's group included Gretchen Triulzi, 62, a mother of six who decided to return to a language she loved studying as a child, and Sophie Hanina, an 18-year-old medical student from London who could not imagine being a doctor without first studying Roman epic writers. "It's the most eccentric bunch I've ever met," Mr. Sylvester said. "People are exaggerations of themselves. Think about the person who leaves their kids home, their family, their job, their lives. Think about people who come to Rome on their honeymoons to study Latin. That is the type of person in this class." For newlyweds Sarah and Patrick Miller of North Carolina, Father Foster's class was a natural culmination of their courtship. They met while studying Latin in college. Spoken Latin peaked in the second century, when the Roman empire spread from modern-day England to Iran. After the empire fell, local languages developed and then completely displaced it everywhere but in schools and universities. Although for centuries Latin found refuge in the Roman Catholic Church, its decline there began after the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council, which allowed the use of the vernacular in place of Latin in the celebration of Mass. Mr. Sylvester said that today, chatting in the language of ancient poets is "very pretentious" but that the method brings him closer to understanding the texts he wants to read. "There's no need to justify to the hoi polloi," Sylvester said. "The world wouldn't be interesting without academics." Frequently Asked Questions on Foster: http://www.latin.org/latin/foster/FAQ.html Kentucky Classics: http://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/aestivumeng.html A brief history of spoken Latin: http://humanities.byu.edu/classes/ling450ch/reports/latin.html Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (Globe & Mail Sept 18 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Amazing: An article on using Latin today that DOESN'T mention Radio Finland's Nuunti Latini!! 73 (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non]. B-02 schedule for Radio France International in Pashto and Persian: Pashto 1600-1630 6035 SNG 250 kW / 315 deg |||| new relay 11665 ISS 500 kW / 080 deg 13580 ISS 500 kW / 080 deg Persian 1800-1857 6140 DHA 250 kW / non-dir |||| new relay 7350 ISS 500 kW / 090 deg till March 1, 2003 9430 ISS 500 kW / 090 deg 11650 ISS 500 kW / 090 deg from March 2, 2003 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) SNG = Singapore; DHA = Abu Dhabi; ISS = Issoudun, France ** GUATEMALA. I received an email from the folks in Guatemala saying that a technician from TGN got the replacement capacitor that I sent via a visiting volunteer team - and installed it in the old Gates transmitter. They got back on the air yesterday morning and I heard them just after sunrise here with a pretty good signal - but dirty audio. This morning they signed on with a very nice signal and plenty of clean audio. I understand that they are only going to run at about 2.5 or 3 kW for fear that something else will break down in the old rig! (Larry Baysinger, Kentucky, Cumbre DX Sept 14 via DXLD) ** HAWAII. NARRATOR: WORLD WAR 2 MEMORABILIA - HAWAII ON SHORTWAVE Exotic Hawaii! It never fails to fascinate. If you are travelling from Asia to North America, Hawaii will give to you your first taste of the American scene. If you are travelling from North America to Asia, Hawaii will give to you your first taste, literally, of Asian culture. During the Pacific War, Hawaii played an important role in spreading shortwave programming across the Pacific. In reality, during this era, there were just three major shortwave stations in the Hawaiian islands. These were the RCA station at Kahuku (KAH-WHO-KOO), the communication station for the American navy at Pearl Harbor, and the Voice of America relay station at Maili (MAH-EE-LEE), all on the main island of Oahu. The RCA station at Kahuku on the northern edge of Oahu dates back to the year 1914, when it was established for Morse communication with California. At the time, it was described as the largest wireless station in the world. From about 1935 onwards, the RCA station was often heard on shortwave with a relay of radio programming, sometimes outward and sometimes inward. The most famous of all of these program relays was ``Hawaii Calls`` which was a live tourist broadcast from a major hotel in Waikiki. The broadcasts of ``Hawaii Calls`` usually originated with the two main mediumwave stations in Honolulu, KGMB or KGU. The relay was picked up in California and fed to a major mediumwave network for nationwide coverage in the United States. During the Pacific War, the RCA station was frequently noted in Australia and New Zealand with an onward relay of programming for the Voice of America and the Armed Forces Radio Service. Many three letter callsigns were noted, including for example:- KEQ, KHE and KRO. On one occasion, the callsign KRCA was noted with a test transmission on 6860 kHz. During the climactic years 1944 and 1945, the American navy station at Pearl Harbor, NPM, was noted occasionally with the relay of radio programming, usually for the benefit of local army stations in forward areas of the Pacific. Actually, this navy station, NPM, was on the air from three different transmitter locations on Oahu, all operated remotely from the main facility at Pearl Harbor. On Christmas Day 1944, a big new shortwave station was inaugurated at Maili as a relay station for the Voice of America. This new facilty was located in an armed forces base just off the highway on the western edge of Oahu. The 100 kW KRHO propagated a strong signal throughout the Pacific rim with its programming in English and Asian languages. Five years later a sister transmitter, KRHK, was installed at the same location. After a quarter century of service, this facility was dismantled in the year 1969. There was another shortwave station in Hawaii noted on one occasion in Hawaii. This was station WTV with a relay of AFRS programming for the famous Pacific Ocean and Mosquito Networks. Although not stated, it is probable that this was a communication station operated by the American army and diverted as a temporary program relay. Over the years, all three shortwave facilities in Hawaii have issued QSL cards. The RCA station used a generic QSL card with the callsign inserted by typewriter. The broadcasts of ``Hawaii Calls`` were acknowledged with QSL cards from both KGMB and KGU, and the card from KGU showed the shortwave service. QSL cards for the VOA station KRHO were issued in both Honolulu and Los Angeles, and the Honolulu card is these days a valuable collectors item. Station NPM has also issued its own QSL card. Currently there are two shortwave stations on the air in Hawaii. One is the chronohertz facility WWVH with its several outlets on exact frequencies and the other is the Gospel station KWHR with its two transmitters at 100 kW. Both stations verify with attractive QSL cards (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 15 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. A tropical storm is forming South of Cuba and Jamaica, and very soon we will be hearing the hurricane emergency amateur radio nets on the air... Try tuning to 14325 kiloHertz, the Hurricane Watch Net, and pick up part of the action, as the storm moves towards the Gulf of Mexico... Again the frequency is 14325 kiloHertz and you will be able to pick up traffic from the affected areas in case the new tropical cyclone makes landfall... One of the most interesting aspects of listening to the Hurricane Watch Net is picking up reports from yachtsmen sailing in the vicinity of the storm that provide very valuable information to the weather services. Cuba's national weather service has now an amateur radio station installed at their national headquarters with a group of highly qualified operators that will keep the station on the air all the time that an emergency will require... (Arnie Coro, RHC DXers Unlimited Sept 17 via Bob Chandler, ODXA via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAEL RADIO FOR ALL OF ISRAEL By Israel Harel [Op-ed? or editorial?] About two weeks ago, in mid-broadcast, journalists from Israel Radio burst into the studio of the current events program "Hakol dibburim" (It's All Talk) and stopped the broadcast. This was a protest action against the inclusion of Uri Dan, a close associate of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in the list of presenters of the program. Now, in the wake of the intention to bring three of those who burst in to disciplinary trial, the journalists are threatening to go on strike against Reshet Bet (Israel Radio's "second station"). On the principle: It is not good that a prime minister intervenes in appointments at the Israel Broadcast Authority (IBA). Who, then, will make the appointments? Simple, ostensibly: the directors of the IBA. But who appointed the people who are now in key positions in editing, presenting and every other central role? Politicians. However, as opposed to Sharon, who is from the Likud, the people who did the appointing in the past belonged to the correct political parties. When the government that caused the sharpest public debate Israel has known, the Oslo government, came into power, its education minister Shulamit Aloni decided to appoint Mordecai Kirschenbaum as director general of the IBA. A concerned citizen sent a file to the Yesha Council (the representative body of the Jewish settlers in the territories) containing articles Kirschenbaum had published in the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. "His opinions are to the left of Meretz. Prevent the appointment." Even though I did not believe that Kirschenbaum, albeit a talented journalist, would rise above his opinions, certainly in those crucial days (I was then chairman of the Yesha Council), I suggested that we refrain - and the Yesha Council does have, as it is considered to have, a certain amount of influence in this country - from taking action. The appointment, I realized, was in the framework of "the laws of nature." Kirschenbaum, who is no longer IBA director general, has been for the past two years a regular participant on political radio and television programs. He might get insulted, but his firm opinions are anathema to many listeners, and they cause reactions that are no less severe than the rash caused to listeners of a different species by Uri Dan's statements. Have IBA journalists burst into the studio of the 7:30 evening news program on Channel One, on which he has appeared countless times as a guest? Or into Reshet Bet broadcasts, on which he has also been a guest to discuss almost any political and media issue? Geula Cohen can present a spot only when alongside her there is, as a permanent balance, a partner from the left. Lawyer Yehiel Guttman, a Labor Party activist, was recently given a political spot on Israel Radio. Solo. Elie Goldschmidt, until recently a Labor Knesset member, has been allotted a program on Channel One. Now he has also won an additional program, on Channel 33. Have the journalists burst into Guttman's studio, or Goldschmidt's studios? In their day, did they burst into the studio of Hakol Dibburim when Sheli Yachimovich, ostensibly a journalist committed to the ethics of public broadcasting, made her program a political spearhead against the continued presence of the Israel Defense Forces in Lebanon, including a permanent and open microphone for the Four Mothers movement? Yachimovich, Kirschenbaum, Guttman and Goldschmidt are, after all, "professionals;" members of the brotherhood that decides what is fit to be broadcast in its realm. They are from the same cultural, political and for the most part also social environment as most of the editors, presenters, correspondents and administrative directors - who have continued, through giving slots to Guttman and Goldschmidt, to bring coals to Newcastle. Another example: "Inyan aher," Dalia Yairi's controversial current events program. After many years during which she has been expressing her own political opinions, attempts are being made, in the wake of swelling public criticism, to replace her with another presenter. But her colleagues in opinions and in profession are threatening to strike - just as they are threatening to do in the case of Uri Dan, who has been parachuted in (and they are not concerned by his lack of radiophonic qualifications), continues to be one of the presenters of Hakol Dibburim. A large part of the public attributes to public broadcasting a bias to the left. This is the reason Sharon is succeeding, despite a general outcry in the media, in increasing his influence there. The one- sidedness and the one-dimensionality of public broadcasting are the main factors in its weakness and its loss of influence. Therefore the employees of the IBA should first remove the blinders from their own eyes before they accuse the prime minister of politicizing public broadcasting. The public, in any case, does not believe in their purity of spirit (Ha`aretz Sept 19 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAELI REGIONAL RADIO RESUMES BROADCASTS AFTER JAMMING BY LEBANESE STATION | Text of report by Israel radio on 20 September Voice of Israel's educational radio station, Qol Hagalil Haelyon [Voice of the Upper Galilee], is back on the air after it ceased broadcasting two months ago due to jamming by a Lebanese radio. The station has been assigned a new frequency, 106.4 FM. Our correspondent Doron Golan reports that the station is used for communications studies and to issue instructions to the population in times of emergency. The station also airs regional news programmes. Source: Voice of Israel, Jerusalem, in Hebrew 1200 gmt 20 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9925, Radio DAT, 1505 Sept 19. Man with long commentaries in local, many mentions of Kazakhstan, brief incidental music and identification 1515, ex 9775 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also at 0100? I think not. Sept 20 at 0110 check something is still behind VOA 9775, and 9925 is fully occupied by Croatia in English via Germany, 0114 into Spanish (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA [non], B-02 schedule for LJB via ISS [France]: 9415 1800-1900 17695 1100-1130 11635 1800-1900 till March 1, 2003 17695 1500-1600 11635 1900-2130 17880 1700-1800 11715 1800-2030 21640 1100-1130 15220 1600-1800 21640 1500-1600 15615 1600-1900 21675 1100-1500 15660 1700-1800 21695 1000-1400 15660 1800-1900 from March 2, 2003 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** NETHERLANDS. Hello FRS Friends, Summer is over and that means that the Free Radio Service Holland will become active following a long period of inactivity. FRS-Holland has planned a 24 hour broadcast tomorrow Sat September 21st and Sunday September 22nd. At this moment we cannot give you the exact time of commencing trms, it will be sometime in the Saturday afternoon. FRSH will run 4 hour blocks (repeated over and over again) including FRS Magazine, FRS Golden Show, Off Beat (German) and not to forget a 60 min. FRS Goes DX edition. Enjoy it and make sure your radio is tuned to 7450 kHz/ 41 metres!! We are looking forward receiving your snailmail via our Herten maildrop. * Next broadcast is planned for October 27th when we would like to celebrate 22 years of Free Radio Service Holland. * The latest edition of the FRS Newsletter is out now. If you are interested in getting a sample copy, then send one English pound , two US dollars or two Euro to our mailing address. As a bonus you will receive the June edition for free. An annual subscription only costs 6 Euro/ 4 pounds/ 6 US dollars. * We would like to inform you that Radio Borderhunter and Radio Brigitte have moved to a new address: P.O.Box 2702, 6049 ZG Herten, the Netherlands. Have a nice weekend, 73's, on behalf of the FRS team, (Peter Verbruggen, via BDXC-UK Sept 20 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. U.K.(non): B-02 schedule for Salama Radio in Hausa/Ndebele/French/Arabic: 1900-2000 15365 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg till March 1, 2003 Sackville!! 15365 RMP 500 kW / 169 deg from March 2, 2003 Rampisham (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** PARAGUAY [non]. I monitored the frequencies of 7300 kHz and 7370- 7375 and I found on 7300 a Russian program (I presumed that is The Voice of Turkey) and on 7374.98 I listened to Gene Scott program [Costa Rica]. 73s (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Sept 19, no times given, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Sobre la misteriosa Radio América de Paraguay. Esto ya parece una leyenda: emite las 24 horas segun algunas fuentes y emails de la propia emisora, pero por aqui, en paises limitrofes, nadie conocido hasta hoy la ha escuchado concretamente: ninguna señal, ni siquiera la mas minima indicando una portadora en sus frecuencias. Eso al menos, hasta hoy.... 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Sept 20, Conexión Digital via DXLD) [Continues to cause consternation: GIB says despite its claims to be on the air 24 hours, no one in neighboring countries has heard anything concrete --- no signal, not even a trace of a carrier on its frequencies, so far; a `legend`] ** PERU. 3172.61 RF, 1010-1025 18 Sept., weak Latin with "música andina" on Radio Municipal frequency; no sign at 2330. R75, Drake R7, NRD 535D modified, Sony 2010 (Robert Wilkner, Margate, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5384.32, R. Huarmaca, 1023, Sept 19th, Folk music between announcer's comments in Spanish. ID given at 1023 and 1025. Good signal strength and modulation (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Hello guys, I got a very nice QSL by email - have been looking for this one since many years! (Tor-Henrik Ekblom, Esbo, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tacna, Perú 5 de Setiembre 2002 Señor Tor-Henrik Ekblom Esbo - Finlandia [original was ALL CAPS:] Estimado amigo oyente, recibí su atenta carta via e-mail y con gran satisfacción debo comunicarle que los datos consignados son correctos por lo que le comfirmo su sintonía efectuada en la fecha indicada; a esas horas emitimos programa informativo deportivo pero ese día fue suspendido por programa especial con los contenidos que nos escribe. Nuestra señal en baja porque nuestra potencia es muy baja, solo 200 watts; imagino que la otra emisora de Brasil emite con mucho más potencia en la misma frecuencia, de alli la interferencia; de igual forma me informan desde Argentina. Agradecido por su amable reportaje. Tenemos varios amigos oyentes en Finlandia que nos remiten sus cartas y le respondemos ahora via e-mail solamente por ser más práctico, rápido y económico. Saludos cordiales. (Ing. Alfonso Cáceres, Gerente de operaciones, RADIO TACNA, Tacna, Perú via Ekblom, Esbo 18 Sep, DXLD) i.e. on 9505v ** POLAND [non]. Dear Glenn, In your DXLD 2-145 you have a comprehensive article on Radio Maryja. The schedule mentioned there and on their quoted website is, however, wrong. At present they are on 15455 kHz 0500-0715 UT Mon-Sat and 0600-0800 Sat + 1400-1700 on 12010 kHz and 1700-2200 on 7380 kHz. They have ID with (correct) frequency info in Polish and English at the start and end of each transmission (Erik Køie, Copenhagen, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. In order to prevent any misunderstanding caused by fake HFCC data: the reported transmitter on 6160 kHz is located in (near) Arkhangel`sk and is run with 40 kW (2 x 20 kW). It carries Radio Rossii and the regional programs from GTRK "Pomorye" from Arkhangel`sk (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. WDJD: Vickie Haleck vickiehaleck@hotmail.com is interested in reports for WDJD and wrote in August: ``We have been getting reports from different people about getting us on 576 in their cars, some 580 around the island and some on 585, and we are having our engineers looking into the matter. We are broadcasting 24 hours. Greetings and Talofa from American Samoa`` (Sept NZ DX Times via DXLD) What is there to look into? They are transmitting on 580, as previously reported. If someone has a car radio set to 9 kHz steps, it would display one of the adjacent frequencies, unable to tune exactly to 580; however, the reason for dispensing with its authorised frequency 585 was to put it on the more common 10-kHz spacing in American cars (gh, DXLD) ** SEALAND. --- In RadioAnoraksUk@y..., "andrew_yeates" wrote: This evening the London edition of the BBC TV programmme 'Inside Out' featured Sealand: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/insideldn/insideout/vote.shtml If you missed the report, it can be seen via this link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/realmedia/insideout/insideout.ram (Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) It`s the first 9:20 of the 31-minute programme; may not be available for long, or are previous programmmes archived? (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 567, Cape Talk is my only local daytime MW station, but only comes in on the DX 1 Pro and not my portables. The station is supposed to be 50 kW, but often I suspect it is a lot less. I am surprised you [Rocco Controneo in Rio de Janeiro] get R. 702, the sister station to 567 Cape Talk, as although it is a full strength 100 kW station, it has a very effective curtain [sic] antenna that beams South. So although 567 Cape Talk is only 200 kilometers away, the R. 702 station comes in much more clearly and powerfully in the evening, even though it is some 1400 kilometers distant. Whilst these two stations are sisters, they carry separate programming - all talk show format, but at night the programming is sometimes the same. R. Islam is going strong on 1548 from its near Johannesburg transmitter site, and regretfully blocks R. St. Helena and Capital R. London, which I used to enjoy before R. Islam blocked them. R. Today on 1485 is an interesting station, run and owned by a group of aged retired broadcasters. The format is some talk and lots of "golden oldies" type music in English. Incidentally, I seldom get any MW catches other than Brazil from South America, and these mainly come in with the greyline just before sunrise. If conditions are good though, I can also sometimes get Brazilian MW in the evenings at around your sunset at 2100 UT. (John Plimmer, MONTAGU. Western Cape Province, Republic of SOUTH AFRICA, Sept 18, mwdx yahoogroups via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. SABC UNABLE TO AFFORD BROADCSTS IN ALL OFFICIAL LANGUAGES | Text of report by South African news agency SAPA via AllAfrica.com The SA Broadcasting Corporation [SABC] would not be able to remain economically sustainable if it fulfilled its constitutional requirements to broadcast in all official languages, the SABC board's financial head Peter Matlare said on Tuesday. Matlare was speaking during an SABC presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Communications on amendments to the broadcasting bill. Among the many difficulties the SABC had with the amendments was the proposed provision of regional television stations by the Department of Communication. He said that although the SABC supported any measures that would provide services in languages that had been marginalized, the move would have severe implications for the SABC. "While we aware of our responsibilities in terms of the constitution, it would be almost impossible to provides services in all languages and remain economically stable at the same time," he said. Among the problems the SABC had were constitutional concerns, the financial viability of regional stations, and how they would be funded. He said he could not comment fully on regional stations because a detailed feasibility study had not been carried out. "However at this stage we have some initial concerns about the impact the move will have on the viability of the SABC," he said. The SABC's constitutional concerns were addressed by Matthew Chaskalson who told the committee that the establishment of regional stations would require huge infrastructure development and start-up financing. He said the provisions in the bill on regional stations could by struck down by the Constitutional Court resulting in huge losses to the SABC. Committee chairman Nat Kekana, said he could not see how the establishment of regional stations would conflict with the constitution because the provision of services in all official languages was contained in the founding clauses of the constitution. The executive chairman of the Freedom of Expression Institute, Jane Duncan, told the commission in her submission to the committee, that she was concerned the bill would undermine the accountability and the independence of the SABC board, She said both were crucial for the operation of the broadcaster. "The two are a package deal. You can't have accountability without independence and you can't have independence without accountability," she said. She also proposed that the public service broadcaster element of the SABC should be relieved of all advertising. "This will free up advertising for the commercial stations who were in need of more income," she said. Referring to the establishment of regional stations, she said there had been rumours that SABC3 was due to be privatized. "If this is so, then I cannot understand why they would want to set up new stations while disposing of an existing one," she said. Kekane said he knew nothing about the privatization of the channel and thought it was no more than a rumour. Source: SAPA news agency, Johannesburg, in English 18 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) COSATU TO MARCH ON SABC OFFICES; URGES MEDIA "TRANSFORMATION" | Text of report by South African news agency SAPA web site Johannesburg, 19 September: The Congress of SA Trade Unions will march to SABC [South African Broadcasting Corporation] offices around the country on Heritage Day, Cosatu Secretary-General Zwelinzima Vavi said on Thursday [19 September]. "We will also march to the offices of City Press and Media24 in Auckland Park to hand over a memorandum calling for the broader transformation of the entire journalistic media in South Africa," Vavi told a press conference in Johannesburg. He accused the City Press newspaper of gutter journalism and said the SABC failed dismally to deliver on its cultural, language and human dignity mandate. "It is our belief that the SABC is not adhering to the spirit or even the letter of its charter." He said Cosatu chose Heritage Day (next week Tuesday) to stage the march because the working class and African society was not served by the public broadcaster. "We felt that our heritage as a working class, African society was not being served by our publicly owned broadcaster which does not set an example for private, profit-driven media institutions." Cosatu would demand better coverage of labour from the SABC, the promotion of the cultures, values, ethics and norms of African people and would call for an end to the massive broadcasting of Western programmes on television. Source: SAPA news agency web site, Johannesburg, in English 1030 gmt 19 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 9770, SLBC heard with All Asia service September 20th, fair on clear channel, news bulletin to 1512 then programme of early 60s pop music to closing announcement 1530, Hindi religious style chanting, anthem and off 1536 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. CLANDESTINE from UK to SUDAN. 21550, Millennium Voice. I read with great interest a recent Observer report that this one had left the air. It took a few days to reach him by phone, but a source at the Voice of Eritrea newspaper in Germany says that the station is still on the air, albeit on a reduced schedule. He claimed that they are just on Mondays and Fridays now from 1330-1430, instead of daily as before. This one can be tough in the USA with co-channel Christian Voz so any help in confirming this would be appreciated (Hans Johnson, Sep 19, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 21550 Millenium Voice, Sawt al-Qarn Heard September 20th opening 1330 with identifications including one in English, Koran recitation, lady in Arabic with transmission details, email address, incidental music and into commentaries in Arabic. Weak to fair with fading on clear channel. Reported Mondays and Fridays only now per Voice of Eritrea newspaper via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. U.K.(non): B-02 schedule for Millennium Voice in Arabic: 1330-1430 21550 Woofferton 250 kW / 140 deg ||||| Mon/Fri only, ex Daily (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27, tho some may already be in effect) Millennium Voice heard opening at 1330 on Friday Sept. 20th on 21550. Clear English ID then into Arabic language programming (N. R. Green, Blackpool, England, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "HeartBeat" looks at sensors for emotional touch and the Superwoman syndrome Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In "Spectrum" international film meeting in Öland Sunday: "Sounds Nordic" (SCDX/MediaScan Sept 18 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. FRANCE(non): B-02 schedule for Radio Taipei International in French: 2200-2300 12060 ISS 500 kW / 190 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** TIBET [?]. Report is in to Holy Tibet for 1100 UT English broadcast on 9490. Signals have improved with the season. But WRTH lists this frequency as Xi`an; does anybody know the transmitter QTH for sure? 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PWBR `2002` says it is Baoji; HFCC site list shows: BJI Baoji CHN 34N30 107E10, which is just west of Xi`an and well outside Tibet, but no China listings at all on 9490, a `traditional` Tibet frequency for sesquidecades. Of course due to skip distances, it makes some sense to site higher `domestic` frequencies for Xizang outside it, not to mention maintaining control over them in case of insurrexion (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1148, DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. B-02 schedule for Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese: 1215-1300 15400 TAC 100 kW / 130 deg Tashkent 15645 DB 100 kW / 117 deg Dushanbe 15655 DB 100 kW / 115 deg Dushanbe 15680 A-A 100 kW / 132 deg Almaty 1430-1515 11975 TAC 100 kW / 130 deg Tashkent (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. U S A(non): B-02 schedule for United Nations Radio via MERLIN transmitters (Mon to Fri) with kW, azimuths: Arabic French 1830-1845 9850 RMP 500 / 115 1700-1715 7170 MEY 100 / 076 13775 SKN 300 / 180 17595 SKN 300 / 180 21535 MEY 500 / 342 English Portuguese 1730-1745 7170 MEY 100 / 005 1715-1720 21535 MEY 500 / 342 15495 SKN 300 / 125 1725-1730 7170 MEY 100 / 005 17580 ASC 250 / 065 [Rampisham, UK; Skelton UK; Meyerton, South Africa; Ascension Island] 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** U S A. VINTAGE 1AW QSL BRINGS RECORD PRICE OF $2,125 !!! From http://www.arrl.org/ (where this a photo) Sep 18, 2002 We're not certain if ARRL co-founder and first president Hiram Percy Maxim would have been proud or surprised to know that one of his old 1AW QSLs apparently set a price record for the sale of a single QSL card. A 1923-vintage HPM 1AW card recently went for $2125 on the eBay auction site. Neither the seller nor the buyer have been identified, but ARRL member Paul Cassel, VE3SY, of Petersburg, Ontario, Canada, acted as the sale agent and posted the card on the auction site. "The winning bidder is in California and is a very serious QSL collector," he said after the auction closed. Cassel pledged to donate half of his sale commission to the W1AW Endowment Fund. The 1AW card appears to verify reception of 9CTR on a wavelength of 193 meters rather than a two-way contact. "You were calling another 9," Maxim wrote in the card's "Remarks" section. Although the card proclaims "American Radio Relay League Station 1AW" across the top, the now-famous call sign was Maxim's own personal call sign at the time, not the League's, and Maxim operated from his home on Hartford. Until the 1AW card sale, Cassel says the highest known price paid for a single QSL card was more than $1100 for an AC4YN QSL from the Tibet DXpedition of Sir Evan Nepean, G5YN, who died last March at age 92 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, WJIE has had some transmitter problems with a recent storm, but new updates should have the facility up and running full strength again 9/20. We plan to have Transmitter 2 up and running as well by the end of the month on 13.595 MHz. Thanks for your service to the shortwave community (Doc Burkhart, WJIE Shortwave, Sept 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 50mhz topica reflector: About two weeks ago, I was searching for the MUF during a band opening on a Sunday night and ran across a very strong short-wave broadcasters third harmonic on 45.990 MHz. I found their fundamental frequency to be 15.330 MHz. Tonight (Sunday, 16 Sept, 2002) at 0244 Z until their carrier dropped at 0300 Z, I copied this same station again. They were broadcasting in Spanish and S9 + on their fundamental frequency of 15.330 MHz and about S6 on their third harmonic at 45.990 MHz. This time I got their ID several times and identified them at Radio Martí, a USA mainland based series of stations broadcasting to Cuba on several SWBC frequencies, including 15.330 from Greenville, N.C. and on 1180 kHz in the medium wave band from Marathon, Florida. According to their frequency chart at: http://www.ibb.gov/marti.frec.html The 15.330 MHz frequency is used for only two hours per week on Sunday nights from 1700-1800 EST [sic] and 1800-1900 EST which fits the time window that I have now heard them two times. [no, it doesn`t...] To me these are not problems but another tool to check MUF/radio conditions, but, due their limited on the air time on this frequency, it severely limits its use for that. If anyone reads this who lives within ground-wave range of Greenville, NC, please give a listen next Sunday night and re-confirm what I have heard, as I can only hear it when the band is open. The receiver used is an Icom 756 PRO II. 73, Sam Neal N5AF EM-20 50 miles North of Houston, Texas ----- Visit the Six Club web page at: http://6mt.com/club.htm (via Wayne Heinen, CO, DXLD) Au Contraire; the schedule allegedly updated daily at http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt shows greater usage, every day, of 15330, from Delano, not Greenville: 15330 0000 0300 OCB LARM SPAN DL 01 100 15330 2200 2400 OCB LARM SPAN DL 01 100 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO AND TV MARTÍ BROADCAST MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TO CUBA Washington, D.C., September 10, 2002-- The Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), which operates Radio and TV Martí, is broadcasting select baseball games to Cuba for the remainder of the 2002 season under an agreement with Major League Baseball. Already, Radio Martí`s listeners have heard play-by-play coverage in Spanish of several games, including match-ups between the Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. The agreement gives OCB the right to broadcast two games a week over Radio Martí, as well as the division and league championships and the World Series. TV Martí will broadcast the division and league championships, the World Series and a weekly program known as ``A Taste of Baseball,`` or ``Sabor a Béisbol.`` Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which oversees all U.S. international, nonmilitary broadcasting, praised the agreement. ``It`s good news for the Cuban people. It`s good news for Americans,`` he said, adding, ``I`m sure President Bush could not be more pleased.`` Bush was a former managing general partner of the Texas Rangers. ``We are extremely excited to provide Major League Baseball programming to Cuba,`` said Paul Archey, Senior Vice President of Major League Baseball International. ``Cuba has a great passion for baseball and we believe that expanded exposure to Major League Baseball will only heighten that level of passion.`` Salvador Lew, OCB`s director, said the broadcasts are ``another major step in providing our audience in Cuba with news and events that are denied them by the Cuban government`s state-controlled media.`` He noted that baseball is the most popular sport in Cuba. In 1999, Major League Baseball and the Cuban Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation staged two historic exhibition games between the Baltimore Orioles and the Cuban National Team. The Baltimore Orioles traveled to Havana to play the first exhibition game on March 28, 1999, which marked the first time a Major League Baseball team had played a game in Cuba in 40 years. The Cuban National team visited Baltimore for a rematch against the Orioles on May 3, 1999. Eleven Major League teams have Spanish language feeds. For cases in which a Spanish language version of a game is not available, Radio and TV Martí will use an English language feed from which to dub a Spanish language broadcast (BBG Sept 10 press release, Sept 20 via DXLD) ** U S A. PANGLOBAL WIRELESS COMING TO WBCQ! Perhaps you heard the original pirate broadcasts of the mid-1990's. Maybe you were there when TTN pulled the plug on a rebroadcast of the "Sloppy Sex Extravaganza" on PanGlobal Wireless. Or maybe you don't know what on Earth I'm talking about. Anyway, you'll get an experience unique to broadcast listening if you tune in to WBCQ - The Planet on shortwave! Premières 27 September 2002. Fridays: 2100-2130 UT on 7.415 MHz, Saturdays at 1900 UT on 17.495 MHz Tune in to the music, commentary, bad Spanish and worse comedy! Hey, it's a half hour...what have you got to lose? PanGlobal Wireless is not the pirate broadcast of days gone by; we've simply stolen the name because we liked the show. Honest. Really. Sh-h-h! Don't tell Allan H. Weiner what we're up to! (Paul at Secret Studio, Sep 18, rec.radio.broadcasting via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RADIO FREE EUROPE CZECH BRANCH TO END BROADCASTING ON 30 SEPTEMBER | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 19 September: The Radio Svobodna Evropa (RSE), the Czech version of the RFE/RL, will definitively end its broadcasting after 52 years on 30 September since the US council of governors for foreign broadcasting refused its further financing, RFE Czech desk head Olga Kopecka told CTK today. The date was already announced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) head Thomas Dine in July. He said the USA needed money to extend broadcasting to other countries in connection with its fight against terrorism... The United States paid 650,000 dollars (19.5m Czech korunas) annually for the Czech broadcasting, while the public Czech Radio 6 station provided the equipment, frequency and broadcasting time... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1617 gmt 19 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. 660 (KTNN) AZ, Window Rock. This has been off for at least a week (Bill Nittler, Mancos CO, undated!, IRCA Sept 21 Soft DX Monitor, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** U S A. 1260 KVSF - SANTA FE, NM KTRC; 1400 KTRC - SANTA FE, NM KVSF. 1260 KTRC - SANTA FE, NM TALK; 1400 KVSF - SANTA FE, NM TRAD. C&W - ABC (NZ DX Times Sept via DXLD) I.e. these two have swapped calls; why bother? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I too have doubts about AM in the long run. The real issue is that even without IBOC, most AMs are coverage crippled, and cannot compete even with other AMs that have better signals. Take a market like San Diego. Only 2 AMs really cover the entire county, which is the metro. And KOGO uses an FM repeater to cover NE SD County better. The rest of the AMs are going to continue to slide and eventually, some will go away or find other sues... maybe datacasting. Ding ding ding ding ding! We have a winner! David, perhaps inadvertently, has tipped the industry's hand here: so much of the fight to make TV and now radio digital is not about the "main channel" programming. It's all about whatever data can ride the stream as well. From the dawn of the DTV conversion, station owners and networks have had stars in their eyes about the riches to be made from leasing out some of their data stream into the home. That's 6 MHz per station, and I'm not yet seeing much in the way of a viable business model for DTV datacasting. Will 10 kHz worth of bandwidth, in a frequency band highly subject to atmospheric and man- made interference and unpredictable propagation effects ("DX: it's a bug, not a feature") and requiring very large, land-gobbling antennas, be any more relevant for datacasting than they would be as "unusable" audio services? My crystal ball isn't too optimistic... -s (Scott Fybush, NY) Well if Clear Channel knows as much about AM radio as they say ...why then did they start dropping the stereo operations of most of their AM stations? Even though the receivers are not out there in huge numbers, if it helps make the station sound BETTER, then why defeat it? (same goal as digital right?..better sound?..that`s what I thought too!) Now with the talk of IBOC...the mass interference generator that it will be is only taking us back to the early days of radio. The analog will be met with a narrow sound, the digital more than likely will have a hard time keeping up coverage wise compared to the analog signal. All of this for what? CD quality sound? ...stick with fixing the content on the stations... ....satellite fed radio stations just doesn`t cut it. I can tune in at least 5 easily receivable stations that carry Rush, Neal Boortz, The Savage Nation, Art Bell, various Jones satellite music networks and I could go on and on ...but back before this age of radio, you didn`t have that to worry, you had something DIFFERENT on all stations. Each station had its own personality which made that station a strong part of its community. Today, that just isn`t anywhere close to being any of that. Digital is suppose to save radio? Yeah, right and we are going to be taking a ride on the next UFO to planet Zorto where life is just perfect and dandy! {Oh me!... too much Art Bell!} (Bob Carter, Operations/ Engineering, WGAI-NewsRadio 560 AM Stereo, AM Stereo Radio list moderator----- amstereoradio-subcribe@topica.com KC4QLP Amateur Radio Skywarn monitor-AKQ-Wakefield Va http:// www.kc4qlp.cjb.net Your memories don't go far enough back. Up into the 50's, nearly all radio of interest came through national networks, and was the same all over the country. National radio programs or formats should be looked at no differently than TV and cable. Cable is almost 100% national, TV is about 90% national. Most TV stations do nothing local except for news and Public Affairs shows. CCU dropped AM stereo for the same reason many of the rest of us did. When I pulled it from the HBC AM's in the 1995-1997 period, it was because very few of our listeners and potential ones had AM stereo receivers, very few would likely have them, and the harm AM stereo did in the nulls of our stations was not worth the risk. When we took CQUAM off KTNQ, in the next book we had considerable listening in ZIP codes to the East of the array, where we had none previously. It also removed a piece of equipment that was unnecessary from the "failure chain" at the transmitter (David Gleason, CA; all: NRC-AM circa Sept 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. I believe WTOP may be testing IBOC again tonight... at any rate, I have an angry buzz on 1510 that seems to be minimized when I null WTOP. Check it out... (Barry McLarnon, Ont., Sept 19, NRC-AM via DXLD) Re noise heard on 1510: Check out this recent article: http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/iboc/04_rw_iboc.shtml It says, among other things, "Ibiquity planned to use WTOP(AM) in Washington to test the impact of a digital signal on local stations at night." The WLW tests are also mentioned. It would be nice to get a schedule for the tests, but somehow I doubt if that will be forthcoming. :-) (Barry McLarnon, Ont., Sept. 18, NRC-AM via DXLD) WTOP-1500 IBOC buzz definitely being heard on 1495 and 1510 and especially 1515 at 2355 EDT here in Central NY. RX=Sony ICF 2010 w/low noise longwire antenna. It sounds similar to what WLW iboc on 700 side-bands. It definitely was interfering with the 1510 stations in the NE (Fred Nordquist, Sept 19, ibid.) [However, several others who checked did not hear any such noise] ** U S A. "Save Internet Radio" From eworldwire.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEBCASTERS` LAST MINUTE APPEAL TO CONGRESS - ``Save Internet Radio`` St. Louis, MO/EWORLDWIRE/September 18, 2002 --- Just 4 weeks prior to the first payment of a sound performance royalty fee by nonsubscription Internet Radio Stations, a united group of webcasters will visit Congress this week (Sept. 19-20) to ask for immediate Congressional help for relief from this excessive royalty fee. Webcasters will be asking their representatives to support the Internet Radio Fairness Act (IRFA), which was introduced by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), and George Nethercutt (R-WA), in an effort to protect smaller webcasters from unfair royalty obligations arrived at through a process which excluded their participation. The royalty fees were determined by a June 20, 2002 decision by the Library of Congress* implementing provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998. The DMCA required the payment of fees for sound recordings played on the Internet since its adoption, although the rate of such payment was unknown until the June 20 decision. The October 20 payment is for four years of back royalties covering the period from October 1998 until August 31 of this year. The rates established for Internet use of sound recordings has been consistently decried by webcasters as being far too high in comparison to royalties that have traditionally been paid to songwriters. In many cases, the new royalties will be as much as 3 times more than the total revenues earned by certain independent commercial webcasters. One recent report from Jupiter Research predicted that the rate would lead to Internet radio becoming dominated by news, talk and sports stations, as music programming would be prohibitive because of the high sound performancy royalty. A recent BRS Media report (09/12/02) shows that nearly one third (31%) of US webcasters have already closed their doors since the sound performance rate was announced, and for the first time ever, there were more foreign webcasters than US webcasters. ``Without immediate relief – before the October 20 payment deadline – most of the US small webcasters will have to either close down their businesses or severely curtail their operations,`` said Mike Roe, President of IO Media Partners, owner of Internet radio station radioio. ``If most US small webcasters have to close or cut back on their operations, it opens the way for a very few large corporations that can afford to subsidize their internet operations and for foreign webcasters to own the Internet Radio market. We don`t think this is what Congress intended when they passed the Digital Millenium Copyright Act in 1998.`` ``We think that passage of the Internet Radio Fairness Act is essential at this point,`` declared Gary Dobek, from Digitally Imported Radio. ``The musical diversity of US webcasters, and the free access to that diversity, will pretty much disappear if Congress doesn`t respond immediately to support the Act.`` *Determination of Reasonable Rates and Terms for the Digital Performance of Sound Recordings and Ephemeral Recordings; Final Rule, 67 Fed. Reg. 45240 (July 8, 2002) (to be codified at 37 C.F.R. pt. 261) (``Final Order``). CONTACT: Jim Atkinson, Media Contact, 3WK, 5217 Lansdowne, St. Louis, MO 63109. PHONE: 314.481.4711. FAX: 314.481.4000. EMAIL: jim@3wk.com (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Re NY Times story about Louisiana, et al: "Religious and Public Stations Battle for Share of Radio Dial" ::: This doesn't just affect NPR. College radio stations will also be flooded out by more powerful religious signals. College radio listeners tend to be off-campus, either in outlying dorms or in nearby communities. The problem can't be solved with just a "full-power license". The area covered is a strong function of both effective radiated power and antenna height. That may mean building a new transmitter facility at a more strategic (and higher-rent) location. "Effective" radiated power requires a sophisticated antenna system to focus the power at the horizon over the target area. These antennas are rather large for 3- meter wavelengths in the FM band. Going head to head with another station also means larger electric bills -- over $6,000 per yr. per 10 kW added. All of this cost comes out of educational content, for stations barely able to subsist as it is. The problem is not just that Congress 'stepped on' public radio by passing this new law. The FCC proposed that law to Congress, because of 'new thinking' at the FCC. Until very recently, the FCC was supposed to MINIMIZE interference between stations, by not licensing the same frequency twice in the same geographical area. Channel space has always been scarce, but the solution was to auction channel space -- or for potential station owners to buy each other out. The only thing that's different today is the variety of content available to educational stations, versus the desire to hype religion from every tower -- even though the SAME religious messages are readily available on local cable, local commercial radio stations, and local commercial TV stations. Many local broadcasters have turned to religious audiences to replace listeners lost to cable. The original FCC policy (of avoiding interference) was actually developed for AM radio, and for AM video signals. When AM signals interfere, even weakly, the result is a piercing howl (or in the case of TV, visible heterodyne). Early FM signals were also vulnerable to interference. Most receivers built since the 80's, however, lock on to the stronger FM signal and ignore the weaker one, using what are called phase-locked loops. This same principle applies to narrow-band FM signals used by most police and fire depts. -- the stronger signal dominates completely. That's especially true in the UHF bands, since UHF follows line-of-sight, and doesn't cause problems over the horizon. There are several reasons NOT to allow competing signals on the 'regular' FM band. Unlike the UHF bands, FM signals travel over the horizon somewhat, and are more subject to atmospheric reflection, causing problems farther away. When stations compete, uneven coverage is exacerbated -- whether caused by uneven terrain or by intervening objects. A listener may hear 'the wrong station' as planes fly over or as trucks pass by. The FCC and Congress aren't worried about what that will do to lower- power NPR and college-radio stations -- the tacit assumption being that public radio will be forced off the air, and cease to be a political problem. It's also a case of "wattage talks, content walks." Until fairly recently, the FCC could also weigh "operation in the public interest", i.e. how much a proposed licensee (or class of licensee) could contribute to the public good, through variety of educational content, or pursuant to informed democracy. College stations, obviously, could contribute a great deal educationally. Another rationale was also that academic speech couldn't be excluded from the dial merely to favor commercial-speech brokers able to bankroll a higher wattage. The FCC has long sought a way to avoid value-judgments on whether diverse educational programming is 'valuable enough' for a protected place on the dial, compared to, say, a plethora of carbon-copy religious stations. The FCC's role is fast-changing, because the real future is seen in new technologies. Cell phones for example 'channel hop' as needed. Packet-switched radio networks accommodate several users on the same frequency. Spread-spectrum devices of competing brands can all share the SAME bandwidth, spreading their individual signals across many channels. (While traditional superheterodyne radios modulated a simple sine wave, this is not technically necessary. The carrier wave can be anything -- including a broad-band signal that sounds like faint noise without a matching demodulation.) The FCC is now happily licensing spread-spectrum devices such as personal radios -- with the caveat that the user and manufacturer agree to "accept any interference" caused by other devices. If several people in the same building use spread-spectrum devices, the better devices are smart enough to route around each other's signal. At first glance, spread-spectrum SEEMS like a magical eventual cure for crowded airwaves, but it's not. Finite bandwidth is still finite. While some spread-spectrum LANs are blazingly fast for example, performance decays and range decreases as the bands become crowded, and the background noise increases, making it hard for such devices to receive each other accurately. The FCC has also been talking up "Internet appliance" -- including wireless 'radios' supporting delivery-on-demand of music, video, gamies and whatnot. These supposedly will replace both radios and PCs, and have the commercially desirable feature of taking control away from the user, and giving it to the vendor -- who can then control how often a song or game is played, bill in realtime etc. There's just one problem, and that's lack of wireless bandwidth. The tacit assumption is that bandwidth-hungry "Internet appliances" will simply make content with a fiber-optic network, via matchbox-sized cell nodes as common as phone outlets in today's buildings. The only problem with that rosy future is that many cable companies lied like rugs about how soon they'd wire the country for 2-way digital cable, IF municipalities would only grant exclusive franchises, which they did. Customers ended up getting one-way "broadband" cable, with the assurance that the high prices they were paying would go to improve the network -- somewhere else where the franchise wars were hot. So it seems that the FCC, and Congress, are throwing away the future of public radio, on the vision of new wireless technologies that are still vaporware. The message is in essence "We don't care what educational networks people have built -- we're forcing a new paradigm on everyone through the Miracle of Social Engineering", driven by the vast arrogance of Congress. There's also been a political shift between Congress and the FCC. The power to protect public radio was also the power to protect public morals, and the power to require equal time for opposing political viewpoints. The Supreme Court has largely eliminated the FCC's powers of content control, while wired networks bypassed the FCC's power over the airwaves. The result has been a push to use purely objective criteria in granting licenses. A maximally powerful station is thus "better" at serving a wider area, regardless of what it serves up. There's also a growing belief among religious empire-builders that the public doesn't really NEED diverse educational offerings and liberal arts. In a post-9-11 world, the public need learn only to hate foreigners, be willing to kill foreigners, and to understand that a world war is necessary to defend Our Religion against the Great Satan The futility of World War III is irrelevant, because Jesus will come in the nick of time to exalt those with blood on their hands. If that's said often enough, on enough stations drowning out skeptical voices, people might even believe it. Jim Kutz (South Shore Skeptics) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.skeptic, rec.radio.broadcasting (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. U.K.(non): B-02 schedule for WYFR via MERLIN txs: 1400-1500 15520 DHA 500 kW / 085 deg Hindi UAE 1500-1700 15520 DHA 500 kW / 085 deg English UAE 1700-1800 21680 ASC 250 kW / 085 deg English Ascension 1700-1900 9595 WOF 250 kW / 070 deg Russian Woofferton, UK 1900-2000 9590 WOF 250 kW / 114 deg Arabic Woofferton, UK 2000-2100 15195 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg English Ascension (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** URUGUAY. 6155, Banda Oriental, Sarandí del Yí, Dpto. de Durazno, is active: *0140 Sept 17. Opening ID by YL: "A partir de este momento inicia su transmisión CWA155, Banda Oriental, en la frecuencia de 6155 kilohertz con estudios en calle Sarandí 328, Sarandí del Yi, Durazno, Uruguay, código postal 97100, correo electrónico norasan, arroba, adinet. com. uy", followed by folk music. Another ID: "En la frecuencia de 6155 khz, desde Sarandí del Yí, Durazno, Uruguay, estamos transmitiendo a través de la banda de 49 metros, en 6.155 khz, Banda Oriental, desde Sarandí del Yí, Durazno, Uruguay, con nuestros estudios en calle Sarandí 328, Sarandí del Yí, Durazno, Uruguay, código postal 97-100. Nuestro correo electrónico es norasan@adinet.com.uy -- compartiendo nuestro encuentro con la música folklórica de nuestro país, Uruguay, con todos Uds. que nos están sintonizando a través de la banda de 49 metros" (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. RUSSIA(non): B-02 schedule for Voice of Khmer Krom Radio in Khmer: 1400-1500 11560 Vladivostok 250 kW / 230 deg ||||| Tue only (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20, via DXLD; note: all Observer items in this issue concern advance info for B-02 season starting Oct. 27) ** YUGOSLAVIA. RADIO YUGOSLAVIA TO RESUME SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS Radio Yugoslavia has announced that it is to resume its shortwave broadcasts after a long suspension during which its programmes were only available on the Internet. Following an agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Ministerial Council of Bosnia- Herzegovina, the Central Regulatory Agency for Communications (CRA) has issued a long-term permit to Radio Yugoslavia to broadcast its programmes again via its shortwave transmitter site in Bijeljina, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The date of resumption has not yet been announced (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 18 September 2002 via WORLD OF RADIO 1148, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4050. For last two weeks or so, I have heard a station on 4050 during UT late afternoons (best 1700-1800). Program is pop music (local, Russian and EE) and I have not managed to hear any announcements. They sign-off around 1800 without any id. 4010//4795 has different program. This used to be Kyrgyz frequency in the past. Anyone heard proper ID of this 4050 outlet? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Sept 18, dxing.info via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 17837v. First noted last spring and still hearing this weak station which fades in around 1500 or so on 17835v and slowly drifts up at the rate of about 300 or 400 Hz per hour. Is audible for several hours and usually has news by female announcer at top of hour. Still there at 2000 UT. Can't pull out ID or language. Is nobody else hearing this? Am also hearing the [El Salvador?] het on 17833.2, no audio yet. This is different from the 17837v unID (John Wilkins, CO, 9/18, Drake R-8, 100-foot random wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 18 September - 14 October 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. Activity is expected to be at moderate levels through 21 September, due to the Region 105/114 complex. Continued moderate conditions may accompany the return of old Region 95 (N08, L=061) after 23 September. A slight chance for a proton event exists in association with any significant flare activity from the Region 105/114 complex, until it rotates beyond the west limb on 21 September. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit may remain at event thresholds on 18 September, due to the coronal hole effects of the past few days. Recurring electron events are possible on 02-03 October and 09-10 October, due to expected rotation of persistent coronal holes. The geomagnetic field may reach active levels on 19-20 September, in response to potential transient effects from recent CME activity observed on 17-18 September. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for most of the remaining forecast period, with the possibility of isolated active conditions on 01-02 October and 08-09 October in response to recurrent coronal hole effects. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Sep 17 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Sep 17 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Sep 18 180 12 3 2002 Sep 19 175 15 3 2002 Sep 20 165 12 3 2002 Sep 21 155 12 3 2002 Sep 22 150 10 3 2002 Sep 23 145 8 3 2002 Sep 24 150 8 3 2002 Sep 25 150 10 3 2002 Sep 26 160 10 3 2002 Sep 27 165 10 3 2002 Sep 28 170 8 3 2002 Sep 29 170 10 3 2002 Sep 30 170 12 3 2002 Oct 01 170 12 3 2002 Oct 02 170 10 3 2002 Oct 03 175 10 3 2002 Oct 04 175 8 3 2002 Oct 05 185 8 3 2002 Oct 06 195 8 3 2002 Oct 07 195 8 3 2002 Oct 08 195 10 3 2002 Oct 09 195 12 3 2002 Oct 10 195 10 3 2002 Oct 11 195 8 3 2002 Oct 12 185 8 3 2002 Oct 13 185 8 3 2002 Oct 14 185 10 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1148, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-146, September 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1147: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1830, Mon 1230, Wed 1300 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1147.html WORLD OF RADIO 1148: FIRST AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 on 7415, 17495; Mon 0415 on 7415 FIRST AIRINGS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0530, Sun 0230 on 5070 FIRST AIRINGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730 on 7445, 15038.7 ** AFGHANISTAN. INFORMATION RADIO CONTINUES TO BROADCAST ON 8700 KHZ By Takuya Hirayama, CRW Japan Bureau on assignment in Kabul [Sep 15] Information Radio, the U.S. Psyop operation launched during the first days of the American military intervention in Afghanistan last year, continues to broadcast on 8700 kHz in AM mode. Its current schedule appears to be from mid-afternoon until late at night Kabul time. Reception of the station in Kabul is stable but not as strong as had been expected. Reception is actually much better in Islamabad, Pakistan. The medium wave frequency, 864 kHz, also appears to be active, however, our monitoring has only detected a carrier wave and no sound. Recent reports that Information Radio also uses 6100 kHz cannot yet be confirmed. Nothing is audible on that frequency in Kabul (T. Hirayama, Japan/Afghanistan, Sep 15, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN? 6100, Information Radio? 16 Sept 1617 is heard under very low signal, just S2 and also very low audio with music. 8700, Psyops still in the band, 16 Sept 1621 with songs but very low nearly marginal level (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Current tests from Tajikistan on 801 kHz, i.e. to Afghanistan rather than in Afghanistan. 801 kHz is not an Afghan frequency, but "belongs" to Tajikistan in the ITU Geneva MW Plan. This frequency was used by a transmitter in Orzu in southern Tajikistan with Moscow R 1, until it was closed in the early 1990s. The Geneva Plan limits the power to 200 kW; it is unknown what power was used for R 1, or what power will be used after a reactivation now (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 10, Sept 18 BC-DX Sep 17 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Radio Eclésia konnte gestern (10.09.02) zwischen 1955 und 2000 UT s/off auf der QRG 7205 kHz mit O=3 in Portugiesisch gehört werden. Klare ID um 1959. Zum Sendeschluss ein wohlbekanntes Klavier-thema, ehe die BBC in Mazedonisch (?) den Kanal lautstark uebernimmt. Bei Glenn Hauser wurde über einen Tippfehler gemunkelt. Die von Kathy Otto gemachte Angabe ist somit richtig (H. Pammer, Austria, Sep 11, 2002 in A-DX via CRW via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 2379.58, (presumed), LRA15, Radio Nacional de Tucumán, (harmonic 2 x 1190), 14 Sep, 0938-1001, Spanish talk with news program mentioning "...Lo Diario del País.." Report from the United Nations from a "Radio Nacional Córdoba" correspondent. 0945 time check, more reports from various correspondents. 1000 signal faded. Time pips, but no ID heard. Overall fair to good signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg. "VT-DX": http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ ** AUSTRALIA. The Radio Australia station at Shepparton, Victoria, continues to experience technical difficulties due to the very old equipment still in use. During the early morning period, two of the transmitters operate in parallel on 7240 and 6080 kHz from 1800 until 2100 UT. Unfortunately, a strong spurious radiation is produced on 4920 kHz in the 60 metre tropical band due to the harmonic signal from 7240 kHz mixing with 6080 kHz. This spurious signal causes interference to All India Radio and China National Radio, both of which are operating on the same channel, 4920 kHz. This signal has been monitored right across Australia and into Asia.(Bob Padula, AWR Wavescan Sept 15 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 3355, R Mayak / Golos Rossii, 16 Sept 1853, talks by man in Russian something that seems as news. Music at 1858 with man IDing as Golos Rossii. Again at 1900 with ID ``R. Kompania Golos Rossii``. Mode DSB with signal S2-3. Good only in SSB!! (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELIZE. Hi Glenn: The IBB relay near Punta Gorda, Belize, ceased operation 15 September at 0500 UT. It consisted of two 100-kilowatt medium wave transmitters operating on 1530 and 1580 kHz. It was used for VOA Spanish and English (News Now) to Central American and southern Mexico. There was also a low power FM transmitter at the site, which relayed VOA News Now. 73 (Kim Elliott, VOA, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx for the news. Any word on why it ceased? What will become of the facility? Dismantle and move transmitters somewhere else? Sale? I recall they were trying to rent it out. No takers? 73, Glenn ** BHUTAN. QSL letter and separate colorful QSL Card from Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation, verified reception June 8th on 5025 kHz 50 kW, dated on June 17th, 2002, shows their website address as: http://www.bbs.com.bt V/s is station engineer Dorji Wangchuk, at P. O. Box 101, Thimphu, Bhutan. Tel +975 [0]2 323071, 323072, 322866, 322533. Fax Tel +975 [0]2 323073 (Christoph Ratzer, Austria, OE2CRM, BC-DX Sep 16 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 3205.00, Rádio Ribeirão Preto, 16 Sep, 2304-2330, good signal with Portuguese talk, interviews and reports. Announcer with "...Rádio Ribeirão Preto..." ID in passing at 2327 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma: Due to poor propagation in downunder winter, 9500 kHz signal suffered in the Myanmar target. Now music tests occurred on 12090, and 15620 kHz on other days of the week. The latter frequency - estimated - for regular usage in S-02/D- 02 / or B-02 season til March 2003. 12090 - sooo, nooooo new type of 'Chinese Music Jamming' (W. Bueschel, Germany, Sep 8, 2002 in DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC previews for Wednesday, Sept 18: DISPATCHES: Los Evangélicos, a documentary from Guatemala. There's a reformation underway across in Latin America. It's the work of thousands of North American fundamentalist missionaries and millions of evangelical converts from Catholicism. That's on Dispatches, with host Rick MacInnes-Rae, tonight at 7:30 (8 NT) on CBC Radio One. [2230 in AT/NT zone, +1/2/3/4 hours in westward zones; also on RCI at 2330] (CBC Hotsheet via gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC AIMS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF ITS FRENCH Radio-Canada, the French language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, has announced the creation of a Working Group on Language Quality. The Working Group's mission will be to consider the quality of the French spoken and written on the Première Chaîne, the Chaîne Culturelle and Radio-Canada's Websites. The Group will submit recommendations to guarantee excellence and maintain the standards of French on the air. It should deliver its final report in March 2003. The Working Group will be made up of a number of senior Radio-Canada journalists as well as other communications and French- language professionals. Sylvain Lafrance, CBC Vice-President of French Radio and New Media, said that "the creation of a working group on the French language is essential for Radio-Canada. Indeed, this is one of the responsibilities of public radio to Francophones throughout the country - that is, to ensure that the quality of the language used on the air and the Internet remains exceptional." (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 September 2002 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Re: ``CLANDESTINE from RUSSIA to CHINA. 6035 Falun Dafa station reported on this new frequency at 2100-2200 // 9945 (Hans Johnson, Sept 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) By whom? (DXLD 15 Sept)`` I tuned to 6035 at this time Monday evening (16 Sep) and heard "Zheli shi Hanguo Guangbo Diantai", which in English means "This is Radio Korea". For quite some time before 2100 the station also played its IS with interspersed IDs in Korean and English in addition to Chinese. Maybe this is what the anonymous reporter above heard? (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 9550, R. Okapi, QSL-card received from Fondation Hirondelle in Switzerland in 5-1/2 months for copy of report and CD sent to them covering March reception. Has logos of R. Okapi and FH and FH handstamp, full-data (though time not filled in and frequency looks like 1550 rather than 9550); FH logo on back (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Sep 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) RADIO OKAPI JOURNALIST ARRESTED The authorities of the Movement for the Liberation of Congo (MLC) in Gbadolite have arrested a journalist working for Radio Okapi, the UN's radio network in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Franklin Moliba- Sese was initially detained last Friday, and is due to appear before the prosecutor. The MLC authorities criticised Radio Okapi after it broadcast a report last Thursday on the unsatisfactory living conditions of child soldiers waiting to be demobilised in Gbadolite. A spokesman for the UN Mission (MONUC) said that UN Special Representative Amos Namanga Ngongi has been trying to obtain the immediate release of the journalist through contact with the President of the MLC, Jean-Pierre Bemba. The UN argues that as an employee of MONUC, Franklin Moliba-Sese is entitled to diplomatic immunity. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 September 2002 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI`s 15th anniversary Fiesta on the Air, early UT Sept 17, took fewer calls than usual, but presented some insight from staff, including excerpts of Interactive Radio Shows. James Latham told of his depression and self-doubts, especially in the past few months as funding has diminished in the wake of 9/11. He was feeling sorry for himself, and the relatively low wages RFPI staff get, $600 a month; he`s still driving his old Toyota with bald tires, no spare and 500 kilomiles on it. He was thinking about going back to the States to make a decent living as a broadcast engineer. Until he came upon Lacarpio, a shantytown where refugees from Nicaragua live with much less in a hellish situation. His own home in the country is small by American standards, like a trailer. But then he decided to keep going with RFPI, grateful for his blessings, and does what he can to help the residents of Lacarpio. Joe Bernard arrived in Costa Rica 11 years ago with nothing but a backpack containing some toilet paper (rumored to be lacking), intending to return to the US shortly. Now after many years of service at RFPI, Joe is going home to Oregon in October, due to family commitments, but would like to return to CR some day and perhaps be buried in the RFPI back lot. He will, however, remain part of RFPI, operating the North American office, and helping with internet. Since when anyone had a question, the solution was to ``Ask Joe``, he`ll probably be busy e-mailing assistance back and forth. The staff at RFPI have given up a lot --- the careers they would have had in the States, social security, etc., but the annual Fiesta, contact with listeners and supporters, revitalizes them (gh`s summary of comments on the Fiesta, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 2360.00, Radio Rebelde, Villa Maria (harmonic 2 x 1180), 14 Sep, 0927, Spanish talk // 710 and 1180. Very weak. 2840.0, Radio Rebelde, (harmonic 4 x 710) 14 Sep, 1010, Spanish talk // 2360, 3550 and 4970 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. Hi Glenn, Apparently Radio Sawa has moved as planned to 990 kHz ex-981. Their Web site has been updated. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Holland, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Glenn, Upon request to IBB I have received this answer in an email: "The 981/ 990 kHz transmitter is registered with the ITU by Cyprus and operates at a power level of 600 kW. Very Best - George Moore" Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Hello, just my 0,02 EUR on this topic: The Radio Sawa move from 981 to 990 should be hardly a technical problem; elsewhere mediumwave antennas are used to operate channels much further away from the design frequency of the antenna. Three examples from Germany: Braunschweig/Königslutter 630 (100 kW) uses a mast designed for 548, Wilsdruff 1431 (250 kW) uses a mast designed for 1043, and at Burg a mediumwave mast was even used for 263/261 as substitute for the collapsed longwave mast. And, by the way, it remains to be seen for which frequency the antenna in question is actually designed, provided that this is indeed not a new but an already existing antenna. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. What some of you have experienced on 18 MHz seems to be the British OTHR ("Over The Horizon Radar") on the Island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Since 16 years it causes severe interference also on exclusive amateur radio frequencies. It is operated by the Royal Air Force and is located on the sovereign base area Akrotiri. The giant antenna site is an ancient salt lake surrounded by the Mediterranean sea on three sides. This OTHR gives the British Forces the possibility to monitor troup movement and air traffic and gives deep sight into focal countries of the Middle East and northern Africa like Turkey, Kurdistan, Aserbaidschan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Sudan etc. DK2OM has analyzed the OTHR signal and found out that it consists of a broad spectrum of pulses separated by exactly 25Hz. The whole spectrum is switched off every 200mS and again switched on after 1 to 30mS. This break is used for evaluation of the reflected signals. There is no legal grounds against this OTHR, because the Radio Regulations of the ITU clearly state that the member countries have total freedom concerning all radio applications of their armies. In July last year soldiers of the 12. Royal Signals Unit started to erect a new 190m high antenna mast and the residents got really angry (rightly so !) because their houses are only about 2Km away and they fear for their health. The riots ended with 40 British Policemen and many more demonstrators wounded, the material damage was estimated at 170,000 US$. This information is based on an article by Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, in the May 2002 issue of the German amateur radio magazine "funk". On http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/rdnronald/ you can find information on the work of the IARU Monitoring System in combating abuse of the amateur bands. Send protest notes to the British Government to stop the OTHR on Cyprus! 73 (Karl, DJ5IL, via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** DENMARK. DANISH BROADCAST JOURNALISTS' STRIKE ENDS | Text of report by Danish radio web site on 16 September From today Danes can again see and hear the daily news broadcasts and magazines on DR [Danmarks Radio - national public-service broadcaster]. The approx. 900 journalists at DR have resumed work after a firm majority voted 'yes' to a new agreement on Saturday [14 September]. Seventy-six per cent voted 'yes' and the percentage who voted was 65. TV-avisen [television news bulletin] and Deadline [television news bulletin] on DR 2 are back on Monday evening [16 September]. DR Nyheder Online [news website] and teletext news will also be updated normally from Monday. Source: Danmarks Radio web site, Copenhagen, in Danish 0703 gmt 16 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 2700.09, Ondas del Yura, Bonao, (harmonic 2 x 1350), 14 Sep, 0954, Bachata music, 1006 canned ID "...Ondas del Yura..." Steady, fair signal with heavy utility station QRM from above (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EL SALVADOR? When I first tuned in 17833.16 at 2310 UT, I detected not only the "usual" carrier I've had here in the past, but also a ballad with male vocals, but the audio was distorted. Language sounded like Spanish, but it was hard to tell. LSB or LSB plus sync was required, as there's QRM from 17835 kHz. Some more ballads were heard, but then I had to leave the house. I'm now back (2347 UT) and the signal has severely degraded, but something is still there. I'd like to think I'm hearing El Salvador, but since I can only receive it on one antenna, and the audio just doesn't quite sound right, it could be a mixing product or spur. Is anyone else hearing this, particularly those of you down South? (George Maroti, NY, Sept 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FERNANDO DE NORONHA [and non]. 14 REGATA OCEÂNICA INTERNACIONAL RECIFE - FERNANDO DE NORONHA D I P L O M A Comemorativo A Federação Pernambuca de Radioamadorismo - LABRE PE - estará ativada com o indicativo de PY7AA, participando deste evento comemorativo a nivel internacional, juntamente com o Cabanga Iate Clube de Pernambuco, em Recife-PE, local onde serão instaladas as Estações de Rádio. Início: 18 de Setembro de 2002 às 15:00 hs UTC Término: 22 de Setembro de 2002 às 15:00 hs UTC. Bandas: VHF, UHF, 10, 11, 15, 20 e 40 metros. Frequências: 146.880 (Linkadas - Repetidoras do Grupo Corape), 439.850 (Linkada com a Internet), 28.430, 27.605 LSB, 21.275, 14.275, 7.055 e CW nas frequências internacionais de DX. Cartão de QSL: Via direta para: Av.Agamenon Magalhães, 2945 CEP 50050-290 ou Caixa Postal 1043 CEP 50001-970 RECIFE - PE - BRAZIL ou Via Birô. Diploma Comemorativo: Todos os participantes que confirmarem o contato, receberão um lindo Diploma Comemorativo do evento. Clubes de Dexismo e de Radioamadores que confirmarem o contato, receberão um lindo Troféu acompanhado de um Diploma Comemorativo. Radioescuta SWL, que confirmarem por Relatório de Recepção ou QSL receberão um lindo Diploma Comemorativo. 73, (Irapuan Macedo - PY7IM, Diretor de Divulgação da LABRE PE, Recife - PE - BRAZIL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FIJI. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING FROM FIJI! Unfortunately it's not available on shortwave, but Fiji now has a de facto international broadcasting service on the Internet. Namaste Fiji, a weekly programme for expatriate Fijians, has launched on http://www.Fijivillage.com --- part of the Communications Fiji Limited group, which also includes radio stations Navtarang, FM96, Viti FM, and Legend. It's the only subscription-based website operating out of Fiji. Access currently costs US$35 per year. Namaste Fiji is presented by broadcasters from Radio Navtarang. The station's Programme Director Anirudh Diwakar said: "What's special about this show is that it caters specifically for an international audience. People living overseas will be able to interact or get involved with Namaste Fiji, by sending dedications, birthday calls and other thoughts via the net, so it's really an international radio from Fiji crossing national boundaries." (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 September 2002 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3266.47, RRI Gorontalo with good signal peaking at about 1030 Sept 16 and firm "RRI Gorontalo" identification. They played pipe music at 1025 and call to prayer at 1058. 3905, RRI Merauke, with powerful signal but not in the clear as New Ireland building in the background, 0836 September 14th (David Norrie, DXing from home and Musick Point, golf course car park Auckland, NZ, AOR 7030, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. Radio DAT reply. Radio Dat heard on 9775. It`s not actually a QSL – just e-mail letter in reply to my e-mail report, in 3 days. That's what they wrote: Dear Igor! Thank you for your big letter. Usually they (=DXers, IZ) simply ask for a QSL, and that`s all. To our greatest pity, the cost of our transmitter (around 1000 kWt) doesn't allow us to send cards. As you know, we offer our time for all real opposition parties/ movements and for everybody who`s ardent to fight against the fascist regime of Nazarbayev and his jackals. At the moment, the external intelligence of Kazakhstan started a hunt upon our radio station and all our supporters; that`s why we can't send the views from our windows. Possibly, in the future, we`ll send the pictures to all who supported us in hard times. With respect, Radio DAT. The e mail: info@datradio.com Yours, (Igor Zhurkin, Pravdinskiy, Moscow reg., Russia, Sept 18, dxing.info via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Ms. Baima Sutenova, the Vice President of the Kyrgyz State TV and R Corporation, has been v/s for a number of QSLs in recent years. Her email address is: meerim2002@netmail.kg (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Sep 14 via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Re the 17540 ULMD report, this webpage was referenced, more about Cambodia, actually, and with no reference to radio, FWIW: http://www.wccpd.org/activity/act23.html Struggle For Democracy In Cambodia Statement delivered at the United Lao Movement for Democracy of Minnesota Conference on Human Rights Violation, Chemical Welfare, Killings Fields, and Restoration of Democracy in Laos Washington, DC - March 18, 1999 By PekThov Tan, Member of the Board World Cambodian Congress (WCC) for Peace and Development... (via CRW via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5100, Liberian Communications Network; 2339-2402*, 17-Sep; M with African news to 2342 then sked; said will be on at 7 AM. 2343 Rap & reggae tunes. LCN ID and brief closing announcement at 2401. All in English. Strong RTTY QRM in AM, use USB, SIO=333; better close to 2400 (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MALI. Bamako again, on 7284.4 kHz noted at 0915-0950 f/out Sept 10 airing Vernacular programming with tribal songs. 15331. And as to their best daytime outlet, 9635 kHz, noted at a critical (propagation wise) time of 1122-1324 airing Vernacular programming with tribal songs, talks. Best received via the K9AY loop so as avoid some QRN but also very much thanks to the NRD545 noise filter, which, however, makes readability rather strange and even hard, yet quite enough to clearly ID the station. 25242. On many other occasions though, such noise filter behaves in such a way that it's easier to follow the station mixed w/ noise than via the device (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Sep 14 via DXLD) Heard in Germany on 9634.95 on Sep 8th at s-on around 0806 (BC-DX ed.) ** MOZAMBIQUE. Visited some African radio webpages today. There used to be both mediumwave and shortwave columns, so at least some people could separate. But also the newest schedule does not contain a short wave column (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. Visited some african radio webpages today. Some remarks. http://www.nbc.com.na/index.htm is still "under construction" but http://www.nbc.com.na/index.html is the startpage for a more or less complete homepage including a map of solar transmitter sites. SW schedule is outdated (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Sep 15 R Nepal 5005 signed off at 1715 (for some weeks they used to sign off at 1545). Parallel 6100 was also audible until 1700 (then VOA qrm from 6105). I guess 6100 also signed off at 1715. Also Sep 16 5005 sign off was at 1715. Poor propagation, did not hear them on 6100. There was carrier on 6100.0 with bits of audio. Also another carrier on 6100.2 but no audio heard (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The other maybe being Afghanistan? q.v. (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Hi Glenn, visited some african radio webpages today. some remarks. http://www.voiceofnigeria.org is both updated and outdated. The program schedule seems to be correct and lasting until December. The frequency schedule is updated, admitting that 11770 is not active but giving old sign-off for 15120: it's closing at 1200 currently (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) imturningpacifistuntilelectiondaychancellorland ** NIGERIA [non ]. 15250, Salama radio, 16 Sept 1924, man with religious topics in presumed Hausa. At 1929 with ID by YL giving program times (8 pm in English) with address in Nigeria. ``Tune in again tomorrow evening``. Religious themes in English after 1830. Signal S9+10 or 44444. On 17/9 with a spiritual song after a religious talks at 1845, then with theme ``in what do you glory`` (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. 9737.1, R Nacional, 0948 Sept 17, sounded like news commentary, including short clips of Dubbya on Saddam/Iraq translated into Spanish. Male & female announcers alternating. Poor-fair signal. (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5009.62, R. Altura, good with lively DJ, numerous IDs and football like "Perúúúú....", 1004 September 16th (David Norrie, DXing from home and Musick Point, golf course car park Auckland, NZ, AOR 7030, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 4834.92, (presumed), Radio Marañón, 17 Sep, 0921-1002, a very strong carrier here for the past week with apparently undermodulated weak audio coming through occaisionally. This morning Spanish talk and an Andean vocal. I haven't seen them logged since last spring when they had a booming signal. Is anyone down south hearing them well? (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Re report of Arkhangel`sk on 6160: scheduled as Murmansk: 6160 0100-2100 to zone 19, MUR 20 kW at 335 degrees towards Norwegian Sea/Atlantic Ocean (Wolfgang Bueschel, Sept 18 BCDX, Sept 17 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA: Voice of Russia A-02 schedule (September 1 - October 27, 2002): 0000-0100 Spanish 12060 11750 11510 9965 9890 9860 9830 9480 9470 7330 7180 0100-0200 English 17595 12000 11825* 9725 7180 Russian 21755 17690 17660 15455 12060 11750 9480 7300 648 Spanish 11510 9965 9945 9890 9860 9830 9470 7330 0200-0300 English 17660 17595 12000 9725 7180 Russian 21755 17690 17650 15455 12060 11750 9480 7330 7300 1215 0300-0400 English 17690 17660 17650 15455 12000 11750 7180 1548 603 Russian 1215 0400-0500 English 17690 17660 17650 15455 12000 11750 7180 1548 603 0500-0600 English 21790 17795 17685 17635 1548 1323 603 0600-0700 English 21790 17795 17685 17635 15490 1323 603 0700-0800 English 17795 17685 17675 17635 17525 17495 15490 1323 1251 603 0800-0900 English 17795 17685 17675 17635 17525 17495 15490 1251 603 0900-1000 German 15455 7330 1386 1323 1215 603 1000-1100 Chinese 15605 15470 9480 9470 7400 5940 5905 1251 801 585 Korean 13640 12055 12000 9875 7490U 7330 7315 648 1000-1200 German 1386 1323 1215 603 1100-1200 Chinese 15605 15470 12000 11755 9480 9470 7400 7330 7315 5940 5905 1251 1080 801 648 585 1200-1300 Chinese 11755 9480 9470 1251 585 Japanese 7490U 7340 7330 5905 720 630 Korean 12000 7400 7315 648 Russian 15560 15470 13720 11870 11640 9920 9745 9495 7390 1143 Urdu 17570 15550 15460 11500 Vietnamese 17645 12055 603 1200-1230 Mongolian 15315 5940 1080 801 1200-1400 Pashto/Dari17675 15510 12015 9800 4975 4965 4940 972 648 1230-1300 Mongolian 15315 5940 4850 1080 801 209 1300-1400 Chinese 15605 11755 9480 9470 7315 801 585 Hindi 17570 15460 11500 1269 Japanese 7390 7340 5905 720 630 Russian 17645 15560 15470 11640 9745 9495 1323 1215 999 603 Russian 9920 9735 7370 7330 1251 1143 "Sodruzhestvo" 1400-1500 English 17645 15560 12055 9745 7390 1386 1323 1251 Russian 11830 9920 9495 9735 7370 7315 603 "Sodruzhestvo" Turkish 15540 11985 7325 1170 Urdu 15510 15460 11500 972 1400-1600 Persian 12015 9875 9835 9360 7305 648 1500-1530 Albanian 12060 12040 12000 9470 English 11985 11500 7390 7325 4975 4965 4940 1494 Hindi 15460 11720 9865 9745 972 1500-1600 German 11980 9810 9480 7440 7330 7300 1386 1323 1215 603 Russian 17580 12005 7350 till Sep.28 Russian 12005 7350 7130 from Sep.29 Russian 15540 11830 9495 7370 7315 1314 1170 603 "Sodruzhestvo" 1530-1600 Bengali 17570 15460 11870 11720 9865 9745 English 11985 11500 7390 7325 4975 4965 4940 1494 972 1530-1700 Serbian 12040 12000 9470 1548 936 1600-1700 Arabic 12030 12015 11745 9835 9710 9360 7325 7305 1314 1170 English 15540 11985 7350 1494 648 French 12035 11870 11510 9890 9810 9745 9480 German 11980 7440 7330 7300 1386 1323 1215 603 Romanian 15350 9490 999 Russian 11830 9875 9495 7370 7315 1143 1089 972 "Sodruzhestvo" 1700-1730 Arabic 12030 11745 9710 9360 7305 1314 1170 Finnish 9820 7360 1494 Mon-Fri French 12035 11870 11630 9890 9810 1700-1745 Hungarian 15350 12020 7400 1700-1800 Bulgarian 12000 9490 6000 1467 936 English 11985 11675 11510 9820^ 9775 9745 7360^ 7310 1494^ 1269 1251 648 German 11980 7440 7350 7330 1386 1323 1215 603 Italian 12040 11920 9470 1548 Polish 12010 11930 1143 Russian 9480 7300 5950 Russian 15540 12055 9875 9495 9450 7370 7315 1278 648 "Sodruzhestvo" 1730-1800 Arabic 15595 12030 11745 9710 9360 7305 1314 1170 French 12035 11870 11630 9890 9810 7320 Norwegian 9820 7360 1494 Tue/Thu Swedish 9820 7360 1494 Mon/Wed/Fri 1745-1830 Czech 15350 12020 7400 1800-1830 Arabic 12030 11745 9835 9710 9360 7305 1314 1170 1800-1900 English 11870 9820 9775 9745 9480 7360 7310 7300 1494 French 11930 11630 9890 9810 7390 7350 7320 German 11980 7440 7330 1386 1323 1215 603 Greek 12065 12040 11985 9490 6000 5950 1467 936 Russian 12055 9450 7370 1278 1143 "Sodruzhestvo" 1830-1900 Arabic 15595 12030 11745 9835 9710 9360 7305 1314 1170 Slovak 15350 12020 7400 1900-2000 Bulgarian 6000 1467 936 English 15735 9820 9775 7440 7360 7350 7330 7310 1386 French 11980 11930 11630 9890 7390 7320 1323 Russian 15350 12055 12040 12020 9480 9450 7370 5950 1215 1089 603 2000-2030 Portuguese 9480 7440 2000-2100 English 15735 11980 9820 9775 7360 7350 7330 1494 1386 1323 Russian 12055 9470 7390 7370 7310 5950 1215 1143 1089 999 603 2000-2015 Serbian 6000 2015-2130 Serbian 6000 1548 2030-2100 Spanish 9480 7440 2100-2130 French 9450* 2100-2200 Russian 1386 1323 612 "Sodruzhestvo" 2300-2400 Portuguese 12060 11510 9965 9890 9860 9470 7330 * via Santa Mariya di Galeria ^ Sat/Sun 73 from (Ivo and Angel!, Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 17 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. The antenna farm of Deutsche Welle Kigali-RRW relay site is under renewal at present. Modernization project takes place til May 2003 (FUNK magazine, Sep 2002 via BC-DX via DXLD) So some scheduled broadcasts will not be heard? (gh, DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. Radio UNAMSIL confirmed my report sent to them directly on May 17th by a personal and detailed letter. The answer was postmarked UN New York. v/s Sheila Dallas, Station manager and Executive Producer. Address: UNAMSIL Headquarters, Mammy Yoko, P.O.Box 5, Free Town, Sierra Leone. They say they have received around 100 reports from around the world (Harald Kuhl, Germany, DXplorer Sep 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. "SHOWDOWN" SAID LOOMING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT, STATE BROADCASTER | Excerpt from article Jeremy Michaels entitled "SABC fighting for its independence" published by South African newspaper The Star on 17 September A massive showdown is looming between the SABC [South African Broadcasting Corporation] and the government over the independence of the public broadcaster. Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said yesterday that while she did not want to turn the SABC into a government propaganda machine, she was determined to hold the public broadcaster's journalists accountable for what they did. But the SABC has warned that the government's apparent bid to control its policies on news and programming, amongst others, is unconstitutional. "I find this lack of accountability problematic. I will fight this to the end," Matsepe-Casaburri said in an interview with Independent Newspapers yesterday. The government merely wanted to ensure that the public got accurate information from the SABC, not to make it "a mouthpiece of the government", she told the portfolio committee on communications. The new Broadcasting Amendment Bill removes a clause guaranteeing the SABC's editorial independence and has new clauses that will force the SABC board to seek ministerial approval of its editorial policies. In a written submission to parliament, the SABC charges that the government is trying to "eliminate" the SABC's freedom of expression by deleting the clause in the current law. The deletion of the clause was "a matter of grave concern to the SABC" as it raised questions about whether parliament intended to eliminate the freedoms and values which were "essential to the robust functioning of a public broadcaster in our constitutional democracy". The proposed change was "an attempt to fundamentally change the structures of control and management of the SABC" by effectively relegating the role of the current board to "one of mere policy making", instead of control over the public broadcaster... Source: The Star, Johannesburg, in English 17 Sep 02 p 1 (via BBCM via DXLD) DOMINANCE OF ENGLISH IN STATE BROADCASTER "UNACCEPTABLE" - PARLIAMENT | Text of report by South African news agency SAPA web site It was unacceptable that 70 per cent of public broadcasting was in English, Nat Kekana, the chairman of parliament's communications portfolio committee said on Monday [16 September]. Speaking during briefings on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, he said the SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) had to change this bias. "Eight years down the line (since the 1994 democratic election) it is very clear that the three (SABC television) channels are not able to provide for all languages. And we need to change this," he said. Pan South African Language Board (Pansalb) CEO Cynthia Marivate said research by the organization had found that the dominance of English in broadcasting had led to "deprivation" of the country's other 10 official languages. The survey found that 85 per cent of South Africans felt disadvantaged because of the predominance of English in news reporting, while only 22 per cent of respondents fully understood speeches and statements by politicians delivered in English only. English was not among the top 6 languages mentioned as a first choice for news coverage, she said. According to Census '96 figures, English is the mother tongue of only 8.6 per cent of South Africans, behind Zulu (22.9 per cent), Xhosa (17.9 per cent), Afrikaans (14.4 per cent) and Pedi (9.2 per cent). Source: SAPA news agency web site, Johannesburg, in English 1312 gmt 16 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) SABC COULD BE SPLIT UP A parliamentary hearing is under way in South Africa that could pave the way for sweeping changes in public broadcasting. The Communications Committee is taking evidence on proposals that would give the government much tighter control over the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), the structure of which has remained fundamentally unchanged since the days of apartheid. A proposed bill to amend the country's 1999 Broadcasting Act could result in the splitting up of the SABC into separate public and commercial companies, and the establishment of two state-funded regional TV channels. Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said at the start of the hearing that the intention was to ensure equality amongst the country's 11 official languages. However, the bill would also give the Communications Minister new rights over financial and editorial decisions, and would delete a guarantee that the SABC would remain free from government interference. The SABC has reacted angrily to the proposals, calling them "a matter of grave concern". The independent Media Monitoring Project has also criticised several aspects of the bill. The hearing continues until Friday (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 September 2002 via DXLD) ** SUDAN. You mentioned tentative reception of Omdurman 7200. This has been operating for some time now, but I don't know what their current schedule is, or if it operates every day. The last time I had a decent signal the station went off just after 1900. The 9 MHz channel has not been heard - or seen reported - for a long time (Noel R. Green, UK, Sep 12, Sept 18 BC-DX Sep 17 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Re SHRC denial of connexion with Sawt al-Watan: My money is still on Mahmud Fathi's report that there is a connection. Why should one simply accept their denial at face value? Wouldn't one expect such a group to deny that it is behind what is a clandestine broadcast? Don't some clandestines try to keep their backer hidden? Someone has gone to a lot a trouble to broadcast SHRC material. If there isn't a connection, then someone has done them a heck of a favor to broadcast their material. Sorry, but favors such as that don't just happen (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. 7385, Holy Tibet, 16 Sept 1640, with a really good signal at S9 44434. IDed at 1641 with a reference to G. Maroti as a good DXer, YL in very good English (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. R. Krishnaloka, in a reply to Mauno Ritola, Finland: "The potency of the transmitter small - 300 Watt, but is planned it to increase end to proceed (pass) to other type of an antenna. Try to listen to station in dark time of day." (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Sep 17 via DXLD) ** U S A. 2479.98, WGVA Geneva, NY, (harmonic 2 x 1240), 16 Sep, 2255, ID "...1240 WGVA...Finger Lakes News Network..." into ABC network news feed at 2300. Fair, stable signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBBR Update on Downtime. For anyone wondering what happened with the rumored WBBR-1130 silent period, it is still a rumor. The engineers are still working on things and are still wrangling for approval to take the station off the air. I'll keep checking in, and let people know when/if the station will be off. (Rick Kenneally, Wilton, CT, Sept 16, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. The postings have been flying fast and furious on the NRC-AM reflector about IBOC/IBAC, too fast for us to keep up with them, but here are a few more: Terrestrial radio is dead. The corporates want to get rid of terrestrial radio anyway. This will do this. This IBAC will drive people to XM. No one can have a portable radio and hear IBAC. The battery consumption on the chips is far too high and this is going to be a severe problem. No portables, no interest. The interference to stations from IBAC is terrible. Adjacents are going to hammer the hell out of each other. I heard it with my own ears. Running the analog 5 kHz wide is not going to excite people much. Having that 5 kHz signal hammered by an IBAC station next to it isn't going to help. FM interference isn't all that wonderful either. None of this matters because although the people commented on 99-325, the brown paper bags and brown envelopes that are full of corporate largesse are being given to the people who make the decisions and its going to happen. Digital radio is needed and will come; it`s just that the greedy corporate people couldn't seem to find another piece of spectrum to put it on. This is the best thing that ever happened to XM. This should have been placed on a different band and the MW band phased out. FM should have been left alone. It`s a done deal and can't be stopped. It`s just that a lot of people are going to be whizzed when they have to shell out bucks because everything they now have is useless (Kevin Redding, AZ) Cutting by 6 DB is the equivalent of cutting the power by 75% - for example, going from 5,000 watts to 1,250. At least in theory it's the same thing as one "S" unit though tests have shown most radios' S meters are very poorly calibrated (Doug Smith, TN) Perhaps the thought is that "hip" is enough to propel this, and if there are enough 'sheep' convinced to spend on receivers, I suppose that's valid. But I can't see that as being enough - not now. Too many people, especially younger people, are so down on radio already that they may either see that's just a marketing label, or may decide that radio is so unimportant to them that they aren't willing to cash in to make the change. If that scenario plays out, I fail to see how that audience will be lured back, or, in the case of the low-end of that age group, convinced to even consider that radio in any form might be relevant to their lives. Forgetting considerations such as impacts to coverage, interference, I think the idea that AM can be saved as a serious medium may be a case of 'too little, too late'. (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA) They can make portable MP3 players which seem to deliver reasonable battery life and work at least as well as portable radios (which may or may not be saying much but it's obviously adequate for the consumer). I'm not so sure they'll be able to make an IBOC $5 blister-packed throwaway set, but I think from the $25 level up David's statement will probably hold. German radio hams are now building multistandard digital TV transmitters, and they aren't spending the entire DARC budget to do it. You never know (Doug Smith, TN) David, OBVIOUSLY for the CCU people to do this so quickly after the test, this shows that they KNOW there`s a problem. This will decrease the digital coverage even more than the already smaller coverage over analog. This is obvious to CCU that they have already whizzed a lot of people off and they have to do something. XETRA is CCU and running 77 kW. That`s a LOT-O-JUICE. I had WLW IBOC test interference on XETRA out here in AZ. I had some minor interference on 710 KUET which is a semi-local. The 690 interference was more noticeable for me because of the proximity to KUET. I'm a long way from Cincinnati and Harry Helms who also heard the artifacts is further away in California also heard it. The white noise / buzzing is REALLY BAD. People are not going to be happy with this at all (Kevin Redding) ``IBOC will not just help AM; it will help radio...`` Not by overlaying a digital signal over an analog one. The idea of two disparate modulation schemes in the same tiny slice of spectrum is ill-conceived. It was painfully clear to me at the April NAB show, listening to the 1140 [Las Vegas NV] signal that it was flawed. The adjacent channel interference is much too severe over much too large an area. I was in Death Valley, maybe three hours drive from Las Vegas and the digital noise was evident. Having a band full of that noise, especially on and adjacent to local channels, is a recipe for disaster. Spark Gap AM, in effect. ``Radio is, as a medium, 80 years old.`` *WARNING! HERESY AHEAD!* Yes, and AM is obsolete and should be left alone so it can die on its own terms. Trying to make it something it cannot be is like teaching a pig to sing. Wastes your time, and annoys the pig. They didn't try to regenerate navigational beacons with some digital claptrap. They are simply decommissioning them and letting GPS take over. Same with AM. Let it stay as-is until it peters out. 1.2 MHz of spectrum isn't a large swath, despite our attachment to it. ``The "digital" label is hip.`` Apparently not "hip" enough to merit a clean slice of spectrum. Since new radios are required, the band they work on is irrelevant. Allocate space so the job can be done right. Eureka.. ``The data stream that is what IBOC is based on permits a whole array of other services, including interactive.`` So does the Internet. When G3 and later G4 RF connectivity becomes available (2 to 5 years) the small bandwidth available in an IBOC signal will be too little, too late. And the Internet is two-way already. Where's the return channel in IBOC? Sure isn't "in band, on channel". If they need to allocate some return mode, why not simply put everything in the same spectrum right up front? ``If they finally fix the algorithm, talk sounds much more "presency" in IBOC.`` So does satellite, and that's available today. Seems response for that has been underwhelming, with XM treading water and Sirius fending off press reports of their financial woes. The business model for IBOC isn't that much different. ``Remember, there is not much AM talk listening of any kind under age 35; the younger talkers like KLSX are on FM. Plus, this will allow some AMs to be used for niche music formats that can not be justified today. To younger people, AM is totally unhip, useless, dead, etc.`` It's the content, and not the pipeline. More listeners have gravitated to where their action is. The vast majority of people don't give a rat's hindquarters about the pipe. They want the contents. In the case of AM, the pipeline was inadequate to the task of delivering the desired content. IBOC might sound real sweet in high signal strength tests. Put it out there with a bandful of other IBOC signals, especially at night, and it won't be so good. The signal just can't be strong and interference-free over a large enough area for most stations. Maybe the Clear Channel blowtorches, but mom and pop are gonna take it on the chin. Even if they do pony up the Big Bucks to do the conversion. ``There is 100% backing of the IBOC standard, starting at the FCC. AM stereo died in the period of years when the FCC wasted the window of opportunity for AMs to remain viable music stations. And, initially, the technology sucked... platform motion, lack of promotion, near-zero interest by car manufacturers. Not so IBOC.`` Simple. They tried to do the same thing. Cram too much stuff in too small a bag. In my area, that's called a blivet. Ten pounds of ..er.. "stuff" in a five-pound bag. In AM's case, that bag also carries "stuff" from other stations that leaks in. IBOC only spills more in. The fact that the FCC is behind it gives me no comfort. This is the same FCC which screwed up AM Stereo, eliminated ownership limits, and has had a spotty track record on a lot of issues. ``But the big deal is the digital stream, which can carry all kinds of additional data... and become a new revenue source. And they can say "digital" which is the killer buzz word of today in audio.`` And the portable internet services which will be here shortly will run it into the ground. Gotta have a large enough bandwidth to get the content there. IBOC will have the bandwidth for a few pop-up ads. I'll pass, thank you. Were I in a programming position in Radio, I'd be far more concerned with getting the RIAA streaming issue settled to my satisfaction. When G3 and G4 arrive, and I can get an audio stream on my PDA and in my car, suddenly transmitters and over-the-air content will become very unimportant. David, we have discussed this before. You seem set that IBOC is the neatest thing since sliced bread for radio. I'm equally convinced that it's a boondoggle of the first magnitude. You base your opinion on your considerable and varied radio experience. My opinion is based on my 32 years experience as an engineer and consultant. We aren't going to change the other's opinion. We'll just have to see how it shakes out. -c- (Craig Healy, RI) I'm curious how the Eureka system is doing up there. On my recent vacation (which was within range of Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto stations for several days) I did hear a few ads for digital radios. (and I note that applications have been filed for the first digital- only stations, admittedly all with non-mainstream ethnic formats) Are they selling? (Doug Smith, TN) DXed most intensively form 1959 to 1963 in Cleveland, where I verified everything, including all 50 states. DXed a while from Ecuador 1964- 1970, and verified a cou0ple of hundred things, mostly unique ones like US graveyards and TPs. Then DXed Mexicans 1973-75 in Phoenix, with about 240 of them received and verified (when there were less than 500 AMs in all Mexico). I don't send for verifications now as I believe it is a horrible imposition on today's stations. I also realize that most stations don't get reports, and most that they do get are fake or fraudulent, and I don't want to be guilty by association. I currently use a TenTec RX-350 from a place in Palm Springs with a Quantum loop, phaser and several whips on the roof of a condo. I do it for pure fun, not for veries, though. I'll probably get a Drake as a Christmas present to myself, too. As an aside, what many here don't know is that I was a founding member of IRCA, on their first board and even conducted several unique DX tests form Ecuador where I moved stations onto splits for DX purposes. It's not the WLW CE. It is the DOE for Clear Channel who has to decide what is best for hundreds of AMs, ranging form graveyarders to clears. In all cases, the issue is whether it is worth saving fringe adjacent channel reception. Most broadcasters say no, as they get no money outside their own MSA. I would not say that most other broadcasters oppose the 6 db reduction; there has really been no polling of anyone. I sensed no objection in the packed IBOC sessions in Seattle, except that many said, "accept the interference and leave it at current levels." ...YOU were the one who brought up corporate. And, by the way, I'm also consultant; most of the time I am my own boss. I have "posted" quotes because they were germane. I was also the first to say that AM IBOC was not fully ready in April, and I still find it lacking in audio quality. I am also one of the very few on the list who has seen how the sausage is made and who ha had to make a decision as to whether to include IBOC in budgets, in promotion strategy and to take the concomitant risk it involves. IBOC is not like HDTV; it is not obligatory. Terrestrial radio is not dead; there is no evidence yet that satellite delivery will ever make it. I believe it will, but most people in radio are very skeptical about it ever being anything but a 5% to 7% of the market niche. Only one radio company has a satellite investment, and it amounts to less than 4% of one satellite company's stock, and is valued at less than the price the average station in that company's portfolio. Why, then, would there be an interest in killing 99.99% of your investment to save 0.01% of it? In the technical sessions, it was obvious that the newest IBOC chipset designs are no more power consuming than normal radio chipsets. Remember, they are still developing the final versions, and everything out there is a prototype; indications are there will be the capacity to produce from the start 100,000,000 IBOC radios a year. You may not like the programming. You are, then, one of the 5% non- users of radio or the roughly 5% light users (less than 4 hours a week) that have existed since transmitters had rectifier tubes. Buy XM or Sirius. Or buy a bunch of CDs. Or learn to whistle. There is absolutely nothing radio can do to make people like you happy and there never has been. And as America fragments in taste, lifestyle and social groupings as it has since the end of W.W. II, there will continue to be a small group of unsatisfied people who can not find anything to their liking on radio. 95% of Americans cume radio weekly. 90% listen over 7 hours. The average person listens 20:45 a week, about the same as it was in 1950. You can criticize form your point of view the programming, but the fact is that people continue to enjoy and use radio. There is less interest in teens and over 65 persons, but that is due to corporate marketing at auto manufacturers, home product companies, retailers, etc. So where there are no dollars, radio can't program. But radio revenue is up 7.5% in the first half of 2002; radio revenues are now for the first time over 8% of all add expenditures. That does not indicate that all the things are wrong that you believe are. In one sector, mine, radio revenues were up 17% in the first half. Someone must be listening (David Gleason, CA) Losing marginal AM's would be a good thing no matter how you look at it - and not just from a hobby perspective. The same will be true when FM goes digital. There's probably very little argument anywhere that there are too many stations. But what will result from that will be much more concentration than exists today, because in many cases a marginal station is marginal in many ways, often starting with financial. They will fall by the wayside due to the expense. I'm afraid I have to agree with Kevin and others - I see nothing to persuade me to believe that changing to IBOC will cure what's wrong with radio. To the contrary - I think it will instead lead to more of what's wrong on the programming end. I wouldn't argue that 80 years is a long time for a technology - it's probably been too long by at least 10-20 years. Had it been replaced with something better before AM found itself an orphaned stepchild, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA) David, There are many places in this nation that there are no FM and no receivable AM stations. This dooms these people to have one choice and that`s XM or Sirius. Lots of them will be listening to CDs instead. I am sure lots of DXers cringed when they saw that comment because you are telling all of us, the hobby is done and over. Kiss it all goodbye (Kevin Redding, AZ) Nobody but we few care about what happens to DX'ing, nor should they be expected to. We are an accidental by-product - we aren't any real part of the equation. The vast majority of those who are don't even have a hint that anything like DX'ing exists (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA) Kevin, I listened to two FMs and an AM in Seattle, on both a clock radio of the garden-variety hotel kind and my Sony portable which is way to the high end. On neither did I notice anything that would be called disturbing and I had no trouble tuning other stations on the dial that any local listener would want to tune in. No, I could not DX in all likelihood. But this is not about DXing. It is about bringing radio back to a competitive position (David Gleason, CA) Radio needs to not worry about buzz words and all they need to do is fix the programming and stop the processing and loudness wars. If the programming was good, then no one would be worried about IBAC. ``It's "IBOC" (for In Band On Carrier) and not IBAC.`` What I heard on the WLW test and the local FM KJZZ tests and it sounded like it was destroying the adjacent channels. I call it In- Band Adjacent Channel, IBAC (Kevin Redding, AZ) My 2 cents in the debate: I missed NAB this year, but my understanding from friends who were there is that the buzz really was as David describes. From the point of view of the broadcasters, "HD Radio" (the new marketing tag for Ibiquity's digital system) is a desperately- needed magic bullet to stop the erosion in listenership of the last decade or so. They HAVE to believe that this will work. And I agree with David that the impact of MW DAB (sorry, I won't call it "IBOC" as long as so much energy spills beyond +/- 10 kHz) on the DX hobby is of extremely minor import to the broadcast community. But I do think we DXers are something of a "canary in a coalmine" in identifying signal issues that will adversely affect broadcasters, and I think the flawed Ibiquity system is just such a problem. The issue here isn't the WBZ listener in Cleveland or Charlotte (though WBZ actually *does* have a revenue stream it can trace to the huge reach of its overnight signal) - it's the WBZ listener in Worcester, Providence or Manchester, areas that ARE important parts of the WBZ marketing and sales effort. What happens to their signal after dark when KDKA and WHO fire up their HD Radio signals and begin slopping up and down towards 1030 kHz? And even if WBZ has the juice to overcome an increased noise floor to the west, what about the more marginal Boston AM signals like 680 and 850 that go ever-so-directional after dark and whose patterns now miss the huge boom in suburban population in areas like Framingham and Marlborough? Heaven help them when stations like WSCR and WHAS turn on the HD Radio and what's left of their suburban signal is further lost in the hash and noise. (Would I be out of line, furthermore, to suggest that adjacent-channel splat from HD Radio is considerably LESS tolerable as interference to an analog signal than the current analog interference?) Smaller stations being bought and taken dark to reduce the noise floor - or just folding up and blowing away? Maybe...but when incredibly marginal AM signals like the 1360 in Lynn MA, effectively a daytimer, go for seven figures-plus, it's hard to see much relief coming to larger markets that way anytime soon. Yes, a lot of these problems go away when analog goes away and we go all-digital. Heck, even I'll admit that the Ibiquity system would probably work pretty well in an all-digital environment. But, taking our strange hobbyist community aside, will the receiver world really go all-digital in our lifetimes? -s (Scott Fybush, NY) Woke up this Sunday morning to find the great volume of comment on IBOC, programming, the future of DX'ing, et al, ad infinitum. et and cetera. I read it all. I read it but I didn't weep. I've been in the hobby long enough, I've seen (and heard) so many factors that have changed the hobby so drastically, and despite all the changes, many of them aggravating, we're still we're at it. Before I make some of my observations, allow me to thank Dave Gleason for taking the time (and the courage) to share his insights from the standpoint of the contemporary broadcaster. Dave has been involved with the hobby almost as long as I have, and, as I did, followed the route from fascinated, hooked listener into a broadcasting career. Dave's career led to ownership and management, mine stayed at the programming level, specific concentration on news, and because I was motivated to remain in a single, comfortable geographic location, I wound up shifting from broadcasting to newspaper in 1981. I doubt there's another individual involved in broadcast ownership and management who has the understanding of our arcane hobby. We've seen the value of DX'ers to radio stations begin as important sources of information on listenership and propagation, at least in a subjective sense; transcend to a tradition as old-time broadcasters remembered our value in the early days; dwindle to a curiosity for the newer generations of broadcasters or a sympathetic connection to the engineers who are also hams and at least understand where we're coming from; evolve into a nuisance to many who have no interest at all in "freak" reception outside the normal coverage area or into writers of junk mail that goes into the round file with most of the advertising flyers and self-serving press releases that flood the mail rooms (or the secretary's desk.) If there were enough of us to make a real impact on broadcasting, we would probably be head-to-head enemies, because we prefer sunrise-to- sunset daytimers and 6 a.m. to midnight (or earlier) full-timers, and consider the stations we can hear regularly as pests who block the frequencies and keep us from hearing the fragments of signals that we collect. I remember reading a letter to the editor in Time Magazine in the '40s from someone complaining that the first few all-nighters on graveyard channels were interfering with the opportunity to hear those rare stations that made up the romance of radio. Can you imagine Time publishing a letter reflecting our interests today? Since broadcasters have learned they can make, as Eartha Kitt sang it, "beaucoup du loot" with FM signals whose coverage is limited to 40 to 80 miles or so, the whole concept of skywave listenership is going the way of CW on the ham bands. In the '50s, I would have been able to hear Scott Fybush's five-hour interview on WBZ on Labor Day in Texas and might have been able to hear it in Oregon. But if I hadn't been in Lima for the NRC convention, I wouldn't have been able to hear it at all. With programmers concentrating on limited coverage areas and ad buyers showing little, if any, interest in fringe-area listeners (except, maybe, on a truckers' all-night show), it wouldn't surprise me if the AM band (if digital can save it for the broadcasters) wouldn't eventually evolve into 118 graveyard channels, 530-1700, with 20,000 1 kw or 5 kw non-directional stations. Maybe I'd better not mention that ... someone in broadcasting might pick it up and advocate it. Those of us who remember the historical meaning of the words "clear channel" would eventually be causing earthquakes as we turn over in our graves. IBOC's impact on the future of AM broadcasting is probably not so extreme as either the strongest advocates or the staunchest opponents believe it to be, neither panacea nor death. As DX'ers, then, we must look at what our hobby really is. DX is unusual, out-of-the ordinary, reception. A station we hear every day may count in our logs, but unless it programs something we enjoy when we're not "fishing" for new stations, it becomes a pest. Regardless of what the IBOC railroad does to our stomping grounds, there will always be variables in propagation and there will continue to be experiments in directional antenna systems. And maybe the Mark Connellys or Gerry Thomases among us will experiment with selective audio and come up with a way to block the digital hash that will threaten our chase for the "stations between the stations," as the power company engineer in Massachusetts put it in 1967 when Tom Holmes complained about AM QRM from powerlines. I wonder what the Timewave technology can do to the hash. As a technical idiot, I'm dependent upon the work of others to blaze such reactive paths. Potential lifeline or fleeting fad, IBOC looms before us, and we DX'ers can either work around it or find another way to spend our time. If I live as long as my mother, I've got 25 years and counting remaining to enjoy DX'ing, or to put all my hobby time on travel and genealogy, or on writing about the "DX'ing Days of Yore." That's my two cents worth ... a reference to overall value as opposed to the twenty bucks worth of time I've spent writing it ... and while I've been composing this, an additional 20-plus items have been posted to the list. I've paused to read only one ... the submittal from Scot Fybush ... and, as expected, he gives us some valuable insight into the discussion. All those radios to be replaced ... IF they're really being used all that often. OK, enough. It's time to read the other 20- plus entries. Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (John Callarman, Krum TX) CCU was part of the test, so their opinions are germane. Obviously, they are looking at benefiting their clear channel and flame thrower facilities. I think that night operation may well be decided on the current levels, as no one cares about WLW and XETRA in Phoenix but they do care about their local metro. When someone with a single station in a small Idaho market applauds IBOC, as I saw, he claps with his life savings in mind. Most broadcasters look at saving AM, and it has nothing to do with programming and everything to do with economics. QAM stereo was too late, and interest was gone when we finally got finished with Leonard Kahn's suits (blame him for killing AM, instead of me, huh?) and the FCC's foot dragging. It was also a system that had serious flaws, particularly for AM directionals in null areas. And then there was platform motion. Horrible out of the gate. If AM is killed, so be it. But sticking with lousy audio everyone agrees is unsuitable to music and most other formats will do nothing to save it. Even receiver manufacturers knew 15 years ago that no one cares about AM quality. All the coupon and interactive stuff is what vehicle mfgrs call backseat consoles. DVD, interactive radio, games, etc. This is a monthly revenue stream based on content. It is hot. Dismissing it by making glib comments is narrow, Kevin. This is the after-the-sale revenue stream car folks have wanted for a long time. XM and On Star were the first, but they all provide dollars every month from every subscriber. Interestingly, the TiVo like capabilities were very much of interest at NAB. The idea of coding news and traffic and weather so a listener could set their radio to replay them when they got in the car is marvelous. Opens up a concept of radio on demand right on your existing station. This is stuff we find all the time in research projects: "I need the traffic when I leave the house" or "how do I get weather when I need it." (David Gleason, CA) Remember --- this IBOC B.S. isn`t about bringing YOU the listener a better listenable signal with better programming --- it`s all about MONEY in THEIR pockets! What the CE of Clear Channels WLW says about lowering the digital signal by 6db is a JOKE! Its all about trying to sweep the issues of IBOC under the rug and get the FCC to pass regulation so that they can start running this garbage down our throats. IF IBOC does make it to the air fulltime, we still have that receiver issue to deal with. I see a repeat performance of the beginning of the AM Stereo days. The stations were broadcasting stereo --- just no receivers were manufactured in great numbers and what receivers that were made and are presently made {mono or stereo} are just pure junk. I get better quality out of an air monitor than I do from a radio! IBOC still has a long ways to go --- and if it does make it to the light of day --- protest IBOC by NOT buying the receivers. It has an amazing trickle down effect all the way down to the advertising level which greatly affects the profit level of the station running the spectral hash generators. Food for thought for you all today. (Bob Carter, Operations/Engineering, Ray Communications Radio Network, SC) I believe that the programming is no good. You believe the transmission method is no good. The problem is that the programming really is no good and the transmission is no good and no one decided to put the new and better [?] transmission mode on a new band with better programming. The die is cast already and if its not made mandatory like the decision that the FCC made on DTV its never going to fly. When people hear that they have to buy new radios and hear the noise, it`s dead (Kevin Redding, AZ) The proof on IBOC isn't going to be made within a tight local coverage area. It's going to come in places such as Scott suggested - Manchester, providence, and Worcester, all of which are vital to WBZ. And there are analogues all over. Even if you put powerful IBOC transmitters in all of the top 50 markets, and take away all analog stations, either the coverage will be so small in order to decrease the sideband problems that it'll threaten viability or else the interference will be so bad they'll all step on one another everywhere outside of some rather ungenerous distance radius (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA) ADOPTION OF DIGITAL RADIO STANDARD TWO MONTHS AWAY? "I am hopeful that the commission will be able to issue a report and order this fall," FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy told the crowd at the NAB FCC Policymakers' Breakfast this morning, "which in my mind means before November." Voicing her support for getting the ball rolling for adopting a digital radio standard, Abernathy said, "We need to act so that terrestrial radio can transition to the digital age." She noted that because iBiquity has completed both its AM and FM IBOC testing, the National Radio Systems Committee has issued reports supporting the technology, and the FCC itself has accepted comments on those reports, "it is time for us to do our job." Still, she notes that even after a standard is adopted more work must be done to transition stations to digital. Meanwhile, in addition to her target for a digital radio standard, Abernathy tells R&R she is hopeful that the FCC will also be able to issue new EEO rules by November (Radio & Records via Gleason) One other thing that someone has not brought up is the QRN from the sidebands causing images in a market. Let`s say a station on 550 in IBOC has a second harmonic on 1100. I guess the sidebands will then QRM 1090 and 1110. What if there is a station in that market on those frequencies.? I can see all sorts of troubles with IBOC. Now once everyone goes to digital (if they do), the problems might end. But it has a long way to go (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR) The WLW CE is here reading all this and said no such thing! I have made no public comment. The tests we did were just that. Tests. Ibiquity tested on WLW at sideband injection levels of -16 and -22 dB below carrier level. I also want to add that both test levels met the CURRENT Nrsc based FCC spectral mask requirements. Meaning the power generated in the side bands meets the existing rules as written. The DOE's for Clear Channel, of which there are several, are watching these tests as well. The type of skywave tests at WLW consisted of digital sidebands switched 1 minute on and 1 off, then the injection levels changed every 10 minutes. But we ran many variations during the test period. They looked at many real world scenarios in their tests. I have not personally seen the results of the IBOC field tests. As for the Comments about outlying service areas. WLW makes A LOT of money from its over night trucking show and its networked stations being delivered on Sky Wave, i.e. WLW, WHAM, KTWO, KWLW and others. As does WSAI selling religion. Also WLW is sold in the Dayton Ohio, an Adjacent market and has added limited service elements for that area. It normally is about a 4 share in Dayton. I know we here at Clear Channel are totally ignorant boobs bent on our own self destruction and don't know how to program a radio station or operate one; despite ourselves we have amassed a rather large company that relies on Skywave in part to make our money. We have went into many of these small market operations loosing money and by applying the cluster business model we have actually made some money with an otherwise unprofitable station. I personally oversee the Technical operations for 60+ stations. We have replaced or will by the end of 2003 every old tube AM transmitter in my region; I know that makes some here cringe. And many older FM transmitters have been replaced as well. We have brought a level of technical expertise that the stations could not have been able to afford otherwise. I could tell you some horror stories of what I have walked into. But I don't have all day. I just wanted to set the record straight on what I said and did not say (Paul Jellison, Clear Channel, WLW) I take strenuous exception to using WLW, one of the premier n/t stations on a privileged frequency as an example of what works for AM stations that are not low-band 50 kW clears. There are too few clears to begin with, and many are already severely hampered in coverage by adjacents near them. Many more are hampered by being in Southern states where stations like KFI and KNX are unlistenable at 100 miles out due to non-US interference. The XMs and other services will eventually kill the trucker shows, and CCU's investment in same shows they know that. Good, skillful planning. I really doubt that more than 10 of CCUs stations make any appreciable money out of non-home metros. No one does. And they make even less money from skywave. Outside of KOA, WLW and one or two others, the home markets are so big and the outlying markets so small that the formula does not add up. I do agree that CCU was nearly singlehandedly responsible (well, Jacor started it) for saving AM as a viable medium, and the technical operations of the company are all far superior to what previous owners had. But that is not the issue. Getting back to skywave and out of market coverage: I invite you to count the stations that have an adequate signal to cover outside their own market consistently, overcoming power lines, dimmers and all manner of man made interference. The issue is that 99% of US stations can't serve anything but the local market, and a large number of those don't even do that well (David Gleason, CA) I find myself siding more with Kevin, Scott, and Craig than Dave on this one. In particular, Healy's comments are dead on the money. Radio is about content, not modulation methods and other technical issues. I listen to two radio programs each weekday in my office: Howard Stern in the mornings (FM) and Phil Hendrie in the evenings (AM). I didn't decide to listen to those two based upon modulation methods, but instead upon the content. Sometimes in the afternoon I listen to the John & Ken talk show on KFI. That's AM. On KLSX, I could listen to Tom Leykis in FM. But I don't. Why? Because I'd rather listen to John and Ken instead of Tom Leykis, regardless of modulation methods used. And I don't care if the G. Gordon Liddy show is broadcast in "interactive digital Cinerama" or whatever --- I'm still not going to listen to him! It's true in book publishing, it's true in music, and it's true in radio: CONTENT IS KING. People will listen because of the content, not because of the "presence" provided by digital modulation. Crappy programming in beautifully enhanced digital audio is still crappy programming. Give people something they want to listen to and they'll listen. But if your programming sucks, then listeners won't give a damn even if it uses a wonderful new digital modulation scheme. And, as Bob Foxworth has noted, the noise and acoustics in a car aren't favorable to a quality audio experience regardless of modulation scheme. People who think radio technology is more important than programming content are just deluding themselves. Relying on technology alone is grasping at straws and little more than techno-voodoo. Dave Gleason wrote, "The digital data stream element allows interactive radios where you can order the song you are hearing, print out a coupon in the car, get directions to the restaurant you hear an ad for." Dave, are you saying IBOC radios will be able to "query" the transmitting station --- that is, send a signal or message from the receiver back to the transmitter, much like web surfers request pages from a site's server? Because that's the definition of "interactive," and if that's not the case, then IBOC is not interactive. And those "benefits" are more than marketing hype; they're plain daft --- who's going to have a printer in their car to print out a coupon, fer chrissakes???? I can see the scene now when you take your car in for service: "Well, your transmission fluid is OK, but you're getting really low on printer toner. . . ." More seriously, those things have all been tried on the web and all failed miserably, so why would they work in a car with an IBOC radio? Are consumers really interested in being able to do any of that? The internet boom-and-bust offers many instructive lessons that what's technically possible and what people want are often two very different things. One only has to look at the wreckage of Webvan, Pets.com, eToys, etc., to see this principle in action. Some very healthy skepticism is in order for claims that IBOC is going to be a cash cow because it will let you print out coupons as you drive, etc. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what impact IBOC has on AM reception for the general public and if the artifacts can be reduced. But based on the WLW test, I think most ordinary listeners will notice a degradation of reception on analog receivers unless they're locals. And I think the net impact could be to actually reduce AM listenership. You don't have to be a DXer to often find yourself in a situation where you tune for non-local stations --- take driving Interstate 15 from the Los Angeles area to Las Vegas. In both day and night, I can get good reception of KFI or KNX on I-15 to the Nevada border, at which time I start looking for Las Vegas stations (usually either 93.1 or 107.5 on FM). But what impact will the reduced coverage area of IBOC have upon such listening? Will KFI still be audible once I'm over the Cajon Pass on I-15? Will I be able to listen to anything around Baker, CA on AM or FM? If you have reduced coverage and a noisier band, wouldn't that just drive more people to an alternative like XM or CDs? I know Dave dismisses XM and other satellite systems as serious competitors to terrestrial radio. I disagree, and we'll see who's right in the years ahead. But XM has already made inroads with some listeners (like truckers) and it's another "monthly revenue stream based on content." And, as Craig Healy noted, 3G/4G systems are looming on the horizon and are really going to shake things up when they hit. Imagine something similar to your current cell phone, but also offering full web access and streaming media services. . . . . . it's coming, and it's going to be huge. Those services will be fully, truly interactive, just like the internet is today. Dave wrote, "There is not enough national bandwidth for the kinds of wireless services people dream of on the web." That statement is not accurate. The models for how to do this are well established; I'm current working with people like Dr. Janise McNair (University of Florida) and Dr. Robert Fontana (founder, Multispectral Solutions) on books about next generation wireless and ultra wideband technologies. These aren't pie in the sky notions; they're both real and inevitable because of the utility and convenience they will offer. Craig is dead-on in his assessment of 3G/4G. If IBOC manages to force some terrestrial AM and FM stations to go dark, that would be a positive IMHO. The big problem facing radio today is too many stations chasing a finite pool of ad dollars. Some contraction of the industry is long overdue, and if IBOC forces some of the smaller players to throw in the towel that would be good (especially since most of the smaller players are just terrestrial relays of satellite-delivered programming and offer nothing innovative or unique.) Will IBOC kill DXing? No, but it will alter things greatly. But life is all about change and how we adapt to it. We might wind up with fewer stations, but more QRM. SRS/SSS DX will get interesting as stations turn IBOC on and off for daytime operation. It's not too hard to imagine our PCs being used to extract some of the streaming data from IBOC signals, allowing us to identify stations whose audio we can't detect. And who cares if the stations and CEs don't understand DXing? We don't need anyone's permission or approval to get a kick out of logging a new, distant station! I can't help but feel trying to make AM "sexy" again with IBOC is like a guy who's 55 and decides to get a face lift, a new toupee, and testosterone injections so he can go to the local club and compete with the 25-year old guys for the hotties. Oh, there's no harm really being done, and I guess it makes the 55-year old feel better about himself, but you can't help but laugh at such a pitiful spectacle. But nonetheless I appreciate everyone's comments and sincerely wish Dave Gleason all the best in his venture with IBOC-¡Vd. tiene cajones más grandes que mí, estimado Sr.! (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridegcrest, CA DM15) All broadcasters today see themselves as content providers. I work with XM, with net streams and on-air radio. We tackle programming the same way in each: consult the listener and find out what they want and where there is opportunity. Most broadcasters get this. The interactive allows query via a service like on star form GM. You push the radio screen, it provides data, reserves a restaurant, orders a CD, displays a map to the business and so on. The idea is that GM, Ford and the rest want to sell us a service that produces money for as long as we have the car. I have a multi-service thingie in my car that is 10 months old, and it will call if an airbag pops and alert the police based on GPS; I can get travel directions by voice, and also ask technical questions. It's $240 a year, and I will continue to use it after the first free year. Car folks know they can make more on aftermarket than selling the car, and they always have. This is new generation of aftermarket. And it will drive this new stuff. Hey, ask any mom who has DVD in the back of her family van... they would never trade it. I do not dismiss XM. In fact, I program 5 of their channels. I even am a shareholder. But it has its place. Mostly, people not satisfied with the available formats locally. A guy who likes Latin Jazz has no choices anywhere on radio, but XM gives that to them. Or reggae. Or hot jazz. Or many forms of classical, our classic country. They fill a need created by people who could not expect to be satisfied with regular radio. Those people don't listen now, so they are no loss. I too have doubts about AM in the long run. The real issue is that even without IBOC, most AMs are coverage crippled, and can not compete even with other AMs that have better signals. Take a market like San Diego. Only 2 AMs really cover the entire county, which is the metro. And KOGO uses an FM repeater to cover NE SD County better. The rest of the AMs are going to continue to slide and eventually, some will go away or find other sues... maybe datacasting. I have dealt with many other stations in research projects I have moderated, ranging form talk in English in NY to Oldies in Washington, DC. Believe me, with a few exceptions, no one sells outside their MSA. No one cares about TSA numbers, in fact, starting with ad agencies. In SoCal I have heard one out of market advertiser on KFI in 10 years (and I listen to them a lot). That advertiser sat on the border between Riverside and LA market wise, so they probably wanted the LA County consumers, and Riverside local was a bonus. Otherwise, nobody cares what audience they have in other markets, as it is generally "below the line" and insignificant. WFAN gets numbers in Hartford; they could not sell a single spot at NY rates in Hartford, and agencies are not going to pay any attention to bonus listeners as they buy by market, not by tonnage. Then the issue is whether AM is salvageable anyway. For example, in Mexico City, outside of upper income level listeners, there is less than 10% AM shares. But, because the market is so big (23,000,000) they all make some money and are sold, or dragged, into cluster packages and get revenue (David Gleason, CA) But my contention - backed up, I'd add, by some friends in high engineering positions whose opinions I trust wholeheartedly - is that we're not talking about KFI in Ventura or WGN in Champaign or WCBS in Atlantic City. I am not sufficiently convinced, based on what I've seen and heard so far, that we're not looking at significant increases in the noise floor - in very ugly-sounding ways - well within the boundaries of metro areas, even to stations with signals that we think of as very good. I've been working on a book about the history of NYC FM, as many of you know, and spending a fair amount of time down near the city as a result. When I'm down there, I stay with family members in Suffern, in Rockland County some 25-30 miles northwest of New York City. Rockland is well within the NYC metro for both radio and TV, is growing in population and is among the more affluent counties in the metro. And out of the "New York" AM signals, the only ones that are consistently usable in Suffern, day and night, are 660, 710, 770, 880, 1130 and 1560 - and even at that, there's some noise after dark on those. (FM is a bit fringy as well, particularly down low where my cousins' house is). I haven't gone down there with a signal meter to check, but I'd have to believe that ALL of those NYC signals will get somewhat beaten up by adjacent-channel digital at night - and that WOR in particular will suffer badly enough from WLW and WGN to be unusable after dark there. I know the engineers at WOR and Buckley, and I've got to believe they don't want to lose Rockland County from their night signal. (I'm not even getting into how bad the rest of the "New York" AM signals are in Rockland after dark - stations like 1280, 1380 and 1600 aren't even rumors up there at night...) In all honesty, David, do you believe the mom-and-pop station operators from Idaho who were applauding at NAB completely understand the technical implications of the system? This is the one area where we as DXers *do* have an advantage; I think we're in a much better position to comprehend how a system like this will work in the "real world" of the AM dial than even many broadcast owners might be. -s I'm horribly biased on this, I know, seeing as how I work as a consultant for 100000watts, a division of M Street Corp., which is owned by Clear Channel - and what's more, I've had lunch with Randy Michaels and actually enjoyed the experience. So my opinion on this doesn't count for some of you. But: I know a lot of the engineers and engineering executives at Clear Channel. And I would say, vehemently, that if any company has been good for AM in the last decade or so, it's been Clear Channel. They've invested tons of money in cleaning up transmitter sites and fixing technical problems (including big ones, like daytimers operating at night and such) that had gone neglected for years under Ma and Pa. They're vigilant now about patrolling interference to their stations, and they've made moves to clean up some interference-ridden parts of the AM dial by turning stations off and moving others. These guys know AM inside and out and they BELIEVE in it - which is why I'll be very interested in (and will give a lot of weight to) whatever conclusions Paul and his bosses do eventually end up making publicly about the IBOC tests. (Especially in light of what I've already heard behind the scenes...) -s (Scott Fybush, NY) I think we're oversimplifying if we characterize the current discussion as programming versus modulation methods and other technical issues. I sympathize and lean toward agreement with Kevin and others who complain about programming content. There's very little on the air today that appeals to me, but then I am in one of those groups that the broadcasters have deemed a market that does not interest them. But radio programmers, basically, turned me off long before I turned radio off ... and I'm speaking of more than 20 years ago, when I was younger than 55. I think also that the current focus on technical issues can be characterized as a last-ditch effort to reverse the trend toward deterioration and even death of AM broadcasting. It appears we're all in agreement that AM radio as a consumer medium is sick, and IF it is to survive requires some drastic steps. We're in disagreement about what those steps should be. Dave Gleason and Clear Channel have been our whipping boys today. I've read enough of Dave's posts over the past couple of years to recognize that his primary focus is delivering programming that will attract listeners. His comments in the past on the difference between personality-type entertainment and the bland, cookie-cutter radio we find all too often are in the same ballpark as mine. On the ideal radio station I would listen to, I'd program big-band and standard music ... characterized by the terms Broadway and Tin Pan Alley ... with host or hostess who'll talk briefly about the music, with good extemporaneous humor and some indication that he or she knew what was going on in the market in which the station operates. When I was in Seattle last, 1993, KIXI's format filled that bill for me, though I detect Dave's anathema toward my kind of music. (On KAAM-770 a couple of weeks ago, the DJ played the long version of "Sing, Sing, Sing" by Benny Goodman's group, stimulating my long-time fantasy that some of the younger folks would hear the beat laid down by drummer Gene Krupa and the interplay of Goodman's clarinet, Dizzie Gillespie's horn and Teddy Wilson's piano, and similar music, and want to hear more.) After reading comments from several CCU people here today and in the past (and being somewhat more open-minded than perhaps some of my comments over the past few months have indicated), I'm open to the likelihood that Clear Channel is not quite so set-in-stone monolithic as we may have characterized them. WSAI-1530 was locked onto my radio as I drove through northern Kentucky and southeastern Ohio on the way to the Lima convention, and I enjoy hearing the station I worked at in 1959-60, KIXZ-940, as I drive through Amarillo. In my younger days, I probably would have enjoyed the responsibility of programming a cluster of stations in any given market, taking advantage of the creative things that can be done with voice-tracking and other technical tools, paying close attention to clever, attention getting ad content that flows into the programming, and – here`s where I'd probably lose my job or my fortune -- paying more attention to programming by my gut instincts than by consultants' suggestions. I might be able to make enough money on a couple of different rock formats, a country station, a sports animal and a small but lucrative religious station to support my personality standard-and-ballad station, heh heh! There would be no room on any of my stations for some of the tasteless talk shows, both of a political and/or a childish, four-letter-word format. Harry Helms, I'm not entertained by Howard Stern's approach, which sounds awfully juvenile to me, but I can stomach Don Imus ... isn't that a tenuous line to draw? Getting back to reality, in the Dallas-Fort Worth market, and with my musical tastes actually somewhat broad, I do have some choices. KNTU plays some good jazz; WRR has a listenable classical format; KAAM plays standards and big band, with local personality; KHYI plays the Americana country format (rather than what the country charts have become ... when I'm driving through Tulsa, I miss access to the old KVOO-1170 country classic format already), occasionally, I can stand oldies of the '60s and '70s, and I do enjoy most Mexican music, and the opportunity to learn some of the material I can hear when I'm DX'ing XEs.) Unfortunately, I cannot bring myself to listen to right- wing talk show hosts (there are neither liberals nor moderates on WBAP, KLIF, KRLD at night, nor KXXL) or virtually any contemporary music. (I appreciate the availability of NPR/PRN, including Garrison Keillor, "What Do You Know?" and "Car Talk" but I don't really listen as often as I should.) None of my listenables put much of a dent in the Arbitron ratings, sadly. I would agree that content is the first priority, but if your program is on a signal that's fading or hampered by QRM or QRN, a good CD will suffice, thank you. Therefore, technological improvements are important. But I also agree with Harry's statement that, "People who think radio technology is more important than programming content are just deluding themselves. Relying on technology alone is grasping at straws and little more than techno-voodoo." That, I think, sums up the points made by Kevin Redding fairly well. I do not think, though, that Dave Gleason's arguments fit that description. Today's IBOC discussion has been more entertaining to me than most radio that's available here! By the way, I suppose I should comment that, technical idiot that I am, I have not seen anything that convinces me that IBOC, as presently contemplated, would have sufficient benefits that offset its potential damage to the spectrum. But I'm also realist enough to realize that preconceived perceptions are more often believed than truth. That's a good statement on which a Krumudgeon can close ... with 21 new messages on line to read (John Callarman, TX; all: NRC-AM circa Sept 15 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Radio Sawa is heard here in Dubai on 90.5 FM, "Sawa" in Arabic means togetherness and i guess the stations aim is to unite the western and arab cultures. They broadcast arabic and english music in FM stereo alternatively and also with news round the hour (R. Nambiar, India/UAE Sep 16, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent English night service at 2030-2100 and 2130-2200 UT still on 5025, 9545, and 11905. The latter very loud and clear today Sep 16th, at 2140 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) 11905, Radio Tashkent; 2038-2058*, 16-Sep; Woman in English with poetic reading and commentaries, vocal and instrumental music. Vocals sound similar to Arabic. SIO= 3+32+/LSB helps but strong QRM on both sides; tough copy. Reported // 9545 is covered. *2130-2138+, 16-Sep; On with "Radio Tashkent Calling" after brief IS. M with news 2132-37. All in English. SIO=3+32+/definitely better than at 2030; LSB helps here too. 11900 QRM is Bulgaria in English; 11910 is in Japanese. Tashkent sign-on covered a French transmission. 9545 is in German (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.65, R. Amazonas (Presumed), 1024 Sept 14, fast LA male vocal, fair signal, in clear. Faded fast and gone by 1040 (Dan Ziolkowski WI, Cumbredx mailing list Sept 17 via DXLD) Bastante irregular en 4940kHz, Radio Amazonas. La potencia no es muy alta y el sonido es algo deficiente. Saludos desde Catia La Mar... (Adán González, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. RADIO NACIONAL DE VENEZUELA CON PROBLEMAS Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Venezuela. Según un reporte de la dirección de Radio Nacional de Venezuela, dado a conocer el pasado lunes 16, Radio Nacional tuvo problemas técnicos en sus transmisores de La Rinconada y Valencia, los cuales utilizan las frecuencias de 630 y 1050 kHz, para cubrir la zona central del país. Durante el sábado 14 y domingo 15, hubo inconvenientes que incluso provocaron la reducción de la potencia a 10 kW, en el caso de 630 kHz (50 kW), durante el día domingo. De acuerdo con el mismo informe, los técnicos atribuyeron las fallas a "fenómenos atmosféricos". En los últimos días ha llovido bastante en el país. Para ajustar los transmisores se está realizando una pausa entre las 11 y 12 de la noche (0300-0400 UT). Una de ellas estaba programada para el lunes 16. Desde Catia La Mar... (Adán González, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. Voice of Khmer Krom, 15660. I received a no-data ``London, Ontario`` card and partial-data personal letter in 1 month. My report was sent to Box 28674, Columbus, OH 43228, U.S.A., and this address is given in the letter. However, the letter is on a Khmers Kampuchea-Krom Federation letterhead with no address but with an Ontario, Canada, phone number (519 659-3920). And it is postmarked London, Ontario. Card and letter are signed by Thach N. Thach (Wendel Craighead, KS, Sep 14, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5486.7, 1055, Sept 17, High paced male announcer in Spanish, with bits and pieces of Peruvian folk music between comments. Well modulated, but quite weak. Quite a bit weaker then R. Ilucán a couple hundred kHz up. La Reina de la Selva, Chachapoyas has been reported on this frequency in the past, supposedly running .06 kW, but to my knowledge, it has not been logged recently. Perhaps a reactivation? (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CERTIFICATES Hello Glenn, If you can find the time and space to remind your listeners about the HCI SWL certificate availability, it would be greatly appreciated. They may read the requirements, as well as view a low resolution image of it, on the HCI web site in the SWL area: http://www.w9wze.org They can click on the "SWL Menu" and follow the links. Thanks! (Duane Fischer, W8DBF) dfischer@usol.com ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-145, September 16, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1147: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1830, Mon 1230, Wed 1300 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1147.html BILL FLYNN. The biscuit [forest, wild-] fire is 98% contained -- no damage near here. On Aug 17, they hauled me off to the hospital, respiratory arrest, heart attack. On Sept 4, I returned home. Please understand that my recovery will be lengthy. I will not be doing any DXing for a long time. Regards, Bill, Sept. 8, 2002, Cave Junction OR. Bill has been one of our most faithful contributors. We wish him a good and faster than expected recovery! (Glenn) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Re DXLD 2-144, Magrib prayers: Hello Glenn, With regards to your question about Maghrib prayers, it is one of the daily prayers performed by a Muslim. Each prayer is known by a different name. First prayer (Subur): one hour before sunrise (around 5.30 am) Second prayer (Lohor): noon time Third prayer (Azar): late afternoon (around 5 pm) Fourth prayer (Maghrib): early evening (around 8 pm) Fifth prayer (Isyak): late evening (around 9 pm) If you can't remember the names, just remember that the first letters of all the words form the word "Islam". In communities where the Muslims form the majority, radio stations would broadcast the azan (prayer call) at the appropriate prayer times. The exact timing variates every day and the radio broadcast is thus a convenient tool to determine the prayer time. 73s (Richard Lam, Singapore, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Very interesting; are the Moslems really into acrostics, or is it totally coincidental that these spell out ISLAM? Oh, oh, watch out: (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Gospel broadcast into Afghanistan Americans are in a somber mood today, with the advent of the one-year anniversary of the deadly September-11 terrorist attacks. Gospel For Asia's KP Yohannan says they're also marking the date, but with a milestone of hope. Beginning today, they are broadcasting the Gospel into Afghanistan. "We are airing this broadcast on a 500-thousand watt short wave station, which is going to be heard brilliantly. With what is happening now, we are believing the Lord to see, literally, thousands of people turn to the Lord and find hope." Yohannan believes the people are ready for the hope of Christ. He says there is still a lot of work to do and asks for support. "There are 400 or so Afghani believers that are said to be in the country. Pray that somehow, the Lord will raise up a few of them to follow-up and do things, in terms of planting churches." (Guess what --- MNN forgot to mention frequency again. -- BA) (Mission Network News via Bruce Atchison, AB, Sept 16, DXLD) That`s not all they forgot to mention. I`ve found it`s the rule rather than exception for religious programmers to be exceeding vague about the details of their broadcasts. Could it be they really don`t want to encourage donors to try to tune in? (gh, DXLD) ** ALGERIA. ARGÉLIA/ UTILITÁRIA. 6932 7TF - Boufarik Radio, Boufarik - Recebida carta QSL full data em torno de 43 dias. V/S: Azmedroub - Hocine, Le chefe de centre Enviado IR e carta em francês. Não foi enviado IRC's ou dólares para as despesas postais. Escutada transmissão em CW. A antena usada pela emissora é uma Conic (J.R.C.) com 5 kW de potência. Segundo o V/S a estação só trabalha em HF: A1A, J3E, F1B e F4. Tráfico rádiomaritimo com barcos no mar. QTH: Centre Radiomaritime, Le Chef de Centre, BP 234, 09400 Boufarik, Argélia (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes, PR, @tividade DX Sept 15 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Interestingly, with the big AM, Radio 10 [710 kHz], in Argentina, we had the original choice of being non-directional with that power. We decided to go directional to push the power East over the city, then to the ocean. There is nearly no place in the market that you cannot hear us beautifully. We lost millions of people outside the city, but made the station a better contender in the city. Proof: Buenos Aires has 13 all talk AMs, and there is 40% AM share. We have 38% of it. However, impossible to do in the US, as the station has 130 employees, and just the morning show has over 30 between on air (including staff comedian) and reporters and writers (David Gleason, Palm Springs CA, Sept 15, NRC-AM via DXLD) QSL from R. Diez: http://www.kbonet.com.br/radiowaysqsl/RDiez.jpg (via gh, DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. 4880v, Bangladesh Betar, no sign of this one this season. Not propagating or off? (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX Sept 16 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6085.35, Radio San Gabriel 0930 OM, YL, ID as "...San Gabriel" 0937 on the Drake R7. 4716.84, Radio Yura, 1005-1023, good signal, OM with music, "...hermanos en bolivia...Radio Yura" (Bob Wilkner, FL, R-75, R7, NRD 535D, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL [and non]. Rudolf Grimm`s website includes photos of a number of DXers, mostly from Brasil, whose names you have seen here, under RADIOAMIGOS e SAUDADE: http://www.radioways.cjb.net (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST, tnx to tip from @tividade DX) ** BRAZIL. A programação levada ao ar, em 4845 kHz, é a da Rádio Ternura FM. Foi captada, em Porto Alegre (RS), em 14 de setembro, às 0905, com a identificação: "Na Ternura FM, mais música no programa Seu Ritmo!". A emissora é de Ibitinga, São Paulo (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Sept 15 via DXLD) That would be the seldom-reported one previously known as R. Ibitinga, or R. Meteorologia Paulista, listed by PWBR as 1 kW on the strange schedule of 0700-2100 UT, and not to be confused with R. Cultura, Manaus, also on 4845, and per Shortwave Guide with 250 kW at 0800-0200 while SWG says Ibitinga runs 0800-2300. Note also that the Manaus frequency varies on the high side (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Olá, Hoje cedo em conversa com a direção da Rádio 9 de Julho, 1600 kHz AM de São Paulo, SP, fui informado da implantação até Março de 2003 de uma frequência de transmissão em Ondas Curtas, faixa de 31 metros, nos 9820 kHz. A homologação da frequência já foi feita pela Anatel e espera-se apenas autorização para iniciar a construção de um sistema de antena e transmissor para esta frequência. Seu sinal em AM é gerado da Zona Norte de SP, região da Freguesia do Ó. Estuda- se a possibilidade de levar suas transmissões para o distrito do Jaraguá. Também nesta manhã, a direção da Rádio Capital AM, 1040 kHz informou que seus sinais de 200 kW transmitidos desde a cidade de Taboão da Serra, grande SP, serão modernizados. Seus atuais transmissores VP100A, fabricados pela Harris, de 100K, serão substituídos no segundo semestre do ano que vem por um único transmissor Nautel de 200 kW. A Rádio Cultura FM continua com problemas no seu transmissor de OC na faixa dos 16 metros (freq de 17815 kHz). Duas válvulas de saída haviam sido trocadas e seus sinais já estavam no ar desde Maio deste ano em caráter experimental. Nas últimas semanas, com uma forte chuva que ocorreu em SP, um cabo de transmissão provocou um curto-circuito em um dos sistemas de geração e o transmissor foi danificado. Ainda não se sabe se a Funmdação Padre Anchieta, proprietária da emissora vai conseguir incluir esta manutenção em seu orçamento deste ano. Possivelmente não. Forte 73' (Denis Zoqbi S 23 40' 33" W 46 45' 21" --- Se o mundo não muda, mude você! Radioescutas Sept 16 via DXLD) I wonder if 9 de Julho are aware of other stations already using 9820, such as Cuba? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. On a couple of occasions that past week, I am hearing some very nice, I presume, Chinese music on 17640 from about 1630 to 2000 UT (on one day a sign off, unheard, just before 2000). Having given away my Passport to Worldband Radio in Mexico, I have no current reference to check. The program is strictly music, largely strings, flutes, orchestral. No break on the hour or half hour, no announcements or IDs. A good signal with a touch of flutter, occasional brief breaks in transmission similar to the skipping on Real Audio. This is likely an outlet of China Domestic Radio network? (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, Sept 16, ODXA via DXLD) Hi Roger: In fact, it's a jammer --- and one heckuva powerful one. It's covering Radio Free Asia and if you listen carefully, you'll notice that it's actually a loop that runs around 7 minutes, if I recall correctly. The fact that we can hear it in midafternoon all the way from the Chinese mainland makes one wonder just how many kW are being pumped into the ether! (John Figliozzi, NY, ODXA via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI`s September-November block program schedule, including WORLD OF RADIO, Sundays at 1830+, no longer temporary: http://www.rfpi.org/quarterly-sked.html As this issue first goes out, a reminder that RFPI`s 15th anniversary Fiesta on the Air, is underway, booming in on 7445 and 15039, 0000- 0300 UT Tue Sept 17. Prepaid calls welcome to 011 506 249 1344, or info@rfpi.org (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CYPRUS. My interpretation of Ydun Ritz' mail: that means, IBB/VoA's Radio Sawa is using the reserve mast of Radio Monte Carlo Middle East site ? on 981 kHz - as temporary matter. They never could really erect a new mast in such a limited time there. Glenn, Why chop? I guess that's not an original IBB/VoA mast, in use at present, the RMC ME reserve mast is adjusted for that operation, maybe ??? 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe so; perhaps they can electronically compensate for the mast being the `wrong` height for the wavelength, or simply ignore it with all that power (gh, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. From BC-DX #591: OHR - Over Horizon Radar at Cyprus heard during summer on the ham radio band frequencies of 14350, 18070, and 21370 kHz (German bandwatch in FUNK magazine, Sep 2002 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Este é o site para download do programa DXHCJB que conta com a participação de Célio Romais: http://www.hcjb-brasil.org/audio.htm (Rogério Krüger, Radioescutas, @tividade DX Sept 15 via DXLD) ** EUROPE. De European Medium Wave Guide (EMWG) heeft nu z'n eigen domeinnaam. Wijzig daarom uw favorieten, links, enz. naar het unieke internetadres: http://www.emwg.info De EMWG heeft ook een nieuw e-mail adres: cont-@emwg.info [truncated] Naast de oude getrouwe PDF-versie (gratis te downloaden), zijn nu ook de nodige voorzieningen aangebracht voor een on-line versie. Deze is echter nog in opbouw. Niettemin kan je op de webstek al een goed idee krijgen van wat het uiteindelijk zal worden. Ter herinnering: de European Medium Wave Guide is een overzicht van letterlijk alle lange- en middengolfstations in Europa, Noord-Afrika en het Midden Oosten (Herman Boel, BDXC via DXLD). ** GERMANY. Pictures of the Wertachtal site are here: http://www.volk-muenchen.de/ Some comments: http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4800.jpg http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4829.jpg http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4830.jpg Old class-B modulation transmitters from 1972/1974, the original fitting of the station. http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4827.jpg http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4828.jpg New PDM transmitters, added in 1987/1988 when the station was extended to 16 transmitters altogether. http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4804.jpg "SArt": I guess an entry there means that another mode than DAM (AM with dynamic carrier control) is in use, at least the "AM" entries fit to low transmitter numbers one would expect to belong to the old class-B rigs. "Leist" = power, no entry no doubt means 500 kW, the single "P/M" entry is the RNW transmission on 9860, using 125 kW. "Ltg" = feed circuit. http://www.volk-muenchen.de/DCP_4806.jpg The note taped on the console deals with fax reports to the regulation authority required for other transmissions than Deutsche Welle ones (the "Jülich business" to put it simply). By the way, I just prepared an audio file of Ismaning 6085 and found that they apparently use an audio bandwidth of 6 kHz, not 4.5 kHz as earlier reported (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Subject: Besuch bei DTK Wertachtal Yesterday, some German DXers visited the DTK Deutsche Telekom site Wertachtal, which belongs to T-Systems MediaBroadcast. 80 hectare wide. 39 antenna masts up to 122 meters tall. 13 transmitters of 500 kW each. T-SYSTEMS MediaBroadcast staff of 21, but on weekends only a single guy on duty. Digital pictures on homepages: http://www.volk-muenchen.de http://www.marko-koenig.de/wertachtal (via Lutz Andreas, Germany, Sep 15, via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** GERMANY. According to the German "Kontakter" magazine, VIVA TV now confirmed that the VIVA-Radio project is dead, at least for the time being. This concerns Jülich 702 and Nordkirchen 855, both 5 kW. Reportedly the transmitters were already installed (at the shortwave site and the existing 549 kHz site, respectively) and at least 855 was already on air with 1 kHz tone. It is uncertain so far what will happen with these frequencies now. Berlin mediumwave sites: http://funk.breloehr.de/fotos-b/b_schaef.htm Schäferberg; picture of the wire antenna for 891 and 1485 (both DRM tests only) on the bottom of this page. See also http://funk.breloehr.de/fotos-b/b_scat.htm for the old 2 GHz scatter link facilities, also at the opposite station in the Harz montains. http://funk.breloehr.de/fotos-b/b_frohn.htm Frohnau; old microwave link site, now containing cellular phone facilities and another really tiny mediumwave antenna for 1485. http://funk.breloehr.de/fotos-b/b_britz.htm http://home.snafu.de/wumpus/rias.htm Britz; main masts for both 990 and 855 with screening towards Romania on latter frequency at night (but in fact 855 now operates ND all time since only 25 kW are in use anymore), vertical incidence cross dipole (it is prohibited to use this antenna anymore due to concerns about electromagnetic pollution), 6005/6190 dipoles (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. About AFN feeds: AFRTS programming is fed to Frankfurt via the Intelsat bird at 1 degrees west (this *could* be the bird IBB uses to call AOR) in Musicam format with 128 kbit/s only. AFN Europe programming is distributed from Frankfurt to the other AFN stations via Eutelsat Hotbird, using Musicam 128 kbit/s, too, resulting in noticeable delays of transmitters elsewhere in Germany compared with Frankfurt 873 / 98.7. All satellite links are encrypted of course. When listening to the 98.7 outlet recently I found the audio quality of both satellite-fed and locally produced stuff remarkably low; some clips contained so much noise that one could believe they were recorded with the cheapest ghettoblaster. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [non]. One of my favorites on the car radio is 17705, V. of Greece via Delano, which often plays great Greek music, and the signal is superb. But showing just how lacking is ERT`s commitment to what little English broadcasting they have, Sat Sept 14 during the 1600 hour, when Hellenes Around the World normally airs, there was instead some extremely excited play-by-play in Greek, no doubt some stupid ballgame, preëmpting, we hope (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Radio K`ekchí in Guatemala is back on the air with the old Gates transmitter after a technician on loan from TGN installed a replacement capacitor which I had shipped down to them via another member of a volunteer team. I was supposed to have taken the part down and installed it the last week of August -- but just couldn't afford another trip so soon after returning from Honduras on the 17th. The Pastor of Radio Amistad says that they are only operating the 4700 kHz rig during daylight hours --- they are using it primarily as an "STL" to get the signal over the mountain/volcano to be rebroadcast on a little 25-watt AM transmitter on 540 kHz --- because their main FM signal on 97.6 (that`s right, .6 ) can't be heard beyond the mountain range. The little AM transmitter is being used in a "carrier-current" system in which the 25-watts of RF is fed directly into the AC power lines rather than into an antenna. Radio Amistad is located on beautiful Lake Atitlán at San Pedro La Laguna in south-Western Guatemala. The FM signal reaches into a dozen or more towns and villages around the lake. Well, that`s about all the news from the "field", Glenn. 73, (Larry Baysinger, KY, Sept 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Larry; agree about Atitlán, loved my visit there (gh) ** INDIA. AIR-KOLKATA`S GLORY A THING OF THE PAST 15/9/02 ------------------------------------- KRISHNENDU BANDYOPADHYAY TIMES NEWS NETWORK [WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2002 1:53:41 AM] KOLKATA: Seventy-five years after beginning its eventful journey, Akashvani Kolkata is merely a shadow of its glorious past. Shelved projects, funds cr-unch and dearth of talents now mark an organisation which once attracted luminaries of Bengali culture. ``People like Nazrul Islam, Premendra Mitra, Nripendra Krishna Chattopadhyay and Birendra Krishna Bhadra had worked here. Nirad C. Chowdhury worked in the news section as a correspondent who later specialised as a war analyst,`` said joint director (news) Sunit Chakraborty. In course of its 75th anniversary celebrations, the AIR held a series of programmes over the past one year. Old programmes were broadcast again. Nostalgic addas were held. But no new ventures came up. Among the pending projects are `Radio on Demand` and `Radio News On Telephone`. Station director As-im Rej, however, claimed the former has already taken off. ``You have to check out the technicalities with our engineers,`` he said. ``We are also talking to our news section so that `Radio News on Telephone` can be given a shape.`` ``As people come to us, we have stopped going to them long ago,`` a senior AIR official said. And real talents by nature are shy of projecting themselves, he added. Official paraphernalia keep talents away. ``One has to wait for years to get an audition,`` an officer said. Discussions among the staff generally centre around promotions and postings. Chakraborty reminded that AIR Kolkata had a rich archive. ``If used properly, it can earn fabulous amounts and end the AIR`s paucity of funds.`` All-India Radio`s first director general and one of its key architects, Fielden, returned to England in 1944 and predicted that AIR would become just another bureaucratic organisation. He was right, fear AIR insiders (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDIA. Current regular channels during the 1200 and 1300 hour are 4760, 4775, 4800, 4840, 4850, 4860, 4880, 4910, 4920, 4970, and 5040. No much luck in 90 mb as of late. 4820 Kolkata used to be much better, nothing heard under the Chinese here though. 4940 just a het here, 4950 nada, always tough, ditto 5050. 4960 seems irregular (Hans Johnson, WY?, Sept, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER QUESTIONS PROPOSED BAN ON FOREIGN BROADCASTS Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2002 -- In an interview this week in Washington with the Voice of America, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda criticized efforts to curb foreign radio and television broadcasting in his country. Speaking with VOA Indonesian Service reporter Irawan Nugroho, Mr. Wirajuda questioned the plan by the Indonesian parliament (DPR) to launch a new broadcasting bill that would curb the relay of foreign broadcasting by local radio and television in Indonesia. "Any form of censorship, limitation or curbing of foreign broadcasting in this new world of the information superhighway will only be counterproductive," Mr. Wirajuda told VOA. "If the bill is passed by the DPR," he continued, "this kind of censorship, limitation or any kind of curbing of the free flow of information will not be effective or enforceable. This new law will merely be a piece of paper. Why should we produce a law that is not effective and enforceable?" Mr. Wirajuda added, "The legislative move by the DPR to curb foreign broadcasting is against the spirit of reform in Indonesia that the government has encouraged. "Technically," he asked, "how can we limit that kind of broadcasting? It is hard to understand. This borderless world has changed, and the free flow of information has bombarded the Indonesian public for so many years. Compared to the neighboring countries, Indonesia is left behind in this new world of information. Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand have moved far beyond this kind of censorship." Mr. Wirajuda was in Washington to meet with members of Congress and to attend a dinner hosted by the United States Indonesian Society (USINDO). He is scheduled to address the UN general assembly meeting in New York on Sept. 18 (VOA Press release Sept 16 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. EUROPE - GLOBAL RADIO LEARNS FROM U.S. SATELLITE RADIO MISSTEPS September 13, 2002 12:00 am, Phillips Publishing International, Inc. Interspace via NewsEdge Corporation : By Stephen A. Blum The most complex satellite broadcasting system ever proposed is under development in a nondescript office building near Luxembourg's airport. Global Radio intends to provide subscription radio service throughout Europe, beginning in 2006. It will use a powerful three- satellite, inclined orbit constellation, with each bird delivering eight beams. The manufacturer has not yet been selected. One beam will provide continent-wide service, while the other seven will focus on specific language regions. Crafting the programming line-ups will be equally challenging, balancing the near-term objective of drawing in early adopter ex-pats looking for native language programming with the long range goal of providing mainstream service to the entire European market. Content and distribution are the two primary factors that determine the success or failure of satellite delivered subscription services. These two factors explain the way the DirecTV-EchoStar battle has played out over the years and account for the failure or success of direct to consumer satellite systems in markets as diverse as Japan, Latin America and Africa. With specific programming plans yet to be drawn and distribution still in the conceptual phase, it is difficult to make system-specific forecasts for subscriber growth. However, it is possible to look at the overall European market and apply assumptions made and lessons learned in the United States during satellite radio's introduction over the past year. The result isn't necessarily a specific projection of how Global Radio will fare. Rather, it indicates what might happen in Europe if a satellite radio system were built using U.S. business models and was as well suited to the European market as XM and Sirius are to the United States. To some degree, Global Radio anticipated some of the hard lessons Sirius and XM are learning about distributing satellite radio hardware to consumers. The company is building its business plan around some cold, hard facts of the automobile industry, which remains its primary target market. Unlike the consumer electronics industry, which drives satellite television take-up in most countries, the automotive industry does not gracefully go through a complete product design cycle on an annual basis. Three to four years is more typical for carmakers. One solution for Global Radio is closer cooperation with carmakers during the development phase of its business. By the time it goes to market chip sets should be small enough and cheap enough that all in one, in dashboard receivers will be available at market launch, which would avoid a problem that XM and Sirius are currently having in the United States. Their add-on black box is a much tougher sell to automobile manufacturers. Another approach Global Radio plans to take is extended beta-testing, which will delay its full scale service launch but, it is hoped, will allow the product and service to come to market better coordinated with automotive manufacturers and distributors. On a top-level analysis, Europe has many similarities with the United States, but also very significant differences that will impact the growth of a satellite radio service. Europe and the United States have similar numbers of registered automobiles, similar annual new car sales, and similar profiles for some key early adopter segments such as long-haul truckers. On the other hand, Global Radio's total service area has significantly more TV households and roughly twice the population as the United States, but with lower gross domestic product per household. From an automotive and consumer electronics distribution standpoint, Europe sorely lags the United States. The European Union not withstanding, European retail chains and wholesale distributors still tend to be broken up into small, national operations, unlike the continent-wide retail infrastructure in the United States. Another key difference may help offset that problem, though. Viewed as a whole, the European radio market is more thoroughly divided into different language, music, sports and cultural segments than the U.S. market, where regional differences tend to be ones of seasoning rather than substance. Given radio's proven effectiveness at delivering niche programming and serving thinly segmented audiences, aggressive vertical marketing programs can go a long way towards offsetting a fragmented mainstream retail environment. Adjusting a U.S.-developed satellite radio forecasting model for the European market requires changing several assumptions, beyond population and income statistics. A European satellite radio operator will likely have to contend with slower consumer electronic manufacturer adoption and more gradual diffusion of product through retailing channels than XM and Sirius, who are already struggling with a more stubborn manufacturing and distribution system than the satellite TV had led them to expect. Targeting ethnic niches, such as the 4.5 million Turks in Germany, will probably mean more in-home subscribers, although mobile users will still be slightly in the majority. Less dependence on cars for commuting will further tip the balance. These projections indicate that a business case can be made for a Europe-wide satellite radio system to gain more than ten million subscribers within five years of launch. It quantifies a general set of assumptions about satellite radio subscription growth. Before it can be applied to Global Radio, a more specific programming line-up and beam loading plan has to be factored in, as well as specifics about distribution plans and vertical market strategies. Another unknown is potential competition. Global Radio might or might not have the European satellite radio market to itself. One potential competitor is WorldSpace. Most of the European market is above 45 degrees North Latitude, which means a geosynchronous satellite like WorldSpace's AfriStar is at a serious disadvantage when targeting mobile users. However, it's less of a problem for the in-home market, which could represent roughly half the total. Global Radio's most critical next step is locking down a second round of financing. Fund raising success will depend on Global Radio's ability to make its subscriber growth case, which in turn depends on how well it fine tunes its content and distribution strategy to capitalise on Europe's particular market advantages, while avoiding the pitfalls. XM and Sirius are also looking to the financial markets for vital additional funding. Mixed early results and a rough financial environment are making that task very difficult, but the basic assumptions that underpin the satellite radio business still appear valid and there is good reason to continue pushing forward. Stephen A. Blum is president of Tellus Venture Associates, a Marina, Calif.-based satellite consulting firm. He can be reached at email steveblum@aol.com or by phone at 831/582-0700 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN. WINTERTIME BEGINS ON 21 SEPTEMBER | Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA Tehran, 15 September: Wintertime in Iran will start from 21 September, Iran's Presidential Office's Public Relations Department said in a press release here on Sunday [15 September]. According to the approval of the cabinet in 1991, the clocks are be pulled forward by one hour at 2400 (2030 gmt) on 21 March, marking beginning of the Iranian calendar year and is pulled back an hour on 21 September each year. The daylight saving programme will end at 2400 (2030 gmt) on 20 March 2003, the press release said. Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 1218 gmt 15 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) End? They mean resume. And it`s shifted, not saved! So the Sept 21 change is from UT plus 4:30 to UT plus 3:30. Why don`t they make this clear? Unlike so many other international broadcasters, notably the Zionist Entity, however, VOIRI timings do not shift, or shift much, depending on local time (gh, DXLD) ** IRAN [and non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to IRAN, 17510, KRSI. Sedeye Iran, 0230 hearing a bubble jammer on 17509.3 most nights, but have only heard KRSI here once in the last week. Nasty het between jammer and KWHR on 17510 (Hans Johnson, WY? Sept, Cumbre DX Sept 16 via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. CLANDESTINE from PAKISTAN to INDIA, 5102, Voice of Jammu and Kashmir Freedom (Presumed), 1255 Sept 16 with hummy open carrier, start of chorus at 1300 and then talk by man. Weak, but better by 1320 (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KENYA. BBC MONITORING'S GUIDE TO THE KENYAN MEDIA This guide was written in September 2002. It updates and adds to one published in March 2002. Contents: Introduction Media freedom Media laws Regulation of the broadcast media Self-regulation Radio and television Profiles of some Kenyan broadcasters The mainstream press News agencies "Grey literature" Appendix 1: Full list of FM radio stations in Nairobi Appendix 2: Full list of terrestrial TV stations in Nairobi Introduction The Kenyan media is the most diverse in east Africa, reflecting the existence of a sizable middle class that provides a base for substantial advertising revenue. It also reflects the rich and vibrant culture of a country that contains over 40 ethnic groups, and where many people can read, listen to or watch the media in at least three languages: their mother tongue (that of their ethnic group), Swahili (east Africa's lingua franca) and English (the language of government, of the formal business sector, and one increasingly used in everyday life). Kenyan journalism can be insightful, well written and attractively presented, but observers remain concerned over aspects of media freedom. Most Kenyans rely on the traditional broadcast media (particularly radio) for news. Outside the main urban centres the distribution of newspapers is limited. Substantial levels of illiteracy and the high cost of the papers relative to local incomes further limit readership. Recent liberalization of the broadcasting sector has had a profound effect in the capital, Nairobi, but has made much less impact in most of the rest of the country owing to continuing licensing difficulties, which have raised suggestions of government foot-dragging. The bulk of rural dwellers have no easy domestic alternative to state-owned KBC radio. The print media remains dominated by two commercial publishing houses, both of which also have substantial broadcasting interests. Poverty and a poor telephone infrastructure mean that Internet access is largely restricted to an urban elite, and is likely to remain so for many years. It was reported in August 2002 that less than 15 per cent of the Kenyan population had access to the national electricity grid, which further limits Internet usage and television viewing. Media freedom Journalism as practised in the private media is often lively, informed and stylish. However, most political reporting tends to be reactive and heavily focused on personalities. There is little solid, in-depth investigative journalism, particularly on issues which lack a clear focus on an individual political leader. The climate of media freedom has improved although incidents continue to be reported in which journalists are arrested and harassed. The era of obvious self-censorship has largely passed, although behind-the- scenes pressures on reporters, editors and proprietors remain. All mainstream media outlets are heavily reliant on revenues from advertising, and this leaves them vulnerable to the heavy influence of politics in Kenyan business life. Journalists' salaries are low, which is an inducement to corruption. The work of reporters is hindered by a culture which favours the hoarding of information. Neither the presidency nor any ministers have official spokesmen who can speak on-the-record to the media. Media laws New media legislation passed by parliament in May 2002 and signed into law by President Moi the following month raised widespread concern and criticism in Kenya and abroad. The main purpose of the new regulations - contained in the innocuous sounding Miscellaneous Statutes (Amendment) Act - is to eliminate the so-called "gutter" press (see below under "Grey literature") by increasing the registration requirements for the print media. The new law requires publishers to submit two copies of each of their publications to the Attorney-General's Office. They must also keep copies of their own publications for six months. The bond for book and newspaper publishers was raised from 10,000 shillings (about 125 dollars) to 1m shillings (12,500 dollars), which effectively locks small publications out of legitimate business and discourages micro- investment in the media sector. Those failing to meet this requirement face a fine, imprisonment and a ban on future publishing activities. Also criticized was the law's requirement that newspaper distributors and vendors (who in Kenya are generally informal one-man operators selling a bundle of newspapers by the roadside) ensure that they are selling a bonded publication, facing a fine of 20,000 shillings (250 dollars) and/or six months' imprisonment if they do not. The law also bans the screening of films, TV programmes or advertisements without a licence. In practice, the regulations are merely a minor irritant to the mainstream press and the "gutter press" publications continue to be available. But the new law does reveal a bias towards authoritarianism. In a separate development, concern has also been raised over the increasing readiness of the Kenyan civil courts to award very heavy damages in libel claims against the press. The criminal courts are also used to prosecute alleged incidents of defamation. In August 2002, an MP was jailed for six months for "publishing a alarming article" which had alleged that President Moi was responsible for tribal clashes in 1992. In separate recent cases, successful prosecutions have been brought for publishing "false" reports. Regulation of the broadcast media The regulatory body for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries is the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK). In theory, since its creation in 1998 the CCK should have acted as a one-stop-shop for those wishing to establish a radio or TV station. In practice, the CCK has limited its role to a technical one (assigning frequencies) and has referred decisions on granting operating licences to the Ministry of Tourism and Information. Inevitably, this puts the decision in the political arena. The most publicized case where this procedure seems to have failed to ensure the granting of a licence to a bona fide applicant is that of the Nation Media Group which for some time has often stated its desire and ability to operate radio and TV stations with nationwide coverage. However, the relevant licences have yet to be granted and so Nation FM and Nation TV remain only on the air in Nairobi. The suspicion is that this is because of the Nation's reputation for good news reporting. Meanwhile, other operators (perhaps seen as less controversial in their output) have been granted authorization to operate outside the capital. Further confusion over broadcasting regulation has been caused by the apparently overlapping remits of the Ministry of Tourism and Information, and that of Transport and Communication. In a move that may clarify the situation, the minister of transport and communication indicated in August 2002 that both the issuing of licences and the assigning of frequencies would become the responsibility of the CCK. However, as the head of the CCK will remain a government appointee, its licensing decisions will still be seen as political. In July 2002 the information minister stated that 25 licences had been issued to operate FM radio stations and another 19 to run television stations. He noted that a number of licences had not been taken up by their applicants. Self-regulation In June 2002 an independent Media Council was launched by various industry players with the stated aim of raising ethical standards in the profession, handling public complaints and defending media freedom. The launch was seen, in part, as an attempt to pre-empt moves for state regulation by having self-regulation in place. The council's members, who include lay persons as well as those from the media, were nominated by the industry's representative body, the Media Industry Steering Committee. Radio and television Residents of Nairobi and its immediate surroundings have access to 19 radio stations on FM and seven free-to-air terrestrial television services (see appendices below). Listeners and viewers elsewhere have much less choice, with the state- owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) providing the only domestic radio and TV for most of the country. There are no restrictions on the use of satellite dishes, although their cost puts them out of the reach of all but a small minority in a country where the GDP amounts to about one dollar per day per person. Despite this poverty, the ownership of radio and TV sets is widespread. In rural areas (where most Kenyans live), TV usage is often constrained by limited access to mains electricity. Cable TV penetration is very limited. The BBC World Service (in English and Swahili) is relayed around-the- clock on FM in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya's second largest city. The Voice of America (also in English and Swahili) is available on FM in Nairobi. Radio France Internationale (RFI) has applied for a licence to be relayed on FM in Nairobi but this is currently stuck in the regulatory bureaucracy. Listeners throughout the country can hear the BBC and other international radio stations on shortwave. Radio stations from neighbouring countries (Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia) are also sometimes audible, particularly in border regions. Profiles of some Kenyan broadcasters Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) The KBC is the state-owned national radio and TV service, although it has stated recently that it no longer receives any state funding, relying instead on advertising revenue. Until the media and political liberalization of the 1990s, the KBC (known between 1964 and 1990 by the name Voice of Kenya, VoK) held the legal monopoly of all broadcasting in the country. The KBC's news output continues to give heavy prominence to government activities, in particular those of President Daniel arap Moi. If newscasts report Moi's statements or activities, however routine, such items always lead the bulletin. It does report opposition activities, though with much less prominence. The KBC's principal strength lies in its broad transmission coverage of the country. The corporation has published varying figures on coverage, with one set claiming that more than 95 per cent of the population can hear KBC radio programmes (with over half being able to do so on FM) while over 70 per cent are in range of signals from KBC television. This contrasts strongly with the country's private broadcasters, which are restricted in their transmission coverage to the Nairobi area and, in a few cases, some other large towns. As the Kenyan population remains largely rural, this means that KBC is still the only "national" broadcaster. For most Kenyans in rural areas, the only alternative broadcast media to the KBC are foreign stations. In addition to a national TV service in English and Swahili, and two separate national radio channels in these languages, the KBC also broadcasts a variety of regional and local radio services in 15 other indigenous languages. This is another strength for the KBC in an ethnically and linguistically diverse country. The KBC also has a second TV service, the entertainment-oriented Metro TV. At present this is only available in Nairobi, although an extension of coverage is planned. KBC television airs a higher proportion of domestically-produced material than its privately-owned rivals, which rely heavily on imported programming. This may make it a more authentic reflector of the nation's culture. Like some of the private stations, KBC TV relays CNN for part of the day. News from Germany's Deutsche Welle TV and China's CCTV is also carried. A similar relay arrangement with BBC TV collapsed some time ago. Perhaps the KBC's main weakness is that it is seen as the voice of the government and the ruling KANU (Kenya African National Union) party, which has held uninterrupted power since independence in 1963. The KBC's style of news presentation also seems wooden and old- fashioned when compared to the more lively feel of the private stations. Indeed, in August 2002 the outgoing KBC managing director, Joe Khamisi, acknowledged that the corporation was "at least a decade behind" in terms of modern broadcasting technologies and also lagged in other areas, including the packaging and presentation of news. He conceded that the KBC's staff had not yet reacted to the emergence of competing stations by changing their approach to think commercially rather than bureaucratically. However, KBC radio's rather pedestrian style of presentation can be more attractive to less well-educated listeners, who may prefer it to the fast pace of many private stations which use presenters who rapidly switch between various languages. The KBC maintains a text web site, known as KBC Online, at http://www.kbc.co.ke The site mainly consists of information about the KBC, but it does also carry textual news items. It has been noted that, on occasion, these items give a fuller account of the news than the broadcast version. The current managing director of the KBC, appointed in August 2002, is Caxton Mwangangi Munyoki. Formerly the deputy MD, he has a background in business management. His replacement as deputy MD is Eric Muthuuri Nyamu, formerly with the KANU party newspaper, the Kenya Times. Kenya Television Network (KTN) KTN is owned by Baraza Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard newspaper group (see below). KTN opened in 1990 (under different owners), becoming the first station to break the state broadcasting monopoly. At that time its open, lively and inquisitive style of reporting and presentation, and its coverage of opposition activities, contrasted strongly with the output from the KBC. The latter was stilted and generally ignored opposition activities and other news unfavourable to the government. KTN is still seen as having a much more responsive and less rigid news agenda than KBC. However, its geographical transmission coverage is less extensive than the KBC's. In addition to Nairobi, it can also be seen in and around Mombasa and Nakuru (capital of Rift Valley Province), and it has announced plans to extend transmissions to Western Province by the end of 2002. That will still leave most of the country unserved. Where it can be seen, KTN claims to be the market leader. KTN broadcasts news in both English and Swahili. Most other programmes are in English, with a heavy reliance on material imported from the West. This emphasis on English, and the fact that the bulk of its audience is in Nairobi, means that its audience profile is more upmarket than that of KBC TV. Since its inception, KTN has run a 24 hour-a-day operation, relaying CNN when not airing its own programmes. Nation FM and Nation TV These are popular FM radio and TV stations in Nairobi operated by the Nation Media Group, east Africa's largest private media company and the publishers of Kenya's highest selling newspapers (see below). They currently only broadcast to the Nairobi area. The official regulatory authority (the Communications Commission of Kenya, CCK) has so far refused to grant the group licences for national transmission, a decision the Nation Media Group's chief executive described in March 2002 as "political". Nation TV's early evening (7 p.m. local time) news bulletin in Swahili claims to have the highest ratings in Nairobi at that time (when KTN and KBC also have news in Swahili). Overall, Nation TV and Nation FM claim to occupy "the number two slots" in the Nairobi market. This places Nation immediately behind the market leaders, KTN television and Kiss 100 radio. Nation TV appears to have followed a strategy of matching some of KTN's most popular programmes with versions of its own. Kiss 100 Launched in July 2000, Kiss is now rated as Nairobi's most listened-to radio station. Its success lies in an up-tempo mixture of music presented by lively and stylish personalities. A key feature of Kiss's output is regular quizzes with large cash prizes. News output is limited to brief but regular bulletins during the peak breakfast hours. Kiss has recently embarked on an expansion programme to give it nationwide coverage. It opened a relay station in Mombasa in July 2002 and less than two months later was reported to have become the coastal city's third most popular station, behind Christian station Baraka FM and the KBC's Swahili Service. Kiss also has licences to be relayed in Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri and Eldoret. Kiss's success in Nairobi has been at the expense of Capital FM, which in September 1996 became the first private radio station to break the KBC's monopoly. A number of Capital's presenters and managers later moved to Kiss. By the mentions that each gives to the others, Kiss appears to have a business relationship with Standard newspapers and Standard-owned KTN television. The Kiss web site is at http://www.kissfm.co.ke Kameme FM Among the many private FM radio stations currently on the air in Nairobi, one which will be of particular interest during the coming presidential and parliamentary elections is Kameme FM. Kameme was launched in March 2000, becoming the first private station to broadcast in Kikuyu, the language of the country's largest tribe, and one strongly associated with the political opposition during much of President Moi's rule. According to Kameme's own figures, about two- thirds of the six million people who live in the greater Nairobi area speak Kikuyu. The Kikuyu factor in the coming elections has been sharpened by Moi's choice of Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kikuyu and son of Kenya's first president, as his preferred successor. Kameme's launch sparked a debate about broadcasting in languages other than English and Swahili. It was suggested by some, including Moi, that broadcasts in vernacular languages could be a cause of inter- tribal conflict. However, moves to ban such broadcasts by private stations came to nothing. (State-owned KBC has long broadcast in Kikuyu and other vernaculars. Following Kameme's launch, the KBC set up a separate station, Coro FM, to broadcast exclusively in Kikuyu.) According to its web site - http://www.kameme.com - Kameme FM's signal on 101.5 MHz covers a radius of over 90 km from Nairobi, with reception being reported from as far as 160 km away. The information on the web site was compiled in 2000, at which time the radio had a deliberate policy of not broadcasting "political news or programmes of a political nature". That has changed, however, and Kameme now broadcasts news in Kikuyu (at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.), Swahili (at 1 p.m.) and English (at 5 p.m.). Aside from Kameme, another Nairobi private station - Radio Citizen - also broadcasts in Kikuyu. The mainstream press Four daily English-language newspapers are published (all from HQ in Nairobi): the Nation, Standard, Times and People. However, only the Nation and the Standard can claim anything approaching reliable and widespread circulation throughout the country. Both these papers are lively, with a spread of news, comment and features. News coverage and editorial comment focuses on the endless machinations of the Kenyan political elite. One obvious gap in the press market is the lack of a serious news weekly. Two titles that used to fill this gap - the Economic Review and the Weekly Review - folded in 1998 and 2000 respectively. The closure of the Weekly Review, which had been publishing for a quarter of a century, was a particular loss for those seeking intelligent political analysis. The Weekly Review's publisher, Hilary Ng'weno, is the founder of the Stellavision (STV) channel. Most of the Weekly Review's top writers now pen weekly columns in the Nation or Standard. Another gap is the absence of any press (other than a few "grey literature" titles) in African languages other than Swahili. Daily Nation and Sunday Nation These are the largest circulation newspapers in Kenya, published by the Nation Media Group (listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange, with a substantial block of shares reportedly controlled by the Aga Khan). They claim to have around three-quarters of the Kenyan newspaper market. The Nation is seen as an independent, respected and balanced newspaper, with good journalistic standards, wide news coverage and space for a variety of opinions on political and social affairs. Its editorials are frequently critical of the government, although its columnists reflect a spread of views. The Nation Media Group also publishes the weekly EastAfrican newspaper (see below) and a daily paper in Swahili, Taifa Leo (which has a much smaller circulation than its English-language sister). Taifa Leo is currently the only non-English daily paper in Kenya. On Sundays, the Nation publishes the Swahili-language Taifa Jumapili. The Group also operates Nation TV and Nation FM radio (see above). The Nation is available at its web site - http://www.nationaudio.com In addition to being Kenya's largest commercial media house, Nation Media Group also has interests in Uganda, where it owns a stake in an English-language newspaper (The Monitor - the country's main independent paper) and one published in the Luganda language (Ngoma). It also operates Monitor FM radio in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. Nation Media Group has stated its intention to invest in the Tanzanian media market. The East African This is a weekly English-language newspaper published on Mondays by the Nation Media Group. Coverage is focused on Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda, and to a lesser extent on some other regional countries, and the paper circulates within this regional coverage area. The East African is available from the Nation's web site although the Internet version of the paper does not always update promptly. Like its cousin, the Nation, the East African enjoys a professional reputation for good journalistic standards. East African Standard and Sunday Standard The Standard is Kenya's second-largest circulation paper, after the Nation. It is the country's oldest newspaper, now in its second century of publication. At one time it was noticeably more cautious and conservative than the Nation, and much more likely to avoid open criticism of the government. It now gives coverage to a variety of opinions. The Standard was sold in the 1990s by the Lonrho group to a consortium of unnamed investors, rumoured to include Kenyan politicians at the most senior level. This does not seem, however, to have affected its editorial line to the extent that might have been expected. A wholly owned subsidiary of the Standard, Baraza Ltd, owns KTN television (see above). The Standard is available at its web site - http://www.eastandard.net The Kenya Times This is the newspaper of the ruling KANU party. In 1986, Mirror Group Newspapers of the UK (at the time owned by Robert Maxwell) acquired a stake in the Kenya Times and invested in the paper to make it the first in Kenya to have colour printing. Following Maxwell's death and the legalization of multipartyism in 1991 the paper went into decline, losing its best journalists and most of its sales. It also ceased publishing its Swahili edition, Kenya Leo. The circulation and influence of the Times is now far less than that of the Nation or Standard. The Times is available at its web site - http://www.kentimes.com The People Daily This is a daily newspaper owned by prominent veteran opposition figure and businessman Kenneth Matiba (runner-up to Moi in the 1992 presidential elections and currently leader of the unregistered Saba Saba Asili party). Its reporting strongly favours the opposition to President Moi. It has a much more restricted circulation than the Nation or Standard. Until late 2000, the People was a successful weekly with a good reputation for investigative journalism. Sales have fallen since it moved to daily publication. At present, the People does not maintain a web site. News agencies The only domestic news agency is KNA (Kenya News Agency), which is run by the government's Directorate of Information (part of the Ministry of Information). As this has offices in every district it is an important source of news - as seen from the government's perspective - from many of Kenya's remoter regions, where the private media cannot afford to deploy correspondents. Nairobi is the east African base for the major international news agencies. AFP (France), Ansa (Italy), AP (USA), DPA (Germany), Kyodo (Japan), Reuters (UK) and Xinhua (China) are among the agencies with bureaus in Nairobi. "Grey literature" Alongside the well-established and mainstream press titles are a large group of news sheets and papers which may be said to fall into the category of "grey literature". Titles include The Independent, Kenya Confidential, Kenyan Monitor, The Kenya Star, The Mirror, New Guardian, The Metropolitan, The Reporter, Tribune and Weekly Citizen. These news sheets cannot normally be bought from shops or most street vendors. Instead they are only usually available from those street vendors in the centre of Nairobi that offer a larger range of newspapers and magazines. Other characteristics of the news sheets fit them for the description of "grey literature". They are printed on cheap, poor-quality paper, the quality of printing is often low and the standards of layout and presentation do not normally match those of mainstream papers. Their articles and reports are generally unsigned, and some of the news sheets do not even carry the names of their publisher. The distribution of the news sheets is erratic and it is necessary to visit several street vendors to obtain the full range of publications. Some vendors only stock previous editions of a title but not the current one; and vice versa. The news sheets specialize in three subjects: the analysis of current political developments, usually from a supposedly inside knowledge of behind-the-scenes events; scurrilous and frequently defamatory exposes of the alleged misdeeds of prominent political figures; and other gossip about the famous. The news sheets, even those which carry lurid headlines about the supposed activities of leading government figures, are openly displayed and sold, apparently without fear of interference from the authorities. Most of the news sheets are in English, though examples in Swahili and other African languages have been seen. Although the torrid and scandalous reports in these news sheets provide entertaining reading, their value as serious providers of reliable news and thoughtful analysis is questionable. Appendix 1: Full list of FM radio stations in Nairobi \ 88.0 - Sound Asia. \ 89.3 - KBC Swahili Service (also available in Nairobi on 92.9 FM and 612 kHz mediumwave; broadcast throughout Kenya on other mediumwave and FM frequencies; also available via the WorldSpace satellite system). \ 89.5 - KBC Eastern Service in Somali, Boran, Rendille, Burji and Turkana (also on 4915 kHz shortwave). \ 89.9 - KBC Central Service in Kikuyu, Kamba, Maasai, Meru and Embu (also on 1269 kHz mediumwave). \ 90.0 - Biblia Usema Broadcasting (Christian station). \ 91.9 - Coro FM in Kikuyu (KBC-operated station; also on 99.5 FM). \ 92.9 - KBC Swahili Service (see entry for 89.3). \ 93.7 - BBC World Service in English and Swahili. \ 94.7 - East Africa Radio in English and Swahili (based in Dar es Salaam and broadcast simultaneously on FM frequencies in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala). \ 95.1 - Iqra FM in English, Somali, Swahili and Urdu (Islamic station). \ 95.6 - KBC English Service (also available in Nairobi on 97.3 FM and 747 kHz mediumwave; broadcast throughout Kenya on other mediumwave and FM frequencies). \ 96.4 - Nation FM in English and Swahili. \ 97.3 - KBC English Service (see entry for 95.6). \ 98.4 - Capital FM in English (also broadcast via the WorldSpace satellite system). \ 99.5 - Coro FM in Kikuyu (see entry for 91.9). \ 100.3 - Kiss 100 (also broadcast via the WorldSpace satellite system). The market leader in Nairobi, this largely English-language music-based station now provides news at peak listening periods. \ 101.1 - Kameme FM (largely in Kikuyu). \ 101.9 - Metro FM in English and Swahili (KBC-operated station; also relayed on FM elsewhere in the country). \ 103.9 - Family FM (Christian station). \ 106.0 - East FM (Asian station; also broadcast via the WorldSpace satellite system). \ 106.7 - Radio Citizen (came back on the air in January 2002 after being away since the previous April when it was forcibly closed down by the authorities; also broadcasts on FM in Nyeri and Nakuru, the capitals of Central and Rift Valley Provinces respectively; programming includes relays of Voice of America in Swahili). \ 107.5 - Voice of America in English and Swahili. Appendix 2: Full list of terrestrial TV stations in Nairobi \ KBC Channel 1 (on VHF channel 4, with seven relay stations elsewhere in the country). The local rebroadcasting partner of the African Broadcasting Network, ABN, entertainment channel. \ KBC Metro (on UHF channel 31). An entertainment service. The local rebroadcasting partner of South African entertainment channel MNet. \ Citizen TV (on UHF channel 39). Operated by the same company that runs Radio Citizen. Uses CNN as a sustaining service. Operates erratically. \ Nation TV (on UHF channel 42). Operated by the Nation Media Group. Uses CNN as a sustaining service. Also relays Deutsche Welle TV news. \ Family TV (on UHF channel 45). A Christian station, linked to Family FM radio in Nairobi) \ Stella Television, STV (on UHF channel 56). The local rebroadcasting partner of entertainment channel TV Africa. Uses Sky News from London as a sustaining service. \ Kenya Television Network, KTN (on UHF channels 59 and 62, with relays in Mombasa and Nakuru). Uses CNN as a sustaining service. Source: BBC Monitoring research Sep 02 (via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XEDD, 800, Montemorelos, Nuevo León; power given as "10 mil watts" (10 kW), so it`s not a HIGH POWER outlet as I had thought; still, it puts out a GREAT SIGNAL. 73 de Steve/AB5GP (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, TX, IRCA via DXLD) ** MOZAMBIQUE: STOLEN NATIONAL RADIO TRANSMITTER COMPONENTS REPLACED | Text of report by Radio Mozambique on 14 September Radio Mozambique's Antena Nacional today resumed its short wave [as heard] service. The station had been forced to interrupt the service due to the theft of equipment at the Matola transmitter site. Radio Mozambique's engineers had to manufacture and install a number of key components for the transmitter that had been tampered with, notably coils, capacitors, transformers, and lightning arresters. Fernando Canana, a spokesman for Radio Mozambique's board of directors, says measures have been taken to put an end to the theft of equipment at the station's transmitter site in Matola. [Unidentified correspondent] Now that the medium wave service has been restored, what measures have been taken to curb the theft of equipment at the Matola transmitter site? [Canana] The station and the police have taken steps to curb the wave of theft. We have approached influential members of civil society to try to find ways of putting an end to theft of equipment at the Matola transmitter site. The latest incident reached alarming proportions. Yet, in less than a week our engineers were able to restore Antena Nacional's medium wave service. Source: Radio Mozambique Antena Nacional, Maputo, in Portuguese 1730 gmt 14 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) This isn`t the first time R. Moz has been ambiguous about SW and MW -- it seems the station has no clear sense of the distinxion between them! (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5985.8, Radio Myanmar worth a listen after 1300 in September for the music. Clear channel in USB. 6570, Defense Forces Station (Presumed). 1328 Sept 16 steady tone, 1329 IS and then talk by woman (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Radio Nepal, Kathmandu, gave good results during the evening on 5005, as heard across Indo-China and Thailand [in July]. It has extended its telephone call-in shows, and best heard between 1230 and 1300, in English (Bob Padula, Sept 14, EDXP via DXLD) ** NEPAL. MAOISTS BOMB RADIO STATION Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Maoists insurgents in Nepal blew up a radio relay station and a telephone exchange in a remote village while four explosions rocked the capital on Sunday, even as security forces stepped up vigil ahead of a nationwide strike called by the guerrillas on Monday. Insurgents exploded a bomb at the relay station in Parwanipur village in Bara district Saturday night, Radio Nepal reported on Sunday adding that broadcasting in three districts of Bara, Parsa and Rautahat were disrupted as a result of the explosion. The Maoists also exploded two powerful bombs at the telephone exchange centre and mobile exchange centre in the village on Saturday night, snapping telecommunication links in the three Terai districts mentioned earlier, it said. In Kathmandu, four bombs went off in commercial areas on Sunday causing no damage or injuries. From Deccan Chronicle newspaper, Hyderabad http://www.deccan.com (via Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india, Hyderabad, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. INSURGENTS BOMB RADIO RELAY STATIONS | Text of report by Nepalnews.com web site on 15 September Maoist rebels made two bomb attacks at the exchange transmission and mobile telephone exchange towers of the Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) in Parwanipur of Bara District [south-central Nepal, bordering India] Saturday night [14 September], causing heavy damages, the Radio Nepal reported. The bomb attack has also caused extensive damage to the FM relay station of the Radio Nepal located inside the NTC building in Parwanipur. Following the bomb attack the transmission of FM radio in Bara, Parsa and Rautahat [neighbouring districts] has been closed down altogether. The destruction of the telephone tower has led to the closing down of telephone services in Nijgad, Chandranigahapur, Jeetpur, Simara and other areas of the three districts. The bomb attack has resulted in a loss of 2.9m rupees to the Radio Nepal. The amount of loss incurred by NTC is yet to be assessed. In another attack, the rebels Saturday night fired indiscriminately at the Bara District Court injuring Chandra Mali, peon at the court. Mali is undergoing treatment at the Kalaiya district hospital. Security personnel have been searching for the rebels who unleashed both the attacks. The police have taken into custody watchman Sitaram Khadka from Lalitpur who was looking after the telephone tower. Khadka has been held for interrogation. Source: Nepalnews.com web site, Kathmandu, in English 15 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PERU. 4461.6, R. Norandina, Celendín (presumed), 1038 Sept. 16, Nice to hear this one again. Beautiful Andean folk music, with occasional comments in Spanish by announcer; however, I did not catch an ID. Signal peaked around 1045 as is usually the case. Fairly good signal strength but ute QRM (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [and non]. THE MEDIA GOT IT WRONG: CARDINAL GLEMP NOT SHUTTING DOWN NATIONAL RADIO MARYJA POLSKA Warsaw, Sept 11 (CRU) Widespread international reports to the contrary, Cardinal Józef Glemp, the Archbishop of Warsaw, has not ordered the national Radio Maryja Polska network off the air by October 1st, Catholic Radio Update has been informed by a Polish correspondent. But he is ordering the local Radio Maryja station off the air by October 1st. ``As far as I know,`` the correspondent writes, ``there was nothing about the Cardinal`s ordering to shut down the network. Everything is connected with its local offices in Warsaw and the area around it. By October 1st, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the director of Radio Maryja Polska (Radio Maria Poland) or the pastor of the church (offices are usually located on the property of parishes) have to ask permission to exist.`` ``The Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita was the first to report about the closing,`` our correspondent reports, ``and there was a lot of false information in the article. Other newspapers, magazines, and TV stations went the same way. Most of the journalists haven`t even read the Cardinal`s announcement, which concerned only the offices of Radio Maryja in Warsaw, not all of Poland.`` Radio Maryja Polska, a member of the World Family of Radio Maria, this past week was reported to have been ordered off the air nationwide by Cardinal Glemp. The network has a long-standing battle with many, but not all, bishops in Poland. They see it as arch-conservative, political, divisive, and a thorn in their sides. The liberal international press, secular and Catholic, has long decried it, and such reports have been picked up by international media, including National Public Radio during the recent visit of the Pope to Poland. The American Bishops` Catholic News Service (CNS) was among those reporting that Cardinal Glemp had ordered the station off the air (see its webpages at http://www.usccb.org --- the Bishops` website is complex and difficult to navigate, but click on the News Button, bottom right and then search for the news button on the right side of the next page). Catholic Radio Update reported extensively on the animus that exists between Radio Maryja Polska and certain members of the Polish hierarchy in May 2001 (#122-125). Radio Maryja Polska is solidly Polish and traditional, and its interpretations on the way Poland should take to stay that way have engendered the controversies. RMP is opposed to the westernization of Polish culture, not that Poland is not western, but in the sense that, since the fall of Communism, the nation has been invaded by the glitzy, hedonistic, consumerist, shallow values of the United States and western Europe. Further, globalization and the European Union have introduced greater international control over many of the matters that individual European nations could decide for themselves in the past. The Union treaties guarantee such things as abortion, easy access to divorce, the secularization and --- as the last century has shown us - -- eventual privatization and minimization of Christianity in what were once solidly Christian nations. Father Rydzyk, the staff, listeners, and supporters of Radio Maryja Polska have serious problems with this course of events, and they are not alone in this. Ireland, still one of the most Catholic nations in the world, also has a problem with certain aspects of the European Union. In Greece, where the Greek Orthodox Church enjoys a privileged status as the religion of 90 percent of its people, there has been strong opposition to the de facto secularization of Greek society that EU membership will require. Secularized critics of the European Union see it as the removal of local and national decisionmaking powers to that of a faceless bureaucracy in Brussels. The Pope, himself laudatory of the European Union initially, has in recent years repeatedly decried the ostracization of Christianity as a unifying factor and a recognized value in European organs of union and association. Just this past week he warned that if Europe continues to deny its Christianity, it will lose its identity. In a much-ignored comment to Polish youth at a large rally in Poland, the Pope warned them not to succumb to the temptations of a tired liberalism and globalism that will only bring more problems and sorrow. ``It is true that Radio Maryja opposes the European Union,`` reports our correspondent. ``It often goes into politics. But many Polish bishops --- even the Pope, when he was in Poland --- say that we must be very careful when we `join` Europe, mainly because of the [guaranteed] rights to abortion, pornography, and so on. The situation is complicated, because Radio Maryja sometimes stands in opposition to the Polish bishops and the Polish Church.`` Why then the problem? Our correspondents sums it up: ``Father Rydzyk is sure he owns the only truth. It`s like the Church inside the Church, the `Other Church,` a `better one.``` Database Nationwide network -- Radio Maryja. Torun: Radio Maryja: Ul. Zwirkl i Wiguri 80, 87-100 Torun, Poland. Tel 0+48 56 6552361, fax +48 56 6552362. E-mail: info.pol@radiomaria.org Website: http://www.radiomaryja.pl Audiostreams on the Internet. On the air on December 8, 1991. Transmitters (TPO, not ERP): Barlinek 107.2 FM (3,000); Biala Podlaska 87.8 FM; Bielsk Podlaski (Hajnówka) 102.0 FM (5,000); Bialystok 101.3 FM (3,000); Bielsko-Biala 88.4 FM (1,000); Bogatynia 100.3 FM (2,000); Braniewo 94.5 FM (1kilow); Bydgoszcz 88.5 FM (300 watts); Bystrzycz Klodzka 90.1 FM; Chelm 102.8 FM (2,000); Czersk 101.4 FM(500 watts); Dêbno 98.9 FM (4,000); Deblin 107.9 FM; Dolsk 104.0 FM; Drawsko Pomorskie 104.7 FM (1,000); Elblag 94.1 FM; Elk 102.6 FM (3,000); Gdansk (Sleza) 88.9 FM (5,000); Gdynia 102.3 FM (300); Gizycko (Wegorzewo) 100.2 FM; Glogów 100.6 FM(1,000); Gniezno 95.4 FM (1,500); Golonog 103.3 FM (1,000); Gorzow Wielpolski 98.8 FM; Grojec 99.8 FM; Gryfice 102.9 FM; Hrubieszów 107.5 FM (300); Ilawa 96.9 FM; Jelenia Góra 100.5 FM; Jemiolów 100.0 FM; Inowroclaw 66.17 FM (300); Jastrzebe Zorov 102.5 FM; Kalisz 105.6 FM ; Kalwaria Zebrzydowska 94.3 FM (300); Katowice 103.7 FM; Kazmierz Dolny 89.9 FM (200); Kêdzierzyn- Kozle 104.6 FM; Kielce 107.2 FM; Klodzko 106.3 FM (1,500); Kolobrzeg 100.0 FM; Konin 105.1 FM (1,000); Koszalin 107.4 FM; Koszêcin 107.0 FM (4,000); Kraków 90.6 FM (300); Krosno (Miejsce Piastówe) 100.6 FM (1,000); Krynica 93.1 FM; Kutno 88.3 FM; Kwidzyn 107.4 FM (300); Lezajsk 106.3 FM (1,000); Lêbork 92.7 FM; Lidzbark Warminski 106.2 FM; Lódz 87.9 FM (400); Lomza 73.1 FM (1,000), 103.6 FM (1,000); Lubaczów 102.3 FM (1,000); Luban 95.2 FM; Lublin 97.0 FM; Mragowo (Mikolaji) 88.4 FM (300); N. Ruda 99.4 FM; N. Targ 95.5 FM; Novo Sacz 99.1 FM; Nysa 100.4 FM (1,000); Olkusz 104.6 FM (100); Olsztyn 107.7 FM; Opole 98.2 FM; Ostrów Mazowiecka 100.4 FM (1,000); Ostró Wielkopolski 88.2 FM; Pila 100.4 FM (100); Piotrków Trybunalski 95.7 FM (200); Pisz 101.6 FM; Plock 106.3 FM; Poznan-Oiatjowo (Srem) 106.8 FM (5,000); Przemysl 105.1 FM (1,000); Rabka (Lubon Wielki) 100.7 FM (2,000); Rzeszów 100.9 FM (1,000); Siedlce 107.7 FM; Sieradz 95.2 FM; Slubice 92.3 FM; Slupsk 102.0 FM (1,000); Stalowa Wola 104.4 FM (200); Starogard Gdanski 87.6 FM; Suwalki 107.9 FM (2,000); Szczecin 101.6 FM(1,000); Szczecinek 95.0 FM; Szczytno 88.1 FM (300); Swinoujscie 87.7 FM (1,000); Tarnów 99.9 FM; Torun 100.6 FM (5,000); Walbrzych (Góra Chelmiec) 107.4 FM (1,000); Warsaw 73.7 FM (10,000), 89.1 FM (1,000); Wloclawek (Szpetal Górny) 100.9 FM (1,000); Wlodowa 104.5 FM (1,000); Wolsztyn 98.7 FM (100); Wroclaw 88.9 FM; Wysoka Wies 100.4 FM (1,000); Zagan 101.2 FM (1,000); Zakopane 98.- FM ; Zamosc 96.5 FM (1,000); Zielona Góra 90.3 FM ; Zlotów 101.1 FM (300). (1996: Count 134 stations, including. 43 OIRT transmitters, 18 of which have no co- located standard FM stations. NO change to WRTH 2001). Shortwave: The station is also heard on shortwave on leased Russian transmitters, on frequencies that change according to season. Currently, they are 15455 kHz at 7 am-10 am, and 7400 kHz at 7 pm- midnight. See the frequency page in Polish (linked below). Satellites: Eutelsat II-F2 satellite (digital), Galaxy 7, and the Hot Bird satellite (analog). In the United States it can be heard via the Dish Network. Galaxy 7: 91 West, Tele-Dubai transponder. Reception frequency 4040 MHz, horizontal; audio frequency 8 MHz. Eutelsat II-F2: 10 E, transponder 45, reception 12538.787 MHz, vertical polarization. Hot Bird: 13 E, TV Polonia transponder; reception frequency 11471 MHz, horizontal polarization; audio frequency 7.92 MHz. Covers from the North Pole to North Africa, Ural Mountains to the Canary Islands. Dish satellite (USA): for information call Centrala Radia Maryja w Chicago, tel. (773) 385-8472. U.S. & Canada AM stations: WCEW 1450 AM Chicago, Mon-Fri. 7pm-8pm, Sat 6pm-7pm, and Sun. 4-7 pm. WNZK 680 AM Detroit, Sat-Sun 8pm-9pm. WWSR 980 AM Pompano Beach, Florida, Sat-Sun 7:30pm-8:30pm. WNJR 1430 AM Newark-New York City, Sat 8pm-9pm, Sun 8:30pm-9:30 pm. WPRX 1120 AM New Britain, Conn., Sat-Sun. 7:30pm-8:30pm. CKJS 810 AM Winnipeg, Sat. 7pm-8pm, CJMR 1320 AM Toronto Mon.-Fri. 8pm-9pm. CKSL 1410 AM London, daily 8pm-9pm. See the website at http://www.radiomaryja.pl/newv/pol/info/czestotliwosci.htm (Mike Dorner, Sept 16 Catholic Radio Update, Sept 14 via DXLD) 15455, RUSSIA, Radio Maryja via Krandosar 9/10 0512-0534 in Polish. Religious hymns and choir with male conducting religious service. Mention of "R. Maryja" during talk @ 0525 and 0528. Service still going after 0534. Fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Um espaço interessante na Rádio Exterior de España é o programa Con Respuesta, apresentado por Wenceslau Pérez Gómez. Ele responde cartas, lê poesias e opiniões de ouvintes. Destaque para os muitos pedidos de divulgação de características pessoais e endereços, que alguns ouvintes, especialmente de Cuba, mandam, com o objetivo de encontrar amizades ou futuros compromissos, leia-se casamentos. É isso aí: o rádio em ondas curtas também serve de cupido! Con Respuesta vai ao ar, nos sábados, às 1100, em 21570 kHz, para a América Latina (Célio Romais, @tividade DX, Sept 15 via DXLD) [Cubans use this show as a dating service, even arranging marriages] ** SRI LANKA. I continue to receive SLBC on 4870 and 4902 during the 1200 and 1300 hours. The channel I am not receiving is the listed English service on 4940 (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Radio Free Asia continues to use the relay in Taiwan. This is currently on the air on 11605, with Vietnamese, 1400-1500 and 2330- 0030 (Bob Padula, Australia, Sept 15, EDXP via DXLD) ** UKRAINE [non?]. According to an email from Radio Krishnaloka [nominal 7410], the station is broadcasting from "Eastern Ukraine". The staff is very interested in receptions reports which may be sent to Aradhana Priya at scsm@peterlink.ru (speaks English). A reply from "Shammohan" schyammohan@ukr.net is giving the frequency as 7415 kHz. The letter adds that the station is planning to change to "different equipment". (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume `loka` does not mean `wacky` in Russian? One place on the website mentions both 7415 and 7400, evidently as variable range; another says 7410. What does ``even days`` mean? Even days of the week? month? year? julian? Previous log on Sept 15 was certainly not an even day of the month. The Hare Krishnas are hardly a novelty in the West, tho passés (gh, DXLD) Información originada primeramente por MIKHAIL TIMOFEYEV, RUSIA, aparecida en DXplorer del 15 y 16/9: 7416.5v - 7418.3v khz - RADIO KRISHNALOKA Se trata de una nueva emisora con programas en ruso: De acuerdo a su sitio de internet (informa Mikhail), la misma transmite de 0300-0500 y 1300-1500. http://www.harekrishna.ru/news/krishnaloka.shtml e-mail: schyammohan@ukr.net Escuchada en la frecuencia variable mencionada durante sus dos bloques horarios con señal pobre en Rusia. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** U S A. 9465, WMLK now says they are waiting on parts for the 250 kW transmitter; hope to be on at the end of the month with it. While they are working on it, operation is between 1600-2200 and is irregular (Hans Johnson, WY? Sept 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Pix of their new 250 kW transmitter have been up on website for months (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. TRYING TO MARKET ITSELF TO YOUNG ARABS, By JANE PERLEZ AMMAN, Jordan, Sept. 14 -- Tony Sabbagh, a veteran market researcher who positions American brand-name consumer products from Beirut to Bahrain, has been listening to the latest American promotion here: that of the United States itself. Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, combined with news at the top of the radio hour, as a way to sell the United States in a skeptical Arab world? Nice try but try again, says Mr. Sabbagh of Washington's effort to convince skeptical young Arabs of America's good intentions through a new radio station that combines pop music with news snippets and is now broadcasting in five Arab nations. "You cannot create a product out of an image," said Mr. Sabbagh, the director of Middle East Marketing and Research and who has plugged cigarettes, colas and cars across the region. "You can only promote a product if you have one." ... http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/16/international/middleeast/16ARAB.html?ex=1033164075&ei=1&en=2ad367651dea0ea5 (via Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, and Daniel Say, SFU, BC, DXLD) ** U S A. UTILITÁRIA -- 22387.8 - United States Coast Guard NMN, Chesapeake-VA - 123 dias. Recebido cartão QSL full data, carta confirmando todos dados da escuta e informações sobre transmissões digitais. V/S.: Joseph F. Loverti, Telecommunications Specialist Third Class (Ânderson Assis de Oliveira, Itaúna, MG, @tividade DX Sept 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. 4440, WGFY (harmonic) 1480 x 3 Charlotte, NC, 1055, Sept 16, State news over "North Carolina Network" around 1055, state tourism promo then old Coke ad. Station ID at 1100, then into national network news. Good copy here (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KOMO made a slight format change a few days ago, from newstalk (mostly talk) to all-news. They're heavily promoting 24/7 news weather and traffic, IDing as "Komo 1000 News". Art Bell moved to KVI a couple of weeks ago, now we know why. The change makes sense - Seattle lacked a decent full time all-news station (KIRO is news during AM/PM drive, KKNW is CNN Headline news, and KNWX is business news/talk), plus the old format had them competing against their sister station KVI (Bruce Portzer, Seattle WA, Sept 15, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WSMV CHOOSES VETERAN AS VICE PRESIDENT AND GM By RICHARD LAWSON, Staff Writer Nashville television station WSMV-Channel 4 has hired veteran TV news executive Steve Ramsey as its new vice president and general manager. Ramsey fills the spot vacated in July by Frank DeTillio, who resigned amid falling ratings, financial challenges and staff departures. Channel 4 parent Meredith Corp. of Des Moines, Iowa, told the station's staff yesterday. Ramsey starts Sept. 23, leaving his post at Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting, where he oversaw news departments at 23 stations across the country. Tribune's flagship station is WGN, a ''superstation'' available on cable systems in Nashville and across the country. Before his Tribune corporate post, the 27-year TV veteran had been station manager for the company's KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, which had been the first station in 1991 to air footage of police beating motorist Rodney King. He also has run news operations for WGN and stations in Houston, San Diego and Raleigh, N.C. DeTillio had been with Channel 4 for seven years (Tennessean via Charles Gossett, DXLD) ** U S A. From The Washington Post - Howard Kurtz's Media Notes column, Sept. 16, 2002. DEALING WITH STATIC The radio industry has been taking a battering as big corporations have gobbled up more stations, imposing a one-size-fits-all formula, and satellite radio has been making inroads. The National Association of Broadcasters' solution? Soliciting bids for a $250,000 public relations contract that would: "Address and neutralize negative perceptions about the industry; "Promote positive media stories about the unique value of terrestrial radio; "Provide 'rapid response' to attacks from competitors and industry critics." That should take care of it (Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, Sept 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. The Voice of Vietnam, Ha Noi, continues to be plagued by technical problems at the Son Tai transmitting site, used for the HF relays of the Domestic Service. There are bad spurious radiations 15 kHz either side of the nominal carrier frequencies of the transmitters on 6020 and 7210. These show up on 6005, 6035, 7195 and 7225, for the broadcast period 2200-1600. VOV Domestic Service also has programming in languages other than English. These are carried on the Network-2, such as English, French, and German, and heard on the HF relay on 6020 between 0630-0700, which is 1330-1400 local time. I think these are educational programs for schools. The VOV Hmong Network has expanded its services (see EDXP 267). The midday service was discovered on two new frequencies in the 31 metre band - 9855 and 650, from 0430-0600. Previously this service was only broadcast on 49 mb - 6165 - which is no longer used for the midday service. The morning and evening services continue on 5035 and 6165. Interestingly, the 31 mb HS relays don't seem to propagate outside of the Indo-China region after about 2300. All of the frequencies 5920 5975 6020 7210 and 9530 are usually OK here in Melbourne for the first hour 2200-2300 and again in our evenings after about 1100. Now that the Hmong Network is using 31 mb for its daytime service, from 50 kW transmitters at a place called Xuan Mai, it will be interesting if these can make it into eastern Australia during our "Daytime Summer Mode" survey! My advance information is that VOV may be abandoning all of its overseas relays for the B-02 season commencing on October 27 (Bob Padula, Sept 13, EDXP via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5005.68, Latin American. R. Jaen [PERU]??? 1010-1022, 16 Sept. End of LA Romantic song, possible canned announcement by Woman, another Romantic song, 1014 Man announcer in definite Spanish followed by soft-spoken Woman announcer at 1016. More talk by Man till fade out between 1020-1025. Been noting this weakly every morning but never strong enough to copy. Anyone know who this really is?? 73's (Dave Valko, Dunlo, PA, USA, NRD-535D and 50 meter slanted folded Tee Cumbre DX via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-144, September 15, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1147: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Mon 0030, 0630; Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1830, Mon 1230, Wed 1300 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1147.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Dear Mr. Hauser, Just a line or two to let you know that I appreciate what you are doing to promote the continued enjoyment of shortwave broadcasting. Having heard my name mentioned several times on your "World of Radio" broadcasts... (Larry Baysinger, KY) ** AFGHANISTAN. 6100, Information R, Kandahar noted here during last week around 1530-1700 and from 2300 onwards, but only ``poor``. I am almost sure that they are off at 1800-2100, since there is no trace here (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. NORWAY 18940 Radio Afghanistan Kabul 1450 Sept 14 with news item in vernacular. Maghrib prayers at 1500 followed by women program. Good reception SIO 444 (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX via DXLD) What are Maghrib prayers? Doesn`t that refer to N Africa? ** ALASKA [and non]. The German magazine Radio Journal provides lots of info about broadcasting here, and elsewhere via: http://www.radiojournal.de/start/php4 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BAHAMAS. DIOCESE OF NASSAU GRANTED BLANKET FM LICENSE TO CONSTRUCT INTER-ISLAND FM RADIO NETWORK Nassau, Sep 7, (CRA & CRU) ``The Government of the Bahamas has granted Archbishop L. Burke of the Diocese of Nassau, the island nation`s only diocese, a blanket radio license to construct an nationwide, inter- island Catholic FM radio network,`` Steve Gajdosik, president of the Catholic Radio Association announced today. ``The new license requires the diocese to contact the Bahamian Public Service Commission and notify them of the frequencies and locations on any new station located on all other islands or in all cities other than Nassau. The Catholic Radio Association of the United States and Queen of Peace Radio of Jacksonville, Florida, helped the bishop draw up the application and will help with construction of the stations. This is a big step,`` Mr. Gajdosik announced in the September issue of the CRA Newsletter. ``The Archbishop wants to build a station on any island which has more than 500 people. This means that he could have as many as 32 stations over the next several years. The stations will range from 100 watts to 5,000 watts in Nassau, Grand Bahama and the Abcos. Queen of Peace Radio will operate the stations on behalf of the Archdiocese and will utilize the services of the Catholic Radio Association in constructing the stations,`` he added. ``Ad majorem Dei gloriam!`` (``To the greater glory of God,`` the maxim of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits). The Diocese of Nassau grew out of pioneer missionary work in the Bahamas carried on by the Benedictines from the 19th century. It comprises 29 parishes, has 31 priests, and there are 47,000 Catholics out of a population of 293,000, equal to 16%. A simple webpage can be seen at http://www.jampine.com/diocese/main.html The islands lie about 100 miles east of the U.S. State of Florida and extend south well into the Caribbean. There are 29 populated islands out of 700 that form the Bahamas, which was granted its independence in July 1973 by Great Britain. Nassau, the capital, has about 200,000 people and is the largest city. The nation is a member of the British Commonwealth and is distinguished by a stable, solidly democratic government and free society. The Bahamas boasts a 98% literacy rate and high life-expectancy rates as well. Tourism is the principal industry. The new FM station, with seat in Nassau, will be the first Catholic radio in the British West Indies {sic}. Two weeks ago, the Federal Communications Commission of the U.S. granted an LPFM license to a Catholic parish in the U.S. Virgin Isles (Catholic Radio Update Sept 16 via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850, R. Free Bougainville, Aug 6, 1100-1103*, clear ID and interval signal heard at sign off. Much QRN and amateur QRM. (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) But do they announce ``Radio Free Bougainville`` or ``Radio Independent Mekamui``? Their current mailing address is not known here (DSWCI Ed) ** BULGARIA. 9800, R. Varna verified with e-mail QSL on my reception May 12 with tape to make sure. V/S: Nataliya Gesheva, program manager. QTH: Radio Varna, 22, Blvd. Primorski, 9000 Varna, BULGARIA. Head office: tel.: +359 52/ 612 108, Publicity: tel./fax: +359 52/ 608 908, News: tel./fax: +359 52/ 608 910, Program: tel./fax: +359 52/ 608 911. Details are as follows: Radio Varna has been the first Bulgarian radio station started on Dec 9, 1934 on middle waves. It is now a regional station of the Bulgarian National Radio and it has the most modern technical equipment and studios in Bulgaria. Our new building is designed and constructed especially for the purposes of the Varna Radio station. Frequency Area FM 103,4 MHz Varna and the Northern Black Sea coast FM 88,5 MHz Burgas and the Southern Black Sea coast FM 88,7 MHz Dobrich, Golden Sands FM 88,9 MHz Provadiya SW 9,775 MHz transmission all over the world MW 981 kHz Black Sea coast and Southern Ukraine [N.B., clash Sawa, Cyprus, q.v.,moving to 990 --- gh] Here is the program and a list of the most interesting broadcasts of our station: ``Hello Sea!`` - an author broadcast of Zhoro Vasilev about the things in life - as they seem and as they are maybe not. Once a week on Sunday night a 4 hour-meeting on the waves of Radio Varna, Horizont, the programs of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) all over the country and on the well-known hot tel. number: 052/ 602 802. 0000-0400 local time. `` At first cock-crow`` - a broadcast of the BNR transmitted every morning of one of the 7 programs of the BNR. On Monday ``At first cock-crow`` combines various creative materials by journalists of Radio Varna on important events of the week, usually on over regional subjects according to the public's perception at 4-6 a.m. [local] The news bulletins of the Bulgarian National Radio are at 7.00, 12.00, 19.00 and 24.00. Radio Varna has news emissions every one hour from 6.00 to 20.00. Radio Varna transmits news bulletins at 10.00 and 18.00 (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Japan, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) All times are local! (DSWCI Ed) ** CANADA. RADIO STATION PULLS CELINE SPOOF Arts NowMontreal - A Quebec radio station has stopped playing a Celine Dion parody after the singer's husband threatened to sue for copyright infringement.Station manager Luc Tremblay said Thursday that Montreal's CKMF would stop drop the song, a French-language parody of Dion's I'm Alive entitled A m'enarve (She Drives Me Nuts). The decision came after Dion's husband and manager, Rene Angelil, phoned the station Tuesday to complain. "He was not happy at the time and not relaxed," Tremblay said. "But he was very classy. He has a way of being angry that's very civilized." Angelil filed a formal legal notice of intention to sue Wednesday if the song was not pulled from the playlists of CKMF and eight other stations in the Radio Energie network. He also asked Tremblay to stop playing any of Dion's songs on the network. Tremblay turned down the request. "As long as listeners want to hear Celine Dion, we're going to play it," he said. For more arts news, listen to The Arts Report weekdays at 7:12 a.m., 8:12 a.m. and 5:55 p.m. on CBC Radio Two. Copyright 2002 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - All Rights Reserved (CBC News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. 5925 CLANDESTINE Falun Dafa Radio via Sitkunai, Lithuania 9/11 2122-2201* in Mandarin?. Talk and music noted with mention of "Falun Dafa" at 2148 and "Falun Gong". Several tentative IDs by female noted. Chinese jammer music at 2133 heard underneath , but didn't disrupt too badly. // 9945 on the other hand was a mess of jammer QRM. Fair (Scott R. Barbour Jr., NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) CLANDESTINE from RUSSIA to CHINA 6035 Falun Dafa station reported on this new frequency at 2100-2200 // 9945 (Hans Johnson, Sept 13, Cumbre DX via DXLD) By whom? ** COLOMBIA. Glenn, I may have contributed to a certain confusion here, but La Voz de tu Conciencia, 6010, ex-6060 and 6065, is not really a ``gospel huxter`` nor a ``gospel pirate``. Only limited portions of the total airtime are devoted to low-key talks centering on issues such as the youth, the family, the truth, war, peace and oppression, many of which are discussed in the light of Christ`s Sermon of the Mount, one of the major ``philosophical`` pieces of Christianity. The station is strictly non-denominational but decidedly Christian in scope, focusing on the present turmoil in Colombia and neighboring countries. All Colombian combatant forces do in fact listen to the broadcasts and appreciate them, and so the station has remained untouched despite its location in the midst of an area of intense armed strife (the Colombian ``llanos``) where at least one of the parties involved in the conflict, the guerrilla, has imposed a ban on all existing evangelical churches. You may gain a greater understanding of how it all started by reading Russel M. Stendal`s book ``Rescue the Captors``, first printed in 1984, ISBN 0-931221-01-3 (for the current paperback edition). Most of this book is a translation of ``Secuestro y Reconciliación``, which was written directly in Spanish by Stendal when captive with the guerrillas in 1983. This book was handed over to the guerrillas when Stendal was freed, and it has been circulating among them ever since (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Sept 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Radio For Peace International's Weekly Program Update for the week of 15 - 21 September 2002 =============================================================== Frequency Schedule: BAND FREQUENCY/MODE UTC/GMT TIME (frequencies/hours subject to change without notice) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (AM): 0000 - 0800 19 meters: 15.040 MHz (AM): 2100 - 0500 13 meters: 21.815 MHz (USB): 1200 - 0200 (currently off the air) And streaming live on the Internet in MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org Note time changes. I notice that 1830 Sunday is now shown as a WOR time, so maybe it`s official, rather than a fill-in (gh, DXLD) {Yes} ** CYPRUS. In an e-mail message to me Radio Sawa say that they are going to move from 981 kHz to 990 kHz from next Tuesday (Björn Fransson, island of Gotland, Sweden, Sept 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) I wonder why? Must be rather drastic. MW antennas are engineered for a specific frequency; now they will have to chop some of it off for the right wavelength. Any QRM problems should have been anticipated! (gh, DXLD) Radio SAWA is continuing to violate international telecommunication agreements. The 500 kW transmitter in Cyprus has not been coordinated with the ITU (resp. the frequency authorities in the region as required by the ITU), the permitted power on 981 kHz is only 100 kW. Apparently the interference on 981 to stations in the region (like Greece, Bulgaria and Egypt) has been so severe that a new frequency had to be chosen. With the new 990 kHz the station is now "highjacking" a Lebanese frequency (coordinated in the Geneva Plan for a 100 kW transmitter at Amchit). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BDXC-UK via DXLD) This is also going to cause some mighttime trouble in West Wales with BBC Radio 5 Live on 990 (Ken Fletcher, 1530UTC=1630UTC+1, 15th September 2002, ibid.) ** DENMARK. Hello Glenn, A majority of the journalists at Danmarks Radio has confirmed the agreement for a new wage system. The journalists will resume work on Monday September 16th after then four weeks of strike. Danmarks TV 2 in the News 1700 UTC (14/9-2002) Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, Sept 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. 6350, Voice of Peace & Democracy of Eritrea, Mek'elé, Tigray, Sep 4, 0328-0350*, Tigrinya announcer, talk and Horn of Africa songs. 32333. At *0355 the same transmitter opened with orchestral Horn of Africa music and from 0400 the ordinary news programme in Tigrinya from the official ``Voice of the Tigray Revolution`` in Ethiopia. 5500 was heard in parallel with a very faint signal just fading out (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 6170, Scandinavian Weekend R., Villat, Sep 7, 0800-0900, ``DJ Madman with ``Radio Roulette`` with interviews from the EDXC Conference of Bob Padula, Osman Erkan (Voice of Turkey), Andrew Janitschek (R. Free Asia) and yours truly. 24333 quickly deteriorating to 14232. QRM Croatia 6165 (QSA 2). Parallel 11720 was totally covered by the Voice of Arabs, Cairo. Later on, at 1240 6170 was heard with 25232 and 11720 better with 33333 fighting with Cairo. At 1625 SWR was heard with 22222 on 6170 under Deutsche Welle in English (QSA 4). The evening before at 2250 it was also heard on 5980 with 23222 squeezed between BBC WS 5975 (QSA 4) and R Liberty in Russian 5985 (QSA 5). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** FINLAND [non]. Långåminne: DXing UK from Finland: In spring 1990 Jari Sinisalo and Jukka Soini were researching maps to find the ideal location for listening to radio stations from the British Isles. They found a camping site, which became an instant success among Finnish DXers. During the first 12 years, over 230 DXpeditions have been held in Långåminne... http://www.dxing.info/dxpeditions/langaminne.dx (Mika Mäkeläinen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 4860, AIR Delhi has some problems at its transmitter in Kingsway. On Aug 28 at 1815-1930* I heard it in Urdu as usual with 44444. But it was also heard with weak, spurious signals in parallel on every 16.2 kHz away from 4860: on 4795.2, (4811.4 was covered by QRM, probably Yerevan), 4827.6, 4843.8 and 4876.2, 4892.4, 4908.6 and 4924.8 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3976.1, RRI Pontianak, Aug 1, 1130-1145, Bahasa Indonesia, ``Warta berita``, 45555. Weak spurious signals heard on 3876.2 and 4075.9 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. From an Early Sputnik Diary of HAROLD A. ZAHL; Source: IRE Transactions on Military Electronics, April-July 1960, Pages 320-322 Summary: Like almost everyone else in the world, personnel of the U. S. Army Signal Research and Development Laboratory (USASRDL), Fort Monmouth, N. J. were caught by surprise when the U.S.S.R. successfully launched earth satellites in October and November, 1957. The narrative which follows portrays some of the happenings in our environment when the BEEP-BEEPS descended upon us. I should mention, however, that any humor the reader may see in the latter-day remarks which constitute this diary was certainly nonexistent during the long, dreary 40 days and 40 nights when, in the wilderness of outer space, we were "wrestling" with these electronic invaders. It is only in retrospect that we can now smile.... http://www.infoage.org/sputnik3.html (R390 mailing list via Phil Atchley, swl via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A reminder that all the Kol Israel networks will be off the air for Yom Kipur --- between Sunday afternoon and Monday night Israel Time. According to Haaretz, the Kol Israel networks stop broadcasting around 3 PM Sunday to 8 PM Monday (Israel Time). The networks vary a bit. Israel changes to Standard time on Oct 6 (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, Sept 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. ARUTZ 7 TO OPERATE TV STATION From RadioCarolineMailinglist@yahoogroups.com (This article appeared in yesterdays Yediot Achronot newspaper - here is a translation. By the way, you can see an article I wrote, that will appear in the next edition of Offshore Echoes, predicting this, as I recently visited the Arutz 7 " Internet TV " studios just outside of Tel-Aviv. Mike Brand) The owners of the pirate radio station Arutz 7, who identify with the right wing, are planning to start a new television station, whose broadcasts will originate from Europe, and will be picked up in Israel through satellite. According to the plan, the station will broadcast 24 hours a day in Hebrew and English. The programmes will include News, current affairs, Jewish History, and Torah ( Bible ). The estimated time that the station will come on the air is " within three months " Arutz 7 owner Yaacov Katz adds that the channel`s representatives are raising funds in Western Europe and the USA. Their target is 25 million shekels ($530,000 ), which is mainly for the infrastructure. Katz goes on, "Part of the money has already been raised from Jews in the past two weeks in England, Belgium and the USA." In the first few months the broadcasts will be prerecorded, and the changeover to live and daily news broadcasts will occur within 6 months. Arutz 7 announced that next month, special sales spots will open to sell the satellite dishes that can pick up the broadcasts. These dishes will cost 2000 shekels each (about $422). (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. PAKISTAN. For some years now, R. Pakistan, Islamabad (100 kW) has been heard at night on 4790.4 kHz with the Rawalpindi III program (Azad Kashmir) from *0042-0215* which was changed to *2342- 0115* when Pakistan introduced Summer time this spring. Furthermore the 10 kW Rawalpindi transmitter has been reported using 4790.0 from *0230-0430* and supposedly *0130-0330* during summer. But on Aug 10 and again Sep 2 I heard R. Pakistan on exactly 4790.0 with programs in Urdu and supposedly Kashmiri (clearly different from Urdu) at 0055 (tune in) with 44333 (which indicated 100 and not 10 kW) till fade out 0205 and without any shift in transmitter power. A shift from 100 to 10 kW would have been noticeable. It looks like the 100 kW Islamabad transmitter finally has been adjusted to its nominal frequency, and it has extended schedule which also covers the former schedule of the 10 kW Rawalpindi transmitter. Sep 2, 1700-1713* I heard R Pakistan, as scheduled with Urdu news, 1705 Call to Prayer, and 1710-1713 the usual ``Azad Kashmir`` martial song - and again the frequency was 4790.03 to be exact (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. 3480, Voice of National Salvation verified with QSL letter (but no data). I recently observed QSL information from that station. QTH: Grenier, Osawa 107, 40 Nando-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. and NDFSK (National Democratic Front of South Korea) mission in Japan. NDFSK Mission in Pyongyang is QTH: Munsu-dong, Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, D.P.R.K. E-mail: ndfsk@campus.ne.jp Korean program: 2000-0100, 0300-0700, 1000-1700 on 1053, 3480, 4400, 4450, 4557 and 0000-1200 on 6100. English program: 0030-0100 on 1053, 3480, 4400, 4450, 4557 (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Japan, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. 5902.05, Voice of Iraqi People, Iraqi Kurdistan, Sep 08 & 10, *0255-0425 (fade out), Arabic IDs by man: ``Huna sawt al- Shab al-Iraqi, idha`atu al-Hizb al-Shuju`i al-Iraq``, talk by woman about Iraq and Syria, song // 3903 which faded out first, 25232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Hi Glenn, I assume the website of the Kyrgyz embassy in the USA is official enough to provide the official name forms for this country, see: http://www.kyrgyzstan.org The official name in English is KYRGYZ REPUBLIC (in Kyrgyz: "Kyrgyz Respublikasy", you see it in the state emblem), the alternative, short form in English is KYRGYZSTAN. You may compare these two forms with "Czech Republic" and "Czechia". The outdated English form "Kirgizia" was common in the times of the Soviet Union and is based on the Russian "Kirgiziya". Now the official Russian form as decreed by the Kyrgyz authorities is "Kyrgyzskaya respublika" (with the short form "Kyrgyzstan"), though in Russia you may find all three forms Kyrgyz respublika / Kyrgyzstan / Kirgiziya. Regarding the "Turk countries" (which do include Kyrgyzstan) you find a good overview for example on this website: http://www.ulkucuhareket.dk/ulkucuhareket/sayfalar/turkyurtlari/turkdunyasibag.htm 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. Report On the Founding Conference of the Liberian Leadership Forum http://allafrica.com/stories/200208300034.html The monopolization of short-wave radio transmission by President Taylor's radio station would come to an end, he suggested, if the decision to allow Radio Veritas to begin short-wave transmission were to be implemented. He stressed the need for the establishment of other short-wave broadcast facilities in view of the fact that radio is a more effective medium for empowering the citizenry in the Liberian context (via NASWA Flashsheet Sept 14 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. /INTERNET Voice of Mongolia is one of those stations that I have never been able to log on shortwave (only tentatively) --- not that I have spent a great deal of toil or sweat to do so…just one of those stations that has never left my want list. At the same time I have had a certain fascination with the country since I was a young lad and we learned about Genghis Khan in primary school. It is also one of those nations that are somewhat remote, obscure, unknown in this part of the world. I am intrigued by places like that…North Korea, Tibet, Saudi Arabia, Communist Albania, where very little is known about the country in the "outside world". I recently stumbled on to the Voice of Mongolia website and its really quite a nice one. As a somewhat novice internet surfer, I like it because it is simple, giving pertinent information without a lot of bells and whistles and razzmatazz. This could also describe the programming at the Voice of Mongolia, which I listened to in real audio (Monday, Wednesday and Friday programs are archived). I heard the most recent broadcast --- it opened with an interval signal (kind of cool sounding actually), ID in Mongolian and English. A woman, who anchored the entire show gave times and frequencies then straight into a very lengthy interview with a recently arrived (Australian) journalist who is going to work for Mongol Messenger one of three English newspapers in Mongolia. The journalist, a woman from Adelaide, was interesting in her own right, having seen a large part of the world. She has worked at a radio station in South Africa, in a region of the country where the nearest water was a km away, and as a teacher of English in China. The interviewer had a delightful, if unpolished presentation style. An interesting part of the website describes the personalities at Voice of Mongolia. "There are at present 5 staff at the English Section of The Voice Of Mongolia. They are: Ms. Oyunchimeg - editor-in-chief (responsible for everything, good or bad!); Ms. Bolor; Ms. Ariunzaya; Ms. Tomor; and Mr David O'Connor. These staff are all involved in every stage of programming, from identifying the story to the final broadcast! Mongolian names sometimes present difficulties to foreigners; Mongolians usually use one name (first name), which is often shortened with familiarity. So, Oyunchimeg is usually called Oyunaa in the office. The father's name, usually abbreviated and put first (e.g. Ch), distinguishes between people with the same name. The range of Mongolian names has until recent times been quite restricted, so there are many people with the same name - there are, for instance, two people called Bolor and three called Naraa in the station within calling distance of each other! But many countries of the world have a number of names, which are very common. As in many other countries, context means that confusion is rare. As is also common throughout the world, Mongolian names usually have meaning; so, Oyunchimeg means something like "turquoise decoration"; Bolor means "crystal". We have been improving and altering the style of broadcast to make our programmes much more 'listener friendly' than before. We are also hoping to upgrade equipment to make the programming more flexible and lively, to take the broadcaster out of the studio more and widen the scope of what we can bring to the listener. We can't run to live outside broadcasts yet, but we are bringing our surroundings to you as best we can! We operate on the principle that Mongolia is one of the most mysterious places in the world; but now that the country has embraced democracy, it is trying to be much more open to the rest of the world. Not everybody can manage to visit Mongolia, so The Voice Of Mongolia sets out to tell the world everything it can about this fascinating country - and maybe we can tempt you to come and visit us!" Music on the program consisted of one song after the lengthy interview, which would have been right at home on Much Music, MTV or BET -- sounding like one of the current groups (Destiny's Child?) very soulful, 3 part female harmony, but in Mongolian. The program ended with another rock song I would describe as a cross between "Mongolian Elvis" and Tom Jones. A brief feature on the congress of foreign Mongol scholars being held in the capital was inserted between the two pieces. Give the website a look at http://mongol.net/vom/archive.htm (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Sept ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 5770, 0010-0050, R. Miskut, Sep 7. Very weak but some audio manages to get thru. First time heard in several months. Some RTTY interference. Sheryl Crow tune at 0016. Signal dropped a bit at 0018. Back up at 0020 with more US pop tunes. Male announcer at 0025 with brief statement and back to music. Tune at 0026 in Spanish and then male announcer again but much better audio. Full station ID with notice of FM station at 0029. Station on and off several times during announcer statements at 0030. Back to music at 0033. S7 signal level now. Much better reception. Still going after 0045 (Bob Montgomery, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Still USB plus carrier? (gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Greetings from Paraguay! To advise that we have modified our test transmissions. We are now transmitting on 7300 KHZ, beamed at 4 degrees, and on 7373 KHZ, beamed at 184 degrees. The antenna used with 4 degrees has a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. The antenna used with 184 degrees has a theoretical gain of 25 dBi. The power, in both cases, is 800 Watts. These tests continue, the 24 hours, all days. Your reception reports will be most welcome! With best regards. (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Dear Glenn, Thanks for including my Pilipinas clip in your current WoR [1147]! Maybe you noticed that they still announce 12015 kHz which some time ago was replaced with 11885, which also had a good signal in Bangkok. Still sunshine in Copenhagen from a blue sky. No rain since early August, so everything is VERY dry. 73, (Erik Køie, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I did ** RUSSIA [non?]. September 15, +0323-0420+, 7416.5-7418.3v, Radio Krishnaloka in Russian (unknown site) poor to fair to almost good with some QRM from WBCQ + utility (CW, RTTY on 7421). According to http://www.harekrishna.ru/news/krishnaloka.shtml (unfortunately, in Russian only) Radio Krishnaloka has broadcast on SW from September 1st, 2002 on 7410 kHz at 0300-0500 and 1300-1500 UT on even days only. They have two postal addresses in Donetsk, Ukraine and in Moscow (ul. Avtozavodskaya, dom 6, kvartira 24 A) and one e-mail address as schyammohan@ukr.net (Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Hi friends, on my homepage http://www.eibi.de.vu/ you may now also find reception report forms (with instructions) for RUSSIAN LANGUAGE. It is available both in WORD and PDF format. Furthermore there is a file to print Russian PPC cards, so that you'll get a detailed QSL. Shortwave schedule and German FM list are there, as before, to your service. 73, (EiBi, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ST. HELENA. [HCDX] R. St. Helena need your help I just got a message from the new clerk at R. St. Helena (Claire) - she has got some returned QSL where the address was wrong or the recipient has moved. I would appreciate if you could help Claire by sending the corrections of the following peoples addresses: Dick Goose, 1 SWL G20985, UKRS 07101. This one was just an International Short Wave League card. Thomas Gollmer, Plaustr. 10, 04179 Leipzig (Neulindenau), GERMANY. This is a two page letter/reception report. Rainer G Berns, Ahornallee 46 A, D-14050 BERLIN, Deutschlamand/ Germany/Allemagne. This is a two page Letter/Reception report. Richard Bonney, 916 W. Main St., Festus, MO 63028, USA. E-mail: RICKJAYNE9@AOL.com. This is a three page Letter/reception report. Richard Bradley, 178 Merrimack Street, Methuen, MA 01844, USA. This is a front/back reception report. Paul Biggin, Kirkham, Lancs, England. This is a general letter confirming he heard the transmission. Cliff Cardwell, 1809 Carrier Place, Grand Prairie, Texas 75050, USA. This is a three page letter/reception report. B Cooley, 4210 Morris Drive, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8X 4G8, This is a two page letter/reception report. [see below] Hans Fred, Hultakullav.57, S-43791 Lindome, SWEDEN. This is a Reception report page George Baitzel, 1082 Shallcross Lake Road, Middletown, DE 19709 USA. Just a letter/reception report Please send the corrections direct to Claire at radio.sthelena@helanta.sh Thanks for your assistance! By the way - The Station Manager during decades and responsible for the worldwide broadcasts - Mr. Tony Leo - will now retire next week - don't know who the new Station Manager will be (John Ekwall, Sweden, Sept 13, hard-core-dx via DXLD) As I already E-mailed RSH, B. Cooley, unfortunately, deceased a couple years ago. No doubt he would have enjoyed a timely reply (gh, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. Wj8712P EWE oriented S (Typical subcontinental direction at local dawn is SSW, not the expected NW for India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka -- this has been noted numerous times in coastal DXing at Grayland) 4902, SLBC (National Service) 1322-1421 Sept 15, Subcont music followed by M and F announcers. At 1335-1339, seemed parallel with weaker 4870 with M and F in local language. 4902 clearly the better of the two frequencies. After Top of hour tentative ID continued with subcont music. Best of the start of this tropical season at 13,630 km transmitter to receiver [how are you measuring that if not great circle???? -- gh] 4870, SLBC (National Service) 1332-1348 M and F in local language. Poor levels, right at the noise floor. At 1335-1349, M and F seemed to be in parallel with 4902, but difficult to tell. By 1341 into subcont music not parallel to 4902 (Don Nelson, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. 6095, R. Sweden. This spurious signal (6065 + 30) reported in DX-Window no. 202 was audible daily until Sep 2, *1544-1625* while the carrier from R. Polonia was on; Swedish news ``Dagens Eko`` was heard very clear (35444) and // 6065 (55555), 13580 (35434), 17485 (35444) and MW 1179 (55555). The modulation on 6065 could be seen on the S-meter, to a greater extent than on 6065 - like DAM, Dynamic AM. At 1559-1625* R. Polonia had its broadcast in Czech or Slovak with R Sweden modulated weakly underneath. It disappeared 1625 while R Sweden on 6065 continued. Also heard weakly under R. Polonia in Polish on 6035 (6065 minus 30) at 1545-1625*. During own, modulated programs R. Polonia frequencies were disturbed by a terrible noise. Engineers from Swedish TERACOM confirmed that there are only three SW transmitters in Hörby and that R Sweden does not use a relay abroad for this broadcast. On Sep 3 & 4 R. Sweden was no longer heard on 6095 or 6035 and the Polish carrier on 6095 first signed on at 1558:30, so obviously some correction has been made at one or both transmitters (Erik Køie and Anker Petersen, Denmarks, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. Tried 6765 reported by Padula under LAOS on Sep 10 at 1200 UT and heard Bangkok Meteorological Radio broadcasting from Thailand. It is operated by the Meteorological department and uses 10 kW. It broadcasts maritime weather information for regional shipping routes. The station uses a melodious music box interlude. Also on 8743 USB parallel (Richard Lam, Singapore, Sept 10, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TIBET [and non]. 7385, Voice of Holy Tibet, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, via Xi`an, Shaanxi (50 kW -- but sounds like 500 kW! Ed), Sep 3 & 4, Tibetan service until 1630, then the new programme in English until 1650*. ID and talks about the protection of wild animals in Tibetan valleys. Tibetan music. 45444. The program was heard with more poor quality in parallel on all other scheduled frequencies of the Tibetan Service: 4905 (25222), 5240 (23232), 6110 (25232), 6130 (35333), 6200 (21311) and 9490 (21221). 1649 Short closing announcement in Tibetan and close down. But the carrier continued until 1700* with test tones 7 seconds + 7 seconds pause, and so on from 1655 (Erik Køie & Anker Petersen, Denmarks, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) So is 7385 the only frequency for this sited outside Tibet? (gh, DXLD) ** TINIAN [and non]. While searching for a different subject, I came across a portion of an article by you concerning the delay between RFA broadcasts. All RFA broadcasts are from the same source, POR @180 degrees lon. [I suppose that refers to some satellite directly over the dateline? Ah, IBB lingo for Pacific Ocean Relay, as opposed to AOR, right?] We intentionally insert delay at the site between separate (frequency) broadcasts of the same program. At times, we have six 500 kW and two 250 kW transmitters on the air; we have to be careful of power surges on the local power grid. You can imagine what would (and has in the past) happen if all eight transmitters lost modulation (the music stops, the announcer is quiet) at the same time. Hope that clears up an old question. [Later:] Glenn, That is correct. I am not sure of the correct name of the satellite, but back in my old TV days here, it was one of the PanAmSat series. We receive our programing in Scientific-Atlanta PowerVu digital format and a T1 stream as backup. Our other backup is from AsiaSat a bird at 121 degrees. Interestingly enough, this bird failed to go into geosync orbit, was hauled back by the shuttle, sold by the insurance company to Communist China and put back in its present orbit. So, we get programming to broadcast to Communist China via a Chinese satellite. Go figure! Also, this programming includes RFA (80%), VOA (19%), Radio Austrailia (1%) for a total of 135 broadcast hours per day. This does not include the 37 Bhrs/day from Saipan. There is a photo of the Tinian site on my webpage: http://www.tourtinian.homestead.com it is at the end of the WWII section http://www.tourtinian.homestead.com/WWII.html (Larry Brewster, Boeing Service Co., Robert E. Kamosa Transmitting Station - Tinian, Sept 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. 4930, Türkmen R HS 2, Asgabat, Sundays Aug 25 and Sep 8, 2105-2300*, Turkmen announcements, operatic concert, 2258 ID and national hymn by choir. 35444. Different programme on HS 1 on 5015. It had signed on again as scheduled upon recheck 0108. HS 2 is scheduled 0100-2100. Further checks will show, if the expanded night broadcast is daily (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. RELIGIOUS AND PUBLIC STATIONS BATTLE FOR SHARE OF RADIO DIAL From http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/15/national/15RADI.html?ex=1032753600&en=cdb8f7be2358d96b&ei=5040&partner=MOREOVER By BLAINE HARDEN LAKE CHARLES, La., Sept. 13 - The Rev. Don Wildmon, founding chairman of a mushrooming network of Christian radio stations, does not like National Public Radio. "He detests the news that the public gets through NPR and believes it is slanted from a distinctly liberal and secular perspective," said Patrick Vaughn, general counsel for Mr. Wildmon's American Family Radio. Here in Lake Charles, American Family Radio has silenced what its boss detests. It knocked two NPR affiliate stations off the local airwaves last year, transforming this southwest Louisiana community of 95,000 people into the most populous place in the country where "All Things Considered" cannot be heard. In place of that program - and "Morning Edition," "Car Talk" and a local Cajun program called "Bonjour Louisiana" - listeners now find "Home School Heartbeat," "The Phyllis Schlafly Report" and the conservative evangelical musings of Mr. Wildmon, whose network broadcasts from Tupelo, Miss. The Christian stations routed NPR in Lake Charles under a federal law that allows noncommercial broadcasters with licenses for full-power stations to push out those with weaker signals - the equivalent of the varsity team kicking the freshmen out of the gym. This is happening all over the country. The losers are so-called translator stations, low-budget operations that retransmit the signals of bigger, distant stations. The Federal Communications Commission considers them squatters on the far left side of the FM dial, and anyone who is granted a full-power license can legally run them out of town. Religious broadcasters have done this to public radio stations in Oregon and Indiana, too, and many large-market public radio stations, like WBEZ in Chicago, complain that new noncommercial stations, most of them religious, are stepping on the signal at the edge of their transmission areas. Stations are scrambling for these frequencies at a time of rapid growth in the national NPR audience and even faster growth in religious networks like American Family Radio. It owns 194 stations, has 18 affiliates and has applications for hundreds more pending with the F.C.C. "The noncommercial band is getting very, very crowded, and there just is not a lot of room for new stations in desirable areas," said Robert Unmacht, a Nashville-based radio consultant. "The competition is fierce, and the Reverend Wildmon is especially hard-nosed. His people are very good at what they do." Public radio is belatedly fighting back. Last year, a national nonprofit organization was set up to fend off the new hardball competition. Called Public Radio Capital, it raises money through tax- exempt bonds to help local public stations end their reliance on translators and buy full-power stations. Public Radio Capital, created with seed money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a federally financed agency, has since helped public radio stations in Chicago, Denver, Nashville and Tacoma, Wash., to outbid their competition. In Tacoma, the organization bought a noncommercial FM station from a local technical college for $5 million. Money to operate the station will come from major public stations in the area. "Until recently, public radio had been completely dependent on local initiative to protect its signal and acquire new stations," said Marc Hand, the managing director of Public Radio Capital, which is based in Denver. "A lot of times, local radio is not aware of how to compete. We are stepping in when we can to help." For many of NPR's 273 member organizations, the legal and administrative costs of competing against religious broadcasters are sponging up millions of dollars that they might otherwise spend on news and other local programming. "It is, like, nuts," said Torey Malatia, general manager of WBEZ, which has the country's third-largest public-radio audience. "Starting about four years ago we realized that if we didn't learn how to fight back, our coverage area would effectively shrink by a million people." As NPR itself acknowledges, religious broadcasters are often far better prepared for the radio wars. "They have employed a long-term strategy, where we have failed to do that," said Dana Davis Rehm, vice president for member and program services at NPR in Washington. The two public radio stations heard in Lake Charles, for example, were caught napping as American Family Radio maneuvered over several years to bump them off the air. Those college-based public stations, one in nearby Lafayette, La., and the other just across the Louisiana border in Beaumont, Tex., could have applied for F.C.C. licenses granting them the right to build and operate full-power stations in Lake Charles. Instead, like many public radio stations, they chose to operate on the cheap, using translators. Translator-based stations have given American Family Radio the opening it needs to grab space on the noncommercial FM dial between 88.1 and 91.9 megahertz. As early as 1997, the network filed applications with the F.C.C., declaring its intention to build two full-powered stations that would step on the two translator-based public radio signals in Lake Charles. But KRVS in Lafayette and KVLU in Beaumont did not react and apply for full-power stations of their own. "NPR people should really be embarrassed," said Mr. Vaughn, the lawyer for American Family Radio. "They knew for years that we had applied, and they didn't do anything about it. NPR people were drawing money out of the community in the form of pledge support, but they didn't bother to apply for a full-power station. It is not our fault." Religious broadcasters are snapping up most noncommercial stations when they come on the market. In the first two quarters of 2002, there were 14 sales of noncommercial stations. Of those, public radio groups bought only two. Competition between religious and public radio stations is not always acrimonious. Competitors have amicably divided a contested frequency in some cases by agreeing to use directional antennas that limit interference. Here in Lake Charles, local rage at the loss of all access to NPR has fueled a yearlong effort to bring back public radio. "What Wildmon has done to the public broadcasting band is try to eat it all," said Robert W. McGill, 74, an NPR devotee and a retired chemist. Mr. Wildmon, who became well known in the 1970's when he led national campaigns against sex and violence on television, declined to be interviewed. Mr. Vaughn, the general counsel for American Family Radio, acknowledged that the network was aware that its two new stations would be "blocking out" public radio in Lake Charles. But, he added, "We were in no way targeting it." Like many religious networks, American Family Radio has little local content; its stations rely instead on satellite feeds from the home office in Tupelo. Radio industry analysts agree that public stations usually carry more local news and offer programs more closely tied to the communities they serve. More than a year after American Family Radio went on the air here, its two stations (one carries what it calls Christian contemporary programming, the other what it calls traditional gospel) have just one local employee. Elizabeth Arrington, 21, the station manager, works in a remodeled house on the edge of town. Its broadcast studio is an empty room, although Mrs. Arrington said radio equipment would arrive soon. In all likelihood, before American Family Radio gets around to local broadcasts in Lake Charles, public radio will be back on the air here. A $309,000 antenna, nearing completion about 30 miles west of town, will let people here pick up KRVS, the NPR affiliate in Lafayette. Sixty percent of the money for the antenna came from a Commerce Department grant. The rest came from the city and parish governments, as well as from private local contributions. The primary local mover in raising money was Carolyn Woosley, a financial planner and playwright. "We lost access to a treasure that we all pay for with our tax dollars, and we got mad," Ms. Woosley said. "We decided you don't have to like NPR in this town, but you are going to have to make room for it." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Commentary --- A SHAFT OF SUNLIGHT IN A CLOUDY DAY Classical music returned to Miami on Sunday, September 15th. There are two large issues operative here. || The first issue is the sorry decline of classical music on American airwaves. Classical station after station has changed formats and gone the way of mass appeal programming. Even public radio stations, which once offered a valuable service in making the great music of all ages and lands available to the public, are now pretty much news and information outlets. But there has been a break in the clouds, a small one, and a shaft of sunlight has appeared. What has happened this week is that Spanish Broadcasting converted its time-brokered WKAT 1360 AM (5,000/1,000 watts) to all classical music after doing a market survey. Miami had lost its classical music several years ago when the owner sold WTMI 93.1 FM to Cox Communications for $100 million. Public protests caused Cox to keep it classical, but it could not sell enough air time to pay the notes, according to published reports, and not long ago it abandoned the fine arts for mass junk. WKAT saw a real need and a real profitable enterprise. After all, under its original owner, WTMI was doing very well as a classical station, with healthy ratings and pulling in $3 million a year in ad revenues. Not all goes so well, however. In San Diego, long-time classical music KFSD was sold and the format changed; a Class A station there on 92.1 FM picked up the format for several years, but it, too, gave it up. Then it was picked up by a local station in the north county on 1450 AM, dropped, and then resumed. In Dallas, historic WRR 101.1 FM, owned by the City of Dallas and operated commercially is being ``studied.`` The city has realized that, given the astronomical values of radio properties in general, and FM ones in particular, the station is worth $80 million. It has put together a ``blue ribbon panel`` to ``study`` the matter. There is no doubt that WRR will be sold and the call and classical music format moved to a lesser signal, in which the Dallas-Fort Worth ``metroplex`` abounds. The blue ribbon panel is window-dressing; the deal is done, despite protests from listeners and the media. The same thing happened a year or so ago in Albuquerque to historic KHFM 96.3 FM. Put on the air by a hi-fi shop owner in the 1950`s, it ran classical and nothing but classical from the day it went on the air. Sold to a conglomerate, they convinced another group owner that they should pick up the music on their lesser-signalled 95.5 FM frequency, so that more pop culture (a contradiction in terms?) could be run with equivalent 100,000 watts ERP off 11,600-ft high Sandia Crest on 96.3 FM. Kansas City lost its classical KXTR 96.5 three or four years ago; first the music was moved to mono 1250 AM and then into the expanded band, on 1640 AM, I believe [1660 --- audible here but hardly hifi -- gh]. In Denver, KVOD 99.5 FM was sold and the classical music scrapped until KCFR public radio stepped in and with a bond issue bought the old Catholic Family Radio affiliate KKYD 1340 AM, moved its KCFR news and information programming to 1340 AM and went all classical music on its existing FM. There have been other losses over the last 10 years: historic WFLN 95.7 FM in Philadelphia (since 1947), historic WNIB 97.1 FM Chicago, KOIN-FM 101.1 FM Portland (replaced by a public radio station), KHEP 101.5 FM Phoenix, KMFM 96.1 FM San Antonio (also replaced by a public station), and the lamented WQRS 105.1 FM Detroit. Recently, classical music was moved to weaker stations in Milwaukee and Cleveland. But in other cities, such as Miami, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Detroit, the public radio stations are locked into other programming and show no interest in classical music, and consequently there is no full-time classical music station. || The second issue: The previous owner of historic WTMI labored under the impression that the venue for such ``niche programming`` in the future lay with audiostreaming on the Internet. He founded the ``Beethoven.com`` website and continues to audiostream. This is being idealistic, to say the least. Anyone who has listened to audiostreaming music knows that the quality, tone, and noise levels vary considerably as the system tries to find new routes or has to cope with varying bandwidth. (Let it be said, to prevent people from writing me, that I already have digital hookup.) But the thought was, technology would improve and all would eventually be well. Wrong. If anything, the Internet is even more congested and the quality no better. But something worse developed. The recording industry and the societies of performers, composers, and musicians felt that they were not getting enough royalties. If an organization broadcast over the airwaves and the Internet, then that should constitute two separate performances, and the industries and the societies and their members were entitled to extra royalties. (Old-timers like me will realize that this is a new, modernized dispute of the musicians` union against broadcasters 60 years ago; a music program broadcast simultaneously over AM and FM affiliates was in fact a broadcast over two different stations, they said, and they were entitled to extra royalties.) They went to court, got one of the many legislative-minded federal judges to agree with them, and demanded the Librarian of Congress (who is named by the Copyright Act to determine such matters) to require higher royalty payments for each single performance for each single Internet listener. Further, there were restrictions that the Internet audiostreamers could not track an album through or announce a song in advance (``Rotting Corpse coming up in five with their latest hit wonder!``), because these would promote CD burning by listeners (``piracy``) and cut into compact disc sales. Further, the Internet audiostreamers, independent and broadcaster, needed to write down in detail every single track by name, the performers, the name of the disc, and so on, and forward these records. Since then, most Internet only radio stations, other than those that deal with talk, have shut down completely, and most regular broadcast stations that also audiostreamed have shut down their audiostreaming rather than pay the exorbitant fees mandated by law through the Librarian. Ironically, AOL had just announced its ``radio`` services available over the new AOL 7.0 when this happened. Yahoo closed down its audiostreaming, I am told, but I have not verified that. Upshot: Another great ``promise`` of the wonders of cyber-technology shot down. Little classical music left on the Internet, at least from U.S. sources. So, we have little classical music left on FM in most cities, even little on public radio stations. We have little classical music on the Internet. ``You have no culture in the United States,`` a Latin American professional wrote me lately. During the Japanese economic boom, that nation was sending thousands of their people to study over here. Time magazine reported at the time that one of its reporters was told by a Japanese executive, ``We are coming here not to study your culture, because you don`t have any, but your business world.`` When WTMI dropped classical music, a Colombian woman told a Spanish daily there, El Nuevo Herald, ``This is incredible in a city of this size not to have a classical music station. In Bogotá we have eight, and we are supposed to be a backward nation.`` It is not true that we have no culture. In classical music alone we have given the world Ferdinand Grofé, George Geshwin, Howard Hanson, Aaron Copland, Charles Ives, and Leonard Bernstein; in poetry we have given the world Walt Whitman, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Carl Sandburg; our writers are first-class (``Your writers are your glory,`` a British professor told us): Mark Twain, William Faulkner, Edgar Allan Poe, Willa Cather, among many others. American painters, particularly the early Hudson River and naturalist schools, are finally getting international recognition. It is not that the United States has no culture. It`s just that we export garbage. The global village does not know we have art, nor do we Americans as a group know any of our art, let alone appreciate it. Five decades of ``relevance`` in our education system, from kindergarten through university, have relegated the arts to the cellar, out of sight and out of the minds of our young. No wonder a garbage culture fills it. No wonder the rest of the world thinks we are barbarians. George Bernard Shaw once described his native England as ``a nation of shopkeepers.`` Our society is a nation of salesmen and technicians. But there is hope. Miami now has classical music; a retired broadcaster who made $40 million in selling his stations is trying to put a noncommercial classical FM station on the air in Indianapolis. Perhaps the conglomerates, of which the top dozen own about 25% of the radio stations in this country, and probably nearly 90% of the major market ones, will begin to have some since of social responsibility and dedicate one of their stations to classical music and the fine arts in communities that don`t have them, and still make money. Maybe. Am I wrong in thinking so? Am I wrong in seeing a growing wave of disgust with the crudity and obscenity and the vapidness of our popular culture? Perhaps the next generation will wash their hands of the mess the Baby-Boomers and the Gen-Xers have made of our culture and replace it with the better. Maybe (Michael Dorner, editor, Sept 16 Catholic Radio Update, Sept 14 via DXLD) ** U S A. FUNDING LOSS SILENCES LYRIC OPERA ON WFMT September 13, 2002, BY ROBERT FEDER, SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST The fat lady has sung: For the first time in 30 years, Lyric Opera of Chicago's opening-night performances won't be airing on WFMT-FM (98.7) --- or anywhere else on radio. With little more than a week to go before the start of their 48th season, Lyric officials announced Thursday that they and WFMT had failed to secure funding to cover broadcast production costs. So if you don't have a ticket for the Sept. 21 opening of Bruno Bartoletti conducting the double bill of "Pagliacci" and "Cavalleria Rusticana," you're out of luck. Principal sponsors of the broadcasts in past seasons had been two financially troubled airlines, United and American, both of which withdrew their support this year. Total cost for the eight opening-night broadcasts each season was $400,000, of which about 75 percent covered talent fees for singers, orchestra, chorus and backstage personnel. It's a huge blow to Chicago's only classical music station, which has aired opening-night performances of all Lyric productions live since 1973, and has syndicated those broadcasts internationally via its WFMT Fine Arts Network since 1977. William Mason, general director of Lyric Opera, expressed "tremendous regret" in announcing the radio cancellation. "These broadcasts have brought grand opera to millions and millions of listeners through the years, and we have always considered them one of our most important outreach activities," he said. "We hope we can find a way to resume them in the future." Dan Schmidt, president and chief executive of WFMT's parent company, Window to the World Communications, cited "uncertain economic times" for the move and vowed to pursue future funding. Under virtually identical circumstances last year, WFMT dropped its broadcasts of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. (Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. ARCHIVAL AUDIO REPLACES LIVE BROADCAST STREAMING -- FOR NOW The recent court case prompted by the music sharing websites such as Napster has resulted in a legal ruling that Internet audio providers must pay royalties on a "per listener, per song" basis retroactive to October 1998. Consequently, KXMS has curtailed its live broadcast streaming until such time as a more workable royalty payment plan may be established. In response to this regrettable loss, 88.7KXMS will do its best to compensate by providing archival audio of non-copyrighted materials at http://www.kxms.org If and when alternative measurements and fee structures are put in place, KXMS will resume streaming audio of its broadcast signal (KXMS website dated Sept 12 via DXLD) A pity; no archives found yet (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. NAMES & FACES -- NPR TO DROP NNAMDI SHOW Saturday, September 14, 2002; Page C03 "Public Interest," the weekday talk show hosted by Kojo Nnamdi, will be cut from the National Public Radio lineup at the end of this month. "There were just many, many local stations out there starting to produce their own shows in the talk format, and we didn't see the potential for Kojo's growth," said NPR spokeswoman Jessamyn Sarmiento. The general-interest talk show will remain on local affiliate WAMU (88.5 FM), where it is produced. The program actually gained stations -- from 35 to 37 -- in the past year, according to NPR. "NPR apparently has a plan and obviously it is their absolute right to proceed with their plan, so we at WAMU will proceed with our own plan," Nnamdi told us. "We expect that our listeners in the Washington region won't be going anyplace." Nnamdi added that he and WAMU are creating a new show, "an hour that in our view will make global issues local and make local issues global." (Washington Post Sept 14 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WAXP 105.5 Paterson, NY and Danbury, CT is stunting with goofy electronic music repeated in a loop. They claim that new and interesting things will be revealed at 1:05 pm Monday. They were an oldies station. My guess is that they are dropping local content for a format from Dallas or somewhere. I remember wanting to listen to radio. I live in America's #1 market with probably over a hundred available stations. I have a hard time figuring out what to do with more than one or two car radio buttons. As the Grinch once said: Oh the noise! The noise! (Karl N2KZ Zuk, Goldens Bridge, NY, Sept 15, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. From NPR's Sonic Memorial Project, a nice reminiscence about NYC's Radio Row, which was bulldozed to make way for the World Trade Center: http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20020603.atc.06.ram (Al Quaglieri, Sept 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. DesMoinesBroadcasting dot com is reporting that WHO-1040 is using their stand-by, short, tower while technicians are 'analyzing and repairing' their famed 780' Franklin antenna. Their signal will probably be down for about 6-7 weeks.(Bill Hale in Fort Worth, NRC-AM via DXLD) I heard information that this change will not take place until Monday 9/16. So, if in the next couple of days it appears that WHO's signal hasn't changed, you might want to try again after the 16th. 73 (Bill Dvorak, Madison WI, ibid.) ** U S A. Did you actually hear the WLW IBOC tests? I could clearly hear the white noise and digital "whine" from WLW all the way out here on just a CC Radio with the internal loopstick. There will clearly be serious compatibility problems with IBOC and analog AM signals on conventional receivers. I hate to think of what the AM band will sound like on an analog receiver with most stations running IBOC. If IBOC is widely adopted, you're going to also have digital interference from WLW on 700 to contend with. The IBOC artifacts are more broadband than conventional AM splash. Nulling and phasing are still options, but getting rid of QRM will become several magnitudes more difficult. It will have as serious an impact on the hobby as the rapid growth of new AM stations and night operation on previous clear channel stations did in the early and mid-1980s; it will do more than make certain receptions more difficult --- it will make them impossible. The one saving grace is that IBOC is currently planned as a daytime- only service, but I expect eventually it would be permitted around the clock. There will be some interesting new IBOC skywave DX. I'm curious if IBOC signals via skywave will have the abrupt "drop out" HDTV signals have when the received signal drops below a certain level. But the net effect of widespread adoption of IBOC on DXing will be negative (Harry Helms AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, NRC-AM via DXLD) Mention was made of shortwave and the Digital Radio Mondiale system. I don't know what kind of havoc that will cause to adjacent-channel SW reception, but if it does what IBOC seems to do from the tests I've heard on WLW etc., it ain't gonna be good. However... for what it's worth, the audio clips of DRM tests vs. the same transmissions in double-sideband analog AM, on their website http://www.drm.org/system/globstandard.htm --- click on "DRM Audio Samples" at the top of the screen --- are pretty danged impressive in and of themselves (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, ibid.) There's supposed to be demos of AM and FM IBOC going on during the NAB Radio Show in Seattle (Sept 12-14). The stations with IBOC are said to be KIXI (880) and KBKS (106.1), but I have no idea whether the transmissions are full-time or just occasional. At any rate, you folks in the PNW should check it out and see what you can hear... (Barry McLarnon, Ont., Sept 13, ibid.) Thanks Barry. Well I tuned over to 880-KIXI and they are indeed using IBOC. 890 is a full of white noise as you said. KIXI is about S9 here and the white noise is S7. However there is very little white noise on 870 for some reason. It is still there but much weaker. I am about 150 miles from the KIXI site here. They aren't that strong. No where near what KIRO or KOMO is. This noise is pretty bad, all right, but it can be nulled to a point. I don't notice the white noise on 880 though, but 890 & 870. KFLD-870-Pasco WA is OK on 870 although the noise is under them much weaker than the noise on 890. [Later:] Attention NW DXers: Check out the QRN generated from the IBOC test on KIXI-880-Seattle WA this weekend. At 150 miles off my Eastern Beverage, KIXI-880 is S9 and the white noise on 890 is S7! Terrible to say the least. The noise is somewhat weaker on 870 though, as I can hear KFLD-Pasco, but the white noise is indeed behind KFLD too. If an S9 signal from KIXI-880 can cause as much noise on 890, this will also affect AM DXing overseas. The US stations are heard quite strong overseas. Even something with S5 would create a heck of a lot of QRN on nearby channels for DXers in Europe of Australia/New Zealand. No doubt about that. If adopted it is really going to make the AM band unlistenable in regular analog. I don't know how much it will affect DX if you have an IBOC receiver (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Sept 13, ibid.) It's simply politics as usual for the NAB and FCC. What's interesting is that the NAB effectively squashed LPFM because of interference issues, yet the same NAB is willing to overlook catastrophic interference issues with IBOC. It's all about the money (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) IBOC will not just help AM; it will help radio. Radio is, as a medium, 80 years old. The "digital" label is hip. The data stream that is what IBOC is based on permits a whole array of other services, including interactive. If they finally fix the algorithm, talk sounds much more "presency" in IBOC. Remember, there is not much AM talk listening of any kind under age 35; the younger talkers like KLSX are on FM. Plus, this will allow some AMs to be used for niche music formats that can not be justified today. To younger people, AM is totally unhip, useless, dead, etc. In LA, I have put a music format on AM in anticipation of IBOC. I hope it comes soon, as I can't wait much longer with the present looser technology. I also changed an AM in El Paso, and am working on two more AM music stations that would benefit a lot form IBOC. There is 100% backing of the IBOC standard, starting at the FCC. AM stereo died in the period of years when the FCC wasted the window of opportunity for AMs to remain viable music stations. And, initially, the technology sucked... platform motion, lack of promotion, near-zero interest by car manufacturers. Not so IBOC. But the big deal is the digital stream, which can carry all kinds of additional data... and become a new revenue source. And they can say "digital" which is the killer buzz word of today in audio (David Gleason, CA, ibid.) David; What about the terrible sideband noise IBOC creates? It is downright terrible. This could very easily put an end to stations covering their fringe areas with all of the noise IBOC generates. How about the agreements we have with Mexico and Canada who are not adopting IBOC? With the noise I heard, this will interfere very much with Canadian and Mexican stations serving their fringe areas. I get S9 from KIXI and the noise was at S7. That is one heck of a noise source. This IBOC might be well and fine for some, but I don't feel the average "Joe" really cares about IBOC and will be willing to run out and buy a new radio. On a side note, what about DXing with IBOC? Will it be possible? Of course this will prety much put an end to TP/TA DXing for the most part if IBOC is adopted widely. There is no way a flea power signal will be able to overpower the noise. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, ibid.) I heard the WLW tests. I heard it. It`s miserable on an analog receiver. On the outside its a beautiful gleaming silver platter and cover but when you open it up, IBAC is still a reeking crap sandwich. No matter how you dress it up, analog receivers are screwed to the hilt. On an analog receiver, IBAC is craptacular. When people hear it, they are going to howl to the high heavens. Digital radio belongs on the L band. The problem is not hipness in the word digital. The problem is the lack of hipness in the programming. If the programming sucks to high heaven, then no one wants to listen. I don't care how many buzz words and slogans you throw at people if they hear IBAC and it sounds like WLW`s test did, then they are going to be really ...uh ...exercised. I suppose that`s a good way to describe it. Putting current programming with restrictive play lists on in digital is like that silver platter I mentioned above. Until the corporate people understand this, its gonna get worse and IBAC is no help at all. Get hip programming and not slogans and buzzwords. Slogans and buzzwords cost money when it comes to replacing working radios. When people realize that this is going to cost them money, they are going to be quite unhappy. Sorry, we ain't buying into it. Digital radio might be a good thing but it needed to be treated as FM was in the early days when it was put on a new band. Once that happened then AM BCB could slowly be closed out. The FCC has already acquiesced to you corporates so there`s probably no use in worrying about it and just put the money aside to replace your radios (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Kevin, the various people I work for are hardly "corporate" in the Clear Channel mold. One has 55 stations, a number of which are two and three signals knit together to create one stations; we are barely above the 20/20 rule of 1990. Another company I am with has 15 stations, several including stand alone AMs in markets of under 25 thousand. Another owns exactly 2 stations. And, Kevin, if you knew me you would know I was anything but corporate, having built stations of my own years ago that introduced never-heard formats in a variety of markets. Frankly, the "corporate" comment is amazingly offensive to me, since I have been an independent, often against-the-current programmer and manager all my career. The problem, Kevin, is that you are reacting to a real problem radio has from the perspective of a DXer, and there are not enough of us left to fill the lifeboats on the Titanic. We all believe that IBOC will help radio survive into the digital era and will bring new potential, like interactive shopping, TiVo-like program recall (get in the car and hear the most recent traffic report, even if you missed it). All is possible with IBOC. As to the sideband stuff, Clear Channel's DOE suggested to reduce the digital signal by 6 db more; this they believe will resolve the major issues coming from the WLW test. By the way, the support for IBOC is coming from broadcasters of all size stations and markets. They want to be digital. In general, no one cares about fringe AM coverage. The two FCC commissioners just about said as much in a public forum on Friday; they believe they have a duty to help AM. So any fix that takes care of the NRSC objections will get by the commission, also. Mexico's AMs are pretty much in death throes, too, except for a few big market talkers. I don't think that the Mexican government will care; Canada is trying to get everyone off AM anyway and maybe this will be a way to push this even harder. Again, IBOC will be driven by all the stuff the data stream can do besides push out programming. There were 30-some million new cars sold in the last 5 years; that is 30 million radios, too. Just the car issue will make IBOC successful as it will make money for the car manufacturers. This is not about programming alone, it is about touch screen radio dials that can produce additional data, replay the last traffic report, print an coupon for something you hear on the radio. And, it is digital, the word that sells today. I think the FM side will produce an initial feeding frenzy, partly because radio believes in IBOC and they did not believe in AM stereo, which sucked anyhow. Again, there are more people working at the AMs in Idaho than all the DXers in the country; there is a big incentive to try anything that will revitalize interest in AM, as even the talk will eventually move to FM as it is getting older demos on AM. As an aside, I spent most of NAB trying to finance a radio station in a smaller market based on my belief that I can be the first with IBOC and attract a lot of attention to programming by use of all the bells and whistles. This means I am staking my life savings and going about $5 million in debt based on a belief in the system. Now, if the owner gets a bit closer to my offer. At the just concluded NAB, discussions in the general sessions, including the one with several FCC commissioners, included statements that no one wanted to "repeat the fiasco of AM stereo" and this statement was met with loud, loud applause. Finally AM folks are going to have to get rid of one of the things that held AM from developing many other alternatives in the last 2 decades... the belief that FM stereo would do something. There are many manufacturers preparing IBOC radios right now; I saw production models form Ford. We may see the first 6-market roll-out in early 2003. My guess is that, outside of X- band, there is maybe a 2-3% usage of AM stereo any more. The Mexican stations are turning it off now, and the last one in Argentina that I know of was killed early this year. No, Kevin. I am being realistic. Radio is an old technology that has to do something new to change its perception in a digital era. And IBOC is the best bet yet. It's "IBOC" (for In Band On Carrier) and not IBAC. As to Am, no one gives a crap about fringe coverage of smaller AMs. Licencees just want to be able to compete in today's multimedia market. And some AMs will go away. I am thinking of Palm Springs as an example. Not one of the AMs covers the entire market day or night, and the market is only 300 thousand. The facilities all suck so badly, they all deserve to go away; this kind of market will become all-FM eventually. Maybe IBOC will hasten this as IBOC that you can't hear is not really useful; another market that comes to mind is the "Northeast Michigan" market; not one AM covers even half the market. Or Orlando... maybe 2 decent signals. IBOC will bring about change, and I think many marginal AMs may disappear when even religion and ethnic no longer work. But 80 years is a good lifespan for a technology (David Gleason, ibid.) My feelings are much the same. Who would think the powers that be would make something so terrible to pretty much kill MW DXing in this country. Unless they do something about all the sideband noise, AM DX is doomed. You can phase and all or that, but when you find several stations on the same frequency all using IBOC and you are trying to hear a TP or TA station 2 kHz away, forget it. I guess if this is adopted in the present form, I will have to move back to Alaska or maybe take up Tropical Band DXing. I doubt DRM will end up on those frequencies. The question still comes to mind, can you DX with IBOC, but even if you can, big deal. The TP/DU DX will be gone. Maybe the Western side of Kauai, anyone? David; These so called small stations are not going away without one heck of a fight!! Mark my words, this is going to end up in the courts. You can't just tell some small station that has been operating for years on analog AM, "Too bad, your useful time is over, go away" Bull on that. If I had a station, I would visit an lawyer very quickly. The small stations do count. For us in small towns, the little station helps us with emergencies, entertainment, and all. I am very tired of hearing, the only thing that counts are the big boys in the cities. It is time they find out that the little guys will not put up with this. As they say, it ain't over until the fat lady sings". I normally stay out of these type things, but when I find my hobby I have had for well over 40 years is getting wiped out by some money and greed that isn't going to do one darn thing for AM radio, it burns me up. I am not alone either. 73s, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) I think these stations will disappear as better facilities on channel buy them to expand coverage. There are too many inferior signals that don't even cover markets today. I am not suggesting they will be sacrificed, just that they will find it a better return on investment to sell and go silent than to look for some kind of format that can be done on a limited coverage AM. For example, most Spanish was on AM. Now, Hispanics reject AM more than non-Hispanics (true in Mexico, too). So many Spanish AMs in larger markets are either changing or on their last legs (1380 in NY: 4 formats in a year and no numbers). LA has lost 1430, 900 and may lose more. Miami just lost Spanish on 1360. My point is that the option on bad AMs is either to sell to vacate the dial or to consolidate among themselves. A 500 watt daytimer in Pittsburgh has no hope of surviving or making money with any format; it should be sold so someone in another market can improve coverage to compensate for higher noise levels today and the growth of cities beyond coverage patterns. After being responsible for a batch of AMs for many years now, and finally giving up, I see some hope on the IBOC front because I think certain music formats, unviable on FM due to cost of the stick, would work with 35+ listeners on AM where the listeners don't have a preconception about AM that is so vile that they would never listen. The problems and glitches will get worked out. But Dxing may not be the same. Unfortunately, there are not many of us world-wide and skywave reception is truly not worth protecting as a public serving function (David Gleason, ibid.) A 500w daytimer in Pittsburgh may not be a moneymaker. You might remember and article in Radio World about a small station in a suburb of Chicago that is Polish. I think the calls are WPNA. They make money serving a small niche of the population. I am sure they never make the ratings, but they sell plenty of time. So the small ma and pa stations do have a spot. Maybe they do not have the 25K to go IBOC or maybe they don't even care. The Poles in the area I am sure are not going to go right out and buy a new radio anyway. Is this station less important than WGN or WLS in those Poles eyes, they would feel WPNA would be the most important station in their area. Money and greed seem to run this country in so many ways. It is very unfair. Hopefully they can clean up the glitches in IBOC and we can all live in peace, but it sure does not sound like it at the moment. 73s, Patrick Martin Truth be told, they could care less about DXers. Just because you can hear a station (even consistently at good strength) doesn't mean it is officially regarded as providing "service" to your area. ``Unless they do something about all the sideband noise, AM DX is doomed.`` We've said that about power increases on the local channels. (from 100 watts to 250/100 to 250/250 to 1000/250 to 1000/1000...) We've said that about directional antennas. We've said it about the proliferation of 24/7 stations, and about the death of the silent period. And we've said it about the breakup of the clear channels. Low-power TV was going to kill off TV DXing. Yet I see plenty of people DXing, and if I recall properly NRC membership is pretty much steady. Certainly, the hobby changes. DX no longer means listening to TAs in the Midwest on simple equipment. It no longer means hearing 500-watters in Oregon on the East Coast on a table radio. Instead, we're monitoring "cheaters" on high-school football night; tracking the new stations on the expanded-band; and experimenting with new and highly-effective antenna and radio designs. Besides, we *could* be adopting the European/ Canadian Eureka system - and ending up with all radio on UHF! (IMHO Eureka is a better system which is being ignored for political reasons. However, any such system that doesn't operate on a station's existing frequency certainly *would* destroy medium-wave DXing!) AM DX will survive digital (Doug Smith, TN, ibid.) Doug; I have been spoiled I guess and I don't give up on things easily. I don't care to DX a station 100 miles away for a call change as some do. I am sure Bruce and Mark do not want to give up their TA DX. Although the signal from TAs are much stronger than most of the TP/DU DX. Yes, AM DX will still be around is some form, but this is a very very drastic change. Much more than the graveyarders boosting power or a station going 24/7. Those problems you can get around. But powerful sideband noise covering up the dial is going to be darn tough to get around even if it is possible. I don't mean to be doom and gloom, but after hearing the KIXI test, is sure doesn't look good. If we did have the Eureka system, the US band would be vacated and we woiuld then have foreign stations once again like we once had. Latins all over the dial. They would not be buried by US stations. Of course no one cares about the DXer. We are about as useful as a wind up phonograph. There are not enough of us to count. 73s, (Patrick Martin, ibid.) http://www.nab.org/scitech/amibocevaluationreport04062002.pdf Take a look at the spectrum plot on p. 15. You'll see that the "IBAC" monicker is even more appropriate for AM IBOC. Nearly all of the digital power is in the "primary" sidebands at 10-15 kHz from the carrier frequency. The nominal power in each primary sideband is 16 db below the analog power, and Clear Channel is proposing to reduce this to 22 dB. Overall, the digital power is -12.4 dB wrt to the analog signal (before the proposed power reduction). Apparently they were trying both digital power levels during the WLW tests last month. I did not observe any significant difference in the adjacent channel effects - WOR was wiped out anytime the digital sidebands were on. It's hard to believe that the WLW CE thinks that the power reduction solves any problems, especially where nighttime IBOC operation is concerned. It's also worth noting that there is dissension in the ranks: ABC has lined up with CC in supporting the 6 dB digital power reduction, but most other broadcasters are against it, due to the impact on digital coverage (which is already fairly anemic compared to the analog coverage when the full digital power is used). (Barry McLarnon, Ont., ibid.) Boy, the debate on IBOC is sure getting interesting. I'm afraid that David Gleason has hit the whole thing right on the head, like it or not. Us DXers are going to have to realize that our hobby, as we know it, is doomed to go away sooner or later. Perhaps sooner than we realize. We are kind of in the position of the "horse and buggy" users who were gradually pushed literally right off the road. We do not have enough numbers to make a difference and I think David is right about that. My feeling is that we had better enjoy our hobby while we still have it and then when the new stuff comes along find ways to use it. If we have to build satellite dishes instead of beverages to DX with than so be it! I hate to see the end of an era but I can see it out there and it is getting closer! And as the technology improves I'll bet that the digital artifacts will not be an issue and that a new kind of DXing Digital might come into being. Nothing stays the same and those that realize it and adapt will be better off for it. Now having said that I'll turn on my flame filters and brace myself (Chuck Boehnke, Keaau, Hawaii, ibid.) I Bleed Over Channels ]:> (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) I call it In-Band Adjacent Channel, IBAC (Kevin Redding, AZ; all part of a thread on NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. BROADCAST POWER HELD BY TOO FEW, CRITICS SAY By Taha Ebrahimi, Seattle Times staff reporter The National Association of Broadcasters, meeting in Seattle this week, is drawing fire from groups condemning what they see as a corporate takeover of the public airwaves.... http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=134535546&zsection_id=268448406&slug=nab14&date=20020914 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC'S REVIEW OF OWNERSHIP RULES HAS RADIO INDUSTRY, CRITICS ALL ABUZZ Saturday, September 14, 2002 By BILL VIRGIN, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER The Federal Communications Commission's decision Thursday to open a sweeping review of ownership rules for radio and television stations was echoing loudly yesterday in the meeting rooms of the radio industry's convention in Seattle and on the streets outside. While radio executives, two FCC commissioners and demonstrators outside the National Association of Broadcasters annual radio show agreed on the contentiousness of the ownership issue, there was little agreement on what the commission will do, much less what should be done. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps called consolidation and ownership regulation second only to homeland security in importance for the agency. "At stake is how this industry is going to look in the next generation," he said. "We need to get it right." The commission ordered a review, to be completed by spring, of six major rule groups: cross-ownership of newspapers and radio stations in the same market; limits on the number of stations that can be owned in one market; owning more than one TV network; the amount of a TV audience a broadcaster can control nationally through local stations; owning radio and TV stations in the same market; and owning multiple TV stations in one market. FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy said the rules review will study whether they continue to advance the goals of diversity, competition and local content, and whether the rules "drive up costs for broadcasters without delivering benefits." Copps said deregulation of the radio industry in the 1990s did deliver some benefits to broadcasters since it "kept some of you in business and kept some stations from going dark." But a question now looming for the commission is whether consolidation produced any benefits for the public. Copps said he is hearing bipartisan concern from members of Congress about the effects of consolidation, and public interest in the issue is growing. The FCC has ordered a series of studies into the question of whether consolidation increased or reduced choices and local content. Said Copps: "We don't know." But a number of critics say they do know, and that the answer is that consolidation has hurt listeners and consumers. A coalition of groups under the umbrella name of Reclaim the Media has been having a shadow convention this week on the consolidation issue, and held demonstrations outside the Washington State Convention and Trade Center yesterday. Critics of earlier rounds of deregulation say consolidation concentrates too much power in the hands of a few , and reduces local content and diversity of opinions and musical styles on the airwaves. The prime target of their wrath is Clear Channel Communications, the nation's largest radio station group (which recently purchased Seattle-based Ackerley Group). "We don't want Clear Channel to own newspapers and we don't want Clear Channel to own more stations," said Hannah Sassaman with the Philadelphia-based Prometheus Radio Project, one of those protesting outside the convention center yesterday. Sassaman said it's unlikely that large groups would be forced to divest stations, but she said those unhappy with the consolidation trend want to make sure there's no further deregulation and that public access to the airwaves is maintained. NAB President Edward Fritts said the association supports the elimination of rules banning same-market ownership of newspapers and broadcast properties. As for rules on ownership of stations in a single market, "I'd be surprised if they loosened the regulation on radio any further," he said, adding that the NAB wants to make sure the FCC doesn't roll back previous deregulation moves. During a panel discussion of top radio company executives, Entercom Communications Corp. President David Field called consolidation "a completely false issue." He said other business and media are far more uniform and concentrated and less local than radio, but "we're the guys getting bashed for having cookie-cutter 'formats.' " Consolidation has been "absolutely good for the listener," added Mark Mays, Clear Channel's president. "There are more formats than there would be without consolidation." The other major issue at the radio convention this week had to do with two men far away from the convention site, who in fact aren't working in radio at the moment: nationally syndicated shock jocks Opie & Anthony, who were fired after a stunt in which two listeners allegedly had sex at St. Patrick's Cathedral while the show broadcast a description of what was going on. That has reignited the debate over the trend toward ever more crude material on radio, and where broadcasters should draw the line between what is indecent and what is objectionable to some. The Opie & Anthony mess was mentioned in at least three of the day's major presentations, and Copps warned broadcasters that the public is getting "sick and tired" of what appears to be the industry's race to the bottom in what is allowed on the air. "I really wonder if there is a bottom," he said. Copps urged broadcasters to adopt voluntary codes of conduct. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. I couldn't sleep so was tuning around the dial around 0630 UTC and stumbled upon Art Bell and his gang on 3830 LSB. They were talking antennas and it was very interesting but what made it more fun is that there was some drunk guy interjecting and swearing at them every couple minutes. It was so good I recorded it! I couldn't find any pirate activity but this was a close 2nd! (Adam Christian Smith, Pacific Northwest USA SWL -- WA7005SWL, Sept 15, ShortWaveRadio yahoogroup via DXLD) ** U S A. Spectrum seems to be back with new shows, UT Sun Sept 15 on WWCR, not at 0300 but 0305 after WWCR filled with TSSB and part of BHOTR. Started with Harold Ort plugging P`pc`m features in Oct issue, 20th anniversary, and Dave Marthouse is back doing features (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WJIE, 7490, has gone missing again, as of sometime on Sept 13; not heard day or night into Sept 15 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. R. Free Asia told EDXP that it has donated 1000 radio receivers to women's groups in Cambodia, including a monastery, for broadening of the audience base for the Khmer broadcasts. New arrangements are also being explored for further enhancement of the Khmer coverage using alternative technology. RFA has just recently set up phone-in shows in Mandarin, Tibetan, and Khmer. The Mandarin and Tibetan shows originate from studios in Washington, with Khmer coming out of studios in Phnom Penh. These are all tape-delayed; the Mandarin show has resulted in about three callers per day, Tibetan and Khmer one caller each per day. RFA stressed to EDXP that due to political sensitivities it is unable to indicate transmitter sites on its QSLs, or in its public Internet or printed schedules. Reception reports are welcomed and will be acknowledged with a QSL letter, schedule and sticker. QSL cards are being considered. Current program languages are Burmese, Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Laotian, Mandarin, the Wu dialect, Vietnamese, Tibetan, and Uighur. RFA produces a monthly printed publication titled ``RFA Reports``, giving highlights from its broadcast services (Bob Padula in EDXP Aug 31, via DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. R. Sawa: see CYPRUS! ** URUGUAY. 6010, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Sep 8, 1523-1532, program about the Carnaval. Interview of a member of IMM (Intendencia Municipal de Montevideo). Local ads: Gomería Walcar, La Favorita, Confitería La Ópera, etc. Complete ID by male at 1532 as: ``En su receptor, CX42, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Uruguay, transmitiendo en 1370 kilohertz. La frecuencia, que se sintoniza con mayor frecuencia``. 35543 (Arnaldo Slaen listening in a rural zone near San Antonio de Areco, at 112 kilometres north of Buenos Aires, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6380.3, R. Lai Chau, Lai Chau, Aug 6, 2300-2400, ID in local dialect, hill tribe music, but their evening broadcast was not heard at 1315. 24432. 6497, Cao Bang, Aug 6, 1315-1400*, Vietnamese and dialects, folkmusic, IDs, transmitter problems. 35532. 6665.3, Lào Cai, Aug 6, 1255-1335, Hill tribe music, interval signal, national anthem, ID by woman, talks. Transmitter problems with spurious signal also heard on 5443. 35433 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI Sept 11 DX Window, Sept 13 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Dear Glenn, I picked up the following broadcast yesterday evening. Could WOR readers help with its identification? thanks 3355 kHz 1950 UT : unidentified station - Language sounded like Russian - SIO 233 (Patrick VIGNOUD, near Chambery, French Alps, JRD 545 DSP with Wellbrook ALA-100 loop antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See DXLD 2-142 under BELARUS Zapper: 0001-0006, 13-Sep; 4375-4395, 4525-4545, 4775-4795, 4805-4825, 4895-4915 (Harold Frodge, MI, Cumbredx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED 18990: September 14, 1230 UTC: Heard two stations operating on 15 meters, one was VOA using 19010 kHz in Uzbek and was part of a long mix of VOA and RL services to Central Asia which started recently; the other was on 18990 and it was heard in an undetermined language, and another station was underneath it...does the 18990 outlet have an IBB connection or is it from another country? Reception was good on both frequencies using the Sony ICF-SW7600G connected with an AN-LP1 active loop antenna, monitored in an open location away from any electrical noises (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-143, September 13, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1147: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1800, Sun 1200, 1830? BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1147.html WORLD OF RADIO on WWCR: The Wednesday 0930 airing on 9475 replaced by something else Sept 11 was one-time-only, WWCR tells us WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ: Wed Sept 11 at 2200: 7415 Minor interference from VOA (approx 25%) here in the Atlanta area. 17495 excellent reception (S-7). (LOU KF4EON, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE: Noted new 1147 edition running Fri Sept 13 at 1200 on 7490; this station may have skipped 1146. Actually, seems to start around 1159, a bit early. Observations of weekend airtimes are needed, besides Sun 0515+, and reconfirming that. WJIE still has no known published program schedule (gh) UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL I enjoy your services very much. I am new to the hobby; having started in October 2001; using a Sangean ATS 818 with a Radio Shack antenna kit. The information you provide, on a timely and accurate basis, provides for "fruitful" SW listening. 73 (Scott R. Barbour Jr, Intervale, NH) ** AFGHANISTAN. This report from Guardian Unlimited: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2011649,00.html AFGHAN RADIO STATION SPREADS CULTURE Friday September 13, 2002 7:00 AM BAMIYAN, Afghanistan (AP) - Behind the door of Room No. 1 at a government guest house, Radio Bamiyan is on the air, broadcasting news and music to a valley recovering from years of abuse at the hands of the Taliban. The fledgling radio station, started with the help of the U.S. Army in May, is still battling technical hiccups that can knock it off the air for days at a time. But with a potential reach of 50,000 people, it has a powerful influence throughout the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan. ``Our goals are to provide news, to spread new information to the people to improve their thinking,'' said station manager Qurban Ali Fasihi. Many men take their portable radios to work so they won't miss Radio Bamiyan's one-hour program, which starts at 6 p.m. Women congregate in one home to listen together to the health and human rights programming. Staff Sgt. Joe Smith, chief of the U.S. Army Psychological Operations team in Bamiyan, calls the station the ``public crown'' of his team's work since coming to Bamiyan in April. His three-member team is charged with building rapport with the residents in a 35-mile swath of the valley, an area rich with historical treasures where people are still recovering from the strict rule of the Taliban regime that was ousted last November by a U.S.-led military coalition. They talk with residents about their needs, get feedback on coalition activities and distribute posters and leaflets warning residents to avoid land mines, condemning the Taliban and urging support for coalition activities. Other brochures promote acceptance of different ethnic groups. Bamiyan province is home to the Hazara, who suffered heavily at the hands of the predominantly Pashtun Taliban. Under Taliban rule, hundreds of Hazarans were killed or imprisoned and farmers were prevented from planting crops. The Taliban also destroyed two towering, 1,400-year-old Buddha sculptures that had been the pride of the valley and, in rare times of peace, a tourist attraction. To appeal to local culture, the broadcasts, including music, are in Dari, the local language. Pashto, the language of the Taliban, is rarely heard. ``Although we want to preach tolerance, that won't happen by making them turn off the dial,'' said Spc. Darren Davila of the psy-ops team. The radio station was one of the first tasks of Smith's psy-ops team following successful radio ventures in other provinces. The team arrived to find a broken transmitter as their only asset. After a quick fix, they recruited volunteers and had the station running three times a week. Within a month, the provincial governor hired six journalists and the station was broadcasting every night. Radio Bamiyan transmits from the governor's guest house. The office, empty except for the 400-watt transmitter next to the window, looks out over farmland and an empty niche in a cliff where the destroyed Buddhas once stood. The journalists spend the morning gathering news from local provinces and lift items from the BBC or Voice of America's Dari broadcasts. They pre-record their one-hour program in the afternoon, mixing news with music, featured programming and public service announcements. Though there are frequent equipment breakdowns, Radio Bamiyan has already made its mark in the community. Listeners regularly offer suggestions to improve the broadcast - more Dari singers and more international news, for example - and many take advantage of the regular ``Ask a Doctor'' or ``Answers to Your Letters'' programs. Listeners drop off letters personally, since there is no telephone service through much of Bamiyan. They ask for advice on treating children's ailments, why the Taliban destroyed the Buddhas and why the station is not playing a particular singer. ``Every society wants different things,'' said Fasihi. ``We play according to their beliefs. It is difficult because there are modern vs. old-fashioned ideals here. We have to please both.'' The U.S. Army provides the generator to keep the station on the air, but Smith expects it will eventually become completely independent. Fasihi has been soliciting non-governmental organizations for advertising dollars, though the response so far has been minimal. ``Now we're in the crawling stage, but the station is definitely going in the right direction,'' Smith said. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Alan Pennington, Sept 13, BDXC-UK via DXLD) WTFK?? Now, which is more important to know, if not both? The power or the frequency? (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. UAE: Frequency change for Radio Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari via DHA 500 kW / 045 deg: 0130-0327 NF 15485 (34433), ex 15240 to avoid Radio Australia in English (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. New schedule for Voice International effective from September 1: Chinese to NEAs 0900-1400 13775 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 1400-1700 17560 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg 2200-0100 15165 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg ||||| new transmission English to NEAs 0900-1300 13685 DRW 250 kW / 340 deg ||||| new transmission English to SAs 1300-1500 13685 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg ||||| retimed ex 0900-1500 1500-1900 11930 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg ||||| retimed ex 1500-1700 Indonesian to SEAs 0530-0600 21680 DRW 250 kW / 317 deg ||||| new transmission 0600-0800 17820 DRW 250 kW / 317 deg ||||| new transmission 0900-1300 15365 DRW 250 kW / 317 deg 1300-1800 13660 DRW 250 kW / 317 deg ||||| retimed ex 1300-1700 Hindi to SAs 1100-1700 13635 DRW 250 kW / 303 deg ||||| retimed ex 1300-1600 web site http://www.vil.com.au/schedule.cfm (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. On September 14, Canção Nova will be celebrating the National Day of Canção Nova System of Communication; Radio, TV and Internet. You can participate by chat room all day long http://www.cancaonova.com/chat get into Interativo room giving its commentary about the tuning, which frequency get it or if he is doing it through Internet - http://www.cancaonova.com It will be an interactive day with TV, Radio and Internet. Enjoy it. Schedule: September 14 - Saturday 1100 to 2300 GMT Radio Frequencies: 49 m - 6,105 kHz 60 m - 4,825 kHz 31 m - 9,675 kHz _________________ We confirm radio reports on the air and 100% QSL back. Program: Além Fronteiras (Beyond Boundaries) Every Saturdays: 22:00 to 23:00 (GMT) AM 1020 khz- SW 49m 6105 kHz -SW 60m 4825 kHz - SW 31m 9675 kHz - (Eduardo de Moura, [evidently with the station], Brazil, Sept. 12, dxing.info via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews this weekend include: [oh, oh: here`s yet another variation on Desert Island Discs:] STRANDED: Saturday morning on Stranded, join host Jane Hawtin as she welcomes retired - but ever-so-active - Major-General Lewis MacKenzie, who has gone from being Canada's top peace-keeper to advising the Ontario government on security issues. He gets to choose the location in which he'd like to be dropped, along with the book, movie, CD and food - do you suppose he'll feel a hankering for army rations? - he'd like to have along. Find out what he answered! That's Stranded, Saturday morning at 11:05 (11:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. YOUR TURN - WHAT'S NEW ON CBC RADIO: ***pre-empts Cross Country Checkup*** CBC Radio is launching a slate of new programs and new approaches this fall. This Sunday is your chance to find out more, and to put your questions to the people who make things happen at CBC Radio. Your Turn: What's New on CBC Radio is hosted by Mary Lou Finlay, with guests Shelagh Rogers, Anna Maria Tremonti, Noah Richler, Sook-Yin Lee and the Vice-President of CBC Radio, Alex Frame. That's this Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via gh, DXLD) Live in all zones, 2000-2200 UT ** CHINA. AUTHORITIES UNBLOCK GOOGLE Excerpt from report by "staff reporter in Beijing" entitled "Web users surprised as Google goes back online" published by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement) on 13 September Google.com search engine resumed operations yesterday after a two-week block suspected to have been ordered by the government, surprising users and technology experts. However, Google users cautioned against getting too excited about renewed access to the foreign-based search engine - the most popular among China's 45 million Internet users. "It's like a fever breaking - you don't know if the head will get hotter or will subside soon. We'll know tomorrow, I guess," said Danny Levinson, chief operating officer of Beijing-based online games and e- mail software and marketing service Xianzai.com. The English and Chinese versions of Google, plus its subsidiary sites, were yesterday functioning just as they did before they were blocked on 2 September. US-based Google spokeswoman Cindy McCaffrey said she had heard some China users could access Google, but could not explain why. "I don't have any new news to report on our end," she wrote from Google's headquarters in Silicon Valley. When Google and fellow American search engine AltaVista went down on the mainland, Chinese press reports said foreign search engines had been blocked because they had no physical presence in China but led Chinese users to sites containing pornography, gambling and other "unhealthy" content. Google's top Chinese-language search result for President Jiang Zemin was - and is still - a minghui.org site titled "Evil Jiang Zemin". The destination site is blocked, as are many anti-government sites. AltaVista, which offers a translation feature, remained inaccessible yesterday. IT analyst Duncan Clark said he suspected that while the site itself might work, it now used a mechanism to block access to sites containing certain phrases... Source: South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement), Hong Kong, in English 13 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia has been off the air since September 9, when their official permit was granted with the proviso that they move to 6010 from their present frequency of 6060, and this move they will try to make in a few days time. Reception reports for this new frequency would be much appreciated, says Russell M Stendal. Send your reports to rms05001@neutel.com.co giving as much detail as possible of any interference you notice (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, no XEOI?? (gh, DXLD) Desde el pasado lunes 9 de septiembre, se encuentra apagada la señal de la emisora debido a que el Ministerio de Comunicaciones en la resolución que autoriza las operaciones de La Voz de tu Conciencia le asignó la frecuencia de los 6010 kHz, ordenando de inmediato suspender los 6060 y empezar a operar en ésta. Esto se presenta debido que Colmundo Radio no ha entregado oficialmente la frecuencia de los 6065 ante el Ministerio; sin entender que el transmisor que utiliza La Voz de tu Conciencia es el equipo que utilizará Colmundo, no existiendo la más minima posibilidad que vuelva a la onda corta. Ante esta situación el Ministerio exige soportar la existencia de interferencias en los 6010 para autorizar alguna otra; por ahora a mediados de la próxima semana se enciende en la nueva frecuencia. En realidad son muy necesarios los reportes de recepción que reciba. Russel Martín Stendall está viendo la posibilidad de otras frecuencias como los 5905, 5925, 6170 y 6115 kHz. Sobre esta última cabe alclarar que la Cadena Súper entregó oficialmente este canal con lo cual se confirma que desaparece La Voz del Llano (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, Sept 13, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Lamento que esta joven emisora tenga tantos problemas y deba peregrinar en el dial pero, sin ponerme en forma minuciosa a analizar las otras frecuencias que mencionaste, creo que al ver la de 6115 khz hay que recordar que en la misma opera Radio Unión, Lima, que se va corriendo en el dial, pero que si retorna a su QRG original, seguramente ocasionará más de una interferencia a La Voz de tu Conciencia (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) BTW, I think a number of subsequent items, such as Stendahl`s missionary/prisoner status, make it pretty clear this is a religious station, not just a `philosophical` one (gh, DXLD) ** C I S. FOREIGN RELAYS ON SW THROUGH FACILITIES IN THE CIS as of Sept. 5: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/relay.htm and check http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/ which also has lots of other useful info, some of it in English (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Reloj fue captada de nuevo en onda corta. En la madrugada del domingo 08/09, a las 0653. SINPO 4/3. Esta vez sólo en los 9550. Fuera del aire a las 0709 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. Hi Glenn, Jari Lehtinen made an excellent survey on SW-situation in Africa. Quite surprising he did not hear R NACIONAL DE GUINEA EQUATORIAL, Malabo. On September 4 I was able pick up their weak signal 2020 UT on 6249.4 kHz. Could it be, they don`t broadcast on regular basis? Hard to tell. As to me, I`m very casual DX-er. 73`s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 147.3 KHZ 50 YEARS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DEUTSCHER WETTERDIENST Hallo Runde, nachstehend eine Nachricht von OM Juergen/dl8hci betreffend zwei bevorstehende Sonderveranstaltungen. 73 aus Genf, Ewald Professor Ferdinand Braun DAY. Am 20.-22. September 2002 Prof. Ferdinand Braun Tag unter dem call DL0PFB on the air: http://www.ferdinand-braun-day.de ______ Zum 50er Jubilaeum Deutscher Wetterdienst tasten wir im crossband DDH47 - afunk!! lies die Story im Englischen. Juergen / dl8hci 50 Years National Weather Service Deutscher Wetterdienst. Special longwave 147.3 kHz. 3565, 7025 or 14052 kHz. SW event with national weather service station DDH47 - DL0SWA. During the night from 8th to 9th November 2002, the National Weather Service of Germany, Deutscher Wetterdienst is going to celebrate it's 50th anniversary. A special crossband event will take place between amateur radio stations and weather service longwave transmitter DDH47 on 147.3 kHz from 2230 until 0530 UT. Amateur radio stns are encouraged to call DL0SWA/DDH47 on 3565, 7025 or 14052 kHz according to announcement made by transmissions from DDH47. The crew of DL0SWA (Seewetteramt) listens for calls on mentioned HF and replies on longwave 147.3 kHz and SW (7025, 1 watt). Please give rapport for DDH47 at your place and your locator only. Your rapport is used to calculate reception diagrams. During the former silence periods in maritime service, twice an hour from h+15 to h+18 and h+45 to h+48 minutes the transmitter will be keyed with the names of famous scientists in ultra slow keying. Expect one dot in 3 seconds. This special transmission is for long distance reception for proof of recognition. The crew of DL0SWA is hopefully to get reports from America! All weather services of the world benefited from the invention of wireless. From this time on weather reports could be taken from far away places and be submitted to the service just in time. After analysing the weather situation, forecast could be made and being sent back to shipping by famous stations like Washington/NSS, Portishead/GKB and Pinneberg/DDH47. On 11th November 1952 the national weather service of Germany, Deutscher Wetterdienst was founded as a national authority. This crossband event is conducted to celebrate its 50th anniversary of service. QSL cards are printed and distributed after the event via DARC Bureau. The crew is asking for fair play in calling us, so that more distant stations got the same chance to be heard as close ones. This event has been given approval by the national radio authority, Regulierungsbehoerde fuer Telecommunikation und Post and comes to you by courtesy of Deutscher Wetterdienst. Webinfo: http://www.dwd.de/de/wir/Geschaeftsfelder/Seeschifffahrt/Sendeplaene/Amateurfunk (via Ewald Glantschnig, Switzerland, A-DX Sep 10 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) Somebody please remind of this in early November; keeping track of far-in-advance items is a problem here (gh, DXLD) ** HUNGARY [non]. RIGHT-WING MEDIA FIGURES MAY FLEE TO AUSTRIA. Leading personalities of the now defunct "Press Club" program on Hungary's ATV channel intend to apply for symbolic asylum in Austria, "Nepszabadsag" reported on 9 September. One of them, journalist Istvan Lovas, announced that they will establish the Voice of Freedom Radio, which he said will be modeled on RFE/RL and will be broadcast from Austria "so as not to get in the way of the Hungarian radio and television authority." ("RFE/RL Newsline," 9 September via RFE/RL Media Matters Sept 13 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA [and non]. Can these be heard over the other side of the Pond? You may not have heard this cacophony over there Duane and others but they are everywhere even under WWV/WWVH on 10 MHz, particularly in the local hours of darkness. I myself am an ex IARU MS for VK7 and they were an constant pain in the butt even then. Now the Indonesians are joined by other Asian languages, including Japanese and Korean dialects and Cantonese. They are even operating on top of HF aviation channels such as the Sydney-Auckland-San Francisco channel of 8867 kHz (Robin VK7RH Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is from QNews for September 15th: IARUMS REPORT The presence of Indonesian non amateur groups on the various amateur band frequencies in the 40 and 20 metre bands is causing severe concern for all the amateurs of Region 3 and the world over. While they use amateur radio frequencies for their regular communications, you will never miss the many calls for Prayers and the many jokes and Kookaburra pattern of laughing with old men and young ladies together. The 40 metre band has several channels of 5 kHz intervals from the lower edge and these stations have their breeding grounds here. They graduate to other frequencies and move to 20 metre band, where they are on either side of the International Beacon frequency of 14100 kHz. Many of us in Region 3, cannot monitor any NCDXF/IARU beacons on this frequency. Although this QRM from Indonesians are being reported month after month, unfortunately, nothing seems to be happening. (forwarded by vk8ha via Harwood, DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]: RTE special transmission for Hurling Final on Sep 8: 1430-1630 13730 SAC to NAm ||||| totally blocked by ORF German 15275 TAI to SEAs/FE ||||| totally blocked by RVI Dutch & DW German 15500 SHB to C/SAm ||||| (34433) 17885 ASC to WAf ||||| (43343) co-ch R.Kuwait Ar & RL Turkmen 21645 WOF to NEAf ||||| (45544) Next transmission of RTE for Football Final will be on air on Sep. 22 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) As would be expected, 13730 and 15500 were pretty good here, rest useless (gh, OK) ** ISRAEL. Unusual station in pirate zone. Dear Glenn; On UT Wednesday Sept 11 at 02:00, I heard a strange station on 6973 kHz. They were playing some sort of foreign pop music in a language which sounded, to me, like Hebrew. There was lots of talk by several men and a woman between tunes. This sounded too professional to be a pirate but could have been a program broadcast by one or a clandestine. What do you think of this? I listened to the station for almost 2 hours but heard no ID or interval signal. I listened again on UT Thursday at 03:30 but nothing was on that frequency. What could this be? Yours, (Bruce Atchison, AB, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Bruce, It`s Galei Tsahal (or Zahal), the Israel Defence Forces station. Have had a number of reports on it. Supposedly 10 kW. Daytime frequency is 15785; I believe they switch to it about 0400 (or maybe it`s 0300 currently since you didn`t hear 6973 at 0330). 73, Glenn ** JAPAN. Dear Glenn, Greetings from the White Mountains of NH. I have a question regarding an item in DXLD 2-142. There is a post for a special broadcast of the JSWC Sep. 14-16 to be aired on Radio Japan. Underneath it lists" see previous item for schedule." What schedule? Do you know the time and frequencies for this broadcast? I e-mailed R. Japan requesting this information; I hope to hear from them soon (Scott R Barbour Jr, Intervale, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You`re right; the following item fell thru the cracks. Meant to put in a previous issue, but here it is now (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. JAPAN SHORT WAVE CLUB 50TH ANNIVERSARY Dear sirs, The following is the urgent information from Mr. Toshimichi Ohtake, a senior member of JPN Short Wave Club (JSWC). A special broadcast in commemoration of the 50th anniversary since our DX club's foundation will take place on the coming weekend program "Hello from Tokyo" of Radio Japan (NHK) as follows: Time and frequencies of "Hello from Tokyo". (Radio Japan transmission is from Yamata, Japan, if no relay mentioned below.) Sept. 14, Saturday UT 0510-0559 6110 KHz (Canada relay, beam to N. America, West Coast), 13630 (Beam to N. America), 7230 (UK relay), 5975 (UK relay) 17810 (Beam to S.E. Asia) 15195 (Beam to Asian Continent), 11715/11760 (Beam to Far East Russia), 21755 (Beam to Oceania) UT 1010-1059 9695 KHz (Beam to S.E. Asia), 15590 (Beam to Asian Continent), 21755 (Beam to Oceania) UT 1710-1759 9505 KHz (Beam to N. America), 11970 (Beam to Europe), 15355 (Gabon relay, beam to Africa South) Sept. 15, Sunday UT 0010-0059 6145 KHz (Canada relay, beam to N. America East Coast), UT 0310-0359 17825 KHz (Beam to Central America), 21610 (Beam to Oceania) UT 1110-1159 6120 KHz (Canada relay, beam to N. America East Coast), 9695 (Beam to S.E. Asia) 15590 (Beam to Asian Continent) UT 1510-1559 7200 KHz (Beam to S.E. Asia) Sept. 16, Monday UT 0110-0159 17835 KHz (Beam to South America, West Coast), 17560 (Beam to Africa), 11880 (Sri Lanka relay beam to Africa) 17810 (Beam to S.E. Asia) 11860 (Singapore relay, beam to S.E. Asia) 17845 (Beam to Asian Continent) 15325 (Beam to S.W. Asia) 17685 (Beam to Oceania) JSWC will verify all corect reports. Please send your report to JSWC P.O.Box 138, Yokohama Port 231-8691, Japan. Please enclose 1 IRC or 1 US Dollar bill for return postage. Good DX'ing! (Toshi Ohtake, Secretary, JSWC 50th Anniversary Program, via Rudolf Sonntag, Germany, A-DX Sep 10 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** JAPAN. So the Japanese are talking about daylight shifting time! 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: JAPAN EYES DAYLIGHT-SAVING TIME DESPITE DECADES-OLD ANTAGONISM NATALIE OBIKO PEARSON, Associated Press TOKYO -- Much of the industrialized world may have switched to daylight time decades ago, but it is still seen as a radical idea by many in Japan -- and strongly resisted. It is not just the hassle of resetting clocks. Farmers fret that cows will be thrown off schedule and would not give as much milk. Social critics fear that children staying up later at night will turn into delinquents. And there are worries that Japan's office workers, under social pressure not to leave before dark, will end up spending even more time at their jobs. But attitudes may be changing. The government proposed going to daylight time in 1998, as part of the energy-saving guidelines drafted to meet the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. And daylight-saving time is being seen increasingly as an environmental issue. "I think the daylight-saving debate is set to become more lively," said Satoru Matsuda, a spokesman for the Environment Agency."Private groups are starting to come together on their own to discuss it." History may have been the biggest obstacle to the adoption of daylight time. It was imposed in 1948, under the U.S. occupation, after Japan's defeat in the Second World War. But it was so unpopular that the Japanese voted it out as soon as the U.S. troops left in 1952. Its association with Japan's postwar humiliation continued to stir up bitter opposition for years. Mr. Matsuda said that the government wants to adopt daylight time by 2008, citing the deadline set by the Kyoto Protocol, under which Japan has committed to a 6-per-cent reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. Changing to daylight time could save 500 million litres of oil a year, the energy equivalent of every Japanese household keeping its lights off for a month, according to a study by the Energy Conservation Centre in Tokyo. That would mean $1-billion in energy saved a year, the study says. The figure compares to the amount Mexico said it has saved since adopting daylight time in 1996. Such figures probably are swaying many Japanese, whose country is poor in natural resources and heavily dependent on oil imports. (Globe & Mail via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Geez, why don`t they just get up an hour earlier and do everything an hour earlier, instead of messing with God-given Standard Time?? One more time: DAYLIGHT CANNOT BE ``SAVED``. IT CAN ONLY BE SHIFTED (gh, DXLD) ** KASHMIR. PAKISTAN: NEW HIGH-POWER KASHMIR RADIO STATION AT MIRPUR | Excerpt from report in English by Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency Mirpur, 12 September: Azad Jammu Kashmir achieved a major breakthrough in the latest electronic media technology of modern era as a result of establishment of 100-kW radio station in Mirpur which will formally start its transmissions on 20 September when the federal minister for Information, Media Development and Kashmir Affairs Nisar Memon will inaugurate the 15.8m rupee AJK Radio Station Mirpur project. Elaborating the project, Muqarrab Khan Niazi, Controller Projects Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation told APP here Thursday that the newly-constructed Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur has commenced its test transmissions on mediumwave on 936 kHz. The stations will give exceptional coverage to the cultural, political, educational, entertainment and development activities emerging in this part of the liberated territory through the large scale news and current affairs and other programmes for the interest of the listeners belonging to the areas spreading in the radius of thousands of kilometres especially in Jammu region of the India-held Jammu Kashmir state, since it was the earnest desire of the population of the area... Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur will be the third radio station in AJK next to radio stations already functioning in Muzaffarabad and Tarakheil. Muzaffarabad and Tarakheil radio stations are giving their transmissions on mediumwave and shortwave frequencies respectively. To a question, he said that it will be the most modern Canada-made transmitter of 100 kW installed for Azad Kashmir Radio Mirpur to ensure the clear and smooth transmissions of its programmes for the listeners spreading in the areas in the radius of up to thousands of kilometres... To a question, the controller projects said that an independent electricity supply lines have been managed through an independent feeder from Mirpur Grid Station to run the high power transmitting station of the project. He said that 8.06m rupees have been paid to the AJK Electricity Department for the independent power supply lines from grid station to the transmitting house. He told that the required staff of all the sections of Azad Kashmir Radio Station Mirpur including engineering, programme, finance, administration, news and current affairs have started pouring in the town to assume the charge of their respective duties... Source: Associated Press of Pakistan news agency, Islamabad, in English 1435 gmt 12 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. V. of Korea A-02 block schedule displayed as of May: http://www2.starcat.ne.jp/~ndxc/nk.htm (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREAS. INTER-KOREAN BROADCAST EXCHANGES GAIN MOMENTUM | Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 12 September: Exchanges between South and North Korean broadcasting stations have gained momentum thanks to the recent thaw in inter-Korean relations. Munhwa Broadcasting Corp (MBC) began releasing live news from Pyongyang through its nine o'clock news programme Wednesday [11 September] via a satellite connecting studios in Seoul with the (North) Korean Central TV in the North Korean capital. The move followed an agreement on the promotion of broadcast exchanges forged late last month between the Korean Broadcasting Commission and the (North) Korean Central Broadcasting Committee. Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) said the KBS Orchestra will hold a joint concert in Pyongyang with the North's state orchestra on the Chuseok holiday, which falls 21 September. The concert is scheduled to be aired simultaneously by KBS and the North's Central TV. Inter-Korean broadcast exchanges began to pick up speed after the first-ever summit talks between the South and North Korean leaders in June 2000, although there have been continued attempts on a civilian level. In September that year, KBS aired a special programme, "From Mount Paektu to Mount Halla" produced jointly with the North's Central Broadcasting Committee. The broadcasting station produced several documentary and special news programmes in Pyongyang for release in South Korea. MBC and commercial television network SBS have also dispatched reporters to Pyongyang for coverage of the lives of North Korean people. Despite the steady efforts towards broadcast exchanges, critics have said that most television networks limit in-depth information about North Korea to local viewers. They also noted that the exchanges have often been affected by changes in inter-Korean relations. "However, things have changed in recent months," a broadcasting official said. According to officials who have returned from the North Korea, Pyongyang has shown a more interested attitude towards the exchanges. They predicted that a series of recent agreements for inter-Korean economic and sports exchanges would help boost exchanges in the broadcast field, too. "We will be able to expand the scope of exchanges in the future by jointly producing various television programmes or dispatching permanent correspondents to North Korea as the first step to a complete opening up of broadcasting, which will enable South and North Korean television viewers to enjoy both sides' programmes," a broadcast expert said. Source: Yonhap news agency, Seoul, in English 0219 gmt 12 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KYRGYZIA. Hello Glenn. Today I had a discussion with a person from Kyrgyzia. He told me that they call their country `Kyrgyz`; that means the correct term for the foreigners is Kyrgyzia. and that their language does not have any relationship with Turkish (although as far as I know both languages have the same Altaic roots) Under this the term `Kyrgyzstan` (`country of Kyrgyz` in Turkic terms) does not exist except declaring the land (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. No signal for LJB in Arabic: 1030-0330 on 17750. Now only on 15435 direct from Libya (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Il y a plus de deux ans (voir dans la partie archives, dans les informations antérieures à 2001, messages du 30 juin 1999 et du 3 septembre 2000), la Voix de la Méditerranée confirmait un projet de développer ses émissions en langues étrangères, avec notamment des programmes supplémentaires en français et le début d'émissions en espagnol. La station a confirmé le 8 septembre 2002 que ce projet n'est pas abandonné. Il n'y a, à priori, pas de problème budgétaire, mais des soucis de locaux. Prochainement, les services devraient bénéficier de studios plus grands, et peut-être alors; cette demande pourra être satisfaite (la Voix de la Méditerranée - 08 septembre 2002, informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** MEXICO. XE??? 800, Montemorelos, Nuevo León; 0637 thought I had unneeded XEROK, surprised to find man in Spanish with local announcements "21 grados en Montemorelos", Apparently a NEW STATION here! I will continue checking (Steve Wiseblood, TX 9/12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] XEDD FREQUENCY CHANGE! (ex 1560) 800 XEDD Montemorelos, Nuevo León; IMAGEN" news program to 1000 CDT, then local program featuring "música romántica/ranchera". "La DOBLE-D" At 1020, Spanish man with announcements", ads, "La temperatura en Montemorelos es 23 grados, ID, 1022 "saludos" greetings to the listeners, "La Grande del noreste de Mexico, X-E-D-D 800 de Montemorelos, Nuevo León, con SONIDO ESTÉREO." They mentioned that they are audible in NUEVO LEÓN, COAHUILA, ZACATECAS y TAMAULIPAS! FIRST DAY ON THE AIR AT FULL POWER! Power not mentioned but estimated to be 150 kW. But depending on type of antenna configuration, it`s at LEAST 50 kW. XEDD-AM DOBLE-D MONTEMORELOS 800.0 kHz 01826 TELEFONOS EN EL ESTUDIO: 3435898 3435998 I'll keep listening until they give the power! XEPET, 730, Peto, Yucatán; 0616 Sept 12, man in Spanish with ID "XEPET, La Voz de los Mayas", con 10 mil watts de potencia", continued with a man and woman in Mayan dialect. Note that this station changed frequency in January 2001 from 740 to 730 according to their website, but still listed as 740 on all the Mexican lists! http://www.ini.gob.mx/radiodifusoras/xepet/index.html 73's de (Steve/AB5GP Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What about XEX 730 in Mexico City, 100 kW or more? Why would anybody that close want to move onto 730? (gh, DXLD) From their website: http://www.ini.gob.mx/radiodifusoras/xepet/index.html XEPET, "La Voz de los Mayas", se encuentra ubicada en Peto, Yucatán y transmite en los 730 kilohertz, en amplitud modulada, con 10,000 watts de potencia, para público Maya; su señal llega a 396 localidades de la Península de Yucatán, 291 ubicadas en 29 municipios del estado de Yucatán, 87 en 2 municipios de Quintana Roo y 14 en un municipio de Campeche. La XEPET inició sus transmisiones el 29 de noviembre de 1982 en la frecuencia de los 740 kilohertz. Debido a sus condiciones geográficas la localidad de Peto --- "corona de luna" en lengua maya --- fue escogida para el establecimiento de la emisora con la finalidad de abarcar la mayor parte de las comunidades mayas de la Península de Yucatán. Peto se ubica a 130 kilómetros al sur de Mérida y es cabecera del municipio del mismo nombre que colinda con el Estado de Quintana Roo. En enero del 2001 la radiodifusora cambió de frecuencia, quedando en los 730 kilohertz de amplitud modulada (via Steve Wiseblood, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Hello from Hilversum, After what has been a difficult week for many people, I'm pleased to start with some good news: as of 1727 UT on 12 September, all four of our 500 kW transmitters at Flevo are operating normally again. We've updated the schedule, or rather reverted to the one we had before, and you'll find it at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Sept 13 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Updated schedule for Radio New Zealand International effective from Sep. 3 1650-1750 Mon-Fri 6095 / 035 deg to NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook 1751-1850 Mon-Fri 11725 / 035 deg to NE Pacific, Fiji, Samoa, Cook 1851-2050 Daily 15160 / 000 deg to All Pacific, also Eu 2051-0458 Daily 17675 / 000 deg to All Pacific, west coast USA 0459-0658 Daily 15340 / 000 deg to All Pacific, Eu, mid-west USA 0658-1105 Daily 11675 / 000 deg to All Pacific, mid-west USA 1106-1310 Daily 15175 / 325 deg to NW Pacific, Bougainville, E Timor, As, Eu 1311-1649 Occasional 6095 / 000 deg to All Pacific (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. No sign of Jakada Radio International 1900-1930 12125 12th September; always strong here when they were broadcasting (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) And no trace of Jakada here Sept. 13th at 0600-0630 on 15695 either (Noel R. Green, Blackpool - UK, ibid.) ** PARAGUAY. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar. Aquí te envío algunos informes de escucha. Radio Nacional del Paraguay sigue activa en onda corta desde el primer informe del 6/09. Escuchada el 10 y 11 de septiembre, en la frecuencia variable de 9737.1 y 9737.2 (un kilohertz más arriba del utilizado el 06/09). El 10/09 fue captada con un SINPO de 4/4, a las 2250 con comentarios deportivos. Oída de nuevo a las 0040 y emitía el primer tiempo de un partido de fútbol entre el Cerro Porteño y el Club Libertad. Mucha interferencia de la Deustche Welle a partir de la 0157 UT. Registrada también el 11/09, con un programa de música tradicional, a las 2310. SINPO 3/3, variable a 3/2 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Nice to hear a few Peruvians this morning; here a couple of the more interesting ones. Won't be long till the lower bands become quiet again. 5384.3, R Huarmaca (presumed), 1055, Sept 12, Nice Andean flute music with OM in Spanish. Fair/poor reception. 5678, R Ilucán, 1100, Sept 12, I've noticed this one the last couple of mornings, it's been a while since I last heard this one. Folk music. Fair signal (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. En definitiva, La Voz de Rusia utiliza una nueva frecuencia para las emisiones en español, entre las 0000 y 0150: 9890 kHz. Se escucha perfecto luego de que Radio Nederland deja los 9895 (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 6 Sep, 0105 - 6160 kHz. Radio Rossii, 34433. ID at 0109. Must be 40 kW transmitter in Arkhangel`sk. Last year I noted that the frequency only becomes audible in September - and the same situation repeats now. Bad propagation, or is Arkhangel`sk silent during the summer? // 6150 kHz, 33442, boring LF tone (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal Sept 13 via DXLD) ** ST. VINCENT. Re WOR comments below: ``So, they will install IBOC and we'll say goodbye to St. Vincent.`` You can already say goodbye to St. Vincent. I saw in a trade magazine (Radio World, I think) a month or two ago that they have closed down their station on 705 and moved to FM. I think that leaves only three Caribbean splits on the air (not counting wandering Cubans!) - 535, 555 and 895. Did I miss any? (Barry McLarnon, Ottawa, Ontario, NRC-AM via DXLD) Maybe there`s still hope: http://www.nbcsvg.com/wibs.htm In January of 2002, NBC RADIO, started the process of changing its transmission to the FM Band. We now broadcast on 107.5, 89.7 and 90.7 FM. Although the 705 KHz transmitter has been switched off, plans are in the pipeline to operate an AM as well as FM Service to better serve the public service components of our broadcast. [Later:] I asked R St Vincent about AM, and got this reply. Dear Mr. Hattam, Yes, unfortunately, Radio St. Vincent and the Grenadines is now no longer on the A.M. Band. The service was abruptly terminated in April due to severe damage. However, attempts are currently being made to have it reinstituted. Best regards, Corlita Ollivierre, General Manager (via Mark Hattam, UK, via Barry McLarnon, ibid.) ** SAUDI ARABIA. On 21600 kHz with program in French at 1550 Sep 9, had a feature called "Islam et les problèmes contemporaires" and on 21597.5 neighbouring state United Arab Emirates Radio in Arabic had a good-mooded phone program with merry voices, laughs, etc. With the AOR AR7030 there was no problem to separate the signals, but as I can't recall hearing a 2.5 kHz separation on 13 mb; perhaps a mention is worthwhile. But surely, isn't this really too close for comfort? (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course it is, but has gone on for years now, with UAE unable or unwilling to stay on nominal 21605 (gh, DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovaquie devrait normalement ouvrir une section espagnole fin mars 2003 (Radio Slovaquie Internationale - 8 septembre 2002, informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** SPAIN. 21610 kHz at 1610, Sep 9. Radio Exterior de España carried the program "Españoles en la mar" for Spanish sailors, and the top news item revealed, or confirmed rather, that Spanish - Moroccan relations are bordering on plain hostility. A fishing vessel from a port in Pontevedra had been seajacked and confiscated by the Morrocan Coast Guard off the Moroccan coast and taken to Agadir, and now the diplomats were at work. And this comes in the aftermath of that rather stupid fight over the Perejil rock off Ceuta. Just for the record. 73, (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 3 Sep, 1450, 9770 kHz - SLBC (Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp.) in English. Usual 50's oldies. SINPO 35433. News at 1500. Woman announcer ID'ed the station in an old manner: as Ceylon Br. Corp. I tried to look for the station Web site, but found nothing. Maybe somebody knows their web address? The only thing I managed to discover is the frequency FAQ http://www.faqs.org/faqs/sri-lanka-faq/ but I'm not sure whether it contains fresh info (Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine, Signal Sept 13 via DXLD) Indeed, FAQ sheet dated at top 1995y. Section 43 shows: Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Radio Broadcasts 2000-2130 UTC 11835, 15120, 17805 KHz 0600-1000 UTC 6005, 9720, 17805 KHz SLBC North American Service 2330-0000 UTC - 15425 KHz Monday 0445-0515 UTC - 15425, 9720 KHz Tuesday Which info is so old, I hardly remember such a NAm service; however the page at the bottom claims to have been last updated Aug 16, 2002 (gh, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. U.K.: Millennium Voice in Arabic ceased transmissions via WOF 250 kW / 140 deg : 1330-1430 on 21550 to NEAf. No signal here in Bulgaria from August 19 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. In connection with elections in Sweden on September 15 Radio Sweden will increase our transmissions on short wave as follows: 1830-1900 5850 HB 350 kW / 190 deg in German to zones 27,28 1930-2000 5840 HB 350 kW / 260 deg in English to zones 13,14,27,28,36,37,46 1930-2000 5850 HB 350 kW / 190 deg in German to zones 27,28 2200-2230 6065 HB 500 kW / 190 deg in Swedish to zones 27-29,36- 40,46-48 2200-2230 11880 HB 500 kW / 040 deg in English to zones 28- 31,33,44,45,50 2200-2230 13650 HB 500 kW / 305 deg in English to zones 4,5,7-11,27 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) {11880, aside Turkey, and 13650 were actually in Swedish -Joe Hanlon} ** TATARSTAN [and non]. RFE/RL HOLDS ROUNDTABLE ON TATAR-LANGUAGE MEDIA. On 27 August, Radio Azatliq (RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service) held a roundtable in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, in cooperation with Tatarstan Radio and Television on the eve of the third World Tatar Congress in that city. The roundtable -- which was also televised -- featured Rafael Khakimov, state adviser to the Tatarstan president and director of the Kazan Institute of History; Damir Iskhakov, ethnologist at the Kazan Institute of History; Milewshe Aituganova, deputy chairwoman of the Yanga Gasyr television and radio company in Kazan; Elfiya Minnulina, Tatar news editor at the intertat.ru news site. Frank Williams, RFE/RL director of marketing and affiliate development, shared his own knowledge of the growth of Welsh-language media in Britain. The session was chaired by Kerim Kamal, a broadcaster in RFE/RL's Tatar-Bashkir Service, and was sponsored by RFE/RL's Regional Analysis. For an English-language transcript, see http://www.regionalanalysis.org/events/briefings/2002/09/roundtables.asp (RFE/RL Media Matters Sept 13 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. In Laos article http://www.dxing.info/articles/laos.dx I noted he heard a mystery station on 6765 SSB. Has this anything to do with Bangkok Meteorological Radio, operating on 6765 and 8743? I haven't been listening them for some months, but I recall they have an interval-signal and they do announce their frequencies and broadcast times at the beginning of each transmission in Thai and English. Well, I've not heard music in the programs, only shipping weather information (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, dxing.info via DXLD) ** U A E. UAE Radio Dubai noted on Sep. 11 on NF 13610*, instead of 13630: 1330-1350 English; 1350-1600 Arabic; 1600-1640 English and 1640-2100 Arabic *co-channel Radio Damascus Ru/Ge/Fr/En from 1700 and CRI Mandarin Chinese from 1730 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) Is it sheer stupidity or something more sinister -- ME stations continually clashing with each other? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. The Last Night of the Proms is almost upon us, Sat Sept 14 at 1830-2130 on BBC Radio 3; the first two weeks in July had webcasts with video from BBC4, and that resumes for the finale: http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/broadcasts/interactive.shtml (Glenn Hauser, and Ivan Grishin, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K /RUSSIA: Bible Voice Broadcasting Network noted on Tuesday September 10: 1700-1745 Russian (ex 1700-1715) and 1745-1815 English (ex 1715-1815) on 7430 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) ** U S A. BROADCAST NEWS GETS BACK TO SHOW BUSINESS September 11, 2002 BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST In the days and weeks right after Sept. 11, it seemed as if the broadcasting business had been turned upside down. For the first time in memory, meaningful journalism was on the ascendancy, and television and radio bosses appeared to take seriously their obligation to inform -- and not just to entertain and to profit. With an immediate and unwavering sense of purpose, networks and affiliates blew out commercials and lost millions of dollars in the first 96 hours of the ordeal, signaling to some the start of a new era of sacrifice and responsibility. Reflecting the prevailing mood, local television news sobered up too. Everything that had made newscasts seem frivolous, exploitative or inconsequential was being re-examined. Well-intentioned (if journalistically misguided) anchors and reporters sported American flag pins on their lapels. Genuine reality -- not the fakery, smugness and smart-alecky attitude used to pander to the almighty young demographics -- was beginning to matter again. The amateurs then in charge of WBBM-Channel 2 looked even more ridiculous after Sept. 11 for their decision to force out Carol Marin and her serious approach to news less than a year earlier in order to embrace the cynical slogans and silly gimmicks championed by CBS stations news boss Joel Cheatwood. "Works For You" would become their ironic epitaph. On the radio side, Infinity Broadcasting's all-news WBBM-AM (780) rode coverage of the terrorist attacks and their aftermath (with a little help from the Bears) to the top of the ratings, beating Tribune Co. talker WGN-AM (720) and every other station in town for the first time ever. Stars of talk radio who wallowed in the personal miseries of their callers no longer seemed relevant -- or even interesting. The biggest of them all, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, lost her place on ABC-owned WLS- AM (890) and other major market news/talk outlets. Up and down the FM dial, music stations that had all but abandoned news over the last two decades suddenly couldn't add network, syndicated and local updates fast enough. Fearful that listeners might tune out -- as many of them did -- these radio jukeboxes added news updates virtually around the clock. But now, a year later, so much has gone back to the old way. Television's legacies of Sept. 11 include those ubiquitous crawls at the bottom of the screen and MSNBC's equally ubiquitous Ashleigh Banfield, who now rivals Fox News' Geraldo Rivera when it comes to utter self-absorption. While returning in large measure to their former diets of crime news, service features and celebrity puffery, broadcast news operations here continue to re-examine their own missions. The style and substance of the upcoming November ratings sweeps -- and decisions made by the new management of Channel 2 in particular -- will provide a clearer indication of local television's future course. Since it skyrocketed to the top, "Newsradio 780" fell back to third place and hasn't made any substantial investment in its product (unless you count the renewal of morning news diva Felicia Middlebrooks). WLS, after posting record-high ratings, lost its program director (and stands to lose its top-rated afternoon franchise, Roe Conn and Garry Meier, in an expected all-out bidding war next summer). Not surprisingly, many of the FM newscasts added in the weeks after Sept. 11 quietly have been cut back or eliminated altogether. In the case of radio giants Clear Channel Communications and Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting, good citizenship had its limits, too. The pressures of advertising losses in a tough economy, the difficulties of consolidation and the specter of increased government scrutiny only became worse after Sept. 11. All of that led to top- level shakeups and massive cutbacks across the board. Few tears were shed in Chicago over the recent departures of both companies' chief operators -- Clear Channel's Randy Michaels, who had inflicted the scourge of "cyberjocking" (importing out-of-town voices on tape) on the industry, and Infinity's Dan Mason, who coldly engineered the demise of two of Chicago's great heritage stations, WMAQ and WJJD (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. MANY TINY TOWNS USE RADIO TO SWAP GOODS REID J. EPSTEIN, The Wall Street Journal Wednesday, September 11, 2002 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2002/09/11/financial0906EDT0034.DTL&type=printable (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. KWMT-540 Fort Dodge IA, back to full power; from their website: CLASSIC COUNTRY AND AG NEWS MONSTER BACK TO FULL POWER As many of you may know, the broadcast tower of our sister station, Mix 94.5 KKEZ FM, was cut down by vandals on March 19th of this year. Unfortunately, their tower was an integral part of our broadcast array. Since that time, we have had to broadcast at a much lower power than normal. But no longer. As of Friday, August 2nd, we are operating at full power once again. Please, Call our studio line at (515) 955- 7254 and let us know how our signal is doing in your area! Or, click on the feedback link above to send us a quick e mail. We'd be delighted to hear from you! Click here http://www.kkez.com/jacor-common/globalphotos.html?eventID=3815&eventsection= to see pictures taken on the last day of work on the new tower. One of the crew workers took the station's digital camera to the top of the tower with him and got some amazing shots of Fort Dodge. Enjoy... (via Bill Smith, TX, Sept 12, DXLD) Also: Mix's new tower humming like a dream... Ray D. O'Tower (he's Irish!) got his official welcome into the Fort Dodge business community on July 23rd. Click Here to see the event. http://www.kkez.com/jacor-common/globalphotos.html?eventID=4454&eventsection= (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Personally, I have a big problem with the way Clear Channel does business and hires personnel. If anyone desires opposing views on Clear Channel Communications (away from this list), I have some Web sites to recommend: http://www.clearchannelsucks.org/ (the name says it all) http://www.partytown.com/cmp/ (Partytown's Corporate Media Portal) http://www.salon.com/ (the CC articles are by Eric Boehlert) I think the news on Clear Channel should be kept to a minimum. The appropriate place for this is on the "N0UIH DX-Talk" list on Topica. Instead of replying to these items on this list, I copy them to my own list. Personally, I don't listen to much local commercial radio (apart from independents like KTRS 550, WGNU 920 and WRYT 1080). 73 and good DX from (Eric Bueneman, Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. TEXAS AM FINE REDUCED TO $3,000 The FCC's Dallas field office on May 24 issued a $4,000 fine notice against Tarrant Radio Broadcasting after investigating complaints from November 2001 that brokered Ethnic KZEE/Weatherford, TX did not power down from 500 watts to eight watts at sunset, as required by its license. An on-site field office inspection confirmed the violation and determined that KZEE was also operating during the daytime at 30% more than its allowed power. KZEE personnel explained that they did not know how to operate the remote control for the station's transmitter and that station employees did not adjust the transmitter power level (From radioandrecords.com on Sept. 12, 2002 via Brock Whaley, Atlanta -- KZEE is on 1220 kHz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I received the following from a contact at FCC, and since many of you use these inquiries, I wanted to pass the info on: Links update at FCC AMQ AM Query http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amq.html FMQ FM Query http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html TVQ TV Query http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html For most other FCC links you can easily find out the URL using the drop down menu on the left at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/ The link changes were caused by a reorganization within the FCC a few months back (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. RESTRICTED LPFM MAJOR CHANGE WINDOW ANNOUNCED FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The FCC has announced in a public notice that a restricted filing window will be opened for major changes between October 28 and November 1, 2002. Applications affected in this window are those that were filed prior to the Radio Broadcast Protection Act, a rider to a bill passed by Congress that would direct the FCC to impose third- adjacent channel restrictions on LPFM stations. This includes some LPFM stations in California. The applications named in the public notice can file major amendments to change their station location and/or change frequency to resolve the third adjacent channel restrictions. In addition, applications mentioned in "Appendix A" and "Appendix B" in the second LPFM R&O will also be eligible for filing window. To assist applicants, the FCC will modify their Channel Finder program to exclude these applications in order to assist these applicants find another channel. REC plans to include a "switch" to allow for the exclusion of these station records in our LPFM Channel Search Tool. This switch will be in place prior to the opening of the window. REC has information specific to Southern California LPFM applications including alternate channel selections on some stations at: http://www.recnet.com/lpfminfo/1002window.pdf For information on Low Power FM (LPFM) Radio visit: http://www.recnet.com/lpfminfo REC's LPFM Channel Search Tool http://www.recnet.com/lpfm # # # REC # # # - - - - - REC Networks - http://www.recnet.com - Bringing you fun and culture since 1984. http://www.animehardcoreradio.net - Anime Hardcore Radio - 24 hour a day anime! (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Kevin Redding in Phoenix and I both heard the adjacent channel white noise/"digital whine" and hiss from WLW on their IBOC test at a good level, so that gives you an idea of how much IBOC can affect nearby frequencies on a conventional AM receiver. Fred Vobbe also had a good report on this in the last DXAS; maybe he'll summarize for the list. I don't like to get into doom-and-gloom stuff, but IBOC will have a catastrophic impact on DXing if it becomes widely adopted. I think split-channel DX from the east coast will become extraordinarily difficult if most east coast 50 KW stations go IBOC, for example. Domestic DX will be more difficult because of all the noise, and I'm curious how IBOC will affect the normal coverage area of a station when received on a conventional AM receiver. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong on this, but I believe the normal, non-skywave coverage area of an AM station will be reduced under IBOC. With the digital noise IBOC introduces, the AM band will probably be a mess in secondary coverage areas or at night. Of course, it will be interesting to experience skywave propagation on an IBOC receiver. Does anyone know if IBOC has the same "now you see it/now you don't" reception characteristics that HDTV exhibits when the received signal drops below a certain level? If IBOC FM produces similar adjacent channel junk (as I understand it does), then FM DXing will also suffer. I know that some terrestrial broadcasters think IBOC is the magic bullet that will solve all their problems (even those caused by too many stations chasing a finite pool of listeners and ad dollars), but I wonder if IBOC might prove to ultimately be of more benefit to satellite services like XM. The AM and FM bands will sound like hell on conventional AM/FM receivers if IBOC is widely adopted. You can hear the advertising pitch now. . . . . "instead of upgrading your AM/FM car radio, step up to noise-free, anywhere-you-go satellite radio!" (Harry Helms AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, NRC-AM via DXLD) How long will it be until IBOC becomes part of a stations signal? Those that have heard it, how much QRM does it cause? If I live 500 miles from a station like KGO SF with 200 KW ERP this way. They are S9+40 DB nights, what kind of QRM can I expect? Or if a station is weaker on gy frequency, if that station has IBOC, what type of QRM would you have DXing? (Patrick Martin, Or, Sept 12, NRC-AM via DXLD) For your KGO example, picture having a constant roaring buzzy noise at about S9+25 dB on 800 and 820 - how's that sound? When WLW-700 was transmitting IBOC, it completely destroyed reception on 710 here, and that includes WOR's big signal... unless I nulled WLW. Of course, having nulled them, I couldn't also null WOR to hear anything else on 710. So, it's kind of like having two new stations, transmitting continuous noise, pop up alongside each existing station that goes IBOC. If that happens on a large scale, we can declare AM DXing dead (Barry McLarnon, Ottawa, ibid.) Being a Canadian, how do you think the Canadian government will view all this QRM coming from US stations? It is bound to cause extreme interference in your secondary coverage of Canadian stations. For instance here in the West where the Vancouver stations serve Victoria and Vancouver Island. The listeners there may not be able to receive Vancouver stations with a clear signal. I still don't see this flying (Pat Martin, ibid.) I know for a fact that Industry Canada (not to mention the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the CBC) has serious concerns about the effects of IBOC on Canadian AM and FM stations. I suspect that some discussions with the FCC on this matter have already taken place. The Mexicans probably have similar concerns, but since they haven't made a decision about DAB yet, they might still be persuaded to jump on the IBOC bandwagon. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out! (Barry McLarnon, ibid.) SW DXing, anyone??? (Pat Martin, MWDXer, OR, ibid.) Pat, it so happens there is a movement underway to implement digital SW broadcasting. It's called "DRM" (for Digital Radio Mondiale) and is similar in many respects to IBOC; it supposedly can fit into 10 kHz frequency space and delivers audio quality roughly equivalent to mono FM but with a lower high frequency range. And, like IBOC, it generates plenty of white noise and digital hash on adjacent frequencies. Places like VOA Delano have tested DRM and it does a real number on adjacent stations. Despite this, several major international broadcasters are pressing ahead and plan to go to DRM broadcasting. Now let's see. . . . SW broadcasting is supposedly the best way to reach listeners in third world nations without access to western media sources, so they want to adopt a system that either forces such third world audiences to buy a new receiver that costs half their annual income or else suffer through increased interference and noise. Oh, they say, DRM is really intended for listeners in places like North America. And we all know how rapidly SW listening is growing in North America! Sounds like a plan to me!!!! I want to invest!!!! Geez louise. . . . . where do people get these ideas? (Harry Helms AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, ibid.) Our hobby is an unintentional byproduct that was created by technology and commerce. Sad as it seems, there'd be a sort of poetic justice should technology and commerce also put an end to it (Steve Francis, TN) I disagree that AM (and FM) broadcast DXing will come to an end. I don't believe that anyone can say for sure what DXing the digital signals will be like. I wish I had an IBOC receiver to catch the WTOP, WLW, and WOR tests. Regarding analog, using the example of receiving the St. Vincent 705 kHz analog signal with digital interference from WOR 710, right now you have to null WOR analog interference to receive St. Vincent, so why wouldn't you be able to null WOR digital interference to receive St. Vincent? Phasing and Beverages should still be able to null domestic interference for reception of transoceanic signals. When I phase out a domestic signal, it shouldn't matter whether it's analog or digital, it's still phased out. Plus the analog will be limited to 5 kHz bandwidth when IBOC is on, so there should be less analog splatter. IF and audio filtering may also reduce digital interference. DXing will be different, but I'm going to wait before throwing in the towel, raising the white flag, etc. (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) WOR engineering has a press release regarding IBOC posted on the Internet at the following URL: http://www.wor710.com/Engineering/iboc/pressrelease.htm (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) Buckley Broadcasting/WOR has entered into an agreement with iBiquity Digital Corporation that will once again make WOR a pioneer in the Broadcast industry. WOR will be a test station for IBOC Digital AM Radio. IBOC (In Band On Channel) Digital will offer AM stations FM Stereo audio quality. WOR will be the first AM station in New York City to broadcast a digital signal. Tests will begin sometime in August. The average listener will not notice any difference in WOR's signal. WOR's participation in the testing of IBOC transmission will be instrumental to the commercial launch of the technology. For the past ten years, there has been a movement afoot to have AM and FM broadcasters begin a transition to a digital transmission method. Various methods have been proposed. The IBOC system for FM stations has been approved for use on FM, and it has been recommended that the FCC add rules to start implementation of FM IBOC and AM IBOC, but during daytime only for AM stations. AM stations have different issues regarding transmission than FM stations do. This is where WOR will come in. AM signals bounce off the atmosphere at night. This is one reason WOR employs a directional transmitting antenna. There are questions as to how Digital AM will perform with skywave interference. There also are questions as to how the digital portion of an AM signal will react in the "concrete canyons" of New York City (and other major cities, as well). WOR will be instrumental in helping iBiquity identify these issues. Thomas R. Ray, III, Corporate Director of Engineering for Buckley Broadcasting/WOR states, "I take great pride in having our radio station be part of the development of one of the biggest technical advancements in radio broadcasting since FM stereo in the 1960's. WOR has been a pioneer since being one of the only radio stations on the air in the US in 1922. We have been part of the development of the profanity delay, were pioneers in the development of the AM directional transmitting antenna, and were one of the major players during Radio's 'golden era' by forming the Mutual Radio Network. I'm proud of being given the opportunity to pilot WOR through another technical pioneering phase". For more information, contact Thomas R. Ray, III at tomray@wor710.com, or visit http://www.wor710.com (WOR website via DXLD) Good and bad news from WOR 710 NY: A quote from one of WOR's engineers: "...we will be installing and testing the Ibiquity IBOC digital system on our existing site. This will occur in the next few weeks, I do not know how long we will go off air yet, but it may be several hours while we setup the IBOC system." So, they will install IBOC and we'll say goodbye to St. Vincent. However, they will go off the air for a period of time to do so (Rick Kenneally, CT, Sept 12, NRC-AM via DXLD) See also ST. VINCENT ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent in German now is on air only in two frequencies: 1935-2030 on 5025, 11905 and deleted 5035, 5060, 9540, 9545 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 13 via DXLD) Does this also affect English at 2030, 2130? (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Reactivada en los 4940 kHz, el pasado 06/09, Radio Amazonas, desde Venezuela. SINPO 3/2. Oída a las 0000. Transmitía música romántica e ignoraba una obligatoria cadena oficial de radio y TV, transmitida a esa misma hora en todo el país. Muchos 73. Saludos (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Sept 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES. See TATARSTAN --- how often do I get to say that??!! ** WALLIS & FUTUNA. NEW WEB SITE FOR EXPATS OF WALLIS & FUTUNA Those interested in seeing examples of the world's different languages on the Internet have something new to look at. The diaspora from the Pacific island of Wallis and Futuna, known as "Uvea mo Futuna," now have a Web site in their own indigenous language. The website, http://www.uvea-mo-futuna.com is designed mainly for the Wallisians and Futunians living outside their islands, located Northeast of Fiji. It's estimated that over 20,000 Wallisians and Futunians are permanent residents of New Caledonia - more than the 15,000 who actually live in Wallis and Futuna. The site's Webmaster, Asi Talatini, got the idea for the Web last year when he was working on an assignment as part of his journalism and communication studies in Paris. "It is not a tourism or cultural promotion site, neither does it specifically deal with general information about Wallis and Futuna", says Talatin. "It's about current affairs, news and views as they are expressed by contributors. And, for that matter, everyone is welcome to contribute." His regular contributors include a student in Auckland, a lumberjack in Canada, and a fashion model in New York (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 13 September 2002 via DXLD) ** WINDWARD ISLANDS. The link above under ST. VINCENT is a story more about the breakup of the onetime Windward Islands Broadcasting Service on SW. Here it is again: http://www.nbcsvg.com/wibs.htm (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. STATE BROADCASTER SPLIT INTO SEPARATE PROGRAMMING, TRANSMISSION FIRMS | Text of report by Zimbabwean radio web site on 13 September The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation [ZBC] has been split into two companies following the promulgation of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Commercialization, Act 2001. In a statement, the ZBC corporate secretary, Jenniffer Tanyanyiwa, said the split will see the two successor companies, Transmedia Corporation and the ZBC, taking over the functions of the old ZBC. "ZBC will now be concentrating on broadcasting and content provision as its core functions while the Transmedia corporation will be a signal carrier company responsible for transmitting radio and TV signals," she said. She said the two parties have identified assets, liabilities and staff related to the functions of signal transmission and transferred them to Transmedia corporation as required by the Act. She added that the two companies will soon embark on an intensive communication exercise to educate members of the public and other stakeholders on the split. Ms Tanyanyiwa expressed hope that the separation of functions will enhance service delivery by the ZBC. "This should also enable Transmedia to focus on improving transmitter networks around the country, particularly in border areas where both radio and television reception is currently low," she said. Source: ZBC radio text web site, Harare, in English 13 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Why bother? Other than such splits being a fad in the developed world. Who really benefits? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6 Sep, 0125 - 10750 kHz. Classical music, 35433. Time pips and comments in Spanish at 0130. No ID noted during that. Followed by more classics, Montserrat Caballe noted among them (if I was not mistaken). (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal via DXLD) That`s really out of band; rarely any broadcsters, even harmonics found in this area; close to FM receivers` IF 10.7, however. SW receiver 2 x IF image from 11660 could fall here (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2002 Sep 10 2212 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 02 - 08 September 2002 Solar Activity ranged from low to moderate levels. Moderate activity was observed on 03 September, and again on 08 September, with low-level M-class flares. For flare times and magnitudes, please refer to the Energetic Events or Optical Flare lists. Low activity was observed for the rest of the summary period. The most significant event during the period was long duration C5/Sf flare from Region 102 (N09, L=019, class/area Hsx/50 on 02 September) on 05 September. Associated with this event was a disappearing solar filament, a Type II radio sweep, and a full halo CME as observed by SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery. This event was the only activity observed from Region 102. Region 105 (S07, L=299, class/area Fko/850 on 08 September) rotated onto the visible disk on 07 September as a large, beta-gamma spot group. Region 95 (N08, L=060, class/area Fki/750 on 03 September) was in a gradual decay phase during the summary period. On 06 September, Region 95 simplified to a beta magnetic configuration and at the close of the period had an area coverage of 160 millionths and an Fso spot class. Solar wind data were available from the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft for most of the summary period. A weak transient CME shock passage was detected by ACE at 03/1710 UTC, marked by an increase in solar wind velocity to near 390 km/s and a prolonged period of negative Bz. On 04 September solar wind velocity reached a peak value around 500 km/s then gradually decayed over the next three days. On 07 September a CME shock was observed by ACE at 07/1611 UTC with a 175 km/s increase in solar wind velocity to near 575 km/s and a 20 nT deflection in Bz to near –22 nT. Severe storming levels followed this shock impact. A greater than 10 MeV proton event began on 07/0440 UTC, reached peak value of 208 pfu at 07/1650 UTC and ended at 08/0145 UTC. The proton event was associated with the long duration C5 flare mentioned above. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit was at normal to moderate levels for most of the period. Electron flux reached high levels on 06 September due to recurring coronal hole effects. The geomagnetic field was at quiet to severe storm levels. Active to major storming conditions were observed on 04 September due to combined coronal hole effects and a weak transient. Late on 07 September and early on 08 September severe storming conditions occurred as a result of the CME from the long duration C5 event on 05 September. A 7 nT sudden impulse was observed at the Boulder magnetometer at 07/1638 UTC. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 11 September - 07 October 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to high. Activity is expected to be moderate to high early in the period, 11-21 September, due to Region 105. Low to moderate levels are expected for the remainder of the period. A proton event is possible on 11-21 September due to activity from Region 105. No proton events are expected after Region 105 rotates beyond the west limb on 21 September. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit may reach event threshold on 13-15 September due to coronal hole effects. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for most of the period. Active conditions are possible on 11-13 September due to a coronal hole. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Sep 10 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Sep 10 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Sep 11 210 15 3 2002 Sep 12 220 15 3 2002 Sep 13 225 15 3 2002 Sep 14 225 10 3 2002 Sep 15 230 8 3 2002 Sep 16 235 8 3 2002 Sep 17 230 10 3 2002 Sep 18 235 12 3 2002 Sep 19 225 12 3 2002 Sep 20 210 12 3 2002 Sep 21 200 10 3 2002 Sep 22 185 12 3 2002 Sep 23 175 8 3 2002 Sep 24 165 8 3 2002 Sep 25 160 10 3 2002 Sep 26 160 10 3 2002 Sep 27 160 10 3 2002 Sep 28 160 8 3 2002 Sep 29 155 10 3 2002 Sep 30 155 12 3 2002 Oct 01 155 12 3 2002 Oct 02 155 10 3 2002 Oct 03 160 10 3 2002 Oct 04 170 8 3 2002 Oct 05 185 8 3 2002 Oct 06 200 8 3 2002 Oct 07 210 8 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1147, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-142, September 11, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1147: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0100, 0700, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1800, Sun 1200, 1830? ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Friday] (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1147.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1147.html WORLD OF RADIO on WWCR: The Wednesday 0930 airing on 9475 was replaced by something else Sept 11 (Chris Hambly, Australia) Temporarily? {Yes} ** AFRICA [and non]. [HCDX] AFRICA BANDSCAN DURING AURORA CONDITIONS In 7th September 2002, sun erupted. Northern Lights reached even Southern Finland providing some majestic entertaiNment on clear, moonless night sky. At the moment I was in a DXpedition in Western Finland with Pauli Holm. Equipment used were Yaesu FRG-100 receivers and two 700 metre long wire antennas directed to 60 and 240 degrees. Earlier in day we had already dismantled two other wires as the DX-pedition was near the end. After the solar effect began with full force, Russian and West European stations practically disappeared on dial. Mediumwaves were dominated by Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Romania. On shortwaves some rare African SW stations, logged last time here years ago, became suddenly audible, some of them with astonishing strength. It was a pity that the real session began only after East African stations had closed down. The following bandscan is by no means complete, but we think it gives a pretty good idea about the SW activity in (West) Africa right now. All stations logged On 7th September 2002. All times UT. HEARD [gh inserted country subheadings for future ease of reference] NAMIBIA 3290 2100 R Namibia, Windhoek. Surprisingly now here, 3270 was perhaps off? SOUTH AFRICA 3320 2230 R Sonder Grense. Meyerton. No difference in reception. Signal strength was average, if not even less than average. NIGERIA 3326 2127- FRCN Lagos. Strong distortion in audio. Long time no hear. DJ said that they have made some improvements and they asked reception reports from shortwave listeners! Send your report now! *wink* GHANA 3366 2120- GBC Accra. Solid as usual. NIGERIA 4770 2200- FRCN Kaduna. Really good signal, and nice audio, unlike other Nigerians. MALI 4783 2130- RTM Bamako. As //4835, 5995 BOTSWANA 4820 2130- R Botswana, Gaborone. MALI 4835 2130- RTM Bamako. Hi-Fi number 1. MAURITANIA 4845 2130- ORTM Nouakchott. Hi-Fi number 2. GHANA 4915 2100- GBC Accra. No problems ever here. ANGOLA 4950 2230- RN Luanda. I had hoped that these conditions would improve the signal of Luanda, but it didn't happen. Weak as usual. BENIN 5025 2107- ORTB Parakou. Holy smoke, said Batman. In summer I spent numerous nights here, hearing only a couple of minutes of national anthem. Now Parakou was booming with only a slightly less force than Burkina! BURKINA FASO 5030 2100- R Burkina, Ouagadougou. S9+30 dB. LIBERIA 5100 2308- Liberian Communications Network, Monrovia. ID as "International Service" (of R Liberia or of LCN). In summer BBC Listening Post in Caversham reported they hadn't heard this since early spring. Is operating still - or again. Everything spoken live to microphone was very silent, but music pieces and prerecorded programmes were heard normally. MALI 5995 2130- RTM Bamako. NIGERIA 6050 -2147* FRCN Ibadan. Humorous DJ, I would say. "Yay yay yay, it's Saturday night!" he said, closed the station, and off he went - to spend Saturday night, perhaps. GUINEA 7125 2230- R Guinea, Conakry. "Radio Guineé". BENIN 7210 -2259* ORTB Cotonou. Can't even remember when this was heard last time in Finland. Talk show. UNCERTAIN 4850 2150- UNID. It sounded like French, occasionally. It sounded like vernaculars, occasionally. But it was very distorted and weak. CRTV Yaoundé? Even if it was, and that would be first Cameroon logging for years in Finland, reception was practically useless. SEMI-ACTIVE CONGO 5985 2200- RTV Congolaise: Not here that night. Has been heard occasionally. Not operating every night, but was logged frequently during summer and again in the end of August. NOT HEARD These stations are apparently inactive. [TOGO, SIERRA LEONE, LESOTHO, CHAD, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, NIGER, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, IVORY COAST] 3232 2200 R Kara: NOTHING. [used to be 3222 per WRTH 98 – gh] 3316 2200 Sierra Leone BC: NOTHING. 4800 2200 R Lesotho: Only very weak Chinese here. 4905 2130 RN Tchadienne: Only station here was very weak Tibet. 5003 2130 RN Bata: NOTHING. 5020 2130 RN Niger: NOTHING. 5035 2130 Radio Centrafique: Only station here was Radio Aparecida. 5047 2130 RN Togolaise: NOTHING. 6015 2130 RT Ivorienne: NOTHING. 6250 2200 RN Malabo: Some very weak station was playing Mike Oldfield & Maggie Reilly, but we believe this was an European pirate. 7215 2130 RT Ivorienne: NOTHING. 11920 2130 RT Ivorienne: NOTHING. TO RECORD To illustrate the situation, here is also a gigantic 49 mb bandscan, including every station heard between 5800 and 6300 kHz at 2330 UT: (unID = unidentified = station with signal hanging at s/n level) 5960 unID 5995 Mali 6005 Deutschlandradio 6025 unID 6060 unID 6075 DW 6085 MDR-Info 6095 Spanish 6135 unID 6200 Iran Now that is what I call impressive. 73's (Jari Lehtinen, Sept 10, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Voice International, Darwin schedule off their web site. New On air Schedule/Program, effective 1 Sept 2002. English Freqs UTC Hours of bc Target 17775 kHz 0130 1/2 hour duration China 13685 kHz 0900 4 hour duration China 13685 kHz 1300 2 hour duration Indonesia/India 11930 kHz 1500 4 hour duration Indonesia/India Indonesian 21680 kHz 0530 1/2 hour duration Indonesia 17820 kHz 0600 2 hours duration Indonesia 15365 kHz 0900 4 hours duration Indonesia 13660 kHz 1300 5 hours duration Indonesia Hindi 13635 kHz 1100 6 hours duration India Chinese 13640 kHz 2200 3 hours duration China [but to be replaced by 15165 soon/already, wb] 13775 kHz 0900 5 hours duration China 17560 kHz 1400 3 hours duration China (via Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Sep 2 via DXLD) ** BELARUS. In reply to Johan Berglund about the poor reception of R. Minsk in Sweden on 1170 kHz: this transmitter is operated with a highly directional antenna to the SW at 244 , with very little radiation towards Scandinavia (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS/RUSSIA. 4890 / 4982 : Seit wann sendet R Russia auf 4890 kHz um 0410 UT aus Weissrussland? bzw. 4982 R Majak - auch noch mit Sinpo "O=4" (gleiche Zeit aus gleichem Land). Auf 4982 wird im Zeitbereich 0300-1800 unregelmaessig das Programm von R Mayak im Relais uebertragen, oefters \\ zu 5134. Es soll sich um weissrussische Militaersender handeln, die seit Jahren in SSB das Programm von Mayak, dem weissrussischen Rundfunk und Privatsendern ausstrahlen. Weitere Frequenzen waren 2338, 2382, 2593.5, 2738, 2829, 3346, 3355, 3564, 4264, 4541, 4795.5, 4855, 5134, 5256 kHz, wobei es Sommer- und Winterfrequenzen gibt. Diese sind in der TBL uebrigens detailliert gelistet (Willi Passmann, Germany, A-DX Sep 4 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850, R. Independente Meka Mui [sic], 1018 Sept 10, with fair to good signal and a song "the islands I love", all in pidgin with frequent clearing of the throat by the announcer (David Norrie, Auckland NZ, AOR 7030, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 1180 é agora Rádio Viva Rio, parceria entre a Globo, dona da fq, e a ong [sic] Viva Rio. Programação tipo radio comunitária, música jovem e informação --- http://www.radiovivario.com.br/ (Rocco Cotroneo, Brazil, Sept 9, radioescutas via DXLD) That`s a high power outlet, tho not that easy in NAm due to QRM (gh, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. Re: ``DVOBurma in Burmese cancelled txion via RAN 100 kW / 325 deg: 1430-1530 on 9500 / 15620. (R BUL Observer, Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov, BC-DX Sep 6)`` UNIDENTIFIED station with music: 1430-1445 on 12090 (54444) 1445-1500 on 15600 (55444) [ex-15620, see above] (R. Bulgaria Observer, Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov, BC-DX Sep 10) According to Adrian Sainsbury of R. NZ International the Democratic Voice of Burma transmissions were cancelled 4 weeks ago due to poor propagation (Erik Køie, Denmark, OZ3YI, BC-DX Sep 10 via DXLD) DVB - Democratic Voice of Burma used Rangitaiki station, New Zealand, on 9500 kHz till mid August, daily 1430[1418-]-1530 UT, \\ Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 5910 (x5945, and 5905 in B-02 season), and Madagascar 17495 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Sept 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMBODIA. Radio Broadcasting in Cambodia: http://www.dxing.info/articles/cambodia.dx (DXing.info via DXLD) ** CANADA. This week on Quirks & Quarks our feature item is: "The Answer to Green Energy is Blowing in the Wind". Who has seen the wind? Well, anyone looking at our energy future, apparently. Wind energy has gone from a green fad in the 70's to the world's fastest growing alternate energy source. The technology is solid, reliable, renewable and benign. So why is wind energy still waiting for its big break? Tune in this Saturday and find out where the wind power answers are blowing. Plus - putting a new face on wasps. All this and more, on Quirks & Quarks, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One. Bob McDonald Host (Q&Q mailinglist via DXLD) ** CHINA. New transmitter sites in China The ITU list of shortwave transmitter sites at http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/broadcast/hf/refdata/reftables/index.html (go to Transmitter sites) has had some interesting additions in recent months. Of special interest are three new registrations for China as follows: DOF Dongfang 18N54 108E39 GEM Geermu 36N24 094E59 XIY Xingyang 34N49 113E23 These three were added on 25th June 2002. Dongfang is the already wellknown site in the western part of Hainan Island. So far these transmitters, as it appears, have only been used as jammers, usually with nonstop Chinese classical music. During the testing period last fall the evening signal strength at my location was often S9 + 40 db, apparently on a beam intended for NW China. Ge'ermu is better known as Golmud. It is an important town in central Qinghai at the intersection of a N-S and a E-W highway. An educated guess is that 4800 and 3985 (day frequencies unknown) originate from this site. At least it is clear that these two frequencies are used from a site in the far west. Xingyang is a small town some distance west of Zhengzhou in Henan province. What they are beaming from this site remains to be seen when the B02 HFCC schedule becomes available (Olle Alm, September 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 684 800 kW: Dongfang on the island in the South Chinese Sea is also home of one of the strongest CRI Mediumwave stations for external service, in use for Vietnam and SE Asia target on 684 kHz, 14-15. Also in use for RFI Paris in French 13-14 towards Vietnam. MW V of Russia 603 kHz and RFI 684 kHz both DongFang site. (B-99) French via Donfang Hainandao Isl to S Vietnam MW 684 800 kW, 180 degrees, 1300-1400. And DW technical table had an entry of Donfang 684 kHz relay for DW, with 800 kW and 180 degrees of course. But relay exchange between China and Germany never realized. I guess the 800 kW unit is Made by France (Thomson CSF / Thales) ? Alan Davies heard this station first around 13 May 1999 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: 603, V. of Russia Vietnamese 1200-1300 UT. Also in use for RFI Paris in French 13-14 towards Vietnam. CRI 1400-1700 Vietnamese. CRI Beijing in Vietnamese recently noted on MW 684 at 1400-1700, first heard around 13 May. Presumably the new transmitter in [Dongfang coast on] Hainan finally on air. Weak signal here compared to powerhouse 1296 in Yunnan; impossible to determine whether this channel carries RFI earlier in evening as per schedule due to QRM from Thai stations (Alan Davies, Thailand, May 22, 1999 via Bueschel, DXLD) ** CHINA. CREATING "GREAT WALL AROUND ITS INTERNET" - BEIJING IT ANALYST | Text of report by staff reporter in Beijing entitled: "Google replacements spin web of confusion" by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement) on 10 September Adding confusion to frustration, the Google.com Internet search engine blocked in China last week has been replaced by randomly generated Chinese search engines and other Web sites. Analysts think the government replaced Google to encourage use of Chinese search engines or defuse anger that Google no longer works. Internet users on the mainland who enter http://www.google.com or a derivative such as www1 see Chinese-language search engines such as Tianwang and Baidu. A spokeswoman for one Web site, Beijing-based IT consulting firm Guigu Dongli, said she did not know how her page became linked to Google and guessed it was randomly generated. A Baidu spokeswoman said her US- registered search engine did not approve the hook-up, was not given a reason and does no business with Google. The government regularly blocks Web sites that cover anti-government information, and an article in the Beijing Morning Post last week said foreign search engines had been blocked to keep out "unhealthy" sites, including pornography. Yesterday, a Google user in Beijing who spent part of her morning looking at the pages she was directed to from Google said she did not know what to think. Internet experts in Beijing are also unsure. Some suspect a hasty government decision and say the action violates internationally accepted Internet rules of Web site sovereignty. Beijing-based IT analyst Craig Watts said the Google blockade marked the start of more thorough Internet restrictions. He said China was positioning to be the first country to approve "its own rules on the Internet". "This is the beginning of the great wall around China's Internet," he said. Source: South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement), Hong Kong, in English 10 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 4799.69 (tentative). HJNF Radio Súper, Cali, (harmonic 4 x 1200), 0857, Sep 9, Spanish talk, ads, 0859 ID "Súper... 1200 kilohertz..." 0900 more ads and announcements. Poor signal. There is also a Radio Super 'K' listed from Sangolquí, Ecuador in WRTH 2002. But this matches Malm's June 2002 log which is more likely (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, NRD 535D V-Beam 140m @180 deg., harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Christer Brunstrom's Christian Shortwave Report is about La Voz de Tu Conciencia. Over the years, a number of missionaries have been captured by Colombian rebels and imprisoned for long periods of time. American missionary Russell Martin Stendhal was one of those who were kidnapped. According to an article by noted Swedish DXer Henrik Klemetz, Stendhal was in captivity for 2 1/2 years. Stendhal had been associated with the Wickliffe Bible Translators, which decided to leave Colombia after two of its missionaries were killed. However, members of the Stendhal family decided to stay to work with the Cogi Indians in the Sierra Nevada region of northern Colombia. Russell now uses the former Wickliffe compound in Loma Linda in southeast Colombia. He plans to start schools, day nurseries, and a home for the aged. He plans to do this despite the heavy guerrilla and paramilitary activity in the area. Stendhal's new radio station is also in Loma Linda. Björn Malm first heard this station on June 6th on 6064.5 with Christian messages and llanera music. IDs were quite hard to find, and the proper name was not found until DXer Rafael Rodríguez did some investigating. It had been a station called "El Caraván," and had some ads for a Christian bookstore in Bogotá. Rodríguez visited the bookstore and found out about Stendhal running the station. Henrik Klemetz was able to contact Stendhal by e-mail and got more information. The station's transmitter had formerly been used by the Colmundo network in Bogotá. In late July, they changed frequency to 6060.2 to avoid interference from WYFR. They also changed to their present name of "La Voz de Tu Conciencia," or "The Voice of Your Conscience." 6060 is also being used by stations in Argentina and Brazil, so it is not ideal. 6060 can be heard best in Europe after 0400, when RAI from Italy leaves the frequency. Programming consists mostly of Christian music in Spanish, llanera music, Bible study lessons, and short Christian messages. The station is fully automated, with the voice tracks being recorded in studios in Bogotá. Stendhal and a partner also run a ministry that distributes Christian teaching on cassette tapes. They also supply free Christian literature that can be requested through the Colombia Para Cristo boosktore in Bogotá. Stendhal mentions that he plans to include some English programming on the station; North American listeners have been asked to suggest suitable times for these English broadcasts. He also plans to have QSL cards ready soon (Christer Brunstrom, HCJB DXPL Sept 7, notes by Marie Lamb for Cumbre DX, via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI Fiesta Update. Hi Glenn, Well, here's our plan. RFPI will not break with tradition and will have a Fiesta on the Air this year, albeit a modified version. Our plan is to begin at 0000 UT [Tue] September 17 (8 p.m. Eastern, [Mon] 16 September) for three hours. But because of our current financial crisis, we are not able to offer a toll-free number as in past years. Listeners who wish to call direct to speak with the staff and volunteers in the studio may call +11 506-249-1344. Phone lines will be open 0000-0300. Those wishing to contribute financially may send a check to our Oregon office: RFPI, PO Box 1094, Eugene, OR 97440. If they have a Visa or MasterCard their contribution will reach us much faster if they go to the RFPI website and access the PayPal system there. We look forward to sharing with our listeners a celebration of 15 years of providing a unique broadcasting service -- with hopes for many more. Yours in Peace, Joe Bernard -- Radio For Peace International, P.O. Box 88-6150, Santa Ana, Costa Rica Central America PH: +506/249-1821 Fax: +506/249-1095 e-mail: info@rfpi.org * WWW: http://www.rfpi.org * ON-DEMAND REAL AUDIO: http://www.rfpi.org/webcast.html * LIVE STREAMING IN MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org available 2200-1400 UT M-F, 24 hours Saturday/Sunday _______________________________________________ * Join our mailing list for weekly program previews, schedule and frequency updates and more: http://www.boinklabs.com/mailman/listinfo/rfpi-announce (Joe Bernard, RFPI, Sept 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 2540.0, Radio Reloj (harmonic 2 x 1270) Camagüey, 0824, Sep 6, talk, time pips and "RR" ID. Very weak. 3550.0, Radio Rebelde (harmonic 5 x 710), 0942, Sep 9, Very weak // 5025. 4970.0, Radio Rebelde (harmonic 7 x 710), 0951, Sep 9, Poor signal // 5025 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 degrees, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Reloj, Cuba, 0650-0700 UT Septiembre 8; SIO : 344; Idioma : Castellano; Modo: USB; Frecuencia : 9665 Khz. Lectura de noticias de corte local. Al fondo se escuchaba un tic-tac permanente. Identificación con hora local (de Cuba). ICOM IC-r71a, Antena : Hilo de Cu. 10 mts. 73's (Alfredo ``SPACEMASTER`` Cañote, Lima, Perú, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. Cuban jammer on 9805 and odd 11847.00 kHz - against R Martí USA - was heard loud and clear around 0600-0900 UT Sept 8; it's a 24 hrs operation I guess. Radio Martí in Spanish scheduled 11845 at 1300- 1700 UT time span only (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. CUBA TO INAUGURATE ANTITERRORISM WEB SITE | Text of report by Cuban news agency Prensa Latina Havana, 10 September: Cuba will inaugurate on Friday [13 September] in the capital an Internet site against terrorism, with an online forum sponsored by journalists, academics and local communicators. According to a report released here today, the sponsors of the new web page are members of the Work Group Against Terrorism and the site can be accessed at the address http://www.antiterroristas.cu Ricardo Alarcon, president of the Cuban parliament, will attend the opening ceremony and reply to questions from those who link up to the site in order to debate the topic: "Cuba versus terrorism: Five Cuban prisoners in the United States". Computers will be set up for the forum in order to allow journalists to take part in the online forum and ask Alarcon questions, the text adds. Fernando González, René González, Gerardo Hernández, Ramón Labanino and Antonio Guerrero were tried in 2001 by a Florida federal court which accused them of an making attempt on the national security of the United States. Havana maintains, however, that these people were only gathering information on the terrorist acts which antiCuban groups based in Miami were planning against the island. Late last year, the Cuban parliament declared these Cubans, who are considered political prisoners here, Heroes of the Republic. A text issued at the time by the legislature states that these young people "are victims of an infamous and colossal injustice which signifies the beginning... [ellipsis as published] of a new, crueller and shameless stage in the long and dirty war which the United States wages against the people and its revolution". Cuba has always said the open and frank truth: We have never made an attempt on the national security of the United States, the declaration stresses, while recalling, on the other hand, the policy of systematic aggression deployed by Washington against Havana for more than 40 years. A web site was recently created in the local press in this country in order to disseminate the truth about the judicial process followed in Miami, described by local authorities as rigged and politicized. The digital version of the newspaper Victoria, from the Isle of Youth south of the capital, inaugurated an Internet site which joins the international campaign for the liberation of Gerardo, Ramón, Antonio, René and Fernando. With more than 300 digital pages, the supplement contains all the information on the truth of this trial, the biography, testimonies, family information, photos, arguments and messages sent from jail. It is possible to access the site via the electronic address http://www.victoria.islagrande.cu which also includes the content of televised informational roundtables, as well as the opinions of respected lawyers and other experts. There are currently 40 committees of solidarity for the release of the five Cuban patriots in 30 countries, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Colombia, as well as Italy, Belgium, Denmark and Yugoslavia. Source: Prensa Latina news agency, Havana, in Spanish 2038 gmt 10 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. Re Ydun Ritz` report: that means, IBB/VoA's Radio Sawa is using the reserve mast of Radio Monte Carlo Middle East site ? on 981 kHz (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** DENMARK. The strike among journalists at Danmarks Radio DR seems to be ended. DR and the journalists on strike early this morning have made an agreement, which has to be confirmed by a majority of journalists in a ballot. If agreed, the journalists will resume work on Monday September 16th after three weeks of strike. DR in the News (11/9-2002 Mediumwave News by Ydun Ritz, via DXLD) ** FINLAND. GERMANS LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO SAVE RADIO FINLAND German DX club ADDX has begun to collect petitions against the closure of the German service of Radio Finland (YLE). Club members are appealing to YLE's leadership, the Finnish Embassy in Germany and the Finnish Tourist Board. ADDX (der Assoziation deutschsprachiger Kurzwellenhörer) members are worried that from the end of October daily news in German will no longer be available from any source, and also that the decision of YLE to close down its foreign service will set an example and have wider implications in the international broadcasting scene. ADDX provides an online form http://www.addx.de/aktion.php to collect signatures to reverse YLE's decision. A source at YLE tells DXing.info that activity from listeners' part only serves to assure YLE's leadership that the decision to drop German was right, if it is perceived that only DXers are interested in maintaining the German-language service. To be viewed as a mainstream service in the eyes of YLE leadership, and to guarantee funding, Radio Finland has been careful to distance itself from radio hobbyists also in the past (DXing.info, Sept 11 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. RFI French service began (0000 UT Tuesday) 48 hours of special programming as part of media rush to pointlessly rehash one- year anniversary (Mike Cooper, Sep 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 6085, Ismaning Open Door Day, Sat Sept 21, 2002. Informationen zur Sendeanlage BR Ismaning u.a. KW 6085 finden sich unter http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/technik/ismaning.html http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/technik/kw.html http://www.asamnet.de/~bienerhj/6085.html bzw. /0801.html (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener-D, ntt Sep 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** HUNGARY [non]. "Clandestine to Hungaria" to come? Right-wing Hungarian journalists claim that they will operate a shortwave station called "Voice of Freedom" from Austria. Former ROI director Paul Lendvai says that it will be hardly possible to carry out such a plan, other Hungarian journalists consider the announcement as a mere bluff: Rechte Journalisten wollen Radiosender in Österreich gründen Ansuchen an Österreich um "politisches Asyl" geplant Eine Gruppe von rechten ungarischen Journalisten will nach eigener Aussage von Österreich aus einen ungarischen Kurzwellensender mit dem Namen "Stimme der Freiheit" starten. Dies gab Istvan Lovas, einer der führenden Persönlichkeiten der Gruppe, am Freitagabend in Budapest bekannt, berichtet die ungarische Internetzeitung "Index". Seiner Meinung nach hätten in Ungarn jene Journalisten, die mit der Politik der sozialliberalen Regierung unter Peter Medgyessy nicht sympathisierten, keine Möglichkeit mehr, in den elektronischen Medien ihre Meinung kundzutun. "Bluff" Die Gruppe will außerdem am 14. September in St. Margarethen (Burgenland), nahe der ungarischen Grenze, symbolisch um "politisches Asyl" in Österreich ansuchen. Das Vorhaben eines ungarischen Radiosenders aus Österreich werde jedoch kaum umzusetzen sein, sagte Paul Lendvai, ehemaliger Intendant von "Radio Österreich International" (ROI), in der Montagsausgabe der Tageszeitung "Nepszabadsag". Die Neutralität Österreichs würde es gar nicht erlauben, sich von seinem Gebiet aus in die inneren Angelegenheiten eines anderen Landes einzumischen, erklärte Lendvai gegenüber der Zeitung. Außerdem sei ROI derzeit ohnehin in einer schwierigen finanziellen Lage. Von ROI hieß es am Montag übrigens, dass bisher kein derartiges Ansuchen an den Sender eingereicht worden ist. Ungarische Journalisten meinten, dass es sich lediglich um einen "Bluff" der rechtsgerichteten Journalistengruppe handle, um auf sich aufmerksam zu machen, und nicht um ein ernsthaftes Projekt. Istvan Lovas war bis vor Kurzem Leiter der Fernsehsendung "Presseclub" gewesen, der jeden Freitag vom ungarischen Privatsender ATV ausgestrahlt wird. Die Teilnehmer des Clubs - allesamt bekannte rechtsgerichtete Journalisten - wurden in großen Teilen der ungarischen Presse regelmäßig wegen ihrer antisemitischen Töne und ihrer aggressiven Haltung gegen linke und liberale Strömungen kritisiert. Lovas wurde durch die Führung von ATV nach internen Konflikten Ende August abgesetzt. Die Leitung des "Presseclubs" wurde vor Kurzem dem gemäßigten konservativen Publizisten Jozsef Debreczeni, ehemals Berater der konservativen Regierung von Viktor Orban, übertragen (APA via Michael Fuhr via Ludwig) Comment by KL: Who said that this group intends to use ORF transmitters? Probably the announcement is indeed just a bluff, but it is also possible that these gentleman know about the shortwave airtime available at every corner (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Friends, The tests by AIR Bangalore with 500 kw for National Service on 9425 and 11645 concluded yesterday. Regular transmissions of the National Channel on 9425 at 1350-0043 will commence in the near future. However, regular daytime service on 11645 or on any other 11 MHz frequency will start only later (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, India, Sept 10, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. BROADCASTERS CRITICAL OF DRAFT MEDIA LAW | Text of report by Singapore newspaper The Straits Times web site on 7 September Jakarta: Indonesian broadcasters are outraged by a draft law that proposes to limit the broadcasting of foreign programmes and allows for the establishment of a new censorship board empowered to shut down local media outlets. The government, fearful of the influence of foreign news reporting on Indonesia, is considering a law to forbid dozens of local TV and radio stations from re-broadcasting foreign news programmes by the BBC, Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Australia. The broadcasters slammed the proposed law as draconian, and compared it to the strict press laws introduced by former president Sukarno in the 1960s. But Mr Djoko Susilo, a member of the drafting team, explained that the proposed law was meant to address "the inequality of information flow from developed countries to developing countries". He added: "We are concerned that with 150 local stations broadcasting foreign news services that these stations are becoming franchises of the BBC or VOA." The draft law proposes a ban on direct relaying of foreign news programmes, and recommends that foreign entertainment programmes be limited to 40 per cent of all content broadcast. Foreign sports programmes would, however, be exempted. The proposed law is also aimed at tackling biased reporting of Indonesia and the promotion of Western viewpoints, Mr Djoko said. "Why are the Western news agencies always talking about Islamic militants? The parliament thinks that if people have a lot of BBC, people will think Indonesia is a centre for terrorism," he added. Local broadcasters are lobbying the government to re-draft the law, saying it limits Indonesians' access to quality international news and current affairs programmes. Indosiar news director Nurhadi Purwosaputro asked: "Why in the era of globalization do we have to limit the knowledge and opinions of ordinary Indonesians?" Both the BBC and Radio Australia also countered that local stations were not dominated by foreign broadcasters as the local stations could pick and choose content, as well as the amount of airtime they devote to foreign news services. Radio Australia head Jean Gabriel Manguy argued that the company's broadcasts were tailored to an Indonesian audience and avoided delivering international news that focused on the northern hemisphere. "We don't try and impose a global news agenda, the focus is on the Asia Pacific region. We also cover issues which are of interest to a Muslim audience, such as the Middle East," he said. One of the most worrying aspect of the proposed bill, say broadcasters and critics, is the establishment of a broadcasting authority with inspectors who have the power to investigate any media outlet and temporarily shut down broadcasters if they violate the bill. "This is like turning the clock back to 1942 when the Japanese military were the occupying authority and they assigned civil servants to every newsroom," says Mr Leo Batubara from the Community Press and Broadcasting Society. The team who drafted the law argues that outlets would only be shut down in cases of extreme violations of the broadcasting laws. But even Mr Djoko admits that a violation under the broadcasting law is unclear. For instance the law forbids the broadcasting of pornography and sadism but has not defined what constitutes pornography and what levels of violence would be considered sadistic. Broadcasters are also up in arms about a proposal which demands that national broadcasters become regional broadcasters, forming partnerships with local companies and broadcasting separately to each region. "Television stations are a capital investment. We can't become regional broadcasters overnight. It will be too expensive," says Mr Nurhadi. Source: The Straits Times web site, Singapore, in English 7 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. Radio Caroline noted at 0840 on Worldspace today with live announcements and a proper breakfast station - and two Caroline presenters talking. Mention also about the forthcoming encryption. The Waffler is going to dip into the free to air transmissions but drop out when they charge unfortunately. With DAB I have access to Planet Rock and Arrow. Caroline may not be as professional at time but its variety of announcers bring both bad and exceptionally good radio to the airwaves. I expect some people will be annoyed that the lady has not come back on am (medium wave) where everyone can hear her! Emails and faxes have come in from Los Angles and South Africa. Tony Christian doing mid morning show - not sure who did the breakfast show but OK! Not sure either who Tony Christian is either! Long Live Caroline and let`s hope she will be able to be free to air somewhere eventually. It also sounds like the station is on the Ross Revenge from the few comments I have heard on air. They are still "testing" though according to the breakfast presenter. Thanks to the note below I now know that it was Nigel Harris on breakfast. I look forward to catching Johnnie Lewis this afternoon. Interested in radio? try http://wirelesswaffle.0catch.com (Keith Knight, BDXC-UK Sept 10 via DXLD) Re: ``And what he doesn't say is "we start charging you for the dubious privilege of listening to a station which always used to be free and proclaimed the liberty of the listener" Oh how Mammon triumphs!`` This sounds very lyrical, Mark, but it is a rather rose-tinted view of Caroline's history. Caroline is still available free on Astra and the internet and has now increased its hours of transmission. Unlike the other major UK offshore broadcasters Caroline had it roots, mainly through Ronan O'Rahilly, in the late 60s counter culture. However it has always had to be financed which has created tensions throughout the stations history. Among other avenues finance has come through: Plug records both in the days of Caroline North/Caroline South and when the Ross Revenge Caroline was in its prime and had a decent sized audience, remember, for example the endless adverts for the Dubliners and Irish country acts which sounded so out of place on Caroline South after the MOA. Religious programmes on Viewpoint 963 which the presenters objected to due to the anti homosexual views expressed by some of the preachers. Endless promotions for the Canadian lottery. So Mammon has always played a part in Caroline's history because it has to exist in the real world but, through the majority of their programmes, they have promoted their original ideals and relied through the majority of their lifetime on practical and financial support from their supporters including the staff working without financial payment. But as I have posted before someone has to pay for the Worldspace transmissions and, in my view, it is not a huge amount of money. The audience at the moment will not attract advertising, if it ever does they can think about running unencrypted. They also wish to work outside the rest of the UK Radio Industry which is now controlled by a small number of conglomerates who own The Arrow and Planet Rock which have been quoted as alternatives for example. They would have been unable to retain their all important independence within the present UK licencing system (Mike Barraclough, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Caroline is in parallel now on all of its four outlets: WorldSpace, Satellite, Internet and not forgetting good old medium wave - 1593.2 kHz via Ireland in the evenings - this is not a bad signal - best on USB to null out any interference from other stations on 1593. I much prefer to listen on real AM radio - Caroline just doesn't sound right on satellite or Worldspace! The web site http://www.radiocaroline.co.uk gives satellite details as Astra 1G 11.992 H, symbol 27500, FEC ¾ (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAN. New schedule for Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran on 15084v: 2230-0527 Farsi ||||| DELETED 0530-0827 Bosnian/Italian/German 0830-1157 Farsi ||||| DELETED 1200-1257 Italian 1300-1627 Farsi ||||| DELETED 1630-2227 Farsi/German/French/Farsi/Albanian/Bosnian (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 17510, V. of Iran, Aug 30 *1529-1541 33332 Farsi, 1529 s/on with Opening music. ID at 1532. Talk. (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via Gaku Iwata, Cumbre DX) Had been *1630 on 17525 (Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Baghdad on 11786.83 kHz before close-down at 0800 UT Sept 8 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Some changes for Kol Israel effective from July 28 (not July 21): 0415-0430 French 9435 15640, ex 0500-0515 15640 17545 1000-1015 French 15640 17545, ex 1000-1030 15640 17545 1000-1025 Yiddish 15655, ex 1700-1725 9435 15640 1015-1030 English 15640 17545, ex 1030-1035 15640 17545 1025-1040 Ladino 15655, ex 1645-1700 15640 1530-1545 French 11605 15640 17545, ex 1530-1555 11605 15640 17545 1545-1555 Spanish 11605 15640 17545, ex 1635-1645 15640 1625-1635 Moghrabi 15640 CANCELLED 1630-1645 English 15615 17545 NEW TXION 1700-1715 Spanish 15615 17545 NEW TXION 1700-1725 Russian 9435 15650 NEW TXION Frequency change for Kol Israel Reshet Bet in Hebrew effective from Sept. 1: 1800-0500 NF 9345, ex 15760 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) ** JAPAN. According to an E-mail from Mr. Nobuya Katou, a member of the Japan Shortwave Club, Radio Japan will have a special program for the Japan Shortwave Club 50th Anniversary on September 14-16. The 12 minutes program in "Hello from Tokyo" He has just made at Radio Japan studio on Sep. 10. Hosts: Mr. Akira Satou (program director) and Ms. Hisako Tomisawa (announcer). Guest: Mr. Toshimichi Ootake of JSWC. The JSWC will provide special QSL card to Reception Reports. Send them to: Japan Shortwave Club, Minato P. O. Box 138, Yokohama 231-8691, JAPAN. Required 1 IRC or 1$ (Dario Monferini, Cumbre DX via DXLD) See previous item for full sked; and slightly different address (gh) ** KURDISTAN [non]. SITE? The TDP website list a Mezopotamian Radio & TV from 1700-1800 T/W/F on 12115 in Kurdish. (This is the same time frequency that Netsanet Radio was on Wed and seems to confirm that the latter is indeed off.) (Hans Johnson, Sept 11, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. Hi Glenn, I use to read your DXLD, but this is the first time I contribute with some news. The reason is that I got an e-mail confirmation from Radio Sawa which I have not seen before in any DX bulletin (of course I haven't read all) but anyway. I heard Radio Sawa on 1548 kHz beginning of August and I sent an e-mail report to comments@radiosawa.com because I could not find a mailing address. After some e-mail exchange with R Sawa I finally got this e-mail last week: "Dear Lennart, Many thanks for your e-mail dated 11th August 2002. We should like to confirm your reception of our station on 1548 kHz Kuwait as outlined below. Date: 11th of August 2002 at 00:42 to 01:10 UTC. Language of transmission: Arabic We hope this will be sufficient as proof that you heard our station. Best regards, Radio Sawa" Hope this news is something for DXLD. 73 de (Lennart Weirell, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. Radio Broadcasting in Laos: http://www.dxing.info/articles/laos.dx (DXing.info via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. R Veritas: I haven't had any luck in reaching them by phone, but my money is on them using one/two of Star Radio's SW transmitters. Veritas' had old Collins transmitters that were beyond repair and in my past conversations with them; they weren't having any luck finding support (Hans Johnson, WY, Sept 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [Later:] While Steve Kenneh is no longer with the station, I was able to speak with the station's engineer, Francis. Although they came back on the air on August 18th, they are off for the moment, due to failure of modules in the transmitter. The unit is a new Omnitronics 10 kW run into a dipole. The station is in contact with Omnitronics for spares. Finances were always a problem for them and he didn't want to say where the money came from. Their old Collins transmitter remains off due to lack of spares. Once they return, their schedule on shortwave is: 0600-1700 6090 kHz, 1700-2300 5470 (Hans Johnson, WY, Sep 11, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 6090 was an old ELBC frequency! (gh, DXLD) ** LIBYA. V. of Africa, 15435, Aug 30 0330. Decent reception (SINPO 45344); good signal strength, good propagation; major problem was a very annoying hum on the frequency. I caught about ten minutes of a discussion of the principles of the Revolutionary Committee, by alternating male and female announcers, then a switch just after the bottom of the hour to another language, presumably Arabic. Can anyone support me with a postal address or email address for reception reports? I gather that there's a Tripoli and Malta address, but I'm unsure which one is best/quickest, or if an email report gets better results. Thanks in advance! (David Hochfelder, Sony ICF-2010 with stock whip antenna, New Brunswick, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MACEDONIA. New schedule for Radio Macedonia External Service via new MW transmitter 1200 kW on 810: 1800-1830 Bulgarian ex 1800-1820 1830-1900 Greek ex 1820-1840 1900-1930 Albanian ex 1840-1900 1930-2000 Serbian || NEW SERVICE All transmissions are on air Monday to Saturday (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. Radio Broadcasting in Myanmar: http://www.dxing.info/articles/myanmar.dx (DXing.info via DXLD) ** NEPAL. 6100, R. Nepal finally heard // 5005 at 1237 Sept 6 with music. Most days just open carrier that is R. Malaysia with *1300 on 6100 (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. R. New Zealand is holding an Open Day at its Henderson AM transmitting station in Auckland on Sunday, 22 Sept at 1000-1600 local time. There are currently 10 AM transmitters there feeding into two vertical towers, one of which has 6 transmitters using it --- quite a technical achievement. As well there is quite a lot of vintage radio equipment there including old transmitters that will be on display. The transmitting site is about 10 km from Auckland City alongside the North-western Motorway and is easily found as the transmitting towers are clearly visible from a wide area. Leave the motorway at the Lincoln Road exit (NWDXC, Sep 8 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. The TDP website give the schedule of Jakada Radio International as 0600-0630 M-F on 15695 and 1900-1930 M-F 12125, but other sources report this one as off. Can anyone hear them? (Hans Johnson, Sept 11, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 9675, NBC, 0656-0702 Sept 1. Excellent levels, overcoming CNR Beijing 1 cochannel. PNG pop music (string bands) into bird call at ToH/ID and then news in English by male. Election news, Congress and United Party. Indonesian police have drawn up plans against the Papua independence movement. More news (Don Nelson, OR, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Radio Nacional Paraguay, 9737.16, yet starting drifting up a little, heard 11 September at 0045-0130 UT with sport live football play Deportivo Libertad - Cerro Porteño for Copa Sudamericana. Final result 1 to 0. Very good signal here in Italy (Dario Monferini, Italy, RX= JRC 525 20 mt wire, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 4856.14, Radio La Hora, 1001 Sep 9, Andean vocal carrier drifting downwards slightly. 1006 canned ID. Very good signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5500, 0106-0130 Sept 10, R. San Miguel Pallaques. Some very nice Peruvian music heard with S5 signal level. Male announcer at 0109 with station ID as Radio San Miguel. Some short program announcement and jingles at 0112 during tune. Ranchera type music. Fair copy with some static crashes heard and appears to be improving at 0116. Interesting catch as have not logged this one before (Bob Montgomery, Levittown PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 4795, Buryat Radio first time this season at 1241 Sept 6, // 5940 with R. Rossii. 4795 was in USB +carrier nothing in LSB (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. Re VOR in English to S America [no change]: 1900- 2100: 15735 is via Yerevan site (Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. LFBC good this morning (Tuesday) Hi, This Tuesday morning was good again for LWBC from Russia. Two frequencies were heard, 180 and 279. 1122 UT, 180 was first noted; at 1142 levels were fair to medium. At 1155, 279 was at medium to good level, with 180 now at "almost armchair copy" level. (153 noted at very poor level briefly at this time too.) Five time pips on the 1200 hour noted, then into presumed-news. At 1200 279 now poor level. At 1214 180 was at medium level, slowing degrading; 279 at fair level. At 1225 they had reversed, with 279 better at weak level; 180 at weak level. At 1242 180 was gone, 279 at poor to very poor level. I didn't listen after that. No Alaskans were heard this morning. I found a Reprint from the AMBCB DX club IRCA, titled "Russian Far East Stations". I don't know how old it is, but it references the "Leningrad DX Club list" for the info on frequency and location. It agrees quite closely with the info I posted (corrected) several days ago. Here's that info from this Reprint list, for possible interest: Frequency/Location/Station 153 Komsomolsk-na-Amure--- Khabarovsk Radio, Khabarovsk 180 Petropavlovsk--- Kamchat Radio, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy 189 Belogorsk--- Amur Radio, Blagoveshchensk 234 Magadan--- Magadan Radio, Magadan 243 Vladivostok--- Vladivostok Radio, Vladivostok 261 Kruchina--- Chita Radio, Chita 279 Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Sakhalin Radio, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (Steve Ratzlaff, E. Palo Alto, CA, Sept 10, ndb list via Phil Atchley, swl via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. BBC TEAM RETURNS FROM TWO-WEEK PROJECT IN SOLOMON ISLANDS | Text of report by Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text web site on 10 September Solomon Islands will be shown to millions of people in the world in December when the BBC Television three-man team returns home. The team including Producer Alex Leger left Honiara today for Britain after a two-weeks tour of the islands filming people as they go about their daily lives. Mr Leger says Solomon Islands will be featured prominently in several programmes over a number of BBC Television channels to millions of viewers both in Britain and Europe and possibly the United States of America. But Mr Leger adds that while Solomon Islands should take advantage of the free advertising of the country by BBC TV, those [who] engage in criminal activities must stop. He says many people overseas, especially tourists, are likely to be attracted after seeing the programmes to visit Solomon Islands but they cannot come if fighting among certain groups continues. Leger says Solomon Islands is a lovely country which has big prospect as a wealthy nation with a lot of resources but it cannot be prosperous without peace and law and order. Leger adds that Honiara City must be kept clean and tidy than it is now. He says overseas visitors don't want to go to places where rubbish is all over the place. Source: Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation text web site, Honiara, in English 10 Sep (via BBCM vi DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. SITE? The TDP website is now listing Radio Hargeisa as a programmer. Nothing on their schedule page indicating if this is a relay and when it airs if so (Hans Johnson, Sept 11, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 4902, SLBC, still no ID, but I am getting audio here 6 out of 7 days. Seems funny, changes in this transmitter and/or antenna. Been listening for this one for years, it is even hard from Hawaii, so very surprised to be hearing it so much now. Also tentative 4870 about 4 days a week (Hans Johnson, WY, Sep, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "GreenScan" an assessment of the Earth Summit Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Our monthly current affairs magazine "Sweden Today" Sunday: Coverage of the Swedish elections Please be with us on Sunday for our coverage of the Swedish elections. Our regular broadcasts before 1730 UT will be looking back at the campaign and the party positions. The 1730 broadcast, which ends just as the polls close, will include an update on turn-out and other political news. Note that our local broadcast on 89.6 MHz FM at 21:30 local time is being replaced with other programming on September 15. We expect to have election results for you at 23:30 local time instead. International and Internet broadcasts are unaffected, and we expect to have extra RealAudio updates, as well as ongoing coverage on our website at http://radiosweden.org We will also have an extra shortwave broadcast to Europe on election day at 1930 UT on 5840 kHz. Our satellite channel on Hot Bird and Sirius will be relaying election coverage in Swedish between 1800 and 2130 UT (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Sept 11 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Just in is programme schedule for second half of 2002 from V. of Turkey. Last Week, Review of the Foreign Media, Letterbox, Turkish Album, DX Corner, Outlook, Hues and Colours of Anatolia, Turkey, a Haven for Tourists, Notes from Turkey, Balkan Turks are some of the programmes. They have also introduced some new features for this term. Some of them are: The Bosphorus Steamboat, Pre-historic addresses in Turkey, Modern Turkish Literature, and Instruments in Turkish Music (Christopher J. Williams, Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) No further details ** U K [non]. New special transmission for BBC in Farsi on Friday only: 1100-1300 on 17845 Dhabayya 500 kW / 045 deg and 21515 Rampisham 500 kW / 095 degrees (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) ** U S A. 2430.0, (very tentative), WGY, Schenectady, NY (harmonic 3 x 810) Sporadic weak talk "similar" to 810 WGY (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry VT, NRD 535D V-Beam 140m @180 deg., harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** U S A. SEPT. 10, 2002 TOWN HALL MEETING AT VOA HQ Six members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors took part in a Town Hall meeting at VOA headquarters on Tuesday, answering questions from the audience and a panel of journalists from VOA, RFE/RL and RFA. The first question was to the new Board chairman, Ken Tomlinson, who was asked about reports of a ``strategic plan`` that would result in VOA being split up into regional services similar to Radio Sawa. ``VOA will not be left behind,`` Tomlinson said. ``We will do everything possible to make VOA part of the future,`` he continued, adding that VOA would be taking part in a number of ``joint ventures`` with RFE/RL and RFA in a way that will allow ``VOA to retain its traditional role.`` Board member Ted Kaufman was asked if VOA was part of the State Department`s ``public diplomacy`` project and gave the following answer: ``The State Department should do what they do and we should do what we do. We`ve got to think of ourselves as separate from public diplomacy. We`re (members of the Board) going to fight to the death to protect you journalists so you can do what you do. We`re going to fight to keep you free to do what you do.`` Chairman Tomlinson was asked if there would be RIFs in 2003 or other major changes in VOA`s structure and replied: ``I don`t know. I hope not.`` He added, however, ``We have to be able to move people around, to be flexible.`` Asked about a report that 12 staffers in News Now might be RIFed, Board member Norm Pattiz said, ``We don`t know anything about it,`` and compared that report to one that five overseas News Division bureaus would be closed. There was much discussion about plans to combine VOA Farsi and RFE/RL Persian into a new 24-hour radio service to Iran. Board member Pattiz confirmed this was in the works and that the new service would have a music format similar to Radio Sawa to attract young listeners. ``Music is a toll to attract the audience,`` Pattiz said. ``A music-driven format will deliver a large percentage of the target audience. We have an obligation to deliver our message to the largest possible target audience.`` Pattiz said that a greater proportion of news is being introduced into Sawa programming, but acknowledged that ``as we add more policy programming, the (focus group) interviewees indicate they listen less.`` Gov. Pattiz was asked about reports that Radio Sawa`s news output was considered U.S. propaganda by some listeners in the Middle East and replied, ``We don`t do propaganda in international broadcasting. Without credibility, we may as well pack it up and go home.`` Asked why Sawa doesn`t use VOA`s News Division news product, he said, this could be done by Sawa or the new Farsi service if the News Division product was in the proper format. Chairman Tomlinson was asked about the possibility of political interference in the VOA News Division news product. He denied this was a factor, saying the News Division should produce ``splendid news, straight, straight, straight.`` (via DXLD) ** U S A. BUSH`S NEXT WEAPONS AGAINST AXIS: POP STARS President Bush`s latest weapons in the war against terror are going to be Britney Spears, `N Sync, and the Backstreet Boys. Two American funded radio stations aimed at the population of ``Axis of Evil`` power Iran are planning to ditch their all-news format and switch to playing popular music. Changes to Voice of America`s Farsi service and Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty`s Persian service, which together cost American taxpayers $5.4 million annually excluding the costs of transition, are being championed by Norman Pattiz, a Clinton-appointed member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors. He masterminded the conversion of VOA`s Arabic language service to a new, music-heavy format called Radio Sawa, which broadcasts only five to 10 minutes of news per hour. In an interview with The New York Sun, Mr. Pattiz confirmed that the new 24-hour a day Farsi service could be launched as soon as six months from now. News of the change comes amid criticism that the Iranian people are tuning out of these American-funded news services because they are not giving a strong enough voice to pro-democracy, pro-freedom Iranians. Ratings are low and some Iranians refer to the RFE/RL as ``Radio Khatemi`` because they say it promotes the line of the current Iranian president. If the changes are successful, they could help topple the regime in Tehran the way that Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty helped defeat the Soviet Union in the Cold War. That could mean more freedom for the Iranian people and a reduced terrorist threat to America and Israel. Critics, however, warn that the Iranian people might interpret the changes as a sign that America is abandoning the struggle for freedom in Iran. ``The changes in the Iranian service are a reflection of things that are happening in other places. Sawa is proving to be a tremendous success. The demographics of the region -- 70% of the population of Iran is under the age of 20 - makes it clear that the kind of approach we are using, putting on a 24-hour service that is music-driven, would have great merit in Iran just like it is working in the Middle East,`` said Mr. Pattiz, who chairs the BBG`s Middle East subcommittee and co- chairs its language review subcommittee. ``We`re in the business of fulfilling our mission. Our mission is to promote freedom and democracy through the spreading of information about America and the news to overseas countries. If we can do a much better job of attracting people to that message through American contemporary culture like music, as we are doing in the Middle East, obviously it`s something we should do,`` Mr. Pattiz, who was recently reappointed to the BBG for a second term by President Bush, said. Reaction to the changes appears to be mixed, with many insisting that some hard news content is essential, and that the Iranian population is far different than those listening to Radio Sawa. A Georgetown University professor who studies American-Iranian relations, Rob Sobhani, said the music service would only have a positive effect if it were combined with substantive public affairs programming. ``There has to be content attached to that music, there has to be some quality programming that talks about the values we stand for,`` Mr. Sobhani said. ``We can`t just play Michael Jackson and Britney Spears…what is getting the people of Iran excited is Bush saying `we support you,` not the latest Britney song…they want moral clarity from us, just as we are demanding from the rest of the world.`` Mr. Pattiz said that the new format would replace the RFE/RL Persian service. The VOA Farsi service will contribute news and information programming to the new service, and the VOA`s Farsi short-wave services will continue. Some critics of the plan to move to music cite the differences in the mindset between Arab countries and the Iranian people as a reason that the new Farsi service will not thrive like Sawa. They say, for instance, that the Iranian people are supportive of America, unlike in Arab countries, where anti-Americanism runs rampant amongst the populace. ``These rumours are terrible, the people are very worried that the American people are going to abandon them,`` said Ali Reza Nourizadeh, an Iranian journalist living in London. ``Iranians have lots of music already, what they need is good comment, interviews, a program that deals with the issues. It`s not just a radio, it represents a policy, a country,`` he said. In response, Mr. Pattiz said that news would make up a large part of the new service. ``The music is a tool to deliver the target audience so our news will be heard by a large audience and have a large impact. With Sawa we are broadcasting into a region where America and American policies are very unpopular. In Iran, it appears as though there is much less opposition to America, so less soft-pedaling is needed. Of the overall 24-hour day, probably one third will be news, informational or policy programming,`` Mr. Pattiz said. Mr. Pattiz said the board`s decision to create the new Farsi service was unanimous. ``I think the new Farsi service will be at least as successful as Sawa, maybe more, given the demographics and the pro- American feeling in Iran,`` he said. Mr. Pattiz said that early market research into Radio Sawa`s impact, which was launched March 23, 2002 and is available on FM, AM and digital audio satellite throughout the Middle East as well as the Internet and short-wave, shows it gaining tremendous popularity. ``I think what Sawa has proven is that if you put together a 21st- century modern broadcast operation…you can deliver a really large audience,`` Mr. Pattiz said. Although the research is only preliminary at this point, he said weekly research on the 15 to 30 year-old audience shows the radio is gaining in popularity. ``In the research that we were doing in Amman, in Kuwait and in the Gulf, we started asking if they listen to news, and our target audience originally said 1% listens most for news, but by August 12, that number had gone up to 18%, and the number has remained at 18% for the last two weeks. We are the number one source for news in the 15 to 30 age group in the countries that are now being surveyed. … We don`t want to make much of this because it`s a small sample, but it`s a good indication. Over 50% of our target audience looks at us as their favourite station, over 80% said they listened yesterday,`` Mr. Pattiz said. An August 20 article in the London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat quotes a young Iraqi man saying that 85% of the Iraqi people tune into the station at night and that the station has become more popular than Sawt al Shabab, a radio station run by Uday, the eldest son of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. ``I`m thinking of having T-shirts made up saying `No. 1 in Baghdad,``` Mr. Pattiz said laughingly. Sawa is the Arab word for ``together.`` Mr. Pattiz said the name tested well in pre-launch research for the Arab service. ``The station has a slogan, ``you listen to us, we`ll listen to you.`` You can`t talk at these people, you have to talk with them, you have to engage them, you can`t go in with a sledgehammer. Their local media is bludgeoning us all the time. We have to go in and attract and audience, we have to show them what a free press in the American tradition really is,`` Mr. Pattiz said. The funding for the new Farsi service will come from redirecting already-appropriated funds. No new money will be spent, Mr. Pattiz said. People inside the VOA who are familiar with the situation say there was no consultation with employees or staff or input from service managers. ``We are treated as if the Farsi service was a failure. VOA research has shown that Farsi was one of the two most listened to radio stations in Iran,`` said one source, who did not want to be identified. ``If they do it would be a big mistake --- the Iranian people want comment, political views, and political commentators. They are very happy with this, I think they should increase comment rather than decrease it,`` said Dr. Assad Homayoun, the president of the Azadegan Foundation, an organization based in Washington dedicated to the promotion of democracy, human rights, and the establishment of a secular government in Iran. The disclosure of the Farsi service`s impending change comes on the heels of the departure of VOA director Robert Reilly. It also comes as the chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Rep. Henry Hyde, successfully steered legislation through the House that would see a massive reorganization in public diplomacy, including publicly funded foreign broadcasting. Copyright 2002 The New York Sun, One SL, LLC. All rights reserved (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. The Radio Sawa website is now listing the 981 kHz medium wave transmitter from Cyprus. Don't know if it's in full service or still testing. http://www.ibb.gov/radiosawa/radiosawa_english.html Yes, to anyone familiar with radio, it reads as 981 megawatts, 1260 megawatts, and 1548 megawatts. They mean "medium wave" by MW, but the syntax is all ahoo (Glenn Hauser, Sept. 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CYPRUS ** U S A [non]. RFE/RL NEWSLINE Special Report 11 SEPTEMBER: ONE YEAR AFTER This is a special report from RFE/RL's Regional Analysis Department http://www.regionalanalysis.org/events/briefings/2002/09/special0911_1.asp (via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA MUSEUM, PARK BECOME COMMUNITY EFFORT Associated Press Last updated 03:11 AM, EST, Monday, September 9 WEST CHESTER, Ohio (AP) -- Development of a museum and park on the site where Voice of America radio broadcasts were beamed behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War has become a community effort in suburban West Chester Township.... http://www.indystar.com/data/wire/out/0909ap_m883fo1009.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Hello Glenn, I don't believe this has been in DXLD. With Minnesota Public Radio's 24 hour classical music service it may not be totally necessary but I won't complain. WCAL can be heard well here in Arcadia but it does fade now and then and a beam antenna on the roof is a highly recommended for a reliable signal but there are still some fades. Between classical music on Minnesota Public Radio, WCAL, partial day on Wisconsin Public Radio I couldn't ask for a much better location to live. Then you can't forget there is also two hours daily on the Winona State University station (KQAL), except they mix it in with new age and world music and KNXR Rochester, MN, has a couple hours of classical music on Sunday evening (Dan Sampson, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---------- From the Radio/DX Information from Wisconsin website http:/www.angelfire.com/wi/dxing/index.html was this news item. MN NORTHFIELD WCAL 89.3 GOES ALL-CLASSICAL AS "CLASSICAL 89.3" along with simulcasting KMSE 88.7 Rochester (Upper Midwest Broadcasting) --- Here's more info from the WCAL website. More of What We Do Best: Introducing Classical 89.3 - Music & Ideas Dear 89.3 listener, Classical 89.3 - Music & Ideas is here. It's new, but it's the same. WCAL has been winning friends and making great radio since its first voice transmission 80 years ago. The board, staff, and longtime donors of WCAL have great respect for that remarkable legacy. This station has truly touched many lives, in many different ways, over the past eight decades. Facing forward, in this new millennium and in this new climate of multimedia, we want to build - really build - on our strengths. Who can tell us what those are? Why you, of course, and your fellow listeners! Over and over you have reported to us that our presentation of classical music makes an important difference in your life, whether you use us as background or when, occasionally, we cause you to stop in your tracks and devote yourself to listening. You tell us that it's not only the time-tested music you care about so deeply but also the sincere, funny, articulate, and knowledgeable hosts whom you hear on our airwaves: Bill, Stephen, Melissa, Steve, Karl and, soon, another bright voice - Stephanie Wendt - to be added to our announcing staff. It's this special brand of classical music radio that has allowed us to grow, in every sense of the word. It's this delightful, emotion- stirring, colorful music legacy that has allowed us to build our reputation beyond the "Twin Cities' best-kept secret" and take our place among the wide circle of outstanding Minneapolis/St. Paul art organizations that flourish here. It's why we are now moving a few things around and adding a short list of additional music-lover's programs. And it's this particular talent for bringing you centuries of the world's best music that has led us to change our name to reflect what we do: Classical 89.3 - Music & Ideas The name may be new, but our emphasis remains the same: marvelous companionship and music that embellish your day. Please don't hesitate to give us your reaction. And please keep listening, contributing, writing, and spreading the word about Classical 89.3. (via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, http://www.triwest.net/~dsampson/shortwave/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Here`s the page about Pacifica`s 9/11 special and a list of stations carrying it, including RFPI: http://www.pacifica.org/info/releases/specialprog_sept11.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TRYING TO HIT THE RIGHT NOTE, ALL DAY LONG By Paul Farhi, Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, September 9, 2002; Page C01 For TV and radio news stations, the first anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks will be a nonstop blur of memorial events, emotional reminiscences and related news stories. Their challenge: Cover the occasion without bludgeoning it. Everyone else in radio and TV -- those normally devoted to playing cartoons, comedy shows or Kenny G songs -- faces a different challenge: Ignore the anniversary without seeming callous or mindlessly irrelevant.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A54915-2002Sep8?language=printer (Washington Post Sept 9 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. TELEVISIONARY: Decades after the fact, the world is just tuning in to the work of TV inventor Philo T. Farnsworth By Don Aucoin, Globe Staff, 9/7/2002 On this day 75 years ago, television as we know it was born in a laboratory outside San Francisco, the brainchild of a 21-year-old genius named Philo T. Farnsworth. For much of the 20th century - a century shaped, and in some ways defined, by his invention - Farnsworth would largely be forgotten. By 1957 his identity was so obscure that he stumped panelists when he appeared as a mystery guest on the CBS game show ''I've Got a Secret.'' (Struggling for a clue as to who he was, one panelist asked ''Dr. X'' if his invention caused pain. Farnsworth answered dryly, ''Yes. Sometimes, it's most painful.'') But of late, American culture has seemed eager to make up for its neglect. No fewer than four books about Farnsworth have been published in the past year, including ''The Last Lone Inventor'' (HarperCollins) by Brookline author Evan I. Schwartz. A Smithsonian Institution exhibit on the information age includes several of Farnsworth's picture tubes, and in 1999 he earned a place on Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people of the century. ''It's a long time coming,'' Elma ''Pem'' Farnsworth, the inventor's 94-year-old widow, says in an interview from her home in Fort Wayne, Ind. Pem Farnsworth was among a handful of people present when her husband, whom she called Phil, succeeded in transmitting the first electronic television image (a simple line that they saw move) on Sept. 7, 1927. She would later become the first woman to appear on her husband's invention. ''Even before Phil got his first transmitter, he told us what television would do for the world,'' she says, her voice strong and clear. ''Everything that he said would happen, happened.'' On the July day in 1969 when the technology he created made it possible to see Neil Armstrong walk on the moon, Farnsworth turned to his wife and said, ''This has made it all worthwhile.'' He died two years later. Visionary though he was, Farnsworth could not have foreseen the lengths that RCA president David Sarnoff would go to in order to be seen as the father of television. Schwartz says Sarnoff wanted to extend the monopoly RCA enjoyed in radio to the new technology, and he was not about to let some unknown upstart control the patents to that technology. ''He started making his own myth. ... He maintained the position that everything good was invented at RCA,'' says Schwartz. ''So when the next big thing is coming down the pike - television - Sarnoff at all costs had to have it.'' In what Schwartz calls a bid to copy Farnsworth's idea, Sarnoff sent his top engineer, Vladimir Zworykin, to Farnsworth's lab. Then Sarnoff himself paid a visit. Still unable to match Farnsworth's work in RCA's labs and unwilling to pay him royalties, Sarnoff tied Farnsworth up in a court battle that hamstrung the inventor for many years. ''Sarnoff was a good businessman, but his ethics were not on Phil's level,'' Pem Farnsworth says. Her 66-year-old son, Russell Farnsworth, of Brownfield, Maine, is blunter. ''Sarnoff was not the kind of guy you messed around with,'' he says. Even though the US Patent Office eventually determined that Farnsworth was the true inventor of electronic television, the massive RCA publicity machine ensured that Sarnoff would receive credit for bringing television to the world. That PR campaign peaked with a much- ballyhooed demonstration of a TV at the 1939 World's Fair. ''This started at the World's Fair, when Sarnoff announced that RCA was now introducing television - a series of untruths that were accepted by everybody and are still accepted, and are in the history books,'' says Russell Farnsworth. Meanwhile, Philo Farnsworth slipped from public view. Often strapped for cash, he battled alcoholism, ulcers, depression; at one point, he suffered a nervous breakdown. ''There is a sense of tragedy there,'' says Schwartz. ''In a sense, he was written out of history.'' The birth of a medium Not everyone sees Sarnoff as the villain of the piece. Donald G. Godfrey, a professor at Arizona State University and author of ''Philo T. Farnsworth: The Father of Television,'' says Sarnoff and RCA ''were doing what any big company would do in the 1930s, and what any company does today. ... It wasn't a boxing match. It was corporate competition.'' Sarnoff deserves to be remembered as ''one of the central figures in broadcast history,'' says Godfrey. He notes that Zworykin and others made significant contributions to the invention of television. ''It's important to recognize Philo, but he was not the single inventor,'' he says. But it was Farnsworth who first figured out how to scan, transmit, and receive moving images electronically. The idea came to him when he was just 14. While plowing his family's potato field in Rigby, Idaho, young Philo theorized that perhaps he could reproduce images for TV by shooting a beam of electrons against a light-sensitive screen, line by line - just like the field. A year later, he sketched a diagram for a TV system on a high school blackboard in front of his astonished teacher. Six years after that came the breakthrough. With the help of Pem and her brother, Cliff Gardner, Farnsworth pioneered the technology that would catapult television from an experiment (various forms of mechanical television, reliant on spinning discs, had been in the works for years) to a commercial medium that would transform the world. That transformation wouldn't always be for the better - and Farnsworth was prescient in recognizing that as well. His wife says he enforced a no-TV rule in their household when their children were young. ''He wanted to teach them that you had to be active yourself rather than be acted upon,'' she says. In the beginning, she notes, Farnsworth wanted the medium ''to be all cable, because otherwise it would be in the hands of the advertisers, and he didn't like that.'' Schwartz says Farnsworth ''was very idealistic about how TV should be used. He thought it was a great gift to mankind that shouldn't be abused.'' As he grew older, Farnsworth grew disheartened by what he considered the dumbing-down of the medium. A rich legacy At Schwartz's urging, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences has invited Pem Farnsworth to Los Angeles to attend this year's broadcast of the Emmy Awards on Sept. 22. She says illness will probably prevent her from attending. Her presence would be rich in irony: The Emmys will be telecast on NBC, the network founded by Sarnoff. To Schwartz, 38, a former editor at Business Week, the saga of Philo T. Farnsworth illustrates the shift away from innovation by ''lone inventors'' such as Thomas Edison and Samuel Morse to the corporate control of technological research through well-funded labs. On that newly corporatized playing field, an idealist such as Farnsworth wasn't equipped to compete. To illustrate his point, Schwartz points to a combination TV set and radio in his Coolidge Corner office. The ''Capeheart Deluxe'' was designed and manufactured by Farnsworth. In order to make the sets, with their elaborate cabinets, Farnsworth bought a furniture company rather than devoting that money to hiring more lawyers to get his patents upheld. Though he virtually vanished from public view, Farnsworth did not stop inventing. According to Schwartz, Farnsworth spent the last two decades of his life trying to create a nuclear-fusion energy device that he named the Fusor, which he believed could be what Schwartz calls ''a safe way of generating cost-free energy.'' At the end of his life, says Schwartz, ''He believed he was on the verge of a breakthrough.'' Pem Farnsworth thinks her husband should be remembered for the full scope of his work, which included patents for the invention of the first cold cathode-ray tube, an air-traffic control system, a baby incubator, the gastroscope, and the first electronic microscope, as well as the development of the basics of radar, black light for night vision, and the infrared telescope. ''They're making a big thing about television,'' she says. ''Of course, his television invention was only a beginning. He did so much that helped industries and technologies in the whole country.'' Philo T. Farnsworth and David Sarnoff both died in 1971. The latter's place in history was secure; the former's was precarious. Pem Farnsworth has fought to change that. A decade ago, she wrote a self-published memoir of her husband's life called ''Distant Vision.'' In Schwartz's view, few lives have been more remarkable. ''You can change the world with one idea. That's what's inspiring about Farnsworth's story,'' he says. http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/250/living/TelevisionaryP.shtml (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) The LDS certainly haven`t forgotten, and even exploit him: http://www.kbyu.org/membership/ptfsoc/story.html (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC MAY LOOSEN MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES By DAVID HO, The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal regulators will take a new look at rules limiting ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations, with an eye toward loosening restrictions. The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to begin a rule- making process Thursday that is widely expected to produce new regulations that will make it easier for large media companies to merge. ``The clear direction of this is deregulation,'' said Blair Levin, a former FCC official and now an analyst with Legg Mason. Levin said the agency will have to address whether eased regulations may limit media diversity. ``What would people say if their cable companies, one newspaper in their town, half of the radio stations and 30 percent of the TV stations were all owned by the same company?'' he said. ``Where do the new lines get drawn?'' The FCC said in June that it would use this week's meeting to begin official reviews of two rules - one concerning the number of television and radio stations a company can own in one market, and another preventing any of the four major television networks from merging with each other. The agency will also examine two rules that were rejected by an appeals court this year and sent back to the government. Those rules involved restrictions on the national reach of companies that own multiple television stations and on companies that want to own two television stations in the same market. The FCC is already looking at a restriction that prohibits one company from owning a broadcast station and a newspaper in the same market, as well as a rule that limits radio station ownership. The agency wants to combine its work on the various rules to make the regulations more consistent and able to survive legal challenges. The FCC has said its combined study and any potential changes to the rules are expected to be completed by spring 2003. FCC Chairman Michael Powell has expressed skepticism about broad ownership limits and concerns that many of the agency's rules are based on hunches rather than facts. Powell's comments have led to speculation the rules will be relaxed or repealed, leading to a wave of media mergers. Consumer groups have warned that consolidation would lead to a handful of companies controlling all the information people receive as well as how they receive it. Some Senate Democrats, including Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings of South Carolina, have opposed easing restrictions on media ownership. They argue that there already has been too much concentration in the market for TV, radio and other services. A 1996 telecommunications law required the FCC to periodically review ownership rules in light of greater competition and other changes in the industry. On the Net: Federal Communications Commission: http://www.fcc.gov 09/10/02 16:43 EDT (via AOL Canada via Fred Waterer, and via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. I am not monitoring SW all day, every day, but haven't found some outlets to be active lately, or at least it's been a relatively long time since I don't hear them: 6010 Em. Ciudad de Montevideo 6155 Banda Oriental. Maybe country's economical crisis is limiting their possibilities. Active on 49m are: 6125 SODRE 6140 Montecarlo 1000-0300 rough listening period On 31m: 9620 SODRE, heard relatively well only during daylight, since spoiled completely by Spain during local evenings and night. No more stations to add (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Sep 8 --on my 29th anniversary day as DXer!!!!! :)--, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VATICAN. Some changes for Vatican Radio effective from August 1: 0230-0430(ex 0240-0440) French/English/Swahili/Amharic/Tigrina/French on 9660; 1430-1555(ex 1450-1610) Hindi/Tamil/Malayalam/English on 12065 13765 15235 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) Would someone mind specifying the English times? (gh, DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. Posted on Wed, Sep. 11, 2002 Newsmakers | VATICAN RADIO SKEWERS 'MAGDALENE SISTERS' By Murray Dubin, Inquirer Staff Writer Vatican Radio lambasted The Magdalene Sisters, winner of the Venice Film Festival's top honor, and the jury members who chose it because the film "likens the Catholic Church to the Taliban." Last week, a Vatican newspaper called it "an angry and rancorous provocation." Directed by Peter Mullan, the film tells the story of an abusive convent run by nuns on behalf of the Catholic Church. The last Magdalene convent closed in 1996 in Ireland. Mullan said the film was "about all faiths, all fundamentalist faiths, that believe they have the right to oppress young women." Vatican Radio said that "awarding top honors to Magdalene was the most offensive and pathetic page written by the jury." The jury was headed by Chinese actress Gong Li and included Easy Rider cinematographer Laszlo Kovacs, Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko, French writer- director Jacques Audiard, actressFrancesca Neri, producer Ulrich Felsberg and Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu. © 2001 inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.philly.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 4795.9, Son La, 1200 heard about 5 out of every 7 days. Sweeper a pain, but decent mod and steady transmitter (Hans Johnson, WY, Sep, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. TAJIKISTAN: Radio Free Vietnam in Vietnamese via Dushanbe 200 kW / 125 deg: 1400-1430 on 15235 cancelled effective from August 12 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) This is via KWHR now, 9930 at 1230, M-F (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED station with music: 1430-1445 on 12090 (54444) 1445-1500 on 15600 (55444) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 9, via DXLD) See BURMA [non]; wb implies it may have something to do with Democratic Voice of Burma, ex-New Zealand, being in the same time slot (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM +++ SPECIAL EDITION, IBC 2002 -- DRM TO DEBUT EQUIPMENT ON SEPTEMBER 14TH [much of the info duplicates that in 2-141, deleted] DRM Timeline: 1998: DRM Consortium Launched 1999: System Evaluation 2000: Early Field Tests Done, DRM Standard Submitted to ITU-R 2001: DRM System Description Ready, ITU-R's Approval, Mobile Reception Unveiled, ETSI Publishes Standard 2002: Lab & Field Tests, IEC Publishes DRM Specification 2003: DRM Broadcasts To Launch A GLIMPSE INTO THE DIGITAL FUTURE: DRM`S CONSUMER RECEIVER The world-band consumer receiver, developed by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, is based on a modular system design made up around standard components. It is a production-ready OEM receiver sample integrated in an enclosure of a commercially available multi-band radio receiver. It will debut at DRM`s press event at the DRM Booth (Hall 8, Stand 485) on September 14th at I B C . The DRM system also uses aacPlus by Coding Technologies as the standard audio coding format. aacPlus is a combination of MPEGAAC (Advanced Audio Coding) with Coding Technologies groundbreaking SBR"! (Spectral Band Replication) bandwidth extension algorithm. DRM To Demonstrate Audio and Multimedia at IBC 2002 An impressive array of brand-new DRM equipment will showcase live transmissions from leading broadcasters during IBC 2002. DRM`s members will send international and local transmissions into the convention, highlighting the DRM system's audio and multimedia capabilities. "This year, DRM`s members will showcase more transmissions and equipment at IBC than ever before," says DRM Vice Chairman (and Radio Netherlands Wereldomroep CFO/CTO and Deputy Director General) Jan Hoek. "We invite IBC attendees to visit us and hear the remarkable clarity of DRM for themselves." At the DRM Booth Live, international, short-wave transmissions will be provided by DRM members. Transmissions will be sent by Deutsche Welle (from Sines, Portugal, 15230 kHz, 0930-1200 Sines 40 degrees HR4/4/.5, 15170 kHz 1200-1355 Sines 40 degrees HR4/4/.5), Radio Canada International/CBC (from Sackville, Canada, 9635 kHz, 0730-0859 UTC and 11775 kHz, 0900-1059 UTC), Radio Netherlands (from Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, 15425 kHz) 0700-1000), T-Systems MediaBroadcast (from Juelich, Germany, 5975 kHz direction 290, 0900-1155 and 1305-1455 UTC) and VT Merlin Communications (with BBC World Service programming, from Rampisham, U.K., 5875 kHz 1200-1450 UTC and 7320 kHz, 1500 to 1600). Additionally, Radio Netherlands will broadcast both audio and multimedia content from its low-power transmitter in Hilversum, Netherlands, demonstrating DRM`s local broadcasting capabilities. These transmissions (25970 kHz, 0700-1600) are done in cooperation with TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, Fraunhofer IIS-A and SWR Südwestrundfunk. The transmitter will operate on a frequency in the 11 meter short-wave broadcast band. Because of the special propagation conditions on this frequency band, it can be used for local purposes. At the DRM booth, receivers with multimedia capabilities will showcase Radio Netherlands' transmissions from Hilversum. In a multi-media display featuring the Fraunhofer DRM ContentServer, visitors to the DRM booth can see their photo on a DRM receiver picking up the signal from Hilversum. The programming is broadcast using an exciter and modulator from TELEFUNKEN and an amplifier from SWR Südwestrundfunk. Fraunhofer will display its professional receiver called the FhG Software Radio. It will also present the brand-new DRM Software Radio. DRM's first production-ready, world-band consumer receiver, developed by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and AFG, will debut at IBC. Also on show will be a semi-professional, off-the-shelf AOR7030 receiver, modified by the BBC to use one of the cards from the Coding Technologies modular receiver. The BBC will showcase the latest version of its professional DRM monitoring receiver, currently being used extensively in DRM's field trials. It features support for 20kHz stereo modes and frequency diversity reception. Two Thales digital reference receivers will receive live transmissions. The widely used TSW 1002D, based on a professional portable PC, offers a 100% digital process including the RF front-end. The new TSW 1003D is based on a laptop PC connected to an existing analog RF front-end. This off-the-shelf solution prefigures Thales' Software Receiver Solution to be delivered soon. At DRM Members` Booths Nautel Ltd. will showcase one of its XL series, DRM compatible MW transmitters, at its booth in Hall 5, Stand 227. TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG will showcase DRM reception of Radio Netherlands' audio/multimedia transmissions, at its booth in Hall 4, Stand 340. At its booth in Hall 8, Stand 161, Thales Broadcast & Multimedia will exhibit a complete DRM transmission chain: encoding, transmission with a Thales low-power MW transmitter, and reception with a Thales DRM test receiver. This is the first time live DRM transmissions are being conducted with a transmitter directly installed on the exhibition stand. DRM Live Demos at IBC 2002! DRM Booth, Radio Hall, (Hall 8), Stand 485 DRM Project Office, P.O. Box 360, CH-1218 Grand-Saconnex, Geneva, Switzerland projectoffice@drm.org Phone: + 49 221 389 3510 Fax: + 49 221 389 3110 http://www.drm.org INCLUDEPICTURE http://www.drmrx.org/images/animdrmindex.gif Registration Form for the DRM Software Radio Project... If you are interested in receiving further details of the DRM Software Radio Project, please visit http://www.drm.org to register your interest. We will contact you once the software is available. DRM On Display: You`ll find DRM speakers or exhibits at these upcoming events: ISCE Conference, Erfurt, Germany, September 24-26, 2002, DRM Speaker IEEE Broadcast Symposium, Washington, DC, USA, October 11, 2002, DRM Speakers Africast 2002, Abuja, Nigeria, October 2002, DRM Speaker DRM & AM Broadcasting Conference, ESPOL Campus, Ecuador, October 14-21 DRM Speakers ABU General Assembly, Tokyo, Japan, October 31, 2002, DRM Symposium WRC 2003 DRM Launches For Immediate Release: September 10, 2002. Contact: Siriol Evans, pressoffice@drm.org, +44 1481 268246, mobile +44 7781 127019 (via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-141, September 9, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE 7490: another unexpected time for WORLD OF RADIO, not necessarily repeatable, as the schedule seems to be flexible: UT Sun Sept 8 starting at 0518. But it was still last week`s 1145, not 1146. Reception at this hour is quite good, but modulation subject to some clipping. Apparently this has happened before. Again Monday Sept 9 at 1200 with last week`s (gh, DXLD) 7490 1.9 0530 WJIE Shortwave, Upton, KY hördes åter. Nu med World of Radio med Glenn Hauser. Har dessförinnan inte hörts sedan den 28.8. [Overall merit:] 2-3 (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ. It so happens that both our WBCQ times now conflict with the rather limited usage of 7415 by VOA Botswana, per current sked: 7415 0430 0500 VOA F PORT BOT 04 010 [WOR UT Mon 0415-0445] 7415 1800 1900 VOA B ENGL BOT 01 350 7415 1900 2200 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 7415 2200 2230 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 12345 [M-F] [WOR Wed 2200-2230] MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR: you may find some worthwhile listening around 9/11 by consulting http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** ANGOLA. Ao que tudo indica, a vida começa a se normalizar em Angola. Nesta semana, o Presidente José Eduardo dos Santos intermediou, em Luanda, a assinatura de um tratado de paz entre a República Democrática do Congo e Uganda. Algo não imaginado a pouco tempo atrás! Enquanto isso, a Rádio Nacional foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 05 de setembro, às 0240, em 4950 kHz, transmitindo um jogo de basquete entre a equipe angola e a de Porto Rico. Se o esporte está presente na programação da emissora, é mais um sinal de que Angola está retornando a normalidade. (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Hi Glen[n], Just to let you know that Radio Ecclesia's frequency is 7205 kHz. They were on 6100 kHz, but changed frequency on 1 September. Regards (Kathy Otto, Sentech, 9 September, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Media Network story had them on 6205, as previously queried -- a typo, I guess. BBCM also then quoted the wrong frequency (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. INDONESIAN BROADCAST LAW THREATENS RADIO AUSTRALIA RELAYS Radio Australia's "Feedback" programme examined the implications of Indonesia's new Broadcasting Bill for international broadcasters. The bill, to be tabled on 29 September, "limits the replay of regular foreign programmes on local television and radio, with the exception of certain sports and some international events", reporter (?Claudette Werden) pointed out. For Radio Australia, the law would mean the cancellation of relays to 24 local affiliates in Indonesia. The chair of the committee drafting the law, Prof (?Widyatyana Murati), asked how the law would affect the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said: "You can still have your listeners, because your radio we can catch here in Indonesia very clearly. You don't have to worry about you're going to lose your listeners, because in my opinion your broadcasting emission in Indonesia is quite clear, you don't need to use our broadcasters to relay your emission. Radio Australia head Jean-Gabriel Manguy responded: "It's a bit hard to believe. What is showing through audience surveys that we have access to is that a majority of Indonesians still get their information, their entertainment and so on through local outlets, and the majority of that programming is produced locally. Obviously there is programming coming from outside, but I don't think it can be considered as a threat, certainly." Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0300 gmt 8 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Hi from Trollhättan, Sweden, where the receiver was steamed up for the first time in months. 1170, Sep 7 2035, Radio Minsk had a DX-program in German at this time, Sat night. Said they had a fine special QSL-card for this. (I thought I had gone more bananas than usual when I stumbled on this program, hearing old IDs of Radio Schweden and Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk here plus one Colombian, Caracol I think.) But frankly speaking, R. Minsk itself seemed to be a bit of a DX station as it was only S7 on the K9AY direction east, so I really doubt they are using a megawatt transmitter. Other stations on the frequency were heard better, such as Radio Capodistria and a UK one, serving "...Staffordshire and Cheshire" so most probably Big AM, Stoke-on-Trent. The latter one has 200 watts. 73 (Johan Berglund, AOR AR7030, K9AY, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Algumas emissoras de ondas curtas surpreendem, de forma positiva, com sua programação. É o caso da Rádio Pio Doce, de Siglo Veinte, que emite em 5952 kHz. Foi ouvida, em Porto Alegre, em 7 de setembro, entre 1008 e 1020, com bom sinal. Se não bastasse o excelente jornalismo, voltado para a região e comunidade indígena, o programa apresentou, ainda, um correspondente, no Brasil, falando sobre o Dia da Independência. Em resumo: excelentes textos, boa locução e vinhetas, mostrando que o rádio boliviano não deixa a desejar (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Confirmando seu compromisso com bons programas sobre a história, a Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), também está comemorando os 80 anos de rádio no Brasil. A emissora leva ao ar, durante o mês de setembro, o programa 80 Anos de Rádio no Brasil. Vai ao ar, de segunda a sexta-feira, às 1230, 1830 e 2300. Aos sábados, é apresentado às 1050, 1550 e 2300. Nos domingos, é apresentado às 1300, 1830 e 2300. A Rádio Cultura AM, de São Paulo (SP), emite em 9615 e 17815 kHz. Confira! (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) 10 minutos?? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. DAWSON SAVES ITS CBC AM TRANSMITTER WebPosted Sep 6 2002 08:02 AM CDT Whitehorse, Yukon - Outraged residents of Dawson city have forced the CBC to back off plans to turn off the AM radio transmitter in the community. The Corporation announced yesterday it was rethinking its decision to pull the plug on the transmitter. The CBC has been transmitting an AM signal in Dawson since 1958. Technicians say the aging tower the transmitter is on could collapse at some point in the future. An FM transmitter has been sending out the same CBC signal in Dawson since the mid-90's. However, when residents heard the transmitter was due to be shut down Thursday, more than 500 people signed a petition opposing the move. Petition Organizer Bernie Walters says the FM signal doesn't go out far enough into the bush surrounding Dawson to help people who really need it. "For emergencies you know, when there is fire when there is flood, accidents, fuel spills, all sorts of news, the RCMP have to put out road conditions, temperatures," he says. "Then all the good programs you people have, the news, As It Happens, and the whole works it's very important that it stays for the 300 to 400 people living outside of town." CBC Regional Manager Mike Linder says the corporation is listening to residents concerns and rethinking its options. "Given what we are hearing from the public it seems there is far more use of the AM signal than we were expecting," he says. "We will therefore not make any transition until we are satisfied that Yukoners will not lose coverage and won't be left without a signal." CBC transmission manager Dave Newbury says the AM transmitter will stay on the air until a decision is made. He says one option would be for the community to apply for a licence for the AM transmitter to carry the CBC signal. Another would be to de-commission the FM transmitter and leave the AM signal on the air. Copyright © 2002 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Fred Waterer, DXLD) WTFK?? CBC makes it incredibly difficult to find out this basic information. Even reaching CBC North from the main CBC page is impossible. This has a map which only indicates FM 104.9 for CBC Radio One, Dawson: http://north.cbc.ca/north/frequency.html# Finally we find a table, tho it is aimed at travellers, not residents, and it too does not show any AM frequency for Dawson; are they really listening to one based at another town? And guess what, this list is compiled and maintained by a DXer whose name we know, Andy Reid, it apparently being too difficult for CBC itself to do this! http://www.cbc.ca/channelguide/tables/northwest.htm To the rescue, the comprehensive 2001 NRC AM Log, which shows 40 watt LPRT in Dawson, CBDD on 560, relaying CFWH 570. Why wasn`t this still on the CBC webpage?? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. You can visit http://www.cbc.ca/tv50th to check out a full schedule of CBC 50th programs and events (from http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandradio/duf9_20020909.htm via Mike Duffy, Free Press TV Critic, Sept 9 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. [Rfpi-announce] SPECIAL BROADCAST: PATRIOTS FOR PEACE AND GLOBAL JUSTICE Dear Friends, RFPI is pleased to announce that we will be relaying the following special programming from Pacifica Radio. Join us at 1100 UT Wednesday until its conclusion at 0000 Thursday. If you are not able to join us for the original airing, we will rebroadcast the first 8 hours of the program including a special 3- hour edition of Democracy Now! from 0000 to 0800 UT Thursday. Frequencies: 15040 (AM) from 1100 to 0500 UT, 7445 (AM) from 0000 to 0800 and streaming live on the internet at http://www.rfpi.org during the entire broadcast. More information available at the Pacifica Radio website: http://www.pacifica.org [not yet, 9/8 -gh] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- News Release September 5, 2002 For immediate release Contact: Verna Avery-Brown (202) 588-0999 x349 verna@pacifica.org Pacifica Radio features "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice," a day-long, national broadcast to commemorate the one year anniversary of September 11th. WASHINGTON, DC (September 5) The Pacifica Radio Network will broadcast a special, thirteen hour program on September 11, 2002, entitled "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice." The program will run from 7 AM to 8 PM (EDT), and is a collaborative venture between the five Pacifica stations and its affiliates around the country. It is available for broadcast in whole or in part by any noncommercial or community radio station. In the aftermath of last September's terrorist attacks, the image in much of the mainstream media was a nation in lockstep behind the President and supportive of a military response. But amidst the flag- waving and patriotic chanting, there existed another sort of patriotism. Around the nation, thousands of people began to question government actions, take part in peace vigils and state emphatically that their grief was not a cry for war. This broadcast will take a look at these "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice." It will start out at Pacifica's national headquarters in Washington, DC and then move to Ground Zero in New York, where it will be co- hosted by Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! and station WBAI. Throughout the rest of the day, programming from Berkeley (KPFA), Houston (KPFT) and Los Angeles (KPFA) will feature discussion of the events of 9/11 from the perspectives of Arabs, Palestinians, African Americans and family members of victims of the attacks. Scheduled guests include author Noam Chomsky, environmental activist Vandana Shiva, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Harvard professor Cornell West, comedian/ activist Dick Gregory and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, as well as grassroots activists around the country working for change. Also featured will be Muslim-Americans whose civil liberties have been violated in the aftermath of September 11th and women who have traveled from Ground Zero in New York to Afghanistan's "Ground Zero" site of U.S.-led bombing. Pacifica is the nation's oldest listener-supported, non-commercial radio network. Founded in 1949 in Berkeley, California, Pacifica is devoted to the exercise of free speech, creative expression and the showcase of dissenting viewpoints (via Radio For Peace International, DXLD) ** CUBA. Hello Everyone, Has any one else noticed the absence of Radio HC on 6000, 9820 and 11705 usb for the last few nights? I haven't heard of any hurricanes like the last "Michelle" that took them off the air for a number of days (Chris Campbell, location unknown, Sept 8, swl via DXLD) No Radio HC heard here in the Pacific Northwest on 9820 09/08/02 04:00 utc SIO 322 (Mike Grisham, ibid.) See also DX PROGRAM RECORDINGS below ** ECUADOR. I finally listened to HCJB`s Portuguese DX program, inconveniently scheduled at the same hour as DXPL, UT Sun 0100-0130; either 11920 or 12020 was a lot better than the other; I forget which. A lot of falaça Sept 8, but they finally got around to a DX report from Célio Romais by phone about 0124. Unfortunately it was only about two minutes and he couldn`t get much detail in (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. UNMEE Radio. Sep 06, 2002 (UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- The following is a near-verbatim transcript of the press briefing chaired in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa by UNMEE Spokeswoman, and Acting Chief of UNMEE Public Information, Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte, via a videoconference linking Asmara and Addis Ababa. Also in attendance were Diane Bailey, Chief Radio Producer, Lt. Col Ahmad Kamal, Military Information Officer and Michael Munywoki, UNMEE Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS. [snip -- excerpts deleted] UNMEE RADIO UNMEE Radio continues to be an important voice of the Peacekeeping Mission. Back on air for four and half months, it highlights events unfolding in the Mission area, the people behind them and other issues of interest to the general public. On September 17 and 20 UNMEE Radio is to broadcast a special programme featuring Michael Munywoki the newly appointed UNMEE Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS and local HIV /AIDS activist Elizabeth Tefera, among others. The UNMEE Radio special is part of the momentum in activities aimed at combating the spread of HIV /AIDS in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This week in Addis Ababa, participants from 14 countries of Central and Eastern Africa are taking part in an action forum aimed at establishing a regional information network to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. Radio UNMEE can be heard every Friday on short wave at 13735 in these languages at the following times: Amharic 10:00 - 10:15pm, Oromiffa 10:15 - 10:30pm, Tigrigna 10:30 - 10:45pm, English 10:45 - 11:00pm. Radio UNMEE can also be heard every Tuesday at 15215 short wave in these languages at the following times: Tigrigna 7:30 - 7:45am, Tigre 7:45-8:00am, Arabic 8-00 - 8:15am, English 8:15 - 8:30 am. [Presumably Ethiopia time, which is UTC plus 3] (via Kim Elliott, DC, Sept 9, DXLD) Ethiopia has a `unique` way of telling time, which is not easily convertible, per a previous item. Site reportedly Abu Dhabi (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Additional tidbits about the YLE R. Finland situation: cutting English, French and German means 7 of the 35 jobs are being lost; some have already left. The decision was made by the Administrative Council, made up largely of parliamentarians. Not only will the broadcasts be terminated, but YLE`s webpages in those languages will also disappear. There are other online sources of news in English and German from Finland; not much in French, however. English will definitely be off by the end of the current broadcasting season, Oct 27, possibly a bit earlier (Juhani Niinisto, YLE R. Finland chief, interviewed by Roger Broadbent on RA Feedback Sept 8, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Here is the picture report from [a visit to] Lampertheim: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/lam.htm By the way, just this Friday also a special shortwave broadcast from some station in Nordrhein-Westfalen was on air. It's of course all over now, just in case reports about something unidentified, speaking German on 5910 appears... This was via Jülich, 1800-2000 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 15150, V. of Indonesia, 2000 25 Aug with IS and Gamelan, IS, news etc. in English: a commentary on Malaysia and Philippines, testimonial from European people on Indonesia, program on living together, song from Ita Purnamasari. Very good signal at 44423 (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. RADIO CAROLINE GOES LIVE ON WORLDSPACE FROM 0500 UT 10TH SEPTEMBER 2002 Hi Glenn, I've just posted this item on the Radio Caroline fans' mailing list; you might like to report it in your programme and newsletter: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone. In just over twelve hours we go live on WorldSpace. The daytime for tomorrow, Tuesday 10th Sept (UK time) [UT +1]: 0600 - 0900: Nigel Harris 0900 - 1200: Tony Christian 1200 - 1400: Rob Leighton 1400 - 1800: Johnnie Lewis This may be subject to change. Evening and night time schedules remain as before. There'll be a change to the daytime schedule on Wednesday 11th Sept, as we've received a Radio Authority directive to broadcast particular type of programme from 1200 to 0300. This is in connection with last year's World Trade Centre tragedy in which so many innocent civilians were maimed and killed, which occurred at 1346 and 1406 UK time. We hope you enjoy hearing Radio Caroline 'free to air' on your portable radios - don't forget you can take them to the office or to the beach! If you haven't arranged your subscription yet, then WorldSpace can be contacted on 0207 49 48 222. Quote reference RC1964 for your Early Bird discount. Radio Caroline - continues! Rob Leighton ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OK Glenn, thanks for producing all these super bulletins - and I've just learned I can hear YOU on WorldSpace too! Hope to hear you on Saturday. Best wishes (Rob Leighton, UK, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 15290, R. Jordan 1030 with Arabic songs, ID ``idaatu Urduniya ke hashemiya``. Good signal. Also 29.8 on 11690, 1340 with phone in competitions. Program closing with Greek song then with Spanish, French, English and another, then 1400 with news (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 23-29 of August) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. Radio DAT 9775: Today Sept 8 I heave heard a signal on 9775, man with talks in Russian at 1506 over a Chinese signal. Is about maximum S6 with a 2 x 12 m dipole but difficult to listen to. 1529 heard a reference to internet, Dat and Kazakhstan but seems to pass 1530 with better signal than the Chinese station with clear ID at 1545 in Russian and references to Washington Post (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI transmitting facilities in Kimjae, in the southern part of Korea, was severely damaged by the recent typhoon Rusa. As a result, reception conditions on the frequencies 15575 (2300~0400 UT) and 13670 (0700~1100 UT) are not sounding their best.... However they are trying to repair it. Regards, (Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. CAPITAL'S FM RADIO PROGRAMMES ON INTERNET | Text of report in English by Mongolian E-mail Daily News service on 9 September An Ulaanbaatar-based FM radio station, InforRadio 105.5, and ISP Micom have combined their efforts to transmit the programmes of this radio via the Internet. News in Mongolia and music around the clock are available by visiting: http://www.inforadio.mn Source: E-mail Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, in English 9 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) But does the station actually broadcast anything in English?? Nice flash opening with lightning and landscape, but primary language seems to be Russian, not Mongolian, or English! Finally reached an audio link, but it was Not Found: http://202.179.0.194/encoder/info.ram (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. R. Nepal has a website with lots of info about the station (not including their new frequency 6100): http://www.catmando.com/radionepal/ (via Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA/INDONESIA. Here`s how to tell apart these two on 3905: they are (were) 0.0002 kHz apart! (gh, DXLD) 3904.9996 13.8 2010 RRI Merauke, px-annonsering m.m. Inget spår av R. New Ireland. 3 SA 3904.9998 4.9 1930 Radio New Ireland, Kavieng med sign-on, div annonsering och modern musik. 2 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Sept 8 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser. Greetings from Paraguay! To advise that we have improved the technical facilities of the frequencies 7300 and 7370 KHZ, both of which now transmit with a power of 800 Watts. The frequency 1610 KHZ is also on-air, using a power of 60 Watts, and feeding a tower 125 Metres tall. The frequency 7300 KHZ is beamed southwards, and the frequency 7370 KHZ is beamed northwards, from Paraguay. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, towards the south, is approximately 250,000 Watts [sic]. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, towards the north, is approximately 6,400 Watts. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, on 1610 KHZ, is approximately 500 Watts. Your reception reports will be most welcome! With best regards. (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Are you still transmitting at night only on weekends? (gh, DXLD) ** POLAND/LITHUANIA. The broadcasting company Racja Sp. z o.o. (studios in Bialystok and Warsaw) is bankrupt, the legal procedure is going to start at a Warsaw court in the very next time. Some people behind Radio Racja are considering to move their operations to Lithuania and to broadcast to Belarus via the facilities of Radio Baltic Waves: Vilnius 612 kHz 100kW and Sitkunai SW 100 kW (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7420, Radio Gardarika/Studio, 2110 25 Aug with Russian disco hit songs and with hi-fi type audio. At 2120 with a continuous reel of IS/ID for more than 10 minutes with `Nyeske v`lna iz perterburga` and email address studioe@metrograf.ru [or??] studio@w.metrograf.ru (I am unsure if I copied it correctly). Signal 44434 (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. 12085//12115, V. of Homeland? Heard on 23 Aug at start of their program with a reference ``Syria ke fatrah`` over an Arabic song/hymn, a recitation of Allah Wattani al sawt, then with recitations. On 25 Aug with mainly a music program and short references to Lebanon. Today 8 September there was a signal since 1445 on 12115 that stopped at 1450 and again started at 1458, with signals on both 12085 and 12115. Time difference is about 3 seconds for now with mainly music program. Signal S9 to +10 on dipole 2 x 12m (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. NEW RTI MAILBOX FOR LISTENERS IN SOUTH ASIA Good news for listeners in South Asia: RTI is opening a new mailbox in India! Beginning September 20, CBS listeners in South Asia can write to the following address: CBS RTI, Post Box - 4914, P.O: Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi - 110029, India (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, More on the Bob Reilly resignation (perhaps we haven't heard the end of it) here: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20020905-030618-5352r.htm 73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: UPI'S CAPITAL COMMENT for Sept. 6, 2002 WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International. Take a letter -- The recent sacking of Voice of America Director Bob Reilly by the mostly Clinton-era-holdovers who make up the federal Broadcasting Board of Governors is not being well received on Capitol Hill. Several House Republicans are already at work on a letter to the members of the BBG demanding to know why Reilly, a presidential appointee, was made to resign under pressure. The letter reportedly threatens additional cuts in funding for VOA of up to 25 percent of the total budget unless the oversight committee is given a satisfactory explanation as to why the board, most of whom were originally appointed to the BBG by the Clinton administration and whose terms have expired, thought they should interfere with Reilly's effort to carry out the administration's priorities for the agency in the war against terrorism. This issue, sources say, is not likely to go away quietly. Congressional watchdogs are said to be cross-checking the membership of the BBG against the list of donors to the Clinton and Gore presidential campaigns -- with special focus on billionaire media tycoon Norm Pattiz, who racked up a lot of bonus miles in the Air Force One frequent flyer program during the Clinton years. -0- (via Washington Times [Moony], Sept 6, via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** USA/IRAN. VOA LAUNCHES TV BROADCAST AIMED AT IRANIAN YOUTH | Excerpt from press release by Voice of America on 6 September Washington, DC, 6 September: The Voice of America's Farsi Service will launch Next Chapter, a satellite broadcast television programme aimed at the youth of Iran, on 10 September 2002. The first Farsi-language international television broadcast to target young audiences in the country, Next Chapter will offer fresh, informative and entertaining reporting on news, current events, and life in the United States. Next Chapter bolsters VOA's existing Farsi broadcasting of six hours of daily radio programming and a weekly 90 minute news and discussion television program entitled Roundtable With You. The premiere of the new show will offer a forward-looking and global view of topics impacting the lives of Iranian youth. Parviz Sayyad, the legendary Iranian writer, actor, and director, will host the first program and launch a discussion about the potential role of Iran in the world community. The next day, as the world marks the anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States, a special supplement to Next Chapter will broadcast. That show will feature an interview with Shahram Hashemi, an Iranian student who was hailed as a hero after helping rescue people from the rubble of the World Trade Center collapse. The programme will end with images from a candlelight vigil hosted by students in Iran in the wake of the attacks. Future programmes will be hosted by different popular figures well- known to Iranian youth. Each week, the one-hour program will include coverage of international news, entertainment, music, sports, environmental issues, college life, and technology. The programme is written and produced by a team of young journalists of Iranian descent, and originates from VOA's world headquarters in Washington, DC. Next Chapter will air on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. local time in Iran [1800 gmt] , via satellite broadcast on Asiasat 2, HotBird 3 and New Sky. Creator and executive producer Ahmad Baharloo believes that the programme has the potential to reach as many as 40 million people under age 30 in Iran. "However", he added, "anybody who can think young is invited to join us"... For additional information, please contact Joe O'Connell at (202) 619-2538 or at pubaff@ibb.gov Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 6 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** USA/MIDDLE EAST. WRITER SAYS US RADIO SAWA "'DANGEROUS PHENOMENON" | Text of report by Jordanian newspaper Al-Ra'y on 8 September Any person who tunes in to the foreign radio that broadcasts in Arabic and that calls itself Sawa will realize in half an hour that this radio is American and that it was established for purposes that are not in harmony with Arab heritage, the Arab personality, pan-Arab positions, and Arab hopes, ambitions and aspirations. This radio agrees with the interests of the United States and with the means to promote its policy and plans in the region. In its long broadcasting hours, this radio concentrates on the minds of youngsters and their culture and affiliation to their nation. It seeks to brainwash them and instil American ideas in the minds of the rising generation. This radio broadcasts light foreign and Arabic songs, in a combination that seeks to make the radio attractive. The radio also tries to make these songs replace serious culture and Arab creativity in all its kinds. A lengthy report published in The Los Angeles Times said that Radio Sawa started its transmission in March 2002, and this is a new method in the US way of treating the peoples of the Islamic world. The report also said that "it is very important and necessary to have access to Arab youth, who make up more than 60 per cent of the population, since they are targeted by Islamic fundamentalists." This is nothing but an excuse because an objective investigation into this radio and its trends shows that it does not seek to foil the targeting of youth by Islamic fundamentalists. Rather, it seeks to turn Arab culture into American culture and spread and generalize this culture in order to swallow US positions and pave the way for attachment to the United States. The Arab public climate would thus be prepared to market US interests, firmly establish its policy and win over the views that are in favour of fighting any Arab policy, which is averse to the US attachment to its interests. I have listened to several newscasts carried on this suspicious radio and found out that its line or plan is a political line or plan first and foremost, and that it contributes to promoting the US position, which supports the Zionist entity, accepting the massacres committed by the enemy against the Palestinian people, and considering Palestinian struggle as simply acts of terror. Also, the line or plan of the radio plays a role in convincing the listeners that striking Iraq is a pressing issue and subject to objective justifications! This means that the younger generation of listeners to this radio is required to remain in a state of musical attraction until they reach a stage whereby they would listen to the newscast and not reject the attitude expressed in it or even accept it. Egypt has blocked the reception of Radio Sawa, and we should do the same thing so as to preserve our Arab identity and pan-Arab affiliations. I asked a young man about his opinion of Radio Sawa. He laughed and said: It is a flower in my imagination [zahrah fi khayali]. I told him that he is repeating the name of an old song by [the late Egyptian singer] Farid al-Atrash, which is called Ya Zahrah fi Khayali. He said: I do not know this song and I do not listen to Farid al-Atrash or other singers from old times. I only listen to Radio Sawa and I find in it what meets my hobby, desire and artistic bent. This means, as I imagine, that six months of broadcasting Radio Sawa has achieved some of its purposes and that it will achieve much more as time goes by. This is a dangerous phenomenon, and we should stop it as soon as possible. Source: Al-Ra'y, Amman, in Arabic 8 Sep 02 p 21 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, came across WBCQ v17494.83 kHz on Sept 5th, around 1420-1445 UT, when checked DVBurma program on co-channel 17495 Madagascar relay. English gospel (religious) program was in progress, SINPO 34433, and remarkable daytime signal into Europe could be noted. Well ahead of MDG, which is only a 'whisper' underneath in Western Europe. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WHAZUP - September 2002 EDITORIAL "TWO OUTRAGES FOR THE LISTENER" Frederick R. Vobbe, Publisher DX Audio Service Perhaps it's that I'm matured after 48 years, or perhaps I'm becoming less tolerant of people taking things away from me that I've been very comfortable with. In any case, two things have really gotten me worked up. Like many DXers, I'm listening with interest to the IBOC tests being done between WLW-700 and WOR-710. Little known are the tests between WCHB-1200 and WWJ-950 in Detroit. I really have mixed emotions on IBOC and have to ask if IBOC is right for right now. On the positive side, some, and I stress "some" digital technologies have made life better for us. Although cranky with the change in the early 90s, I have to say that I prefer desktop audio editing over reel to reel tape players and editing with a razor blade and tape. IBOC, however, does not fall into the positive area mainly due to the fact that it ruins what is already there. Unlike color TV in the late 50s and early 60s where a color signal did not degrade the black and white signal, the introduction of IBOC harms both the carrier that it is on, plus those to the side. Being curious about IBOC, when I was alerted to the unannounced tests of WCHB, I packed up my test gear and headed north. Being familiar with the area between Detroit and Toledo I was able to find a quiet location to set up and monitor transmissions. My system consisted of a 2-foot loop, Sony 2010, GE SuperRadio III, Tektronix 2710 spectrum, and a Link CSM1000 RF monitor. The first observation was made on the 1200-kilohertz carrier of WCHB. When the IBOC was turned on, (and I could tell it without the test instrumentation), there was interference at both 1212 and 1188. IBOC emits a buzz like sound on adjacent channels. The Sony 2010 was the best in bringing out the bad in IBOC. The synchronizer feature which is used to lock in weak carriers would make the buzz very predominant. Had my batteries lasted in my Sony mini-disc I would have let you hear it, but trust me, the buzz is far worse than any over-modulation you might hear. The carrier on 1188 was strong enough to cause some discomfort to WOWO-1190's signal. Using the lower sideband of the sync feature would enable the buzz to be heard clearly. Using the top sideband would produce a mix of buzz plus splatter from WCHB. In the N.R.C.`s E-mail list, and in private E-mails to people I trust as being professional in their observations, the IBOC transmissions, that is the digital information, was heard farther than the analog component. For example, when WLW was running their tests of IBOC, some DXers on the West Coast could not hear WLW's analog transmission, but the buzz was traceable and copyable. The only plus to this is that someone can have satisfaction in knowing that WLW could be heard digitally on the west coast. Yes, it is a positive, but at what cost? What about interference to stations on 690 and 710? There was severe interference to stations, and like my experiences with interference on WOWO, it is not acceptable. In my opinion, in band, on channel digital operation is not wise and should be abandoned. I'm all for advancing technology, but not at the expense of interference to analog stations that the public already uses. My personal recommendation is to take the digital platform to another band of frequencies where it can coexist without causing harm to others. As a side note on this issue, if you hear the IBOC buzz on a station, be sure to write a letter to the station`s public file, and send a copy of the letter to the F.C.C. Since the folks pushing forward IBOC are claiming there is no interference, despite evidence to the contrary, we need to protect what we have now. So much for IBOC. Yeah, I said there were two things bugging me; the second is the antics of Opie and Anthony, a pair of boobs behind a mic that outraged a lot of people. Let me read the news story of what happened. This is from Associated Press, August 22nd, and is titled "FCC to investigate alleged sex in cathedral" ""The nation's top communications regulator ordered an investigation Thursday into complaints that a pair of New York radio shock jocks allegedly broadcast a live, eyewitness account of a couple having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. A Virginia couple was arrested Aug. 15 after allegedly having sex in a vestibule just a few feet from worshippers in the landmark Manhattan church. The encounter was described as it happened during the "Opie and Anthony" show, WNEW-FM's popular afternoon drive-time program. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell directed the agency's enforcement bureau to begin an investigation immediately, spokesman David Fiske said. If the FCC finds that a station violated federal indecency laws, the penalty is typically a fine ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, Fiske said. The amount can be higher depending on the case, he said. The broadcast was part of a regular feature on the program where couples can win prizes for having sex in risky places. The couple's attorney has said they were just simulating sex. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has said he received hundreds of outraged phone calls and e-mails about the broadcast. He said the agency should consider revoking the station's license."" For those of you that want to hear the broadcast, you can go to a web site called theSmokingGun.com It has MP3 and RealAudio clips of the stunt. The direct url is http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/opieanthony1.html It's interesting to follow on the various lists the support or condemnation of Opie and Anthony. On one side you have many people outraged that a radio station stunt promoted people having sex in a church in order to get points to win a contest. On the other side you have people saying, "aw, it's not that bad. Stern has done worse, and besides it's freedom of speech." I think that the difference is that a sponsor, a station, and the hosts of the program promoted and then broadcast with great glee the act occurring in the church. This does not have anything to do with speech, and I think you could obviously argue that some lines had been crossed. Suppose I was popular radio host and I said to my listeners, "you get twenty points toward a contest if you defecate on someone's carpet in their home." Now, suppose you came home and discovered that your home was the target. Again, this has nothing to do with speech. It's no surprise that Opie and Anthony have huge ratings. Same applies to Howard Stern, Greaseman, and numerous others. And the sad fact is, the ratings translates to money, and a company like Infinity, while being publicly critical, is laughing all the way to the bank. Although the pair was fired, and their show cancelled, I doubt they will be off the air long. Sex and depraved acts on the radio sell, and when one businessman cancels, there is someone else right behind him to take his place in sponsorship. While more and more stations cut news and public affairs, (yet crow about how they are the leaders in community service), incidents like this are becoming more frequent. Add to that technical violations, and it's getting harder and harder to believe that anyone in broadcasting has any morals, ethics, or commitment to public service. A while back I was told by a politician that the reason government does not do anything about these broadcasters is because nobody cares. I guess that might be right as names that I know in E-mail lists that carp about events concerning radio never appear in any searches in public records. In other words, nobody was concerned enough to write the right people and complain. People only do wrong things when they have no fear of getting caught or punished. So, I guess that not only will we see more outrageous stunts, but we will also have the knowledge that we allowed them to do the stunts due to lack of action. Think about it next time you hear something which is morally, ethically, or illegal on the radio. --0-- © Frederick R. Vobbe & National Radio Club September 2002 (DX Audio Service via DXLD) ** U S A. PBS DRAWS IRE OVER 9/11 SHOW CHANNEL 13 ON THE SPOT OVER A DOCUMENTARY`S WEB SITE BY IRA STOLL The city`s largest public television station is marking September 11 with a documentary whose Web site is being lambasted by Israelis and American Jewish groups for offering an inaccurate and one-sided history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Web site includes a map portraying all of Israel as ``Palestine,`` a time line that blames Ariel Sharon for provoking the recent wave of violence by Palestinian Arabs, and links to Web sites of Arab American organizations that have defended groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which the American government considers terrorist organizations.... http://nysun.com/sunarticle.asp?artID=169 (via EEJH yahoogroup via Joel Rubin, DXLD) ** U S A. A ARRL anuncia em seu Boletim Semanal, que das 4h UT do dia 11 até as 4h UT do dia 12, estará no ar K4P, que operará desde o Pentágono, lembrando o ataque terrorista ocorrido no ano passado. A Estação operará também de outros locais de Washington, Distrito Federal. As emissões serão dos 80 aos 10 metros, em SSB e CW. QSLs com SASE, para K7DID, Deanna Lutz, P. O. Box 70071, Washington, DC, 20024 (PP5RLB - Moita, radioescutas via DXLD) ** U S A. STATIONS CAREFULLY PLAN DAY'S AIR PLAY, By Brad Kava Bay Area radio station managers have been debating how to handle the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: Should they treat it as a day for memorial or continue with business as usual? Most have worked out a compromise and are doing some of both. For example, San José's news station KLIV-AM (1590) and country music KRTY-FM (95.3) will be running commercials but will donate that day's proceeds to the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, which helps children who suffered because of the attacks. Empire Broadcasting president Robert Kieve explained his stance in one of his ubiquitous and passionate broadcast editorials. ``I believe that outlawing commercials on that anniversary is in itself very inappropriate,'' said the former speechwriter for President Eisenhower. ``If it's our way of life that we are defending, then we must recognize that our way of life is based largely on commerce. And commercials are an expression of commerce. ``So stations that are considering themselves pure and appropriate by excluding commercials are really falling neatly into the laps of our enemies.'' Gary Schoenwetter, operations manager for rocker KSJO-FM (92.3) and classic rock KUFX-FM (98.5), said the local Clear Channel stations left it up to advertisers whether they wanted their spots to run. ``Some have decided they didn't want to advertise. Others understand that life and business go on,'' he said. Enhanced taste KSJO, which usually features Wednesday morning programming centered around whether women in cars will expose themselves, will tone down its programming on Sept. 11. Hosts Lamont Hollywood and Paul Tonelli will broadcast from New York City, interviewing firefighters, rescue workers and survivors of the attacks. Neither of his stations will air contests or promotions on Wednesday, said Schoenwetter. KUFX's Greg Kihn will do his morning show and then headlines San Jose's official memorial event at Plaza de Cesar Chavez at 5 p.m. He'll be joined by city officials and Santana lead singer Tony Lindsay, who will sing the national anthem. Kihn's free concert will include his reworking of the David Bowie song, ``Heroes.'' The Bay Area's most-listened to stations, talk stations, KGO-AM (810) and KSFO-AM (560), have special events planned. KGO will have an ``All-Star Broadcast,'' featuring its top talk hosts in a two-hour live discussion at 11 a.m. Pete Wilson, Ronn Owens, Gene Burns, Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafero will talk about the state of the world pre- and post-Sept. 11, while Ed Baxter moderates. Fans can attend the discussion at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Howard Street. There is no admission charge, and the show will be broadcast without commercials. KSFO will sponsor the unfurling of the world's largest American flag at the Alameda Naval Air Station, from noon to 1 p.m. It takes 1,000 people to hold up the 255-by-505-foot flag. Those who wish to participate are asked to arrive before 10:30 a.m. to get instructions. The flag, which is rarely displayed, floats like a giant sail and is supposed to be a spectacular sight. Patriotism with dissent KQED-FM (88.5) has been doing a weeklong series exploring post-Sept. 11 America, along with public radio stations across the country. It finishes the series at 11 p.m. with a show called ``A Need to Belong: Citizenship in a Post 9/11 America,'' which will explore patriotism and the place of both loyalty and dissent in a changed world. Listeners will visit a military town and its evangelical Christian church, hear the post-Sept. 11 ordeal of an Iraqi family, hear the plight of three immigrant Filipino baggage handlers and follow the impact of their story back to family and friends in the Philippines. _________________________________________________________________ © 2001 mercurynews and wire service sources Sept 9. All Rights Reserved. http://www.bayarea.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Hey, Brad, ``patriotism with dissent``??? How about KPFA and Pacifica`s coverage??? You forgot to mention that; see COSTA RICA in this issue (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. If anyone cares what will be happening in Miami, see this, mostly about Clear Channel and WLRN/NPR: LOCAL STATIONS REMEMBERING SEPT. 11 ON THE RADIO The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4036732.htm (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. PILING ON THE 9/11 PROGRAMMING IS AN ODD WAY TO PAY RESPECT Monday, September 9, 2002 Photo By JOHN LEVESQUE, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER TELEVISION CRITIC It seems every network, every cable channel, every UHF station broadcasting from somebody's basement will spend all of Wednesday reflecting on the Sept. 11 anniversary. But it's simply not true. There's plenty of counterprogramming on the schedule. The WB will be showing the movie "My Dog Skip." UPN will rebroadcast the series premiere of "Enterprise." The Travel Channel has the top 10 tourist attractions in Australia. How could anyone suggest we're being inundated with excessive and unnecessary attempts at closure? And how could my editors let me use the word "closure"? OK, the fact that ESPN plans another presentation of a documentary on the rebuilding of the New York Fire Department's football club is a bit much. But as CBS president Leslie Moonves said in July: "It is far better to err on the side of giving too much coverage than not paying enough respect to what happened. This probably is the most significant event since Pearl Harbor in our lifetimes, and to not give it the appropriate respect, I think, would be a mistake." Darn tootin', Les. Big anniversaries deserve big coverage because, well, because people will think we're small, sanctimonious SOBs if we try to achieve closure with an inadequate fastener. It's like having a too-small Zip-Loc bag when putting away leftovers from the Labor Day barbecue. But are "coverage" and "respect" the same thing, Les? For instance, if I send a bigger bouquet to the funeral home, am I according the deceased more respect than the person who sends a smaller one? Or am I merely calling attention to myself by making such a splash? Wouldn't it be more respectful -- and less redundant -- if all the network news divisions and cable news channels took a fraction of the money they're spending on 9/11 anniversary coverage and used it to feed the hungry? True, it's been a lousy year for media companies, this one included. But what better way to show respect for human life than to work to eliminate one of the conditions that create disenfranchised, disgruntled desperados in the first place? Besides, how much real news will emerge from this week's coverage? Among the many offerings in prime time on Wednesday, NBC will air the concert for America taking place tonight at the Kennedy Center, ABC will feature a Barbara Walters special on grief counseling and CBS is rerunning the documentary "9/11" by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. All may be eminently worth watching. Indeed, the Naudet film, which originally aired March 10, is splendid. Yet even if we have the ability to tape one or two shows while watching another, the utter silliness of cramming all this stuff into one or two days for fear of being deemed disrespectful is so apparent you'd think a network executive somewhere along the way would have had the guts to say, "Stop the stupidity!" And it's not just the broadcast networks. Cable's Discovery Networks, which include Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, Discovery Health and Discovery Civilization, will have special "Faces of 9.11" programming throughout the day Wednesday and all the Discovery channels -- even Animal Planet -- will be commercial free. Talk about your big bouquets . . . Fox also is forgoing commercials in its two-hour prime-time window, which will be filled by programming from Fox News Channel. The Scripps family of cable networks, including HGTV and Food Network, will go dark for two hours Wednesday morning. In place of programming the channels will run "a series of images, words and music intended to inspire quiet reflection." Granted, most of the media companies have New York headquarters and big operations in the nation's capital. A dignified show of sympathy is not only understandable, it's appropriate. What doesn't make sense is the way the broadcast networks assume Americans want to watch upwards of 16 hours of programming related to 9/11 in one day. ABC, CBS and NBC will all air expanded versions of their morning shows, then offer special coverage in the afternoon and evening. Even if we are interested, the decision to lump it all together speaks volumes about the networks' real motivation here. For if they want to be noticed for something other than their bouquets, wouldn't you expect them to respect their viewers as much as they purport to respect the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks? If they truly have hours and hours of quality programming that can soothe, inspire and illuminate, wouldn't it be sensible, even laudable, to spread it out over weeks and months so more people have opportunities to see it? (And is it really sensitive to air it all in one day anyway?) Editors always go overboard on the anniversaries of big events because, like Les Moonves, they're afraid not to. They're afraid that if they limit their coverage to one or two thoughtful, reflective stories they'll be accused of lacking intellectual depth or breadth or girth. They forget that an anniversary is an artificial reminder, and that if something is important enough to remember, there are 364 other days on which to encourage reflection and show respect. ___________________________________ John Levesque is the P-I's television critic. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WHY I WON'T WATCH THESE 9/11 SHOWS -- By LINDA STASI September 9, 2002 -- I am sitting here with videos, press kits and information for 60 - count 'em 60 - shows about Sept. 11. And that's just for this week. I didn't bother to count the ones that began last week, nor the ones which will be on into next week. And guess what? I won't watch any of them. Not one. I know, I know, I'm the TV critic and all that. But I can't, and I won't. I lived through Sept. 11 - I don't need to see the whole nightmare treated like some disaster movie by every media outlet on earth. I realize that we in the media are caught in a quandary. Don't do anything and we're unpatriotic. Do something and we're exploiting horror for our own ends. But I make my choice simply not to participate. It makes me feel like an interloper on tragedy. A carpetbagger with a remote control. And I'll bet I'm not alone. I don't think we need reminders. It's not your mother's birthday and if you forget you'll get in trouble. There's no way any of us will ever forget. We don't need to be hit over the head with it in some morbid attempt to keep us occupied. I don't want to watch the live memorials and I don't want to watch the concerts. I saw it happen. I worked it and I lived it. So did you. If you choose to watch, however, the choices of tragic entertainment are limitless. There's a show, "Frontline's Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," about how regular people and clergy question the role of God in our lives after the disaster to an "Investigative Reports" on the final 102 minutes of the World Trade Center. "Report From Ground Zero" is about the first responders to the attack. "America Rebuilds" is the story of the recovery efforts of engineers, contractors, and fire and police officials at Ground Zero. There are stories about animals who were there and people who might have been but weren't. There's a "60 Minutes" interview with the President who recounts what happened to him that day. There's one about the Canadian families who took in stranded Americans who were grounded. You name it, it's a show. Even "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson will sing. Stop! I can't take it anymore. Was there a concert for Hiroshima? A rock out for Nagasaki? A Pearl Harbor interpretive dance number? Band-Aid for Bhopal? Why does everything have to turn into something to keep us busy every second? Can't we each just reflect quietly about what we've gone through? I don't need a show to remind me. The show in my head will never leave me. That's enough for now. And maybe forever. Copyright 2001 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Monday, September 9, 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited The Canadian Press American film director Michael Moore responds to questions during a news conference at the Banff Television Festival in June. Moore's latest work, Bowling for Columbine, is backed by Halifax's Salter Street Productions, and was shown to a North American audience for the first time Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will open the Atlantic Film Festival on Friday. [caption] [we thought it was shown previously to a North American audience at the Telluride film festival in August ---- gh] DON'T TRY THAT AT HOME, MIKE DIRECTOR WALKED INTO TORONTO HOMES TO PROVE POINT ABOUT GUN ATTITUDES By Angela Pacienza / The Canadian Press Toronto - When America's leading rabble-rouser, Michael Moore, was filming a documentary about gun culture in the United States, he had a hard time believing Canadians don't lock their doors. So one night last spring, armed with a camera crew, he set out to test the urban myth in downtown Toronto, only to find 70 per cent of the doors open. "I thought, 'I cannot show this to an American public. They'll think you're all crazy up here that you don't lock your doors,'" he said at a news conference at the Toronto International Film Festival. Moore's latest film, Bowling for Columbine, was shown to a North American audience for the first time Saturday. Clad in his traditional uniform of saggy jeans and a baseball cap, the filmmaker admitted that despite his fearless demeanour, he was apprehensive about testing the theory. "I was afraid. The concept of just opening up somebody's door. First of all it's illegal ... so I waited until the last minute," said the director of films including Roger and Me, The Big One and Canadian Bacon. "Those people had no notice I was coming. I randomly ran up and opened those doors and hoped that I wasn't going to get shot 'cuz I'm thinking in an American frame of mind." Bowling for Columbine, which won a Cannes jury prize in May, is a scathing look at gun culture in the United States. After an opening sequence which sees Moore open an account at a Michigan bank in order to receive the free gift of a gun, the filmmaker crosses the United States and parts of Ontario in search of an answer for America's obsession with guns. He asks why Americans are more likely to kill one another with guns when seven million registered weapons are inside Canada's 10 million homes. "That's a boatload of guns. You have to be willing to accept that you are different, culturally, socially, and ethically," he said after a reporter suggested Moore might have simplified gun statistics of the two countries. "Don't leave my movie as Canadians saying the reason is because you don't have Uzis and handguns ... even with a rifle and shotgun in the house when you get into an argument with a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, neighbour, or a co-worker, for some reason, you don't reach for the gun and I think that's a legitimate question to ask. "Why do you get to have all these guns lying around and you don't kill each other and we do? That's not right. You're no better than us." The title of the film, bankrolled by Halifax's Salter Street Productions, is a play on the whereabouts of the two young gunmen in Colorado's 1999 Columbine high school shooting - the pair went bowling before they opened fire at school, killing 13 people and then themselves. On a deeper level, the film explores America's psyche. "Guns and Columbine are just my entry point into the much larger discussion that I wish would take place. I'm much more concerned about the fact that we've just gone nuts as opposed to whether we've got too many gun nuts in America," said the author of the current best-seller Stupid White Men. Moore ventures outside the Columbine tragedy, looking at the Oklahoma City bombing (during a visit to James Nichols, a one-time buddy of Timothy McVeigh), U.S. government policy overseas, the shooting death of a six-year-old girl by a six-year-old boy in his home town of Flint, Mich., and the sensitive topic of Sept. 11. He also challenges Charlton Heston, the president of the National Rifle Association, about the high number of gun-related deaths in the U.S. After saying that America's gun problem might be due to its multicultural makeup, the star of The Ten Commandments walks away from Moore during an interview at his Beverly Hills mansion. "I was surprised when Charlton Heston made that comment in the film," Moore said. "I didn't ask him about race even though race is a big part of the film. "To be honest when I heard him say it I felt bad for him. I felt he was having his Jimmy the Greek moment." Moore said he regrets not having challenged Heston's remarks. "I was too shocked," said Moore, who once purchased a lifetime membership to the NRA in the hopes of beating Heston at the organization's presidential elections. And despite Heston's recent announcement that he has Alzheimer-like symptoms, Moore said he had no qualms about the clip in his film. "You can see in the film he's quite lucid. He's able to hold his own and says what he wants to say." The movie opens Oct. 11. But Moore said American audiences might have a difficult time viewing the film because the country's largest theatre chain told him they won't carry it. That's likely because the film will be "a bitter pill for some Americans to swallow," Moore said. "It's always hard to take a look at yourself and question what's been going on. If we were able to get rid of all the guns in America and have strong gun control laws, we would still have the central problem of being afraid of the other." Copyright © 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Took a brief trip to visit friends in Boca Raton Friday morning (Sept. 6), returning late eve Sunday, the 8th. No time was dedicated to FM pirate scans, or much other radio for that matter. Since I wasn't doing the driving while a guest of my friends, I didn't have control of the car radios. So, just a few thin items below. Never had a chance to tune to pirate KQV on 1610 in the evenings. No trace of him on my mid-morning arrival. 530, SW Florida Int'l Airport KNNI706, Ft. Myers; noted in passing with usual man and woman loop on parking, baggage restrictions, etc. while on I-75 in the vicinity. 1510, DOT WPUR527, Peace River Bridge, Charlotte County; dedicated loop for northbound I-75 traffic, generic calls used here and on 1640. See 1640 entry for more. 1640, DOT WPUR527, Peace River Bridge, Charlotte County; dedicated loop for southbound I-75 traffic, generic calls used here and on 1510 (northbound dedicated info frequency). Long loop with man & woman regarding bridge reconstruction, delays, make sure your gas isn't empty and tires aren't flat, etc. A series of transmitters are in the median (I think I counted at least five for each direction). Lots of blue/white and bulb signs alerting to tune to the respective channels. Apparently they added 1640 and split the traffic direction info recently, as previous reports were for 1510 only. 1640, DOT Florida Turnpike, Broward/Palm Beach Counties; too numerous to even try to pin down. Noted brief peaks while on the Sawgrass Expressway northbound entrance from I-75 (the Turnpike-proper being just east of the Sawgrass), also another brief spike around the Atlantic Blvd. exit on the Sawgrass. Huge one at the Sawgrass junction with the Turnpike in north Broward, also a big one at the West Palm Beach service plaza. All the same message, with traffic updates and Turnpike info. Noted a brief break into NOAA Weather Radio on the Sawgrass/Turnpike one, presumably while the latest update was being loaded. 1650, City of Boca Raton; fair signal in the Boca area, though not great on some fringes of city limits. Loops of road construction updates, employment opportunities, etc. 90.9 MHz, unidentified; huge signal, stereo, all hardcore rap, lots of "nigga" in the lyrics, no announcements noted. This was heard upon first tuning in on the FL Turnpike north of Glades Road, north to SR- 706 (signal pretty poor by then). The unidentified West Palm Beach entry, "909" (Ft. Lauderdale), or something new? 91.9 MHz, unidentified; pretty much a clone signal and format of the above 90.9 (and heard in the same locale). "Flavor 91.9," or something new? Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Low Power FM activists plan to drive around Seattle this week with pirate radio transmitters. They call it "swarm-casting", since they compare their microstations to mosquitoes. They claim the goal of ``microBLAST 2002`` is to shut down the stations owned by the likes of Clear Channel and Infinity (Radio Ink 09/09/2002 via Steven Wiseblood, TX, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. PRESS STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (VOP) The board of trustees of Radio Voice of the People (VOP) would like to correct certain misleading and inflammatory statements quoting some government officials about the legal status and operations of the station, which was completely destroyed in a bomb blast in the early hours of Thursday 29 August 2002. The government knows of the existence of VOP and in fact on July 4 2002 the police, accompanied by officials from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe searched our offices and confiscated files and tapes, which they only returned three weeks ago. The description of VOP by the Minister of State for Information and Publicity Professor Jonathan Moyo as an illegal radio station churning out anti-Zimbabwe propaganda and further linking it to terrorist activities is incorrect and most unfortunate. VOP is legally registered in Zimbabwe as a communications trust whose main objectives, among others include: - Ø Promoting effective communication between policy-makers and disadvantaged communities. Ø Promoting the participation by all Zimbabweans in sharing ideas or information for the furtherance of the Trust's objectives and the general development of Zimbabwe socially, economically, culturally, recreationally and politically. The radio station project is one of the vehicles that we have been using to promote the objectives of the trust. Cognisant of Zimbabwe's current restrictive broadcasting legislation, VOP does not own transmitters or a broadcast frequency in the country since the airwaves have not yet been freed almost two years after the enactment of the so-called Broadcasting Services Act. This is why the station is leasing a short-wave transmitter from outside the country. VOP is providing an alternative voice to Zimbabweans under an environment monopolized by the state broadcaster. It is not linked to any political party or controlled by foreign interests. Its editorial policy clearly states that stories and programmes should be balanced and covered in depth, providing clarity and full information. That is exactly what the station has been doing since its inception more that two years ago on June 12, 2000 on the eve of Zimbabwe's last Parliamentary elections. VOP has always been operating inside Zimbabwe and has never been secretive or clandestine about its operations and business premises. Its past and present personnel are law abiding, well-trained and experienced journalists, professional and support staff who have never disguised themselves in any way during their tour of duty. VOP brochures, T-shirts and caps have been distributed freely and well received throughout the country. Its programmes touch on issues pertaining to gender, youth, women, the environment, and health- especially the HIV/AIDS pandemic and topical socio-political events. The station has always sought comments from government, ruling party, opposition and civic organisation officials on matters of public interest. It also largely seeks the views of the general populace of Zimbabwe on matters affecting them using a random interviewing technique called voxpop-hence its well known slogan "Vanhu vari kutaura/ Abantu bayakhuluma/The people are talking." In conclusion the board would like to express its disgust at the unwarranted attack on VOP offices and sincerely hope that the law enforcement agents would bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book in a fair and transparent manner. We also hope that it will not be a long wait before the airwaves are freed in order for aspiring broadcasters not to go the long route outside our borders in order to freely and openly debate national issues. We also thank all those people and organizations that have issued solidarity messages in support of our worthy cause of promoting free speech and divergent viewpoints in our nation. Issued by RADIO VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harare September 3, 2002 (via Andy Sennitt, Sept 9, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DX PROGRAM RECORDINGS +++++++++++++++++++++ Hello Glenn, I thought I`d pass on that my new site contain Windows Media recording of my favorite DX programs. This is the first time I have allowed the public to listen to my weekly recordings. I started doing this a year ago to help a couple old hams who are now shutins. They miss most of the shows because of timing or propagation conditions. They only have YB400s; the nursing home is full of noise. My site also boasts live streaming in Windows Media of whatever I am listening to at the time. My main HF interest is pirate radio and ship communications. http://members.rogers.com/alexsradio/ Thank you and 73 (Alex Draper, Orillia Ontario Canada, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Alex, that should come in handy for others; currently on his menu are two DXings with Cumbres, two WORs (one via RFPI, another via WWCR), and 3 editions of DXers Unlimited --- the latter not otherwise available ondemand on the web, AFAIK. (I`ve never been able to get RHC`s live streaming to connect.) His pirate audio and QSL collexion is quite extensive (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ Re: Oldest Radio in Britain, 2-140: Clearly this journo hasn't bothered doing much homework, nor has he read the BDXC website list of radio museums. Do you think we should tell him! (MARK Savage, BDXC-UK via DXLD) DRM DRM Debuts Consumer Receiver, Software Radio at IBC DRM To Introduce 2 Major Advances in Special Live Preview at IBC, Saturday, September 14th Mon, 9 Sep 2002 12:16:25 +0100 For Radio Amateurs and DXers, a Peek at DRM`s First Publicly Available Software Radio and an Invitation to Its Testing Project Plus, a Glimpse into the Future with DRM`s First Consumer Receiver Amsterdam – The DRM Consortium will unveil a production-ready world- band consumer receiver, made by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, and a preview version of its first publicly-available receiver, the DRM Software Radio made by Fraunhofer IIS-A, in a special preview with live transmissions at IBC 2002. At the same time, DRM will open the doors to radio enthusiasts who want to be the first non-members to access its transmissions when the DRM Software Radio Project, managed by VT Merlin Communications, begins this December. Qualified radio amateurs and DXers who plan to purchase the software (price: 60?) may register their interest during IBC. The special live preview, featuring DRM Chairman (and Executive Director of Marketing, Distribution & Technology at Deutsche Welle) Peter Senger, will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 14th at the DRM Booth in the Radio Hall (Hall 8), Stand 485. DRM is made up of 75 broadcasters, network operators, manufacturers and researchers who have created a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM is the world`s only non- proprietary, digital AM system for short-wave, medium-wave and long- wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With near-FM quality sound offering a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands in markets worldwide. ``This is an exceptionally fast-moving time in DRM`s development,`` says Senger. ``As we close in on our 2003 launch with test transmissions across the globe, we invite radio enthusiasts to listen to DRM for themselves and report their findings in our Software Radio Project. Furthermore, we are delighted to present the first DRM consumer receiver, which offers equipment manufacturers a low-cost track toward mass production of DRM receivers.`` DRM Software Radio Project The DRM Software Radio, designed for private use, is a downscaled version of an existing, professional Fraunhofer receiver. Its features include: audio MPEG-4 AAC +SBR decoding, multimedia reception, selection of service and the possibility to log the reception quality (which can later be sent back to DRM). Its audio decoding library has been provided by Coding Technologies. Radio enthusiasts may register their interest in the Software Radio Project at the DRM Booth during IBC 2002, or at the DRM Web site at http://www.drm.org When the project launches in December, the web site will be set up to support and distribute the software for a 2-year period, and to analyse received DRM transmissions. It will also contain a discussion forum, worked examples of receiver modifications, an analysis section, and general information about the project. Participants must meet the following technical criteria: Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 98. An AT-compatible PC with 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor (or equivalent), 64 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space, 16-bit SoundBlaster (or compatible) soundcard that supports full duplex at 48 kHz sampling rate for input and output; the input must be without AGC (Automatic Gain Control); for example: Creative SoundBlaster Live! or ``USB One`` USB audio interface. Notebook soundcards are not always compatible, and a compatibility list will be published. A front-end receiver is also required, an AOR7030 or another receiver which can be modified. The modification is the addition of an extra circuit board to produce an extra Intermediate Frequency (IF) of 12 kHz. Several companies already sell these conversion boards. Participants will need a receiver with a 12 kHz IF, because this frequency is within the range of PC soundcards. Many radio receivers have an IF of 455 kHz, so the extra circuit board mixes this down to the soundcard range. The PC soundcard is used to analyse the DRM signal. DRM Consumer Receiver The world-band consumer receiver, developed by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, is based on a modular system design made up around standard components. It is a production-ready OEM receiver sample integrated in an enclosure of a commercially available multi-band radio receiver. The DRM system also uses aacPlus by Coding Technologies as the standard audio coding format. aacPlus is a combination of MPEG AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) with Coding Technologies` groundbreaking SBR (Spectral Band Replication) bandwidth extension algorithm. About DRM The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium was founded in 1998. DRM`s membership is rich in its diversity, with members from 29 countries as varied as Ecuador, Tunisia, Germany, China, the U.S.A., Nigeria, Finland, India, the U.K., Japan, Spain and Australia. Moving fast toward universal standardization, the DRM system has been endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), which published its DRM Publicly Available Specification (PAS 62272-1). The IEC approval, together with DRM`s existing certifications by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), puts DRM a step closer to its 2003 launch. DRM audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org About Coding Technologies Coding Technologies, the Swedish-German technology leader in audio coding, develops and implements unique audio compression technologies for the broadcasting, Internet and telecommunication markets. Coding Technologies` SBR (Spectral Band Replication) technology is used in the MP3 successor mp3PRO as well as in the highly efficient coding method aacPlus. It is part of open standards like Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and is reference model in MPEG-4. The company`s customers include system designers, chip/device manufacturers and content providers. Coding Technologies, a privately held company with offices in Stockholm, Sweden, and Nuremberg, Germany, combines the exceptional skills of a Swedish company specialized in audio compression technologies and a spin-off from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, the inventor of MP3. For more information, visit http://www.codingtechnologies.com. About Fraunhofer IIS-A The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft founded in 1949 is the leading organization of applied research in Europe. It operates 56 research establishments. The headquarters are located in Munich, Germany. Most of the 11,000 staff members are qualified scientists and engineers. Founded in 1985, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen ranks first in terms of staff count and industrial revenues among other Fraunhofer-Institutes. The spectrum of services ranges from consulting, concept development, hardware and software design to system development and prototype implementation. Research topics are: Audio coding including significant contributions to international standards (MP3, MPEG-4 Audio), video coding at very low bit rates, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), RF-circuitries, complex digital systems on silicon, vision systems for automated quality assurance, ultra fine focus X-ray computer tomography, high speed camera systems and analog and digital ICs. 13,500 square meters of office and laboratory space are available for 450 staff members to carry out contract research. The budget of 49 million Euros is mainly financed by projects from private industries and public sectors. Less than 20% of the budget is subsidized by federal and state funds. About VT Merlin Communications VT Merlin Communications, part of the VT Group, is a leading provider of critical communications services to customers in the space communications, defence and broadcast industries. Its range of critical communications services includes technical support services, facilities management, as well as project and programme management. VT Merlin has extensive experience in the design, build, operation, maintenance and support of facilities worldwide. Customers include The European Space Agency (ESA), BBC World Service, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and QinetiQ. Operating the world`s leading short wave network, VT Merlin transmits over 1,000 hours of both short and medium wave broadcasts every day. VT Merlin`s global network provides broadcasters with exceptional coverage of the world`s most populous regions, and offers capacity to deliver your programmes globally. Currently VT Merlin broadcasts for major international broadcasters including BBC World Service, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, NHK (Radio Japan), Radio Canada International, Radio Netherlands and Voice of America. DRM Members DRM members are FARB (Australia); Nautel Ltd., Radio Canada International/CBC (Canada); Academy of Broadcasting Science of China (China); Riz Transmitters (Croatia); HFCC (Czech Republic); ESPOL, HCJB World Radio (Ecuador); Egyptian Radio and TV Union (Egypt); Digita Oy, Kymenlaakso Polytechnic (Finland); Atmel ES 2, CCETT, Radio France, Radio France Internationale, TéléDiffusion de France, Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (France); APR, Coding Technologies GmbH, Deutsche Welle, DeutschlandRadio, DLM, Sender Europa 1, Fraunhofer IIS-A, Innovationszentrum Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT, IRT, Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt, Micronas GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, SWR Südwestrundfunk, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, T-Systems MediaBroadcast, University of Applied Sciences - FH Merseburg, University of Hannover, University of Ulm, VPRT (Germany); Antenna Hungaria, Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary); All India Radio (India); RAI (Italy); Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., JVC Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., NHK (Japan); Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting (Libya); Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg); Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia); Nozema, Radio Netherlands (Netherlands); Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand); Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria); Telenor/Norkring (Norway); Main Centre for Control of Broadcasting Networks/Voice of Russia (Russia); Universidad del Pais Vasco, (Spain); Factum Electronics AB, Radio Sweden International, Teracom SE (Sweden); EBU, International Committee of the Red Cross, ITU (Switzerland); Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia); BBC, Christian Vision, VT Merlin Communications, QinetiQ, RadioScape Ltd., Roke Manor Research Ltd. (U.K.); Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, IDT Continental Electronics, Harris Corporation, IBB/VOA, National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, Sangean America, Inc.,TCI, a Dielectric Company (U.S.A.); and Radio Vaticana (Vatican City). Contacts: Siriol Evans, DRM, pressoffice@drm.org, +44 1481 268246, mobile +44 7781 127019 Laura Jelf, VT Merlin Communications, laura.jelf@merlincommunications.com +44 20 7344 5777, mobile + 44 7788 741724 Olaf Korte or Gerd Kilian, Fraunhofer IIS-A, bc-info@iis.fraunhofer.de +49 9131 776 6301 Gerald Moser, Coding Technologies GmbH, press@codingtechnologies.com +49 911 928 910 PROPAGATION +++++++++++ KN4LF 7 Day Medium Frequency Radio Propagation Outlook #2002-23 Published 1:00 PM EDT 02/09/08 For 02/09/09-02/09/15. Though this outlook is aimed primarily at medium frequencies, virtually all the following propagation data is applicable to HF frequencies. This 7 day medium frequency (300-3000 kc) propagation outlook and other solar, space weather and propagation data can be found on my website at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm Due to the international scope of the Amateur Radio/SWL radio community I have adopted the date format of yy/mm/dd. REVIEW- The week of 02/09/02-02/09/08 was relatively quiet considering that we are approaching the Fall/Spring Equinox. ENERGETIC PROTON FLUX- During the previous seven day period one >10 MeV (10+0) energetic proton event occurred. It began at 0455 UTC on 02/09/07 and ended at 0230 UTC on 02/09/08. At its peak it reached approximately 210 pfu. (10+2). Originally I thought that the source of this elevated energetic proton event was old sunspot group #10069 (now renumbered as 10105) which actually arrived around the Sun's eastern limb early this morning. However it may have been associated with the a filament eruption just east of sunspot region #10102 at 16:24 UTC triggered a long duration C5.2 solar from solar region #10102 peaking. During the previous outlook period I had forecasted the probability of an elevated energetic proton flux event >10 MeV (10+0). During the new outlook period the probability of an elevated energetic proton flux event >10 MeV (10+0) is placed at 60%. An elevated energetic proton flux level >10 MeV (10+0) creates noticeably increased winter time day and year round night time D layer absorption of medium wave frequencies, especially on high latitude propagation paths but it can also negatively impact mid latitudes, depending on the intensity of the event. Elevated energetic proton events too small to be categorized as a Polar Cap Absorption event (PCA) can still impact high and mid level medium frequency propagation paths in the form of excessive D layer absorption. This fact is still stubbornly opposed by some otherwise very knowledgeable space weather physicists over dependent on threshold Riometer readings. ((((Note, high latitude medium frequency radio propagation paths can still be disturbed for days and up to weeks, following the end of an official >10 MeV (10+0) proton event.)))) SOLAR FLUX- During the previous 7 day period the daily solar flux values ranged between 186 and 171. During the new outlook period the daily solar flux values should range between approximately 230 and 180. NOTICE!!! During the latter part of the outlook period F-1/2 layer propagation openings on 6 meters are possible. Occasional auroral propagation is probable, with Sporadic E (Es) and Trans Equatorial Scatter (TEQ) openings also probable. During the previous 7 day period the background X-ray flux levels ranged between C1.3 and B6.4. Elevated background X-ray flux levels can impact propagation of medium frequency signals in a negative manner. Background X-ray flux levels of C2 or greater creates increased D-layer absorption of 160 and 120 meter signals and C1 or greater creates increased D-layer absorption of AM broadcast band signals. High solar flux values are generally considered to be detrimental to propagation of medium frequency signals both domestic and Trans Atlantic (TA) & Trans Pacific (TP), as more absorption can be present via the transmitted signals' two trips through the D layer at the takeoff and arrival points. Most "strong" longer haul medium frequency DX signals in excess of 3000 miles is via the E Valley-F layer ducting and/or Chordal Hop propagation modes. Therefore high solar flux values can aid in long haul medium frequency propagation paths in excess of 3000 miles, as a high solar flux value ensures a strong F layer part of the E Valley-F layer duct or Chordal Hop propagation mechanism. However high solar activity in the form of increased ionization created by Ultraviolet and X-Ray radiation can fill in the E Valley region and interfere with the E Valley-F layer ducting mechanism. In a sense the E Valley-F layer duct is closed on one or both ends of a propagation path and the transmitted MF RF signal only propagates between the E layer and land/ocean surface, with a higher angle and more loss. SUNSPOT REGIONS/SOLAR FLARES- During the previous 7 day period the visible sunspot groups were less active with only two M class solar flares occurring. An M1.1 solar flare occurred at 0049 UTC on 02/09/03. and an M1.5 class solar flare occurred at 0139 UTC on 02/09/08. Recently numbered sunspot region #10105 at S06 E77 emerged around the Sun's eastern limb early today. This is actually previous sunspot group #10069 which wreaked havoc on last month's space weather conditions. #10105 has emerged with a beta-delta class magnetic signature, which harbors energy for medium sized M class solar flares and also huge X class solar flares in future days. Fortunately sunspot group #10105 will not be in Earth facing (geo- effective) position for a while yet. That means nil chances of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME'S) and Geomagnetic Storms from this group. However it can still produce planet impacting elevated energetic proton events. During the outlook period I place the chance of a C class solar flare at 100%, an M class at 70% and an X class at 50%. An earthward facing C4 or higher class solar flare "can" elevate the proton flux above 10 MeV (10+0) and initiate large scale high and mid latitude propagation path absorption on the AM broadcast band, 160 and 120 meters, both stateside and DX, as a transfer of increased density and RF signal absorption from the day side D layer to night side of the ionosphere occurs through high level winds. Unfortunately even smaller C3 solar flares can create hour to hour and night to night variations in signal strength on medium frequencies. High and mid latitude Trans Atlantic (TA) and Trans Pacific (TP) propagation paths tend to open up after a significant period of time passes without an elevated energetic proton event of >10 MeV (10+0). This fact is still stubbornly opposed by some otherwise very knowledgeable space weather physicists over dependent on threshold Riometer readings. Openings also occur when the solar background x-ray level falls back to or below C1 for 160 and 120 meters and B9 for the AM broadcast band. CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS/IONOSPHERIC STORMS/VISIBLE AURORA- During the previous 7 day period at least one Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's) was partially geo-effective (earth facing). The full halo CME was associated with a filament eruption just east of solar region #10102 and also a long duration C5.2 solar flare event from solar region #10102, on 02/09/05. However, when the shock from this CME struck the IMF yesterday, it's polarity turned negative, an ionospheric storm with a Kp of 7 (G3) commenced and visible mid latitude Aurora did occur. During the previous 7 day period our planet did encounter a solar wind stream flowing from a geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal hole. The solar stream arrived on 02/09/04 triggering a moderate (Kp-6)(g2) ionospheric storm. A solar wind stream from a new geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal hole could buffet Earth's Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) as early as 02/09/10, triggering a minor (Kp-5)(G1) to moderate (KP- 6)(G2)ionospheric storm. During the outlook period the probability of an Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is placed at 50%. During the outlook period the probability of unsettled (Kp-3) to active (Kp-4) geomagnetic conditions is placed at 80%. During the outlook period the probability of at least a moderate ionospheric storm (Kp-5)(G1) is placed at 60%. During the outlook period the probability of a visible mid latitude Aurora display is placed at 60%. The Wang-Sheeley Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) Model which predicts Earth's IMF polarity, forecasts a positive polarity from 02/09/05-02/09/09. When the polarity of the IMF is negative a visible mid latitude Aurora display is likely when a CME strikes the Earth's magnetic field. When the polarity of the IMF is positive a visible mid latitude Aurora display is unlikely as a CME strikes the Earth's magnetic field. A Coronal Mass Ejection is the name given to an ejection of a large amount of matter from the Sun's outer atmosphere or corona. These ejections typically comprise millions of tons of material in the form of charged particles, and can be seen because the material reflects sunlight. When one of these ejections is directed towards the Earth (or conversely, directly away from the Earth), it looks like a roughly circular "halo" surrounding the Sun. The "Halo CME's" then are those CME's which are more likely to impact the Earth than those which are shot out at right angles to the Earth- Sun line. Energetic protons emitted during CME's play a major role in increased day time and night-time D-layer absorption of mediumwave frequencies. Coronal Mass Ejections were once thought to be completely initiated by solar flares. However it is now known that many (CME's) are not associated with Solar Flares. If a (CME) collides with the Earth, it can excite a Geomagnetic Storm if the polarity of the IMF has a negative sign. We must be vigilant in watching for geoeffective (CME's), in order to not be caught by surprise with a seemingly sudden and unexpected Geomagnetic Storm. As the Kp index reaches 3-4, the aurora oval begins expanding equatorward in magnetic latitude and generally begins having a negative impact on high latitude medium frequency propagation paths. A Kp index of 5 or higher begins to have a negative impact on high latitude high frequency shortwave propagation paths. However at times skewed path propagation conditions can compensate for high latitude propagation path auroral absorption. STRATOSPHERIC WARMING- During the outlook period increased winter like day and year round night time D layer absorption of medium frequency signals tied to stratospheric warming should not occur. Stratospheric warming is a major temperature change of the winter time polar and middle atmosphere from the tropopause (where the troposphere transitions into the stratosphere) to the base (D-layer) of the ionosphere, lasting for many days at a time and characterized by a warming of the stratospheric temperature by some tens of degrees (temperature inversion). As the stratosphere lies below the ionosphere, which is at mesosphere and thermosphere height, you would not expect to see stratospheric warming effect medium frequency propagation in any way BUT medium frequency signals do refract off of temperature inversions and moisture discontinuities and a temperature inversion is involved with stratospheric warming. So it's possible that a medium frequency signal could do any number of things when refracting off of a temperature inversion, at any height. Also stratospheric warming (STRATWARM) has a negative effect on medium frequency propagation, due to increasing medium frequency radio wave absorption by the D layer, via upward propagating Internal Gravity Waves (IGW). Also I have observed that stratospheric warming usually coincides with major jetstream circulation pattern changes and movement of Arctic air masses from Siberian Russia across the pole to Canada and the U.S. This phenomenon also occurs in southern hemisphere winter but seems to be less pronounced. 7 DAY FORECAST OUTLOOK- As we approach the fall/spring equinox propagation conditions will become more balanced in both hemispheres. Also as is the norm geomagnetic activity will increase. Expect good domestic propagation conditions in the northern hemisphere out to approximately 1050 miles. Expect very good domestic propagation conditions in the southern hemisphere out to approximately 1050 miles. "High latitude" northern hemispheric (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be fair. "High latitude" southern hemispheric (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be good. "Mid latitude" northern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be fair to good. "Mid latitude" southern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good to very good. "Low latitude" northern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good. "Low latitude" southern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good. There will be "moderate to high" lightning induced QRN levels in mid and low latitude areas of the northern hemisphere tied to warm season thunderstorms and tropical systems during the forecast period. Occasional lightning induced QRN will occur across the mid and low latitude areas of the southern hemisphere, with an endless series of winter time approaching cold fronts and surface extra-tropical low pressure systems. High to moderate lightning induced QRN will continue in the vicinity of the tropical ITCZ and across equatorial regions. 73, Thomas Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL KN4LF 160 Meter Amateur Radio Resources: http://www.kn4lf.com KN4LF Daily Solar Space Weather Geomagnetic Data Plus MF Propagation Outlook: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm FL Meteorological & Climatic Institute: http://www.kn4lf.com/sub/fmci.htm (Thomas Giella, KN4LF kn4lf@arrl.net Sept 8, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-140, September 7, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030?, 0630? on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1200, 1830?, Mon 1230? BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of World Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE 7490: Appears irregularly in the 0000 UT hour; UT Sat Sept 7 ending at 0048 was last week`s #1145; only open carrier after 1200 UT Sat. More under USA. ** ANGOLA [and non]. New article by Eric Beauchemin, who visited there earlier this year, includes audio clips; a bit from the second page: RADIO ECCLESIA: GIVING ANGOLANS A VOICE Rádio Ecclésia, Angola's only independent radio station, broadcasts 15-and-a-half hours a day in Luanda on 97.5 FM. It is also on the air daily for one hour on 6205 kHz via a 250 kilowatt transmitter in Meyerton, South Africa. Rádio Ecclésia began broadcasting on shortwave in July 2000 to provide coverage of a major peace conference. The station hired two hours of airtime daily from Radio Netherlands to broadcast via our relay station in Madagascar. But the transmissions stopped after only two weeks because of technical problems. They resumed 10 months later using the facilities of Deutsche Telekom and a 100 kW transmitter in Jülich in eastern Germany. In May 2002, Rádio Ecclésia switched to a shortwave transmitter in South Africa. The station puts together a special one-hour broadcast, eliminating references to local events in Luanda, which it feeds to Merlin Communications in London via the Internet. Because of insufficient bandwidth in Angola, it takes four hours to feed the programme. It automatically goes into a play-out system and is sent to South Africa for broadcast by satellite. Few Listeners Despite the huge costs in providing a shortwave signal, says Rene Roemersma of the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa, NiZA, few people actually listen to the broadcasts. "Because of the war and the sheer size of Angola, it has been difficult to let people know about Rádio Ecclésia. Most people simply don't know the station's frequency... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/ecclesia1020906.html (Media Network Sept 6 via DXLD) 6205?? André duToit`s SENTECH schedule shows 6100, tho last updated 30 June: Ecclesia 19:00 20:00 6100 250 328 1234567 Angola (gh, DXLD) {later corrected to 7205} ** ARGENTINA. Not very likely that they will do so [move down to 7 MHz as someone suggested]. I have corresponded with the station over the years, and even provided tapes to illustrate their reception problems in North America. The programming people I dealt with seemed to understand and would certainly like their programs to be heard better. However, from what I know from industry sources, RAE has occupied its present frequencies since the time of the Perón regime, and the Powers That Be in Argentina are reluctant to switch from what they see as "their" frequencies. It's a shame, since they do have some interesting programs...if one can hear them (Marie Lamb, Sept 6, ODXA via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 136 kHz: Roberto U. Beviglia, LU4BR, President of Radio Club Argentino, http://www.lu4aa.org reports that a portion of the 136 kHz band (135.7 - 135.8 kHz) has been allocated to amateur service on a secondary basis in Argentina. It will be coordinated by the Radio Club Argentino until it is finally assigned on a primary basis, within one year (425 DX News #592, via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Previews, Sept 6-8: RA FEEDBACK* - listener letters, features and news about RA. This week: "Indonesia and Censorship; Radio Finland". Radio Australia's Indonesian service, flushed with success and having just celebrated its 60th anniversary, is again facing a major challenge. The Indonesian government plans to prevent the rebroadcast of foreign programmes on local media. If, as seems likely, this legislation gets through parliament all 24 of our relays in Indonesia will cease. Critics of the legislation say that it is turning the clocks back nearly 40 years. And the rationalisation of international broadcasting continue with news that Radio Finland is about to drop a number of its language services including English. [T;% (selected programs)] (John Figliozzi` previews, swprograms via DXLD) In case this not be a `selected program` to be available ondemand, of which there are only a few over the last several months on the list, the remaining airing is UT Sun 0305 (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN RADIO ANNIVERSARY -THE ORIGINAL SHORTWAVE STATION -- THE ALMOST FORGOTTEN ANNIVERSARY! - SEPTEMBER 5, 1927 It was just 75 years ago that the first international shortwave station in Australia went on the air with its first radio broadcast. The date was Monday September 5, the station was VK2ME in Sydney Australia, and the program was the 1st ``Empire Broadcast``. Back there in those days, Australia was really ``down under`` and quite isolated. The only communication with the outside world was by boat, or by Morse Code sent over a long and tenuous underwater cable system, or by Morse Code sent by variable wireless via several intermediate relay stations. Then it was that Sir Ernest Fisk, managing Director of AWA, Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (OS-tral-Asia), devised the concept of broadcasting radio programs from Australia to other parts of the world. For this purpose, AWA utilized its new 20 kW communication transmitter in the main hall at their new facility at Pennant Hills in an isolated area some 14 miles from downtown Sydney. This new state of the art transmitter was so large that it was contained in several wire cages with access only through safe-guarded gate-ways. The antenna was a long-wire that was attached to the main radio tower in use for the broadcast service of the mediumwave station 2FC. The first ``Empire Broadcast`` went on the air in the early morning of Monday September 5, 1927 so that it could be heard in England during the Sunday evening. The programming originated in the studios of the mediumwave station 2FC in Farmers Departmental Store in Sydney. This live program in this first historic shortwave broadcast from Australia consisted of speeches from prominent political leaders and instrumental and vocal music from Australia`s leading musicians. This innovative program from Australia was heard clearly in London by local listeners using their own shortwave receivers. The BBC station in London, the famous 2LO, also picked up the program and relayed it to millions of listeners throughout England. This 1st ``Empire Broadcast`` was also heard quite clearly in Scotland and India. Six weeks later, the 2nd ``Empire Broadcast `` went on the air, this time over VK2ME shortwave for overseas listeners and on 2FC mediumwave for local listeners. The programming in the 2nd ``Empire Broadcast`` was similar in content to the 1st broadcast. Two weeks later again, the 3rd ``Empire Broadcast`` went on the air and this time it was heard in North America, in addition to several countries in Europe. In the United States, the programming from Australia was picked up by the General Electric station WGY in Schenectady, New York and relayed on mediumwave nationwide and on shortwave worldwide. Over in England, the well known Gerald Marcuse picked up the programming and relayed it on shortwave back to Australia over his famous amateur station G2NM. Program number 4 went on the air in early November; and program number 5 was a special broadcast for Christmas 1927. A little less than a year later, another 20 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Pennant Hills for the broadcast of special programming during an international Catholic Convention in Sydney. On this occasion, the 5 kW mediumwave transmitter for 2FC was re-tuned also to a shortwave channel for a parallel relay. The new 20 kW transmitter was subsequently designated with the callsign VLK. During its 13 year broadcast history, experimental station VK2ME was on the air over at least four different shortwave transmitters:- 1. The original 20 kW VK2ME. 2. The 5 kW mediumwave transmitter was retuned to a shortwave channel. 3. Another 20 kW transmitter under the callsign VLK. 4. Another 20 kW shortwave transmitter again, under the callsign VLM. In addition, for a while during the mid and late 1920s, the programming from VK2ME was also heard on an experimental FM outlet on 7 MHz, station VK2MA. Two of the AWA transmitters were taken into service in December 1939 for the original service from Radio Australia. The transmitters VLK and VLM were redesignated as VLQ and VLQ2, though these calls were later changed to VLI, the original broadcast station with this callsign. Several colorful QSL cards were issued by AWA for transmissions from their stations and these include two different versions of an early map card and the more famous Kookaburra card in yellow. One of these early cards shows the original callsign, A2ME. AWA Pennant Hills is now gone, along with all of the pioneers who kept it on the air, and its colorful history is now stored in boxes in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. Nevertheless, we honor Australia`s pioneer shortwave station on the occasion of what would be the 75th anniversary of its inauguration (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 8 via DXLD) WTFK?? From AMP`s extensive reference notes, we extract some frequencies used at various times:: The initial frequency used in 1927y was 10525 kHz. Others used at various times until 1936, some under different callsigns than VK2ME: 7940, 7945, 7950, 7960, 7980, 8095, 8333 kHz to 8572, 9330, 9590, 9760, 9780, 10510, 10520, 10527, 10950, 13340, 13800, 14710, 16320, 16330, 17630, 19300, 19355, 20400. Note how few of them are within what are considered broadcasting bands today (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Wednesday September 11th SPECIAL CBC PROGRAMMING - LOSS & LEGACY: REFLECTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH: The Roundup is pre-empted for a nine-and-a-half-hour special hosted by Michael Enright, Shelagh Rogers and Bill Richardson. From 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, you`ll hear live coverage of commemorative events from New York. Also woven throughout the special will be new works by Canadian writers and musicians. Visit http://cbc.ca/september11 for additional information (CBC Roundup for Sadgoaters via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Above site has links to lots of audio, video, and schedule info: http://cbc.ca/september11/radio_guide_02-11.html until the 11th and http://cbc.ca/september11/radio_guide_11.html for the day itself, including lots of regional programming. LOSS & LEGACY is referred to in ET, so is 1230-2200 UT, but is it time-shifted like everything normally is across Canada? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. OFFICIAL SAYS STATE-OWNED RADIO STARTS NORMAL BROADCAST | Text of report by Chadian radio on 5 September The RNT [Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, state-owned] has resumed broadcasts in the interior of the country. Despite a few technical difficulties experienced by the station, the RNT is now heard both in the regions and abroad. The RNT technical director, Raphael Mbaye Sane, who is interviewed by Daniel Ndomba, sheds light on the situation. [Sane] We use shortwave transmitters to cover the entire country. These broke down, thus our programmes could not reach our people. [Ndomba] For the past week, however, our listeners in the regions have been telling us that they are now able to pick up Radio Chad. What kind of technical explanation do you have for this? [Sane] The explanation is simply technical. The transmitters were out of order because we were short of parts to fix them. We were waiting for these parts. Fortunately, in early July, we received the necessary parts for one of the transmitters, so we were able to resume broadcasting with their arrival. This explains why listeners can now hear us on shortwave. [Ndomba] We thank you, Mr Director, for this joyful note. [Sane] Thank you. But, I am the one who is happy because it is good for people to listen to our broadcasts. Unfortunately, we cannot broadcast as we should. However if people are listening to us, it is a good thing, and this gives us great joy. Source: Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, Ndjamena, in French 1300 gmt 5 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?? Like 4904.5? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. GOOGLE MIRROR BEATS GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA 15:55 06 September 02 NewScientist.com news service China's widely criticised blocking of the web's most popular search engine Google can be defeated by viewing a strange Google mirror site through a mirror, New Scientist has discovered. The mirror site, called elgooG, is a parody of the English language version of Google in which all the text on the web pages has been reversed. The text terms used for searches are also entered in reverse. The site, which returns all the same hits as Google, can be accessed from behind China's" great firewall". Viewing the page using a mirror makes it somewhat easier to read, and would allow someone to find a website. Web site "mirroring" normally involves copying the contents of a site and hosting on a different server. This can be useful if one server is particularly busy. New Scientist ascertained that elgooG is accessible from China using a system that remotely tests China's internet restrictions. The system was created by two researchers at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in the US. Routine block Google has been blocked inside China since at least 1 September. It emerged on Friday that a second search engine Altavista is also restricted. The action has come under criticism from western human rights groups and journalist's organisations. China's government routinely blocks access to news sites that host content they consider unacceptable, such as the BBC's news site. Webproxies including anonymizer.com and safeweb.com, which can be used to view pages on one site through another, are also blocked. The reason for the latest restrictions is not clear but observers have speculated that government elections [sic] in November could have prompted a crack down on access to information via the internet. Content cache Google could have been targeted because it provides a cache of content from other web sites that are already under government blackout. However, Altavista does not. The country's 45 million internet users can only access the web through government-run ISPs. This means that any site can be blocked easily. The company behind Google has released programming information that provides remote access to its search capabilities. This means mirror sites can be created without having to duplicate Google's colossal database, though to date New Scientist has only identified elgooG. Will Knight (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. James Latham`s ``Interactive Radio Show`` on RFPI is in produxion again, UT Tue-Sat 0345-0400 on 7445, 15039, often with an element of levity as a warmup for the serious ``Democracy Now`` which follows at 0400. Unlike other RFPI shows, this is the only airtime; it is not recorded and repeated. RFPI will carry some special Pacifica programming for Sept. 11, live from Ground Zero and around the country, a 13-hour broadcast from 1100 UT, when RFPI will have 15040 turned on and streaming entire broadcast until 2400, and the block then repeated, at least 8 hours of it overnight when 7445 will also be on [to 0800, then UT Sept 12], preëmpting all other programming. Mountain range to the south not only blocks signals in the direxion of South America, but causes the takeoff angle northward to be higher than otherwise, so the signal disperses. Have had offers to move to new more favorable sites, but lacking capital investment to do so. Financial situation is very difficult at RFPI, but keeps struggling; needs listener support. Contribute or become a member for $40, to P O Box 1094, Eugene OR 97440; or see http://www.rfpi.org for a quick PayPal transfer with Visa or Mastercard (James Latham and Joe Bernard, RFPI Mailbag first airing Sept 7, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 10050, R. Rebelde (2 x 5025), 1000 Sept 7, Weak 2nd harmonic noted this morning from Cuba. Fundamental raspy. Spanish language SSB traffic on top of harmonic (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** CUBA. Hola Glenn, espero que estés muy bien. Acá te envío algunas noticias DX. El pasado 06/09, se pudo escuchar la retransmisión de Radio Reloj, La Habana, Cuba, en las frecuencias de 9550, 9600 y 9650 kHz. El mejor SINPO fue el de 9600 kHz con un registro de 5/5. La emisión fue escuchada entre las 0708 y las 0800 UT. Desde esa fecha no se ha oído más en onda corta. ¿Sería una prueba de los técnicos de Radio Cuba? (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probable mezclas entre transmisores de RHC en 9550, y Rebelde en 9600; durante esa hora después de finalizarse RHC a las 07, transmiten R. Reloj, talvez como prueba en varias frecuencias (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. RADIO HAVANA CUBA - ENGLISH PROGRAMME GUIDE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPE: 2030-2130 on 13660-usb and 13750 kHz 2030 Mon-Sat International News 2110 Mon/Thu Caribbean Outlook 2040 Mon-Sat National News 2110 Wed Mailbag Show 2045 Mon-Sat RHC's Viewpoint 2110 Fri Weekly Review 2100 Mon-Sat News Bulletin 2105 Mon-Sat Time Out (sports) 2030 Sun Weekly Review 2110 Tue/Sat DXers Unlimited 2100 Sun Mailbag Show CARIBBEAN: 2230-2330 on 9550 kHz 2230 Mon-Sat International News 2310 Mon/Thu Caribbean Outlook 2240 Mon-Sat National News 2310 Wed Mailbag Show 2245 Mon-Sat RHC's Viewpoint 2310 Fri Weekly Review 2300 Mon-Sat News Bulletin 2305 Mon-Sat Time Out (sports) 2230 Sun Weekly Review 2310 Tue/Sat DXers Unlimited 2300 Sun Mailbag Show NORTH AMERICA 0100-0500 on 6000 9820 and 11705-usb kHz 0500-0700 on 9550 9820 and 9830-usb kHz 0100 Tue-Sun International News 0410 Tue-Sat Spotlight on the Americas 0110 Tue-Sun National News 0415 Sun The World of Stamps 0115 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0430 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0130 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0500 Tue-Sun International News 0135 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) 0510 Tue-Sun National News 0140 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited 0515 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0140 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook 0530 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0140 Thu Mailbag Show 0535 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) 0140 Sat Weekly Review 0540 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited 0200 Tue-Sun International News 0540 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook 0210 Tue-Sat Spotlight Americas 0540 Thu Mailbag Show 0210 Sun World of Stamps 0540 Sat Weekly Review 0230 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0600 Tue-Sun International News 0300 Tue-Sun International News 0610 Tue/Sat Spotlight on the Americas 0310 Tue-Sun National News 0615 Sun The World of Stamps 0315 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0630 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0330 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0335 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) Unsure of Monday UT programmes in English 0340 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited to North America (local Sunday in N America) 0340 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook as the RHC website seems to show wrong times. 0340 Thu Mailbag Show However these programmes include Weekly 0340 Sat Weekly Review Review, Mailbag Show, Top Tens, Jazz Place, 0400 Tue-Sun International News, Breakthrough, and From Havana. All times/days UTC. Compiled by TR from Radio Havana Cuba website: http://wwwradiohc.org The info was taken at face value from the RHC website without any monitoring checks, so hope it's correct (via Tony Rogers, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ESTONIA. Bob Padula`s brief comments on non-SW here are in current issue 589, later archived at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm – not ETHIOPIA, as previously referenced in 2-138 --- couldn`t read my own scribbling (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9561.7, R. Ethiopia Sep 2 *1600-1607 32332 English, 1600 s/on with IS. ID. Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.27, V. of Guyana, 0925 Sept 3-7. The last few days I've been checking Guyana on 90 meters. Modulation is excellent now, having been earlier this year essentially unlistenable, due to undermodulated signal. On Sept. 3rd I heard birthday greetings on what I assume was "The Early Bird Show", KFC ad, then Subcontinental music. Good signal strength with strong audio. I look forward to quiet fall and winter conditions to enjoy this gem of a station (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3290 [sic], Voice of Guyana 9/3 0912-0923 in English/Spanish. Talk at tune-in of ``Overnight BBC program``. ID at 0915 with local timecheck and mention of ``Early Bird program, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken and PizzaHut``. The announcer then read menu items and price lists! Lively Spanish music was played during the program. Weak but readable with very little noise (Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** INDIA. Dear Glenn, Re 2-139: About the enquiry on AIR, yes AIR stations do broadcast on 4910, 4920 and 4760 at the times mentioned. Sincerely, (Jose Jacob, India, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. Excellent interview on KRWG`s Images, Sept 7 at 2330-2355 UT, with Dr. Nader Pourhassan, author of The Corruption of Moslem Minds; see http://www.barbed-wire.net/purple/Corruption.html And the show should be available ondemand eventually, but they are two months behind: http://www.krwgfm.org/archive.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. RADIO ICON PULLS PLUG ON SHOW AFTER WORLD-RECORD 45 YEARS Sunday, September 8, 2002, From The Japan Times By KAORUKO AITA, Staff writer Her achievement is nothing special, she says. But the thing that has kept Chieko Akiyama going throughout her unprecedented career is the human energy radiating from the people she meets. Stopwatch in her hand, critic Chieko Akiyama prepares for a show at Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc.'s radio studio in Tokyo's Minato Ward. "Akiyama Chieko no Danwa Shitsu" ("Chieko Akiyama's Lounge"), the monologue radio program hosted for the last 45 years by the 85-year- old critic, will end with the Oct. 4 show. She will have spoken 12,512 times on the world's longest-running radio program, which has aired on weekdays since 1957. "People say these records are great," said Akiyama quietly. "But what I've done is nothing glorious nor ostentatious. I have mostly talked about the lives of ordinary people from their viewpoints, which I believe is most important for the media in reporting. "I have gotten so much power and stimulation from the people I have met in Japan and abroad for the program," said Akiyama. She has covered such diverse issues as politics, books, local community happenings and the daily lives of people in various occupations. For each show, Akiyama does almost everything on her own -- from selecting a topic and gathering information on it to writing a script and talking about it for six minutes and 10 seconds. She was the first media personality in Japan to do all this in a serial radio or TV program. Akiyama, who hails from Miyagi Prefecture, first taught at a school for the deaf after graduating from the predecessor of Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. She joined the world of broadcasting, while still working at the school, by reading aloud children's stories she had written. She quit her jobs, however, after getting married in 1940. "I was an ordinary woman. I wanted to be a good wife and mother," said Akiyama, who has three children. What turned her into an extraordinary person was the war. It devastated the nation but also brought about drastic changes in Japanese society, particularly for women. She resumed her broadcasting career in 1948 when she was asked to do a program for the General Headquarters' Civil Information and Education Section, which supervised education and the media in Japan. The GHQ program, titled "Kaigi no Susumekata" ("How to Organize a Meeting"), was launched to help the Japanese public understand how to conduct meetings. Akiyama says she informed readers on the proper methods of selecting a chairman, giving participants the chance to voice their opinions and changing the subject of discussions. "The program was intended to educate Japanese women, who gained the right to vote in 1945," Akiyama explained. In 1949, Akiyama began traveling around the country to report on what she saw and heard. She also began appearing in TV programs about half a century ago, when commercial TV stations in Japan were first set up. Among the topics she discussed, peace-building was high on the list. "I have planted a number of tiny seeds in an effort to prevent war. One of the seeds has grown to be big," Akiyama said, referring to the story "Kawaiso na Zo" ("The Pitiful Elephant"). The nonfiction piece, written by Yukio Tsuchiya, is the story of an elephant that starved to death at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo during World War II. Akiyama first introduced the story in her program 35 years ago, provoking major reactions. That prompted her to retell the story every Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's defeat in the war. The book, which was out of print then, is back in print and has sold more than 1 million copies. "I know war. We must do everything to prevent another. We must do every possible thing not to allow another," she emphasized. Asked why she has decided to draw the curtain on her radio program, Akiyama said, "All things have their end. I want to put an end to the program while I am healthy and sound enough to control myself." The program's conclusion, however, does not mean she will remain quietly at home. "I am fortunate in that I have a large network of people -- the fruits of my long career -- that keeps me busy doing a variety of things, including volunteer social activities." The Japan Times: Sept. 8, 2002 (C) All rights reserved (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Oh, yeah? ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9775 CLANDESTINE, Radio DAT, *0101-0201* Sep 1, opening music followed by multiple IDs as part of opening. After segment of music, a series of long political talks followed. Program ran for 30 minutes and was repeated. Good with channel clear with no VOA on weekends (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 7 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RADIO KOREA ANTENNAS WERE DAMAGED BY THE TYPHOON Hi, Takahito sandte mir die untenstehende Mail ueber die Taifun- Schaeden vom 1. September. Die originale 22 mb Antenne fuer Europa (13670 07-11 UT) ist also ausser Betrieb, wie die A15 Ausbreitung der Rundstrahlantenne fuer Europa ist, muesste man checken. Jetzt ist es 11.25 UT, kann ich erst morgen tun. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Takahito Akabayashi, JPN Sent: September 6, 2002 Subject: Radio Korea TX were damaged by the typhoon According to Mr. Tohru Yamashita of Asian Broadcasting Institute, Kimje transmitter site of Radio Korea was seriously damaged by the Typhoon Rusa on Sept.1. 10 of the 17 antennas were damaged. 8 antennas were recovered by the site members until Sept.6, but remaining 2 (A9 and A14 antennas) need 120 megawon to repair. A9 is for Europe at 0700-1100 on 13670 and for relay of RCI to China; A14 is for North America at 2300-0400 on 15575 kHz. During the repair A9 is replaced by A15, and A14 by A13, both non-directional. It is curious that it needed 5 days in this hi-tech nation until the headquarters in Seoul knew the fact! (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan via WWDXC BC-DX, Sep 6 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. IRAN/IRAQ/KURDISTAN. Observations made by Rumen Pankov during August of stations broadcasting to Kurdish areas: 3880 4370 *1625-1744* P V. of the Communist Party of Iran 3903 *1600-1700* K R. Freedom 3903 5892 *1725-1850* A V. of Iraqi People (Communist) 3930 4610 6810 *1625 P/K V. of Komala 3985 1635* P V. of Iranian Kurdistan 4050 6995 *0203 and 1955* A/K V. of the People of Kurdistan 4085 7090 *0345 A/K V. of Kurdistan 4085 2003* A/K V. of Kurdistan 4130 1703* and *1843 A/K R. Kurdistan 4235 *0155 and 1725* A/K V. of Toilers of Kurdistan 4275 1704* P/K V. of -?- Kurdistan [abbreviations: A-Arabic, K-Kurdish, P-Persian] From Iraq to Iran: Voice of Mojahed in Persian 1st Programme: *0125-0531* and *1325-1731* on varying 5350, 5650, 6450, 6750, 7000, 8250, 8300, 8650, 8850, 9350, 10450 and 13450 kHz and MW/FM 2nd Programme: *1600-1845v on 7070 kHz (sometimes relays 1st Prog). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Extra RNW Frequencies on 11 September 2002: In connection with special programming in Dutch on 11 September, the following additional frequencies will be in use at 1457-1700 UT: 15120 kHz (Bonaire 250 kW/144 degrees) to the Caribbean/Surinam 17890 kHz (Bonaire 250 kW/350 degrees) to eastern North America 21540 kHz (Wertachtal 500 kW/120 degrees) to the Middle East (Media Network Sept 6 via DXLD) I wonder why? The English Service of Radio Netherlands will be broadcasting its normal schedule, but I want to draw your attention to a very special edition of Aural Tapestry on Thursday 12 September. It's a repeat of a programme created by David Swatling, a native New Yorker, in the aftermath of the attacks. We'll also be re-publishing the Web feature that accompanied the programme, and if you can't tune in on the 12th you can listen to the programme online. Here are some details: "Tragedy in Five Movements" In the mid-19th century, the poet Walt Whitman lived in New York City when the American Civil War began with the bombing of Fort Sumter. He reflected his love of the city and his experiences of war in some of his most moving poetry. In the mid-20th century, the composer Dmitri Shostakovich lived in Leningrad when the city was bombarded during the Second World War. His Eighth Symphony, written in 1943, contemplates the horrors of war and yearns for peace, not victory. At the beginning of the 21st century, a new age of terror dawned. Witnesses to the disasters in New York and Washington e-mailed their experiences and words of comfort or hope to friends near and far. In a programme originally broadcast two weeks after Sept 11th last year, David Swatling combines poetry, music and first-person accounts in "Tragedy in Five Movements" on Aural Tapestry. That's Thursday 12 September on Radio Netherlands. (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Sept 6 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. R. New Ireland, 3905, coming in beautifully Sept 6 at 1130-1200*, including sign-off by woman. Some co-channel from Indonesia could be heard underneath. Almost as good Sept 7, when the ham net closed at 1125, leaving the frequency clear. Haven`t heard this one since I was in FL in the 80s (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Está de nuevo reactivada Radio Nacional del Paraguay en su nueva frecuencia (3 kHz más abajo de la anteriormente monitoreada 9739.1 kHz) de 9736.1 kHz. Fue escuchada el pasado viernes 06/09, a las 2308 UT, transmitiendo un partido de fútbol entre el Deportivo Luqueño y Cerro Porteño, en el marco del programa "Nacional Deportivo". En paralelo con 920 kHz en onda media. Escuchada hasta la 0134 UT, hora en que terminó el espacio deportivo y se comenzó a emitir música tradicional paraguaya (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. FATHER DELBAERE, BUILDER OF RADIO STATIONS & ENGINEER WHO REVITALIZED RADIO VERITAS ASIA, DIES Manila, Aug 14 (RVA) Father Hugo DelBaere, CICM, died on August 14 at the age of 68, DZN Radio Veritas Asia announced on its website. Father Delbaere was the technical consultant for Radio Veritas Asia from 1973 to his death, and he also was responsible for the building of Catholic radio stations across the Philippines, Asia`s only Catholic nation. ``The Management and staff of Radio Veritas Asia expresses their deep gratitude for all those who prayed for the soul of Rev. Fr. Hugo Delbaere,`` the announcement said, calling him ``the man responsible for breathing life back to this shortwave station in 1974 after intensive rehabilitation work.`` RVA had come on the air in 1969 chiefly for benefit of Catholic Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon and those who expatriated or were living in refugee camps. After several years the station declined, and the Bishops Conference of the Philippines intervened to assume management and operation of the station. Father Delbaere played a key role. ``Through his dedication and commitment, RVA is what it is today because of a well-grounded technical foundation, enabling its 17 language services to proclaim God's message of love to the peoples of Asia via shortwave broadcast,`` the station management declared (Catholic Radio Update Sept 9 via DXLD) ** POLAND [and non]. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER MOVES TO LIMIT CLOUT OF RADIO MARYJA... Cardinal Jozef Glemp, the primate of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, has issued a decree banning as of 1 October the operation of Radio Maryja bureaus at parishes in the Warsaw Archdiocese (which is directly headed by Glemp), "Rzeczpospolita" and other Polish media reported last week. At the same time, Glemp called on the clergy and believers in his diocese to support another Roman Catholic radio station, Radio Jozef. "The priest on the territory of his parish may not, without permission of the diocese authority, accept offers from other church institutions in the sphere of religious instruction or allow any fund raising. Otherwise, he runs counter to canonical law and undermines the unity of the church," "Gazeta Wyborcza" quoted from Glemp's decree ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September) ...IN EFFORT TO LIMIT ITS EXTREMIST VIEWS... Radio Maryja was started as a local radio station by Father Tadeusz Rydzyk in Torun in 1990; in 1993, the station received a concession for broadcasting nationwide. Today, Radio Maryja claims a regular listenership of 14 percent of adult Poles (some 4 million people) and touts itself as the most influential Catholic media outlet in Poland. Radio Maryja is notorious for its "Roman Catholic fundamentalism," nationalism, and opposition to Poland's membership in the European Union. It also actively participates in political campaigns in the country. Thanks primarily to support from Father Rydzyk's station, the far-right, ultra-Catholic League of Polish Families was able to win 38 seats in the Sejm in the parliamentary election on 23 September 2001. Glemp's decree suggests that the message aired by Radio Maryja does not necessarily concur with what the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy in Poland wanted to hear ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September) ...BUT WILL OTHER CHURCH LEADERS FOLLOW? It is not clear at present whether other Polish bishops will follow Glemp's example and try to squeeze out Radio Maryja bureaus from their dioceses. Radio Maryja's parochial bureaus were set up all over the country spontaneously by believers, following an on-air appeal from Father Rydzyk. Their operation is regulated by accords concluded between the Radio Maryja management and individual dioceses. The bureaus are involved in raising funds for the operation of Radio Maryja, as well as for other purposes advertised by the station ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September via RFE/RL Media Matters Sept 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Nueva frecuencia de La Voz de Rusia: 9890 kHz. Oída a partir del 3/09. Se oye muchísimo mejor que 9830 y 9865. SINPO 5/5. Saludos (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. NEW FM STATION SAID LAUNCHED IN PUNTLAND HEADQUARTERS | Text of report by Somali newspaper Xog-Ogaal web site on 7 September According to our reporter in Garoowe [Puntland's regional headquarters, northeastern Somalia], a new FM radio, that is on trial, has been heard in the town over the last two days. According to reports, the FM station, owned by a businessman allied to [Puntland leader] Col Abdullahi Yusuf, is planning to air programmes produced by either Radio Gaalkacyo or Radio Midnimo in Boosaaso. It is not yet known between the two, which ones it will air. Source: Xog-Ogaal web site, Mogadishu, in Somali 7 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. 11570, Clandestine, IBC Tamil via Novosibirsk, Russia 9/3 2352-0029 in Tamil. Test tones heard at tune-in until *0000. Musical bridges and brief talks until 0002 when 3 IDs; alternating between male, female and male again; were heard as ``IBC Tamil``. Music and brief talks until 0011 when news was heard with several mentions of ``India and Pakistan`` were heard and a field report mentioning ``Korea``. Still going strong at 0029 when I ceased reception. Fair with brief periods of unID QRM chatter (Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Sout Al Watan, 9950, *0328-0401* Sep 1, open carrier followed by middle east instrumental music at 0329 and opening ID at 0330. Program of political talks and a few vocals selections. Fair. Early reports that Sout Al Watan is operated by the Syrian Human Rights Committee (``SHRC``) appear to be incorrect. The following was received from Saleem el-Hasan, President of SHRC, in response to an e- mail reception report: ``Thank you very much for this piece of information. I am really amazed that SHRC has any connection with this new broadcast! We are absolutely unaware of this broadcast. We have never heard of it, or anybody seeked any permission to speak on our behalf. Your story have stimulated my curiosity to follow up this matter. Thank you very much for your letter and a lovely card will follow to your address, however we have nothing to do with the station. It is a sign of friendship with all philanthropists.`` I wonder what the ``lovely card`` will say? Also, I sent a separate e- mail to the SHRC Webmaster who replied: ``We are absolutely unaware of what you have mentioned. Regards SHRC.`` So, it would appear that SHRC is not associated with Sout Al Watan (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 7 via DXLD) ** U K. From The RSGB: Nearly at the other end of the spectrum, Peter, G3MLO, and Jack, MW0AQD, were taking part in the 'Fivemegs Experiment' and were in contact on 5398.5 kHz at 0550 UT on the 30th of August. Afterwards, Peter received a reception report from Jim Robertson, ZL2JR, saying that their signals had been copied in New Zealand. MW0AQD was received at '4 and 4' while G3MLO was copied at '5 and 4'. While the 'Fivemegs Experiment' is intended to investigate NVIS propagation within the UK, the contact was made shortly after sunrise in Britain and around sunset in New Zealand, which is the time that long-distance 'greyline' propagation can be expected to occur (via Mike Terry, DXLD) See also USA ** U S A. Hi all, Maybe this is new for some of you: I got a QSL card from Grace in Action Ministries, P O Box 11569, Honolulu, Hawaii 96828, USA, where they in detail certify that I heard WWRB, Manchester, TN, USA on 6890 kHz. V/s was illegible. 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. I tuned in to WJIE on 7490 at 0050 on Sat. Sep 7 UT and heard a rather interesting program. I think it's titled WJIE This Week, devoted to station's news and developments. Among other things the host mentioned that "we are looking into acquiring a couple more short-wave stations". He asked for help from listeners who know of struggling ministries with SW outlets. He also made a direct appeal to those ministries. The host gave the brief history of WJIE and invited new ministries to buy air time through the scheme that was described in DXLD some time ago. WJIE is a commercial station but they still can accept donations from listeners through their not-for-profit branch. WJIE is looking for reception reports from all over the world. They especially want to hear from those who used to listen to WJCR and can compare reception on 7490 back then and now. The program was over at 0105 UT, then ID and a Christian broadcast for female listeners. At my place the signal was quite strong with a very poor (shallow) modulation --- Reminds me of Radio Romania International (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See top for WOR observations; this show followed it, as often happens; they understand the value of lead-ins... (gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn, I heard your program on WJIE last night on 7489.95 at and around 0020 UT (7th of September). I heard WJIE at 2330 first, but they were really interfered and sometimes covered by utility/radio amateurs. Better at 0000 and sometimes with SIO 333, when you were there with World of Radio. 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR has posted a new program schedule dated Sept 1, and we also refer to a printed copy to find a few specialty programs now scheduled: THE OLD RECORD SHOP: Sat 2330 5070, Sun 1330 15825, Mon 0930 9475 KEN`S COUNTRY CLASSICS: Sun 0430 3210, Sun 0530 5070 ROCK THE UNIVERSE: Sat 1105 5070, Sun 0805 3210, Sun 1205 12160 For more, see The Specialty program guide, which has also been updated: http://www.wwcr.com/cr_specialty_pgms.html There`s also a TECHNOLOGY HOUR, UT Sat 0200-0300 on 3210; not sure if it really be secular (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LITTLE KNOWN KJES IN VADO, NEW MEXICO, IS FIRST U.S. CATHOLIC SHORTWAVE STATION by Dr. Hansjeorg Biener. From his Medien Aktuell: Kirche im Rundfunk, February 2002. © Copyright 2002 and reprinted with permission. Vado, New Mexico (Medien Aktuell) -- At the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990, North American shortwave fans notice the first test transmissions of station KJES Missionary Radio Evangelism originating from a ranch operated by a Catholic priest for rehabilitating youth. In an interview he spoke of having two 50,000-watt shortwave transmitters, but that did not happen. On the contrary, the transmissions from the used transmitters were sporadic and did not happen regularly until 1992. The programs are essentially prayers, hymns, and readings. KJES maintains an unvarying programming and frequency schedule, summer season and winter season, year after year. All times are UT, world time, same as London, which is six hours ahead of New York time (five in summer daylight saving time). [make that 5 and 4, respectively, but how is New York relevant in this??? -- gh] 0200-0300 7555 kHz English to western Canada 0300-0330 7555 kHz English to central Canada 1400-1500 11715 kHz English to eastern Canada 1500-1600 11715 kHz English to western Canada 1600-1700 11715 kHz Spanish to Mexico 1900-2000 15385 kHz English to Australia 2000-2100 15385 kHz Spanish to Puerto Rico Database: Las Cruces: KJES shortwave. Service to North America and Australia and the Pacific in English; Mexico, South America, and Puerto Rico in Spanish. (One 50,000-watt transmitter). Format: Recited psalms and prayers. Owner: Our Lord's Ranch, 230 High Valley Rd., Vado NM 88072. (505) 233-2090, fax 233-3019. Michael Reuter, g.m. Fr. Rick Thomas SJ, pres. See also El Paso, Tex. Founded about 1992. (In the Diocese of Las Cruces) (Catholic Radio Update Sept 9 via DXLD) KJES is run primarily for the benefit, it seems to me, of the young people recovering from tough times in life, and serves Canada and Australia in English and Mexico and Puerto Rico in Spanish a few hours a day (Michael Dorner, CRU via DXLD) Do they really say PR is the target? Why be so specific when, e.g., Florida, Cuba and D.R. are in the same direxion? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Not stupid ballgames, just talk about stupid ballgames: ABC/Disney has used their LMA option, and purchased WEVD-AM New York 1050 50 kw directional for thier ESPN network. The cost.... $78 million (Brock Whaley, Atlanta, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WILL WBEZ DULL WLUW'S 'EDGE'? [Chicago public radio station poised to take over alternative outlet] http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D0209060007sep06 (Chicago Tribune Sept 6 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FOR HISPANIC RADIO, FEUD BOILS OVER IN A MARKET ON FIRE By EDUARDO PORTER, The Associated Press, 9/6/02 10:00 AM and ANNA WILDE MATHEWS, The Wall Street Journal This spring, the two top Spanish-language radio companies in the U.S. were talking about a merger that would produce a Hispanic broadcasting giant and end one of the industry's nastiest feuds.... http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0044_BC_WSJ--HispanicRadioFeu&&news&newsflash-financial (Wall Street Journal via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. F.C.C. WEIGHS A SHARP EASING OF SIZE LIMITS ON BIG MEDIA By STEPHEN LABATON, NY Times, September 7, 2002 The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to consider sharply relaxing the rules that limit the nation's largest media conglomerates from becoming any bigger. In response to a series of court opinions that questioned the justifications for the existing rules, the agency will formally begin a rule-making process next week that is widely expected to lead to the most significant regulatory overhaul since the telecommunications laws were rewritten nearly six years ago. "This is a very significant act by the commission," said Richard E. Wiley, a former F.C.C chairman whose law firm, Wiley, Rein & Fielding, now represents many broadcasting and newspaper organizations that are seeking to have some of the rules repealed or loosened. "At long last, these rules are getting a total scrubbing." The ownership rules that the commission will reconsider restrict a newspaper from owning a TV station in the same city. They prevent a media conglomerate from owning two television networks. They prohibit a network from owning stations that broadcast to more than 35 percent of the nation's homes. They restrict a broadcaster from owning two television stations in the same market unless there are at least eight other competitors. And they restrict a company from owning more than eight radio stations in the same market. Industry executives and lawyers said that some of the rules, like the 35 percent limit, may not be scuttled entirely because they are supported by powerful corporate interests. The stations affiliated with the networks and one of the industry's well-placed trade groups, the National Association of Broadcasters, have mounted a strong campaign against the effort of the networks to repeal the rule. That fight is now expected to take on new vigor at the commission and in Congress. "There is a strong sense in Congress that you need more owners, not fewer owners," said Alan Frank, the chairman of the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance and the president of Post-Newsweek Stations, the unit of the Washington Post Company that owns five network-affiliated stations and one unaffiliated station. Other regulations, like the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule, have no similar kinds of industrial support. But they are supported by some members of Congress, like Senator Ernest F. Hollings, the South Carolina Democrat who is chairman of the Commerce Committee, who has repeatedly made clear to the F.C.C. that he would oppose efforts to modify the ownership rules. The rules were written to encourage diversity of voices on the airwaves and competition among media outlets, and to prevent the biggest companies from becoming too powerful in controlling news and entertainment. The original basis for some of them grew out of fears of the experience before World War II when totalitarian governments in Europe and Asia controlled all media outlets. But some conglomerates, like Viacom and the News Corporation, have already bumped up against the limits of the rules. In a series of rulings over the last two years in cases brought by different companies, the federal appeals court here has repeatedly criticized the F.C.C. for failing to justify adequately the rules in an era in which consumers have access to cable and satellite television systems that offer hundreds of channels, as well as the unlimited offerings of the Internet. Next Thursday, the agency is expected to approve an order that starts the rule-making process. While it does not specify the direction the agency intends to take as it reconsiders the rules, experts say that they have no doubt that the proceedings are all but certain to conclude next year with most of the regulations either abandoned or broadly loosened. "This will ultimately allow efficiencies through consolidation that Wall Street will applaud," said Blair Levin, a former top official at the commission who is now an analyst at Legg Mason. "The critical question is what does it do to diversity of voice. It's unlikely that it will increase it. But the question is does it damage it." The move begins to fulfill the long-held vision of Michael K. Powell, the agency's chairman. As an F.C.C. commissioner during the 1990's and as chairman under President Bush, Mr. Powell has consistently voiced deep skepticism about the ownership rules, saying that they were based more on a hunch and intuition than on strong empirical evidence that they actually promote diversity and competition. At least two other members of the five-person commission are also known to be critical of the old rules. "Powell has had a very clear point of view throughout his term at the commission, which is that a lot of these rules need to be looked at right away and most of them are no longer valid," Mr. Levin said. "He believes the media world has changed dramatically and needs a strong look." Still, Mr. Powell has moved slowly in taking on the rules, embarking on a strategy that he hopes will pass muster in the courts and not provoke new fights with some lawmakers on Capitol Hill who support many of the rules. Rather than announcing their wholesale abandonment, Mr. Powell has set up a special task force and commissioned a set of studies that many lawyers and experts expect will conclude that they are no longer necessary to promote diversity and competition. The studies are expected to be completed next month (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) Okay, fine. Let them make all the money they can haul away. But let's see some promotion of conditions that allow the little guy to thrive and present his alternate point of view over the airwaves. Or will these new regs do away with viable public service requirements, too? And I'm not talking about running a few taped programs or church services early Sunday morning, as we most stations did until a few years ago to meet public service requirements - I'm talking about REAL, ongoing public service - including REAL local news and weather announcements. How many of you have noticed threatening weather approaching, tuned to your local "media conglomerate" station because it had a strong signal, and waited for the weather warning that never came? Also, how many of you who regularly complain on this listserv about Clear Channel and others actually have visited your local CC station and asked to see the station's public comment file? (Paul Swearingen, Topeka, ibid.) ** U S A. Local-only internet audio: Here's an amazing new technology that eliminates the global reach of Internet radio. It's perhaps another good reason to keep your shortwave radio... http://www.decisionmark.com/news_wral_airtoweb_9-4-2002.html (Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) viz.: DECISIONMARK CORP. AND WRAL-FM TO PILOT FIRST "AIR-TO-WEB BROADCAST REPLICATION" TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY --Patented Technology Allows Local Internet Broadcast Without Copyright Infringement-- --Broadcast Stations Broaden Listenership, Avoid Costly Licensing Agreements-- CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - September 4, 2002 - Decisionmark Corp., a leading provider of Internet-based broadcast industry solutions, announced today it will work with WRAL-FM radio in Raleigh, North Carolina, to pilot its patented Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) technology, allowing the radio station to transmit its content via the Internet while replicating its over-the-air signal reach. The significance of this new technology is it permits any radio station to broadcast their local signal over the Internet without infringing upon copyright laws by extending the signal beyond legal geographic boundaries. Because the web listenership would duplicate that of the listeners already able to receive the signal with an antenna, it would lessen the fears of content being streamed to an unlimited audience, hence eliminating the need for additional copyright fees. The first of its kind, this pilot program will initially extend to a targeted listener audience who will be able to begin enjoying WRAL-FM from their computer beginning September 5, 2002. During this time, listeners will be asked to provide feedback to the station relating to ease-of-use, sound quality and other observations to help further enhance the listening experience. "We are excited to work with Decisionmark in proving its new patented 'Air-to-Web' technology," said James F. Goodmon, president and CEO, Capitol Broadcasting, owners and operators of WRAL-FM in Raleigh, North Carolina. "This technology is the solution to a problem that has been plaguing the broadcast industry for quite some time now. This sets the stage for us to take advantage of the Internet and keep the ears of our valued local listeners from car to desktop," Mr. Goodmon added. "Capitol Broadcasting is one of the most technically advanced and innovative broadcast companies in the U.S.," said Jack Perry, president and CEO of Decisionmark Corp. "Through WRAL-TV, they were the first station to offer a digital signal and the local newscast in HDTV. Our Air-to-Web technology is a significant step for the broadcast industry and we are excited to be testing it with such a cutting-edge partner and look forward to bringing the remaining 13,000 radio stations in the nation back to the web," Mr. Perry concluded. The Problem: Broadcast is Local; Internet is Global Traditionally, the Internet has been a global entity, providing content to all regardless of location. What is needed is a way to provide broadcast, via the Internet, that replicates what consumers receive with an antenna. Radio streamed on the PC has come under fire from organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that expect webcasters to pay royalties based on the global nature of the Internet and not the local reach of a traditional broadcast signal. In 1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed with provisions calling for performance royalties specifically for the recording artists and music labels. The performance rates were recently set at 0.07 cents per song, per listener and retroactive three and a half years. With tens of thousands of dedicated listeners, this amount would virtually bankrupt webcasters. The fees proposed by the DMCA exceed those typically paid to songwriters and publishers. Broadcasters currently pay under an agreement among Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Society of European State Authors and Composers (SESAC). The fees typically average $250 annually or a small percentage of gross revenues. The DMCA also mandated that webcast royalties be set under a so-called marketplace- based deal reflecting what copyright owners would accept for licensing and what fees webcasters would be willing to pay. In addition to those fees demanded by BMI and ASCAP, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a union that represents actors who voice radio commercials, is seeking 300 percent of their regular broadcast fee if radio stations retransmit their ads. These issues have been raised and extra money is being sought because the Internet has no geographic boundaries. The Solution: Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) is Decisionmark's patented solution (patent number US 6,252,547, issued on June 26, 2001) to the problem of delivering radio content via the Internet. The goal of AWBR is to provide the technology and data that will allow audio content to be delivered over the Internet with the same copyright protections currently enjoyed by broadcast delivery. Decisionmark has proven this technology by assisting satellite carriers and broadcasters with the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act by providing an online eligibility-screening tool. This same patented technology can be used to limit transmission of a streamed radio signal to an FCC-approved signal area. Decisionmark's solution is made possible due to its signal area prediction technology and the AWBR verification process. Decisionmark also ensures that the underlying signal area data is accurate. Local broadcasters communicate signal area coverage changes via a Decisionmark software tool so that off-air and web broadcasts are ALWAYS identical. Rather than going around the broadcasters, the solution is designed to work with the broadcaster to make streaming local broadcasts on the PC a reality. About Capitol Broadcasting Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL-Digital, WRAL-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, DTV Plus, and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WWWB-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC; and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC. About Decisionmark Decisionmark is the foremost online software and information provider delivering to broadcasters, the most accurate and complete, real time information anywhere regarding signal coverage, reception, programming and viewers; and to consumers, the only real-time household-level online programming guide. Decisionmark is a profitable, privately held company. (via DXLD) Ha!!! But how will it replicate erratic episodes of DX skip and skywave propagation? Will it cover greater areas during the nighttime hours than the daytime hours? What if by some fluke, the radio signal is inaudible in a particular locale but the Internet audio is there because the predictive technology erred? Would there still be a copyright infringement? If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears sh--....... Oh, never mind! (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) The point of this is to avoid the imposition of fees that have been handed down to apply to music played on internet-streamed radio stations. Is there any assurance that this scheme will in fact be immune from these fees? In the stuff I have read on this issue, I've seen no mention that the copyright holders would be willing to waive webcasting fees in the event of a geographical limitation. I wonder how virtual private networks would figure into this? You could conceivably use a VPN to have an effective IP address located at a distance (perhaps a considerable distance) from your physical location. Hmmm (Kyle Barger, ibid.) I was being facetious for the most part, but I think your points are well drawn. It seems to me that copyright holders will still see webcasts as "value-added" commodities that entitle them to further payment beyond what the law says they are entitled to on radio. This technology may limit the number of additional listeners (and therefore the amount of additional payment), but that's all it would do. The cost of owning and installing the software might be a significant factor as well. The subtext in all this seems to be to kill the internet as having any chance of developing into a viable alternative to more traditional media. The NAB certainly has a big stake in that outcome and it is one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington. It's shortsighted thinking, IMHO; but there's no shortage of that in Washington or in corporate board rooms (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Technology, schmecnology. The concept is clever -- as a workaround to copyrights laws, thus allowing stations to webcast to their target audience. Left unsaid is *how* a person's location would be verified. I am guessing a user would need to register with some type of verifiable location -- e.g. a credit card billing address -- much like the "AdultCheck" system pornography sites use to allegedly filter out minors. Only a user with a valid physical address deemed within a signal's footprint would be allowed access to the streamed audio. Kyle's comments regarding VPNs or other leased line approaches to workplace web access are entirely relevant. For a while I worked for a Swedish company in their US headquarters. We had a frame relay connection to Sweden for our server-based e-mail and files, and then reached the outside world via this connection. Whenever I'd go to yahoo.com the Swedish page would show up. This service might use IP address location as a first-pass criterion, but would (hopefully) allow users to self-register in a manner that authenticates their location. I'll contact the company (unless, Kim, you already have) to find out more -- primarily because I think the concept is clever (though misguided). (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, USA, ibid.) ** U S A. WEBSITES TAKE AFICIONADOS BACK TO THRILLING GOLDEN AGE OF THE SOUND BOX --- Hartford Courant September 5, 2002 http://www.ctnow.com/technology/hc-oldtimeradio.artsep05.story Radio Days Of Yesteryear By E. MICHAEL RUDMAN, Special to The Courant Although newfangled gadgets and gizmos often make people wistful for the simpler, good old days, current technology - with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks - can actually transport us, aurally, back to those good old days by way of OTR, the acronym enthusiasts use to denote "Old Time Radio." Thirty-odd years after being relegated to the back shelves, the Golden Age of Radio has found new life and a comfortable niche on the Internet. Myriad websites assemble information on old shows, biographies on old stars and links to radio stations that still broadcast original OTR, playable directly over the Net via your computer using Windows Media player or the RealOne player. The plot lines sound familiar: "A family comedy where mishaps abound!" or "Sharp-witted detectives investigate and solve the case!" But instead of "Malcolm in the Middle" or "C.S.I.," think "Dagwood and Blondie" and "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" - examples of the hundreds of radio comedies, mysteries and dramas that held the country's attention each evening from the 1930s until the early 1960s, when a fairly new medium called television gave radio a final push out of the picture. A great place to start your OTR journey is the Radio Days website, at http://www.otr.com, with OTR history and information, as well as links to other pertinent OTR sites. Webmaster Jim Widner started the site in 1995. "`Radio Days' was the second old-time-radio-related site up and running on the Internet," Widner says, "but the first to have a true `OTR'-related domain name." Radio Days averages 320,000 hits a month, and has close to 30 million visitor hits since its inception. Curiously, Widner says most visitors to his site are not necessarily hardcore OTR fans. "The philosophy of my site is one of education," he says. "I try to focus on the new person who has some interest in what radio was prior to 1962, especially the 1940s and earlier. The site has helped satisfy my urge to educate as well as provide an outlet for my own creative interests." Another venerable OTR site, http://www.old-time.com, has been on the Internet continuously since 1994. This Old Time Radio site, run by Lou Genco, is also full of documentation and links informative to both recent discoverers and veteran fans of OTR. At http://www.old- time.com/werus.html is Genco's "Continuing History of the Original Old Time Radio WWW Pages and Old Time Radio on the WWW," a mouthful-to-say but fascinating-to-browse timeline tracing the growth of OTR on the Internet. Genco's site also provides links useful to newbies in the OTR world; there's a page of hints http://www.old-time.com/newbie1.html on how to become an OTR collector, which means purchasing, trading or otherwise acquiring OTR shows on tape, vinyl LP or the newest form, MP3. For MP3 files, visit the several newsgroups devoted to OTR: alt.binaries.sound.radio.oldtime, alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime (note the ending `s' on `sounds') and alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime.highspeed. Many OTR devotees trade shows frequently in those groups, though one has to be skilled in the artistry of downloading and decoding these files into playable MP3s to be able to collect and enjoy them. Thousands of hours of various OTR programs are available in these groups on a rotating basis. Because audio quality is not critical in converting OTR radio shows from cassette/LP/8-track/reel-to-reel to MP3, a 30-minute OTR radio show, for example, can be compressed into an MP3 file of between 6 and 7 megabytes. With a CD burner and 700-megabye blank CD, it's possible to burn about 100 MP3s to the CD, which gives you the ability to carry nearly 50 hours of OTR listening in your portable CD-R MP3 player. For those who shun the MP3 format, another option is listening to OTR material via radio stations that broadcast directly over the Internet. A link on the home page of the "Radio Days" site brings up a list of stations and their broadcast schedules. Widner notes the similarities between the old and the new technology: "Radio, in its early days, was a sort of free-for-all with hobbyists broadcasting their own material, etc. Eventually, regulation and commercialism intervened, changing radio forever. All of this is essentially the same with the Internet, with its early `Wild West' approach." So it's not that difficult and complex, after all, to sit down with the latest technology, put it in reverse, and - to quote "The Lone Ranger" program - "return to those thrilling days of yesteryear." When you find yourself complaining that there's nothing new on the air anymore, revisit the days of old, via OTR (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. TV`S BIRTH RELATIVE TO MESA MAN BY ED TAYLOR, TRIBUNE Some 30 years ago, Joe Farnsworth read a story in a third-grade class at Mesa Edison School about how a man named Philo T. Farnsworth had invented electronic television. That set him to wondering if there was any family relationship. Joe went home and asked his father, Mesa businessman Ross Farnsworth, if there was any connection. Indeed, there was. Ross' father, who also was named Joe, was a first cousin of Philo. "I was shocked," Joe said. "I had not heard anything of it from my family up to that point. . . . I was young, but I understood that it was a great accomplishment." Today is the 75th anniversary of Philo's invention of television, an event that is likely to be little noticed on television or anywhere else. Joe's experience in the third grade sparked his interest in Philo. In later years he read books about the inventor and talked in more detail with his dad, who met Philo in the early 1950s when Philo came to Mesa seeking financial help from family members for another of his many inventions. In recent years Philo has been getting more recognition. The Public Broadcasting Service has produced a documentary on Philo's work, and Time magazine named him one of the 100 greatest scientists and thinkers of the 20th century. Still, Philo Farnsworth is very little known considering he was the originator of one of the most powerful technologies of modern life. The man responsible for bringing us everything from "Masterpiece Theater" to "WWF Smackdown" was born in 1906 near Beaver City, Utah, a Mormon community settled by his grandfather, who was a follower of Brigham Young. When Philo was 12, his family moved to an Idaho ranch, and he developed the idea for electronic television at the age of 14 while plowing furrows in the farm fields. Even at that young age, the boy genius realized that an image could be scanned onto a picture tube row by row. Philo brought his idea to life in his modest San Francisco lab on Sept. 7, 1927, when he succeeded in transmitting the image of a horizontal line to a receiver in the next room. It wasn't actually the first television technology. Earlier mechanical televisions had been developed that used a spinning disc to "scan" the image. But with no moving parts, the electronic technology developed by Philo was a vast improvement. Yet Philo received little recognition for his work, largely because the giant RCA company and its influential leader, David Sarnoff, insisted that television was developed by RCA and its chief engineer, Vladimir Zworykin. RCA did in fact spend millions of dollars developing television technology, and Sarnoff was not interested in paying royalties to Philo for the right to manufacture TV sets. For that reason, RCA fought Philo's patent for years in legal courts and in the court of public opinion -- insisting in corporate propaganda that RCA invented television. In 1934 the U.S. Patent Office ruled in favor of Philo's patents, a decision upheld on appeal. Eventually RCA was forced to pay Philo $1 million. But Philo never fully benefited financially from his invention. World War II came along, and no one was buying television sets. Shortly after the war ended, Philo's patents expired. When the technology finally took off in the 1950s, other companies entered the business to reap most of the rewards. Philo's only appearance on national television came in 1957 when he was a guest on a CBS game show and stumped celebrity panelists who were unable to guess that he had invented electronic television. He took home an $80 prize. For much of his life Philo was a severe critic of television programming, thinking that it was wasting people's time. Joe thinks an even more important untold story is the fact that Philo obtained hundreds of patents on other inventions. Much of Philo's work was with industrial machinery and tools, and he also did important development work on radar and nuclear fusion. But Philo was never able to make much money on his other inventions either. "He was not an astute businessman," Joe said. "He would get some money, but he would use it to buy a new Cadillac or something like that. "He was a genius, but his mind was not on business. It was on his inventions." Philo came to Mesa in the early 1950s to try to persuade the elder Joe Farnsworth and Ross Farnsworth -- then a man in his early 20s -- to invest in his ventures, the younger Joe said. Philo was always trying to raise money to advance his schemes, but he had trouble because his ideas were so complex that many people had trouble understanding them, Joe said. The Mesa Farnsworths did loan him some money, but they never received any return on their investment, Joe said. Later, in the 1980s, Philo's brother Lincoln Farnsworth moved to Mesa and bought a home in Sunland Village, a retirement community developed by Ross' company. Lincoln died a few years ago. Philo died in 1971. Although he never met Philo, Joe is convinced from reading books and talking to his father, who was unavailable for an interview, that Philo's genius was as much a curse as a blessing. "His mind was so far ahead of everything else that he couldn't relate very well to other people," Joe said. "He was constantly dealing with his own genius and couldn't turn it off." (© 2001-2002 East Valley Tribune via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Found on the king.org website, info about a `ROLLING REQUIEM`, attempts to perform (and broad/webcast?) Mozart`s Requiem starting at 8:46 am local in every timezone on September 11. We fail to see the point of this, as 1246 UT, when the attack really started, is the only significant time. But, details are at: http://www.rollingrequiem.org The first performance would be from the UT+13 timezone, UT Tue 1946, FWIW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE WAR TO SAVE OUR BANDS: A NEW ATTACK ON 222 - 225 MHZ From ARNewsline 1308 - Sept 6 2002 Some are calling it Deja Vous [sic!]. This as big business once again sets its eyes on grabbing a ham band and converting it into a money making machine. And once again its the old 220 MHz band. David Black, KB4KCH, is here with the details: -- Once again, amateur radio frequencies may be under siege. Large corporations wanting to become even bigger want hams off the 222 to 225 MHz band, so they can make money. This time, the challenge comes from Data Commlink Incorporated and its twenty electrical cooperatives. Data Commlink filed comments in W T Docket 02-224. That's an FCC proposal that began innocently enough. The proposal sought to gather comments on requests for waivers to provide band management services in the 220 to 222 MHz band. That's the piece of spectrum that used to belong to Amateur Radio but which hams say was stolen by greedy businesses over a decade ago. But page 10 of DataComlink's filing holds comments that strike straight at amateur radio. The company says quote -- the spectrum at 222 to 225 MHz that is currently held by the Amateur Radio Service is being underutilized. In the early days of 220 MHz commercial regulations, amateur Service licensees argued that their spectrum was necessary and important in order to provide communications in the event of disaster or emergency. Although we take no issue with this claim, we do not feel that the 222 to 225 MHz band has been utilized as well as Amateur Radio claimed it would by so-called no-code hams in their efforts to keep a foothold in the 220 MHz arena. The filing then presents a direct challenge to ham radio. Without citing any evidence, Data Comlink asserts that in nearly all densely populated areas, the 222 to 225 MHz band is largely quiet. The company claims that only what it terms as handful of individuals in the Amateur Radio Service even use the spectrum. Data Comlink then says hundreds of thousands of potential commercial users wait with no alternatives. Data Comlink tells the FCC that -- with considerable commercial interest already in the 222 to 225 MHz band because of waiver requests -- it feels that the frequencies amateur radio holds would be much better utilized for commercial use. The company says existing users of the spectrum -- ham radio operators -- are so few in number that the economic impact on those affected would be minimal. As for where the thousands of US hams who actually do use 220 to 225 would wind up, Data Comlink says nothing. Another issue is left unaddressed. If the FCC were to actually give the Data Comlink proposal any serious consideration, who would reimburse repeater owners the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in their systems? DataComlink is silent on that one. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH. -- What credence will the FCC give the Data Comlink idea? That's hard to say. Since it comes in the context of comments on another matter the Commission could simply rule that anything dealing with 222 to 225 MHz is not germane to the issue. On the other hand, the FCC could use the Data Comlink commentary as the basis for a Notice of Inquiry aimed at reallocating the 222 to 225 MHz band to commercial use. Which way they will go will not be known for a few months at the latest. In the meantime ham radio had better keep a close eye on the situation so that nothing is covertly slipped by. The complete Data Comlink filing is on the web at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6513289200 (From comments filed to FCC by Data Comlink) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. NTIA HEAVES POTENTIAL MONKEY WRENCH INTO 5-MHZ BAND PROPOSAL NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 5, 2002--The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended that the FCC not grant an ARRL petition for a domestic-only, secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 5 MHz. The NTIA regulates radio spectrum allocated to the federal government. The agency's last-minute recommendation followed hundreds of largely favorable comments and reply comments from organizations -- including the ARRL -- and from individuals. "HF bands are currently used extensively by federal agencies for emergency services, including communications support for the Department of Defense, Coast Guard operations, Department of Justice law enforcement and back-up or emergency uses by twelve other federal agencies," the NTIA's Fredrick R. Wentland, said in an August 21 letter. Wentland is NTIA's acting associate administrator for spectrum management. "NTIA believes the Commission's current proposal does not adequately provide for protection from harmful interference to these critical government operations primary in the band." In its recent comments, the ARRL called the 5 MHz allocation "an urgent priority of the Amateur Service" and asked that the proceeding to grant it be expedited. Wentland said that without a more complete understanding of the interference potential to federal operations, the NTIA believes the secondary amateur allocation would be "premature." But, he said that NTIA would work with the federal agencies, the FCC and the amateur community to determine whether "some future accommodation" for amateurs at 5 MHz would be possible. That could include limitations on power or emission types, a reduction in the size of the proposed band, the use of discrete frequencies or geographical restrictions, he suggested. Wentland's letter arrived at the FCC beyond the cut-off date for reply comments in the proceeding, ET Docket 02-98. The FCC stamped the letter "ex parte or late-filed," indicating that it might take the NTIA's comments under consideration in the proceeding. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said that while he and the ARRL Board of Directors have been long aware of the concerns registered by the US Coast Guard and the US Department of Justice with the NTIA's Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), he was surprised by the tone of the NTIA letter. "This is a lot worse than we were told to expect," he said, noting that the FCC had cancelled a meeting to discuss issues expressed by the NTIA several months ago and went forward with its proposal despite the NTIA's concerns. "We don't know how seriously the FCC will take NTIA's comments," Imlay added. "We're in the process of expediting coordination arrangements and other means to identify and satisfy NTIA's legitimate concerns." On May 2, the FCC proposed granting the ARRL's requests for new amateur allocations at 5250 to 5400 kHz and 136 kHz and to elevate the Amateur Radio allocation at 2400 to 2402 MHz to primary and to create a primary Amateur-Satellite allocation there. Imlay said the 5250 to 5400 kHz segment was proposed because it appeared to have the fewest US government assignments. "We used the best information available to us," he said. ARRL Comments Note Wide Support Ironically, the ARRL's own timely filed comments and reply comments in late July and mid-August noted that the eagerly anticipated 5-MHz allocation request was "essentially uncontested" and enjoyed "extensive support" within the amateur community." The FCC went along with ARRL's proposal to permit amateurs to operate at full legal limit on a new 5-MHz allocation, but it left open for further discussion whether to restrict band access to certain license classes or to break the band down into mode-specific subbands. The ARRL said in its comments that the band should be open to General and Extra class licensees and that band planning was sufficient to maintain order among modes. Two non-amateur organizations commented negatively. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance (HPPA), while not opposing the allocation, suggested that its Part 15 home wiring telecommunication devices operating in the 5 MHz range be presumed to not cause interference to amateur operations and not have to cease operation if interference is alleged. "This is an absurd request," ARRL said in its reply comments. "HPPA is not entitled, by virtue of its choice of operating frequencies for its unlicensed devices, to dictate spectrum allocation policy for its licensed services. That is the tail wagging the dog." The Power Line Communications Association (PLCA) said the FCC should not grant the 5-MHz band request because amateurs could interfere with its planned deployment of Part 15 broadband devices operating in the same region. ARRL said that notion turns the spectrum allocation procedure on its ear. "No Part 15 device manufacturer is entitled to oppose an allocation to a licensed radio service based on future deployment of an unlicensed device, period," the League said in its reply comments. Many more negative comments were received regarding the proposed 136- kHz low-frequency allocation, most of them from utilities that employ unlicensed Part 15 power line communications (PLC) systems. The ARRL reiterated its request for 200 W PEP power-output limitation but in no case greater than 2 W Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) on 136 kHz. The League also asked the FCC to reconsider granting an amateur allocation at 160 to 190 kHz as it had requested in its initial petition. In its reply comments, the ARRL debunked "homeland security" claims for protecting utility PLC systems expressed by the United Telecom Council. "If PLC systems are as subject to disruption as UTC claims and, at the same time, as critical to the power delivery infrastructure, why would they be operated on an unlicensed, unprotected basis?" ARRL asked. The ARRL said its studies have shown that interference from amateurs is "simply not going to occur in the real world" at the distances typically involved. "The Amateur Service will receive interference from PLC systems at far longer ranges than PLC systems would be able to receive amateur signals," the ARRL noted. The League also took a dim view of a suggestion by the IEEE Local and Metropolitan Area Network Standards Committee that Part 15 devices operating in the 2.4 GHz region enjoy a "safe harbor" of operation in which such devices would not be deemed to cause interference to licensed services and that the alleged "secondary status" of Part 15 devices relative to the Amateur Service be modified. "Part 15 devices are not 'secondary' to the Amateur Service," the ARRL said. "Those devices have no allocation status at all." Implement Now In its comments and reply comments, the ARRL called up on the FCC to immediately implement the three allocation proposals. "The Commission cannot make allocation decisions based on non-technical assertions of Part 15 users or user groups or manufacturers of such devices," the ARRL said. "ARRL contends that compatibility between amateur uses in the subject bands and those of incumbents is not a substantial concern in any of the three cases." A copy of the ARRL's comments and a copy of ARRL's reply comments in ET Docket 02-98 are available on the ARRL Web site. Wentland's letter from the NTIA is available on the FCC Web site (ARRL Sept 6 via Bill Smith, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam: According to our local DX newsletter mentioning a report from a Japanese DX site the station will soon introduce additional transmissions via Merlin. The 1400-1430 UT broadcast will extend to 1500 on 15235 kHz. It quotes an email from Hans Johnson saying more broadcasts will come from Tajikistan. The broadcasts are generally heard 44444 here in Suva (Martin Rokovada, Fiji, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO SHACK Glenn: To clarify the item in 2-139: Radio Shack has never made its own receivers to my knowledge. They have had agreements to rebadge others' radios with their in-house brand, the most recent and quite longstanding of these being an agreement of this type with Sangean. But RS has changed its marketing philosophy and is retiring all its own brands, in favor of emphasizing a broader range of other quality (from its perspective) brands. The first of these was with RCA about two years ago and others have followed. As far as shortwave is concerned, they have dropped Sangean radios entirely from their product line and replaced them with Grundigs. RS Canada has been carrying the Grundig line there successfully for some time now (John Figliozzi, NY, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROBABLY THE OLDEST WORKING RADIO IN BRITAIN From The Nottingham Evening Post - 07 September 2002 - by James Kay Picture at http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=66056&command=displayContent&sourceNode=65583&contentPK=2538898 It might look like a cross between an ear trumpet and a safe, but this is, in fact, probably the oldest working radio in Britain. Phil Rosen found the 1922 device - called a Smoker's Cabinet, worth between £1,500 and £2,000 - wrapped in brown paper in a dingy corner of a council warehouse about ten years ago. Phil, 73, couldn't believe how many neglected treasures lay there gathering dust. "I thought, here are rare radios, presumably given to the council in good faith, and they are gathering dust because there is nowhere to display them," he said. The retired chartered engineer took matters into his own hands - and founded a museum dedicated to the history of the wireless. Today Nottingham's Radio Times Museum remains one of only two in the country. Armed only with enthusiasm, he persuaded the council to let him plunder the warehouse in Crocus Street, Nottingham, in 1993. He selected about 60 models - including standard, crystal and valve radios, gramophones and other equipment - and put them on display in a former kitchen at Wollaton Hall. But Phil, of Repton Road, West Bridgford, fears the collection could be heading back to the warehouse because of council plans for reform of the museum service. Bosses want the room which houses the radios back. Phil said: "All the radios could be sent back to storage. It makes me feel sick to think of it." The museum opens to the public on the last Sunday of every month from 10 am to 5 pm and thousands of people have visited, including school parties and engineering societies. With the help of two other radio enthusiasts - Eric Woodroffe and Richard White - Phil has been restoring and adding to the collection for the last nine years. He said: "It is a working museum and we encourage children to sample home entertainment as it would have been in grandad's day." The industrial museum and the Costume and Textile Museum are also on the casualty list if the council implements its five-year blueprint. The authority says no decision has been taken on the Radio Times Museum's future and, even if it did close, the radios would be displayed elsewhere. Brian Ashley, assistant director of leisure and community services at the city council, said the radios would not go into storage. He said: "Items from the industrial collection (including the radio sets) will be available for the public to see one way or another - but not at Wollaton Hall." Gerry Wells, curator of the Vintage Radio Museum in London, said: "There are a lot of wireless enthusiasts in the industrial north of England because so many sets were made there. Phil's museum is very important point for them." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ AURORA WARNING: A solar wind shock wave swept past Earth on Sept. 7th at approximately 1630 UT (12:30 EDT). The interplanetary magnetic field turned sharply south when the wave arrived, which means a geomagnetic storm is likely. Sky watchers -- especially those in northern Europe, New Zealand and southern Australia -- should be alert for auroras after local nightfall on Saturday Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 06 September follow. Solar flux 178 and mid-latitude A-index 8. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 07 September was 6 (178 nT). Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level are expected. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are expected (via Steven Wiseblood, Sept 7, IRCA via DXLD) The RSGB propagation news is also available in a Saturday update, http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/update.htm posted every Saturday evening and for more on propagation generally, see http://www.rsgb.org/society/psc.htm (Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-139, September 6, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830? BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of World Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND from Sept 6: http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ: Getting interference from VOA on 7415 here in the Atlanta area. About a 50/50 mix. 17495 dead (LOU Johnson, KF4EON, Sept 4., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here we go again; yes, at our new time 2200, Botswana is again a problem on 7415, and likely to increase as our days lengthen. MUF was depressed, and 17495 may not have been propagating; it was confirmed the previous week, and heard well the next mid-day (gh, DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO on WJIE: See below under USA ** AFGHANISTAN. It was reported at the recent EDXC conference that the planned VOA relay in Afghanistan would use 801 kHz (Dave Kenny, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. APn 08/31 1442 AFGHAN-MEDIA BATTLE By TODD PITMAN Associated Press Writer KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Afghan state radio will no longer carry the songs of female singers and government TV in the capital will stop broadcasting Indian movies, at least if the stations' director has his way. For the first time since the Taliban regime was ousted nine months ago, audio and video entertainment deemed offensive to Islam is being taken off the air. The change in policy was apparent to viewers Thursday who were waiting to watch a weekly Indian film that normally follows the evening news. No film was shown; no reason was given. Abdul Hamid Mobarez, deputy minister of information and culture, said state media director Mohammed Esuq had taken a "personal decision" to yank the movie off the air. The move was not state policy and was not sanctioned by the government of President Hamid Karzai, Mobarez said. Esuq was not immediately available for comment. Mobarez said Esuq had also banned female singers from state-run radio waves, but the radio station had not heeded the ban. "We don't agree with what Mr. Esuq has done," said Mobarez, who heads a special 10-man committee appointed last month by Karzai to review state media and examine how to make it more appealing to the capital's audience. "Mr. Karzai gave us the authority to decide what is broadcast and the director of Kabul Radio and TV will have to (obey) our decision." It is unclear how much power the commission has. Until now, it has issued no official decision on the matter. The debate itself, however, reflects how religious conservatives are trying to assert their position despite the end of Taliban rule and a massive influx of new freedoms. Under the hardline Taliban, both television and music were banned as un-Islamic diversions. Even being caught with an audio cassette could mean a trip to jail. All that changed dramatically in November, when the Taliban retreated from Kabul and the Afghan opposition northern alliance seized power with help from an extensive U.S. bombing campaign. Entrepreneurs were quick to stock up their shops with previously banned material. Today, television sets are sold en masse in shops across the city, along with DVD players and VCRs. Indian films featuring fighting and romance are immensely popular and highly prized, and dozens of video stores are packed full of them. A typical film rents for half a dollar. "Of course we'd like to see Indian films for free on TV, but if they don't show them, we can always rent them ourselves and watch them at home," said 19-year-old Mohammed Sharif, who was shopping for a new Indian flick to watch at a store in Kabul on Saturday night. Mobarez said his commission was looking into ways to expand Kabul TV's viewing audience, not decrease it. State TV "has many rivals in this country now. There is internet, there is satellite TV. If we don't have good programming, people will just watch other things." However, few Afghans own satellite dishes and Kabul boasts only one Internet cafe. Government radio and television represent the only media available to most Afghans. By recent Afghan standards, government TV is progressive, with female presenters reading the evening news without the all-encompassing burqa's most women still wear on the street. But for young viewers like Sharif, even that is not enough. "Most of the programs are news and politics. It's about some official who went to this province or that village. We don't care about that," Sharif said. "We want to see movies and they only show one Indian film a week. It's always old, and they always censor the good parts out anyway, like fighting." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Pulecharchi, near Kabul. Re: I don`t find it yet Sept 3, just QSLs (gh, DXLD) Glenn, correct observation, I only added the picture on Sep 4. And its now on http://www.schoechi.de/crw-main.html Sorry for causing trouble, I simply forgot to add the link .. yours (Martin Schoech, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALBANIA. ON 5th August R. Tirana in Italian at 1800-1830 was heard on 7640v instead of 7240 (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. http://www.thejakartapost.com September 6, 2002 'RADIO AUSTRALIA' STILL HEARD 60 YEARS ON Dewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne For Indonesians who were around in the 1950s and 1960s, their first memory of Australia would have to be Radio Australia. Some even learned their first utterances in English from the famous English for You from Radio Australia program. In August this year Radio Australia, the international face of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), has been reaching out to Indonesia, broadcasting in the Indonesian language, for 60 years. And throughout those years, it has had its journalists travel and cover various political events in many parts of Indonesia, the most recent high-profile event, for instance, being in East Timor during the time leading up to the new country's referendum in 1999. While the history of Radio Australia is a highly colorful one, it is interesting to look closely at the development in the last seven years, because it became clear that among the political decision- makers, Indonesia still rates highly. When government funding for ABC was drastically cut in the mid-1990s, belt-tightening became inevitable. The government-commissioned Mansfield Report was published in 1997, recommending cessation of Radio Australia service. After a great deal of lobbying by those who believed that dispensing of Radio Australia would have seriously negative effects on Australia's standing in the region, a compromise was subsequently reached. Radio Australia would retain its English language service, with the closures instead of several foreign language broadcasts and downsizing the existing ones. Among those sacrificed were French, Thai, Japanese and Cantonese broadcasts, while Indonesian, along with Mandarin, Vietnamese, Khmer and Papua New Guinean, were retained, though looking somewhat anemic with a staff of eight, down from the 1970s halcyon days of a staff of 28. At the 60th anniversary celebration in its Melbourne ABC Center, Sue Howard, director of ABC Radio, nonetheless singled out Indonesia as the most vibrant and most challenging target audience country. Donald McDonald, the chairman of the ABC, does not believe that this downsizing reflected a view on the part of the government that Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region in general were no longer important to Australia. "It was more of a somewhat misguided opinion that short-wave transmission belonged to a dying technology, increasingly superseded by the new information technology," McDonald explained, "forgetting that there were places in Indonesia where people could only access short-wave radio. And these were long-time and loyal Radio Australia listeners." Then what McDonald confided to The Jakarta Post may reflect a high degree of determination on his part as well as a strong belief among some political leaders that Radio Australia was serving the nation well, and that Indonesian listeners are too important to be disregarded. When funds from the Department of Communication and the Arts were drying up, MacDonald went to the Department of Immigration and Trade. There he found a sympathetic ear, and came away with A$1.5 million from Alexander Downer, the minister of foreign affairs, and Tim Fisher, the then minister of trade. That encouraged him to seek more funds, and Indonesian broadcast of Radio Australia was retained. "That was unusual, because ABC is actually the responsibility of the Department of Communication and the Arts," McDonald added. And now, the Indonesian broadcast can boast of maintaining second place between BBC World Service and Voice of America in terms of the number of listeners in Indonesia. "The latest audience survey results from Indonesia are particularly promising as they come at a time of intense competition, not only from other international radio networks, but also from the proliferation of domestic stations and other forms of media that are springing up across the archipelago," said Jean-Gabriel Manguy, head of Radio Australia. The credit for the success must also be shared with Nuim Khaiyath, the executive producer of the Indonesian broadcast, and his eight program officers who day-in, day-out produce four and a half hours of news, current affairs and magazine programs. Another of the team's achievements worth mentioning is the partnerships the Indonesian broadcast has set up with 24 local radio stations in Indonesia, which relay Radio Australia's news and current affairs immediately, and the rest of the programs in their own time. It is an arrangement which benefits both parties, with no money changing hands. Radio Australia can be assured that its voice is still reaching a substantial number of local listeners, penetrating areas where very few newspapers are seen in the average household, while the partner local radio stations know they are getting quality products. Radio Australia is only one example of Australia's continuing overtures to Indonesia, low-profile and sans fanfare though it is. (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4926.7, Radio San Miguel, 0943, Sep 3, Good signal with male and female announcers in Spanish. 0955 Announcement and ID (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 9675.0, Radio Canção Nova, 0930, Sep 5, "Rede Canção Nova" ID, good signal over weaker Asian station (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) Such as PAPUA NEW GUINEA? q.v. ** BURMA [non]. NEW ZEALAND: Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese cancelled transmission via Rangitaiki 100 kW / 325 deg: 1430-1530 on 9500 / 15620 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 6 via DXLD) ** CANADA. The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS NORTH at http://www.north.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=se05dawstrans DAWSONITES TO FIGHT TRANSMITTER CLOSING WebPosted Sep 5 2002 11:29 AM CDT Dawson City, Yukon - Some citizens and officials in Dawson are outraged over the disconnection of CBC's AM Radio serv ice. Today is the day CBC shuts down its aging AM transmitter in the northern town. CBC management says the AM towers are too damaged to run, and may even fall over. They say it would cost too much money to fix, and instead plan to just run the station on FM. The FM signal, which carries Radio One, has been available in Dawson since the mid-90's. That's angered some citizens because the FM signal has only scattered coverage outside the city limits. Town Councillor Byrun Shandler is helping push the fight to save the FM transmitter. "It's a national organization, CBC, and it has national priorities," he says. "It should have a national mandate to serve all the people, particularly in the north. We're much more dependent on that than someone living on the 49th parallel, where most of the population is clustered. "CBC is very important. When you're out on the creek, that little CBC radio program is what keeps the cabin fever from the door, and gives you safety in planning your time to travel." Shandler says their tax dollars should be paying to fix the problem, and maintain service. He says the city will go to Ottawa, if that's what it takes to get the AM signal back. One citizen of Dawson has started a petition, and says he's gathered over 300 signatures. Copyright © 2002 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews include: Friday Sept 6.: RICHLER ON RADIO: Tune in to CBC Radio One tonight for the debut of Richler on Radio. It's Noah Richler's pick of the best from the past week's national and regional programming, embellished by his own critical insight and acerbic wit. That's Richler on Radio, debuting tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2002 --- THE SUNDAY EDITION: ***concert also heard on OnStage*** This week on The Sunday Edition, hear an hour of "The Guys," Anne Nelson's highly- acclaimed new play about the aftermath of September 11th. Also, host Michael Enright in conversation with Ted Honderich, philosopher and author, about the task of the moral philosopher and how moral philosophy does or doesn't guide us to a true perspective on September 11th and the aftermath. And Songlines, A Musical Reflection on 9/11: a special concert recorded at the Glenn Gould Studio, featuring Joe Sealy, Jackie Richardson and others. That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. (CBC Hotsheets via gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Please find attached a WORD document outlining September 11th programming from CBC Radio available on RCI services. (Steve Lemay, Manager, Presentation, RCI) CBC radio will offer extensive coverage leading up to the September 11th anniversary. The programs listed below can be heard on Radio Canada International at the times indicated. The first section of this document outlines coverage available on The World at Six and The World This Weekend during the coming days. THE WORLD AT SIX on Radio Canada International 2100-2130 UTC Europe - Africa - Mid-East 5850, 7235, 13690, 15325 and 17870 khz 2200-2230 UTC United States - Caribbean - 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, Latin America 15170, 17695, 17880 THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND on Radio Canada International 2200-2230 UT United States - Caribbean - 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, Latin America 15170, 17695 and 17880 September 2nd to 10th Beyond Anthrax: is another biological attack just a matter of time? September 3rd to 10th CBC Radio News will present reports on the following themes during this period: Legacy: A Canadian caught up in the 9/11 dragnet. After the round-up: the story of detainees in American jails. The status of ``Foreign Combatants`` at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Following al Qaeda's money trail. Tolerance: The state of dissent in the US. Vulnerability: Is flying any safer since September 11th? Florida`s flight schools no longer supply the world with pilots. Resilience: What`s happened to the US economy? The orphans of September 11th. The man who trained a hijacker to fly recalls his friend. How bits of DNA are matched to the names of those missing in the attacks. Shanksville, PA guards the site where Flight 93 went down. Relationships: Examining the 'new' Canada – US relationship. National Radio News Features September 6th Airport protection measures: on September 11th last year, four jumbo jets were hijacked within the space of an hour. Is security in the sky any better one year later? Brad Clark reports. September 7th Officials still don't have a final total of those killed in the September 11th attacks. The latest figure is 2819. Arriving at that number represents a huge and heroic job by coroners and other forensics experts. Kelly Ryan explains their obsession. September 8th Shutting down the flow of money to al Qaeda has been a major focus for American and other Western governments since the September 11th attacks. Frank Koller examines whether this effort has been successful. September 9th On Thanksgiving last year, the United States began it's retaliatory bombing against the Taliban and al Qaeda forces in Afghanistan. Now, almost a year later, Patrick Brown reports on Afghanistan today. September 11th Full coverage of the day's commemoration ceremonies for the September 11th attacks. Kelly Ryan reports from Somerset County, Pennsylvania where Flight 93 went down. Laura Lynch reports from the Pentagon. Greg Rasmussen, Tom Parry and Michael Colton, three CBC Radio reporters who covered the attack last year, report from New York. OTHER PROGRAM NOTES In this section, you will find a description of the CBC Radio programs available on Radio Canada International and their airtimes during the coming days. AFGHANISTAN: THREADS OF HOPE Afghan culture has been preserved and carried onward by musicians and artists in spite of the country's turbulent history. Saturday, September 7th 2300-2400 UT United States 6175, 9590, 13670 and 17695 khz THE SUNDAY EDITION: Anne Nelson`s The Guys, arguably the definitive play written about September 11th. Sunday, September 8 1300-1600 UT United States - Caribbean 9515, 13655 and 17800 khz CROSS COUNTRY CHECKUP What has changed for you and the world since the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11th? Sunday, September 8th 2000-2200 UT United States - Caribbean 9800 and 15375 khz THIS MORNING A Town As Hero: the uncanny parallels between the SwissAir crash and the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Monday, September 9th 1200-1500 UT United States – Caribbean 9515, 13655 and 17820 khz THIS MORNING A son whose father was blacklisted looks at what it meant to be un-American in 1950. Tuesday, September 10th 1200-1500 UT United States - Caribbean 9515, 13655 and 17820 khz LOSS & LEGACY: REFLECTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH On the first anniversary of September 11th, CBC Radio presents, a nine-and-a-half-hour special designed to help Canadians understand and share the many interpretations of the events of September 11th, and reflect personally on the significance of the day. LOSS & LEGACY will focus on the emotions people have experienced in the past year, from a perspective that is uniquely Canadian. There will be few experts or pundits analyzing the day and the intervening year, telling listeners what to think. Wednesday, September 11th 1230-1500 UT United States - Caribbean 9515, 13655 and 17820 khz This segment will be hosted by Shelagh Rogers in Toronto and Michael Enright in New York the special begins with live coverage of the commemorative events taking place at the World Trade Center, plus reports from Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. DISPATCHES (SPECIAL EDITION) Homeland Insecurity: post September 11th challenges for Muslims who call the United States home. Wednesday, September 11th 2330-0030 UT United States - Caribbean 6175, 9590, 13670 and (extended shortwave coverage) 17695 khz (excerpts concerning SW portions, via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA'S FALUN GONG HIJACKS ANOTHER TELEVISION SIGNAL | Text of report in English by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post web site on 6 September Members of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement hijacked a television signal and broadcast protest videos on the outskirts of Beijing last month, police and television station employees said yesterday. The footage, showing the sect's leader, Li Hongzhi, was briefly shown on the nights of 23 and 27 August in Baoding, southwest of the capital, a woman who answered the phone at a television station there said. A police official in neighbouring Xushui county said he had heard of the illegal broadcasts, and at least five Falun Gong followers had been arrested. The programming was seen at least 100km away, including the Fangshan district of Beijing, another TV station official in Xushui said. "We were ordered not to disclose the incident," said the man, who would not give his name. There was no immediate explanation of how Falun Gong activists took over the TV signal. Falun Gong supporters have broken into cable television systems in at least four cities this year to show videos protesting against the government's three-year-old crackdown on the group. In June, a state-run satellite television signal was hijacked and briefly displayed messages of support for the group. Xinhua said yesterday the Ministry of Information had ordered a clampdown on satellite TV networks to "curb harmful interference". But it did not mention Falun Gong by name. Beijing has criticized the pirate broadcasts as proof of what it says is Falun Gong's disruptive, anti-social nature. A statement issued by activists abroad said last month's broadcasts showed videos documenting support for the group outside China and condemning the crackdown and alleged police abuses. The group says authorities have killed hundreds of members in detention. Source: South China Morning Post web site, Hong Kong, in English 6 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL SATELLITE USE | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 5 September: China is going to launch soon a nationwide check on unauthorized use of satellite communication networks and ground relay stations, according to the Ministry of Information Industry (MII). The use of satellite communication services has expanded rapidly in China in recent years, but the illegal building and use of satellite networks and relay stations are common, which disturbs the normal operation of satellite communications and endangers social security, ministry officials said. According to a joint notice issued by the MII and the Ministry of Public Security, licensed satellite communication services and facilities must be registered with the relevant authorities, and illegal use has to be stopped immediately. Violators will be prosecuted and if found guilty punished, and their equipment confiscated, officials said. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1116 gmt 5 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ?? Illegal use of satellite transponders is extremely rare in the West, isn`t it? How come it is so common in China? (gh, DXLD) CHINA SATELLITE CLAMPDOWN AFTER PIRATE BROADCASTS From Reuters 05 September, 2002 21:10 GMT+08:00 By John Ruwitch BEIJING (Reuters) - China has launched a nationwide clampdown on satellite networks in the wake of a string of pirate broadcasts on state television by the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement, state media said on Thursday. The campaign, ordered by the Ministry of Information Industry, aimed to curb the illegal use of satellite broadcasting equipment and "harmful interference", the official Xinhua news agency said. Although the report did not mention Falun Gong, the orders come roughly one week after the outlawed group hijacked a network in a city near Beijing and aired 70 minutes of propaganda. "There have been gross instances of setting up and using satellite communications earth stations without authorisation, changing the properties of earth stations and the satellites in use without authorisation, even sending signals to satellites unrelated to their work," Xinhua said. The actions had "severely disrupted the business of legal communications users and orderly communications and affected social stability", it quoted a ministry official as saying. It gave few details of the proposed clean-up plan. Falun Gong's U.S.-based information centre said in a statement the group's adherents had hijacked airwaves on August 23 and 27 in the Hebei province city of Baoding. Television station officials and police in Baoding denied the incident had happened. "Such things could never have happened here," one television official said. But a police official in neighbouring Xushui county, some 130 km (80 miles) south of Beijing, said that he had heard of the illegal broadcasts, that at least five Falun Gong followers had been arrested and that security had been heightened in the area. HAPPENED ELSEWHERE The broadcasts, the latest in a string of high-tech stunts in a propaganda blitz by the group, come at a highly sensitive time before a pivotal Communist Party Congress due to start on November 8. But to the embarrassment of the government, Falun Gong members have tapped into cable channels in other Chinese cities several times, and from July 23-30 interrupted satellite transmissions, upping the technological ante in a cat-and-mouse game with the authorities. With the party congress, at which a reshuffle of the top leadership is expected, just two months away, China is tightening its grip on media organisations to ensure the meeting goes off without a hitch. A source at China Central Television told Reuters the state television network had tightened security to prevent similar Falun Gong attacks. "Incidents like programmes being hijacked have happened mostly in remote areas. But there are fears that the same could happen on CCTV," the source said. CCTV had installed steel gates at each of its two entrances to prevent vehicles from forcing their way through and had stepped up checks of people and vehicles entering the grounds, he said. Falun Gong once staged mass demonstrations in China, but a government ban and effective crackdown have led to dwindling protests and more creative ways of spreading their message. Falun Gong says as many as 1,600 followers have been killed in a crackdown since the movement was outlawed in 1999 after thousands of adherents shocked authorities by surrounding the leadership compound in Beijing demanding recognition. The government says only a handful have died, mostly from suicide or natural causes (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. University Network, English and Spanish, 13794.4 at 0038 Aug 4 (Bill Elliott, Lancs., BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Unless a typo or QSY, way off nominal 13750v (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. 3600.01, Radio Rebelde (harmonic 6 x 600) 0930, Sep 3, Weak Spanish talk // 5025 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 820, Jammer AUG 17 0430 - Grinding away here, strong. Anyone ever determine the target? 1140 remains clear as it has for a few months now (David Crawford, FL, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) ** DOMINICA, COMMONWEALTH OF. Glenn: I have 4 extra copies of a 2002 calendar from ZGBC Radio (Voice of Life) from Dominica - AM 740 kHz + FM. I'd like to offer this calendar to DXers with special interest in the Caribbean. The colorful three-piece folding calendar (8.5 x 6 inches or 22 x 15 cm) has a VoL logo on it and provides extensive frequency and contact info. There are also several very beautiful pictures from the island and a neat photo of the VoL's staff. I can mail this calendar absolutely free to the US-based DXers. Sorry but the AM-enthusiasts from other countries would need to send me 1 USD for postage. Those interested should contact me at radonezh@yahoo.com (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 9-4 FIRE DESTROYS THE MAIN STUDIO AT SAT-7'S CAIRO MEDIA CENTER | The Spectacular Center Was Major Production Hub For Arabic Christian Broadcasting In The Middle East And North Africa By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST Ministries A serious fire has destroyed the main studio at SAT-7's spectacular new media center in Cairo, Egypt, just seven-and-a-half months after the center was opened. The blaze in the new Regional Television Production Studio took place early morning ... http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/s02090011.htm (via Bruce Atchison, AB, DXLD) No speculation in this about whether it was an hostile act (gh, DXLD) ** ERITREA. Checked out Voice of the Tigray Revolution on 6350 kHz, which of course is also listed in DSWCI DBS (so move to 6350 is not as recent as I first thought), at 0335 UTC on 4th September. Heard what was presumably the Eritrean opposition programme 'Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea' until 0350, then from 0355 the Interval Signal prior to their own programmes starting at 0400. Reasonable reception at tune-in but deteriorated by 0400. Nothing heard on 5500 kHz (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. 16 Aug, 531 kHz. One of the few MW channels audible in western Finland during the daylight. Listened on ITT CR91, antenna of KAZ type (10 m high, 40 m long). Oldie songs at 1255, no ID at 1300. Anns at 1302, spoken in a Scandinavian-type language. That overstroke any assumptions of Switzerland and Germany (Dmitry Mezin, Kazan, Russia, Signal Sept 4 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Sadly, YLE have announced they are ceasing external broadcasts in English, French and German (date to be announced, although their English website at http://www.yle.fi/radiofinland will be kept). Transmissions will continue in Finnish, Russian, Swedish and Latin. YLE external broadcasts are mainly financed by Finnish TV viewers --- there is no government subsidy for the service. In the afternoon following the 1000 UT special broadcast, we visited the Preivikki transmitter site, near Pori operated by Digita Oy and carrying YLE Radio Finland`s external transmissions. The 600 kW 963 kHz MW transmitter is also based here. Kalevi Vahtera of Digita Oy gave us a very detailed tour of this impressive modern transmitter site. It`s a pity YLE are cutting back on their transmissions from here. The spare transmission capacity may in the future be used by other broadcasters (Alan Pennington and Dave Kenny reporting from EDXC Conference 2002, Sept BDXC Communication via DXLD) ** FRANCE. RFI ANNOUNCES 24-HOUR SPECIAL BROADCAST ON EVE OF 11 SEPTEMBER | Excerpt from report by French news agency AFP Paris, 3 September: Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin is due to take part in a 24-hour special broadcast on Radio France International (RFI) on 10 September which will be devoted to the commemoration of the terrorist attacks in New York a year ago. The programme of this special broadcast from midnight [2200 gmt on 9 September] to midnight [2200 gmt on 10 September], which is organized in cooperation with the Paris institute of Political Sciences, has been announced by RFI and the minister's participation has been confirmed by its press office. Dozens of other participants will speak on the radio that day, including Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, former French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine, former Israeli Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben Ami and Palestinian Representative in France Layla Shahid... Source: AFP news agency, Paris, in French 1520 gmt 3 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) language(s)? frequencies??? ** GERMANY. RWE drops PLC. According to this piece of news (in German, sorry!) http://de.news.yahoo.com/020904/71/2xytr.html it seems that RWE, one of the German energy providers, dropped the distribution of internet over electric power lines (often feared as a potential QRM generator by OMs and SWLs), because the net modems are too unstable. vy 73 (Vittorio De Tomasi, Italy, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Some DTK changes: Voice of Hope cancelled the following effective from August 1: 0700-0800 English on 5975 via JUL 100 kW / 290 deg to WEu 1530-1630 Farsi on 17550 via JUL 100 kW / 090 deg to ME 1800-1900 Russian on 9495 via BIB 100 kW / 060 deg to EEu IBRA Radio in new language - Somali effective from August 15: 1730-1745 on 15495 (55555) via JUL 100 kW / 130 deg to EAf Radio Huriyo in Somali effective from September 3: 1630-1700 Tue/Fri NF 15580 (55555), ex 15530 to avoid RFE/RL in Farsi FEBC in Tagalog via WER 250 kW / 120 deg effective from September 5: 1800-1830 Thu/Fri on 11895 CANCELLED (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 6 via DXLD) ** GREECE. Frequency change for ERA INTERPROGRAMM/RADIO TELIA in various languages: 1300-1900 NF 666, ex 1386 \\ 792 till 1700, 15650 till 1330, 12105 from 1330 1300-1330 Arabic 1500-1530 Romanian* 1700-1730 Albanian^ 1330-1400 German* 1530-1600 Turkish 1730-1800 French^ 1400-1430 Russian* 1600-1630 Serbian 1800-1830 Polish 1430-1500 Spanish* 1630-1700 Bulgarian 1830-1900 English * strong co-ch BBC in Mandarin Chinese plus Chinese music ^ strong co-ch KNLS in Russian (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 6 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4780.0, R. Cultural Coatán, 0155-0228 Sep 4, marimba music at tune in then full canned ID at 0158 then back into regional vocal selections with male announcer. Station went off the air at 0228 with no discernible sign-off announcement. Poor signal due to sweeping tone QRN (Brandon Jordan, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 4832, R. Litoral, 0325-0335 Aug 31. Man talking. At 0330 an English segment began, but it was sharply cut off after a sentence or two. Talk by the man in Spanish continued. The station's address in La Ceiba was given at 0331. A moderate signal, but with heavy atmospheric noise and fading. SINPO 34222 (Jim Evans, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. Dear Glenn, I hope readers can help me with the following questions : Yesterday, I picked up a couple of very weak signals on 4910 and 4920 kHz at 1645 UT. Most probably All India Radio. Though reception was very poor due to high static level, both frequencies seem to carry the same program till 1700; could someone confirm AIR New Delhi and AIR Chennai have // transmissions around 1645 UT? About AIR Port-Blair 4760 kHz : is there any // program just before 1700 UT? Thanks for your help. (Pat - French Alps, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. NEW BROADCAST BILL KILLS PRESS FREEDOM, JAKARTA SEPT 3 Indonesia's newly won press freedom is now in limbo as the broadcast bill -- nearly at its final reading at the House of Representatives -- will prevent local radio and TV stations from relaying foreign-made news, thus curbing the public's right to information. The provision of the bill turns the clock back nearly 40 years to 1964 when President Sukarno, during the height of Indonesia's confrontation with Malaysia, banned the public from listening to foreign broadcasts. A member of the Indonesian Broadcast Society (MPI) describes the bill as "more fascist than the occupying Japanese military's regulations". Article 27 (2) of the bill states: "The relay of broadcasts which are used as permanent programs, both of domestic origin as well as from abroad, are limited". An explanatory note of the article says: "What is meant by limited in article 27 (2) is that domestic broadcasting institutions may relay programs from foreign countries except news, music programs whose performances are improper and sports programs that display sadism." If the bill is passed with the provisions, it clearly will violate article XIX of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, which guarantees the right of every human being to seek for, to receive and to convey information. It also contradicts Articles 4 and 5 of the Press Law No. 40/1999, since banning private television stations and radio stations from broadcasting news from foreign stations amounts to censorship. Article 4 of the Press Law states that there should be no censorship, closing down or banning of broadcasts from the national press. Article 5 (1) stipulates: "The national press is obliged to report news and opinions respecting religious norms and the public's sense of moral values and the presumption of innocence." Since Article 27 of the broadcast bill violates Article XIX of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, it is only fair for all democracy-loving nations of the world to exert some kind of pressure on the Indonesian government to immediately back off from such repressive laws. Indonesian donor countries in particular should review their positions as far as providing economic and military assistance to the government if the bill is passed. If the Indonesian media -- both print and electronic -- fail to unite now, and right now, and show their solidarity against the provision of Article 27 of the bill, they will soon be witnessing the process of the large scale deception of the people. In addition, the Indonesian press will never become the fourth estate in this country because they will be a party to the deception process. Point 2 of Article 27 of the bill was added at the Working Committee (Panja) meeting on August 24, amending the result of the Panja the day before. Panja comprises House members, representatives of the government, radio and television station associations, broadcasting societies and NGO's. At the August 23, Panja meeting, a certain participant accused some local radio stations of becoming "the kiosks" of foreign broadcasting organizations. He did not name the stations but a number of private local radio stations relay or rebroadcast news and music programs from abroad through their networks across the nation. They mostly rebroadcast news from the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC), The Voice of America (VOA), and ABC/Radio Australia. The same three stations were among the foreign broadcasting institutions that Indonesians were banned from listening to under Sukarno, President Megawati's father. Apart from state-owned radio stations RRI there are now more than 1,100 privately-owned radio stations in the country, a jump from 740 in 1997 at the end of Soeharto's 32-year rule. Between then and now the number of privately-owned television stations also increased to 10 from five, besides state-owned TVRI. Privately-owned provincial TV stations, which were undreamed of during the Soeharto era, now total 15 and the numbers are increasing following the enactment of regional autonomy. The bill is now in the hands of the formulating team (Timus) who will present their work to the special committee (Pansus) before parliament puts its final stamp on it during a plenary session on September 29. The existing formal organizational and regulatory structure of the Indonesian bureaucracy has already make it hard enough for the media to report and broadcast the news without the presence of Article 27. There are at least 35 articles in the Penal Code, including draconian articles 154, 155, 156 and 157 that can be used against the media and journalists. The last four articles, a.k.a. hartzaai-artikelen (spreading hatred), were introduced by the Dutch colonialists in 1915 to stop the press from promoting any ideas of a free and independent Indonesia. The articles, however, were found nowhere in the Dutch Penal Code despite the fact that the Indonesian Penal Code was copied from the Dutch. The Press Council says other laws they consider hamper press freedom in Indonesian, include the laws on companies, the protection of consumers, antimonopoly, bankruptcy, archives, copyright and the forthcoming state emergency law and the law on state secrets. Copyright 2002 JAKARTA POST all rights reserved as distributed by WorldSources, Inc. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) See also AUSTRALIA ** ISRAEL. As the Jewish New Year is Friday evening through Sunday evening, expect related programming on Israel Radio. Have a healthy, happy, and peaceful new year! (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, Sept 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. TYPHOON RUSA DAMAGES FAR EAST BROADCASTING COMPANY KOREA STATIONS By Dan Wooding Founder of ASSIST Ministries Thursday, September 5, 2002 LA MIRADA, CA (ANS) -- Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) Korea reports that the devastating Typhoon Rusa damaged two of their stations, forcing the stations to temporarily shut down. A spokesperson for FEBC, based in La Mirada, California, said, "HLAZ, the FEBC station on Cheju Island, was able to broadcast via a generator after electricity went out. But when the water rose in the generator building, the station went off the air for approximately 12 hours. "Another FEBC Korea station, HLDY on the northeast coast of Yeongdong, was the hardest hit as the station was off the air for 36 hours. The FEBC-Yeongdong vehicle and the cars of two staff members were submerged in water. In addition, the station's storeroom flooded and an estimated $5,000 worth of CD's, books and supplies were ruined." Typhoon Rusa is the most devastating typhoon in Korea in approximately 40 years. Its path of destruction has left 25,000 people homeless and killed nearly 150 people, while many are still missing. Roads and bridges were destroyed, as well as tens of thousands of acres of farmland were reportedly ruined (ASSIST via Bruce Atchison, AB, DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 1548, R. Sawa, Kuwait City SEP 3 2302-2359 - Good in long peaks with male DJ in Arabic and variety of music including up-tempo Middle Eastern, Arabic pop, US pop, US R&B, and US dance. English IDs, "This is Radio Sawa," at 2315 and 2359 {Marc DeLorenzo, MA, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. Libyan R. via Issoudun, France, 21675 Aug 23 at 1452, talk in Arabic, Arabic music \\ 15435; off at 1500 and then on 17695; SIO 343. Also Aug 23 at 1455 on 21810, but did not seem to be parallel 15435 and 21675 before 1500, but definitely parallel 15435 and 17695 ater 1500; SIO 232; 343 on 17695 (Tony Rogers, England, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** MEXICO. "Hoy por hoy" y "Al instante" la radio noticiosa ¿cambia? Milenio Diario, México D.F. 21 de agosto del 2002. Muy juvenil, narrativo, explícito y serio es el formato de ``Hoy por hoy``, noticiario matutino de W Radio en el 900 de AM. Aunque también muy reiterativo, esquemático y hasta ramplón resulta la novedad informativa de la catedral de la radio. Los noticiarios en la radio habían sido de esos géneros que hace meses no cambiaban en el dial. Sin embargo, hace cosa de dos semanas, la emisora piloto de Televisa Radio ha transferido a la radio uno de sus formatos televisivos más interesantes: ``Hoy por hoy``, con Julio César González. Asunto que se antojaba muy sabroso, pues esta oferta en Canal 5 había sido de lo más fresca, juvenil y ligera. En el caso de Televisa Radio el resultado sonoro no ha cambiado del todo, sin embargo, tal vez sea porque las imágenes de pronto sí dicen más que mil palabras. ``Hoy por hoy`` versión radio suena tan esquemático, que es como si estuviéramos escuchando un noticiario dentro de la clase de radio de cualquier universidad donde se imparte la carrera de ciencias de la comunicación. Pero bueno, no hay que minimizar lo que el joven equipo de Televisa Radio realiza de lunes a viernes de 6:00 a 10:00 horas, pues hay que reconocer que algo que tienen muy a su favor estos jóvenes noticieros de la W, es la capacidad técnica para realizar un noticiario bien nutrido en información y en recursos de producción. Por cierto, y hablando de las capacidades de Televisa Radio en versión informativa, no me quiero quedar con las ganas de celebrar por la muy atinada mesa de debate que realizó Mara Patricia Castañeda el jueves 15 de agosto pasado, cuando reunió a Jorge Serrano Limón de la asociación Provida con Carlos Carrera, director de la cinta ``El crimen del padre Amaro``, en un debate que resultó, sin lugar a dudas, un campanazo radiofónico y una antesala insuperable para la cinta que se estrenara un día después del encontronazo en ``Espectáculos W``. Así, los aciertos en los cambios de Televisa Radio son diversos, aunque, como ya lo he mencionado antes, estos cambios de programación en la hoy W Radio han significado desplazamiento de personas claves para la emisora comercial más antigua de México, como son la salida de ``El Gallo`` Calderón y el final de ``Viva la tarde``, de López Córdoba Rubén. Un cambio que ha surgido también a raíz del nacimiento de ``Hoy por hoy`` en Televisa Radio será que ya existía en el cuadrante otro programa con el mismo nombre, y lo más importante, un noticiario también. Me refiero a la serie vespertina que encabeza desde hace años Manuel Mejido en ABC Radio. Pero, bueno, en esto de repetir nombres a los programas de radio, a las emisoras y hasta a los conductores ya estamos todos tan acostumbrados que no nos debiera caer de sorpresa. Si somos justos con la revolución radiofónica, hay que decir que entre ``Hoy por hoy`` de Manuel Mejido y ``Hoy por hoy`` de Julio César González sí hay diferencias abismales. Una, la más importante, es que mientras el mañanero de la W es más de corte informativo y esquemático, Manuel Mejido ha ido siempre hacia el programa de información reflexiva, en donde no se manejan más de tres o cuatro notas por día, y el camino es el análisis por vía de diversas estrellas de la información. ``AL INSTANTE``... TE ENTERASTE Decía yo que hace años que no cambiaban las series informativas en el dial nacional, y por ello quiero mencionar que ha llegado a la capital mexicana uno más de los pocos, poquísimos programas fuereños para ser transmitidos en el ombligo del mundo; me refiero al noticiario ``Al instante``, con Guillermo Garduño, que se transmite también desde la semana pasada a través del 830 de AM Radio Capital. Sí, sí, ya sé que yo aquí he dicho hasta el cansancio que no entiendo o no entendía el nacimiento de Radio Capital, antes frecuencia donde se transmitía Estadio W de índole deportiva, pero, bueno, ya he ido entendiendo un poco más de por qué una emisora musical se atreve a decirse: ``Radio Capital, el hogar de la verdad``... Y ¿sabe por qué es? Pues porque esta emisora, cuyo origen de señal viene de Toluca, del 1040 de AM, es parte del grupo radiofónico MAC. ¡Pero qué es eso de Grupo MAC! Sencillo: es un grupo de emisoras de la ciudad capital del estado de México que pertenece al señor Luis Maccise Uribe, socio reciente de la familia Ibarra de Grupo ACIR, pero que ha ido trabajando mucho en la fortificación del sistema mexiquense de noticias. ¿Cómo les quedó el ojo? Es decir, cómo nos quedó la oreja ahora que es más claro quién se quedó con la bolita del 830 de AM, que si bien no volverá a ser la XELA buena música, ni volverá a ser administrada por la familia Fernández de Grupo Imagen, sí está transformándose en una emisora que inserta preventivos para hablar del abuso, de la violencia intrasocial y hasta acerca de la inseguridad pública. ¡Ya contamos con un grupo radiofónico más en el defectuoso! ¡Grupo MAC! ¡Interesante propuesta! ¡A escucharla! csegura@milenio.com Claudia Segura (via Héctor Garcia B., Sept 5., DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. See BURMA non ** NIGERIA [non]. After the transmission on 22nd July, Jakada Radio International has been noted inactive (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency change for Radio Pakistan: 1245-1315 Turki and 1315-1400 Russian NF 9396v,ex 9500v. No signal on \\ 7355!!! (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 6 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. INSTALLATION OF SW RADIO TRANSMITTER 5 Sept 2002 The Frontier Post, Peshawar Skardu (PPI): Deputy Chief Exective Northern Areas Haji Fida Muhammad Khan has appreciated the installation of a new powerful short-wave transmitter at Radio Pakistan Skardu. Talking to PPI here Wednesday he said the information technology has brought a revolution and world has turned into a global village. He said Radio Pakistan Skardu has been playing an important role while serving the people of this farflung part of the country by transmitting standard programs. It will help the transmissions to reach the remote areas. and would counter the poisonous propaganda of the Indian Radio stations. He said the General public in the both district of Baltistan Changehe Siachan and Kargil has admired the decision of Information Minister to install powerful short-wave transmitter at Radio Pakistan Skardo. Haji Fida said the inhabitants have termed it as a great gift of the General Pervaz Musharraf and the Minister for Information Mr. Nisar Menon for the people of Baltistan. He also hailed the restoration of PID office at Sakardo, establishment of PTV bureau office in N. As and establishment of APP offices in all districts of N. As would be help to highlight the developmental activities and to publicize the govt. policies © Copyright 2000 The Frontier Post (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 9675, 0958-1400* Sept. 1. NBC Port Moresby. Amazing signal level for this time of the year. In English with full ID a number of times. News at top of hour and then to religious program at 1010. China started to come up 1020 with PNG at 10/s9 Level. Still listenable past bottom of hour. Several announcements about up coming elections as they want no corruption and offered phone numbers to call in and report any. Good past 1130. Noted no 4890 heard this a.m. (Bob Montgomery, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 9675 has not been reported in ages (gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. R. Nacional del Paraguay, 9737.5v is inactive (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** PERU. After a tip from Arnaldo Slaen I tuned to 13565.5 to get the second harmonic of Radio Ondas del Pacífico, which I received on 6782.7 yesterday. I am lucky and got the station ID twice within two songs of tuning in. Thanks Arnaldo! 13565.5, R. Ondas del Pacifico, 0117 UT Sept 5. Latin / Andean music with a male announcer. Some interference by SITOR-like chirp in USB, but a listenable signal in LSB. At 0121 a station ID by the announcer, SIO 132. All receptions done in Curitiba, Brazil, using an Icom R75 and a homebrew T2FD antenna of 15 meters in length and a random wire of about 20 meters length. Full or partial reproduction of these logs is allowed. Kind regards, (Rik van Riel, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PERU. 5699.90, R. Frecuencia San Ignacio, 0045 Aug 31. Very weak audio under buzzsaw like noise. Tweaking the 535D I was able to finally get some better audio by 0050. Too weak to get an ID but can hear SS announcer and some rather nice mx being played by this 100 watt micro Peruvian station. I have tried for this one a number of times in the past and finally managed some audio. This noise has always been there making it very difficult to hear. Noted station drifting a bit. At 0050 it was at .91 and dropped to .86 by 0053. Best in USB (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 4974.97 (presumed), Radio del Pacífico, 0815-1002, Sep 3 & 5, // HCJB 6080 and 3220 with religious programs and IDs, but no local IDs. Nothing heard on 9675. Good signal Sep 3, only fair Sep 5. 5879.16, Radio Imperio, 0946, Sep 5, Announcer in Spanish with religious talk, // 4388.91. Poor signal. Product AM 1490 + SW 4389. (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA/C I S. Some new stations via unidentified transmitters: Radio DAT/Free Radio for free Kazakhstan in Russian and Kazakh: 0100-0200 on 9775 1500-1600 on 9775(54444) over CNR-1 in Mandarin Chinese Voice of Homeland in Arabic - new anti Syrian station: 0330-0400 on 9950(45433) 1500-1530 on 12085(55555) 12115(55555) Bible Voice Broadcasting Network (BVBN): 7425 1800-1900 Sat/Sun in Russian to EaEu 7430 1700-1800 Mon only in Amharic to ME/EaAf 1800-1815 Mon only in English to ME/EaAf 1700-1715 Tue only in Russian to ME/EaAf 1715-1815 Tue only in English to ME/EaAf 1700-1815 Wed-Sat in English to ME/EaAf 1700-2000 Sun only in English to ME/EaAf 9610 0200-0230 Daily in Hindi to SoAs 9855 0030-0100 Daily in Bengali to SoAs 11645 2000-2115 Sat/Sun in English to WeEu 15615 0030-0130 Sat/Sun in English to SoAs Test transmissions for RTV Mezopotamia!?! in Kurdish via SAM 250 kW / 188 deg: 1700-1800Tue/Wed/Fri/Sun on 12115 (55555) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIA SET TO COMPLETE SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV BROADCASTING IN 2005 | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Prime-TASS Moscow, 4 September: Russia's federal TV broadcasting system is expected to be fully digitized in 2005 at the earliest, when the government completes its 850m-dollar programme of upgrading the national satellite constellation [as received], Aleksandr Duka, acting CEO of Russia's state satellite operator Kosmicheskaya Svyaz (Space Communications) said on Wednesday [4 September]. As part of the project, six state-of-the-art Ekspress-AM satellites will be launched into geostationary orbits on top of the existing 10 satellites, five of which have already ended their service life. Duka noted that five satellites are enough to completely cover Russian territory with digital TV broadcasts instead of the 10 currently required for transponding analogue signals. Digital technologies are expected to boost satellites' transponding capacity by 300-500 per cent, he said. Apart from the space segment of the digitization project carried out by Kosmicheskaya Svyaz, the ground segment will require 42m dollars, according to the Russian Communications and Information Technology Ministry. The project, implemented by the Communications Ministry together with the Press [TV and Radio Broadcasting and Mass Communications] Ministry and Foreign Ministry, envisages gradual phasing in of digital technologies across the federal, land-line, broadcasting grid. The operator of the ground segment is state company Russian Broadcasting Network (RTRS). The Foreign Ministry is commissioning the upgrade of broadcasting networks for Russian embassies and diplomatic representations globally. The project's worth, however, could be revised after pilot digital broadcasting zones are tested, Valeriy Timofeyev, deputy communications and IT minister, told Prime-TASS on Wednesday. The pilot digital broadcasts zones, compliant with the European DVB-T standard, have already been built in Moscow, St Petersburg and Nizhniy Novgorod, and feature a full range of digital TV broadcasting equipment - from a TV transmitter to a household receiver and decoder. Source: Prime-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1838 gmt 4 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ST. KITTS & NEVIS. 894.99, Voice of Nevis, Bath Village AUG 14 0159 - Good signal with sign off anthem in English, then off the air. + AUG 15 0158 - Again at sign off, "This ends another broadcast day of VON... 10000 watts," fading in/out (Erik Stromsted, W1ZBT, Pepperell MA; Yaesu 1000MP, terminated NE long wire and unterminated N/S long wire, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 1521, BSKSA Duba AUG 8 2250 - Good; Middle Eastern vocal parallel 9555 and 9870, off at 2303. Shortwaves signed off at 2300 exactly (Bruce Conti, ME, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) SEP 2 2255-2302 - Loud with a man in Arabic and brief bridges of Middle Eastern music parallel to 9555 and 9870; six time pips at 2300, long announcement by man in Arabic to 2302 sign off. Steady signal with no fading {Marc DeLorenzo, MA, NRC International DX Digest via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Announced at the Broadcasters panel at the EDXC Conference: Osman Erkan from Voice of Turkey said they may reduce output; possible cuts include the closure of their Kazakh service and merging of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian broadcasts (Alan Pennington & Dave Kenny, Finland, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U A E. UAE Radio, Dubai, heard in English 22 Aug 1330 on 21605.25 but on 23 Aug at 1400 on 21597.58, both days parallel to 13765, 15395 (Tony Rogers, UK, BDXC Communication via DXLD) ** U K. I`m following the progress of DRM with great interest. However, has anyone considered using it on the lower shortwave bands for DOMESTIC broadcasting? A station in the Midlands on, say, the 60 or 90 metre tropical bands, with an antenna arranged for ``straight- up, straight-down`` propagation, could easily cover the British Isles for a fraction of the cost of a MW, FM or DAB network. Obviously, there would need to be negotiations with the ITU, but these frequencies are little used these days, and some broadcast channels could easily be fitted in (Mark Palmer, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U K [non]. [Russian sites are involved on] 7425 / 7430 / 11645 for Bible Voice Broadcasting Network / High Adventure Gospel Canada. http://www.glenlowance.com/ [site at Harlingen, TX --- gh] Middle East [Armavir/Krasnodar site 100 kW 190 degrees] 100 kW 7430 Monday-Friday 1700-1815 UT Amharic/English/Russian 100 kW 7430 Sat/Sun 1700-1800 UT 250 kW 7430 Sat 1800-1900 UT [not on air Sat Aug 31, wb] 250 kW 7430 Sunday 1800-2000 UT India 250 kW 9855 Monday-Sunday Bengali 250 kW 9610 Monday-Sunday Hindi 250 kW 15615 0030-0130 Sat/Sun English/Hindi East Europe [Moscow Taldom 250 kW site presumed, wb] 250 kW 7425 Sat/Sunday 1800-1900 UT Polish/English/Slavic/Russian West Europe [Moscow transmitter] 250 kW 11645 Sat/Sunday 2000-2115 UT English (Harjot Singh Brar, India, for GRDXC Aug 27 with annotations by Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) I heard 7430 s-on with the 'high' tones again today. After an English ID the language sounded very much like Russian, but spoken by a non- Russian. I'm not sure what the language is at 1730 - it sounds a mixture of Russian and Turkish! At 1746 the language changed to another unknown - this also seems to have some Turkish like words, but I cannot be sure it is Turkish proper. Some talk and Gospel music. The signal is peaking to 9 but spoiled by static bursts (not from anywhere in the UK) and a TV buzz on high side - using LSB only clears that nuisance. Time of Deliverance from Philadelphia at 1800 in English. (Noel R. Green, UK, Aug 26, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) 7425 / 11645 Bible Voice Bcing Network / High Adventure Gospel Canada. 7425 Sat/Sunday 1800-1900 UTC Polish/English/Slavic/Russian. Signal suffering, like an Armavir Krasnodar usual Arabic downwards 190/185 degree signal (winter on 5935, summer 7425?), of estimated 100 kW. Other usual Russian outlets were much, much stronger at same time: 7300, 7330, 7370, 7400, and 7440. When English closed at 1815 on 7430 an address in Leeds-UK was given and an e-mail address mail@biblevoice.org (wb, Aug 28) 7425, I heard a strong station of Bible Voice, most likely in Polish language on Sat Aug 31, 1800-1830 UT, transmitter Moscow Taldom, 250 kW, signed on at 1742, tone pips procedure 1747-1756 UT. At 1754 UT break occurred, and supposedly pips tone generator of 845 Hertz tone switched from local transmitter site source to the MCB Moscow control room [?] generator, and measured near 825 Hertz then. 7425 station was much stronger than 7430 [latter which closed at 1800 UT!], which is presumed via Armavir-Krasnodar, Russia relay site southwards to the Middle East. 7425 is - probably - targeted to E Europe at about 250 degrees azimuth from Taldom. Signal level is equal of 7300, 7330, 7390, 7400, and 7440 kHz outlets, all Russian powerhouse transmissions at same time span. Program started with an announcement in Russian as "Radiostantzia Golos Biblii", the Leeds address was given then, followed by an address in Russia [translated by Bernd and Dmitri, thanks, wb]. RUSSIAN: "Golos Biblii". P.O.Box 2512, 426067 Izhevsk, Russia. Additional info. This is the Izhevsk production studio of FEBC Russia. e-mail: izhevsk@febc.org (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Sep 1) Today's broadcast was 50% English - 50% Russian, no other language segments. I need to listen to the recordings once more (Dmitry Mezin, Russia, Sep 1) Polish service recording from 1802 UT onwards, suffered from a lot of unwanted noise of a nearby 'building site', strokes of hammer and a drilling machine could be noted. Had a piece of music till around 1827 UT, and a final announcement by presenter Waldemar Kasperczak, who also announced the local Warsaw Poland contact address. Krzysztof Rybus in Poland and Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania did identify the address: Glos Ewangelii, skrytka pocztowa 484, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland. Meaning in English: Voice of Gospel, P.O. BOX 484, 00-950 Warsaw, Poland (Krzysztof Rybus, Poland, BC-DX Sep 1) POLISH: "Glos Ewangelii", P.O.Box 484, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland. Additional info. - Street address: ul.Zagorna 10, 00-441 Warszawa, Poland. URL: http://www.gospel.pl e-mail: gospel@gospel.pl (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Sep 1) At 1830-1845 UT Christian program in an unID language was noted. Not Slavic, most likely in a Caucasian language, with some Turk accent, but definitely not Turkish, Armenian, Georgian, but could be rather Azerbaidjan [see Ossetian assumption item BELOW]. 1843 UT ID and address in Unknown lang. I guess I heard the word "Georgia" two times!? 1845:39 UT fanfares, ID in Russian, sermon. At 1858:37 UT an US address was given by female, followed by schedule announcement and Leeds England address, given both by male voice announcer. I guess Merlin control room forgot to cut off the feeder line at 1900 UT even. Then satellite feed switched to another service in Turk [Azeri/Uzbek of BBC or IBB] language at 1900 for five seconds only, then followed by VOA English news reading till 1901:15 UT. 11645 transmitter signed on at 1955 UT, and started tone procedure at about 1955:30 to 1958:50 UT. Adjacent channels had powerhouse broadcast of Urumqi, China, 500 kW on 11650 SINPO 55555, and V. of Vietnam on 11640 43443, co-channel AWR Meyerton weak S=2 level. 10 seconds before the hour a Russian announcement of R Rossii and five time pips could be noted underneath before Bible Voice Broadcasting started. Bible Voice Broadcasting started 1959:58 UT with a station jingle. The transmission was totally in English by various Baptist churches of Canada and USA. At 2101 and 2113 UT the ID and address of Christ Gospel Church International was given twice in English: Christ Gospel Broadcast P. O. Box 786 Jeffersonville, Indiana 47131, USA URL: http://www.christgospelbc.org followed by an ID + Leeds England address, given in Hindi language. The language at the last is nothing but Hindi (Swopan Chakroborty, India, and Ashok Kumar Bose, Canada, Sept 1-2, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Bible Voice Broadcasting Network. P. O. Box 220, Leeds, LS26 0WW in the United Kingdom. biblevoice@sympatico.ca http://www.missionsenfete.qc.ca/eng_agencies.html http://www.highadventure.org/# We transmit via SW from several strategic locations around the world. Our studio in Jerusalem sends its signal via satellite to a transmission facility in Germany that broadcasts back into the ME. From the transmission site in Germany we also reach W Europe, E Europe/Russia, China, Vietnam, India and parts of N Africa. We also have a SW facility just north of Los Angeles, CA that covers Mexico and many areas in Latin America and the Caribbean. We have just recently dedicated our new FM station in Liberia, Africa, which reaches the nearly 1 million population of the capital city of Monrovia. We are currently building a new transmission site in Northern Nigeria where we will broadcast FM, AM and SW, eventually reaching most of the continent of Africa. Our satellite coverage is expanding to the point where broadcasts originating in Jerusalem will be heard throughout the entire network. http://www.glenlowance.com/ http://www.biblevoice.com http://katalog.wp.pl/DMOZ/Society/Religion_and_Spirituality/Christiani ty/Chats_and_Forums/ Need HELP: for identifying the Georgia? - address, which is given on 7425 kHz in the 1830-1845 UT transmission: Sats at 1843 UT. The Leeds England address see ABOVE (wb df5sx BC-DX Aug 31) [Most probably] Ossetian language from Georgia ? 7425 at 1830-1845 UT Saturdays. [wb] I tried to listen to your recording again and again, but no success in language ID. Let's wait till Saturday, when we'll have another chance to listen on the air. Address was P. O. Box 400, Sarasota, FL, 34230, USA. By the way, Internet search of "Box 2512, Izhevsk, 426067" revealed two interesting facts: 1 It's the address (former or current???) of FEBC office in Izhevsk. FEBC history page mentions local broadcasts from that city but says nothing about the schedule. 2 It's the address (former or current???) of radio channel 'Svobodnaya Volna', license No. 2245, issued on 12 Nov 1996. Station based in Izhevsk, but surprisingly declares Russian and Ossetian (?!?!) as the broadcast languages. If Bible Voice has any connection with Svobodnaya Volna, then maybe the Caucasian language used on Saturday was Ossetian? It's my pure speculation, but who knows... (found at http://www.tvradio.ru/fs/reestr/22.html) (Dmitry Mezin, Russia, BC-DX Sep 3) many thanks to Dmitry, wb. According to a message from Don McLaughlin the broadcasts by Biblevoice to the ME on 7430 kHz (Mon-Fri 1700-1815 UTC/100 kW - Sat 1700-1800 UTC/100 kW - 1800-1900 UTC/250 kW - Sun 1700-1800 UTC/100 kW - 1800-2000 UTC 250 kW) are from Krasnodar, while the broadcasts to Europe on 11645 kHz (Sat and Sun 2000-2100 UTC/250 kW) are from Moscow. No details were given, however, for 7425 kHz (to E Europe Sat and Sun 1800-1900 UTC). (Thomas Drescher, Germany, BC-DX Sep 3) 11645, Bible Voice Broadcasting Network, very good right now, 2045 Sep 1, English religious programming from Ohio and Saskatchewan. Opened 2000 after CIS-style tone runup. There was a transmitter break at 2051, and when they came back on they had lost about 20% of their signal. Maybe an antenna change? They started another religious program at 2100 (from Georgia, US). Transmitter break again at 2101-2103, closed 2115* after Bible Voice Broadcasting Network postal address, cut off in the middle of their E- mail address. Signal at 2115 was just a shadow of what it was at 2000 UT (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Sep 1; ALL: BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) I`m flabbergasted by the amount of effort these gentlemen put into tracking and researching what is really just another unneeded gospel huxter; but repro it here in case anyone run across it, for the record. Have been filing it under UK non, due to the previously reported address, but it appears to be quite multinational, more likely USA [non] (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K / U S A. U.S. PUBLIC RADIO AND BBC WORLD SERVICE LET ORDINARY PEOPLE SPEAK ON IMPACT OF 9/11 - Live Global Call-in and National Town Hall Set for Broadcast Sept. 7 & 8, Part of Weeklong Special Coverage, 'Understanding America After 9/11' - WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst the wave of 9/11 anniversary shows, two will be unscripted. Public radio stations across the country, along with the BBC World Service, will broadcast two special events that invite citizens here and abroad to discuss how 9/11 has changed their lives, the image of the US, and America's role in the world. On Sept. 7, Americans will have the opportunity to speak their minds and hear the views of people around the globe during the special live, public radio call-in program, "Living with Terror: The World Speaks a Year After 9/11," a co-production by WAMU in Washington, D.C. and the BBC World Service. The two-hour program, hosted by award-winning journalists Deborah Amos of ABC News and Robin Lustig of the BBC World Service, will address such topics as whether the U.S. is to blame for rising terrorism; whether the war on terrorism can truly be won; and what living with terrorism has meant for people from Ireland to Israel. Listeners can participate by phone (800-450-8850) or Internet http://www.wamu.org "Living with Terror: America Speaks a Year After 9/11," a collaboration between three U.S. public radio stations and the BBC World Service, is the first opportunity for those around the world to hear a diverse group of Americans across the country compare experiences and feelings on life after 9/11.Town hall audiences in Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis-St. Paul will discuss issues like whether life in the U.S. has really changed, how 9/11 has affected children, whether Americans are trading off their ideals of liberty for security, and much more. Andy Kohut, of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, will discuss his organization's new poll results on American attitudes post-9/11. The show will be hosted by Ray Suárez of PBS's "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" and formerly host of NPR's Talk of the Nation, and Stephen Sackur, European correspondent for the BBC World Service. Baronness Shirley Williams, a British MP, will offer a European perspective in the conversation, along with other invited guests. The special will be taped Sept. 7 for air Sept. 8. "Living with Terror: The World Speaks A Year After 9/11" will be broadcast live on Sept. 7 from 1 - 3 p.m. Eastern Time on public radio stations nationwide, as well as the BBC World Service, Armed Forces Radio and NPR Worldwide. "Living with Terror: America Speaks A Year After 9/11" will air Sept. 8 on public radio stations nationwide and the BBC World Service. Listeners should check their local public radio station's website for times. 1607 09/03/2002 05:20 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com Copyright © 2002 PR Newswire (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Rather than mushy sentimentality about victims, blatantly obvious platitudes from our Great Leaders about their heroic efforts against Evil, and vitriol that the War Against Terrorism must continue, news organizations would serve the public well by ensuring that their coverage respects the privacy of families who want privacy, does not provide platforms for politicians wanting to use the occasion to wrap themselves in the flag and utter the obvious in order to shore up support for fall elections. Stories? Here are a few ideas: People are afraid to fly that day, or to travel to the US that day. Investigative reporters at a Canadian newspaper (Globe and Mail) recently uncovered evidence that organized crime controls many Canadian ports, and that inspectors and other officials are being 'discouraged' from checking inside shipping containers arriving here. There is also substantial coverage in non-mainstream media of western government support for foreign regimes and rebel groups with strong ties to terrorist groups (i.e., the US supplying Saddam Hussein with chemical weapons, Canada and other countries allowing arms transfers to known violators of human rights, etc...). Think Enron was worth reporting? What about western-based oil and mining giants with close, active ties to armed rebels and other thugs, exploiting civil unrest and truly nasty and undemocratic regimes in order to maximize yields and profits. News organizations that purport to serve the public interest need to look into this sort of stuff, separate fact from fiction (there is plenty of both), and inform citizens about what is truly happening. Instead, I anticipate reports about 9/11 that will be as informative and useful as news reports about a celebrity's messy divorce, If news organizations truly care about the people who died and the rescue crews who suffered on the front lines, then the answer is to report in a professional manner. For one day, if not for 365 days a year, news will NOT be confused with entertainment, and journalists will not allow their work to be manipulated by those seeking to expand their personal wealth or power base (Saul Chernos, Ontario, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA DIRECTOR WAS UNDERMINED BY DOUBTS David R. Sands, THE WASHINGTON TIMES Doubts from above about his managerial skills and suspicions from below about his conservative political leanings torpedoed Voice of America Director Robert Reilly, who resigned abruptly last week after 11 months on the job, insiders at the U.S. broadcasting service said yesterday. Mr. Reilly, hailed by VOA critics as a "principled conservative" who would provide a more muscular pro-American tone to the 60-year-old broadcasting service, would be succeeded by veteran Time magazine correspondent David Jackson, VOA's Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) revealed late last week. "He never had much backing on the newsroom floor. When his own bosses turned on him, he had no support to fall back on," said one VOA employee, who declined to be named for this article. BBG Chairman Ken Tomlinson, at one time a strong backer of Mr. Reilly, said in an interview yesterday that ideology had not been a factor in Mr. Reilly's departure. He declined to discuss the factors behind Mr. Reilly's resignation, but noted that Mr. Jackson was a "proven manager at a time when we are facing some big-time management challenges." "Bob," said Mr. Tomlinson, "is a great guy who will be better off doing creative work." Mr. Reilly's decision to resign also came quickly. He was called out of a staff gathering to honor a retiring VOA veteran to meet with board members Thursday and emerged later that day to inform division directors at a previously scheduled staff meeting that he was leaving. A former Reagan administration official, Mr. Reilly wrote editorials and hosted a foreign-policy talk show at VOA for more than a decade before assuming the director's post in October. In a statement released by the BBG, he said he was leaving "to seek opportunities in which I can more directly employ my talents in helping [President Bush] and the administration in the war against international terrorism." Mr. Reilly's short tenure was marked by major organizational changes and simmering internal disputes over the mission of VOA. The service broadcasts news, educational and cultural programming, as well as statements of official U.S. government policy, to radio and television audiences in 53 languages. Mr. Reilly took the top VOA slot on the heels of an interview with former Afghanistan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. VOA aired excerpts of the interview just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks despite State Department complaints. Mr. Reilly said he would not have aired Mullah Omar's comments and later called the fighting in Afghanistan a "war of ideas," with the VOA "on one side in that war." VOA reporters and editors said Mr. Reilly and the tight-knit group of deputies he recruited had not tried to put an ideological slant on day-to-day reporting, but that the wariness on the newsroom floor never eased. Mr. Reilly's fatal mistake might have been to upset the oversight board last month with a proposal to close five overseas bureaus, including a major news center in Hong Kong, to help finance a planned new Farsi radio service targeting Iran. Mr. Tomlinson said yesterday that "no final decisions" had been made on any closings, but added, "To me, it's unthinkable that the Hong Kong office would close." Mr. Tomlinson and BBG member Norman Pattiz, an executive of the giant Westwood One Inc. radio network, have pushed a new, music-heavy service known as the Middle East Radio Network to replace VOA's more sober shortwave broadcasting in the region. VOA employees said Mr. Reilly also had caused friction with the board by his management style, which included a heavy reliance on consultants and staffing a high number of positions with loyalists. Kevin McNamara, a former newsman and adjunct scholar at the Philadelphia-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, called the resignation a "shame," saying Mr. Reilly had been administering a badly needed shake-up to VOA. "He was that rarest of commodities — a principled conservative in government — and the great hope was [that] he would know how to maneuver in that environment to change things," Mr. McNamara said. "He understood the VOA was about getting America's message across in the world, not augmenting journalism jobs in Washington." ----------------------------------------------------------- This article was mailed from The Washington Times http://www.washtimes.com/world/20020905-2456065.htm Copyright (c) 2002 News World Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. (Washington Times [Moony], via DXLD) ** U S A. NEW U.S. PROPAGANDA TOOL: MUSIC To counteract anti-American hatred, there's a new weapon in the propaganda wars. It's a mix of American hip hop and Arabic ballads, with a strong dose of news in between. Replacing the voice of America in the Middle East is Radio Sawa, Arabic for ``together.`` ... http://www.msnbc.com/news/803582.asp [includes button to Play Video] (Andrea Mitchell, NBC News via Tom McNiff, VA, Sept 5, DXLD) ** U S A. Labor Day turned out not to be a holiday at WWCR. Monday afternoon, a small grass fire broke out in the antenna field. Fortunately, alert staff quickly controlled what could have been a potentially disastrous situation. All four transmitters had to be shut down for about two hours. Evidently, this was caused by a switching relay for a shorting stub in the #1 antenna, used to match impedances. A solenoid apparently shorted; the relay is supposed to depower after activating, but kept going with 220 volts, setting on fire the board it was mounted on, and then the grass. The fire department came out and hosed it down. Meanwhile a spare stub is being used, but switching must be done manually with a bolt. I have been coming in early to make the frequency changes at the appropriate times (Adam Lock, WWCR, WORLD OF RADIO 1146, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 26470, WJFP [Ft Pierce FL] tells me that this relay is down. Left several messages for someone who would know more but never got a call back (Hans Johnson, WY, Sep 5, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Here`s the latest about KTOT, the new 100 kW public radio station going up 25 mi SSW of Perryton TX, relaying KANZ-91.1 Garden City KS; earlier goal of on the air by this summer seems unlikely. They don`t mention the frequency, but coverage map shows it will be 89.5, reaching up to the Kansas border (gh, DXLD) TOP O' TEXAS PUBLIC RADIO PROJECT As promised last month, lots of things are happening with the project. The power lines leading onto the tower site have been completed by North Plains Electric Co-op of Perryton. Tower sections began arriving to the site on August 9th with the construction crew beginning on Monday the 12th. Although much of the equipment will be stored on- site, some pieces need to be stored and Chief Engineer Chuck Springer is busy making preparations to take delivery. Thanks go to Jim Hudson, Editor of the Perryton Herald, for donating the use of storage space. An official ground-breaking ceremony took place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 17 with lots of support from many of you. The Perryton Partners were there along with members of the media and staff of High Plains Public Radio. We`d like to thank all the KTOT capital campaign supporters for coming out to the site and joining us for the ground breaking activity and photos. And we`d like to thank Dana Burnett and the Perryton Chamber of Commerce for their involvement, as well. And while I'm on the subject of thanks, I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the Texas panhandle residents who have supported this project. During the past 18 months I've met lots of wonderful people, and formed many personal friendships. Although I`ll still be in the area in the future, it will be in the role of Regional Programming Development Director. I'll be visiting all the KTOT communities and gathering the histories and stories that make each town and county special. Deb Stout, High Plains Public Radio Promotions Director, will be taking over correspondence and reports on the KTOT project, as well as planning an on-air celebration. Skip Mancini (from http://www.hppr.org/TOT_Press.htm Sept 3 via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE was back up to par Sept 5 at 1200 on 7490, with WORLD OF RADIO 1145, good modulation but with constant undercurrent in Japanese for the USB DVR co-channel. Maybe they will have 1146 on by Friday? No, checked around 1220 no modulation could be detected tho the carrier against DVR seemed fairly strong (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn Hauser! Thought you might be interested in reading this web page: http://wcpe.org/bbc2.shtml WCPE is a great classical station you can listen to online! Regards, (Alan Knapp, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz: August 30, 2002 Dear WCPE Listeners, In July of 1978, WCPE Radio pioneered the broadcasting of the BBC World Service News in the United States. "Auntie" was part of this station from day one. In those early days, WCPE received the BBC via shortwave radio, and WCPE became one of BBC's official relay partners. I can still rattle off the list of frequencies to which we tuned our R-390 shortwave receivers. Of course, WCPE had a written agreement with the BBC to allow these unique rebroadcasts. We became friends with many of the BBC staff, and several times, announcers from the BBC visited WCPE and even recorded announcements and promos for WCPE. The BBC news was read live, and mistakes that happen on live radio can't be covered up: A news reader once said "It is a minor injury, though; the bullet is in her yet." Another announcer, fighting incipient laryngitis that you could hear getting worse by the minute, finally fell silent and could not voice the word "news" as he heroically attempted to conclude the newscast with "That's the end of the world news." Despite the rare tongue-twister and sometimes unreliable shortwave reception, the BBC World Service News became a valued part of this station. So valued, in fact, that other stations across the nation began to consider the BBC news for themselves. When a high-quality feed became available to the US about ten years ago, our shortwave problems ended, and taking our lead, other public stations decided they wanted the BBC, too. Several years ago, the BBC became partners with a radio programming distributor here in the United States. We understand that their new agreement gave the distributor sole rights to the BBC in the United States, and no new US service could add the BBC without making arrangements with this distributor. It is important at this point to review how WCPE operates: WCPE plays all of our music programming here at our studios directly from compact discs, and live announcers host our programming and run the station around the clock. Today, this is unique in radio. Call almost any station after weekday business hours; you'll likely get an answering machine. Because we don't believe in having a computer host your music, and because we do all of our own work, we have no reason to pay a public radio network to do for us what we do better ourselves. As more people discover WCPE, we prove to be a fresh voice to them. Would it benefit anyone if we were just an echo of the same radio programming that you can hear everywhere else? We share WCPE over the Internet, with home satellite listeners, and with cable listeners. We even share WCPE with other community and non- profit organizations by allowing them to rebroadcast our station without charge or obligation. We don't really know how many people listen to WCPE on these new outlets, but anywhere in the USA, WCPE is available one way or another. This growing national listenership of WCPE has made it necessary to defend the validity of the near-thirty year old BBC rebroadcast agreement several times during the past few years. Even though the BBC News is a part of WCPE's programming, and even though all who carry WCPE retransmit us identically as one hears us on 89.7 FM in North Carolina (they hear the exact same WCPE as everyone here in Raleigh does) it has become increasingly difficult for WCPE to defend our old agreement with the BBC. The old friends we had at the BBC are gone; one of our greatest proponents on the staff of the BBC died earlier this year. We've given much effort to finding a solution to this problem but our best offer was just declined. We have too many new listeners on cable systems and radio stations across the USA and in the Caribbean and that seems not to please some people. Now that WCPE is the most-listened-to internet public radio station in the world (according to MeasureCast) we worried that it was only a matter of time before someone would upset the apple cart and our old one-page agreement would have its "notice of revocation" clause activated. I really started worrying when the BBC dropped shortwave service to the United States a year ago. Whether that is related or not is speculation. Regardless, in a few days, the BBC News will no longer be heard on WCPE. The notice of revocation of permission to rebroadcast BBC as we have been was given to me on August 13th; it takes effect at the end of September, 2002. I suppose some good will come of this: We'll be able to bring you an extra hour of Great Classical Music every day in place of the news summaries; and we won't have to worry about the length of a symphony as we cross the top of the hour, and we can devote all of our efforts and talents to bringing you Great Classical Music 24 hours a day where ever you may live or travel. But it will be hard to say goodbye to an old friend when I hear the last time on WCPE -- "That's the end of the world news". Sincerely, Deborah S. Proctor, General Manager Read a detailed statement from Dick Storck, WCPE's Program Director BBC World Service News Dear WCPE listener, Sadly, the information you have heard is indeed true. After September 30, 2002, WCPE will no longer have permission to broadcast BBC World Service News. In 1978, we initiated the concept of re-broadcasting BBC newscasts in the United States. You may recall in the early years that the newscasts were rebroadcast from the BBC's short wave transmissions with variable audio quality. Later, WCPE was granted exceptional permission to rebroadcast BBC newscasts without cost from a special satellite. Our 25 year association with BBC has been rewarding to our listeners and we regret that it must come to an end. This change is not by our choice. The BBC's mission and their programming delivery systems began to change when they stopped their short wave service to the Americas entirely and offered news streaming on the internet. These newscasts are now available in online audio streams at this web address: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/default.stm In the past several years, BBC has been gravitating toward granting exclusive United States rebroadcast rights to Public Radio International. We don't want to spend huge amounts of listener donations each year to pay PRI for network affiliation and programming. We'd rather spend that money on making the classical music programming even better. WCPE is has a growing number of radio station affiliates around the nation which relay all of our programming, especially at night. PRI has no provision to allow re-broadcasting from WCPE to other stations, thus they and the BBC in London told us we must stop at the end of September. We have no other choice but to do as they say. Entire BBC news hours are now heard on other Public Radio Stations, including our friends at WUNC, 91.5-FM, Chapel Hill. They broadcast BBC from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM weekdays, and every night between Midnight and 5:00 AM. BBC policy has changed. Radio is changing toward more channels available and more specialization in formats. WCPE has chosen to specialize in what we do best: Great Classical Music. WCPE will soon able to present an additional hour of music every day because we'll no longer interrupt programming ten times a daily for a six minute newscast. The BBC news you desire is still available to you from several other sources including direct XM Satellite. I hope you'll locate the other sources I suggested to satisfy your needs for the unique perspective of BBC reporting. I trust that when you require Great Classical Music, you'll continue to tune to WCPE for our outstanding specialty. Sincerely, Dick Storck, WCPE Program Director programs@wcpe.org Through the end of September WCPE will continue to offer, live from London, BBC News 10 times a day. The BBC, known world-wide for its exellence in objective reporting, has been aired on WCPE since our inception in 1978. Listen to 5 minutes of BBC World Service News on WCPE at these times: midnight, 3am, 6am, 7am, 8am, noon, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 10pm (Eastern). (WCPE website via DXLD) ** U S A. It's sold and Eugene V. Debs is rolling in his grave I don't see this on the Forward or WEVD websites but according to the dead tree English weekly edition of the Forward dated tommorrow, the Forward Association has reached a deal to sell WEVD to da mouse for 78 mil. Beginning last September, WEVD was leased to Disney as an ESPN station. AFAIK the New York Times still owns and leases WQEW to Disney Kids. One thing about WEVD is that even though the station is 50 kW the frequency of 1050 kHz is utterly dominated (under the 1941 AM band treaty) in the northeast outside the NYC area by CHUM, Toronto (which IIRC just dropped all sports). (Joel Rubin, Queens, Sept 5, swprograms via DXLD) FYI: 1050 out of NYC is heard very well here in Clifton Park, NY about 165 miles north of NYC and 270 miles east of Toronto. CHUM hardly ever trumps WEVD here (John Figliozzi, ibid.) ** U S A. TELEVISION TOWER SEEKS N.J. HOME Thursday, September 05, 2002 By BRIAN KLADKO Staff Writer Television broadcast companies, stymied in their quest to build the world's tallest free-standing structure for an antenna in New York City, are now looking to build in New Jersey - most likely in Hudson County. A 2,000-foot-tall tower, to be built by the broadcasters, would replace the antenna that sat atop One World Trade Center. Jersey City, eager to have bragging rights to one of the world's superlatives, is the only municipality to take public action so far. It has rezoned one parcel and is planning to rezone another to accommodate a tower of unlimited height. But the Metropolitan TV Alliance, representing all 10 New York stations, has discussed the tower's construction with officials in several other New Jersey towns, too, said Edward Grebow, the group's president.... http://www.NorthJersey.com/page.php?level_3_id=1&page=4870798 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. MAYS MAKES HIMSELF CLEAR --- THE HEAD OF THE BIGGEST U.S. RADIO GROUP RESPONDS TO THE COMPANY'S CRITICS By Staff, Broadcasting & Cable, 9.2.2002 When the government removed limits on station ownership six years ago, San Antonio-based Clear Channel began staking a Texas-size claim on radio real estate. Today, the company is the country's largest radio group and among the top five entertainment companies. It owns 1,240 radio stations, operates another 75 through LMAs, and syndicates programming to half the commercial stations in the country. It even has a stake in a potential competitor: satellite radio. Clear Channel also owns 36 TV stations, the country's largest billboard inventory and the biggest concert-promotion business. All that and aggressive cross-promotion have led media-consolidation critics to label Clear Channel "Exhibit A" in their fight for tougher ownership limits. The company has been beaten up in the press and Congress and faces lawsuits and FCC hearings. In the meantime, its stock has taken a beating from investors questioning its multiplatform strategy and financial health. Company President Mark Mays sat down with BROADCASTING & CABLE 's Bill McConnell to answer some of the company's critics.... http://www.tvinsite.com/broadcastingcable/index.asp?layout=story_stocks&articleid=CA241737&doc_id=100473&pubdate=09/02/2002 (Broadcasting & Cable via DXLD) ** U S A. CLEAR CHANNEL'S RADIO PACTS IRK LABELS Music: The chain's lucrative deals with independent promoters have resulted in massive playlist price hikes. By CHUCK PHILIPS, TIMES STAFF WRITER Radio conglomerate Clear Channel Communications Inc. is pushing the envelope in the murky world of record promotion--and upsetting music executives in the process... http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-clear5sep05.story (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. National Radio of the Saharan Arab Democratic Republic on 7460 is inactive (Luca Botto Fiora, Italy, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Ashura R (Assyrian R), 9154.95, 1825 4 August, 1825 tune-in to talk in presuemd Assyrian, ME type music, ID ``...al- Ashura``, into program in Arabic at 1835; anthem and off at 1857 (Tony Rogers, UK, BDXC Communication via DXLD) I`m trying to recall whether we ever pinned this one down; the most recent reference I can find is in DXLD 2-062 from last April (gh): ``UNIDENTIFIED. Does anyone know what is the broadcast on 9155 between 1655-1900? It is mostly in Arabic, but also other languages are used. They speak about Syria and Iraq but they seem to avoid identifying themselves. Has Azerbaidjan sold airtime to some other organisation? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, April 14, hard-core-dx via DXLD)`` ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ Glenn, I stopped by a RadioShack store in my area and learned they no longer issue free annual printed catalogs, so if you want to see what's new in store you have to look up http://www.radioshack.com to see the latest electronics, radios, etc. As for shortwave receivers, from looking at the items available online it appears as if RS has ceased making their own brands of portable receivers, including the DX-398, but they have two Grundig SW portables available for purchase online or in the stores, the YB-400 selling at $149.95 (same price as at Universal Radio), and the G2000A Porsche-designed receiver (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2002 Sep 03 2212 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html # Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 04 - 30 September 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. Activity is expected to be low early in the period, 04-08 September. With the return of old Region 69 (S08, L=299, class/area Ekc/1990, on 19 August) on 07 September and Region 95 on 23 September, low to moderate levels are expected for the remainder of the period. No proton events are expected early in the period. A proton event is possible on 07-22 September. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit may reach event threshold on 08-09 September due to a recurring coronal hole. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for most of the period. Active conditions are possible on 06-07 September due to a recurring coronal hole. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Sep 03 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Sep 03 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Sep 04 170 10 3 2002 Sep 05 165 12 3 2002 Sep 06 170 12 3 2002 Sep 07 190 10 3 2002 Sep 08 200 10 3 2002 Sep 09 205 10 3 2002 Sep 10 210 10 3 2002 Sep 11 215 10 3 2002 Sep 12 220 10 3 2002 Sep 13 220 10 3 2002 Sep 14 220 10 3 2002 Sep 15 215 10 3 2002 Sep 16 215 10 3 2002 Sep 17 210 10 3 2002 Sep 18 205 12 3 2002 Sep 19 195 12 3 2002 Sep 20 185 12 3 2002 Sep 21 180 10 3 2002 Sep 22 170 10 3 2002 Sep 23 165 8 3 2002 Sep 24 165 8 3 2002 Sep 25 170 10 3 2002 Sep 26 170 10 3 2002 Sep 27 170 10 3 2002 Sep 28 170 8 3 2002 Sep 29 170 10 3 2002 Sep 30 170 12 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio Sept 3 via WORLD OF RADIO 1146, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-138, September 4, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2230 17495, 7415; Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830? Available early UT Sept. 5: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html [later Sept. 5] MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR. Check frequently for lots of good listening, minute by minute, mostly via Internet: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html [corrected] ** AFGHANISTAN. It is correct that there are no operational SW transmitters in Afghanistan at present. I have attached a recent photo of the destroyed SW building at Pulecharchi, near Kabul. It was hit by a cruise missile. The senior engineer only escaped because he saw the missile coming. The 500 kW MW transmitters on the same site were destroyed by 3 bombs. Fortunately no one was hurt at the site (Dave Stanley, Great Britain, Aug 16, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch Sept 3 via DXLD) The mentioned picture of the transmitter site can be seen in the CRW Clandestine Radio QSL gallery http://www.schoechi.de/bild-cla.html (CRW) I don`t find it yet Sept 3, just QSLs (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Re: ``NEW RADIO STATION INAUGURATED IN AFGHANISTAN | Text of Ambiguity, ambiguity! Surely not 9905 MHz; do they mean it is on FM, AND shortwave 9905 kHz?? Or is it FM 99.05 MHz??? (gh, DXLD 2- 124)" The German military had previously operated a FM transmitter on 99.5 MHz. The transmitter provided music/news for the German ISAF troops. Given the reduction in German troop numbers (along with UK and other nations), it is possible that this transmitter has been donated over to the new station. Coverage of Kabul from the ISAF base was not very [good?] though because it is a few km outside of Kabul (Dave Stanley, Great Britain Aug 16, 2002 for CRW Sept 3 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. ON THE RADIO, AFGHANS CALL NATION TO A NEW DAY September 4, 2002 By JOHN F. BURNS KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 3 --- For more than a thousand years, Afghans have begun their day at dawn to the sounds of muezzins summoning them to prayers at local mosques. But these days, at least for those among this nation's 23 million people with radios, there is another, distinctly secular cry rising in the early morning air. Just as the muezzins' calls remind them of their ties to the eternal, a 60-minute radio program called "Good Morning Afghanistan" has been offering Afghans a zesty, up-to-the-minute and increasingly bold look at the world about them and at the surprising and sometimes improbable ways Afghanistan is changing now that the Taliban have been driven from power. Under the Taliban's five-year rule, Afghanistan's only radio outlet was the Voice of Shariat, an Afghan name derived from the Arabic word for Islamic legal and moral codes. Typically the news began with bulletins from the vice and virtue police, the Taliban's ubiquitous enforcers: 25 men arrested for trimming beards, 10 women hauled away for immorally entering ice cream parlors, five shopkeepers shut down for selling libidinous postcards of Indian movie actresses. Those headlines come readily to the mind of Ghani Mudaqiq, 33, an announcer who learned his profession reading the news on the Voice of Shariat and who now works as one of the man-and-woman anchor teams on "Good Morning Afghanistan." Nowadays Mr. Mudaqiq and his on-air partner, Sharifa Zurmati, 32, whose earlier broadcasting career ended when the Taliban seized Kabul and banned most women from working, have a more audience-friendly lineup when the program is broadcast each morning at 6:30. Since its beginning earlier this year, it has been supported by the Baltic Media Center, an organization based in Denmark that helps to train journalists in developing countries. With financial assistance from the European Commission, the organization has provided "Good Morning Afghanistan" with a $10,000-a-month budget, enough to pay the 25 Afghans working for the show an average of $300 a month, and to pay for some of the show's studio equipment. One recent show featured a piece about a new Chinese restaurant in Kabul and the difficulties of eating with chopsticks. An interview with a 13-year-old girl working as a carpet weaver followed, along with a traffic report about a collision between a bicycle and a motorbike in Kabul. The day's grimmer news came along with those an account of the new government's responses to claims that hundreds of Taliban prisoners suffocated in shipping containers and then were secretly buried last winter in a mass grave north of the Hindu Kush. In a statement, the government said the deaths and the grave appeared to be "a horrible atrocity" and pledged support for any investigation into "this and other atrocities." One broadcast this summer featured an interview with Sultani, a Kabul bodybuilder. It was the sort of feature that would have sent the Taliban's mullahs into paroxysms. If any of the hard-line mullahs were listening, their distress must have been complete when the interviewer, Jameela Rishteen, 29, asked Sultani if bodybuilding was something women might try. "Why not?" Sultani replied. "Very well, then," Ms. Rishteen said. "I'd like to have a go myself." In a country where commuters are likely to travel by donkey cart and where many walk long distances for water, a breakfast radio show calls for something of a cultural leap. Much like the helicopter-borne American troops who clatter across the skies in their hunt for the remnants of Qaeda and Taliban forces, "Good Morning Afghanistan" is a graft from the distant world that has intruded on life here since Sept. 11. Yet few changes have been more popular, with city dwellers and villagers alike listening in numbers that have stunned the young crew running the program from a dusty studio in Kabul, the capital. A recent survey indicated that 80 percent of the city's two million people had heard of "Good Morning Afghanistan," with 60 percent listening at least four times a week. In distant villages the figure was 10 percent, still noteworthy in a country with an electric power grid shattered by war. The show's success is the most striking example of changes sweeping Afghanistan's news organizations. According to official figures, more than 100 new publications have been registered since the Taliban were succeeded by the government of Hamid Karzai, the country's American-backed leader. "Good Morning Afghanistan," for its part, is breaking with a leaden tradition in broadcasting. The state broadcaster, Radio Afghanistan, which lends its air time to the show, has been little more than a mouthpiece for successive governments the monarchy overthrown in the early 1970's, the Moscow-backed Communists of the 1980's and the chaotic governments of the former guerrillas, or mujahedeen, who ruled before the Taliban. Officials of the new government have bridled when the show has broadcast stories about the government's failure to tackle the country's problems, like the deep potholes that crater Kabul's streets or schools that have no tables or books. Some were deeply unsettled when "Good Morning Afghanistan" uncovered a pattern of corruption among Kabul's traffic police, forcing the resignation of the force's chief. But for many Afghans the show's freewheeling style is an emblem of the improvements that have come with the end of the Taliban. It is something for Afghans to weigh against the accumulating array of disappointments that "Good Morning Afghanistan" has set out to chronicle, including painfully slow flows of Western aid, outbreaks of ethnic factionalism within the new government and incidents when American military action has gone astray, causing civilian casualties. Barry Salaam, 23, the managing editor of "Good Morning Afghanistan," says that the show must tread warily so as not to break age-old cultural and religious taboos, but that the latitude is still wide. "The Taliban period helped Afghans to understand the importance of freedom," he said as he prepared for a staff meeting. "So even when government officials are unhappy at being criticized, I think that they are wise enough to appreciate the fact that people like us at last have the chance to say what we think." The new show's name read at the top of the show in Dari and Pashto, two major Afghan languages, as well as English, French and German is a self-conscious echo from another American war. But unlike the Hollywood film "Good Morning, Vietnam," about an American military radio show that became entangled in the wider controversies swirling about that war, the Afghan program is by Afghans, for Afghans, about Afghan issues. Editorially, the show has been helped by advisers with experience working for the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Voice of America, which have longtime links with Afghanistan through shortwave broadcasts in Dari and Pashto. Some Afghans say the greatest feat of "Good Morning Afghanistan" has been that Afghans are turning to an Afghan broadcaster to learn what is going on in their own country. Two weeks ago, the "Good Morning Afghanistan" staff began a second 60-minute show, "Good Evening Afghanistan," venturing still farther down the road of giving Afghans their own voice. One of the evening show's innovations is "Voice of the People," a three-minute segment in which Afghans, approached on the street or at their homes, are invited to give their opinions on whatever concerns them. But it has not all been smooth sailing for Mr. Salaam and his crew. A battle over censorship has been raging within the state-controlled broadcasting system, with the system's director, Muhammad Isaq, an engineer appointed by the government. He has ordered a number of items cut from the lineup as offending Islamic principles, including an interview with a vegetable seller who won a car in a Kabul lottery. But this time, the proponents of freedom may prevail. When Mr. Isaq acted last week to cut the Indian movies that have been the most popular program on state television's weekly schedule, and ordered female singers banned from state radio, the battle went public. Abdul Hamid Mobarez, appointed by Mr. Karzai to head a committee to examine ways of making the state news organizations more appealing, said Mr. Isaq was out of step with the times. "We have many rivals in this country now," he said. There is Internet, and there is satellite television. If we don't have good programming, people will just watch other things." At Radio Afghanistan, too, Mr. Isaq appears to be losing the struggle. Mr. Salaam tells the story of the day he asked the radio network's top officials whether an instruction for the words "in the name of God" to be used each morning could be interpreted flexibly, to allow the anchors to begin with the title "Good Morning Afghanistan" before dropping back into the words of reverence. "I was told, `Wherever you put the name of God, it fits,' " he said. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/04/international/asia/04AFGH.html?ex=1032142690&ei=1&en=c9c8edfaea6b17f7 Copyright The New York Times Company (via Daniel Say, DXLD) Also, same? But different URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/04/international/asia/04AFGH.html?ex=1032150705&ei=1&en=4f32cb94f14491d0 (via Martin Gallas, IL, who asked NYT why no frequencies, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN LEADER SAYS MEDIA SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE | Text of report in English by Afghan news agency Bakhtar A message by his Excellency Hamed Karzai, head of Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan, on the occasion of the International Media Seminar The Transitional Islamic Government of Afghanistan is a strong supporter of a free, independent and public service media. We would like to see a free media which can reflect the realities of society, enlighten people, and search for solutions for unresolved problems. Such a media can help to establish civil society, peace, national unity and can strengthen democracy and effective and accountable government. Afghanistan's media, like the government of the country, must serve the people and act in the interests of the people. Newspaper reporters and radio and television broadcasters and journalists, who work for the government of Afghanistan, should serve the people of Afghanistan and should not, in any way, be abused by political and military factions. The media must give special attention to educational programmes and about various social and cultural issues, especially those that strengthen national unity and democracy, give national pride, support human rights and help to speed up the process of reconstruction. We urge friendly countries and international organizations to implement short-term and long-term media training schemes and capacity building in areas such as planning, technology, broadcasting and publishing. We thank those countries which have helped us in this. We assure journalists and reporters that the government and the laws of Afghanistan will protect their civil and constitutional rights, which include the right to join unions and professional organizations. I appreciate the efforts of the minister for information and culture, all his colleagues and the organizers of the seminar. I wish you all success in this international seminar. Source: Bakhtar news agency, Kabul, in English 0839 gmt 2 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) But..... ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN COURT BACKS TV, RADIO RESTRICTIONS IN KABUL By Sayed Salahuddin KABUL, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Supreme Court of Afghanistan on Saturday backed a decision by state-run media to ban women from singing on the radio and prevent Indian films from being aired in the capital. "We have no opposition to the watching of films, but we totally oppose the idea of half-naked scenes or romantic films being broadcast and women's songs being aired," Fazl Ahmad Manawi, deputy head of the Supreme Court, told Reuters. While Manawi sought to play down the political implications of the decision, speculation is growing of a tussle between the Northern Alliance, with its more conservative interpretation of Islam, and the more moderate stance of President Hamid Karzai and his Culture and Information Minister Sayed Raheen Makhdoom. The ban on Indian films and women's songs was ordered this week by Engineer Ishaq, the head of Kabul TV and Radio. "Yes, we defend the move. Films that consist of melodrama and romance should be censored," Manawi said. "The decision was made following repeated complaints from a number of people about the condition of the films on TV. We should keep in mind the religious and traditional values of our people," said Manawi. Indian films, with their mix of melodrama, romance, songs and theatrical fighting have been hugely popular in Afghanistan. The mainly Tajik Northern Alliance dominates key positions in the interim government. The U.S.-backed Karzai is an ethnic Pashtun who is fighting to keep rival clans on the same side. Both Manawi and Ishaq are key members of the Northern Alliance, which helped overthrow the hardline Islamic Taliban regime late last year. Abdul Hafiz Mansoor, Ishaq's predecessor and another Northern Alliance figure, was sacked this month by Makhdoom for barring women's songs from television and for running soundbites of Ahmad Shah Masood, the alliance's legendary leader who was killed a year ago. Karzai has formed a commission consisting of information ministry officials, including Ishaq, to improve and broaden media programming amid complaints that the Northern Alliance wielded undue influence over television and radio broadcasting. Manawi also said state television and radio stations in other parts of the country needed to follow Kabul TV and Radio in banning certain programmes. Hei said religious scholars who form the consultative body of the Supreme Court should be consulted about media programming throughout the country, including in cities like Kandahar in the south and Mazar- i-Sharif in the north. Media in both cities have aired programmes deemed "liberal" by Manawi. "I am against it. They need to be like Kabul," he said. "My view is that they (Kandahar, Mazar and Kabul TV) should ask for the opinion of the Supreme Court's consultative body which has legitimate and strong scholars. They need to ask what generally our people want." Afghans have just begun to enjoy greater freedom in the arts and culture after music and television were banned under the Taliban and its strict imposition of sharia Islamic laws (REUTERS via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. U S A(non): New combined schedule for VOA and RFE in Pashto/Dari effective from Aug 4 0030-0130 VOA Pashto 972 12140 15690 17670 0130-0230 VOA Dari 12140 15690 17670 0230-0330 RFE Pashto 9615 12140*15690 17670 0330-0430 RFE Dari 9615 12140*15690 17670 0630-0730 RFE Pashto 15690*17690 19010 21680 0730-0830 RFE Dari 15690*17690 19010 21680 0830-0930 RFE Pashto 15690*17685 19010 21680 0930-1030 RFE Dari 15690*17685 19010 21680 1030-1130 VOA Pashto 17685 19010 21680 1130-1200 VOA Dari 17685 19010 21680 1200-1230 VOA Dari 1143 17685 19010 21680 1230-1330 RFE Pashto 15370 15690*17685 19010 21680 1330-1400 RFE Dari 15370 15690*17685 19010 21680 1400-1430 RFE Dari 15690*17685 19010 21680 1430-1530 VOA Pashto 7235 12140 15690 1530-1630 VOA Dari 7235 12140 15690 1630-1700 RFE Pashto 9845 12140 15690* 1700-1730 RFE Pashto 9845 11705 12140 15690* 1730-1830 RFE Dari 9845 11705 12140 15690* 1930-2030 VOA Dari 972 2230-2330 RFE Pashto 7430 9785 12140*13810 2330-2400 RFE Dari 7430 9785 12140*13810 0000-0030 RFE Dari 972 7430 9785 12140*13810 * via DTK Wertachtal 500 kW / 090 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) ** ANDAMAN ISLANDS. INDIA 4760.0, AIR Port Blair; 1212 Aug 31. South Asian type music, sub-continental stringed instruments with high- pitched woman vocals, 1217 announcements by Man in presumed Hindi. Good (Steven Wiseblood, Brownsville TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6215.11 kHz, Radio BALUARTE, 0100-0132+, 4 Septiembre, escuchada con ID completa a 0105 en español, luego comentarios y música en português. SINPO 35433. La característica llamativa fue que la emisora tenía una señal de audio totalmente distorsionada y saturada, con cortes esporádicos durante la transmisión, lo que hacía realmente muy difícil de comprender la programación (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia. Roger Broadbent advises me of the following special programming on September 11th and 12th on Radio Australia: First, on September 11th: 0130, 1030 and 2130 UT: "The Religion Report" will be devoting its entire program to effects of the terrorist attacks. 0210 and 0810 UT: "The World Today" and "PM", Radio National's noontime and evening current affairs programs, will devote their entire broadcasts to the events of September 11th, 2001 and their aftermath. 1005 and 1105 UT: "Asia Pacific" will focus on the impact of the attack across the Asia/Pacific region with particular emphasis on Southeast Asia. 1130 UT: Radio Australia will be joining the ABC's Metropolitan network for a three hour special originating live from New York City. Also, at 1005 and 1105 UT on September 12th, "Asia Pacific" will focus on religious extremism in Indonesia and feature an interview with the Islamic cleric who allegedly has links to al-Qaeda. --- More information will be provided next week as it becomes available. If you are interested in an e-mail discussion on shortwave programming topics, you might wish to send an e-mail to swprograms-subscribe@topica.com 73's – (Richard Cuff, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Below is a letter reproduced from rec.radio shortwave: VNG USERS CONSORTIUM Dr Marion Leiba, Honorary Secretary, GPO Box 1090, Canberra ACT 2601 Australia 18 August 2002 Dear Colleague It saddens me to confirm that the National Standards Commission has decided that it is unable to continue to support Radio VNG past 31 December 2002. The main factors that have lead them to this decision are the condition of the time signal generation equipment, which is becoming unserviceable and requires an investment of $AUD80,000 to $AUD100,000 to replace it, and the fact that they believe that "HF Communication has largely had its day". I have explored with them the possibility of qualified volunteers refurbishing the equipment, but they have stated that this would not change their minds about closure. While the National Standards Commission would be willing to make the VNG equipment available on very attractive terms to a group that would like to take it over, independent supporters have estimated setting up costs at another site to be about $AUD20,000. A further site sharing agreement with Air Services Australia seems to be out of the question without a major injection of funds because they exact full cost recovery. The same group of supporters has also estimated that to run VNG, on a voluntary basis with no site fees, at 0.5 to 1 kW power on three frequencies, would still cost about $AUD25,000 a year, of which power and tube replacement would amount to $AUD17,500. As we would require a higher power output for more reliable regional coverage, this would be an underestimate. When VNG was under threat of closure in 1996, a survey disclosed that the maximum that we could get from supporter contributions would be $5000 to $10,000 a year, and I doubt that we would achieve that level now. Consequently, we could not afford to run VNG without Government, or some other major source of external funding. If any of you think you can arrange sufficient funding, or can convince the Government to fund VNG, please let us know as soon as possible. Because of these circumstances, the VNG Users Consortium committee has decided to devote its energy and resources into designing and building an affordable portable GPS receiver that produces audible time signals and one-second pulses and does not rely on a PC. We aim to have a prototype by the end of September 2002. We would envisage that this receiver would be available in kit form as well as fully assembled, and will inform you of progress. In summary, things are looking very grim for VNG, and I would be pleasantly surprised if it survives past 31 December 2002. VNG supporters managed to carry out the seemingly impossible in resuscitating it in 1988, and we gained a six-month stay of execution this time. I am proud of what we have all achieved over the years, but I grieve to have to reiterate that I don't think we can repeat this miracle. Our most realistic option is to get behind the new GPS receiver. We think it will serve us well. Yours sincerely, Marion Leiba, Honorary Secretary, VNG Users Consortium (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. New schedule for Voice International via Darwin effective from August 19: 11930 English 1500-1900, ex 1500-1700 13635 Hindi 1100-1700, ex 1300-1600 13660 Indonesian 1300-1700 DELETED 13685 English 1300-1500, ex 0900-1500 13775 Chinese 0900-1400 NO CHANGE 15165 Chinese 2200-0100 NEW TXION 15365 Indonesian 0800-1300, ex 0900-1300 17560 Chinese 1400-1700 NO CHANGE 17820 Indonesian 0600-0800 NEW TXION (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Habe soeben auf 5945 kHz um 2100 R Afrika International (zumindest lautete die Ansage so in Fr/Ge/En) mit O=4 gehoert. Wer kann mir naeheres zu diesem Sender sagen und wer hat seine Adresse? (Franz Latsch, Austria, A-DX Aug 31, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Kein UMC! Die Adresse ist: Heigerleinstr.7 A-1160 Vienna, Austria. http://www.radioafrika.net email: radioafrika@sil.at (Paul Reinersch, Gernmany, A-DX Sep 1 BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Radio Bangladesh has English at 1230-1300 on 9550 and 7185. Both transmitters come in strong but with a bad transmitter hum. This situation has gone on for almost a couple of years. I wish they could correct it. Mayabe we could ask Multiwave Feedback Listeners in Bangladesh to get in touch with the station director and clear this technical fault (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Multiwave Feedback Sept 1 via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata India, DXLD) ** BHUTAN. As far as I can remember a couple of months back, say June, I heard it at 0100 on 6035 just after AWR s-off at 0058 Aug 30. Will check tomorrow morning. With Northern summer the 6 MHz band fades out for DX by 0145 these days down here in the tropics. At 0100 Bhutan was very faint even in May. But come Nov-March things can be 444! The only way tropical people can enjoy the seasons. Aren't we DXers lucky! (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.34, Em. Pio Doce, 1020-1025 1 Sept., clear signal, ID by OM, YL also. 4716.83, Radio Yura, 1000-1015 with ID, 2355-0000 3 Sept., good with YL in Spanish. 5580.43t, Radio San José, per Arnaldo Slaen log, 2350-0005 weak signal 4 Sept. (Bob Wilkner, R75 and Drake R7, Margate, Republica de Florida :-) DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4600.42, Perla del Acre, Cobija t[entative?]. 1000-1018 4 Sept, OM in Spanish between flutes and vocals (Bob Wilkner, R75 and dipole, Margate, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURUNDI. NEW PEACE RADIO STATION PREPARING TO LAUNCH IN BURUNDI A new radio station, Radio Isanganiro (Kirundi for 'meeting'), is due to start operation on October 2002. Its aim will be to "promote dialogue, peace, reconciliation, and the prevention, management and resolution of the conflicts in the sub-region". The project obtained the approval of Burundi regulatory authorities in June, and is now awaiting a shortwave frequency allocation. According to the Burundi News Agency, Radio Isanganiro is connected with the independent production house Studio Ijambo. Isanganiro is the name of a programme currently produced by Studio Ijambo, targeting the 350,000 Burundian refugees in Tanzania. The new station's objectives will be similar: putting the accent on questions such as the return of refugees to their places of origin, justice, the distribution of land and the solving of potential land conflicts. Radio Isanganiro will have very broad coverage of the Great Lakes region: the whole of Burundi, but also a good part of Rwanda, the Congolese region of Kivu, as well as western Tanzania where there are Burundian refugee camps (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 4 September 2002 via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. Bob Padula`s comments on broadcasting here, and under USA, R. Free Asia Cambodian, also some of its other services, are in WWDXC Top News, No. 589 soon to be at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm and later in their archive (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Montréal`s new airport station is now operational at Dorval on 89.7, heard yesterday morning, audible as far as the south shore. Has lengthy tape loop of 5 to 10 minutes, male in French, female in English, mishmash about parking lot rates, shops, boutiques and restaurants in terminal, etc. No official callsign ID given, unlike TIS stations in the States, just airport information station (Sheldon Harvey, QC, International Radio Report Sept 1, notes by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. This Saturday on Quirks & Quarks we kick off our 28th season with a story we're calling; "A Recipe For Life: Creating Creatures from a Chemical Cookbook." It was one of the most controversial science stories of the past summer. A group of American scientists announced they'd built a virus from scratch - using DNA that they ordered from a commercial company. For the first time, we had a completely artificial organism created in the test tube. Some researchers say this opens the door to a whole new approach to understanding viruses, and building better vaccines. Others worry that we're playing God in the laboratory. Plus - To the planets and beyond: Voyager turns 25. All this and more on Quirks & Quarks, Saturday right after the noon news on Radio One (Bob McDonald Host, via DXLD) ** CANADA. RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL 9/11 SPECIALS: On Sunday, September 8th, RCI will broadcast a special edition of "Cross Country Checkup", a weekly live intelligent (non- confrontational) call-in program, simultaneously with CBC Radio One on the occasion of the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. The program will be transmitted on shortwave frequencies 9800 and 15375 kilohertz to the Eastern and Central United States and to the Caribbean from 2000 to 2200 UT (from Maggy Akerblom at RCI via Richard Cuff, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. AUTHORITIES BLOCK ACCESS TO GOOGLE SEARCH ENGINE | Text of press release in English by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 3 September On 3 September 2002, RSF called on the Chinese government to stop blocking access to the Google search engine, which has been unavailable to Internet users in China since 31 August. "The authorities were already in the habit of using surveillance, censorship or the outright elimination of overly critical web sites, but the blocking of a search engine sets a surprising and very worrying precedent," RSF Secretary-General Robert Menard noted in a letter to Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan. "This move against Google strikes at the very ability to find information on the Internet," Menard added. The Google search engine had become very popular in China because of its ease of use and effectiveness as a search engine in the Chinese language. Many participants in online forums have spoken out against the blocking of Google, pointing out that they use it for research, not politics. The authorities have refused to make any comment. Google's representatives have said they have been in contact with the Chinese authorities in an attempt to get the ban lifted. Media specialists in China suggest that the ban may be related to the approach of the Communist Party's annual congress to be held in November. It comes amid other signs of an increase in censorship by the government, which appears to be increasingly anxious to silence dissident voices. For further information, contact Vincent Brossel at RSF, 5, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: asie@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in Chinese 3 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. 12090 at 1430-1445 Chinese (tentative) Jamming tests, strong 44444 S=9 +30 dB, a little fading noted so far. But I agree, could be China P.R. (wb Aug 27) I tried the mystery station on 12090 today (28/8) and it came on c1530:10 and immediately with "music". Four rock songs were played in all until it just went off at 1545. There were short pauses between each, but I didn`t hear any speech. I didn`t recognise any of the music played - but then, I'm no rock expert! The language in which they were sung was not recognised either, but Chinese?? I'm not sure about that. It sounded a language which didn`t quite fit to the music! Signal strength was about 3 to 5 (and a bit more) with rapid fading characteristics, which reminded me of my reception of RNZI. Despite the low signal, fading and some side-splash I thought modulation was good. You obviously had a bigger signal than I did - and less QSB - Wolfie. It's a strange one! There was nothing else audible on 12090 before or after it came on/went off. The Chinese big band (not a rock group) was heard on 21570 under REE c1440 until about 1515 - off before the station being blocked went off. The frequency was a mess and the language under REE difficult to follow, but I thought I heard a "...bo dien tai..." in there. The station went off at 1520 - this matches DVB [sic, Voice of Tibet, wb] doesn`t it? (Noel R. Green, UK, Aug 28, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. Re Falun Dafa Radio, 5925, DXLD 2-137: Last time I checked 9775 about a week ago the warmup procedure before 2100 was that of Samara. The signal is strong and steady here, so to me it seems clear that the transmission is beamed to Europe and uses a transmitter suitable for European coverage, now Samara, earlier Krasnodar. The jamming on both frequencies is intense, so the Chinese take no risks (Olle Alm, Sweden, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. La semana pasada visité nuevamente los estudios donde producen los programas y digitalizan la música que luego es llevada a Puerto Lleras; el motivo fue para que los orientara sobre la elaboración de la tarjeta QSL. Aunque Martin Stendall se encontraba en Puerto Lleras, hablé largo rato con Oswaldo Lara, quien además de ser el locutor de la mayoría de programas e identificaciones de la emisora; se encarga del diseño de la portada y carátula de las publicaciones y casettes; por lo que puedo dar fé que ya están trabajando en la tarjeta QSL y además están cotizando la elaboración de algunos banderines. Con algo de paciencia, que de eso si tenemos los diexistas, sé que van a confirmar todos los reportes que les lleguen; ya que además en realidad los necesitan para evaluar la señal y presentar un informe al Ministerio de Comunicaciones. Un abrazo, (Rafael Rodríguez, Santa Fe de Bogotá, Sept 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. BUNIA RADIO CHANGES HANDS, NOW UNDER CONTROL OF HEMA MILITIA GROUP Radio Candip, based in Bunia (northeastern DRCongo), which had been under the control of the Bunia-based and Ugandan-backed rebel Congolese Rally for Democracy - Liberation Movement, RCD-ML, also known as RCD-Kisangani, now seems to have fallen under the control of a separate, anti-Ugandan, splinter group led by Thomas Lubanga, a leader of the Hema ethnic group and a former defence official in charge of the RCD-ML's army, the Congolese Liberation Forces. The radio was unheard during the fighting in Bunia between the Hema and Lendu ethnic groups that erupted on 6 August. It was heard again on 12 August, after Ugandan forces had intervened to quell the fighting, but its operations were intermittent for much of the rest of August. On 2 September it was heard between 1515 and 1730 gmt, and again on 3 September between 0500 gmt and 0600 gmt, on its usual shortwave frequency of 5066 kHz. It was reporting news of the return of a Hema ethnic delegation from Kinshasa. On 2 September between 1515 gmt and 1600 gmt, the radio repeatedly broadcast a song in Swahili on the 1979 invasion of Uganda by Tanzanian troops, interspersed with an announcement urging listeners to be on stand-by for a message from Thomas Lubanga, who it described as the president of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC). The message, which was read by Daniel Singoma, the secretary-general of the Front for Reconciliation and Peace (FRP, a Hema militia group which recently kidnapped DRCongo Human Rights Minister Ntumba Luaba), who was also referred to as the UPC secretary-general, had the contents of a decree signed by Lubanga making new appointments of an army chief of staff and his two deputies. Source: Radio Candip, Bunia, in French and Swahili 2-3 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Finally fellow broadcaster and our good DX friend Glen[n] Hauser's DX report can be heard in S. Asia over Radio for Peace International in Costa Rica at 0100 UTC on 15040 kHz on Wednesdays. Signals are not very strong from this low powered transmitter, but is good enough to get 100% readability if you are a keen Dxer!! So that is a good chance to QSL Costa Rica and hear Glen Hauser's World of Dxing. So until next month I return you to the studios of RKI in Soul Korea (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Multiwave Feedback Sept 1 via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata India, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. CUBAN OFFICIALS LOSE DIPLOMATIC IRRITANT U.S. ENVOY WILL HEAD FOR MALI By Gary Marx, Tribune foreign correspondent, September 2, 2002 HAVANA -- As the top U.S. diplomat here, Vicki Huddleston has met countless times with dissidents and withstood withering criticism by Cuban officials. She even stood up for her prize-winning dog when the local kennel club booted the animal out because of Huddleston's position as the local representative of the enemy to the north. But Huddleston, who will become the U.S. ambassador to Mali, says her tenure in Havana, which ends Friday, probably will be most remembered for her campaign to distribute thousands of shortwave radios. Huddleston has handed them out to children at restaurants and old people traveling in the countryside. She gave out hundreds at a recent July 4th party. "I'm now the radio ambassador," Huddleston quipped. "People come up to me all the time to get the radios, and what's the matter with radios? It's to listen to anything you want." But Cuban officials have not considered it a laughing matter, although they never prevented her from giving them out. From the radio campaign, which is intended to boost the number of listeners to U.S. government-run Radio Marti, to her vocal support for dissidents, Cuban officials have denounced Huddleston for meddling in national affairs. Cuban officials were especially outraged by her recent speech to the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami, a hard-line anti-Castro exile group that claims to have sponsored attacks against the island. "I've never seen an American diplomat making a speech in Miami to right-wing Cuban-Americans," said Miguel Alvarez, an aide to the Cuban National Assembly. "That is unprofessional." Earlier this summer, Cuban President Fidel Castro threatened to close the American mission if U.S. diplomats in Havana persisted in "violations of our sovereignty." Huddleston, a career diplomat, seems unfazed by the criticism. She defended her July speech to the exile group, saying she wanted to influence "the most important Cuban-American organization in the U.S." As for Cuba's future, Huddleston said the transition to a post-Castro government has begun, noting the battle is on between those Cubans who want to continue the current one-party system and others who seek a more U.S.-style system. "I'm optimistic because Cuba now has an opposition," she said, citing the birth of a pro-democracy movement as the biggest recent change. Cuban officials dismiss the dissidents as counter-revolutionaries. Huddleston occupies a unique position among diplomats. After the 1959 Cuban revolution, the U.S. cut ties with the communist government and had no diplomatic presence in Havana until 1977, when President Jimmy Carter opened the U.S. Interests Section. It is officially not an embassy but often acts like one. Yet Huddleston and her predecessors generally have little if any official contact with Cuban government officials. There is also the added complex mix of domestic and international politics. "It has got to be among the most difficult diplomatic jobs in the world," said one Western diplomat in Havana. Experts say many of Huddleston's predecessors kept a low profile, and Huddleston spent her first two years on the island following the same pattern. But circumstances changed last year when President Bush adopted a more confrontational approach to Cuba. Bush has vowed to veto attempts to ease the 40-year economic embargo against the regime. Huddleston has not only handed out 9,000 radios, but last year she distributed 45,000 books, magazines and other literature to independent libraries, dissidents and others to bolster what she describes as Cuba's "civil society" and encourage the free flow of information. For the first time, Huddleston invited dissidents to her July 4th party. She has embraced movements such as the Varela Project, which has gathered about 15,000 signatures demanding free elections. But critics of the Bush administration say Huddleston, while willing to listen to their point of view, has unnecessarily antagonized the Cuban government. "My sense is the last year she has upped the rhetoric on Cuba, and that's consistent with the Bush administration," said Geoff Thale, senior associate at the Washington Office on Latin America, a research group. Huddleston said the Castro government has organized no fewer than 10 rallies of at least 200,000 people to march past her office denouncing U.S. policy. Often, she would walk out to her sixth-floor balcony to get a better view of the demonstrators. "I wanted to show people that you should stand up when accused and shouldn't hide," she said. Copyright © 2002, Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0209020135sep02.story ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, DXLD) Good for her! Tho she never answered my E-mail inquiring exactly what kind of SW radios she was outhanding. And no journalists writing a story about that ever bothered to find out. Hey, how come it`s OK for CO2KK to have a houseful of SW radios?? (gh, DXLD) ** CYPRUS. IBB/VOA is now operating with a temporary schedule on 981 kHz from the RFI/RMCME site at Cape Greco, with 600 kW. Both the current RFI/RMCME antenna and the original one now in use by IBB have patterns with deep minima at ~320 degrees, which may make them difficult to monitor in Europe. RFI/RMCME operates with 800 kW day/600 kW night, although their transmitter is capable of 1.2 MW. There has been a DX report from Finland. This info to Ydun Ritz (28/8-2002) (Medium Wave News http://www.ydunritz.com/y-news.htm via DXLD) New, 981 kHz IBB / VOA Cape Greco. New transmitter was noted yesterday on 981 kHz competing with BUL, GRC, IRN. Typical SIOs 322/422 down to 111 at short times. Bulgaria (R. Varna) dominates in my QTH, no steady advantage yet. CYP & GRC were very close beneath it (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, DXplorer Aug 27/28 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Hallo, gestern wurde zum ersten Mal der neue US SAWA Propagandasender der IBB / VoA in Cape Greco in Suedostzypern beobachtet. Der neue 600 Kilowattsender wurde in Rekordzeit errichtet und wird das Programm des US Popsenders in arabischer Sprache in den Nahen Osten ausstrahlen. Erste Planungen datieren aus dem Mai 2001! Fuer die Errichtung von R SAWA sind 35 Mill. Dollar, fuer die Sendeanlagen allein 17 Mill. Dollar bewilligt worden. [Darin sind aber die Kosten fuer den US Arabisch TV Satellit mit 245 Mill. Dollar nicht enthalten.] Weitere MW Sender fuer R SAWA werden in Marokko (400 kW), Kuwait (500 kW), Djibouti (600 kW) errichtet. Ausserdem werden der VoA 1000 kW Sender in Thailand ersetzt, sowie die 500 kW Anlage in Botswana ausgestattet (wb df5sx, Aug 28, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** DENMARK. Re DXLD 2-133: The journalists of DR are still on strike September 2nd. (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, (2/9-2002) Medium Wave News http://www.ydunritz.com/y-news.htm via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.79, R Pueblo, seemingly a "LV de la Liberación" [sic] program in Portuguese rather than Spanish at 0415, bit of music 0425, back to Spanish with program preview, mentions of LV de la Liberación and other evangelical programs, several mentions of R. Pueblo, group singing, 0431 ID for "R Pueblo AM," further ID for SW frequency, brief closedown announcement, then National Anthem and off in mid-anthem at 0432:30. Good signal (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Aug 31 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Believe this is the show I have heard before on other stations; speaker of Spanish has a very strong Brazilian accent making you wonder if he is speaking Portuguese (gh, DXLD) ** ERITREA [non?]. ERITREA/SUSAN/ETHIOPIA [?] 7175, Die Voice of the Broad Masses of Eritrea kann um 0325 mit dem sehr schoenen Pausenzeichen und in guter Qualiaet auf 7175 kHz gehoert werden (Thomas Lindenthal, Germany, A-DX Aug 31 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Some Bob Padula comments are in WWDXC Top News, No. 589 soon to be at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm and later in their archive (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. RUSSIA: Some freq changes via Samara 250 kW / 188 degrees to E Africa: Sagalee Oromiya in Oromo 1730-1800 Mon & Thu NF 12115 (55555), ex 12110 Dejen Radio in Tigrina 1700-1800 Sat only NF 12115 (55555), ex 12110 Netsanet Le Ethiopia in Amharic 1700-1800 Wed & Sun on 12110 CANCELLED (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) Catching up? I thought shift to 12115 was several weeks ago (gh, DXLD) Re: ``Netsanet Le Ethiopia in Amharic. 1700-1800 Wed & Sun 12110 CANCELLED. (R BUL Observer, Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov)`` When tuning to 12115 today (Wed) at 1735-1800 s-off I heard announcements in Kurdish and Arabic giving the station name as R Television Mezopotamia. Is this something new, or did I miss something? Between IDs only Kurdish music (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Sep 3 via DXLD) Denge Mezopotamya, in Kurdish/Arabic is the station name for the 11530 kHz operation at 1200-1600 UT. (wb BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Ethiopia Dimits [sic] 8/25 *1558-1615, 15530 via DTK Juelich. IS heard at 1558 with ID " Yth Ethiopia Dimts" 3x with breaks in audio. Heard again at 1600 with IS; 3 IDs and male mentioning "Africa ... meter band ... kilohertz...`` and I believe "Germany?".; followed by program hilites mentioning "politica and diplomatica'". Upbeat music singing "Ethiopia" several times. This was followed with several talks and musical breaks featuring tribal music. SIO 343 at tune-in with some fading as broadcast progressed (Scott R. Barbour Jr., NH, Aug 25, for CRW via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Some Bob Padula comments on YLE are in WWDXC Top News, No. 589 soon to be at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm and later in their archive (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Hi Glenn! I'm going to do a program to Scandinavian Weekend Radio on next Saturday which is called "Route 66". The program consists of country music but I'd like to use some news of the American (AM/SW) radio stations in my program because the main audience is DXers. Would it be possible to use the material published in DXLD if I mention the source? Could you please answer to this mail before Thursday night US time. 73's and thanks in advance! (Tuomas, OH5JJL, Talka, Finland, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tuomas, Sure, go ahead. Only wish I could hear it. Have you guys thought about doing a webcast too? 73, (Glenn to Tuomas, via DXLD) So this reminds us, 2100 UT Fri to 2100 UT Sat Sept 6-7; details at http://www.swradio.net (gh, DXLD) Here we are again --- On Friday 6th September 2002 at 21 hours UTC Scandinavian Weekend Radio will start its engines… So mark this time to your notebook and spend these 24 relaxing hours with us. You can find us from 11690 or 11720 kHz on 25 mb and 5980, 5990 or 6170 kHz on 48 mb. On programmeschedule we have for example a listeners choice-programme from August History of Finnish Radio: Radio Meteor and DJ Rick Random. by Tex Willer. With World Radio Roulette we can return to EDXC 2002 Conference. There will be some DJ Madman's Interviews: Anker Petersen, Bop Padula, Osman Erkan (VOT) and Andrew Janitschek (VOFA). Radio Marabu will have two programmes: Getto Tone and Alternative Hit Parade. And much, much more…: 70's swoh [?] and Music of the Millenium by DJ Miki, Tricky Trev Show: Music to make love by by Trevor, Crash Line and Ykkösketju by DJ Stefa, Route 66 by DJ Jimmy, Radio Magazine Review/Radiolehtikatsaus DJ Tex Willer, EkoRario Monosen uudet bisnekset, The Show Show Syksyn ensimmäinen The Show Show hyväilee sinunkin pakaroitasi hyvän musiikin ja kesämuistojen parissa and HÄKÄShow Soul Train. Exact info with time- and frequencytables can be found from our web- page: http://www.swradio.net/fin/tietoja.htm And much more info of Scandinavian Weekend Radio is available on our home pages: http://www.swradio.net (web-QSL's, technic, Quest book, contact info, report form and instructions etc.) With Best Regards, (Alpo Heinonen, SWR, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radioactu.com reports that as of 0500 this morning, 2 September, five of the France Bleu AM transmitters have switched to carrying the France Info news channel. The five are: Rennes 711 kHz Limoges 792 kHz Nancy 837 kHz Lille 1377 kHz Marseille 1242 kHz These transmitters are in areas where France Bleu is available on FM. For the time being, all of the other France Bleu mediumwave transmitters [including the Paris AM stereo transmitter on 864 kHz], continue to carry France Bleu. The full report is at: http://www.radioactu.com/deliaGo/flash/10208_6.html Later this month the French regulatory body, the CSA, is expected to announce the winners of several private AM franchises (Dave Kenny, Sept 2, BDXC-UK via DXLD) [Later:] The Radioactu report forwarded to the list earlier does not seem to be entirely correct as France Info is now being heard on 10 AM frequencies - not just the 5 they mentioned in their report. The situation when I checked at 1950 UT today was as follows: France Info is now on: 603, 711, 792, 837, 1206, 1242, 1377, 1404*, 1494*, 1557 kHz France Bleu is still heard on: 864, 945, 1278, 1404*, 1494* kHz * multiple transmitters on these - both services are heard. Thanks to Stefano Valiani for confirming the status of 1557 khz. (Dave Kenny, Caversham, Sept 2, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Now it is clear why I could not find certain frequencies as // to 1377 on my quick-and-dirty check last night! By the way, I'am not the only one who would like to have Le Mouv' on these frequencies instead, after the teasing Radio France did on 945 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Recent pictures of the FM/TV tower at Geyer (about 25 km south from Chemnitz) with the tiny wire antenna for 1116 can be found at http://mitglied.lycos.de/JanBalzer/mega1.htm There are also pictures of the Wilsdruff site, the new 1431 equipment is featured at http://mitglied.lycos.de/JanBalzer/wilsdruf/wils06.htm Mediumwave transmitters at Wiederau ("Leipzig"), including the old Lorenz 5 kW transmitter (ex 729) with the tube filaments glowing just to demonstrate to visitors that the transmitter is still ready for operation (at least it was still ready two years ago): http://mitglied.lycos.de/JanBalzer/wiederau/mittel.htm Not yet there but announced are pictures of the Funkwerk Köpenick 100 kW shortwave transmitter, taken in 1994 shortly before this rig was scrapped: http://mitglied.lycos.de/JanBalzer/wiederau/kurz.htm Re DXLD 2-137 UK: The report about the BBC threat against the fan group was quite interesting for me, because it inevitably reminds me to the fate of a friend of mine: He maintained a website at www.dt64.de dealing with the story of the famous Berlin-based radio station DT64. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) forced him to shut down this site, arguing that they registered DT64 as a trademark. They did this through a lawyer, and this lawyer charged not less than DEM 2000 to my friend. He was not in a position to challenge this and paid, and it is certainly unnecessary to describe his current opinion about this public broadcaster. Another guy who maintained a website about the withdrawn MDR Life network received also a request to shut down this site (at least free of charge). And it can be safely excluded that MDR will ever use the "DT64" brand again. Neither will they again operate a network as "MDR Life". And both websites were mere hobby projects without any commercial background (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Hi! today I got a nice colour QSL card from the BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK (=Bavarian Broadcasting) on 6085 kHz (location: Ismaning) for my reception report via email to TechInfo@b... [truncated] But the most interesting was, they inform me about the call-sign of this frequency: DMR24. That is the first time I have ever seen an information for any of the German shortwave stations. Has anybody any other? Has anybody also callsigns for any other European shortwave broadcasting station. I found in my archive/QSL-collection only so far: BRT (Belgium): ORU (ORU1 & ORU2 250kW tx, ORU3 & ORU4 100kW tx) on 1979 QSL Radio Praha: OLR (CSSR-times) on QSL from 1979 and 1982 NRK (Norway): LLG2 (for 100kW tx on 9605 kHz in 1978) Looks like it is not very 'popular' for European broadcasters to use their callsigns (in difference to the rest of the world). Only Spanish mediumwave stations using their callsign, like EAJ29 or EAJ2 etc. Would be nice to see some more mentioned in HF station listings! Any help? 73, (Tom - DL8AAM, Wed Dec 31, 1969 8:59 pm, GRDXC via DXLD) I assume his clock needs a good resetting (gh, DXLD) ** GHANA. 4915.0, Radio-1; 2345 Aug 31. Man in English with TC ``The time is 11:44, This is Radio Ghana``, into English newscast (Steven Wiseblood, Brownsville TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4780.0, R. Cultural Coatán, San Sebastián; 1051 Aug 31, light vocal/instrumental music, ballads. 4799.77, R. Buenas Nuevas; 0131 Aug 30, announcements by man in Spanish, TC, mentions of Santa Barbara, Guatemala; fiddle music, religious stories and sermons. 4845.0, R. K`ekchí; 1104 Aug 31, religious talk by man in Spanish, (Steven Wiseblood, Brownsville TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4845, R K`ekchí is back on the air - although at lower power. Heard this morning. I've sent them the replacement parts needed to restore the 5 kW main transmitter and they should arrive Sept. 7th. with some missionaries from Springfield, MO (Larry Baysinger, KY, Cumbre Aug 28 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** INDIA. See ANDAMAN ISLANDS ** INDONESIA. NEW INDONESIAN BROADCAST LAWS TO BAN FOREIGN RADIO NEWS RELAYS | Text of report by Indonesian Detikcom web site on 2 September Jakarta: The regular relay of foreign radio broadcasts by private stations in Indonesia could soon be stopped. In the new draft broadcasting legislation such relays will not be permitted except for relaying news which was incidental and considered to be essential for Indonesia. The Minister for Communication and Information Syamsul Muarif issued a statement to the press at his office in Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta on Monday (2 September) after farewelling the Indonesian team for the Asia Pacific Information Communication Technology Awards (APICTA 2002) in Malaysia. "The draft broadcasting laws are almost 'finish' [preceding word received in English], and one of the most important concerns is relaying foreign radio broadcasts. If these are incidental it may be permitted and we are now in the process of determining which ones can be described as incidental," Syamsul explained. Syamsul said that intense discussions are also being held about television networks. So far television was not acquainted with the terminology and technical issue of networking but only with relay of transmissions. "Radio certainly has networks, but the problem for TV is that they have already made such large investments. So if these regulations are put in place it will downgrade their assets. Therefore we may regulate the number of transmissions," he added. As a result, Syamsul continued, national television will become network television. "If these draft broadcasting laws are passed, there will be local television stations. This will develop the potential of the regions. But what sort of development depends on the individual networks," the former People's Representative Council member explained. Regarding the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) which would be established simultaneously with the passage of the broadcasting laws, Syamsul explained that [members of] the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission would be appointed and removed by the president. "But they would be nominated by the People's Representative Council and agreed to by the president. There would be a position of neutrality so that the government did not interfere directly and dismiss the Broadcasting Commission," he said. As for the matter of licensing, technically according to Syamsul, it would be sought at the regional level of the commission and passed on to the central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission. It would then be discussed with the government and licences would be issued jointly. With regard to community radio, according to the Deputy Secretary- General of the Central Executive Board of the Golkar Party, agreement had been reached on accommodating [licence applicants] by providing specific frequency slots. As far as foreign assistance was concerned there would be regulations and conditions. "Because if there were none, it would become an arena for competition by foreign interests," he explained. Meanwhile, the issue of cross ownership would be covered by the laws on monopoly, Syamsul added. "Although there were no limits, we would consider the issue via the monopoly laws. Because if a person owned too many media companies there is fear that that person could dominate public opinion," said Syamsul. Source: Detikcom web site, Jakarta, in Indonesian 2 Sep 02 (via BBCM vi DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. SAUDI ARABIA. Whistle het in the 9560-9563 kHz range today, 17-18 UT: Voice of the Iraqi People (from Saudi Arabia to Iraq) heard on 9563.2, but two additional carrier on 9560.00 and 9561.2 kHz too. [heard on both Kenwood and AOR 7030 sets]. (wb, BC-DX Aug 30) 4785/9570 - 1500-1700 VO Iraqi People strong on 4785 kHz, half of 9570 kHz in Arabic (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Aug 31, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. INDEPENDENT RADIO STATION BROADCASTS IN KAZAKHSTAN --- The Almaty Herald, August 20, 2002 http://www.herald.kz/dn/17.htm http://eurasia.org.ru/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=News&report=SingleArticle&ArticleID=0000541 According to reports from Kazakhstan, DAT Radio has started broadcasting in Kazakh. On August 20, 2002, at 8 a.m. (Almaty time), the opposition radio station broadcast its first Kazakh-language program. Until then, DAT Radio broadcasts had been only in Russian. Broadcasts in the state language of Kazakhstan are to be regular, DAT Radio says. DAT Radio's fist Kazakh-language program was hosted by a popular Kazakh journalist and public figure Bigeldin Gabdullin. Mr. Gabdullin currently lives in exile in the U.S. where he has been granted political asylum after an arson attack on his editorial office and criminal persecution against him on charges of insulting President Nazarbayev. Kazakh opposition member is actively involved in political activities in the U.S.; he has testified before the U.S. Congress and has published a number of articles in the U.S. media. Mr. Gabdullin's program was dedicated to a letter by Alexander Lyan earlier discussed on DAT Radio. In that letter, the author raised the questions of a policy that Kazakh democratic opposition should pursue at a new stage. The newly emerged short-wave radio station that beams its broadcasts into Kazakhstan calls itself "a voice of democratic forces of Kazakhstan which is struggling for validity, the blessing of people, human rights and political freedom." Against the background of Kazakh authorities' tight control over the media and almost daily attacks on journalists in Kazakhstan, DAT Radio is believed to be the sole electronic media outlet free from the government or the Nazarbayev family control. This may be a reason behind the veil of secrecy that surrounds the establishment of this radio station or its staff. Bigeldin Gabdullin has become the first popular Kazakh journalist who acted as a DAT Radio presenter under his own name. Since the years of Stalinist repression until the perestroika, staff members of such widely known outlets as Radio Liberty or the Voice of America had to use pseudonyms for reasons of their personal safety and the safety of their relatives in the USSR. According to the DAT Radio schedule, listeners can tune in between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily (Almaty time) on short waves in a range of 31 m (Almaty Herald Aug 20, 2002 via N. Grace-USA for CRW via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. Radio Kurdistan, Voice of Socialist Democratic Party heard in Kurdish and Arabic *1846-2004* on 4131 18th August (R. Petraitis, Lithuania, Clandestine Radio Watch Sept 3 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non?]. V. of the Kurdish People on new 4012 (ex-4047) 1600-1900 screaming with Kyrgyz Radio, the latter one heard at 0050 on 4010 with ceremonial speech in Russian about the Day of Independence in Kyrgyzstan (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Aug 30, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. UZBEKISTAN. 17540 ULMD, 0100-0200 UT Merlin operation via MCB to Laos. I listened both days this week to 17540, but conditions have been marginal at best. There are the usual CIS test tones before 0100 and into presumed Laotian at 0100. Reception deteriorated gradually from poor to fair, to just poor. Transmitter went off at 0201 or so. I'll scan the minidisc and see if there is anything of interest (Walt Salmaniw, BC, BC-DX Aug 30 via DXLD) http://www.wccpd.org/activity/act23.html ``... United Lao Movement for Democracy of Minnesota, the organizers of this conference, and ULMD President, Mr. Shoua Cha for inviting me ... Welcome to World Cambodian Congress. ... Lady and Gentlemen,. First, I would like to thank the United Lao Movement for Democracy of Minnesota, the organizers of this conference, and ULMD President, Mr. ... (BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Must be something new! (gh, DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5469.96, R. Veritas, I listened to their close-down at 2302* Aug 27 as well, but reception was not as good as Aug 26. Have also tried at various times between 0400 and 0700 to see if I can catch their s-on, but nothing heard on either 5470 or 3450 (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Aug 26/27 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Several chex of 6010 have failed to confirm that XEOI is on the air, since antenna improvements. Sept 4 around 1115 listened a few minutes to some very weak continuous talk in Spanish, but may not have been R. Mil, as never heard dead giveaway `your dog has fleas` jingle (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Subject: XEITE 830 México DF Here`s some information extracted from various DX websites: KOMEX: (Finnish DX site) 830-2 XEITE México Distrito Federal 10/5 C:1200-0600 DEP/NOT "Estadio W", ex-XELA CIRT: XEITE-AM (XELA) 830 DE AM MEXICO 830.0 0155 from Fred Cantú's list : 830 XEITE-AM Radio Capital Fred Cantú's site is the most accurate, as I am listening to the station right now at 2232 CDT, a YL says "Radio Capital, 8-30 AM", they're playing a lot of US classic hit music and some light Spanish pop music. At 2233 a man gave the call letters "Radio Capital, X-E-I-T-E, desde Distrito Federal con 10 mil watts de potencia, 8-30 AM" Hope this helps out! (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, TX, Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The 830 and 1180 stations were reportedly going to swap frequencies a while back. Since the 1180 station's slogan was Radio Capital, it seems pretty likely that that's what happened. Can anyone confirm? 73, (Tim Hall, CA, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. Frequency change for V. of Russia in Bulgarian, Greek, Bulgarian via Grigoriopol`: 1700-2000 NF 1467 (54444), ex 621 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Radio Nepal has introduced a new frequency for its domestic Service which is also a semi external service. The new frequency 6100 kHz in the 49 MB band is used between 2345 and 1715 UTC. This new frequency of 6100 kHz runs // to 5005 kHz. Some days we have observed 5005 closing down at 1545. English news is at 1415 UTC. I would like to thank Partha Sarathi Goswami of India for for tipping me off about this Frequency (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Multiwave Feedback Sept 1 via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata India, DXLD) I checked 6100 this evening at 1200 and Nepal was on I would say 6099.9; frankly I have no way of measuring down to .9!! I use my R71 with its LSB position which is dead zerobeat on the nose. The audible zerobeat sounds a wee little bit too good for 6100.0!! But for someone like me when I started DXing in the late 60s to be told that SLBC is not on 4900 but 4902 by Richard Wood all the way in the US, 6100 is quite good!! Then graduated to the RCA AR88 and even tried Glenn Hauser`s piano tuning method of frequency counting via heterodynes. Remember those days you old guys??! Yes \\ 5005 was there OK (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Aug 30 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) [e.g. middle C is about 0.25 kHz and so on -- gh] ** NETHERLANDS. NOS Radio 1 was supposed to leave mediumwave effective from today, but 1008 is now at 2050 still on. Radio 10 FM continues on 675, too. On the other hand 1224 is off again... Kind regards (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Flevoland 1008 is still on, meanwhile 46 hours after the announced deadline (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To advise that we have changed one of our test frequencies, and are now operating on 7300 and 7370, the 24 hours. The frequency 7300 remains beamed towards 184 degrees, and 7370 is beamed towards 4 degress, from Magnetic North. The theoretical gain of the 184 degree antenna is 25 dBi. The horizontal beamwidth is 22,5 degrees. The theoretical gain of the 4 degree antenna is 8,84 dBi. The horizontal beamwidth is 45 degrees. Your reports will be most welcome! With best wishes, from Paraguay. (Adán Mur, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 7370 has DGS slop from 7375; 7737 would have been better (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Just when I thought I'd had enough luck for one day, I stumble into another carrier. This one with much better sound ;) All receptions done in Curitiba, Brazil, using an Icom R75 and a homebrew T2FD antenna of 15 meters in length and a random wire of about 20 meters length. Full or partial reproduction of these logs is allowed. 6819.56, Radio (Voz de?) las Huaringas, 0155 UT Sept 3. Male announcer in Spanish, light Andean music. The announcer seems to announce the station as both "Radio las Huaringas" and "Voz de las Huaringas", SIO 233 (Rik van Riel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. The new leadership of Radio Polonia has decided to continue using the SW facilities at the Leszczynka transmitting centre during the winter season and not to move to relays abroad. However, a further reduction of the transmission times is under consideration (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shucks ** POLAND/SWEDEN. Re DXLD 2-137: I once checked the discussed frequencies and found Radio Sweden prior to 1600 on 6065 only. There was no trace of it on either 6035 or 6095, only the usual mixture of low program audio with growl of similar loudness. "Polish transmitters seems to be falling to bits in front of our ears" is indeed a good description of this daily disaster (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SWEDEN ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia: There will be some 9/11-oriented programming on the September 6th You Write to Moscow letters program, hosted by Olga Troshina. Repeats will air September 7th through 9th (from Maryanne Kehoe via the swprograms list via Richard Cuff, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. R UNAMSIL: an exchange of E-mails following postal report brought this from Pub. Info. Officer Patrick Coker, bpcoker@yahoo.com "Dear Mr. Jerry, Thanks for your mail. Based on the information your sent, I can confirm that the transmissions were from R UNAMSIL. Thanks for listening to R UNAMSIL and stay tuned. Please accept my regrets for the delay in responding. This has allowed for adequate clarification. Best regards, Patrick." Not much, but I'll take it for now (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Sep 1 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. I heard Channel Africa open their special transmission at 1100 today (28/8) on 21765, but it was only poor then - about S3 with much deep QSB. 17725 was inaudible - so was 11720. However, I tuned again c1420 and 21765 was then peaking just over 9. 17725 was just about audible - only - but no trace of 11720 on a clear channel (Noel R. Green, UK, Aug 28, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Final day is Sept 5 (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. R Veritas aus Suedafrika sendet nach den Angaben im QSL-Brief von 1600-1900 UT seit Anfang August neu auf 3230 kHz (ex- 3280 kHz). (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX Aug 29 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. Hier eine Karte, wo Trincomalee liegt: http://www.lankainfo.de/lankamap.jpg (via Helgo Ollmann, Germany, A-DX Aug 31 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** SUDAN. [tentative] 7200, SNBC Omdurman in Arabic, with Qur`an prayer at 1700 (despite 17-19 UT scheduled on 9025 kHz in my old list of 1997). 22222. Omdurman may use 7200 also in the 17-19 UT range, ?or on Thursdays only ??? (wb, BC-DX Aug 30 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Listened from 1540 UT yesterday - Monday - and did hear Sweden on 6095, although somewhat weaker than on 6065/1179. The modulation could be seen on the S-meter, to a greater extent than on 6065 - like DAM, Dynamic AM. When Poland came on I could clearly hear Sweden in the background. Maybe Magnus could try to listen in Stockholm? All the best (Erik Køie, Denmark, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also POLAND Sweden on 6095: listened again yesterday (Tuesday Sep. 3) from 1540 UT and it seems as Teracom in Sweden now has fixed the problem as there was nothing heard! 73, (Erik Køie Copenhagen, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "Nordic Report" focuses on Baltic Pollution Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: "Network Europe" focuses on terrorism, immigration and integration, and health care Sunday: Another chance to hear the Ace of Base special in "Sounds Nordic" (SCDX/MediaScan Sept 4 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Sout Al Watan, V. of Homeland, 8/28 and 8/29 *0330- 0348, 9950. Arabic music and singing by male at sign-on without ID or opening IS, announcements, etc. presumed "Watani Habibi" as mentioned via DXLD and other sources. Brief male and female talks followed by more music until 0343 when talk by female noted through 0349 with short musical break. 8/29 featured different programming with presumed "Watani habibi" at sign on but a "patriotic" sounding chorus was heard at 0338 followed by brief talks by male and female and again more music. SIO 212 both days with severe QRM "chatter" and overall poor propagation (S. R. Barbour Jr., NH, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) Re: Contact info for SHRC is on their website: Syrian Human Rights Committee, BCM Box 2789, London WC1N 3XX, UK. Brief message to indicated E-mail address of President of the organization, Saleem El-Hasan, describing what I was hearing and asking if any connection, brought reply, "SHRC is not aware of the whole story mentioned below [my rpt]. Regards." That is not necessarily conclusive, of course (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Sep 1 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. In reply to an observation of Bjarne Melde, Norway about a possible silence of 648 kHz: this is the same 1000 kW transmitter in Orzu which is used also on 972 kHz, and since 972 kHz is now used almost around the clock with various foreign relays, the frequency 648 kHz is silent. The FS of Radio Tajikistan is now transmitted via Dushanbe 1143/7245 and Orzu 1161 kHz (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. Dear Glenn, Heard your mention of English from Tibet in your current WORLD OF RADIO. If I remember correctly, you also mentioned 7185 kHz, which probably should be 7385. Just returned home from Bangkok I can tell you that reception of 'Holy Tibet' at 1630 was rather good there on especially 7385, followed by 9490 and 5240 kHz, while 6130 kHz was weak. I did not hear an English program at 07 UT. 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Erik sent audio, included on WOR 1146 6130/6200, "Holy Tibet" China Tibet People's Broadcasting Company (noted call sign as TBC), Lhasa verified in 194 days with a full data paper card (v/s Tse Ring Yuzen), letter (v/s Tse Ring DeKy), paper schedules for Chinese and Tibet language broadcasts, and postcards of Potala Palace. The QSL "card" and the station address is the same as reported previously by Ed Kusalik. Whoever did the actual paperwork for this QSL package handwrote a note on the envelope stating, "The president of our station's name is Tse Ring Yuzen and she signed in Tibetan on your QSL card." Another handwritten note on the back of the letter mentioned, "Your letter arrived in Lhasa on 6th March. But the leader give me last week." Sounds like the bureaucracy was responsible for much of the delay. Very pleased with this package! (Rich D'Angelo, PA, DXplorer Aug 31 via BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD)) ** U A E. Dubai`s current English feature is ``The Wide World of Arabic Music``, and this may go on for weeks if it has not already; good reception Sept 3, on North Africa in particular, into Andalucía. Starts about 1334 UT, until 1348 on 21597.7. Continued in Arabic discussing Andalucía and a song about it. Next day, no reception (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Caversham Park, home of BBC Monitoring and BBC Radio Berkshire, will be open to the public as part of this year's Heritage Open Day on Sunday 15 September. Tours of Caversham Park - a Grade II listed building - are being offered on a ticket basis. There are only a few tickets left so you will need to be quick. For tickets call 0118 948 6338 during office hours. Prebooking is essential. Further details on the Heritage Open Days web site at http://www.heritageopendays.org/ed/berkshire/all_properties.shtml (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK Sept 4 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Frequency change for BBC in Uzbek/Russian to CAs via Moscow 250 kW / 117 degrees: 1700-1800 NF 12065, ex 12045 \\ 9735 9915 --- all three jammed with Chinese music (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) ** U K. BBC Radio 4 has some interesting programming underway regarding the aftermath of last year's terrorist attacks. Friday 9/6 1230 GMT, "A World In Your Ear": "As we approach the first anniversary of 11 September, Emily Buchanan examines how the world's media reacted to the attacks and takes a look at America's image abroad." Saturday 9/7, 0930 GMT, "The Twin Towers: A Memorial in Sound: "How two women - known as the Kitchen Sisters - set up this sonic memorial to the World Trade Center which features recordings and moving stories about everyday life in the Twin Towers." Source: BBC Radio 4 website Tuesday, 9/10, 1900 GMT: "With Us or Against Us": "The inside story behind the coalition set up in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11th. This series will chart the behind-the-scenes negotiations which radically altered international relations, creating unlikely alliances and unexpected diplomatic concessions. What went on during the negotiations to bring such countries as Russia, Syria, Pakistan and China on side? How did the Americans go about building the coalition? How essential was Pakistan?" This is a four-part series which began last month. The first two installments are available for on-demand download. Special BBC News website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/world/2002/september_11_one_year_on/programmes/default.stm URL for live audio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4.shtml?fm Regards, (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA DIRECTOR RESIGNS, IS REPLACED WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The director of the Voice of America, Robert Reilly, resigned Thursday after less than a year in the job, the Broadcasting Board of Governors said. VOA sources said the agency had been in turmoil under Reilly's leadership, particularly over plans to set up new language services targeted to Middle East audiences but without the "impartiality" provisions in the VOA charter. The best known is Radio Sawa in the Middle East, which broadcasts Arabic and Western popular music interspersed with news bulletins promoting U.S. views. U.S. officials have said the station is a great success but Arab commentators say they doubt the politically slanted news broadcasts will have much effect on public opinion. Reilly took the post in October 2001 immediately after a controversy over whether VOA should air an interview with Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar in Afghanistan. VOA eventually broadcast excerpts, defying the State Department and the Board of Governors. Reilly had backed the Bush administration's view that VOA should not air the views of a man with whom the United States was about to go to war, VOA sources said. Reilly, a former Reagan administration official, was appointed last October to lead the international broadcasting service in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. A statement from the Board of Governors, which oversees VOA, quoted Reilly as saying he wanted to "seek opportunities in which I can more directly employ my talents in helping support the president and this administration in the war against international terrorism." The new director of VOA is David Jackson, who worked for Time magazine from 1978 until 2001, when he took a job running the Pentagon's Web site on the U.S. "war against terrorism". "The Board is delighted to have a journalist of Jackson's experience to lead VOA in a period when it must play an important role in presenting the truth about what is happening in the world," said board chairman Kenneth Tomlinson (REUTERS via Mike Cooper, Sept 3, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for VOA: 1230-1300 Uzbek NF 18990, ex 19015 plus add 1143 via Dushanbe 1700-1800 Urdu NF 13715, ex 15690 1700-1900 Farsi NF 12030* ex 12140 * strong co-channel Voice of Russia in Arabic (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) see also AFGHANISTAN [non] ** U S A [non]. Some frequency changes for RFE/RL: 1400-1600 Turkmen NF 17825, ex 17690 1800-2000 Farsi NF 9740* ex 9885 * via DTK Juelich 100 kW / 100 degrees. 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 3 via DXLD) See also AFGHANISTAN [non] ** U S A [non]. RFA A-02 updated schedule of September 1st: 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130? BURMESE 13680T 13820I 15660 17525 17835S [?17645 on website] [or 0100-0200 UT?] 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11695UAE 11975H 15225T 15695 17730 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405S 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855H-(from 1200) 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 11520 13765I 15525T 1300-1400 BURMESE 9385 11765T 11540 [or 15680?] 13745T [or 1330-1430 UT?] 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9445S 11955S 13625T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 11790T 13720T 15625 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 9905P 11765T 11945S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T [delete 927N] 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7460 9370 9555UAE 9675UAE 13625T 1600-1700 MANDARIN 9455S-(fr 1630) 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 927N(1630-) 1700-1800 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 927N(-1730) 1800-1900 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 11520 11740T 11945S 11955T 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945S 11955T 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680 2100-2200 CANTONESE 9355S 11785T 13675T 2100-2200 MANDARIN 9455S 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455T 11670S 11935S[?] additional 13640T 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9930P 11570 15175I 15485T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 9910P 11785T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 7290 11935/11960 additional 13640T 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 9365 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 13720S 15560P (various sources, updated on Sep 1st, 2002, BC-DX Sept 4 via DXLD) Where is ``927N``? -- a MW relay, evidently (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE, 7490, seems to have petered out again; not audible the morning of Sept 4; or is it prop? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Re: AM vs FM coverage: WWL New Orleans 24/7 into west coast Florida, Tampa south to Sarasota 24/7 on car radios --- even with their 24 hour DA pattern not favoring Florida. Turks and Caicos on 530 into the outer banks of North Carolina 24/7 on a car radio. On longwave, not a beacon, but a broadcaster, Petropavlovsk, Russia 180 kHz, 150 kW heard round the clock on the north shore of Hawaii with a Sony 2010, Palomar loop, and Palomar lw pre-amp (Brock Whaley, WH6SZ, Atlanta, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Regarding the report about a Chicago pirate on 87.9 FM in DXLD 2-137. I have first heard it on August 20 at home in Wood Dale, Illinois. Driving to work it was quite audible all the way up north in Lincolnshire, Illinois. It was on for several days, but I was not able to pick it up after August 25. The programming consisted of pop and rock music in the Czech and Slovak languages. No voice announcements were noted at all. The other day I got a confirmation from Vladimir Flener of CSWorldnet saying that the station was a test transmission and was being run in conjunction with the Czech & Slovak Rockfest which was held in Yorkville, Illinois on August 24 & 25. No further details were given by Mr. Flener (Christos Rigas, Wood Dale, Illinois, Chicago Area DX Club, http://www.mindspring.com/~ttmdoc/ Sept 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. MORE AIR TIME LIKELY FOR HOST OF PARANORMAL RADIO SHOW September 3, 2002 By the time you've likely picked up your Free Press this morning, Detroit native George Noory will have just completed almost two months of living his dream -- hosting "Coast-to-Coast AM," the feast of paranormal talk radio that airs overnight on more than 500 radio stations (in Detroit, on CKLW-AM, 800, from 1-5 a.m.)... http://www.freepress.com/entertainment/tvandradio/namesc3_20020903.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. PENTAGON ATTACK TALE SAYS LITTLE by John Ruch, Tuesday, September 3, 2002 ``Minute by Minute: The Attack on the Pentagon.'' Tomorrow and Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. on A & E. This is exactly what the terrorists wanted. A & E's documentary, ``Minute by Minute: The Attack on the Pentagon,'' airing tomorrow and Sept. 11 at 10 p.m., demonstrates how incredibly successful al-Qaeda's attacks were as shock-value spectacle. Not only that, it turns out Sept. 11 was a terrorist's buy-one-get-one-free deal. Work for years to fill American TVs with horrible imagery on Sept. 11, 2001; get the same imagery replayed endlessly on Sept. 11, 2002, at no additional cost... http://www2.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/minu09032002.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. NAPSTER -- A U.S. court hammered the final nail in the coffin of maverick music service Napster on September 3 when it blocked a bid by German media group Bertelsmann AG to buy the one-time cult and now defunct Web site. Killing off a deal to revive the bankrupt service that millions of fans used to swap music over the Internet, a U.S. bankruptcy court rejected Napster's sale to Bertelsmann after record labels and songwriters opposed the deal, saying the offer price was not fair. Faced with no financing, no revenues and no other buyers, Napster said it would most likely be forced into Chapter 7 liquidation, ceasing operations altogether and terminating its remaining employees. Napster, which once commanded a devoted following of some 60 million fans downloading free song files from its central servers, was forced to shut down last year after major record labels convinced a federal judge it violated copyright laws (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Sept 4 via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. From 1700 UT onwards lovely Uzbek folksongs heard on Tashkent's Turkish service 1700-1728 UT on clear channel 9530 (in previous years on 9540, but that's a disturbed channel today). From 1730 heard the usual IS of Tashkent, followed by Uzbek service ID, but frequencies given in Russian language also! 9530 was accompanied by \\ 7285 and 9715 kHz, latter co-channel DW Russian on equal level, not as strong as in all-Europe, due to dead zone of Wertachtal site near my location (wb, BC-DX Aug 30 via DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA. RADIO YUGOSLAVIA FACES UNCERTAIN FUTURE The future status of Radio Yugoslavia, which broadcasts in Serbian and twelve foreign languages is uncertain. Montenegrin Information Minister Zivorad Jaredich has spoken in favor of having an international broadcaster for the future state of Serbia and Montenegro, but so far no funding has been agreed. Milena Jokich, Director and Editor-in-Chief of Radio Yugoslavia, says that the state budget should provide funding for the station, in which case it would be re-named Radio Serbia and Montenegro. If no agreement on joint financing of the station is reached, Jokich says the station will be re-named Radio Serbia. Jokich says she has already sent a letter to Serbian Vice-premier Miodrag Isakov on the matter. Radio Yugoslavia currently broadcasts only on the Internet, as a dispute with Bosnia about use of shortwave transmitters in that country has still not been resolved (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 4 September 2002 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 6350 could be Voice of Tigray revolution using this freq. alt 6315. 0330 is a very possible sign-on for them (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Germany, 1000m under the sea, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Re the unID on 6350 kHz, British DX Club member Luca Botto Fiora in Italy reports in a contribution to the September edition of BDXC's 'Communication' hearing Voice of the Tigray Revolution from Ethiopia on 6350 kHz (ex-6315). No time or date given by Luca. Presumably if it is them, would be parallel to 5500 kHz. Regards (Tony Rogers, Editor BDXC ' Communication', Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Does anybody know about a station broadcasting in Arabic (could be another language) on 7.7 MHz (more or less)? I got last night this station at 0321 UT on 7707 kHz. The interesting thing is that after a few minutes the frequency changed. At 0321 it was on 7698. At 0332 it was on 7693.8 (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, hard- core-dx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 9705: heard Sunday Sept. 1st from 2000 to 2100 (later VOA QRM), possibly French + vernacular, African music, dull, fair signal, QRM by possibly Arab language programming. A catch of the nowadays rarely heard Voix du Sahel? I've not heard it since about January (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Germany, 1000m under the sea, Sept 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ INTERNET Netscape Communications on Thursday launched the latest version of its Web browser amid mounting evidence that almost all Internet surfers are using Microsoft's Internet Explorer instead. The new version, dubbed Netscape 7.0, does not stray very far from the preview version unveiled in May. The browser places particular emphasis on faster Web surfing and cross-promoting other content properties throughout AOL Time Warner, Netscape's parent company. The browser also comes bundled with other software, such as the popular AOL Instant Messenger, AOL's Spinner Web radio service and RealNetworks's RealPlayer. Still, the fanfare behind Netscape 7.0 has been muted by a report released this week asserting that IE has left Netscape with a mere 3.4 percent of the browser market, according to market researcher WebSideStory. That's down from 13 percent market share a year ago (CNET) The bottom line on CNET's review of the new Netscape browser is: "When we looked at an earlier preview release of Netscape 7.0, we had high hopes. Netscape built on the speedy and stable Mozilla browser, then added several cool features, such as its more compatible IM client. Unfortunately, Netscape also added a bunch of things that we don't appreciate, such as omnipresent advertising. And Netscape removed one of Mozilla's best features: the ability to eliminate annoying pop-up ads. Mozilla users, unless you really need dual-IM support, stick with what you have. And for those of you using Internet Explorer, the Netscape 7.0 and IE 6 browsers are still neck and neck, so if you're happy with one, there's no reason to try the other -- except, perhaps for the tabbed interface. Before we recommend that anyone switch to the Netscape browser, it will have to be significantly better than its rivals." (CNET) For the complete review see: http://www.cnet.com/software/0-3227883-8-20331576-2.html?tag=news-rr ------------------- (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Sept 4 via DXLD) NAPSTER: See story above under USA ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-137, September 2, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1145: NEXT BROADCASTS ON WJIE 7490: Tue, Wed, Thu 1200, i.a. NEXT BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcast also Wed 1300 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1145.html (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WRN. I am pleased to note that at 1400 UT Sundays, such as Sept 1, there is usually a server alert, the WRN1 NAm feed at capacity during WORLD OF RADIO. Must be popular. Of course there are alternatives, such as the European server and ondemand (gh) OKLAHOMA BROADCASTING NEWS has been brought up to date with the August items from DXLD: http://www.worldofradio.com/oklahoma.html MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR. Check frequently for lots of good listening, minute by minute, mostly via Internet: http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** AFGHANISTAN [AND NON]. IRAN: USA SAID TO BE ENCOURAGING "VULGAR" BROADCASTING IN AFGHANISTAN | Excerpt from unattributed reports from the "For your information" column, published by Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site on 2 September; exclamation marks as published The volume of foreign radios' propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran has increased noticeably in recent weeks. These radios have focused their propaganda efforts these days around divisive axes and, by fanning the flames of discord, are trying to increase the grounds for tension in Iran. Topics such as a declaration of a state of emergency in the country, attacks on the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, the judiciary's performance, the sixth-term Majlis and the Guardian Council are the most important axes around which foreign radios have tried to exploit dissension. The radios of the Zionist regime, the BBC, France and the Voice of America play the biggest role in this sowing of dissension... The measure taken by the Afghan government on broadcasting the voices of women singers on the country's radio and television, has met with serious opposition from pious people and some jihadi officials. Radio BBC said in this connection: "Disputes are continuing about the way in which music programmes are to be broadcast and about the broadcasting of certain films which have become known as romantic films, as well as about the broadcasting of the voices of women singers. These disputes began with an order issued by the head of the country's radio and television, who was one of Ahmad Shah Masud's companions." It is being said that, in the wake of this opposition, the general committee that supervises the work of radio and television in Afghanistan announced that the decision was not adopted by this committee. A senior official on Afghanistan's supreme court has also supported a ban on the broadcasting of these films and the images of women singers. The fact that the broadcasting of vulgar programmes on Kabul radio and television has been placed on the agenda has taken place on America's orders. Source: Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site, Tehran, in Persian 2 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Preview for Sept 6: 2305 - Fri.: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. This week: "Owning Language". Richard Mohr, of the Law Faculty at the University of Wollongong, on the privatisation of radio spectrum. Until the 1990s, like water, gas and electricity, the electromagnetic spectrum was regarded as a public utility, and broadcasting licenses were allocated on the merit of applications or simply by lottery. With privatisation, however, has come the practice of auctioning radio frequencies to the highest bidder. But as a medium of communication - in particular, as a disseminator of language - isn't radio spectrum a cultural resource, especially in the case of endangered languages, such as Maori and Basque? [T;%] (John Figliozzi`s previews via DXLD) The % means this show is now available ondemand, as well as T for transcript; repeat Sat 0530. About time! (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6537.25, Radio La Voz del Campesino, 0757 Sept 1, poor signal with Andean pops. The Peruvian station bearing the same name, was still going strong at the same time and a much better signal level [q.v.]. (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6537.3, La Voz del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, 0841+ September 1. Very nice Andean music. Check time: "faltan 16 minutos para las 5 de la mañana". Check time in Quechua. Greetings. 35443 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX Camp in Chascomus, 120 km to South/West of Buenos Aires, Argentine, dxing.info via DXLD) 6537.28, La Voz del Campesino, Sipe Sipe, 0838–0905, Quechua, comments and comunicados by man announcer, ID ``...Radio La Voz del Campesino``, 34333 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Atualmente, a Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo (SP), é a única emissora brasileira que pode ser sintonizada na faixa de 19 metros. As demais: Inconfidência, Clube de Ribeirão Preto, Record, entre outras, estão inativas. A Rádio Roraima transmite, todos os dias, o programa Bom Dia Roraima, entre 0710 e 0815, com apresentação de Miguel Barroso. Ele lê cartas dos ouvintes, atende telefonemas e toca muito forró. A dica é de Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM). A Rádio Roraima transmite em 4875 kHz. Endereço: Avenida Capitão Ene Garcez, 860, São Francisco, Boa Vista (RR). E-mail: radiorr@t... [truncated] (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Sept 2 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. New 5910, 1435-1529* 30-08 Clandestine, Democratic Voice of Burma, via KAZ or RUS, ex 5905. Burmese/Vernacular talks // 17495 (25333), at 1515 and 1520 starts two Vn languages, music and songs 1525-1529* 25333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, @tividade DX Sept 1 via DXLD) ** CHILE. 5675, Voz Cristiana (mixing product from 6070 and 11745?), 0142 UT Sept 1. Talk program in Spanish with male and female, followed by some music and Voz Cristiana ID and jingle at 0159, SIO 122 (Rik van Riel, Curitiba, Brasil, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Re CRI`s broadcast day: They set up the Friday broadcasts for most of the world, and start in their afternoon, but only North America gets the Friday broadcast on their local Thursday, it being already on Friday in Beijing. They are not going to make a special edition of the shows for NAm. News is slightly more 'current'. (Daniel Say, BC, Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am not suggesting a `special edition` for NAm, just that the dividing line between one day`s features and the next be more appropriately placed, like they once did (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. New 5925 *2100-2200* 29-08 CLA Falun Dafa R via Sitkunai, Lithuania. Chinese IDs, news about Beijing, often mentions Falun Gong, Chinese music. Very strong and clear, so cannot be via Irkutsk any longer! Heard // 9945 (via Yangi-Yul, Tajikistan QSA 5, but poor modulation). Music jammer was on 5925 already at 2058. 54554 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Radio For Peace International's Weekly Program Update for the week of 1-7 September 2002 =============================================================== Frequency Schedule: [NOTE CHANGES] BAND FREQUENCY/MODE UTC/GMT TIME (frequencies/hours subject to change without notice) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (AM): 0200-0800 19 meters: 15.040 MHz (AM): 2200-0600 13 meters: 21.815 MHz (USB): 1200-0200 (currently off the air) And streaming live on the Internet in MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org =============================================================== NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS: We begin a new broadcast quarter this week. Watch for changes in our frequency schedule (see above), and the addition of a new program, "A World of Possibilities," a whole brain, whole-hearted radio program -- manna for the mind and sustenance for the soul. Listen for it on Tuesday at 2030 and Thursday at 2100. =============================================================== A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES [Interviews] (30 minutes) Hosted by MMP Executive Director Mark Sommer, the program features in- depth conversations with leading-edge analysts, thinkers and practical innovators on a broad range of issues offering fresh, solution- centered approaches to the most challenging problems we face as a people and planet. Tue: 2030/Fri: 2100- Guest: Diane Wilson, fourth generation fisherwoman, fights a chemical company and locals alike to keep toxins out of her beloved bay. And, she wins. Along the way, she finds herself and her life's passion by turning what some considered a hopeless cause into a cause for hope (RFPI Weekly Update via DXLD) ** CUBA. RUSSIA COMPLETES WITHDRAWAL OF EQUIPMENT FROM SPYING CENTER IN CUBA --- AP. Fri Aug 30. Yahoo! MOSCOW --- The Russian military has completed the withdrawal of equipment from Russia's electronic intelligence center in Lourdes, Cuba, a news agency reported Friday. It has taken two weeks and about 10 flights of heavy-lifting An- 124 Ruslan military transport planes to bring the bulky equipment back to Russia, the Interfax-Military News Agency said, quoting an unidentified Defense Ministry official. Defense Ministry and air force officials refused to comment on the report. President Vladimir Putin ordered the Lourdes base closed last October along with a naval base in Vietnam in what the Kremlin described as a cost-cutting measure. The decision to abandon the outposts, both symbols of the Soviet Union's Cold War global era reach, was also seen as part of Putin's efforts to build warmer relations with the West. The move has irked the leadership of communist Cuba, which criticized Moscow for failing to consult with it before ordering the withdrawal and accused it of caving in to the United States. Putin's decision was also criticized by some Russian lawmakers, who said the Kremlin was throwing away important strategic assets. The electronic listening station at Lourdes was built two years after the 1962 Cuban missile crisis about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Havana. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, DXLD) but, there`s more: STUDENTS TAKE OVER RUSSIAN SPY BASE Manuel Somoza in Havana, 27 Aug 02 WORKERS are scrambling to retool a Russian military spy post near Havana, closed last year, into a top-flight computer science academy for Cuba to develop and market hardware and software, according to university sources. "It's going to be the country's most modern university, and it's going to have 2000 resident students who will study and learn to create computer programs and systems that will then be marketed," says an anonymous source. The new computer science campus includes the entire former military base -- a constant source of tension between Washington and Moscow until the collapse of the former Soviet bloc -- from which Moscow used to glean some 75 per cent of its strategic information on the west. "The idea for the prestige facility is Fidel Castro's and it should be ready for the next school year in early September," another source says. "We still don't know what we're going to do with the huge underground nuclear fallout shelters," the first source says. The base, a Cold War relic, was set up in 1964, two years after the Cuban missile crisis, to spy on the US. In its heyday, the 70sqkm base, located in the town of Lourdes, 60km south of Havana, was home to 1500 Russian technicians and military personnel and their families. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced last October that the base, Russia's largest covert military outpost abroad, would be closed for financial reasons. The announcement followed a rapprochement between Moscow and Washington after the September 11 attacks on the US. But Castro reacted to the announcement as if he had been splashed with a bucket of cold water and voiced his "total disagreement" with the plan. The day after Putin's announcement, Havana said the agreement to run the station "had not been cancelled, since Cuba has not given its approval". Closing down the post "was a message and a concession to the government of the US", and presented "a grave danger for the security of Cuba", the government said. Havana had been receiving $US200 million ($370 million {Australian}) a year from Moscow for using the base, and Putin's announcement coincided with a sudden drop in Cuba's main source of foreign income --- foreign tourism --- and a drop in prices of export products such as sugar. Cuba in recent years has put greater emphasis on marketing abroad Cuban scientists' achievements to earn hard currency that helps bankroll the severely strained budget of the Americas' only communist- ruled country. Cuba's showcase Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, founded in 1986, has more than 1200 employees, including more than 300 researchers, and plans to market more than 20 new products by 2005. Agence France-Presse --- This report appears on news.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. 5696, 0229 in SS with poor audio but booming signal on the USCG freq. Heard ID by female announcer at 0215 and IS at 0227 and then off. Surprised by this one as it could have been a feeder or just a foul up by the station (Bob Montgomery, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) CZECH REPUBLIC. 5696 USB (spur!), R. Prague, 0215 UT Aug 31. Seriously distorted R. Prague audio in USB mode, Spanish language program. Not recognisable until the R. Prague IS came on at 0228, SIO 442. 5696 USB (spur!), R. Prague, 0200 UT Sept 1. The spur is back, no signal noted on either 6704 or 8994 so the spur isn't symmetrical around either 6200 or 8994. US Coast Guard much louder than the R. Prague spur, but with obvious communications problems (because of R. Prague??). The US coast guard is NOT amused by the R. Prague spur on 5696! All receptions done in Curitiba, Brazil, using an Icom R75, a homebrew T2FD antenna of 15 meters in length and a random wire of about 20 meters length (Rik van Riel, PR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is obviously a deliberate relay by a third party. Calling these spurs implies they are actually coming out of Prague transmitters. It is inconceivable that this could happen by accident on more than one USCG frequency. Someone should also check whether the Prague/USCG frequencies are in synch with Prague direct, or WRMI (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. See http://www.dxing.info/articles/edxc2002.dx for lots of photos and links: BARELY ALIVE - BUT KICKING IN PORI --- EDXC 2002 CONFERENCE by Mika Mäkeläinen (via gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. RADIO FINLAND PHASING OUT ENGLISH SERVICE Following the decision of YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation, to withdraw external service programmes in English, French and German, the English service on shortwave is already being phased out. Just two daily transmissions remain on the air: at 0630-0658 to Europe, Asia and the Pacific on 15135 and 21670 kHz, and 1230-1259 to North America on 15400 and 21670 kHz. Both these transmissions are Mon-Sat only. The station's Web site says that all English transmissions will be terminated by 27th October, the last day of the current broadcasting season. Radio Finland says that during the remaining weeks of English broadcasting, it will inform listeners about the availability of information about Finland through other sources such as foreign language Web sites. Before going off the air the English service will broadcast some highlights from its archives, bringing back familiar voices from the station's past (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 2 September 2002 via DXLD) ** FLORES. 2899.1, FLORES RPD Bajawa, 1155 Aug 28, Indo mx, poor On 2960.1 FLORES RPD Ruteng, 1156 Aug 28, YL in Indo, poor (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) FLORES?? Yes, to NASWA this Indonesian island is a separate radio country {see 2-136 INDONESIA for different ID of same ones} (gh, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Martin Elbe reports that the Radio France mediumwave transmitters which used to carry France Bleue now relays France Info instead. At present the amount of local noise here is terrible, so I can confirm this only for Lille 1377 so far (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 2003 UT Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Has this been reported yet? This morning was the first time I heard it anyway. New Station: 4780, Radio Cultural Coatán, Sept 2, 1045-1115. Before the hour, noted religious music and comments in Spanish by a man. On the hour canned ID as, "... Radio Cultural Coatán, 4780 kHz onda corta, banda 60 metros, ... San Sebastián Coatán, República de Guatemala, Centroamérica". After the hour only music. Signal improved with time from poor to good (Bolland, Chuck, Florida, Clewiston, Listening Digest, DX) Not new but inactive a while. Per http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/swarchive.htm last reported over two years ago in SWB: 4779.71 GUATEMALA * R Cultural Coatan, Coatan [1040-1240/0005- 0220](.4-.81) May 00 S (gh, DXLD) ** HAWAII. KRTR AM 1460 has been sold by Cox Radio Hawaii to California-based Trade Center Management Inc., a brokerage firm that registered to do business in Hawaii one week ago. The station, which had been simulcasting the programming of KRTR 96 FM, is now carrying Korean language programming. "Right now we're operating the station under an LMA (local marketing agreement) pending FCC approval for an asset sale," said Cox Radio Hawaii Vice President and General Manager Austin Vali. Simulcasting the KRTR FM signal, Vali said, "did not show the return on investment that we normally look for in a station." The new programming will be from three different sources, according to Trade Center Management Chairman and CEO Joe Tapias, including Radio Korea from South Korea and Radio Korea in Los Angeles. The majority of the station's programming will originate from Honolulu, pending completion of studio construction downtown he said. Contacted at home, he did not have access to the studio address, but said the "soft- opening" of the station would be around the first of November. The station will be operated by KOAM Broadcasting Inc., and is expected to apply for a call-sign change to KOAM. Online state business registration records list 12th floor space at 1585 Kapiolani Blvd. The operators are "not U.S. citizens," Tapias said, but are legal residents. U.S. law prohibits foreign ownership of broadcast properties. "This venture is being established primarily to really develop credibility in the community," Tapias said, "we want to invest in them in exchange for consideration." It will not be the company's only foray into Hawaii business. "We will be opening up a brokerage firm in Honolulu, hopefully by the end of the year," said Trade Center Management's Tapias, with its grand opening by the first of the year. "What we are trying to do is educate the community," he said, not just via the radio, but "local seminars and educational types of formats to relay the things we've learned in 20 years of business." The company specializes in what Tapias called "alternative investments," found "outside the traditional stock market." The radio transaction is expected to close within 60 days; the purchase price was undisclosed. It is the second Korean-language station in Honolulu. KREA AM 1540, is owned by Santa Monica-based JMK Communications Inc. KNDI AM 1270, one of Honolulu's last locally-owned radio stations, also broadcasts multiethnic programming. So report may be sent to : KBLA RADIO KOREA LOS ANGELES WEB: http://www.asianmediaguide.com/korean/radio/kbla.html CONTACT NAME: Mr. Ron Thompson 1700 North Alvarado St. Los Angeles, CA 90026 73's (Dario Monferini, Italy, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) KOAM! That was so much more appropriate when it applied to 860 Pittsburg KS -- Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri. Then they had to dumb it down to KKOW (gh, DXLD) ** HAWAII. Here is an up to date link on Hawaii Radio Stations. http://www.hawaiiradiotv.com/OahuRadio.html (Robert Copeman via Barry Murray, MWOZ Forum via Sept ADXN via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. HUNGARIAN RADIO DENIES PLANS TO DROP BELL-RINGING FROM START OF NEWS | Text of report by Hungarian radio on 2 September According to an article on the front-page of [the Hungarian daily] Magyar Nemzet, the midday bells which normally are heard at the beginning of "Chronicle" [this programme] are in danger. The presidium of Hungarian Radio does not wish to change the midday bells. This was the stand taken by the body at its session this morning after the leaders of several historical churches protested over the plans. The presidium of Hungarian Radio points out that it was only Peter Agardi, the Hungarian Socialist Party deputy head of the board of trustees, who proposed the change to the midday bells, in spite of the fact that the members of the board of trustees, in accordance with the media law, cannot intervene in Hungarian Radio's programmes. Source: Hungarian Radio, Budapest, in Hungarian 1000 gmt 2 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Whew! ** ICELAND. 13865, Ríkisútvarpið, 2310 UT Aug 29. News and current affairs in Icelandic, talking in-depth about the middle east and Bush around 2313, soccer scores around 2330, SIO 333 (Rik van Riel, Curitiba PR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. See FLORES ** IRAQ. Radio Baghdad International, 15340. Folding card in 7 weeks for 1992 report and postcard. No-data personal note, just barely a QSL. Have attempted to verify this station on no less than 8 occasions over 21 years, so very pleased to get a response, especially given current international politics (Ian Baxter, Sept Australia DX News via DXLD) ** IRELAND. On the site of RTE, the Irish State Broadcasting Company, we found that the main part (80%) of the shares from the TARA project (read former Atlantic 252 and Teamtalk) are now in hands of de RTE and bought from ukbetting. This means that rumors spread around that Spangles Muldoon aka Chris Cary would by the station for a restart of NOVA, are indeed rumors. Let's see what Cary, who did also a nasty criticizing on Chris and Mary Payne in an on line news group earlier this month, has in his fantasy head next time (Hans Knot, Groningen, Holland, Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND [non]. SPECIAL SHORTWAVE BROADCASTS FROM RTE Irish public broadcaster RTE will broadcast full coverage of this year's two GAA All Ireland Finals on shortwave. The hurling final will be played on Sunday September 8th, and the football final on Sunday September 22nd. Commentary on the games will be broadcast at 1430-1630 UT on both days as follows: to North America (via Sackville): 13730 kHz to Cental & South America (via Cypress Creek): 15500 kHz to West Africa (via Ascension): 17885 kHz to Northeast Africa & the Middle East (via Woofferton): 21645 kHz to the Far East & Southeast Asia (via Taiwan): 15275 kHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 2 September 2002 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. From jpost.com http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1029920656477 SHAI RESIGNS AS IBA CHAIRMAN, by Gil Hoffman, Sep. 1, 2002 Nachman Shai submitted his resignation as chairman of the Israel Broadcasting Authority to the cabinet Sunday. Shai told The Jerusalem Post that he reached his decision after after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told him it was important for the IBA chairman to serve in the position on a full-time basis. Until his resignation, Shai chaired the IBA on a volunteer basis while at the same time as he also filling the post of Israel director of the United Jewish Communities. "The prime minister told me that he would prefer if I did the job on a full-time basis. I told him that I feel that I can fulfill the position adequately on a part time basis, but he disagreed. Sharon told me that I had to choose between resignation or working full time, and so I resigned." Science, Culture, and Sports Minister Matan Vilna'i claims Sharon forced out Shai because he wants the IBA to be controlled by the Right. Likud supporter Alon Elroi is said to be Sharon's candidate to replace Shai. The cabinet yesterday approved Sharon's nomination of 10 new members of the IBA plenum and one addition to the IBA board of directors. Labor and National Religious Party ministers opposed the appointments, accusing Sharon of making a deal with Shas to get them passed. Labor Party secretary-general Ophir Pines-Paz announced that Labor would not negotiate over the budget with the Likud until the portfolio in charge of the IBA is returned to Labor. Sharon took the portfolio for himself after the resignation of Ra'anan Cohen, even though the portfolio was promised to Vilna'i. Vilna'i said Shai is a professional and he regrets his resignation (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** JAPAN. THEY CALLED HER TRAITOR American History; Harrisburg; Oct 2002; J Kingston Pierce; Volume: 37 Issue: 4 Start Page: 22-28 ISSN: 10768866 Subject Terms: World War II Treason History Propaganda Trials Geographic Names: United States US Japan Personal Names: Toguri, Iva Abstract: In 1949, Iva Toguri d'Aquino went on trial for treason, charged with being the Japanese radio propagandist American GIs remembered as "Tokyo Rose"--even though the Justice Department had already decided that Tokyo Rose never existed. The young girl's story is detailed. Full Text: Copyright Cowles Enthusiast Media Oct 2002 [sic] [Headnote] In 1949 Iva Toguri d'Aquino went on trial for treason, charged with being the Japanese radio propagandist American GIs remembered as "Tokyo Rose"-even though the Justice Department had already decided that Tokyo Rose never existed. [caption] Top to bottom: Iva Toguri graduated from UCLA in 1940. Her ambition was to enter medical school. Six years later she was being held at Tokyo's high-security Sugamo Prison, an institution dedicated almost exclusively to the incarceration of Japanese nationals charged with war crimes. Cheering and expectant crowds greeted the General Hodges, a United States Army transport vessel, when it docked at San Francisco on September 25, 1948. The ship was filled with servicemen returning home from Japan and South Korea, and they eagerly gathered at the high deck railings, waving and whistling to sweethearts and families on the sunlit quayside below. Yet before those GIs were allowed to disembark, a small, thin, Japanese-American woman, flanked by a pair of burly FBI agents, slowly descended the gangplank. As a band struck up the bouncy "California, Here I Come," the woman --- her head bowed, her pale face reflecting days of suffering from dysentery --- stepped toward a waiting car. Although many of the people in the crowd knew who she was rioted [sic] to be, few found it easy to reconcile the plain and meek-looking prisoner with popular images of the World War II radio propagandist "Tokyo Rose," the sultry-voiced siren who had allegedly done her damnedest to demoralize American troops fighting in the Pacific. The United States government, however, seemed not to harbor any such reservations. Before another year ended, it would put Iva Toguri d'Aquino on trial for treason, even though American intelligence agents had already concluded that she was not Tokyo Rose --- that Tokyo Rose was, in fact, merely a creature "of rumor and legend" --- and that d'Aquino's broadcasting activities in Japan during the war had been "innocuous." Iva (pronounced Aiva) Toguri hardly fit the mold of an American traitor. Born in 1916 --- ironically on July 4 --- she was the second of four children of Jun and Fumi Toguri, Japanese immigrants who had settled in Los Angeles and operated a small import business. Like many immigrants, Jun Toguri wanted his family to be as Americanized as possible, so he discouraged his offspring from learning to speak or write Japanese, rarely took them to Japanese-American events, and fed them a diet that combined Western and Asian dishes. When Iva was old enough, her parents encouraged her to try out for school sports, despite her small stature. She discovered an aptitude for tennis. She also joined the Girl Scouts, took piano lessons, and developed a crush on film star Jimmy Stewart. Dreaming of a career in medicine, Iva attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in zoology. If not for a relative's illness, Iva might never have seen the land of her parents' birth. Instead, in the summer of 1941 the Toguris sent their daughter to Tokyo to care for her aunt, Shizuko Hattori, who was bedridden with diabetes and high blood pressure. It was an inopportune time for travel to Japan. Thanks to the island empire's expansionist policies, its relations with the United States were decaying precipitously. Requests by Japanese Americans to visit Japan sparked more than a little suspicion, and Iva's application for a U.S. passport still hadn't been filled by her departure date. When she boarded the Arabia Maru on July 5, 1941, carrying 28 pieces of luggage (filled with gifts for her relations, as well as Western foods to help Iva endure up to a year away from home), she had no visa to enter Japan and only a certificate of identification from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to prove that she was an American citizen. In October 1945, U.S. special agents arrested d'Aquino and placed her in the Eighth Army brig at Yokohama. She spent several weeks there, without being allowed to consult a lawyer, before being transferred to Sugamo Prison. None of this immediately mattered. Iva's first concern was to fit into Japanese society. Although she looked native-born, she didn't know the language, found the people "discourteous," and had difficulty handling chopsticks (her father had forbidden their use). "I have finally gotten around to eating rice three times a day," she explained in a letter home. "It's killing me, but what can I do?" Unable to read local newspapers, she remained in the dark as tensions between the U.S. and Japan mounted. It wasn't until late November 1941 that Iva, frightened by increasing signs of an international crisis, decided to return to Los Angeles. She planned to board the California-bound Tatsutu Maru on December 2. However, a last-minute paperwork snafu caused her to miss the boat. Less than a week later, Japan attacked Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, and Iva was stranded in Tokyo. Japanese government agents soon approached her and suggested she renounce her U.S. citizenship and become a Japanese national. Iva refused, asking instead to be interned with other "enemy aliens." Due to her ancestry and gender, officials denied her request. Instead, Iva remained at her aunt's home until neighbors --- fearful of an "American spy" in their midst --- persuaded her to move. Iva then found a room in a boardinghouse and part-time work at the Domei Tsushin Sha, the national news agency, where she transcribed English- language radio broadcasts from around the Pacific. It was at Domei that Iva learned her family back in California had been sent to Arizona's Gila River Relocation Center, like tens of thousands of other Japanese Americans who were incarcerated far away from West Coast defense areas after the Pearl Harbor attack. While she worked at Domei Iva met Felippe d'Aquino, a Portuguese- Japanese pacifist and fellow radio monitor. Five years Iva's junior, he shared her pro-American sentiments, gave her moral support when police harassed her for remaining a U.S. citizen, and loaned her money when she was hospitalized in the summer of 1943 for scurvy, beriberi, and malnutrition. Iva didn't like owing money, even to friends, so, following her release, she set off to find additional employment and square her accounts. She answered a newspaper advertisement for English-language typists at Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK), better known as Radio Tokyo. As biographer Masayo Duus puts it, this was Iva's "first step into the legend of Tokyo Rose." Helping her to take the next step was British-born Major Charles Hughes Cousens, a tall, dignified, and mustachioed army officer in his late 30s who had been a broadcasting celebrity in Sydney, Australia, before the war. The Japanese captured him in Singapore and sent him to Tokyo, where officials intimidated him into managing English-language broadcasts for NHK. What the Japanese wanted most from him was a professional-style short-wave propaganda program that would help lower the morale of Allied troops in the Pacific, yet still have enough credibility to attract and hold an audience. But what the Australian army officer gave them when he launched Zero Hour in March 1943 was an entertainment-heavy show designed specifically to undermine the propaganda campaign, without his Japanese overseers realizing. Two fellow prisoners of war joined Cousens in this effort. U.S. Army Captain Wallace Ince and Filipino Lieutenant Norman Reyes had worked together on an Allied propaganda program before being captured in the Philippines. They helped introduce Zero Hour as a 15-minute broadcast featuring jazz recordings interspersed with news segments, largely about disasters back in the States. Although this trio started out at Radio Tokyo reading scripts prepared by Japanese staff members, when they complained about botched English grammar and syntax their supervisors eventually let them pen their own material --- which they craftily larded with double-entendres, on-air flubs, and sarcasm. Iva Toguri joined this sabotage in November 1943 when Cousens recruited her as an announcer. She'd grown friendly with the Australian major and other POWs at Radio Tokyo and had even smuggled food and medicine to them. But inviting her into broadcasting hardly seemed like a favor in return. "I don't know the first thing about radio or radio announcing or anything about scripts or records," she told Cousens. Other women announcers already working at Radio Tokyo protested that Iva's voice was raspy and that she sometimes lisped. But Cousens didn't trust those women and didn't want them on his show. He believed that Iva would help keep his private radio war a secret. And he considered her lack of broadcast savvy a plus. "This," Cousens testified in a deposition years later, "combined with her masculine style and deep, aggressive voice, we felt would definitely preclude any possibility of her creating the homesick feeling which the Japanese Army were forever trying to foster." Although Iva started out as an anonymous presence behind the microphone, the Japanese insisted that all on-air talent have names, so she adopted "Ann," from the abbreviation "ANN"-for "announcer"-on her scripts. Cousens soon expanded that alias into "Orphan Ann," alluding both to the comic-strip character Little Orphan Annie and to a term used by Australians to describe forces cut off from their allies: "orphans of the Pacific." He took a still-greater role as Iva's voice coach, slowing down her delivery, making her sound more "jolly," and instructing her to mispronounce words. When she referred to her listeners in mock contempt as "honorable boneheads," the adjective came out "onable." Other times she broadly lampooned Japanese misapprehensions of English, asking her audience, "You are liking, please?" And far from being a clandestine disseminator of newspeak, Iva openly warned her listeners that Zero Hour contained "dangerous and wicked propaganda, so beware!" American journalists interviewed Iva at Yokohama. She was such a high- profile prisoner there that soldiers would often peer into her cell and prevent her from sleeping. The results were more amusing than disheartening: Ann: Hello there, Enemies! How's tricks? This is Ann of Radio Tokyo, and we're just going to begin our regular program of music, news and the Zero Hour for our friends --- I mean, our enemies! --- in Australia and the South Pacific. So be on your guard, and mind the children don't hear! All set? OK. Here's the first blow at your morale --- the Boston Pops playing "Strike Up the Band!" (Music) Iva commanded the microphone for only about 20 minutes out of each 75- minute broadcast (Zero Hour had been expanded shortly after she joined). During most of that time, she played records --- dance tunes and light classics, many of them British selections, which Cousens reasoned would not make American GIs homesick. The balance of each program was given over to POW messages home, a jazz sequence, and more news briefs about stateside disasters. The choice of "Strike Up the Band" as the theme song was Iva's --- it was the fight song of her old alma mater, UCLA. Cousens pulled off his subversion by exploiting cultural differences between the captives and captors in Tokyo, convincing his overseers that humor made it difficult for the target audience to dismiss Zero Hour as propaganda. It also helped that the show was popular among U.S. servicemen. GIs were particularly fond of a Sunday program hosted by a Japanese woman disc jockey they knew as "Tokyo Rose." It wasn't clear which broadcast this was, however. Although Zero Hour aired daily at 6:00 PM, Iva didn't come into the studio on Sundays, and she was usually replaced by her more experienced colleague, Ruth Hayakawa. But Hayakawa didn't have the low-pitched, seductive voice attributed to Tokyo Rose, nor did she spread information about impending air attacks or warn her male listeners that their wives and girlfriends back home were being unfaithful, both of which Tokyo Rose was said to do with relish. Cousens reasoned that if there really was a Tokyo Rose, she must have been broadcasting from somewhere other than Japan. In June 1944, Major Cousens --- long dogged by illness and stress --- suffered a heart attack and left Zero Hour. By this point, Iva had departed the Domei news agency, due to criticism of her pro-American views, in order to take a full-time typist job at the Danish legation, and she tried to resign from Zero Hour as well. But the NHK brass refused to let her go. Worse, with Cousens gone, there was talk of having somebody more political write the Orphan Ann scripts. Iva headed this off by re-using or rewriting her mentor's old scripts. Once she and Felippe d'Aquino were married in April 1945, Iva started to play hooky from NHK, not showing her face at the studio for weeks at a time. Other women broadcasters filled in, though they lacked her burlesque flair. Iva eventually returned to Zero Hour in May 1945, after Denmark broke relations with Tokyo and left her without her legation job. In early August, American B-29s dropped atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and within days, Japanese Emperor Hirohito surrendered to Allied forces. Almost four years after arriving in Japan, Iva Toguri d'Aquino could look forward to going home. Not long before the Japanese surrender, the U.S. Office of War Information had concluded, "There is no Tokyo Rose; the name is strictly a GI invention .... Government monitors listening in twenty- four hours a day have never heard the words Tokyo Rose over a Japanese-controlled Far Eastern radio." The sobriquet might have applied to a dozen or more women broadcasters, but to no single one. Nonetheless, the victorious Americans began the search for this propagandist in late August, when reporters stormed Japan's capital. Their editors were eager for interviews with Hirohito, Prime Minister Hideji Tojo, and U.S. General Douglas MacArthur, but Tokyo Rose would do. Two journalists from the Hearst empire, Clark Lee of International News Service and Harry Brundidge of Cosmopolitan magazine, were the first to fit 29-year-old Iva d'Aquino into the Tokyo Rose frame. The reporters offered a reward to anyone able to put them in touch with the mythical Dragon Lady of the Airwaves, and Kenkiichi Oki --- who`d worked at NHK and who had married one of the other English-speaking announcers --- pointed them to Iva. Although Iva protested that she wasn't Tokyo Rose, Lee and Brundidge promised her $2,000 for an exclusive interview. Felippe d'Aquino eventually tipped the scales, telling his new wife that by agreeing to this single parlay, she could keep other reporters away. So, on September 1, both d'Aquinos sat down with the Hearst men. Lee asked the questions, but Brundidge told Iva that, in order to receive her money, she must sign a document identifying herself as "the one and original 'Tokyo Rose!" Although she agreed, d'Aquino never received her $2,000, because three days later --- in violation of her "exclusive" arrangement with Hearst --- she gave a press conference in Yokohama. More than 100 Allied reporters came to hear d'Aquino say, "I didn't think I was doing anything disloyal to America" and that she had "never, never broadcast propaganda... [or] mentioned wayward wives or sweethearts." A representative of the Eighth Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) subsequently questioned her, but Iva didn't recognize that as ominous. "[It] all seemed to be a big joke," she said later, especially since officers and enlisted men wanting her autograph frequently interrupted her CIC interview. She didn't know that the press back in the States was already portraying her as a traitor. [captions] Left: Iva conferred with lawyers George Olehausen, Wayne Collins, and Theodore Tamba, immediately after the jury announced the guilty verdict. Below: In 1977, d'Aquino spoke to the press in Chicago following President Gerald Ford's pardon. It was the first ever pardon in a case of treason. On October 17, 1945, three CIC officers arrested d'Aquino at her Tokyo apartment. They didn't inform her she was being charged with treason, nor did they allow her to consult with an attorney. They took her to a Yokohama brig, where interrogators asked if she had advised the Japanese government on propaganda warfare. A month later, d'Aquino was transferred to Tokyo's Sugamo Prison, which was primarily used to hold alleged Japanese war criminals. She remained there for the next 11 1h [sic] months in a 6-by-9-foot cell, often gawked at by civilian visitors, including a cadre of U.S. congressmen who were on hand one day to observe the "evil" Tokyo Rose emerge naked from her shower. Six months after Iva's arrest, the Eighth Army's legal section reported, "There is no evidence that [Iva Toguri d'Aquino] ever broadcast greetings to units by names or location, or predicted military movements or attacks indicating access to secret military information and plans, etc., as the Tokyo Rose of rumor and legend is reported to have done." This should have won her freedom. However, the military feared "the reaction in the press and in Californian political circles if she was released, after all the hullabaloo in the media about the 'capture' of Tokyo Rose," recalls Russell Warren Howe in The Hunt for 'Tokyo Rose.' Not until the U.S. Attorney General's office reiterated "the identification of Toguri as 'Tokyo Rose' is erroneous" was she finally discharged from military custody, on October 25, 1946. During d'Aquino's imprisonment, her mother had died, and the rest of her family had moved from their internment camp to Chicago. She now hoped to return to the United States and see them, but the same lack of documentation that had trapped her in Japan half a decade before again prevented her from easily acquiring a U.S. passport. As Felippe's wife, she was eligible for a Portuguese passport, but Iva had put up with too much in order to remain an American --- she had no wish to become Portuguese. Instead, she waited more than a year for the state department to rule that it had "no objection at all" to her receiving a U.S. passport. Rumors of d'Aquino's homecoming sparked protests. The American Legion pushed for her confinement in Japan, and even the Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution opposing her return to the United States. Conversely, powerful newspaper columnist and radio commentator Walter Winchell beat the drum for her prosecution in America, while FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover called for help in proving, once and for all, that Iva d'Aquino was the voice of Tokyo Rose. Even Iva's old nemesis, reporter Harry Brundidge, now working for the Nashville Tennessean, got into the act. In March 1948, with justice department backing, he flew to Tokyo to secure Iva's signature on the notes that Clark Lee had taken during their interview almost three years before --- a signature that would certify the notes' accuracy, including her "confession" that she was World War II's most nefarious propagandist. Brundidge found Iva emotionally exhausted. Two months earlier, she had given birth to a boy who had died the next morning. She just wanted to rejoin her family, and the reporter assured her that she'd help her cause by certifying that Lee's notes were correct. Though she protested, "Most of this is made up," the still-too-trusting Iva signed. It was the "proof" her enemies needed. In August, the justice department --- giving in to press and political pressure --- had Iva arrested for "treasonable conduct" and shipped to San Francisco for trial. Judicial proceedings against Iva Toguri d'Aquino began on July 5, 1949, the day after her 33rd birthday, and lasted for nearly three months. Because the government had to import a variety of witnesses from Japan, the trial reportedly cost more than $750,000, making it the most expensive in U.S. history up to that time. The defense was more restricted in building its witness pool, as Iva's father had to cover all the costs with borrowed money. Nevertheless, some important allies came to California on Iva's behalf, including Charles Cousens, the Australian major who'd made her his protégée. Government lawyers intended to show that Iva had maliciously betrayed the United States, had urged GIs to lay down their arms, and had voluntarily remained in Japan after the outbreak of war to make radio broadcasts. In addition, the government hoped to prove that Tokyo Rose was not a myth --- no matter what its own justice department believed --- but was, in fact, Iva's radio moniker. This last effort was buttressed by Iva's own naïve willingness over the years to sign autographs as "Tokyo Rose" but was undermined in court by several GIs who found it hard to separate the legend of Tokyo Rose from what they actually remembered being said on the broadcasts. Although the trial began on July 5, Iva wasn't called to testify until September 7. Newspaper reports noted she looked "pale" and "haggard." Her all-white jury was surprised at how unlike the storied temptress she appeared or sounded. Years later, Iva would be quoted in Masayo Duus' ``Tokyo Rose: Orphan of the Pacific`` as saying she "wasn't all that worried [about being found guilty of treason]. I did not feel the least bit as though I had betrayed America." Reporters covering the trial agreed --- nine out of 10 of them predicted her acquittal. Yet, after 80 hours of deliberations, the jury surprised everyone. On September 29, it returned a verdict of "guilty" on one out of eight charges, that of "speak[ing] into a microphone concerning the loss of ships" --- a reference to allegations that, shortly after the 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, she had broadcast the "news" of American ship sinkings. (In fact, a Japanese fleet had been destroyed during that confrontation.) On October 6, Judge Michael Roche sentenced d'Aquino to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Only much later did he admit that he'd been prejudiced against her from the trial's inception. Iva spent six years at the Federal Reformatory for Women in Alderson, West Virginia, visited periodically by her family, but not by her husband, who had been forbidden to re-enter the United States after he had testified at her trial. They corresponded about once a month until shortly after Iva was released from prison. "I wanted to keep up her morale," Felippe later said in a newspaper interview. "But then we stopped. It all seemed so hopeless." The pair divorced in 1980. When authorities released Iva on January 28, 1956, she told reporters, "All I ask for is a fifty-fifty chance to get back on my feet." Instead, she learned that the U.S. government now planned to deport her. It took two years for her lawyers to defeat that effort, but much longer for the country of her birth to offer anything approaching an apology for the turmoil it had put her through. Lawyer Theodore Tamba, who had worked on d'Aquino's defense during her trial, petitioned President Dwight D. Eisenhower for clemency in 1954 but received no reply from the White House. When Wayne Collins, d'Aquino's trial lawyer, wrote to President Lyndon B. Johnson 14 years later with a similar request, again the White House did not respond. A series of newspaper articles sympathetic to d'Aquino were published in the mid-1970s. Two came from the Chicago Tribune in which two prosecution witnesses from her trial recanted their testimonies, claiming they had been given under duress. In 1976 d'Aquino appeared on television's 60 Minutes in a report sympathetic to her case. During the segment, George Guysi, a former CIC officer who had interviewed d'Aquino, declared that the state department had abandoned her, and John Mann, foreman of the jury from her trial, now said he believed she was innocent and he should have stuck to his guns at the time. Wayne Merritt Collins, the son of d'Aquino's trial lawyer, filed a petition for a presidential pardon in November 1976, and on January 19 of the following year, President Gerald Ford pardoned Iva Toguri d'Aquino as one of his last acts in office. By then, she was living in Chicago, where she remains today, declining any further press attention at age 86. [Author note] J. Kingston Pierce, a frequent contributor to American History, wrote in the December 2001 issue about the violent demise of Mormon leader Joseph Smith. He is currently finishing a collection of essays about the history of Seattle, to be published in 2003 by Washington State University Press (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9775, CLANDESTINE R. Dat 8/28 0102-0112 several IDs in Kazak. As "Radio Dat" and mentions of "Nazarb[bay]ev" with talk re "politica" heard under co-channel VOA . Fair signal, must try again Sun/Mon UT when VOA is off this frequency (Barbour Jr, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Could hear something there Sept 1, but poor (gh) ** KOREA SOUTH. I expect you've already got this, but Han Hee Joo of Multiwave Feedback just announced that she is to be the new Executive Director of RKI and will relinquish on-air duties. RKI Multiwave Feedback 0236, 9560 RCI relay on 1 Sept UT. A loss of a good voice, but a gain for RKI management (Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As of 2043 UT Sept 2, this week`s MWF is not yet available ondemand, but you do get an immediate popup to listen to RKI`s new logos (gh, DXLD) {still wasn`t up Sept 4...} ** LITHUANIA. Last evening, when I happened to check 5925 at the close of the Falung Gong broadcast at 2200 [see CHINA non], I heard a surprise announcement twice after a short silence and before the carrier was cut: "This is the primary audio circuit of Radio Vilnius". I have not heard that on any other LTU frequency. Other listening to LTU has shown that the programmes scheduled after 1000 on 9710 are all broadcast on Sunday only (1000 R Avaye Ashena, 1100 FBN, 1200 Universelles Leben). No programmes after 1300. There were no carrier breaks, so it seems that all programmes are using the 259 degrees beam. The 0800-0900 slot (FBN) [Fundamental Broadcasting Network – WTJC] was heard only on Saturday. Before 0800 there was a long period with a repeated four tone test signal (apparently from the satellite circuit), using 980, 100, 400 and 1000 Hz. On other days, when R Vilnius opens at 0900, 1000 Hz pips are heard for a long period before programme start. I did not check for a carrier break at 0900 on Saturday (Olle Alm, Sweden, Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. An AM $tereo list from south Texas 9/01/2002: 560 KLVI Beaumont, $ home repair show ``Tom Tynan`` 660 XEAR Tampico, $ ``La Mexicana``, ranchera 740 KTRB Houston, $ news/sports 810 XERI Reynosa; $ Mexican pop/rock 950 XETO Tampico; $ ``Romántica``, good sound, beautiful ranchera, ``musica trios, Houston QRM 970 XEO Matamoros; $ over-modulated (audio needs a bit of work; someone please send in a good sound engineer!) 1050 XEG Monterrey: $ ``La Ranchera``, nice sound, Mexican ranchera and norteña. Also heard with new slogan ``La Perrona`` followed by a barking dog! [``Perrona`` is street slang meaning, ``great`` or ``terrific.`` It is definitely a vulgarism (not obscene or offensive, just vulgar usage). You might give a listen to see if this is really a changed station name or just a slogan, like ``greatest hits`` would be in English. – David Gleason, ibid.] {perrona I would render as ``bitchin`'' -gh} They`re still using ``La Ranchera de Monterrey`` as their main slogan, but ``La más perrona`` with the barking dog is being used as a secondary slogan! 1190 XETOT Tampico, $ US Classic hit music 1290 KRGE Weslaco $ Spanish Religious music! Wall to Wall religion in Stereo, //105.7 1340 XEMT Matamoros; $ Mexican pop/rock music 1390 XEOR Reynosa; $ Mexican pop/rock music 1400 KUNO Corpus Christi; $ norteña and tejano; KHCB Galveston underneath with Chinese woman talking! 1600 KBOR Brownsville; $ Tejano, Mexican regional (Steven Wiseblood, Boca Chica Beach, TX, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. RADIO PRIDNESTROVYE ON NEW FREQUENCY | Text of report by Voice of Russia "DX Club" web site on 28 August Moldova: "Radio Pridnestrovye [Radio Dniester Region] is using a new frequency - 549 kHz (instead of the previous 1467 kHz) for its broadcasts from 0800 to 0830 and from 2000 to 2030 [presumably local time] in the Russian, Ukrainian and Romanian languages. The latter two languages have returned to mediumwave after a lengthy absence. And on 1467 kHz from 0600 to 2030 Mayak from Moscow is now broadcasting... " says Aleksandr Mak from Lutsk, Ukraine. Source: Voice of Russia web site, Moscow, in Russian 28 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To advise that we continue testing, on the frequencies of 7300 and 7737 kHz. We have been receiving reports from Australia, as well as from our own region. I have recalculated the propagational path, between Asunción and Oklahoma City. You should have a good chance to hear 7737, between the hours of 0000 and 0100 UT. [tried around 0050 Sept 2, but inaudible -- gh] When we resume tests on 15185, you should have a good opportunity between the hours of 2300 and 0800 UT. From Asunción, the airline distance to Oklahoma City is 7944 km, at an azimuth of 326.6 degrees, from Magnetic North. Your reports will be most welcome! Good DXing, and best regards from Paraguay! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. A Rádio Nacional do Paraguai, de Assunção, está inativa em sua freqüência de 9735 kHz, em 31 metros. A informação é de um brasileiro, que reside naquele país, em carta enviada ao programa Além Fronteiras, da Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista(SP). (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Sept 2 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Esta medianoche (1 set.) se adelanta 60 minutos la hora oficial paraguaya y será por tanto -3 UT. 73 de lpi (Levi P. Iversen, Papraguay, Sept 1, Conexión Digital via DXLD) That`s like starting DST on March 1 in the Northern (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. A few of many Peruvian logs, including the second one, not to be confused with R. Veritas, Liberia:: 5460.5, Radio Emisora Bolivar, La Libertad, 0055+, September 1. Check time: "son las 7 de la noche con 55 minutos", Music. A male conduced the program. 24242. 5470.8, Radio San Nicolás, San Nicolás, 0052+, September 1. Andean tropical music. 24342. 6956.7, La Voz del Campesino, Huarmaca, 2303+, August 31, Andean music. 34432. 13565.6 (harmonic), Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca, 0047+, September 1. Check time: siete de la noche con 47 minutos, siete de la noche con..." Greetings: "saludos para los amigos en la provincia de..." Huaynos. 25442 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX Camp in Chascomus, 120 km to the South/West of Buenos Aires, Argentine, dxing.info via DXLD) ** PERU. 6956.7, La Voz del Campesino, 0453 Sept 1, fair levels with back-back chicha music and occasional announcement. Noted past 0519 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOLIVIA 6956.70 Voz del Campesino, Peru 0247-0300 In Spanish, incredible audio at S9 signal levels. Very slight fades but very clear copy. 250 watt station really sounds very nice. Lots of ranchera music. Great copy 31 Aug (Bob Montgomery, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** POLAND/SWEDEN. Dear Glenn. I am just observing what is going on. Please ask the responsible engineers at Hörby and Warsaw for their explanation, not me. Please also notice that R. Sweden was only readable on 6095 at 1545-1559 as long as R. Polonia had not yet put modulation on its carrier, so it is NOT a relay from Polonia, in my opinion, and also according to what the TERACOM people told me from Bangkok. Somewhere else I saw a few weeks ago, that R. Polonia intends to drop its old transmitter station and rent airtime abroad. I can just confirm that its audio on 6035 and 6095 this afternoon was terribly modulated. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Another possibility, I already discounted assuming Anker`s good equipment, would be receiver-produced cross-modulation making the Swedish audio seem to appear on a Polish frequency (gh, DXLD) ** POLAND. This sounds to me a bit like the famous 'Luxemburg Effect'. Phase Lock Loop (PLL) Chips can do strange things in some receivers; after all they are Synthesyzers (Spelling?) Polish Transmitters seem to me to be falling to bits in front of our EARS!! They cannot move to Latvia/DTK quickly enough for me, even if we have less frequencies as a result. I am NOT so much in favour of the rumoured change in programme style, however; it is unique and relaxed (especially 'Multimedia' Slot) as it is (Ken Fletcher, UK, 2217 UTC = 2317 UTC+1 31st August 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As I understand it (from YOUR DXLD and elsewhere) Radio Polonia plan to close their own ailing transmitters and use facilities from DTK Germany and Latvia (5.935 MHz for Europe??!!) The Date for this was originally suggested as October 1st 2002 (although I feel this could change to Sunday October 27th 2002, the beginning of the B02 Season, or even 1st January 2003, or thereabouts, allowing for Public Holidays). I have NOT seen any suggestion of Radio Sweden being used for these (Ken Fletcher 1927UTC=2027UTC+1 2nd September 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I do not recall any mention of Latvia as a possible relay for Polonia! Slovakia was the other one mentioned besides DTK Germany (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOR English to North America, as modified Sept 1 to Oct 26: 0100-0200 17595, 12000, 11825, 9725, 7180 0200-0300 17595, 12000, 9725, 7180 0300-0500 17690, 17660, 17650, 15455, 12000, 11750, 7180 South America [no change]: 1900-2100 15735 Europe, SW portion only: 1700-1800 9775, 7310 and Sat/Sun only on 11675, 9820, 9480, 7360 1800-1900 9820, 9775, 9480, 7360, 7310, 7300, 5950 1900-2000 9820, 9775, 7440, 7360, 7350, 7330, 7310 2000-2100 11980, 9820, 9775, 7360, 7350, 7330 For other targets see http://www.vor.ru (VOR website via gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE WEB SITE | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Moscow, 2 September: The Russian Foreign Ministry and Interfax news agency on Monday [2 September] launched a joint Internet project, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov told students of the Moscow foreign relations institute. "Today, the Foreign Ministry together with Interfax are launching an action called 'The Russian Foreign Ministry - Russia and the world in answers to your questions'. Anyone may ask a question about Russian foreign policy or pressing international problems through the Internet, and beginning in October, the ministry will regularly give answers to them," Ivanov said. He stressed that it is important that Russian diplomacy "will be correctly understood by the public and rely on its support". "We should resolutely get rid of manifestations of office diplomacy and expand channels of dialogue," he said. The project is meant to better inform the Russian and foreign public about the Foreign Ministry's positions on international affairs. Questions to the ministry can be sent through a special window in Russian or English on Interfax websites http://www.interfax.ru - Russian, http://www.interfax.com - English. The window is open for questions from Russia and abroad. Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 0625 gmt 2 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. ASTRAKHAN AM TRANSMITTERS TO BE RELOCATED | Text of report by Voice of Russia "DX Club" web site on 28 August Astrakhan: "According to the local press, September or October this year will see the start of the dismantling of masts and transmitters of two local relay stations: Mayak (transmitting on 576 kHz with a power of 50 kW) and the local state TV and radio company Lotos (frequency 792 kHz, power 50 kW). These retransmitters were previously on the outskirts of town, but now find themselves right in the town centre. It is known that Mayak will use a new retransmitter, while the 792 kHz frequency has been put out to competitive bidding, the winner of which will be able to decide what to rebroadcast in the future... " reports our esteemed fellow DXer, Vasiliy Gulyayev from Astrakhan. Source: Voice of Russia web site, Moscow, in Russian 28 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. [R. UNAMSIL?], Email verie from Patrick Coker bpcoker@yahoo.com (Ray Crawford, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Just received email from REE Spain and as you see they have created a special email-address for SWLs and reports: dxree.rne@rtve.es (Hans Kiesinger, Sept Australian DX News via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Following may explain why RTI has a hard time covering breaking news --- but why does there have to be even a two-hour delay in feeds via WYFR or Merlin??? (gh, DXLD) CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS forwards the January-April 2002 issue of Taipei Wave (a free newsletter published by the English language service of CBS Radio Taipei International with the following article: Earthquake! By Carlson Wong Taiwan lies on a seismically active stretch of the Pacific basin, which means earthquakes occur frequently here. After a devastating earthquake rattled the island on September 21, 1999 leaving 2,400 dead and some 100,000 homeless, another 6.8-magnitude quake rocked Taiwan on March 11 of this year-exactly 921 days after the 921 (Sept. 21) earthquake. Only this time there were not as many casualties. Taipei was the hardest hit and many buildings, including the one I live in, suffered cracks, and one residential building even collapsed. Perhaps what caught international attention was the collapse of the two heavy cranes from the to-be tallest building in the world-footage was repeatedly shown on local as well international TV broadcasts. People from different walks of life have slightly different responses to earthquakes. Government officials urgently want to know about property damage and human casualties, since the public pays attention to the way they will respond the crisis. Civilians call friends and relatives to find out if they are okay or if their homes suffered damage. Our priority as reporters is to keep our listeners informed about the quake. Since we don't broadcast domestically, our main duty is to inform the international community of the disaster in the fastest manner possible. Even though reporters have to race against time, the speed of our news is sometimes "delayed" for different reasons. First, we broadcast at fixed time slots, so not many people would know that we interrupted our broadcast to give breaking news unless they accidentally stumbled across our frequency. Secondly, interrupting programs leads to another problem as the time slot could be that of another language, and don't forget if we wanted to give breaking news, so would other languages. Another obstacle is that some of our programs are relayed through Family Radio and Merlin Communications, meaning that our programs have to be sent to them via satellite at least two hours in advance. We have eight news re-broadcasts to different parts of the world between our first (live) broadcast at 7 pm and 3 pm the following day (Taiwan Time), so if any thing newsworthy happens after 7pm, we have to update the news several times over the next 24 hours. Take the 921 earthquake for instance, it occurred around 2:00 am (Taiwan Time). So we all had to take turns coming in to provide the latest updates on a number of quake-related issues for several days in a row. Even though RT1's English news is not aired every hour, on the hour (like our Mandarin News Service,. it still remains an important source of information for the international community who wish to find out more about the happenings in Taiwan. [Carlson Wong is the host of Jade Bells and Bamboo Pipes, Taipei Magazine, and a co-host of Mailbag Time, along with Natalie Tso]. (via Sept World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** TURKEY. Osman Erkan said that Voice of Turkey also plans to close some language services, including Kazakh, and put more emphasis on satellite delivery (DXing.info report on EDXC Conference; see FINLAND, via DXLD) ** U A E. Dubai Radio & TV has website at: http://www.dubaitv.gov.ae/ Live streams for all radio channels. 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Well, almost. English FM 92.0 is ``coming soon`` (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Thanks to your mention in last Tuesday's DXLD, I was able to enjoy high-quality reception of World of Radio 1145 via the Spectrum 558 DAB signal. However, the WRN via Spectrum schedule was not quite as it appeared in DXLD. Unfortunately I was not able to check during Saturday, but on Sunday the relay began before 07:00 UT, thus including Weekend All Things Considered from NPR, which starts at 06:00. Also, when I checked after 11:00 I found that local programming had resumed. I did not check during the 10:00 UT hour, so it may well be that none of PRI's A Prairie Home Companion is heard. Providing I am at home next weekend I will make a more thorough check of WRN via Spectrum, and also check the start time of the daytime broadcasts on weekdays, which do indeed end at 12:00. The early morning broadcasts on most days now commence at 01:00, and run through as previously to 03:00 (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC GETS NASTY WITH EASTENDERS PROTESTERS http://media.guardian.co.uk/ Owen Gibson, Tuesday August 27, 2002 The BBC has threatened a group of US EastEnders fans with legal action after they set up a website to campaign for more of their favourite soap. Fans campaigning to be able to watch the soap at weekends set up a site at http://www.bbcamerica.us - a web address the corporation had failed to register. The campaigners, who complained in their hundreds after the soap was dropped from its usual time to make way for lifestyle programmes such as Changing Rooms, have already succeeded in getting the show moved back to a weekend slot. But the climbdown has not been enough to placate devotees of the show, who have already gathered 1,200 names on a new petition on their website demanding that EastEnders is returned to its original berth on Sunday afternoon. Now BBC America, a cable channel launched in 1999 to showcase BBC programmes in the US and now has 26m subscribers, has written to the protesters threatening to sue over their website. BBC lawyers have demanded they hand over the domain name and stop using the company's logo. "We request that you take prompt steps to prevent further confusion and damage to our client's valuable rights in its trademark," say the corporation's US lawyers. They go on to claim that the site deliberately tries to con visitors into thinking that it is an official site. It is not the first time the BBC has come unstuck by failing to register domain names relating to the corporation. In 1999, it was forced to spend £200,000 buying the domain name bbc.com from Boston computing firm Boston Business Computing. Over the years the BBC is estimated to have spent more than £1m of licence fee payers' money trying to shut down sites with the corporation's name. Not all of its attempts were successful with some, such as Canadian computer company Big Blue and Cousins, hanging on to their site. The company registered the domain name www.bbc.org in 1995 and has steadfastly refused to sell or hand it over. Neither does the BBC seem to have learned its lesson, with its new digital terrestrial venture Freeview liable to run into similar problems. The domain name Freeview.com has been used since 1996 by a US web development firm while Freeview.co.uk is still available. (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Here`s how the above site starts Sept. 1: Welcome to the Save Eastenders Campaign Website temporarily suspended. Note this site is not owned by BBC America, and in no way associates itself with BBC America. WE ARE NOT BBC AMERICA - the TV channel. For BBC America please go to www.bbcamerica.com Latest News Coverage BBC gets nasty with Eastenders Protesters Guardian Article August 27, 2002 Legal threat to Eastenders Fans bbc.co.uk entertainment news Baxley Entertainment Report Due to Aggressive legal tactics from the BBC and its lawyers: Davis Wight Tremaine LLP We have temporarily moved our campaign back to: http://www.diverdown.org (via gh, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Bible Voice Broadcasting Network, 9855 goes on with carrier at 0028.30 and is likely to be a Merlin site, perhaps Thailand. Good signal (S-9). 15615 noted Sunday at 0030 with marginal signal and CIS type pips. 7425 very good signal from 1800 on Sunday. Unknown site, Merlin UK? 7430 regular from 1700 with the Krasnodar pips before 1700. Rather good signal. Regards (Olle Alm, Sweden, Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Occasional chex of WJIE 7490 Saturday did not encounter any WOR airings, tho there may well have been some. Oh, oh. Sunday Sept 1 at 1200 it was not to be heard --- at least no modulation --- just the Japanese DVR. Later on Sept 2 there was modulation, but it seems to be diminishing (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ESTADOS UNIDOS - O Departamento de Língua Espanhola da Rádio Voz da América está demorando a enviar material e confirmações a seus ouvintes. É que a emissora está sem secretária, no momento, de acordo com Betty Endara, do programa Club de Oyentes. As informações são de Leônidas dos Santos Nascimento, de São João Evangelista (MG). (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 2 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Feeling nostalgic? I thought so. Check out this URL for some VOA ID's in mp3 format back when 'Columbia' really WAS the 'gem of the ocean' and you could count on knowing WHERE the transmission you just heard came from: http://shortwaveradio.org/sos/ bw (Bill Whitacre, IBB Monitoring, Sept 1, swprograms via DXLD) Off-air recordings of Bethany, Monrovia, Okinawa, Philippines, Thessaloniki. Whose site is this? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KXMS, Fine Arts Radio International, has resumed a full schedule of locally-originated shows, per website listings through September, including `PDQ Bach,` Sats 1600-1700 UT. A number of choice items this week have already been entered on the MONITORING REMINDERS calendar. I asked them about this, and received this disappointing reply (gh, DXLD) Glenn, The schedule is subject to short notice changes in September. Schickele Mix is not the PDQ Bach series; we produced the latter. Sadly, for your Internet listening information, we will be moving from live streaming audio to archival non-copyrighted material on the kxms.org site before the end of September. Sadly, many stations, including KXMS, have been negatively affected by the recent court ruling that we are obligated to measure "per listener per song" for fee assessment. The fees incurred may be affordable, but the method of measurement adopted by the court is too onerous to deal with. Details will be posted on our website when the change occurs (Jeff Skibbe, 88.7KXMS/Fine Arts Radio International, Missouri Southern State College 3950 E Newman Road Joplin, MO 64801-1595 phone: (417) 625-9356 fax: (417) 625-9742 home: http://www.kxms.org Sept 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: ``Why isn`t KSU doing anything to get a fulltime FM public radio station, like almost every other state university???`` 1- where on the dial would you plant it? Especially where would you put a 100 kw signal _without_ jostling 14 other stations around like KCSX insisted on doing? 1b- KSU does have a fulltime FM station- 91.9 KSDB. 2- what would they fill their time with when they're not doing ag reports? Hopefully something other than NPR- they already have several outlets within earshot. 3- their listenership is spread out enough that a class C FM signal wouldn't work well. I like the idea a friend had recently. What if they were to buy the 1250 in Kansas City from Entercom (call letters du jour are?) and move that to Manhattan? Five thousand watts on that frequency would cover a good part of the state. FYI- this latest dogfight between WIBW and KSU was _all_ over the Topeka paper Friday- check http://www.cjonline.com for the details. (Todd K0KAN Brandenburg, KS, amfmtvdx via DXLD) KKSU programming for a long time has not been from NPR; a lot from WAMC and other public radio production sources, including Wisconsin, and notably PRI, for The World, rather than ATC. Also does a lot of its own produxion, which would be a shame to lose, especially K-State Perspective, discussion show, aired Fridays at 1905 ex-1932 UT, also at other times via Kansas commercial affiliates, and which is also archived ondemand at: http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/kksu/StreamingArchives/FRIDAY/FRIDAY.htm --- but I couldn`t get a connexion for a recent show on Galápagos when tried Sept. 1. Oh, then all KSU has to do is turn KSDB into a public radio station from a rock/hiphop student station, 1.4 kW per http://therob.iwarp.com/ksradio.html 1250 started out in nearby Lawrence as WREN, and it would be nice to get it back out of Kansas City, but I doubt it would be economically feasible; and its coverage is nowhere near 580`s. Couldn`t get a trace of it here in daytime (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FM BEATING THE PANTS OFF AM FOR LONG DISTANCE RECEPTION! Hi, here's a challenge to other DXers, AM as well as FM. I have long maintained for the best long distance reception, both DXing and regular listening, it is FM over AM. Here's my challenge. I find my most distant regular station from here in Esko MN (46-44-13; 92-21-24 as measured on a GPS receiver in my driveway) to be Interlochen MI (home of WIAA *88.7 at 44-16-33; 85-42-49) at 587 km or 365 miles, as calculated from the FCC site that Doug Smith of the WTFDA highlighted to that group. While that station does fade, I find I can always get some signal from it. Last week it was almost 100% perfect, night and day. Today, with storms having passed, it is about 50% strength. I am receiving it on an antenna 8 meters tall (26 feet), and using an APS-13 antenna on a rotator. View my antenna at http://members.aol.com/fmatlas/home2.html I rather like the station's classical music, which sounds mostly locally produced, and it is a refreshing alternative to Minnesota Public Radio. It's also fun to listen to a station that can be used to demonstrate FM radio's amazing long distance coverage ability. Even in this day of crowding on the dials, it is refreshing to note that there is at least one channel where great distance is observable on a regular basis, often in full stereo, and on which the only interference is an occasional meteor burst or normal tropospheric fading. Ah, this is tropo scatter at its best! I especially defy any AM DXer to point out stations they can regularly receive, day and night, at this distance or greater. My reception of WIAA is greater than the distance from Duluth to Winnipeg or to Bismarck ND, both of which are areas having low frequency AM stations (580 and 550 with excellent ground conductivity) that do not register a peep here. I am sure even with a beverage antenna aimed their way I wouldn't get them with the regularity my Fanfare FM tuner is getting from WIAA. Today, I put into service a modest 15 dB FM booster that does raise the noise level, but serves to defeat the tuner's stereo blend circuitry to permit noisy but fulltime stereo reception. Other FM DXers who can claim long distance regular reception, both for DX listening and program enjoyment, let this list know! Perhaps there are interesting directions and frequencies you have not tried out which might yield interesting jewels like I have discovered by pointing my antenna NESE. Yes, FM is better than AM, and it's about time we FM DXers let the world know! (Bruce Elving, Esko MN, Sept 2, WTFDA via DXLD) I regularly --- Daily -- all day long and at night too, receive WFAN 660, WCBS 880, WOR 710 from NY here in NC. Granted, those come here over a path that is 80% saltwater, but I do as well daily receive Radio Disney formated station from Philadelphia PA on 640 and that path is not over water... These things you could never do on FM on a regular basis unless you have a high elevation But even then, what you hear, chances are the signals won`t be that reliable. My location is Elizabeth City NC, 40 miles of Norfolk VA {just so you can do the calculations of distance} IMO, FM is bad, over processed and does not have nearly the coverage of AM, and AM stations that broadcast in stereo, will sound far superior compared to FM stereo broadcast (Bob Carter, NC, amfmtvdx via DXLD) I`ve got him beat: 670 Denver is audible just outside Enid on a quiet day and a good car radio, 450 mile range. But who would want to listen to that garbage? 73, (Glenn Hauser, Enid, ibid.) [non] LW is better than AM or FM for range. Back in the Winter of 1980-81 in Niagara Falls, ON when I had a decent LW antenna, I heard 1000-watt beacon YEK 329 kHz from Arviat, Nunavut (then Eskimo Point, NWT) 24/7 all winter long on a DX-302 receiver. That is almost 1,400 miles away! And this was under local IA 329 kHz Niagara Falls, NY! Try to get that kind of coverage on AM or FM. If we used LW for broadcast like the Europeans there would be no comparison. (William Hepburn, Ont., ibid.) ** U S A. 9/11: It appears that all of the major networks, both broadcast and cable, will be providing some kind of coverage from 5 am up to and perhaps beyond the evening news. ABC has apparently committed to not show footage of the impacts, nor the collapses, but no one else has. I'm afraid this will be just one more proof of the fact that the major media know no other way than overkill, because they're afraid someone else might get the edge. I can't remember how many decades it took before we reached a point where every night of both political conventions prior to every Presidential election wasn't covered non- stop on all 3 networks, finally giving those of us who weren't interested some alternatives (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. CAN TV OVERDO IT ON 9/11? THE BIG NETWORKS THINK NOT By Beth Gillin, Inquirer Staff Writer Unless you plan to spend the day hiding under the bed, there will be no escaping television's rerun of 9/11. Almost 90 hours of commemorative programming, some beginning days before the actual anniversary, will roll out from the four major networks. ABC is tagging its coverage "9/11." NBC is opting for "America Remembers." CBS is going with "9/11: The Day That Changed America," which is not much different from 9/11: The Day America Changed, a two-hour special filling Fox's entire prime-time block. The Big Three will commemorate from morning to night. Panels of 9/11 experts will take over the cable news networks. And over at PBS, children will get an aardvark's perspective, as Arthur tackles the subject. Other media will offer blanket coverage, too. But only television has the power to make the horror come alive again, as it replays graphic images of flames, panic, destruction and grief. Concerned that an overload of vivid reminders could trigger an epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder, the National Center for Victims of Crime and several mental-health organizations teamed up to create three public-service announcements about the condition. That way, if viewers experience anxiety, fear, withdrawal, guilt and hopelessness while watching television, they'll know what to call it. "Everybody has a choice about how much they want to see," said Barbara Cochran, president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association in Washington, who doesn't believe television is over-covering the anniversary. "This is an occasion to be observed, and as journalists that's what we're supposed to do. "On that day, we'll report the ceremonies, tell the inspirational stories, and remember those who were killed. And we'll ask what we have learned," said Cochran. "We'll hold our institutions and government accountable, and that is perfectly appropriate." Aaron Brown, who covered the story for CNN and will be on the air for at least 14 hours this Sept. 11, said he isn't sure how much viewers want to see again. If his own feelings are indicative, he said, "it's going to be more of a powerful, difficult experience than a healing one." NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, on the other hand, said the coverage may correct a "drifting away emotionally and intellectually" from the attacks. But Denise Walton, staff psychologist at Temple University's counseling center and member of the International Stress Foundation, warned that repeated exposure to images of death "can cause some people to become callous after a while. People can stop feeling that these were human lives." Walton would prefer television coverage "to focus on the families, their stories, what the past year has been like for them, how all our lives are different now. I'd like to see stories about resilience." Cochran, president of the news directors group, said much of the coverage "will be inspiring, showing the triumph of the human spirit over unbelievable circumstances." "On the very specific issue of the image of the second plane hitting the tower, the head of Families of Sept. 11 has asked if there could be a warning before that image is shown," Cochran said. "ABC, for one, has said it will not use any images from Sept. 11 during its coverage of the ceremonies so that families and friends of victims can watch them without fear." Recently CBS president Leslie Moonves observed, "It is far better to err on the side of giving too much coverage than not paying enough respect to what happened." Larry Gross, professor of communications at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, agrees. "Life is made up of commemorating moments," he said. "It's human nature, it's what religions do. Anthropologists note that often the stories we commemorate are stories of sacrifice. There's a sense that we must remember people who died for us." Contrary to cheapening important historic events, Gross said, TV "embeds them in our ongoing national memory." For television viewers who want to remember the day but not relive the news, there are some choices. A&E and the History Channel will stop programming between 8:46 a.m., the time the first World Trade Center tower was hit, and 10:29 a.m., when the second tower collapsed. The stations will scroll the names of victims. HGTV and the Food Network will pause for two hours, beginning at 8:30 a.m, to present what a spokesman called "a series of images, words, and music to inspire quiet reflection." And those with satellite access can tune to an expanded version of Mosaic, a program available through Direct TV and the Dish Network. Produced by WorldLink TV, Mosaic is an unfiltered, translated compilation of the daily news seen in a dozen Middle East countries. It will certainly be a lot different from American coverage of the anniversary, but it probably won't be very comforting. © 2001 inquirer and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.philly.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Chicago pirate: There is a pirate on 87.9 FM. It's a foreign language I can't recognize but I would guess its southeastern European in origin. It was strong in Niles IL when I first heard it this afternoon on my Honda car radio. Here in Schiller Park 8 miles southwest of Niles it`s weak but listenable (John Sullivan, Aug 31, WTFDA via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 7310, CLANDESTINE, Radio Voice of the People [via Madagascar], 0334-0347 Aug 30, apparent late sign on the day after station was bombed but I returned shortly to find group African vocals, man talking and more lively singing. Fair signal but badly squeezed from +/- 5 kHz stations. Next night noted with open carrier at 0328 followed by brief instrumental music at 0330 and "This is Radio Voice of the People" ID by man announcer. This was followed by English talk by a man and woman followed by a version of "The Gambler" at 0340. Fair signal but not squeezed tonight (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED: Re 4876.2: Thanks to Anker Petersen for clearing this up. This was not Bangladesh but AIR 4860 spur. Spurs every 16.2 kHz up and down of the nominal. Now that Anker mentioned it, I recall hearing similar spurs a while ago. Should have checked 4860 first:). Thanks and 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Right now (0330 UT Sep 2) I'm hearing an AM signal on 6350 kHz in an unidentified language, probably African or Middle Eastern. With certainty this is not AFRTS. Does anybody know what this station could be? regards, (Rik van Riel, Curitiba PR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ Two years ago we tested the Grundig Satellit 800 shortwave receiver, and were not impressed. But the radio has improved in the past two years. Here are our new findings... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/satellit800.html (Tom Sundstrom, Media Network via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-136, August 31, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1145: NEXT BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415 NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 NEXT BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030?, 0630?, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1200, 1830, Mon 1230?, Wed 1300 NEXT BROADCAST ON WRN: North America Sun 1400 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1145.html ** ALASKA [and non]. The Federation of American Scientists has a couple of interesting articles on HAARP. http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/haarp.htm HAARP Detection and Imagine of Underground Structures Using ELF/VLF Radio Waves ELF/VLF radio waves penetrate deeply beneath the surface of the earth and interact with the geologic structure of the earth. This interaction induces secondary fields with measurable effect at and above the surface of the earth. Proper understanding of the physics of the generation and propagation of ELF/VLF waves and their interactions with earth materials will allow these waves to be used for applications such as sub-surface communications and exploration of the subsurface geological structure. The research called for under this effort is to assess the viability of exploiting the concept of electromagnetic induction to detect and image subterranean features such as tunnels, bunkers, and other potential military targets. Geophysical surveying using natural ELF/VLF sources, such as lightning or auroral generated signals, is an established procedure. In general, however, the procedure has been developed with the interest in locating areas of highly conductive material such as metal ore deposits. There are many significant issues that need to be resolved, however, before the concept can be evaluated for military applications such as detection of underground structures. These issues can be divided into six primary topics: (1) the physics of, and methods for modeling the generation of ELF/VLF waves from various sources; (2) methods for measuring ELF/VLF field components in a covert manner; (3) methods for modeling and characterizing ELF/VLF wave propagation including the effects of surface topography and subsurface terrestrial properties; (4) the physics of the propagation and attenuation of the secondary fields above the earth's surface; (5) procedures and algorithms for inverting measured electromagnetic field information to obtain subterranean conductivity structure particularly aimed at identifying and characterizing man-made structures or natural voids; and (6) algorithms for producing unambiguous detection and classification of underground voids or structures in the presence of geological noise and clutter. The Space Effects Division of the Phillips Laboratory Geophysics Directorate is interested in receiving proposals related to the theoretical understanding and practical development and demonstration of techniques for the detection of underground structures using ELF/VLF radio waves generated by natural and man-made sources. Issues to be examined by the proposers include: methods for measuring ELF/VLF field components by covert means; methods for characterizing, and interpreting ELF/VLF wave generation and propagation, including the effects of surface topography and subsurface geophysical properties; procedures for inverting the electromagnetic field properties to obtain realistic, depth-dependent geophysical parameters with particular interest in identifying man-made structures and natural voids within the surrounding geology; and algorithm development for the unambiguous detection of underground voids or man-made structures in the presence of real-world geophysical noise and clutter. This PRDA seeks proposals of original and innovative research dealing with the development, implementation, and demonstration of these concepts. The proposer will need to demonstrate a basic understanding of the principles of ELF/VLF wave generation, ELF/VLF guided-wave propagation, instruments and measurement procedures and problems for ELF/VLF, methods for inversion of ELF/VLF data into depth-dependent geophysical models and for detecting zones or targets of interest and for characterizing those targets. Highly original and innovative proposals dealing with one or more of these topics relevant to this progam will be considered for funding. Several distinct methods for ELF/VLF generation are available to support these efforts. Proposers are encouraged to consider including the controlled ELF/VLF sources provided by the 960 KW HF transmitter of the HAARP, presently under construction outside Gakona, Alaska and the HIPAS facility located near Fairbanks, Alaska. PL/GPS is the program manager for the HAARP facility. The Office of Naval Research controls the HIPAS facility. Both sites will be available to support the research efforts under this PRDA. Sources and Methods DETECTION AND IMAGING OF UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES BY EXPLOITING ELF/VLF RADIOWAVES, SOL PRDA PL/GPS 97-02 CBD ISSUE DATE: 06/02/97 SECTION: Procurements FSC The HAARP Home Page University of Alaska The HAARP Home Page Naval Research Laboratory (via M. Peraaho, DXLD) ** ASCENSION ISLAND. Those who want to verify Ascension Island: here is a Chance, Radio Japan's English Transmission from Ascension Island (BBC Merlin @ 250 KW) at 2100-2200 UT in 11855 is received here strong and fair. At the same time there is another transmission in English from Radio Japan's KDD Yamata Transmitting site (300 kW) at 11830 kHz also received but weak and disturbed (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AZERBAIJAN. Off frequency from 1296: Maybe old news to some, though new to me: Radio Azerbaijan noted on 1295 on Aug 29, 1840 UTC. Barely readable in LSB mode but definite ID. (From the world's northernmost DXer Bjarne Mjelde, Berlevag, Norway, receivers: AOR AR7030+, K+D KWZ30, Palstar R30, DXing.info via DXLD) Exactly 1295.00, or drift? ** BERMUDA. From http://www.bermuda-online.org/cabradtv.htm LOCAL TELEVISION (ALL COMMERCIAL) Currently, there are three local channels. Bermuda uses the North American NTSC television broadcasting standard. The first Bermudian television station, ZBM-TV, was introduced by the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited in 1958 on VHF Channel 10. (Now it uses Channel 9). Prior to that, there was a USA military television station at what was then Kindley Air Force Base at St. David's Island which could be accessed illegally by many families in the Eastern Parishes with television sets. Capital Broadcasting Company Limited operated ZFB-TV on Channel 8 from 1965 until 1984 with the amalgamation into the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited. Now it uses Channel 7. Since then, a license was also issued to the DeFontes Broadcasting Company which operated on Channel 13. Now it uses Channel 11. The three local commercial television stations in Bermuda shown below are all commercial - there are no public broadcasting stations of either the American or British licensed types. Reception is island wide and no special cabling or high antennae are necessary to get good reception island wide. ZFB TV, now Channel 7 (Channel 2 on cable) is owned and operated by the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited, the Bermuda affiliate of the ABC network in the USA. ZBM TV, Channel 9 (Channel 3 on cable), also owned and operated by the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited, is the Bermuda affiliate of the CBS network in the USA. For further information contact the Bermuda Broadcasting Company Limited at ZBM and ZFB Radio and Television Stations, Fort Hill Road, Devonshire, Bermuda. P. O. Box HM 452, Hamilton HM BX, Bermuda. Telephone (441) 295-2828. Fax (441) 295-4282. Or email zbm-@ibl.bm [truncated] VSB TV, Channel 11 (Channel 4 on cable), is operated by DeFontes Broadcasting Television Limited, a subsidiary of DeFontes Broadcasting Company Ltd. It is the Bermuda affiliate of the NBC network in the USA. For further information, contact Defontes Broadcasting Company Limited, 94 Reid Street, Hamilton, Bermuda. Telephone (441) 295-1450. Fax (441) 295-1658. Or email vsbn-@ibl.bm [truncated] There may a fourth channel in 2002, from freelance audiovisual company Fresh Creations. There may be a "minimum local content" law in 2002. (via Bill Hepburn, WTFDA via DXLD) Wonder why all the channel changes in this remote area? Interference from the mainland? That would explain not using the low band, for sure (gh, DXLD) ** BHUTAN. Sundays at 1100-1130 UT there is a very good programme in English on Internet using -"Internet on the Radio" from the house of Bhutan Broadcasting Service in 6035 kHz. This is an excellent programme and the best I ever heard over radio featuring Information Technology. Check it and learn many things about Internet. And BBS also got a homepage at http://www.bbs.com.bt (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. Christopher Lewis in England reported on the history of broadcasting in Bulgaria. The first Bulgarian radio broadcast took place in December of 1921, with the original Radio Sofia. Regular transmissions of the first program of Bulgarian National Radio began from Sofia in 1930. External broadcasts began in 1933. A new transmitter was inaugurated in 1934, and there was a special program with opera stars, journalists, artists and scientists, among others. State-run broadcasting in Bulgaria began in 1935, when a new law mandated that the government would build transmitters and control all broadcasting. Foreign-language broadcasts for listeners abroad began in 1936. In 1944, part of the Bulgarian National Radio headquarters was destroyed by bombings, so they moved to makeshift studios and kept broadcasting. The Second Program began in 1945. They have had four home services since 1974. The world service, Radio Bulgaria, broadcasts in 10 languages. Their postal address: Radio Bulgaria, Sofia, Bulgaria. [this info based on] The Bulgarian National Radio: http://www.nationalradio.bg/english/frameset.htm#about_.htm#bulgaria (HCJB DX Partyline Aug 24, notes by Marie Lamb for Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BURUNDI. RADIO STATION'S SIGNAL JAMMED, INTERNET CENSORED: PRESS FREEDOM INCREASINGLY THREATENED Date: 2002-08-30 Country: BURUNDI Source: RSF http://www.ifex.org (RSF/IFEX) - RSF is concerned about the deteriorating press freedom situation in Burundi. "The authorities have taken several steps in the past month that seriously threaten independent media. The government has even started to closely monitor the Internet. Such measures are increasingly beginning to resemble harassment," stated RSF Secretary- General Robert Ménard. "Burundi's radio stations are undoubtedly the most dynamic and professional in the region. Their disappearance or weakening would represent a clear step backwards for the country. We trust that the authorities are conscious of this and will not take steps that could seriously threaten these radio stations," the secretary-general added. On 28 August 2002, the private station Radio publique africaine (RPA) announced the suspension of all its programming to protest the authorities' jamming of its signal. According to the radio station, the Telecommunications Regulation Agency (Agence de régulation et de contrôle des télécommunications, ARCT), which is under the Defence Ministry, has been jamming RPA programmes, notably its news reports. The ARCT's director admitted that this measure was taken, "in order to encourage the [station] owners to pay their licencing fees." Several radio stations, including the national station, have not paid their annual operating licence fees. The RPA director said "the payment is being used as an excuse." "All the radio stations owe the agency money but only RPA is being jammed," he noted. The amount requested - US$5,000 a year for private commercial radio stations - is widely viewed as excessive within the profession. Two days earlier, the National Communications Council (Conseil national de la communication, CNC) barred Burundian media organisations' websites from posting "documents or other press releases from political organisations that incite towards hatred and violence." This measure particularly targets the Net Press agency's Rugamba website, which posts opposition movements' press releases. The CNC threatened to close the Net Press agency unless the Rugamba website ceased "posting all documents or declarations (...) that threaten peace and public security." Moreover, on 30 July, the CNC banned the publication of the bi-monthly "Panafrika" following the "publication of an extremist and subversive issue." Issue 57 of the magazine featured an interview with the former minister of energy and mines, Mathias Hitimana, who was recently dismissed by the head of state. Entitled "Buyoya Wants To Bury Us Alive", the interview included harsh criticisms of the president's "arbitrary and dictatorial methods." The Burundian Journalists' Association (Association burundaise des journalistes, ABJ) denounced the ban on the magazine while remarking that jurisdiction for the suspension of a publication usually falls under the Communications Ministry rather than the CNC. Finally, on 22 July, the government banned the publication or broadcast of news about soldiers killed by rebels. The army's spokesperson stated that "this news can only assist the rebels." The home affairs minister added that journalists had to "make a choice between the rebels or the government and the army." More Information For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51, e-mail: afrique@rsf.fr, Internet: http://www.rsf.fr (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ``jamming``, in exactly what way? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. 6030, CFVP had been off for a few weeks so I called them. They didn't realize they had been off as they hadn't been out to the transmitter site in a while. Heard them again since Aug 23 (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 23-8, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. From globeandmail.com, Thursday, August 29, 2002 SPORTS RADIO NETWORK FAILED TO MAKE MOVES NECESSARY FOR SUCCESS [by] WILLIAM HOUSTON Instead of the fiasco it turned out to be, CHUM Radio's national sports network could have been a success if the company had made moves that seemed obvious to many in the business. On Tuesday, CHUM killed the 15-month-old network called The Team, when the Toronto station plus four others were reformatted with old rock and roll music. CHUM's biggest mistake was not so much that it bought into the idea of a national sports network, but that it was marred by inept decision- making, bad spending and weak hirings. After one year during which the sports network attracted virtually no audience and produced a small amount of revenue, it turned to Nelson Millman, the program director of The FAN 590 in Toronto. Millman had helped make The Fan a success after a shaky start by the all-sports format in 1992. In the spring of this year, The Fan was beating CHUM's Toronto sports station 5 to 1 in audiences. Millman said no to the job of turning around CHUM's network. Around that time, the company decided to shut it down. In the days and weeks that followed, when national afternoon-drive host Jim Van Horne pounded his desk and demanded to know why a co-host had not been hired for his show, when employees wondered about the future, when at least one staff member asked if the company was committed to sports and was told yes, CHUM had already made its decision to kill the operation. Not only are employees furious, but also advertisers. "These companies bought ad time at CHUM thinking they were marketing their products to a young male audience," a source said. "They weren't figuring on CHUM switching to an audience of senior citizens grooving to the Diamonds." Why did the sports network fail? CHUM spent big dollars on talent such as Van Horne, an excellent television announcer whose soft sell on radio didn't work. Radio sources say CHUM should have done everything possible to recruit The Fan's Bob McCown, the most successful sports host in the business. McCown is making about $300,000 a year and is locked into a multiyear deal, but, as one radio source said, radio contracts are easily broken. "You offer him $500,000 a year, or more," a source said. "If he accepted, The Fan would have made him sit for a while, but six months later he'd be back on the air and producing an audience for CHUM." The second mistake was CHUM's failure to bring TSN on board as a broadcasting partner. TSN has a talent-sharing agreement with The FAN, but the TV network knew a year ago that it would eventually end. Rogers Communications, which owns Rogers Sportsnet, had just bought The FAN and would at some point use Sportsnet people on the radio station instead of TSN talent. TSN seemed like a perfect fit for CHUM, but the deal was never done. The network failed to hire a single on-air personality to emerge as a star. Nor did CHUM finance a big-league promotional campaign to make its personalities known. Instead, money was thrown at marginal properties such as Formula One racing and PGA content, which did not move the ratings. Was the network concept flawed from the start? Some of the stations that were part of the network are still using the all-sports format, but with local and some U.S. syndicated content. So the answer at this point is inconclusive. The network is dead, but sports radio is alive and reasonably well in the relatively new markets of Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton, as well as in Ottawa, where Team 1200 has been in operation for four years. More later on the sports markets outside Toronto. Soccer v. baseball If you're looking for an example of why The Score highlights channel ended its television agreement with Major League Baseball prematurely, consider its ratings from last Sunday in prime time. The Score aired an attractive National League match-up -- the Atlanta Braves, first in the East, against wild-card contender Los Angeles Dodgers. The game drew 44,000 viewers. In the same time slot, Sportsnet carried the FIFA under-19 women's world soccer championship quarter-final game between Japan and Germany. It was hardly a marquee event, yet it outdrew baseball with an audience of 55,000. Given its abysmal ratings, baseball will have a tough time finding a network to pick up its major-league package for next season. Regular- season games are virtually worthless in the Canadian market and the games that do mean something -- the All-Star Game and World Series -- are available in Canada anyway on American television. Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 3350, Radio Exterior de España via Cariari de Pococí. Two full data PPC's, signed and stamped (one in English, other in Spanish) plus verie/information letter, with two postcards and large brochure showing the schedule and transmitter site in 48 days for a tape report. V/s thanked for the tape which shows just how well their log periodic antennas are working. v/s Carlos H. Jiménez U., Techanical Chief (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Cumbre DX via DXLD) So did this verify from Madrid or direct? I wonder why people don`t give the address used, in their QSL reports (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. R. Quito`s ``Cartas a los ecuatorianos ausentes`` program became a regular 6 years ago after an intermittent run; includes good editorials by the presenter, aimed at Ecuadorians abroad and the issues interesting them. Day in and day out at 0430-0500, 1000-1030 UT on 49[19]. Also includes folk music, discussions of issues of the day. Signal averages 7.5 [kW]. SW is not commercially viable but useful for the station`s and country`s image. Remote jungle and coastal areas of Ecuador depend on it for news. Does not have new QSL, but still using up old ones, 40,000 printed 50 years ago. Address: R. Quito, P O Box 17-21-1971, Quito. Xavier himself replies to E-mail reports to radioquito@elcomercio.com AM is 760 kHz; is acquiring two FM stations (Xavier Almeida, as interviewed on HCJB DXPL Aug 24, gh relistening to ondemand audio http://www.hcjb.org/english/audio/dxpl/dxpl0824.rm -- for some reason they don`t fix it to stream, just download. ``Day in and day out,`` I suppose, means Cartas... is on more than once a week, but is it weekdays, or 7 days? -- DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING IN GERMANY: A SURVEY BY DR HANSJOERG BIENER Editor`s Note: Our newsletter`s status is enhanced by this feature by Dr. Hansjoerg Biener of Germany, whose expertise in religious broadcasting worldwide can be seen in his monthly journal Medien Aktuell: Kirche in Rundfunk (Media Today: The Church in Radio). He also maintains a website at http://www.asamnet.de/~bienerhj/, in his native German. The impeccable English of this article is his, for Dr. Biener is multilingual. After studying Evangelical Protestant theology, he pastored in the communities in Nürnberg and Amberg, and served as expert advisor to the Regional Conference of Evangelical Lutheran Bishops. Since then, he has served as coordinator for the Standing Commission for Peace Education and is a member of the Faculty of Education of the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg. For seven years he has been interested in radio, particularly international religious radio, as a method of promoting peace and brotherhood. You may correspond with him at the e-mail address below. My great appreciation to Dr. Biener for generously giving us this article. 1 Germany`s dual broadcasting system Based on the negative experience of state monopoly and propaganda broadcasting, after the Second World War broadcasting in West Germany was organised as public broadcasting largely following the example of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The pre-Nazi system which had a number of regional broadcasters serving only parts of Germany was re- instated in the Western zones. This means that most of the German federal states got their own broadcasting systems, similar in their allegiance to public broadcasting, but dissimilar in actual structures. Editorial independence was a goal of high priority. The establishment of a broadcasting fee was to ensure financial independence from government grants or private interest. Control mechanisms ensured the representation of (what we nowadays call) civil society. This includes a wide range of groups and interests, like women`s organisations, workers` movements and employers` organisations, majority religions, and many more. Starting in the 1980s private broadcasting was introduced, but, as required by the federal states` constitutions, under public umbrellas which still ensure that the whole of the society would benefit from the programming and no particular group would be discriminated against. Broadly speaking, broadcasting in Germany now follows a dual system of public broadcasting and private broadcasting overseen by public bodies. The actual landscape differs between the 16 German federal states, but balance of power both within the stations (editorial independence etc.) as well as balance in audience shares is still a remarkable feature in Germany`s broadcasting scene. Generally, there is a public broadcasting station providing several channels to the state concerned. In some states these channels face the competition of state wide private broadcasters, in other the public channels are challenged by a number of local or regional private stations. Some states have a mixture of both state wide and local private broadcasting. Looking at the presence of religious themes or the participation of Churches and religious groups in German broadcasting, one has to distinguish between public and private broadcasting as well as between the different states. To make things easier to understand, the following remarks apply to Bavaria (Southern Germany). 2 The broadcasting scene in Bavaria On the public broadcasting side, Bayerischer Rundfunk provides five main channels plus some additional programming e.g. at least 3 h daily for the immigrant communities. Besides, nation-wide DeutschlandRadio, a network set up by special agreement of all the German federal states, provides two additional channels to Bavarian listeners. On the private broadcasting side, there is a state wide broadcaster and a large number of private local and regional stations. State wide Antenne Bayern went on the air in 1988 as a 24 hours entertainment channel and now produces two programmes (Antenne Bayern state wide FM coverage, Rock Antenne state wide cable, digital audio broadcasting, one FM frequency). More recently, it got involved in the production of Megaradio which wants to establish a nation wide AM youth programme looking forward to the enormous potential of digital medium wave broadcasting. Private local and regional stations are a third factor in the broadcasting scene. Much of the programming is produced locally, but many stations use material from an umbrella programme (news, night time broadcasts). As to the details of ownership, programming and networking the situation changes from location to location. While some ownership is really held by local companies there are also companies that hold stakes in several markets. Some owners of local stations have also established a financial interest in a youth oriented cable, satellite and DAB station Radio Galaxy which has some regional FM outlets. Looking at recent audience figures in 2002, the mass networks of Bayerischer Rundfunk, Bayern-1 and -3, get 24.9 and 14.9 per cent of the audience while state wide private station Antenne Bayern has 23.5 per cent and the local private broadcasters have 23.1 per cent combined. 3 The presence of religious programming at the example of Bavaria At Bayerischer Rundfunk, the responsibility for explicitly religious content in the form of daily devotions and weekly services/meditations is mainly shared between the Roman-Catholic and the Lutheran Churches, to which the majority of the Bavarian population officially belongs. While the Lutheran devotions also include authors from the minority Reformed Church, there are independent time slots for six minority groups (e.g. Adventists, Methodist, Christian Science, Free Thinkers). There is also weekly Jewish programming. Muslim devotions are included in the foreign language programmes, because the Muslim population largely consists of Turkish and Bosnian immigrants. At DeutschlandRadio, religious broadcasting is along the same lines, with many more religions contributing to the daily devotionals included in one of the channels. Beside the explicitly religious programming, all the public networks have regular reporting about religious affairs in general which is independent from any official influence of a religious body. Christian churches and congregations have been involved with private local broadcasting right from the beginning in 1984. Obviously, participation of the mainline Protestant and Roman-Catholic churches varies from station to station. Although private stations would not broadcast services, some stations do carry daily devotionals and reserve some time on Sunday mornings for topics associated with religion, societal questions and ethics. Some of this is organised locally, as I have been involved with in several regions. Some of the content is provided by radio production agencies established by the Lutheran and the Roman-Catholic churches. These also take care of religious content on state wide Antenne Bayern. The ``Evangelische Funk-Agentur`` (Protestant broadcasting agency) is involved with broadcasting on Antenne Bayern and some 25 local private stations throughout Bavaria. With seven Roman-Catholic dioceses in Bavaria, the Catholic broadcasting scene varies from region to region. For example, in the area of the archdiocesan München / Freising catholic radio work is carried out by St. Michaelsbund. They take care of the catholic contribution to Antenne Bayern as well as seven private local stations. All in all, there is quite close co-operation between the mainline Christian churches in broadcasting. Mainline church activities are far from having a monopoly on religion. Beside secular agencies, e.g. Radio M and Evangeliums-Rundfunk (an evangelical 24 h broadcaster affiliated with US-Trans World Radio) also offer programming to the private stations Information on each an every station can be obtained at http://www.blm.de/hoerfunk/sender/index.htm. Evangeliums-Rundfunk went on the air in 1961 on Radio Monte Carlo using international short wave and later also medium wave broadcasting to reach a German speaking audience in Central and Eastern Europe. Since 1985 ERF has been able to place programmes on local stations, in 1995 it acquired its own licence for a large medium wave transmitter in Germany. ERF currently produces two 24 h satellite programmes as well as tv and radio broadcasts placed on different private stations. Web site: http://www.erf.de In some regions mainline churches have taken a minority stake in the consortium owning the local radio station, while in other areas religious groups and independent churches have acquired regular licences for weekly broadcasting. In Nuremberg, there are four local licensees: Hit Radio Camillo 92.9 broadcasting six hours weekly, Radio AREF with two hours on Sundays and Christian Holidays, Meilensteine (Pentecostal) providing six hours weekly on separate channels and pray 92,9 (Seventh Day Adventist) providing one hour on Sundays and Holidays. All these programmes are heard on a 50 km radius on FM. According to 2002 audience figures Hit Radio N1, the station normally occupying the channel, takes 13,1 per cent of the local audience and thus is market leader. It should be mentioned that the local Roman- Catholic and Lutheran churches have traditionally shared in a Sunday morning programme on a different local station. In Munich there is an independent Catholic broadcaster. Radio Horeb, a 24 hour satellite and cable programme operating from Balderschwang, has at least 26 hours of FM time weekly sharing the frequency with a commercial producer. Radio Horeb is the German branch of the international family of Radio Maria. According to recent numbers the international network has pumped about 2 Million Euro into the operation which is seen as strategic for future expansion, because it is expected that donations from Horeb listeners might pay off the investment some time in the future. 4 Conclusion From a US perspective accustomed to the dominance of private broadcasting and religious free enterprise building private stations as they wish and buying airtime as they wish, the broadcasting scene of Germany is very often misunderstood. At times US religious groups even capitalise on the claim that there is no freedom of the air in Germany. As the debate on the feared invasion of the ``electronic church`` showed, many would not appreciate the influence of US style religion. Considering the unique structure of German broadcasting, it is wrong to speak of state broadcasting. It is not. Nor is it right to say that the Gospel is not present in German broadcasting. Compared to the narrowcasting system of the US with its highly fragmentised audiences one could even argue that Christianity is present in most radio segments. Actually, non-religious critics argue that no single group of the society has as much airtime to fill as the mainline Protestant and Roman-Catholic churches. Dr Hansjoerg Biener - Neulichtenhofstr. 7 - DE-90461 Nuernberg http://www.asamnet.de/~bienerhj Hansjoerg.Biener@asamnet.de (Catholic Radio Update Sept 2 via DXLD) [unfulfilled footnote numbers removed] ** INDONESIA. Both 2899, RDP Ngada and 2960, RPD Manggarai have been heard during the 1200 hour twice this week, Aug 27-28, with fair signals and // to other RRI outlets. 3438v UNID sounds like an Indo. 1240 Aug 29 only (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) {Apparently same stations are identified differently in 2-137 FLORES} ** INDONESIA. MEDIA BILL WILL PUT 'SPY' IN JAKARTA TV AND RADIO STATIONS An official inspector would be placed in broadcast companies, a requirement which operators say will curtail press freedom By Devi Asmarani, STRAITS TIMES INDONESIA BUREAU JAKARTA - A Bill that involves placing a government 'spy' in broadcasting agencies here is likely to be passed next month by parliament to regulate the electronic media. The Bill has been deliberated in the House for the past two years to regulate the rapidly growing broadcasting industry but is being opposed widely by operators of television and radio stations. They say the Bill will curtail press freedom and retard the industry's growth. Under the Bill the government will issue a 'frequency licence' to broadcast to radio and television stations. An independent regulatory body, the Indonesian Broadcast Commission, will recommend the stations to the government as well as set a code of conduct for electronic media and impose sanctions. Coordinator of the Indonesian Society of Press and Broadcasting (MPPI) Leo Batubara told The Straits Times: 'The Bill gives back the legal authority to the government, instead of the independent body, to decide on which broadcasting company will get licences. It also allows the government to interfere in the daily running of the broadcasting business. 'This is certainly not what we had in mind when we proposed the draft Bill to parliament - this is a return to the old paradigm that the government controls the press.' The MPPI proposed the first draft of the Bill to parliament three years ago to replace the 1997 broadcasting law, which it claimed to be repressive. The draft Bill was debated in parliament and over time its content has been altered drastically as the lawmakers thought too much freedom had encouraged irresponsible and provocative press. The MPPI said that at least a third of the 63 articles in the Bill carried the threat of imprisonment or fines if radio or television operators were found to have broken the law. One of the contentious articles requires all TV films and advertisements to undergo censorship by the government. Currently, only TV films are censored by the government, but TV operators had called for an end to all sorts of government censorship, arguing it should be done by the respective TV stations instead. The Bill also says that a 'government official inspector' would be placed in each broadcasting company. 'This is like having a government spy in our station,' said an executive in a private TV station. Established private television with nationwide reach such as the RCTI and SCTV, will also be forced to undergo major restructuring as the Bill requires all national TV stations to become local stations. This means the country's 10 private national TV stations have to set up a separate company with local partners and broadcast localised content in each of the regions. Parliament has argued that such a move would prevent the 'monopoly of information'. The Bill also limits media cross-ownership and requires electronic media to renew frequency distribution licences after 10 years of operations. Several media group such as Kompas Gramedia and Media Indonesia operate both print and broadcasting media organisations. 'What we fear is that under this system, the government can deny or lift the frequency licence of some company under the pretext that it broke some law, if its coverage is too critical,' said Mr Leo. Several publications were banned for their critical coverage during the 32 years of President Suharto. His fall in 1998 opened the door to the current press freedom (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. LITHUANIA, 9710, Radio Avaye Ashena's address is Schwarzacker Strasse 2, Leipzig, D-04299, Germany. (Some classify this as a clandestine simply because it is to Iran and brokered. We'll hold off on this until we have someone who understands the programming report on what their program content is. Their website seems to be focuses on Iranian singers.) (Hans Johnson, Aug 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. CLANDESTINE, 9775, Radio Dat, 1500 Aug 28 opposing Kazakhstan's [sic], comments on the part of a speaker, low signal without interference, brief musical notes, close at 1557, 25222 (Hugo López, Chile, Cumbre DX via DXLD) The group behind this is based in Brussels, Belgium, and is known as Société Pour la Democratie en Asie. They can be reached at Rue Jourdan 95, Brussels, Belgium 1060 (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Survey of their domestic outlets at 1230: KCBS 2350 untraced, 2850 strong, 3220 untraced, 3350 freq covered by buzzing, 3959.7 fair // 2850. 3970, 6100, and 9665 all untraced. 11679.6 fair // 2850. PBS 3249.5 weak, 3320 stronger, 6250 ute here but seems off, 6398.7 strongest of these (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 15245.18, V. of Korea 1416-1428 Aug 28. Commentary in French by male announcer; typical vocal selection at 1426. Fair signal, // 11710.06, which was quite good. Both frequencies into EG at 1500; by then, the 19-meter frequency had drifted down to 15245.05 kHz (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LAOS. 4665.3, Xam Nua latest spot for this one, // to 6130 at 1224 Aug 28, and 1230*. (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 5100.00 R. Liberia Int`l 2213 Aug 25, het first heard at 2130 and finally audio appeared at 2214 with female singer. Very weak but no RTTY QRM heard. First time heard here in months. Most times even with noise floor and difficult to copy. Male announcer in English at 2230 with possible news items. Back to music at 2231. Better copy at this time. Non-English tunes. S7 level at 2240 with fades. Male announcer at 2245 with announcements and ID 25 Aug 02 (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. BACKGROUNDER: RADIO VERITAS LIBERIA RETURN TO SHORTWAVE -- - A LONG TIME COMING Monrovia, Aug 27 (CRU)— The report from Nicolás Eramo of the distinguished shortwave bulletin, Conexión-Digital of Buenos Area, is welcome news: the station has been a long time coming. For years now, ELCM Radio Veritas has been trying to return to shortwave radio, but its petitions were constantly denied by the administration of President Charles Taylor. The reason he gave in every instance was that ELCM fomented civil war in the nation because it called for peace and reported the news objectively. The West African country, founded by former African slaves in the United States, has been torn by internal turmoil and brutal civil war since 1980. Although the country has not quite 3 million people, it has lost well over 150,000 in the endless battles. This past winter, civil war broke out anew and the rebels began advancing towards Monrovia, where they were eventually halted. President Taylor had promised the Archbishop of Monrovia that he would restore the shortwave license to the station. Taylor made that surprise announcement in a talk to the Liberian National Bar Association meeting in late January in Monrovia (see Catholic Radio Update #161, February 11, 2002). President Taylor, a former warlord elected president in 1997, has been criticized by human rights institutions and other organizations for his heavy handedness in brooking no political or social opposition and criticism. National elections are to be held last year, and President Taylor has assured international human rights groups that these will be free and fair. Radio Veritas in particular has attracted international attention because of its fearless poise in front of the Taylor dictatorship. The station has been repeatedly harassed. ELCM Radio Veritas in fact was destroyed at least twice in the endless civil war, and at one point, after having been rebuilt a second time, operated from the safety of the French Embassy grounds. A furious Taylor administration ordered the station to return to Liberian soil, but the Archbishop replied that he had constructed the station twice and had no intention of doing so a third time, and that if the Liberian officials wanted the station back on Liberian soil, they had to guarantee the safety of the station and its personnel. The station was granted its FM license some years ago, but the shortwave license that would give it national coverage was withheld until this spring (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Sept 2 via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. KING CONSENTS TO END STATE MONOPOLY OVER BROADCASTING | Excerpt from report by Moroccan radio on 29 August His Majesty King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, chaired a working session devoted to the broadcasting sector. His majesty began the session by recalling the huge interest he takes in liberalizing the broadcasting sector and enabling it to play its part fully in building the project for a democratic and modern society spearheaded by his majesty, meeting the challenges of globalization and competition, providing guarantees for a pluralistic and free media and drawing up the procedural rules necessary for exercising this right. After stressing that the aim of this session is to examine the results achieved in reforming this sector, his majesty asked his adviser to present a report on the subject upon which Mohamed Moutassim pointed out that the government had urged his majesty to create an independent body which would be in charge of regulating and organizing the broadcasting sector once the state ended its monopoly over this sector. He also said that his majesty had responded favourably to this request... Afterwards, his majesty allowed the prime minister to speak and the latter expressed, in is own name and on behalf of the government, his deepest gratitude for this positive response from his majesty whose permission he asked in order to submit a draft decree which would end the state monopoly over this sector. His majesty gave his consent to this request and issued his instructions to refer a draft decree on this matter to the two specialized parliamentary committees... Source: Kingdom of Morocco Radio, Rabat, in Arabic 1600 gmt 29 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MOZAMBIQUE. MAPUTO RADIO SERVICE DISRUPTED DUE TO THEFT OF EQUIPMENT | Text of report by Radio Mozambique on 29 August Short wave equipment used for the transmission of the Maputo provincial service was stolen from Radio Mozambique's transmitter site in the city of Matola [near Maputo] last night. This prevented the transmission of the service's medium wave programming last night and this morning. [sentence as heard] Luis Loforte, Radio Mozambique's chief engineer, said that the security services had been informed of the theft. [Loforte] At dawn today, all the pylons holding the transmission lines and short wave antennas were stolen. It is no longer a question of copper wiring that is [being] stolen. The copper wiring, transmission lines and insulators that we had at the Matola transmitter site have all been stolen. Last night they stole the pylons holding transmission lines for the short wave service. [Announcer] Nataniel Macamo, a spokesman for the police headquarters, said that the force had been informed of the situation and was investigating the matter. Source: Radio Mozambique Antena Nacional, Maputo, in Portuguese 1700 gmt 29 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Again! ** NAMIBIA. NEW BROADCAST TIME FOR NBC LOCAL LANGUAGE NEWS | Text of report by Namibian newspaper The Namibian web site on 29 August Hot on the heels of President Sam Nujoma assuming responsibility for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) last night started broadcasting its indigenous news bulletins immediately after the main English language bulletin at 2000 [1900 gmt]. Prior to last night, local language news was broadcast at 2200. The decision was announced after a meeting between the Board and the NBC management yesterday. It comes on the same day that President Sam Nujoma assumed responsibility for the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. "The indigenous language bulletins will be broadcast after the eight o'clock bulletin as of tonight (yesterday)," confirmed NBC spokesperson Umbi Karuaihe-Upi. Asked about the financial implications of the hasty decision, Karuaihe-Upi said: "Everything has been taken into consideration." A proponent of the local language news broadcasts, NBC Board Chairperson Uazuva Kaumbi, said the indigenous bulletins were originally broadcast as a "test run". The local language bulletins were introduced in December 2000. Among the languages in which the news is currently broadcast are Oshindonga, Silozi, Herero, Rukwangari, Setswana and Nama/Damara. Source: The Namibian web site, Windhoek, in English 29 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Last week I reported on R. Nepal in 49-meter band in the evening (from 1030 to 1714 UT) - Mr. G. Victor A. Goonetilleke from Sri Lanka & Mr. Harjot S. Brar from Chandigarh, India confirmed that the frequency is 6100 kHz (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. [continued from TANNU TUVA] At 2313 Aug 30 the interval signal of Radio Nepal was heard on 6100.0 kHz, parallel to 5005. Weak and better on lower sideband to avoid het from the Russian station, but then suffering splash from strong RFE/RL via Kavalla on 6095. Opening announcements in Nepali at 2315 and local songs etc. Much better on 5005 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Entirely too many stations on 6100! (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Following up previous report about KTTL 105.7 Alva missing: it was back on by Tuesday Aug 27 in time for a stupid local ballgame (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. See SWEDEN [non] ** SOUTH AFRICA. RADIO VERITAS BEGINS 5th MONTH, ADDS DAILY HOUR Troyeville, Aug 26 (Acuarela Eclesial) -- It`s been a long road for Radio Veritas of South Africa to arrive on shortwave for the 3.5 million Catholics of South Africa. But it was launched on May 1st. The nighttime signal covers the entire national territory as well as parts of Namibia, Botswana, and Mozambique. In Namibia, the signal reaches Windhoek, the capital; in Zimbabwe as far as Harare; and in East Africa, as far north as Beira in Mozambique. Unfortunately, the signal weakens in Capetown during the day. Radio Veritas was created by the Conference of Bishops of South Africa in 1998. The mission of Radio Veritas is to inform and inspire socially and spiritually the people who assume the responsibility of personal and national development in accord with the values of the Gospel. Important contributions come from (among others) the Parliamentary Office of the Church, Catholic University, and the Lumko Pastoral Institute. Radio Veritas has access to the programs of Radio Vaticano and rights to rebroadcast the radio and television programs of EWTN. From noon until 1 p.m. in the afternoon, Radio Veritas is heard on the 41-meter band on 7240 kHz, and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the 90-meter band on 3280 kHz. The times are local [UT+2]. For more information, visit the new website http://www.radioveritas.co.za. E-mail may be sent to info@radioveritas.co.za. Database Johannesburg: Radio Veritas on Meyerton shortwave transmitters: 7240 kHz from noon until 1 p.m., and 3280 kHz from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., local time. Bishops Conference of South Africa. Director Fr. Emil Blaser, O.P., Radio Veritas Productions, 36 Beelaerts St., 2139 Troyeville, South Africa. Tel.: +27 (11) 624-2516 or 624-2517; fax 614-7711. E- mail: info@radioveritas.co.za. Website: http://www.radioveritas.co.za Language: English (Michael Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Sept 2 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. See COSTA RICA ** SRI LANKA. SLBC very rare, but got audio on what seems to be two of their outlets during the 1200 hour twice this week, Aug 27-28. 4870 and 4902 (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. Subject : R Sweden on 6095 Dear friends, SWEDEN/POLONIA The participants at the HFCC Frequency Planning in Bangkok have also studied DX-Window no. 202 issued Aug 28. Erik Køie from the Danish delegation reports to me that Magnus Wiberg, TERACOM, from the Swedish delegation confirms that R Sweden in Horby just has three SW transmitters and that R Sweden does not have any relays from abroad. But now I think the Swedish delegation owE the Polish delegation some Carlsberg Beers (which are available in Bangkok), as I found out the following today (Sat Aug 31): 6095: No signal at 1520, but R Sweden was heard in Swedish on 6065 as scheduled. At 1545 a station signed on with an empty carrier on 6095 (which later appeared to be the Warsaw transmitter installed in 1969) and "Dagens Eko" was heard clearly in Swedish from R Sweden with SINPO 35444 in parallel to R Sweden, Hörby on 6065 (55555), 13580 (35434) and 17485 (35444) and the domestic service on 1178 MW also from Hörby (55555). Their main story was about the captured Swedish Arab who was a potential hijacker that might have intended to cause an airplane crash on a U.S. Embassy in Europe by the Ryan Air airplane, he tried to enter with a pistol a couple of days ago at Vesteraas airport, Sweden. If 6095 is a spurious signal from R Sweden, Hörby 6065 (+30 kHz), I tried 6065 - 30 kHz, i.e. 6035 where I found R. Polonia, Warsaw with their badly modulated transmitter broadcasting a programme in Polish at 1555-1625* with 44444. A very weak signal from R Sweden was heard underneath! At *1559 Modulation came on, but poorly modulated, on the Warsaw transmitter on 6095 and after the Interval signal, R. Polonia did broadcast a programme in Slovak until 1625* when the transmitter signed off. After 1600 R Sweden was still heard here underneath with a very weak signal, first in Swedish and later on in Latvian // 6065. At 1625 R Sweden disappeared together with R. Polonia on both 6035 and 6095 whereas 6065 continued their programme in Latvian until 1630 when it was succeeded by a programme in Estonian, as scheduled. My conclusion is that this mixing product is caused by the two unstable transmitters near Warsaw which happens at 1545-1625 to transmit their two programmes on 6065 kHz plus and minus 30 kHz. The programme on the strong transmitter on 6065 is therefore unintentionally broadcast also on 6035 and 6095, but covered while R Polonia broadcasts its own badly modulated programmes (Anker Petersen, Denmark, Aug 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? I am still confused, after reading through this several times. The Polish transmitters may well be mixing and putting out spurs, but how does this account for R. Sweden audio also being heard on an unlisted frequency?? Perhaps some further investigation is required, since R. Sweden *does* use foreign relays (at other times), e.g. Canada; and Poland is about to start using foreign relays. Perhaps some kind of interchange/test between the two countries is happening (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. CLANDESTINE from TAIWAN to CHINA. 8300, New Star BC Station, 1401-1410+ Aug 28 with usual nice opening of traditional Chinese music; then usual YL numbers. Good signal; also noted on 9725, 11430, and 15388, all fair/poor. Frequencies either not in // or in // but with significant lag times from each other - hard to tell (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TAJIKISTAN. Foreign service of R. Tajikistan noted on Aug 29, 1645- 1700 UT with English on 1161 kHz. WRTH-2002 lists 1143 and 648 as MW frequencies for their FS. No signal noted on 648. Fair signal. Anyone know if this is a recent change, or is the WRTH inaccurate? (From the world's northernmost DXer Bjarne Mjelde, Norway, DXing.info via DXLD) ** TANNU TUVA. What was thought to be the Russian station GTRK "Tuva" from Kyzyl, capital of the Tuva Republic (bordering NW Mongolia) was heard on 6100.5 kHz at 2300 UT on 30th August, carrying Radio Rossii news in Russian. Weak but clear enough to match Radio Rossii news against parallel 5290-Krasnoyarsk. At 2310 a different programme was carried to that on 5290 (presumably a local programme?). Heard whilst waiting to see if Nepal showed up again on 6100... [continued under NEPAL] (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. A new series of Brain of Britain will begin on BBC Radio 4, Monday, Sept. 2 at 1230 GMT. (1:30 PM BST) Repeat on Saturday at 2200 GMT. Live Real Audio and listen on demand. Presumably it will show up soon on World Service. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/brain.shtml (Joel Rubin, NY, swprograms via DXLD) Brain will show up on the World Service on Saturday, September 21st, 0305 UT (Richard Cuff, ibid.) ** U K. BBC WITHDRAWS 'HOMOPHOBIC' REGGAE TRACKS Tania Branigan, Thursday August 29 2002, The Guardian The BBC was forced to remove material from its websites yesterday after gay campaigners attacked it for promoting homophobic songs by reggae artists that appear to encourage violence. A webpage promoting the BBC2 series The History of Reggae included the track Log On by Elephant Man, which describes stamping on and setting fire to a gay man, while the Radio 1 DJ Chris Goldfinger included Bun di Chi Chi ("Burn the queer") in his top 10 on that station's site. The list also includes three Elephant Man tracks. "Log on and step pon chi chi man," run the lyrics to Log On. "Dance wi a dance and a bun [burn] out a freaky [gay] man ... Step pon him like a old cloth. A dance wi a dance and a crush out dem ... Do di walk mi see the light and di torch dem fass." OutRage, the gay human rights group, said it was appalled that a publicly funded broadcaster could distribute Log On. A spokesman said: "It is a clear incitement to homophobic violence and murder." A spokeswoman for Greensleeves, which released Log On in the UK, declined to comment. After details of the lyrics emerged, both sites removed information on the songs. Peter Tatchell, of OutRage, said: "It's great that the BBC has recognised that this was a mistake and I hope that other radio stations will follow suit by not promoting these bigoted records." A spokesman for the Jamaican gay rights campaigners J-Flag added: "There are a number of these dancehall songs with homophobic lyrics now circulating and from our point of view they perpetuate a culture of hatred and violence against sexual minorities here. These songs often slip below the radar." There is a high level of hate crime - including murder - against gay and lesbian people in Jamaica, which gay rights campaigners claim is tacitly accepted by the police. Several artists have argued that fire is a metaphor for cleansing and purity. Capleton has reportedly said: "Is not really a physical fire. Is really a spiritual fire, and a wordical fire, and a musical fire ... But is people get it on the wrong term. People get confused." J-Flag's spokesman dismissed the idea that the lyrics were merely symbolic. "When these artists say it's just a metaphor I'm not so sure the average Jamaican interprets it that way ... It's pretty obvious what the message is," he said. A spokesman for Radio 1 said: "Bun di Chi Chi has never been played on Radio 1 and its appearance in the listings on Chris Goldfinger's website was a mistake. We are grateful to the Guardian for bringing it to our attention. "The Elephant Man songs in the Top 10 are not contentious. Log On has been played on 1Xtra [the digital station] but it was a radio edit which removed the contentious lyrics." A spokeswoman for Radio 2, which was responsible for the History of Reggae site, said: "We briefly made this song available on the website, but once we were aware of the nature of the lyrical content we removed it." Last year Radio 1 was criticised for playing the dancehall song Chi Chi Man, which similarly called for gay people to be burned. The station's head of specialist music defended its decision on the grounds that the track had "almost become an unofficial anthem for some people in Jamaica". Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K. BBC CLUB AIMS TO UNITE READERS ACROSS THE GLOBE World Service literary initiative likely to dwarf previous group efforts - and bump up sales of selected novels By Louise Jury Media Correspondent, 15 August 2002 Can this forum forge a neighbourhood across six continents? The World's biggest book club was launched by the American writer and broadcaster Garrison Keillor at the Edinburgh International Book Festival yesterday. The BBC World Service chose the author's best-selling novel Lake Wobegon Days as the inaugural book for its reading group, which will unite millions of readers around the world in monthly discussions. The club, which may well dwarf previous efforts at mass reading led by Oprah Winfrey in the US and James Naughtie on Radio 4, has been trailed on the World Service. Its 150 million listeners were encouraged to read the chosen work and submit questions and comments, which formed part of yesterday's discussion – to be broadcast on 25 September. Keillor said he was delighted to be taking part. "I'm very fond of the BBC World Service. It's a pillar of civilisation," he said. "My wife, who suffers from insomnia, is a regular late-night listener. The World Service's recommendation of a book is sure to carry considerable weight with her. And that's why I'm thrilled to be part of the book club. It isn't easy to impress my wife." The new forum, part of the World Service's strand of arts programmes called Meridian, could prove lucrative to chosen authors. Although Oprah Winfrey recently wound up her television book club, saying it was difficult to find a worthwhile book to talk about every month, it was responsible for millions of sales at its peak. Publishers estimated that the insignia "Oprah's Book Club" on the cover would typically inflate tenfold sales of any book and her recommendations routinely became enormous hits. The effect has been similar to that generated by literary prizes; even well-reviewed books have languished on book store shelves until they won the Booker, the Orange or the Whitbread prize. Bel Canto, written by Ann Patchett, had sold only 3,000 copies before it was shortlisted for the Orange prize for women's fiction. But it has notched up an extra 26,000 sales since winning the award in June. After Keillor, the World Service has lined up Martin Amis to discuss Money, his novel of 1980s excess, with Arundhati Roy next in line to talk about The God of Small Things, her Booker prize-winning novel. The format of a discussion chaired by Harriett Gilbert in front of a live audience restricts the choices to works by living authors. In its initial run, the programme's producers have opted for the best-known or most significant books by the chosen authors. Keillor's Lake Wobegon Days is a humorous portrait of small-town American life in a mythical Minnesota town called Lake Wobegon. The book began life as part of Keillor's live Saturday afternoon variety show on public radio. A World Service spokeswoman said the station hoped each month's discussion programme would prove entertaining even to those who had not read the book. http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=324455 (via Tom McNiff, DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA'S REILLY QUITS AS DIRECTOR ASSOCIATED PRESS August 30, 2002 WASHINGTON – The director of Voice of America, a worldwide U.S. government broadcasting service, resigned yesterday and was succeeded by a veteran Time magazine correspondent. Robert Reilly said in a statement he wanted to seek other ways of directly helping President Bush in his war against terrorism. David Jackson, a Time magazine correspondent for 23 years, was appointed by the board of governors to replace him. The 60-year-old service, which broadcasts in English and 52 other languages, is governed by a charter that assures balanced news coverage. But VOA journalists frequently have come in conflict with various administrations. Last year, for instance, Reilly was instrumental in trying to spike an interview that VOA had done with Mullah Mohammed Omar, the head of the Taliban in Afghanistan. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the interviews with Omar should not be carried over U.S. government-owned facilities without considerable editing. It was broadcast balanced with comments by U.S. government spokesmen. In early August, Reilly announced five of the VOA's news bureaus would be closed to help pay for a special broadcast service in Farsi, the predominant language of Iran. The closings have not been revoked, but there have been appeals to not take the step. He was senior adviser for public diplomacy at the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland from 1985 to 1988, and from 1983 to 1985 he worked on foreign policy and national defense issues for President Reagan. He was director of private sector programs from 1981 to 1983 at the U.S. Information Agency, then the VOA's parent agency. Jackson, a reporter since 1974, retired from Time last year and became editor of the Pentagon's anti-terror Web site. "The board is delighted to have a journalist of Jackson's experience to lead VOA in a period when it must play an important role in presenting the truth about what is happening in the world," Kenneth Tomlinson, the board's chairman, said in a statement. Copyright 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. (via Tom McNiff, DXLD) ** U S A. HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS: NRC TO WEBCAST The National Radio Club will hold its annual convention the Saturday and Sunday prior to Labor Day. N-R-C is a group made up of Medium Wave D-X radio listeners with the club founded back in 1933. And in past years the club has set up a carrier current radio station in the hotel where its conventions are held. Normally you cannot hear the broadcast outside the hotel grounds, but this year could be different. This is because the carrier current station will be helped by a broadcast remote pick-up channel that will be used to send the audio across town to a server that will distribute it as a webcast. The frequency to be used belongs to WLIO television in Lima Ohio. Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, explains what will happen. -- W8HDU: "At the hotel we're going to place a small walkman radio connected to an old remote pickup unit. The transmitter is on 26.410 in narrowband FM, and it will relay back to WLIO's studios where the club will have its server encoding the data stream. The transmitter runs about 40 watts into a CB type antenna, and it IDs every 10 minutes with the call WPLP549. The ID won't be heard on the webcast as it's filtered out at the receiver." -- If you hear this broadcast, you can get a QSL by sending an accurate report to Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, in care of WLIO Television, 1424 Rice Avenue, Lima Ohio 45805 (NRC, W8HDU, ARRL? Via John Thunder Chicken, DX-398 Users yahoogroup via DXLD) I listened to the ``WNRC, Convention City`` webcast for a while Friday night. Playing some great oldies, and various DJ pseudonyms, live timechecks, professional jingles, commercials, some real, some put-on, but no actual convention activities, speeches heard. More of the same Saturday afternoon, also announced as on 1710 kHz and 100.1 MHz (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. AROUND THE DIAL LOCAL RADIO REMEMBERS THE ATTACKS IN WORDS AND MUSIC By STEVE CARNEY, Special to The Times, August 30 2002 [times herein are local PDT = UT minus 7] From a few minutes of silence to a week's worth of in-depth reports, local radio stations are offering listeners a broad spectrum of programming to commemorate the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "This day, more than any other, is a moment for reflection--not only on what we've lost and how we've changed, but where we're going," said National Public Radio's Neal Conan, who will co-anchor that network's coverage for the day. Starting at 5 a.m. on Sept. 11, NPR plans to supplement its lineup of news, analysis and call-in programs with live reports from ceremonies in New York City, at the Pentagon and at the Shanksville, Pa., crash site. In addition, Conan--who on weekdays is the host of NPR's midday call-in show "Talk of the Nation"--will host a four-hour program in which callers and guests can discuss the importance of public mourning, and remember what they had done a year earlier. Local public stations have much of their own special programming planned, as well, with KPCC-FM (89.3) featuring a week of in-depth reports, analyses and features. Starting Tuesday and running through Sept. 10, public radio stations nationwide will air the series "Understanding America After 9/11." In what they're billing as a groundbreaking collaboration, KPCC has joined to produce the series with 10 other public radio outlets around the country, including WNYC in New York, WAMU in Washington, D.C., KQED in San Francisco, WBUR in Boston and Minnesota Public Radio. In addition to the big-picture view of national remembrance, the series will include stories from communities and individuals. The series begins at 5 a.m. Tuesday with "American Muslims Organize," the story of Muslim leaders in Southern California helping members of their community become more politically active and media-savvy. They have felt besieged and had their patriotism questioned since Sept. 11. The program repeats at 5 p.m. Recounting Prejudice At 9 a.m., "A Portrait of Hedab" is the half-hour audio diary of Hedab El Tarifi, a Palestinian American in Los Angeles who sorts through the prejudice she and friends have faced in the past year, and the changing role of Muslims in U.S. society. At 9 p.m., an hourlong program titled "Defending the Future" will examine how America's military has changed since the terrorist attacks, with musings from a range of people including Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, fighter pilots' wives, a Navy doctor remembering the scene at the Pentagon fire, and green recruits anticipating combat. "Days of Infamy" at 9 p.m. Wednesday focuses on the two times Library of Congress field workers interviewed Americans about their reactions to surprise attacks: after Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11. Other programs in the days leading up to the anniversary--including a full schedule on Sept. 8--will examine the religious and moral questions raised by the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath, the views of a theologian and a business leader on how the nation and world have changed in the past year, the peace movement in post-Sept. 11 America, changing views of citizenship, as seen by diverse Californians, and the experiences of an L.A. bounty hunter who tracks down illegal aliens. The Sonic Memorial Project, a collaboration of NPR News and independent radio producers nationwide, will air remembrances, messages, poetry and music during NPR's afternoon newsmagazine "All Things Considered" on Sept. 9, 10 and 11. The show airs weekdays on KPCC at 3 p.m. and KCRW-FM (89.9) at 4 p.m. An hourlong special by the Sonic Memorial Project will also air Thursday at noon on KPCC, and Sept. 7, at 9 a.m. on KCRW. It will examine the little-known history of the World Trade Center, including stories about the Mohawk Indian steelworkers who built it, the "building stewardesses" who educated skeptical New Yorkers at the construction site as the huge towers went up, and of "Radio Row," the neighborhood of decades-old electronics stores displaced by the new buildings. KCRW and KPCC will both air a live call-in show at 10 a.m. on Sept. 7. "Living with Terror: The World Speaks a Year After 9/11" will allow callers from around the globe to discuss topics such as whether the war on terror can ever really be won, and how residents in Ireland and Israel have coped with terror. A companion show, "Living With Terror: America Speaks," at 10 a.m. the following day, will feature town-hall discussions from Los Angeles, Boston and Minneapolis-St. Paul on topics including whether heightened security measures undercut American freedoms, and why some people and governments elsewhere in the world hate the United States. On KCRW on Sept. 11, "Which Way L.A.?" and "To the Point" host Warren Olney will look at the national mood and how life has changed in Southern California. Even KCRW's music programs will join the commemoration, with Nic Harcourt on "Morning Becomes Eclectic" and Jason Bentley in the evening on "Metropolis" playing special music. Music stations are not leaving the memorials to the news and talk stations, by any means. Country station KZLA-FM (93.9) is slated to play versions of the national anthem at the top of each hour, and feature commentary by musicians and listeners alike, said Jimmy Steal, regional vice president for Emmis Communications, which owns KZLA. On its sister station KPWR-FM (105.9), morning host Big Boy will add his reflections to comments from listeners and hip-hop artists, Steal said. "The overall tone is positive, reflective," he said. Rather than revisit last year's horror, "give thanks we live in a society where we're free. The silver lining is, we live in the best country in the world." "It's really important that each station reflect the vibe of what their audience is feeling," no matter what the format, Steal said. All eight of the local stations owned by Clear Channel Communications -- ranging from Star 98.7 (KYSR-FM) to talk station KFI-AM (640) -- will air two minutes of silence at 8:45 a.m., followed by a four-minute program featuring an interview with President Bush, which will also be played on Clear Channel's 1,200 stations nationwide, according to company spokesman Bill Lewis. "Our whole emphasis is going to be looking forward, rather than a retrospective of what happened on 9/11," Lewis said, and will include specials from KFI reporter Laura Ingle from ground zero, and from KLAC-AM (570) morning man Gil Gross. Fewer Commercials KNX-AM (1070) will air the day's news stories, as it always does -- which on Sept. 11 will be heavy on memorials, speeches and other remembrances. "We're not changing the format of the station for the day," said KNX news director Ed Pyle, like blocking off huge segments of time for events such as the reading of the terror victims' names. But the station will have a bit more time to linger on presidential comments and other events. "We'll have a lighter commercial load than we usually do," Pyle said. "It hasn't been by our instigation. Some advertisers are shying away from the day." According to an Advertising Age magazine survey, 51% of consumers polled thought advertising would be inappropriate on Sept. 11, while only 34% thought it unnecessary for advertisers to back off. Pyle noted, however, that the fewer ads phenomenon seems more prevalent the farther east you go, closer to the scenes of the attacks. "It has to be a special day," said Jay Kernis, NPR's senior vice president for programming. "It has to be the right balance of information and reflection. "Radio may have an advantage on Sept. 11," he said. "People know what the pictures look like, and many people don't want to see the pictures again. This is providing an aural space where people can go remember if they want to remember, and connect with the rest of the country." Copyright 2002 Los Angeles Times (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11 TRAGEDY APPROACHES American Atheists Urges Secular Memorials Across The Nation! On September 11, 2001, Islamic militants launched the ultimate "faith- based initiative" and attacked targets in Washington, DC and New York City. Thousands died in this religion-based terrorism, and the lives of many more were affected. The one year anniversary of that tragic occurrence approaches. Over the course of the past year, the September 11 tragedy has become an excuse to violate the separation of church and state. Clerics and political leaders, including President George Bush have exploited the events and the horrific imagery to rally the nation to prayer and religious faith. As with the cold war decades ago, religious belief is now promoted as a badge of patriotism and concern for fellow human beings. In the process, millions of Americans who profess no religion have been insulted, marginalized and excluded. It's time to take back and reclaim our share of the cultural landscape. One way to do this is for Atheist, Freethought, Humanist and other secularist groups to consider sponsoring Secular Memorials on or about September 11, 2002. If we demand "a seat at the table" in political affairs, we must claim participation in honoring the victims of this tragedy, and saluting the many heroes and heroines as well. American Atheists urges you to visit http://www.secularmemorials.org and consider organizing an appropriate event in your community. There are suggestions, along with resources and a discussion board so you and your group can join the conversation. America's diverse community of nonbelievers has every right to be heard on this important issue. If you are a member of an Atheist, Freethought, Humanist or other nonbeliever group, consider joining with us in this national event. Visit http://www.secularmemorials.org (AA Newsletter Aug 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Glen[n], RE: ``I am incensed that KKSU`s demise hinged around rights to stupid ballgames.`` In hindsight, perhaps this was less about Morris Communications' rights to air football than it was about them utilizing an obvious KSU slip-up to get out of an antiquated time-share agreement. An agreement that I can only imagine each successive WIBW-AM owner has secretly tried to find a way out of, probably beginning with the first new owner after the 1969 amendment. Let's face facts: Until the last 10 or so years, KSU's football teams couldn't win football games to save their souls. Airing KSU football games could not have been that profitable to WIBW during KSU's bad football years. Regardless of how well KSU's football team does now, perhaps more advertising revenue can be generated off an additional 25 hrs/wk (year 'round) versus 3 or 4 hrs during the short football season. However, I don't even claim to be an expert in that area. Do that many people really listen to college football on the radio, anymore? If KSU had "done their homework" (pardon the school pun), perhaps this all could have been avoided. Frankly, it appears KSU's athletic department had serious egg on its face for awarding an "exclusive" contract to MAAN, when it obviously had no legal right to do so. Perhaps, as you say, KSU should have been doing something all along to replace KKSU with a full-time outlet. I sincerely wish KSU would have at least considered purchasing KFRM (550 kHz), a 50,000 watt, daytime- only license, when the opportunity came up, several years ago. At that time, KSU probably could have bought KFRM for a song and a dance. Too bad KSU alternatively didn't pursue a frequency in the "expanded" AM band, although their situation likely would not have qualified them for such a move. Given the predominantly agricultural nature of their locally produced programming, my guess is that the type of people who were listening to KKSU will not be willing to be tethered to their computers to listen to whatever programming KSU provides over an internet stream. If these people don't switch to an FM outlet for "public radio" in KKSU's absence, these people will likely be spinning the dials in their tractors and pickups to find commercial ag based stations, such as KFRM or KRVN. 73, (Ken Kopp, WØNXS, Aug 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KFRM 550 is `only` 5000 watts, but with trenemdous groundwave at that frequency. I suggested directly to KKSU at the time that they should buy it (tho nighttime 110 watts, at least more than 25 hpw), but the reply was that they preferred 580 in Manhattan since it put a better signal eastward into Kansas City (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks for your note, Glenn, and for your expression of support for KKSU. It's been a difficult situation for us here, but at least there is now some resolution, however costly, and we can begin to think about our future. We will be exploring a variety of options, both broadcast and network- based, to provide audio from K-State Research and Extension, including the acquisition of existing or new broadcast properties. The problem is that radio frequencies have been frozen for some years now, and won't be thawed until interference issues are explored with the advent of digital radio in the next couple of years. The only way to get a broadcast property is to buy an existing one (and they're not cheap -- - our 5 hours got $1.5 million!), or to buy an unused frequency from someone who owns it and hasn't constructed a facility (that happened recently when a Manhattan station bought an unused allocation in the Riley area --- for $450,000 --- just for the license!) --- but the problem with that is that FM frequencies usually serve a small geographical area, especially in comparison with a low-band AM frequency like KKSU currently has (which the FCC hasn't given out in decades). Anyway, your thoughts are most appreciated, and we'll keep them in mind as next week we begin to brainstorm the possibilities. We hope by year's end to have a service up and running which will give us new and better ways to serve Kansans, even if they're different from the methods we've used in the past. Hopefully our fans in Enid will be able to take advantage of whatever we create! Thanks again, Glenn. We value your support. Larry, KKSU * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Larry Jackson * * Station Manager * * KKSU-AM 580 voice (785) 532-5851 * * McCain Auditorium Room #20 fax (785) 532-5709 * * Kansas State University ljackson@oznet.ksu.edu * * Manhattan, KS 66506-4701 * * * * http://www.kksu.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Many thanks for your reply! Glad to hear KKSU may continue in some form. On FM, I don`t see why purchasing a (commercial) facility should be necessary. Surely there is some spot on the noncommercial band where KKSU could fit in, initially perhaps at lower power. A relay/translator network could then extend coverage (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 25950, KPM556 [Portland OR] is off temporarily and perhaps forever, according to Mike Johnson, station engineer. Larry Holtz, the former chief engineer, has left the station. The new guy is using phone lines do to the feedback for the remotes instead. There was also a problem with the 25950 transmitter causing interference to other users. Although some low pass filtering was put on 25950, it was easier to turn it off rather than to try and deal with the issue. I will miss the reggae (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. MAN ORDERED TO GIVE UP RADIOS Hobbyist accused of misdemeanors in cop's death By Aamer Madhani, [Chicago] Tribune staff reporter, August 31, 2002 An Inverness man accused of misusing a police radio channel and then scuffling with an officer who then died of a heart attack was ordered Friday to surrender his radio equipment to authorities. Cook County Circuit Judge Joseph Urso ordered William Bily, 56, to turn over his transmitting equipment, including a treasure-trove of ham radio gear, to Barrington-Inverness police by Tuesday as a condition of his release while he awaits trial. Bily of the 2000 block of Bradwell Road was arrested this week on misdemeanor charges of resisting a peace officer and interfering with emergency communications. His trial is set for Oct. 2. Bily, an amateur radio enthusiast, was accused of disrupting police communications Sunday by transmitting over the Barrington-Inverness police radio channel. When Officer Steven Graham came to his home, Bily resisted arrest, and Graham suffered a fatal heart attack in the tussle, authorities said. The death of Graham, 53, a 29-year veteran of the department and son of the late state Sen. John Graham, was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner's office because the heart attack allegedly resulted from the scuffle. Assistant State's Atty. Steven Rosenblum said Friday his office does not intend to seek other charges. Bily's attorney, Frank Cece, argued against having all of his client's radio equipment confiscated. He said Bily, a Marine Corps veteran who saw combat during the Vietnam War, has many pieces of ham radio equipment that pose no risk to police radio frequencies. But the prosecutor said Sunday wasn't the first time police had gone to Bily's house to confront him about interrupting their frequency. Police also visited Bily on July 4, 2000, Rosenblum said. Copyright (c) 2002, Chicago Tribune (via Martin Gallas, Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6380.3, Radio Lai Chau; Lai Chau, Aug. 30, 2258-2306, Tentative. Was checking Maarten van Delft's info as read at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2135.txt and came accross a weak signal here. Typical male vocals, couldn't hear any instrumental accompaniment. Comparable to the songs I use to hear on the Hmong service on 5035v kHz. Female announcer in unidentified language, short bridge of soft instrumental music (Mark Veldhuis, the Netherlands, Receiver: Icom IC-R75; Antenna: 24 mtr. longwire with MLB, DXing.info Aug 31 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6379.9, Lai Chau BS (Presumed) hill tribes music, decent modulation at 1209 Aug 24. 6491.3v, Cao Bang BS (Presumed) constantly drifting, bad modulation but usual music at 1214 Aug 24 (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. FREQUENCY GUIDE For Voice Of Vietnam English Program (from March 31/2002 to October 26, 2002) Areas of coverage UT Frequencies Europe 1700 9725 Europe 1800 13740 - 11640 Europe 1900 13740 - 11640 Europe 2030 13740 - 11640 Europe 2330 9840 - 12020 North East America 100 6175 North East America 230 6175 Central America 330 6175 Hanoi 1000 101.5 MHz South East Asia 1000 1242 – 9840 - 12020 South Asia 1100 1242 - 7285 Hanoi 1230 101.5 MHz South East Asia 1230 9840 - 12020 Europe 1330 13740 - 11640 Hanoi 1330 101.5 MHz Central Asia 1400 1242 South Western Asia 1500 1242 Central Asia 1600 13740 - 11640 Europe 1600 13740 - 11640 Hanoi 1600 105.5 MHz Central Asia 1630 13740 - 11640 - 1242 (via Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. Action Alert August 30, 2002 ZIMBABWE`S RADIO VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BOMBED -- ASSISTANCE REQUIRED The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (Amarc) Africa condemns the bombing of Radio Voice of the People (VOP) offices in Harare, Zimbabwe on Thursday August 29, 2002. Zimbabwe Republic Police say that two armed men stormed the premises between 1 am and 2 am on Thursday morning, chased away the security guard and threw bombs into the offices which are housed in a low density residential suburb in Harare. Although no-one was injured in the attack, the organisation lost all its property including equipment. Voice of the People board member Sarah Chiumbu said today that the staff have agreed to continue working despite the circumstances. Voice of the People is appealing for assistance in fundraising for equipment. Voice of the People can be contacted through VOP director John Masuku on +263 (91) 308 052 or voxpop@zol.co.za The station is also considering the prospects of setting up outside the country. This bomb blast is the latest in the series of attacks on the privately-owned media. Neither the police nor the VOP board members could identify a motive for the attack. In April 2000, a bomb exploded near the offices of the country`s only privately owned daily, The Daily News. In January 2001, a bomb destroyed the Daily News` printing press. Two months ago, police raided VOP offices. Voice of the People is the first of only two privately owned radio stations in Zimbabwe and was established in 2000 as a non-profit organisation. Programmes are produced locally in the English and two local languages and sent to Radio Netherlands for broadcast on shortwave. The other privately-owned station Shortwave Radio operates wholly from London, for security and legal reasons. The government has branded both these stations as terrorist, pirate and illegal radio stations. Current broadcasting laws make it almost impossible for aspiring broadcasters to acquire licenses. In the Broadcasting Act, the Minister of Information has the absolute and discretionary power to grant and revoke broadcasting licences. The bombing of the VOP offices comes at a time when the private media is reeling under repressive government laws. Freedom of expression group, Article 19, reports that 36 journalists from the privately- owned media have been arrested and 13 charged since the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill was signed into law in March this year. At least two foreign correspondents have been expelled from the country within the year and government supporters have declared some rural areas as no-go areas for journalists from the private media. Zimbabwe`s Minister of Information has dismissed the latest bombing as a publicity stunt adding that VOP is a terrorist organisation working with the West and other local organisations to subvert and topple the government. ENDS For more information please contact Shingai Nyoka: AMARC Africa`s Communication Officer on 27 (11) 403 7913 or at comofficer@global.co.za _______________________________________________ Amarc-info mailing list Amarc-info@lists.amarc.org http://lists.amarc.org/mailman/listinfo/amarc-info (via Scott Gurian, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. On 30 Aug at 1750 a station on 4876.2 with distorted audio and wobbling carrier. Indian style music and talks in local language. Did not get the TOH ID. Poor modulation like Bangladesh. A bit late for Bangladesh Betar or did they have a public holiday too, like in India? 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO EMERGES FROM THE ELECTRONIC SOUP --- 19:00 28 August 02 Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition A self-organising electronic circuit has stunned engineers by turning itself into a radio receiver. What should have been an oscillator became a radio This accidental reinvention of the radio followed an experiment to see if an automated design process, that uses an evolutionary computer program, could be used to "breed" an electronic circuit called an oscillator. An oscillator produces a repetitive electronic signal, usually in the form of a sine wave. Paul Layzell and Jon Bird at the University of Sussex in Brighton applied the program to a simple arrangement of transistors and found that an oscillating output did indeed evolve. But when they looked more closely they found that, despite producing an oscillating signal, the circuit itself was not actually an oscillator. Instead, it was behaving more like a radio receiver, picking up a signal from a nearby computer and delivering it as an output. In essence, the evolving circuit had cheated, relaying oscillations generated elsewhere, rather than generating its own. Layzell and Bird were using the software to control the connections between 10 transistors plugged into a circuit board that was fitted with programmable switches. The switches made it possible to connect the transistors differently. Treating each switch as analogous to a gene allowed new circuits to evolve. Those that oscillated best were allowed to survive to a next generation. These "fittest" candidates were then mated by mixing their genes together, or mutated by making random changes to them. After several thousand generations you end up with a clear winner, says Layzell. But precisely why the winner was a radio still mystifies them. To pick up a radio signal you need other elements such as an antenna. After exhaustive testing they found that a long track in the circuit board had functioned as the antenna. But how the circuit "figured out" that this would work is not known. "There's probably one sudden key mutation that enabled radio frequencies to be picked up," says Bird. Duncan Graham-Rowe (via Mike Terry, DXLD) SONY UPDATES LINE OF PLUG-AND-PLAY XM SATELLITE RADIO RECEIVERS http://www.smarttvandsound.com/menu_page.cfm?menu=bottom%20bar&page=stv_news_article.cfm&id=659 Reprinted from a Sony press release: PARK RIDGE, N.J., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics announced today its enhanced line of "plug-and-play" XM Satellite Radio receivers, the first line of these receivers that can be enjoyed in both the car and at home. The receiver's unique two-piece design allows listeners to transfer the main unit between multiple locations without having to disconnect cables. Sony's new line-up offers a re- designed antenna and LCD display, a direct channel selection through a new remote control, and 20 preset station tuning capabilities. "Our first line of XM receivers introduced transportability for XM listening. Responding to customer feedback, we have enhanced the line to incorporate four times as many preset stations, random access tuning and a smaller antenna," said Phil Petescia, vice president of marketing for portable audio products at Sony Electronics. "With just one subscription to XM Satellite Radio service, Sony's plug-and-play receivers allow listeners to enjoy satellite radio virtually anywhere." The new receiver's two-line LCD is white backlit for improved brightness and clearer contrast, displaying a 20-character summary of the current program choice. With the new direct access Remote Commander(R) control unit for direct channel selection, a faster Jog Dial(TM) navigator for quicker channel scrolling and 20-station presets, listeners can access their favorite channels with ease. The line also features a more streamlined antenna, which is available with each accessory kit, the DRN-XM01H2 home installation receiver package or sold separately. Three models of the XM receiver are now available from Sony including a self-installation unit for the car (DRN-XM01C2), a home installation system (DRN-XM01H2), and custom-RF installation package for the car (DRN-XM01R2). With the addition of the accessory kits and the smaller satellite radio antenna (AN-XM100), listeners can easily enjoy XM service between multiple vehicles and the home. Sony also offers the XT-XM01 XM satellite radio receiver, which allows consumers to enhance any Sony UniLink(TM) head unit with XM service. All models are currently available. Home Unit (DRN-XM01H2) Consumers can easily create a stand-alone XM stereo system using Sony's home package, which is bundled with everything needed to connect to a home audio system, including a receiver, direct access Remote Commander control, AN-XM100 antenna, audio cable, AC power adapter and home cradle stand. The package will be available for about $300. Self-Installation Car (DRN-XM01C2) For easy self-installation, on-the-go XM listeners can purchase the DRN-XM01C2 system. Equipped with a receiver, direct access Remote Commander control, cassette adapter, cigarette lighter power adapter, mounting accessories and car cradle stand, the self-installation car system will be available for about $250. Custom Installation Car (DRN-XM01R2) The RF modulator allows the satellite radio receiver to be custom installed with any car stereo system. Available for about $300, the car package with an RF modulator includes a receiver, direct access Remote Commander control, RF modulator with power supply, mounting accessories and car cradle stand. Home Accessory Kit (DRN-XM01HK2) Listeners can go from their car to the comfort of their homes without missing a beat with the home accessory kit, which includes a home cradle, AN-XM100 antenna, direct access Remote Commander control, audio cable and AC power adapter. The home accessory kit will be available for about $150. Car Accessory Kit (DRN-XM01CK2) The car accessory kit allows listeners to transport their receiver from the home to the car or between multiple cars, with a car cradle, AN-XM100 antenna, direct access Remote Commander control, cassette adapter, cigarette lighter power adapter and mounting accessories. The DRN-XM01CK2 kit will be available for about $150. Satellite Radio Antenna (AN-XM100) Sony's satellite radio antenna is universal, operating with all manufacturers' XM receivers. The new extremely compact design, magnetic or adhesive mounting options and 23-foot cable provides listeners with a variety of installation options. The new antenna will be available for about $70 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-135, August 30, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1145: NEXT BROADCAST ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415 NEXT BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030?, 0630?, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830?, Mon 1230?, Wed 1300 BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800 (incl. Spectrum 558 London); North America Sun 1400 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1145.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE 7490: Has been heard this week every morning Tue thru Fri at 1200, and most evenings at 0030, with new WOR 1145 starting UT Fri; please let us know when heard on weekend! MUNDO RADIAL: new edition starts airing on WWCR 15825 August 30, Fridays 2115, Wednesdays 2100, or slightly earlier. Also: (CORRIENTE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0208.ram (BAJABLE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0208.rm (TEXTO) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0208.html ** AFGHANISTAN. Here`s the entire article previously referenced by DXing.info, source of claim that PsyOps is on 6100: August 17, 2002 BRAGG SOLDIERS GET WORD OUT UNIT RUNS RADIO STATION THAT DELIVERS POPULAR MUSIC AND MESSAGES Author: PETER SMOLOWITZ, STAFF WRITER Dateline: KANDAHAR, Afghanistan A Fort Bragg unit runs a popular radio station in Kandahar, alternating music and messages in an effort to win the hearts and minds of Afghans. For 18 hours a day, members of the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion broadcast from a makeshift studio that's actually a truck covered by a tent. Their signal on shortwave and AM radio restores a freedom lost when the Taliban ruled, and instructs Afghans on how to rebuild their country "It's letting them know we're here to help," said 2nd Lt. Stuart of Washington state, who would not give his last name for security reasons. The messages mixed into the radio shows are broadcast in two languages, Dari and Pashtun, so Americans aren't seen as taking sides in a nation trying to end more than two decades of war. The 30- to 90-second spots urge Afghans to join their national army, support their new government, beware of land mines and report members of al-Qaida and the Taliban. "We also give them female voices on the radio, just to show change," said Sgt. Ron of Washington, D.C. Satar Shah of Kandahar City, an interpreter working on the U.S. military base in Kandahar, said he listens mornings and evenings for half an hour. Shah said Afghans enjoy the music after years of secretly listening in their homes, and the messages are effective. "They say that the U.S. is helping you; when the planes come, don't fire. And it's good to be safe; don't shoot and make problems," Shah said. Another message, he said: "The (president) of Afghanistan (Hamid Karzai) is a good (president), and he's going to build up your country, and the U.S. is going to help him." The Army has previously launched similar efforts in Panama, Bosnia, Kosovo and during the Persian Gulf War. The special operations soldiers in Kandahar also have the ability to run a television station, but not enough Afghans have TVs. Early in Operation Enduring Freedom, the Army dropped transistor radios, along with instructions for using them. In March, the Fort Bragg soldiers relieved Commando Solo II, an EC-130E that played music, news and information 10 hours a day while flying over Afghanistan. The soldiers took tapes from Afghans living in America, borrowed more from locals working on the Kandahar base and bought music that Afghans requested in surveys. They mix the rotation like an American station so listeners don't always hear the same thing. "It's all Afghan music, nothing American," said 2nd Lt. Stuart. "We're here to help, to play music for them, not to spread our culture onto them." The signal transmits 1,000 watts on shortwave 6,100 and 5,000 watts on AM 864. Soldiers have also helped other stations move their antennas or update antiquated equipment, in exchange for playing U.S. messages on the new, more powerful signals. Research indicated younger Afghans wanted to hear dance or upbeat music, middle-age listeners like classical, and senior citizens want folk music. Caption: 1. PETER SMOLOWITZ - STAFF PHOTO. The Army's radio station in Afghanistan is housed in a truck covered by a tent. The station alternates music with messages to Afghans. Copyright (c) 2002 The Charlotte Observer (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Re Information Radio, Kandahar, 6100: Only Pyongyang was audible here Aug 25 from fade in 1435 to 1800*. QRM from R Sweden *1545-1600*, R Polonia *1600-1630* and VOA *1700-1800*. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN/TURKMENISTAN. In DX publications, the Psyops transmissions on 8700 kHz are usually claimed being transmitted from Turkmenistan, after a technical conversation was heard on 8700 in October 2001 where both Turkmenian and English was used. The full story and transcript of the recording was featured in DXLD #1-158. However, there are doubts about the link: - The fact that the persons in part are using the Turkmenian language, does not automatically link the transmissions with Turkmenistan. Turkmenian is one of the local languages in Northern Afghanistan, there are about 500.000 ethnic Turkmenians living in that area. It can be a conversation between two (Afghan) members of this ethnic group. - There are only very small SW transmitting capacities in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat, both as far as transmitters and antennas are concerned, intended and used for domestic broadcasting. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Aug 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRW had made that suggestion; however, much later, until the 6100 transmission appeared, it was believed that PsyOps was transmitting ground-based from Kandahar on 8700 (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA [and non]. Dear Glenn, the item you have edited in DXLD 2- 134 has been published first in the Radio Rebelde press section. EL CATACLISMO DE HAARP, Juana Carrasco Martín (J.R.) Juana Carrasco is a very active newsreporter and commentary reporter of Radio Rebelde. Thus I agree 10000 % with her opinions expressed in very good clear way; I think there are too much political relationship with her opinions and the hard situation of the Cuba country.....so I suggest you clear the original source is Radio Rebelde Cuba. Same article has been also edited in CUBAHORA http://cubahora.co.cu A propósito de armas biológicas Autor: JUANA CARRASCO MARTÍN. Todo ocurrió en el breve espacio de unas horas y el asunto lleva acaparando titulares de... http://cubahora.co.cu/politica/2002/mayo/14/armas.html I hope to have been little useful, but I guess the people living in your country will not be able to understand the TRAGIC SITUATION OUR PLANET IS LIVING DAY BY DAY (Dario Monferini, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, but don`t underestimate, or stereotype us... (gh, USA, DXLD) ** ALASKA. Saturday, October 26, 2002 - KNOM-780, Nome, AK will conduct a DX test from 12:00 am to 1:00 am Alaska Local Time (i.e. 4-5 am EDT [i.e. 0800-0900 UT; see below]. From Les Brown, who arranged the test: "We are currently planning to go from nighttime power (14 kW) up to 25 kW within a minute or two after midnight on 10/26, a Saturday. As I won't be here, I'll set it up with a regular operator to make the change as soon as the station goes into AP network news. The news ends at 12:05 and is followed by lengthy weather forecasts for various Alaska regions, typically ending around 12:09. Programming will be Polish polkas from then until the next newscast at 1 AM with a clear ID between every programming item. We'll run our normal public service stuff (we are non-commercial) along with time and temperature checks. Morse IDs will be frequent." Also - Les mentions that the station will stay at 25 kW until 6 am Alaska time. [1400 UT] Reception reports (*with return postage*) may be sent to: Les Brown, KNOM-AM, P. O. Box 988, Nome, AK 99762 EMAIL: rfn@nook.net WEB: http://www.knom.org (Arranged by Les Brown for the benefit of all DXers) (via Lynn Hollerman, IRCA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is of course, the day before USA goes off DST, to avoid confusion. Hard to believe Nome be on UT minus 8, but from http://www.worldtimezone.com/time-usa24.html that appears to be the case, with Alaskan Daylight Time; only the Aleutians anymore are one hour earlier. By its longitude, west of 165, Nome ought to be in the UT minus 11 timezone!! So in effect they suffer from triple-daylight time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. I visited the DX Listening Digest 2002 Archive today, and was interested in the above named item. I read the comments made on the piece and would truly like to listen to it. I am not very good at interpreting the site, but I believe the comments were made by John Cobb from Roswell, GA. (DX Listening Digest). Could you please guide me as to how to listen to this Radio Liberty broadcast from the 1982 Falklands War? I thank you in advance for your help (Marta P. Ruiz de Gamboa, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am not aware of any online source to listen to a complete broadcast; a half-minute ID of very poor quality is available at http://www.intervalsignals.net/files/arg-z-liberty_ow_1982.ram (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2325, VL8T, 1125 Aug 28, armchair copy today. Pop and world music. YL mentioned Territory Radio in passing. Announcer`s mic EQed for FM service, terrible for DX. // 2310 and 2485, but strongest of the three (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS`. R. Minsk, 7210, Aug 25 0200-0228, sign-on with IS and multi-lingual IDs. English programming with sked, address and into news, lite instrumental music, local folk music, poor-fair with some ham QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BENIN. ORTB, 7210.27, Aug 24 2300-0126* Aug 25, French talk, local hi-life music, Afro-pops. Appeared to be covering some kind of event with sounds of a crowd, yelling, speeches by man. Sign-off with national anthem. On late. Usually signs off at 2300. Fair-good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 6105.0, R. Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, Aug 13, 2250-2306, end of part 2 of Voz do Brasil, station ID. QRM de Brazil itself, viz. R Cultura, which was slightly off channel, 6105.1. 33442. What I've repeatedly observed with R. Canção Nova on 49 m is that its signal seems to become stronger after Voz do Brasil is aired, meaning they probably reduce transmitter power when that government program that's more or less imposed on Brazilian stations, but I wouldn't like to speculate any further (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. The Foreign Service of NRC in English and French (other languages not checked) still continues according to sked on 11940, using a 40-year-old 50 kW Philips transmitter which is undermodulated and produces distorted audio. Moreover, the 0000 broadcast suffers strong interference from CRI on 11945, and at 1200 there is QRM from a mixture of CRI and BBC, also on 11945. The English program often just consists of non-stop recorded music and minutes of silence. The French program does contain a newsbulletin. When I visited the station 3 years ago, a veteran broadcaster told me: ``When the Vietnamese were here, after dealing with the Khmer Rouge, we had a much higher standard of broadcasting.`` (Maarten van Delft, Holland, is just back from 4 weeks in West & East Malaysia with loggings and interesting background information. Receiver: Sony ICF-7600DS with built-in telescopic antenna. Frequencies only accurate to the nearest full kHz). (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews for Friday August 30: THE SHELBURNE FIDDLE CONTEST: You'll find your toes tapping - in the car, in the office, wherever you are - this afternoon, as CBC Radio One brings you the Shelburne Fiddle Contest. Join host Jowi Taylor and special guest Calvin Vollrath, himself a Master Fiddler, for some of the best fiddle-playing you'll ever hear. That's the Shelburne Fiddle Contest, this afternoon at 2 (2:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. [contradicted by this; actually later in the 2-hour block??] MYSTERY PROJECT: Friday afternoons, the Roundup presents an episode of The Mystery Project. And even though there's no Roundup today, you'll still get your fix of suspense. Join journalist- turned-sleuth Peggy Delaney this afternoon for "Special Delivery": a series of anonymous written threats culminates in a grotesque package that arrives for Bernie. That's this afternoon at 2:06 (2:36 NT) on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet via gh, DXLD) 2 pm = 2000 UT in MDT/CST, 2100 UT in PDT ** CANADA. Thestar.com Aug. 29, 01:00 EDT MAJORITY FEEL CBC VITAL TO CULTURAL IDENTITY: POLL CANADIAN CONTENT RULES CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENT Graham Fraser, National Affairs Writer OTTAWA Canadians are confident that the country's culture and identity are stronger now than they were five years ago in terms of distinctness from the United States, but worry about the ability to control domestic affairs from U.S. pressure in the future, a survey has found... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=ded3b2f127670d88&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1026144671244 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. LOBBY GROUP WANTS OTTAWA TO GIVE CBC $250 MILLION MORE ANNUALLY --- [by] STEPHEN THORNE OTTAWA (CP) - A lobby group is calling on the federal government to commit $250 million more a year to revamp the CBC, after a poll suggested more than 80 per cent of Canadians want a renewed national broadcaster. Friends of Canadian Broadcasting is urging Ottawa to make the CBC, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, more accessible and more community oriented. The group says years of budget cuts have undermined the public broadcaster's ability to meet its mandate. "We have detected a real concern on the part of the public, and also of members of Parliament of all political stripes, about the way the CBC is retreating from or ignoring local markets," group spokesman Ian Morrison said in an interview. "There is an early warning in this poll that CBC isn't looking after its backyard, its grassroots, as well as it is its national programming." Almost 90 per cent of those polled by Ipsos-Reid between Aug. 6 and 11 said they wanted regional CBC services strengthened in their part of the country. Eighty-three per cent agreed with the statement: "We should build a new CBC capable of providing high-quality Canadian programming with strong regional content throughout Canada." The poll of 1,100 adult Canadians commissioned by the lobby group is considered accurate to within three percentage points, 95 per cent of the time. In July, the group wrote to Finance Minister John Manley advising him that the CBC is failing in its mandate to "reflect Canada and its regions to national and regional audiences, while serving the special needs of those regions." Centralizing CBC operations in Toronto and Montreal at the expense of local and regional programming has "weakened our best means of defending Canadian identity when it is most needed," the letter said. It recommended Ottawa require the CBC board of directors to develop a business plan addressing the issue and then invest $250 million in expanding its reach and operations. "There are occasions when good public policy and popular public policy can go hand in hand," said the letter, signed by Morrison. "Building a new CBC is one of these opportunities." The group says the CBC is losing ground in the 500-channel universe. The percentage of Canadians polled who said they derived high value from CBC-TV programming declined to 64 per cent from the 71 per cent surveyed in a similar Ipsos-Reid poll in 1995. CBC Radio suffered a similar drop, to 62 per cent from 75 in 1995. At the same time, a majority of those surveyed (more than 90 per cent) said they support Canadian culture, Canadian content (79 per cent) and efforts to regulate it (61 per cent). Ottawa slashed about $400 million from the CBC's $1-billion annual budget in recent years, creating job losses, cancelled programs and shorter newscasts. Yet, as part of its 50th birthday celebrations, CBC-TV has commissioned a special Via Rail museum train to cross the country. It has also scheduled 26 hours of specials designed to remind both fans and detractors of the CBC contribution to Canada's cultural fabric since it first went on air in 1952. The Canadian Press, 2002 08/29/2002 1:37 EST (via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC-TV ON TRACK FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY Wednesday, August 28, 2002 Back The Halifax Herald Limited Kevin Frayer / The Canadian Press Mr. Dressup's treehouse is prepared in Toronto on Wednesday, in a VIA rail car that will be used as a moving museum for CBC's 50th anniversary celebrations. After a cross-country journey, the train makes it final stop in Halifax on Oct. 5. [caption] By John McKay / The Canadian Press Toronto - At the CBC, they call it the MacGyver team. They're a hand-picked crew of crafts people - carpenters, painters, electricians - who can perform miracles when called upon. In recent days they've been filling a Via Rail yard in suburban Toronto with the sounds of hammering and buzz saws as they outfit a specially commissioned train that will cross the country next month as part of CBC-TV's 50th anniversary celebrations. Julie Dossett, senior manager for the public broadcaster's train project, says that like the 1980s TV hero, the eight-man staging and installation crew is the best at displaying ingenuity and creativity to get the job done. "Shoelaces and bubblegum and they can make incredible things, it's our top guys," Dossett says. Good thing, too. One day recently they were seen handling some famous but fragile national icons. In the rail car that will be used for the history of CBC children's programming, a portion of the Friendly Giant's grey castle wall - including the window that Jerome the Giraffe used to poke his head through - was leaning against the wall. Nearby was owl's treehouse from Mr. Dressup. The tickle trunk was said to be on its way, too, from the CBC broadcast museum downtown. Many of these original items were constructed of plaster, chicken wire and papier mâché and weren't designed to last forever. Dossett says the crew was suitably impressed with the priceless items they had to install safely to withstand 35 days of train travel. Also on display will be years of awards the network has acquired, including Genies and Geminis, and even an Oscar that the CBC's French service, Radio Canada, once won for an animated short film. "When the box arrived with all this wrapped in 75,000 pounds of bubble wrap, we opened it up and everyone's like 'Mmmm, this is real now!'" When the train cars are ready, and the engine painted a fiery red with the CBC logo emblazoned on the side, it will all be sent to the West Coast. "Once it's in Vancouver in the main yard there, they'll marshal it all together in order and then we'll bring it into the rail station," says Cathering Kaloutsky, a senior public affairs officer for Via Rail. The anniversary train will depart Sept. 7 for its whistle-stopping tour across Canada, ending in Halifax on Oct. 5. Visitors will also see a replica of the old Don Messer's Jubilee set, even an authentic-looking news set where they can sit down, put on the mike, and read a Peter Mansbridge script off the TelePrompTer. "They get to be an anchor and then they walk off with a videotape of their performance," Dossett says, adding that when it was tried in Toronto, people line up for 2 1/2-hours. "What we hear constantly from viewers is 'We want to learn more about you, we want to meet your people, we want to see behind the scenes.' This insatiable appetite for the magic of television and how it's made." Dossett won't say how much the rail project is costing but says it's within budget. Via is providing the rolling stock but in Ontario will add on some of their new state-of-the-art Renaissance cars to help promote their revitalized passenger service in the Windsor-Quebec City corridor. At various stops along the CBC train's route, five tents will be erected trackside with content focusing on various themes: sports, news, new media, kids' programming and merchandising. In the sports tent, for example, fans can sit at the Hockey Night in Canada set and have their picture taken with cutout images of Ron MacLean and Don Cherry. The train will also have a working broadcast facility and various CBC personalities will get on and off during the trip. Programs such as Newsworld Morning and Canada Now, radio's Richardson's Roundup and even Radio Canada TV Ce Soir and Ontario en direct will do live broadcasts. "It's so interesting to start to see them working together," Dossett says. "I think it's a sign of the future of this company and it's pretty exciting to watch." And she emphasizes the "magical partnership" between the CBC and the railway system. "It's actually been a great marriage, because we stand for so many of the same kind of things, this whole idea of cultural fabric from one end of the country to the other." Copyright © 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. CHUM DUMPS SPORTS FORMAT FOR MUSIC http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1030443631958&call_page=TS_Entertainment&call_pageid=968867495754&call_pagepath=Entertainment/News (via Bill Westenhaver, QC, Wed Aug 28 14:44:15 2002 via DXLD) THE TEAM SPORTS RADIO PACKS IT IN http://waymoresports.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=waymoresports/Layout/Article_Type1&call_page=WM_Home&call_pageid=979619472127&call_pagepath=Home/Home&c=Article&cid=1026144635940 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) A MORE LOCAL TEAM 990? [by] BERNARD PERUSSE, Montreal Gazette, Friday, August 30, 2002 Team 990, Montreal's all-sports radio outlet, dodged the bullet Tuesday when owner CHUM Radio deep-sixed five of its sports stations - but it might have to come up with more local programming to ensure its longevity. Team 1200 in Ottawa and Team 1040 in Vancouver were the only others to survive the axe... http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/story.asp?id={0E2F1D3A-F603-4561-BF90-BEDE00942C2C} (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hello, Does anyone know who and where the 12359 usb weather at 19-20? gmt for boats/yachts in the atlantic is and coming from? I can get an s9+10 on him most days and sometimes the boats themselves -- pretty neat. Are there any others? (Chris Campbell, Aug 28, swl via DXLD) Herb Hilgenberg, VAX498 in Nova Scotia, I believe. There was an item about him in DXLD 2-039 but the ABC TV news item link no longer works (gh, DXLD) Herb does have a web site; it is at http://www.hometown.aol.com/hehilgen/myhomepage/vacation.html (Joe Olig, swl via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6060.07, La Voz de tu Conciencia, Lomalinda, Aug 17, 0920-1030, usual format of religious and bible talk and Colombian music, a few mentions of Colombia; definitely their programming, but no ID through the barnyard animal sounds at 1005. Still seems in test mode, and I note in the latest "Colombia Para Cristo" News Letter, "The license for our short wave station now only requires the final signature". Some background QRM at first, presumably from Argentina, but that soon gone. Pretty good signal in heavy summer QRN. Only Brazil heard on Aug 18 at this time. But back Aug 24, 0925, English ID heard: "This is the Voice of Your Conscience, transmitting on 6060 shortwave to Colombia and the world. You are listening to the Alcaraván Radio System." Everything else in Spanish. Good signal (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Guantánamo`s 810 AM station (not the US Navy Base; they're 1340 AM) is one of the most horrible stations I've heard (and certainly there are others) technical-wise. Its audio is horrible, downright dreadful, and it splatters over three to four adjacent channels for miles. I never took the time to measure the frequency of the station, but given the number of anomalies noted I wouldn't be surprised if they were off freq. At this writing, I can't recall which Cuban network they're associated with (Ron Gitschier, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. RADIO SAWA TESTING FROM CYPRUS ON 981 KHZ Radio Sawa, the United States Government mouthpiece in Arabic, has begun testing from Cape Greco in southeastern Cyprus on 981 kHz mediumwave. IBB Monitoring tells DXing.info that currently tests are conducted without a fixed schedule, but once completed, the transmitter will air Radio Sawa programming 24 hours a day. The new 600-kilowatt transmitter is primarily aimed at Egypt and countries of the Levant, the Eastern Mediterranean. Vladimir Titarev in Ukraine was the first DXer to pick up the station on August 27, and on August 28 it was heard as far away as Finland. A sample station ID is in the audio section: http://www.dxing.info/audio/cyprus/981_Sawa.rm The station has begun testing, from the same location as RMC Cape Greco. Picked it up here in Finland on Aug 28, best around 2112 UT, but heard already over an hour earlier, promoting its website at http://www.ibb.gov/radiosawa/ The frequency is quite a mess here in Finland, with R Varna from Bulgaria, ERT Greece and Iran all stronger than R Sawa. Radio Sawa is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, Arabic-language service of the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) aimed at listeners under 30. It was launched in March 2002. Before Cyprus, Radio Sawa has already used mediumwave transmitters in Kuwait (1548 kHz) and Rhodes, Greece (1260 kHz). An additional AM transmitter in Djibouti is expected to be operational in 2003. The station is heard on FM in Amman, Jordan (98.1 MHz), Kuwait City, Kuwait (95.7 MHz), Doha, Qatar (92.6 MHz) as well as in Dubai (90.5 MHz) and Abu Dhabi (98.7 MHz), both in the United Arab Emirates. The station is also heard on shortwave and via Nilesat, Arabsat and Eutelsat Hotbird. Radio Sawa programming consists of a mix of Western and Arabic pop music with newscasts at 15 and 45 minutes past the hour (DXing.info, August 28, 2002 via DXLD) see also U S A ** DENMARK [and non]. R. Denmark had to change its domestic and external programming on Aug 19 when a journalist strike began for higher salaries. The domestic newscasts are shortened to a few minutes on top of each hour. On shortwave (via the transmitters in Norway) the short domestic newscast is repeated up to five times during the 25 minutes airtime (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Most of the Conference participants attended this R. Finland live transmission. It was confirmed that the programmes in English, German and French probably will cease by the end of October which is highly regrettable. Furthermore, QSLs will be more difficult to obtain afterwards (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. If anybody is interested in the soundprocessing Bayerischer Rundfunk uses on 6085: It's a Siemens W 295 B compressor, highpass 150 Hz, lowpass setting not known for sure but believed to be 4500 Hz. Bass reduced by 15 db, treble boosted by 9 db, presence (this would be the range around 2 kHz I guess) set to +/- 0 db. Additional soundprocessing takes place within the radio house where they also catch MDR info for the overnight relays with an ordinary Kathrein ADR receiver. The STL is believed to be a 384 kbit/s Musicam feed. Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. 23190 = 2 X 11595, Greece fading up and down // 11595 at 1230 UT. Bet that`s a long time since a real harmonic came in!!! (Mikey DX Dawson, UK, Aug 30, harmonics yahoogroups via DXLD) ** GUINEA. R. Conakry, 7125, Aug 24 2320-2400* mostly continuous Afro- pops, very little talk, sign-off with national anthem; fair-good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. 9450 was a one day operation it seems. AIR was noted on 9450 from yesterday 1320 to today 0041. Today they are noted back on 9425 at 1320 to 0041 (Jose Jacob, India, Aug 29, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 9552, RRI Ujung Pandang heard with strong and well- modulated signals. Full ID at 0200 still mentioning `Makassar`, the old name for Ujung Pandang. The station occasionally continues past 0930. 9742, RRI Sorong heard fading in at 0615 (listed in DBS, not in WRTH!). Though remaining weak, a newsbulletin was heard at 0700, preceded by commercials (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. V. of Indonesia, 15149.83, Aug 24 2000-2100* English news, commentary, local music, IDs, fair-good; no \\s heard (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9775, R. Dat, daily since Aug 14, *0101-0200* and *1500-1600*, new clandestine broadcasting in Russian towards Kazakhstan with opposition programs against President Nazarbayev. DAT in Kazakh means "I demand a word!" according to their website http://datradio.com/indexeng.htm Email: info@datradio.com The whole programme consists of political talks with frequent mentions of Nazarbayev and Kazakhstan and IDs: "vy slushayetje radio dat - svobodnoye radio dlya svobodnovo kazakhstana" ("You're listening to Radio Dat - free radio for free Kazakhstan"). Seemingly they replayed one 30 min tape twice during this hour. Very accurate frequency. Sounded like transmitter was fed via poor phone lines. Strong signal, but QRM VOA News now in English at 0100-0200, and CNR2 in Chinese at 1500-1600 // 9755. Most likely coming from a CIS site in Europe, like for instance Maiac Grigoriopol, Moldova (Berg, Bueschel, Green, Petersen and Titarev, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) All server http://www.datradio.com and http://www.khabar.us also Email ISP and Audio Provider are registered in Canada. DAT website contains some banner of government bearing broadcasting stations, like Mayak, R Rossii. The organisation behind DAT-Radio might be the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan (RPPK), founded by the ex-prime minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin (1994-1997) who in absentia was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Kazakhstan in 2001, and lives in exile in Europe. The party's website http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english.htm also a short article about DAT-Radio: http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english/engl_16_08_02.html There is also a Canadian office of the RPPK, see http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english/engl_03_06_02.html (Bernd Trutenau in DXplorer Aug 18 via DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) IS RUSSIA HOSTING KAZAKH OPPOSITION RADIO STATION? Kazakhstan's National Security Ministry has established that Radio DAT, which describes itself as "the voice of democratic forces in Kazakhstan that are fighting for justice, the well-being of the people, human rights, and political freedoms," broadcasts not from the West, but from an unnamed town in the Russian Federation, forumkz.org reported on 29 August, quoting "confidential sources." Radio DAT http://www.datradio.com began broadcasting on shortwave earlier this summer in both Kazakh and Russian. According to the Center for Journalism in Extreme Situations, Kazakh journalist and public figure Bigeldin Gabdullin, a political refugee in the United States, served as anchor for Radio DAT's first broadcast. ("RFE/RL Newsline, 29 August via RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 30 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. A brief English News Bulletin can be heard from Radio Kyrgyzstan, Biskek from 2325 to 2330 UT. The frequencies are 4010 kHz and 4795 kHz. This bulletin in preceded by a bulletin in Kyrghyz followed by Russian. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, for GRDXC, Aug 29, via DXLD) ** LAOS. 4661, Xam Nua was heard till s/off at 1230*. 6971, LNR Luang Prabang is still inactive. 7145, LNR's Foreign Service heard regularly according to sked in French and English (other languages not checked) on 7145. Mostly, however, they announce only 1030 MW and 97.25 MHz FM. In the past they were inactive on 7145, but continued to announce that frequency for years (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. R. Veritas, 5470, noted here 29th August 2055 with English religious programme ending and identification on the hour. Weak signal, clear in uppersideband but heterodyne when used LSB (Mike Barraclough, England, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Radio Veritas from Liberia on 5470 kHz was heard here at our DX-site in Fredriksfors September 28th. at about 23 UT. Transmitter (or electrical?) trouble as the signal often almost vanished. Not only usual fading. ``Dark`` modulation. Also disturbances from RTTY and also coast radio (African French?). Does anyone have a valid address to contact them? No snailmail is delivered to Liberia, or is that just a rumour? Email? Best regards (Jan Edh, Hudiksvall, Sweden, Aug 30, DXing.info via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. The listed domestic SW frequencies of RTM West Malaysia are all active. An engineer at the Kajang Transmitting Station, just South-East of Kuala Lumpur, told me that the poorly performing transmitter on 5965 is a very old 5 kW standby unit. It will be replaced by a 100 kW transmitter - now used on 15295 - after the installation of a new 250 kW Thomcast transmitter for the 19 m.b. outlet, mainly intended for the broadcasts in Arabic. Also a new TCI antenna system (type HRS-441) is being installed. This project should be completed in October. RTM Sarawak's listed SW frequencies are all active. According to the Director of Broadcasting, the Sibu transmitter, which used to operate on 5005, cannot be repaired as the necessary parts are no longer available. The MW network, the still expanding FM-network and the recently upgraded SW facilities at Kuching appear to provide adequate coverage. With Miri having left SW already a couple of years ago, the remaining Sibu transmitter on 6050 is likely to continue till it breaks down, so get it while you can! Spare parts for the RTM Sabah transmitter, which used to operate on 4970, are no longer available either. As MW and FM coverage are considered adequate, it may never be reactivated. However, the transmitter on 5980 will continue as long as it lasts. The current SW schedule of the programs in English and minority languages is as follows: English 0330-0730 (news at 0500), Kadazan 0730-1000, Bajau 1000-1200, Dusun 1200-1315 and Murut 1315-1330 (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5975, UNID Asian station might have been the Myawaddy Radio Station heard from 1300 under Hanoi. 6570, The Defence Forces Station at Taunggyi was heard from about 1400 onwards. The following English HS broadcasts were noted (all parallel with 576 MW): 5985 at 1430-1600, 7185 at 0200-0245 (weekends till 0300) and 9730 at 0700-0830. From about 1100, 4725 was heard in minority languages and with educational segments in English (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** NEPAL. 6100, R. Nepal, Aug 25, 1200, much better signal than on // 5005. Malaysia signs on around 1300 on 6100 and it is a mess then (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. V. of Nigeria, 7255, Aug 24 2250-2300* English, world news, ID, sign-off with national anthem; poor-fair with occasional ham QRM. \\ 15120 was poor, mixing with Cuba (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 2410, R Enga, 1055 Aug 28, nice signal strength, but undermodulated. Religious choral music. ID mentioned by announcer. Into pops at 1100 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. 7737, Radiodifusión America, Asunción. Aug 24, 0910. Fair level signal of male voices in Spanish // 7300 also fair level (Charles Jones, Australia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** PERU. R. Melodía, 5996.69, Aug 25 0710-0745+ Spanish announcements, IDs, OA folk music, Spanish pops, ballads; weak in noise (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 6819.58, La Voz de las Huarinjas, Huancabamba (presumed), 1045 Aug 28, lightning static but in there with fair signal. Enjoyable folk music. Heard announcer but didn't catch ID (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 9580, PBS Manila was noted in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) fading in at 0645. They seem to use much less than the listed output power of 250 kW from the Tinang transmitter site. From about 0800, PBS started heterodyning with R. Australia and from about 0830 the latter station dominated the channel (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. 6095, R. Sweden, Aug 25 (Sunday) *1545-1600*, new frequency which was heard in parallel to the three scheduled: 6065, 13580 and 17485 ! News ``Dagens Eko`` in Swedish. 44554. To my knowledge there are only three active, 500 kW transmitters in Hörby, so this must have been from another transmitter in Sweden or abroad! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) Or maybe spur from 6065? Anything on matching 6035? (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to SYRIA 12115 ? The evidence seems to indicate that a group called the Syrian Human Rights Committee (SHRC) is involved in these transmissions. At a minimum, the Committee's material is being used in the broadcasts. Literally all their broadcasting commentary scripts and materials of human right abuse in Syria can be found at their website http://www.shrc.org The station is currently broadcasting this report -- http://www.shrc.org/arabic/communications/reports/2002/report06272002.htm -- in parts, though not daily. The English translation is here: http://www.shrc.org/english/reports/2002/annual_report/1.htm Being based in London, the transmission site might need to be revised in light of this (Mahmud Fathi, Germany, Aug 28, Cumbre DX Special via DXLD) Also, 0330-0400 on 9950. Some are reporting this as Voice of the Homeland (Sowt Al-Watan). Contact information is on the SHRC website. (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX Ed. via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. CHINA/TAIWAN. 9725, Repeated series of numbers, read by a woman in Mandarin, often noted at 0900-1100. Supposedly an intelligence service with messages to agents elsewhere. Rather unusual for such transmissions to be conducted in the AM mode right in the middle of a broadcasting band (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) Believe that is one of the Star Star channels; another inbander is 15388 (gh, DXLD) The e-mail address and the mailing address of Star Star Broadcasting Station have been observed. However, I tried the e-mail address of w2789@hotmail.com, which was unusable, and the mailing address of P. O. Box 12587, Taipei, Taiwan, which has been no response. Another Dxer tried the same thing, but the result was same (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. R. Thailand World Service heard opening in Lao after English ID at 1130 on 7115 and 6070, while 4830 appears to be inactive (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** TIBET. CHINA. Xizang PBS verified with QSL card. According to the reply, current schedule is as follows: Tibetan program: 2250-0735 594, 4905, 4920 6200, 5240, 6130, 6110 0950-1700 4905, 7385, 9490, 6200, 6130 5240, 4920 2250-0200 7385, 7125, 5240, 4920 0200-0735 9580, 9490 0950-1735 6110 Chinese Program: 2000-1735 1377, 6050, 4820 2000-0300 7170 0300-1200 11860 1200-1735 7170 2000-0200 5935, 11590 0200-1100 15285 1100-1735 11590 (Masato Ishii, Shibata-shi, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) Ha! But what about English? Not worth mentioning. Formatting made it difficult to sort out the Tibetan from Chinese schedules above; hope I got them right (gh, DXLD) The 1630 English programme noted here August 29th with fair reception on 5240 6130 and 7385, all clear channels (Mike Barraclough, Sept World DX Club Contact via DXLD) Hi Glenn, I'm a regular reader of WOR ; great job, congrats ! Thanks to the tips, I picked up Voice Of Holy Tibet for the first time today (30 Aug) 6130 kHz : 1635z SINPO 24343 Program in English 5240 kHz : 1635z SINPO 13222 Same program as on 6130 RIG was JRC NRD-545 DSP + Wellbrook ALA-100 loop. Location : South- East of France. My question is : are the transmitters located in Tibet?? Thanks, Kind regard, (Pat, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, they are, as far as we know, altho some domestic services for Tibet on SW are transmitted from (other) parts of China (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. DAVID JACKSON NAMED VOA DIRECTOR Veteran foreign correspondent and journalist David Jackson has been appointed Director of the Voice of America (VOA) by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG). Jackson`s 23-year career with Time magazine included stints as a correspondent in Cairo and Hong Kong as well as two years as bureau chief in Seoul. He also served as a correspondent, bureau chief or senior correspondent in the magazine`s bureaus in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. He began his journalism career as a reporter for the Chicago Daily News in 1974. He joined Time in the Chicago bureau in 1978 and was sent on a special assignment to Iran to cover the Islamic revolution. Last year he retired from Time and took a post as editor-in-chief of DefendAmerica.gov, the Defense Department`s principal website devoted to news about the war against terrorism. "The Board is delighted to have a journalist of Jackson`s experience to lead VOA in a period when it must play an important role in presenting the truth about what is happening in the world," said Kenneth Tomlinson, the BBG`s newly confirmed chairman. Jackson replaces Robert Reilly, who announced his resignation today "to seek opportunities in which I can more directly employ my talents in helping support the President and this Administration in the war against international terrorism." Reilly said he would remain with VOA for a period of time to help the new director and new BBG chairman during the transition. In accepting Reilly`s resignation, Tomlinson said the BBG appreciated Reilly`s stewardship as VOA director during the events following September 11. "I`m very excited about this opportunity to join such a respected organization, and I`m looking forward to working with my fellow journalists to carry on and enhance VOA`s worldwide reputation," Jackson said. He also announced that Marie Skiba, currently the acting director of VOA`s television service, will serve as VOA chief of staff during the transition. The Voice of America, which first went on the air on February 24, 1942, is a multimedia international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. Government. VOA broadcasts more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational and cultural programming every week to a worldwide audience of 94 million people. Programs are produced in English and 52 other languages. The BBG supervises all U.S. non-military international broadcasting, including the Voice of America http://www.voanews.com Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty http://www.rferl.org Radio Free Asia http://www.rfa.org and Radio/TV Marti http://www.martinoticias.com For more information, contact: Joan Mower (202.260.0167 or 202.401.3736), jmower@ibb.gov, or http://www.bbg.gov http://www.voa.gov/index.cfm?tableName=tblPressReleases&articleID=10098§iontitle=Press%20Releases (via Bill Westenhaver, QC, DXLD) That was seemingly sudden! Wonder if he was forced out after planning to close down 5 overseas news bureaux. As a former foreign correspondent, even at one of the bureaux targeted, Jackson could be expected to avoid doing that (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. "PAVING THE WAY FOR IDEAS," BY KENNETH TOMLINSON Washington, DC., August 28, 2002 -- When I was named director of the Voice of America early in the Reagan presidency, I discovered that the most challenging job I would ever have also was in theory deceptively simple. All we had to do was to tell the truth. With one caveat.... http://128.11.143.24/bbg/_bbg_news.cfm?articleID=34&mode=general (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO SAWA -- By DIANA ELIAS, Associated Press Writer KUWAIT (AP) -- Young Arabs tuning in to a new American government radio station designed especially for them rave about its international playlist -- but many are not happy with its news reports. They see it as propaganda. In targeting the 30-year-olds and under who make up 60 percent of the Arab world's 280 million people, Radio Sawa has ditched the news and public affairs focus of the Voice of America Arabic-language service it replaced. Its music-heavy programming resembles a youth-oriented station in the United States -- only without the commercials. While a U.S. pop station uses music to draw an audience for ads for consumer goods, Radio Sawa -- "Radio Together" in Arabic -- makes no qualms about using music to connect with Arab listeners in an effort to show how and what Americans think. It began broadcasting from Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in late March and is looking to grow by transmitting from more countries in the Middle East. The United States is largely seen in this region as a supporter of Israel against Palestinians. Many here also believe the war on terrorism is directed at their religion, Islam, not just at Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization. If Radio Sawa wants to dispel those notions, it will have to break through a barrier of skepticism. "I used to listen to it, but stopped once I found it was American radio," said Yousef, a 30-year-old Palestinian who lives in the United Arab Emirates. "They are trying to improve their image and introduce themselves in a different way, through music instead of politics. I know them, and I still don't like them." For news, Yousef, who refused to give his full name, said he watches Qatar's Al-Jazeera television and Saudi Arabia's Middle East Broadcasting Corp. Buthaina Jad'on, a school teacher in Jordan's capital, Amman, said she was shocked when Sawa interrupted its programming recently for a broadcast of a speech by President Bush. "I don't like its political news because they are biased to America and show the Arabs in a different and wrong image," the 27-year-old said. "I listen to its music only and turn it off when the news begins." Norman Pattiz, the primary inspiration behind the station, said Americans, in turn, believe Arab media skew the news. Although mending that was not the station's primary goal, Sawa "may counter some of the perceptions" that regional media create about America, he said. Pattiz scoffed at charges Sawa airs U.S. propaganda. "We wouldn't know how to do propaganda if we were asked to," he said. Along with songs by top international and Arab stars like Brian Adams, Lebanon's Pascal Mishalani, Britney Spears and Egypt's Hisham Abbas, the 24-hour station broadcasts public service messages against drugs and drinking and driving. "Listen to us, and we will listen to you," it promises in Arabic. Sawa typically devotes about 15 minutes of every hour to news, with shows at a quarter past and quarter of the hour. In addition to occasional speeches by top U.S. officials, the station offers interviews with them. An Arabic translation of the Bush speech that angered listener Jad'on was broadcast 15 minutes after the president made it in Washington. In June, Sawa had a lengthy chat with Secretary of State Colin Powell, with Arabic translation played over Powell's explanation in English of the Bush administration's Middle East peace strategies. The station also has a daily roundup of news about Iraq intended for Iraqi listeners. Pattiz said that after Sawa's Middle East broadcast center in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, opens later this year, there will be "larger blocks of talk and interview programs." Sawa has no firm statistics yet on the size of its audience. But Pattiz, who is chairman of the Middle East committee of a board that oversees U.S. government radio stations abroad, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that music research in a number of Middle Eastern cities indicates 10 percent of the area's people are listening to Sawa. "Ninety-eight percent of the population of the Middle East had never listened to VOA's Arabic service," he said. E-mails received from Arab listeners and provided to AP by Sawa without the names, describe the station as "so cool," "my favorite till the end of time," and a "great success." Some of the messages even praise Sawa's news: "My mom and dad and their friends like you because your music is good and the news is not biased at all. I think so too," wrote a 15-year-old student from Amman. Saad Jaafar, the assistant undersecretary of Kuwait's information ministry, said Radio Sawa has "achieved some success ... but not as a source for news." For that, most in Kuwait still tune to British Broadcasting Corp., he said. Sawa is popular enough to prompt worries among some Arabs that Western values will come with the pop music and news and eventually undermine Muslim religion and values. "What can we offer as a substitute for this radio station that targets the new generation?" columnist Sajed al-Abdali wrote in the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai Al-Amm. "This generation is my son and your son, my daughter and your daughter." Kuwaiti civil engineer Walid Mohammed listens to Sawa. However, he hates it when the radio describes attacks by militant Palestinian groups on Israelis as "suicide bombings." To him, as to many Arabs, the attacks are "martyr operations." The 33-year-old believes Sawa's programming is American "propaganda" that could very well affect impressionable young people, especially those who go to American and English schools. "Unfortunately, Radio Sawa will do quite well," he said. ------ On the Net: Radio Sawa: http://www.radiosawa.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) R. Sawa: see also CYPRUS ** U S A [non]. Kindly pass the word within the community... Worldwide Language Resources, Inc. http://www.wwlr.com is recruiting native speaking US citizens for contract interpreter assignments in the US and overseas. Arabic (all dialects), Farsi, Dari, Pashtu, Urdu, Somali, Amharic, Kohistani, Kurdish, Turkish, etc. Candidates must: be a US citizen submit a resume in MS word outlining their work and educational experience and languages spoken be willing to live overseas for a minimum of six months speak and write in native language and English Please submit resumes to resumes@wwlr.com or fax to (207) 392-1404 (James Williamson, WLR Director of Special Projects, Tampa FL, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I see they also have an office at Ft. Bragg, NC; wonder if involved in PsyOps (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. For the first time, I`m hearing WJIE on 7490 here in the San Francisco Bay area. The time is 8:15 pm PDT or 0315 UTC (David Fogarty, Aug 27 [UT 28?] fwd by WJIE to DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear WJIE-Shortwave, I take much pleasure in reporting reception of WJIE Shortwave on August 28, 2002 at 0458 UT on 7490 kHz. Reception was fair here on Sweden`s West Coast. SINPO: 33433. I heard the following programme details: 0458 Two station announcements which included the address: WJIE, PO Box 197309, Louisville (which you spelled), Kentucky 40259, USA as well as the hotmail.com contact address; 0459 Commercial announcements; 0500 Talk show; 0508 Several commercial messages with phone numbers; 0511 Talk show. I would be happy to receive your QSL-card or a confirming letter. Thank you. I will mention your station on my DX programme on Vatican Radio (in Swedish) next week. I also do the Christian Shortwave Report on HCJB in Ecuador once a month. Kind regards (CHRISTER BRUNSTRÖM, KUNGSGATAN 23, SE-302 45 HALMSTAD, SWEDEN (fwd by WJIE to DXLD) 7490 now back on with higher power, heard here August 29th 2250 with religious programming, identification 2300 and reports requested to WJIE, P.O. Box 197309, Louisville, Kentucky 40259. Fair strength (Mike Barraclough, England, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) See top for WORLD OF RADIO times (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. EX-MILITIA CHIEF GETS 30-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE By Steve Bailey, ASSOCIATED PRESS The former head of the Kentucky State Militia was sentenced to 30 months and one day in prison on federal weapons charges yesterday. In May, in a deal that resulted in the dismissal of eight other charges, Charles N. Puckett pleaded guilty to two weapons charges and one count of intimidating a witness. U.S. District Judge Jennifer B. Coffman imposed the sentence, saying Puckett, 55, also will serve three years supervised probation upon his release, participate in a mental health program and pay a $300 special assessment. "I believe that all of the attorneys involved were diligent in crafting an agreement that was appropriate to this case," Coffman said. Puckett's attorney, Gatewood Galbraith, told Coffman he had several people in the courtroom to speak on Puckett's behalf, including two Kentucky sheriffs. Coffman, however, said those statements would not be necessary. "Charlie has always had a desire to stand up as a contributing member of society," Galbraith said. "He's always tried to be a patriot and someone who overcame a difficult start. I stand here and vouch for him right now. He is a good man." The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms seized guns and other weapons from Puckett's home in Lancaster in November. Authorities said he was barred from owning the weapons because of a previous felony conviction. Puckett was arrested in February and put under house arrest. Officials said he managed to slip out of an electronic monitoring bracelet and flee from his home March 14. He turned himself in to authorities about three weeks later, saying he'd left after receiving death threats. He was scheduled to go to trial in May on 11 counts involving guns, pipe bombs and almost 35,000 rounds of ammunition. Under the plea agreement, he admitted possessing a machine gun and a .45-caliber handgun even though he previously had been convicted of a felony. He also admitted to attempting to intimidate a witness. Before being sentenced, Puckett, led into the courtroom in a green jumpsuit and sandals and with shackles around his legs, briefly addressed the court. "I want the court to know there was no criminal activity intended on my behalf," he said. "I had no idea I was violating any law at all. "If it would be possible, I would beg the court for probation or a lesser sentence." Puckett has called the seizure a theft of private property and a violation of his rights. He also has argued that the 1968 federal gun- control act prohibiting felons from owning guns does not apply to him because he was convicted of the felony two years before the law's enactment. Puckett was the commander of the Kentucky State Militia, a civilian paramilitary group, until resigning from the post in September. His February arrest came just as he finished a television show interview about Steve Anderson, a fugitive accused of shooting at a patrol car in Bell County in October (Lexington KY Herald-Leader Aug 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. K-STATE, WIBW REACH RADIO RIGHTS SETTLEMENT Last Modified: 11:44 a.m. 8/29/2002 By Tim Richardson CJOnline.com A Topeka radio station released all broadcasting rights to Kansas State University football games after both entities reached a settlement to end a time-share agreement. Morris Communications, owner of AM 580 WIBW and The Topeka Capital- Journal, has agreed to pay the university $1.5 million for the university`s five hours of broadcast time on its station. The agreement dismisses litigation between Morris and K-State, university officials said. The transfer of five hours of daily airtime from campus radio station KKSU to WIBW will occur in 90 days. The FCC must approve the deal. As part of the settlement, WIBW agreed immediately to end broadcasting K-State football games. K-State begins its season Saturday against Western Kentucky in Manhattan. On Aug. 22, AM 580 WIBW was granted a permanent injunction to broadcast as a stand-alone entity. Riley County District Judge David Stutzman found that wording in a share-time agreement allowing WIBW and campus station KKSU to broadcast on the same frequency permitted the Topeka station to carry K-State football. Craig Colbach, general manager of WIBW radio, said plans are underway at the station to fill an additional 25 hours of airtime each week. He said the new programming likely will include a mix of local and national talk shows. Colbach said the settlement will benefit the university and the station, allowing WIBW to control its programming 24 hours a day. "We both had assets that we felt strongly about," Colbach said. "I think both of us have felt bad about the situation getting to certain levels." KKSU, which started broadcasting in 1924 during an uncluttered era of radio that allowed its programming to be heard coast to coast, will go off the air as part of the deal. "KKSU-AM has enjoyed a long, successful history of providing valuable and informative radio programming to the people of Kansas," said Larry Jackson, the station`s manager. "No doubt some people will be sad that KKSU will soon leave the air, but they can rest assured that we will be working both through radio stations around the state and through new media technologies to provide Kansas citizens the important practical, research-based information they¹ve long enjoyed from KKSU." K-State athletics director Tim Weiser said the settlement allowed the university to grant exclusive broadcast rights to Wichita-based Mid- America Ag Network. The university awarded a five-year contract to MAAN, which agreed to pay $6 million for exclusive rights to K-State athletics. "This has been a business matter, and I wish WIBW nothing but the very best and appreciate the professional manner in which they have conducted themselves during this difficult period," Weiser said. University President Jon Wefald called the settlement a "win-win" situation for everyone involved. The share-time agreement was first reached in 1929, then amended in 1969 when WIBW gave up 15 minutes of afternoon programming, allowing KKSU to broadcast each weekday from 12:30-5:30 p.m. In exchange, WIBW was given the right to broadcast K-State football. The share-time agreement had been in force ever since. The Associated Press contributed to this report. http://cjonline.com/stories/082902/bre_settlement.shtml [see above for links to a number of other related stories!] 73, (Topeka Capitol-Journal Aug 29, via Ken Kopp, KS WØNXS, DXLD) I am incensed that KKSU`s demise hinged around rights to stupid ballgames. The big story here should be the end of that public radio station, not the minor matter of ballgame broadcasts. There goes another of the very few public radio stations audible here, and the only one on AM. We can be certain that 25h more per week of WIBW will add NOTHING worthwhile to the radio spectrum. Why isn`t KSU doing anything to replace this facility with a fulltime FM station, like almost every other university of its calibre??? Not that that would do us any good as far away as Enid, OK. Sorrowfully, (Glenn Hauser, to KKSU) From the KC Star`s website http://www.kansascity.com this afternoon Posted on Thu, Aug. 29, 2002 K-STATE FOOTBALL TO BE HEARD ON ONE STATION By HOWARD RICHMAN, The Kansas City Star There will only be one broadcast of Kansas State footballs this year and it will be heard on the school`s official radio network after all. On Thursday, WIBW of Topeka and its parent company Morris Communications of Augusta, Ga., relinquished all broadcasting rights it had to K-State football. As part of the deal, Morris paid K-State $1.5 million and regained airtime it had shared with the school since 1969. The only broadcast of K-State athletics will be on the Mid-America Ag Network of Wichita. In Kansas City, those games can be heard on WHB (810 AM). The settlement was quite an about-face for WIBW, which on Aug. 22 retained rights to broadcast K-State football when a Riley County judge issued a permanent injunction, allowing the former flagship station of K-State football to continue broadcasting, even though it lost the rights in December to MAAN. The court decision allowing WIBW to retain rights stemmed from a 1969 amendment to a time-share agreement between WIBW and university campus station KKSU. It ended six months of acrimonious lawsuits between the school, WIBW and MAAN. "Any time you get a litigation, there`s a tendency there that things become divisive," said Bob Krause, K-State`s vice president for institutional advancement. "Now, maybe we can pull together as one family again." Morris Communications paid the university for K-State`s five hours of shared broadcast time. The transfer of the five hours from KKSU (from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.) will belong to WIBW after a 90-day transition period. The FCC must approve the deal. "It`s bittersweet," WIBW program director and ex-voice of Wildcat football Greg Sharpe said. "It`s been a dream of ours to become a full-time station. It was a dream to get those hours back. But it`s bittersweet because it`s 48 hours from kickoff, and we can`t do the game. There will be an empty feeling come Saturday." The settlement also means K-State`s athletic department is expected to receive $1.2 million per year from MAAN starting next year. When WIBW was going to carry the broadcast, MAAN agreed to pay only $300,000 this year because it had lost exclusive rights. Athletic director Tim Weiser said he was renegotiating this year`s portion of the contract with MAAN now that the network will have an exclusive broadcast. Marc Johnson, dean of the College of Agriculture, said he was confident that KKSU will assemble its own network that still will provide agriculture coverage and programs to farmers and ranchers and rural people in Kansas. And Krause added the discontinuation of KKSU doesn`t endanger federal money to the university (via Todd Brandenburg, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) More reports from KSU say that the 1.5M$ from the sale will go to the school's Agriculure Department to establish KKSU's predecessor [successor! -gh], be it broadcasting on the internet, establishing a network, or buying another station. You'd best listen for this handoff at least once (if you can) before it goes away! BTW, can anybody name the other stations who still share time on the same freq? I live within 45 miles of KKSU's transmitter site. I'm predicting that their last day will probably be November 27th - the day before Thanksgiving. And yes, we'll be rolling tape (Mark Erdman, Herington/Salina KS, Aug 30, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. The FCC page for silent stations is at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/status/silent.html Then tab down and select AM or FM. (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Unfortunately, as Paul`s info indicates, those lists are horribly out of date. That`s not something the FCC has kept accurate track of in years. Then there`s their habit of listing stations as silent even though they`re operating on a CP, STA, whatever. Until the paperwork gets finally processed and filed away, their public systems don`t seem to know it (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) ** U S A. When do the feds step in? The Federal Communications Commission fined Infinity Broadcasting and WNEW $21,000 for the indecent broadcast of Opie and Anthony's sacred sex stunt. Fines are not rare, and usually range from $7,000 to $35,000. What is the FCC looking for? http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/3960348.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (Posted on Thu, Aug. 29, 2002 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RICK DEES` CHART SHOW HEADS TO CHINA The Premiere-syndicated Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown will debut on the English-language Radio Beijing in October as part of a multiyear deal between Premiere and American Business Consulting International. Dees` four-hour program - which will become the first American show to air in the People`s Republic of China - is already familiar with many in Southeast Asia, airing on stations in Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan and The Philippines (Source? Via Eric J. Cooper Aug 27 via WDX6AA, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO CADILLAC ON 1660 KHZ I was tuning the expanded MW band and heard a new station called Radio Cadillac on 1660 kHz at 1637 UT. It`s an automated radio transmission, similar to TIS stations. Ran on a 1-2 minute loop. Two fake DJs having people call in to get tickets to see three people (Three Tenors?). Many "Radio Cadillac" IDs and said visit "radio.cadillac.com". I went to website but saw nothing about radio transmissions. I checked the website for closest Cadillac dealers to me in West Medford, Massachusetts. Closest was Olsen Cadillac in Woburn. So I drove there (Route 3, Cambridge St/Rd) but got nothing on my car radio on 1660. Other close Cadillac dealers according to the website are Newton and Danvers. Can anyone else hear this, so I can pinpoint where it`s coming from? Thanks, (Paul V. McDonough, Medford, MA, Aug 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) Paul, This is what is called a "billboard" transmission. Check if you can find a billboard advertising Cadillac in the vicinity where you heard the station. It most likely transmits from that billboard. Our "local" radio Cadillac station is on 1550 kHz and is located on a billboard on I-90 near Rt. 83. I also heard one near downtown Chicago on 1550 kHz near I-94 and North Avenue. (Chris Rigas, Wood Dale, Illinois, ibid.) These are periodically reported in various parts of the country. Usually they`re near billboards or other places near highways, andn usually not connected to or near any dealer (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Hearing this on 1660 at 2125 UT (5:25 EDT) from Winthrop MA (Keith McGinnis, Drake R8A/Sat 800, Kiwa loop/Quantum QX Pro loop, ibid.) In my travels around Florida on business I`ve heard the Radio Cadillac stations repeatedly (Thomas Giella, KN4LF, ibid.) ** U S A. [Preliminary tests:] The link on the main page of the NRC site is now active. You need Windows Media to listen. If you click on it and it does not launch, paste in the URL. I`m feeding audio over from a TV set to WLIO. The 26.410 MHz link will be up and down as I set levels. It`s convention time see http://www.nrcdxas.org/convention NATIONAL RADIO CLUB CONVENTION WEBCAST: paste this URL into Windows Media Player. http://65.17.139.3:8080 (Fred Vobbe, Lima OH, NRC-AM Aug 28 via DXLD) When you bring up media player hit control U and type the url with http: before it. It works and I am getting good audio in Virginia. (Dave Marthouse, VA, ibid.) NOTICE: The 26.410 at National Bank Building went off due to a failure. I won`t have time to fix it, so I switched to our second site on Lima`s west side that operates at 10 watts. Good luck on hearing it! (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Fred, Change your link on the webpage from "http://..." to "mms://..." and it will launch right from the page without any problem. I`m listening right now - alas, it`ll be harder when I leave for Boston Friday morning... -s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) FYI, audio is coming from my TV on the desk, to a 450.925 MHz Marti, to the receiver, and then out to the Web and 26.410 link. Quality here sounds "AM ish". It`s actually set for 28.8 Mono Dialup quality. Note, I am hearing a lag in the audio which is part of the encoding process. Enjoy our news at 6:00 PM, (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Yours truly will be a guest on WBZ`s Steve LeVeille Broadcast Sunday night (Monday morning) at midnight, yakking about radio - and presumably giving more than a few plugs to the NRC - for an hour or two. If it were to happen to show up on 1710 in Lima, as well...well, who`d be the wiser, right? :-) In any case, phone calls from Lima will be gladly accepted during the show at 617-254-1030. Those with longer, deeper memories of the glory days of WBZ will find that 617-254-5678 works equally well. Still wish I could get to Lima... -s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) ** U S A. FLORIDA MAN GETS 15 MONTHS, HUGE FINE FOR DELIBERATE INTERFERENCE NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 29, 2002 -- Florida Citizens Band enthusiast William "Rabbit Ears" Flippo will spend the next 15 months in federal prison and have to pay a $25,000 fine for jamming Amateur Radio communications and transmitting without a license. Flippo was convicted in federal court earlier this year on eight misdemeanor counts. The sentence is believed to be a record for convictions of this type. Federal District Court Judge Daniel T.K. Hurley imposed the sentence August 29 on Flippo, of Jupiter. He had been found guilty June 19 of four counts of operating without a license and four counts of deliberate and malicious interference. Flippo has remained in custody since the guilty verdict and underwent a psychiatric evaluation prior to sentencing. It's not clear if he will get credit for time already served. The judge also said he wants a full financial disclosure from Flippo, who may face other legal actions unrelated to his radio operation convictions. At the sentencing, Flippo reportedly wept, said he'd turned over a new leaf and claimed he was sole support for his wife and two daughters. None of his family members was in the courtroom for the sentencing, however. The judge was not persuaded, telling Flippo, 60, that he was old enough to have considered the consequences of his actions. Hurley also alleged numerous incidents of perjury during the course of Flippo's testimony during his June trial, which ran six-and-one-half days. The jury took about a half hour to determine that he was guilty on all counts. According to trial testimony, Flippo primarily had targeted members of the Jupiter-Tequesta Repeater Group for jamming and regularly interfered with amateur operations, especially on 10 and 2 meters, over an approximately three-year period. Following up on the amateurs' complaints, personnel from the FCC's Tampa District Office visited the Jupiter area at least twice in 1999 and reported tracking the offending signals to Flippo's residence. Flippo had faced a maximum of eight years in prison -- one year on each count -- and up to $80,000 in fines. Available opinions were mixed on whether the sentence Hurley imposed was appropriate. Ed Petzolt, K1LNC, who assisted the FCC in gathering evidence and, at one point, had his car rammed by Flippo's vehicle, said he felt Flippo should have received at least three years. "I thought it was a slap on the wrist," said Petzolt, the 1999 ARRL International Humanitarian Award winner who also testified at the trial. John Criteser Jr, KC4JLY, agreed. "I think he should have gotten more -- at least five years," Criteser said outside the courthouse. Other amateurs who attended the sentencing session, including Jupiter-Tequesta club member Bert Moreschi, AG4BV, were satisfied with the penalty, however. Flippo requested that he be incarcerated at Florida's Eglund Air Force Base, but the decision on where he'll spend his sentence is up to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Flippo's federal trial was twice postponed last year after he argued successfully that serious health problems would prevent him from participating. He was unsuccessful, however, when he tried the same tactic during a hearing earlier this year to determine if he was capable of standing trial. Last year, Flippo was convicted in state court of criminal mischief -- also a misdemeanor -- after ramming Petzolt's vehicle. He was sentenced to a year's probation and ordered him to dispose of any radio equipment in his possession. A ban on possessing radio gear also had a condition of his federal bond, which Hurley subsequently revoked during the trial. Federal authorities arrested Flippo in July 2000. The criminal charges of which he now stands convicted covered violations allegedly committed between June 1999 and April of 2000. The defendant already faces a $20,000 fine levied in 1999 for unlicensed operation, willful and malicious interference to Amateur Radio communications, and failure to let the FCC inspect his radio equipment. Hurley ordered Flippo immediately back into custody to start serving his sentence. Flippo reportedly was led into and out of the courtroom in shackles and leg irons (ARRL via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. The following domestic frequencies and stations are active: 5035, 5925, 5975, 6020, 6165, 6347, 6381 (sometimes drifting down a few kHz), 6495 (now rather on 6490), 6690 (now rather on 6665), 7210, 9530 and 9875. (French language lessons were heard at 1430 on 5925 & 6020). No trace of 5597, and 7156 might have been the unID Asian station under VOA in Burmese at 1430 on 7155. Over a period of 4 weeks, I noted 4796 tentatively only a couple of times with s/off at 1400 according to schedule. There appears to be a new National Program 1 outlet on 9635 which was noted at 0800, much weaker than parallel 9530 (Maarten van Delft, Malaysia, DSWCI DX Window Aug 28 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. V. of the People was destroyed by a bomb, but nobody was hurt, VOA news reported at 1730 UT August 29 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ZIMBABWE RADIO STATION BOMBED, ACTIVIST ARRESTED Thu Aug 29, 4:54 PM ET By Cris Chinaka HARARE (Reuters) - Gunmen threw a bomb which exploded in a private radio station widely regarded as anti-government in Zimbabwe`s capital on Thursday, but nobody was hurt in the blast, witnesses said. Separately, police arrested a human rights activist, drawing accusations that Zimbabwe`s pro-government forces were continuing to muzzle opposition voices. Britain and the United States condemned the bombing, which they linked to previous attacks on independent media. "This attack on independent broadcasting sends another clear signal that freedom of speech has no place in (President Robert) Mugabe`s Zimbabwe," British European Parliament member Glenys Kinnock said in a statement. She urged African leaders at the Earth Summit in neighboring South Africa to condemn Mugabe loudly when he addresses the world leaders there on Monday. In Washington, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "The United States strongly condemns this attack on independent media in Zimbabwe." "It occurs in the context of Zimbabwe`s government`s assault on the rule of law and repression of the civil society, including regular harassment and intimidation of the independent media," he told a daily briefing. Zimbabwe`s opposition Movement for Democratic Change condemned the attack, saying it proved that "sinister elements" in Zimbabwe were determined to silence all opposition. Shortly after midnight, two armed men confronted a guard on duty at the "Voice of the People" radio station in Harare and told him to leave, before hurling an explosive device into the single-story building. "They threw a bomb through a window of the building. It was extensively damaged but no-one was hurt," said Takura Zhangasha of the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack. Station head Faith Ndebele refused to speculate on who could have bombed the building, but said the culprit was clearly an enemy of free speech. Zimbabwe is plunging deeper into political and economic crisis as Mugabe presses ahead with plans to force 2,900 of the country`s white commercial farmers to quit their land without compensation. In a separate development, police arrested Frances Lovemore of the Amani Trust human rights group under a new law that prohibits the publication of false information. Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told Reuters police were looking for Tony Reeler, the head of the group, on similar charges. "We are questioning (Lovemore) over articles in newspapers suggesting that there are torture camps in this country, where people are being sexually abused and having their genitals burned. "We don`t know about these camps and we want her to help us locate them," he said. At least a dozen local and foreign journalists have been arrested under the new Access to Information law, but Lovemore is the first media source to be detained in terms of the tough media crackdown. "ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH" At the scene of the bombing, a Reuters reporter said the roof of the building in a Harare suburb had caved in and equipment and furniture were badly charred. An army and police probe team sealed the offices off from reporters and were sifting through the rubble. Ndebele said it was a recording studio that broadcast from abroad in three languages. It was run by a nongovernmental organization called "Voice of the People," funded by local and foreign donations. "For us this is an attack on free speech, and very sad for those who relied on our broadcasts for alternative views and opinions," Ndebele told reporters. Zimbabwe has one state-owned national broadcasting corporation and critics say Mugabe`s government is moving slowly in opening up the airwaves. Two years ago, the government raided and seized equipment of a private company that had set up a radio station in a Harare hotel, calling it an illegal pirate operation meant to advance the interests of a British-backed opposition. In the past two years, the offices and the printing press of Zimbabwe`s only privately owned daily newspaper -- The Daily News -- have also been wrecked in bomb attacks. Nobody was arrested in connection with those incidents. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020829/wl_nm/zimbabwe_bombing_dc_2 illustration: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/020829/161/252ge.html (via yahoonews via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Same story also at: http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=worldnews&StoryID=1388481&fromEmail=true (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Zimbabwe radio station bombed, activist arrested (more) Reuters, Harare, August 30 Gunmen threw a bomb which exploded in a private radio station widely regarded as anti-government in Zimbabwe's capital on Thursday, but nobody was hurt in the blast, witnesses said. Separately, police arrested a human rights activist, drawing accusations that Zimbabwe's pro-government forces were continuing to muzzle opposition voices. Britain and the United States condemned the bombing, which they linked to previous attacks on independent media. "This attack on independent broadcasting sends another clear signal that freedom of speech has no place in (President Robert) Mugabe's Zimbabwe," British European Parliament member Glenys Kinnock said in a statement. She urged African leaders at the Earth Summit in neighboring South Africa to condemn Mugabe loudly when he addresses the world leaders there on Monday. In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said: "The United States strongly condemns this attack on independent media in Zimbabwe." "It occurs in the context of Zimbabwe's government's assault on the rule of law and repression of the civil society, including regular harassment and intimidation of the independent media," he told a daily briefing. Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change condemned the attack, saying it proved that "sinister elements" in Zimbabwe were determined to silence all opposition. Shortly after midnight, two armed men confronted a guard on duty at the "Voice of the People" radio station in Harare and told him to leave, before hurling an explosive device into the single-story building. "They threw a bomb through a window of the building. It was extensively damaged but no-one was hurt," said Takura Zhangasha of the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Nobody claimed responsibility for the attack. Station head Faith Ndebele refused to speculate on who could have bombed the building, but said the culprit was clearly an enemy of free speech. Zimbabwe is plunging deeper into political and economic crisis as Mugabe presses ahead with plans to force 2,900 of the country's white commercial farmers to quit their land without compensation. In a separate development, police arrested Frances Lovemore of the Amani Trust human rights group under a new law that prohibits the publication of false information. Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena told Reuters police were looking for Tony Reeler, the head of the group, on similar charges. "We are questioning (Lovemore) over articles in newspapers suggesting that there are torture camps in this country, where people are being sexually abused and having their genitals burned. "We don't know about these camps and we want her to help us locate them," he said. At least a dozen local and foreign journalists have been arrested under the new Access to Information law, but Lovemore is the first media source to be detained in terms of the tough media crackdown (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ZIMBABWEAN RADIO BUILDING BLOWN UP (Cherish our freedom; we are very fortunate to have it... Mike Terry) From BBC News Thursday, 29 August, 2002, 09:49 GMT 10:49 UK A building housing an independent radio station in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, has been destroyed in an explosion. The building`s roof caved in after the blast, according to the BBC`s Lewis Machipisa in Harare. Staff at the Voice of the People station told the BBC that they suspected that the building had been bombed - there has been no confirmation of this from the police. The incident occurs against a background of government action to control the independent media and criticisms by ministers that the media is conducting a campaign against the government. Journalists in Zimbabwe accuse the government of trying to muzzle the media. The Reuters news agency reported that a bomb had caused the blast. It says that two armed men confronted the security guard on duty at the privately-run radio station shortly after midnight and told him to leave. The agency says Takura Zhangasha, an advocate with the Media Institute of Southern Africa told them that the men " then hurled an explosive device into the one-storey building". The French agency, AFP, also reported that a bomb exploded early on Thursday morning at the Voice of the People offices. New media laws introduced in Zimbabwe in March restricted the activities of private radio stations. The Voice of the People recorded radio material which was sent to the Netherlands from where it was broadcast on short-wave to avoid breaking the media curbs. Workers arrived for work at Voice of the People on Thursday morning to find that the building was in ruins. The BBC`s Lewis Machipisa reports that the staff said that one of their colleagues had not turned up for work but they did not know why. In the past few years there have been physical attacks on the independent media, with two bomb attacks against the Daily News newspaper. More recently Zimbabwean and foreign journalists based there have been arrested by the government. Several have been charged with offences under the new media laws. In July, the courts acquitted an Andrew Meldrum, an American journalist based in Zimbabwe, of breaking new, strict media laws. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) BOMB DESTROYS ZIMBABWE RADIO OFFICE Thu Aug 29, 2:24 PM ET By ANGUS SHAW, Associated Press Writer HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) - A bomb attack Thursday gutted the office of a radio station critical of President Robert Mugabe`s government, and authorities raided a human rights group and a camp for displaced farm workers run by a private charity. The actions heightened tensions in Zimbabwe, where independent media outlets and opposition activists say they have been subject to attacks by ruling party militants during nearly two years of political unrest. A security guard said at least two men, one carrying a firearm, on Thursday threw two objects into the office of the Netherlands-based Voice of the People in Harare`s Milton Park suburb, according to police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena. An explosion was heard and a fire then almost completely destroyed the suburban home that had been converted into an office. No one was in the building at the time, Bvudzijena said. Computers, recording and editing equipment, files and furniture were destroyed. Bvudzijena said fingerprints collected from the scene had given police a positive lead, but he did not say who was the suspect and no one has yet been arrested. Voice of the People has been criticized by the government for circumventing a ban on independent broadcasting by sending recorded material in Zimbabwe`s local languages for transmission by shortwave from The Netherlands. The government has accused the broadcaster and a second shortwave station, SW Africa beamed from Britain, of airing hostile propaganda and stirring political division. Later Thursday, police raided the Harare office of the independent human rights group Amani Trust, detaining one official and taking away documents compiled on political violence that has left nearly 200 people dead in the past two years. The trust works with victims of political violence and torture. Trust officials said Dr. Frances Lovemore, a specialist in violent trauma, was taken by police for questioning at the main Harare police station. In a separate raid, army troops detained 12 people digging sanitary facilities at a camp for workers displaced from seized white-owned farms in the Mazowe district, about 20 miles north of Harare. "I don`t know why they were taken away or what they will be charged with," said the Tim Neill, head of the Zimbabwe Community Development Trust, private charity that runs the camp. The men, themselves displaced workers, were being held at the police station in the provincial capital of Bindura, he said. Neill, a clergyman and an outspoken critic of the government, was questioned by police last month for alleged subversive activities but he was released without charge. His organization seeks to help victims of political violence and farm workers driven off farms seized under a government program to confiscate 95 percent of white-owned land where as many as 300,000 workers live with their families. It and the Amani Trust have been accused of providing "safe houses" for government opponents using funding from foreign opponents of the government. The attack on Voice of the people was not the first on a Zimbabwean media outlet. The printing presses of Zimbabwe`s only independent daily newspaper were destroyed in a bomb attack in December 2000, days after Information Minister Jonathan Moyo described The Daily News as a threat to national security. No arrests have been made in that bombing. Earlier this year, the government passed sweeping media control laws and 12 independent journalists have been arrested for alleged violations. (via Mark Fine, Cumbre DX via DXLD) BOMBS SILENCE ZIMBABWE FREE RADIO STATION By Peta Thornycroft (Filed: 30/08/2002) Bombs destroyed the studios of one of Zimbabwe's two independent radio stations yesterday as President Robert Mugabe launched a fresh round of repression of human rights groups... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/08/30/wzim30.xml (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) As to be expected, Media Network has a big story on this; see the original for illustrations: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/zimbabwe-vop.html ZIMBABWE MEDIA DOSSIER: Voice of the People Bombed There has been widespread condemnation of the 29 August bomb attack on the Harare studios of Voice of the People (VOP) which has completely destroyed the station`s production facilities. The attack, which took place in the early hours of the morning, did not cause any deaths or injuries. Nobody has claimed responsibility, but it`s widely believed both inside and outside Zimbabwe that the attack was carried out on behalf of the government. Three men arrived at the premises in Milton Park, a suburb of Harare, at around 1am. The security guard said that the men approached him and told him in the Shona language that he must step aside "lest he dies for something that he is not involved in." The guard says the three men, arrived by foot, and may have parked their car at some distance from the building. The coordinator of VOP, John Masuku, said that he was in the process of contacting the VOP`s lawyer and was not in a position to say much at the moment. Thorn in the Side VOP is an independent radio station that broadcasts into Zimbabwe on shortwave. Since its inception two years ago, it has been a thorn in the side of the Mugabe government, which has consistently refused to allow opposition views to be expressed on the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). Faced with the overwhelming ZBC bias towards Mugabe and the Zanu-PF party prior to the general election in 2000, former employees of the ZBC got together to create Voice of the People, with funding from the Soros Foundation and the Dutch non- government funding organisation HIVOS. They decided to hire airtime outside the country, and chose a 50 kW transmitter at the Radio Netherlands` Madagascar relay station since this provided blanket coverage of Zimbabwe. A second independent shortwave station, Radio SW Africa, operates from a facility in the UK. In January 2002, Zimbabwe`s Foreign Minister declared that Britain and The Netherlands had "lost their neutrality by supporting propaganda against the Mugabe government". However, interviewed on domestic public radio, Radio Netherlands` Director Lodewijk Bouwens pointed out that part of RN`s mission statement is to assist in the dissemination of different points of view. In this instance, RN was asked to help by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), which is closely monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe. Mr Bouwens also stressed that RN has no editorial control over the content of the broadcasts produced in Harare. Speaking after news of the bomb attack, Mr Bouwens said that Voice of the People is "essential to democracy in Zimbabwe." Intimidation Listen to Abel Mutsakani talking to Newsline`s Josh Maiyo (4`07`) http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/rnw/medianetwork/zimbabwe020830.rm Abel Mutsakani, Secretary General of the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists, told Radio Netherlands that he was quite sure the government is behind the attack: "It is quite clear that this is an attempt to intimidate the media. Not only are these bombings and attacks happening to the independent media, but if you look at the number of journalists the government has arrested so far, it`s more than twelve. All these journalists are working for the independent media. Nobody from the state-controlled media is targeted." The Zimbabwe chapter of MISA was swift to condemn the bombing. "The bomb, which has destroyed all the equipment, virtually incapacitates the operations of the aspiring radio station," said a MISA statement. "The latest bombing of VOP is the fourth such direct bombing of a media organisation, taking place in less than three years. This excludes incidences of physical attacks, arrests and intimidation. These developments are unprecedented in the history of Zimbabwe." Last month the police, accompanied by officers from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, and armed with a search warrant, raided VOP in search of a transmitter and other broadcasting equipment. After failing to find a transmitter, the police confiscated 133 tapes and files, which were later returned. Zimbabwe Government Reaction A report on the ZBC Web site described VOP as a "pirate radio station", which "churns out anti-Zimbabwe propaganda from Europe." The government is quoted as describing VOP as "nothing short of a criminal and terrorist group." The Minister of State for Information and Publicity in the Office of the President, Professor Jonathan Moyo, said the setting up of the Voice of the People was an example of European interference in Zimbabwe`s affairs. International Condemnation The United States condemned the attack. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said "Responsibility for the bombing has not yet been determined. However, I have to say it occurs in the context of Zimbabwe`s government`s assault on the rule of law and repression of the civil society, including regular harassment and intimidation of the independent media." British European Parliament member Glenys Kinnock said in a statement that "this attack on independent broadcasting sends another clear signal that freedom of speech has no place in Mugabe`s Zimbabwe." Mrs. Kinnock urged African leaders at the Earth Summit in South Africa to condemn Mugabe loudly when he addresses the conference on Monday. Part of a Strategy? The attack on Voice of the People appears to be part of a hardline strategy adopted by Mugabe`s new Cabinet that was sworn in on 26 August. Mugabe called it a "fully fledged war Cabinet" that would defend his programs from interference at home and abroad. During the past week, police have raided offices of the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and a leading human rights group, Amani Trust. At the moment, VOP is obviously unable to produce new material. But scheduled shortwave transmissions will continue for the time being, with repeats of previous broadcasts. Voice of the People broadcasts at 0330-0430 UTC on 7310kHz ((c) Radio Netherlands Media Network Aug 30 via DXLD) However, I checked 7310 around 0400 UT Aug 30, and could detect no signal, tho the usual WHRI slop from 7315 was a problem (gh, OK, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Phil Bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary July 30 2002 through August 25 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 7/30 227 9 2 none minor 7 flares 7/31 209 9 2 minor minor 4 flares 8/ 1 193 23 5 minor minor 5 flares 2 180 30 5 moderate minor 9 flares 3 168 18 2 strong minor 6 flares 4 151 15 2 moderate minor 5 flares 5 142 8 2 minor minor 8 flares 6 145 5 2 none minor 4 flares 7 136 7 2 minor none 3 flares 8 135 6 3 none minor 6 flares 9 140 15 4 none minor 8 flares 10 148 14 3 minor minor 5 flares 11 172 12 3 none minor 7 flares 12 184 13 2 none minor 5 flares 13 192 13 2 minor minor 6 flares 14 208 13 3 minor minor 7 flares 15 210 21 4 minor minor 9 flares 16 214 19 2 moderate minor 5 flares 17 227 11 2 minor minor 6 flares 18 241 15 2 minor minor 9 flares 19 237 22 3 minor minor 10 flares 20 228 15 3 moderate minor 10 flares 21 220 34 3 strong minor 6 flares 22 220 9 2 moderate moderate 5 flares 23 210 10 3 minor moderate 7 flares 24 196 7 1 strong moderate 5 flares 8/25 179 8 3 minor minor 6 flares ********************************************************************** (IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-134, August 28, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1145: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495, 7415; Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html from Aug 30 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.rm [from early UT Aug 29] (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1145.ram [from early UT Aug 29] (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1145.html [later Aug 29] UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL DXLD es la única fuente de noticias que religiosamente anota el origen de las noticias y las fechas de su aparición. Yo abogo por la libertad de la información, incluyendo la publicación de las fuentes originales e intermediarias, para mayor esclarecimiento de los hechos, aunque esto pueda herir o lastimar las susceptibilidades de alguna persona. Recuerda que "la verdad os hará libres". Recuerda que también en en DXLD se publican datos equivocados, que siempre, como todas las noticias, tiene, cada uno, su progenitor, pero en tanto se conozca la verdad, se corrigen los datos. Es éste un principio saludable y admirable, y a Glenn Hauser, dígase lo que se quiera decir, pienso que todos le debemos nuestra admiración y agradecimiento por los servicios que nos viene prestando día a día. Con todo respeto te saluda tu amigo sueco, (Henrik Klemetz, Conexión Digital via DXLD) See also LIBERIA, PARAGUAY ** AFGHANISTAN. [If PsyOps is on 6100...] Who is then on 8700U kHz? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA [and non]. HAARP: Saludos! aunque indefectiblemente la nota tiene una parte de carácter político no debemos negar que también tiene relación con las comunicaciones y nuestro hobby; disculpen si alguien se siente `ofendido`. Aquí un poco de luz sobre un tema real. (Alba) EL CATACLISMO DE HAARP, Juana Carrasco Martín (J.R.) Todo está basado en lograr la supremacía a cualquier precio, y para sustentarlo y mantenerlo, tener también el control militar. A eso aspira el actual gobierno en la Casa Blanca, donde los halcones han hecho nido con el clan Bush. Y lo que ahora se denuncia en Moscú, no es nada nuevo. ¿Quién no recuerda que junto al bombardeo incesante de los diques de Vietnam, Estados Unidos probó allí el provocar lluvias intensas para hacer también la guerra meteorológica en aquella agresión infernal, donde se pretendía la devastación completa de un pueblo y una nación? Y en los 80 hubo más investigaciones en eso de poner a su disposición rayos y centellas. Pero en estos días del siglo XXI la mentalidad de cataclismo no merma y bajo un programa llamado HAARP, todo parece indicar que pueden existir manipulaciones de la ionosfera guiadas por las pretensiones militares. Cuando el mundo está a punto de reunirse en Johannesburgo para un nuevo encuentro cumbre que propicie la preservación del medio ambiente —al que por cierto el señor George W. Bush no irá—, se incrementan las posibilidades de daños devastadores provocados con intención perversa, insana, irracional e insensata. Dice el diario mexicano La Jornada que a puerta cerrada, pero con gran preocupación, hubo una audiencia de dos comités de la Duma rusa, el de Defensa y el de Asuntos Internacionales, para conocer y analizar el tema, pues la Fuerza Aérea y la Marina estadounidenses han puesto en práctica un experimento: desde 180 antenas transmisoras hiperpotentes se concentran sobre la atmósfera, la ionosfera y la magnetosfera de nuestro planeta ondas electromagnéticas de alta frecuencia que alteran y violentan sus condiciones naturales. Según el diario mexicano, esto puede crear un arma ``potencialmente equiparable a la nuclear en capacidad de aniquilación``, porque la energía desatada en haz calienta una zona determinada de la ionosfera y actúa como si fuera un ``horno de microondas global``, al decir del coronel Aleksandr Plaskin, ex director del centro de investigaciones espaciales del Ministerio de Defensa ruso. Luego rebotan como ondas eléctricas de frecuencia extremadamente baja (ELF), las que pueden penetrar hasta gran profundidad en la corteza terrestre. A ese engendro se le llama HAARP, o lo que es lo mismo High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (Programa de Investigación Aurora Activa de Alta Frecuencia), y se lleva a cabo por el Pentágono desde hace 12 años, supuestamente para ``mejorar las comunicaciones y los sistemas de vigilancia para uso tanto civil como de defensa``, porque alguna explicación deben darle a planes tan aviesos. Y es precisamente en Alaska, en el polígono de Gakona, donde las ondas ELF se prueban para formar parte del llamado armamento geofísico integral. Pero este no le basta a Bush, el hijo, y ya prevén construir una estación ELF en Groenlandia, de mayor capacidad. El análisis que hiciera la Cámara Baja rusa de estas circunstancias le atribuye la posibilidad de bloquear radiocomunicaciones y sistemas de radares, alterar equipos electrónicos de aviones, misiles y sistemas de seguimiento terrestre, hacer averías a redes de electricidad, conductos de gas y petróleo, influir negativamente en la biosfera y hasta en el estado psíquico y la salud de la población en determinadas regiones potencialmente enemigas. ¿Otras posibilidades del arma que se traducen en riesgos terribles para la humanidad?: destruir la agricultura y la ecología de un país determinado al que consideren en la lista de adversarios, y ni siquiera se enteran de que son objeto de una despiadada agresión militar, pues con las emisiones de gases consumistas sobran ataques a las capas más altas de nuestra Tierra para poner en juego su existencia, aunque en este caso perdemos todos, y también Estados Unidos es el principal agresor ¿inconsciente? Ahí están, dispuestos a alterar el clima, desencadenar inundaciones o sequías, huracanes y terremotos, u otras reacciones incontrolables de la naturaleza, mutaciones y cataclismos geológicos, biológicos y geofísicos que reediten la desaparición de la Atlántida, pero no quedará nadie para ni siquiera hacerse la pregunta de ¿cómo sucedió? (Fuente??? via José Alba Z., Aug 21, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. INTERNET LLEGARA HASTA EL POLO SUR! Un cable de fibra optica de casi 2.000 kilometros de largo será tendido en la superficie polar para que la WWW pueda llegar finalmente al otro extremo de la Tierra. La Fundación Científica Nacional estadounidense se ha propuesto conseguir "el mayor desafío de la ingenieria" en la Antártida. O sea, revolucionar las comunicaciones con el Polo Sur. La idea es construir un cable de fibra trasantártico que conecte este extremo de la Tierra con el resto del mundo. Para ello cuentan con un admirable presupuesto de 250 millones de dólares. La fecha límite es principios de 2009 aunque sus precursores admiten que pueden aparecer contratiempos que dificulten esta meta. Y es que el Polo Sur es el único lugar permanentemente habitado de la Tierra que no está incluído en 'la ruta' de los satélites geoestacionarios que rodean el planeta, lo que restringe de forma muy importante las comunicaciones. Hasta ahora, el método más utilizado para conectarse con la estación científica ubicada en ese rincón del mundo es la utilización de viejos satélites que son sacados de su órbita para que, al menos durante una parte del día, sean visibles desde la base polar. Sin embargo, la fibra óptica solucionaría todos los problemas. El cable permitiría alta velocidad y acceso confiable a Internet. Así, los científicos podrían transmitir información y los investigadores controlar experimentos en la Antártida desde otras regiones. En principio, el tendido recorrerá una distancia de 1.670 kilometros hasta la base francesa Concordia, ubicada en una región que se encuentra a 75 grados latitud sur y en línea directa con los satélites geoestacionarios. El mayor inconveniente con el que se van a encontrar es las bajas temperaturas que deberá soportar el cableado ya que, cubierto de hielo, puede alcanzar los 50 grados bajo cero. Además, también se tiene que contar con las rajas que se producen la superficie helada y la tensión del cable. Toda una proeza. (Telepolis, Internet, via Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ago 22, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ANTIGUA. ARSON CRIPPLES RADIO, TV OUTLETS IN ANTIGUA ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- The Management of ZDK Radio and CTV told the public this week that arson attacks completely destroyed ZDK`s AM transmitters at McKinnons on Sunday morning, and that a number of CTVs transmitters were set ablaze around mid-day Tuesday. They condemned the acts as an attack on press freedom and placed the blame "squarely on the shoulders of those who have been inciting anarchy by calling for the removal of the government by any means necessary." The statement said: "While there is no link between ZDK and CTV and the government that would warrant these wanton acts of arson, we call for the perpetrators to be brought to justice swiftly. Despite these wicked attempts to muzzle the legitimate voice of a radio station that has served this country for over 30 years and a TV station that does nothing more than relay channels from all over the world, including CNN and the BBC, the management of the two stations are determined to continue to uphold the rights of the people of Antigua and Barbuda, to receive information that is not tainted by the biased views of certain sections of society. The Police are investigating both arson attacks (Montserrat Reporter, August 9, 2002 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 1116 kHz, Brisbane, 4BC, very good holding on well even with splatter from KPNW-1120 with talk, mention by woman of "Talk radio 1116" gave phone numbers, 8/23 1352. They are much stronger than they used to be. Back in the 80s, 4BC was not all that common. With a signal like this, this will probably be one of the easiest commercial Brisbane stations. 5 kW with a lobe this way per the pattern book. A possible one to make it inland (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Aug 27, IRCA via DXLD) ** BENIN. RADIO BENIN, LOCAL RADIO PARAKOU SYNCHRONIZE PROGRAMS | Text of report by Radio Benin on 16 August The director of Radio Benin, Mr Liadi, says that there will be a synchronization of programmes between Radio Benin station in Cotonou and the local Radio Parakou between 2000 and 2100 [local time] daily. This is to enable people in those areas, who cannot capture Radio Benin on their radio sets to also listen to the news. It is in an effort to give a wider coverage to the station's programmes, especially crucial information that must be diffused throughout the country. It is also to ensure clear reception and participation from the various parts of the country. Today's news is synchronized with Radio Parakou, and there is clear reception from the north, as can be observed from the correspondent's reports. Source: Radio Benin, Cotonou, in French 1930 gmt 16 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Unusual catch yesterday: 6085.25, R. San Gabriel, La Paz, Bolivia, August 26th, 2315-2335, Spanish, woman talking, traces of advertisement, ID; heavy QRM by WYFR; reception possible in USB-mode only during word program of WYFR. O=1-2 No trace of BR Ismaning last night, which normally blocks this frequency completely. Good DX (Michael Schnitzer, Hassfurt, Germany, Aug 27, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura, Manaus, 4845.24, Aug 24 0155-0342*. Variety of local ballads, pops, lite instrumental music. And even some music by the Beatles. Portuguese announcements, ID, sign-off with national anthem. Weak; no sign of R. K`ekchí [q.v.] (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC TRAIN TRIP Story Filed: Monday, August 26, 2002 7:34 PM EST [sic, from Indiana??] VANCOUVER, Aug 26, 2002 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- On Saturday, September 7, CBC-TV invites you, your friends and family to board CBC/Radio-Canada's 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train. Be the first to experience and celebrate 50 years of public broadcasting in Canada on this unique "travelling open house". Vancouver is the official kick- off city of the CBC/Radio-Canada 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train, which will visit 19 communities across Canada and end its journey in Halifax on October 5. What: A free-admission public celebration open to all ages featuring CBC/Radio-Canada's 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train. Activities include a CBC children's programming and memories museum car, a read-the-news "Be An Anchor" activity and interactive CBC games. Take in displays, step onto the set of Hockey Night in Canada, meet CBC personalities and enjoy live entertainment including Frank Leahy and Friends who will perform a musical tribute to Don Messer's Jubilee. Also appearing on stage will be CherryBalm, Jou Tou, the China Film Philharmonic Folk Orchestra and children's performer Rick Scott. Why: CBC/Radio-Canada's 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train celebrates Canada's own stories, people and culture. It is an opportunity for Canadians to get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of television, and to share 50 years of broadcasting history, right in their own community. When: Saturday, September 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Where: Vancouver's historic VIA train station, 1150 Station Street, Vancouver, B.C. (adjacent to Main St. and Terminal Ave.) SPECIAL GUESTS Frank Leahy - CBC Recording Artist & Keeper of Don Messer's Violin Don Ferguson, Roger Abbott and Luba Goy - Royal Canadian Air Farce Steve Burgess - (at) the end Karin Larsen - CBC Sports Sharon Lewis - host of ZeD, CBC's late-night launch pad for ideas and creative expression Brian Williams - CBC Sports Gloria Macarenko - CBC News: Canada Now Erica Johnson - Marketplace Tune in to the CBC Television 50th special The Joke's On Us: Fifty Years of CBC Satire on Sept 6 at 8 p.m. For more information on CBC's 50th Anniversary celebrations, log on to http://www.cbc.ca/tv50th CONTACT: For further information: Jill Webber Hrabinsky, Program Marketing Coordinator - Television, CBC Communications Vancouver, (604) 662-6680, jill--hrabinsky(at)cbc.ca (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** CANADA. Here's some information which was provided by Steve Lemay at RCI: On Sunday, September 8th, RCI will broadcast a special edition of Cross Country Checkup simultaneously with CBC Radio One on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America. The program will be transmitted on shortwave frequencies 9800 and 15375 kilohertz to the Eastern and Central United States and to the Caribbean from 2000 to 2200 UT (1600-1800 EDT). 73- (Bill Westenhaver, RCI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. U.S. TV museum tunes in CBC MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO PLANS TRIBUTE TO CBC TV'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY [by] Martin Knelman FOR 50 years the special treasures of CBC Television have been kept secret from most Americans, with the exception of those who have lived in border cities such as Detroit. This fall, that will start to change when the prestigious Museum of Television & Radio unravels a mammoth retrospective of notable CBC-TV shows of the past half century with screenings of the same programs in both New York and Los Angeles scheduled daily for 3 1/2 months from mid-October to early February. One detail of the massive program makes me want to give the museum and the CBC which jointly compiled the selections a gold star for daring. That's the inclusion of Rick Mercer's Talking To Americans. This cheeky one-hour documentary satirizing American ignorance of Canada was a huge hit when it was shown on the CBC in the spring of 2001. But on Sept.11 of the same year, it suddenly became the most politically incorrect show in the universe.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_gx_session_id_=6eb247aa9a64b574&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1026144562042 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. THE WORLD ON A SHOESTRING Sid Adilman, Thestar.com Aug. 24, 01:00 EDT OPERATING mainly out of two west-end Toronto homes for $1,700 a week, a paltry cost for a weekly cross-country radio show, Global Village brings the world of music to CBC Radio every week. Mostly assembled on computer, it gives a national voice to singers and musicians from other countries who now live in Canada and who record on marginal labels that private radio stations shun and even few college or alternative radio stations play. These talents perform at clubs that mainline media do not usually visit. They are from countries whose people we see daily on Canada's urban streets but hear little about.... http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?GXHC_ias_has_been_authenticated=&GXHC_GX_sst=&GXHC_gx_session_id_=34daa4c849efb029&pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1026144486945 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia 6060,1. Stationen hörs nu även i Sverige och jag skickade en förfrågan till Russell Stendal varför programmen tystnade 0525 den 18/8 fastän sändaren fortfarande var på. Här är hans svar: The electrical power is unreliable at our station and if one of the phases starts to fluctuate the transmitter shuts down. Also the signal propagates much further during night (grey line) than during the daytime and this is another reason. When everything is going well we are on the air 24 hours a day. In the next several weeks we are planning improvements to the antenna. /WIK (SW Bulletin Aug 25 via DXLD) ** CUBA. 9820, 25.8 0652, Radio Reloj med nyheter och korrekt tid varje minut. De tog över frekvensen så fort Radio Habana Cuba slutade sitt engelska program kl. 0652. O=3 (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) ** CUBA. Saludos colegas diexistas, reciban un fuerte abrazo. He recibido comunicación desde Radio Habana Cuba y me informan de este concurso. CONVOCATORIA La revista CUBA INTERNACIONAL y el programa de esta emisora "DESPERTAR CON CUBA" convocan a sus lectores y oyentes a un nuevo concurso. La pregunta a responder es la siguiente: ¿EN SU OPINION CUAL HA SIDO EL MAYOR APORTE DE CUBA A LOS PAISES EN VIAS DE DESARROLLO Se otorgarán dos premios, que consistirán en suscripciones por un año a las Revistas "Cuba Internacional" o "Prisma". El plazo de admisión cierra el 31 de diciembre del 2002. Su respuesta debe dirigirla a: Programa "Despertar con Cuba", Apartado 6240, La Habana, Cuba Fax (537) 870 5810 E-mail: radiohc@e... [truncated, but you know...] (via José Días Aug 21, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Can you leave the anti-Castro propaganda out, especially when there is absolutely no mention of media, radio. Thanks (Martin Price, UK, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Not sure which previous item you object to; I was thinking the material did have a media connexion, tho not necessarily radio (gh) ** CYPRUS [non]. Re V. of Forgiveness: The programmes mentioned are the Arabic service of FEBA Radio Seychelles. During the Lebanese civil war their main production and listeners' service center in Beirut was destroyed several times, so they established a new center on Cyprus. Meanwhile the headquarters have moved back to the Lebanese capital, but it may well be that they still have an address on Cyprus (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, Aug 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Um pouco antes dos programas em espanhol, o técnico da Rádio França Internacional prossegue cometendo o erro e coloca, no ar, breves momentos dos programas em português, feitos pelos jornalistas brasileiros da emissora. A constatação é de José Moacir Portera, de Pontes e Lacerda(MT). Comentário, com todo o respeito aos brasileiros que labutam na emissora: Observa-se que a boa vontade para com os ouvintes brasileiros é a mínima possível na emissora! Há praticamente um ano, a Rádio Bandeirantes, de Porto Alegre(RS), deixou de retransmitir a RFI em 99,3 mHz, em FM. O faz apenas em AM, em plena madrugada! É por estas e outras atitudes que Úrsula Soares, dos programas em português para a África, não se cansa de agradecer as diversas cartas e e-mails que recebem dos brasileiros! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** FRANCE. Radio France's English Service Website http://www.rfi.fr/fichiers/Langues/rfi_anglais_main.asp has posted a 31 minute webclip of their newscast from immediately after the 9.11.01 attacks at http://medianetreal.dvlabs.com:8080/ramgen/%7Erfi/StaticMedia/SpecialEvents/Dossier269/rfise269-11sept20020807.RA Rather somber stuff of course, with the exception of a mention of the closure of Washington DC's "Dull Airport." (Tom Roche, Atlanta , DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Although some of these pieces of news may already have been published in DXLD, this news page of Radio Baptist International. Might be worth of checking. http://www.casabautista.org/bri/bri/news.htm 73 de (Pentti Lintujärvi, Helsinki, Finland, Webmaster of 1000 Lakes DX Page http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Park/3232/dx.htm DX LISTENING DIGEST) Including, and see also HONDURAS: RADIO AMISTAD 90.7 FM SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA, GUATEMALA BUILDS NEW QUARTERS Two teams of construction volunteers--from Florida and North Carolina- -have worked alongside Tzutujil Christians to build the new studio and office complex of Radio Amistad in August and November of 2001. A team from Trinity Baptist Church of Apopka, FL built the concrete block walls and concrete columns. They also installed the electrical wiring. Another team from Troutman Baptist Church of Troutman, NC helped construct the concrete columns and built a concrete block transmitter shack for the short-wave operation. Engineers Larry Baysinger of Louisville, KY and George Franklin of Big Spring, TX assembled and installed the SW transmitter which Larry had designed and built. A third team, from Richmond, VA, will lay the tile floor and stucco the walls in November. Since its inauguration in January of 1999, Radio Amistad has operated out of a very small control room in the tower of the church's steeple--which measures 6 X 6 feet. A 20-watt AM transmitter will be installed in nearby Santiago Atitlán whenever volunteer engineers can be recruited. Repairs are also needed on the SW transmitter. Santiago Atitlán is a town of 40,000 population on the far side of a volcano which blocks the station's FM signal from San Pedro La Laguna. Radio Amistad's SW signal will act as a studio-to-transmitter link to Santiago Atitlán--and will be re-transmitted on 540 AM. FROG SHORTS OUT SW TRANSMITTER AT RADIO K'EKCHI' IN GUATEMALA Radio K'ekchi's vintage Gates BC-5P 5KW transmitter had been out of commission for almost 18 months in early March of 2002 when Engineer Larry Baysinger replaced a modulation transformer and made other urgent repairs. With spare parts on hand, he managed to replace enough ceramic cylindrical resistors to get the signal strength up to 2 kW -- and the station was heard clearly across the K'ekchi' region in northcentral Guatemala. The expensive modulation transformer had been held up in customs for almost five months. The station had been using its 750-watt backup SW transmitter since November of 2000, but with that limited power, its signal did not reach all parts of the sprawling K'ekchi' region. Two weeks later -- in mid-March -- a frog hopped onto a cable and caused a short circuit. Meanwhile, Larry began searching for more ceramic cylindrical resistors to bring the transmitter up to 5KW. These were installed in mid-June, 2002, but just two days later--after Engineer Larry Baysinger had returned to Louisville -- another problem arose. And now both the 5 kW'er and the 750-watt backup transmitter are down. A new 5 kW SW transmitter is desperately needed. Radio K'ekchi' duplicates its SW programming on FM for the local audience in Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas and surrounding villages, but its 20-watt exciter leaves a lot to be desired in regard to coverage area. The station is seeking to raise funds to purchase a 1 kW RVR- brand power amplifier and has erected a 90-foot tower on the highest point of Broadcast Hill in Las Casas. With the 1 kW power amplifier they will be using four circularly-polarized antennas. Donations should be sent to the treasurer of the International Mission Board, SBC; 3806 Monument Ave., Richmond, VA 23230 -- and designated for Radio K`ekchí in Guatemala. Future plans call for a translator near Raxuja that will receive and re-transmit the FM signal toward Chisec (from http://www.casabautista.org/bri/bri/news.htm via Pentti Lintujärvi, Finland, Aug 27, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. RADIO BUENAS NUEVAS PUERTO LEMPIRA, HAS NEW BUILDING Construction is underway on the new studio and office building of Radio Buenas Nuevas in downtown Puerto Lempira, Gracias a Dios, Honduras. The station, a 500-watt short-wave station that went dark four years ago, was launched in 1980 at Campo Bautista, about three miles from town--a location rather inaccessible to the public. When construction is complete and the equipment is installed, Radio Buenas Nuevas will be a 250-watt FM station. The station ministers to the Mískito indigenous people group in northeastern Honduras and northwestern Nicaragua. Jim Palmer is the SBC missionary among the Mískito. A volunteer broadcast engineer is needed to accompany Engineer Larry Baysinger to complete the technical installation in March, 2003 (from http://www.casabautista.org/bri/bri/news.htm via Pentti Lintujärvi, Finland, Aug 27, DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR National Channel noted on 9450 replacing 9425. The schedule is 1320-0041 UT via Bangalore 500 kW. Sincerely, (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Aug 28, dx_india via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRÃ - Você tem mais uma oportunidade de participar do grande concurso intitulado "A Intifada Palestina e sua Inocência". Os interessados devem escrever um artigo sobre o assunto, contendo 500 palavras ou mais, mencionar a bibliografia usada e enviar até o dia 1º de dezembro. O resultado será divulgado no dia 11 de fevereiro de 2003, data do aniversário do triunfo da Revolução Islâmica do Irã. Tome nota do endereço: Serviço Exterior da Voz da República Islâmica do Irã, Redação Espanhola, Apartado Postal 19395-3333, Teerã, República Islâmica do Irã. Depois de enviar o primeiro relatório de recepção para a Voz do Irã, o ouvinte é convidado para participar do Clube DX da emissora. Para receber o segundo QSL, deve mandar 10 relatórios. Para obter o terceiro, 20 informes. A quarta verificação vem depois do envio de 35 relatórios. O QSL de número 5 é conseguido após a elaboração de 50 informes. Em seguida, 75 relatórios de recepção dão o direito ao sexto QSL. O sétimo QSL vem depois da remessa de 105 relatórios. Mais adiante, 140 informes valem o oitavo QSL. Já o nono, é obtido após o envio de 170 relatórios. Por fim, o décimo QSL é obtido depois do envio de 200 reportes de recepção. O ouvinte deverá numerar todos os informes. Após obter o QSL de número 10, o ouvinte receberá um valioso objeto do artesanato iraniano. Quem prosseguir enviando relatórios, receberá diplomas da emissora. Quem completar 250 relatórios, recebe o diploma de terceiro grau. Quem mandar 300 informes, ganha o diploma de segundo grau. Por último, a quota de 400 relatórios dá o direito ao diploma de primeiro grau. Quem ultrapassar todos os patamares, será incluído na lista de membros ativos do Clube DX da Voz da República Islâmica do Irã e será presenteado com um valioso souvenir (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Con motivo de haberse cumplido el pasado 19 de agosto los 40 años del Servicio en Español de Radio Corea Internacional (KBS), en el programa "Antena de la Amistad" del 25 de agosto se anunció el lanzamiento de una nueva tarjeta QSL conmemorativa y de un concurso con obsequios especiales. Para obtener la QSL es necesario al menos un informe de recepción correcto y para intentar uno de los premios del concurso hay que contestar dos preguntas: 1.- ¿Cómo y cuándo conoció a Radio Corea Internacional? 2.- ¿Qué imágen sobre Corea o qué conocimientos sobre Corea adquirió a través de los programas en español de Radio Corea Internacional? El tiempo límite para las participaciones es el 30 de noviembre de 2002. Por correo aéreo a: KBS Radio Corea Internacional, Apartado Postal 150-790, Seúl, Rep. de Corea Por correo electrónico: spanish@kbs.co.kr ¡Buena Suerte! (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Aug 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. 5469.97, R Veritas - faint trace of audio at 2055 UT 27 Aug, improving to SIO 222 by 2115. But suffering a lot of utility interference here. Best on USB at first because of het on LSB, but then morse ute also affecting USB! Able to copy R Veritas IDs at 2101 and 2119, otherwise EE talk difficult to follow. Mostly soul mx songs upto 2130. Maybe better reception another night! (Thanks to tip from DXplorer). (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, BDXC- UK via DXLD) Saludos para todos los usuarios de la lista: Rafael Rodríguez es amigo mío. Nos conocemos desde hace muchos lustros. Ahora que no estoy en su país, me envía casi siempre la información a mi antes que a cualquier otro. En el caso de Radio Veritas, me comenta Rafael que no había escuchado Radio Nederland y que no sabía nada de la reactivación de la emisora sino que la descubrió de pura casualidad. Le honra el haberla identificado, dándonos a conocer la información através del internet. Eso, sin embargo, no quita que la noticia primero parece haber salido al mundo DXista por medio de Radio Nederland, aunque no muchos se hayan percatado de ello. La noticia de Radio Nederland está en http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html Ellos atribuyen la noticia a la edición del 22 de agosto del periódico liberiano The News. A Rafael Rodríguez mis parabienes por ser el primer DXista en descubrir la reactivación de la emisora, a Glenn Hauser mis gracias por hacerse eco en el DXLD http://www.worldofradio.com/dxld2133.txt de la captación de Rafael y de la noticia tal como la publicara Radio Nederland, atribuyendo a cada una de las dos fuentes la noticia en una forma que nos permite ir a chequearla a sus respectivas fuentes, incluyendo también la medición exacta de la frecuencia, realizada por Jerry Berg, y, finalmente, a Mika Mäkeläinen el testimonio de mi gratitud por agregar, el día 27, otros datos de interés sobre el tema (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Aug 28, Conexión Digital via DXLD) RADIO VERITAS FROM LIBERIA RETURNS TO SHORTWAVE Radio Veritas from Monrovia is back on 5470 kHz shortwave. According to the Africa News Service, the station returned to shortwave on August 22, at the same time expanding broadcasting hours from 12 to 18 hours a day. In addition to shortwave, the Catholic station is heard locally in the capital Monrovia on 97.8 MHz FM with 5 kW of power and call sign ELCM. According to the station's promo, programs in civic education, human rights, HIV/Aids, tropical issues and news would make up some of the many informative programs that have been planned. Radio Veritas, using the slogan Voice of Truth, was first heard on its reactivated shortwave frequency by Rafael Rodríguez in Colombia on August 24. Reception is best before sign-off at around 2300 or 0000 UTC. Years ago the station was also heard on 3450 kHz shortwave. Radio Veritas can be contacted through the Archdiocese of Monrovia. A few years ago the address was given as Box 3569, Monrovia, Liberia, telephone +231-221658 (DXing.info August 27, 2002 via DXLD) See PERU for another 5470 station! (gh, DXLD) ** LIBYA. V. of Africa, 15435, Aug 24 0015-0350* had IDs and English news at: 0024-0028, 0146-0156, 0224-0228, 0324-0328. French news followed each of these. Kor`an and closing announcements in Arabic at 0350 sign-off. Very strong but with slight hum. Still perfectly readable (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. EN SEPTIEMBRE, RADIÓPOLIS RELANZARÁ A LA XEW México D.F. 27 de agosto del 2002 Luego de siete años de estar dando tumbos, Grupo Radiópolis y su legendaria estación XEW podrían arrancar en septiembre próximo con su esperado relanzamiento, que incluirá una vasta renovación de imagen, perfil, programación y conductores. Especialistas radiofónicos han alertado sobre el constante deterioro de la división radio del Grupo Televisa, pero fuentes relacionadas con Radiópolis informaron a MILENIO Diario que probablemente será en septiembre cuando se lance el proyecto, aunque todavía no se tiene definida la fecha precisa, pues en un par de semanas se va a celebrar una reunión del consejo de administración de Radiópolis y allí se tomará una decisión. Explican que el equipo de trabajo de Radiópolis, no quiere soltar detalles hasta que se tenga bien armado el paquete y así no dar la impresión que está incompleto, pero una vez que esté totalmente amarrado el proyecto lo darán a conocer. Las fuentes aseguran que contrario a lo que se piensa, Radiópolis está preparando una reestructura completa que incluye programación, perfil, locutores y productores; además, en esta restructura destaca el regreso de María Victoria Llamas a la radio. La Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de la Radio ( AMPRA ) explica que desde la llegada del Grupo Prisa a Radiópolis octubre de 2001-, se ha despedido a casi 80 personas y se prevé despedir a 40 más a fin de reducir la plantilla laboral del grupo en aproximadamente 250 empleados. Efrén Rubio, ex conductor y productor de Radiópolis, duda de la efectividad de esta estrategia para redimensionar al grupo, pues recalca que todo debe hacerse de un día para otro, hoy tienen una cosa y mañana empiezan otra, todo mundo lo hace y lo ha hecho así porque si se tardan más el auditorio se va alejando. El hoy conductor del programa nocturno A Buena Hora, de Radio Red, explica que para levantar una estación de radio se necesita por lo menos un año de intenso trabajo, de muchos estudios y bastante acercamiento con la gente; se puede tirar una estación en tres meses, desatendiendo al auditorio, recortando programas, imponiendo censura y eso se está haciendo en Radiópolis. Luego de trabajar ocho años en Radiópolis, Rubio se atreve a pronosticar que el grupo crecerá en tres años o más; siempre y cuando cambien programación, conductores, alianzas y formatos. (Hugo González via Héctor García Bojorge, Aug 27, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** NEPAL. The new 6100 kHz outlet of Radio Nepal was heard at 2350 UT tune-in on 26 August, in parallel with 5005 with local songs and announcements. Time pips and presumed news in Nepali at 0015. Better on 5005 at first but with increasing utility QRM. 6100 was clear, although a little weaker (Tony Rogers, Birmingham - UK, AOR 7030+/LW, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. LARKANA MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER TO OPEN SOON Five years after work started on installing a mediumwave transmitter for Radio Pakistan at Larkana, it is still not in operation. But the station is finally expected to go on the air in the first week of October. A report on The Dawn Web site says that delays in providing an electric power connection to the transmitter site, near Chuharpur, are behind the problem. An application was submitted in 1996, and work on the station began in 1997, but the power still hasn't been connected. The project has cost 89.5 million rupees. Larkana is currently operating on FM, but will cover a much wider area when the 10 kW transmitter on 1305 kHz is finally switched on (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 28 August 2002 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Estimados amigos de la lista: Recién acabo de leer el DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-133 que envió el colega Glenn Hauser y en relación a los comentarios vertidos en el punto PARAGUAY, no los comparto en absoluto los comentarios de Radio América, involucrando a terceras personas. Ni el mencionado taxativamente en el informe ni yo, buscamos generar polémicas. Creo Glenn Hauser que hay que tener un poco más de ÉTICA; si yo le envío un mensaje para su INFO es para su INFO y no para que lo ande divulgando por el mundo. Yo le he escrito personalmente a Radio América aclarando el punto y expresándole mi opinión. Personalmente no pongo en duda que en algún momento todos tendremos la oportunidad de escucharlos, pero no creo con las actuales condiciones. Radio América sostiene que sigue haciendo pruebas las 24 horas en los 7300 KHz y por los 7737 KHz. Así que amigos monitoreemos la frecuencia y veamos que resulta en esta etapa; pido la colaboración de los amigos que viven cerca del Paraguay y en el Norte de América del Sur. Cordiales 73, (Nicolás Eramo, Aug 27, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Estimado Nicolás, Parece enojado que publiqué algo que me envió. (No sé exactamente cuál comentario.) Como redactor DX, considero todo lo que me llega, sin llamarse `privado`, `confidencial`, etc., libre para publicarse, "divulgar al mundo" aunque trato de evitar obvios problemas. No debe sugerir que yo funciona sin ética adecuada. Por favor en el futuro, indicar cuándo sea una comunicación privada no destinada para DXLD. Como ésta, no enviada a la lista condig, pero a publicarse en DXLD en respuesta a la suya. 73, (Glenn to Nicolás, via DXLD) ** PERU. CATHOLIC RADIO UPDATE #189 --- RADIO CATOLICA AL DIA August 26, 2002 / El 26 de Agosto 2002 Database DIRECTORY OF CATHOLIC RADIO STATIONS IN PERU A visit to the Peruvian Government`s telecommunications website uncovered an enormous amount of information on Catholic radio stations in that high Andean country, home of the marvelous Incas, whose descendants still thrive and, in fact, make up most of the population. So great was the information found at that website that I was able to fill in gaps on those stations that the Directory of Catholic Radio in the Americas lists and add many new ones. All of the new information is listed below in red. [lost in dxld .txt] Most striking are several phenomena. The first is the proliferation of FM stations. The second is the spread of Radio María Perú from just one station a few years ago to a growing national network. New stations are OAT5Q on 106.7 FM in Ayacucho, OBR4Y on 104.1 FM in Barranca (Pativilca), OAT2C on 92.7 FM in Chepen, OAT1L on 106.3 FM in Chiclayo, OBR5X on 90.9 FM in Chinca Alta, OAT7L on 103.9 FM in Juliaca, OCT1M on 94.1 FM in Paita, OBT5V on 90.1 FM in Pisco, OCT1L on 104.5 FM in Pariñas, OCT1K on 95.3 FM in Piura, OAX4M 580 AM in Puente Piedra, OCT1N on 93.7 FM in Sullana, OCT2Z on 94.1 FM in Trujillo, all of which are owned stations; and the nonowned but affiliated OAU4V on 1240 AM in Huancayo. The third phenomenon is the number of new shortwave stations licensed but perhaps not on the air. There has been a great deal of discussion in DX (radio fan) online websites recently about a mysterious Radio San Antonio in ``Callalli- Callyoma.`` This is not one town with a hyphenated name; OAW6B Radio San Antonio is a 1,000-watt shortwave (technically, tropical band) station in Callali, and its FM affiliate is OBT6J on 94.5 FM there. In addition, it operates OBT6M on 94.5 FM in Callalli {sic -- must mean Callyoa here -- gh}, which accounts for the joint identification that has confused DXers hearing the shortwave station. The Callalli stations are owned by San Antonio de Padua parish; the Callyoma station is owned by San Francisco de Asís parish. To complicate matters even further, there is an apparently unrelated Radio San Antonio, station OAW6A on 3390 kHz, in Cerro Colorado, in Arequipa. The call letters are close but not identical. There is also a fourth station, OAW5A Radio San Antonio on 4940 kHz (1,000 watts) and its FM station OBW8U on 95.5 FM in Raymondi, Atalaya. Incredibly, there is a fifth Radio San Antonio, in San Ramón, OAR5L, but mercifully this is on FM only. New stations discovered include OCY2I Radio Santa Monica on 1360 AM and OAT2G on 95.7 FM in Chota; OZU2U Radio Virgen de la Alta Gracia on 1510 AM in Huamachuco, along with its shortwave station OAZ2A on 5030 kHz (shortwave) and OAT2J on 103.1 FM. Radio Loreto, S.A., presumably Catholic, operates OAX8D on 1150 AM, OCZ8A on 96.1 FM, and OAX8E on 5050 kHz (1,000 watts). The parish of San Juan Batista of Macusani operates OAU7D on 770 AM and OAT7Y on 90.5 FM. In Maras, a group of Christian Brothers (founded by St John Baptist de la Salle) or an association connected with them operates OBU7K on 700 AM and OBT7O on 91.7 FM. Finally, in Tarapoto, an AM-shortwave-FM combination is operated as Radio San Martín on 1130 AM as OAX9Q; on 4810 kHz shortwave (1,000 watts) as OAX9R, and on 97.5 FM as OCZ9F. The website does not list several stations found in my directory and in the World Radio-TV Handbook. The site clearly states that the new Huamachuco station Radio Virgen de la Alta Gracia on 1510 AM (2,500 watts), OAU2U, replaces Radio Los Andes OAX2U on 1030 AM (3,000 watts), but the shortwave station remains on 5030 kHz. In Huancavelica, the bishop, Monseñor Dermott Molloy, who appears from time to time on EWTN, including this past week, has dropped OAX5M on 1580 AM (500 watts) in favor of OAU5J on 1520 AM (1,000 watts), still bearing the name of Radio Virgen de Carmen. In Piura, there is no Radio Cutivalú FM station on 100.5 FM or any other FM frequency, but only OBX1U on 700 AM, a 10,000-watt station. Nor is there mention of OBX1M Radio San Nicolás on 5470 kHz shortwave, 1390 AM, and 98.5 FM. The ``Radio La Inmaculada`` in Santa Cruz listed on 5305 kHz in the World Radio-TV Handbook does not appear on the Peruvian Government list. Since WRTH gives it no call, it may have been an unlicensed station. Nor are the un-call-lettered Radio San Francisco Solano stations in Sóndor listed: 4750 kHz and 89.1 FM. Interestingly, Peru is one of the few Latin American countries where call letters are assigned and frequently used; from the World Radio-TV Handbook, one can see that it is with their call letters alone and no name or slogan that some stations identify themselves. Cuba before Fidel Castro was another such country; in Mexico most stations continue to use call letters. As for the other Latin American countries, I do not know whether it is general practice to identify stations with call letters and whether or not they do so in reality. [from this point on, as usual, gh excerpts only those entries mentioning shortwave] Database -- Note: PRA= ERP. Ayacucho: OBX5J Radio San Cristóbal de Huyamanga 1550 AM (500 watts) (Carmen Alto) y OBX5Y on 5020 khz (500 watts). Diocese de Ayacucho. Callalli: OAW6B Radio San Antonio on 3375 khz (1,000 wats); OBT6J 94.5 FM (500 wats PRA) Callali; OBT6M 94.5 FM (500 wats PRA) Caylloma. Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua, Asociación Promotodra San Francisco Solano, Apartado Postal 1817, Arequipa. Hermano Rolando del Carpio Montalvo, director. Plaza Principal s/n, Callalli, Depto. Arequipa, Perú. ID ``Es Radio San Antonio...que transmite desde la ciudad de Callalli para todos los oyentes, es una emisora Católica a servicio de la comunidad`` 5 a.m.-9 a.m. and 5 p.m.-9p.m., Monday through Saturday. E-mail: rsan_antonio14@hotmail.com Cerro Colorado: OAW6A Radio San Antonio 3390 kHz (1,000 wats). Radio San Antonio de Padua, Avenida Los Incas s/n, Cerro Colorado, Arequipa. Chachapoyas: OBX9K Radio Horizonte 5020 khz onda corta (5,000 w) y OCV93 99.9 FM (300 wats PRA). El Obispado de Chachapoyas. Jr. Ayacucho 1008 o Apartado 69, Chachapoyas. FM: Jr. Amazonas 317, Chachapoyas. Teléfonos: 51 (74) 75793, fax 757004. Soledad Sánchez C., dtra.; María Dolores Gutierrez Atienxa, ing. Huamachuco: [deleted: OAX2U Radio Los Andes 1030 AM (3,000 w)]. AM station has been replaced by OAU2U on 1510 AM. See below. OAZ2A 5030 khz (5,000 w) onda corta. El Prelato de Huamachuco. Casa Prelaticio, Paisaje Mons. Damián Nicolau 101, Humachuco. Mons.Sebastián Ramis Torrens, dtr. Huamachuco: OAU2U Radio Virgen de la Alta Gracia 1510 AM (2,500 wats) y OAZ2A on 5030 kHz (3,000 wats) y OAT2J 103.1 FM (500 wats PRA). Virgen de la Alta Gracia SRL (era Radio Los Andes). El Prelato de Humachuco, Barrio Tantapusha, Humachuco, Huamachuco. FM: Psje. Monseñor Damian Nicolau 108, Huamachuco. Huancavelica: OAX5M [replaced by:] OAU5J Radio Virgen de Carmen 1520 AM (1,000 wats) 1580 AM (500 w) & OAX5M-FM 105.3 FM & OAX5X 4886 (800 w). El Obispado de Huancavelica. Yananaco, Malecón Fray Martín, Huancavelica, Perú. o Apartado 92. Padre Samuel Moran Cardenas, dtr. Tel.: (51-64) 75-2989 Huánuco: OBX3I Radio Luz y Sonido 1500 AM (1,000 watts), y OAW3A on 3235 khz (1,000 watts) y OCT3L 105.7 FM (250 wats PRA). Diócese de Huánuco. Jr. Dos de Mayo 1286, Of. 205, Galerías de la Catedral. Teléfonos: (064) 51-8500, fax 51-1985. E-mail: luz.sonido@hys.com.pe Señor Carlos Ortega Obregón, director. 0500-2100; Quechua 0500-0700 y 1800-2100. Website. Iquitos: OAX8D Radio Loreto 1150 AM (10,000 wats) y OCZ8A Radio Loreto 103.5 FM (250 wats) y OAX8E en 5050 kHz (1,000 wats). FM: Radio Loreto S.A., Calle Arica 228, Iquitos, Maynas. AM y onda corta: Avenida Trujillo, Cuadra 5, Iquitos. Jaén: OAX2E Radio Marañon 580 AM (10,000 watts) y OBW2Y 96.1 FM (2,000 wats) y OCX2E on 4835 khz (1,000 wats). Asociación Civil Radio Marañon, Ap. 50, Jaén, via Chiclayo. Francisco de Orellana 343, Jaén, Cajamarca. Señor Francisco Muguiro Ibarra, director. Teléfonos: fax +51 44 731147 or 732168. Fax +51 44 732580. E-mail: correo@radiomaranon.org.pe. 0500-2200, lo sábados 0500-2100, los domingos 0600-1300. (en la diócese de Cajamarca). Lima: OBX4I Radio Santa Rosa 1500 AM (10,000 w por los días, 5,000 w por las noches) y OBR4H 105.1 FM (50 wats PRA), y OCY4H 6045 khz onda corta (10,000 w). Apartado 4451, Avenida Riva Augero s/n, San Miguel, Lima 1, Peru. FM: Avenida Revolución con Avenida El Sol, 1er Sector, G10 Villa. Padre Sokolich A., dtr. 24 hras. Hay programas también en inglés y Quechua. Puerto Maldonado: OBX7J Radio Madre de Dios 1230 AM (1,000 watts) y OCZ7D 92.5 FM (250 wats PRA), y OBX7I on 4950 khz (5,000 watts). Avenida Daniel Alcides Carrión, o Apartado 37, Puerto Maldonado. Teléfonos: +51 (84) 511050. Señor Rufino Lobos Alonso, director. 0530- 2100. En Quechua y otros lenguajes de los índios. Puno: OBX7B Radio Onda Azul 640 AM (10,000 watts) & OBX7C 4800 khz (1,000 watts) onda corta, & OCZ7H 95.7 FM (7,000 wats PRA). Vicariato Apostólico de Puno, Cerro Llallahuani, Puno, o Cas. 210, Puno. Padre José Loits M., dtr. In Quechua and Aymara languages. 0400-2300. Tel.: +51 (54) 351562, fax 352233. Santa Ana: OAX7M Radio Quillabamba 1210 AM (1,000 watts) y OAX7Q on 5025 khz (5,000 watts). Ap. 76, Quillabamba. Padre Francisco Panera, director; Señor Luís Verde I., ingeniero. 0500-2200; Quechua 0800-0930 y 1600-2000. (in la diócese de Cusco) Raymondi: OAW5A Radio San Antonio 4940 kHz (1,000 wats) y OBW8U 95.5 FM (130 wats PRA). Asociación Promotora San Francisco Solano, Jr. Iquitos s/n, Raymondi, Atalaya, Ucayali. Rodrguez de Mendoza: OBX1M Radio San Nicolás 5470 khz onda corta (500 w) y 1390 AM (500 w--cerrada) y OBX1M-FM 98.5 FM. Jr. Amazonas 114. Juan J. Grandez, dtr. [deleted entry, marked thru in original doc.] Santa Cruz: Radio La Inmaculada 5305 khz onda corta (1,000 w); Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción, Frente al Parque Central. Padre Jorge Carrasco, dtr. 1500-2130 horas. [deleted] Sicuani: OAX7R Radio Sicuani 1360 AM (2,500 wats), 91.1 FM (8 watts) (not listed by Peruvian government), y OAX7T on 4835 khz (350 watts). La Prelatura de Sicuani. Jr 2 de Mayo 206, Sicuanio, Canchis, Departamento de Cusco; o Casilla 45, Sicuani. Señor Mario Ochoa Vargas, director. 0430-2200; Quechua 0430-0600 y 1800-2200. Sóndor: Radio San Francisco Solano 4750 khz onda corta (1,000 w) y 89.1 FM. ``La Voz de la Parroquia de San Miguel de Sóndor y Sondorillo.`` Calle San Miguel 207, Sóndor. Fundada en 1995. Neither station listed in official government list, Feb. 2002; see Raymondi, below. Tarapoto: OAX9Q Radio San Martín 1130 AM (3,000 wats) y OAX9R Radio San Martín 4810 khz (1,000 wats) y OCZ9F 97.5 FM (200 wats PRA). Jr. Cabo Alberto Leveau No. 158, Tarapoto. Fernando Tofu Arevalo, dtr. Urubamba: OAW7D Teleducacional 4795 kHz (1,000 wats). Asociación Educacional Radial y Televisiva, AV. Charcahuaylla s/n, Urubamba, Cusco. {***NOTE: this appears to be a new one -- not yet on?? gh} Yurimaguas: OAX8Z Radio San Martín 1420 AM (1,000 wats) y OAX8I en 6190 kHz (1,000 wats). El Vicariato Apostólico de Yurimaguas. Local Seminario Diocesano Situado a 4.5 km (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update August 26 via DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. 580, WDJD, at 1000 Pago Pago strong carrier all night, but audio rather subdued by adjacent NZL stations. Programme consists of gospel songs and talks in Samoan and English. Ident noted at 0917 (Bryan Clark, New Zealand, NZ DX Times Aug via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Glenn, Channel Africa UN Summit special, today Tue Aug 27: at 11-15 had a thiny signal on 21765, 25322 at 1425 with Portuguese comment in progress, deep fading observed. At 1130 on much poor signal level, thiny at approx. S=1, but increased from 1415 UT onwards. Maybe bad propagation today. 17725 only carrier, clear channel so far, but up to S=1 only. No trace on 11720, due powerhouse Woofferton-UK 250 kW at 66 degrs on 11725 at 13-15 UT (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: For the ultimate view of Stockholm, take off in a hot air balloon Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Special on Water: when thousands of children are thirsty, how can we stand by? Sunday: "In Touch With Stockholm" looks at miniature cars, discrimination against homosexuals, national ID card, and ABBA (SCDX/MediaScan Aug 28 via DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. BBC Radio Four Sunday 1st September 1640-1655 UT, repeated Saturday 7th September 1845-1900. Talking To My Family: How Does it Feel to present news about your home country, knowing your friends and family are listening and living those events. Three distinguished presenters from the BBC World Service tell their own stories, exposing the raw and deeply personal dilemmas that their ambiguous position forces them to confront on a daily basis. 1: Laurent Ndayuhurume from Burundi: a Long Way from Home Laurent Ndayuhurume presents and edits programmes for the BBC World Service, targeted at listeners in Burundi, Rwanda and Eastern Congo. He's working as a journalist for a powerful international broadcaster; his role is to present the facts of the war going on in his home country. But Ndayuhurume's journey from Burundi to Blackheath has left him feeling like an outsider in both countries. In the remote and mountainous countryside where his family lives, many of his former friends now consider him a traitor. "My family finds it hard to understand how I can be so remote when I'm broadcasting and my failure to condemn their enemies baffling," he says. In London he feels he must keep his feelings private "to maintain my credibility"- even when he had to report on the death of his own beloved uncle on air. He'd stumbled across the story while checking the news wires but had to present it as "yet another casualty if our civil war (Radio Times previews via Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. I suspect many broadcasters will air special features on the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. According to my newly arrived copy of "BBC On Air", here are the plans for the BBC World Service: Saturday, September 7th, 1700 UT - a special two-hour "Talking Point" airs, entitiled "Living with Terror -- The World Speaks", co-hosted by the BBC World Service and the USA's Public Radio International. Robin Lustig, well-known host of news programming on the domestic BBC Radio 4 service as well as the BBC World Service, will host the program. Get your questions to the BBC on 011-44-208-749-5353 via phone, or 011-44- 7736-100-100 via SMS. Sunday, September 8th, 1400 UT - a special edition of "Talking Point", originating in New York, will be hosted by Robin Lustig with joint production from the BBCWS and PRI. A repeat will air to the Americas at 0805 UT. Sunday, September 8th, 1800 UT - a special two-hour program, "Living with Terror -- America Speaks", also co-hosted by the BBC World Service and PRI, will air. Audiences in Los Angeles, rural Minnesota and Boston will participate. The BBC World Service will also be airing 12 hours of special programming from 1100 UT September 11th through 0100 UT September 12th, hosted by Robin Lustig and Heather Paynton. There was no mention of special frequencies for any of this programming in "BBC On Air". If you know of other broadcasters planning special programming, please pass it along (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, Aug 27, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. IRAQIS TUNE INTO U.S. GOVERNMENT RADIO, By Nadim Ladki BAGHDAD, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Ahmed is an Iraqi taxi driver and a staunch supporter of President Saddam Hussein. Like his government, he believes the United States is Iraq's enemy. But as he roams the streets of Baghdad in his battered old car, there is only one radio station he tunes into for the latest news: a new U.S. government station broadcast in Arabic. Many Iraqis are tuning into Radio Sawa to get their news in a country where all media outlets are tightly controlled by the state. "I tune in primarily for the news," Ahmed said. "Their news is fast and they focus on Iraq, so when I am in the taxi I keep up with developments by listening to Sawa whenever I can." In cars, homes and cafes more and more people are listening to Sawa, meaning "Together," as speculation rises that the United States is preparing to attack Iraq to oust Saddam. Radio Sawa began broadcasting less than five months ago, replacing Voice of America's Arabic service. It plays the latest Western and Arabic songs and broadcasts news every 30 minutes. It was set up to improve the image of the United States in the Arab world. Most Arabs are wary of Washington because of its staunch support of Israel and its anti-Iraq policy. But Sawa says on its Web site it is committed to "accurate, objective, and comprehensive" news. The station has an accredited correspondent in Baghdad who regularly airs reports. The radio broadcasts from Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Its medium wave transmission in Iraq is picked up better during the night. While listeners in other Arab countries tune into the station mainly for its hip music, Iraqis seem to want the news. "Every night I listen to Sawa. It has good music but I mainly want to know what is happening in the world so I listen to it as well as to the BBC (Arabic service)," said Mohammed, sipping tea at a Baghdad cafe. "It tells us what the Americans are saying and thinking so we know what they are up to," Mohammed's friend, who didn't want to give his name, said as a Sawa news bulletin crackled from a small radio on their table. Above their heads, Saddam stared down from a large poster plastered on the wall (Reuters via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. REACHING ARABS VIA AIRWAVES Diplomacy: Radio Sawa, compliments of the U.S. government, has the attention of Middle East youths. But not everyone is into its groove. By SONNI EFRON, TIMES STAFF WRITER, August 26 2002 WASHINGTON -- It's 4:15 p.m. and Nasser Husseini, a commando in America's new war of influence in the Middle East, is bopping and sweating inside his tiny glass box in the bowels of the Voice of America building. Husseini doesn't read the news. He pours it into the mike, fast and fluid, punctuating each headline with an electronic exclamation mark. Then comes the hit music. You've heard the sound a million times on commercial radio. This, however, is Radio Sawa, compliments of the U.S. government. And there are no commercials. The AM/FM Arabic-language station went on the air in March, beamed across much of the Middle East in place of the traditional Voice of America shortwave broadcasts. And Middle East youth actually appear to be listening. Sawa has already become the No. 1 music station in Amman, the Jordanian capital. Sawa is being hailed as a model for how the United States ought to revamp its troubled communications with the Muslim world. Reaching the youth who make up 60% of the Arab population -- and who are the targets of Islamic fundamentalist recruiting -- is seen as especially important. Yet despite its success -- or because of it -- Radio Sawa has plenty of detractors, at home and in the Middle East. Sawa's skeptics say its pop music and punchy newscasts may well appeal to Arab youth but won't mitigate hostility bred by unpopular U.S. policies, poverty, corrupt local regimes or Islamic fundamentalism. Nevertheless, argues Sawa news director Mouafac Harb, "Winning hearts and minds cannot happen before winning ears." Some of America's Middle East allies -- including Egypt, the recipient of nearly $2 billion in U.S. aid this year -- haven't allowed Sawa's signal to be transmitted. One Arab editorialist dismissed Sawa as slick propaganda, and expressed hope that if kids listen to the music, they'll at least tune out the news. But Jordanian Information Minister Mohammed Adwan, whose 15-year-old daughter tunes in, wants Jordanian radio to copy it. U.S. critics who find no bias so far in Sawa's brief newscasts still question whether the station will be able to hold its audience if, under political pressure to give taxpayers their money's worth, it begins to broadcast more speeches and statements by the American government. Already, it is lengthening its newscasts. And Voice of America journalists question whether Sawa's news will be as unbiased or as substantive as its predecessor's because it's not under the sober VOA's centralized control. At risk, they say, is the VOA's journalistic reputation. "I've risked my life for this organization," said one veteran VOA staffer. "I'm willing to do it for journalism, but I'll be damned if I'll do it for propaganda." VOA staffers are also up in arms over a suggestion that budget-cutters might close five overseas news bureaus, including Hong Kong, in order to pay for a new Sawa-style broadcast in Persian. 'Let "Them" Know "Us" ' Trenchant questions also come from both Western and Middle Eastern intellectuals who challenge what they see as the flawed underlying premise of U.S. overseas broadcasting: that to know America is to love America. The United States' most fundamental foreign policy problem, they argue, is precisely the perception that superpower America believes itself superior -- and thus gives only lip service to the views of other nations. "If the U.S. government will invest millions of dollars to let 'us' know 'them,' will it also strive to let 'them' know 'us'?" the Cairo-based Al Ahram newspaper asked in its online edition. "We must stand up and postulate the outrageous assumption that in order for us to know the American people, appreciate their ideals and value system, they will have to know the same about us, the Arabs." Last month, the White House broadened its public diplomacy effort with a new Office of Global Communications to tell America's story to the world. The goal is to counter misinformation, disinformation, hatemongering and anti-Americanism; to show that the U.S. is not anti-Muslim; to better explain U.S. policies; and to build global support for Washington's declared war on terrorism. Sawa, the brainchild of Los Angeles-based radio mogul Norman J. Pattiz, was launched with $35 million from Congress, and the Bush administration has requested an additional $21.7 million to expand in 2003. Now Pattiz, chairman of the Middle East committee for the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees the VOA, is working on a proposal for a U.S.-owned 24-hour Middle East satellite television network. He estimates that it would cost $160 million to compete with Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based satellite network that is hugely popular in the Middle East but notorious in the United States for broadcasting tapes of Osama bin Laden. Skeptics wonder whether that money might be better spent promoting public health or cultural exchanges. Pattiz argues that unless the U.S. controls its medium, it will never be able to control the message. Meanwhile, the radio station is gingerly going about proving its critics wrong. Its weapons are reams of research about the youth market, a reporting staff of former VOA Arabic service employees edited by experienced Arab American journalists, and top American radio management talent. Sawa insists that it doesn't do propaganda. But it doesn't do stodgy, either. "Sawa" means "together" in Arabic, and its music sends the message that the cultures of the West and the Arab world are not as estranged as might seem. The 24-hour station uses the latest research techniques to decide which tunes to play and how often. Sawa is the only radio station broadcasting in Arabic in the Middle East that alternates between Arab and Western songs, said Bert Kleinman, a veteran radio programmer who fine-tunes Sawa's format. A Pleasing Mixture The musical combination is not as unlikely as it might seem. While Western music is incorporating more Latin elements from the likes of Ricky Martin, Arab popular music is importing Western dance beats and Spanish and Greek influences, Kleinman said. In fact, three-fourths of listeners in Sawa's target age range, 17 to 28, told pollsters that they want to hear both Arab and Western music. Only 2% of Arab listeners tuned in to the VOA, which was broadcast only on shortwave. But 42% of the 100 young fans of Arab and Western music polled in Amman in Sawa's latest weekly survey said it is the station they listen to most. More significant, the percentage of respondents who said Sawa is their first choice for news had shot up from 1% on July 1 to 18% by Aug. 12, while those listening to the BBC for news fell from 15% to 5%. That's striking, because Jordan's population is 60% Palestinian and deeply aggrieved by U.S. policy toward Israel. Pattiz, who founded the Westwood One radio network, said he was "blown away" by the results. Seven teenage girls sipping sodas at the Planet Hollywood in Amman last week did indeed swoon over Radio Sawa -- but not for the news. "I like that they put good English songs on and good Arabic songs," 14-year-old Nafsika Skouti said. "But there is too much news. It's boring. Maybe older people would like it." But the girls' table fell silent when they were told that Sawa is sponsored by Uncle Sam -- although the station announces this clearly. "I hate Bush," declared Skouti's sister Stephanie, 13. "We should be telling the Americans what is happening here," Nafsika said. "They don't understand us.... They think they know us. I have nothing against Americans, I just don't like the way they think." Mindful of such attitudes, Sawa is taking an indirect approach. There are features on what's new in film, computer and video games, and science. There's "Sawa chat," with the voices of young Arab men and women on the street weighing in on such questions as "Can women be good bosses?" "How do you know if the news media are telling the truth?" and that perennial teen theme, "Do you think your parents understand you?" The idea is to promote thoughtful free expression without asking, "What do you think of American foreign policy?" Kleinman said. Sawa gets about 150 e-mails a day from listeners across the Middle East. Lately there have been messages from Iraq, where a separate broadcast with news and accents targeted to Iraqi listeners is being beamed in from Kuwait. So far, the fan mail has been positive, Kleinman said, as in the case of the Iraqi who e-mailed to say "it brought me a lot of joy." Sawa's news staff is well aware that any U.S. program faces instant suspicion. "The facts, only the facts, only the facts, the facts!" newscaster Husseini, a Moroccan-born journalist who worked for Al Jazeera "before they became so big," insisted, jabbing his index finger aloft. "We are very aware not to be labeled a government mouthpiece. We earn our credibility." Sawa is bound by the VOA charter, which requires it to be "accurate, objective and comprehensive." News director Harb, a Lebanese-born U.S. citizen who has worked at ABC's "Nightline" program and the Saudi-owned Al Hayat newspaper, also expects his broadcasts to pass a sniff test for cultural sensitivity. "We respect our listeners. We do not condescend," he said. "These are the most sophisticated consumers in the world in terms of detecting propaganda." Speaking Carefully Harb also polices the politically charged language of Middle East politics. To the shock of some listeners, Sawa uses the Arabic words for "suicide bomber" instead of the religious term "martyr" or the word fedayeen, a secular term for someone who sacrifices himself for a cause, both commonly used in the Arabic media to describe Palestinian attacks on Israelis, Harb said. "It's a hugely emotional part of the world where a headline will make people take to the streets and get hurt," the 35-year-old said. "We're noninflammatory." But Harb has journalistic differences with his VOA counterpart over how the war on terrorism will be covered on U.S.-owned airwaves. Last year, VOA news director Andre de Nesnera was accused of giving a platform to terrorists by airing sound bites from an interview with onetime Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed Omar. De Nesnera, a revered journalist, said he stands by the story and would air it again. Harb says he would not have aired tape of Omar -- or, for that matter, of Saddam Hussein. "Commercial-free does not mean mass murderers can have commercials on our airwaves," he said. "The only news bite I will use for Saddam Hussein is when he says, 'I am surrendering.' " Times staff writer Michael Slackman in Amman contributed to this report. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-sawa26aug26.story Copyright 2002 Los Angeles Times (via Mike Cooper, Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. Yes, WJIE rebroadcast WOR #1144 at 1600Z today, followed by a female announcer ID, an anecdote, formal ID-freq-address, then followed by a "Truth" program at 1630Z. Again, excellent signal here 400 mi. to the north, SINPO 55344, 10db/S9, quite good rx for the time of day. 73s (BEN WB9FJO Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1800, inaudible WOR 1144 also ran UT Wed 0030 (not 0000), and again at 1200. Still no program schedule posted at http://www.wjiesw.com (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Posted on Tue, Aug. 27, 2002 CHANGE FOR BETTER I remember Col. Frank Katzentine wearing the large brimmed black fedora hat that was his trademark. The call letters for radio station WKAT were based on his name. In the early 1940s, the station was located on North Bay Road, just off the Venetian Causeway. The antenna rose above a small stucco building and transmitted news and entertainment. Initially, WKAT was an AM station. It wasn't unusual for radio station owners to have FM and AM stations running parallel with each other. The FM station was for classical music. The station also featured Barry Gray's nightly show. The broadcast emanated from the Copa City, a nightclub near WKAT. Every famous personality who spent time in Miami would be interviewed by Gray, who eventually moved his show to the New York area. The FCC eventually forced WKAT-FM and WKAT-AM to separate. Under new ownership in Coral Gables, the station became known as WVCG. The call letters stood for ``Wonderful Voice of Coral Gables.'' The station was sold again, and the call letters changed to WTMI. It continued to broadcast classical music. Then it was again sold, and its format changed to pop music. Now it seems that WKAT will go back to its roots and broadcast classical music again. Col. Katzentine would have been proud. RAY FISHER, Pinecrest (Letters to the Editor, Miami Herald, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Radio daze --- Published: Thursday, August 22, 2002 http://u.dailynews.com/music/articles/0802/22/music01.asp BROADCASTER SAUL LEVINE STRUGGLES TO KEEP K-MOZART AND K-SURF AFLOAT AMID BUYOUT OFFERS, LOW RATINGS --- By Fred Shuster, Staff Writer Maybe Saul Levine doesn't need the money. Or, unlikely as it may seem, the last independent radio guy in town might have a higher calling. Levine has managed to withstand megabuck offers from the nation's top radio chains in order to keep his two local outlets - classical KMZT-FM (105.1) and contemporary standards KSUR-AM (1260) - completely autonomous. The sought-after FM station, the only commercial classical real estate on the Los Angeles dial, offers a lively take on the long-hairs for a listenership that's among the most educated and well-heeled in the area. Levine acquired KMZT in 1958, which makes it the longest-running independent radio station in Los Angeles under original ownership. In its first 20 years, classical was among the top formats in radio. But as rock music and its offspring took root on FM, the audience's age dropped drastically. At the same time, the number of classical stations began to dwindle. Then, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 raised to eight the number of stations companies could operate in each market. Suddenly, mom-and-pop properties with arcane formats sold for fortunes and were instantly reborn as lucrative hip-hop and alternative-rock stations. "It came as a total surprise because, until then, you could own three stations in a city, which I thought was plenty - even more than plenty," Levine, 70, said recently. "The result today is two companies own 16 stations in Los Angeles." Owning the dial Those companies, of course, are Clear Channel and Infinity Broadcasting. Infinity is the ratings winner with all its local FM outlets placing in the Top 10 among English-language stations in the coveted adult 25-to-54 demographic, according to the spring 2002 ratings report. "It's hurt radio," the soft-spoken Levine said at the headquarters of his company, Mount Wilson FM Broadcasters, located a stone's throw from the San Diego Freeway near the Federal Building. "It's made radio a commodity where more than 1,000 stations across the country are owned by a single company." So, if you can't beat "em, why not join "em and retire to the Greek Islands? "I"m a broadcaster, and I like what I"m doing," he said. "I enjoy going to work every day and doing it. Selling just doesn't appeal to me. I've wanted to run my own radio station since I was 10. Some things are worth more than dollars and cents. And I don't want to retire." Levine is appreciated and recognized. The Los Angeles Philharmonic recently awarded the broadcaster its first Distinguished Service Award for his efforts in supporting and advancing the city's classical music scene. "He has withstood what must be enormous temptation," said Deborah Borda, managing director of the L.A. Philharmonic. "And he's given tremendous support to the Philharmonic in so many ways. He's also a respected patron of the arts, a valuable member of the community and a dedicated concert-goer." Before KMZT, the city's best-loved commercial classical outlet was KFAC-FM, which went under in 1989 after almost 60 years on the air. USC's noncommercial KUSC-FM (91.5), meanwhile, has been airing classical music since 1973. "One of the easiest ways to get a classical music education if you don't have one is to listen to KMZT and KUSC," Borda said. "They offer a very rich, wonderful mix of music." Soothing waves Both KMZT (for K-Mozart) and KSUR (short for K-Surf, referring to its soothing mix of contemporary standards) have drawn a loyal, vocal group of fans. Take, for example, Michelle Heath, a Santa Monica office administrator in her early 50s who tunes into KMZT as a daily balm. "I"m always trying to do 10 things at once, but the station gives me balance and brings calm in times of stress," she says. While the history of Levine's FM station has mostly mirrored that calm - except for a call-letter switch from KKGO to KMZT in March 2000 - the AM property has faced turbulent times. Since Levine purchased the AM station in 1992, KSUR - at 1260 on the dial - has featured an all-Beatles format. All-traffic. Adult standards. All-news. And a number of call-letter changes. Until last March, it was KJAZ, the nation's last commercial jazz outlet. Finally, Levine settled on the call letters KSUR and a lively mix of song standards by the likes of Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Diana Krall, Johnny Mathis and Jane Monheit. Listener Jo Wheeler, a 30-something South Bay modeling agent, said she was pleasantly surprised when she flipped on KSUR in the car shortly after the new standards format was unveiled. "I just love the music," she said. "They have contemporary artists doing the classics, but they also play my favorites - Ella, Bobby Darin, Dinah Washington and Sinatra. I even listen at home on the weekends." KSUR's goal is to reach listeners age 35 and up. The strongest audience growth is seen in the Valley and West Los Angeles, Levine says. "At one point, we wanted to do all show tunes," Levine recalls. "So, while we were building the music library, I said, "Why don't we put on all Beatles." And we had this really strong response. People just loved it. So, we said we"ll keep it on as long as it's working. Then, the Arbitron ratings came out and showed nothing. "The whole problem is the ratings system kills innovative, unique formats. It's not geared to measure niche formats. It's designed to measure mass formats like Power 106 and KROQ." Broadcasters frequently grumble about Arbitron, which bases its quarterly ratings on write-in diaries listeners are asked to fill out by hand and mail back to the company. Advertisers use the results to decide which stations to buy time on. Diary of a problem "It's tough for us because classical and standards are niche formats and listeners are spread out all over the place and they very often don't even get a diary - or they don't want to keep a diary," Levine said. "It's just extremely frustrating." For a myriad of reasons, including the recession, the effects of Sept. 11 and pressure from the broadcast monoliths, some of Levine's strongest advertisers have recently stopped supporting the Mount Wilson stations. "In many cases, the ad buyers today are kids right out of college in their 20s who don't relate to classical or standards, but they do relate to hip-hop or rock artists," Levine said. "And they back it up by saying to their advertisers, "Look, Arbitron says they're No. 2, so I bought you the biggest audience." " Levine says his stations are at best 50 percent sold out of the maximum 10 spots an hour. Last year, KMZT billed $4 million. Levine admits he could be raking in 10 times that much if he were playing a mass music genre like hip-hop, alternative rock or smooth jazz. But he predicts a comfortable rebound when the economy returns and competitors sell all their ad space. "That's traditionally when we do well," Levine explained. "When everyone else sells out, they come to us. If I wasn't devoted to wine and able to go home at night and relax with a glass, I don't know how I'd manage. It's just very, very stressful at the moment." Still, the last independent broadcaster in town has managed something few others can claim. "We've achieved an important goal in keeping classical music alive on the (commercial) dial," he said. "We're doing a public service. I don't know if listeners realize it's a struggle. But we're in there every day, plugging away." (U Daily News via Mike Coopeer, DXLD) ** U S A. http://www.journalism.wisc.edu/~downey/classes/geog-of-cyberspace/films.html lists links to many free historical films on the history of information, communications and transportation infrastructure in the United States over the 20th century. They include several on the development of radio and television. The links on the site are for broadband connections. However if you go to the original source of the research http://www.archive.org/movies and find the titles listed most have a link provided for playing if you have a dial up connection (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. TRAVEL NOTES -- RESET YOUR DIAL FOR RADIO MUSEUM Thursday, August 22, 2002, 12:00 a.m. Pacific Listen up: The American Museum of Radio has relocated into expanded space at 1316 Bay St. in downtown Bellingham. The museum's collection includes more than 800 radios and examples of early technology, including a Tesla coil, Parisian Portable record player with a wind-up needle and a 1900s wax cylinder Edison phonograph. A highlight of the new exhibits is a replica of the radio room of the cruise ship Titanic. The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment. Call 360-738-3886. Admission is free. (Seattle Times via Mike Cooper, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 12090, 1430-1445 Chinese (tentative) Jamming tests, strong 44444 S=9 +30 dB, a little fading noted so far. But I agree, could be China P.R. At same time VoA Udorn 9555 in Persian on same signal level. As well as Voix du Corée 13760.03 kHz 33333 at 1450 UT. Rough audio of Pyongyang, but tolerable on this channel for 'realize' the content. 73 de wolfgang (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR HF E-MAIL! From: Joerg Klingenfuss Klingenfuss@compuserve.com Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 13:01:35 -0400 Dear friends, The current situation perfectly confirms our mid-2001 prediction that "HF e-mail will continue to spread rapidly and will soon develop into the major application of modern digital HF techniques that we have marketed - and used! - for years. Interestingly enough, the immense potential of HF e-mail has not been realized - let alone monitored! - by any other author and publisher so far." (2002 Guide to Utility Radio Stations, page 3.) We will start work on our 2003 products on 01 October 2002. Your cooperation would be highly appreciated if you were able to supply some new frequencies and stations. Please let us have your material by 30 September 2002. If you e-mail us please send .txt files only and do not send formatted .doc or .xls or similar Microsoft files. Proud users of WAVECOM Digital Data Decoder Cards are invited to send us their most interesting .w40 .w41 .w51 data files continuously. Thank you for your cooperation! New HF e-mail services, stations, networks and frequencies currently emerge virtually on a weekly basis. One interesting new application is described at http://www.afmc.wpafb.af.mil/HQ- AFMC/PA/news/archive/2002/jan/Hanscom_AWACSe-mail.htm Dozens of interesting articles on HF e-mail can be found elsewhere. What's more, we predicted already in October 2001 (!) in an e-mail to certain customers (e.g. Mr. Fred Osterman from Universal Radio) that "When the Big Man comes to AFG, the Bad Man will go up into the mountains. There will be ice and snow and no buddy can find him there. When the Big Man comes up to the mountains, the Bad Man will go down to JAL or PES. There will be thousands of friends and millions of refugees, and no buddy can find him there. And don't forget the Tribal Areas, that are perfectly out of control of the bloody government in ISL." One year later, after their dramatic failure in the 11 September 2001 disaster, the N.o S.uch A.gency and similar "organizations" are finally starting to realize that there may be secret systems of worldwide communication beyond transoceanic cables and telecom satellites. During the past months, we experienced an ever-increasing interest in our products from secret services, government agencies and radio monitoring units that we have never heard of before. (And after 34 years of working in this field, we DO have a never-ending list of professional customers - see the references on our website!) As you can see today from the hot frequencies screenshots on our website updated DAILY, "Pakistan president Pervez Musharaf confirmed that Al-Qaeda might be regrouping in Afghanistan because of the weakness of the Afghan government. He said the failure of the US-led forces and the so-called anti-terror coalition to maintain security lets the situation, again, get out of control. The view is now widely accepted that Osama bin Laden and the Taliban leader Mullah Omar could be hiking in Pakistan's western border tribal belt." Good morning, Gentlemen! Welcome in the real world! ------------------- Latest references F A de Jager, Netherlands - 10 May 2002: "I have received the WAVECOM W40PC DSP Digital Data Decoder Card in good order. Thank you very much for the additional books and recorded signals. Everything is working fine. I am very very satisfied about the excellent hardware and software." Robert J Inderbitzen NQ1R, Marketing Coordinator, in American Radio Relay League QST - April 2002: "... details on how to listen in on the newest, most secretive shortwave digital modes including commercial HF e-mail! Relied on by professional and hobbyist listeners for years, Klingenfuss publications are known for their thoroughness and accuracy." David Stoddard, United States of America - 14 February 2002: "Just wanted to send you a .w40 file of a recent Sailmail transmission. I've just recently purchased my Wavecom W40PC and I'm having a blast with it. I'm using it in conjunction with a T2FD and a Ten-Tec RX340. I really enjoy your website along with your publications and frequency database." Mike Richards G4WNC, Decode editor of Shortwave Magazine, United Kingdom - February 2002: "2002 Guide to Utility Radio Stations ... this handbook continues to be the leading up-to-date frequency reference. - 2002 Super Frequency List on CD-ROM ... excellent CD-ROM ... the search facility is extremely fast. - 2002 Shortwave Frequency Guide ... The layout is very simple and easy to use and provides an excellent up-to-date reference." Nils Schiffhauer DK8OK, editor of Funk, Germany - February 2002: "In gewohnter Qualitaet liegen die drei Neuauflagen fuer 2002 bereit fuer alle, die auch in diesem Jahr wieder mehr hoeren wollen als andere. Das Kurzwellen-Frequenz-Handbuch besticht durch Uebersichtlichkeit und Anwenderfreundlichkeit." Dr.-Ing. Werner Hegewald DL2RD, Book Review editor of Funkamateur, Germany - February 2002: "2002 Guide to Utility Radio Stations ... Der Kurzwellenfunkverkehr ist fuer den ambitionierten Beobachter spannender denn je geworden. Dies ist mit erheblichem Wildwuchs in bezug auf Frequenznutzung, Rufzeichengebrauch etc. verbunden - fuer den Herausgeber und sein Team eine gewaltige Herausforderung, stuetzt sich doch das vorliegende Werk ausschliesslich auf akribisch zusammengestellte reale Beobachtungen und nicht auf im Internet in Huelle und Fuelle zu findende Halbwahrheiten zweifelhafter Natur." Kaj Bredahl Jorgensen, Editor-in-chief of Danish Shortwave Clubs International, in Shortwave News, Denmark - January 2002: "2002 Shortwave Frequency Guide ... I find it very easy to use compared with other radio handbooks. This system is just brilliant, when you're searching the bands. When you listen to a certain frequency, then you look at the time you're listening, and then you have the station you're listening to. It can't be more easier. Of all those stations I have been listening to, just a very few errors were found. I can only recommend this unique book strongly." Kevin Nice G7TZC, Chief Editor of Shortwave Magazine, United Kingdom - January 2002: "WAVECOM W40PC DSP Digital Data Decoder Card ... This decoder represents the leading edge of the shortwave listening hobby. With the W40PC you can intercept and display traffic that originates from systems that utilize very complex engineering to pass information at an ever increasing rate ... for less money than that required to purchase a large wide-screen TV set. If you are serious about data modes, and I do mean serious, then you will need much more than a shareware decoder. I've been using this Wavecom for a good few weeks and there's no doubt it is a joy to operate ... a very lively, rapidly updating spectrum display." Harald Kuhl, Buchbesprechungen editor of Radio-Kurier Weltweit Hoeren, Germany - 15 January 2002: "2002 Guide to Utility Radio Stations ... Der traditionelle Schwerpunkt des Autors auf den digitalen Betriebsarten ist erneut unverkennbar ... Informationen ueber Frequenzen mit digitalen Aussendungen, die man sonst in keiner Frequenzliste findet." "Monty Python", United States of America - 09 December 2001: " It's an annual thing for me to order the Super Frequency List on CD-ROM (which contains both SW & Utility frequencies), the Shortwave Frequency Guide, and the Guide to Utility Radio Stations. This combo is the best bang for your buck, and the most up-to-date references available." Vasilios Rerres, Greece - 19 December 2001: "I am a reader of your books since the era of the seventies." Wilfried Melchior, Germany - 18 December 2001: "Die Auflistungen mit den Zeiten sind wunderbar uebersichtlich. Bei der Aktualitaet und Uebersichtlichkeit kann ich in Zukunft beruhigt auf andere Werke verzichten. Besonders imponieren mir die Sendezeiten innerhalb der Frequenzliste und dass dort auch ausreichend Platz fuer Notizen vorhanden ist, um gegebenenfalls aktuelle Veraenderungen zu vermerken - das reicht, bis man mit Spannung wieder die neue Ausgabe erwartet." Barry Harding, United Kingdom - 13 December 2001: "My order which you dispatched this Monday arrived on Wednesday. I am very impressed by your fast efficient service. Initial look at the 2002 Super Frequency List on CD-ROM and the 2002 Guide to Utility Radio Stations look very interesting, excellent value with features that will greatly enhance my hobby. My old Guide 6th edition will now be scrapped. I intend to update on a regular basis from now." ------------------- Klingenfuss Publications, Klingenfuss Radio Monitoring, Hagenloher Str. 14, D-72070 Tuebingen, Germany E-Mail klingenfuss@compuserve.com Internet http://www.klingenfuss.org Phone ++49 7071 62830 Fax ++49 7071 600849 Best wishes, (Joerg Klingenfuss, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why can`t I get excited about this? Does anyone really care? (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 28 August - 23 September 2002 Solar activity is expected to be at low to moderate levels for most of the forecast period. There is a chance of high activity, with the return of old Region 69, on 07-22 September. There is also a chance for greater than 10 MeV proton events in the latter half of the forecast period with the return of Region 69. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit is expected to be at normal to moderate levels during most of the forecast period. However, high flux levels are possible beginning 09 September due to a recurring coronal hole. The geomagnetic field is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels for most of the period. Active conditions are possible on 05-08 September due to a recurring coronal hole. Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Aug 27 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Aug 27 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Aug 28 155 10 3 2002 Aug 29 150 8 3 2002 Aug 30 145 8 3 2002 Aug 31 140 8 3 2002 Sep 01 140 8 3 2002 Sep 02 135 10 3 2002 Sep 03 130 10 3 2002 Sep 04 130 10 3 2002 Sep 05 125 12 3 2002 Sep 06 125 15 3 2002 Sep 07 125 15 3 2002 Sep 08 140 12 3 2002 Sep 09 150 12 3 2002 Sep 10 160 12 3 2002 Sep 11 175 12 3 2002 Sep 12 185 10 3 2002 Sep 13 185 10 3 2002 Sep 14 185 10 3 2002 Sep 15 180 10 3 2002 Sep 16 180 10 3 2002 Sep 17 180 10 3 2002 Sep 18 190 12 3 2002 Sep 19 190 12 3 2002 Sep 20 180 12 3 2002 Sep 21 175 10 3 2002 Sep 22 170 12 3 2002 Sep 23 160 8 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1145, DXLD) SOLAR MAX 2000: MORE WHIMPER THAN BANG By Dan Whipple, UPI Science News From the Science & Technology Desk Published 8/17/2002 2:00 AM The sun is emerging from its latest peak activity cycle having inflicted some damage on our technologically fragile civilization but also providing new insights into what drives the phenomenon, scientists told United Press International... http://www.upi.com/print.cfm?StoryID=20020814-013317-3374r (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-133, August 27, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 43, week of August 21: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.6; webcasts also Tue 1900, Wed 1300 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/worx43.html EDITOR`s NOTE: Our main site is back in business, including DXLD 2-132 posted in its usual place WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE -- monitored Tue Aug 27 at 1200-1229 on 7490; more under USA WORLD OF RADIO ON SPECTRUM RADIO 558, LONDON Glen[n], Thought this item from WRN might interest you; listeners in London & SE England can now here WRN via Spectrum Radio on 558 kHz including World of Radio - this could bring you many more listeners!! Regards, (Richmond Lancaster, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Sat 0800 UT, 0900 BST] Dear Listener, Welcome to a new edition of the WRN Newsletter update with information on programme highlights on WRN's English language networks. If you enjoy the programmes you hear on WRN, then please write, email or fax the relevant broadcaster with your comments and remember to tell them where your heard their programmes! By the way. if you live in the Greater London area, you can temporarily listen to WRN via Spectrum Radio on 558 kHz AM during morning hours. Over the upcoming weeks, Spectrum Radio relays WRN Mondays to Fridays from 0700 to 1300 local time in London, and on the weekend from 0700 to 1200 hours. This service is in addition to the permanent overnight service with WRN programmes on Spectrum Radio. We'd be happy to hear from you whenever you have questions, suggestions or critical remarks. Please send us an email to email@wrn.org or a letter or postcard to World Radio Network, PO Box 1212, London SW8 2ZF, UK. You can also reach us via fax at +44 207 896 9007 or via telephone at +44 20 7896 9010 (WRN via Lancaster, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. US station in Afghanistan on 864 and 6100 kHz The US radio operation in Afghanistan is currently using 864 kHz (5 kW) and 6100 kHz (1 kW), reports the Charlotte Observer. The station is run by the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion from Kandahar. The studio operates from a truck, concealed under a tent in a US military base. It operates 18 hours a day in Pashtun and Dari. The purpose of the station is to gain popular support for the government of President Hamid Karzai and for the ongoing US hunt for members of al-Qaida and the Taliban. The 8th Psychological Operations Battalion is a subordinate unit of the 4th Psychological Operations Group. The Battalion, stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is the functional broadcasting and loudspeaker component of the Group. It took over the broadcasts in March 2002, when EC-130E aircraft of the 193rd Special Operations Wing used in the Commando Solo II operation headed home (DXing.info, August 19, 2002 via DXLD) see also NEPAL for 6100! During last couple of days I've heard an unID station (best reception 1630-1700) here. Radio Nepal (\\ 5005) signs-off around 1545 and usually two stations remain on this frequency. The other I presume is Pyongyang. Finally Aug 26, the reception was better and the unID station had similar format that 8700U has. Lots of local music with short announcements by male and female. Those announcements I heard were probably in Dari. Maybe someone in that part of the world could check 6100 and possibly tell what kind of ID this station (if it's Kandahar) uses. At 1700 VOA starts on 6105 and destroys my reception on 6100 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 26, DXing.info via DXLD) Station not yet identified but most probably Psyops Kandahar, Afghanistan heard Aug 26 at 1630-1700 on 6100. Details at http://www.dxing.info/community Asia postings. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Aug 24, 1522 UT, 6100 something (3rd) extremely weak under Korean domestic programn (Korean songs) and unID ?China: Male talk in what is looking like Dari or Pushtu. Korea's signal S6..S7 here, supposed Afghanistan (-10-20dB). Sure, it's worthy. Unfortunately \\ 864 check is impossible here. Korea s-off as late as 1800 (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC-DX Aug 24 via DXLD) Korea actually Nepal on new? q.v. 6100 in Ukraine: empty till 1430 Malaysia in Burmese 1430-1530, gradual fading in (S7 at 1520, 23232, splatter from faulty Belarus` 6080). At 1528, just as Malaysia went off, faint traces of 2-3 stations which turned to be Korea and ?Afghanistan (the same like day before: a lot of Afgani songs, man taling, comments with "Afghanistan" mentions frequently) Both: 22232. ?AFG was lost after 1700, KRE hardly traced till s-off 1800 (under heavy +VOA/Russ pressure). Nepal not logged (may be s.off before 1400, then no chances here at all). (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, Aug 26, BC-DX via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN RADIO BROADCASTS NEW GOOD EVENING AFGHANISTAN PROGRAMME | Text of report by Afghan radio on 21 August A new one-hour programme called Good Evening Afghanistan has been added to the daily broadcasts of Radio Afghanistan. Commenting on this, esteemed Gholam Hasan Hazrati, head of broadcasts of Radio Afghanistan, said: [Hazrati] Radio Afghanistan, as a major information, educational and cultural institution, is pleased that parallel to other positive cultural transformations in the country is presenting a new one-hour programme with the name of Good Evening Afghanistan. Dear listeners of Radio Afghanistan can listen to this programme, which include information, entertainment, news, a special programme for young people, music, sport, and weather reports daily from 1800 to 1900 hours [1330 to 1430 gmt] on medium and FM frequencies. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 21 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) AFGHAN RADIO KABUL CHANGES TIME SCHEDULE FOR PASHTO, DARI NEWS | Text of report by Afghan radio on 24 August [Here is an] announcement from Radio Afghanistan's department for broadcasting: Taking into consideration the seasonal changes as from tomorrow night [25 Aug], the scheduled 1930 hours [1500 gmt] Pashto news will be broadcast at 1900 hours [1430 gmt] and the scheduled 2030 hours [1600 gmt] Dari news will be broadcast at 2000 hours [1530 gmt]. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 24 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. TELECOMMUNICATIONS IMPROVING Afghan Communications Minister Masum Stanakzai oversaw the 10 August opening of a mobile-telephone center in Herat, according to Mashhad radio. Locals will now be able to contact foreign countries via mobile phone. This is a notable development because, according to a November 2001 study by Pyramid Research, the Afghan analogue telephone network suffered extensive damage in the fighting of October and November. Pyramid also noted that the country's surviving wireless network covered only Kabul and Kandahar. Afghan Wireless Communication Company (AWCC), a joint venture with the government, began providing mobile- telephone service in Kabul in May. It was established in 1999 as a legal alternative to an American firm that could no longer work in Afghanistan due to sanctions. AWCC intends to provide mobile services for Mazar-i-Sharif, Jalalabad, and Kandahar, as well as Kabul and Herat. Ericsson, the Swedish mobile-telephone maker, operates a system for the United Nations in Kabul, the "Financial Times" reported on 23 July. AWCC also owns the equipment being used in Kabul's first Internet cafe, according to a 2 August report from the Afghan News Network. Located in the Intercontinental Hotel, the cafe charges $5 an hour for use of one of its 11 terminals. Administrators use NetNanny to block offensive websites, chat and news groups, and to monitor online activity. There are other developments in Afghan telecommunications. Kabul's Radio Afghanistan reported that under a 7 August protocol signed by the Ministry of Communications and the "U.S. Development Program" (presumably USAID), the United States will connect Kabul's underground cable network, restore machinery and equipment, and supply 75-kilowatt generators and a 5,000-line digital telephone system for Kandahar. The United States will restore communication links between the capital and Badghis, Helmand, Kapisa, Bamian, Kondoz, and Maydan Wardak provinces. The Unted States also will train personnel at the Ministry of Communications. ("RFE/RL Iran Report," 19 August via RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 23 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. VOICES OF CONTENTION ON RISE OVER AFGHANISTAN'S AIRWAVES Officials Disagree on Role of Western Values in Creation of Free Press By Pamela Constable, Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, August 23, 2002; Page A18 KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 22 -- As the Afghan government begins to build a modern, state-run television and radio system after five years of neglect and rigid control under the Taliban, officials are grappling with how to define a free press in a country that has never known one. To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51516-2002Aug22.html (via Kraig Krist, VA, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. Here's a hot tip if you've ever wanted to hear Antarctica. Get on 14243 upper sideband at 0100-0230Z and listen for KC4AAC, Skip, at Palmer Station on the Antarctic Peninsula. Had him fair to good on a longwire with many hams trying to get through the pile-up. Sounds like he gets on the air for an hour or so each day. Get it while it's hot! I know it's not BCB, but Antarctica is not available on MW, and it IS DX! (Art Peterson, Richmond, CA, IRCA Aug 23 via DXLD) Yes, they are on many nights with good signals. Sometimes when the band sounds gone they are still loud. Also KC4AAA is at the South Pole station and KC4USV is McMurdo station. You can QSL most if not all of the Antarctica stations via K1IED. 73 (Craig N0BSA, ibid.) Craig, I remember hearing one of the QSOs mention hearing Skip at "AAA". Now I understand what he meant. Do AAA and USV also use 14243? If not, where? This was really an exciting catch for me. Saw AAC reported for the day before on QRZ's DX Cluster, so I decided to give it a try and was greatly rewarded for the effort! 73, (Art Peterson, ibid.) I listen and am a ham also. 14243 about 0100 many days for AAC; usually around the weekend at about 0500 for Antarctics on 14243, that is USV and sometimes AAA. Occasionally they will both be on and one usually goes to 260. Also try 21275 at 1700 most days. There is an Antarctic net there most of the time. Hope this helps you (Steve KG6GJM, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA. HIMNO NACIONAL OBLIGATORIO Todos los canales de TV y Radios del pais con licencia deberán iniciar sus transmisiones diarias con la emisión del Himno Nacional Argentino. Aquellas difusoras que operen en forma continuada durante las 24 horas tendrán que poner al aire la canción patria a la cero hora. Se trata de una obligación emanada de la Ley 25636 sancionada el 1 de agosto y promulgada por el Poder Ejecutivo Nacional (RTA via deRadio.com via Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Conexión Digital Aug 25 via DXLD) Like a number of other countries, especially Latin American ** ARGENTINA. RAE, Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior, has now the following NEW e-mail address: rae@radionacional.gov.ar The others continue in use camposrae@fibertel.com.ar and barrera@arg.sicoar.com LRA1 R Nacional Buenos Aires, has now the following NEW e-mail addresses: info@radionacional.gov.ar direccion@radionacional.gov.ar artistica@radionacional.gov.ar operativa@radionacional.gov.ar noticias@radionacional.gov.ar am870@radionacional.gov.ar (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, BC-DX Aug 24 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA preview for August 30: 2305 UT Fri.: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. This week: Lexicographer Bruce Moore on the story of the Australian National Dictionary, as told by its editor, Bill Ramson. Ten years in the making, and first published in our bicentennial year, 1988, the Australian National Dictionary is a dictionary of some 10,000 Australianisms, compiled - like the Oxford English Dictionary - on historical principles. That is, the meaning of each Australian addition to the English language is illustrated by dated and referenced quotations. Some 60,000 in all, these provide 'fleeting images' that may be profoundly illuminating, says Bill Ramson. Bruce Moore explains how, in Lexical Images, Bill Ramson guides us through the Australian National Dictionary, showing us what it reveals about Australian culture and history. [Transcript available] (John Figliozzi`s previews, swprograms via DXLD) And repeated UT Sat 0530 ** AUSTRALIA. BROADCAST BAND NEWS Staff of Brisbane Commercial AM'er 4BH are in shock still after what appears to have been a deliberate attack on the radio station's twin broadcasting towers at Wynnum West. 4BH broadcasts on 882 kHz and although now a DMG music station is probably better known from its "glory days" as the Queensland Key Station of the Macquarie Broadcasting Network. Police are investigating an incident just before 9 o'clock Monday Aug 19 which saw both broadcasting towers have their guys cut with what appears to have been bolt cutters, which sent them crashing to the ground, putting the radio station off air, and coming to rest just meters away from a caravan park. The broadcast industry in Brisbane rallied around; SWITCH AM, a public community access station at Long Pocket on 1053 kHz has gone "off air", donating their transmission facility to the Commercial station. 4BH was back on air just 27 hrs later at just some 800 watts, instead of their 5 kW, using a retuned 1053 transmitter and tower, retuned thanks to Radio TAB engineering staff winding some 11 heavy duty inductors. This incident is unprecedented and has ramifications for all commercial radio broadcasters and the Commercial Broadcasters Industry Association has said "While it is hoped that this situation will not occur again it may be advisable for stations to review, and where necessary, upgrade security arrangements at their transmission facilities". This is the same site which saw thieves using bolt cutters gain entry to steal some 2 dozen satellite dishes belonging to Radio TAB early in the year. Allegedly the 4BH studios in suburban Stones Corner were fired upon recently, at least one bullet penetrating an office. It has not been disclosed whether the 3 incidents are related (Q-news Aug 25 via Robin L. Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania, DXLD) John, I cannot tell from this distance, being 1100 miles away from Brisbane. However I do have friends there and also a technical director of a local station here in the city. It does seem it was a random act of destruction as no political demands were made or any other admissions of responsibility. 4BH is an easy listening format station on 882 and is part of the British-backed DMG network. However my local contact reminded me about 10 to 15 years back there was a gang on the mainland, which systematically used to steal operating two-way radio systems including those of the Police and emergency services. Even low-powered broadcast FM relays were taken. Several offenders were eventually caught and were students at a prestigious Melbourne technical facility. Some did have ham licenses but they were revoked upon conviction. Here in Tasmania, only recently solar-power panels of a local ham repeater were stolen from a mountain peak at 4,000 feet and on another occasion the entire 2 meter repeater was taken. The culprits were never apprehended. If I hear anything I shall report it here (Robin VK7RH, swprograms via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. See FINLAND. Also current RVI Radio World audio ondemand has FV remotely reporting on EDXC, and he is only supposed to be away for a couple of weeks. Get well! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Hola amigos; las escuchas de este fin de semana algo afectadas por la explosión solar del sábado. Sony ICF 2010 Antena Hilo Largo del 15 metros. 4845.3, R. ONDAS TROPICAIS. Manaos. 0152-0201* Agosto 18. Música con boleros en español, luego a las 0158 cierre "...Boa noite, amigos da amazônia legal, a Radiodifusora Cultura Ondas Tropicais ZYF 278 en 4845 kHz na faixa de 60 metros en Manaus, Amazonas - - - máxima programação diária, obrigado pela sua audiência; amanhã estaremos juntos novamente pela graça de Deus; boa noite Manáus, boa noite Amazonas, boa noite Brasil..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) {Oops, Ondas Tropicais is not the name but a description of its band position} ** CANADA. http://thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1026144565457&call_page=TS_News&call_pageid=968332188492&call_pagepath=News/News Aug. 25, 2002. 01:00 AM IT'S OVER AND OUT FOR THE CBC TOWER By Elaine Carey, Staff Reporter [020825_tower.jpg] PHOTOS BY RON BULL/TORONTO STAR ALL DONE: It took all of 3 seconds to pull down the rest of the tower using cables. The iron legs of the tower had been cut earlier into three sections. It took only 3 1/2 seconds yesterday to wipe out one of the most important Canadian cultural landmarks of the last half-century. The original CBC-TV tower at Jarvis and Carleton Sts. the "Eiffel on Jarvis" as one newspaper dubbed it was the site of the first Canadian television signals that went out over the airwaves nearly 50 years ago on Sept. 8, 1952. For the next 24 years, all the programs and entertainers that dominated the Canadian airwaves were beamed from there. Hockey Night in Canada, Wayne and Shuster, Mr. Dressup, Front Page Challenge all emanated from this orange and white tower. "I felt, watching it fall, how simple it is to knock down and take away such extraordinary creativity," said Tony Ross, 73, a retired executive producer of CBC television drama. "It was like coming to the funeral of a beloved friend sad at first, but not sad because of that friend's many achievements." Its demise began in 1976, when the CBC moved its signals to the spanking new CN Tower. Production carried on in the old radio building on Jarvis St. until 1993, when all the CBC staff moved to new quarters on Front St. For nine years, the land stood in limbo. But yesterday, the tower was pulled down by Murray Demolition to make way for the future bigger and better training facilities for the National Ballet School and a condominium complex called Radio City. "I think the community realizes we are revitalizing the site we've received a lot of support," said Lewis Poplak of Context Development Inc., which is building two residential towers and a row of townhouses on its share of the site. "But there is a bit of sadness. A piece of broadcast history came down today." (via Daniel Say, Aug 25, DXLD) ** CHILE. 6009.7, RADIO PARINACOTA. Putre, 0940-1002 Agosto 18. "...bienvenidos a la primera radio de Chile. Radio Parinacota es la radio positiva, es la radio del cambio, es la radio de la comunidad y la gente quiere cada día más... Radio Parinacota, lo mejor de la radio..." Luego a las 1000 "...Radio Parinacota, 94.5 FM, son las 6 de la mañana..." (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CHINA. RADIO STATION BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN JAPAN, CHINA [by] Yasushi Kato BEIJING -- "July's chart topper is Wang Feng's 'In the Rain."' At a China Radio International (Radio Beijing) studio with just two microphones, a recording of the Japanese program "Music Airline" introducing popular Chinese songs was under way... http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=feature&id=300 (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 4975, ONDAS DEL ORTEGUAZA. Florencia. 2240-2304* Agosto 19. Con bastante irregularidad se escucha esta emisora colombiana tan sólo en el horario de 2230-2300 transmitiendo un programa evangélico llamado Sendas Apostólicas; no escuchada en ningún otro horario. "...Ondas del Orteguaza de Todelar, potencia, experiencia y calidad al servicio de la región..." A las 2301 ID: "...Desde Florencia, Caquetá, ésta es la internacional Ondas del Orteguaza, 1160 AM HJAV, frecuencia de onda corta 4975, HJQA con el sonido del nuevo milenio, Todelar está en todas partes..." luego fuera del aire con corte abrupto (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6060.08, LV de tu Conciencia, 0537 Aug 22, solid S7-9 signal with mostly EZL Latins and very brief anmts by a male, without ID. Frustrating, as this is obviously them. At same time, UNAMSIL is also hrd with weak audio made inaudible by loud static crashes at same level as last night. At 0555 there is an English ID, but I can't quite make out one word. It's: "This is the Voice of . . . transmitting on 6060 shortwave for Colombia and the world. You're listening to the Alcarvan Radio System." Then into Spanish talk for the following 27 mins. SP ID at 0622. Noted the same Spanish ID the following day at 0422, so this seems like a good time to check. No joy, though, at 0522 on Aug 23. Frequency has drifted up tonight to 6060.13 (Volodya Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Must be The Voice of Your Conscience, translated (gh, DXLD) 6060.10, La Voz de tu Conciencia, English ID hrd at 0925 after noting that Walt Salmaniw hrd one: "This is the Voice of Your Conscience, transmitting on 6060 SW to Colombia and the world. You are listening to the Alcaravan Radio System." Everything else in Spanish. Good signal. To recap on this one, it starts coming in around 0400 most days, with Spain on 6055 and WYFR on 6065. WYFR closes at 0445, and that clears things out on the topside. Recption is then decent on USB. Spain closes at 0600, leaving Conciencia in the clear until 0900, with just the slightest trace of the Brazilian which varies slightly around 6060.12. Argentina signs on 6060 weekdays at 0900, causing a het and some interference; they are off Sats, which is thus the best day for Conciencia at this hour. Conciencia is dominant even with Argentina there, however, and improves slightly as Argentina weakens. Conciencia is then pretty decent until it too starts weakening around 1015 (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Aug 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CYPRUS [non]. Re V. of Forgiveness, DXLD 2-132: via FEBA Seychelles site (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX Aug 27 via DXLD) ** DENMARK. The Danish Broadcasting Corporation canceled most of its news programming August 19, after about 1200 journalists when on strike. The action against Denmark`s public radio and television broadcaster was announced last week when members of the Danish Union of Journalists voted to reject a proposal for a new wage system. All news programs have been canceled on the broadcaster`s two TV channels. News continues on its four radio channels, but in shorter versions (AP via SCDX/MediaScan Aug 21 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB broadcasts to India are scheduled to end at the end of this year, from their location in Ecuador. They will be picked up by their facility in Kununurra, Australia. 73s (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Aug 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Amigos: Traten de escuchar el programa DX de HCJB, durante la emisión en portugués, los días domingos UT a las 0100 en 11920 y 12020 kHz, el que se repite los domingos a las 1730 en 15295 kHz. Allí podran escuchar las colaboraciones y participación del amigo brasileño Célio Romais. 73's y 55`s (Arnaldo Leonel Slaen, C1000WAL Buenos Aires, Conexión Digital via DXLD) That may mean it actually contain DX news Como parte do projeto de valorização dos programas dexistas em língua portuguesa, apoiado pela Coordenação do DXCB, estou colaborando com boletim, gravado em Porto Alegre, no programa DX-HCJB. Vai ao ar, nos sábados, às 0830, em 9745 kHz. Nos domingos, às 0100, em 11920 e 12020 kHz. Também, no domingo, às 1730, em 15295 kHz. Confira! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX via DXLD) Valorização == making them worthwhile ** EUROPE. 15784.84 khz, Sensation AM, es una nueva pirata europea, escuchada en Estados Unidos a 2139+, el 17 Agosto, con música tecno y otras. La misma cerro su transmision a las 2200*, de acuerdo a otro informe. Se identificaba como "Sensation AM from Western Europe", e- mail: sensationam@h... [truncated] SINPO: 24332. QTH: Box 1136, 06201 Merseberg, Alemania. (George Maroti y John Herkimer, USA, en DXplorer via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** FINLAND. As expected, YLE has today confirmed plans to axe shortwave transmissions in foreign languages except for the Russian service. See the original news item from June at http://www.dxing.info/news/2002_06.dx#yle YLE Administrative Council confirmed today that YLE will concentrate on serving Finns living abroad so that shortwave broadcasts in Finnish and Swedish will continue. Transmissions in English, German and French will end. News production in English for both TV and radio will continue at YLE24, the 24-hour news channel of YLE, but news in English will only be seen domestically on TV and heard on Capital FM. These news are produced by a team of four journalists who started at YLE24 in June. The Council argued that broadcasts in Russian have a significant meaning for the Russian-speaking audience both outside and inside Finland, and should therefore continue. Due to the cutbacks, Radio Finland is currently negotiating about laying off seven journalists who have produced programming in English, German and French. [Later] Just received a message from Mr. Juhani Niinistö, Head of International Radio at YLE, with some more details: "The Administrative Council of YLE has decided (August 26th) to close down international radio services in English, German and French. Services for Finnish nationals abroad in Finnish and Swedish will continue unchanged. Broadcasts in Russian will continue as well. The decision will reduce the annual transmitter hour volume of YLE Radio Finland from (2002) 46422 to 45122 hours. YLE will continue domestic relays of international broadcasting on its FM (and DAB) frequencies in Finland. These include today stations such as ABC Australia, BBC, NPR, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle, Radio France Inteternationale, China Radio International, CBC, Danish Radio, Radio Vaticana, RNE Todo Noticias, SABC, and others. News in English for domestic radio and TV in Finland will continue to be produced by YLE24. Programming in English has been produced by YLE in 1939-1957 and again from 1967. German aired 1939-1945 and again from 1985, French 1939- 1957 and again from 1987-. Since 1999 YLE international radio production in English, German and French has been produced with mainly domestic listening in mind. Broadcast time were changed to serve domestic prime time listening, mainly mornings. International distribution continued both on short wave and on satellites - though the volume was greatly reduced from earlier levels. The English half hour, for example, has been airing in three half hour beamings (was 11 reruns/beamngs in the early 90s). The closing dates for the services have not been decided." (Mika Mäkeläinen, Aug 26, DXing.info via DXLD) ** FINLAND. The EDXC Conference 2002 was held last weekend in Yyteri, Pori, Finland and judging from the feedback the meeting was a big success. The weathers were gorgeous, the Yyteri national park area absolutely magnificent and the programme with its several specialities worked. The www-pages of the meeting will be available up to 20th of September at http://www.sdxl.org/edxc/edxc2002 Altogether 130 dxers, shortwave listeners and representatives of international radio stations attended the meeting. Over 20 of them also joined the visit to Tallinn, Estonia. The only sad thing of this conference was that in Tallinn our friend from Radio Vlaanderen International, Mr. Frans Vossen injured his knee badly and he had to stay a couple of days at a hospital in Tallinn, before he was last Wednesday transported to Brussels. A bigger surgery operation is needed, and this has probably taken place today. So Frans will be off the air for maybe a couple of months. We wish him a good recovery. As the chairman of the organizing committee I want to thank all organizers, programme presenters and all attendees for making the Yyteri meeting unforgettable. 73 (Risto Vahakainu, FDXA via swprograms via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 11720-LSB, Scandanavian Weekend Radio via Virrat heard 6 April 2002 at 1359-1406. SINPO=12211. QSL#286 + personal note, v/s "Frank" + T-shirt offer + 10 stickers + tourist information received in 123 days from Suomi, Finland. Responding to my mail DX Report + audio tape + $2 + Play Cowboy brochure (George Glotzbach, Santa Fe NM, Cumbre DX Aug 22 via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. R. Georgia in German 0700-0730 11805 Aug 25 (not at 0600 UT as in published schedule). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX via DXLD) Wonder if any or all the other times, including English also an hour off; station confusion about DST conversion?? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. DAB: see UK [non] ** GUYANA. GBC Georgetown confirmed today my reception report dated 16 Dec 98 by letter signed by S. Goodman, Chief Engineer. This station was in no hurry to answer (770d after f/up, 1348d in total). 73, (Enzio Gehrig, Denia / Spain, Aug 26, hard-coe-dx via DXLD) ** HAITI. 840, 4VEH, 0000-0400 24 Aug, Haitian kreyol gospel programming all evening, fair peaks through much stronger "W" Santa Clara; one semi-readable "katwa ve e ash" YL ID around 0130 during promo for some kind of conference, but really clinched at 0358 with the traditional "Amazing Grace" organ-chime IS. Been a while, glad to hear it again. Am not aware of any other Haitian MWers making it out of the country these days (David Crawford, Titusville FL, Corazón DX via DXLD) ** ITALY. 7306U khz, Radio Europe, estuvo en el aire el pasado fin de semana desde las 2100-2200*, utilizando un transmisor de 500 watts con un programa especial producido en ocasión del 50 Aniversario del JSWC (Japan Short Wave Club). Su operador dice textualmente: "... a las 2200 la frecuencia será destruida por Dios en persona via Radio Vaticana con 1200 KW...", por eso finalizan sus emisiones a las 2200* (Radio Europe, en SW-Pirates, via Enrique A. Wembagher, Conexión Digital via DXLD) No tanto ** JAPAN. Detailed description in English about Japanese amateurs` campaign against PLC, presented by Dr. Cosy Muto (JH5ESM) of the JARL Technical Board on Electrical Environment at "HAM FAIR 2002" held in Tokyo on August 24/25, can be downloaded from http://www.qsl.net/jh5esm/JARLcampaignPLCe.pdf At "HAM FAIR 2002", 50th anniversary convention of Japan Shortwave Club, founded in July, 1952, was also held. 3 founder members lectured on DXing in the '50s. Participants were surprised to know that the late Mr. Arne Skoog was the 4th member of the club! (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, Aug 27, BC-DX via DXLD) I was also member for a while (gh, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. PAPER REPORTS NEW OPPOSITION RADIO BROADCASTING TO KAZAKHSTAN FROM ABROAD | The following is the text of a report entitled: "A ghost radio" by Kazakh newspaper Vremya on 20 August "Hello, you are listening to Dat Radio" which is for the independent residents of independent Kazakhstan. This is how a mysterious radio station with a bright political hue starts broadcasting at 0800 hours [0100 gmt] every morning. The radio that has the name of the former opposition newspaper has emerged from nowhere. Judging from the fact that the station is broadcasting on short wave its office is located abroad. The Dat radio station broadcasts on 31m shortwave. Its programmes can be heard on the Internet in real time and recorded. The programmes of unidentified authors are aired between 0800 and 0900 hours [0100-0200 gmt] and between 2200 and 2300 hours [1500-1600 gmt]. Programmes are based on open analytical materials about the political situation in the country and the names and surnames of high-ranking officials are also mentioned during the programmes. The opposition parties do not take responsibility for the radical project. According to representatives of the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan [RPPK] and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, they have nothing to do with the new radio station. In the corridors of political power, they say that Dat Radio is nothing but another trick of the former prime minister, Akezhan Kazhegeldin [who is the RPPK leader and is now living abroad]. Source: Vremya, Almaty, in Russian 20 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. GHOST RADIO. A new, independent radio station, DAT, is on the air for a few hours a day, but the Almaty paper "Vremya" claimed the station is "taken seriously in the corridors of power," according to "The Voice of Democracy" of 21 August. The regime may see DAT as a threat to its efforts to control public access to information, but the "ghost radio" station lies outside Kazakhstan's borders, broadcasting via short wave (31m) and on the Internet. "Vremya" reported that DAT focuses on the Kazakh political situation and publicizes the names of corrupt high-ranking officials. The station takes its name from an opposition newspaper that was closed down by the government for publishing news that displeased it. http://www.vremya.ru http://news.bbc.co.uk http://datradio.com (Catherine Cosman, editor, RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 23 via DXLD) R DAT, 9775 kHz, at 1536-1555 (carrier off 1600 only), Aug 24, Russian programming, 2(=S2-S8)5333, lots of static, so no QRM, adjacent or co- channel. What I could detect was a sudden splash seconds prior to 1600: BBC-Cyprus 9780 opening in Serbian, but Yemen was detectable underneath it in the silence between the TS and opening announcements over the BBC, which merely consisted on very brief news headlines (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, BC-DX via DXLD) 9775, R. DAT, at 0110 Aug 22, checked this and heard what I believe was them at good level mixing with co-channel VOA. Mostly language talks by man with brief organ-sounding music breaks between items, then more talk. No ID heard but ments of Kazakhstan, "Democratic" (or similar). Format continued until I tuned out 0130 (John Herkimer, NY, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** LATVIA/USA. RFE MOVE TO RIGA TO BE DECIDED SOON | Excerpt from report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 21 August: Radio Free Europe said it would decide in the coming two months whether it would move to Riga. Representatives of Radio Free Europe and Latvia's National Radio and Television Council (NRTVC) in meeting Wednesday [21 August] discussed possibilities to ensure radio's operations in Latvia, acquiring of frequency and broadcasting in foreign languages, said the NRTVC deputy chairwoman. Daina Kezbere told BNS the radio officials "gathered information" from the council about technical matters like frequency acquisition procedure, satellite broadcasting. The NRTVC told the radio's officials that Radio Free Europe will be able to broadcast in foreign languages because the broadcasting will not be in Latvia but will be broadcasting abroad which is not subject to restrictions for the use of foreign languages. The radio officials meanwhile said they were satisfied with location of Latvia's public television LTV on Zakusala island in Riga but said the offered premises were insufficient as they will provide enough space for just 200 out of the radio's total staff of 700. They also said it is unclear how the radio's tight security measures would be able to "co-habit with others from security point of view,"," said Kezbere. The NRTVC also said Latvia does not have legislation regulating Internet media - programmes of the Radio Free Europe can be listened to also in the Internet. On Thursday the radio officials will meet the Riga city council leadership and Prime Minister Andris Berzins. The premier in mid-May offered Radio Free Europe to move to Riga after a respective proposal was floated by Uldis Grava, the former employee of Radio Free Europe who at present is LTV director general. The premier sees the proposal as a gain for Latvia's prestige and economy as well as for the multi-storey building of LTV in Zakusala, which is not fully inhabited... Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 1133 gmt 21 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO FREE EUROPE SHOULD BE SAFE IN RIGA - AUTHORITIES | Excerpt from report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 26 August: The Latvian law enforcement authorities said they are ready to undertake responsibility for the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty security against possible terrorist acts if the radio decides to move its headquarters to Riga. Latvian Interior Minister Mareks Seglins, Latvian Interpol office deputy chief Edgars Strautmanis and Security Police chief Janis Reiniks told BNS the Radio Free Europe should be safe in the Latvian capital... Latvian premier in mid-May offered the Radio Free Europe to move to Riga after a respective proposal was floated by Uldis Grava, the former employee of Radio Free Europe who at present is the public Latvian Television (LTV) director-general. The radio officials said they were satisfied with location of LTV building on Zakusala island in Riga but said the offered premises were insufficient as they will provide enough space for just 200 out of the radio's total staff of 700. The question of relocation of Radio Free Europe from its present building in the centre of Prague soared after 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States as the Czech government said it was not sure it could guarantee the radio's security. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 0628 gmt 26 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LATVIA. See UK [non] for R. Festival reports ** LEBANON. BROADCASTING CONFUSION IN LEBANON Broadcasting in Lebanon is in a state of confusion in the run-up to the government's mid-September deadline for broadcasters to conform to the 1994 media law. In the past eight years, a number of radio and TV stations that were already operating before the law was passed have simply continued broadcasting. But on 11 July this year, the government decided to crack down on these stations, and passed a series of measures designed to bring them into line. These include applying for a licence, and paying fees to the Information Ministry. The problem is that the new measures do not specifically exempt Christian and Muslim broadcasters, even though they were exempted from the licence requirement in 1996 by a decision of the Cabinet. Officials at two Christian stations, Tele-Lumière and Sawt al-Mahabba (Radio Voice of Charity), say they will not apply for a licence unless the 1994 media law is amended to include a special section regulating religious stations. Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports that officials from the Catholic Information Center met on Tuesday, in the presence of two legal experts, to discuss developments. They decided that as long as the media law does not include a section regulating religious media, the two Catholic stations "cannot apply" for a licence. They decided to press MPs working on a new media bill to include a religious section in the new law, which can be used as a basis for deciding the legal status of the stations. According to Father Abdo Abu Kasm, the head of the Catholic Information Center, the stations cannot afford the annual fees paid by commercial stations. Kasm's claim is disputed by the Head of the National Audiovisual Media Council, Abdel-Hadi Mahfouz, who described the attitude of the religious stations as a 'rebellion'. According to Mahfouz, stations that choose not to apply for a licence to avoid paying fees can broadcast their specialised programmes through state-run Tele-Liban and Radio-Liban. However, they would then no longer be regarded as independent entities. At the same time, the government has denied that the religious broadcasters will be forced off the air if the situation remains unresolved by the deadline. So it remains to be seen what will happen (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 21 August 2002 via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. Hola amigos, El sábado en la noche de 2320-0002* a través de los 5470 Khz pude escuchar una emisora identificándose como Radio Veritas, con música y sonidos típicamente africanos y mencionando Monrovia y Liberia. Revisé tanto el WRTH y el PWBR pero en ninguno menciona esta frecuencia; además según estos la Radio Veritas desde Liberia ésta(ba?) inactiva. Aunque esto es fuera de mi escucha regular me parece interesante reportarla, ya que la señal era muy fuerte; además alguien tiene mayor información sobre esta emisora? (Rafael Rodríguez R., Colombia, Aug 26, Conexión Digital via DXLD) RADIO VERITAS EXTENDS AIRTIME According to as report in Monrovian Newspaper The News, the Catholic owned Radio Veritas yesterday (22 August) began a new broadcast season on both FM and shortwave. The station has also increased its broadcast from 12 to 18 hours a day. The most recently reported frequencies are 3450 and 5470 kHz. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 23 August 2002 via DXLD) 5469.96, have been listening since 2230 Aug 26; mediocre signal but improving, definitely English, definite mention of Liberia at 2245. Taking phone calls, giving tel. no of (I think) 227697, heard studio side of telephone conversations, listener side very low. Talking about politicians, elections. 2253, it's them: two R Veritas IDs, mention of 5470 SW, religious promo. (One of the announcers comes through very well, other speakers so-so.) Into religious talk, Lord's Prayer 2259, ID with 5470 freq ancd again, into light vocals. Program stopped 2302, carrier off (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MALI. RTVM 9634.45 kHz at 1600 Aug 24 putting a very weak signal and under severe adjacent QRM. 11960 was inaudible. R Mali this evening, and still as I compile this, fair on 5995 kHz but a terrible mess on 4835, where I cannot even adequately measure the QRG due to what's been on for days now - RTTY QRM; the always poorer 4783v kHz outlet cannot be tracked down due to utility; only a faint broadcast signal is heard, probably not from Bamako, but then today's been adverse re. conditions as lots of static is present. R. Bamako noted extremely weak this late afternoon, i.e. 25 Aug prior to 1800, on both 31 and 41 mb where they were only detectable when zero-beating the QRGs, but 41 mb was a little bit better, just enough to hear they were airing some football match report. At 1800, they appeared on 4834.4 kHz, initially 25342, though improving fast and without being molested by the adjacent utility. Stn* which was already present, to a point that, at 1900, reception was very good; the \\ 5995 kHz outlet also s-on 1800, rated 24231 with a minor adjacent QRM level de Ethiopia 5990, but the main problem was on 5995 itself, a Chinese that was a mess with what appeared to be tiny signals perceived underneath. Speaking of "underneath", just prior to 1800, R Australia's 10 kW Brandon site could be heard s-off with the IS. Like yesterday, 24 Aug, Bamako 11960 kHz was again inaudible, this time observed prior to its s-off schedule too, i.e. 1800. *) Does any one know which RTTY stn is on 4834.23 kHz (i.e. if I could measure its QRG correctly)? (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Aug 24-25 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. "AL INSTANTE"... TE ENTERASTE Decía yo que hace años que no cambiaban las series informativas en el dial nacional, y por ello quiero mencionar que ha llegado a la capital mexicana uno más de los pocos, poquísimos programas fuereños para ser transmitidos en el ombligo del mundo; me refiero al noticiario ``Al instante``, con Guillermo Garduño, que se transmite también desde la semana pasada a través del 830 de AM Radio Capital. Sí, sí, ya sé que yo aquí he dicho hasta el cansancio que no entiendo o no entendía el nacimiento de Radio Capital, antes frecuencia donde se transmitía Estadio W de índole deportiva, pero, bueno, ya he ido entendiendo un poco más de por qué una emisora musical se atreve a decirse: ``Radio Capital, el hogar de la verdad``... Y ¿sabe por qué es? Pues porque esta emisora, cuyo origen de señal viene de Toluca, del 1040 de AM, es parte del grupo radiofónico MAC. ¡Pero qué es eso de Grupo MAC! Sencillo: es un grupo de emisoras de la ciudad capital del estado de México que pertenece al señor Luis Maccise Uribe, socio reciente de la familia Ibarra de Grupo ACIR, pero que ha ido trabajando mucho en la fortificación del sistema mexiquense de noticias. ¿Cómo les quedó el ojo? Es decir, cómo nos quedó la oreja ahora que es más claro quién se quedó con la bolita del 830 de AM, que si bien no volverá a ser la XELA buena música, ni volverá a ser administrada por la familia Fernández de Grupo Imagen, sí está transformándose en una emisora que inserta preventivos para hablar del abuso, de la violencia intrasocial y hasta acerca de la inseguridad pública (La ventana ciega-Claudia Segura (8/21/2002) ``Hoy por hoy`` y ``Al instante`` la radio noticiosa ¿cambia? via Héctor García Bojorge, Conexión Digital via DXLD) The 830 facility in DF has changed again, from sportstalk Estadio W to Radio Capital, but still not back to classical XELA (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO. Found a new link from a Finnish website "KOMEX" that has list of Mexican BCB stations with slogans/power/location: http://www.pp.clinet.fi/~ejh/radio/komex1.htm 73's Steven Wiseblood, AB5GP, Boca Chica Beach, TX, Corazón DX Aug 26 via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Radio Nepal heard on 6100 // 5005 Aug 25 and 26. Both frequencies signed off at about 1545 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) During the past few days noted R Nepal is testing 6100 (still unannounced) only in the afternoon but from this morning 25th Aug they've started the morning service as well on 6100 kHz at 2345 hrs onwards. But both 5005 and the new 6100 kHz are closing at 1545 (some days a minute later). They've extended the MW transmission till 1815 while SW is closing at 1545. They've revised the English News timings which are now at 0215, 0815, 1415 and 1745 hrs - all 10 minute duration. The last one at 1745 is only available on MW (Alok Dasgupta, Kolkata, India, Aug 25, BC-DX via DXLD) I can't remember who in India it was that reported Nepal on 6100 kHz for daytime broadcast. I need to give him credit for it. Checked it and found them very much there around 1200, much better signal than on 5005 which was in \\ 25/8/2002. Should propagate to WCNA. Guy? Malaysia s-on around 1300 on 6100 and it should be a mess then (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Aug 26 via BC-DX via DXLD) Another new occupant of 6100: See AFGHANISTAN ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. NBC PRIVATIZATION CALLED OFF Radio Australia reports that the Director General of Papua New Guinea's National Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Kristoffa Ninkama, has announced that the proposed privatization plan has been called off. Dr. Ninkama said that NBC is the only means of information for much of the country - where a commercial service may not be viable - and it is important that it remain a government entity (RN Media Network 26 August 2002 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To keep you advised on our ongoing tests, from Radio América: Transmissions continue, 24 hours per day, on 7300 and on 7737 kHz. The frequency 7300 remains beamed toward Buenos Aires. The frequency 7737 is beamed at 4 degrees, from Magnetic North. We have had excellent results from the tests, on these frequencies, in our primary coverage region. I noted in your column that Señor Tony Jones affirms that our tests are non-existent. I would invite Señor Jones to stop by Radio América, in Ñemby, at his convenience, to tour the new transmitter site, as our guest of honour! Señor Jones may reach us at (Asunción telephone) 960 228, or 964 100. Thus far, we have received DX reports, for the 7 MHz frequencies from Argentina, Bolívia, Brasil, Paraguay, Canada and Norway. For the 15 MHz test, we received one, extremely correct report, from Germany. We are continuing to fine-tune and strengthen the equipment. The antenna for 7737 has been rebuilt. With best regards from Paraguay. (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay, ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 9504.91, Radio Tacna, Tacna. 1046-1120 August 24. Spanish transmission. Commentary about Peru and CEPAL organization. Check time: "Son las 5 de la mañana con 50 minutos". Weather report: "repasamos el pronóstico regional..."; greetings: "saludos a toda nuestra audiencia que nos escucha...". Commentary about the relations Peru-Chile. Commentary about President Toledo. News from CNN in Spanish at 1102 UT. ID and ann.: "Vamos a la pausa aquí, en Radio Tacna". Local ads.: "Banco de materiales", "Colgate Palmolive", "Moviestar Plus", etc. Program: "La noticia en Tacna". Complete ID as: Por el pasado glorioso de nuestra tierra, por una patria próspera... y por el sueño de nuestros antepasados... es Radio Tacna, transmitiendo en el mes de su... aniversario de la emisora y en el mes de la reincorporación de Tacna a la integridad nacional". 33433 with QRM from Radio Record, São Paulo, Brazil, on 9505 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Next August 28 is the 62nd anniversary of R. Tacna. This station is active on SW these days. Reception reports to: Ing. Alfonso Caceres Contreras scaceres@viabcp.com (Arnaldo Leonel Slaen, Argentina, DXplorer Aug 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PERU. 6140.9, CPN RADIO. Arequipa. 2302-2325. Agosto 17. "...CPN en Chimbote le informa mejor..." "...Desde Lima para todo el Perú y el mundo, CPN Radio, Cadena Peruana de Noticias se complace en presentar el servicio informativo; el más completo equipo periodístico con la información al instante desde el lugar de los hechos..." mencionan la pagina web en http://www.cpnradio.com.pe 6895.4, RADIO SAN MIGUEL DE EL FAIQUE. El Faique, 2350-0010 Agosto 19. Música peruana en el programa Sentimiento Popular, anuncios de Comercial Sánchez, Transportes San José, Mueblería Moyobamba. "...a esta hora compartiendo la sintonía de la Radio San Miguel de El Faique la grande..." Notada con buena señal, libre de la interferencia de RTTY y emisiones ilegales (Rafael Rodríguez R., Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Philippine Radio Network Celebrates 50th Anniversary RMN Networks, formerly the Radio Mindanao Network, celebrates its 50th anniversary on 28 August. The network was founded by Henry R. Canoy, who opened radio station DXCC in Cagayan de Oro on 28 August 1952. Canoy and a friend built their first transmitter using instructions in amateur radio manuals, but they couldn't get it to work, so they sought the help of two engineers from the Far East Broadcasting Company. The FEBC donated two transformers to get the transmitter on the air. The new station, however, was unlicenced. But its popularity, together with the help of a member of parliament, secured DXCC a 25- year licence. Canoy opened stations in other parts of Mindanao, and named it the Radio Mindanao network. He had no ambitions to broadcast elsewhere, but was eventually persuaded to expand the network nationally, and it now has more than 50 radio and TV stations across the country. This week, the founding chairman is being honoured by his family and friends in simple ceremonies to be held in Cagayan de Oro. (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 26 August 2002 via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. A short time ago I joyfully informed you RRI in English at 0700-0800 UT was on 21480 kHz. They were not there during the last three days. Today, 14 August, I identified RRI in English on 21530, as per schedule. There is a strong station in Greek on 21530. 21480 is empty. What a shame! Best wishes (David Crystal, 19125 Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. R. UNAMSIL: I tried them around 0615 Aug 21 and was surprised at the signal, mostly rap music with talk in language interspersed. Went into English at 0625 and presented a UN program that reviewed international events on this date during past years, rock music in background. English program preview before continuing in English at 0632 with another announcer whose voice was more muffled, and going out by 0700. Static, but still pretty decent, tho never did get explicit ID. Conciencia good at 6060.08 as well at that time, strong signal, good audio. UNAMSIL there tonight as well, 0400 Aug 22, not quite as good level as last night, and QRMed, but should improve. I would put freq at 6137.83 (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. There will be a special daily transmission from Meyerton Radio Station (Bloemendal). This is from Channel Africa to inform people about the events etc. at the World Summit on Sustainable Development. This conference will be in Sandton just north of Johannesburg, South Africa. It will be daily from 1100 to 1500 UT on three transmitters. From Monday 26 August to Friday 30 August and from Monday 2 September to Thursday 5 September. 1 = 21765 kHz 328 2 = 17725 kHZ 19 3 = 11720 kHz 5 Regards, (André du Toit, http://home.mweb.co.za/an/andre46 via GRDXC via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Nothing audible here Aug 27 around 1400 on 21765, and 17725 had heavy adjacent splash (gh, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I suspect much of the programming will be available on-demand. There was a 12-part prep series dating back to this past February through August that is available on-demand from the Channel Africa website. It's a good series. Separately, I noted the following text on the Channel Africa website: "Dear listeners, over the past few weeks we have been engaging in a new format of programming on a trial basis. We now offer you more in depth features on a variety of topics. "If you have any comment on our new format, we would like to hear from you. Write to Channel Africa P.O. Box 91313, Auckland Park, 2006, South Africa" I haven't been to the Channel Africa website in quite a while. It looks like there's a lot of programming available in addition to what goes out over shortwave. Main web page URL: http://www.channelafrica.org/index.html Shortwave schedule: http://www.channelafrica.org/schedule.html What is nice is that on-demand audio is available sorted by date and time of broadcasts (just like RNW does) as well as by program -- as the BBC and DW do. Nice to get it both ways (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA Aug 24, ibid.) [I guess this be the same event under slightly different name:] Radio Earth Summit Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) has launched its own radio station and Web site http://www.radioearthsummit.org/ called Radio Earth Summit. Radio Earth Summit is primarily focused on gathering stories from people who have been affected by the activities of multinational corporations. FoEI is uploading new interviews to the website all the time during the Earth Summit in Johannesburg. In addition, the site will be streaming a half-hour radio programme every hour on the hour. Every evening at 1900 UT, starting from Monday 26 August 26th, the Radio Earth Summit programme is being broadcast via the WorldSpace AfriStar satellite on WSSD Radio and local community radio stations. This signal will be picked up by selected terrestrial broadcasters, who will then utilise and relay WSSD Radio's signal via their own local and international FM, shortwave and mediumwave networks (RN Media Network Aug 26 via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 4902, SLBC Ekala, 1945 Aug 22, presumed full moon service with chanting. Fair-good signal (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Indeed 22nd Aug was a Full Moon day. It is the sabbath of the Buddhists. It is also a public holiday. Bars, cinemas and shops are closed on this day. 4902 was booming in this night. By the way the English transmission on 4940 is back on the air after repairs to the transmitter (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, 4S7VK, DXplorer Aug 23 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- We're happy to announce that Anne Sseruwagi has been appointed as the new head of Radio Sweden, replacing Finn Norgren, who is working on a development project in Rwanda. Our new boss comes from Swedish Public Radio's Finnish service Sisuradio. JAN STENBECK Swedish media mogul Jan Stenbeck died Monday of a heart attack at the age of 59. After inheriting his father`s steel and forestry empires, in the late 80´s Stenbeck started to take on former Scandinavian public monopolies in broadcasting and telecommunications, as well as developing new Internet and broadband services. I've often referred to Stenbeck as a Rupert Murdoch wannabe, but Stenbeck was a far bigger fish in the Scandinavian pond than Murdoch is in the global ocean. Murdoch just owns media companies, albeit very large and powerful ones (and operates some pretty poor websites). Stenbeck's empire embraces several of Scandinavia's most popular satellite TV stations, one of the region's two digital satellite subscription services, key radio networks, Sweden's third largest cable network, a major Internet Service Provider and one of Sweden's most important broadband networks as well as a significant web portal, Sweden's second largest telephone company, and one of the country's three GSM operators. Add to that a large share in the country's only terrestrial commercial TV channel, TV4, other broadcasting interests in the Baltic region, and the international chain of "Metro" free newspapers, and there's a lot of synergy there, and unlike some, Stenbeck used that synergy advantageously. For example, one of his radio stations (Metro FM 101.9) has just relaunched in a request-only format. But to make a request you have to find the number of the song you want (either in the newspaper "Metro" or on the Metro website) and then send an SMS (which costs 50 cents, and since the group owns a GSM operator revenue is earned there as well). So the station earns money for requests off its existing play list for the music that it has to fill the time with anyway. In an earlier example of forward-thinking synergy, when the Internet boom had just started, you could surf the web using TV3's teletext service, by making a phone call where an automatic voice directed you to a particular teletext page. You could tab between links on the page and choose the one you wanted using telephone tones. The idea never caught on, and is totally out of date now, but it was a great idea. Right now all the pundits and politicians are saying the usual nice things about Jan Stenbeck, about how progressive-thinking he was, and how he took on the public monopolies. According to former employees, there was a dark side as well. Stenbeck was a very hands-on employer, and many of his underlings have complained about their treatment. Pundits here say he introduced an "American" style of management, which for Swedes means strict hierarchy, absolute obedience, and a quickness to fire employees that staggered this consensus-driven nation. Stenbeck's recent take-over of the business newspaper "Finanstidning" and subsequent firing of much of its staff as he merged it with another of his publications caused an uproar among both employees and the Swedish Journalists Federation. Tuesday's e-mail newsletter from that new entity, "Finans-Vision", is a eulogy to Jan Stenbeck. There's a slideshow of photos from his life at: http://www.finansvision.com/bilder/bildspel2.GIF Despite Stenbeck's death his Swedish entry in the America`s Cup yacht race, Victory Challenge, continues. This might be partially because the boat´s main sponsor, Stenbeck´s TV3, has bought the television rights for the race in 10 countries, including the Scandinavian region. The pundits also say without Stenbeck his empire's finances are shakey, and predict that some parts may have to be sold off. Is this a golden opportunity for Rupert and News Corp to buy their way into Scandinavia? (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Aug 21 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. 12085/12115/9950. 9950.0, 0338- Aug 21, Sout Al Watan. Solid S7 signal with Arabic vocals and instrumentals. A presumed logging. In the clear except for a lot of atmospheric noise tonight. Badly faded to just readable at 0356 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12115, Sout al Watan at *1500-1530*. Noted with transmitter on at 1452 with modulated carrier. Abrupt sign-on with patriotic song, sign-on comments in Arabic by male and female speakers, interspersed with the same patriotic song. Into Kor`an reading (10 mins long due to Friday's Holy Day to Muslims). Then a selection of rustic string and drum vocal music to abrupt s-off with no annts at 1530. Signal was solid, strong and a full s8 at times. 12085 - a stn heard here as early as 1448 in Arabic but not \\ with 12115 (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, DXplorer Aug 23 via BC-DX via DXLD) Today Aug 21, Syria was back on 12085 before 1500 too. The clandestine came on with open carrier about 1445 and caused a SAH with Syria. Syria went off just after 1500 and the clandestine started its program around 1501, maybe starting late in order to allow for Syria to clear the frequency? The first five mins of the program consisted of a filler song, before they ran the usual Watani Habibi with announcements interspersed (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX via DXLD) Syria 12085 is heard again today Aug 23 with the daytime Arabic sce. The buzz noise seems to have gone from the audio, but audio level is still very low. It does seem more than coincidence that this one goes off and then the clandestine takes over the frequency. Watan is obviously not a Syrian transmitter - unless it's one we don't know about. Could it be a form of "black propaganda" - i.e., seeming to be a clandestine, but actually not, or having some hidden meaning that we haven`t yet understood?? 12115 is currently carrier only at 1457 and peaking to 7, dropping down below 3. It has started about 10 secs before the hour - and I note that 12085 has also done so before Syria went off c1501:30. Signal level on this one is peaking occasionally to 6 and also dropping below 3 (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX via DXLD) I couldn`t positively ID the signal heard c0830 today on 12085 as Syria. If it was them, the signal was much weaker than previously. However, it was noted on air at 1435 at S7 but with low audio. Syria is definitely on air this morning on 12085 and S7 to 9+ at c0650. I could hardly hear any audio, but the background noise makes ID certain - and it is still around S7 at 0800 (Noel R. Green-UK, Aug 25-27, BC- DX via DXLD) ** TIBET. 9490, China Tibet People's Broadcasting Co. "Holy Tibet" b/c, full-data paper QSL with stamp and info letter, postcard of Lhasa, sked of the Chinese and Tibetan svcs; in 32 days. Address on return envelope: "Holy Tibet" China Tibet People's Broadcasting Co., Lhasa, 850000 PRC. Verie signer Tsering Yuzen, Tibetan Service It's up on DXplorer Sight & Sound (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, DXplorer via BC-DX via DXLD) V. of Holy Tibet in English was heard here Aug 20 at 1630 on 4905, 4920, 5240, 6130 and 7185 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. We will soon have worldwide TV in good quality over the net! Have a look at the live feed for BBC World at http://www.lyngsat.com/livetv/United-Kingdom.shtml It's much much better than the BBC's own very poor QuickTime feed (Mike Terry, UK, BDXC-UK Aug 25 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. LATVIA, 5935 kHz um 1929 UT Tourist R Riga / R Festival 2002: Musik von Brian Ferry, Marianne Faithful, um 2003 UT Danksagung an Jene die diese Programme erwoeglichen (u.a. KRUPS TV, Latvia Telecom), danach ein Programm mit dem Namen "Media Zone" oder "Media Zoom". (Patrick Robic, Austria, A-DX, Aug 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) Media Zoo! i.e. Tiergarten (gh, DXLD) 5935, R Festival, at 2152-2202*, I checked at 2130 for this and found a weak carrier. When I rechecked at 2152 it was already in at nice level. Caught end of pop music program (Cher, Pointer Sisters), canned announcement 2159 featuring little kid giving ID, then British- accented announcer with IDs, program announcements for next day`s broadcast, E-mail address, mentions of R. Caroline, etc., but a little tough getting all the details. Off 2202* in mid-song ("We Built This City" by Jefferson Starship). They are on again today (Sunday). (John Herkimer, NY, DXplorer Aug 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) 5935, Tourist R. Riga was heard at 1952 Aug 24 with SIO 422 (Q + R Rossii), at 2112 SIO 444 but maybe not so perfect audio, close-down at 2205. Some music, IDs, Laser 558 mentioned. tomorrow at 17 BST (or UT?). festival@mediazoo.co.uk (Igor ibid. [sic], hardcore dx Aug 24 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K [non]. "Bible Voice Broadcasting Network" -- To keep the chronicle complete some notes about yet another gospel huxter who recently appeared on the airwaves: Yesterday (Aug 25) the 11645 transmission was preceded by MCCBN run-up tones of about 760 Hz; probably Tbilisskaya is the origin of the signal. On the contrary, 7425 crash-started at 1758. Probably the transmissions are Merlin services, including but not limited to Russian sites. I found no further information about the organizations behind the "Bible Voice Broadcasting Network" so far; the http://www.biblevoice.org URL obvious from the reported mail address strangely redirects to the site of an Internet service provider http://www.netgates.co.uk (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CANADA [sic]. 7430 High Adventure Canada. 1700-1815 Aug 21. Good with Russian/Amharic and English language programming. Different from High Adventure US who broadcast via Juelich (Ian Cattermole, New Zealand, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I just tuned 7430 and a carrier appeared at 1655 and started on/off tones - Russian like - but these were very high tones. Signal peaking to 7 or 8 but with static bursts. At c1759:45 music started and a man in English gave an ID followed by another language which I don`t recognise. After more announcements in this language there was a talk ... Mr. Christian? seemed to be mentioned a number of times. Maybe the "Mr" was another word! At conclusion of this programme 1727 an address in Ethiopia was given, so I assume Amharic was the language - I didn`t know the country had moved into the Mideast! Another programme has started at 1730 - I'm not sure if this is in Amharic also. The music heard at 1733 is very much like what we hear from that area. I believe I've heard tones like these before. 7430 concluded with English Monday (26/8) night. I checked at 1805 and it closed as listed at 1815. Reception was spoiled here by static noise - and I noted there was rapid type 'fading' characteristics at this same time. I think a Russian/CIS site would be on a higher frequency??? But to E and W Europe 7425 and 11645, 1800 and 2000 look OK for Russia?? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Aug 26 via DXLD) ** U K O G B A N I [non]. SATELLITE TRACKER FINDS GOOSE IN FREEZER A goose fitted with a £3,000 electronic transmitter to chart its migration is tracked 4,500 miles by satellite - to an Eskimo hunter's freezer.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/2216858.stm It could have been worse, Glenn. The eskimo could have cooked the goose with the transmitter attached (Tom McNiff, DXLD) ** U K [and non]. Hi Glenn, concerning ``Digital radio uses the same frequencies as 405-line TV did [???? Like 45 MHz? or Band I, III in general? I think not -- gh]`` This statement is indeed correct insofar as no 625 line VHF transmitters were inaugurated in the UK after the final shut-down of 405 lines in the eighties (contrary in France the Canal Plus Pay TV service now uses the VHF range formerly occupied by 819 lines transmitters). Herewith DAB is in the UK the only broadcast service in the space elsewhere still occupied by TV transmitters, and all DAB services use the Band III there, not the elsewhere popular L-Band which is quite insufficient if more than a mere local coverage is demanded. By the way, in May also the range between 1467.5 and 1497 MHz was allocated to terrestrial Eureka-147 services in Europe. The very same frequency range is in use by Worldspace. An interesting constellation, isn't it? As far as I know some DAB services in the UK use quite low bitrates, so the audio quality will of course not really satisfy in these cases. On the contrary here in Germany most (but not all) programs are carried with 192 kbit/s. Of course this is of no value when the studio signal is distorted and heavily compressed. And a comment from a broadcast engineer: DAB offers in the UK at least a variety of programming, but who will buy a DAB set here in Germany where all it has to offer are Deutschlandfunk, Deutschlandradio Berlin and a handful of crap? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RADIO SAWA: ALL DRESSED UP WITH NOWHERE TO GO by Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada http://electronicIntifada.net/features/articles/020820ali.shtml (Amman, 20 August 2002) -- Since my last visit to Jordan a few months ago, the United States government has launched its new effort to win the hearts and minds of the people of the Arab world, an FM radio station called "Radio Sawa" (Radio Together). At first it seemed that this station was blaring from every radio. My rental car had it preset, and the throbbing beats of Britney Spears could be heard emerging from more than a few taxis. Sawa is now heard on FM stations in five Arab capitals, all except Amman, in the Gulf region. Radio Sawa is deceptively innocuous. About 53 minutes of each hour it broadcasts cheap Arabic and Western pop, the rest of the time divided between one short news bulletins at quarter to and one longer one at quarter past each hour. On August 18, I listened alternately to the BBC and Sawa throughout the day and took notes about how they covered the news. First thing in the morning, the BBC led with news of a report from the Palestinian Ministry of Health documenting a one hundred and twenty five percent increase in child malnutrition in the occupied territories since Israeli began its siege and repression. Sawa led with news that an Israeli "special unit" had arrested Hamas members. Saying nothing about the health report, Sawa made only a vague reference to calls by Palestinian officials for the international community to intervene to "relieve the humanitarian and security situation affecting the Palestinian territories." For much of the day Sawa seemed to be concerned with damage control for the U.S. campaign against Iraq, prominently featuring denials by unnamed Israeli officials that Israel was trying to goad the U.S. into attacking Baghdad. In the evening, the BBC and Sawa both reported on the visit to the region of the UN special envoy for humanitarian affairs, Catherine Pertini. While the BBC quoted Pertini as expressing deep concern about the grave situation, Sawa quoted her only as describing announced Israeli measures to relieve the plight of the besieged population as "encouraging." The BBC highlighted a new report from the World Bank that put the number of Palestinians living in extreme poverty at over fifty percent. Sawa said nothing about that but repeatedly included an upbeat item about a planned meeting between Israel's defense minister and the new Palestinian interior minister. Sawa did report that three Palestinians had been injured in an Israeli "operation" in Khan Yunis, but only the BBC bothered to add that these were civilians, one of them a sixteen year-old girl. In a late night bulletin, Sawa led with news that Jaweed Ghusein the former director of the Palestine National Fund had gone into exile in London from Gaza, and had told Israeli newspapers that Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat had diverted millions of dollars meant for the Palestinian people into his personal bank accounts. Only the BBC however mentioned that the same newspaper reports claimed that Ghusein had been spirited out of Gaza in a joint operation of Israeli, Jordanian and British intelligence, and that Ghusein had himself been accused since 1991 (before the Palestinian Authority even existed) of embezzling more than six million dollars from PLO funds. Sawa did include news items that undermine declared U.S. policy, for example that the German Chancellor strongly opposes a U.S. attack on Iraq. Perhaps adding such information, which is in any case well-known to everyone here, helps boost the credibility of the station as an "objective" whole, making it a bit easier to sell the largely sanitized version of the news that Sawa offers. While just about everyone knows that the U.S. government is behind Sawa, there is something very furtive about the whole affair. Unlike the BBC Arabic Service, or Radio Monte Carlo (the Arabic broadcasts of French radio), both of which have been available here on FM for several years, Radio Sawa's news bulletins do not identify the station's sponsor or where it is broadcasting from. Its anchors do not provide their names. This gives it an exceptionally sterile and anonymous quality that is in complete contrast to its competitors. Occasionally, however, listeners are directed to Sawa's highly uninformative website (radiosawa.com) whose three short paragraphs of text in English and Arabic perhaps tell you all you really need to know, among which: "Radio Sawa is a service of U.S. International Broadcasting, which is operated and funded by the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an agency of the U.S. Government. The BBG serves as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters." The site also explains that: "In reporting the news, Radio Sawa is committed to being accurate, objective and comprehensive." Sawa shows a bit more sophistication than the sledgehammer propaganda of the old Voice of America only to the extent that there is no sign of the crude State Department "editorials" in which people are informed of why this leader is a pariah, or that country a "rogue" state and why America has their best interests at heart. Sawa's approach is not to tell outright lies, but to subtly distort the news through careful selection and omission. "One of the guiding principles of Radio Sawa" according to its website, "is that the long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly in Arabic with the people of the Middle East by radio," and that "Radio Sawa seeks to win the attention and respect of its listeners." Yet it is clear that the United States does not have much to say in Arabic, and scarcely more respect for its audience. Sawa is up against the BBC Arabic service, which provides detailed and authoritative news, analysis and interviews presented by friendly, but occasionally tough interviewers (who actually have names and personalities), as well as features, music, English-teaching and programs about everything from public health to local events in just about every corner of the Arab world and beyond. Radio Monte Carlo also provides high quality news and discussion, lots of pop music, and while managing to sound a little 'younger' than the BBC still comes off as a serious effort. Both the BBC and Radio Monte Carlo have lots of audience participation, taking calls and reading letters from listeners --- and responding on air --- to questions from all over the region. Sawa's news bulletins and endless nightclub throb come off as the radio equivalent of invading soldiers handing out chocolate to children in a newly captured territory. Its sound is not unlike the mass produced commercial FM radio that has replaced local programming in almost every US city, the difference being that there are no commercials (which after a brief time listening to Sawa you actually start to miss), and it is in Arabic. Underpinning Radio Sawa is the common American belief that people in the Arab world harbor resentment towards the United States because they are simply misled, do not understand their own interests and are too obtuse to realize that their views towards American policy are simply wrong. Its bland format and lack of content leave no room for an actual exploration of people's views and the creation of a dialogue between the United States and the people it wants to influence. While better communication between the U.S. and the Arab world is badly needed, it should be based on actually changing approaches to problems, and resolving key issues, not simply trying to sell the same old policies in a package of pop music. What people in the Arab world need is sophisticated insight into the United States as a country, the diversity of its people, and the complexity of its culture and politics. Americans need the same about the Arab world. Sawa, providing none of that, is a quick fix solution to a deep and worsening problem, that will ultimately prove disappointing to its creators. Most people I have talked to agree that its nice to have the music, but that the news is a bit of a joke. A few are more concerned worrying that while Sawa may seem vacuous today, once it lulls its audience into seeing it as harmless, or even objective, the dose of distortion and spin will be gradually increased. But given the information saturation from other, far more informative radio stations, newspapers and satellite television, Sawa would have to pull off a miracle to do anything more than confirm the impression that when the United States is not being a bully it is just patronizing. If the United States government thinks it is going to make people in the Arab world believe that its unconditional support for the Sharon government, and its threatened invasion of Iraq are really good for them just because Americans have learned to speak Arabic, then it is dreaming. If, however, the U.S. intention was to provide light entertainment to people as they ride in taxis, then it has come up with a sure fire scheme for success (via DXLD) Radio Sawa: John Ydstie talks with Burt Kleinman, a consultant for Voice of America's Radio Sawa. VOA cancelled their staid, mostly talk format in the Middle East and replaced it with Radio Sawa, a mix of Western and Arabic music and news. Kleinman and his colleagues used American marketing techniques to gauge what listeners want to hear. Kleinman says Radio Sawa, which began in March, has been a great success. (5:30) http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20020821.atc.17.ram (NPR All Things Considered Aug 21 via gh, DXLD) FEEDBACK FROM WASHINGTON Bernard H. Kamenske, formerly Chief of the VOA News Division, wasn't happy with my editorial about the similarities between VOA Europe and Radio Sawa. Because one of our slogans at Radio Netherlands is "all shades of opinion", we've published Mr. Kamenske's comments in full. If you haven't read the editorial, it's at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/editorial.html or you can go direct to Mr. Kamesnke's response at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/response020823.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Aug 23 via DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE: I'm heading down to this station early local on Aug 23 to try and get 7490 back on the air and getting 13595 restored and ready to go - if and when! (Larry Baysinger, KY, Aug 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Checking out 7490 again, Aug 26 at 2205 UT, I found a good carrier, surely more than the usual 100 watt exciter, but could not make out any audio amid considerable QRN. Perhaps Larry Baysinger is testing higher power as planned. Same but much better before and after 0500 UT Aug 27; traces of modulation may have been crosstalk. Another check at 1222 UT found modulation by: World of Radio 1144 (not the current Extra 43), which evidently started at 1200, a different time than previously, since it ended at 1229. If they are on a 6-hour rotation, the other M-F nominal times would now be 0600 and 1800 if not 0000. Followed by ID with slogan ``Where Jesus is exalted``, address spelling out L-O-U-I-S-V-I-L-L-E, and 1230 into Doc Burkhart`s unnamed(?) mailbag/promotional show, which he said `this week` had been reduced from 30 to 15 minutes. But it was taped long ago since he spoke of plans by the end of July to add 13595. Said what they really need, besides prayers, is a new 100 kW transmitter. For the moment, Baysinger has got this one working pretty well, obviously a considerable number of kW rather than W. Modulation is pretty good but slightly distorted, and tends to clip on the occasional peak. Mentioned that one program they were still carrying from the former owners, off WJCR-FM, is Prayerlines – no exact times ever given. 1245 into a Mon-Sat show, Rockin` (or Rock in?) Victory. There was co- channel from the DVR USB transmitter throughout, in Japanese, and its pitch was slightly off as WJIE is slightly low in frequency, less than 100 Hz (gh, OK, DXLD) Greetings Mr. Hauser- Hearing a very strong unmodulated carrier tonight 8/27 at 2350-0030Z on 7490 kHz, WJIE's somewhat dormant frequency. Signal is very strong, ranging from S9 to 10 dB/S9 on a Satellit 800 & ham dipole antenna here in metro Detroit area. If this is indeed WJIE, WOR has found a good home, signal wise. It's rivaling WBCQ, whose 7415 signal is the strongest on my SW dial. 73s (Ben Loveless, Michigan, WB9FJO -- also WPE9JLQ back in the late 60s; I did enjoy my pseudo-call sign as a young SWL back then, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. This is from today's CSM from the August 26, 2002 edition - http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0826/p08s03-comv.html DIGITAL BY (FEDERAL) DEMAND The Federal Communications Commission has decided it can't wait for a digital television market to develop according to laws of supply and demand. It'll step in and mandate one instead. The FCC's recent decision to require a digital tuner in every new TV set by 2007 does just that. Consumers in the years ahead will supposedly have no choice but to purchase some means of receiving digital signals - versus the analog signals currently used for most broadcasts. The FCC's aggressiveness in this matter reflects the federal government's determination to push broadcasting into the digital age. In 1997, Congress passed a law requiring that all broadcast signals be converted to digital by 2006. All stations were to have begun at least some digital broadcasting by May 1, 2002. Most missed that deadline. Broadcasters balk at a hefty investment in digital if most viewers can't receive the programming. Hence the FCC's prod on the receiving end. Higher prices for digital sets - TV makers say the tuners will cost an extra $100 or more - could cause a consumer backlash. But the FCC and broadcasters confidently assert increased availability and demand will soon shrink prices. Why all the rush? First, lawmakers view the onset of digital TV as opening new economic realms, such as interactive TV. Second, and maybe most important, the federal government wants to get its hand on the big chunk of spectrum now used by analog signals. Digital signals use much less of the spectrum. The freed-up air space will be auctioned by the government, bringing in considerable revenue. But will the lure of clearer pictures and interactive capabilities move the public to reinvest in television? The FCC's move is designed to give people little choice. Still, it's hardly certain that American consumers can simply be herded into fulfilling the government's digital dream (via Hart Larry, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF TV STATIONS TRANSMITTING DIGITAL SIGNALS | Text of press release by New York-based market and technology information firm SCRI Research International dated 27 August According to SCRI's 2002-2007 DTV Migration Trends Report - TV Stations Report, only 28.6 per cent of US TV stations are already transmitting a DTV [digital TV] signal. This is in line with current NAB estimates - as of August 2002, according to the NAB, there are only 461 full power television stations on the air with a digital signal serving 136 of the 210 markets in the US. According to PBS, 76 of those (still) are non-commercial. Almost three-quarters of the commercial broadcasters that were supposed to be offering a digital signal by 1 May 2002 failed to make the deadline. The delay is a further indication that the federally mandated transition to digital broadcasting will take longer than the planners had expected in the mid-1990s. But the missed deadline comes as no surprise. Hundreds of stations have been filing requests for extensions recently, citing a variety of financial and technical reasons. By the end of 2002, SCRI data shows that 42.9 per cent of stations will be transmitting a DTV signal, by 2004, the number reaches 69 per cent. For more information on SCRI's 2001-2002 Broadcast/Pro Video Product Reports, go to: http://www.scri.com/sc_reprt.html or contact info@scri.com Source: SCRI Research International press release, New York, in English 27 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC TO INVESTIGATE NEW YORK RADIO SEX INCIDENT Entertainment - Reuters/Variety Industry Thu Aug 22, 2:10 PM ET By Jeremy Pelofsky WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal regulators will investigate complaints about a radio broadcast of a man and a woman having sex in New York's Saint Patrick's Cathedral, a Federal Communications Commission spokesman said on Thursday. The FCC has received scores of complaints about the broadcast, which was part of a contest sponsored by the WNEW-FM afternoon program "Opie and Anthony." The hosts had challenged listeners to have sex in various public places. Loretta Lynn Harper, of Alexandria, Virginia, and Brian Florence, of Quantico, Virginia, were arrested last Thursday on charges of obscenity and public lewdness inside St. Patrick's Cathedral. Their attorney has said they were not having sex in the New York City landmark. Also arrested was Paul Mercurio, a radio producer who allegedly was positioned near the couple and relaying the stunt to the radio station via mobile phone. FCC Chairman Michael Powell ordered an immediate investigation, agency spokesman David Fiske told Reuters. The station could face a fine or revocation of its license if the agency finds that the station broke federal indecency laws that bar the broadcast of obscene material and limit the airing of indecent material that contains sexual or excretory references in a patently offensive manner. "If these complaints and press accounts prove true, this commission should consider the strongest enforcement action possible against this station, up to and including revocation of the station's license," FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said in a statement earlier this week. As part of the radio show contest, six couples were given a list of 54 risky locations to have sex in New York, police said. For example, a couple having sex in a church would win 25 points, while sex in Rockefeller Center was worth 30 points. The live talk show has been suspended, and the program will run repeat broadcasts indefinitely, according to the station's owner. Infinity Broadcasting, a unit of Viacom Inc. "WNEW and Infinity Broadcasting do not in any way condone the actions that took place last week," said Infinity spokesman Dana McClintock. "No new Opie and Anthony shows will be broadcast, while the matter is reviewed." The station's general manager and the program director also were suspended, he said. In court on Wednesday, Judge Analisa Torres ordered the couple to return on Oct. 2, when they will learn whether they have been indicted by a grand jury (via yahoonews, via Artie Bigley, DXLD) RADIO STATION DUMPS SHOCK JOCKS By LARRY McSHANE NEW YORK (AP) - Opie and Anthony are over and out. The New York-based shock jocks, criticized by Catholic groups for broadcasting a live account of a couple allegedly having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral, had their nationally syndicated show canceled Thursday. ``Based on recent events, the Opie and Anthony Show has been canceled, and will be replaced by other programming beginning Friday,'' WNEW-FM said in a statement. The station, owned by Infinity Broadcasting, offered no further comment. The pair had been pulled off the airwaves Monday, three days after the stunt was aired. The cancellation was announced shortly after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell directed the agency's enforcement bureau to investigate the broadcast. The FCC had been flooded with hundreds of complaints about the show. The decision to sack the shock jocks and their highly rated afternoon drive-time talk show was hailed by William Donohue, head of the 350,000-member Catholic League. ``I'm delighted with the results,'' said Donohue. ``I'm very, very happy. It is an example of corporate responsibility in an age of corporate irresponsibility.'' Donohue said his group would back off its call for the FCC to pull WNEW's broadcast license and fine Infinity. ``It's over,'' he said. ``I'm satisfied.'' The cancellation came one day after the Virginia couple suspected of the sex stunt appeared in a Manhattan courtroom on charges of public lewdness. Brian Florence, 37, of Quantico, Va., and Loretta Lynn Harper, 35, of Alexandria, Va., were due back in court Oct. 2. The couple's lawyer has said they were just simulating sex inside the landmark Manhattan cathedral. The couple was arrested Aug. 15 after they allegedly had sex in a cathedral vestibule just a few feet from worshippers, police said. The radio show's stunt was part of a regular feature where couples could earn points and win a trip for having sex in risky places. Charges of acting in concert were still pending against Opie and Anthony producer Paul Mercurio, 42, who provided a running account of the encounter via cell phone. The Opie and Anthony show was nationally syndicated in 17 markets outside New York City, including Cleveland, Dallas, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Washington, D.C. It was the second firing in four years for Greg ``Opie'' Hughes and Anthony Cumia. The pair was canned in 1998 by a Massachusetts station after announcing on April Fool's Day that Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino was killed in a car crash. (08/23/02 06:56 EDT via AOL Canada News via Fred Waterer, DXLD) NET NEWS as of THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 2002 Updated at 2:06p (PT) Flash! WNEW/NEW YORK and OPIE AND ANTHONY have parted ways. A short statement was released: "Based on recent events, THE OPIE AND ANTHONY SHOW has been cancelled, and will be replaced by other programming beginning tomorrow." Inside word is that O&A are under contract for the next two years to INFINITY, but are off the air for the forseeable future. This is all a ripple effect of the OPIE AND ANTHONY sex in the church stunt. The O&A cancellation will affect stations like WCKG/CHICAGO, KYNG/DALLAS, WYSP/PHILADELPHIA, WBCN/BOSTON, WJFK/WASHINGTON, WXTM/CLEVELAND, KISW/SEATTLE, KXOA/SACRAMENTO, WBUF/BUFFALO and a number of other WESTWOOD ONE affiliates who carried the show. No word on what programming will be carried on WNEW, or what WESTWOOD ONE will be offering affiliates. Just this morning, INFINITY appointed acting GMs to sit in for the suspended FM Talker WNEW/NEW YORK VP/GM KEN STEVENS in the wake of the OPIE AND ANTHONY sex in the church stunt. GSM GARY BLUM takes the temporary reins at WNEW and ALAN LEINWALD does the same at WJFK/WASHINGTON where KEN is also GM. INFINITY RADIO Pres./Programming ANDY SCHUON is acting PD at WNEW (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WHEN ANTENNA FARMS START CROPPING UP NEAR HOMES, RESIDENTS SQUAWK http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/08/23/NB84616.DTL About Marin Emergency Radio Authority system on 460 MHz band (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** U S A. KPIG SINGS A NEW SONG: PAY TO PLAY BY WEB WATCH Watsonville, Calif.-based KPIG-FM, one of the oldest and most popular Internet broadcasters, is back online after a month of Web-radio silence. But fans will have to open their wallets to listen: The station's live feed is available only through Real Networks' $5.95-a- month RealOne RadioPass service. To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A56015-2002Aug24.html (via Tom McNiff, DXLD) That`s nice; but I never listened to it when it was free. What`s so special about KPIG? (gh, DXLD) Glenn, This article appeared in today`s La Crosse Tribune. It pretty much rehashes what's been said before. INTERNET RADIO FEES THREATEN COLLEGE BROADCASTERS SAN DIEGO (AP) - The signal from San Diego State University's KCR station is so weak it can barely be heard on campus - if at all. Yet for the past six years, its eclectic programming has reached the entire world. "The Internet has been a vital part of our broadcasting," said Rachel Bradley, 23, a graduate student and the station's general manager. "It seems to be our lifeline to be an actual, viable radio station." KCR and many other college stations fear they'll have to give up their newfound "antenna" by year's end because of new webcasting fees. For listeners, this could mean being cut off from most of the nation's 1,300 college radio stations, which operate on small budgets and play music not heard on commercial radio. In June, the U.S. Copyright Office issued rates for royalties that webcasters must pay music labels and musicians for sound recordings. The minimum is $500 a year, but fees are retroactive to 1998, and many college stations simply can't afford the assessments of at least $2,000. "Within days I was receiving e-mails from radio stations saying, 'We're going down. You can add another station to your list'," said Will Robedee, vice chairman of Collegiate Broadcasters Inc. Stations that already have halted or suspended webcasting include University of California-Los Angeles Radio, KBVR at Oregon State University and New York University's WNYU. "We didn't want to be liable for any of these huge fees that would cripple us or threaten our existence," said Gabriel Mousesyan, an economics student and general manager of WNYU, which killed its 4-year-old webcast in April. (Monday, August 26, 2002, La Crosse Tribune, via Daniel Sampson, WI, Prime Time Shortwave, DXLD) ** U S A. COLLEGES HALT RADIO BROADCASTS ON INTERNET BY RYAN E. SMITH, [Toledo] BLADE STAFF WRITER Terry Teagarden at the University of Toledo likes to think of radio broadcasts over the Internet as a great equalizer. "You go from the signal which carries four to eight miles away [from UT] to the possibility of being able to webcast across the world," said the coordinator of student media. "That`s something that certainly would be very attractive to us." Financially, though, such options no longer may be viable for small, noncommercial stations. The University of Toledo and a number of other colleges are no longer broadcasting online, fearing that new national fee and reporting regulations could price them out of the business... http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?SearchID=73108938631453&Avis=TO&Dato=20020820&Kategori=NEWS21&Lopenr=108200039&Ref=AR (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) Mentions a WFAL-AM 1610 at Bowling Green State University; carrier current? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1630, KNAX, Ft. Worth, TX, 1103-1130+ Aug 20 with Spanish religion, "Radio Ayo" slogans, which I think is actually "A y O" (Alpha y Omega) said as a single word. Easily over KKWY which is just 90 miles from here (John Wilkins, CO, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** U S A. I've been in contact with a rep from Ibiquity about their 1700 kHz test transmitter (WI2XAM) in Warren NJ. It will operate intermittently as needed and probably not at night. It is 50 watts into a 35 foot transformer matched antenna with 4 ground radials. They indicated that correct reception reports would be acknowledged. Reports should be sent to: Russ Mundschenk, Ibiquity Digital, 8865 Stanford Blvd., Suite 202, Columbia, MD 21045 (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, Aug 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED [cf my previous 12090 item -- gh] 12090: Another log at 1430:00-1445:00 UT now DAILY. The same 15 min "tape" every day with pop/rock in Chinese (I guess). No words. Strongly supposed China's test for efficiency of new type of music jammer (may be to replace their wild "Dragon" which is now common on most of RFA/VOA Mandarin outlets (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, Aug 26, BC-DX via DXLD) Since Aug 19 daily from 1430-1445 on 12090 playing only heavy-metal songs in unID language (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Aug 26, BC-DX via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-132, August 25, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 43, week of August 21: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.6; webcasts also Tue 1900, Wed 1300 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/worx43.html CONTINENT OF MEDIA, new edition 02-04: BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0200, Sat 0100, 0700, 2330, Sun 0530 on 7445, 15038; also webcast Wed 0800, Sat 1730, Sun 1130 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0204.rm (STREAM) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0204.ram (SUMMARY: http://www.worldofradio.com/com0204.html EDITOR`s NOTE: We have been taking some time off, compounded by a protracted ISP outage, so this issue covers just a portion of the material since 2-131. We shall get caught up as soon as possible. We have been unable to update http://worldofradio.com either since Aug 20 so at the outset this issue and perhaps other pages such as MONITORING REMINDERS calendar will be available via http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html {soon no longer necessary} ** ARGENTINA. 5241-LSB, R. Diez, B.A. 0225 Aug 21 carrying listeners comments on day's issues via answering machine, mentioning: from "cartoneros" to Bin Laden. Again at recheck 0930 w/ ID: R. Diez, la radio más potente de Argentina". (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. 6215, R. Baluarte, Puerto Iguazú, heard at 2205-2217 Aug 9 in Spanish with announcements and station addresses, then Portuguese for talks, songs and a religious program; the ID given in Spanish was R. Baluarte, not R. Maranatha. 34321 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC- DX Aug 9 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura, 17815, 0205-0300* Aug 17, romantic Brazilian ballads. Lite jazz, Portuguese announcements. Fair and in the clear, no one else on this frequency. Poor on \\ 9615 with co-channel QRM (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. R. Cultura on 16 mb, which is normally hightly [highly? lightly?] disturbed by RCI's adjacent channel on 17820, has been monitored recently. The following can be considered an "old" catch, but their 17815 kHz outlet is one I try regularly, and it was inaudible (for some reason, i.e. due to propagation or due to transmitter problems) before I picked it up on 21 July 2214-2242 airing light music and songs, \\ to 9615 kHz underneath RL in Ru, an outlet that's usually better than 16 mb. However, it hasn't been heard since. On the higher HF bands: 15324.9, R. Gazeta, São Paulo SP, observed on 5 Aug 2208-2223 airing Voz do Brasil, which includes weather forecast right before it ends part 1. Adjacent QRM. 24332. What happened to the other Brasilian private stations on 19 mb? In the meantime the 31 mb outlet of R Rio Mar, Manaus, Amazon state, continues to provide the best evening signal from all the Brazilian stations, regardless of the band: 9694.9, 5 Aug 2226-2252, part 2 of Voz do Brasil. Echoing audio. 35444 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Aug 12 via DXLD) ** CANADA. [We carried an item on this some weeks ago when it was first reported, but here is another version]: On the evening of 27th July, about 10 minutes before the start of a favourite TV show, I ran the receiver manually through a batch of frequencies in its memory which I used to check for E-skip. There was a weak signal on 26.200 MHz stating that the Montreal Alouettes were 15-0 up on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The closest to an ID was ``This is Molson Export Alouettes Football``. There was an ad for Hydro Quebec and another for CBC-TV. I unashamedly gave priority to TV watching and didn`t land a telling ID. The day of the Alouettes` next home game, I was ready on 26200 and found that the signal came from a radio station that some good friends of mine sort of love to hate, Montreal`s CJAD. So an 11-year absence of any Canadian entry in my 26 MHz logbook came to an end: August 2 at 2215, on narrow FM, news, traffic and weather, then pre-game football talk. Audio on CJAD`s MW signal 800 kHz was running 7 seconds later than here. Poor signal (Alan Roberts, St. Lambert, Quebec, Fairhaven RD500 and 26 MHz dipoles, August CIDX Messenger 25 Plus via DXLD) ** CANADA. Changes of Radio Canada International - RCI A-02 SW broadcast schedule, effective 17.07.02 (0300 UT) to 27.10.02 (0300 UT). [English and Spanish only excerpted here; I fear we missed this earlier – gh] 1200-1459:30 9515 250 240 USA/Caribb. MON-THU En (MON-FRI) DEL 15305 250 240 FRI Fr*) 17820 250 189 ADD 13655 250 240 1300-1559:30 9515 250 240 USA/Caribb. English (SAT&SUN) DEL 15305 250 240 17800 250 189 ADD 15190 300 235 2200-2229:30 11920 100 240 USA/Caribb/ English DEL 15305 250 176 Lat.Am. 17880 250 176 ADD 15170 250 176 2230-2259 11920 100 240 Caribb./ Spanish DEL 15305 250 176 Lat. Am. 17880 250 189 ADD 15170 250 176 (RCI website. Last-Modified: 17 Jun 2002, via JKB, WWDXC, BC-DX via DXLD) Meanwhile, just received in P-mail, with no postmark date, is another variation of the printed RCI schedule, effective from 07.04.02 to 27.10.02, but nevertheless including the changes above, notably the deletion of 15305 in favour of other frequencies. However, its ``issue date`` is yet another: 14.06.2002. We find it odd that the 1200-1500 broadcast is indicated as in French instead of English on Fridays only; haven`t checked the SW frequencies, but the printed sked shows ``C`est la Vie`` in the third hour of This Morning (actually sixth semi-hour) on Fridays, but--- the show is in English!! (mostly) -- its very raison d`être is to acquaint Anglophones with French Canada. Evidently someone was fooled into thinking a show with a French title would be in French (much as HCJB puts Spanish titles on some English shows; is this kosher?). Now that summer is almost over, we get a chance to look at the other CBC features available via RCI for the season! The 1200-1500 to USA 9515 13655, Carib 17820, other hour 3 subs after the 1400 news are: Mon Canada Reads Tue Up and Coming Wed This is Art Thu Festival of Fiction The 1200-1259 via Japan 9660 and 15190 to China in English and 1500-1557 via China 15455 and 17720 to India in English: Mon Quirks & Quarks Tue Workology Wed Writers & Company Thu Global Village Fri Quirks & Quarks, Tonight Sat Friday Nights with Outfront Sun Global Village The Tue-Sat shows are summer replacements for This Morning, Tonight from June 25 to August 31 Besides As It Happens weekdays at 2230-2359 on 6175, 9590, 13670, 17695 to E&C USA, these variations: Mon 2330 Connections, Jun 24-Aug 26 Wed 2330 Dispatches [permanently, it seems] [Fri 2330 carried C`est la Vie last year, but not this year] (gh comments from an RCI sked via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CHINA. From mid August, Sichuan PBS on 6060 is s-off at 1300 on weekdays (probably at 1200 on Suns). On weekdays entertainment programs in Tibetan at 1300-1330, in Yi lang at 1330-1400, in Chinese at 1400-1600 have been omitted. Their official URL http://www.scnews.net.cn/scsb has been lost. Now (the former) program schedule in Chinese can be found at http://www.sc.cninfo.net/tanfo/radio/radio06.htm (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, Aug 18, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. We previously confirmed that CRI`s program day begins as early as 0000 UT, but on Thu Aug 22 at 2330 UT on 13680 via Canada, the ``Friday special``, Life in China, was already running. So is 2300 UT the first broadcast of each cycle, or even earlier? 2300 UT is 7 am local time. And shouldn`t their Friday program be heard on a Friday in the target area, in this case North America? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI`s 7445 has been converted from USB to AM, but its antenna is still on the lower tower; needs at least $200 to get it moved to the higher tower. Meanwhile have been working on bugs to get power up from less than 15 to full 30 kW, now running. Worked on driver and pre-driver stage to do this. In near future expect to adjust broadcast times so 7445 and 15040 not be identical, i.e. 15 starting earlier, 7 later (RFPI Mailbag Aug 17, partially monitored Aug 21 at 0145, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. PROHIBEN ENTRADA DE VIDEOCASETERAS (VCR) --- Agosto 19, 2002 LA HABANA, 16 de agosto (Víctor M. Domínguez, Lux Info Press / http://www.cubanet.org ) - El gobierno de Cuba prohibió desde el 10 de agosto la entrada de videocaseteras (VCR) al país, mediante una resolución puesta en práctica por la Aduana General de la República. La Aduana General ordenó a sus funcionarios que no se permitiera la entrada de esos aparatos ni por los puertos aéreos ni marítimos de Cuba. Antes del 10 de agosto, se podían pasar las videocaseteras al país pagando el precio de costo de las mismas, lo que hacían principalmente cubanoamericanos que visitaban la isla o extranjeros que tienen contratos de trabajo con el gobierno de Fidel Castro. La ausencia permanente de VCRs en las tiendas recaudadoras de divisas, llamadas popularmente "shopping" y la programación politizada de los tres canales de televisión existentes en el país hacen que el valor de estos aparatos sea elevadísimo. En la bolsa negra o mercado ilegal se venden entre 300 y 350 dólares modelos que en otros países cuestan 100 dólares o menos. Sin embargo, la fuente de esta información aseguró que los almacenes de los comercios dolarizados "están abarrotados de videocaseteras que se pondrán a la venta próximamente", aunque no se ha podido averiguar cuándo, dónde ni a qué precio. LUX INFO-PRESS --- Agencia Cubana Independiente de Información y Prensa, 2174 N.W. 24th Court, Miami, Florida 33142 CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores y autoriza la reproducción de este material informativo, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) PUNTO CU --- [por] Lucas Garve, CPI LA HABANA, agosto (http://www.cubanet.org) - Punto cu (.cu) es el indicativo para identificar el dominio cubano en Internet. El gobierno de la isla se esfuerza por ganar terreno en el campo de la informática. Estructurado desde la enseñanza primaria, el programa de aprendizaje de la informática alcanza hasta los estudios superiores. A fines de 2001, 14 mil maestros se prepararon para enseñar los fundamentos de la informática en ese nivel, según el artículo publicado en un mensuario de informática y comunicaciones que vio la luz en julio pasado. En la citada publicación se anunció que 44 mil computadoras ya se instalaron en centros de enseñanza primaria, secundaria, media superior y superior. Además, desde el punto de vista educativo, han elaborado 85 softwares como apoyo a diferentes disciplinas de estudio en los citados niveles de enseñanza. La informatización de la sociedad cubana trata de avanzar a paso rápido. En una entrevista a un medio de difusión especializado, el ministro de Informática y Comunicaciones abordó el tema del desarrollo de la informática en Cuba. También anunció la ampliación de la red nacional de microondas y los trabajos realizados en la red nacional de fibra óptica, cuya primera etapa deberá concluirse a inicios del año próximo. La Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (corporación de capitalistas italianos y el gobierno cubano conocida por las siglas ETECSA) oferta actualmente servicios de correo electrónico, correo híbrido a domicilio. Hace poco anunció un servicio de mensajería desde el exterior hacia destinatarios cubanos a través de la dirección electrónica http://www.correosdecuba.cu mediante el cual se pueden recibir mensajes por correo electrónico y cartas en 72 horas a lo máximo en el propio domicilio. Las posibilidades de desarrollo informático reservan un avance más rápido a empresas y organismos estatales, pues así las inversiones redundan en beneficio del Estado. Los servicios a particulares se ofertan en dólares. Las tarjetas para navegar (limitadamente) en Internet por computadoras ubicadas en oficinas de correo valen 4.50 dólares. Un sector que ha incrementado ampliamente su presencia en Internet mediante el establecimiento de "portales" es el del turismo. También se trabaja en el incremento del comercio electrónico y ya existe una Comisión Cubana de Comercio Electrónico ocupada en la localización de mercados y en el respaldo logístico. En la isla, más de una decena de tiendas virtuales operan ahora mismo. Evidentemente, todas las operaciones se realizan en dólares. La clientela está formada exclusivamente por extranjeros, empresas, organismos y sociedades estatales o instaladas en Cuba con capital foráneo. Hasta el presente la participación de los cubanos "de a pie" es muy reducida y la gran mayoría de estos servicios les parece algo perteneciente al campo de la ciencia ficción, aunque en comparación con diez años atrás hoy posean más oportunidades de disfrutar de estos adelantos. En definitiva, la barrera principal para que el gran público obtenga los servicios mencionados es la que levanta los precios en dólares. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CUBA. SPYING, PROFIT MOTIVE MERGE IN LITTLE-KNOWN CUBA AGENCY EX-INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS, OTHERS WITH INFLUENCE GET FOREIGN JOBS By Juan O. Tamayo. Jtamayo@herald.com. Posted on Tue, Aug. 20, 2002. The Miami Herald. Communist Cuba is exporting ''business managers'' to work for capitalist firms abroad, and that is only one of the intriguing angles in the tale of a little-known government agency in Havana, Cubatécnica. [henceforth Cubatecnica] Most of the approximately 400 Cubans contracted by Cubatecnica to work abroad are former top intelligence officials or relatives of senior government officials who obtained their jobs through thinly veiled blackmail, current and former agency employees say. A former Interior Ministry colonel is running a warehouse in Panama, an electronic eavesdropping expert works as an accountant in Madrid, and the son of a Cuban Revolution hero is fixing computers in Venezuela, the sources said. Cuba is well known for sending thousands of doctors, teachers and sports coaches to work abroad under government contracts, helping other nations while bringing in hard currency desperately needed by the communist government. Yet far less is known about the Cubatecnica program, which contracts mid-level business managers, accountants and computer technicians to work for capitalist enterprises abroad. That program's roots go back to 1991, when Cuba opened itself to foreign investors following the collapse of the Soviet Union but found that the foreign firms wanted to hire Cuban staffers for their Havana offices. Cuban officials made sure the first jobs went to former officials of the Interior Ministry, in charge of domestic security, who had been purged in 1990 following the execution of several ministry officials and army Gen. Arnaldo Ochoa on charges of drug smuggling. ''Fidel Castro was afraid of these subversive capitalists, so the government allowed them to hire those purged interior ministry people -- fired but still trusted,'' said one current Cubatecnica employee. They were highly lucrative jobs -- paying up to $600 a month in a country where the average monthly salary was $13 -- and soon began attracting the trusted sons and daughters of senior government officials. ''We were hired because we knew people in high places,'' said a former Cubatecnica worker who claimed to have attended high school with two of Castro's sons. Like the other agency workers interviewed, he asked for anonymity, fearing retaliation. THINGS CHANGE But by the second half of the 1990s, many of the Cubans working for foreign firms in Havana were getting into trouble -- sometimes paying bribes to government officials to win contracts or sidestep the bureaucracy, sometimes procuring girlfriends and drugs for their bosses. It was about that time that the Cuban employees began asking their bosses to find them work abroad, and that Cubatecnica emerged as the government's official broker between the Cuban workers and the capitalist firms abroad. Some of the Cubans told their bosses that they wanted the higher salaries they could earn overseas. Others claimed that police were investigating them for corruption and needed ''to refresh themselves'' abroad, said the Cubatecnica workers. A few others boldly told their prospective employers that they would work abroad for them without salaries, according to two former Cubatecnica workers, implying that Cuba's intelligence agencies would take care of their living expenses. 'In all these cases, there was the unspoken blackmail that the Cuban workers knew a lot about the companies' dirty business in Cuba and would cause problems if they did not get out,'' one former Cubatecnica worker said. JOB COORDINATOR Cubatecnica, created in the 1970s to handle the contracts of thousands of Cubans sent to work in factories in communist Eastern Europe, brokered the new contracts and now has an estimated 400 workers in Mexico, Spain, Panamá, Chile, Venezuela, Italy, Canada and France. Herald calls to Cubatecnica in Havana went unanswered. Cubatecnica's hires must report to the Cuban Intelligence Directorate's offices in their respective embassies, known as Centers, on their contacts with local political figures, according to the contractors. ''They all have families in Cuba, so they have to pay their tithe, drop a little information here and there,'' said Norberto Fuentes, a Miami author once close to Cuban intelligence. Under their Cubatecnica contracts, half their official salaries must be returned to the Cuban government, although many of the contractors also receive under-the-table payments from their foreign employers, the Cubans explained. MONEY FOREMOST In fact, they added, most of the Cubatecnica contractors are today less interested in intelligence work than in making money, so they can enjoy their lives abroad and send remittances to relatives on the island. ''The intelligence angle is not that important anymore,'' said Fuentes. "Those purged Interior Ministry officers have now created their own separate business aristocracy, and the state security is not the monolith it once was.'' One Cuban who broke with Cubatecnica but stayed abroad working as a computer repairman said: "I have a car, an apartment. I send money to my family and can visit Cuba anytime I want to. "That's the capitalist dream, no?'' "Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar." -- Julius Caesar (via David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, United States of America 28.5146N 80.8342W, DXLD, with his tagline) ** CYPRUS [non]. The TDP database claims that the Voice of Forgiveness is headquartered or based in Cyprus. However, my search through other databases doesn`t show a Voice of Forgiveness. According to the VOF website http://www.arabicradio.org/ they broadcast on 15535 at 0345 and 1100 GMT. This organisation appears to be a Christian station dedicated to Arab-speaking listeners (Dr John Barnard, AB, Signals Unlimited, Aug CIDX Messenger via DXLD) {via SEYCHELLES: 2-134} ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 5009.8, R. Pueblo/Cristal, Santo Domingo, August 21st, 2320-2335 UT, Spanish, advertisement for sports equipment, ID: "Radio Cristal Internacional, onda corta para el mundo. Noticias, entrevistas ... deporte nacional y internacional ... en su programa enfoque deportivo." SINPO 33333 vy 73 (Michael Schnitzer, Hassfurt, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. R. Quito, 4920 [actually more like 4919], is celebrating its 62nd anniversary [as if this were significant]. For this occasion, HCJB DX Partyline`s Allen Graham interviewed Dr. Xavier Almeida [sp.?], station manager, at some length for the Aug 24 program; try to listen ondemand if and when available. Among the points: has a program for Ecuadorians abroad, ``Cartas a los ecuatorianos ausentes``, which is also quite popular with DXers. Hears especially from Japan and northern Europe, but not Spain as would be expected. Does reply to reports with QSL. Show is 0430-0500 and 1000-1030 UT [didn`t catch day(s) of week if mentioned]. Almeida speaks English well, but his accent doesn`t seem to be Spanish. I wonder about his background. Perhaps Brazilian (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. HRN, La Voz de Honduras, fine audio quality via Windows Media Player. Address was wrong in DXLD 2130, and should be http://www.radiohrn.hn "La noticia sin malicia" probably is an indirect way of saying that the station carries unbiased news (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3905, RRI Merauke, fade-in here at 1145 UT Aug 10, under Radio New Ireland-PNG (s-off 1203* UT). 1200 UT RRI Jakarta relay, "Dynamica Indonesia" till 1228 UT. 1229 ID + frequencies + FM. Increased signal around 1240 UT up to S=9 +10 dB! Modulation good (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, BC-DX via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRIB has become a major international broadcaster in recent times. In addition to Jaam-e-Jaam 2 TV broadcasts in Farsi and English, IRIB will soon launch a Pan-Arab TV channel called "Al Alam News Channel". The new channel's test loop (Interval Signal) now appears on Telstar 5, 97 degrees West, Transponder 5, 11836 GHz Vertical, Symbol Rate 20773, FEC 2/3 . Video ID = 408, Audio ID = 356. In addition to Al Alam, this MPEG-DVB "MUX" now includes six streams of IRIB-originated audio multiplexed on three pseudo-stereo channels: Audio ID=1085 (Left) IRIB World Service Radio Channel 1 (Multilingual) Audio ID=1085 (Right)IRIB World Service "feeds" (Multilingual) Audio ID=1087 (Left) IRIB World Service Radio Channel 3 (Arabic) Audio ID=1087 (Right)IRIB World Service Radio Channel 2 (Multilingual) Audio ID=1089 (Left) IRIB 1st Program (Farsi) Audio ID=1089 (Right) Radio Quran (Farsi) The international services seem to have been re-branded as "IRIB World Service", replacing the old "Voice of Islamic Republic of Iran." IRIB has a very complex website with many audio streams. Some of their websites are : http://www.irib.com http://www.irib.com/worldservice http://www.alalamnews.com (TK Wood, Virginia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Clandestines: On 4275 kHz 1600-1703* Aug 17, ID in Persian: "In[ja?] Sedaye Mojahedine Kurdestane Irana". Voice of Communist Party of Iran in Persian *1625-1742* Aug 17. (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX via DXLD) Oops, frequency? ** JAMAICA. The story about history of radio here from the Gleaner, in DXLD 2-099 was rewritten for AWR Wavescan 400 Aug 25, with these comments appended: Actually there was an earlier radio station in Jamaica that was on the air occasionally with radio programming on shortwave and this was the communication station operated by Cable & Wireless under the callsign VRR. On some occasions, both ZQI and VRR were heard in parallel with the same programming, usually test cricket matches between Jamaica and another country. Programming could be tuned in over the air on a radio receiver or by wire in an early form of cable radio. The program format at the time was modelled on the style of the BBC in England though there were also many inserts of local Jamaican programming. These days Jamaica is on the air from five different mediumwave sites all rated at 10 kW, as well as from nearly 50 FM transmitters spread right across the island. The famous QSL card from ZQI is printed black on yellow and it gives also the original amateur callsign, VP5PZ. The shortwave transmitter at ZQI was rated at 200 watts. Thank you, Paul Ormandy in New Zealand, for providing this interesting information for use in Wavescan (Adrian Michael Petersen, AWR Wavescan Aug 25 via DXLD) ** MALI. 7284.0, R Mali, Bamako, on 8 Aug 0952-1006 airing talks in vernacular; fade out shortly after 1000 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. R. México Internacional, 9704.87, 0308-0335 Aug 18, English with mailbag program, pop music, ID, address, 0335 back to Spanish with local folk music. Poor to fair; weaker on \\ 11770.15 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO/RUSSIA. 171 kHz: NG: There was a better signal than usual from Morocco Tuesday (13/8) night - around 2200 - and I was able to verify that their Nador(?) transmitter was operating on exactly 171. KL: Yes, Nador is on even 171.0, so that's not the source of the disturbance. Pictures of the Nador site are available here: http://www.medi1.com/medi1/diffusion.php By the way, it seems that both 171 and 9575 are now on air continuously, or has anybody current information about s-on and s-off times? The website contains no such information, only the program schedule showing the station broadcasting 24/7. NG: There was a better signal than usual from Morocco Tuesday (13/8) night - around 2200 - and I was able to verify that their Nador(?) transmitter was operating on exactly 171 - and there was a heterodyne on the high side of frequency. So my theory that this one may be operating off frequency is unfounded and the source of the heterodyne will be elsewhere. KL: I also have the same het here. The enclosed file contains audio as it went out from the radio tuned to 171, the MPEG data reduction was the only processing. It's mostly local noise but the het of 870 Hz is still evident. So far I believed that this radiation originates from a local or rather semi-local source (it is audible outdoors, too, so not just something here within the house). But now it turns out that most likely the very same signal (right now on 171.87 kHz) is audible both here and at St. Petersburg, so it must originate from a distant source, probably indeed the Bolshakovo transmitter itself (Noel R. Green, UK, and Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX Aug 14 via DXLD) Regarding 171 kHz: I noted one problem during our transmission. UNID spur (?) is approx. on 171.8 kHz 24 h a day (?). I cannot define its source yet. Maybe our local product? Thanks for 171.8 confirmation! I just checked this spur and it was still there (2100-2150+). I think this is a symmetric spur from one of the LW transmitters. It seems all 177-279 channels do not radiate it according to my monitoring between 188.2 and 386.2. But I cannot check 162 and 153 and two possible symmetric spurs on 152.2 and 134.2. Could you check these at your location? If it is caused by our 153 (Yunost) then I will be able to ask our colleagues in Moscow to fix this problem (Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg, Russia, Aug 7, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA [and non]. 3270.0, NBC, Windhoek, is being noted weeks on end since it experienced transmitter troubles, but audio seems to be on the low side all the time, e.g. at 2215-2224 Aug 11 in English airing light songs, which seems to be the usual menu at that time. 45332 on account of their weak audio. No trace of their 3290 outlet. At that time, it seems only 2 African 90 mb stations are to be heard, viz. Ghana 3366 (+ its regular transmitter spurs on either side of the fundamental) and the RSA 3320 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NEPAL. Radio Nepal: Radio Nepal is no longer using 41-meter band frequency in the evenings; instead it is transmitting in a frequency between 6090-6125 kHz, just below V. of Holy Tibet (6130 kHz), noted on 21st August from 1030 to 1714 UT in above said frequency in parallel with 5005 kHz and other MW frequencies. Check the frequency and let me know the correct one. Their English News/ announcement is between 1415 to 1425 UT. Their postal address is: R. Nepal, Radio Broadcasting Service, P. O. 634, Singha Durbar, Katmandu, Nepal. If any body knows the correct e-mail address for Radio Nepal Please Let me know! I used rne@rne.wlink.com.np but didn't have any reply even the e-mail bounced. ----------------- I use tiny poor analogue receiver no-digital read out so the frequencies are based on announcements or schedules, and my location is 26N44 Latitude & 88E26 Longitude (South Asia - CIRAF Zone 41A/NE). (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could still be image from 41m band channel? (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RN in English, Aug 7 1430-1635 on 12075 as usual. Reception is as usual too --- good until 1535 (David Crystal, 19125 Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And then...? ** NICARAGUA. R. Miskut, 5770, reduced carrier USB, 0020-0115* Aug 17, Spanish pops, ballads, talk by man and woman, ID. Sign off with national anthem. Fair. Not heard in a while; last logged back in Feb. [but Brian says he`s back into SW after traveling the country attending Drum & Bugle Corps competitions this summer – including Enid on July 16???] (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. KTTL, 105.7, Alva, whose ownership transfer and consequent legality is questionable, was noted to be missing on Aug 24 around 2300 UT, even when passing thru Alva, and again at 1400 check from Enid the next day. Remains to be determined if ordered closed down, or off for some other reason, as has happened before. They have been running weekly ads in the Enid shopper, and attempt to invade the Enid advertising market. The current issue dated Aug 21 still carries the KTTL display ad which asserts: ``Total Hits 106 / KTTL 105.7 FM / We`re *Your* Home for Soft Rock with Less Talk / N Rangers / For the most complete coverage / Ride with the NW Rangers / On Northwest Oklahoma`s / Sports Leader, 105.7FM KTTL / Phone: 580-327-1430 FAX: 580-327-1433`` Alva area also has a gospel music translator on 91.5, an obstacle there to pulling in KOSU 91.7. The other OK 91.7 is KPSU at Panhandle State University in Goodwell; earlier, passing thru Guymon Aug 21 at 1656 UT we found open carrier on the frequency, 1659 KPSU ID and rock. I suspect they were not signing on until local noon, tho this could have been just a long period of dead air. Dead air was also to be heard on the Guymon 88.9 relay of KANZ-91.1 Garden City KS when checked at 1735 Aug 21. Instead of KTTL Alva, westward in the 5-state area on 105.7 we were hearing a non-ID as ``105.7, The Breeze``. (And back in Enid, we can again hear KROU, public radio from the University of Oklahoma!) Also, in Woodward, Aug 20 we noted that 1450 was silent, KSIW or whatever it was most recently called. This small town still has a surfeit of FM stations (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Greetings from Paraguay! I have pleasure in advising that our experimental transmissions are now on-air, 24 hours per day, on 7300 and on 7737 kHz. The frequency 7300 is beamed at 184 degrees, from Magnetic North, using an antenna which has a theoretical gain of 25 dBi. The frequency 7737 is beamed at 4 degrees, from Magnetic North, using an antenna which has a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. The out-of-band frequency should provide interesting reception opportunities. Your reception reports will be most welcome. With best regards. Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py (Aug 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Today 10 Aug, I found RRI in English at 0700-0800 on 21480, even tho they announced 21530. Best wishes (David Crystal, 19125 Ramat Zvi, Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {2-133: back to 21530} ** RUSSIA. See MOROCCO, re longwave 171 and spurs ** SIERRA LEONE. R. UNAMSIL, 6137.83, 0645-0720+ Aug 18: English; male DJ, time checks. Mostly continuous US romantic ballads by Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and others. Brief comments between songs. Local news at 0701-0707 with mentions of Nigeria. 0707 back to the ballads. Several canned IDs by a child that sounded like ``This is Radio UNAMSIL, the Voice of Peace.`` Strong signal, but muddy modulation making it difficult to understand much. Started to fade out after 0715 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. MISA WARNS AGAINST AMENDING SABC CHARTER Agência de Informação de Moçambique (Maputo) August 16, 2002 Posted to the web August 16, 2002 Maputo The regional press freedom body, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), on the final day of its Annual General Meeting in Maputo, on Friday adopted a statement expressing serious concern at current attempts by the South African government to compromise the editorial independence of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). After the election of a democratic government in South Africa, the SABC was freed of the ties to the government of the day that had characterised it under apartheid. MISA noted that the editorial independence of the SABC had been "trumpeted as a model to be emulated by other governments in the region". But three days ago the government published a Broadcasting Amendment Bill which, MISA believes, "takes these achievements backwards into very dark days of South African history". The proposed change to the rules governing the SABC "flies in the face of the democratisation process that has been the hallmark of South African politics since 1994". The key alteration proposed to the SABC charter would remove the clause that provides SABC with "freedom of expression and journalistic, creative and programming independence". Proposed new clauses jettison these terms and instead demand "accurate, accountable and fair reporting". MISA notes that the amendment gives a government minister "the power to define what the terms "accurate", "fair" and "accountable" mean". Furthermore, the amendment demands that journalists act "in the interests of the corporation" - which MISA regards as quite different from acting in the interests of the public. "Editorial independence", says the MISA statement, "means the right of journalists and editors to make decisions on the basis of professional criteria, consistent with international standards, such as the newsworthiness of an event or its relevance to the public's right to know". "It is important that public broadcasters, without undue interference, dedicate themselves to serving the functions of informing citizens about matters of public interest", adds MISA. "This imposes a responsibility on governments to ensure that these broadcasters have complete editorial independence". MISA concludes by pointing out that, should the South African government object to any SABC news items, "it, like any other person or institution, has the right of redress through the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, that was created specifically to adjudicate on such matters". (via John Shanley, Aug 19, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [and non]. The anti-Stair group continues their campaign on WBCQ 7415. This has been getting some publicity. The trial is upcoming (Bob Thomas, CT, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. Syria was again using 12085 for Turkish at 1600 on 17/09 [sic – 17 Aug??] and Russian on 13610 from c1700, when 12085 had closed. I tuned their English program around 2130 and found audio quality good enough to understand the program on 13610 and a \\ signal of poorer quality on 12085. It seems another check is needed to determine when 12085 is actually on air. It is not carrying the daytime HS Arabic service though (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Aug 18 via DXLD) ** TIBET. V. of Holy Tibet: In my last letter I told about their daylong broadcasts, and here are new things: Besides In Tibetan they are noted in English in 0700-0715, 1100-1115 and 1630-1645 UT in frequencies between 4900-4940 kHz, 9400-9495 (it`s 9490 according to Glen[n] Hauser) kHz with parallel in 6130 kHz. The frequency between 4900-4940 kHz and the 1100 UT English program I discovered just yesterday (August 21, 2002). I am sure that is between 4900-4940 because the transmission was between AIR Kurseong at 4895 kHz and AIR Guwahati at 4940 kHz all are clear and strong. And again their mailing address is: V. O. Holy Tibet, Foreign Affairs Office, China Tibet Peoples Broadcasting Company, Lhasa 850000, PR China. Please let me know your loggings to this station (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. Turkmen R war am Dienstag 13.08. ab 1940-1943 UT mit Nachrichten in Englisch und in USB auf 4930 kHz mit 0=3 zu hoeren (Herbert Meixner, Austria, A-DX Aug 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM [non]. Follow up unidentified station in JAPAN PREMIUM No. 223: The religious station on 11645 kHz is identified as The Bible Voice Broadcasting Network. Aug. 18, S/on at 2000 with music and ID in English, "You are listening to the Bible Voice Broadcasting Network. You can reach us by mail at Post Office Box 220, Leeds, LS26 0WW in the United Kingdom....", followed by religious program. It seems that they broadcast Sundays only. SIO343. High Adventure Gospel in Canada together with Bible Voice Broadcasting in the U.K. began broadcasts on July 1/02 To India: 15615 Sat/Sunday 0030-0130 UT 9855 Monday - Sunday 0030-0100 Bengali 9610 Monday - Sunday 0200-0230 Hindi To W Europe 11645 Sat/Sunday 2000-2115 UT To E. Europe 7425 Sat/Sunday 1800-1900 UT To the Middle East 7430 Sat/Sunday 1700 - 1800 UT 7430 Monday to Friday 1700 -1815 UT 7430 Sat 1800 - 1900 UT 7430 Sun 1800 - 2000 UT Please try and tune us in. Let us know how you receive the 15615. Thanks. We will try to let you know the new frequencies when the winter schedule come out. Blessings, Mrs. M. McLaughlin (mail@biblevoice.org) (via Iwao Nagatani, Kobe, Japan Premium, via DXLD) Some important bits of info are missing, such as the TRANSMITTER SITE(s)!! One thing for sure: not Canada (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Veterans' Voice of America website http://www.veteransvoa.com is devoted to raising funds to establish a VOA museum and memorial park at Bethany (John Vodenik, CA in R HF Internet Newsletter, Aug 17 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. A reminder not to give up if you hear the `wrong` edition of WOR on WWCR: Thu Aug 22 at 2030, instead of the current edition Extra 43, WWCR replayed the previous week`s WOR 1144. But at 2058 recheck, the proper edition Extra 43 was playing, and even continued past 2100 until its natural ending at 2105, with the Spanish block starting late! Therefore, WWCR must have realised the mistake, and started Extra 43 about 2036 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I just spin the dial checking on what`s going on and if certain shows keep up a certain rhetoric. [see also SOUTH CAROLINA] Over WBCQ on The Right Perspective, Fridays 10 pm-midnight ET, UT Sat 0200-0400 on 7415, John of Staten Island and Frank of Queens have left the Omega Radio Network a few months ago and have been shifting between the studios of Hal Turner and Johnny Lightning. (Terms commonly used: ``the ultra modern studios of...`` --- yet, there`s still bad mikes, bad headphones, feedback, bad phone lines and miscues. Now, what`s humorous is ``...fabulous ultra modern studios``, as they always labeled Omega. And I clearly remember Spectrum had the Woe of the Week (bad mikes, bad cart, bad cart machine, bad headphones, feedback, dropouts, bad wiring, bad phonelines). It became a joke on the shows. Work and repairs were always going on at Omega. They were running it out of a NJ station and then they built their own studio. This always had some type of breakdown or ongoing technical problem. There were some moves and facility changes by Omega. In fact, once when Spectrum returned from one of their hiatus periods that lasted more than Memorial Day to Labor Day, they talked about technical problems of the past and what the ``real story`` behind it was all about --- dispelling rumors. Technical woes continued. And some of the Spectrum crew went on to other interests. It came down to just two hosts. Sometimes, only one host. Now, the past several weeks, John & Frank of The Right Perspective have been taking shots at Omega. They have said right on-air that they were lied to, misled, strung along, promised things that never developed, had their website delayed in both expansion and updating, and other allegations. John & Frank are presently having their own studios constructed and their own web site constructed, including material they were told was ``lost.` (Names were given and charged.) If you monitor ``TRP`` you`ll hear it for yourself. Frank & John don`t mince their words. (They also get last names wrong of those they continue to blame. It makes one wince. A bit sloppy!) Now, a while ago, I lost interest in Spectrum. The shows just became stagnant and they ran out of ideas after a 7+ year run. (Why not updates of their best topics, guests, specials? You can easily get another few years worth of shows. This aside from breaking news in the media, technology, SWL/ham hobby, etc.) However, I tune in to check topic and I may or may not stay with it. I usually don`t. It used to be a good show despite flaws. Too bad. Well, Saturday Aug 3 (UT Sun 0300 on WWCR 5070), it was announced by a single host that they were pulling the plug on the show. 8/3 would be the last show. They didn`t know if they`d run repeats or some other program will fill the slot. An announcement would be made later in the show. I didn`t stay with it. (later: 8/10 was a repeat show. So, I guess that`ll be --- until somebody else takes over the available slot.) The portion I did hear, the other co-host didn`t appear due to some other commitment. Past hosts were not available for the farewell. So, this doesn`t say much for Spectrum. Only Marty showed. I lost interest because of all the technical problems. How inept can it be in getting things repaired? As I said, it became a joke. It was an ongoing thing. Also, the hosts began to whine about burnout, lack of inspiration, lack of topics, lack of good guests. And much of the staff lost interest and abandoned it. And, I`m sure listenership dropped as well. John & Frank of The Right Perspective have been vocal about mistreatment by Omega and Executive Producer Mark Emmanuel. So, John & Frank have started out what they are calling ``The Two Friends Network``. They are going independent. They are having their own studio built and are working on rebuilding their archives and website. They state it will take quite some time and they are determined to see it through (Bob Thomas, CT, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. An up-note is that, in June, WLW in Cincinnati on 26.450 MHz could be heard here nearly every day. The corresponding down-note is that the signal came in so often that I stopped logging it. The DXer in me wanted a variety of signals rather than multiple catchings of the same one. Example: 26.450, narrow FM, WLW (700 kHz) Cincinnati OH, 18 June at 1345, ``News Radio 700 WLW``, ad for Shelton Fireworks. Fair signal. [One other E-skip log from much earlier:] On 26.150 MHz, narrow FM, KWTX-TV (ch 10), Waco TX, 2 May at 2345: technicians in several TV stations --- including Brian in Waco and Randy in Dallas --- preparing to take KWTX`s live coverage of a police chase in Hamilton County. Once Dallas was connected, this transmitter switched to a repeating recording saying ``This is mix-minus line no. 12 for KWTX-TV in Waco TX. Do not hang up. Collect calls are accepted``. Fair signal (Alan Roberts, St Lambert, Quebec, 25 Plus, August CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** U S A. Mon Aug 19, 8:39 AM ET http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ibsys/20020819/lo_wplg/1293131 CLASSICAL MUSIC WILL ONCE AGAIN BE HEARD ON THE RADIO IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WKAT A.M. 1360 will change from its Spanish language format to a classical music one. The station says the format has strong advertising support. WLRN is reportedly increasing their classical music time as well. The classical radio void was created last year when WTMI changed formats to dance music (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Previous report referred to the 1360 outlet as WQAM; I am not sure why. That used to be 560, but I haven`t kept up with call changes/swaps in South Florida (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I ran across this web page that has a wealth of information useful to dxers. AM, FM, TV, history, web pages, emails, etc. http://www.michiguide.com/ (John WB9UAI, Milwaukee, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. 911: From: Michael Carpenter mcarp@mcarp.net RE: 9-11-12/07/1941 It was only tonight that I read B. Connor's letter from the August 15 ShopTalk. He compares the nation's reaction to the WTC bombing to that of Pearl Harbor: "It's been only 11 months since the greatest one-day loss of civilian life in our history, and already it seems our country has lost its outrage over the vicious and cowardly attack. Everyone seems to want to "get over it" and move on." I'd like to add something to that comparison. I was listening to a Bob Trout retrospective on NPR a few weeks ago, and Trout, in an interview taped a few years ago, mentioned that on December 7, 1941, CBS did a brief on-air mention when it first learned of the Pearl Harbor attack... and nothing else until the next day. That was probably due as much to the limitations of technology as editorial judgement. But compare that to the WTC coverage. The reason we as a nation seem tired of it, I think, is because we used up all our outrage and grief early on. Or, more accurately, it was taken from us. Taken from us to advance reporter and anchor careers. Taken from us to boost the President in the polls, and networks in the ratings. Taken from us to sell novelties in convenience stores. Rather than being given the chance to respond in a normal, healthy fashion, we were pushed through an accelerated process of shock, grief, anger, and then acceptance, which is where many Americans are now. I won't watch any 9/11 retrospectives. I want to know what's happening with the investigation now, but I don't want to relive the past. (via Brock Whaley, Aug 19, DXLD who adds: And I agree) ** U S A [non]. AWR: I hope you didn't miss the AWR Wavescan last week (18th August 2000 edition #399) and if you missed, then try listening from the web http://www.awr.org because it was a good and informative one. I am not going to give details but one thing I will say that there were some news articles from New Zealand DX Times, which told about China Tibet peoples Broadcasting Company (V.O. Holy Tibet) at 6130 on 1630 UTC, but they didn't talk about other time and frequencies. And make sure that you will not miss AWR Wavescan #400 next Sunday, August 25, 2002; it will be the 400th edition and 3 big things will be there 1. 30 years of AWR, 2. Something on WRTH. 3. Paul Ormandy's DX Report. And now AWR English at 1330 to 1359 UT on 15385 kHz SINPO=43334, a bit noisy and fading. AWR Urdu at 1400-1500 UT on 15320 kHz SINPO=32232 poor due to BBC. AWR introduced a new language service whose name is something sounds like "Chen" at 1400 onwards UT on 15380 kHz SINPO=44444, very good. AWR English 1630 to 1700 UTC on 11850 kHz SINPO=44444, Very good (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, West Bengal, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM Some other digital radio transmissions besides DRM tests are heard sometimes on the broadcasting SW bands. For example, my catches at the latest weekend, 18 Aug: at 0925-1000 digital transmission within frequency range approximately 13625-13630 kHz; at 1920 digital approx 5990-5995 kHz (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, BC-DX Aug 20 via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS Book Review - The New Shortwave Guide We have now seen our first copy of the entirely new publication from the ``World Radio TV Handbook``; and yes, it is a superb publication. This new book is titled as ``The Shortwave Guide`` Volume 1, with the sub-title, ``Listen to the World``. This new volume comes with a full colored cover, front and back, and it is just a little thinner with a little more than 200 pages. Interestingly, there are only two pages of advertising in the entire volume. The inside front cover presents a full page advert in color for Merlin Communications and this focuses on the brockerage service they offer in providing relay facilities to shortwave broadcasting organizations. Inside the back cover is another full page advertisement, this time for Universal Radio and this focuses on radio receivers and radio publications. We obtained our copy of the new ``Shortwave Guide`` from Universal Radio in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. An opening feature article, written by Bernd Trutenau, presents an interesting ``Introduction to Shortwave Radio``. A compendium at the end of the volume presents a ``Directory of International Broadcasters``, with addresses and main personnel in the world`s big shortwave stations. However, the main purpose for the new ``Shortwave Guide`` is to provide the latest scheduling for all shortwave stations throughout the world. The schedule for each station is shown in bar chart form. For example the very first entry shows the frequency 2310 kHz and when you look at the information, this is what you learn. This station is in Australia with the Northern Territory Service and it is on the air with 50 kW from 0830 to 2130 UT. Programming is in Aboriginal languages and English. The final entry in the bar chart listings is for a station on 25820 kHz. This entry shows a 500 kW transmitter for Radio France International and it is on the air 0900-1300 UT in French and English to Africa. I decided to put the book to the test, so I turned on my big Grundig radio. The frequency readout showed 11835 kHz, the time was MN02 UT, and the programming was in English. The new ``Shortwave Guide`` showed that this particular broadcast was from the BBC in London, using a 50 kW transmitter in the World Service, apparently on relay from WYFR in Okeechobee, Florida. The frequency 11920 kHz carried news in German and the new directory showed this to be Deutsche Welle with 500 kW to North America. On 7335 kHz, I noted the time-ticking from a chronohertz station and the new directory identified this station as CHU with 5 kW in Canada. The frequency 9900 with Arabic music showed this to be Radio Cairo in English and Arabic with 500 kW to North America. This brand new volume is quite uptodate with its representations of scheduling in the current broadcast period. It is very easy to read and you can make quck reference for any and every shortwave frequency, even split frequencies where these are in use. Are there any suggestions for improvement? Yes, but only very minor suggestions. It would be very helpful to show the actual transmitter location. Maybe the color identifications in the key at the bottom of each page could be elongated a little so that the color variations could be more easily identified. And then, maybe some of the vertical lines in the graph presentation showing the UTC times could be darkened to make visual identification just a little easier. However, as a first volume in this new series, the ``Shortwave Guide`` is outstanding and a very valuable addition to the current library of every DXer, shortwave listener and international radio monitor We would ardently hope that, as indicated, this is just the first annual edition of a new international radio directory and that we will see a new edition every year for many years to come (Adrian Michael Petersen, AWR Wavescan 400, Aug 25 via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-131, August 20, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1144: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445-AM 15039; webcast Wed 1300 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html WORLD OF RADIO EXTRA 43, week of August 21: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495, 7415, Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630 on 7445, 15038; webcasts also Sat 1330, 1800, Sun 1200, 1830, Mon 1230 BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/worx43.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/worx43.html CONTINENT OF MEDIA, new edition 02-04: BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0200, Sat 0100, 0700, 2330, Sun 0530 on 7445, 15038; also webcast Wed 0800, Sat 1730, Sun 1130 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0204.rm (STREAM) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0204.ram (SUMMARY: http://www.worldofradio.com/com0204.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL FOR JOHN NORFOLK John, you provided a wonderful service to us all out here for years and we are in your debt. Thank you so much and all the best to you and yours (Michael C. McCarty, WDX8IAH, N8EYE) ** BRAZIL. A programação da Rádio Record, de São Paulo (SP), caminha a passos largos em direção ao evangelho. Nesta semana, o comunicador Paulo Barboza, que apresentava seu programa, entre 1100 e 1500, foi retirado do ar. Em seu lugar, assumiu o pastor Robson Martins. Barboza ficou chocado com a decisão abrupta, pois não conseguiu nem mesmo fazer uma despedida de seus ouvintes. A programação da Record conta, ainda, com o comunicador Paulinho Boa Pessoa, que não mantém vínculos com a Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus. Seus produtores e colaboradores estão apreensivos com possíveis novas demissões na emissora. As informações são da jornalista Magaly Prado. A Record tem sido ouvida, em ondas curtas, nas freqüências de 6150 e 9505 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 18 via DXLD) ** BRASIL. A cidade de Parintins está situada na Ilha de Tupinabarana, no Rio Amazonas, no Estado do mesmo nome. É famosa pelo seu festival folclórico, que acontece anualmente, quando os boi-bumbás Caprichoso e Garantido se enfrentam. Parintins também está presente nas ondas curtas. De lá, emite a Rádio Alvorada, na freqüência de 4965 kHz. A emissora pertence à Diocese do Município e faz parte da Rede Católica de Rádios, de quem retransmite os noticiários. A Rádio Alvorada foi sintonizada, em Tefé(AM), em 13 de agosto, entre 0906 e 0929, por Paulo Roberto e Souza, que ouviu o programa Nosso Forró. Além deste pequeno perfil da emissora, o Paulo Roberto e Souza informa que a Rádio Alvorada possui o seguinte endereço eletrônico para contato: alvorada@j... [truncated] (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 18 via DXLD) ** BRASIL. Atenção! A campanha eleitoral chegou ao rádio. A partir de terça-feira, todas as emissoras estão obrigadas a retransmitirem os programas eleitorais dos partidos políticos que disputam a presidência da República, Senado, Câmara dos Deputados e Assembléias Legislativas. Anote os horários em que as emissoras estarão em rede, com os programas: de 1000 às 1050 e de 1500 às 1550 (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 18 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC/RADIO-CANADA TO MARK 50 YEARS OF CANADIAN TELEVISION Starting September 6, Special TV Programming, CBC/Radio-Canada 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train Cross-Country Tour, Community Events and More! OTTAWA, Aug. 13 /CNW/ - This Fall marks 50 years of Canadian television and CBC/Radio-Canada is inviting the whole country to join in the celebrations. Beginning September 6th, five decades after the first broadcasts from Montreal and Toronto in 1952, CBC/Radio-Canada will kick-off a month full of activities. Tune in to 50th Anniversary television programs, go online to Anniversary websites, join in community celebrations, and climb aboard a special CBC/Radio-Canada 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train as it makes stops in communities across Canada. "For 50 years, CBC/Radio-Canada has delivered distinctive, innovative television programming that embodies Canadian society and culture," said Carole Taylor, O.C., Chair, CBC/Radio-Canada Board of Directors. "During our 50th Anniversary, we are inviting all Canadians to celebrate how Canada's own broadcaster has connected and continues to connect Canadians across regions, cultures, languages and generations." "This milestone provides an opportunity to pay tribute to Canadian voices, perspectives, talent and creativity," added Robert Rabinovitch, President and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. "Our English and French Televsion networks will present memories of our shared past, showcase what's happening at CBC/Radio-Canada today, and encourage Canadians to reflect on the importance of maintaining their public broadcasting space for the next 50 years." Tune in for 50th Anniversary Television! --------------------------------------- Starting September 6, CBC Television premieres The Joke's On Us: 50 Years of CBC Satire, the first of 26 hours of Anniversary series, documentaries and specials. Pia Maria Marquard, Executive Producer/Project Director, CBC Television's 50th Anniversary Project, has put together a talented team of producers and directors from across the country. The Anniversary programs they have created look at CBC/Radio-Canada's past with Dominion of the Air/La Conquête des ondes, the true story of Canada's national broadcasting system; and Tuning In, hosted by Rick Mercer, a five-part series blending history, reality and humour to show how CBC Television has shaped Canadian life since 1952. Other Anniversary programs examine present- day Canada, including: Landed, a four-part series that captures the experience of becoming Canadian for six new arrivals; and A Day in the Life of Canada/Une journée dans la vie du Canada, to be filmed on CBC/Radio-Canada's Anniversary, September 6, presents an hour-long portrait of Canadians from all regions at work and play during a typical day. Radio-Canada French Television will highlight its 50th anniversary through a multitude of special programs and evocative commemorations. From Friday, September 6, at 7:00 p.m., to Sunday, September 8, at 10:00 p.m., we will be airing a continuous special broadcast of some of the best programs from all programming sectors. On September 3, 4 and 5, La Grande Aventure de la television will offer the viewing public an opportunity to share the memories of those who participated in this great adventure, both in front of and behind the cameras. And, throughout the months of September and October, several of the Beaux Dimanches shows will highlight various aspects of Radio-Canada's productions, including the impact they have had over the last 50 years, and will feature Une journée dans la vie du Canada/A Day in the Life of Canada. Join-in Community Celebrations Across Canada! -------------------------------------------- CBC/Radio-Canada is reaching out to Canadians through "open houses" and special events in communities across the country. From Victoria and Whitehorse, to Quebec City, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's, Canadians will have a chance to meet CBC/Radio-Canada personalities, watch live broadcasts, enjoy entertainment and participate in activities. On September 7th, a CBC/Radio Canada 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train will leave Vancouver on a cross-country trip that will bring it to communities across Canada. In partnership with VIA Rail Canada, this "travelling open house" is equipped with an on board bilingual museum, a mobile production facility, a studio for broadcasts, interactive displays, new media kiosks and exhibits from all programming areas. It is a unique way to give CBC/Radio-Canada viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at their nation's public broadcaster. "VIA Rail Canada is proud to join CBC/Radio-Canada in celebrating 50 years of broadcasting in Canada," said Marc LeFrançois, President and CEO, VIA Rail Canada. "Like CBC/Radio Canada, VIA plays a vital role - connecting Canadians and their communities from coast to coast and we look forward with confidence to continue to build and deliver modern, efficient passenger rail services to Canadians." As well this Fall, get an insider's look at the first 50 years of CBC- TV with the publication of Stephen Cole's book, Here's Looking At Us: Fifty Years of CBC-TV, from McClelland & Stewart. This commemorative book will be available on the train tour and at bookstores across Canada. In November, Ici Radio-Canada - 50 ans de télévision française, a book of commemorative photographs and accompanying texts by Jean-François Beauchemin, will be released by Les Editions de l'Homme. Canadians can join the CBC/Radio-Canada's 50th Anniversary celebrations from anywhere by logging on to http://www.cbc.ca/tv50th and http://www.radio-canada.ca/television/50 The CBC-TV website features information, contests, a CBC-TV ShowVote poll to have your favourite CBC-TV shows from the past rebroadcast, and up-to-date information and schedules about programming, community events and the CBC/Radio-Canada 50th Anniversary VIA Rail Train. On Radio-Canada's website, visitors can browse through 250 factsheets on Radio-Canada programs, relive Radio-Canada television moments over the decades by clicking on the photo album pages, test their skills in dozens of games and share their own memories in a number of different forums. As well, a special section has artists speaking of their own special memories, either as production contributors or as viewers. CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's independent public broadcaster. Since its inception in 1936, CBC/Radio-Canada has grown to become one of Canada's largest cultural institutions, providing Canadians from coast to coast to coast with traditional and new media services in French and in English, as well as in eight aboriginal languages in the North. It is also the nation's source for information, sports, children's and youth and entertainment programs that are proudly and distinctly Canadian. Media only: For photography and detailed press information on CBC-TV's 50th Anniversary celebrations log on to http://www.cbc.ca/tv50th/media Radio-Canada log on to http://www.radio-canada.ca/television/50 -30- For further information: Barry Patterson/Rose Mangone, CBC-TV 50th Anniversary Communications, CBC-TV, Toronto, 416-205-7443; Evelyn Dubois, Manager, Press and Public Relations, Radio-Canada French Television, Montreal, 514-597-4140 © 2002 Canada NewsWire Ltd. All rights reserved. (via Deborah James, CAJ List via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** C I S. Foreign relays on SW through facilities in the CIS kHz Loc kW Azi UTC (A02: August 15, 2002) 21790 PK 250 247 2300-2345 DW English \\17560 21780 TAC 200 131 0800-0830 BBC Bengali, Hindi, Urdu 21650 AA 100 132 1430-1515 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese 21585 TAC 100 117 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan and Chinese\\15635 15670 17765 KDR 250 130 0300-0600, 1300-1630 WUN The University Network Presents Dr. Gene Scott. 17765 SAM 100 130 0600-1300 WUN The University Network Presents Dr. Gene Scott. 17735 PK 100 68 0500-0530(Su.) Radio Ezra English, May 26 to June 29 17715 KOM 250 178 0900-0945 DW English \\15470 17690 TAC 100 131 1200-1225 R. Vlaanderen International, Dutch \\9865 17675 SAM 250 128 0900-0930 DW Persian 17670 KDR 200 284 1100-1130, 1300-1600 R. Vlaanderen Int. Dutch 17655 IRK 250 224 0230-0300, 0810-0820 BBC Hindi 17590 KHB 100 218 2330-0025 RNW Dutch 17580 SP 400 147 1600-1657 CRI Arabic 17570 KOM 120 178 0500-0600(Su.) Voice of Mediterranean, Japanese 17560 KOM 250 213 2300-2345 DW English \\21790 17545 SAM 250 175 1230-1300 DW Persian 17525 MDA 500 116 1630-1830 Radio Sedaye Iran, Persian-MP 15675 TAC 100 256 0400-1200 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish (/=11530) 15670 AA 100 132 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, Tibetan, Chinese \\21570 15635 15660 VLD 250 230 1400-1500(Tu.) Voice of Khmer Krom, Cambodian 15650 MOS 500 068 1200-1600 DW German 15635 DB 100 115 1215-1259 Voice of Tibet, \\21570 15670 15605 NVS 500 240 0200-0400 DW Russian 15605 IRK 250 180 2300-2350 DW Chinese \\11870 15595 SP 400 147 1800-1827 CRI Persian 15595 VLD 500 228 2300-2400 RFI French \\15535 15580 IRK 250 225 0030-0145 TWR-Sri Lanka, Indian lang. 15535 IRK 500 180 2300-0100 RFI French \\15595 to 2400 15525 SAM 250 140 0800-0830 DW Dari, Pashto 15490 NVS 500 145 1000-1400 DW German \\9900 7420 15480 KCH 500 100 1330-1430 Radio Saday-e Afghanistan [Radio Voice of Afghanistan] 15470 IRK 250 110 0900-0945 DW English \\17715 15470 KDR 300 188 2000-2100 RCI English (\\17870 15325 5850HBY 12015DHA 11690SKN 5995SKN 11965WER) 15470 PK 250 244 2130-2200 VOA Korean 15455 KDR 250 290 0500-0715(M-Sa), 0600-0800(Su) R. Maryja Polish 15235 TAC 200 131 1400-1430(M-F) Radio Free Vietnam 15195 KDR 100 284 1700-1800 R. Vlaanderen Int. Dutch 13820 KHB 100 218 1030-1125 RNW Dutch 13745 TAC 200 131 0100-0130 BBC Hindi 13710 IRK 250 152 0930-1125 RNW English \\12065 13695 KHB 100 218 1330-1425 RNW Dutch \\12075 9890 13690 VLD 200 320 0000-0100 DW Russian \\12045 5925 13590 NOV 100 111 1100-1500 High Adventure Ministries, English/Vietnamese/Chinese 12125 KDR 200 235 1900-1930 M.W.F. Jakada Radio International English May 1- 12125 KDR 200 235 1900-2000 Sa. only Voice of Biafra International Igbo {*** note this one in particular; assumption or definite info? source?} 12115 SAM 250 190 1500-1530 Sout Al Watan (Voice of Homeland) \\12085 12115 SAM 250 190 1700-1800 (Su.W.) Netsanet Le Ethiopia Radio Amharic 12115 SAM 250 190 1700-1800 (Sa.) Dejen Radio Tigrigna 12115 SAM 250 190 1730-1800 (M.Th.F.) Voice of Oromo Liberation (Radio Sagalee Oromia), Oromo 12105 VLD 500 228 1100-1530 BBC Chinese 12075 NVS 500 125 1200-1300 RFI Chinese 12075 TAC 100 131 1430-1625 RNW English 12070 IRK 250 110 2200-2400 DW German \\11795 12065 PK 250 244 0930-1125 RNW English \\13710 12065 TAC 100 131 1330-1425 RNW Dutch \\13695 9890 12065 TAC 100 131 1450-1620 Vatican R. 1450 Hindi, 1510 Tamil, 1520 Malayalam, 1540 Eng. 12065 MOS 250 117 1700-1800 BBC Hindi, Urdu 12060 MOS 250 245 1900-2000 Voice of Mediterranean, English 12060 MOS 250 245 2000-2100 Voice of Mediterranean, Arabic, Su. German/French 12055 IRK 500 194 1315-1400 Vatican Radio Vietnamese 12045 NVS 200 111 2200-2300 RFI Chinese \\12005 12045 PK 250 263 0000-0100 DW Russian \\13690 5925 12045 IRK 500 152 1030-1055 DW Chinese \\9760 12045 MOS 250 117 1700-1800 BBC Uzbek, /1730-1800 (Sa.Su. Russian) 12035 MOS 200 190 1830-1927 CRI Arabic 12035 IRK 500 152 2300-2350 DW Chinese \\15605 12025 IRK 500 152 0930-1030 RFI Chinese 12025 IRK 500 180 1100-1200 RFI Lao, 1200-1300 RFI Khmer 12010 KDR 250 290 1500-1830 R.Maryja Polish 12010 SAM 250 285 2030-2127 CRI French 12005 VLD 500 228 2200-2300 RFI Chinese \\12045 11990 NVS 200 111 1300-1500 VOA Chinese 11975 ERV 100 100 1400-1500 VOA Tibetan 11795 IRK 500 152 2200-2400 DW German \\12070 11715 TAC 200 131 Democratic Voice of Burma \\9490 via JUL Germany 11570 NVS 100 178 0000-0100 IBC Tamil 11530 KCH 500 116 1200-1600 Dengi Mesopotamia Kurdish 9945 KDR 200 297 2100-2200 Fang Guang Ming Radio, Chinese \\5925 9940 IRK 250 224 1300-1400 WSHB English 9940 KCH 500 115 1630-1715 Radio International, Persian /Radio Anternational 9925 KDR 200 280 1630-2000 R. Vlaanderen Int. 1730/1930 Eng., 1630/1915 Fre. 1645/1900 Ger 9920 NOS 250 84 1500-1530 RCI Russian 9900 IRK 250 152 1000-1400 DW German \\15490 7420 9900 SAM 250 140 1830-1900 DW Dari, Pashto 9890 PK 250 244 1330-1425 RNW Dutch \\13695 12075 9880 MOS 250 275 2200-2257 CRI English 9875 VLD 250 228 1200-1300 WSHB English \\9585 9865 PK 250 244 1130-1225 R.Vlaanderen Int. English Dutch \\17690 9835 SAM 250 175 1700-1800 DW Persian 9835 SAM 250 190 2000-2130 IBRA Arabic (Call of Hope) 9825 SAM 100 130 1730-0200 WUN The University Network (=17765) 9800 IRK 100 263 1400-1800 DW Russian 9760 PK 200 263 1030-1055 DW Chinese \\12045 9585 KOM 250 213 1200-1300 WSHB English \\9875 9460 IRK 500 152 1300-1350 DW Chinese 9450 PK 200 263 1200-1330 Zhenguang Diantai, Chinese 9435 IRK 250 225 1115-1630 TWR-Sri Lanka, Indian 9430 TAC 200 130 2245-0030 TWR Assamese, Sa.Su. Tribal, Da 9355 AA 1530-1600 Tu/Fr Golos Pravoslavia/Voice of Orthodox in Russian 7590 SIT 100 285 2000-2030 M-F. Tomorrow's News Tonight English 7590 SIT 100 285 2000-2100 Sa. Eurosonor Radio German 7480 SIT 100 230 1700-1730 M.W.F.Su. Radio Barabari Persian http:\\www.radiobarabari.net via Lithuania 7480 KCH 500 115 1800-1830 M.W.F.Sa.Su. Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost, Persian 7430 TAC 200 131 1330-1445 BBC Bengali, 1400 Hindi 7430 TAC 200 131 1500-1530 BBC Nepali 7420 PK 250 241 1000-1400 DW German \\15490 9900 7420 SP 250 215 1900-2130 Radio Gardarika, Russian, Radio Studio IDs in English 7380 SAM 250 290 1830-2200 R. Maryja Polish 7350 ERV 100 78 1200-1215 TWR-Asia. Korean 7305 IRK 250 152 2200-2245 Vatican Radio Chinese 7260 NOV 500 195 1800-1830 DW Urdu 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 5945 TAC 200 132 1430-1530 Democratic Voice of Burma 5925 SAM 200 117 0000-0100 DW Russian \\13690 12045 5925 SIT 100 297 2100-2200 Fang Guang Ming Radio, Chinese \\9945 5860 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kyrgyz 5860 DB 100 264 1900-2000 RFE Persian 5855 ERV 100 78 1555-1740 TWR-Asia, 1555 Korean, 1610 English, 1625 Russian, 1640 Turkmen(M-Th)/Kyrgiz(F-Su), 1655 Uzbek, 1710(Su) Tajik 5835 KLG 200 270 2030-2125 RNW Dutch 5005 DB 100 45 1400-1600 RFE Kazakh 4810 ERV 100 1315-1530 VOA Arm, Azer, Turk.etc 4760 DB 100 45 0100-0200, 1630-1700 RFE Tatar (Nagoya DX Circle via DXLD) ** CUBA. WIRELESS PLANS HALTED IN CUBA By Elisa Batista, Wired News Colaboración: Armando F. Mastrapa III New York E.U. La Nueva Cuba Agosto 16, 2002 It doesn't look like Cubans will have access to mobile phones anytime soon. Cuban president Fidel Castro has indefinitely postponed plans to make the country's cellular-phone system available to its people, a source from the phone company Cubacel told Cubanet, a free-press advocate in Miami. The source, who said she did not know when or if the Cuban people would ever receive wireless phone services, said the original plan "interfered with certain political plans of the (Cuban) government." Cuba has a wireless phone system based on the popular Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technology. But it is used only by tourists and high-ranking government officials (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. CZECH COMMITTEE WANTS TO KEEP SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AT US-SPONSORED RADIO | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 18 August: The Central Emergency Committee wants the current safety precautions at the Radio Free Europe (RFE) in the centre of Prague to be preserved, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Gabriela Bartikova told CTK today. However, after the Prague Town Hall said that the measures blocked continuous traffic in Prague, it was considering adopting alternative solutions, Bartikova said. "The Central Emergency Committee preliminarily agrees with some modifications. The area for traffic may be increased, but the intensity of safety measures should be retained," Bartikova said. The police were preparing a solution they would submit to the Central Emergency Committee for its meeting this evening, Bartikova said. "The proposed solution must receive a consent of the Central Emergency Committee, which will make the decision in the evening," she added. Sonia Winterova, the spokeswoman for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, told CTK today that the management of the radio station was cooperating with Czech authorities when the security was implemented. However, it also wanted the residents of Prague to have the situation as easy as possible especially after the current floods, she added. Mayor Igor Nemec told CTK today that the barriers around the building of RFE were causing an absolute collapse of traffic in Prague... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1436 gmt 18 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) FLOOD-STRICKEN CZECH CAPITAL WANTS TO CANCEL PROTECTION OF US- SPONSORED RADIO | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 18 August: The Prague Town Hall wants to cancel the protection of Radio Free Europe (RFE) in the centre of Prague due to the critical transport situation in the city, Mayor Igor Nemec told CTK today. The barriers around the building of RFE are causing an absolute collapse of traffic in Prague, Nemec said, adding that the Town Hall wanted public transport buses to use the lane blocked because of the protection. This is to replace the closed lines of the C underground, Nemec said. Nemec said that he would discuss the measure with interior and defence ministers Stanislav Gross and Jaroslav Tvrdik. The RFE building has been protected by armoured carriers and concrete barriers since the terrorist attacks on the USA last September. The Prague emergency committee today cancelled the third degree of flood alert and now the second degree is valid, Nemec said. The danger is not yet over, Nemec stressed since there was much groundwater in Prague which is threatening the houses. In Prague's Karlin area three houses have crumbled due to the flood. Prague now needs industrial dryers, more than water pumps, Nemec said, adding that the Town Hall would ask for more help abroad. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1223 gmt 18 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GERMANY. German Telecom - Relay stations transmissions, schedule A02 transmitter Juelich, u.o.s. from 13 Aug 2002 (1=Sun ... 7=Sat): frq start stop ciraf azi day from to broad remarks 5975 1305 1455 27 290 1234567 050702 050902 DRM 9855 0000 0100 8,9 295 1234567 310302 271002 LRT Backup 6110 0900 1700 28 60 1234567 310302 271002 DRM 13820 0600 0700 18 20 1234567 010602 310802 RNW 9850 2330 0030 41,49 80 1234567 080702 271002 DVB 6045 0858 1000 27,28 ND 1 310302 271002 EVR 6015 1730 1759 27,28 ND 4 310302 271002 EVR 15670 1700 1759 38,39,48 125 146 100502 271002 SBO 15530 1600 1629 48 125 47 310302 271002 TIS 15580 1600 1630 48 145 3 060802 130802 TIS * 5985 0900 0959 27,28 115 1 310302 271002 CHW 9405 2230 2330 37,38 190 1234567 310302 271002 IBR 13590 1645 1715 39,40 80 1234567 220502 271002 IBR 15495 1730 1745 47,48 130 1234567 150802 271002 IBR * 13710 1900 1930 37,38,46 190 1234567 310302 271002 IBR 15750 1830 1859 52,53 145 5 310302 271002 RRP 15670 1600 1629 37,38,46,47 175 1 300602 271002 UNL 9435 0100 0129 41 90 1 310302 271002 UNL 6015 1630 1659 27,28 ND 345 310302 271002 UNL 15750 1800 1829 46,47,48 145 1 310302 271002 UNL 15565 1900 1915 39 115 1 310302 271002 UNL 15565 1900 1930 39,40 115 1 070702 271002 UNL 5975 1200 1300 27,29 290 1234567 240502 271002 TOM 13810 1300 1400 38,39 120 1234567 240502 271002 TOM 6015 1500 1555 27,28 290 7 310302 271002 TOM 6015 1555 1756 27,28 ND 7 100402 271002 TOM 9495 0257 0459 47,48,52,53 160 23456 310302 271002 RTB 9495 0427 0459 47,48,52,53 160 17 310302 271002 RTB 17580 0500 0712 47,48,52,53 160 23456 310302 271002 RTB 17580 0500 0959 47,48,52,53 160 7 310302 271002 RTB 17580 0500 0806 47,48,52,53 160 1 310302 271002 RTB 21565 0957 1206 47,48,52,53 160 23456 310302 271002 RTB 21565 1000 1117 47,48,52,53 160 7 310302 271002 RTB 21565 1057 1117 47,48,52,53 160 1 310302 271002 RTB 17570 1457 1716 47,48,52,53 160 123456 310302 271002 RTB 17570 1557 1716 47,48,52,53 160 7 310302 271002 RTB 21590 0700 0900 38,39 115 1234567 010702 271002 VOH 15715 0430 0600 38,39 115 1234567 020702 271002 VOH 15715 1500 1700 39,40 115 1234567 060502 271002 VOH 15715 1700 2000 38,39 115 1234567 010702 271002 VOH 17550 1330 1555 40,41 85 1234567 080402 310702 VOH * 17550 1330 1535 40,41 85 1234567 010802 271002 VOH * 17550 1555 1635 40,41 90 1234567 080402 310702 VOH * 5975 0700 0800 27,28 290 1234567 310302 310702 VOH * 6175 2000 2100 27,28 ND 1234567 310302 271002 VOH 15775 1330 1430 49,50 70 1234567 310302 271002 VOH 13810 1600 1700 38,47,48 130 1234567 310302 271002 VOH 9495 1700 1900 29,30 80 1234567 310302 310702 VOH * 100 KW from Biblis 9495 1700 1800 29,30 80 1234567 010802 271002 VOH * 100 KW from Biblis 11645 0400 0559 38,48,53 145 1234567 310302 271002 UMC 13810 0400 0559 46,47,52,53 160 1234567 310302 271002 UMC 13820 1700 1859 38,48,53 145 1234567 310302 271002 UMC 15265 1700 1859 46,47,52,53 160 1234567 310302 271002 UMC 9925 2300 0059 11 16 230 1234567 310302 271002 HRT 9925 0100 0259 6 10 300 1234567 310302 271002 HRT 9925 0300 0459 2 10 325 1234567 310302 271002 HRT 9470 0500 0659 55,59,60 230 1234567 310302 271002 HRT 13820 0700 0859 58,59,60 270 1234567 310302 271002 HRT FMO 11895 1800 1830 39 120 56 310302 271002 FEC 250 kW from Wertachtal 6140 0600 1900 27,28 175 1234567 240602 271002 DWL 6045 1027 1225 18S,27,28NW ND 1234567 310302 271002 DWL(RNW) 5910 1757 1956 27,28 0 7 310302 271002 VRT 5985 0657 0726 27,28 265 1234567 310302 271002 VRT 13685 0457 0656 27,28,37 39 115 1234567 310302 271002 VRT 13710 1729 1856 27,29,37 39 120 1234567 310302 271002 VRT 12030 0100 0300 39,40 100 1234567 010402 271002 IBB 12030 0400 0600 39,40 100 1234567 010402 271002 IBB 11910 0300 0400 39,40 100 1234567 010402 271002 IBB 9620 1600 1700 29,39 70 1234567 210402 271002 IBB 9885 1800 2000 39,40 100 1234567 100402 271002 IBB 9825 1600 1700 39,40 100 1234567 310302 271002 IBB 9705 1800 1900 39,40 100 1234567 310302 271002 IBB 9575 1700 1800 39,40 100 1234567 310302 271002 IBB 13790 0300 0500 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15345 0700 0800 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15220 0900 1100 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 17740 1200 1300 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15535 1300 1400 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15340 1700 1830 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15190 1930 2000 39,40 90 1234567 300502 030802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 11990 2200 2300 39,40 90 1234567 300502 020802 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 12140 0230 0430 39,40 90 1234567 040802 271002 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 12140 2230 0030 39,40 90 1234567 030802 271002 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15690 0630 1030 39,40 90 1234567 030802 271002 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15690 1230 1430 39,40 90 1234567 030802 271002 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 15690 1630 1830 39,40 90 1234567 030802 271002 IBB * 500 kW from Wertachtal 9570 0400 0500 28,29,38,39 115 1234567 310302 271002 AWR 11610 0600 0730 37,38,46 200 1234567 010602 271002 AWR from Wertachtal 11880 0900 1000 28,38 140 17 100402 271002 AWR 15360 1600 1659 28,29,38,39 115 1234567 240602 271002 AWR 15235 1700 1759 28,29,38,39 115 1234567 240602 271002 AWR 15485 1900 2030 37,38,46 200 1234567 310302 271002 AWR 17685 0555 0800 37S,38W,46 200 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 15445 0555 0800 37S,38 160 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 15220 1625 1815 28,38E,39 115 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 17735 1625 1815 38,39 115 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 17580 1825 2130 37S,38W,46 200 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 15220 1825 2130 47,52,53,57 160 1234567 310302 271002 SRI 21750 0555 0800 47,52,53,57 160 1234567 310302 271002 SRI SOT 21770 0825 1030 47,52,53,57 160 1234567 310302 271002 SRI SOT 21720 1625 1815 38,39,48 145 1234567 310302 271002 SRI SOT 13645 1825 2130 38,48,53 140 1234567 310302 271002 SRI SOT 9885 2155 2400 13 16 240 1234567 310302 271002 SRI SOT 6045 0645 0820 27,28 ND 1 310302 271002 TWR 6045 0645 0750 27,28 ND 7 310302 271002 TWR 6045 0655 0820 27,28 ND 23456 310302 271002 TWR 9490 1230 1245 28 125 1234567 100402 271002 TWR 7135 1600 1645 28 115 7 310302 271002 TWR from Wertachtal 9660 1600 1645 28 110 7 270402 271002 TWR * changes + active on demand # momentary not active AWR Adventist World Radio CHW Christliche Wissenschaft DTK Deutsche Telekom DVB Democratic Voice of Burma DWL Deutsche Welle DLF Deutschlandfunk DLR DeutschlandRadio ECC Radio Ecclesia EVR Evangeliums Radio Hamburg FEB Far East Broadcasting Company, Philippines HRT Hrvratska Radio Televizija HLR Hamburger Lokalradio IBB International Broadcast Bureau IBR IBRA Radio Sweden INF Inforadio LRT Radio Vilnius Lithuania MWH Missionswerk Heukelbach RHM Remnants Hope Ministry RNW Radio Netherlands World Service RRP Radio Reveil Paroles de Vie RSU Radio Sunshine RTB Radio Télévision Belge de la communauté Française SBO Sagalee Bilisummaa Oromoo SRI Swiss Radio International TBC Tamil Broadcasting Corporation TIS Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy TOM The Overcomer Broadcast TWR Trans World Radio UMC The United Methodist Church UNL Universelles Leben VOH High Adventure Ministries - The Voice of Hope (ex HAM) VRT Vlaamse Radio en Televisie (ex RVI) YFR WYFR Family Radio (Ralf Weyl - German Telecom, via WWDXC-HQ; Aug 13, 2002) (WWDXC via Michael Bethge, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Subject: AFN 873 kHz The enclosed posting on the bulletin board http://forum.wmoelter.de/ reports an improved modulation and increased fieldstrength for AFN Oberursel-Weißkirchen 873. It's hard to judge whether or not the signal became stronger here but I can confirm that indeed the modulation depth is OK now, so apparently they finally managed to get rid of the problem which required them to operate the transmitter with a very shallow modulation for years. The reporter also points out the nice audio of broad bandwidth; indeed 873 sounds much better than the poor 4.5 kHz audio of so many other German MW/LW transmitters. ---------- Autor: Torsten M. Datum: 15.08.2002 00:35 Re AFN - I heard Frankfurt 873 Saturday night (17/08) around 2140 and peaking to 9+10 on my meter. That's the best for a long time - but it was still suffering from co-ch interference and splash from BBC Wales 882 (Penmon on the island of Anglesey booms in here via a sea path). However, the audio quality of AFN was specially noted, and it was very crisp and clear. Whatever has been done, the transmitter now sounds fine. I wonder if the station still stores the old American comedy and music shows that were broadcast back in the 1950's - it was very popular with many British listeners back then - including me! Re the floods - I knew of the Bavarian Thurnau and wondered if there was another of the same name in Saxony! Yes, it will have been Torgau - difficult for a non-German speaker to tell the difference between those two! There has been a report on BBC R5 this morning concerning the Hungarian Grand Prix (racing cars) and that the Danube is now at a very high level there. All of this water will take time to disperse - there is nowhere for it to go in many cases where adjacent land has been built upon, as people in the UK have found out during floods here (Noel Green, UK, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) AFN 873 kHz: This transmitter is owned by the US Army itself, hence it is operated in a typical "US style", and this means (at least Europeans thinks so!) in general a fine, broad audio. Time and again one can read in the quoted bulletin boards laments from mediumwave fans, emphasizing how tired they are of the muffled sound so many German mediumwave transmitters puts out. Torgau: In case you have already heard about this town and wonder in which context: This is the place where allegedly the Soviet forces met the American forces in 1945. Allegedly because this first happened elsewhere on the Elbe river, but the "official event" finally took place at Torgau. By the way, the historic bridge was pulled down about eight years ago against heavy protests. And now I can tune to FM 101.1 and listen to Deutschlandradio Berlin with mostly unrelated stuff (the usual cultural programming) from a transmitter at Torgau, literally within the flood... A posting in the German A-DX mailing list again drew my attention to Wachenbrunn 1323, the German high power transmitter used by Voice of Russia. About three weeks ago I was told that 1323 is no longer on air during daytime, now it was reported again that it is on air in the evening only. Unfortunately I forgot about this in the meantime, so it still needs to be researched whether some maintenance work takes place at present or Voice of Russia decided to cut airtime on 1323 in order to save operational costs (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY - HISTORY Am 21. Dezember 1953 nahm die Sendeanlage auf dem Burger Brehm offiziell den Betrieb auf. Sie sollte schon bald zu einer geheimnisumwitterten Groesse in Ost und West werden: Von Burg aus wurden der Soldatensender und der Freiheitssender verbreitet. Von Manuela Langner Dong, dong, dong, dong - "Hier spricht der deutsche Soldatensender, wir senden taeglich um 6 Uhr l5, 12 Uhr 30, 18 Uhr, 20 Uhr l5 und um 23 Uhr 30." Wer in den 60er Jahren jung war, hat diese Klaenge bis heute im Ohr. Fuer die Propaganda in Richtung Westen gedacht, wurde der Soldatensender zum Kultsender der ostdeutschen Jugend. Aber nicht nur fuer sie. "Um seine Lieblinge zu hoeren, musste man schon "Radio Luxemburg", den "Deutschen Soldatensender"' oder den "Freiheitssender 904" einschalten", bekennt im Internet auch der Luebecker Manfred Guenther. Letztere hatten ihren Ausgangspunkt in Burg. Der Freiheitssender ging am 17. August 1956 auf Sendung, nicht zufaellig am Tag des KPD-Verbots in der Bundesrepublik. Streng geheim, denn als "einziger Sender, der nicht unter Kontrolle der Bundesregierung steht" gab er sich den Anstrich eines westdeutschen Piratensenders. Vier Jahre spaeter, am 1. Oktober 1960, kam der Soldatensender hinzu, der Bundeswehrrekruten agitieren sollte, aber mit illegal besorgten heissen Titeln aus dem Westen vor allem die Fans im Osten begeisterte. Burg war nicht zufaellig ausgewaehlt worden. Der Mittelwellensender lag dicht genug am Westen und gleichzeitig weit genug entfernt, um im "Ernstfall" nicht gleich in" "Feindeshand" zu fallen. Und die Sendeanlagen waren neu. Am 21. Dezember 1953, anlaesslich des Geburtstags des inzwischen verstorbenen Stalins, waren sie fuer die Verbreitung des Deutschland- senders (spaeter "Stimme der DDR") aufgeschaltet worden, erzaehlt Hans Henning. Seit seinem Vorruhestand 1999 arbeitet der 61-jaehrige Hans Henning aus Reesen bei Burg die Geschichte der Sendeanlage auf. 1964 seiner Frau zuliebe nach Burg gekommen, ist er den legendaeren Burger Funktuermen mit Ausnahme eines kleinen Zwischenspiels beim RFT sein gesamtes Berufsleben lang treu geblieben. Urspruenglich sei nur eine Sendeanlage bei Burg geplant gewesen, so Henning, aber um eine doppelte Projektierung zu umgehen, habe Burg auch die in Brandenburg vorgesehene Anlage dazu bekommen. Der "Reservemast" bot sich spaeter fuer Freiheitsund Soldatensender geradezu an, auch wenn sie sich diesen teilen mussten und deshalb abwechselnd nur stundenweise senden konnten. Ins Reich der Maerchen steckt Hans Henning jedoch die Behauptung, die Tonbaender vom Freiheitssender oder Soldatensender seien per Auto nach Burg gebracht worden. "Die produzierten Sendungen sind ueber Rundfunkleitungen mit zwischengeschalteten Verstaerkern nach Burg uebermittelt worden", so Henning. Der Freiheitssender war erst in Berlin-Gruenau und dann in einem Schloss in der Naehe von Koenigswusterhausen produziert worden. Am Tor stand zur Tarnung "FDGB-Schule". Die Mitarbeiter wurden jeden Tag geschlossen mit dem Bus von einem Berliner Parkplatz dorthin gebracht. Der Soldatensender zog in das Funkhaus in Gruenau ein und blieb dort bis zum Schluss. Die Postadresse (Werner Schuetz, Postfach 116, Berlin W 8) war jedoch alles andere als konspirativ. "W 8" lag in Ostberlin. Immerhin erreichten nach Recherchen von "Radio Bremen" allein im Jahr 1966 den Soldatensender 31871 Briefe aus der Bundesrepublik und 24079 aus der DDR. Dazu kamen 487 aus anderen Laendern. "Sogar aus Algerien", beschreibt Hans Henning die Reichweite des Burger Senders. 1967 ging im Burger Ortsteil Guetter eine weitere Sendeanlage in Betrieb, die mit einem 350-Meter-Masten alles bisher dagewesene uebertraf (Kosten: 27 Millionen Mark). "Die Sendungen wurden ueber ein heute noch vorhandenes 2,6 Kilometer langes und 3 Meter tief liegendes Erdkabel geschickt", erzaehlt Henning. "Von hier wurde das Programm, Wolga' fuer die sowjetischen Streitkraefte in der DDR ausgestrahlt." Auch diesmal war ein Feiertag der Sowjetunion Anlass fuer die Inbetriebnahme - der 50. Jahrestag Oktoberrevolution. Die Freude daran waehrte jedoch nicht einmal zehn Jahre. Den 18. Februar 1976 wird Hans Henning nie vergessen. Um 5.30 Uhr begann er wie gewoehnlich mit den Vorbereitungen, damit "Wolga" puenktlich ab 6 Uhr ueber den Sender gehen konnte. Dazu kam es jedoch nicht mehr. Um 5.46 Uhr stuerzte der Antennenmast bei Guetter um. "Es war pures Glueck, dass damals kein Mensch zu Schaden kam." Die Mast- spitze bohrte sich acht Meter tief in den Erdboden. Sie Liegt heute noch dort. Lediglich ein Stummel von 80 Meter Hoehe war stehen ge- blieben. Ein beschaedigter Haltebolzen gilt als Ursache des Einnsturzes. Ende der 70er Jahre wurden noch einmal 60 Millionen Mark in einen neuen Sendekomplex investiert. Dazu gehoerte auch der 324 Meter hohe Antennen-Gittermast fuer die Ausstrahlung von DT 64, Berliner Rundfunk, Radio Berlin International und Radio DDR I. Heute dient er der Datenuebertragung. Da gab es die beiden "Piratensender" schon laengst nicht lehr. Mit der Entspannungspolitik von Willy Brandt kam uch ihr Aus. Ebenso ueberraschend wie sie aufgetaucht waren, ver- schwanden der Freiheitssenderam 1. Oktober 1971 und der Soldaten- sender am 30. Juni 1972 ohne jede Ankuendigung aus dem Aether. (Volksstimme (Magdeburg) via J. Greunig-D Aug 10, 2002 in A-DX via Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** INDIA. Linkname: Brewer, E. Cobham. Dictionary of Phrase & Fable. Crore (A), URL: http://www.bartleby.com/81/4371.html OED (Oxford English Dictionary) claims the first in print citation as 1609 Hawkins in Purchas "Pilgrims" I, 216 Y. The King's yeerly income of his Crowne Land is fiftie Crow of Rupias. Other refernces to crores of men etc. in the 19th century references. Chinese do the same thing, Wen as 10 000 and Qian as 1 000. So a million is not 1 000 thousand, but 100 wen or 100 ten-thousand. But we know the Americans are wrong on gallons and billions too (Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. Re DXLD 2-125, VOI being weekdays only: I had English from Voice of Indonesia at 2030 on 15149.9 on the 28th of July, a Sunday. The program ended at 2055 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. Glenn, Do you know whatever happened to the Long Wave Radio Station broadcasting from Ireland - Team Talk 252, which replaced the music station Atlantic 252 earlier this year? It has gone off the air but no news of this in the Irish media. RTE owns 20% and all of the transmitter network (500 kw). The main focus of the station is to broadcast to UK. It is some what controversial in Ireland as many think it should be used to transmit programmes to the Irish Community in UK. Thanking You (Paul Guckian, Ireland, Aug 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Apparently not yet decided what to do with it, tho there are still those who want to use it. Several stories in last few weeks were here under IRELAND (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. ANALYSIS: ITALY'S ALTERNATIVE VOICE | Text of editorial analysis by Benedetto Cataldi of BBC Monitoring In Italy's controversial media climate, Milan's Radio Popolare is a rare example of a broadcaster not controlled directly or indirectly by media magnate Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Radio Popolare Editor Piero Scaramucci is adamant: "In Italy it is very easy to have a scoop: it is sufficient to tell the truth... We are victims in Italy of the strongest and most obvious mechanism of concentration of property and media control in the entire Western world. "I do not think there is any comparison possible, because Silvio Berlusconi and his entourage control, right now, 80-90 per cent of the TV channels and a part of the radio system. They also control or influence the press, because they hold Publitalia, which is the instrument to acquire adverts - it is very strong and able to condition heavily. "So, we are in a condition of near monopoly," Mr Scaramucci says. Radio Popolare is an independent left-wing radio based in Milan, which links up into a national network of local radios to broadcast news bulletins and political programmes. This happens for an average broadcast time of four hours every day. Mr Scaramucci worked for 30 years for public broadcaster Rai as an editor and a special reporter. Radio Popolare is his brainchild: he founded it in 1976 whilst still working at Rai, with the help of a six-month career break. He then returned to Rai, and when he left it for good in 1992, he rejoined Radio Popolare. Analogies with Fascism The independence of the radio allows it to be extremely outspoken in its anti-government line. Mr Scaramucci has no problems in drawing parallels between the current government and Italy's Fascist era: "I think that the ugly and dangerous thing in Italy is this kind of government and the culture it puts forward, a slightly authoritarian one, based on consensus, discrimination, with xenophobe and racist tendencies. "All this produces a culture which weakens the critical abilities of Italians, young people particularly. It is constantly spreading conformity, to call it conservatism is an understatement," he says. "If and when this ruling coalition changes, we will have behind us ruins to repair... When we got rid of Fascism in 1945, Italy paid the consequences for a long time because there was an entire bureaucratic system in place, a culture, history and tradition which polluted Italy's history for a long time. "Here, I hope on a minor scale, something similar is being repeated," Mr Scaramucci adds. No censorship What allows Radio Popolare to be independent is its peculiar financing structure: 50 per cent of its 3m-euro (3m dollars) yearly budget comes from voluntary regular audience subscriptions: currently, 15,000 people are paying a minimum amount of 90 euros (90 dollars) per year. This allows Radio Popolare to depend on advertising money for only 50 per cent of its budget and "to be very ruthless in choosing advertisers, to charge very high prices and, consequently, to have very little advertising", Mr Scaramucci says, adding that the prices the radio charges for adverts are three or four times those of other private radios. The audience is willing to contribute substantially to the radio's budget because, aside from providing an independent source of news, Radio Popolare is keen on involving the audience in its broadcasts. On a daily basis, they have "Open Microphones", where people just call and voice their opinion on the topic of the day: "The telephone rings, we answer and listeners speak with absolutely no censorship whatsoever," Mr Scaramucci says. The topics of the "Open Microphones" range from lofty international and domestic politics to the treatment of children in nurseries. Also, when Milan is deserted in August, they organize a street party outside the radio, asking everyone to bring something to drink and eat. They also organize a host of initiatives throughout the year, from World Music festivals to setting up giant screens to follow major sporting events. Radio Popolare's informal style also helps them to get important scoops: Mr Scaramucci says they were the first to break the news of an air crash at Milan's Linate airport last year involving an SAS airliner because members of the audience living near or working at the airport called them immediately. The same happened when a small private plane crashed into a Milan skyscraper last April, and CNN asked for a report from one of Radio Popolare's editorial staff, Mr Scaramucci says. So, Radio Popolare can be seen as a social phenomenon often crossing the boundaries between media and politics: "We have a passionate audience which always tries to transform what it learns about into political action," as Mr Scaramucci puts it. Source: BBC Monitoring research 19 Aug 02 (via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. CIS/RUSSIA. 9775, Kazakhstan's first Clandestine radio station on Shortwave. 9775.00 Kazakhstan opposition "Radio DAT" noted 0100-0200 and 1500- 1600 UT. Yesterday Aug 17th, 1459-1601 UT taped the full transmission on 9775 kHz, signal level S=9 +50 dB in Stuttgart, southern Germany. Most likely coming from a CIS site in Europe, like for instance Maiac Grigoriopol, Moldova, or Sitkunai, Lithuania. A well known source denied that 9775 were in use from the Sitkunai site. The audio quality suffered by sharp peaks and much hiss. Similar defect on http://www.datradio.com/dattoday.pls But in the internet archive examples http://www.datradio.com/archive.htm quality is much better. Presenter mentioned his own name and told some correspondent names in KAZ. Professional satire on link http://www.khabar.us/ against original official Kazakh new agency Khabar http://www.khabar.kz Nazarbaev' daughter Dariga is director of Khabar, like slogan "Kazakhstan - without Nazarbaev, Khabar - without Dariga". See http://www.khabar.kz/index.php3?chapter=1028888566&parent_id=1007539556 Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan leader is Akezhan Kazhegeldin rivale of Nazarbaev. All server http://www.datradio.com and http://www.khabar.us also Email ISP and Audio Provider are registered in Canada. DAT website contains some banner of government bearing broadcasting stations, like Mayak, R Rossii (Bernd Trutenau; and wb df5sx, BC-DX Aug 17 via DXLD) Just few mins ago, heard new anti-Kazakh R DAT. Sign on tx at 1447:26 UT, noooo pips opening. S-off 1600.19 UT. Recording file start with a short piece of 9740 kHz BBC SNG outlet to peak the antenna tuner at second 1 to 4. Then followed of 9775 kHz channel recording, Time Pips of China National Radio co-channel, on second 7 to 13, especially Pips ending with a long high Pip at the 1500 UT hour, at second 12 to 13. From 1500.00 to 1500.16 UT only CNR in Chinese on channel, followed by sudden program start of R DAT at 1500.16 UT. Recording end of R DAT at 1600.19 UT, but contains some QRM of adjacent Opening of powerhouse BBC Zyyi Cyprus on 9780 kHz in Serbian, which starts about 1559.55 UT. ... and the end of the R DAT transmission, 9775 kHz today Sat 17th, 1500-1600 UT: 1600:19 UT, R DAT audio feed cut off, 1601:00 UT transmitter switched down. Two HFCC entries till 1600 UT: Moscow Sherpukhov, Russia [not on air, only book-keeping registration] and Beijing, China 50 kW too: 9775 2100-1600 to zones 42,43 BEI 50 kW 270 degrees CHN CRI RTC (wb df5sx, Aug 17) I didn`t remember to tune to 9775 until about 1555. There was a transmission in progress in Russian with several items referring to Kazakhstan - no ID positively heard. The signal was 9 +10 dB's and transmission 'stopped' a few seconds after 1600 - after BBC CYP had opened on 9780 in Serbian (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Aug 17 vi DXLD) 9775, R. DAT, opening at around 0101 UT, pretty good signal, tho fadey. IDs at start, then all talk by man, occasional quick bridge with a short melody, many IDs, ments. of Kazakhstan, Nazarbaev. Signal deteriorated a lot during the final 10 mins. Programming stopped 0200, carrier off 0202. Likely a "prgogram" using high power transmitters someplace? (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Aug 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) Transmitter location is out of Kazakh borders for sure. Here, Aug 17, 1500-1600 UT, 53443 (544 most of the time on short checks), co-channel CNR also s-off at 16z. Seemingly they replayed one 30 min tape twice during this hour. Very accurate frequency. "M" level slightly decreased against norm. Sounded like transmitter was fed via poor phone lines. Contents of program rather primitive, talking just about Pres Nazarbayev, his accounts in foreign banks, etc. I'm disappointed. No serious analysis of current situation in KAZ, no unbiased news from there... For me it would be very interesting, as I consider Nazarbayev & Kuchma (pres of Ukraine) are to some extent 'twins' politically. (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC-DX Aug 17 via DXLD) The organisation behind DAT-Radio might be the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan (RPPK), founded by the ex-prime minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin (1994-1997) who in absentia was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Kazakhstan in 2001, and lives in exile in Europe. The party's website http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english.htm also a short article about DAT-Radio: http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english/engl_16_08_02.html There is also a Canadian office of the RPPK, see http://kazhegeldin.addr.com/english/engl_03_06_02.html (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXplorer Aug 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Earlier items in Spanish are now translated by gh: At the Mexican DX meeting, Pepe González spoke about XERTA, Radio Transcontinental de América. It`s always been on the air in an uncertain manner. Manager Ing. Nájera, ambitiously calls it the only Mexican commercial SW station. The truth is that it has required great effort to keep it going, in spite of homemade equipment and great limitations it has always confronted. I visited the original installations on a top floor of the Latin American Tower in Mexico City, and Ing. Nájera would tell me things like, ``We`ll soon be QSLing,`` ``we`re about to raise power``, ``we`re in discussions over sponsorship``, ``we`ve improved the antenna, now with more radials``, ``from the new site they've heard us in Australia``, ``I`m going to get crystals for two more frequencies``, ``my partner has permission for a UHF TV channel``. But all of this remained nothing but dreams. This gentleman is quite a character and in spite of his age, has a contagious zest for life and his beloved station. Recently he has ``rented`` it to a gringo religious group, so that`s the end of XERTA. In the station forum at the meeting, we heard that R. Mil`s Encuentro DX program will be revived; R. Educación will resume six hours of shortwave programming; and Ana Cristina del Razo revealed she is leaving her post as director of XERMX (Iván López Alegría, and Carlos Jiménez V., DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Mil has completed a new antenna for SW 6010; hope this improves reception, reports wanted to: XEOI Radio Mil Onda Corta, Apartado Postal 21-1000, 04021 - Mexico D.F. MEXICO (Hector Garcia Bojorge, Encuentro DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No improvement here; in fact there is het from something now; what kind of antenna? Directional? (gh) ** NETHERLANDS [non?]. Subject : Do not forget the meeting at the border area Belgium / Holland; I will be there for sure Greetings, all my dear friends in Free radio Short Wave land. As the meeting of last year was a huge success, so is the reason to organize another one. We will have just as last year a Barbeque, Drinks, Fun and laughter and we hope you will come as well. Necessarily for us is to know how many will come at the meeting so that we know how much meet we must order an drinks. The meeting will be taking place on Saturday the 24th of August and starts up at 1500 hours local time. You can stay the night over in a huge tent (take a sleeping bag with you) or at a local hotel. The place where it all will be happening will be announce a few weeks/days before the meeting to those that want to come. you can get more info on: Email: summermeeting@hotmail.com Telephone: 00 31 (0)6-10531057 For those that have to travel really far. For example the guys last year from Finland and others outside Europe we are also working on the option to stay here for free ( for example a week) and visit Holland, Belgium or Germany. So that these guys make this their holydays. Also there is a close by hotel. For those that want to make use of this have to book the Hotel on time. Greetings, Alfred (Alfa Lima International Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Much as Eric's ideas on "communism" which I call "oligopoly" can be open to ridicule; however, I think there is considerable validity in what he writes. I recently toured a Clear Channel facility in Oklahoma City and an employee there told me how terrible the company is to work for --- especially compared to before when there was more of a "mom and pop" atmosphere. I think this is what Eric is getting at, although obliquely. I like to make reckless assertions myself! My days of being a Ph.D. student defending my dissertation are long past. I think we should all enjoy the luxury of making ill-thought-out and even foolish statements without being ridiculed. If everything we stated had to be documented and scrutinized it would have a chilling effect on discussion, whether on the WTFDA list or its more gossipy counterpart. One point both Tom and Eric made that I think is incorrect is that mom and pop type owners are doing very well, thank you. I disagree. I know these owners are struggling, as the conglomerates are putting pressures on agencies to buy only their stations. I recall an article in, I believe, Broadcasting and Cable, pointing out a Las Vegas station (I forget which one) was independently owned and the operator was struggling to get ads in the face of intense competition from all the group owners and their ability to "warehouse" spots. Later, I read that he sold the station. Deregulation is promoted as an "efficiency" thing, and probably the cost per spot when you buy ads on a bunch of local stations is lower, as opposed to buying ads on an independently- owned station. An exception I know of --- Jerry Lee's WBEB 101.1 Philadelphia was a longtime holdout, and is still considered invincible in terms of ratings and revenues. Maybe they do it because of hiring local talent! (Brucey Elving, WTFDA via DXLD) ** SYRIA. Syria was again using 12085 for Turkish at 1600 on 17/09 and Russian on 13610 from c1700, when 12085 had closed. I tuned their English programme around 2130 and found audio quality good enough to understand the programme on 13610 and a parallel signal of poorer quality on 12085. It seems another check is needed to determine when 12085 is actually on air. It is not carrying the daytime HS Arabic service though (Noel Green, UK, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [and non]. http://www.cbs.org.tw/French/images/020813_espflow.gif showing three routes to Europe for the French service of RTI (Daniel Say, BC, Aug 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Radio Waves: Paul Donovan: Play it again August 18, 2002 Times on line Last week I listened to Sunday on Tuesday, to The World at One not at 1 pm but at 3 pm, to Book at Bedtime at breakfast, and to Late Junction`s turtle-shell music at dawn the next day. I will join Choral Evensong not on Wednesday afternoon but on Thursday evening. From next month, I will be able to hear The Friday Play on Saturdays. Eureka - we radio fans can at long last hear almost any programme at a time to suit us. Programmes that, for a variety of reasons — being asleep, being at work, being out, being overseas — we could not hear when they were first broadcast. No longer will there be any need for boffins to rig up Heath Robinson-type recording contraptions in advance. True, you need a computer with RealPlayer installed. But more than half the population now has a PC, and that standard software is in millions of homes. Click a few buttons on the BBC`s website and you find yourself in an Aladdin`s cave of audio treasures that you can listen to for up to seven days from when they were first broadcast. Some 220 shows are now available in this way. More than half are on Radio 4, including all the famous ones except Desert Island Discs (because of an intricate legal wrangle between the BBC and the estate of Roy Plomley, who created it in 1942). Radio 4, in fact, launched ``programmes on demand`` two years ago. But the other half of what is available, the musical half, had to wait until the BBC signed deals with record companies in June. As a result, dozens of specialist shows -- jazz, folk, rap, rock, swing, classical and so on -- can now be enjoyed by anyone anywhere for an initial period of one year. There are 29 on Radio 2, 27 on Radio 1, 27 on Radio 3, 10 on 6 Music and 8 on Radio 5 Live. The BBC knows exactly how many people listen to shows in this way (though not when), because an electronic counter clicks up in Broadcasting House every time we do so. ``The Essential Mix is one of the most popular on Radio 1,`` reveals Chris Kimber, the head of BBC Radio Online, ``and also post-clubbing chillout shows such as The Blue Room, which is very popular, but on incredibly late -- it goes out at 5 am. ``On Radio 2 it`s Stuart Maconie`s Critical List, and on Radio 3 Andy Kershaw, CD Review and Late Junction. Choral Evensong has also proved unexpectedly popular. ``On Radio 4 it`s The Archers followed by comedy. We will be adding lots of drama in September.`` This being the BBC, some matters are still secretive. The corporation will not reveal the actual numbers listening in this way. Nor do we know the annual budget of the BBC department responsible. But it is early days and it may disclose more later when the venture has developed. In the meantime, it is hoping that the internet will not seduce listeners away from their radio sets and thus dent the ratings. ``Our gut feeling is that it will extend the time people will spend with their radios,`` says Kimber. ``The system we have devised, of which we launch an improved version next week, enables people to listen while they surf. So we hope it will displace television and video. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** UNITED KINGDOM. PROGRAMME ON BBC RADIO 4: MOTHERS OF INVENTION Five short plays by Jerome Vincent celebrating the role of women in the history of technology Wednesday August 21st 0945-1000 UTC, repeated 1845-1900 UTC Part Three: Annie Jameson. Guglielmo Marconi might have invented radio bit it was his mother, Annie Jameson, who ensured that it became a commercial reality (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK) ** U K [non]. RADIO FESTIVAL 2002 - All times shown in British Summer Time (CET+1Hour) [meaning add one hour for CET, subtract one for UT; times presumably p.m., so 1600-2200 UT, on 5935 via Latvia -- gh] Saturday 24 August 5:00-6:00 Steve Masters Opening the Festival with a BANG, out of retirement for one time only, its former Laser man Steve Masters. 6:00-7:00 Javani FM An hour with a youth group based in Birmingham, England, and their music -- be there or be very, very old! 7:00-8:00 Sietse Brouwer The big cheese at Radio Caroline NL shift into another gear and comes out rockin` on RadFest 2002 8:00-9:00 The Album Zone Mr Reece brings his world of the Album Zone back to pan European radio in a way only he can. 9:00-10:00 The MediaZoo Eric brings the Zoo back with special guest Chris Skelton. As well as talking home automation, Chris attacks the computer world with venom. 10:00-11:00 IT`S PARTY TIME Dig out your clubbing threads and prepare to re-enter the Disco and Club sounds of the 70s, 80's and 90's Sunday 24th August 5:00-6:00 Rebel Radio A BRAND NEW station ready to hit the airwaves this year gives us a taste of what`s to come the Rebel Way 6:00-7:00 Javani FM Another hour with the youth group based in Birmingham, England, and their music – be there or be very, very old! 7:00-8:00 Lee Williams The man who re-invented country in Europe under the banner of CMR is back on the radio, so what is his news?? 8:00-9:00 The Album Zone Mr Reece continues his world of the Album Zone – he's just so laid back that we had to prop him up. 9:00-10:00 Sietse Brouwer The big cheese at Radio Caroline NL returns for more rockin` on RadFest 2002 10:00-11:00 A MediaZoo Special Eric`s special guest in the final hour is none other than Caroline`s Peter Moore. They catch up on the radio scene & then close RadFest 2002. Sorry we won`t be offering a QSL service – you know you`ve listened. A copy of RadFest 2002 will be available via an MP3 CDROM - prices from kreicbergs@delfi.lv (via Eric Wiltsher, Aug 20, DXLD) ** U S A. WWV's 10 MHz transmitter seems to have a problem, a bit distorted, and it's splattering quite a ways down into the 31 meter band. Heard on several receivers here. I first noticed this at 1145z today. As I recall, they've had this problem before (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. In Search of KIMF (or: To Chase the Wild Goose) International Fellowship of Churches, Rancho Cucamonga, California, doing business as IMF World Missions has a permit from the U. S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct a main station near Piñón, New Mexico. Because my wife planned to attend a Contract Bridge tournament in "nearby" Ruidoso, NM I decided to go along, do some DXing, and visit the KIMF construction site. The NM map seemed to indicate Piñón to be about 61 miles from Ruidoso, but it turned out to be 88. The route was along steep, narrow, twisting mountain roads, the last being 26 miles off the main highway. There is one paved road and one dirt road into Piñón, population 11 souls. The town consists of one very small store, perhaps 4 inhabited houses, and another 20 abandoned houses. Piñón lies at the edge of a vast basin surrounded by low hills, at an elevation of about 5900 feet (1800 meters). A lady at the store, whose family has ranched nearby for four generations, said she had heard talk of a Christian radio station but was unaware of any activity. She referred me to a rancher at the edge of town who had plans to develop his property, possibly including KIMF. The dirt road into the ranch had 4 "NO TRESPASSING" signs along the way, which one learns to respect in New Mexico. I knocked at the ranch house door, heard people inside, but my knocking went unanswered. I left quietly. Next I drove to the transmitter location specified on the FCC permit. At the intersection of two dirt roads was a large metal gate with a "NO TRESPASSING" sign prominently displayed. Beyond the gate was a long dirt road running easterly straight up the side of the basin through a forest of short piñón (pine) trees. At a distance of about 2 miles was one lonely, very small, white building. I have no idea what it was. There was no construction activity or transmitter tower. I photographed the site and drove back to town. I stopped at the Otero County Highway Department maintenance shop in Piñón, with its staff of two. I told my story. Again I was informed that there was talk of a radio station but no construction activity was apparent. Water availability is a BIG problem in the area. There is no surface water. Wells go down about 1200 feet (365 meters). Water rights are regulated, privately owned, and almost impossible to obtain. No water, no radio station. *** So after four hours and 180 miles of driving, and an hour of talk and exploration, I can report with certainty... nothing (George Glotzbach, NM, Cumbre DX Special Aug 19 via DXLD) Tnx, saves me the trouble; previously visited KJES (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WLW so-called IBOC test: ``Awful! Checked Aug 15 at 0457 UT and there was equal noise on 690 and 710`` I'll second that, Glenn. The digital hash is well under WLW's analog audio, but it takes enough bandwidth to make adjacent frequencies unusable. Sounds a lot like the hash that my computer generates. Wouldn't it be easier to use an FM sub-carrier for this? Or even the empty space between FM channels- 88.2, 88.4, 88.6, etc? Methinks that would work a lot better than current idea they're testing (Todd K0KAN Brandenburg, Aug 18, AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) In any case, putting this on FM would tend towards equalizing the coverage of AM and FM stations, and giving AM stations equal day and night coverage. That's not acceptable to the owners of large FM stations (Doug Smith, ibid.) As I see it, the adoption of IBOC as currently proposed would indeed equalize the coverages of AM & FM: at about 10 miles or so interference-free, or, maybe 20 if neither is low power. I'm thinking that there's probably nobody who would want that outcome (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Based on what I heard on IBOC tests, yes, it would decrease coverage of most FMs to the of an AM. But their logic leaves me speechless..... They want to do it by generating so much interference on the band as to cut the coverage area of an FM to maybe 15-25 miles??? (What would a 3 kw. have --- 10 miles?) And in doing so, areas that might have, for sake of argument, 50 listenable signals (a few locals but most stations at distances of 25 to 60 miles) might end up with only a half dozen usable signals. As a for instance, there's an area of Central N.J. around South Brunswick/Princeton that's about 45 miles from both NYC and Philly and stations from both markets are quite listenable (with the exception of those cases where NYC and Philly are both on the same frequency like 100.3 and 101.1). These stations are also on adjacent channels to each other (like 102.7 and 102.9). If everyone adopts IBOC, they should destroy each other totally. Wonder how the population in that area would feel about that --- but the FCC doesn't seem to care what the public thinks anyway (Joe Fela, NJ, ibid.) Actually I was referring to carrying the digital signal of an AM station on the FM band. Kinda like what's happening in Canada, where all the stations in a city are sharing the same DAB power/antenna site. I suppose you could limit the power of the VHF-DAB signal to provide coverage matching the associated AM station. (using a VHF directional antenna if necessary) Even there though, the ex-AM station would have full daytime coverage all night. (even better than they get now by "cheating", because there wouldn't be the level of interference from other stations they're currently suffering on AM) Or would you also require VHF-DAB stations associated with an AM to reduce power (and even change directional pattern) at sunset? -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66 amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. Here is something interesting from R&R On-line. The mention of 650 kHz is a surprise. Last April Ibiquity was issued an experimental license with the call sign WI2XAM for 1700 kHz from their facility in Warren NJ (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, NRC-AM via DXLD) IBIQUITY SEEKS TO EXPAND AM IBOC TESTING TO SECOND STATION VP/Program Management Rick Martinson tells R&R ONLINE the company filed an FCC application last week requesting authority for an experimental station in Frederick, MD that will be used to test enhancements and improvements to the company's AM digital radio technology. This station, at 650 kHz, would be the second of its kind for iBiquity; the company also has an experimental station in Cincinnati that operates on 1610 kHz. Martinson points out that both stations are only used once in a while and only for daytime testing. He also notes that nighttime testing is ongoing at some commercial stations but due to the technical difficulties associated with broadcasting at night the company doesn't maintain a dedicated nighttime experimental facility. (via Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. R. ZAMBIA 1, 6265, 0330-0407 UT. UU 32232 18-AUG 0330 - Male announcer with rapid talk in vernacular 0338 - "High Life" musical selection 0344 - more Male talk in vernacular 0351 - male singers with drum/stringed instrument music 0400 - Time pips/drum and screeching animal interval signal, into male announcer in vernacular 0401 - "High Life" music 0406 - male announcer in vernacular 0407 - more "high life" music. Decent signal, but fairly noisy with QRN. Drake R8B/Eavesdropper dipole/50 ft. wire/MFJ 1026 (John Beattie, Ventura CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UU presumably means unknown language ** ZIMBABWE. STATE RADIO, TV ON "BRINK OF COLLAPSE", "TECHNICALLY INSOLVENT" The state-owned Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC, has not made a profit for over 20 years and its "crippling" debts, along with its many other problems, have pushed it "to the brink of collapse", according to a Zimbabwean press report. It says the ZBC has a "bloated" workforce, antiquated equipment and reduced audiences caused by dull programming. The following is the text of a report by Dumisani Muleya entitled "ZBC faces collapse" published by the Zimbabwean newspaper Zimbabwe Independent web site on 16 August; subheading inserted editorially: Information Minister Jonathan Moyo's self-serving restructuring exercise at the [state-owned] Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has worsened the company's financial woes and pushing it to the brink of collapse. Information at hand shows the state-run monolith - which now operates exclusively as a propaganda mouthpiece for government - is in the red to the tune of 655m Zimbabwe dollars. As of 30 April, the parastatal, which is now technically insolvent due to extended periods of mismanagement and corruption, owed money to at least 117 companies. ZBC creditors include stationery and furniture shops, car hire and repair companies, cellular phone networks, news agencies, electrical and computer services companies, security firms and production houses. It also owed Zimpapers, another bankrupt government media empire, about 1.2m [Zimbabwe] dollars for adverts. The company was further indebted to hotels in Harare, Bulawayo and Gweru where it had booked its workers for months when it shuttled them between the cities. ZBC owed the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) and Time Bank about 300m dollars and in April the outstanding interest on the CBZ loan was 18.7m dollars. Other major ZBC creditors were PAYE [pay-as-you-earn taxation] (235m), Film Creditors (109.3m), pension (76.7m), Tel One (17.5m), Zimra (18m), PJ Creditors (16.4m), Excellence Car Rental (10.2m) and Europcar Hire (9.2m). A bloated workforce also worsened the company's financial crisis. Before retrenchments started recently, ZBC's salary bill was over 70m dollars a month. About 11m dollars was channelled towards paying 47 heads of department and managers. Over 59m dollars was paid to 924 employees. Poor debt collection mechanisms were not helping matters. Recently the company was battling to recover 303.7m from advertising agencies and direct clients. ZBC "now wrecked" Despite official claims that ZBC was coming out of the woods, the company remains stuck in crisis. Its catalogue of problems include crippling debt, high staff turnover, antiquated technology and equipment, a poor licence fee structure, poor pricing structure of commercials, low credit rating and increased labour costs against a backdrop of a shrinking revenue base and diminishing advertising interest. The corporation is also dogged by high operating costs, lack of investment in research and development, monotonous programme repeats resulting in reduced viewership, poor information management systems and costing policies, lack of strategic partners and limited sources of funds. About 95 per cent of ZBC equipment is analogue and therefore obsolete. As a result it has poor quality output, frequent breakdowns and high maintenance costs. The remaining useful life of its television equipment is less than a year. Most of its transmitters are more than 24 years old and have gone past their due-by date. Despite Moyo's ideologically-driven and much-vaunted restructuring exercise launched last November amid pomp and fanfare, ZBC has not recovered. In fact, records show it is now wrecked although taxpayers' money continues to be poured into its bottomless pit. ZBC, which a parliamentary inquiry in 1999 found to be riddled with corruption and mismanagement, last made a profit of 27,384 dollars during the 1980-81 financial year. The cumulative effect of the losses since 1980 has rendered it broke. Last year its net current liabilities stood at 232.7m dollars with high-gearing net liabilities of 73m dollars. The company requires 2.5bn dollars for recapitalization and 150m to rationalize its workforce. Source: Zimbabwe Independent web site, Harare, in English 16 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DEFINITION OF "SHORTWAVE" ... Glenn: short wave (shôrt"w³v") adj. 1. Having a wavelength of approximately 20 to 200 meters. 2. Capable of receiving or transmitting at wavelengths of approximately 20 to 200 meters: a shortwave radio. That is the definition given in the American Heritage Dictionary, though I would have to add that I don't own the most recent edition. Gordon West, in the appendix of his Technician Class study guide, states that shortwave is "The high frequencies that lie between 3 and 30 Megahertz that are propagated long distances." That should translated to wavelengths approximately 10 to 100 meters. Somebody ought to set the AHD straight. [Later:] I went online and looked up "shortwave" in the latest AHD. This is what I found: 1) shortwave. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. ...Having a wavelength of approximately 10 to 200 meters. 2. Capable of receiving or transmitting at wavelengths of approximately 10 to 200 meters: a shortwave radio.... That's better than in past AHD editions. But I would like to point out that if frequency (MHz) = 300 / wavelength (meters) then 300 / 200 = 1.5 MHz That is right smack in the middle of the AM broadcast band. 73's (Franklin Seiberling {sigh-bur-ling}, KC0ISV, Iowa City, Aug 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-130, August 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1144: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0100, 0700, Mon 0030? 0630? 7445-AM 15039 maybe webcasts also: Sat 1900, Sun 1300, 1830, Mon 1230 [Sat/UT Sun times based on running an hour late] (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html from Aug 16 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL TO JOHN NORFOLK: Thanks for your years of service to SWLing, and ham radio. Your frequency guides will be missed. Good luck. 73 de (KB9NXD Michael A. Mathis) See http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html and http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html ** ALASKA [and non]. For a somewhat convoluted article about HAARP and how it may relate to other overwater and underwater `defense` projects in Hawaii/Kauai and Puerto Rico/Vieques, see: http://peacehost.net/Vieques/hubers.html (via gh, DXLD) ** ALGERIA. Latest Maakeski logs. Latest loggings from Padasjoki/Asikkala 5-13th August. Listening QTHs are located in the opposite locations by the same lake, 3 km away from each other. Receivers Lowe HF-225 and Yaesu FRG-100. Antennas 100-150 metres to "every direction". I wish the farmers could cut their crop soon so the field could be used for long wire purposes again. 252 kHz, 10.8. 2100- RTA Tipaza. Difficult to listen to Algeria nowadays! This French channel was finally open after TeamTalk has closed down. On SW there has been nothing for a long time (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Argentinians were heard on X-band at 0100 UT 13.8. on 1620, 1630, 1660, 1670, and shortly also on 1680. No luck with IDs, but there is no question about the origin of signals (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Saturday, August 17 2002 and Sunday, August 18 2002: Radio Australia Today with Lingua Franca: Hunting the Wild Reciter -- Peter Kirkpatrick recalls the old days of music hall ballads, parlour recitations and elocution lessons. Before Hollywood invented the musical, one of the most popular forms of public entertainment was the variety show, vaudeville, the music hall -- and 'recitations' were among the most popular acts. Waiting in the wings was the elocutionist - soon to be taken up by those who sought to be upwardly socially mobile. Peter Kirkpatrick investigates the place of recitation and elocution in our popular culture before TV. In North America: Sat 8.15 pm ET / 5.15 pm PT. In Europe: Sun 0015 UT / 0215 CEST (WRN Newsletter via DXLD) So there`s another time to hear LINGUA FRANCA, which we often preview, directly on R. Australia (gh, DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 4982U, unID Relay of Radio Mayak, 0410 Aug 16, male spoken program in Russian by a man; SINPO 23342 (Klaus Elsebusch, Im Isselgrund 17, D-46499 Marienthal/Germany, DL 3 EAY & DE 2 JLS, DSWCI- No. 3385, KWFR 105, Coordinates: Lat. 51.73 N; Long. 06.74 E, Receiver: LOWE HF 150, mod, Antennas: 20 m LW, indoor; Azimuth 0 deg 15 m LW, indoor, Azimuth 180 deg Accessoires: FRT 7700, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. BELARUS PULLS PLUG ON RUSSIAN TV, RADIO REBROADCASTS | Text of report by Russian Mayak radio on 12 August The rebroadcasting of Russian radio channels, Mayak and Yunost, was stopped in Belarus today. The rebroadcasting of Russian television channels, RTR, NTV and Kultura, has been reduced. This was done on a request by the management of the Belarusian television and radio company. According to the company's spokesman, the move was necessary because of the lack of necessary funding. Source: Radio Mayak, Moscow, in Russian 1400 gmt 12 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) BELARUS PULLS PLUG ON RUSSIAN TV, RADIO REBROADCASTS - DETAILS | Text of report in English by Russian news agency Interfax Minsk, 12 August: On Monday [12 August], Belarus took two Russian radio stations off the air and cut the volume of relayed broadcasting by three Russian television channels, a source in the Belarusian radio and television broadcasting centre told Interfax. Belarusians will no longer be able to listen to the Mayak and Yunost radio stations, the source said. RTR [Russia TV] and Kultura [Culture] television stations are not allowed to run their programmes for more than ten hours a day, while NTV was given a daily quota of 12 hours. The source said the measure was in response to a request from the Belarusian television and radio company, whose deputy chairman Alyaksandr Zimowski pleaded lack of money. "This decision cannot be called a spontaneous one," he told Interfax. "All of the state organizations that provide technical servicing for broadcasting were notified in good time." The move "hasn't come as a surprise" for viewers either, he said. "All of the changes are reflected in television programmes for the current week, which were published the day before." Zimowski declined to comment on the possible consequences of the measure. He simply said: "This problem may require a political solution." Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in English 1359 gmt 12 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SLAMS BELARUS FOR PULLING PLUG ON TV, RADIO BROADCASTS | Text of report by Russia TV on 13 August [Presenter] The Belarus authorities have decided to take Russian Mayak and Yunost radio stations off the air and to cut air time of RTR [Russia TV] and NTV television channels on the territory of the country as of 12 August. We have just received a statement of the press service of the All- Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company [VGTRK]. VGTRK expresses its surprise both at the situation with the broadcast of Russian TV and radio companies on the territory of Belarus and the explanations offered by the management of the Belarusian television and radio company. Traditionally, Belarus has always been responsible for all costs related to distributing the signal on its territory, which makes economic reasons for stopping broadcasts, namely lack of finance, questionable. Tomorrow's official visit of Belarus President Alyaksandr Lukashenka [to Moscow] may help to clarify the situation with Russian media broadcasts on the territory of Belarus. The general director of the Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Network, Gennadiy Sklyar, sharply criticized the Belarus authorities decision to cut short Russian media broadcasts, including that of our TV channel, today. [Sklyar] I believe that it is an unseemly step undertaken by my Belarusian colleagues, as the reasons offered testify to the creation of certain smokescreen to hide real reasons for switching off channels. There is no doubt that people in Belarus, as well as in other countries, are waiting for our programmes and they watch them and listen to them. In fact it is violation of human rights of those who live in these countries. Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 1000 gmt 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) BELARUS RENEWS BROADCAST OF RUSSIAN TV, RADIO CHANNELS | Text of report by Belarusian TV on 13 August As we reported earlier, for the remainder of the summer holidays, as practised before, the Belarusian Broadcasting Company introduced temporary measures on decreasing the number of bands for the broadcast of the Russian radio stations Mayak and Yunost in Belarus. The daytime broadcasts of [Russian] TV channels RTR, NTV and Kultura were also decreased. Starting today, the Ministry of Communications has renewed the broadcast of these channels according to their earlier schedules. Once again, certain foreign media opposed to Belarusian-Russian relations were trying to give political colouring to planned events and described them as intrigues. We recall that for the purpose of saving money on the broadcast of radio and TV signals in summer, similar restrictions had been practised in the past. However, up until now they had not been given such close attention, including from the mass media. We hereby clarify that it is the Belarusian side that is responsible for financing the broadcast of Russian TV channels. Source: Belarusian television, Minsk, in Belarusian 1800 gmt 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIA/BELARUS: RUSSIAN TV PROBLEMS IN BELARUS DUE TO "SHORTFALL OF FINANCING" | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR- TASS Minsk, 15 August: Russian television has been struck off the airwaves in Belarus. The Belarusian state television and radio company claimed in a published statement that the broadcasting of Russian electronic media had been restored in full, but daytime blackouts of RTR, NTV and the Culture channel lingered on Thursday [15 August]. Most of Belarusian officials are reticent on this aspect of Russian- Belarusian relations. The Foreign Ministry's spokesman Pavel Latushko, reached by ITAR-TASS on Thursday, advised re-reading the Belarusian state television company's press release, saying that he had "nothing to add" to it. Press and Information Minister Mikhail Podgainy told reporters that "there is no political pretext here". He said telecasting of Russian electronic media was funded from the Belarusian budget, and restrictions of it, imposed on Monday "temporarily, for the period until the end of vacations", was related to a shortfall of financing. A source who chose anonymity told ITAR-TASS that the Belarusian television and radio company came up with the initiative of cutting the broadcasting. He presumed that in doing so the Belarusian side wanted to make Russian televisions pay for transmission of their signal. The broadcasting restrictions stirred talks in Minsk that Russian media influence on Belarus was shaky. It is recalled that the broadcasting of a parade from Moscow's Red Square was shut down. It was also noted that Belarus's Pan-National Television, which is in fact the second state-owned company, took the place of Russia's ORT on the air, if for only 30 minutes so far. Some experts said time had come to lay a law base for Russia's information influence on Belarus in the form of contracts and accords. This would reduce a room for conflicts and "misunderstandings" to a minimum, they said. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1216 gmt 15 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIAN BROADCASTS IN BELARUS RESTORED IN FULL, MINISTER TELLS PUTIN | Text of report by Russian Public TV (ORT) on 16 August President Vladimir Putin today held a working meeting with Press Minister Mikhail Lesin. The minister told the head of state that the problem of reduced broadcasts of a series of Russian television channels and the cessation of broadcasts by a number of radio stations in Belarus has been resolved. Broadcasts have been fully restored. Lesin also said that talks are continuing with Belarusian colleagues to give Russian media the opportunity to broadcast on Belarusian territory. For his part Vladimir Putin noted that the Belarusian leadership fully understood this issue. Nevertheless, the president believes that there is a need for a more urgent approach to the resolution of similar potential problems, and the issue of their resolution cannot be allowed to fall to the level of company management. Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Lesin also discussed the protection of copyright, including within the context of the talks on Russia's entry to the WTO. Source: Russian Public TV (ORT), Moscow, in Russian 1100 gmt 16 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RUSSIAN BROADCASTS TO BELARUS STILL NOT RESTORED IN FULL | Text of report in English by Belarusian news agency Belapan Minsk, 16 August: Russia's television networks RTR, Kultura and NTV are still not fully transmitted in Belarus despite official assurances that the broadcasting was restored. Belarusian authorities on 13 August halted retransmission of the Russian radio stations Yunost and Mayak and cut airtime of RTR, NTV, and Kultura, citing financial constraints. Belarusian television reported late on 13 August that the broadcasting of Russian radio and television networks in Belarus was fully restored. Syarhey Sushko, chief technician at the Belarusian Radio and Television Transmission Centre (BRTTC), told Belapan on 16 August that the BRTTC has not received instructions from the Belarusian National Broadcasting Company to restore full transmission of the Russian television networks, therefore, it continued to work according to a curtailed schedule. The broadcasting of Mayak and Yunost resumed on 13 August. Meanwhile, Russian news agencies reported that Mikhail Lesin, the Russian minister of press and information, told President Vladimir Putin on 16 August that the broadcasting of Russian radio and television networks in Belarus had been fully restored. Source: Belapan news agency, Minsk, in English 1611 gmt 16 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) MINSK CURTAILS RUSSIAN BROADCASTING, THEN BACKS DOWN Belarusian authorities on 13 August halted retransmission of the Russian radio stations Yunost and Mayak and cut back airtime of the RTR, NTV, and Kultura television networks, Belarusian media reported. The Belarusian State Television and Radio Company, which covers the costs of transmitting Russian television and radio programs in Belarus`, said the previous day that the financial burden connected with these retransmissions is much to bear. "The reasons given by the Belarusian side hide the real causes behind the switch-off," Ekho Moskvy quoted Gennadii Sklyar, general director of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting System, as saying. "[President Alyaksandr] Lukashenka is flexing his ideological muscles on the eve of his meeting with Putin [on 14 August]," Belarusian Association of Journalists Chairwoman Zhana Litvina told AP. Belarusian television reported late on 13 August that the broadcasting of Russian radio and television networks in Belarus` has been fully restored ("RFE/RL Newsline," 14 August via RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 16 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. MORE CATHOLIC RADIO STATIONS IDENTIFIED IN BRASIL The following list of Catholic radio stations has been obtained by visit to the website of one of Brasil's three Catholic radio networks, RCR -- Rede Católica de Rádio, a joint website with UNDA–Brasil http://www.rcrunda.com.br Actually there are two lists, ``elação de Rádios Católicas do Brasil -- 184 Emissoras`` (List of Catholic Radio Stations in Brasil -- 184 Stations) and ``Relação de Rádios da RCR -- 191 Emissoras``... Additional information on many of these stations has been obtained from the Ministry of Communications website in Brasil. Where the Ministry information disagrees with that posted on the RCR-Unda website, I have opted for the Ministry information. [gh excerpted only those listings involving a SW frequency] Acre Cruzeiro do Sul: ZYH204, Rádio Verdes Florestas, 940 AM (5000 wats días, 1,000 wats noches). & ZYF203 on 4865 kHz (5,000 wats). 1000-0300 UT. En la Diócesis de Cruzeiro do Sul. Amazonas Parintins: ZYH283, Radio Alvorada, 1380 AM (5,000 wats/1,000 wats) y 100.1 FM (Clase C) y ZYF275 on 4965 kHz (5,000 wats). Fundação Evangelii Nuntiandi. UT 0900-0200. Tefé: ZYH282 Rádio Educação Rural 1270 AM, (2,500 watts) & ZYF271 on 3385 kHz (5,000 watts). Fundação Dom Joaquin. En la Diócesis de Tefé. Goiás Jataí: ZYH765, Rádio Difusora, 680 AM (1,000/250 wats) & ZYF694 on 4935 kHz (2,500 wats). C.P. 33, 75800-000 Jataí. Zacarias Faleiro, director. UT 0900-1300 y 1900-2200. Em la Diócese de Jataí. Mato Grosso do Sul Campo Grande: ZYI387, Rádio Educadora Rural, 580 AM (10,000 wats/1,000 wats) & ZYF904 on 4755 kHz (10,000 wats). Av. Mato Grosso 530, Centro, 79002-233 Campo Grande. Ailton Guerra, director. UT 0645-0400. En la Arzodiócese de Campo Grande. Pará Bragança: ZYI535 Rádio Educadora, 1390 AM, (10,000/1,000 wats) & ZYG364 on 4825 kHz (5,000 wats). Rua Barão do Rio Branco 1151, 68600- 000 Bragança. UT 0830-0200. En la Diócese de Bragança do Pará (Michael Dorner, Editor, Catholic Radio Update Aug 19 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hello Glen[n]: A new FM station is testing in Calgary, 103.1 "CIQX". Heard today Aug 16th, while driving in Calgary and also back home in Red Deer on a cheapie blaster with a good signal. The station is running a loop of mid 90's pop music, Bryan Adams, Cher, Elton John, etc. with the odd country and boy band tune. Canned IDs and test info by OM every 15 minutes or so. 73's (Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, Aug 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. --- WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY AUGUST 18, 2001 --- THE SUNDAY EDITION: "With Friends Like These..." - Bob Carty's look at the uneasy relationship between Saudi Arabia and the U-S. Then guest host Mary Ambrose welcomes Rosemary Hollis and Janice Stein, two experts on international relations who look at how the relationship has evolved over the past few months. And in Hour Three, more of Paul Kennedy's series on Learning From Our Oceans. That's The Sunday Edition, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. TIME TRAVELLER, Sunday, Michael Bean makes reservations for the Palace at Versailles and checks in with the Sun King, Louis XIV around the 1680s. Composer Jean Baptiste Lully was employed at the court. Meanwhile, Alessandro Scarlatti was revitalizing the music scene in Naples and the blind harpist Turlough O'Carolan made a living as an itinerant musician in Ireland. That's Time Traveller, Sunday at 1 p.m. (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND, Sunday Who's Buying Up Paradise? Nova Scotia's South Shore is heaven on earth to many: beautiful ocean beaches, rocky shorelines, picture-perfect islands. The area welcomes writers, painters and other intellectuals who settle in amongst the farming and fishing communities. Real estate is booming on the South Shore and Diane Paquette has the surprising story on just who is finding a haven on Nova Scotia's pristine and lovely coast. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 p.m. (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. TWO NEW HOURS: Join host Larry Lake this Sunday, as Two New Hours and Soundstreams Canada present Canadian composers Chris Paul Harman and Ana Sokolovic in a concert of their music at Glenn Gould Studio. Performers include violinist Mark Fewer, soprano Tamara Hummel, pianist Stephen Clarke, and the Soundstreams Chamber Ensemble under the direction of Gary Kulesha. Works by Sokolovic include Ambient V, Trois Etudes, Blanc Dominant and the world premiere of Nonet. Works by Harman include Five Japanese Songs, Partita for solo violin, and the world premiere of Projection. That's Two New Hours, with host Larry Lake, Sunday night at 10:05 (11 AT, 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. (CBC Hotsheet, selected by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. Thanks to Neal Ford on the Yahoo! group radioinmontreal for tipping me off about this. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) From globeandmail.com, Friday, August 16, 2002 VETERAN BROADCASTER RUSS GERMAIN RETIRING JAMES ADAMS, NATIONAL ARTS CORRESPONDENT At 56, Russ Germain is hardly a candidate for the La Brea Tar Pits of history. Still, he likes to call himself an "announcersaurus" -- one of the last of a dying breed of news broadcasters who initially got on the air because they seemed intelligent, sounded good and could say Xochimilco unhesitatingly and authoritatively. Mr. Germain ends a 29-year career with CBC later today when he takes his final shift as the host of The World at Six, the national evening radio news broadcast. He's been with the popular program since 1983 and also did a six-year stint in the 1990s with CBC Radio's Morning Report. Mr. Germain's departure as one of the Crown corporation's signature voices is a quiet one, preceded by no fulsome press releases or extravagant testimonials. Indeed, Adrian Mills, the head of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.'s radio programming, said nothing major is planned for Mr. Germain's sendoff today, save for "a small event with close colleagues." However, "a much bigger event" will be held in early October, the month of Mr. Germain's official retirement, to honour "his great grace and charm and professionalism," Mr. Mills said. Mr. Germain said it's time to make what he terms "a graceful exit. Better to go out sounding good rather than getting so old that I can't read any more." He said his departure has nothing to do with the current tumult in CBC's English-language radio division as it tries to lure a broader and younger audience. A graduate in fine arts from the University of Manitoba who started with the CBC in 1973 as a TV announcer for its Saskatoon station, Mr. Germain finally has enough years accumulated to retire with an unreduced pension. "It just seemed like the right thing to do," Mr. Germain said. Besides concluding a career as one of the great voices of CBC Radio, Mr. Germain is wrapping up 12 years as the radio service's broadcast language adviser. He's been the person who helped decide whether CBC announcers and hosts should pronounce the word harassment as harris- ment or ha-rassment; Mi'kmaq as mik-mak or mig-ma; or if residents of Kabul should be called Afghans or Afghanis. The biggest bane, so to speak, of Mr. Germain's advisory role was what he called "the attempt to move to gender-neutral language." He noted with a chuckle that when CBC started to say "firefighters" instead of "firemen," and "flight attendants" instead of "stewardesses," the new terms were accepted without comment by both CBC listeners and members of those occupations. However, when it tried three years ago to use "fishers" in place of "fishermen," the men and women who harvest the lakes, oceans and rivers "didn't want any truck with gender equality." Mr. Germain got his start in broadcasting working in student radio in Winnipeg and working part-time for private stations. He worked in private broadcasting for almost seven years before being hired by the CBC. Mr. Mills, the head of CBC's radio programming, said a variety of newscasters will act as host of The World at Six until the fall when more permanent decisions will be made. Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6060.13, La Voz de tu Conciencia, 0930-1004 Aug 8, Program of lively HJ music with canned presumed promos by man over soft music (mostly piano) after every song. At 0954 canned man with mention of "Ecos del Continental(?)...", instrumental HJ music bridge, then same man with ID giving 2 MW frequencies as "Este es (pause) (program name??). Transmitiendo ...30 kHz AM, 1?30 kHz AM. En ?? estudios ??". This was followed immediately by what sounded like a LV tu Conciencia ID by woman announcer. Then long talk by same woman announcer. Decent strength but low modulation. Frequency seemed to drift too. Some weak co-channel QRM sounding like Portuguese so maybe Tupi (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [Some longtime DXers, and I`m not picking on Dave in particular, are stuck in the must-abbr.-everything-to-save-as-much-space-as-possible era. Here was the original before gh expanded to make it readable, but should he bother?] COLOMBIA 6060.13, LV tu Conciencia, 0930-1004, Pgm of lively HJ mx w/canned pres. promos by M over soft mx (mostly piano) after every song. At 0954 canned M w/ment of "Ecos del Continental(?)...", instru. HJ mx bridge, then same M w/ID giving 2 MW freqs as "Este es (pause) (pgm name??). Transmitiendo...30 khz AM, 1?30 khz AM. En ?? estudios ?? ". This was followed immediately by what sounded like a LV tu Conciencia ID by W anncr. Then long talk by same W anncr. Decent strength but low mod. Freq seemed to drift too. Some weak co-channel QRM sounding like PT so maybe Tupi. (Valko Aug 8) ** COSTA RICA. 15039, 6.8. 0125- RFPI. Was audible till late morning. A clear improvement compared to previous times when I have listened to this (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Hi Glenn, Re Noel Green's comments, we contacted David Vaughan at Radio Prague earlier this week, and he replied "All is pretty much as normal here. Czech Radio is on a hill, so I think most of Central Europe would have to be flooded for Radio Prague to be affected." BTW, their Web site has details of how to make donations towards the cost of flood relief. Early estimates suggest the cost will be at least $1.5 million, far more than the Czech economy can stand. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Holland, Aug 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You mean a sesquigigabuck? Sesquimegabuck isn`t much (gh, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. I received another QSL from Radio Prague from 12 to 15 July 2002 at 2000 to 2027 UT on 11,600 kHz depicting UNESCO's World Heritage sites in Czech Republic: Litomysl (Eastern Bohemia) - castle and park. With a sticker and a program schedule (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, India, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Magdeburg broadcasting house Today Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk closed down its broadcasting house at Magdeburg, located close to the Elbe river. The MDR 1 - Radio Sachsen- Anhalt network is now produced at Halle instead; reports directly from Magdeburg are fed to Halle from the tiny radio studio in the parliament building. For local TV news coverage an emergency studio was in a hurry established elsewhere at Magdeburg. A short TV piece about this is available at http://www.mdr.de/MMC/250305.html Direct URL for 225 kbit/s stream: http://www.mdr.de/Media/stream/250304-RealG2Video.ram Text report with picture of the building (scroll down for the item): http://www.mdr.de/hochwasser/sachsen-anhalt/249261.html All these links may expire soon. Today a rumour spread that the FM site Wittenberg-Gallun would be down. I cannot confirm this, at least two outlets from there (101.6 and 104.0, they are easy to check from here) are definitely on air. I also noted no other transmission disruptions so far. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4845, Radio K`ekchí. David Daniell, the Media Coordinator for the SBC IMB in Mexico City, has advised me that Radio K`ekchí is off the air. It seems that a large group of homeless "squatters" have taken over the transmitter site and are not allowing anyone access to the transmitter building. The authorities of the city of Las Casas side with the Brothers at R. K`ekchí, but do nothing to dislodge the "squatters"! The Mission Board has advised the Brothers NOT to force any kind of confrontation or "hurt your Christian testimony"! (Larry Baysinger, KY, Aug 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. HRN`s website is finally reconstructed and back in action, http://www.hrnradio.hn -- opens with map animation showing relay frequencies of 670. Five different audio formats are available and Real came right up, when checked during Música Hondureña slot previously entered into MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR. But the program schedule has changed, so that now we would flag these, here converted from UT -6 to UT: M-F 2030-2100 NOTICIA SIN MALICIA Sat 1400-1500 NOTICIA SIN MALICIA 1505-1600 VOCES Y CANTOS DE HONDURAS [includes too much time with call-ins talking about the folk music instead of playing it] Sun 1350-1410 LA TREMENDA CORTE I haven`t actually listened to NOTICIA SIN MALICIA yet to determine the rationale for its intriguing title (Glenn Hauser, OK, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) {should be http://www.radiohrn.hn -- see 2-132} ** HONDURAS. Radio Bethel, HRHZ (currently 1160 AM) has a good chance of putting a new shortwave station on the air from that same site - in Taujica, near the Caribbean. This might happen early next year, they want to apply for 5 kW in the 60-meter band (Larry Baysinger, KY, Aug 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) [Note: tho in common use in India, usually referring to rupees, lakh and crore, I daresay are virtually unknown in North America, and even Britain. I wonder why they never caught on? Lakh means 100,000, and crore means 10,000,000 = 100 lakh. And why these particular powers of ten? Are there also terms for 10,000 and 1,000,000, e.g.? Are these two words pure Hindi and did they originally mean something else or have other applications? --- gh] ** INDIA. RADIO MIRCHI EMERGES LEADER IN ORG SURVEY TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2002 6:43:26 AM ] MUMBAI: Radio is reasserting its presence as an important medium. Even though it is still in the nascent stage in its new private avatar, it is definitely leaving an indelible mark on listeners. This has been revealed in an independent survey conducted last month by ORG-MARG- Nielsen, India`s leading market research company. According to the survey, an estimated average of 84 lakh Mumbaiites above the age of 15 listen to the radio. Of these, 51 lakh listen to radio at least once a week. But, here is the real heart-stopper: a mammoth 36 lakh listen to radio on a daily basis. The survey was conducted within the Mumbai municipal corporation limits and did not include Thane, Vashi and areas beyond Dahisar. The survey reviewed a total of six radio stations in Mumbai, including Vividh Bharti and FM 1 to gauge listenership figures. Findings revealed that Vividh Bharti topped the survey overall, among the entire population. Radio Mirchi, however, topped the survey in terms of listenership shares in Sec A, Sec A+B and Sec A+B+C, recording 8.3 lakh listeners in the three sections. The total daily listenership of Radio Mirchi comes up to 11.8 lakh. This was followed by Vividh Bharti which recorded 6.8 lakh listeners. FM 1 followed with 5.9 lakh listeners and other private players recorded a total of 3.4 lakh listeners put together. Significantly, Radio Mirchi`s listenership is more than three times that of other private FM stations in Sec A+B+C, and four times that of other private players in the 15-24 and 15-34 age bracket. Importantly, independent research by ORG MARG indicates that Radio Mirchi has managed to go past Vividh Bharti, in terms of Top of Mind recall among Sec A listeners -- 2.6 lakh listeners compared to 70,000 for Vividh Bharti. Radio Mirchi recorded the highest (37%) Top of Mind recall, while FM 1 followed with 23%. Vividh Bharti recorded a recall of 18%, while other private players registered less than 7% each. Commenting on private FM broadcast in the country, ORG-Marg Nielsen vice-president Nehal Medh said, ``These are still early days for private radio in India. Private players will have to find a niche for themselves in the market either in programming quality in or in terms of quantity, mass reach. Presently, Radio Mirchi is the only private FM station that has done well in the research.`` The report also indicates that radio listenership is higher on Sundays with average listening time at 112 minutes, while the average time spent listening on a weekday is 96 minutes. The research, conducted in Mumbai between June 4 and June 30, sampled 930 radio listeners above the age group of 15. It further revealed that Radio Mirchi reported the highest number of male and female listeners among private players. Radio Mirchi recorded a total of 11.8 lakh listeners, 7.3 lakh men and 4.5 lakh women. This is followed by Radiocity, which has a total of 2.1 lakh listeners, 1.2 men and 0.9 lakh women. Asked whether the deluge of mini radio sets in the market had anything to do with the soaring number of radio listeners in the city, Mr Medh said: ``When the research was conducted, mini radio sets had just been introduced in the market. Moreover, our research showed that most people listen to radio at home. The impact of the influx of radio sets in the market will be revealed in the next survey which will be conducted in three months.`` Going by the results of the research, it`s clear that the base for private FM Radio in the country is deepening as well as widening — a sure enough sign that the medium is catching on. (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india Aug 12 via DXLD) Yeh Akashwani hai... -------------------- VANDANA SHUKLA TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2002 12:46:11 AM ] In many a homes across India, 75 years back the day began and ended with Akashwani. Today in this e-age though the visual medium has stamped its dominance all over, sound waves still continue to resound and the popularity graph is growing. For this medium provides a charm none other can match. This week All-India Radio (AIR) completed 75 years of service in India, having offered countless hours of music, drama, entertainment, news, sports commentaries, education views and talks by luminaries to its listeners. The event, though, passed without making much fuss. ``AIR has been like a parent; responsible, educating and winning trust over the years, it enjoys a close bond with its listeners. In an age when people don`t write letters to even close relatives, we continue to receive bagfuls, everyday,`` says Station Director, Chandigarh, AIR, Dr K C Dubey. For loyal listeners, this is a time for a nostalgic trip to a time when there was only the power of sound, developed like an art to create complete impression of events, without the aid of a visual. When listening was believing... ``The shehnai refrain aired from AIR heralding a new day every morning makes me swell with pride. Radio has been a close partner on the front, it has played a major role in our lives. When there were no amenities, there was radio, the news from radio was like gospel, and special fauji programmes always remained a great hit among the forces,`` says Brig Kuldeep Chandpuri. The medium with large mass-based appeal is making a come back. Like gramophones, people are retrieving old radio sets placing them in drawing rooms as a fashion statement. ``For our sponsored programmes with cash rewards we received response from eight different states. The phone in programme, Hello Chandigarh, is so popular among the young. They don`t get a turn for months, as our lines remain jammed with calls on Mondays,`` says Programme executive AIR, Poonamjeet. ``UNICEF conducted a survey where they found that 25 per cent people responded to polio plus programme after listening to radio. Our commercial services are cheaper than any other form of advertisement and that accounts for their popularity,`` comments Baljeet Kaur, another programme executive. From rickshawallah and paanwallah`s small transistor to expensive satellite radios, the unpredictability of aired music and easy accessibility is helping radio revive. ``Radio has immense contribution in shaping musical sensibility of our generation. With the largest archives of Indian music with them, AIR will always remain a favourite,`` says Kamal Tiwari, singer and music composer. ``This was the golden era of sound, when Amin Sayani`s Cibaca Geetmala, Devki Nandan Pandey`s news, Jasdev Singh`s cricket commentary and Melville De Mello`s January 26 parade commentary enriched our language and imagination, that era is gone,`` says Manjeet, a radio buff. How can listeners ever get over mornings that begin with Vande mataram, move on to Sher-e nagma, evenings filled with Jaimala and Hawa Mahal and end with the old melodies of Chhayageet. The radio beckons.... ----------------------------------------------------- GROW YOUNG GREY AIR -------------------- SHABNAM MINWALLA TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2002 10:47:28 PM ] On a rainy Saturday, 75 years ago, Bombay`s swingers eagerly made their way to the Sir Cowasji Jehangir Hall. The evening promised not just dinner and dancing but an encounter with a magical technology — the wireless. Some distance away at Radio House in Apollo Bunder, the new studio with its grand piano and unfamiliar equipment was a flurry of VIPs and violins. At 6 pm, Lord Irwin, the viceroy of India, stepped up to the clunky microphone and inaugurated the services of the Indian Broadcasting Company. History, as well as some hiss and crackle, was created on July 23, 1927. But crowds who had paid eight annas and gathered at CJ Hall heard none of it. A defective wire pooped the wireless party and The Times of India reported: ``The audience left the hall disappointed``. The disgruntled crowds may not exactly have gone radio gaga. But that brave, little enterprise survived, grew into the omnipresent All India Radio (AIR) and is today celebrating its Platinum Jubilee. ``From a single studio in Colaba we are now a network of over 200 broadcasting centres,`` says Vijay Dixit, deputy director general of AIR in Mumbai. ``We cover 99 per cent of the geographical area of the country and touch hearts and lives.`` Certainly, for fishermen on the high seas and victims of natural disasters, AIR remains a critical lifeline. While corners of rural India, disdainfully bypassed by roads, electricity and education, depend on their boxy transistors for a glimpse of the outside world. There is, in fact, a delightful story about farmers in South India who grew rice following the instructions of AIR experts. The name of this new variety? Radio Rice, of course. Indeed, even Mumbaikars who have succumbed to the spicy flavours of FM and psychedelic charms of MTV turn misty-eyed over the good old days of `Cricket with Vijay Merchant`. The AIR signature tune, played on the violin, viola and tanpura, is braided into childhood memories — just as the `Bournvita Quiz Contest` is the soundtrack of sepia-tinted Sunday afternoons. Ameen Sayani, one of the best-loved voices of AIR, has his own favourite memories. ``When I was in a boarding school in Gwalior in the `40s, we often sat in the common room and listened to the `farmaishi` programme,`` he says. ``Our requests never made it. But I remember the exciting feeling that our names might be announced any minute.`` The gradual spread of transmitters and broadcasting stations ensured that on August 15, 1947, huge numbers were able to participate as Pandit Nehru declared: ``At the stroke of midnight, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.`` AIR`s most compelling hour came a few months later, however, after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. Thousands around the country tuned in to Melville de Mellow`s moving, marathon commentary of the funeral. The first I&B minister of free India should logically have liberated radio. Instead, Sardar Patel promptly banned musicians ``whose private life was a public scandal`` and instructed national songs be played instead of ``sentimental rubbish and ridiculous drolleries``. B V Keskar took the extreme step of banning Hindi film music. The introduction of the entertainment-oriented Vividh Bharati in 1957 and sponsored programmes in the `70s did bring back audiences -- but not the old ferment and enthusiasm. And eventually, as The Buggles oldie goes, ``Video killed the radio star``. Old-timers, believe that a revival is possible. Says Sayani, ``If we wake up quickly enough we can still use this powerful medium to create change — to drive the economic, social, cultural renaissance that we desperately need. (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3905, RRI Merauke, fade-in here at 1145 UT, under Radio New Ireland-PNG (s-off 1203* UT). 1200 UT RRI Jakarta relay, "Dynamica Indonesia" till 1228 UT. 1229 ID + QRGs + FM. Increased signal around 1240 UT up to S=9 +10 dB! Modulation good (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, Aug 10, BC-DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. No surprise but I don't know if you all have heard given there has been a lot of talk on the list about the future of satellite radio. http://www.radioink.com/HeadlineEntry.asp?hid=89874&pt=Ink+Headlines (Ulis Fleming, Maryland USA, Aug 15, swprograms via DXLD) Reuters blew the report --- it was inaccurate. Stock almost doubled in price yesterday, gaining back all it lost. That's not to say all is well with it! :-) (John Figliozzi, NY, ibid.) SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO SHARES BOUNCE BACK http://www.freepress.com/entertainment/tvandradio/satrad16_20020816.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. NEWINGTON, CT, Aug 15, 2002 -- Amateur Radio operators have been invited to listen in as scientists bounce radio signals off an asteroid that's about to make a "flyby" of Earth. The so-called 2002 NY40 asteroid will come close enough to Earth that it will be visible to sky watchers using binoculars. But because asteroids reflect but a tiny fraction of the light that strikes their surface, a team at the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico will attempt to "ping" the satellite with radio signals as it approaches Earth. "We will be transmitting about 900 kW with 73 dB of gain towards the asteroid," Mike Nolan of the Arecibo Radio Observatory told ARRL. "The transmitted signal will be such that the received signal comes back centered at 2380.0000000 MHz at the ground station we're aiming for-- usually either Arecibo or the Green Bank Telescope." Nolan said the signal would be either CW or phase-coded at a bandwidth of up to 20 MHz. "We will be transmitting most of the time when the asteroid is within 20 degrees of zenith at Arecibo on August 15-20." UPDATE: Nolan said this week that other priorities may interfere with his ability to devote as much time to this observation as he'd originally hoped. He said an effort may be made to transmit "some CW" at about 1800 UTC on August 18, but he added the time was not firm. The idea is to generate a three-dimensional map of the asteroid and to determine its orbit. 2002 NY40 is expected to come its closest to Earth on August 18, when it will be more than 300,000 miles away. "This will be the brightest such observation in the last year or so, so it would be a good one for people to try," said Nolan, who's already been talking to one amateur who plans to try to track 2002 NY40. But the scientist conceded he's not sure what kinds of data to expect from the amateur community. "In principle, it would be great to have lots of stations observing," he said. "In practice, I don't really know how to do it, since it depends on the recording capability, which will be different at each station. The 2002 NY40 asteroid reportedly measures about one-half mile across. It was only discovered about a month ago. The asteroid follows an orbit that is said to range from the asteroid belt to the inner solar system. NASA's Neo program page http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/orbits/ can help viewers locate 2002 NY40 in the sky. Additional information on 2002 NY40 is on the Science@NASA Web site http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/30jul_ny40.htm (ARRL via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend This Weekend It is International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend this weekend, the 17th and 18th of August. Nearly 300 stations are expected to be active from lighthouses and lightships in around 40 countries. Among the UK stations are GB2SCA from the lamp room at the top of Scarborough lighthouse. Activity is on 40 metres SSB and CW and on 2 metres and 70 centimetres SSB and FM. The station is operated by members of the Scarborough Special Events Group. Further details can be obtained from Roy, G4SSH, on 07881 542 532 during the event. He says that the group especially welcomes calls from Intermediate and Foundation licence holders. GB2NCL is located on board the North Carr Lightship, which is the home of the Dundee Amateur Radio Club during the holiday season. GB2LCP is being operated by members of the Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club from Corsewall Point Lighthouse. Portland Amateur Radio club is operating as GB2PBL from Portland Bill Lighthouse on HF, VHF and UHF. The club has applied for a permanent special event callsign for the lighthouse, and hopes to set up a permanent station in the lighthouse visitor centre. And GB4HL is on the air from Hurst Light at Hurst Castle on the West Solent. The station is using CW and SSB on HF, and SSB, FM and RTTY on 6 and 2 metres. GB4HL will be on the air until Wednesday the 21st of August. For further details please contact Selwyn Cox, G7MXG, on 07778 354976. Next year the International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend will be held over the weekend of the 16th and 17th of August 2003 (RSGB via Mike Terry, DXLD) Hi, I copied the following light ships and light houses so far: 7057 0705 DF0MF Light ship Amrumbank, Emden, Germany 7046.5 0717 GB0BHL Beachy Head light, UK 7046.5 0720 GB2SJ Souter light, North Yorks, UK 7054.5 0736 GB2SCA Scarborough light, UK 7060.5 0818 DL0PBS Memmert light, Germany 7074 0828 PA6URK Urk light, Netherlands More lighthouse logs [as of 1247 UT]: 7091.5 GB2NBL: New Brighton Lighthouse, UK 7083 GX3IRC: Royal Navy Cadets training ship TS Orwell, UK 7063.5 PI4WAL: Westkapelle light, Netherlands 7063.5 G0SGB: Killingholme lights (3 lighthouses), UK 7072.5 GB2TBW: Trinity Buoy Wharf, UK 7049.5 GB0GDL: Glasson Dock lt, UK (Ary Boender, Netherlands, Aug 17, BDXC via DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN. 9775, Radio DAT new station! 0110 Russian ID- "Vy slushaete Radio DAT - svobodnoe radio dlya svobodnogo Kazakhstana..." (Mak active_dx via Klepov RUS-DX via Cumbre DX) Internet : http://datradio.com Radio DAT - independent radio of Kazakhstan. "..DAT in Kazakh means a demand to have a right to speak. Schedule : 0100-0200 and 1500-1600 UTC on 31 m.b. + Internet (Mikhaylov dx_bistro via Klepov RUS-DX via Cumbre DX) Tried 0100 here Aug 16, blocked by what sounded like VOA in special English (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX Aug 16 via DXLD) Radio DAT has website http://datradio.com (also in English). They say on air: "Svobodnoe radio dlya svobodnogo Kazakhstana" ("Free radio for free Kazakhstan"). I don't know, but maybe they founded by the democratic opposition of Kazakhstan. And they are not militant. e-mail from website: info@d... [truncated by yahoogroups; guess] (A. Mak, Ukraine, Aug 15, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) I'm a bit puzzled about location of transmitter. Reporter is from western Ukraine. Did not heard myself yet (0410 LMT is not a good time for working man, he...) (V. G. Titarev, Ukraine, Aug 14, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) Russian language programmes of a new station of Kazakhstan opposition "Radio DAT" noted 0100-0200 and 1500-1600 UT 9775 kHz. First 30 minutes of political talks mostly anti-president, then repeat. Signal in Moscow is good enough (K. Gusev, Russia, Aug 15, 2002 for CRW via DXLD) This afternoon at 1526 UT I picked up a station identification for "Radio Dat", a new clandestine station for Kazakhstan. The frequency was 9775 kHz. It was dominated by CNR, and the Russian-language programming of Radio DAT was very weak. For more information about the station, check out http://www.dxing.info/news/index.dx#dat and an audio file of the station identification at http://www.dxing.info/audio/clandestine/9775_Dat.rm Does anyone know the transmitter site? Or more info on what organization is behind the station? (Mika Mäkeläinen, Vantaa, Finland, Aug 16, DXing.info via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4010 11.8. -1800* Kyrgystan R, Bishkek. Also 4050 was again in operation, with a more youth-oriented musical selection (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 540, XESURF, BCN, Tijuana, 8/17 0350 PDT, Excellent signal with ID "You're listening to the Surf, equis-eh-esse-uh-ehre-effe (XESURF)". Call change ex-XEBACH. Looks like they kept a 6-letter call! Hope everyone is having a good time at IRCA convention... (Robert Wien, CA, IRCA via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Transmitter news: Once again we're been having transmitter problems at Flevo. It's likely that we'll again be using German sites over the weekend, while colleagues from Nozema work on fixing the problem(s). Hopefully you will not notice much difference in reception. Digital Radio Mondiale Tests from Bonaire in stereo mode have ended. The regular DRM test transmission from Juelich will be replaced on 17/18 August by a transmission at 1200-1500 UT on 15715 kHz, beamed 30 degrees towards Finland. This is in connection with a DRM demonstration at the EDXC Conference in Pori. For other recent changes in the DRM test schedule, see our DRM pages. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Aug 16 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. Re: ``If there is a KUAL-LP in Enid on 104.7, how can there be another KUAL in Baxter, Minnesota? As detailed here: http://www.mwpersons.com/Stations/WJJY/index.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` --- Because of the suffix. The Enid station looks to be the primary call sign holder, but I guess all low power stations have to take the LP suffix? The Minnesota station (a 25 kW Class C3 station) took the FM suffix because it got the calls in Jan. 2002. The Enid low power station got its calls in 2001. Also, the Minnesota station would have had to have gotten permission to get the KUAL calls either from KUAL-LP (if it is the primary call sign holder) or the real primary call sign holder (maybe an AM station or Coast Guard ship that has since changed calls). Sounds confusing, doesn't it? (OKCityRadio.com Aug 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Let`s catch up on some other OK news from http://www.okcityradio.com - -- there is a lot more there, much of it concerning FM format changes, DJ stunts, etc. Nothing seen about 1210 Guymon moving to Tulsa instead of OKC (gh) July 28, 2002 Update: KOKC AM 1490 Returns To The Air KOKC AM 1490 Guthrie has returned to the air. On Sunday, July 28, the station was carrying syndicated religious programming from Jimmy Swaggart's SonLife Radio Network http://www.jsm.org The station had Special Temporary Authority to stay silent because of financial reasons. That extension was to end August 4. June 22, 2002 Update: KOMA AM Announces Bill O'Reilly on komanews.com KOMA-AM 1520 has added TV/radio talk show host Bill O'Reilly, the station's new site http://www.komanews.com confirms. The station simulcasts oldies KOMA-FM 92.5 the rest of the time. These developments add fuel to rumors that KOMA-AM will flip to news/talk in the future. The above logo is now at komanews.com. June 19, 2002 Update: KEBC-KTLV Swap Approved By FCC Clear Channel's trade of KEBC-AM 1340 (time-brokered Spanish/Urban) for First Choice Broadcasting's KTLV-AM 1220 (Religous) has been approved by the FCC. Presumably after the public comment period, each company would assume control of its new facility. As reported in OKCityRadio.com earlier (see Clear Channel, KTLV Make AM Swap To Make Room For The New 1210 AM), KTLV will cease operations. June 18, 2002 Update: KOMA AM Adds CBS News To Top Of The Hour KOMA-AM 1520 has added CBS News to the top of the hour. The station simulcasts oldies KOMA-FM 92.5 the rest of the time. However, 100000watts.comis reporting that KOMA-AM has added TV/radio talk show host Bill O'Reilly. This has not been confirmed. In March, the station registered komanews.com. These developments add fuel to rumors that KOMA-AM will flip to news/talk in the future. May 31, 2002 Update: Clear Channel, KTLV Make AM Swap To Make Room For The New 1210 AM It appears KGYN-AM 1210 from Guymon will get FCC approval to move to Oklahoma City. Future owner Clear Channel Radio (currently LMAing the station) is making sure it makes the trek and is able to boost its power to 50kw. Clear Channel is swapping KEBC-AM 1340 (time-brokered Spanish/Urban) for First Choice Broadcasting's KTLV-AM 1220 (Religious). Once the transfer goes through, KTLV will cease operations. So when will the ball begin rolling? "This is a matter that will be determined by the FCC and Clear Channel," KTLV owner Dale Williams told OKCityRadio.com. " I have no timeline on when this will occur." There is no word if the current time-brokered programming on KEBC will land somewhere else. It is Radio Caliente (Spanish) during the day and simulcasts KVSP-AM 1140's "Power Jammin' Network" (Urban) at night. Despite objections from groups in Texas, the move is rolling through the FCC red tape. The new 1210 AM, rumored to become the new KTOK, will have a very directional pattern with 10 kw at night. The new KGYN will be co-located with KTOK-AM 1000 in Moore. There is also a message board, whence, e.g.: Anyone notice the Tulsa Ratings? I found out the effect of KFAQ's news/talk format change - they dropped from a strong 6.0 to a 3.7 in this months book, good for 11th place. I think this is the first time I have seen 1170 out of the Tulsa Top 10 in YEARS. Who was really helped by KVOO's format change? KRMG gained .9 points, and KVOO-FM gained .3 points. BTW Tulsa is ripe for a Classic Country FM ala OKC's KKNG (Billy G., 8/5/02 5:03 p.m., OKCityRadio.com via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KOMA-FM 92.5 Oklahoma City correctly plays oldies in true stereo, or mono as the records might have been produced. I enjoyed hearing ``Oklahoma!`` on the station as we drove into town last month. While on my trek south last month, I was on a tour of Clear Channel facilities in OKC. We were actually upstairs of the radio stations, visiting the farm network CC has taken over. Its main competition is the Brownfield Networks, but from OKC programs go out to stations in several states. It was a weekend and nobody was there. We didn`t tour the radio stations, but the tour host thought only one or two people might be in the building for the several station complex. Most of the stations were voice tracked or otherwise automated. CC is not the family company it once was. Early on, Lowry Mays would come by and meet each employee. Lately, however, memos from the company have become impersonal, and many employees let go. Morale is said to be low. This was contrasted with a tour of Citadel stations in OKC, where live jocks were found, and voice tracking used sparingly. ``Wild 97.9,`` KKWD Edmond-OKC, was pointed out as being especially live (Bruce Elving, Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, 5, 11.8. etc. 1910- NBC Boroko. Starts the broadcast with Radio Australia program. Waltzing Mathilda at 1958, and finally 2000 UTC begins the NBC program. Very good signal (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Greetings from Paraguay! To advise that we continue testing on the frequencies of 1610 and 7300 KHZ, from Villeta. On week-days, these two frequencies are on-air most of the day. At times, there are interruptions, for construction, between the hours of 1400 and 2030 UTC, approximately. On weekends, these frequencies are on-air, around-the-clock. The frequency 15185 KHZ continues to be dormant, temporarily. We hope to restore operations, shortly. Depending upon results of propagation from 15185 KHZ, we hope to continue testing on it, or resume testing on 7740 KHZ, with which we obtained excellent results, previously. The frequency 1610 KHZ serves the Paraguay and Argentina region. The frequency 7300 KHZ is beamed at 184 degrees, from Magnetic North (Buenos Aires). The frequency 15185 KHZ is omnidirectional. The frequency 7740 KHZ would be beamed toward 310 degrees, from Magnetic North (La Paz). Regular broadcasts continue from Ñemby, on 1480 KHZ, on-air the 24 hours of the day. With best wishes! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 17 via DXLD) I.e., only on weekends is 7300 on after dark and propagationable ... propagatable? (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 5940, 11.8. 0030- R Bethel, Arequipa. A simple ID between the religious programs. 5996, 11.8. 0011- R Melodía, Arequipa. Finally with a decent strength. ID after every record. 73's (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. RADIO MARYJA'S 'INFLUENTIAL FUNDAMENTALIST'... In 1990, Father Tadeusz Rydzyk started Radio Maryja in Torun as a local radio station; in 1993, the station received a concession for broadcasting nationwide. Today, Radio Maryja claims a regular listenership of 14 percent of adult Poles (some 4 million people) and touts itself as the most influential Catholic media outlet in Poland. The weekly "Wprost" called Father Rydzyk -- who remains the head of Radio Maryja -- "the most influential religious fundamentalist in Europe." ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report," 13 August) ...EVANGELIZING BUNDESWEHR... The daily "Gazeta Wyborcza" on 7 August ran a report asserting that Radio Maryja is also spreading the gospel to Germany's Bundeswehr. "This is Radio Maryja, the Catholic voice in your home." These words, in Polish, were reportedly heard some time ago by a Luftwaffe pilot during a routine flight on the short-wave frequency 7,400 kilohertz, which is used by the Bundeswehr for military communications. It took some time for the Bundeswehr to identify the station interfering with Luftwaffe messages, but the German Defense Ministry eventually turned for help to the Polish General Staff. In turn, General Lech Konopka asked the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Council Chairman Juliusz Braun for an explanation. ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report," 13 August) ...FROM RUSSIA... Father Rydzyk's explanation "stupefied everyone," according to "Gazeta Wyborcza." The radio signal on the 7,400- kilohertz frequency is transmitted not from Poland but from the Russian Federation. In line with a license issued by the Russian Media Ministry and an agreement signed in 1997 with the RTRS company it owns, the transmitters used by Father Rydzyk's network are located in Krasnodar (southern Russia). Radio Maryja broadcasts in Poland on UHF frequencies; its license does not allow for its signal to be emitted on short waves, which have become less popular. It remains a mystery why Father Rydzyk needs a short-wave transmission as well ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report," 13 August) ...TOTALLY LEGALLY. "Everything is in line with the law," "Gazeta Wyborcza" quoted experts from the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Council as saying. "The Polish broadcaster, who did not have the possibility to broadcast on short waves in Poland, obtained such a license in Russia and broadcasts into Poland [from there]," the daily related. "Before the Radio Maryja signal reaches Poland, it passes many countries on its way. One can confidently claim that Radio Maryja primarily targets Catholics who live east of the Bug River [which runs along a portion of Poland's border with Belarus and Ukraine]. The evangelization of German troops is a side effect." ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus and Ukraine Report," 13 August; all via RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 16 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. A DICTIONARY OF THEIR OWN At a ceremony at Moscow's Historical Museum on Red Square on 14 August, representatives of dozens of women's organizations presented the newly published "Dictionary of Gender Terms," "Izvestiya" reported the next day. "The publication of this dictionary is really something of a revolutionary event for our country," said Nadezhda Azhgikhina, co-chairwoman of the Association of Women Journalists. "Earlier, discussions were constantly arising over what 'gender' means, and many people confused it with the word 'tender' [another English cognate in the sense of 'a competitive bidding process']." The new dictionary includes lengthy definitions of terms such as "workplace discrimination," "gender quotas," and "men's-rights movement." According to Azhgikhina, more than 30 million Russians currently receive assistance from nongovernmental organizations and "the majority of those who work in such organizations are women." ("RFE/RL Newsline," 15 August via RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 16 via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. SPRINGBOK RADIO SPRINGS BACK TO LIFE [by] Barbara Cole Springbok Radio is back on the air, thanks to the efforts of the station's biggest fan in Durban, avid listener Kevan Mardon. "I have been waiting 17 years for this to happen," said Mardon, the proud owner of the original Springbok Radio gong - it told listeners the exact time at the next stroke - and a mass of other memorabilia. It was a sad day for Mardon when the station finally went off the air at the end of l985, after 35 years of entertaining the nation with quizzes, comedy, drama, science fiction, music and speciality shows. Listeners had started to turn off their radios at night, preferring to watch television instead. Mardon, who had by then accumulated a collection of programme recordings, vowed that the memory of his favourite station would never fade. Armed with that famous gong, Mardon has since given more than 350 talks about his pet subject, often having his audience in tears of laughter as he recounted his own special memories. Now Mardon and Frans Erasmus, webmaster of the Springbok Radio website http://www.pumamouse.com/springbokradio have managed to get the station back on the air. The SABC has given permission for programmes to be aired on the Radio Today Community Station being broadcast from Johannesburg every Thursday night for the next year. Mardon's recordings have been put on CD for the shows. There are all the old favourites: Inspector Carr Investigates, Men From the Ministry, The Creaking Door... Thursday night's programme includes the comedy, Taxi (7pm), and the crime drama series Squad Cars (7.30pm). Published on the Web by IOL on 2002-08-14 08:17:31 © Independent Online 2002. (South Africa) (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) That`s nice, but it`s not really back unless it`s on SW (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. From this issue 12115/12085/9950 reports are filed here rather than UNIDENTIFIED (gh) There is also a lot of news about a new station against Syria. CRW received a log about this by a Japanese reader already on July 13 but I did not recognize the importance of this unID-log and did not use it. Sorry, Junichi! (Martin Schoech / CRW Aug 16 via DXLD) Viz.: Voice of Home I wanted to mention a station in Arabic at 1500-1530 UT on 12085 kHz (SIO 344). This is the frequency of Damascus but this seems to be a different station. On some days Damascus is also heard on same frequency in the background. Will send you more on this if I find out anything? (J. Kobe, Japan, Jul 13, 2002 for CRW Aug 16 via DXLD) I continue to hear the unID station and has increased its broadcasts. 0330-0400 on 9950 and 1500-1530 on 12085 and 12110. It is mostly Arabic music but some speech and a web site is given but I cannot understand what they say apart from www. Did you hear of anyone else receiving it? (J. Kobe-JPN Aug 1, 2002 for CRW Aug 16 via DXLD) Suppose the following logging is actually our non-Syrian station (gh) EGYPT. 9950 RADIO CAIRO Aug 12 0350 AA 333 OM w/rapid comments, mx interludes, then back to comments (WDX6AA, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. The Radio Taipei International radio play described in the eTaiwanNews.com report can be heard on-demand at http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/index.htm (Kim Elliott, DC, Aug 16, swprograms via DXLD) ** TIBET. Dear DX friends, August 15, 2002: received holy Tibet at 0700 to 0720 UT in English - both in 49 and 31 Meter band [9490]: SINPO was for 44444 in 49 meter band and for 44434 in 31 meter band: starting announcement was follows: "You are listening to holy Tibet, China Tibet People's broadcast company - let's you visit to the roof of the world -window to the life of Tibet". Today they featured "Nachu prefecture" - the geography (location) -Nachithom - the capital city - then a Tibetan song, history of it, its peoples and places, Mines/Ores available (antimony, copper, gold, boron, also available - diamond, ruby, cats eye etc.). It has China's largest antimony production base. Then they announced as follows, "our programme will be broadcasted at 3:00 pm, will be re-broadcasted at 7:00 pm and 10:30 pm, from Monday to Saturday... [I thought Tibet at least had independence from China`s absurd nationwide UT+8 timezone, at UT+6 since it is so far west, but since the English show has been monitored at 0700, 1100 and 1630, the conversion for times quoted here would be: if UT+8, 0700, 1100, 1430; if UT+6, 0900, 1300 and 1630. It looks as if the two are mixed --- gh] ...if you have any comments or suggestions, please write to: Holy Tibet, Foreign Affairs Office, China Tibet Peoples Broadcast Company, Lhasa 850000." Then the hostess read a letter from a Japanese listener Mr. Mashato Ishi in which he wrote the frequency - but I didn't understood the numbers - he listened on 26th June 2002. Then the program ended. The hostess was Ms. Zhuin Dighi. The reception is strong and steady here all the time; I also noted the transmission continues major part of day presumably in Tibetan. Yes, on August 17, 2002 the hostess read another letter from Sweden by "Mr. Loss Chokeman" who wrote he listened Holy Tibet on 26th June 2002 on 6130 kHz, with good signal and good programming. That makes sense - the 49 mb frequency is 6130 kHz. I use tiny poor analogue receiver no-digital read out so the frequencies are based on announcements or schedules, and my location is 26N44 Latitude & 88E26 Longitude (South Asia - CIRAF Zone 41A,42B). That's all for now! A long letter, if you found any error, (although I have checked twice)- please kick my speech recognition software not me- ha! Ha! Ha! My Postal address is: Partha Sarathi Goswami, Kishalay Book Stall, College Road, Siliguri- 734401, Dist: Darjeeling, West Bengal, India ------- This is Partha Sarathi Goswami signing off for Now! ===== (Partha Sarathi Goswami, El Nino Electronics DX Club http://dear.to/dx http://www.elnino.gq.nu Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 5240 12.8. 1630-1650* China Tibet BC, Lhasa. English program "Holy Tibet" told us the height of nearly every mountain peak in Tibet. Also //6130//7385 (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Recently I received a QSL from Voice Of Turkey on 13-15 July, 2002 at 2030 UT on 9525 kHz depicting "Fethiye, the Dead Sea" with 2 program schedules. On the first page there is a photo of Turkish national football team, the second runner-up in the FIFA 2002 World Cup (Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri, India, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. During the first few days of the 'Fivemegs Experiment' a large number of NoV holders have made contacts with each other across the UK. Radio amateurs in other countries are showing great interest in this experiment, but we must make it absolutely clear that this has been authorised in order that we may carry out propagation investigations, antenna experiments and some emergency radio training within the UK. At the present time a very small number of US radio amateurs are authorised to conduct similar experiments under the group callsign WA2XSY. We know of no other amateur stations outside the UK who have any authority to call in. Some UK military cadet training stations are authorised to operate with us and their style of callsign is detailed in the 'Procedural Notes' accompanying the NoV. NoV holders are advised that the NoV document issued by the RA is correct in terms of the channel edges specified, and NoV holders should not increase their dial frequencies by up to 2kHz, as has been requested by some Air Training Corps stations. If you encounter problems with inter-service communications, or if you have any other queries, please contact Gordon Adams, G3LEQ, the RSGB Spectrum Director, on 01 565 652 652 or by e-mail to: fivemegs@ntlworld.com (RSGB via Mike Terry, Aug 17, DXLD) See also INTERNATIONAL WATERS non ** U K. DIGITAL RADIO AND ME Friday, 16 August, 2002, 14:43 GMT 15:43 UK By Darryl Chamberlain, BBC News Online entertainment staff With the launch of the BBC's latest digital radio station, 1Xtra, what life there is out on the digital airwaves? It's like being part of a very exclusive club. I don't know anyone else who has a digital radio, and I don't know anyone who knows anyone else with one either. But just before Christmas, I had a rush of blood to the head and treated myself to an early present. The choice of stations is bigger - especially in London, which admittedly has always been spoilt for choice for radio stations. The reception is perfect - a bonus for anyone that's had to put up with lousy FM signals which get gatecrashed by pirate stations at the weekend. The manufacturers recommend buying a dedicated aerial - something they don't tell you in the publicity - but my FM aerial on the roof works just fine. Mind you, my radio did forget where it was and tried to pick up Essex stations over the weekend, ending in a stuttering digital mess. A quick retune fixed that, though. Rather than select a frequency, you simply select a station by name - on my Pure Digital set, you do that by turning a wheel. The little digital display shows the name of the station, and it can offer scrolling messages too. Many stations tell you the name of the track that's playing, a simple idea that comes in very handy. Others give you information about the programme - suddenly Radio 3 isn't so mysterious. Some just regurgitate the station's slogan. . There's a long waiting list for the £99 Pure Evoke 1 digital radio So far, so good. But are the radio stations on offer worth forking out the cash for? Or waiting a couple of months for? John Lewis in Oxford Street, London is telling customers they will have to wait for up to 10 weeks to pick up one of the new £99 sets. The stations come in groups of about eight called multiplexes. One multiplex is for national BBC stations, and one for national commercial stations. There may also be least one "local" multiplex, varying from area to area, featuring more stations. London has three extra multiplexes. The BBC's digital stations - aside from Radios 1, 2, 3, 4 and Five Live - are Five Live Sports Extra - handy for picking up extra football commentary and Test Match Special - and 6 Music, whose mixture of new music and classic tracks is a breath of fresh air. Digital radio facts The BBC has been broadcasting digital services since 1995 Commercial services started in 1999 Digital radio uses the same frequencies as 405-line TV did [???? Like 45 MHz? or Band I, III in general? I think not -- gh] 80% of the UK can get digital radio Many digital-only stations are also available via the internet and digital TV With star presenters including Phill Jupitus and Sean Hughes, 6 Music alone may well be worth the cost of going digital if you take your music seriously. There's 1Xtra, Radio 1's urban music spin-off, and the World Service too. The Asian Network - currently only on AM in parts of England - and a comedy and drama station are to to come. Over on the commercial side, things are a little hazier. Classic FM, Talksport and Virgin are already there - digital broadcasts are a boon for Virgin, stuck on AM across most of the country. Alongside these is a strange mix. Oneword broadcasts novels, short stories, poetry, non-fiction, discussion, comedy and features - the David to Radio 4's Goliath. Bloomberg provides financial news, while Planet Rock is a surprisingly varied mix of harder sounds from the 60s to the 80s. Poodle perms are welcome here without embarrassment. You can listen to Steve Wright on Radio 2 on digital radio PrimeTime, an easy listening station, is reminiscent of Radio 2 before Steve Wright came along. But there the variety ends. Life says it is "contemporary music for individual, confident, aspirational adults". Actually, it's like a watered-down version of your annoying local pop station. And Core is exactly like your annoying local pop station. After that, what you get varies around the country. But don't expect to hear many opportunities for local talent beyond your regular BBC or independent stations, which will also feature. Some are simply London stations rolled out across the country, like Sunrise (Asian), Kiss (dance) and Xfm (rock). Either Classic Gold or Capital Gold are likely to appear as well - maybe both - along with Saga Radio (more easy listening), Heart (soft pop) and Magic (softer pop). Others have sales pitches which are more interesting than their stations - "The Storm is for anyone who lives life to the limit and loves great no-frills music". While Smash Hits! and Ministry of Sound seem to be little more than cunning brand extensions. Club life: Purple brings house beats to London But it isn't all clones of existing stations. Children's radio gets a look-in with Abaracadabra, student radio breaks through with SBN, while Londoners can get the sound of gay club life pumped into their homes via Purple Radio. If you're happy with what you listen to now, there isn't going to be much point in having 20 new stations you won't listen to. But if you're one of the many who feels you get a raw deal from analogue radio - which is likely to be true if you're a serious rock fan, or an easy-listening lover - then it's worth investing in a set, and taking part in the quieter end of the digital revolution. Do you have a digital radio set? What are your impressions? Tell BBC News Online. [viz.:] In theory, DAB radio broadcasts are a great idea, but in practice there are simply too many stations crammed into a finite amount of airspace. The result is that the signals are compressed excessively and what you listen to is a stable, but sub-standard sound. Yes, it may be digital, but the quality is far less than that of a CD. Despite all the hype, DAB radio radio is cutting its own throat by promising crystal clear audio, but not delivering it. Giles, UK I've been listening to Digital Radio for a year now from my Psion Wavefinder. It's a PC based digital radio, and was a dog to get working, but it means radio gets much more time in my house. I can easily find a different style or type of music (or listen to the crackly AM stations crystal clear). Once the sets drop down to £50, more people will join in - just like with CD players! jamie walker, UK I bought a digital DAB radio last year and I was impressed, however over the last year the quality has been reduced to shoehorn new services into the space, it's not that impressive anymore, I actually regret paying over £300 for something that gets little use. I would suggest satellite as a better option. James Brown, UK I don't have a DAB set at present, and to be honest I have no plans on buying one. I can receive all the mentioned stations, plus a great deal more over the internet. Using a broadband connection and plugging my PC into my stereo, I can receive all the stations I need. Even better is utilizing the BBC's play on demand system. I can listen to the radio I want to listen to when I want to listen to it. DAB is a nice idea, but as the take up of broadband increases, the public will find alternative methods of listening to the music and stations of their choice. Lee, UK What's so great about digital? The world is not made up of 0s and 1s, and the process of reducing it to such a scheme does no favours to fidelity. The fact is that a turntable playing vinyl records sounds far better than a CD player of the same price. Ditto for radio. Digital radio sounds just awful. I'm damned if I'm going to give up sound quality just because of all this digital hype. Shame on the BBC, which employs some of the most skilled sound engineers in the world, for trying to foist it on us! Dan, UK Given the choice between 6music on DAB or no 6music at all, I know which I'd rather choose... and Virgin Radio sounds so, so much better than crackly old medium-wave. Yes, it's not super hi-fi - but it's quite okay for me... James, UK Who needs to go out and buy a DAB radio as most houses have satellite or cable and can listen to it that way. The true measure of success will be consumers buying DAB radios for their cars and the car manufacturers fitting it as standard, just as they now do with CD players. Ford already has announced this, so it is only a matter of time before availability increases and costs come down. Keith Tracy, England Inclusion of DAB radios in new cars will be key; however action so far isn't encouraging, Ford was going to start fitting DAB radios as standard in 2003 however this has now been delayed indefinitely because of the high cost. Ed, UK (all via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. 5 VOA BUREAUX IN JEOPARDY By Sarah Birns, THE WASHINGTON TIMES The senior Bush administration official at the Voice of America radio network has proposed closing five overseas bureaus, prompting an outcry from VOA staffers who say the cuts are to fund a new station targeted at Iran. Details of the plan to cut the bureaus in Hong Kong, Mexico City, Tokyo, Brussels and Geneva were given out to VOA employees Wednesday, said one staffer, speaking on the condition of anonymity. According to the Nelson Report, an online newsletter covering Washington politics, "At last month's Voice of America board meeting in Prague, VOA Director Bob Reilly offered to find the $1 million needed for a new Iranian popular culture program by shutting down bureaus in Asia, Latin America, and Europe." Mr. Reilly declined to comment. But VOA spokeswoman Tish King confirmed that a proposal was on the table to remove the bureaus. "This would in no way represent a diminution of VOA's news coverage, and no correspondents would be withdrawn from the region," she said. "The plan was targeted at eliminating overhead costs." The VOA staffer said that he and colleagues believe "the news cuts are in part a vendetta by some Bush administration officials against the VOA over its broadcast of its interview with [former Afghan Taliban leader] Mullah [Mohammed] Omar." The Bush administration had sought to ban the broadcast of the interview, but VOA went ahead and put it on the air. The interview was apparently recorded after September 11 but before the United States began its air campaign to oust the Taliban. The VOA staffer said he was especially concerned over plans to eliminate the Hong Kong office. "Abolition of the Hong Kong bureau would constrain efforts to obtain news from Chinese-speaking sources, which are already constrained to begin with," the VOA staffer said. "Hong Kong was a window into Chinese news." Plans by VOA to open [sic] a Farsi-language service coincide with a recent shift in Bush administration policy toward Iran by focusing on Iranian dissidents instead of on so-called reformists in Iran's government. It was not clear yesterday whether Mr. Reilly's plan to restructure VOA was part of the new policy toward the country President Bush named as part of an "axis of evil." Ms. King said the proposed bureau cutbacks were to cut costs and not to fund any Farsi-language station. The changes would require congressional approval. • Ben Barber contributed to this report. (Washington Times Aug 9 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re WWRB tests: Glenn, aren't they "squatting" on other stations' frequencies? They all look really familiar... 5,070 and 12,160 WWCR 17,495 WBCQ etc... (Ricky Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ricky, Yes, except for 26800 if that is really correct. But other stations have no exclusive rights unless they`ve paid the FCC for 24 hour usage. And of course for propagational reasons this is seldom the case. 73, (Glenn to Ricky, via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Upcoming Projects Voice of Liberty- In west africa, in the country of Liberia, God has granted us favor in giving us an FM radio station in the city of Monrovia, with a potential listening audience of over a million people. As this station goes on the air in the summer of 2002, the Lord has also provided licenses for both a shortwave(!) and a television station. Voice Of Jerusalem- In the Fall of 2002, WJIE Transmitter #1 will become 'The Voice Of Jerusalem'. With live broadcasts from studios in the ancient city, VOJ will be heard in europe, africa and the middle east. It will also be heard in north america on shortwave and on the SkyAngel satellite service. Facilities Upgrade- In an effort to increase our effectiveness, we will begin to upgrade WJIE #1 (VOJ) to 100,000 watts. At the same time, we will begin the upgrade of our new partner station, KVOH (also known as VOICE OF HOPE). CHINA- The Lord has put it upon our hearts to reach China by the means of shortwave. Beginning in the fall of 2002, another partner station, KHBN will begin to broadcast our programming from the island of Palau in the Pacific. Our prayer is that the VOICE OF ASIA will change a nation with God's Good News! (from http://www.wjiesw.com/projects.htm Aug 16 via DXLD) We might believe any of this when they actually have transmitters over 100 watts on the air. So far they have not been able to accomplish even that. Some of this may even be news to KVOH and KHBN (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. 15 August was Assumption Day. 16 August is Resumption Day Radio Elvis Elvis Presley, who died on 16 August 1977, was one of a select few artists whose songs dominated rock and roll radio in the late 1950's and 60's. He helped define the sound of a generation, and his recorded repertoire of 800 songs continues to sell in huge numbers today. In the late 1980's, there was even a station in Cincinnati with an all- Elvis format. 25 years after his death, he's still one of the most played artists on radio. As a change from the more serious items we've run in recent weeks, this week we take a nostalgic look back at the heyday of Top 40 radio, when rock and roll ruled the airwaves. There are also some audio links that might interest you. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/elvis020816.html And Andy Sennit is not kidding, 11 hours of streaming audio tribute to the King and his times and music. Rock on! (Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. ST. PAT`S SHOCK-JOCK INTER-LEWD By PHILIP MESSING, MARIANNE GARVEY and HASANI GITTENS http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/46599.htm And I thought we had bad radio here in Montréal! (Westenhaver) 3 BUSTED IN ST. PAT'S SEX STUNT August 16, 2002 By TAMER EL-GHOBASHY, MARTIN MBUGUA and LEO STANDORA DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS A man and woman having sex in a vestibule at St. Patrick's Cathedral - a sleazy prank broadcast live on the shock jock Opie and Anthony radio show - were arrested yesterday after an usher spotted them, police said.... You can view the entire article at http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/11387p-10737c.html (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. CLEAR CHANNEL PLANS SPECIAL SEPTEMBER 11TH PROGRAMMING; Company Will Also Share Resources With Other Broadcasters Business Wire; New York; Aug 14, 2002; Business/Entertainment Editors; Start Page: 1 Companies: Clear Channel Radio Inc Abstract: Clear Channel Radio stations will run special programming and productions throughout the rest of the day featuring thoughts from special guests; artists, political officials, radio personalities and other celebrities. In addition, 33 reporters and radio program hosts from Clear Channel radio stations will be broadcasting live from Ground Zero in New York City. Full Text: Copyright Business Wire Aug 14, 2002 SAN ANTONIO -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Aug. 14, 2002 -- Clear Channel Radio (NYSE:CCU) today announced plans to use its more than 1,200 U.S. radio stations to honor the victims and heroes of September 11, 2001. At 8:45 a.m. (in each time zone) on September 11, 2002, all Clear Channel Radio stations will pause for a special on-air audio sequence including a two-minute memorial, "Tributes and Triumph: America's Day of Remembrance," followed by two minutes of silence and concluding with a special message to all Americans. Clear Channel Radio stations will run special programming and productions throughout the rest of the day featuring thoughts from special guests; artists, political officials, radio personalities and other celebrities. In addition, 33 reporters and radio program hosts from Clear Channel radio stations will be broadcasting live from Ground Zero in New York City. While a wide range of resources will be available to all Clear Channel radio stations, each station will observe September 11th the way the local station management deems most appropriate for their local audience and local communities. Stations will commemorate the event in conjunction with their local police, fire departments, churches, elected officials and other important organizations. As the leaders of the radio industry, Clear Channel Radio will make these audio resources available to other broadcasters in an effort to help the radio industry join together in saluting and commemorating Americans. The materials and details will be available at http://www.clearchannel.com on September 9, 2002. "Virtually everyone in America will be remembering that tragic day a year ago," said Clear Channel President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Mays. "We want to use our resources to help Americans reflect and to help our communities heal. We think 'Tributes and Triumph' will in some measure accomplish that with our communities and listeners. We invite the radio industry to join us and we are very proud to share these resources." (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. HUB STATIONS STRUGGLE WITH ADS, 9/11 PROGRAMMING Boston Radio/by Dean Johnson --- Friday, August 16, 2002 Boston radio stations will be mostly commercial-free on Sept. 11 whether they like it or not, because increasingly impressive groups of advertisers have informed the Hub's signals that they do not want any of their spots aired on the first anniversary of the twin towers terrorist attacks.... http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/television/radi08162002.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. ``Miami is getting a new classical station, WQAM 1360. Cox Radio pulled the plug on heritage classical WTMI 93.1 at yearend. Now Spanish Media Broadcasting says it`s likely to drop Spanish on WKAT and flip it to classical,`` says the M-Street Journal (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. Inside Radio has merged with M-Street Publications, with the Inside Radio name now applied to M-Street`s newsletter. The latter is now a partially owned and independently run subsidiary of Clear Channel... (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. WLAC 1510 Nashville used to have an enormous volume of correspondence for the likes of baby chick offers. One day, they got a package from a lady in Georgia. Uncommon, because there was little reason to send anything other than letters to the station. Upon opening it, they discovered a slip of paper with the lady`s name, along with a money order and a polkadot dress. It took a while, but they finally figured out what had happened. She had literally sent her name, A DRESS (address), and a money order. The dress was returned --- Great story, and as far as I know, true.`` (Tom, Aug FMedia! [non] via DXLD) ** U S A. KRIM-LP, *96.3, Payson AZ, run by the Payson Council of the Musical Arts, Inc., transmits 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and uses no satellite feeds. All their music is carefully hand selected by the staff of KRIM, and either played live or pre-recorded earlier. They use full fidelity stereo with a frequency response of 50 to 15,000 Hz. This station is fully funded by the non-profit corporation, Payson Council for the Musical Arts, Inc. All contributions, underwriting, sponsorships, or other financial support to PCMA is fully tax deductible. Their hope is that the people of Payson will enjoy at least some, if not all, of their music, as KRIM is dedicated to serving the Payson community (from http://www.ccbroadcasters.com via Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. ``K-slug`` is the non-ID for KSLG-FM, 94.1, Hydesville CA. Why? ``It`s named after the banana slug, common in the forests around here. They`re really quite obnoxious. They grow to about 4 inches long and 1 inch thick, yellow in color, resembling a banana.`` (unidentified contributor to FMedia! Aug via DXLD) ** U S A. By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, Contributing Editor August 17, 2002 Cruising with the radio blasting is a summertime avocation of teens and ex-teens alike. What made our radios blast is the object of our Web surfing this week. Barry Mishkind's The Broadcast Archive Web site http://www.oldradio.com bills itself as "Radio History on the Web." The goal of the Web site is "to continue adding historical materials on both pioneer and current broadcast radio stations, as well as links and references to other locations containing accurate materials on broadcasting." After viewing the contents of the Web site, it seems that Barry is well on his way to fulfilling this goal. The Web site is chock full of nuggets of broadcast radio history. Find out if David Sarnoff really did hear the distress call from the Titanic. Read such "war stories" as a first-hand account about climbing a 1572-foot radio tower . . . in the dark. Learn what were the first broadcast radio stations in each state, and discover what the acronyms that make up radio station call signs really signify. And what is the real story behind those now-rare three-letter broadcast station call signs? You will spend hours poring over the entertaining and informative narratives in The Broadcast Archive. Every story I viewed on this site caught my attention and demanded to be read to its end. This is a very bookmarkable site that you will want to revisit. In addition to the histories and anecdotes of broadcast radio, you will also find broadcast radio software that is downloadable from this site. These include radio-engineering tools and programs that allow you to search the FCC radio station database and plot the station transmitter locations on maps. Many thanks to Bill Feidt, NG3K, a veteran AM broadcast listener (BCL), for the suggestion to feature this site. Until next time, keep on surfin' (ARRL? Via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. KPH will be on the air on 17 August for communications with the SS Lane Vicrory/KECW during the ship's weekend cruise. I've been asked to join the crew of the SS Lane Victory, a restored and operational WWII Victory ship, as radio operator during their weekend cruise on the weekend of 17/18 August. For information on the SS Lane Victory see their Web site at: [invisible] The Lane is equipped with the original Radiomarine 4U radio console for operation on both HF and MF. As it happens, we (the Maritime Radio Historical Society) restored a 4U console to operational status for the San Francisco Maritime museum so I am actually experienced in the operation of this equipment. For more information about the 4U console we restored see our Web site at: [invisible] My plan is to establish contact with my colleagues at KPH on HF and MF during the cruise and also at dock side. Information about next weekend's operation is as follows: o Date - Saturday, 17 August for KPH/KECW operations. The crew at KPH will be unavailable for operations on Sunday the 18th but I may be on the air using the 4U console on amateur frequencies on the 18th. o Time - I'm unable to advise an exact schedule since radio operations will depend on several things including interference with the ship's PA system and my duties as a guide for visitors to the radio room. However the ship is scheduled to depart San Pedro at 0800 PDT on Saturday and the KPH crew will be available beginning then. The cruise ends at 1600 PDT each day but I hope to continue MF operations into the evening from dock side. o Frequencies - On MF KPH will transmit on 500 kc and 426 kc. 426 kc will be the KPH working frequency. KECW will probably transmit on 480 kc. On HF KPH will transmit on 6477.5 kc and KECW will transmit on 6271.5 kc. For amateur work I will use 7010 kc (crystal controlled) under the call W6AWO/MM. o Station Specifications - KPH will use about 4 kW on HF and MF. The MF antenna is a Marconi T and the HF antenna is a double extended Zepp. KECW will use about 200W and the antenna is a 300 ft. wire. o What You May Hear - I plan to exchange formal messages with KPH including a QTO upon departure, etc. At times when we are not exchanging messages KPH will transmit ARA Free Press and Pacific Weather on both HF and MF (426 kc) so there will be something on the air to listen to most of the time. Since we don't expect that KPH will be able to hear KECW during the day I may listen to KPH on MF and reply on HF for testing purposes. o Reception Reports - If you would like a written verification of your reception report please send it by mail to: Ms. DA Stoops, P.O. Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924-0381, USA Electronic reception reports may be sent to radiomarine@yahoogroups.com (Richard Dillman, W6AWO, Member of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, http://www.radiomarine.org (via Rachel Baughn, Aug 14, Monitoring Times Chat Board via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. The frequency announced by Radio Nacional for its International Channel is 9540 kHz (not 9545). This one is not currently on the air. 73, (Adán González, Aug 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 6165, V. of Vietnam, 1300-1329* Aug 11, with possible ID in Hmong, a few bars of anthem-ish music, then M/W talks, punctuated with Hmong vocals. Off at 1329*, following flute theme and very brief announcement by YL. Fair signal and // to 5034.88, which was at threshold level (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. 6045 13.8. 0205- R Zimbabwe, Gweru. This one required a bit of work. To expand the south wire to 100 metres seemed to do the trick. Promos guaranteed the listener which station is the source of most reliable information (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Is it all-night? (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 11740, surprised to find the bonker pulsing away around here, hard to tell center frequency, maybe 1 or 2 kHz higher. 7 short pulses and one long as if the last were a stop bit. Not very strong, and fortunately no broadcasters audible around 1510 UT Aug 16 to be interfered with. Suspected an image, but nothing +/- 910 kHz on three different receivers. I believe this has been explained before on other frequencies, e.g. 60 mb, but I don`t recall the details. Perhaps some vital communication circuit kept on idle most of the time (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12090, playing some jazz, 1450 UT August 16, brief announcement at 1459, language uncertain, timesignal, and not much heard thereafter tho carrier seemed to be on; may have changed antenna. The thing about this frequency is that it appears to be listed absolutely nowhere. A search of all 129 DXLDs this year to date finds no mention of 12090 at all; no listings in HFCC A-02; nothing in SW Guide. PWBR `2002` does have TWR Albania and Denmark/Norway on 12090, but at other times. I wonder what I was doing around this frequency at 1500? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12115/12085/9950 Sout al Watan: from this issue forth reports about this will be filed under SYRIA [non] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HARD CORE NEWS SOURCES? Glenn, Being somewhat new to the world of SWL I wonder if you can help me out. I am a hard-core news junkie and am looking for a data base (or other source) of news programs. I have several data bases (GNPDB from ILG Radio and RLDB Radio Listeners Data Base) running on my computer and I find that each has its own limitations. Generally I find them to wieldly (and time consuming) to use effectively and non-specific for news junkies like myself. The RLDB does have one significant plus -- it will control my ICOM IC-R75 receiver. What I am looking for, if it exists, is a data base oriented towards world news, world news analysis and, political commentary. Thanks for any help you may be able to offer (John Pickrell, Punta Gorda, FL, Aug 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Can anyone help? I`ll forward (gh, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Hawaii to Pacific Coast heating up over the next few days.. http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_wam.html (Bill Hepburn, Aug 13, WTFDA via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-129, August 15, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1144: BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600... 7445-AM, 15039 (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html from Aug 16 (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ: Allan Weiner has moved one of the EVM Jewish shows into the Tu-Sa 0415-0515 hour, eliminating the timely repeat of WORLD OF RADIO UT Thu on 7415 at 0415. That has been rescheduled to UT MONDAY at the same time, also followed by Radio DC at 0445. Also, after several weeks of good signals here Wed at 2200 on 17495, that was inaudible Aug 14, probably off the air, or maybe not propagating, but as far as we know, the intention is to run both 7415 and 17495. Fully updated WOR/COM/MR schedules have been distributed and posted at http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html and http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN LEADER KARZAI TO MAKE FORTNIGHTLY ADDRESS TO NATION | Text of report by Afghan radio on 13 August Announcement by the press department of the head of state. Dear compatriots, in order to ensure closer links between the people and the leadership and in order to inform compatriots of the developments and current situation in the country, esteemed Hamed Karzai, head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, will deliver a radio and television address to nation every 15 days via the radio and television of Afghanistan. The first radio address of the esteemed head of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan will be broadcast on Thursday 24 Asad 1381 [15 August 2002] at 2000 local time [1530 gmt]. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ALASKA [and non]. [Changing Planet] HAARP message from Dr. Nick Begich Earthpulse Press Incorporated, PO Box 201393, Anchorage, Alaska 99520 USA http://www.earthpulse.com Phone: 1-907-249-9111 Fax: 1-907-696- 1277 Immediate Release: Received: 8/9/2002 Dr. Nick Begich, founder of Earthpulse Press and co-author of Angel's Don't Play This HAARP and Earth Rising the Revolution, delivered a lecture on Arctic issues and HAARP in Brussels in the European Parliament on May 5-7, 1997 at the 12th General Assembly Globe International. In attendance were several members of the Russian Duma including Vitaliy Sevastyanov, one of the signers listed below. Dr. Begich's book, an exposé published in September 1996, launched the international investigation into the issues surrounding HAARP. Begich has continued to follow HAARP and related military technologies since 1994. He is a frequently called upon expert in these areas. His work led to early political efforts in the European Parliament which resulted in their adoption of resolutions also in opposition to HAARP in January 1998. Begich has appeared on BBC-TV, CBC-TV, TeleMundo, Spiegal TV, Fuji TV and others throughout the world and continues to report on these and other technology subjects. ACTION ALERT: Please pass this to your friends, radio contacts and political leaders...Thank you! US HAARP Weapon Development Concerns Russian Duma Interfax News Agency 8-9-2 MOSCOW (Interfax) - The Russian State Duma has expressed concern about the USA's programme to develop a qualitatively new type of weapon. "Under the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Programme (HAARP) [website address: http://server5550.itd.nrl.navy.mil/projects/haarp ], the USA is creating new integral geophysical weapons that may influence the near-Earth medium with high-frequency radio waves," the State Duma said in an appeal circulated on Thursday [8 August]. "The significance of this qualitative leap could be compared to the transition from cold steel to firearms, or from conventional weapons to nuclear weapons. This new type of weapons differs from previous types in that the near-Earth medium becomes at once an object of direct influence and its component. These conclusions were made by the commission of the State Duma's international affairs and defence committees, the statement reads. The committees reported that the USA is planning to test three facilities of this kind. One of them is located on the military testing ground in Alaska and its full-scale tests are to begin in early 2003. The second one is in Greenland and the third one in Norway. "When these facilities are launched into space from Norway, Alaska and Greenland, a closed contour will be created with a truly fantastic integral potential for influencing the near-Earth medium," the State Duma said. The USA plans to carry out large-scale scientific experiments under the HAARP programme, and not controlled by the global community, will create weapons capable of breaking radio communication lines and equipment installed on spaceships and rockets, provoke serious accidents in electricity networks and in oil and gas pipelines and have a negative impact on the mental health of people populating entire regions, the deputies said. They demanded that an international ban be put on such large-scale geophysical experiments. The appeal, signed by 90 deputies, has been sent to President Vladimir Putin, to the UN and other international organizations, to the parliaments and leaders of the UN member countries, to the scientific public and to mass media outlets. Among those who signed the appeal are Tatyana Astrakhankina, Nikolay Kharitonov, Yegor Ligachev, Sergey Reshulskiy, Vitaliy Sevastyanov, Viktor Cherepkov, Valentin Zorkaltsev and Aleksey Mitrofanov. Changing Planet News - Where Ethics, Science and Spirituality Blend On the web at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/changingplanet/ News and service since 1995 To unsubscribe, send email to: changingplanet-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com -- COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ----Salus Plebeyos Suprema Lex---- The Joy of Those Who Create is the Supreme Law (via Morning Cloud and Standing Stone, DXLD) ** ANGOLA: STATE RADIO OPENS MEDIUMWAVE TRANSMITTER IN HUAMBO Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) reported on 13 August that a new 10-kW RNA mediumwave transmitter (frequency not specified) was due to be opened that day about 15 km east of the city of Huambo (west-central Angola). Source: Radio Nacional de Angola, Luanda, in Portuguese 0600 gmt 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. R. Nacional [Arcángel?] San Gabriel, 15475.5, Partial data eQSL in 128 days by E-mail for Spanish report sent by Air mail with $2 postage. V/S: Fernando Jose Isla, Director (Kazunori Watanabe Tokyo, Japan http://homepage2.nifty.com/ffk/ hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Re DXLD 2-126, the new Argentinian postal codes have been in the works for at least a couple of years. I haven't seen many of them on mail at RCI, but of course most Argentinian listeners write in Spanish, and I don't handle mail in Spanish. If you want more info about those postal codes, check the Correo Argentino website at: http://www.correoargentino.com.ar/cpa/ (Bill Westenhaver, QC, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. MILESTONE FOR SMALL TEAM WITH LOTS OF LISTENERS By Farah Farouque August 15 2002 URL: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/08/15/1029113976659.html I certainly hadn't realized that it was a big anniversary for RA. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RA Previews for Aug 16: 2105 - Fri.: FEEDBACK* - listener letters and news about RA. This weekend the programme celebrates the 60th birthday of Radio Australia's Indonesian service. The most successful of all RA's language services, it faced closure in 1997. Although the unthinkable was avoided the closure of the Cox Peninsula transmitter site that year all but silenced the service. Today, happily, the Indonesian service is again a force to be reckoned with in one of the regions most volatile countries. The unit's Executive Producer, Nuim Khaiyath who's been with RA for 30 years, looks back over six turbulent decades. [rep. Sat 0005, 0605, Sun 0305] 2305 - Fri.: LINGUA FRANCA - about language. This week: "Hunting the Wild Reciter". Peter Kirkpatrick recalls the old days of music hall ballads, parlour recitations and elocution lessons. Before Hollywood invented the musical, one of the most popular forms of public entertainment was the variety show, vaudeville, the music hall - and 'recitations' were among the most popular acts. Waiting in the wings was the elocutionist - soon to be taken up by those who sought to be upwardly socially mobile. Peter Kirkpatrick investigates the place of recitation and elocution in our popular culture before TV. [T] [rep Sat 0530] (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. THE BIG TURN-OFFS --- August 12 2002 A US study on what women want to hear on radio should give local programmers food for thought. Sue Javes reports. Ever been too slow to turn off the car radio as an announcer launches into a risque joke, leaving you to field unwelcome questions from your kids? If so, it will come as no surprise that women list "unfriendly family content" as one of the most common reasons they turn the dial.... http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/08/11/1028158046124.html An interesting piece, and I hope that the Arbitron website http://www.arbitron.com has a more detailed report. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS/USA: RSF EXPRESSES "CONCERN" OVER OBSTACLES TO RADIO FREE EUROPE | Text of press release in English by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF) on 15 August Reporters sans Frontières [RSF] has expressed its concern over administrative obstacles threatening Radio Free Europe since the beginning of August. "There is too little foreign media in Belorussia [Belarus]. It would harm the Belorussian population to be deprived of an alternative source of information to public channels, such as Radio Free Europe", said RSF General Secretary Robert Menard, in a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mikhaïl Khvostov. "We ask you to award credentials to all Radio Free Europe journalists who wish to have them, and not to obstruct the relocation of editorial staff. Unless this is done, we must conclude that your government is trying by all possible means to evict Radio Free Europe from the country". According to our information, the authorities have been putting pressure on Radio Free Europe since the beginning of August. On 1 August, a letter from the minister for foreign affairs threatened to cancel the credentials of all journalists working for Radio Free Europe's Belorussian service if documentaries made by unaccredited journalists were broadcast. Eleven journalists out of 21 are affected. The ministry refused to meet with the head of the Belorussian service, Mr. Lukaschuk, to discuss the matter. Furthermore, unplanned renovation work has begun on the buildings rented by the radio station in Minsk, thereby forcing most of the journalists to work temporarily on borrowed premises, as well as forcing the editorial staff to find new offices. A few weeks earlier, the radio station broadcast programmes in which several heads of literary publications made redundant by the president of the republic, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, were allowed to speak. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 15 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. I've been floating around the Northeast for a few days, mostly in upper Maine and New Hampshire. Some notes: CJWI-1610 heard with regular programming - and frequent extensive IDs - but only within 50 miles or so of Montreal. CFMB-1280 heard with an English- language preacher briefly on Sunday afternoon but then back to various languages (Doug Smith, W9WI, Aug 13, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. GH, inusitado: it could be understood as produced in an unexpected moment. See what "Diccionario de la Real Academia de la Lengua Española" ("DRAE" for short) reads: inusitado, da. (Del lat. inusitatus). 1. adj. No usado, desacostumbrado. Yes, the Babylon (software) dictionary I use, doesn't include it. Fortunately, the "DICCIONARIO DE LA LENGUA ESPAÑOLA, Vigésima segunda edición", which is the reference of the Spanish language, is online, too: Check http://www.rae.es/ and select "Diccionario 2001" Also you can add a button to the bar of "Vínculos" (I don't know the name it receives in the English version Internet Explorer, maybe "links") following instructions at http://buscon.rae.es/diccionario/drae/boton.htm A button is created in that bar above the main window of the browser after you drag and drop the link in that webpage. When activated, it shows a box and you fill it with the word whose meaning is being requested (73 Horacio -Uruguay (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) inusitado: My Novo Michaelis says: 1. unused, not used 2. not worn, new 3. strange, unusual (that's what fits here) 4. unaccustomed 5. unknown (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [non]. Voice of China 11940 kHz, Full data prepared QSL card & Original QSL letter (v/s: Lily Hu, Executive Producer), program guide, post card in San Francisco, enclosed 1 US$ in 54 days. Report sent to Voice of China, P. O. Box 273538, Concord, CA 94527, USA (Ke. Hashimoto, Japan, Aug 4, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Today I received a letter from Russ Stendal on La Voz de tu Conciencia reported here in Borgå on 6064.57 kHz on July 23, 2002 starting at 0125 UT. Below are some lines from the letter. As you can notice Russ plans on printing QSL-cards and send them out to us crazy hobbyists! Jan, I am glad that you were able to hear our Short Wave signal. You must have heard one of our last broadcasts on 6065. About two weeks ago we switched to 6060. Our transmitter is putting out about 6 kw and uses three 4cx 5000 a tubes (two as modulators and one on the final). We will be making some changes to the antenna in the next week or so which may improve long range reception. Also as you go into winter months in the Northern Hemisphere this should improve your chances of reception. We have still not printed QSL cards as of yet but will send you one as soon as they are available (Russ Stendal, LV de Tu Conciencia via Jan-Erik Österholm, Porvoo, Finland, DXing.info Aug 14 via WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI has switched 7445 from USB to AM, first noted Aug 13 around 0545, and subsequently. This may mean that the antenna has also been moved to the higher 200 foot tower. No doubt they will be interested in reports of whether reception has improved, info@rfpi.org (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Glenn, Sorry to read that your system cashed when you tried accessing this. Strange, but I have never experienced this problem either yesterday or today. CT1 continues to have non-stop reporting this morning. The http://www.radio.cz website is not working at the moment, no doubt swamped. [Later:] Glenn, Although the RealAudio feed of the 2230 Eng. program from Radio Prague was maxed out, the MP3Cast was available without a problem. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO PRAGUE'S ENGLISH SERVICE AND FLOODING IN THE CAPITAL Glenn, Here is the latest English Language Schedule for Radio Prague for anyone interested in hearing what is happening with the severe flooding in the Czech capital. UTC Freq Target 0000 - 0027 7345 N. America 0000 - 0027 11615 N. America 0100 - 0127 6200 N. America 0100 - 0127 7345 N. America 0300 - 0327 7345 N. America 0300 - 0327 7385 N. America 0300 - 0327 9870 N. America 0330 - 0357 11600 Mi. East/ S.W. Asia 0330 - 0357 15620 Mi. East/ S.W. Asia 0700 - 0727 9880 N.W. Europe 0700 - 0727 11600 N.W. Europe 0900 - 0929 21745 S. Asia/ W. Africa 1030 - 1057 9880 N. Europe 1030 - 1057 11615 N.W. Europe 1300 - 1329 13580 N. Europe 1300 - 1329 21735 S. Asia 1600 - 1627 5930 N.W. Europe 1600 - 1627 21745 E. Africa 1700 - 1727 5930 N.W. Europe 1700 - 1727 21745 C. Africa 2000 - 2027 5930 N.W. Europe 2000 - 2027 11600 S.& E. Asia/Australia 2130 - 2157 11600 S.& E. Asia/Australia 2130 - 2157 15545 W. Africa 2230 - 2257 11600 N. America 2230 - 2257 15545 N. America (Graham Powell, Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook & 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I've been checking Czech Radio SW and find it is still on air. I haven`t checked if the broadcasts are "live" - i.e., if the studios are still active. And 270 LW was a loud signal Wednesday night around 2200. All of their MW are subject to co-channel QRM so are difficult to check, but I think I heard 639 mixing with Spain (Noel Green, England, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Prague still works and also has as usual audio files available at http://www.radio.cz As far as I can tell there are also no failures of LW/MW transmitters; Topolna 270, Liblice 639, the 954 synchros and Melnik 1233 are on air as the FM site Bukova Hora near Usti is. All networks carry lots of telephone reports (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY ** FINLAND. Special Broadcasts: The EDXC 2002 Conference will be held 15-18. August in Pori, Finland. In connection to the conference there will be a special broadcast by YLE Radio Finland in English on shortwave 15530 and 21520 kHz on Saturday 17th of August at 10.00 UTC. Reports on this broadcast can be sent to Finnish DX Association, Box 454, 00101 Helsinki, Finland and they will be verified by a QSL provided by Digita Oy. Scandinavian Weekend Radio will broadcast a lot of conference features, interviews and special programmes during Saturday the 17th of August. For more details please refer to information provided by SWR to to http://www.swradio.net (Risto Vahakainu FDXA, Aug 14, hard-core-dx via DXLD) So I expect that the 1000 broadcast will be repeated for North America, UT-Sunday at 0000 on {13730} and 11990 kHz. Good opportunity for us to get some news about the conference, and hopefully hear some interviews. Thanks! (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GEORGIA. Dear Jean-Michel AUBIER, We have not got Radio Georgian in audio files. You can listen to Georgian Radio on the short waves. We attached the world broadcasting schedule of it. Time difference is 3 hour. Enjoy it. With the best regards (Nino Kandelaki via Aubier, DXLD) The World Broadcasting Structure of Georgian Radio [UT + 3!!] {are all these times one hour off? see 2-133} To the Direction of Oslo Russian Language: 10.00 - 10.30 a.m. 11805 Khz freq or on 25,4m wave English Language: 10.00 - 11.00 a.m. 11805 Khz freq or on 25,4m wave German Language: 11.00 - 11.30 p.m. 11805 Khz freq or on 25,4m wave English Language: 23.30 p.m.- 00.00 11760 Khz freq or on 25,5m wave German Language: 00.0 - 00.30 a.m. 11760 Khz freq or on 25,5m wave Russian Language: 00.30 - 01.00 a.m. 11760 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave To the Direction of Munich French Language: 12.00 - 12.30 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave English language: 12.30 - 13.00 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave German Language: 22.00 - 22.30 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave English Language: 22.30 - 23.00 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave To the Direction of Tel-Aviv English Language: 13.30 - 14.00 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave Georgian Language: 14.00 - 14.30 p.m. 11910 Khz freq or on 25,2m wave English Language: 20.30 - 21.00 p.m. 6180 Khz freq or on 48,5m wave Georgian Language: 21.00 - 21.30 p.m. 6180 Khz freq or on 48,5m wave To the Direction of Iran Tuesday, Thursday Georgian Language: 09.00 - 10.00 a.m. 6080 Khz freq or on 49,3m wave Saturday, Sunday- Georgian Language: 20.00 - 21.00 p.m. 6080 Khz freq or on 49,3m wave To the Direction of Turkey Tuesday, Thursday Georgian Language: 10.30. a.m.-12.00 6080 Khz freq or on 49,3m wave Saturday, Sunday Georgian Language: 20.00 - 21.00 p.m. 6080 Khz freq or on 49,3m wave To the Direction of Armenia Armenian Language: 19.15 - 19.45 p.m. 6080 Khz freq or on 49,3m wave To the Direction of Azerbaijan Azerbaijanian Language: 20.00 - 20.30 p.m. 45,40 Khz freq. or on 66,1m wave [sic, so must mean 4540 kHz] (via Jean-Michel Aubier, France, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Regarding news coverage video: I found no capacity problems on the site of the German ARD TV news department so far. That's http://www.tagesschau.de There just go to "Fernsehen" where you will find the most recent edition under "letzte Sendung" as well as older ones. [Later:] Those searching for pictures and videos may also check the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk website at http://www.mdr.de/hochwasser/ Right now the 225 kbit/s video streams work without problems. (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Everyone, The flooding in E. Europe was shown extensively on BBC TV news Wednesday evening. A lot of it concerned Prague, but there was also video of Dresden, and pictures of the railway station. The inside of a building - it could have been the one Kai photographed from the outside - with the No Entry signs each side of the entrance - and it resembled a waterfall with a river gushing through it. And then we saw the station platforms and tracks under water with various diesel or electric multiple units part submerged, as well as a shunting locomotive. What also looked like the signal tower was surrounded by water - I hope the signalman was rescued safely. And then we saw shots of the surrounding area - buildings part submerged by water. Another German town was seen with the Chancellor walking down a street which had been almost stripped of its cobble stones by the flow of water, and other streets full of debris. I wonder if this is all simply "natural" or if mother nature is beginning to take her revenge world wide on the way we are treating our environment. BTW - the temperature is predicted to reach 32C this weekend in parts of the UK - I hope that doesn`t include Blackpool. I wonder if storms will follow. I hope your area is not as badly affected - Kai - and that the situation soon improves, but the damage to infrastructure looks to be extensive (Noel Green, England, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, this was indeed Dresden Hauptbahnhof (main station). By the way, the trains there are actually coaching stocks with electric locomotives, just appearing to be EMU's due to a matched design of coaches and locomotives. Don't worry, nobody works there anymore. Back in the last year or in 2000 a new computer-based signalling system was installed; the signalmen running it now works at Leipzig. Once they had to pay the staff for a couple of signalboxes, now they pay the same amount of money to the Siemens and Vodaphone (for the remote control connection) companies. I am sure the economists will have some crude definition at hand to consider this nonsense as efficient. Well, in fact simply the Weißeritz river took a new course through the Dresden-Altstadt yard, continuing over the tracks to Dresden Hauptbahnhof and there through the station building into the city. But now the Elbe will become the major problem. Word is that meanwhile trial runs or probably even passenger services with a diesel railcar (the overhead cables are still off) on the upper level took place again. The Chancellor walking down a street: That's Grimma, about 20 km away from Leipzig on the straight line to Dresden. The flood of the Mulde river responsible for the disaster at Grimma also caused much damage further on at Wurzen, Eilenburg, Bitterfeld/Wolfen (problem: chemical industry) and also at Dessau where the Mulde reaches the Elbe. Well, the German politicians not only do their show runs through devastated towns but meanwhile also started to consider this topic in their election campaigns. Up to 30 degrees are also announced for the weekend here. Here at Elsterwerda we are about 25 km away from the Elbe. Another river called Schwarze Elster crosses our town; its water level is of course quite high but still a metre or so above [you mean below? --gh] the dyke level, at least this was the case yesterday. So no problems here, at least so far. At present (1140 UT) Wilsdruff 1044 is on air but 1431 is silent. Probably they operate the 1044 transmitter with an emergency generating set, it was just reported that parts of Wilsdruff are without mainpower. [Later, 1916 GMT:] Wilsdruff 1431 is back on air, no other disruptions of radio services observed so far. Now that Brandenburg gets affected by the flood, too, one should also check the website of the Ostdeutscher Rundfunk Brandenburg TV news, offering takes from the most recent edition as video on demand: http://www.orb.de/brandenburgaktuell In case anybody wonders how the situation here in Elsterwerda is at present: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/ew1508.htm Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. The enclosed posting on the bulletin board http://forum.wmoelter.de/ reports an improved modulation and increased fieldstrength for AFN Oberursel-Weißkirchen 873. It's hard to judge whether or not the signal became stronger here but I can confirm that indeed the modulation depth is OK now, so apparently they finally managed to get rid of the problem which required them to operate the transmitter with a very shallow modulation for years. The reporter also points out the nice audio of broad bandwidth; indeed 873 sounds much better than the poor 4.5 kHz audio of so many other German MW/LW transmitters (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---------- Autor: Torsten M. Datum: 15.08.2002 00:35 Hallo AM-Freunde, weiß jemand etwas über eventuelle Änderungen am AFN-Sender auf 873kHz in Frankfurt? Zum Einen ist die in den letzen Monaten eher leise Modulation sehr schön laut und kräftig geworden, auch schön breitbandig mit ordentlich Höhen, klingt fast besser als die alte 1440 zu besten Luxemburg-Zeiten (da sollte sich Mega Radio mal ein klangliches Beispiel nehmen)! Zum anderen ist die Feldstärke hier im Raum Hannover enorm besser geworden, AFN steht jetzt hier abends fast wie ein Ortssender drin! Dafür, daß der mit "nur" 150kW funken soll, ist er hier wesenlich stärker und stabiler gegenüber Fading als andere Sender aus vergleichbarer Entfernung mit vergleichbarer Leistung (z.B. MDR Info auf 783kHz mit 100kW aus Leipzig). Ich bin über jegliche Info sehr dankbar! Gruß Torsten. (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. RDS: Perhaps it is helpful to match the report from Carlos Coimbra with the technical details I mentioned: The feature "enabling stations to modify the radio display" is the frequently misused PS code, contrary the feature belonging to a button labelled "INFO" is Radiotext. So this report describes a proper use of the RDS system. Indeed RDS also contains a time signal, of course supposed to be accurate but I heard that also here in Germany there were already some cases of incorrect RDS time data. The Sangean ATS 909 can use RDS to set its own clock, that's what the "time set" switch (manual/auto) is for. This radio also displays the PS code like RDS-capable car radios; the only difference is that on the displays of car radios the PS code replaces the frequency on the display but not so on the ATS 909. It's just a design matter. Perhaps I should also describe what the traffic announcement feature actually does: One can mute the radio or listen to CD's, and the radio will bring up the received station only as long as these stupid traffic jam lists are read out. A extension is the EON feature: One can listen to the culture network of a certain ARD institution or to Deutschlandradio Berlin. EON now switches the radio to a "service program" (that's the ARD term for a dull AC format) of the institution serving this area when this network airs the "between Kleinkleckersdorf and Hintertupfing six kilometres traffic jam" babbling (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. Voz Evangélica, 4819.2, No data letter with Sticker, Picture Card and Bookmark in 124 days by Air mail for Spanish report sent by Air mail with $1.00 postage. V/S Dina Zuniga, Secretaria de Gerencia (Kazunori Watanabe, Tokyo, Japan http://homepage2.nifty.com/ffk/ hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ICELAND. WE ARE PLEASED TO INFORM YOU THAT RÍKISÚTVARPIÐ HAS A SHORT WAVE BROADCAST AS FOLLOWS FROM 7 April 2002 TO THE SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES, GREAT BRITAIN AND THE CONTINENT AT: 12:15-13:00 GMT 15775 kHz 17.55-18.25 GMT 13865 kHz TO CANADA AND U.S.A. AT: 14:10-14:40 GMT 15775 kHz 18.35-19.05 GMT 13865 kHz 23:00-23:35 GMT 13865 kHz THE BROADCASTS ARE IN ICELANDIC ONLY. Longwave broadcast on 189 kHz from Gufuskálar (300 kW) and from Eidar on 207 kHz (100 kW). The home page of RUV is: http//www.ruv.is (via H. S. Brar, GRDXC via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Bangalore (500 kW) is noted on 11645 with relay of AIR FM II Delhi at 0130-0530 & 0930-1230. This replaces 9425. 9425 may continue as night channel at 1350-0040. I will monitor it and confirm. [Later:] Friends, AIR FM II Relay via Bangalore for Home Service noted on 11645 today instead of 9425. Looks like new day time test frequency at 0130-0530. Today, the following stations were noted with changed schedule to cover the running commentary of Independence Day programs in Delhi. 7140 Hyderabad 7180 Bhopal 7290 Thiruvanathapuram Today they were noted from 0130 UTC. Usually they use it from 0230 UT [Later2:] The night service of AIR National channel is still noted on 9425 at 1320-0040 UT. It was heard just now even in USA [at 1400] by Jon Standingbear! So the full sked of this looks like this. Bangalore 500 KW (Home Service) 0130-0530 11645 (replaces 9425) Relay of Delhi FM II 0930-1230 11645 (replaces 9425) Relay of Delhi FM II 1320-0040 9425 Relay of Delhi National Channel. Any changes observed will be notified (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS India, dx_india Aug 15 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Re: fireball? Thanks. It did happen about 4 months ago. It`s just a strange thing. Keep up the good work. ccm (Cedric Miller, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In that case, it may have been a Lyrid... (gh, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. KAZAKHSTAN'S FIRST CLANDESTINE STATION ON SHORTWAVE Becoming the first clandestine station opposing Kazakhstan's leadership, Dat Radio http://datradio.com/indexeng.htm has begun transmissions on 9775 kHz. Dat Radio can be heard at 0100-0200 and 1500-1600 UT. On its website the station describes its mission as follows: "DAT Radio breaks the veil of the lies created in the Kazakhstan state media belonging to the Nazarbayev family. DAT Radio offers its radio waves to all democratic forces and independent journalists in Central Asia". According to the website, DAT in Kazakh means I demand a word. The station can be contacted by email: info@datradio.com A sample station identification in the audio section and more info in the DXing.info Community (Aleksandr Mak on active_dx via Vlad Titarev on DXplorer via DXing.info, August 15, 2002 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. Voice of National Salvation, 4450 kHz, Full data prepared QSL card and Original QSL card (no data, schedule only) (v/s: Kim ??), letter in 63 days. Report sent to Grenier Osawa 107, 40 Nando-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. According to letter, NDFSK (National Democratic Front of South Korea) missions are as follows : NDFSK Mission in Pyongyang, QTH: Munsu-dong, Taedonggang District, Pyongyang, D.P.R.K e-mail: ndfskpy@campus.ne.jp NDFSK Mission in Japan QTH: Grenier Osawa 107, 40 Nando-Cho, Shin- juku-ku, Tokyo, Japan. e- mail: ndfsk@campus.ne.jp (Ke. Hashimoto, Japan, Aug 4, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. Kirghistan noted on 9-8-2002 on the New frequency 4795 kHz, s/on at 2300 UT with National Anthem. 73s, (H. S. Brar, Punjab, for GRDXC, Aug 15 via DXLD) Hi Glenn, On Aug 15 at 1755 indeed programs on 4010 and 4795 were in parallel. 4010 had stronger signal here. At 1757 there was Kyrgyz Radio ID in Kyrgyz and Russian (closing announcement), then National Anthem until about 1800. Carrier remained on both frequencies until 1815, 4010 off first and 4795 about 30 seconds later. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kyrgyzstan is the one and only official form. It is used by Encyclopædia Britannica and a variety of other sources, a.o. the WRTH. Their stamps also carry this form of the name, in addition to Cyrillic (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA [and non]. Liberia Update; Broadcast offer WJIE International Shortwave Radio Aug 14, 2002 God bless everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I made it back safe and sound from Liberia, and that our trip was a success! We were able to get the FM on the air, and it is currently broadcasting to Monrovia. We are very, very excited bout this opportunity to share God's Good News! Several other events happened that I would like to share. We were able to lay the groundwork for our shortwave facility, and we plan to be on the air with that about the end of October. This station, co-located with our FM, will cover the entire continent of Africa! It is so exciting! We are also building an orphanage, a medical clinic, and have established the Christian Embassy of Liberia (CEL). The CEL is a former embassy that is absolutely huge. Our plans are to use it for our radio and TV station. We also plan to open it up so that your church or ministry will have a place to stay when you come to Liberia to visit. I want you to start making plans right now to come and minister in this country. The needs are so, so great. We could build a thousand orphanages and clinics, and it still wouldn't be enough --- there are literally thousands of children homeless, diseased and without hope. You need to pray about how you can help. Other radio news: we have established our contacts in Nigeria to develop an FM radio network in that nation as well. God is truly on the move! If you are a missionary on the field, or if you are a pastor in a foreign country, and you want to start a Christian radio station where you are, then please contact me (wjiesw@hotmail.com). We currently have started talks with leaders in Togo, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Uganda and the Congo to build stations. We need Joshuas and Calebs on the ground that can see the vision and help us to help you in reaching the lost with God's Good News through broadcasting! Once again, we are offering your church or ministry FREE AIRTIME on any one of our missionary radio outlets. For more information, please contact Doc (wjiesw@hotmail.com) or Morgan (morgan@wjie.org) for more information on how to get started! Until next time, God bless! (Doc Burkhart, WJIE International Shortwave, Aug 14, WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing here about WJIE itself; guess that`s pretty far on the back burner (gh, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Aquí una noticia de mi amigo Karl Michel de Reims- Francia. "...puedo decirte que RTL transmitió en su antigua frecuencia de 6090 kHz, como un test, el dia 10.07.02 entre 0600 y 2100 UTC, pero un sólo dia, no más. La transmisión viene en alemán, y yo no creo que realmente van a activar la onda corta (lo que cuesta mucho), puesto que se puede escuchar RTL en Alemania a través de varias frecuencias en la banda de FM..." Saludos cordiales de (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Nueva Antena en XEOI: les comunico que los trabajos de la instalación y acoplamiento de la nueva antena, para Radio Mil Onda Corta 6010 KHZ, ha sido terminado, y ya está siendo usada esta antena. Mucho le agradeceríamos sus envíos de reporte de recepción y comentarios a XEOI Radio Mil Onda Corta Apartado Postal 21-1000 04021 - Mexico D.F. MEXICO Esperamos que con este cambio mejore su recepción. Gracias y saludos (Hector Garcia Bojorge, Encuentro DX, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Detalles? Direccional? (gh, DXLD) ** NORWAY. Dear Glenn, It has come to our attention that last Winter In DXLD you publish this. In DXLD 2-035 it is reported: ``Svenn Martinsen, the CEO/Chairman of Northern Star International Broadcasters AS, informs us that his company is the conditional licence-holder of new Swedish-based station, with the working title of Cruisin' 216. The station intends to broadcast in English to Scandinavia, the British Isles and many areas of Western Europe by means of a 1.2 million-Watt transmitter on 216 kHz AM Long Wave.`` Well, I wish them luck, in light of Atlantic 252 throwing in the towel on music programming and switching to a speech based sports format, but what I question here is the coverage. When in London, with a "barefoot" Sony 2010, 216 kHz had a fair daytime groundwave signal from the 1.4 MW Radio Monte Carlo transmitter in southern France. This signal was very strong in the evening. Given the northern location of this proposed station, and the tendency of signals from the south to dominate longwave and medium wave during even minor auroral conditions, I would expect a co-channel battle anywhere outside the new stations grade A signal radius. Should be interesting if it gets off the ground (Brock Whaley, GA, March 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why wish them luck? It`s just another gospel huxter per their not-so- hidden agenda (gh, DXLD)" Our comment is: How can you be so sure that we are "just another gospel huxter per their not-so-hidden agenda?" We don't recall being interviewed by you? We certainly not hide that some of us have a Christian, even Church background, and wish that Christian ethics to be the proposed radio station's foundation. We think that this also is a very safe foundation also commercially. So we are not a new "Missionary" station, we are a commercial project. And only a small part of transmission hours will be devoted to block Christian programming, which we think is good business in itself. The proposed station will follow closely the North Atlantic style and format tradition of for example the European offshore stations in the 60s and 70s. They too broadcast Christian programming without we think any hidden agendas etc. Pace-setting broadcasters like Brock Whaley --- we think this is the Brock Whaley that was on Honolulu's 1040 AM and that we have an 80s tape of when he was on Chicago's Mighty Met, WMET-is an indication of the style we want. Regarding the co-channel "battle" there is a lot of material on our website about this matter: http://www.northernstar.no Maybe you will be kind enough to publish our comments in DXLD, and also forward this email to Brock? kind regards, Svenn Martinsen, CEO/Chairman, Northern Star International Broadcasters AS Northern Star International Broadcasters AS is a registered broadcasting company whose aim is to hold commercial radio licenses, and to trade in commercial radio and related media on a Christian foundation. http://www.northernstar.no Chairman S Martinsen; Directors E Morland, G Stokkeland Registration no.: 981 393 368. Registered office address: PO Box 153, N-5346 Ågotnes, Norway. E-mail:gm@northernstar.no Phone: + 011 47 56 32 17 73 Fax +011 47 56 33 42 30 (Martinsen, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. I just visited the KOMA web site and it's all decked out as "News-Talk 1520". Anybody in Oklahoma know what's going on??? Heavens to Murgatroyd!!! (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, Aug 14, NRC-AM via DXLD) I was just there for WTFDA, and here's the deal: KOMA has two sites. http://www.komaradio.com is the official one; you visited http://www.komanews.com, which exists but isn't the one they tell the public about. KOMA(AM) is a decidedly weird station at the moment. Most of the time, it simulcasts the oldies on KOMA-FM 92.5... except: -between midnight and 5 AM, it's leased-time religion -they carry Bill O'Reilly in the afternoon, and... -they break from the FM simulcast at the top of the hour for 5 minutes of CBS News. It's not handled very smoothly; they don't backtime the songs on the FM to end at 59:50, so they just fade 'em down mid-verse, pot up the AM ID, run the news and a weather forecast, and then rejoin the FM again mid-song. I suspect the existence of the komanews.com site is a harbinger of things to come at 1520, but they haven't fully come yet... -s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) I'm not sure which site I was at, now that two sites are brought up. I got there through All-Access. Since KOMA is not heard here in the daytime, except for some cooler wintertime reception, and very poorly at night, I haven't heard anything but Oldies and REL out of them. Didn't know about the Bill O'Reilly show being on there. I don't think they are REL all night, just from 2230-0100 local or something like that. As have heard OLD between 0400-0600. I usually try to catch 1/2 hour of their morning show on the way to work, as it's locally-produced (and very loosely produced, I might add) and kind of a throwback to olden times. Pleasant to listen to, though (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, ibid.) With Danny Williams (gh) Hi, Morris, Scott and All, Unfortunately, this change appears to have been several months in the making. Two things happened on the air in close proximity: They dropped their specialty shows, (The Wax Museum and the KOMA Kountdown.) Those were the programs that really made KOMA stand out from all of the rest. And they began to carry CBS News on the top of each (non-paid) hour. They also dropped most of the personality elements of their oldies format, and much of the identifiable sound of KOMA: the occasional older jingle, the diversity of the playlist which at least gave the listener an occasional treat. The changes began in earnest right around Memorial Day. When I heard that CBS news at the top of the hour, I figured it would just be a matter of time, to bring back an oldies phrase, before the other shoe would drop. I'll probably listen to KOMA about as often as I listen to 1170 in Tulsa now: rarely, if ever. In other words, they might as well go away, because now they're just as bland as all of the other stations on the dial. The consultants and bean counters have won another round. And listeners have lost something special (Rick Lewis, AZ, ibid.) It's in all the trades. The AM went News/Talk while the FM continues to be oldies (David Gleason, CA, Aug 14, NRC-AM via DXLD) ``Great oldies, all the time, at the touch of a button``. And so it was for the better part of the hour I listened. The trades must be wrong (KOMA 1520, 0207 UT Aug 16 via Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. Re 4790.02: As reported already some time ago, the strong and buzzy Islamabad transmitter all of a sudden corrected its frequency to very good synchronism with AIR, most certainly to take care of complaints caused by the loud het they were producing. (It is unlikely that another transmitter with exactly the same characteristic buzz would have taken the place of Old faithful.) 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Hello, today I have got an e-mail confirmation from Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay. I observed this station end of July testing on 15185 with 5 watts only. Meanwhile the station has suspended transmissions on that frequency in order to reconstruct the transmitter for greater power output. At present they are active on 7300 and 1610. Mr. Adán Mur, technical assistent of Radio América, points out that he is interested in getting reports on these frequencies, too. Reports can be sent to: ramerica@rieder.net.py bye (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, Aug 13, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Hello Glen; I thought this might interest you. too bad there aren't more technical facts in this story such as frequency and power of the station. I guess they figure nobody wants to know and doubtless most people wouldn't understand it anyway. Yours, (Bruce Atchison, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Monday, August 14, 2002 CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION CLOSED DOWN Importance of broadcast media cited By Noel T. Tarrazona, Philippine correspondent for ASSIST News Service ZAMBOANGA, CITY, PHILIPPINES (ANS) -- After more than 20 years of successful operations, the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) in the Philippines has temporarily closed one of its network stations, DXAS, the only Christian AM radio station in Zamboanga City. Various external and internal circumstances to the ministry forced FEBC leadership to take time to evaluate the station`s future and rebuild its operations. ``DXAS will shift focus from primarily reaching an evangelical audience to expanding its outreach to more marginalized Muslim communities of the Zamboanga & asilan areas,`` stated Enrico Dizon, FEBC Philippine`s national broadcast group director. ``This new thrust will require new programming, a new staff and new support base. These three areas will be the main focus with rebuilding the station.`` A skeletal staff remains at the station to handle administrative requirements and facilities maintenance until the station resumes on the air. DXAS has introduced Christ to many among the various ethnic groups in Zamboanga City and neighboring towns. Robert Lozada, who served as announcer of DXAS for 22 years, cited the importance of the Christian broadcast media for outreach especially in Zamboanga City where complex culture exists. He is appealing to all Christians to help pray that God will open the way for DXAS to resume its operations. DXAS has introduced Christ to many among the various ethnic groups in Zamboanga City and neighboring towns. Zamboanga City is just an hour away from Basilan Province, a known lair of the Abu Sayyaf, the group responsible for the abduction of American missionary couple Martin and Gracia Burnham. DXAS used to receive letters and complimentary responses from Basilan residents at the height of its popularity in the mid 1980s. (ANS Aug 14 via Bruce Atchison, VE6XTC, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bruce Portzer`s PAL says it was on 1116, 5 kW directional NE/SW, included some English at 1000-1300 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. RADIO-TV TRANSMISSION CHIEF SEEKS QUICK SWITCHOVER TO DIGITAL The head of Russia's state-owned TV and radio transmission enterprise has called on the government to take out a 3bn-dollar loan to switch from analogue to digital broadcasting over five years - eight years sooner than the official target date of 2015. The English-language Moscow Times newspaper on 14 August quoted Gennadiy Sklyar, head of the Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting System (RTRS), as saying: "If Europe switches to digital and we remain in analogue, we will become an enclave unable to develop." Sklyar, who was addressing a news conference on the 13th, said that since there was no money in the state budget to modernize Russia's TV and radio transmission system, he believed a large state credit was necessary to fund the switchover to digital broadcasting. RTRS, a vast state TV and radio conglomerate, includes some 15,000 TV transmitters, more than 3,000 radio transmitters and relay lines. Media analysts say it is in a dilapidated state. About 80 per cent of the working transmitters should already have been decommissioned, according to Sklyar. He noted that replacing them with new analogue equipment would mean paying twice over, because they would have to be replaced later with digital - hence his call for the government to take out a loan and pay for the investment. Sklyar said there were no plans to privatize RTRS, but the company may form a subsidiary joint-stock company to attract a strategic investor. Several European telecom firms had expressed interest, Sklyar added, although he declined to name them. Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Aug 02 (via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Approx. 0730 15 Aug UT. A few hours ago I heard the anti-Brother Stair broadcast on 7415 [WBCQ]. It was during the half hour beginning 0100 if I'm not mistaken. On that broadcast it was alleged that the only reason Brother Stair got himself out on bond is that he coughed up $400,000! As I understand it, this was $200,000 each for two charges on which high bond was set. They also played a tape of a local newscast from a "Channel 5" (dated prior to Stair's release) in which it was stated that the judge is considering an electronic tether on Stair. I don't know if this was finally made a restriction. But in answer to a caller's query the host of the show did say that Brother Stair is free to go anywhere within South Carolina. His passport has been confiscated. Also, his trial is set for "after the first of the year." But I heard no exact date given on that. The hosts speculated that Stair has millions of dollars stashed away, and that some of this may be in overseas banks. Meanwhile his radio show continues with (primarily) old tapes of fire & brimstone sermons. I should also mention: these guys on 7415 are very anti-Brother Stair. They alleged that at one time Stair made a pro-abortion sermon. I am very skeptical of this. I've heard Stair in the past on this subject, and he has never been anything but anti-abortion when I've heard him on the subject. These guys on 7415 are themselves, in my opinion, not to be trusted with everything they say. They want to nail Brother Stair and might be over-zealous in that process. Lastly, I note that in response to my own query to Brother Stair's e- mail address, he said simply "out on bond." Didn't say that he coughed up $400,000. I'm sure this is a fact he does not want his regular listeners to know! I'm sure the people who sent that money did not expect it to be used for that purpose! (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: "HeartBeat" focuses on Alzheimer's Disease Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In our cultural magazine "Spectrum", a Lithuanian Hamlet in Stockholm, Midsummer Night's Dream in Gotland, and the Baltic Music Center Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" another chance to hear about the Swedish film industry and to meet Supernatural Also, don't forget our interviews with Swedish political party leaders on Wednesdays, as the September 15 elections approach. We've now put together a webpage with links to RealAudio of the previously broadcast interviews, plus more information about the various parties. Just go to radiosweden.org and click on "Election 2002". (SCDX/MediaScan Aug 15 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Got the new second-half of 2002 VOT printed schedule in the mail earlier in the week. Obviously laid out quite recently, since the first feature article concerns Turkey's third-place finish in the World Cup. Note that the frequency tables show that the frequency for the 0300-0400 UT English broadcast to North America and Europe will be changing from 11655 to 9650 kHz as of 2 September. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, Aug 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. *PROTEST OVER THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 'BAN'* http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/2192086.stm Playwright Harold Pinter joins other public figures to protest at Radio 4's exclusion of non-religious contributors to Thought for the Day... (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ANGER AS BBC KEEPS THE FAITH ON `THOUGHT FOR THE DAY' By Anita Singh, Showbusiness Correspondent, PA News More than 100 public figures today sent a letter to the BBC protesting at the ban on atheist contributors to the Radio 4 Thought for the Day slot. Playwright Harold Pinter, MP Tony Banks and Sir Ludovic Kennedy are among the famous names to back the campaign. Thought for the Day has been part of the Radio 4 schedules for decades and the BBC is currently looking at ways of "refreshing" the two-and- a-half minute slot. But producers have pledged to continue their policy of allowing only religious contributors, and will decline appearances by atheists. The decision prompted the collection of prominent figures in politics and the media to write the letter to BBC governors. It read: "By resolutely retaining the ban, the BBC is discriminating against the non-religious, and thus giving the impression of promoting religion as the one source of ethics. We call on the Governors to end this ban." Iain Banks, Whitbread Prize-winning author Philip Pullman and John Fowles, who penned The French Lieutenant's Woman, are among the writers who have signed the letter. Other signatories include former Labour leader Michael Foot, TV personality Claire Rayner and veteran jazz singer George Melly. The list of 102 names consists of 20 MPs, 13 peers and a raft of scientists, academics, journalists, entertainers and poets. The letter was sent by the British Humanist Association, the National Secular Society and the Rationalist Press Association. BBC bosses reportedly wanted to revamp Thought for the Day, part of the Today programme, because it is too "bland". A spokesman for the petitioners said: "This adds insult to injury. The BBC admits that Thought for the Day is boring, and yet they will not consider opening it up to people who might have something less hidebound and more stimulating to say. "The BBC is supposed to reflect the diversity of the whole country, so it is unacceptable that the growing number of non-religious people - well over 10 million - should be subjected to this discrimination. "The Corporation wouldn't dare do this to any other minority. Today is not a religious programme, yet this slot forms part of it." But a BBC spokeswoman said: "We have no plans to introduce secular contributors. Today is a secular programme so it is appropriate that we take two or three minutes to look at world issues from a faith perspective. "The contributors are not just Christian, we have voices from every faith represented." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ATHEISTS GET EQUAL TIME ON BBC Story Filed: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 6:48 PM EDT LONDON (AP) -- Some of Britain's most eminent writers and thinkers are demanding equal time for atheism on a daily religious radio spot that is a cherished ritual to many believers of all faiths. ``Thought for the Day,'' the British Broadcasting Corp.'s venerable ``God slot,'' responded Wednesday by giving listeners a dose of atheism, as the debate continued over religion's place on the national broadcaster. Richard Dawkins, Oxford University's professor for the public understanding of science, was granted an experimental ``Thought for the Day'' slot an hour after Anne Atkins, a newspaper columnist and wife of a Church of England vicar, had presented the daily fixture. He summoned the nation to abandon religion -- to ``leave the crybaby phase and finally come of age.'' The issue has touched a British nerve. ``Thought for Today'' may be just two minutes and 45 seconds long, but since 1970 it has been a fixture in one of the nation's most influential news programs -- ``Today'' on Radio 4, which draws 6.45 million listeners. The unprecedented atheist ``Thought'' came a day after more than a hundred prominent atheists -- including playwrights Harold Pinter and Arnold Wesker, authors Iain Banks and John Fowles, and Nobel Peace Prize winner Joseph Rotblat -- published a letter demanding equal treatment. ``Thought for the Day'' has regular contributions from Sikhs, Jews and Christians, but does not welcome contributors who hold no religious beliefs. ``By resolutely retaining the ban, the BBC is discriminating against the nonreligious, and thus giving the impression of promoting religion as the one source of ethics,'' the letter said. The debate over a program that is meant to encourage thoughtful contemplation quickly turned angry. ``To ask an atheist to contribute to ('Thought for Today') would be like asking an earthworm to comment on quantum physics,'' Gerald Aves commented in his e-mail to the ``Today'' program Web site. Phil Healey responded: ``This is an absolutely perfect example of the bigotry of those people who believe in fairy tales.'' Church attendance has declined sharply in Britain, but a BBC poll two years ago found that 62 percent affirmed their belief in God and in Jesus Christ. On Wednesday's official ``Thought for the Day,'' Atkins tackled the age-old question of ``where is God?'' in relation to the recent disappearance of two 10-year-old girls from a rural town, now feared to have been abducted and perhaps killed. ``Sometimes there aren't any answers, or the answers we get are worthless, or no answers,'' she said. She cited the Gospel account of Jesus praying at Gethsemane: ``He prayed, and he wept, and he put his life in the hands of God. And in the fear and the agony, God was there.'' Dawkins attacked the notion of a creator as ``infantile.'' ``We have been born and we are going to die,'' he said. ``But before we die we have time to understand why we were born, time to understand the universe into which we were born and with that understanding we finally grow up and realize that there is no help for us outside our own efforts,'' he said. ``Humanity can now leave the crybaby phase and finally come of age.'' In an editorial, The Daily Telegraph said atheists had no reason to complain. ``With very few exceptions, what you get from rabbi, priest and mullah alike is Religion Lite: doctrine so watered down as to be inoffensive to all -- or, rather, offensive only in its patronizing banality,'' the newspaper said. In a short debate on BBC radio, jazz singer George Melly, who represented the atheist point of view, was asked whether there was nothing offensive about ``Thought for the Day.'' ``Well, except its existence, really,'' Melly drawled. (AP via DXLD) ** U K. BBC URGED TO DISCLOSE ACTION ON NEWS HACKING CLAIM By Gavin Cordon, Whitehall Editor, PA News The Tories were today calling on the BBC to disclose what action it had taken to investigate claims by its senior foreign correspondent John Simpson that Downing Street had hacked into the Corporation's computer. In a new book, Mr Simpson claimed that the computer hacking had been part of an attempt by officials to influence news reports critical of the Government. He said that reporters had been contacted by Government officials asking them to tone down their reports before they had even been broadcast. Although there was no proof, Mr Simpson said that a number of journalists were "morally certain" that the officials had been reading their scripts in the computer system. Downing Street vehemently dismissed the allegations as "complete rubbish" and "utter drivel". However, the shadow secretary for the office of the deputy prime minister, David Davis, has written to the chairman of the BBC Board of Governors, Gavyn Davies, asking what steps had been taken to investigate the claims. "If Mr Simpson is right, there has been attempted interference in the BBC's news coverage using information that should not have been available to either No 10 or the Labour Party," he said in his letter. "These are serious allegations. The Charter requires the BBC to provide independent and impartial news coverage. "The public needs to be reassured that the BBC has done all it can to ascertain whether any improper conduct has taken place." The Sunday Telegraph, which is serialising Mr Simpson's book News from No Man's Land, reported that BBC managers ordered an inquiry after staff reported their concerns following Labour's 1997 general election victory. The investigation was said to have centred on former BBC employees who may still have known passwords and may have been able to gain access to the system. Although no proof was found, the BBC newsroom shortly afterwards switched to a more secure computer system, the paper said. A BBC spokesman said that there had not been any "formal" investigation into the claims. He added: "Although we don't discuss issues of security, if there was any abuse we would put a stop to it." In his book, Mr Simpson said that when one journalist wrote a script on his computer for the next news bulletin he would be rung up by Downing Street before it was broadcast and "lobbied on a point or two". "This didn't happen just once or twice. Downing Street has also rung up The World at One programme to complain about the items it was planning to run," he said. He claimed the tactics were part of a widespread attempt by the Government to pressurise the BBC and other broadcasters, adding: "Several colleagues are morally certain that it is happened." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ schedule changes: 7415 Starting Tuesday, August 13, 2002 Tuesday thru Friday EVM Jewish Radio Network 12:15 a.m. - 1:15 a.m. link: yspivak@aol.com Rabbi Yaakov Spivak 845-352-1010 Monday 0415 12:15am - 1:15am 7415 Radio Timtron Worldwide (repeat) link: timtron@hotmail.com CANCELLED - Last Program Monday, August 12, 2002 ---------------------------------------------------------- Thursday 0415 12:15am - 12:45am 7415 Glenn Hauser's World of Radio Link: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/ Last day at this time: 8/8/2002 STARTING 8/19/2002 MOVES TO: Monday, 12:15am - 12:45am ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday 0445 12:45am - 1:15am 7415 Radio D.C. Link: radiodc@hotmail.com Last day at this time: 8/8/2002 STARTING 8/19/2002 MOVES TO: Monday, 12:45am - 1:15am (WBCQ Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. ARABS LOVE THE MUSIC ON NEW U.S. GOVERNMENT RADIO STATION, NOT AS EXCITED ABOUT ITS NEWS Sun Aug 11, 8:24 PM ET --- By DIANA ELIAS, Associated Press Writer KUWAIT - Young Arab listeners rave about the cool international playlist on the new U.S. government radio station designed just for them - but they complain that when the programming switches from music to news, it deteriorates into propaganda. In targeting those 30 and under - 60 percent of the Arab world's 280 million population — Radio Sawa has ditched the news and public affairs focus of the Voice of America Arabic-language service that it replaced. Its music-heavy programming resembles a youth-oriented station in the United States, only without the commercials. While U.S. pop stations use music to draw audiences to ads for consumer products, Radio Sawa — "Radio Together" in Arabic — hopes the music will help sell American views and ideas to Arab listeners. It began broadcasting from Kuwait, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in March and plans to transmit from more countries in the Middle East. Among Arabs, the United States is largely seen as blindly backing Israel in its confrontation with the Palestinians. Many in the region also believe the U.S.-backed war on terrorism is directed at Islam, not only at Osama bin Laden's followers. Radio Sawa seems to face a barrier of skepticism if it wants to dispel those notions. "I used to listen to it, but stopped once I found it was American radio," said Yousef, a 30-year-old Palestinian living in the United Arab Emirates. "They are trying to improve their image and introduce themselves in a different way, through music instead of politics. I know them, and I still don't like them." Yousef, who refused to give his full name, said he watches Qatar's Al-Jazeera television and Saudi Arabia's Middle East Broadcasting Corporation for the news. Among Arabs, Al-Jazeera is prized for talk shows that address political taboos and host Israeli officials who never get on other Arabic stations — though the station's reporting is distinctly pro-Arab. Lebanon's LBC and Future TV stations are popular for music and entertainment — and for young women hosts who flirt with callers. The BBC's Arabic service is praised as reliable and fair, and while some English-speakers tune in CNN, many complain it has a pro- U.S. slant. Buthaina Jad'on, a Jordanian teacher, said she was "shocked" when Radio Sawa interrupted its programming recently to broadcast a speech by U.S. President George W. Bush. "I don't like its political news because they are biased to America and show the Arabs in a different and wrong image," said the 27-year-old. "I listen to its music only and turn it off when the news begins." Norman Pattiz, the primary inspiration behind the station, said Americans believe the news as reported by the Arab media is "skewed." He said dispelling false notions was not Sawa's first goal, but it may counter some Arab misperceptions about America. In a typical hour of Sawa's music-filled programming, about 15 minutes are dedicated to news in shows at quarter past and quarter to the hour. Along with songs by international and Arab stars like Brian Adams, Lebanon's Pascal Mishalani, Britney Spears and Egypt's Hisham Abbas, the 24-hour station broadcasts public service messages against drugs, and drinking and driving. "Listen to us, and we will listen to you," it promises in Arabic. In addition to speeches by top U.S. officials, the station offers interviews with them. An Arabic translation of the Bush speech that angered listener Jad'on was broadcast 15 minutes after the president made it in Washington. In June, Sawa had a lengthy chat with Secretary of State Colin Powell, with Arabic translation played over Powell's explanation of U.S. Middle East peace strategies. The station also has a daily roundup of news about Iraq intended for Iraqi listeners. On its website, Radio Sawa says it is committed to the American tradition of being "accurate, objective and comprehensive" in its reporting. Pattiz scoffed at charges Sawa aired U.S. propaganda. "We wouldn't know how to do propaganda if we were asked to," he said. The station has no firm statistics yet on audience size. But Pattiz, who is involved with the board that oversees U.S. government broadcasting abroad, said research in some Middle Eastern cities indicates 10 percent of the area's population was listening to Radio Sawa. "Ninety-eight percent of the population of the Middle East had never listened to VOA's Arabic service," he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. Pattiz said that when the radio's Middle East broadcast center in Dubai opens later this year, there will be "larger blocks of talk and interview programs." E-mails from anonymous Arab listeners provided to the AP by Sawa describe the station as "so cool," "my favorite till the end of time," and a "great success." Some messages even praised Sawa's news — "My mom and dad and their friends like you because your music is good and the news is not biased at all. I think so, too," wrote a 15-year-old Jordanian student. Saad Jaafar, assistant undersecretary of Kuwait's Information Ministry, said Radio Sawa has "achieved some success ... but not as a source for news." For that, most in Kuwait still tune to the BBC, he said. Radio Sawa is popular enough to prompt some worries Western ideas will come with the pop music, undermining Muslim values. "What can we offer as a substitute for this radio station that targets the new generation?" wrote Sajed al-Abdali, a columnist for the daily Al-Rai Al-Amm. "This generation is my son and your son, my daughter and your daughter." Walid Mohammed, a Kuwaiti, listens to Sawa but says he hates it when the radio describes Palestinian attacks against Israelis as "suicide bombings." To him and most other Arabs, they are "martyr operations." The 33-year-old engineer believes the station, with its music format, amounts to American propaganda that could very well affect the impressionable young. "Unfortunately," he said, "Radio Sawa will do quite well." --- On the Net: http://www.radiosawa.com (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. 9465, WMLK at 1732-1800+ 13? Aug w/rx. Fabulous signal without the usual QSB. Overmodulated. ID at +32 and +02 (Liz Cameron, MI, WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe they are finally testing new 250 kW at 125? At exactly the same hour Aug 14, I found only traces of a signal, tho the WWCR 9475 sideband is extreme. Rx must mean religion, not prescription nor receiver... (gh, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB TESTING NEWLY CONSTRUCTED ANTENNA TO RUSSIA AND ASIA For Immediate Release 15 August 2002 POC: Peter J. Taggart Today, the Federal Communications Commission approved tests of Radio Station WWRB's newest antenna system, the 360 azimuth dual feed reflector curtain antenna. The frequencies that the FCC has authorized tests on range from 5 to 27 MHz; more specifically, 5.070, 5.085, 7.315, 9.495, 12.160, 12.172, 15.825, 17.495, and 26.800 MHz. The testing will occur at various times and frequencies with no defined schedule as of now. Radio Station WWRB is the only private for hire radio station offering widely varying antenna directions; for coverage maps, please visit our web site at http://www.wwrb.org or http://www.worldwidereligiousbroadcasting.org (Dave Frantz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So not supposed to be 25800? This is the second time given as 26800 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. GERMANY. 15715, High Adventure at 1632-1700 Aug 13. I thought this was Radio Xuriyo --- thought I heard something to that effect. Sounds like Ethiopian language. Announced a website as questionsforgod.org and gave an address as Hope from Heaven in Limassol, Cyprus. Didn't catch Box #. High Adventure ID at 1700 (Liz Cameron, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WLW and IBOC: They are definitely testing tonight, cycling the IBOC off and on at regular intervals. When it's on, it completely wipes out 710 here unless I null WLW. There is also a noticeable degradation in the audio quality of WLW from added in-band noise. (Barry McLarnon, Ottawa ON, Aug 13, NRC-AM via DXLD) Were I within range, I would make tapes and take notes and try to get them in front of everyone at WLW, WOR and CC I could. I'm hoping NRCers will leap into action and let them know what IBOC does to clear channel stations, figuring no one carries about protecting the Class 2-3-4 stations outside their secondary coverage area (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) Oh, don't think for one minute that Clear Channel doesn't have plenty of engineers monitoring these tests carefully. If they hear interference to or from WLW or WOR during the tests (and the consensus among non-Ibiquity-affiliated engineers I trust is that they will), it will be carefully measured, recorded, documented with 8-by-10 glossy pictures with a paragraph on the back of each one, and sent down to Washington. And friends... OK - enough bad Arlo Guthrie parody. I'm sure they wouldn't mind having reports from DXers as well, specifically addressing the effects of the IBOC tests on nighttime skywave reception of 700, 710 and adjacent frequencies. (690 won't matter, it's Canadian - but I suspect WGN is paying attention this week!). Paul Jellison is WLW's chief engineer, Kerry Richards is CE at WOR, and they're both DXer-friendly. The addresses in the Log are good. You all know what to do... -s (Scott Fybush, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) Seems as if notifying the Canadian licensee wouldn't hurt, either, and certainly might help to notify WGN's CE also if they suffer any degradation (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Kevin Redding in Phoenix and I were checking 700 last night around 8:30 pm Pacific, exchanging e-mails, and we both were hearing some digital junk around the frequency. Because of XETRA-690, I wasn't able to hear much below 700 but there was definitely some digital white noise and "whine" about 700, reminiscent of the stuff I heard during the "KUSA" tests on 1660 back in April, 1995. WLW itself was not heard (it is one of the best eastern clears here, though) but it seems likely that some of its IBOC artifacts were making it out this way. This was heard even on my CC Radio with its internal loopstick. If this is any indication of what skywave will be like with IBOC. . . . . .EEEEEEYYYOWWWW!!!! (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, Aug 14, ibid.) It`s making its way all the way out west. No sign of WLW because of KWLW but on 690 and 710 there was noise to be heard. I could hear 690 noise better than the 710 noise because of KUET. What I heard was noise much like the noise you hear on a TV with no station on a channel. This noise cycled on and off at times. By 2100 it was way gone. I had a little whine but mostly the white noise. AM BCB DX is deader than a doornail for a while during the transitional time if this is the case. That noise is some kind of ugly. It`s not the buzzing you got in the FM tests. It sounds like white noise, the roar of the ocean, with a little hint of digital buzz. It`s worse on AM. It`s everything you feared would happen and more (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) No, they are NOT cycling IBOC off and on, but according to their CE, Paul Jellison, toggling sideband from -16 to -22 to off at night. He said with 5 kHz analog audio and IBOC *OFF* he could hear WOR 800 feet from WLW's tower with a DX-398!! (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) If you go to the WOR website at http://www.wor710.com/ and select "Inside WOR" from the menu on the lefthand side, you'll come to link called "WOR will be testing IBOC". Follow that link, and you'll come to another one called "A letter to our listeners from WOR's Director of Engineering". The letter from the DoE (Tom Ray) says, in part: "I would like to personally thank you for your interest in WOR's pioneering venture into IBOC, or In Band On Channel, digital transmission. I would also like to ask your assistance in our experiment as New York's first and only digital AM station. You won't be able to listen to the digital portion of WOR's transmission; the radios are simply not available at this time. But you can help us by filling out our IBOC form. We are interested in knowing if you notice any difference in the analog WOR signal you presently listen to. This information will be helpful to iBiquity in their completion of the development of this technology." I couldn't find any "IBOC Form" on the site, but if you select "Contact WOR" from the menu on the top of the page, you'll find a link to a general-purpose comment form... or scroll down the Contact page and you'll find Tom Ray's email address. He's requesting feedback, so let's give him some! I don't know if the WLW website has any IBOC test info... my browser hung while trying to load their home page. :-( (Barry McLarnon, Ottawa, ON, ibid.) Here`s the address for IBOC reports to WLW. wlwam@clearchannel.com http://www.700wlw.com/contact.html Since I could hear the noise here, I sent them a icky report (Kevin Redding, ibid.) Awful! Checked Aug 15 at 0457 UT and there was equal noise on 690 and 710 wreaking havoc upon KGGF and KCMO. It would slowly rise and fade, and sometimes apparently go off; since WLW is rock solid here on 700, I doubt the IBOC (obviously really meaning in-band, OFF channel) hash fading was due to propagation. If this is what we have to look forward to, goodbye mediumwave (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) IBOC does the same thing on FM. This is why I have said repeatedly that you can kiss this hobby good-bye if it ever gets adopted. You might also make a case that outside of major metro areas, you might also kiss most radio listening good-bye. If most stations ever go IBOC, you would probably only get a listenable signal from nearby transmitters --- everything less than a local signal would get killed by IBOC from adjacent channels. we're talking about whether or not you can even get a listenable signal!!! Give IBOC a listen to on WLW --- note the sidebands and how they interfere with the adjacents on both sides. With IBOC, you won't have an AM signal 10 kHz wide...it will be 30 kHz wide for all practical purposes. On FM, it will be 3 channels wide. How many weaker but listenable signals will this take out if it's adopted on a widespread basis???? (Joe Fela, NJ, amfmtvdx via DXLD) I'm now hearing that hiss between 685 and 715 kHz! 0020 EDT. 690/710 stations are plenty audible but a hiss is definitely being heard under their signals and especially obvious on the 715 & 685 sidebands. No hissing noise noted on any other signals beyond those sidebands. RX=Sony ICF-2010 fed by 25' buried coax to balun & low noise longwire antenna ~150' pointed to the SW (Fred Nordquist Clay NY, Aug 15, NRC- AM via DXLD) This was my observation in Battlefield MO (just southwest of Springfield) as well. The hiss was most prominent on the high side of 700, but it was definitely audible on the OUTER sidebands of 690 and 710 (lower sideband of 690, upper sideband of 710). And it wasn't by any means continuous. This on a Sony ICF-7600G, listening in bed around 2230 CDT last night (Randy Stewart/Springfield MO, ibid.) I've been quietly listening and documenting these tests, and I have to say that I'm not impressed at the state of this technology. Honestly, Scott, these sidebands are really going to cause problems. As Kevin pointed out, you can hear the digital in the lack of analog content. One of the tests I did was to shield the 2010, and then start reducing the RF input while monitoring the main carriers (700, and 710). Then I started looking at sidebands from 3 kHz up to 15 kHz out. In both cases, the interference was worse than simple sideband splatter when a station was pushing the modulation envelope. Conclusion: IBOC would not work, and if pushed on consumers would be ten times worse than the break-up of clears, and the power increases on local channels at night. Again, IBOC should be move to it's own band, or let's all go the route that Canada took. RX: Sony 2010, GE SR-III, Link CSM Service Monitor with Tek-2710 spectrum. Ant: Vobbe ferrite loop, 30 ft ewe, and 500 foot shunt vertical (guess where) (Fred Vobbe, Lima OH, ibid.) ** U S A. I've been floating around the Northeast for a few days, mostly in upper Maine and New Hampshire. Some notes: Someone on 680 in Newark, NJ with classical music. Presume a Part 15/pirate operation. South Boston x-band signals: 1620 Haitian music 1640 French talk, bad audio 1650 Logan IAP TIS 1670 very weak 1690 French mor Someone on 1250 is off frequency. Het heard all day in southern New England (RI, Boston, NE Connecticut) and at night everywhere. (Bangor, Augusta, Plattsburgh) WARE, or a pirate? Seems about 500 Hz off (Doug Smith, W9WI, Aug 13, NRC-AM via DXLD) The off freq 1250 would be WKBR Manchester NH. They're 500 Hz low (David A. Gardiner, WVCH 740-The Christian Station, Chester (Philadelphia) PA, ibid.) ** U S A. Re KLON/KKJZ: The high school station in El Cerrito, a few miles north of Berkeley, CA, KECG, takes KLON er um KKJZ off the satellite when they don't have their own shows. Hmm - besides 88.1 they're now on 97.1. I don't know to what extent if any that might extend its range. They were pretty weak as of maybe four years ago. http://www.kecg.org (Joel Rubin, NY, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CARSON RADIO STATION GETS NEW LOCAL OWNER Andy Bourelle, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, 8/13/2002 05:27 pm The Holder Hospitality Group Inc., owner of five northern Nevada casinos, has completed its purchase of Carson City`s only radio station, promising to return 1300 KPTL to community-based programming, officials said Tuesday... http://www.rgj.com/news/stories/html/2002/08/13/21500.php 73, (via Alan Johnson Reno, NV, DXLD) ** U S A. HEALTH WOES TEMPORARILY CLOSED `BIG BAND' STATION Copyright Dayton Newspapers Inc. Aug 11, 2002 EATON - WCTM-FM (1130), which has been silent for eight months, will return to the airwaves Sept. 3. That's the word from owner Stanley Coning, who took the little 250- watt Big Band-era radio station off the air in December while dealing with serious health problems. `I've had heart and prostate surgery, and now I'm walking, riding a bicycle and feeling pretty good,' the 79-year-old Coning said. `I really wanted to resume broadcasting in July, but it was just too soon. I appreciate the listeners sticking with me through all of this. They've been wonderful.' Coning - WCTM's owner, president, general manager, music director, chief of engineering and only employee - temporarily shut down the station on Dec. 28 after getting Federal Communications Commission permission to do so. At that time, he told the FCC he is the sole operator of the station and that his health prevented him from keeping his one-of-a-kind radio operation on the air. Then, on Feb. 26, Coning requested and received an FCC extension of the shutdown, noting that he was undergoing treatment for several medical conditions. When granting Coning the extension, the FCC reminded him that it is not to exceed 180 days. The federal agency also said the broadcast licenses for WCTM will automatically expire if broadcast operations do not resume by 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 29. `I'll meet that deadline with plenty of time to spare, and I'm really anxious to get back on the air,' he said, noting that he's flattered by inquiries about the station from dozens of people who have contacted the Dayton Daily News . One of those was Nancy Nill of Washington Twp., who said: `I keep tuning in WCTM, but it's not there. You tell the owner that if he begins broadcasting again, he definitely has a listener here.' WCTM will return with the same format, which features a playlist that includes Glenn Miller, Ted Weems, Guy Lombardo and Billy Vaughn. The station, which will broadcast from sunup to sundown, will also air news and sports reports, weather updates and farm news from the USA News and Ohio News networks. `One thing may change, though,' Coning said. `I will probably be a noncommercial operation, except for the commercials that come from the networks, so I will welcome any financial help my listeners can give me.` (via Artie Bigley, OH, Aug 15, DXLD) ** U S A. Major League Soccer (the 10-team US professional soccer league) announced today that it has entered into a partnership with Radio Única that will provide unprecedented Spanish-language radio coverage for the League, and a powerful marketing opportunity for advertisers and sponsors eager to reach the growing US Hispanic community. Read more about this story at: http://www.mlsnet.com/content/02/mls0814unica.html Also check http://www.radiounica.com (in Spanish) for more info (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com Reflecting on 9/11, By RICHARD HUFF, DAILY NEWS TV EDITOR, Wednesday, August 14th, 2002 Clear Channel Radio, which operates 1,200 radio stations around the country, including five here, will mark the anniversary of Sept. 11 with special programming on the morning of the one-year mark. That day, at 8:45 a.m., all Clear Channel stations will pause for an on-air segment that will include a two-minute memorial, two minutes of silence and a message to listeners. Locally, Clear Channel owns WKTU, WWPR, WLTW, WAXQ and WHTZ. Besides the morning tributes, there will be related programming on Clear Channel stations throughout the day. Some 33 reporters and hosts from Clear Channel stations will be positioned at Ground Zero to mark the anniversary. "Virtually everyone in America will be remembering that tragic day a year ago," Clear Channel President Mark Mays said in a statement. "We want to use our resources to help Americans reflect." (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO TRACKS NEW AGE MUSIC GETS AN 'EDGE' ON NEW WMBR-FM SHOW By Clea Simon, Globe Correspondent, 8/15/2002 New age music, says Ken Field in a suitably Zen-style answer, is best described by what it is not. ''It's music that isn't jazz and isn't classical and isn't rock and isn't really world music,'' says the Cambridge-based musician. ''It's something that's in the cracks between the genres. ''New age has a funny reputation,'' he says. ''In other parts of the country, New age has a broader definition, and it does encompass a lot of very creative music.'' With his new show, ''The New Edge,'' debuting Monday on WMBR-FM (88.1), Field hopes to broaden local perspectives as well. The weekly program, airing from 8-10 p.m., takes over from an established new age show... http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/227/living/New_age_music_gets_an_Edge_on_new_WMBR_FM_showP.shtml (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, I was disappointed in what you had to say about the WRO-WPE-WDX Call Sign systems. I have always thought you were a promoter of the hobby of shortwave radio listening. To you it may be a scam but to others a good tracking system for registered swlers. To me it was not, "be like a ham". I have a rather long name, and I just got tired of writing it down each time I sent out a letter, so when the call signs came about, I got one and have been using them ever since as you know. Nowadays, everything is by computer and I can put almost my whole name in the address line as below. As I have found out, my particular call sign is known world-wide and I get letters often addressed to me by my call sign only. YES! There are people in our hobby as elsewhere, who are on EGO Trips all through their lives but that is just human nature for folks here on earth. I believe the Popular Electronics system was a good one for swl's. In short, the call signs are IDENTIFIERS for those in our great hobby. Keep up the good work in keeping the hobby alive and regrowing due to all the conflicts in Central Asia and the Middle East. Have a good listening weekend (Stewart H. MacKenzie, WDX6AA, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Stewart, nothing personal; this is hardly the first time I have expressed such an opinion, and I`m not surprised you object, as one of the foremost proponents of the practice. By all means, if it works for you, however you justify it, have at it. I don`t think exposing the scam amounts to not promoting the hobby! Quite the contrary. Ego-trip by using one`s name instead of a callsign?? One might argue that latching on to the very first letters in the WDX6 series is a kind of ego trip. See the previous item about WPE really being a mailing-list builder for Gilfer (Glenn Hauser, SUPER5EDITOR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. Información extraída de: http://www.radioartigas.com.uy/ RADIO LA VOZ DE ARTIGAS CX118 - 1180 KC - A.M - CXA3 - 6075 KC - O.C. Única emisora del interior con ONDA CORTA CX A 3, en 49 mts. cubriendo gran parte de Sudamérica. Está instalada y trabaja con la mas avanzada tecnología en radiodifusión.... (via Conexión Digital via DXLD) Long puff piece about all their equipment, etc., but --- are they active on 6075? I think not (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. A radio station, a new one or using existing transmitter is being heard at my QTH in Punjab on 5050 kHz during our evenings (local time). The program consists of continuous Afghani music: Dari /Pashto, occasional Indian songs even. Is this Bishkek, Kirghistan or a New one? 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar for GRDXC, Aug 15 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 12085/12115: FYI, the song that Tarek Zeidan refers to, the one they open with, is online in streaming Real Audio format at http://gamal.topcities.com/songs/watani1.html It is indeed a stirring song, and I don't even speak Arabic! (Andy Sennitt, Aug 12, WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clandestine? via RUSSIA I first heard this one about June 20, but it never IDs so I gave up on it. Programming is a half hour of recorded mid-60th propaganda materials in Arabic on 12115, through some sort of feeder with about half a minute delay to the S5 poorly modulated // on 12085. Whether this is --- according to some Syrian opposition sources --- a reactivation of V of the Arab Syria, or some new clandestine activity, nobody can say for sure,they have not announced any ID since mid June. The program is no program! you get old Arabic songs mainly from the 60th, 25 minutes out of 30. On an irregular basis they are broadcasting human right abuse in Syria and that is something I did not hear initially in June. No ID In the opening announcement but they will give the impression that they are still test transmission 'abshero be al-leqa' al-kareb' watch for the new meeting. Have a look here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1789905.stm (Mahmud Fathi, Germany, Jun-Aug, Cumbre DX Aug 15 via DXLD) Also on 0330-0400 on 9950, audible but weak here. Voice of Arab Syria was via Iraq until it went off in 1997 (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. What`s the station in Russian on 19010 at 1404 Aug 13? (Ron Trotto, IL) That frequency is scheduled for many times of day from Iranawila, Sri Lanka, RFE/RL and VOA services to Afghanistan. At 1330-1430, per DXLD 2-125, it is RFE Dari, 334 degrees, which also favors North America. If it was really in Russian, there may have been a feed mixup or recent change (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM +++ A looong thread on DRM and digital broadcasting in general starts here: http://www.topica.com/lists/swprograms/read/message.html?mid=1607403937&sort=d&start=14916 (swprograms via gh, DXLD) e.g.: There are lots of 'dynamics' going on in the 'media mix' game these days -- internet, local placement, FM vs. AM vs. shortwave, age-of-audience, etc. As a person who depends on the continued use of 'direct to audience' communications via 'traditional and terrestrial' means -- read shortwave and distant mediumwave -- I worry that in the 'rush' to digitize everything in sight, we may well be ignoring the reality of the REAL PEOPLE who still make use of shortwave radio! When do you suppose a person in the rural areas of Africa or Asia will next go out and BUY a NEW radio? Not soon I'll wager. Therefore, any wholesale 'switch' to a digital anything will leave huge numbers of existing audience for shortwave out in the cold! What communications/entertainment 'things' do you suppose people in the developing world would give a years salary to get in their house these days? I'll bet if we rank them, their desire for a shortwave- capable radio falls WAY below; a computer, a television, the internet, a DVD player, a VCR, etc, etc. Whether we're able to face it or not, shortwave radio is rapidly becoming irrelevant as a means of reaching large numbers of people in the world today. I can think of NOTHING that will hasten its demise more than a wholesale adoption of ANY modulation scheme that requires the user to buy a new radio. Or the adoption of a modulation scheme that causes interference to the existing, age-old A3/DSB/AM modulation-detection scheme. bw (Bill Whitacre, DC, Aug 15, no std disclaimer, swprograms via DXLD) INTERNET ++++++++ ALMOST 10 PER CENT OF WORLD POPULATION CAN ACCESS INTERNET - SURVEY | Text of press release from Dublin-based Nua Internet Surveys on 13 August 13 August 2002: Almost 10 per cent of the world's population now has access to the Internet, according to newly released figures from Nua.com. The global Internet audience had grown to 580.78m people by the end of May 2002, a rise of 173.68m since December 2000 when the total Internet audience stood at 407.1m. The study indicates that for the first time ever, Europe has the highest number of Internet users in the world. There are now 185.83m Europeans online, compared to 182.83m in the US and Canada, and 167.86m in Asia/Pacific. However, the study findings also indicate that the digital divide between developed and developing nations is as wide as it ever was. While Europeans account for 32 per cent of global Internet users, only six per cent of the world's Net users are based in Latin America, while the Middle East and Africa combined account for just two per cent of global Internet users. While the Middle East and Africa have seen a slight increase in the numbers of people who can access the Internet, the lack of telecommunications infrastructures in these regions means that most citizens remain unconnected. The country with the highest rate of Internet penetration at the end of May 2002 was Iceland with 69.80 per cent of its entire population having access to the Net. Sweden is next with 64.68 per cent, followed by Denmark (60.38 per cent), Hong Kong (59.58 per cent), and the US (59.1 per cent). Completing the top 10 are the Netherlands (58.07 per cent), the UK (56.88 per cent), Norway (54.4 per cent), Australia (54.38 per cent), and Canada (52.79 per cent). Nua forecast that the number of worldwide Internet users will reach one billion by 2005. The full breakdown of Internet access figures by region, and by country, is available from the Nua web site - http://www.nua.ie/. Source: Nua Internet Surveys press release, Dublin, in English 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 14 August-9 September 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. M-class events are expected during the first half of the forecast period. There is a chance of major flare activity due to the return of old Regions 39, old Region 44 and presence of Region 69 on the disk early in the period. There will be a chance for a proton event during the first half of the period. Greater than 2 MeV electrons flux is expected to be moderate on 14-16 August due to coronal hole effects. Normal to moderate levels are expected the remainder of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be quiet to unsettled during most of the forecast period. Active conditions are possible on 23 August and 07-08 September due to returning coronal hole effects. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Aug 13 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Aug 13 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Aug 14 190 12 3 2002 Aug 15 190 10 3 2002 Aug 16 190 8 3 2002 Aug 17 195 8 3 2002 Aug 18 195 5 2 2002 Aug 19 200 5 2 2002 Aug 20 210 5 2 2002 Aug 21 215 5 2 2002 Aug 22 225 12 3 2002 Aug 23 230 15 3 2002 Aug 24 235 12 3 2002 Aug 25 230 10 3 2002 Aug 26 220 8 3 2002 Aug 27 220 5 2 2002 Aug 28 220 5 2 2002 Aug 29 220 5 2 2002 Aug 30 215 5 2 2002 Aug 31 210 5 2 2002 Sep 01 200 5 2 2002 Sep 02 195 5 2 2002 Sep 03 195 5 2 2002 Sep 04 190 10 3 2002 Sep 05 190 12 3 2002 Sep 06 190 12 3 2002 Sep 07 180 15 3 2002 Sep 08 180 15 3 2002 Sep 09 180 12 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio Aug 13 via WORLD OF RADIO 1144, DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-128, August 13, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1143: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Wed 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6, 1300 on webcast WORLD OF RADIO #1144: FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495 and 7415; UT Thu 0415? 7415 FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 7445-U 15039 ON THE WEB, available by early UT Aug 15: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1144.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html [available later] UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Dear Glenn, I sent you an unID a couple of weeks ago. You sent me a reply that it was probably an image produced by a mixing on my receiver internal frequencies and the primary frequency of WEWN. I have since gotten it again, and I am sure you are right. Thank you for your thoughtful solution of my situation. I am sure you get a lot of e mails from DXers all over the world. You could easily have ignored mine with no reply. Your effort taught me something that I certainly would not have thought of. I appreciate it (Mark Taylor, Aug 11) ** AFGHANISTAN [and non]. Radio Afghanistan replied and verified by letter (17 stamps issued in 1989 were on the envelope) after 2 months for my reception report on Norway 18940 kHz. Verification signer was Mr. Mir Amanullah Sharifi, Head of planning and Foreign Relations. He confirmed that the transmission on 18940 kHz was over "one of the helper", and also that former 4774 kHz SW transmitter was completely destroyed in the war and now no SW transmitter in Afghanistan. The recent address is: Ministry of Information & Culture, General Presidency of Radio & TV, Planning & Foreign Relations Department, General Managing of Foreign Relations, P.O.Box 544, Kabul, Afghanistan. Note "P.O.Box 544, Kabul", which was used by "Voice of Shari'ah", and former "Radio Afghanistan", is still ALIVE! (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, BC-DX Aug 10 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN/GERMANY. DW-TV STARTS DAILY NEWS SLOT IN DARI AND PASHTO | Text of press release by Deutsche Welle on 13 August Ten minutes of world news daily for viewers in Afghanistan: Since Monday 12th August 2002 Afghan TV is again broadcasting regular news from all over the world - for the first time since the end of the Taleban regime. The news broadcasts are produced by the German international broadcaster DW-TV and is recorded with Afghan presenters. The recorded broadcast is transferred via satellite to Kabul where DW-TV has also installed all the necessary equipment at Afghan Television in Kabul. DW-TV broadcasts the daily 10 minutes of world news at 7.30 p.m. local time (5 p.m. CET) [1500 gmt] in the two languages of the country, Dari and Pashto. Furthermore, every week DW-TV will produce about one-and- a-half hours of additional programming for Afghan Television, among other programmes TransTel documentaries from the areas of sport and research. These broadcasts - also in Dari and Pashto - will be sent to Kabul by courier. With this project DW-TV is opening a window to the world for the people of Afghanistan after many years of isolation. There are no restrictions whatsoever by the Afghan government on the political content of the news broadcasts. However, noted television director Christoph Lanz, DW-TV "will adopt a culturally sensitive approach with the pictures and sound it shows". All the services of DW-TV are free of charge. The cooperation between the two TV stations is initially planned for one year. Lanz commented: "Deutsche Welle regards its commitment as emergency help until Afghan TV can manage to produce the world news itself". Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany's international broadcasting service with German and foreign language radio and TV programmes. DW-TV offers 24 hours commercial-free programming, news, documentaries, sports, cultural and current affairs in German and English. The publicly funded institution in Germany is one of the five largest international broadcasting services in the world. You can access DW on the Internet: http://www.dw-world.de Henning Knudsen, Deutsche Welle Programme Distribution Communications Coordinator, D - 50588 Cologne Phone: +49-221-389-2731 Fax: +49-221-389-2777 e-mail: Henning.Knudsen@dw-world.de Source: Deutsche Welle press release, Cologne, in English 13 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. It seems the broadcast feeder listed as 5240 on Mohrmann`s excellent page http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm has moved up 1 kHz: 5241-LSB, Radio Continental, 0345-0400 Aug 13, religious program in Spanish, followed by full station ID at 0356, at 0357 the station went on to read some cards sent in by listeners. Reception done in Curitiba, Brazil, using an Icom R75 and a T2FD antenna of 15 meters in length. Full or partial reproduction of this log is allowed. Regards, (Rik van Riel, PR, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Good reception tonight (11 Aug) of VL8A Alice Springs 4835 kHz (Mali has been off 4835 the past few days) heard // weaker VL8T Tennant Creek on 4910. Best reception at 2130 UT when they switch from 120 mb with ABC news in English. Fading fast by 2200 as it gets light down under. (Katherine VL8K not audible as is swamped by Tashkent on 5025) (Dave Kenny, AOR 7030+ / longwire, Caversham, UK, Aug 11, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** BENIN. 7210, Cotonou heard both August 8th and 12th, from 2200 with fair/good signal. Frequency is perfectly clear. Closedown at 2300 with national anthem (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Tropical Rainforest, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. 6537.2 RADIO L.V. DEL CAMPESINO. Sipe. 1025-1050 Agosto 11 Predicación en vernacular, probablemente Quechua; luego música vernacular y mencionan grupos como Integración Andina, Los Guaguas del Altiplano. En español solo daban la hora; luego de las 1030 capté una pequeña frase en español ``...recibimos una pequeña cartita desde Finlandia, Vantaa...`` Luego los detalles de la carta en vernacular por lo cual no logré identificar de quien era. También reproducieron parte de una grabación recibida. Considero que el reporte era del colega Mika Makelainen. ``..11 de agosto 20 minutos en todo Bolivia para las 7 de la mañana, 20 minutos para las 7 de la mañana...`` (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, Aug 13, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Another airmail letter from Roland Schulze, Mangaldan the Philippines arrived today. 3850 station again on air from Aug 6th. But he swears 100%, never heard the call "Radio Independent Makumui". (Wolfgang Bueschel, Aug 12, BC-DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio RGS, de Porto Alegre (RS), transmite em 6160 kHz. É Emissora que pertence ao grupo "Legião da Boa Vontade". Alguns programas são produzidos em Porto Alegre, entre 0900 e 1700. Diretora de Programação: Vera Quednau. Diretor: Valdenir Ferreira. Telefone: (51)3337.6416. Endereço: Avenida São Paulo, 722, 3º Andar, CEP: 90230- 160, Porto Alegre(RS). E-mail: radiorgs1300am@ig.com.br (Célio Romais, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5990, Radio Senado (?): Excellent Signal between 2130 and 2200, then QRM. 6140 Radio Aparecida (?): bit dull but easily audible after 2200 (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Tropical Rainforest, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 3245, R. Clube, Varginha. Aug 1, I received an electronic QSL letter full data written in Spanish!!!!! I sent my letter by ordinary post a week ago. The V/S Mariela Silva Gomes tell me this is the third reception report they received this year. The e-mail address is sistemaclube@varginha.com.br (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** CANADA. [The RDS thread, previously under USA, GERMANY, continues] Hello, Glenn! My present car (Chev Malibu, from 2001) has a stock radio which has RDS built-in. This is obviously fairly recent, because a friend of mine had a similar car (Pont GrandAM from 1999), whose radio looked very much like this, but it had no RDS. As you must know, RDS only applies to FM stations. Here in the Toronto area, there's at least two stations which do use it. One is a rock station and the other is an MOR station, CHFI, on 98.1 They transmit the song title and artist maybe once every 10 seconds in my estimate (i.e., once you tune into the station it takes an average of 5 seconds for the word INFO to light up). Once one presses the button labeled INFO, the radio displays the song title a bit at a time (capital and lower case) and the artist's name (all in capitals). Depending upon the fit, you may see the end of the song title and the beginning of the artist's name on the same 'screen' (but words are not broken up). Once you've pressed the INFO button, the INFO word does not light up again until the information transmitted is different from the one that's just been displayed, or you go to another station and then come back. They also identify ads, but in this case, mercifully, the ad consists of only one to three words which identify the product, as if the ad wasn't clear enough... RDS also enables stations to modify the radio display, showing CHFI (station letters) and/or 981 (or CHFI 98), instead of 98.1, or any other letter/number combination, I guess. There's also a time setting function in all of this, and I believe that it's part and parcel of the RDS system. You can press buttons in a particular way and the radio will wait until it senses that the station has sent the time, and will then set the time by it, as the clock is part of the radio. This would be fine and dandy if stations did keep accurate time. I've noticed that some stations do send the time. Of these, only a few use the feature that alters the radio display. And of these, only the two I mentioned actually go all the way to showing names of tunes. Of the stations that do send the time, I have found locally not a single one that managed to send the right time. Some were off by minutes, one was sending AM instead of PM and another had not bothered to change from standard to summer time. On these radios, there's also a Traffic function, which is supposed to work similarly, and will further search for stations that broadcast traffic info. We have no traffic here ;-))), so I've found no stations that use it locally. So if your car doesn't have one, get to your GM dealer and ask for a demo. Best regards, (Carlos Coimbra, Toronto, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. GLENN GOULD RADIO SPECIAL http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2384 ECCENTRIC? GENIUS? LEGEND? CBC RADIO EXPLORES THE LIFE & MUSIC OF GLENN GOULD WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Who was Glenn Gould? CBC listeners are invited to answer that question as honestly or as playfully as they like when CBC Radio Two marks the 70th anniversary of Gould's birth, and the 20th of his death, on September 25, 2002. Hosted by Shelagh Rogers, CBC Radio Two's VARIATIONS ON GOULD is an affectionate and lighthearted take on Canada's eclectic genius. Early activities commence July 28, with CBC Radio One's Richardson's Roundup featuring a Gould short story contest. CBC Radio Two programming highlights include dramas, documentaries, special guests, stories and concerts leading up to the anniversary day. On September 25, beginning with the opening aria from his famous 1955 recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, and ending with the closing aria from his last, the day will include more than 14 hours of programming dedicated to discovering Glenn Gould. CBC Radio Two's VARIATIONS ON GOULD day events are complemented by CBC Television's Opening Night special on Gould's 70th at 8 p.m. on September 24th and a variety of new media activities on CBC's ArtsCanada Web site. In addition, CBC is partnering with Doubleday and Sony Music Canada to create concerts and public events. Mark Wednesday, September 25 in your calendar, and watch for media releases announcing special programs and events in the days and weeks ahead (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glen[n] - WTIC 1080 (Hartford, CT) went off the air for transmission work on Monday, August 12 from 0105 UT - 0400 UT (planned, I fell asleep). I figured I would try to DX around 1080 to see what I could find. I did not receive any other station on 1080 but on 1070 I started receiving a station at 0150 UT (and listened until 0310). I never can receive a station on 1070 am as WTIC blocks out the frequency. The station I heard was CBA, a CBC affiliate, Moncton, NB - 525 miles away as the crow flies. This was the first station east of Quebec in Canada I ever picked up in my southern New England residence. Sincerely, (Dean Bonanno, Durham, CT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Another off-frequency station that I've noticed for a long time is CJVA-810 in Caraquet NB --- they bomb in here night after night. I don't think they ever switch to their directional night pattern. If you hear a growl on WGY, that's CJVA --- they're about 20 Hz low in frequency. Does anyone know offhand what the regulatory requirements are for AM carrier frequency accuracy? (Barry McLarnon, Canada [Ottawa?], NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. Glenn, could you briefly explain what the following means? Regards, Ricky Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Previous item in Portuguese is herewith almost translated:] Since August 3, the [Spanish] Latin American Service of RCI no longer depends on the traditional voice of Hector Moreno. At the end of the program, he said he was retiring. He recalled his great times, and cried, along with his colleagues in the studio. A ** inusitado ** [not in dictionaries, maybe typo] and emotional moment on SW, heard by Oséias Fantinelli, de Jacutinga, Rio Grande do Sul. It`s worth remembering that when RCI`s Portuguese programs ended, the announcer who said goodbye was also emotional and wept (via gh, DXLD) ** CATALUNYA. I visited the IBB complex in 2000 with the EDXC Conference, and it was evident that the Spaniards living in the coastal housing areas just outside the gate were suffering from heavy electronic disturbances (``Their refrigerators spoke Kazakh!``). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 5590.4, RADIO NUEVA JUVENTUD. Pasto, Nariño. 0120-0200 Agosto 11. Música de Héctor Lavoe. ``...continuamos a través de Nueva Juventud...`` Continúa en el aire esta pirata desde el sur de mi país. Ahora un poco corrida de su anterior frecuencia 5588.2, a mi parecer con mejor audio y señal más clara. 6226.2 UNID Probable Colombia. 2210-2250* Agosto 10. Transmisión de rosario para luego la santa misa. No capté ninguna identificación y parecía transmitir desde una iglesia ya que se escuchaba un sub eco propio de recinto cerrados. Mi impresión es que se puede tratar del armónico de una emisora parroquial como la que apareció en 1997 a través de los 6201.1 que transmitía desde Granada, Antioquia. De la cual hay una reseña en Dateline Bogota 1997-1998 (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, Aug 13, Conexión Digital via DXLD) 4 x 1556.55? (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6060.2, La Voz de tu Conciencia, Aug 02, 03, 07, 0630- 0820, playing mostly Colombian style dance music in between announcements, reading biblical texts from Corintios Book. There is currently no QRM from Rome/Caltanissetta. 24432 (Samuel Cássio, Brazil and Noel Green, UK, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) On Aug 7 during the installation of newly elected President Álvaro Uribe Vélez in Bogotá who is a hardliner against the rebellions, the Presidential Palace was attacked with mortars, and during riots 115 persons were killed. On Aug 8 President Alvaro declared reduced state of emergency in Colombia in up to 270 days which includes the right to force certain limitations on the media (Danish Press via DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) In order that you can follow the developments, here is an updated list from our Domestic Broadcasting Survey on Colombian stations which have been heard on SW during the past 12 months: B 5019,7 1 Ecos del Atrato, Quibdó, Cochó Caracol Network: 1000-0500 S, ID: ``Esta es Ecos del Atrato HJIC 1400 en AM, HJCL 5020 ``, ``Rádio Net, Colombia`` APR02 B 5588,2 - R Nueva Juventud, Pasto Sa 0200-0500 S MAY02 B 5955 5 La Voz de los Centauros, Caracol Network: 0900-2300 S, d - 5957,6 MAR02 Villavicencio A 5975 5 R Macarena, Villavicencio 24 h S, run by Cadena Radial Auténtica, d 5974,8 - 5975,2; r on harmonic 11950v MAY02 A 6034,9 5 La Voz del Guaviare, San José del 1000-0300 S MAY02 Guaviare B 6060.2 5 La Voz de tu Conciencia, r 0630-1130 S // R Alcaraván 1530 MW; ex 6064.5 AUG02 Lomalinda, Puerto Lleras B 6115 10 La Voz del Llano, Villavicencio 0900-0400 S, sl: ``La Voz del Llano y punto``, d 6114,9 - 6115,1 APR02 B 9635 20 R Dif. Nacional de Colombia, (Su 1100-)1700-0500 S, alt fq to 4955. Also ID: ``La Voz de la Santa Fé de Bogota Cultura``, poor modulation FEB02 (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO IN STRIFE-TORN DRCONGO TOWN OF BUNIA HEARD AGAIN AFTER FIGHTING SUBSIDES Radio Candip, broadcasting from Bunia in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, was heard on the morning of 12 August for the first time since 5 August. It was broadcasting on its regular shortwave frequency of 5066 kHz. However, the radio did not broadcast its usual morning news bulletin in French at 0515 gmt. Instead it carried various public announcements, noting that calm had been restored to the town and appealing to the public to resume their normal activities. (On 11 August the French news agency AFP reported sources in the Rwandan capital Kigali as saying that Ugandan troops and dissident members of a DRCongo rebel group had taken control of Bunia after several days of fighting. "Ugandan troops stationed in Bunia intervened to prevent an escalation of clashes that flared up [on] 6 August in the town, and chased away fighters of the main wing of [rebel] Congolese Rally for Democracy - Liberation Movement (RCD-ML), the sources said." AFP reported the sources as saying that since 9 August Bunia had been under the control of a "dissident fringe" of the RCD-ML called the Union of Congolese Patriots, UPC.) Sources: Radio Candip, Bunia, in French 0515 gmt 12 Aug 02; AFP news agency, Paris, in English 1855 gmt 11 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. Just wondering if anyone had any frequencies and times for any numbers stations? I have a friend who is begging me to let him hear. Regards, (Chris Campbell, swl via DXLD) Chris, Good luck. it's 50% by chance when you hear them. A good place to start is: http://www.spynumbers.com/db.html They have a database there of loggings. I usually just stumble on them by luck (Ulis Fleming, ibid.) Chris, You may find the 'spooks' QTH reflector list interesting. The list seems pretty active. You can look through the archives at: http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/spooks/ 73 (Frank, ibid.) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Glenn, I'm now watching Czech TV (in Czech) with live reporting about the flooding. http://www.ct1.cz/ (It may be at capacity). The latest Radio Prague program in English is also available on demand at their website: http://www.radio.cz/en/ 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., 1509 UT Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Beware the former; when I tried, it started to launch some video player, and crashed everything I was running (gh, DXLD) Glenn, Yet another example of the pitfalls of Internet broadcasting: Tried to get the live feed from Radio Prague this afternoon to catch up on news of the floods hitting the Czech Republic (and the rest of central Europe) and, you guessed it, the server was maxed out. This is not to be critical of Radio Prague --- it costs them plenty to provide Real Audio/Media Player feeds (both for hardware and software licensing), the costs go up with the number of feeds, and they have to plan for normal usage. But Net-based broadcasting really breaks down when, as on Sept. 11 last, the demand for access far outstrips the supply of feeds available. No shortwave transmitter ever broke down because too many people were listening to it, however! Grumpily yours, etc. (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, WA, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also GERMANY! ** EUROPE [non]. A View from Europe, commentary by Harvey Thomas, is now scheduled on WWCR, Sun 1710-1715 on 12160, in addition to the less convenient times of Sat 1110 on 15825, Sun 1010 on 5070 (gh, from WWCR`s printed schedule dated 01 August, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio: I will listen carefully to the presentation in Pori next Saturday! By the way, on Aug 12 I received their large, special QSL celebrating the 2 Years anniversary in July. It has full data and is numbered 291 and signed by Frank. On the colourful backside are drawings of him and the others in The Show Show Team: Häkä, RJ, Lasol, Madman, Goestea, Pasi, Trevor, Esa and Tepa (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. From September private stations will be allowed on the Medium Wave. At the moment there are 37 candidates: Category A (community station): Littoral AM - Radio Source de Vie Paris - Equi-radio - Fréquence K - Radio Maria France - Radio Bonheur - Pulsar Radio - Radio Midi-Pyrénées Category B (Local or regional programms without relay of national networks): Latitudes AM - Sud Radio - J FM - Exo 7 - La La Radio - Radio Cannes - Cool Radio - One AM - Ekaïna MRL - Radio Talk Show [no Category C shown – gh] Category D (national network – thematic programme): Superloustic - Radiopéra - Francilia - Radio Orient - Ciel AM - Radio Livres - Radio Nouveaux Talents - Radiorama - Radio Publique - La Radio du Temps Libre - B FM - M FM - Capytol - La Radio de la Mer - Radio Talk Show - Air AM - Beur FM Category E (national network) : RMC Info - AM ``E`` (belongs to Europe 1) But only 6 to 10 will be allowed in Sep by Conseil Supérieur de l`Audiovisuel (C.S.A.) to broadcast in France. Tests will be held in Paris, from Sep 16 to 30 made by a Private Telecom Company (ID-Cast) on the frequency of 981 kHz, with two transmitters of 1 and 5 kW. 981 kHz was the former frequency used by Ciel AM Radio, last summer, but I don't know if the programm will be Ciel AM or a musical programme (Christian Ghibaudo, Nice, France, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re Paul Santos` report of DW`s 2300 broadcast, sites: ENGLISH 2300-2345 9815 WERTACHTAL 500 075 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300-2345 12000 TRINCOMALE 250 090 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300-2345 17560 KOMSOMOLSK 250 213 SAS/SEAS ENGLISH 2300-2345 21790 PETROPAVL. 250 247 SAS/SEAS (via Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX via DXLD) Postage Stamp for Deutsche Welle. To commemorate its 50th anniversary --- DW went on the air on May 3, 1953 --- the German international broadcasting service will be honoured with a special postage stamp next year. A date for the unveiling of the DW motif has not been set, but a competition for the best design is already in progress (DW Newsletter 2/2002, via Alokesh Gupta, India, WWDXC TopNews, Aug 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Bayerischer Rundfunk, Munich Ismaning is off the air on 6085 kHz. Yesterday 11 August evening and today 12 August morning. On 11 August morning the 6085 kHz was occupied by DRM transmission. What this means? (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, Aug 12, BC-DX via DXLD) http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html shows only DRM Juelich 5975* tests at 1305-1455 UT. Nothing of 6085 kHz be found so far. ``*Starting 12 August 2002, Juelich is using different beams in alternate weeks. In the week of 12 August, the beam will be 60 degrees (Berlin), reverting to 290 degrees on 19 August, and continuing on the same pattern thereafter.`` 6085 carried usual BR programs. Music and content radio transmissions around 1100 UT on Aug 12th (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No DRM transmissions via Ismaning 6085 kHz. Bayerischer Rundfunk denied any DRM tests. Der BR verneint jegliche DRM Tests auf 6085 kHz, 73 wb df5sx, (Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Viz.: ----- Original Message ----- From: TechInfo@brnet.de Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:37 AM Subject: Antwort: 6085 Ismaning off air Hallo Herr ..., vielen Dank fuer Ihre e-mail und Ihr Interesse an unserem Programm. Der BR führt definitiv keine DRM-Tests durch. Vermutlich stammen die gemessenen Signale von RTL auf 6090 kHz. Wir wissen aber noch nicht genau, ob RTL in der genannten Zeit auch gesendet hat. Mit freundlichen Gruessen, Manfred Schmitz (DL8EAN) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bayerischer Rundfunk, Neue Technologien, Techn. Information 80300 Muenchen Fax: 089/5900-3199 Faxpolling: (Frequenzen) 089/5900-4032 e-Mail: techinfo@br-mail.de Internet: http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/technik ------------------------------------------------------------------- Bayerischer Rundfunk denied any DRM tests on 6085 kHz. But the 100 kW (decreased 500 kW Telefunken unit) transmitter had some problems on August 11th, till August 12, 2002, at around 0730 UT and as replacement the old ancient reserve unit of 10 kW was in use instead. (Wolfgang Bueschel, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Günter Lorenz" <glorenz@lorenzsoft.de> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 9:18 AM Subject: Ismaning 6085 off air Hier die Antwort vom BR zum Ausfall der 6085... Sehr geehrter Herr Lorenz, vielen Dank für Ihre E-mail und Ihr Interesse an unserer Kurzwelle. Bis 12.08.02 ca. 9.30 Uhr gab es Störungen auf der großen Kurzwelle (10 KW), so dass vorübergehend die kleine Kurzwelle eingeschaltet werden musste. Diese strahlt jedoch nur mit 10 KW Leistung ab. Mittlerweile sollten Sie jedoch unsere Programme auf der Kurzwelle 6085 KHz wieder einwandfrei empfangen können. Mit freundlichen Grüßen (Ines Bergmoser, Bayerischer Rundfunk Technische Information, Rundfunkplatz 1, 80300 München, E-mail: TechInfo@brnet.de Homepage: http://www.br-online.de/br-intern/technik (via Bueschel, Aug 13, DXLD) ** GERMANY. By the way, there could be a chance you heard in a news outlet about today`s flood in Saxonia? It still rains heavily here. Really awful! Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Kai - I hope you are still above the water level. BBC TV news has been showing pictures of floods in Austria, Czech Rep and Germany - and Dresden was mentioned. All due to a very large low pressure weather system covering much of eastern Europe (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, UK, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, unlike Dresden Hauptbahnhof station... When I went to work this morning there was a traffic jam before Dresden, but it did not made me distrustful. And when it was announced that the train would not stop at Dresden Mitte, Dresden Hauptbahnhof and Dresden-Strehlen, I became curious, and well, Dresden-Reick is not so much further away from our office building than Dresden-Neustadt. So I stayed in the train - and was together with all other passengers really baffled after we passed the Elbe river: There were just further rivers where streets used to be. And the sight at Dresden Hauptbahnhof was almost unbelievable, see here: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/dre1308.htm Our train was evidently the last one to pass the station, afterwards the line was closed completely. It's quite a surprise that the 15,000 volts power supply for the overhead cables on the right side of the station (these are the through tracks; the ones on the flooded lower level terminate there) could be kept so long with this flood. Away from the overhead cables only the signal system (surprisingly) and the emergency lighting in the hall still worked, the main power supply was down, leaving the partly flooded hall in an eerie twilight. At work we just searched for the best way to leave Dresden before the situation worsened further, we were anyway advised that a failure of our main power supply and/or telephone and IP network lines must be expected. I finally decided to walk to Dresden-Neustadt again, and I indeed had to pass a flooded street (no big issue, it were just some 15 centimetres of water, and it is summer). Of course the railway traffic was quite chaotic, but finally I arrived here again since the Berlin -- Dresden line is clear; the service is just severely delayed due to the jam caused by the circumstance that no train could continue beyond Dresden-Neustadt. But Dresden -- Leipzig is disrupted, too, if my information is correct even twice. During the day there was also no passenger traffic from Dresden towards Chemnitz, and there is also no train service to Prague at present. Quite a disaster! I hardly expect the situation at Dresden to normalize earlier than by the end of this week. So I will of course stay here tomorrow, and then - let's see. Do not think I would forget about radio over this: I noted no disruptions so far; all Dresden-based stations were on air whenever checked. The transmitters are in safe areas (FM in the suburb Wachwitz, dozens of metres above the Elbe river, AM out in the countryside at Wilsdruff on a hill) but not so the studio sites, but either all STL cable circuits still work or substitute links were thrown in. On the programming side is it remarkable how the Saxonian branch of NRJ failed to broadcast appropriate information about the situation. NRJ Sachsen is infamous for being an unprofessional outfit, and today they proved this in a really "impressive" way. Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bob Padula`s itinerary put him in the flood area (Chris Hambly, Victoria, Aug 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CZECH REPUBLIC ** GUINEA. RTV Guineenne 7125 kHz - received a friendly e-mail VL from Issa Conde issaconde@yahoo.fr 3 weeks after sending a CD, US$1-00 and a French report for a March 2001 log. I have been trying to verify this one for many years! (Paul Ormandy, NZ, August 13, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. Luigi Cobisi's European DX Council report mentions that rumors of the closing of some Eastern European language services at Radio Budapest have been denied by local sources. They report that a commission of the Hungarian Parliament is considering ways to find more funding for the foreign broadcast services, but that is all. (HCJB DX Partyline Aug 10, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 3903, AFN Keflavik. Today Aug 5 after 4 months I received a big envelope with a computermade letter. The envelope gave the adress: Sigurdur Jonnson, Chief Engineer, Navmediacenbcst Det Keflavik, PSC1003 Box 25, FPO AE 09728-0325. The letterhead was from the Naval Media Center, Broadcasting Detachment, PSC 1003 Box 25, FPO 09728. The letter was signed by P. Huizinga (a typical Dutch name!), JOCS(SW) USN, Officer in Charge and reads: Congratulations!! It has been confirmed that you did pick up our frequency on 3.903 khz USB mode. We received several letters confirming the interception of our signal and each time we are astounded by the distances our signal has traveled. We hope you accept this letter with our radiostation logo and our Naval Media Center Command emblem as a sign of appreciation from us for the time you have taken to contact us (Max van Arnhem, Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) Congratulations to Torre and Max ! Now we are the three only in the World who have this station on 3903 verified, as far as I know – and all DSWCI-members! (Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) ** ICELAND. Vor einigen Monaten sendete U.S. Navy Bcing / AFN Keflavik fuer einige Tage auf 3903 USB. Jetzt kam ein teil-detaillierter Antwortbrief mit bunten Stationslogos. Man war ueberrascht ueber die Reichweite des Signals. v/s P. Huizinga, Officer in Charge JOCS (SW) USN (Harald Kuhl, Germany, A-DX Aug 7 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, India is celebrating its Independence Day on August 15, 2002. Look out extended broadcasts in the morning on that day from AIR stations on 6 and 7 MHz etc. with running commentary of the parade. With Independence Day greetings, ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, India, Aug 13, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Hi Glenn, Re the comment from Kai Ludwig: Your readers outside Europe may not be aware of the scenario. Radio Caroline originally went on Astra at 19.2 degrees East in analogue, when BSkyB still operated in analogue mode there. However, Sky gradually closed down their analogue services, and is now 100% digital. But the Sky digital service comes from a different orbital position, 28.2 degrees East. Radio Caroline wanted to move to that satellite, but found it was too expensive. It was able to go digital at 19.2 E, where it can cover Europe, but very few people in the UK - apart from satellite enthusiasts with steerable dishes - can receive it in the UK. I guess they see WorldSpace as a way of solving that problem - with the benefit of much wider coverage. But I share Kai's doubts about how many people will pay a subscription. UK listeners already have a plethora of stations playing the sort of music Caroline does. It must therefore look to the 'anorak' market, which has dwindled over the years. Personal experience has taught me that many in the DXing/Free Radio community are not prepared to put their money on the table when it comes to the crunch. My hunch is that Radio Caroline is looking to subscriptions to fund its continuing presence on WorldSpace. I would expect the total number of people who cough up to number in the hundreds rather than the thousands. That will not attract serious advertisers. I feel they would be better advised to stay free to air, which is also more in the spirit of WorldSpace (Andy Sennitt --Speaking for myself, and not my employer --, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. It will be interesting to read about the audio quality of the XM and Sirius satellite services. On a quick search I found that these systems use like Worldspace low bitrates, 64 kbit/s or even less, see: http://www.mediageek.org/2002_06_01_archive_index.html http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/satellite-radio/2_rw_xm_codec.shtml Kind regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I asked a friend of mine about the reportedly distorted YLE transmissions via the Deutsche Welle transponder on Eutelsat Hotbird. He is not able to check it but does not believe that this is an actual overmodulation of the subcarrier; instead he assumes that the cause is audio overshooting prior to the circuit (ISDN?) to Berlin. He also regrets that Deutsche Welle shows little interest in establishing a DVB service on Astra which could reach a quite large audience, contrary to the analogue subcarriers which are no longer of much use. Just compare this with the big fuss they made about the recently established DVB feed to North America. And he has this finding: Since a few weeks ago there is a third RNW channel on the Dutch Canal Digitaal Astra bouqet, labelled "RNW3" but not containing program audio yet. Will this channel carry the new German service of RNW? Just kidding (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- Wenn Deutsche Welle, wovon ich ausgehe, den analogen Uplink selbst oder über Deutsche Telekom in Berlin betreibt, wird es wohl nicht an der Zuführung liegen, wenn der FM-UT zu viel Hub (?) macht. Prüfen will ich das lieber nicht - mein Flachmann ist gerade so schön auf Astra ausgerichtet. Glaube ich aber nicht, denn dann würde man benachbarte Unterträger stören. Vermutlich eher eine analoge Übersteuerung vor der ISDN (?) Zuführung nach Berlin. Schade übrigens, daß die Welle so wenig Wert auf Astra-DVB legt. Nicht nur, daß die seit langem durch die Franzosen kostenlos realisierte TV-Verbreitung quasi ignoriert wird - die paar zusätzlichen Euro für die Radios sollten wohl nicht das Problem sein, wenn man - und nur mit Astra-DVB - Holland, Spanien und die Nicht-TPS-Abonnenten des frz. Satellitenmarktes erreichen kann. Davon einmal abgesehen, dürften auch die meisten TPS-Hotbird-Gucker mit 60er Schüssel und Mietbox wenig von analog oder digitalen Schmalträgern (SCPC) haben. Übrigens: Auf Satellit Astra 19,2 E steht seit wenigen Wochen eine Kennung "RNW3" mit Audio 192 kbps, wo aber noch kein Programm kommt. Wie die anderen beiden auch, im Digitalpaket von Canal Digitaal NL... Gruß (Andreas --- , via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ------ ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Glen[n], Have you ever heard of the following: A flash of light knocked out a computer which was not on, halted my processor in another computer-both have very expensive ups and surge, the microwave clock reset to zero, a battery powered short wave radio went silent to which i had to power off and on several times....it was a clear evening, no power issues reported, the light came from above my garage, my neighbors saw the flash but we experienced most of the problems. It was a silent whitish flash.. Great website..... ccm (Cedric Miller, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Cedric, If this just happened, it sounds like a stray Perseid, at the peak of the meteor shower. As for the strange effects you associate with it, I don`t know. I suppose it`s possible a fireball exploding nearby would have some EMF impact (Glenn, reply to Cedric, via DXLD) ** IRAN. Many broadcasters are cutting back on shortwave broadcasting and starting to shift to options like the internet. One station in particular is bucking this trend. Quote of the Month ``Mohammad Kazem Anbarlui, an editorial-board member at the hard-line `Resalat` daily, said that the ministries of Intelligence and Security and of Foreign Affairs should have declared Friedman persona non grata and not accepted his journalist credentials. Anbarlui continued, ISNA reported on 3 July: `Of course, in view of the fact that we are the freest nation and have the most democratic state in the world, we have nothing to fear. However, it has to be seen what our nation gained in exchange for this generosity.... Why is it necessary to show such kindness to an American spy in Tehran under the guise of a journalist?``` (RFE/RL Iran Report on the visit of NY Times journalist Thomas Friedman) This month I look at the Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran Following events in Iran is much like following events in the old Soviet Union or the People`s Republic of China. Many stories circulate about how the country, or at least the government is becoming more liberal, tolerant, then just as many stories appear about journalists and activists being arrested, newspapers and journals being shut down. It`s hard to know exactly what is going on there. Some of the reports about the leadership remind me of reports about the old Soviet leaders. When Yuri Andropov became Soviet leader there were a number of stories about how he was more liberal, he even enjoyed Jazz! In reality, when he wasn`t on life support, he was one of the more reactionary Soviet leaders. The reports of his softer side turned out to be more wishful thinking than anything else. Our window into Iran is the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. As with the old Radio Moscow, or any other station for that matter, the content should be taken with a grain of salt. It`s quite obvious (to this listener anyway) that IRIB has definite themes that they are trying to hammer home. Palestinian (and Kashmiri) combatants are always activists. Israelis are always Zionists or Zionist aggressors. Israel is almost never mentioned, except as an illegal state. The IRIB website is interesting, and a little disturbing. There is an animation, showing an Israeli soldier shooting doves of peace over the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem -- the photo morphs into photo montages of frightened, bloodied and in some cases dead Palestinians, then Sadat, Carter and Begin shaking hands all the while the Israeli soldier continues to shoot. Each shot only increases the number of doves, until a large dove drags a Palestinian flag across the screen. Under this animation is the slogan Victory is Near! Clicking on this takes you to another animation from bottom to top of a US flag (stars are bombs and the stripes are running, as if bloody) some Arab folk (moderate leaders?) and then Sharon as a large buzzard or vulture. A Palestinian flag then drops down toppling Sharon and covering the other images. You can also link to lots of stuff about the Intifada. Interestingly there seems to be more about the Intifada and Palestine than there is about Iran itself on the website. You can listen to a weeks archived broadcasts over the net. I listened to the most recent one. A typical broadcast seems to open with the Interval Signal followed by ID and a march (National Anthem?). This is followed by frequency information and a (hauntingly beautiful) recitation in Arabic from the Koran, which was then apparently translated into English by a YL. Continuity announcer was same YL --- sounding remarkably like the woman I used to hear on WYFR, Karen (Johnston?). On the day I heard them, the program opened with Challenger of History --- an interesting choice of events were covered from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand to the birth anniversary of a (to me) obscure Iranian-born Arabic scholar. The first of two news bulletins was aired, introduced by a cheesy piece of intro music. The Iranian government is indignant at US interference in Iran`s internal affairs --- hypocrisy of US accusation of Iranian terrorism, when US backing ``Zionist`` terrorism. Zionist forces vs. Palestinian activists. Colin Powell in South East Asia. 300 Taliban prisoners are being tortured and starved in camp in Afghanistan near US base. 83 killed at Ukrainian air show. Fire at gas depot in Turkey, 4 killed. More floods in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Ferry accident in India, 29 bodies recovered. Political Commentaries came next. These included: Yemeni Foreign Minister in Teheran US inviting 6 Iraqi Opposition groups to Washington (a remarkably even-handed discussion --- guess they don`t like Washington or Baghdad) Palestinian Refugees – A Narrative of Repression An ``interesting`` perspective on the history of Palestine/``Illegal State of Israel``. Israel founded by ``Zionist terrorist gangs.`` ``Sharon believes Palestinians in the areas of the `1948 Occupation` should be expelled, followed by those in the area of the `1967 Occupation```. Music Press Review Iran-Azerbaijan co-operation. EU diplomatic visits demonstrate importance of the Islamic Republic in the world, evidence of independence of EU foreign policy from Washington. An article from Malaysia was quoted, about the need for the Muslim world to work with the non-Muslim world, Iranian president an example. ``Where is the unity of the Muslim world at times other than those when a Palestinian child is shot point-blank by an Israeli soldier or settler`` An interview with some guy along these lines: Arms business most unholiest of all…being used against Palestinians and Kashmiris…US and Britain key culprits. US and Britain supply arms to Palestinians` oppressors, but when ``a few arms`` are provided to Palestinian ``activists`` it is support for terrorism. Unholy matrimony of the world`s oppressors. Israel, India, Russia, formerly South Africa was part of this under apartheid. And of course, don`t forget America. Broadcast wrapped up with the program Insight into the World of Islam ``Plight`` of 500,000 Muslims in Australia --- high unemployment, lack of Muslim teaching facilities, religious learning opportunities, employment discrimination the influence of Zionist media in Australia has impaired Australia`s view of Islam Two letters from Australia were read; asked for 7 volume book about Islam; second letter praised the Koran readings from IRIB. Earlier news bulletin was repeated, bringing program to an end. IRIB is hard to hear on shortwave --- the internet is certainly a bonus. According to a recent article IRIB is the 4th most prolific broadcaster in terms of hours of transmission after BBC, VoA and CRI. There are a couple of other sources of information about Iran. You can sign up for the Radio Free Europe weekly email Iran Report. Also the IRNA Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency has an interesting website (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, Aug ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. RE the IBA's radio webcasts, I received the following reply from the webmaster@iba.org.il "I checked the files and found no reason for the problem you describe. Please let me know if the problem persists." --- FYI - It isn't a local cache thing -- no one on that PC had listened to Friday morning's news. Just to confirm that it definitely isn't a local thing -- have other people noticed that some of the IBA English, French, or Spanish) radio broadcasts on http://bet.iba.org.il are missing? Thanks ---- (Daniel Rosenzweig, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Dear Glenn, sorry to be a bit late --- as usual? But a pirate station is owned often in a --- pirate way. Sunday 11 August Radio Europe 7306 kHz USB resumed its programs at 0630-1100 UT after 3 weeks of inactivity due to some personal problems of the owner Mr. Alex Bertini. So he phoned to me yesterday, and confirmed 100% he will be able to do the special broadcast next Friday 16 August on 7306 kHz USB at 2100- 2200 UT with 500 watts of power. Repeated Saturday 17 August on 7306 kHz USB at 2100-2200 UT with 500 watts of power. Program will be featuring special messages and jokes for the 50th ANNIVERSARY of JAPAN SHORT WAVE CLUB (JSWC); languages will be English and Japanese. Naturally reports will be verified with Special QSL card and a copy of each report will be sent to the JSWC in Japan who will edit additional QSL card. For this reason 3 IRCs or 3 $ are requested, being the costs to mail copies of reports to JSWC. E-mail report are welcomed, but will be replied only with an internet message, so just a virtual QSL reply --- to radioeurope@iol.it All reports must be sent to: Radio Europe, P.O.BOX 12, IT-20090 LIMITO (MI), ITALY I hope the information will be in time for edition DXLD 2-128. I will not go to "puppet meeting" EDXC 2002 in Finland. And we (me and Alex Bertini) will not produce special program for EDXC 2002 meeting. Good activities and THANKS for your PERFECT information (Dario Monferini, Milano, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) JAPAN: See ITALY ** KOREA NORTH. 11776.3v, V of Korea, 1320-1335+ Aug 3 - Usual talks and choral mx \\ 11710.06. Best in USB to avoid Dr. Gene on 11775. Had drifted down to 11776.1 or so after 15 mins (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer Aug 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) So a spur? ** KURDISTAN. TURKEY: On Aug 3 the Parliament in Ankara carried a resolution on a Democratic Package which included for the first time the acceptance of the Kurdish language which 14 million or 22% of the total population speak, as a national language. The Kurds are also allowed to open their own radio and TV stations. Time will show what this means for domestic broadcasting within Turkey and for foreign broadcasts to the Kurds including from Clandestine stations. The total Kurdish population in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria and the southern CIS is about 30 million (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. This morning from 0000 I noted Kyrgyz Radio on new 4795 // 4010 in Kyrgyz until 0030 and then in Russian. An UNID was heard on 4940 -2345-0030- playing Russian and other pop music with no announcements. Good signal, poor audio quality. The frequency was slightly off channel. This one was heard far too late to be Yakutsk (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, I recently headed this KYRGYZIA. Is KYRGYZSTAN definitely the preferred version now, and/or is KYRGYZIA considered incorrect or outdated? (gh, DXLD) ** LEBANON [non]. VATICAN CITY. Thanks to Anker Petersen for the tip: Here's a Lebanese station called SOUT AL MAHABA, that's V. of LOVE in Arabic, transmitting via Vatican Radio on 11715 around 0430 UT, after the Arabic transmission of Vatican Radio, starting with an ID "IDHAAT SOUT AL MAHABA MIN LEBENON", followed by the address P.O. Box 850, Juniyah - Lebanon. Also they mentioned using the freq 9565, but it's not audible. The program is mainly gospel like what do you know about Jesus, and gospal songs. Also they mentioned home page http://www.radiocharity.org.lb/ (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, BC-DX Aug 7 via DXLD) Yes 11715 is scheduled til 0500 UT: 11715 0355-0500 38E, 39 SMG 100 kW 113 degr CVA VAT (BC-DX via DXLD) 11715, Voice of Charity, Lebanon via Santa Maria di Galeria, Jul 30, Aug 2, 4 and 6, *0430-0456*, Arabic religious programme produced in Lebanon and broadcast by the Vatican R. in exchange for the use of an FM-transmitter in Lebanon. Fanfare, several ID's: "Huna Idhaat Sout al-Mahaba", an man announced ``...coming from Le8banon we transmit on 2 SW frequencies 11715 and 9565.`` (9565 was not heard. Ed). The announcer gave address as: Idhaat Sout al-Mahaba, P. O. Box 850, Juniyah, Lebanon, e-mail: email@radiocharity.org.lb and website http://www.radiocharity.org.lb Then a woman praised the Lord and played Gospel songs. 34444. During winter it is one hour later and on 9635 or 9645 (Guibaudo, Petersen and Zeidan, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) The website says that this Catholic organisation was established in Lebanon in 1984. The radiostation broadcasts in the following languages: Arabic (20 hours per day), French ``La Voix de la Charité`` (3 hours per day), English (1 hour per day), Armenian (1 hour per week), Sinhalese (1 hour per week), Tagalog (1 hour per week), African and Indian dialects, Amharic and occasionally the traditional liturgic languages of Syriac, Latin and Greek. The broadcasts are on the air 24 hours a day and done by 15 employees and more than 50 volunteers. It belongs to the World Family of Radio Maria (Ed. Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. Jari, From here I did not have the chance to hear this ID as "MBS 95.4" on 5010 before 1900 or after, otherwise I would have reported it !!! Good Luck (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MALI. Glenn, ORTM, Bamako, Mali first noted back on 4834.98 kHz tonight (August 12th) at 1945 UTC with ID and News Bulletin. At present there is still no sign of the second 60 metre band frequency of 4784.38 kHz (Graham Powell, Wales, DX LISTENING DIGEST) On August 12th, 4835 was active again, heard at 2200 with good signal. 5995 was also audible: fair signal at 2130. 9635, last heard August 6th, was back this morning at 0800. Weak signal, but the transmitter is audible very regularly if it's in normal operation (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Tropical Rainforest, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Emisoras no identificadas en Querétaro en FM. Los fines de semana salgo a dar clases a la ciudad de Querétaro. Desde el mes de julio he estado sintonizando dos emisoras en la banda de FM con muy baja potencia; sólo las he podido sintonizar estando en el centro de dicha ciudad, al parecer están al aire las 24 horas y ambas con una transmisión puramente musical, música continua, sin ninguna identificación de la emisora. La primera en la frecuencia de 101.9 MHz con música ambiental, de oficina o de relajación. Y la otra en 102.7 MHz con música pop inglés de la década de los 80's. Saludos (Hector García Bojorge, DF, Aug 13, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. RN in English at 1430-1625 is on 12075, no longer on 12070. Heard and measured Aug 2 and 3. There is a steady moderate whistle, which can be defeated with LSB or synchronous detexion, LSB. On Aug 2, 12065 was announced at 1500; Aug 3, no frequencies were announced. This is important for people who key in frequencies (David Crystal, 19125 Israel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Media Network RN schedule updated Aug 8 shows: 1430-1625 Tashkent 12075 131 100 English South Asia (via gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI frequency schedule 1 Sept to 27 Oct: 1650-1750 11725 1750-2050 15160 2050-0458 17675 0500-0700 15340 0700-1100 11675 1105-1305 15175 (E. Timor) (overnight) 6095 [if needed] (From Adrian Sainsbury, Mailbox, via Joel Rubin, swprograms via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA [and non]. If there is a KUAL-LP in Enid on 104.7, how can there be another KUAL in Baxter, Minnesota? As detailed here: http://www.mwpersons.com/Stations/WJJY/index.html (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OMAN. Thought I'd try a little weak signal DXing tonight: Radio Sultanate of Oman heard here at 0200 on 15355 8/12. In presumed Arabic, with recitations of the Kor`an at 0205, which lasted till 0232 or so. Some talk after that, and there was some very interesting flute music interspersed with talk up until brief interval signal just prior to 0300, then ann. by a woman, then brief Koran recitations till about 0305, then English news read by a man announcer. Not much of a signal here, but audible nonetheless. I hadn't bothered to try to hear them in a very, very long time. 73, (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. R. Pakistan was on 17525 this morning, almost synchro with Voice of Russia (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 4790.02, R Pakistan, Aug 10, 0115-0125, Vernacular talk. 25222. If it was Azad Kashmir R, it had moved from longtime 4790.4 which is the Islamabad transmitter using 100 kW. With this weak signal, it may be from the 10 kW transmitter at Rawalpindi which uses first to sign on at 0130 during summer. It is normally heard on exactly 4790 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Re: R. América escuchada --- y verificada --- en Canadá!: Estimado Tony: Puedes verificar esto; yo he monitoreado ambas frecuencias durante toda la semana y nada. Sólo un día me pareció escuchar algo en los 15185 kHz pero inaudible. Dicen estar haciendo test las 24 horas. Cordiales 73s (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, to Tony Jones, Paraguay, via DXLD) Lo mismo aquí. Ni siquiera una onda portadora. 73, (Tony Jones to Eramo, via DXLD) ** PERU. 6536, RD. HUANCABAMBA. Huancabamba. *1158-1210 Agosto 11. Aperturando emisiones. `` ...En Huancabamba surge como un crepúsculo la voz de las grandes mayorías, Radiodifusora Huancabamba 820 amplitud modulada, 100.1 frecuencia modulada estéreo y vía satélite(sic) 6535 kHz... Radiodifusora Huancabamba la poderosa, para que más...`` (Rafael Rodríuez, Bogotá, Aug 13, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PERU. 5996.7, Radio Melodía, Arequipa, 0916-0928, August 11. Spanish transmission. Music program conduced by male. Latin music: tropical, salsa and huaynos! ID: "Melodía... la voz del pueblo". Greetings: "nuestro saludo especialísimo... nos vamos rumbo a..., nos falta poco para irnos a descansar...". Other ID as: "Melodía, la emisora que los acompaña las 24 horas del dia". 34433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6117.4v, Radio Unión, Lima, 0940-0950, August 11, reactivated. Music program. Andean music and very nice huaynos. Ann. "El folclor suena mejor en Unión". Greetings: "...también saludos a nuestros amigos de Unión..." ID FM station: "103.3 La Rompe". Audio distorsionated. 34443 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9720.4, Radio Victoria, Lima, 0929-0935, August 11. Religious program in Spanish: "Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya... danos tu bendición a esta hora...." 24442 (Arnaldo Leonel Slaen, Casilla de Correos 1159 C1000WAL Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PUERTO RICO. On 1660 kHz, medium wave, can be captured a Puerto Rican radio station. Its name: "La Gigante, la cadena de mayor crecimiento en Puerto Rico". With boleros and romantic music at 2200 UT. Phone numbers: 6332420, 2521730. Very good signal. Greetings (from Catia La Mar, Vargas, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WGIT ** ROMANIA. Romania was always something of a maverick state. Romania refused to support the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968. It maintained relations with Israel. Readers may recall the cheers that greeted the Romanian Olympic team in 1984 when the nation refused to join the soviet led boycott of the Los Angeles Olympics. Ceausescu entered into a plan to pay off the nations debt…driving most of the population into poverty and despair. The people finally had enough. In 1989, after disturbances in the Hungarian minority region of the country, there was an uprising. Ceausescu attempted to flee the country. He was dealt with rather dramatically and finally when he was summarily tried and died of acute lead poisoning, along with his wife, at the hands of a firing squad. Exciting programming was heard, it was off the cuff, and joyous. They interviewed anyone they could find, mostly foreign journalists to comment on the remarkable events. They requested listeners to send them some of the most basic items, as the studios were barren. Normalcy returned to the station…today Romania has a varied and interesting program line up. Some have suggested that the ``revolution`` of 1989 was less an uprising than a cleverly disguised coup. Nevertheless, there is no doubt things have changed. Instead of a heavy political diatribe, you are more likely to here a report on business opportunities. ``The English Service, which is part of the Open Radio programme of RRI, broadcasts eight 56-minute programmes daily and a 17-minute newscast every morning. These programmes target practically all English-speaking areas: Western and Northern Europe, North America, South-East Asia and the Far East, the Pacific Area and Africa. ``The team of the English Service produces a wide range of feature programmes complementing the news, reports, commentaries and features supplied by the News Room and the Feature Department. By our programmes we aim to make known Romanian realities in all areas, Romania`s history and contribution to world civilisation, and Romanian foreign policy actions in a global context. ``We also look at bilateral relations as part of special programmes like Partners in a Changing World. The interviews with outstanding foreign personalities round off the picture of Romania`s relations with the respective countries. As we attach great importance to our relationship with listeners, a recent trend in our programming are live, phone-in shows, which invite listeners to share their opinions with us and with other listeners on a wide variety of contemporary topics. ``Tune in and you won`t be sorry: our programmes are a reliable and ``listener-friendly`` source of information about Romania.`` (RRI website) http://www.rri.ro/engl/default.htm (Fred Waterer, Ont., Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** RWANDA. 6055, R. Rwanda audible regularly from 2200 {2000?} but with varying format: Aug. 8th: talk format, possibly English, very weak audio. Aug 12th: nonstop western pop/oldies, fine audio, good signal. Closedown at 2100 after short announcement and 5 minute national anthem! (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, Tropical Rainforest, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Report on Brother Stair: I've heard the second mild reference on his own program to his having been in jail. During the reference, it was stated that many of the people on his farm have "fallen away." (See 2 Thes. 2:23 which predicts that in the end times there will be a "falling away first." See also John 6:66, which talks about the same phenomenon although using different words.) Based on this admittedly mild and "in passing" reference, I think the emergency facing Brother Stair and his empire is quite severe, and that he's putting up the best possible external appearance of serenity on the inside. I wish I knew what percentage of his flock have left him compared to what percentage have stayed with him. This is further consistent with the fact that over 95% of his radio show still consists of old material recycled, whereas before he was arrested the ratio was more like 80% old stuff and 20% current material. He's no doubt busy either with his defense or an escape plan! In response to one of Brother Stair's "radio checks," as he calls them, where listeners are urged to call in to give the time and frequency, often for a free gift, I did call in and requested a free CD. He's given me free tapes and newsletters and articles. But never an actual CD. I am quite skeptical and am quite anxious to see if he follows through. The CD is supposed to be his interview with the guy named Cohen (a Jew converted to Christianity) who wrote a book called "The Anti-Christ and a Cup of Tea," which "proves" that the current Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall is "the" Anti-Christ mentioned in Revelation 13:18 (of 666 fame). So, needless to say, I'm looking forward to this, in large part because I am skeptical he's actually going to send out free CDs (Robert Arthur, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA. I missed listening between 1500 and 1530 today but have been trying since about 1845. CRI was then using 13610 for Mandarin and tentatively there was another broadcast in the background. Syria was definitely heard in German at 1808, and is clear on this 13610 channel at 1830 after CRI closed. German is sched 1805-1905. There is no signal audible at all on 12085 - checked from 1845 past 1930 (Noel Green, England, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [another version of above:] The al Watan transmission was missed yesterday (Aug. 12), but I started checking for the Syrian foreign service around 1745. 12085 was not on air at that time either, and was not heard up to 2200. And a check today on 12085 at 0630 reveals no signal. So, what has happened??? At 1745 (Aug.12) I found CRI was using 13610 for a broadcast in Mandarin until 1830 - exactly! However, there was another audible below, but it could not be copied. But I did hear Syria in German appear at 1808. This was in the clear from 1830, and was followed at 1905 by French and at 2005 by English. There was a break at 2005-2010 when another English broadcast began. The signal on 13610 was initially very strong - 9+20dB - but was down to about 9 by 2100+. Audio levels were mostly very low and distorted and accompanied by noise. I did hear one English ID mentioning Damascus and Syria but couldn`t copy anything else. At times it was difficult to even distinguish the language. What a waste of time! Syria is not using 13610 to carry its Arabic daytime service - and has not done so for some time. [Later:] I have been monitoring Syria on 13610, and it opened at 1600 with their Foreign Service. It was extremely difficult to identify the language at first, but gradually audio levels improved to reveal Turkish - as Kai intimated. This closed at 1700 and was replaced with Russian - I'm not exactly sure what time this language began as audio levels had again dropped nearly to zero, but think approx. 1703. Audio level gradually improved - if that's the correct word - so that the language could be identified, and the service was still in progress when CRI's Mandarin programme opened at 1730. This signal is much stronger, but Syria can be heard below. So the Damascus FS is confirmed as 1600 Turkish, c1700 Russian, 1805 German, 1905 French, 2005-2105 English, 2110- English. I assume the latter will be until 2210. What happens after then remains to be verified. No transmission from Syria has been heard on 12085. Yes, I remember Syria being listed on 9950, but find it difficult to recall if/when it was actually in use. [prompted by the 12085/12115 station, which is still filed under UNIDENTIFIED below, as this report from Noel continues] (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, UK, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Hi Glenn, Based on what I read in DXLD on the net, I heard the following: Noted a broadcasting station on 8300 kHz at 1200-1215 plus. I heard this might be a clandestine from Taiwan called the New Star. The details are a woman in comments. Language sounds Chinese. Signal was threshold with QRM from Spanish ute on same frequency. Today is August 13, 2002 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. A summer fill in? Tales of Dutch Formosa CBS Radio Taipei International`s first ever series of radio dramas ``Tales of Dutch Formosa`` will be aired every Friday starting Aug. 16. These radio dramas are dramatic interpretations of true historical events from the Dutch occupation of Formosa, now called Taiwan. http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/news/2002/news0811-02.htm Prof. Llyn M. Scott and Mr. Norman Szabor are the authors of the dramas. Prof. Llyn M. Scott also act as the director. Our host Andrew is the producer and engineer. Our regularly scheduled programming, both Hour 1 and 2, for Fridays of Aug. 16, 23, 30 and Sep. 6 will be cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. Make sure you tune in then! For more on ``Tales of Dutch Formosa``, please click here! Central Broadcasting System, No.55 Pei An Road Taipei, Taiwan. R.O.C. http://www.cbs.org.tw (via Daniel Say, BC, Aug 13, DXLD) TALES OF DUTCH FORMOSA INTRODUCTION Tales of Dutch Formosa is a four-part docu/drama series partially funded by the Cross Cultural Centre of Fu Jen Catholic University and supported by CBS, Radio Taipei International. The programs are based on historical accounts in letters and journals written by representatives of the Dutch East Indies Company or VOC (Verenigde Oost-Indische Company) and the Dutch Reformed Church of the Netherlands who were stationed in Formosa between 1624 to 1662. This treasure of contact literature from Dutch archival and other sources was consulted in English primarily through publications by William Campbell, Leonard Blussi, Natalie Everts, and Evelien Frech; in addition to Marc Hutsebaut, Editor in Chief, Mappamundi, for The Authentic Story in Taiwan. Ann Heylen, researcher at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, personally contributed her expertise regarding untranslated materials. Each thirty-minute drama concludes with a fifteen-minute historian interview conducted by Dr. Heylen (via Say, swprograms via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [and non]. RTI/CBS is planning to hold listeners` club meetings in Southeast Asia. Please fill out the questionnaire and tell us what you think ... http://cbssp.cbs.org.tw/englisha/Lists/EastAsiaMeeting/overview.htm (via Daniel Say, BC, Aug 13, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. RUI now (from 8 August) is not available from both Mykolaiv and Kyiv sites; only Kharkiv is operating (also on 6020 and 15520 kHz). (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, Aug 12, BC-DX via DXLD) In addition to the transmitters in Nikilayev, which were switched off before, on Aug 8, the following changes took place: 1) All Kiev SW txs (Brovary) are switched off. 2) MW tx in Kiev on 549 kHz is switched off. 3) The power of LW tx on 207 kHz is reduced to 50%. 4) Only three Kharkov transmitters are still working on SW - 6020, 7320, 7410, 11950, 12045, 13590. 5) In Kiev on MW there is only the relay of BBC on 612 kHz. (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, BC-DX Aug 10 via DXLD) Alexander Yegorov reports that on 8 Aug again all SW txs in Brovary and Kopani were again switched off, on the air are only the three Taranivka transmitters on 6020, 7320, 7410, 11950, 12045, 13590 kHz (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX Aug 9 via DXLD) Yesterday, Aug 12, two transmitters in Kyiv resumed work on 6020, 9950, 11840 and 15520 kHz. Temporary transmitter in Kharkiv on 6020 and 15520 kHz now is off the air. Also 549 kHz in Kyiv was available again (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, WWDXC TopNews, Aug 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** U K. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF HACKING BBC JOURNALIST'S COMPUTERS The BBC has investigated allegations that Downing Street illegally hacked into its computer system in order to influence critical news items before they were broadcast. Journalists at the BBC's west London newsroom were alarmed that Downing Street staff appeared to know about the contents of their reports in advance. They reported their concerns to their editors who, in turn, investigated the possible breaches of computer security. The BBC was unable to prove that Government officials had hacked into its system but John Simpson, the BBC's world affairs editor, says staff were "morally certain" it had happened. Shortly afterwards the BBC replaced its newsroom computer system with a more secure one. Mr Simpson says that one correspondent noticed that when he wrote a script on the newsroom computer for the next news bulletin "he would be rung up by Downing Street before it was broadcast and lobbied on a point or two". Mr Simpson does not identify the journalists involved but claims that the tactics were part of widespread attempts by the Government to pressure the BBC and other broadcasters into more favourable coverage of its policies. A Downing Street spokesman said: "This story is utterly ridiculous, complete drivel." Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph || Via the EJC Media News Digest of 12 August 2002 Media News is archived at http://www.ejc.nl/mn/searchnews.asp and searchable on keyword. Visit the European Journalism Centre website at http://www.ejc.nl for information on training activities, EJC publications and useful tools for journalists. (via George Lessard, CAJ-list via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U K. QUIZ OUR FRONT-LINE REPORTERS Have you ever wondered what journalists have to go through to bring you the news? Ever thought of what life on the road is like in some of the world's most dangerous hot spots? Or how journalists keep their cool and remain impartial? Now BBC World Service gives you the opportunity to find out, in a special online forum. You can quiz the BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus, who has extensive experience of reporting from the front line, in a special forum from the USA. Jonathan has covered stories for the BBC from the Gulf, the Middle East, the Balkans and Eastern Europe. He was live on the air as the terrorist attacks of 11 September unfolded, and says the subsequent war on terrorism was one of the hardest stories he's ever had to report. Jonathan Marcus will be joined by Lisa Mullins and Quill Lawrence from the BBC/WGBH programme 'The World'. All three will share tales of getting the story under adverse conditions. Selected emails will be used as part of the LIVE Question and Answer session on Thursday 15 August in Nantucket, USA. A video recording of the event will be available on the Talking Point website after the talk has finished. || HOW TO CONTACT THE PROGRAMME If you have a question for Jonathan, Lisa or Quill visit the special WEB PAGES at http://bbcnews.com/talkingpoint and look for the 'Reporter's Life' Forum button on the right hand side. (BBC via Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. SPECTRUM: Glenn, I heard the "last program" last weekend, and what they said was that the studio building they are presently using has been sold, and that they can't afford to move yet again. They'll spend the next few weeks deciding whether or not to continue, and will be playing reruns instead for the next few weeks. Glenn, for a long time now, I've felt that the Spectrum crew has been running out of steam. No fresh ideas, and generally just boring programming, unlike their earlier years when they had interesting weekly segments, and some great guests (including yourself!). The last two years or so has seen little new blood or ideas. Mostly the shows are call-ins with the same people calling and droning on and on. Used to be that the call ins were limited to once a month. Unfortunately, one of the hosts sounds seriously ill with congestive heart failure and complications of diabetes. Probably another reason for the show`s lack of steam. Believe it or not, a few months ago, a good segment of the show was devoted to a discussion of cats! Sorry state! Even so, with so few media shows left, I tried to listen in every weekend (Walt Salmaniw, BC, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Programas especiales en WRMI: Nuestro colaborador de Argentina Rubén Guillermo Margenet regresa a WRMI con dos ediciones especiales de su programa "Con Frecuencia" en los próximos días. El sábado, 17 de agosto a las 1000-1100 UT en 9955 kHz, se transmitirá un programa especial dedicado al Día de la Independencia en Corea y al 40 aniversario de la creación de la sección española de Radio Corea Internacional. Este programa fue originalmente transmitido el año pasado en la emisora local FM Uruguay en Rosario, Argentina para celebrar el 39 aniversario de la sección española de Radio Corea. El programa se repitirá el lunes, 19 de agosto de 0900-1000 UT en 9955. El 27 de agosto marca 82 años de la radiodifusión en Argentina, y Rubén Guillermo Margenet tendrá otro programa especial de "Con Frecuencia" transmitido vía WRMI el sábado 24 de agosto de 1000 a 1100 en 9955, y el programa se repitirá el siguiente lunes, agosto 26 a las 0900 a 1000 en la misma frecuencia. Este programa también fue transmitido originalmente en agosto del año pasado en FM Uruguay para celebrar el 81 aniversario de la radiodifusión en Argentina (Jeff White, WRMI, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I previously reported that WCBS News Radio 880 in NYC was broadcasting Grundig Shortwave Radio advertisements during prime drive time hours. Well, I heard the Shortwave Radio ad again this morning, however, I heard something new later in the day. At lunch time, near 12:30 PM EDT, WCBS ran a commercial for DXtra shortwave radio control software. I was again surprised. To think the WCBS demographic includes enough potential customers for (1) Grundig Shortwave Radios and (2) Shortwave Radio control software I guess should not be unexpected. However, to hear the Grundig ad was a surprise; to hear DXtra is quite amazing (Pete Costello, NJ, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KD0HG who works for CC Denver and is on a ham radio AM board says WLW is testing IBOC this week. KD0HG rewrote his text for me to send to the lists: 50,000 watt WLW, 700 kHz in Cincinnati has just begun testing digital audio via IBOC both day and evenings until 11-12 PM [EDT? = 0300 or 0400 UT]. It's my understanding the test will be this week only. The digital stream was switched on at 10:30 PM this past Saturday, August 9. Digital audio is being transmitted at 9200 baud with audio bandwidth limited to 5 kHz for the purpose of the testing. The digital side bands on the carrier are reportedly audible to some degree on 700, +/- 10 to 20 kHz. This is only a test of this evolving technology; one of the things they are evaluating is how they might or not be interfering with the first and second-adjacent channels of 700 (680, 690, 710, 720) on long ground wave and sky wave. At some point you put the spectrum analyzer aside and put the thing on the air for real world testing. I would expect they're also looking at any adverse reception effects on their analog AM signal. In any event, people interested in hearing what an IBOC-equipped AM station really sounds like can hear it for the next several days and evenings on WLW. It's unclear if IBOC as it presently is will ever be embraced and implemented by AM broadcasters, so this may be an opportunity to hear another interesting moment in radio history. Regards, -Bill, KD0HG (via Powell E. Way III, Aug 12, NRC-AM via DXLD) WOR is supposed to be testing IBOC this month as well (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) I wonder if they will get any complaints about poor audio quality?? I think they still have that trucking show on at night that still plays some music. No wonder they shut it off then, cause the truckers WOULD complain of poor audio on their music. But I see even limited use of the Clear Channel freguencies for truckers shows as satellite radio is really being marketed to long haul truckers now. They even have some of their own channels aimed at them. I also wonder if WOR is also IBOC at the same time?? (Paul Smith, W4KNX, Sarasota, FL, ibid.) When combined with WLW, that makes for a VERY interesting adjacent- channel test of iBiquity's system (which, for marketing purposes, will henceforth be known - and I am not making this up - as "HD Radio"). There is considerable reason to believe that the engineering folk at Clear Channel wanted a WLW-WOR test specifically to create a worst-case adjacent-channel scenario to prove that the system needs more work before it's ready, quite literally, for prime time. I may need to spend the next six months camped out on 705 kHz, hi... -s (Scott Fybush, Aug 12, ibid.) I thought Clear Channel was one of the corporations lobbying to get IBOC digital on the air? After investing so heavily into the purchase of radio stations, Clear Channel wants to be the first to go digital. (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) ** U S A. DIGITAL RADIO COMPANY CUTS DEALS FOR CHIPS, RADIOS Monday August 12, 7:00 AM EDT By Ben Berkowitz LOS ANGELES, Aug 12 (Reuters) - IBiquity Digital Corp., whose technology will serve as the basis for most digital radio broadcasting, on Monday announced a number of deals for compatible radios and the chips that will power them. Columbia, Maryland-based iBiquity, backed by most of the nation's major radio broadcasters, also announced a new brand name for its technology, "HD Radio." Radio stations in six major markets, including New York and Los Angeles, will begin digital broadcasts later this year, though consumer radios that can actually receive the broadcasts will not be available until spring 2003. The company said leading car stereo manufacturer Kenwood Corp. (6765) would make 17 of the 23 radios it plans to release in 2003 compatible with digital radio broadcasts. Besides Kenwood, iBiquity also announced a deal for compatible radios with Visteon Corp., a major manufacturer of radios for auto companies, though units from Visteon are not expected until 2004. Both the Kenwood radios and the Visteon radios will be powered by a chipset developed by Texas Instruments Inc., a deal also announced on Monday. "Our challenge has been to get all the elements of the soup together, if you will," iBiquity Chief Executive Bob Struble told Reuters. The company, backed by the likes of Clear Channel Communications Inc., Viacom Inc. (VIAb) and J.P. Morgan Partners, will derive revenue from licensing its technology to radio manufacturers and the stations that want to broadcast AM and FM in digital format. "The aim is really to have HD be sort of like the 'Intel Inside' that you see at end of every PC commercial," Struble said. He said the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is in the process of standardizing on the company's technology as the basis for digital radio broadcasting in the United States, with such approval expected by the fall. He also said it would be easy for digital broadcast radio to co-exist with satellite radio, as provided by XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., both of which offer subscription services with 100 channels of all-digital radio. "It's not a very difficult thing to integrate these technologies," he said. IBiquity recently licensed the intellectual property of a company called Command Audio, which developed technology for on-demand delivery of audio programming and information. Struble said that company's technology would be integrated into the second generation of HD Radios, around 2004. ©2002 Reuters Limited. (via Excite via Tom McNiff, VA, DXLD) ** U S A. Off KIDO's website: Two of Idaho's longest-broadcasting radio stations are making the biggest change in their histories. Newsradio 630 KIDO and Classic Country 580 KFXD are switching frequencies Monday, August 12, 2002. Classic country fans should twist their dials from 580 to 630. KFXD promises that its new signal will cover the rural areas where classic country music listenership is strongest. Except for the new frequency, everything is the same, including KFXD morning personality Mitch in the Morning. KIDO recently celebrated its 80th birthday as the first radio station on the air in Idaho. It's been broadcasting continuously at A.M. 630 from towers south of Boise since the early 1950's. Since then, Boise has grown from a small town to a major city. Northwest Boise, Meridian, Eagle and Columbia Village in southeast Boise were rural areas with few people in 1950. Since then, growth in those areas has outgrown KIDO's signal, which must be directional so it doesn't interfere with signals of other radio stations at 630 around the country--particularly after sunset and before sunrise. KFXD, which is licensed to Nampa, broadcasts from towers south of Meridian. The station has been on the air since the late 1920's. The signal was changed in the early '50's to cover Nampa and Caldwell as well as Boise. Even its night signal clearly reaches northwest and southeast Boise. The transmitter has been recently upgraded to be stronger and sound brighter and clearer. KIDO and KFXD will switch frequencies Sunday at midnight. When they wake up Monday morning, newsradio listeners will want to tune their radios from a.m. 630 to a.m. 580. The programming remains the same. Jon Duane and Chris Kelly 5:30 till 9:45 a.m., Paul Harvey at 9:45 a.m., Rush Limbaugh 10:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m., Dr. Laura Slessinger 1:00 till 4:00 p.m., Doug Raper 4:00 till 7:00 p.m., Dr. Dean Edell at 7:00 p.m., and Art Bell 8:00 p.m. till 4:00 a.m. (© 2002 Clear Channel Communications via Robert Wien, Aug 12, IRCA via DXLD) What these weasels aren`t telling the Idahoans explicitly is that those who prefer newstalk are entitled to the inferior signal. And with a facilities swap, what point is there in tracing the history of one particular station? This goes for countless other markets (gh, DXLD) In driving through Eastern Oregon I find both signals 580 and 630 to be basically the same on groundwave, even though 630 pulls their signal in a bit to the SW and NW. Why the big deal on the switch I don't know. Now the signal of 580 might be better to the East. That I don't know. 580 is received here on the Oregon coast days weak to fair. 630 is blocked with Edmonds WA and Coquille OR. However I do hear 630 during the day in the winter often. Frank Aden in Boise might know more. 73s, (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, IRCA via DXLD) 580 is considered overall to have better coverage that 630. They did switch at 12 am with about a minute of dead air. I taped the last 3 hours and first 3 hours on a stereo VHS tape! 73 (Frank Aden, Boise ID, ibid.) ** U S A. Independent station owner hangs tight on AM band LARRY MCCORMACK / STAFF Ron Youngblood plays classic soul from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day at WVOL-AM 1470. [caption] By A. TACUMA ROEBACK Staff Writer At tiny, 5,000-watt WVOL-AM 1470, John Heidelberg stands as its citadel: an anomaly in the era of the corporately controlled radio station. He's outnumbered and outgunned by the more gloried FM stations that have emerged in the Nashville market to compete for the urban-music listener. Those stations have a clearer sound and a stronger signal, attract more advertisers and have deeper coffers, leaving WVOL to rely on history and strategy for survival. ''Owning a stand-alone station just by itself is a monumental task in today's radio world,'' said Heidelberg, who has owned 51-year-old WVOL since 2000. For Heidelberg, that task includes flying a blimp over Interstate 65 with his station's call letters, conducting contests as a way of finding out who his listeners are, and other creative means.... http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/02/08/21031732.shtml?Element_ID=21031732 (via Charles Gossett Jr, DXLD) ** U S A. PAST PRIME TIME / ONCE-DOMINANT TV GUIDE, NOW IN ITS 50TH YEAR, SCRAMBLES IN A SHIFTING MARKET http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/08/12/DD143167.DTL&type=printable (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, you, I and others here also remember Hank Bennett for the years of great work he did as editor of the Shortwave Broadcast Section of the monthly Newark News Radio Club Bulletin. It was a class act, and done without the aid of a computer. As I recall, SWL monitor registrations began around 1958-59 as the personal project of a ham and DXer whose name escapes me. I believe he had FCC permission to issue unofficial callsigns with the prefix WR[zero]. Buried somewhere in my stuff is the certificate he issued to me. When Pop'tronics took over the program, they converted the previously issued calls to the WPE prefix. These call assignments continued until 1 SEP 1970. I have the letter that Hank sent out announcing his separation from PE and that all WPE calls would be converted, upon application and for a fee of 25 cents, to WDX callsigns. The deadline for these conversions was 31 DEC 1972, after which any WPE calls still outstanding were considered void and re- issued as WDX calls to new applicants. Back in the heyday of DX clubs and magazines, I thought SWL calls were a neat idea. Today, with all the unorthodox special callsigns being issued to amateur radio stations, they seem too easy to confuse with ham calls. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA WR[zero]4AJ / WPE4AJ / WDX4AJ, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Altho I too was initially taken in by this scam, I eventually realised that callsigns for *listening* were absolutely pointless and ludicrous --- a thinly disguised ``be like a ham`` mentality. Since they have no official standing, anyone can make up any monitoring callsign they like. Paying somebody else to make one up for you is like giving him a license to print money. And this still goes today as some monitors long for something meaningless and alphanumeric besides their own name to be known by (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Hi Glenn! I hope you are OK. I have some items for you: Radio Nacional de Venezuela is celebrating its 66th anniversary in August. Radio Nacional has 4 channels: on 630 kHz, Radio Nacional Informativa, with politics and other topics; on 1050 kHz, traditional music; on 91.1 MHz, an 18-hour classical music broadcast; and they are announcing the international channel on 9545 kHz [used to be 9540 -- gh], but this frequency is not on the air. In the early 90's, there was a project on Medium Wave, which was called "La Voz de Venezuela", a radio station with 500 kW transmitters in Paraguaná (Falcón State). The radio station was supposed to broadcast programmes in English, Spanish and other languages to Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America. What really happened: the project was never carried out and those transmitters on 1240 kHz where used as a mere relay of 630 kHz. Nowadays, 1240 is off the air (from Catia La Mar, Vargas, VENEZUELA, Adán González, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 12115/12085: Thanks for some excellent information on this station. FYI, the song that Tarek Zeidan refers to, the one they open with, is online in streaming Real Audio format at http://gamal.topcities.com/songs/watani1.html It is indeed a stirring song, and I don't even speak Arabic! Will forward any relevant info received here, but so far nothing :-( 73, (Andy Sennitt, Holland, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The recent news concerning the Saut Al Watan operation on 12115 and 12085 is very intriguing, and both Wolfie and Olle have done some good detective work on the subject. I've been searching Syrian web sites to see if I can find more, but have failed so far. Does anyone have an up to date Syrian SW schedule? The new WRTH SW Guide shows 12085 active at c0445-c1545 in Arabic and then a different shade of Green? at 1600- 1700 in Spanish or is it Russian --- I can't define. But the language at 1600 sounds Arabic to my ears. Passport show 0600-1700 in Arabic and the a FS from 1800, and Anker via the DSWCI also shows 0600-1700. Passport has the FS on 13610 at 1600-0030 while the new WRTH SW Guide has it 1700-c0000. I haven`t been paying the station much attention due to the terrible audio, but should now have time to do so after weekend. According to Ludo Maes, the station has 4 x 500 kW THO installed in 1982, but I cannot remember ever hearing four channels simultaneously on air. 12085 and 13610 have been used for a long time without a change. What seems intriguing is that the Saut al Watan transmission is meant for Syria - yet it operates on 12085 and their own SW service shuts down to accommodate it! Why 12085 - there are other frequencies it could use. Or, did the al Watan operators discover that 1500 is the current sign off time for Damascus on 12085 - is it? Let us hope the operators soon make a mistake and ID themselves! (Noel Green, England, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SYRIA [later:] Sout al Watan again appeared at 1500 on 12085 and 12115. Both carriers were on air when checked at 1450, and tones started on 12115 - only - about two minutes later. No tones or any other IS procedure was heard on 12085 - it went straight into programme. The two transmitters were only a few seconds apart today. On checking 12085 at 1528 I found this one had gone off air, but 12115 continued until c1530. Signals were not very strong - only peaking to about 5 to 7. As Kai remarks - if the station engineer checks his clock and starts the tape at 1500 then both transmitters would be as nearly in sync as possible. The delayed start might be unintentional (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, UK, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re: The new WRTH SW Guide shows 12085 active at c0445-c1545 in Arabic and then a different shade of Green? at 1600-1700 in Spanish or is it Russian - I can't define. The "main" WRTH for 2002 shows Turkish for this slot. Anyway "hum with traces of whatever program audio" would be a proper entry... I also think that hardly ever more than two transmitters were on simultaneously. Remember the morning transmission on 9950: That's a frequency previously used by Damascus, too. The use of both 12085 and 9950 really does not look like a coincidence. Another thought: Also with the independent program play-out it should be no problem to keep the delay between both outlets below two, three seconds. Either they do it intentionally for some purpose, or they make already the first big mistake (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9950, New anti-Syria Clandestine Sout al Watan - Voice of Homeland, via Krasnodar, Russia ??? Also heard Aug 13 with 35444. Carrier signed on 0322, but no test tones. Abrupt sign on 0329.35 with the same programme as heard the day before on 12085 and 12115. It sounded like the same transmitter which is used on 12085 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) 12085, Sout al Watan - Voice of Homeland, via Krasnodar, Russia ???, daily since Aug 08, *1500v-1530v*. Carrier signs on around 1455, but no test tones are heard. Aug 12, 1515, ID in Arabic by YL and OM as described above (Bueschel, Green, Petersen & Zeidan, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) 12115, Sout al Watan - Voice of Homeland, via Samara, Russia ???, daily since Aug 08, *1500v-1530v*. SINPO in Denmark on Aug 12 was 35434 on 12085 and 45444 on 12115 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Aug 14 via DXLD) see also SYRIA; for now in this location is BBCM`s first report on this, as they have also been working it: SYRIA. UNIDENTIFIED RADIO STATION TARGETS LISTENERS IN SYRIA An unidentified Arabic radio station, possibly the radio station of a Syrian opposition group broadcasting from abroad, has been observed transmitting on short-wave. The broadcasts - which are relayed daily for half an hour between 1500 and 1530 gmt - are heard on the following frequencies: 12085 and 12115 kHz. The station does not identify itself and no frequencies or times of broadcasts are given. The programme presenter only said once in four days towards the end of the broadcast: "Goodbye, we will meet you at the next session." The broadcast always starts with a patriotic song "Watani habibi", meaning my beloved homeland. This song praises Arab unity and pan- Arabism. Then the two programme presenters, a man and a woman, interrupt the song and make a call to people in Syria, naming a number of Syrian cities and regions and all the governorates of the Syrian homeland. The call says: "We announce to you that we will meet you soon, we are here to meet you and we are here for you". The following is an outline of the contents of the daily half-hour broadcasts from 8 to 12 August inclusive: 8 August: 1. - Patriotic song "Watani habibi" 2. - Call to all the people in all the governorates of the beloved Syrian homeland 3. - Song by famous Egyptian singer Muhammad Abd-al-Wahhab 4. - Second part of an article by a Syrian researcher, a legal expert who lives in Switzerland, on the blunders of the Syrian security services and right to compensation for damages as a consequence of these blunders, such as illegal and arbitrary arrests and torture. The presenter says that this article was published in the Lebanese paper Al-Nahar. 5. - The same old Egyptian song by Muhammad Abd-al-Wahhab is repeated. The broadcast is abruptly interrupted during this song without a closing announcement or signoff. 9 August: 1. - Patriotic song "Watani habibi" 2. - Above song is interrupted to relay the same call to Syrians in all the governorates of the Syrian homeland 3. - Reading from the Koran 4. - Patriotic song: "Watani habibi". 5. - Readings from the Koran Please note that the station broadcast readings from the Koran for about 15 minutes as 9 August was a Friday, the Muslims' holy day. 6. - Song. The broadcast is interrupted abruptly once again without any closing announcement or signoff. 10 August: 1. - Patriotic song: "Watani habibi". 2. - Call to all Syrians in Syria 3. - Part of the article by a Syrian researcher, a legal expert who lives in Switzerland, on the blunders of the Syrian security services and right to compensation for damages as a consequence of these blunders, such as illegal and arbitrary arrests and torture. 4. - Song by Egyptian singer Muhammad Abd-al-Wahhab. The broadcast is interrupted abruptly, once again, during this song without a closing announcement or a sign-off. 11 August: 1. - Patriotic song: "Watani habibi". 2. - Call to all Syrians in Syria 3. - Song by Muhammad Abd-al-Wahhab 4. - Songs by the famous Syrian singer Sabah Fakhri 5. - The presenter made the following announcement towards the end of the broadcast: "Goodbye, we will meet you at the next session." 6. - Patriotic song: "Watani habibi". Once again the broadcast is interrupted abruptly without a signoff. 12 August: 1. - Patriotic song: "Watani habibi". 2. - An introduction to the Syrian town of Qanawat originally called Kanatha, meaning canals. Reception became worthless during this programme. A contribution to Glenn Hauser's DX Listening Digest e-mail newsletter refers to this radio as Sawt al-Watan (The Voice of the Homeland). This has not been established as no identification has been heard so far. The newsletter also reported that this radio relays on 9950 kHz the daily broadcast between 0330 and 0400 gmt which is then repeated between 1500 and 1530 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research 13 Aug 02 (via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ HARMONICS +++++++++ Mark Hattam has Kindly Updated our all time harmonics Log Book in time for the forthcoming F2 season http://www.dxradio.co.uk/harmonics.html (Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup Aug 11 via DXLD) RECEIVER TIPS +++++++++++++ One of my pet peeves is the way the Passport to World Band Radio staff tout the SE-3 as the miracle cure-all for the lousy audio and other shortcomings of kilobuck receivers. Something is clearly wrong with your evaluative criteria when you assign five stars to something like the Watkins-Johnson WJ-8711A ($5295) and the Ten Tec RX-340 ($3950) yet their reviews say things like "synchronous detection not sideband- selectable, so it can't reduce adjacent channel interference (remediable by the Sherwood SE-3)." Sorry folks, if I pay over $4000 for a receiver I shouldn't have to shell out an extra $550 for an SE-3 so I can [get] acceptable audio and synchro detector performance. Those are design shortcomings unacceptable in receivers at those price levels. I don't understand how you can assign such receivers five stars while "deducting" stars from lower-priced receivers with the same shortcomings --- remediable by the Sherwood SE-3, of course! (Harry Helms AK6C Ridgecrest, CA DM15, Aug 11, NRC-AM via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-127, August 11, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1143: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 [also webcast Sun 1830, Mon 1230] UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Hope you are well. This heat makes me feel like we're in North Africa although I've never been there. Best regards and thanks for giving us all the straight information. the amount of data you collect, organize, edit and put out in each Digest is incredible! (LeRoy Long, Edmond, OK, Aug 10) ** ARGENTINA [non]. A Polícia Federal brasileira fez uma apreensão de diversos aparelhos da Igreja Maranatha, em 6 de agosto, em Foz do Iguaçu (PR). De acordo com matéria publicada no jornal Gazeta do Povo, e repassada por Cássio Silvério, editor do sítio http://www.planetaradio.cjb.net uma emissora fechada foi a Rádio Melodia FM, que emitia em 98.1 MHz. Segundo o jornal, "o sinal da emissora era transmitido por meio de uma antena direcional para Puerto Iguazú, na Argentina." (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) Wasn`t this one related to the 6215 outlet?? (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio RGS, de Porto Alegre (RS), está sendo sintonizada, com bom sinal, na freqüência de 6160 kHz, em diversos horários. A emissora faz parte do Sistema LBV (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) As in my previous report at 1000 UT (gh, OK, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista (SP), apresenta, aos sábados, o programa Além Fronteiras, a partir de 2200. Nele, são respondidos os relatórios de recepção enviados para a emissora. Como complemento, a emissora coloca o seu sítio à disposição para um bate- papo dos ouvintes. Anote o endereço: http://www.cancaonova.com/dx. A Canção Nova emite em 4825, 6105 e 9675 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. O radioescuta Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM), fez excelente perfil de emissora de seu Estado. Confira: A Rádio Cultura do Amazonas, de Manaus (AM), está no ar de 1000 às 0200, na freqüência de 4845 kHz. Emissora do governo do estado, é ligada à FUNTEC (Fundação Televisão Cultura do Amazonas) e tem por lema "a Rádio da família amazonense". Na programação, muita música entremeada de noticiários e avisos para o interior do estado, além de retransmitir alguns programas jornalísticos da TV Cultura de Manaus. Fundada, inicialmente, pela RADIOBRÁS, como Rádio Nacional de Manaus, passou, depois, para controle do Estado, quando veio a se chamar Rádio Cabocla. Em 1993, foi incorporada à FUNTEC, passando a ter a nova denominação de Rádio Cultura do Amazonas. Há planos de colocar também o som de emissora na Internet. As informações foram prestadas por Sávio Santos, um dos comunicadores da emissora e que apresenta o programa matinal "Canta Amazônia". (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. RÁDIO CULTURA FM, SÃO PAULO, NOS 16 METROS Os 16 metros da R Cultura FM deve estar no ar entre 30 e 40 dias de acordo com as estimativas deles. Uma válvula estava inoperante e o tanque final estava danificado. Fui lá justamente para ver de perto o estrago e o restauro. Para quem é de SP, o transmissor deles fica no bairro Parque Novo Mundo, entre o Norte e Leste da cidade. O técnico que restaurou o sistema deles trabalhou comigo na 89 FM anos atrás e sempre que posso vou "xeretar" o que ele está fazendo. O Célio Romais já havia noticiado a escuta deles no radionews, gerado por ele, e no boletim também. Por sinal, é graças a este conhecido que eu passei a escutar rádio com o ponto de vista de quem está transmitindo, pois existem N fatores de propagação, reflexão de sinal etc... Uma hora com mais calma eu comento uns testes que eles fazem para saber o quanto de sinal está saindo do transmissor por exemplo (Denis Zoqbi, São Paulo, SP, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) 17815 ** BRAZIL. AM NO RIO - Situação preocupante Gostaria de comentar sobre a situação atual das rádios AM do Rio de Janeiro. Sou ouvinte diurno assíduo de algumas delas e, infelizmente, as notícias que ouvimos não são nada boas quanto à manutenção de algumas no ar, a saber: || A Rádio Manchete deixou de apresentar alguns programas de entrevistas e informação para só apresentar música. || A Rádio Nacional deixou de apresentar programas tradicionais e os substituiu por programas ditos "nacionais". || A Rádio Globo "paulistanizou-se", terminando com um programa tradicional como o de Haroldo de Andrade por este apresentador não concordar com a mudança de diretriz da programação. Li que a freqüência 1220 estaria à venda. || A Rádio Tupi parece que está em vias de ser adquirida por um grupo evangélico. Assim, as rádios mais tradicionais estão umas desaparecendo, outras deixando de ser cariocas e outras se evangelizando, tudo isso para nossa infelicidade que gostamos da companhia diária da programação dessas emissoras (Carlos Augusto da Silva Maia, Rio de Janeiro, em carta publicada no sítio http://www.observatoriodaimprensa.com.br via Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. RÁDIO -- [por] Laura Mattos "72% das rádios [emissoras no mundo, não receptores no Brasil! -- gh] estão nas mãos do Estado", copyright Folha de S. Paulo, 31/7/02 "É uma constatação importante. Dentre todas as mídias, o rádio é a que mais se concentra nas mãos do poder estatal. Segundo o Relatório de Desenvolvimento Humano-2002, divulgado pelo Pnud (Programa das Nações Unidas para o Desenvolvimento), 72% das Ams e FMs estão nas mãos do governo, contra 60% das TVs e 29% dos jornais. O estudo de mídia do Pnud começa com a seguinte frase: `Talvez nenhuma reforma seja tão significativa para fazer com que as instituições democráticas funcionem quanto a reforma da mídia`. E continua: `Para ser livre e independente, para produzir informação factual e imparcial, a mídia precisa ser livre não só do controle estatal, mas também das pressões políticas e corporativas`. Para nós, brasileiros, é fácil perceber --- e o estudo do Pnud comprova --- que a realidade está bem distante desse ideal. Por aqui, o Estado não controla diretamente a maioria das AMs e FMs, mas é raro que se tenha no dial algo livre de pressões políticas, alguma estação que não esteja inundada de interesses que passam a milhares de quilômetros dos democráticos. O relatório diz que o liberalismo, as privatizações e o alto custo das novas tecnologias colaboram para que parte do controle estatal fosse transferido a empresas. Mas afirma que isso nem sempre é a solução para a democracia, já que, em muitos casos, a mídia acaba caindo em monopólios familiares. A Globo, por exemplo, é citada pelo estudo das Nações Unidas como um dos maiores monopólios no mundo controlados por indivíduos e familiares. É claro que há realidades piores do que a brasileira, e o Pnud trata de listar algumas. Em Ruanda, por exemplo, onde o rádio é a mídia mais importante, as estações foram usadas, em 94, para incentivar o genocídio. O estudo lembra ainda que o Líbano é o único país árabe que permite a existência de radiodifusão privada. Mas isso não livra o Brasil da necessidade de refletir sobre essa questão. E de considerar uma dica importante do relatório: para acabar com uma estação `antidemocrática`, basta escutar outra. Depois de Maluf e Genoino, agora será a vez de Alckmin almoçar com os empresários de rádio. Será na próxima terça-feira, na sede da Aesp (Associação das Emissoras de Rádio e TV de SP)." (via Célio Romais, DXLD) ** BURMA [non], Hi Glenn, Yes, the DVB was a week late announcing the frequency change to 9760, but yesterday our frequency coördinator Leo van der Woude assured me that Madagascar made the change last weekend. Obviously a misunderstanding occurred somewhere. 73, (Andy Sennitt, RN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Desde o último dia 3 de agosto, o Serviço Latino-Americano da Rádio Canadá deixou de contar com a tradicional voz de Hector Moreno. Ao término do programa, ele informou que estava se aposentando. Relembrou seus grandes momentos e chorou, juntamente com seus colegas de estúdio. Um momento inusitado e emocionante das ondas curtas, que foi acompanhado por Oséias Fantinelli, de Jacutinga (RS). Vale lembrar que, quando do término dos programas em língua portuguesa da Rádio Canadá Internacional, a locutora que fez a despedida também se emocionou e chorou (Célio Romais, @tividade DX Aug 11 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi, everyone. The new CJWI station on 1610 kHz here in Montreal seems to have broken out from their testing period with some regular programming. At 10 Eastern this evening, I tuned in to see if they were still testing and there is a talk show going on with a male and female announcer in French. They are also taking phone calls, giving a phone number of 514-790-2726, which is also 514-790-CPAM. Again, do not get confused by the constant references to CPAM. This is the name of the company which owns the station and is the official name of the station, CPAM Radio Union.com. The French being spoken is heavily accented, with a Haitian accent, somewhat difficult for me to fully understand at times. It has a much different sound than what we are used to here in Montreal with Quebecois French (Sheldon Harvey, Greenfield Park, Aug 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. Yet more to add to your list of things to listen to and watch... from http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2388 CBC ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR COVERAGE OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11TH CBC will mark the first anniversary of September 11th with a comprehensive array of programming on its Television, Radio and Internet services. The programming will have a Canadian point-of-view, examining not only the American and international repercussions, but also the Canadian perspective on the attacks and the events that followed them. On Wednesday, September 11th, CBC Radio will present a six-and-a-half- hour special called Loss and Legacy: Reflections of September 11th. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. ET, and including live coverage of commemorative events from New York, the special is designed to help Canadians to understand and share the many interpretations of the events of September 11th, and to reflect personally on the significance of the day. Loss and Legacy: Reflections of September 11th is also a series of connected programs that will begin airing on CBC Radio as of September 2nd. These programs will cover a wide range of themes - vulnerability, tolerance, relationships, resilience - all related to the question of what September 11th means to Canadians. On September 11th, CBC Television and CBC Newsworld will devote the entire day to a live special titled Remembering September 11th. From 6 a.m. to approximately 11:30 p.m. ET, host Peter Mansbridge will be joined by CBC correspondents from across the country and world. Remembering September 11th will feature live coverage of commemorative events, interviews with experts and relatives of victims and a documentary report by Peter Mansbridge that examines the inside story of what happened in Canada's government and its military on September 11th. Starting September 2nd, CBC Newsworld will present 10 days of outstanding documentaries that deal with the reality of today's post- September 11th world at 8 and 10 p.m. ET each evening. cbc.ca presents September 11th: One Year Later, a special Web site launching on September 2nd. The site will examine how life has changed for average Canadians since the events of September 11th. Highlights include first-person stories, photo galleries and multimedia presentations, in addition to video and audio clips of the best of CBC Television's and CBC Radio's September 11th anniversary coverage. The site will build up to a special presentation on the day of September 11th. Canadians are invited to participate by sending e-mails and joining in discussion forums. Until the 2nd, the site will contain the programming schedules of CBC Radio, CBC Television, and cbc.ca September 11th anniversary coverage. Visit http://cbc.ca/september11 for information (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. CHINA LAUNCHES WEB SITE TO REPORT ON CROSS-STRAIT MILITARY SITUATION | Text of report by Wang Wei and Liu Dian, carried by Chinese news agency Zhongguo Xinwen She Fuzhou, 1 August: On the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army [PLA], "Straits Military Web Site" [Chinese: Haixia Junshi Wang], China's first general web site dedicated to introducing and conveying military information across the Taiwan Straits, has been successfully opened in Fuzhou. This web site, http://www.vos666.net has been jointly launched by the radio station, the Voice of Straits, and "Fujian Hotline". It boasts a team of professional journalists gathering and editing military news. Its primary sections, "Topical Features", "Green Scenery", and so on, publish truthful and reliable first-hand information gathered by staff reporters from various units of the PLA. Other sections in the site include "Today's Headlines", "Military Situation on Both Sides", "International Military Situation", "Full Scan on Military Strength of Both Sides", "Beacon Tower Over the Straits", and "Cool Military Photos". They collect hot military news in an all-round way and convey military information across the straits. Here, numerous netizens interested in military developments on both sides of the straits can find a platform for exchange and debate. The site will, from time to time, invite renowned Chinese experts and scholars to host the Military Forum as guests and the netizens may freely communicate with them via the Internet. Source: Zhongguo Xinwen She news agency, Beijing, in Chinese 1 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 6025 kHz - Radio Amanecer Internacional (HIAJ), Santo Domingo. Two full data QSL cards (one issued by Adventist World Radio and the other by Radio Amanecer Internacional), two pocket calendars for 2002, an AWR stamp, letter signed by Mr. Adrian Peterson (DX Editor), AWR Contest, AWR Current (newsletter), plastic ruler and pamphlets about AWR projects with kids in Haiti and Tanzania. V/S: Mr. Adrian M. Peterson. 493 days (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. About RDS and ARI: see USA [and non] ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. AS CLASSICAL MUSIC DISAPPEARS FROM THE FM AIRWAVES, SATELLITE RADIO ATTEMPTS TO FILL THE GAP Michael Markowitz, Andante - 9 August 2002 Imagine driving mile after mile across the United States while listening to a complete opera or a long symphony and never losing the radio signal. Heck, imagine even being able to find a complete opera or symphony on the radio, now that one station after another is dropping classical music. Two companies that recently began operating across the United States say they have an alternative for people fed up with bland radio programming and poor reception. Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio are hoping to win the allegiance of beleaguered music lovers --- among them classical listeners --- who seek stimulating music with superior sound quality and feel left in the cold as traditional broadcasters embrace ever- narrower play lists and chase younger demographics. Each satellite service provides virtually commercial-free music all day, every day, with several channels devoted to classical. (XM carries 170 channels in all, ranging from "industrial-strength metal" to talk radio for truckers; Sirius has 100.) Both dedicate a separate channel to operatic and vocal works, which have all but disappeared from the airwaves. And both XM and Sirius promise clear digital sound that doesn't fade in remote areas because it is beamed not by land- based towers but by orbiting satellites. There is, however, a catch: XM (which has been available coast-to- coast since early this year) costs $9.99 a month; Sirius (which started in four markets in February and finished its nationwide rollout on 1 July) costs $12.95 a month. And neither service can be heard on a standard dashboard radio. Subscribers need to buy and install special satellite radio receivers, which start at around $250. Will people shell out that kind of money for radio? XM and Sirius say people are coming around to the idea, just as they got used to paying for television when cable became common. "Certainly 10, 15 years ago, people would have blanched at paying for water, but now, look how many people are walking around with their little bottles of Evian," said Martin Goldsmith, the director of classical programming at Washington-based XM and the former host of Performance Today on National Public Radio. "I think people have discovered the joys of quality and are willing to pay for it." So far, tens of thousands have, indeed, proven willing. XM reports that it has 137,000 subscribers and expects the number to reach 350,000 by year's end. By 2004 or 2005, it is expecting to have four million customers, which will allow it to break even. Sirius says 60,000 car stereos equipped to receive its signal have reached the market, and it also projects strong growth. Auto manufacturers have taken notice of the new technology. General Motors plans to install XM receivers on some two dozen 2003 models and DaimlerChrysler, BMW and Ford have agreements to provide Sirius as either a factory- or dealer-installed option. Other carmakers and several manufacturers of big trucks offer the radios as well. Neither company would say how many listeners tune into its classical programming, but both said anecdotal evidence shows they are reaching people who either do not live near a classical station or are disappointed by the programming their local broadcaster offers. "There a lot of people who have given up on finding classical music on their local stations, even in the big cities," Goldsmith said. "My sense is that we are a natural alternative for people who are fed up with 'terrestrial' radio." XM devotes three of its 170 channels to classical music: one for "traditional classical," one for vocal music and one for "popular classical." Sirius also offers three classical channels: one for orchestral music, one for chamber works and one for vocal music. The aim, according to both companies, is to provide more than just the background music and greatest hits that so many commercial FM stations play. (Both XM and Sirius can be sampled on the Web). XM, said Goldsmith, takes pride in playing a much broader array of classical music than typical stations. "We play music from the Middle Ages to the 20th century," he said. "We play music by Machaut and Josquin, we play complete symphonies by Mahler and Bruckner, and we play contemporary music by composers such as Adams and Corigliano and Libby Larsen." Brian Atwood, the format manager at Sirius, said his station's announcers don't just spin records; they try to describe the music in a way that will draw in novice listeners without talking down to veteran music lovers. That means, for example, that while a traditional radio station might occasionally play an isolated opera aria, Sirius announcers would take the time to explain its dramatic context and discuss it from the perspectives of both the composer and performer. "We can do that with our commercial-free format," Atwood said. "We're trying our best to develop a creative alternative to terrestrial radio, to make it a little bit more fun, but at the same respect the seriousness of the music. You present the great classics first and foremost, but you can make it a little more accessible with on-air talent that is extremely knowledgeable." "Satellite radio in general has got a lot of variety and a lot of options," said Peter Goodman, who writes about radio for Newsday in Long Island, New York, and is himself an XM subscriber. "They are playing stuff you never hear [on the radio] anymore, except occasionally in an odd time slot. I know that when I turn it on I will find something that I want to listen to almost all the time, unless I want local news or local weather." Because there are so many channels, he added, he has broadened his repertoire, switching from classical occasionally to American popular standards or jazz, both of which are also disappearing from the airwaves. Potential satellite customers need to consider some tradeoffs, in addition to the costs. Satellite receivers for the home are not yet available. And despite paying for the service, subscribers still have to put up with commercials on some channels. Sirius is commercial-free on its 60 music channels but it does have ads on news, sports and talk channels; XM plays a few commercials on 30 of its 70 music channels and on its news and sports programs. Sirius, which developed satellite technology first but saw XM beat it to the market, apparently hopes that playing fewer commercials will be a selling point. Now that they are both available nationally, Sirius and XM are pressing ahead with plans to expand their offerings. Next up for both is more original programming, including live broadcasts by musicians and ensembles in the stations' studios. Sirius and XM are also working with major orchestras and performing arts centers to offer concert broadcasts. "We have an abundance of studios where we can have artists come up and visit at length," said Atwood. In a way, if the two companies achieve the success they expect, the future of radio could look a bit like its past, when one of the trademarks of broadcast networks were live performances from such house ensembles as the NBC Orchestra. "We definitely want to bring back the golden age of radio," Goldsmith said. © andante Corp. August 2002. All rights reserved. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Hi Glenn, ever heard actual Worldspace transmissions? Here are some short clips: http://www.sender-tabelle.de/SAT/Worldspace.htm Frankly, I find the audio quality really disappointing! By the way, Radio Caroline is available on the Astra satellite system in the clear, and certainly in a much better quality. Therefore it appears to be really doubtful if the pay-radio concept for the Worldspace service will work, at least as long as they keep up the Astra signal (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. I`ve been catching VOIRI rather consistently for the past few days on 9610 from 0100. The signal seems pretty clear, with a little interference, but with a *fascinating* program agenda, veering from the apparently benign (a lengthy description about a mosque in Cairo) to outright anti-western. VOIRI seems to be in the habit of trying to find and interview American anti-Americanists, and discuss what's 'wrong' with western foreign policy (on 8/7 0115-0130), a discussion about US imperialism ("backward looking and out of the step with the times, creating useless conflicts" vs. "Global Empire" (still elitist --- but more promising "possibilities for global democracy"), or American domestic policy (on 7/30 a John MacArthur(?) was interviewed about the implications of Bush's push to repeal the posse comitatus act --- mainly to cover up his participation in the corporate corruption scandal). (Erik Hinnov, NH, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. I just listened to the IBA's on-demand web radio broadcast. At about 0515 UT, Sunday morning, they are broadcasting the 0400 UT broadcast --- but from FRIDAY morning, not SUNDAY morning! They listed the times that the Jewish Sabbath with start, "tonight" (it starts Friday evening) -- and said that the next broadcast will be 1015 UT. Time to email them again - and see if they'll tell me something more (Daniel Rosenzweig, NY, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. An op-ed piece from Friday's Ha'aretz on the dropping of CNN from Israeli cable services. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=195762 DRAINING THE LIFEBLOOD OF DEMOCRACY, By Ze'ev Sternhell The decision to drop the international news channel CNN from the Israeli cable network only adds to a long list of policies that will end up eroding whatever democratic lifestyle still remains in this country. In a cynical exploitation of the sorrow, fear and suffering arising from terrorism, a series of actions is being taken that are all heading in the same direction - allowing the government to operate without criticism from the media. In a Knesset without an opposition, the media, the Supreme Court and the universities are the last line of defense against these destructive policies. The vulnerability of the universities and how easy it is to pressure them with budget sanctions - driving a wedge between them and the academic colleges - has already been proved in Stage I of the battle that Education Minister Limor Livnat has been waging so successfully. The Supreme Court is a much harder nut to crack, but the idea of establishing a constitutional court in order to abolish judicial oversight in legislative affairs is alive and well. What remains are the media, where sanctions hurt most because they are felt on a daily basis. There is nothing anywhere in the Western world like the Journalism Law now being discussed in the Knesset. Those who preach economic freedom, who are working to privatize public assets, who are prepared to let hundreds of thousands of citizens slip below the poverty line in the name of economic freedom, are the same people who are amassing all the power of the state to dictate policy on a matter that should not be subject to government interference at all. In what other democratic society does parliament decide how many newspapers the public should read and what kind of "living space" a paper should occupy? There is no question that instead of the three newspapers we now have, it would be better to have half a dozen respected dailies. It would be better if the major political parties, instead of paying gargantuan sums to advertising companies, put out their own publications. But the sad fact is that Israel is not capable of sustaining a large number of newspapers, not to mention weekly or monthly magazines. Perhaps that, too, says something about the state of intellectual life and public discourse in Israeli society. The attack on CNN is part of a campaign to suppress independent coverage of events in this region. The claim that this station is being taken off the air exclusively to save money is an insult to the intelligence. CNN is far from perfect - like all reporting, CNN reporters are subject to the pitfalls of the profession, such as on- the-spot broadcasting, and constantly having to talk to cameras. For that reason, they are often superficial and shallow - though no more so than other news stations including Israeli ones. In one sphere, one which is particularly painful to the Israeli government, the coverage of CNN is several notches above that of Israel's televised news reporting - there is no deliberate bias. Its reporters are suspicious by nature, and unlike most Israeli journalists, they feel no obligation to recycle statements issued by the IDF spokesperson. They also try to supply information that the government is trying to hide. That is how they operate all over the world, including in the United States, and they have no intention of granting Israel any special discounts. In contrast to Israeli military reporters, the Americans try to gather information on both sides of the fence. They do not make do with what they pick up in the corridors of general staff headquarters or various field command posts. They are liable to report that the same person the IDF spokesperson says was killed while trying to escape arrest, was murdered on his doorstep as his family looked on, according to the Palestinians. Every Israeli who has served in the army, especially combat units, knows that foreign correspondents are not always haters of Israel. They are simply doing their job, unfettered by phony Israeli "patriotism," the real aim of which is not to safeguard military secrets but to whitewash reality in keeping with the interests of the army and the reigning politicians. This, of course, is the sore point, for both the government and Israeli newscasters. They dislike CNN for the same reason - everyone knows foreign reports tend to be less pleasant on the ear, but they are not necessarily less credible. True, foreign correspondents enjoy a tremendous advantage over the Israelis - they are not under the same pressures. They do not have to cultivate sources of information so that they can fill entire pages with the inside IDF gossip that Israeli readers adore. They are not part of the social network that Israeli journalists rely on for leaks, and hence, are under no obligation to pay back for information by helping the top brass in whatever areas interest them. A foreign correspondent cannot be controlled or ostracized. That is exactly the trouble with a global news channel like CNN. Like the courts, an independent press is a source of power that a free society cannot do without. Take away freedom of information and democratic choice is meaningless. Democracy is a luxury item. It needs constant grooming. Free access to information is an inseparable part of the code of liberties of modern man. It is as deserving of protection as any other liberty (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. 40 Aniversario de la Sección Española de Radio Corea Internacional El próximo 19 de agosto se cumplen 40 años del inicio de la programación en idioma español de la entonces LA VOZ DE COREA LIBRE (denominación que cambiaría por RADIO COREA a partir de marzo de 1973), actualmente RADIO COREA INTERNACIONAL (desde agosto de 1994). Por tal motivo está editándose un programa especial cuya primera parte será emitida el mismo día, 19 de agosto, en los horarios y frecuencias habituales. 1000-1100 UT en 7550, 9580 y 11715 (vía Sackville-Canadá) p/Europa y América del Sur 1600-1700 UT en 6150 para Europa 2000-2100 UT en 7275, 9870 y 15575 hacia Europa, Africa y Oriente Medio 0100-0100 UT en 15575 para América del Norte 0700-0800 UT por 13670 dirigido a Europa. E-mail spanish@kbs.co.kr WEB http://rki.kbs.co.kr (real audio 2000-2100 y 0100-0200) TE (sección española) 82-2-781-3679 #18, Yoido-dong, Youngdungpo-gu, Seoul 150-790, Korea Les deseo a todos buena sintonía, saludos cordiales de: (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Argentina, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I believe that RGM is a regular contributor to RKI`s DX show in Spanish (gh) ** KYRGYZSTAN. NEW RADIO STATION OPENS IN KYRGYZSTAN | Excerpt from report entitled "Baltic melodies" by Kyrgyz newspaper Argumenty i Fakty Kyrgyzstan on 7 August A new radio broadcasting channel was recently registered at the Kyrgyz Justice Ministry. It is indebted to Interfond - the business and cultural cooperation fund - for its appearance. The fund was set up in Bishkek in 1999 to implement long-term projects and programmes in the sphere of business, culture, information, education, service and fashion. The new channel's name is Interkanal [International channel].The fund's president, Tatyana Amankanova, said that it would carry international broadcasting on short wave and had already received the right to rebroadcast the Melodiya [Melody] channel (St Petersburg [Russia]) in the Kyrgyz capital [Bishkek]. [Passage omitted: Russian famous singers and composers were invited to attend a presentation of the channel; the fund asked the Kyrgyz leader, the Bishkek mayor, the Russian ambassador to assist in organizing the presentation] Interkanal is currently registered on the 88.0 MHz FM frequency. The possibility of rebroadcasting the Melodiya channel on VHF is being considered. Source: Argumenty i Fakty Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, in Russian 7 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Ambiguity, ambiguity! ``It would carry international broadcasting on shortwave`` -- does that mean relayed from SW stations or on SW itself?? And does SW really mean ultra SW, i.e. FM?? (gh, DXLD) ** LIBYA. Voice of Africa, 2340-2348 on 15435. On 8/5, I heard news about Africa/Libya; Libyan delegates visiting Madagascar, a 9-nation forum about disease control, and a British Minister visiting the "great Jamahiriyah". Then an ID, "thanks for listening", and French at 2348 (Erik Hinnov, NH, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR. Hi Mahendra, this is interesting. At least in June here in Finland the program after 1900 on 5010 was using ID as "MBS 95.4". It was in parallel with the MBS webcast (with delay). My opinion is that this was the same, strong RTM transmitter all the way. Some of my observations can be seen on http://www.dxing.info/community Africa section titled "7130 MBS Madagascar". 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 11, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [and non]. Tho received as spam, this appears to be a legitimate anti-scam site; of course much of that purports to come from African countries other than Nigeria too ---- The WONST (Wipe Out Nigerian Scams Team) http://www.nigerianscams.org (via gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To update on our test transmissions, here at ZP20, Radio América. We have suspended transmissions on the frequency 15185 KHZ, pending reconstruction of the transmitter, for greater power output. We received no reports on this frequency. We have received reports on the frequency 7300 KHZ, from Norway and Canada (Alberta Province). Previously, we received reports from Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil and the southern border regions of Paraguay, for our tests on 41 Metres. We have also received local reports for the tests on 1610 KHZ. Constructions and improvements continue, at the new transmitter site. With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Mr Mur: Tnx for the update. In your reply to Joe Talbot, you mentioned another frequency, 4830. Please let me know the technical parameters, hours of testing on this one like you have given for the others. Please excuse my ignorance, but I am wonder if `Dom` is a title, or part of your own name? Regards, (Glenn Hauser to Adán Mur via DXLD) Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Thank you very much for your message. With reference to the frequency 4830 KHZ, it is the third harmonic of the frequency 1610 KHZ, but seems to be radiating, strongly, owing to the resonance characteristics of a portion of the 125 Metre tall tower. It is, in fact, the same transmitter, used for 1610 KHZ. I mentioned it to Mr Joe Talbot, out of interest in knowing whether or not this harmonic propagates, ionospherically. At present, we have four broadcast transmitters and one programme transport link transmitter. Tests are being conducted, presently, on the frequencies of 1610 and 7300 KHZ, 24 hours each day, save for short interrruptions, for technical adjustments. The transmitter for 15185 KHZ is scheduled for reconstruction, for greater power output. These transmitters are all at our Villeta plant. The frequency 1480 KHZ is located at the old, Ñemby plant. There is a UHF, digital (ADPCM) link between the two sites. We have received reports for 1610 and 7300 KHZ, from Villeta, and for 1480 KHZ, from Ñemby. The 1480 KHZ signal tends to propagate into the Chaco region, often hundreds of kilometres distant. The 1610 KHZ signal easily propagates across Paraguay, and has been heard in the Eastern part of the country. As I mentioned, earlier, tests in 41 Metres have been monitored and reported in Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Canada, Norway, and in the southern border regions of Paraguay, Itself. The name Dom is not actually my given name, but results from the variety of languages spoken in this region, and from my Portuguese ancestry. In Portuguese, "Dom" is prefixed to the name of Ecclesiastical Authorities and, in the past, for the Portuguese and Brasilian Royal Families and peers of the Empire. It is equivalent to the treament "Sir", in the British usage. These days, in Portuguese, it is often used in a friendly, endearing way, as is used the "Don", in Castillian. The other reason is that, in Guaraní-speaking Paraguay, it approximates the sound of my proper name. Here, we have many persons with non-Castillian names, many of which are adaptations, from the English. I have friends with names of Nelson, Nilson, Gilson, Robson, and know of people with the names Washington, Jefferson, James, and even a Guy-Lyon Playfair! Some of these persons have probably never travelled beyond the borders of Paraguay, but have English-style names. A few kilometres distant, we have the Colonia Thompson, named in honour of the Colonel Thompson, of War of the Triple Alliance days. The port of Asunción is named Puerto Sajonia, equivalent to Port Saxony. The just-retired president of the Banco Central of Paraguay is named Washington Ashwell. Our Minister of Finance is James Stanley. Paraguay is very international! Any reception reports are most welcome! With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Following a translation of Joe Talbot`s previous report...] Felicitaciones a Joe por la excelente "caza", y gracias a Glenn, quien le motivó a enviar el informe y luego a enterarnos de estas noticias gracias a su notable DXLD. Yo no podía dejar de traducir estas noticias para los hispano parlantes aquí en Conexion Digital, especialmente quienes estamos en la zona de influencia de esta emisora, que ha generado mucha expectativa, pero aún no ha sido captada por aquí (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** POLAND [non]. POLISH RADIO MARYJA BROADCASTS DISRUPT GERMAN MILITARY AIR COMMUNICATIONS | Text of report by Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza on 7 August Radio Maryja is spreading the gospel to the Bundeswehr from the territory of Russia. In the course of a routine training flight, instead of the air control a Luftwaffe fighter pilot suddenly heard: "This is Radio Maryja. The Catholic voice in your home." Capt Hans Bauer quickly switched channels and asked the air control duty officer what was going on. They had both heard the same thing - a prayer in a foreign language. Only some time later were the Germans able to establish that the Radio Maryja, the Polish [Roman] Catholic network, was broadcasting on their military frequency. The Bundeswehr turned to the German Defence Ministry for help. The ministry contacted the Polish [Army] General Staff, and our army demanded an explanation from the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Council [KRRiTV]. "The Military Frequency Management Office has been notified by a frequency control unit of the German Defence Ministry that German military radio communications are being interrupted by the Polish Radio Maryja network on the short-wave frequency of 7,400 kHz. I am asking KRRiTV Chairman Juliusz Braun for an explanation," wrote Lt-Gen Lech Konopka. The explanation Father Tadeusz Rydzyk, the head of the radio network, gave stupefied everyone: the radio signal is transmitted not from Poland, but from the Russian Federation. In line with a licence issued by the Russian Communications Ministry and an agreement signed with the RTRS company it owns, the transmitters Father Rydzyk's network uses are located in Krasnodar, in the south of Russia. RTRS refused to speak with us, as did the technical assistance division at Radio Maryja. "This is the height of the summer holiday season," a receptionist told us. We do not know whether the Luftwaffe pilot who heard the Radio Maryja broadcast is actually named Hans Bauer. This is a military secret. Just like many other radio networks broadcasting via satellite in the age of globalization, Father Rydzyk's network has partners on other continents. It leases frequencies from television networks. It pays Rupert Murdoch's Fox Television for broadcasts to the United States and ArabChoice for broadcasts to Lebanon and the Persian Gulf. Fees for European broadcasts are paid to Polish public television. Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw, in Polish 7 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) 7400 may be officially in a fixed band, but there are broadcasters all over that area, so why were the Luftwaffe surprised?? (gh, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. Perhaps I could get a little help here. 8/10/02 1245- 1300 on 15535 --- my resources show this to be FEBA in Seychelles, especially with the religious content. I listened to a SLOW English talk about the benefits of the Sun, and comparing it to Christian faith/God. Would have listened for an ID, but some crazy electrical interference popped up, and the Newmarket NH Old Homes weekend kicked off with a rip-roarin' Fire Truck parade passing right in front of my house. I looked on the FEBA website, found the frequency and time( as 100 kW to the Middle East), and sent a QSL?? e-mail. Has anyone else in North America heard broadcasts from FEBA on this freq? (Erik Hinnov, NH, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Surely, altho this brief 15-minute `Special English` segment may be easily overlooked (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. This may or may not be significant. I have noticed that on occasion on his radio show when Brother Stair speaks, his voice sounds hoarser than I've ever heard it, and I therefore assume but do not know that perhaps these portions were recorded after his release. In any event, this small portions consist solely of his giving his own mailing address (as you know, Stair is famous for giving his mailing address many times per half hour and repeating it over and over as though is his listeners are 1st graders) and he now gives the payable-to name as "The Overcomer." Previously it was always, "Send your check to ME, Brother Stair, that's Brother Stair, Brother S-T-A-I-R," etc. Now it's "The Overcomer." I theorize that while he was gone, the business had difficulty cashing donations in his name. Again, I can't prove any of this, but that is my theory. Or, perhaps, he's under pressure to keep his own money separate from the business's. Other than these hoarser-than-usual portions, the rest of the broadcast consists of nothing but re-runs, as was the case during his absence (Robert Arthur, 0131 UT 11 Aug. 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] During the time from 1230 to 1300 UT 11 Aug. 2002, I heard a Brother Stair rant. I knew it was recent because he mentioned the "under God" decision (denouncing it) and the recent forest fires. During the rant he mentioned in passing that "I was incarcerated for a while," but did not discuss it further. My theory is he wants to play it both ways. The people who know about it will consider him not to be hiding the fact. But people who don't know of it will perhaps miss these mild passing references, or assume they refer to ancient times, or even that he is speaking figuratively. No clue was given that the cases are pending and that he may be going back. Also, since I last wrote I've heard more references to Brother Stair as the payable-to line on checks. It seems to be about 50%/50% regarding whether they use "Brother Stair" or "The Overcomer" for this purpose (Robert Arthur, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [and non]. V. of the Homeland -- see UNIDENTIFIED below ** TAIWAN. Recently the ``New Star`` V13 Chinese language station has been following their regular numbers broadcasts with a female reading some commentary in Chinese, followed by a musical interlude. The commentary and music lasts for about 15 minutes after the end of the numbers broadcasts. I had heard this several times, but not being able to speak Chinese, couldn`t make out what was being said. however, I did make out what sounded like an e-mail address being given. A post to the Spooks e-mail list recently shed some light on the announcement. The post stated that a Mr. Toru Yamashita of the Asian Broadcasting Institute says that the message is a request for listeners to send letters to them either via e-mail or regular mail. The e-mail address is w2789@hotmail.com and the postal address is P. O. Box 12587, Taipei, Taiwan. Mr. Yamashita reportedly sent an e-mail to the station and received a reply. I guess we don`t need any more proof that this station is located on Taiwan, as had been generally believed. What is interesting is that this station has been sending encoded messages for years, and now they are requesting letters from listeners. It makes me wonder who they think is listening? Are they interested in hearing from their own spies, Chinese intelligence, or us numbers listeners? I doubt anyone else ever pays much attention to this station. Could it be an attempt to appear legitimate? Doubtful, since Chinese intelligence and other intelligence agencies are surely aware of what the station is used for. The station is also not on any ITU allocated frequencies. It also make me wonder if they will send out QSLs. OLX from Czechoslovakia used to send out QSLs for reception reports send to the mailing address listed for it in old ITU lists, so it`s certainly unusual but not impossible to QSL a spy numbers station. I`m planning an experiment to try to QSL New Star, and even see if they will answer a few questions for this column. I`m optimistic that they will reply, but doubtful they will answer all the questions I can think of asking them. The results will follow in a future column. New Star is active daily almost every half hour on 8300, 8375, 9725, 11430, 13750, and 15388. I usually can only hear the station on 8300 and 13750. The best time to catch the station here in North America is from around 1000 to 1400 UT. The New Star numbers station is a favorite of mine because it is the first numbers station I ever heard. I used to hear it all the time while at Clark Air Base in the Philippines back in 1990-1991. At the time I knew what numbers stations were, but didn`t realize that I was hearing one. I only heard it on 8300 kHz, and it always had a very strong signal with an antenna beamed north. If you QSL New Star, or even send them an e-mail and get a reply, I`d like to hear from you. Please let me know what they say, and I`ll share it here in this column (Tom Sevart, n2uhc@yahoo.com Frontenac KS, June Covert Comms, The Monthly ACE via DXLD) Last month I reported that the V13 ``New Star`` [supposedly really ``Star Star`` as previously reported here --gh] station had announced a mailing address as well as an e-mail address. It looks as if the e- mail address no longer works. Mail to w2789@hotmail.com bounces. A reception report sent to that address came back with a message saying the mailbox is unavailable. The interesting thing is that this account closed down in a short amount of time after New Star gave the announcements including this address. Last month I also speculated as to why New Star would give an announcement asking for listener comments. After all, this numbers station has been active for many years now, and to read an announcement giving an e-mail and snail mail address seems strange. The fact that the e-mail address no longer works adds to the mystery. Could it be possible that Taiwan intelligence lost contact with an agent, and this is a ruse to have the agent send an e-mail to let them know he`s OK? Or is it a method to get all agents to check in? This is highly unlikely, as Chinese intelligence would have intercepted the e- mail announcement, and having one or all of your agents suddenly send e-mail to you (which is easily traceable) would give them away. Even sending a letter to the announced address would be risky. It would even be risky for any Chinese citizen to send a letter to the station requesting a QSL. The Chinese government and the citizenry are very suspicious of everyone. Someone sending a letter to a broadcast station the government knows is used for intelligence work would surely result in an arrest and imprisonment. Since the e-mail address is down, we are only left with the mailing address of P. O. Box 12587, Taipei, Taiwan. So far I haven`t heard of anyone receiving any replies to mail sent to this address. This is probably your best bet to receive a QSL, if in fact they decide to issue them. I`ve been trying to hear New Star again in order to send them a reception report, but I haven`t been able to catch them on their 8300 or 13750 frequencies. I don`t know if it`s due to propagation or if the station has not been active on these frequencies (Tom Sevart, Frontenac KS, Covert Comms, July The Monthly ACE, via DXLD) ** TIBET. I can confirm that "China Tibet Broadcast Company" is broadcasting at 0700 UT in English as reported in DXLD # 2125 by Parthasarthy Goswami and friends from India. Today (8-8-2002) the program was about "Tibet Opera" by YL. The English broadcast continued past 0715 till 0720. Most probably this transmission is also heard Monday to Saturday only. The only frequency audible at my QTH in Punjab, India was 9490 kHz. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar for GRDXC via DXLD) ** U S A. This seems to be the first in a series of at least three articles on Clear Channel. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From Wired News, available online at: http://www.wired.com/news/print/0,1294,54036,00.html CLEAR-CUTTING THE RADIO FOREST By Randy Dotinga 2:00 a.m. Aug. 5, 2002 PDT SAN DIEGO -- If you want to hear Aretha Franklin or Lauryn Hill or Metallica on the radio in San Diego, you have no choice but to tune to a Clear Channel station. The same goes for sports talk, local news and Rush Limbaugh. In the radio world, this pattern is about as unusual as a "first-time caller, longtime-listener." From Honolulu (seven stations) to Des Moines, Iowa (six), and Ft. Myers, Florida (eight), Clear Channel Communications dominates the dial across the country. But nowhere is its domination more prevalent than in San Diego. The world's largest radio company controls 14 stations there -- a half- dozen more than anywhere else in the United States -- and it still has room to grow by looking to the south. Clear Channel's aggressive determination has set it far apart from its mild-mannered competitors. Over the past three years, Clear Channel programmers sacked San Diego disc jockeys and replaced them with voices from out of town, hoodwinked listeners by airing national contests as if they were local, and rolled out cookie-cutter radio formats designed elsewhere. Meanwhile, the company sweet-talked Mexican station owners across the border and tore through legal loopholes in order to build its mini- empire. Clear Channel's stations now reach more than 40 percent of all radio listeners in the San Diego area, and its ratings are strong, suggesting that few people care about its tactics. But critics say there are plenty of chinks in the company's armor that could allow competitors to take down this Goliath both here and across the country. "I don't think these stations are connecting with listeners like they used to," said Tracy Johnson, general manager of rock station KFMB-FM. "They're sterile and lack creativity. There's a sparkle that's missing." If that's true, it may be because Clear Channel's inner fire has been directed toward buying everything in sight. The company barely existed five years ago, but blazed onto the broadcasting scene by snapping up radio stations after Congress abandoned ownership rules. After a blizzard of purchases, sales and mergers, Clear Channel owns or operates 1,165 radio stations in the United States. It controls about 80 more through other means that occasionally raise eyebrows. In San Diego, for instance, Clear Channel took over the sales and programming of a small talk station but didn't buy it outright in order to circumvent the eight-station limit. Clear Channel also raided five Tijuana radio stations that broadcast in English, taking over the latest two in May. Mexican law forbids Americans from owning stations but doesn't stop them from running them. Clear Channel could even add to its stable of Tijuana-based stations. From a Federal Communications Commission point of view, the Mexican stations are untouchable. The stations could technically broadcast obscenities 24 hours a day without violating U.S. law because they're in a foreign country. While some radio insiders hope someone will sue Clear Channel over its control of Mexican stations, nobody has gone to court yet. But that hasn't stopped competitors from accusing the company of moral breaches. "There are companies that choose to live by the spirit of the law, which says you can't own more than eight stations in a market. If you're going to be a good corporate citizen, that's what you do," said John Dimick, program director at country station KSON-FM. But Mike Glickenhaus, a Clear Channel vice president for the San Diego market, said morality has nothing to do with his company's inroads into Mexico. "Any company has the same rights to do what we have done," he said. "We are simply maximizing our position like any good business would try to do." Many critics are quick to accuse Clear Channel of cracking down on creativity in its push for dominance. Since the company entered the San Diego market three years ago, a few successful stations retained their management and most of their staffs. But others have lost their local flavor and their local disc jockeys. Some of the stations are little more than clones of sister operations elsewhere. For instance, a new Clear Channel country station called "Bob 99.3" -- "Turn your knob to Bob" -- ripped off the name and motto of a defunct Minneapolis station. Dimick said it appears to be a twin of a country station in Phoenix. And when a San Diego rock station called "Mix" debuted in 1999, it was one of more than a dozen Clear Channel stations nationwide with identical nicknames, identical logos and similar playlists. While the San Diego station folded, the number of "Mix" stations nationwide has grown to 25. Meanwhile, local contests have largely vanished from the San Diego airwaves. In 1999, Clear Channel began running national contests without making it clear that local callers competed against listeners from dozens of other stations. The public didn't blink, and the media barely noticed. (After it was fined in Florida, the company now runs explicit disclaimers about the contests.) Glickenhaus said local radio hasn't disappeared. Even if disc jockeys are often from out of town, station bosses remain in San Diego and customize their programming to the country's eighth-largest city. "It's still all about being as compelling and entertaining as you can," he said. Judging from the ratings, the estimated 2.4 million radio listeners in San Diego County don't mind the creativity gap on the radio. Clear Channel controls 12 of the county's 20 top-rated stations, including No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5, according to an Arbitron report issued earlier this month. Even some competitors admit that Clear Channel isn't always the Radio Company of Doom. By consolidating stations into one group, Clear Channel contributes to making San Diego a more stable radio market, said Bob Hughes, co-owner of KPRI-FM, the only locally owned commercial station left in the region. "You've gone from 20-25 owners with wildly different needs and pressures to just a handful," Hughes said. "In a lot of ways, it has made radio a better business." Indeed, Clear Channel's growth may actually help adventurous stations like KPRI, which broadcasts an eclectic mix of classic and alternative rock, blues and reggae. By contrast, Clear Channel deploys its San Diego stations to reach specific demographics -- men 18-34, for example, or women 25-54 -- and never blends different genres of music. But listeners don't necessarily want distinctive radio. KPRI placed 21st in the latest San Diego ratings, lagging behind 12 stations run by -- you guessed it -- Clear Channel. Tomorrow: Has your "local" DJ even heard of your town? Copyright (C) 1994-2002 Wired Digital Inc. All rights reserved (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. ASIAN RADIO By ELIZABETH A. KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- When Anil Srivatsa launched his weekly radio show five years ago, he had a specific audience in mind: New Jersey's growing Indian population. His target audience has broadened somewhat since then. "My aim is to take South Asian radio to the mainstream level," said Srivatsa, 34. "I am a broadcaster for the mainstream audience." His show, "Anil ki-Awaaz" -- "Voice of Anil" -- airs Saturdays from a studio in Srivatsa's New Brunswick home, and reaches beyond central and southern New Jersey to audiences in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and the San Franciso Bay area. The English-language program broaches topics including the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 ("America has a double standard when it comes to fighting terrorism") and how Indian immigrants often betray each other ("We are our own worst enemy.") But the show also features popular Indian music, cooking segments and chatter about Bollywood, India's version of Hollywood. Also included - - perhaps in honor of his broadcasting idol, Howard Stern -- are interludes with beautiful women. Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, says a recent surge in Indian programming like Srivatsa's is part of a trend toward more diversity on the airwaves. "There has been an increase in a lot of foreign language stations in the last three or four years," Wharton said. "The broadcasters are pretty good at spotting a trend and will create programming to meet a new audience." The Hispanic radio market gives other ethnic broadcasters a model for success, Wharton said. He estimates there were fewer than 400 Hispanic stations around the country five years ago. "Now, there are probably more than 600," he said. Vinod Vasudeva, host of the Orlando, Fla.-based program "Manoranjan" – which means "entertainment" in Hindi -- said he speaks a mixture of English and Hindi on his music show to attract more listeners. "We have many American listeners who tune into the progam now," he said. "White, black, Hispanic people. They are keen to get information about what's going on across the seven seas." Richard Wallace, a host of "Sounds of the Subcontinent" from Ann Arbor, Mich., said the growing popularity of Indian shows reflects a general interest in Indian culture, including its music and movies. Indeed, most people involved in the English-language "Sounds of the Subcontinent" have no personal ties to the region. None of the three hosts is Indian. "Our show reflects just a personal interest in the music and culture," he said, adding that the subject matter extends beyond India to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Many ethnic shows find a home with companies like Multicultural Broadcasting, which owns 30 radio stations across the country, specializes in ethic programming. Arthur Liu, who has owned the Manhattan-based company since 1982, said programmers lease time from Multicultural and bring in their own shows and advertisers. The Indian programs are particularly well-suited to New Jersey's demographics. The latest census figures show the number of Indians in New Jersey more than doubled since 1990, to 169,180. Nationally, Indian is the third largest Asian subgroup with 1.9 million residents, according to the latest Census numbers. Chinese comprise the largest group (2.7 million), followed by Filipinos (2.4 million). Alex Saout, a vice president at the Virginia-based marketing company Allied Media, said advertisers appreciate the often specialized market offered by ethnic programming. "Mainstream media overreaches," he said, adding that specialized media targets "specific people who are more likely to use the service." Advertisers on Indian stations run the gamut from banks and insurance companies that cater to Indian populations to car rental services and restaurants, he said. Srivatsa, who is hoping to get big-name advertisers such as Burger King for his show, said he is setting his sights on the next big market. "I have my eye on Atlanta next," he said. "These are really heavily populated South Asian centers." His show airs on WPRB in Princeton, N.J., KSQQ in San Jose, Calif., and WMET in Washington, D.C. ------ On the Net: Anil ki-Awaaz: http://www.indiaradio.com (AP July 29 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. BOTH SIDES APPEAL NET RADIO RULING Thu Aug 8, 7:59 PM ET --- By Laura Rohde, IDG News Service No one is happy with a June decision by the U.S. Copyright Office and the Librarian of Congress on the rates webcasters are to be charged per song. Both sides of the dispute, Internet music broadcasters and the Recording Industry Association of America ( news - web sites) Inc. (RIAA), which represents the major music labels, appealed the decision this week. The ruling by the Copyright Office, handed down on June 20, set the royalty rates for music broadcast over the Internet at US$0.70 per song, per 1,000 listeners. However, the Internet music broadcasters contend that this rate is still too high -- the RIAA is arguing that the decision is unfair to artists and record labels. Over two dozen Internet radio stations, including America Online Inc., Virgin Audio Holdings LLC and Live365.com Inc. filed Notices of Appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., the Digital Media Association said in a statement. The RIAA filed its intent to appeal the Copyright Office's decision on Wednesday, the deadline for doing so, on behalf of the major recording labels and will officially file its briefs "later in the year," it said in a separate statement. In June, the Librarian of Congress said in a position paper that it accepted the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights and rejected the rates and terms recommended by a Copyright Arbitration Royalty Panel (CARP), which had suggested rates of $1.40 per song, per thousand listeners, "because significant portions of it were arbitrary or contrary to law." Jonathan Potter, executive director of the Digital Media Association, said in a statement Wednesday that he was still hoping for a negotiated resolution that would enable the industry to withdraw the appeal, but the RIAA seemed entrenched in its position, he said. For its part, the RIAA accused the Librarian of Congress of "significantly undervaluing the music used by Internet radio companies" while! Also improperly throwing out 140 licensing deals that the record companies and RIAA had signed with webcasters (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. A CHORUS OF ANGRY PIGGIES --- By Jonathan Krim WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- The battle over Internet broadcasting is raging right here, in a place they call the Pig Sty, in a town that mostly caters to food-packing businesses and farmworkers who toil in the surrounding fields of strawberries, artichokes and cabbages.... To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A851-2002Aug9.html (via Tom McNiff, VA, DXLD) ** U S A. REGULATORS SAY NEW TV SETS MUST HAVE DIGITAL TUNERS BY 2007 Text of Federal Communications Commission press release dated 8 August Washington, DC: Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a plan that will give consumers access to digital programming over television by requiring off-air digital TV (DTV) tuners on nearly all new TV sets by 2007. By enacting a five-year rollout schedule that starts with larger, more expensive TV sets, the FCC is minimizing the costs for equipment manufacturers and consumers. This action marks another step in the FCC's progress towards making the digital television transition a reality. The FCC said DTV receivers are a necessary element of broadcast television service in the same way that analogue TV receivers have been since the inception of analogue television service. Although analogue receivers are still dominant today, that will change as the transition to digital TV progresses. The FCC said that its jurisdiction is established by the 1962 All Channel Receiver Act (ACRA), which provides the FCC with the "authority to require" that television sets "be capable of adequately receiving all frequencies" allocated by the FCC for "television broadcasting". The authority provided under the ACRA applies to all devices used to receive broadcast television service, not just those used to receive analogue signals. The FCC said the plan reflects and accounts for the following: - including DTV reception capability in new television receivers will require the redesign of product lines, - prices are declining and will decline even faster as economies of scale are achieved and production efficiencies are realized over time, and - prices of large TV sets have been declining at a rate of 100 to 800 dollars per year, so the additional cost of the DTV tuner may be partially or completely offset by the general price decline. The FCC said this plan will ensure that new TV receivers include a DTV tuner on a schedule as close as economically feasible to the 31 December 2006 target completion date for the DTV transition that was set forth in the Communications Act by Congress. Timetable The Second Report and Order and Second Memorandum Opinion and Order adopted today requires that all television receivers with screen sizes greater than 13 inches and all television receiving equipment, such as videocassette recorders (VCRs) and digital versatile disc (DVD) players/recorders, will be required to include DTV reception capability after July 1, 2007, according to the following schedule: Receivers with screen sizes 36 inches and above - 50 per cent of a responsible party's units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2004; 100 per cent of such units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2005. Receivers with screen sizes 25 to 35 inches - 50 per cent of a responsible party's units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2005; 100 per cent of such units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2006. Receivers with screen sizes 13 to 24 inches - 100 per cent of all such units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2007. TV Interface Devices: VCRs and DVD players/recorders, etc. that receive broadcast television signals - 100 per cent of all such units must include DTV tuners effective 1 July 2007. In the item today, the FCC also declined for the time being to adopt labelling requirements for TV receivers that are not able to receive any over-the-air broadcast signals. The FCC stated that it is unclear when, or if, such products will become commercially available or how they will be marketed. The FCC will continue to monitor the state of the marketplace and take additional steps if necessary to protect consumers' interests. Today's item also amends the FCC rules to reference the most recent version of the Advanced Television System Committee's (ATSC) DTV standard. The FCC also stated that it will address the possible adoption of the ATSC's "Programme System and Information Protocol" (PSIP) specification in its forthcoming Second Review of its policies for the DTV transition. In the interim, the FCC included the PSIP specification in its rules as a document that licensees may consult for guidance. Finally, today's action denies a petition for reconsideration requesting that the FCC consider imposing minimum performance thresholds for DTV receivers. In reaffirming its previous decision on this issue, the FCC said that competitive forces are the best approach for ensuring that DTV receivers perform adequately and meet consumer needs in terms of price, quality, performance and features. Source: Federal Communications Commission press release, Washington DC, in English 8 Aug 02 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Recently you had a link to a newspaper article about attempts to establish the RDS system in the USA. It should be pointed out that the cited eight character display, the so-called PS code, has to contain the station ID and nothing else; it is a violation of the RDS specifications to use the PS codes for advertisements or any other text messages. Unfortunately such misuse of the PS code is quite common. Any commercial station from Poland I caught so far does it; it is also quite popular amongst commercial stations here in Germany and recently even a public broadcaster (Hessischer Rundfunk) get used to this bad habit. RDS offers a specific feature for text messages, called radiotext, but hardly anybody uses it (Deutschlandradio does so, as far as I know). The alternative frequency feature is of course related to the European concept which does not consider a single FM transmitter (just with a few low powered gap-fillers probably added) as a "station" but instead lets a station often use extended networks of transmitters. And traffic jam announcements are nothing new here; already in the seventies an RDS predecessor called ARI was developed to facilitate this service. In the eighties ARI was established even in Czechoslovakia, on the OIRT band transmitters there. Trouble was, no ARI car radios covering the OIRT band ever existed! Of some interest may be how the ARI announcement code is switched on and off here in Germany: This is done through the program audio with a special signal, developed by a certain Mr. Hinz and therefore called Hinztriller. A Hinztriller is a tone of 2350 Hz, modulated with a frequency of 123 Hz. Probably you will know this signal: Once Deutsche Welle aired transmitter site identifications, and if memory serves right ten years ago these announcements were framed by Hinztrillers. If so they probably used this signal to trigger the site ID's on the individual transmitter plants. Have a nice Sunday, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CNN banned from Israeli cable systems: see ISRAEL in this and previous issues ** U S A [and non]. This via today's ARRL Letter: The end of the line for Radio Amateur Callbook: Radio Amateur Callbook is throwing in the towel and will cease publication of its CD-ROM Callbook product effective with its winter 2003 edition, which will come out in November. "Due to accessibility to the FCC database via the Internet, sales have declined to levels that make it unprofitable to publish future editions," publisher Bob Hughes announced in a recent news release. In 1997, citing "rising costs and increasing demand for electronic publishing" the company phased out its telephone-book-size paper North American and international editions in favor of its CD-ROM product. The 1997 Callbook--the 75th edition--was the last hard-copy version available. The Callbook began publishing in 1920 (via Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15 NRC-AM via DXLD) What about the international portion? That info is not in the FCC database, is it?? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, Just finished reading DXLD and saw an item on Hank Bennett and WPE's. Hank is still with us and I think he is in his 80's. He has kept all his WPE and WDX data and the last I heard was that it was being converted over to computer programs. As for being active, I believe he is not at this time. Several folks have made inquiries to him BUT no reponse from him to date. A number of writers to me would like to see the WPE and WDX program active once again. Hank's mailing address is WDX Monitor Services, PO Box 9, Collingswood NJ 08108 for those who would like to contact him. As far as I know, he has NO email nor web site address (Stewart H. MacKenzie, WDX6AA, Huntington Beach CA, Aug 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "World Friendship Through Shortwave Radio where Culture and Language meet" ASWLC - http://communitylink.ocnow.com/groups/aswlc SCADS - http://communitylink.ocnow.com/groups/scads ** U S A. As for Spectrum I am sure you know they have said, again, that the show is over because of no money to pay the station. This, although they mentioned they`d be playing old shows or music this Saturday and weeks after. Glenn, would not WWCR charge Spectrum the same amount of money for broadcasting anything? I don't get this (LeRoy Long, OK, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Me neither. I haven`t heard exactly what they are saying now, but in the long history of Spectrum they have periodically run out of money or the desire to continue, but haven`t gone away permanently. We shall see... I checked it briefly around 0330 Aug 11 and heard some talk discussion, not music (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Pirate John at Radio D.C., which follows WOR on WBCQ UT Thu 0445 on 7415, tells me that Allan Weiner mentioned on AWWW UT Sat Aug 10 at 0000, that he was replacing both our shows with some Jewish religious hour at 0415-0515. Yet to hear from him directly about this and/or a possible replacement time -- possibly bumped back to 0515? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. On wqxr.com heard "Inside the New York Times Book Review" at 2258 today. The NYTBR was a sesquiminute long -- 2258-2300. 1 min 40 sec to be precise. [i.e., one hektosecond -- gh]. I assume it is on every Saturday at this time. Since I can no longer afford to purchase the Sunday NYT, (like I used to back in the '70s), this is great! I also note that the book reviews and other NYT features are archived for two weeks on the WQXR website (Ivan Grishin, ON, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBBR-1130 NY: According to the transmitter engineer, this weekend's planned testing will not occur. It will likely be deferred to next weekend. I'll check in with him again next week and publish any info (Rick Kenneally, CT, Aug 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Hello fellow DXers, I just heard WTIC announcer Glen Colligan mention that they will be going off the air tomorrow night (Sunday) at 9 pm [EDT] for transmitter maintenance. He said the silent period could last as much as 3 hours depending on what work needs to be done. I'll try to confirm the silent period by calling the station. WTIC is licensed to Hartford, Connecticut with its transmitter located on Avon Mountain in Avon. As most of you know, WTIC operates on 1080 with 50000 watts directional at night to protect KRLD in Dallas (Kent Plourde, Bristol, CT, Aug 9, NRC-AM, via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn: I'm not sure you've seen this or not, but I think it would be of interest to readers of DXLD. Jim Hawkins' Radio and Broadcast Technology Page at: http://hawkins.pair.com/wsm.html has a lot of great photos and historical info concerning the WSM AM 650 tower and transmitters. There are photos and info on the Blaw-Knox dual cantilevered (center guyed tower). A.k.a. "diamond antenna" which was erected in 1932 and is still in use today. Also included are photos the original 50 kW as well as a 1939 FM transmitter That operated at 44.7 MHz, and even a short wave transmitter licensed as W4XA, which was active on 26150 kHz until the beginning of WW2 (David Hodgson, TN, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com PETE'S BACK LIVE ON 'FUV -- Friday, August 9th, 2002 Pete Fornatale comes back to WFUV (90.7 FM) today [Saturday!] to resume new live editions of his "Mixed Bag" show, 5-8 p.m. [EDT] This will come as good news to his fans, who have been listening to rebroadcasts of the eclectic music program since Fornatale began what was officially described as a "leave of absence" in February. "Pete wants to be back, and we're delighted to have him," station manager Ralph Jennings said yesterday. "Both for the station and for me personally as a fan of the show." Soon after Fornatale stopped doing live shows in February, WFUV indicated there were disagreements over the content of an earlier program in which he related a joke that involved Osama Bin Laden and used a bleeped-out obscenity. Jennings suggested certain types of political commentary were not appropriate for the music-based program, and soon thereafter the "leave of absence" was announced. Fornatale has made no public statements. As recently as January, he was thanking WFUV "for letting me do the kind of free-form radio that you just can't hear on the commercial airwaves anymore." AROUND THE DIAL: "Radio Lab" tomorrow night [Sunday! UT Mon 0000] at 8 on WNYC (820 AM) features an unusual concept: the "New York Scream." Several weeks ago, Radio Lab producer Jad Abumrad asked listeners to call up and scream. Dozens did so, and they will be the database from which Abumrad and his experts analyze and assess the New York scream. (David Hinckley, NY Daily News via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non], 8-7-02, 0100-0115 on 6175: Voice of Viet Nam, with a very clear and strong signal. News about catfish imports/exports, children in Hanoi speaking about HIV, Thailand/Myanmar relations, Vietnam wins three medals in a badminton tournament, and a nuclear power plant being built in North Korea with US help, and an ID at 0110. Is this signal being relayed from somewhere in N. America --- similar to radio Japan via Canada on 6120/6145?? (Erik Hinnov, NH, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Exactly UNIDENTIFIED. Re 3446.30 kHz playing non stop mostly instrumental music around/after 2215... Almost certainly a spur from Ghana on 3366 kHz, audible here in the UK at present 2309 UT 9th August (Graham Powell, Wales, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 5005.63~. For the past few evenings around 0130-0200 I am hearing a very weak station on close to 5005.63 or so... Probably Radio LTC, Juliaca, Perú (Graham Powell, Wales, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook & 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk UNIDENTIFIED. RE: 12115 / 12085 ANTI-SYRIAN CLANDESTINE Hi Glenn and Andy, -Test? - but the Indian DXer observed it first on July 24th! (K.M. Patel, India, Jul 24, DXLD) Re: DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-126, August 9, 2002 Noel Green from Blackpool sent this today, Sat 10th: Thanks for details concerning the Arabic station on 12085 and 12115. BTW, 12085 was 43 secs BEHIND 12115 when I heard it first. Friday I stayed tuned to 12085 and SYR was heard on top of the Watan station around 1500 before closing down to leave Watan in the clear. I didn`t time the difference between the two frequencies, but noted that 12115 had started before 12085. But I`m not sure I agree with Tarek ```I'm 100% sure now, this is a Clandestine station beamed to Syria```. Why is it broadcasting on 12085, and why does Syria close down to leave it clear channel. Most strange! (Noel R. Green, UK, Aug 10, BC-DX via Wolfgang df5sx, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe it is anti-Syrian, but the Syrians close 12085 in order to DF it, or just to monitor it. Still no luck here getting any readable signal on any of their frequencies (gh, OK, DXLD) I just listened to the mysterious operation on 12085 and 12115: Shortly before 1500, 12085 had Damascus with the usual very weak audio and a subaudible heterodyne. At about 1500 the program in question started with much louder audio, and at 1501 the het disappeared. So it is evident that this transmission not originates from the Radio Damascus transmitter, but instead Damascus takes the 12085 transmitter down between 1500 and 1600. Of course this could be a mere coincidence, but I do not believe in Santa Claus anymore. There is no audio processing in use on 12085. Otherwise I would therefore assume that this is just another CIS facility but the use of a completely different audio source than for the 12115 outlet is quite remarkable, keen monitors will probably remember a similar case. Today 12115 (which could well be the "usual" Tbilisskaya or Samara) was about 45 seconds ahead of 12085. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Aug 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Clandestine SOUT AL WATAN - Voice of Homeland [belongs to SYRIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT?] SOUT AL WATAN - Voice of Homeland. Here's my report about this new clandestine station on "SOUT AL WATAN" on 9950 at 0330-0400 UT, and on 12085 and 12115 kHz at 1500-1530 UT. Well, first of all, the morning transmission is repeated in the evening transmission. They start the program always with a call for all the listeners in different Syrian cities --- with the background the well known musical song (Watani Habibi) - "my beloved country- home". This song was released upon the Egyptian-Syrian unification in the mid 60's. And after that, they read verses from the Holy Qur`an talking about unification between all the nations. I noticed that the reading of the Qur`an was on, while the music in the background is still on, which is not right mixing music and the Qur`an; and announcement at the end of that musical introduction that goes "soon we'll have a meeting with you --- and for you!!!", said by a YL. Then the program starts. I picked them up on Friday morning 9/8/2002 and they started with the usual (Watani Habibi song) and the call for different Syrian cities, followed by chanting of the Holy Qur`an that lasted for almost 10 minutes, followed by some religious chantings, that lasted till the end of the transmission. No ID at all. As you know Friday is the holy day according to Muslims all over the world. It's like Sunday for Christians and Saturday for Jews. so I wonder, was that on propose --- as they start the program with the Holy Qur`an only on Fridays. On Saturday and Sunday the program was usual no religious stuff at all. Further more, they started the Sunday 11/8/2002 program with a musical program about the #1 Syrian singer SABAH FAKHRI, with some of his old greatest hits. The usage of 12115 and \\ 12085, this is correct. I checked that, and 12115 is ahead of 12085 by almost some seconds [35 seconds on Aug 10]. On 12085 the official Syrian Radio Damascus is on till almost 1455 UT with a very BAD audio as usual, and then Sout Alwatan booms in with much better audio quality. So for sure it's not the same transmitter. Some of the programs are mainly about the human rights in Syria and those jailed for criticizing the Syrian regime, and also about the banning of the SYRIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD MOVEMENT. One final comment: mainly the station is using the songs of the Egyptian singer MOHAMMED ABD ALWAHAAB, who was the best singer in the whole Arab world in the 40's, 50's and the 60's. They use the famous song (HOB ALWATAN) - "The Love Of My Country-Home" when announcing the ID and it goes like this: SOUT said by a YL and then an OM saying ALWATAN in the back ground the musical song by M. ABD ALWAHAAB. No idea who's supporting this station and where it's coming from, but the programs are mainly targeting Syria and the Syrians. Hope to reveal the secrets of this one soon (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, Aug 11, BC-DX via DXLD) I did some research on Samara and Armavir-Krasnodar pip tones this afternoon [Aug 10]: 12115 1449 UT tx s-on 1452.13 opening tone procedure start 4.8 second pip / 4.8 second pause || 887.96 Hertz, acc COOL EDIT 2000 software frequency analysis 1459.48 end tone procedure 1459.55 audio program start. Samara ?? SOUT AL WATAN - Voice of Homeland. Today [Aug 10] 12085 kHz program was 35 seconds BEHIND 12115 !!! Around 1500 UT t w o programs were heard on 12085 co-channel, like on previous Noel's observations. [some other tone frequencies, thus eliminating sites? -- gh] 9925 VRT Brussels via Armavir 100 kW unit. 1652 UT. || 775.84 Hertz tone [other users of 12115:] 12115 Dejen Radio, Tigrina ?, 1655 UT opening tone procedure in progress, 4.8 second pip / 4.8 second pause || 776.73 Hertz Armavir ? Netsanet Le Ethiopia, Amharic ??? Natanat Lediopyan Radio. Freedom Radio 1700-1800 Wed,Sun (x12110) SAM Radio Sagalee Oromia, Oromo ??? 1730-1800 Mon,Thu,Fri? (x12110) SAM Dejen Radio, Tigrina ??? 1700-1800 Sat 12115 (x12110) SAM 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, Germany, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION/PUBLICATIONS I suggest anyone who REALLY wishes to understand how various forms of VHF and UHF propagation function should locate a copy of "Beyond Line of Sight - A History of VHF Propagation from the pages of QST" by Emil Pocock. The ARRL web site should have an ordering system for this one. It traces the world above 50 MHz from the 1930s, touches on and details how everything from tropo scatter to field aligned Es works and includes some interesting references to TV and FM DX as well. This should be in every DXer's library as a reference work (Bob Cooper, NZ, via Mike Bugaj, CT, Aug 9, WTFDA via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-126, August 9, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1143: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFRICA. Have you heard these countries in the last weeks? I would like to hear only on short wave (no relay in Europe please): Algeria, Guinea Equatorial, Angola, Ethiopia, Burundi, Cameroon, Sudan, Swaziland, Central African Republique, Chad, Congo Kinshasa, ,Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique,, Namibia, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Togo, Zimbabwe, Lesotho. Thank you. (Frank PARISOT from France, RX Kenwood R5000 + wire 20 meters, Aug 7, hard-core-dx via DXLD) The African station scene is changing all the time. Some stations have moved from 60mb to 41/49mb at least temporarily. Here in Finland I think the 60mb is much more easier to hear Africans than the crowded 41 and 49. Burundi has been highly irregular. Cameroon has been inactive. Central African Rep 60 mb is inactive, other frequencies might be active Malawi has been inactive on 90/60 mb Mozambique has been inactive Niger 60 mb inactive Somalia I have not heard for a while Togo 60 mb inactive Lesotho 4800 been off for some time You can find station listings at http://www.dxing.info (click the lists) http://www.poba.de/africalist.html 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Aug 9, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [Another Finnish Jari replies...] My observations since June are the following: Algeria - Nothing. Guinea Equatorial - Nothing. Angola - RN Luanda regularly on 4951 in night time after VOA Sao Tome closes down. Ethiopia - R Ethiopia, Gedja, on 5990, closing down 2000. or Radio Fana, regularly on 6940 after 1700 UT. Burundi - Nothing for many years. Cameroon - Nothing for many years. Sudan - Very weak on 7200 at 1800 UTC, no ID. Swaziland - TWR Swaziland audible sometimes on 3240 in night time. Central African Republique - Nothing for many years. Chad - Nothing for many years. Congo Kinshasa - Nothing, unless Lumumbashi pops up on 7435, not heard so far. Congo Brazzaville - Good signal on 5985 in evening, whenever transmitter is on - it is not always on. Kenya - Nothing, their only SW freq 4915 (10 kW) is blocked by stronger Ghana. MW (1386 etc) would be easier way. Malawi - Nothing for many years. Mozambique - Nothing for many years. Namibia - Sometimes a decent signal on 3270 overnight. Niger - Nothing. Inactive at the moment. Sierra Leone - Radio UNAMSIL carrier on 6137. SLBS not active. Somalia - Radio Hargeisa can be heard on 7530 after 1900 UTC. Togo - Nothing for many years. Zimbabwe - Nothing. Should be active on 5975 and 6045 overnight. Not heard so far. Lesotho - Nothing. (Jari Lehtinen, Lahti, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) [every country mentioned above will be included in the index for this issue at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html] ** ALASKA. Re Ninilchik neighbors concerned about Aurora SW project: When I was there in the summer of 2001, they had dug two ponds that totaled perhaps 10 acres. They used what they dug out for graveling their road and a base of where the transmitter building is (this would be considered fill). I seem to recall that they had purchased 160 acres. Work on the antennas hadn't started but they were going to be very close to the Cook Inlet which the property borders. From what I saw, I wouldn't be surprised if much of their property was considered wetlands, which can be areas that are just wet seasonally. "Critical habitat" is a buzz phrase one usually sees in regard to endangered or threatened species, but I don't see any mention above as to what this is critical habitat for. Ninilchik is just a small village that is itself on the Cook Inlet (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 2, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Argentina is since a year or so adopting a new postal code system. The new code consists of: one letter, the former 4 digit numerical code, three letters. You can see an example of this now postal code on 1290 below. 1290, Arzobispado de Mendoza has been authorized to operate a new station with a power of 5 kW at Villa Nueva de Guaymallén. Address: Arzobispado de Mendoza, Av. Bandera de los Andes 4404, M5521AXL Villa Nueva de Guaymallén, Mendoza (CRU via Tore Larsson, ARC via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Every few weeks I browse the Radio National website to look for additional programs available on demand. Most are now archived; two of the latest additions are: "Ockham's Razor", a weekly science-based lecture series, somewhat like the BBC's "Agenda" with a science twist, and also without interviewer interruptions or point-counterpoint distractions, at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ockham/default.htm "The Europeans", which looks at political, cultural, economic and social developments across eastern and western Europe. It complements other overseas news and current affairs coverage by offering broader historical and cultural perspectives on European societies. It's at http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/europe/europe.htm Much of Radio Australia's shortwave content originates on the domestic Radio National network. Even though Radio National is domestic, many programs cover topics of interest abroad. John Figliozzi's biweekly program highlights already show the '%' symbol indicating these programs are available on-demand, but I thought this development deserved additional mention! Regards, (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. RFE/RL MEETS WITH OBSTACLES IN MINSK On 1 August, a two-meter-high fence was erected around the building housing RFE/RL's Minsk bureau, cutting off for a time access to the bureau and forcing the broadcaster to seek to move from the current location by the end of August. Property rights to the building, which houses one of six McDonald's outlets in Minsk, are the focus of a long-running dispute between Belarusian State University and the U.S. restaurant chain. Minsk-based Belarusian Service personnel are working primarily out of a company apartment, RFE/RL reported. This, however, cannot be a permanent solution because of restrictions on the legal use of private residences in Belarus`. Also on 1 August, RFE/RL's Prague office received a hand-delivered letter from the Belarusian Foreign Ministry that threatens the revocation -- without recourse to appeal -- of the official accreditation of all RFE/RL correspondents operating in Belarus if the Belarusian Service "utilized the professional services of nonaccredited correspondents and other individuals on the territory of the Republic of Belarus`." RFE/RL Belarusian Service Director Alexandre Lukashuk reported on August 6 that the Belarusian Foreign Ministry has refused to meet with him on the accreditation issue. RFE/RL is asking that accreditation be extended for those correspondents who currently hold it, while those correspondents who are not currently accredited are actively completing all necessary documentation for accreditation. The U.S. Embassy is providing support to RFE/RL in its efforts to deal with both events, though no U.S. citizens work at the Minsk bureau. It has been noted within the diplomatic community in Minsk that a common method for the Belarusian government to rid itself of irritating foreign nationals is to deny extensions of visas, accreditation, and other official permits (Catherine Cosman, editor RFE/RL Media Matters Aug 9 via DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. R. BURKINA, 5030, French, 32333, 0545-0615 6 AUG: 0545, High life music into OM talk in vernacular to 0555- flute music and singing in vernacular to 0557- more high life music 0600- announcements in French mentions of Burkina Faso and Ouagadougou into news headlines. 0604- French announcer mention of "festival" into more high life music to tuneout at 0615. Good signal overpowering the regular Gene Scott on this frequency (John Beattie, Drake R8B, Eavesdropper dipole, 50' wire, MFJ 1026, Ventura CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA. DVB CHANGES FREQUENCIES FOR MORNING PROGRAMME | Text of report by Burmese opposition radio on 7 August Dear listeners. The DVB [Democratic Voice of Burma] morning programme which is broadcast daily from 0600 [2330 gmt] to 0700 [0030 gmt] on the short-wave 31 metre band, 9850 kHz, will also be broadcast on 9760 kHz beginning from tomorrow [8 August] while transmissions on the short-wave 25 metre band will be dropped. Source: Democratic Voice of Burma, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 gmt 7 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) That was a week later than Media Network said the change was made (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio-Trafic: Les moins chanceux d'entre nous passent chaque jour une heure ou deux dans le trafic en pestant devant le spectacle absurde des véhicules stationnés à la queue leu leu sur l'asphalte bouillant de l'été. Est-il humainement possible de faire du trafic un boulot quotidien? http://www.cyberpresse.ca/reseau/tendances/0208/ten_102080124933.html (test your French, via Bill Westenhaver, Québec, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews for Aug 10-11: GLOBAL VILLAGE: This week on Global Village, host Jowi Taylor has Radio Radio Radio: Radio Tikal in Guatemala, Sami Radio in Sweden, B- 92 in Belgrade, plus stations in Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Botswana and Mali. That's on Global Village, Saturday night at 7:05 (6:05 AT, 6:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. PEARLS OF WISDOM: This week on Pearls of Wisdom, host David Wisdom satisfies your basest desires this week with music from the lower registers of human voices and musical instruments: Paul Robeson, Ivan Rebroff, Tibetan monks and much more. That's Pearls of Wisdom, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 p.m. AT, 8:00 p.m. NT) on CBC Radio Two (CBC Hotsheet excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. CanWest Global is the same company which has been heavily criticized for their heavy-handed running of their newspaper empire. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- An article from http://www.globeandmail.com, Thursday, August 8, 2002 CANWEST SETS SIGHTS ON CREATING RADIO NETWORK By ROMA LUCIW, Globe and Mail Update Winnipeg-based CanWest Global Communications Corp. is growing its Canadian media empire from newspapers and television to include radio. The company, which owns Canada's largest newspaper group and a television network, said Thursday it has received a broadcast licence from federal regulators to launch a new FM jazz radio station in Winnipeg. CanWest president and chief executive Leonard Asper called the move an important first step into Canadian radio. "We have always considered radio a logical and positive next step in our multi-media strategy. We hope this new radio licence heralds the eventual creation of a national radio system just as we entered the TV industry 25 years ago with a single TV station in Winnipeg, which became part of the Global Television Network," Mr. Asper said in a release. The company already owns and operates owns national radio networks in New Zealand, which broadcast a variety of music. CanWest's Canadian TV arm, Global Television Network, will run the new jazz station, which will hit the air early in 2003 and "appeal to the underserved community of jazz lovers," the company said. CanWest said the new radio station forms part of a two-pronged entry into music programming for the company, which has already been granted a licence for a planned digital specialty channel, COOL TV. The company owns the Southam chain of big city newspapers, including the National Post, Vancouver Sun and Ottawa Citizen. It also operates Global TV, Canada's second-largest private broadcaster after CTV Inc., and Internet portal canada.com Copyright 2002 | Bell Globemedia Interactive Inc. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA. Mr. Asper should learn how to use his e-mail properly. Instead of sending this reply only to press release writer Robyn Hooper, he sent it to every employee in the CanWest Global chain. ...Too funny. ---------- From: Asper, Israel (Corporate) Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2002 9:11 AM To: Hooper, Robyn (Corporate); All CanWest Staff (TV/ Publishing) Subject: RE: News Release - CanWest to Enter Radio Business in Canada Excellent release. We should have added that there is no truth to the rumour that CanWest only applied for this in order to give the Chairman something important to do and thus keep him from messing in the other affairs of the company. Actually, the truth is that this is just a cunning and diabolically clever tax reduction plan, given the expected losses! Congrats to all concerned from -The Dotage. (Israel Asper, CanWest, via DXLD) ** CANADA. CRTC DECIDES IN WINNIPEG After considering the competing applications for new radio stations at the 4 February 2002 Public Hearing, the Commission has rendered decisions which may be summarized as follows: In Applications for commercial radio stations to serve Winnipeg, Decision CRTC 2002-224, 8 August 2002, the Commission approved the application by Global for a new commercial FM station at 99.1 MHz that will offer a smooth jazz format. It also approved, in part, an application by Rogers to convert its existing AM station CKY to an FM station that will offer a classic rock hits format. Although its application for a new FM station has been approved, Rogers must propose another frequency for the station that is acceptable both to the Commission and to the Department of Industry. The Commission denied the competing application by Corus. In Application for a Nostalgia station to serve Winnipeg, Decision CRTC 2002-225, 8 August 2002, the Commission has approved the application by Radiolink for a new commercial FM station at 100.7 MHz that will offer a nostalgia format. In Application for a youth-oriented Christian FM station to serve Winnipeg, Decision CRTC 2002-226, 8 August 2002, the Commission has approved the application by HIS for a new commercial FM station at 107.1 MHz that will broadcast Christian music. In Application for a new instructional campus station to serve Winnipeg, Decision CRTC 2002-227, 8 August 2002, the Commission has approved the application by Red River for a new not-for-profit instructional campus station at 92.9 MHz. In Application for a new commercial FM station in Winnipeg, Decision CRTC 2002-228, 8 August 2002, the Commission has denied the application by NIB for a new commercial FM station. It has, however, amended the licence for NIB's existing campus instructional station CJAE-FM by changing the authorized frequency from 92.9 MHz to 107.9 MHz and increasing the authorized effective radiated power from 13 watts to 200 watts. The Commission notes that two of the three new commercial stations licensed today proposed special interest formats that will not compete directly with the formats now offered by stations currently operating in the market. These formats are the smooth jazz format proposed by Global and the nostalgia format proposed by Radiolink. While the new FM station proposed by Rogers will program a mainstream format based on classic rock hits, it will replace Rogers' AM station CKY, which programs oldies. CKY will therefore no longer compete for revenues in the market. Further, the format of the new FM station would likely have the greatest impact on Rogers' other FM station CITI-FM, which offers a classic rock format. HIS proposed a Christian format targeted to young people. Although CHVN-FM already provides Christian music to Winnipeg listeners, the Commission notes that the programming of the station operated by HIS will target an audience that is younger than that of CHVN-FM. The Commission further notes that CHVN-FM submitted a letter expressing full support for the HIS proposal if HIS targeted a younger audience with its programming and the station`s effective radiated power did not exceed 1,000 watts. The Commission notes that HIS confirmed that it would offer programming designed for youth, and that the station would operate with an effective radiated power of 920 watts. The new station licensed to Red River is a not-for-profit instructional campus station that will operate with an effective radiated power of only 201 watts and has projected very low advertising revenues. While CJAE-FM will operate on a different frequency with an increase in power, it will remain an instructional campus station rather than becoming a commercial station. The Commission considers that the stations that will be licensed as a result of the decisions announced today will add to the diversity of radio voices in Winnipeg. They will also increase competition for listeners and advertisers in the Winnipeg radio market, yet will not, in the Commission's view, have an undue negative impact on the viability of the existing Winnipeg commercial radio -- 73 and Best of DX (via Shawn Axelrod) The AMANDX DX Info Site including the Canadian DX, AM Slogans and Expanded Band Pages: http://www.angelfire.com/mb/amandx/index.html REMEMBER ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN HEAR FOREVER (AMFMTVDX mailing list Via DXLD) ** CANADA. The application for CKY (580) Winnipeg, Manitoba to move to FM was approved today. Details were not announced (Tom Bryant / Nashville, Aug 9, WTFDA via DXLD) Was huge coverage with 50 kW (gh) ** CANADA. CHUM CUTS 43 POSITIONS, TECHNOLOGY TV SHOW http://www.nationalpost.com/financialpost/story.html?id=DFA4ADF5-B159-47C7-B029-56DF708747EA (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA. ANNOUNCER WAS VOICE OF MORNING, MANY CAUSES Sandy Hoyt, who has died at the age of 63, was a senior announcer on Toronto's CHFI FM http://www.nationalpost.com/national/story.html?id=42E8FE68-3C3F-4D71-98FE-EABAE548C337 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CANADA. ARC North American News Desk 5 August 2002 Olle Alm, Tjädervägen 6A, SE-871 65 HÄRNÖSAND Tel/fax: +46-611-21098 -- e-mail: o.alm@telia.com Copyright: Cf. the statement at the beginning of Information Desk. Copyright notice: The ARC supports the free flow of information policy. Items from any MV-Eko section may be quoted freely in other publications applying the same policy, but full credits, including a reference to the specific section or to ARC MV-Eko, must be given for all items quoted. For other uses normal copyright applies. Items from commercial sources (e.g. BBCM) are subject to the copyright of the respective sources. Photographic reproduction of full sections or large portions thereof in other publications permitted only after previous agreement. 810 CJVA Caraquet NB new address (actually has been in use for a few years already): 195 rue Main, Bathurst, NB E2A 1A7. (Internet via Olle Alm) 850 CKBA Athabasca AB new address: 1-4818 49th St, Athabasca, AB T9S 1C3. (Internet via Olle Alm) 880 CHQT Edmonton AB now has same address as CHED 630. (Internet via Olle Alm) 980 CJRP Saint-Nicolas QC has been granted this frequency instead of 1060 as previously approved. This construction permit has not yet been built. The CRTC uses the calls CJRP for this station, so apparently the station decided to retain the calls used by its predecessor on 1060. (CRTC 12.7.2002 via Olle Alm) 1000 CKBW Bridgewater NS opened its FM late February 2002, so the AM is likely to be history by now (after 50 years). (Internet via Olle Alm) 1210 VOAR Mt. Pearl NF new address: 1041 Topsail Road, Mount Pearl NF, A1N 5E9. (Website via Olle Alm) 1220 CFVM Amqui QC new address: 111 rue de l'Hôpital, Amqui QC G5J 2K1. Not clear if CP 1840 [?? 1480? -- gh] is dead or not. Has applied to switch to FM. (Internet via OA) 1370 CFOK Westlock AB new address: 201-10030 106th St, Westlock, AB T7P 2K4. (Internet via Olle Alm) 1490 CJPR Blairmore AB has applied to switch to FM. (CRTC via Olle Alm) (all: Arctic Radio Club via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA JAILS "INTERNET DISSIDENT" FOR DOWNLOADING "REACTIONARY MATERIALS" | Excerpt from report entitled: "Internet dissident sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for subversion, downloading 'reactionary materials'", published by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 5 August This Centre has been informed that the Intermediate People's Court of Tianshui City, Gansu Province recently sentenced dissident Li Dawei to 11 years imprisonment on charges of "subversion". The court said that Li downloaded 500 "reactionary" articles from overseas web sites and printed them. Li Dawei pled not guilty and is appealing to the Gansu Province People's Higher Court. Li Dawei, 40, had been employed with the Tianshui City Public Security Bureau. He resigned later. For years, he had been taking part in dissidents' signature collecting activities and appealing on behalf of sentenced dissidents. Since 2000 Li Dawei had been browsing the Internet extensively, but rarely posted his articles on overseas web sites. He was arrested in April 2001. In May 2002 he was subject to interrogation. On 24 July, 2002 he was sentenced by the Tianshui City Intermediate Court to 11-year imprisonment for "subverting state power". The charges, as the court indicated, were as follows: 1. Downloading 500 "reactionary articles" from overseas web sites, storing them in the computer's memory, printing them, then binding them in ten big volumes; 2. Contacting reactionaries overseas by e-mail, mail and phone, and telling them about himself. Based on these two points, the court sentenced him to 11 years imprisonment. Li Dawei pled not guilty and is appealing to the higher court. His family member and defence lawyer have confirmed the news of the sentence. This is the first time an Internet dissident is sentenced on charges of browsing and downloading Internet information. Prior to this sentencing of Li Dawei, other Internet dissidents were sentenced for publishing "reactionary articles" on the Internet. This case merits close attention: From now on, anyone browsing and downloading "reactionary information" can be sentenced on charges of "subversion"... Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 5 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CHINA. This via [Chinese-language] BCL forum; I am not able to confirm any of this (receiver is still being repaired). Voice of the Golden Bridge (Jin qiao zhi sheng), the Tibetan/Yi channel of Sichuan PBS on 6060 kHz has started carrying Mandarin programs at 1400 UT, ethnic music at 1410, but of a different kind from the jamming stations. Heavy sideband CNR. Voice of Pujiang extended broadcast time, now from 1030 to 1558 UT on 3280, 4950, 5075/9705 kHz. Voice of Jinling reduced sked, now only 1145 to beyond 1400 UT on 5860 kHz. Qiao Xiaoli (I think dxswl is his handle) confirms this on the forum; he also adds that Fujian PBS has reactivated on 2340 kHz and 4975 kHz during local evenings (typically 1030 to 1600 -- my guess) (Richard Lam, Singapore, Aug 3, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. I received the following email from a veteran TV DXer in Cuba (Danny Oglethorpe, Shreveport, LA, WTFDA via DXLD) Dear DXer friend, Yesterday I found your very interesting and beautiful page about TV DXing. Well, I am writing to you from Cuba. I am 47 years old, my name is Jesús, and I live here in the city of Havana. During years I have been a TV DX lover, and I have recorded some of my experiences in my VCR. I have picked up many and many TV channels from the US during years. The months of the year that it can be possible are: February, March and April for South and Central Florida channels. Then, May and June for channel signals coming from Central and Southern US, like Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Kansas, Oklahoma (very rare), Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, DC, and at times New York states among a few others that I can`t remember now.... Except Florida channels, the rest of the signals that I pick up from other states are lower VHF channels (from 2 to 6 ). One of the channels that is always ``here`` touching my home doors is KRGV channel 5 Weslaco TX. I would like to have TV DXer friends. Since my childhood it has been a very nice hobby for me. Many years ago I used to draw in a album every of the logos I got to visualize very well while I was picking up any channel coming from so far away. Nowadays I have hundreds of those logos in this album. But I no longer draw more logos in that album because I get them from the internet now and collect them into the Disk-C of my computer now. Well, I am pleased to help you on new information about our local TV. There are new local stations in my country. Almost all of them broadcast their programming during a few hours per day. I think they will increase their hours in a future, but nowadays they use National TV network towers (Telerebelde) which is seen throughout the country. Telerebelde allows each of those local TV channels in the different cities to use its towers to broadcast during one or two hours per day from Monday to Friday in the afternoons. Each of those local TV stations uses their own identification logos and produces their own local news and programming. They call those stations: telecentros. There is a national festival of telecentros in Havana once a year and they present the best programs made in Cuba by those telecentros, and there is always a winner. Perlavision in Cienfuegos City produces beautiful documentaries. I will give you the name of each of those local TV stations: TELEPINAR- Pinar del Rio City. CHTV- La Habana City. (channels 2 and 10 in Havana) ISLA VISION- Isle of Pines (South of mainland Cuba) TV YUMURÍ- Matanzas City. (channel 13 in Matanzas City) TELE CUBANACAN- Santa Clara City. PERLAVISION- Cienfuegos City. CENTRO VISION- Sancti Spíritus City. TVA (Television Avileña) Ciego de Avila City. TV CAMAGUEY- Camagüey City. TUNAS VISION- Las Tunas City. TELE CRISTAL- Holguín City. CNC- Bayamo City. TELEVISION SERRANA- Near Santiago de Cuba. TELE TURQUINO- Santiago de Cuba. SOLVISION- Guantánamo City. Now we have a new TV channel in the Havana City. Its name: CANAL EDUCATIVO (Channels 4 and 12 in Havana). Our national TV channels (national network too) are still: TELEREBELDE channels 2 and 10 in Havana. CUBAVISION channels 6 and 8 in Havana (via Danny Oglethorpe, WTFDA via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Here is some info I received from LHH [Laser Hot Hits, presumably]. They have been on the air for years. More than one frequency and a lot of the time 24 / 7. They are a class station. They spend a lot of time and effort replying to reports. Check out their web site. --Yes we are still using 9385 (as well as 6220, 7465 and 3970, all 24 hours). Our website at http://www.radiolink.net/hothits is usually kept up to date with frequency details, new programmes etc. (Jerry Coatsworth, Merlin Ont., MARE Tipsheet Aug 8 via DXLD) ** FRANCE. A couple of months ago it was suggested that Littoral AM might soon broadcast from the TdF site at Thourie. They will not. They will use another transmitter "somewhere in central Brittany", as a spokesman for the station put it. The power will be 30 to 50 kW into a 75m high quarterwave aerial. A 12 kW spare transmitter will also be installed. Most of the groups who have applied for AM licenses look into getting their own facilities rather than hiring air time on TdF sites. TdF is too expensive. Littoral AM would have to part with 686 Euros a year to broadcast via Thourie!!! (Various sources, mostly Thierry Vignaud, via Rglobe-L via Remy Friess, MWC e-mail news 1.8.2002 via Arctic via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** GERMANY. 945: Yet another transmitter is now up with Megaradio: Since August 1st they are in Munich on 945. Power is just 1 kW, transmitter site the Blutenburgstraße telecom tower (also home of some low power FM outlets) and the antenna consists merely on two wires hanging down from a platform of the tower. According to a posting in a bulletin report, this outlet is so poor that it is at night subject of co-channel interference even within Munich (Kai Ludwig, 5 August 2002, Arctic via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** GERMANY. AFN: I find that AFN carries at least 60 seconds of local info at 2239 UT. Heard 873: ID as AFN Frankfurt and local info update 1107: info on local flea market, 1143: 2 stns - one with local traffic info then all back together for an oldies radio network show (Steve Whitt via MWC e-mail news 10.7.2002, via Arctic via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** GUAM. THE STORY OF AWR IN THE EXOTIC PACIFIC WS398 ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO "Wavescan" - DX Program In our continuing saga about the development of Adventist World Radio over the years, we come now to the story of the AWR station located at Agat on the island of Guam. On this occasion, we take our information from the book written by Dr Allen Steele who was the station manager at the time of construction. Additional information comes from a multitudinous variety of AWR publications and documents. Allen Steele states that most people begin their Guam story by talking about the weather, which is warm and humid year round. However, he states that he prefers to start his Guam story by telling about the people who are warm and friendly, and he refers to the happy welcome that he and his wife Andrea received when they first landed at the international airport at Agaña. Their first view of the un-developed AWR property on the edge of the blue Pacific near the village of Agat seemed so un-inviting. The site is on the extended slopes of Mt Lamlam, the highest mountain on Guam; scant vegetation covered the property, and eroded areas looked like a mini Grand Canyon. They had not yet thought about typhoons that would blow in from the Pacific nor of earthquakes that would rumble up from the deep underground. The first office for the new radio station was established in Agaña at the headquarters building of the Seventh-day Adventist church for Guam and Micronesia. Later the office function was transferred to a dwelling in Agat, and finally into the new AWR building. In these changing circumstances, Allen and Andrea administered the construction and installation of the large new shortwave radio station which would soon become Adventist World Radio. During their tenure, the facility would contain four shortwave transmitters at 100 kW and four large curtain antennas directing Gospel programming into the countries of Asia. After a period of unexpected delays due to heavy rain storms, the first transmitter was activated at 2:35 pm local time on Thursday March 5, 1987. The frequency on this first new unit was 11720 kHz. At 7:00 pm the following evening transmitter KSDA1 began regular programming, and in those days, all programming was assembled and presented at the station itself. Six months later, another 100 kW transmitter was activated as KSDA2 and it became fully operational just before the Christmas season, 1987. Seven years later again another 100 kW transmitter was installed and activated as KSDA3. The fourth and final unit was activated as KSDA4 with a regular schedule early in the New Year 1996. The first two transmitters were manufactured by Thomson in Europe and the second set of two transmitters were manufactured by Continental in the United States.. However, at the present time, AWR is replacing each of the four current transmitters with four newer ABB units procured from Africa. A 5th transmitter will be constantly hot ready for emergency usage. The antenna system consists of four TCI curtains with passive reflectors. These antennas are strung from 6 towers in two clusters, three towers on each side of the main building. On several occasions, major events at the station have been celebrated with public ceremonies. On the first auspicious occasion back in 1987 at the opening of the station, the Governor of Guam was an invited guest, and the "Voice of Prophecy" choir from Korea flew in to provide special music. The AWR station on Guam has seen its share of typhoons and earthquakes, but on each of these occasions it has survived with very little major damage though at times it may be off the air for a few days until needed repairs are quickly completed. The AWR property at Facpi Point is no longer an abandoned wilderness; instead it is now a showcase on Guam that has won several awards and commendations for beautification and conservation. The signal from the four transmitters at the AWR station on Guam can be heard far and wide, depending on the time of day, the season, and the frequency in use. In the Far East, the signal is loud and clear. In other countries of Asia, it can be heard on a daily basis. In the United States for example, all four transmitters can be heard around sunrise and sunset. Likewise in Europe, a multitude of listeners have reported nice reception from this station. A large number of QSL cards have been issued for broadcasts from AWR Guam, and these are processed these days mainly from the AWR office in England. If you have not yet verified each of the current four transmitters at KSDA Guam, you should do so quite soon. The first new transmitter is expected to take to the air after a couple of months. KHBN relay via KSDA One of the interesting events regarding the AWR station KSDA on Guam was the relay a few years ago on behalf of another Gospel shortwave station, one that was not yet on the air. This is how it happened. Back in the year 1989, High Adventure Ministries was constructing their own shortwave station on the island of Palau, one of the many islands of Micronesia in the western Caroline Islands. However, they encountered several construction delays due to environmental concerns. As an interim measure, High Adventure Ministries took out a temporary relay via AWR KSDA on Guam during idle transmitter time. This relay consisted of four hours daily, Monday to Friday, and these programs were on the air under their own callsign, KHBN. This unique program relay began on September 11, 1989 and it was on the air a little over half a year. The transmitter was KSDA2 and the frequency was 15225 kHz. Less than two years later, a series of low powered test transmissions began from their own station, KHBN on Palau. During the era when KHBN was on relay via KSDA, QSL cards were issued by both organisations for these broadcasts. Very few QSL cards were issued by KSDA for the KHBN relays, though many cards were issued by KHBN. The QSL card for KHBN shows the location as Guam. Either way, these QSL cards are now collectors` items. Guam - Ceremonies ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Event, Reference ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1985 Oct 11 Friday Ground Breaking ceremonies, governor; AWRAN 17-10- 85 1987 Jan 18 Official dedication; SAT 5-87 8 1987 Jan 18 Dedication, newspaper coverage, Korean VOP Choir; Tell 2/4 87 1 1987 Jan 18 Dedication services, 1st transmitter on air soon; LUH 24- 2-87 6 1987 Dedication ceremonies; AWRAN 18-1-87 1 1990 Mar 2-4 3rd anniversary events; DXO 6-90 23 1995 May 16 Dedication KSDA3 and live broadcast; AWRecorder 6-95 1 1995 May 16 Dedication transmitter, live broadcast; FTGCP 22-5-595 1 1995 May 16 Dedication KSDA3; AR 10-8-95 20 1068 1995 Oct Wins beautification award; Transmissions 10-95 7 1996 Aug Wins Forestry award 25,000 trees; AWRecorder 8-96 2 =================================================================== Antenna Specifications Transmitter ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Antenna 1 TCI 611 6-12 MHz, 255 270 285 300 315 degrees KSDA1 Antenna 2 TCI 611 11-21 MHz, 255 270 285 300 315 degrees KSDA3 Antenna 3 TCI 611 6-12 MHz, 285 300 315 330 345 degrees KSDA2 Antenna 4 TCI 611 9-18 MHz 285 300 315 330 345 degrees KSDA4 =================================================================== KHBN Relay via KSDA Guam ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Year Event & Reference ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1989 KHBN ready, month or two begin over own station; DXO 10-89 54 1989 KHBN construction delay, environmental concerns; ADXN 11- 89 2 1989 Sep 11 KHBN began relay via KSDA; George Otis letter 11-89 1989 Dec KHBN relay via KSDA 0400 - 0800 15225 Mon-Fri; DXO 12-89 54 1989 Dec 12 KHBN via KSDA 15225 AMP QSL; AMP Log Book 1990 Jan 19 KHBN relay via KSDA 15225 noted; ADXN 3-90 1990 KHBN has ceased via KSDA; ADXN 7-90 7 1992 Apr 19 KHBN Palau began 5 kW tests; DXO 5-92 21 KSDA2 weekdays only, 0400-0800 15225 for KHBN; Schedules =================================================================== (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Aug 10 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4698, Radio Amistad, untraced here in the States, but Larry Baysinger tells me that the station is telling him that they are on (Hans Johnson, WY, Aug 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA (Kalimantan). From the "Never say never give up file": RRI Balikpapan, Kalimantan Timur, 3317. Full data Prepared Cards, signed and stamped, with an Information letter back from the RRI / Head of Branch in Samarinda. In the reply letter the Head of the Branch states 'we don't BCB on short wave any more, our call sign is now RRI Samarinda, not Balikapan. That there is only one RRI station in the Province of Kalimantan Timur, which is Samarinda. Balikpapan is 110 kw's from Samarinda'. He mentions that he had not received any of my previous letters/reports. I addressed my last attempt for a reply to the Regional Indonesian Government Office in Balikpapan, asking for assistance in my attempt for a verification, to their station which was on short wave, and had left some years ago. My report was forwarded with the assistance of Allan Davies, in Indonesia, to whom I owe special thanks for his assistance in this attempt! As well, to the Indonesian DX Club for translation of the letter in particular. This makes 9 out of 9 from Kalimantan verified and closes this section. Address: Radio Republik Indonesia, Canang muda Samarinda, Jalan M. Yamin No., Samarinda. Total time of 21 years, 4 months, after first hearing the station in March of 1981! v/s Drs. H. A. Wahabsamman, MBA Kepala Cabang (Head of Branch) (Ed Kusalik, Alberta, Cumbre DX Aug 9 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. ANOTHER NEWS RADIO LAUNCHED JAKARTA: People living in and around the city now have a wider selection of news available on the radio with the launch of Namlapanha news radio on 89.35 FM and 603 AM on Friday. The radio is on air 18 hours a day with journalism-based programs aimed at promoting freedom of the press, freedom of thought and freedom of expression, Namlapanha director Santosa said. Besides Namlapanha, which is supported by 40 journalists in the city and 50 correspondents across the country, there are also several news radio stations in Jakarta, including Elshinta and Jakarta News FM. The new station was established following the success of the 68H radio news agency, which provides programs for 230 private and state-owned radio stations throughout the country. It also regularly supplies programs to Malaysia, the Netherlands, Australia and East Timor. Copyright 2002 JAKARTA POST all rights reserved as distributed by WorldSources, Inc. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. From The RSGB It's the International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend next weekend, the 17th and 18th of August. Over 225 stations in 36 countries are expected to be on the air from, or adjacent to, lighthouses and lightships around the world. A full list of participating stations can be found on the Internet. Among the UK stations are GB2SCA from the lamp room at the top of Scarborough lighthouse. Activity will be on 40 metres SSB and CW and 2 metres and 70 centimetres SSB and FM. The station will be operated by members of the Scarborough Special Events Group and further details can be obtained from Roy, G4SSH, by e-mail: g4ssh@netscapeonline.co.uk Roy can also be contacted on 07881 542 532 during the event and says that the group welcomes calls especially from Intermediate and Foundation licence holders. GB2NCL will be operated from on board the North Carr Lightship, which is the home of the Dundee Amateur Radio Club during the holiday season. GB2LCP will be operated by members of the Wigtownshire Amateur Radio Club from Corsewall Point Lighthouse. Portland Amateur Radio club will be operating from Portland Bill Lighthouse as GB2PBL on HF, VHF and UHF. The club has recently applied for a permanent special event callsign for the lighthouse, and hopes in future to set up a permanent station in the lighthouse visitor centre. Finally, GB4HL will be on the air from Hurst Light at Hurst Castle on the West Solent using CW and SSB on HF, and SSB, FM and RTTY on 6 and 2 metres. This station will be at the castle from this Tuesday, the 13th of August, until Wednesday the 21st. For further details please contact Selwyn Cox, G7MXG, on 07778 354976 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. See IRAQ ** IRAQ. CLANDESTINE from IRAQ to MIDDLE EAST. 11785, Mother of All Battles Radio heard sign on *1658, ID in Arabic by male voice followed by short announcement and 20 minuets prerecorded speech and patriotic songs 1800*. On the same 'crud' carrier [i.e. 11785?], V. of the Movement of the Mojahedin of Iranian Baluchestan heard sign on *1800 with march music and ID in Persian by a male, some other vernacular ID heard at around 1825. S7 at peaks for both in poor modulation and monkey chatter mainly from China (Mahmud Fathi, Germany Aug 8, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Mother of All Battles Radio is not considered a clandestine, but one of the services of R. Baghdad (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY. 1566: Radio Studio X has resumed tests on 1566 kHz. Reception reports to info@radiostudiox.it (Stefano Valianti via MWC e- mail news 26.7.2002, via Arctic via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. From The RSGB The RSGB has learned from its contacts in Japan who have been working on problems of interference from Powerline Telecommunications Systems that, following extensive trials, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications has decided not to permit the roll-out of PLT systems operating in the range 2 to 30MHz in Japan. Japanese studies have shown that emissions from PLT are harmful to HF communications and all requests from PLT manufacturers to operate PLT systems have been refused. The RSGB has been told that the Japanese amateur society, JARL, has been actively working with the government, along with radio astronomers, broadcasters and others, to assess the impact of PLT systems on the radio spectrum. We understand that this decision has been given much publicity in the Japanese national press, which has highlighted concerns about interference to safety-of-life services. In Europe, the RSGB continues to press for tight limits on emissions from cable telecommunications systems such as PLT, and is working with other HF users to try to ensure that the spectrum remains uncontaminated by wideband noise (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** LATVIA. RF001/2002 Immediate --- RADIO FESTIVAL 2002 announced Riga/London, 8 August 2002: Tourist Radio Riga in association with Davric Productions is pleased to announce that RADIO FESTIVAL 2002 will air on 24 and 25 August 2002. The 2002 RADIO FESTIVAL, schedule to be advised, will combine an eclectic mix of music and speech from a number of European areas and cultures. Raimonds Kreibergs, Chief Executive of Tourist Radio Riga, said, "We are so pleased to be hosting this years RADIO FESTIVAL with our friends at Davric Productions acting as Executive Producers of the event. "With much of the radio and TV industry still suffering and remaining in the doldrums we felt that a RADIO FESTIVAL could be a key factor in injecting some excitement into our industry. "It will also demonstrate that huge audiences are still interested in short wave broadcasting, whilst many are keen to suggest that short wave has no future when it clearly does". Eric Wiltsher, Davric Productions, added, "It is a great honour for us to be asked to produce the programming and schedule for RADIO FESTIVAL 2002. "Whilst the line-up is still to be concluded, there are already some great surprises in store for those tuning into the festival. "And endorsing the views of Raimonds Kreibergs, I know short wave will bring us a significant audience - it's going to be great fun!". RADIO FESTIVAL 2002 will be compiled in London and then broadcast via the facilities of Tourist Radio Riga on 5.935 in the short wave band. ********************************************************************** For more information about RADIO FESTIVAL 2002 and schedules of the event N.B. Schedules will only be sent by request. Contact: Eric Wiltsher via eric@tesug.cix.co.uk For more information about TRR and its facilities Contact: Raimonds Kreibergs via kreicbergs@delfi.lv (Aug 8, via DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. Today I listened at 1900 UT an hymn and s/off on 5010 with QRM; I think it was Madagascar again there (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Aug 7, hard-core-dx via DXLD) RTM returned to 5010 after being on 5021 for a short period (around 1800). I would also like to add that some time ago the Malagasy station which was on the air after 1900 and until late night with lots of musical programs was not RTM but was CANNAL SIX, the station of Ex President Didier Ratsiraka. Malagasy Broadcasting System is still on 7130 and as per a Malagasy, the address is : Malagasy Broadcasting System (MBS) Tana, Anosipatrana 101 TANA Madagascar. Unfortunately no further details are available on this station (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, Aug 9, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MALI. Glenn, Still missing this evening on Tropical Bands (Graham Powell, Wales, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Ayer en la noche pude escuchar el programa diexista de Radio Educación (6185 kHz), llamado Sintonía Libre en el cual presentaron una reseña sobre el 8vo Encuentro de diexistas mexicanos; hacia las 0345 vino un entrevista con el colega argentino Hugo Longhi sobre sus impresiones del encuentro y sobre la radio en Argentina. Realmente fue una interesante escucha ya que no conocía sobre este programa mencionaron los horarios en que transmiten y considero que la mayor probabilidad de escucharlos son los jueves UT de 0330-0400 y UT lunes en el mismo horario (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, Aug 8, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Pepe González hizo referencia a la estación de o.c. Mexicana, la XERTA, Radio Transcontinental de América. Ésta emisora siempre ha estado en el aire de manera incierta, su gerente el Ing. Nájera, parece un poco ambicioso al tratar de ser la ``única`` emisora comercial Mexicana de o.c. La verdad ha hecho un gran esfuerzo para mantenerla, hay que reconocerlo, muy a pesar de que su equipo ``casero`` y a las grandísimas limitaciones en las que ha operado siempre. Tuve el privilegio de conocer sus instalaciones casi desde el incio de sus transmisiones hace unos años atrás en uno de los últimos pisos de la torre Latinoamericana, y cada vez que los visitaba, el Ing. Nájera con su particular estilo, me decía: ``Ya vamos a confirmar los informes de recepción``, ``estamos por aumentar la potencia``, ``ya estamos en pláticas para tener patrocinio``, ``ya vamos a tener un nuevo trasmisor ``, ``ya le hicimos mejoras a la antena, ahora ya tiene mas radiales.... uhh y la nueva tierra que le pusimos``, con esa nos escuchan hasta Australia...``, ``voy a conseguir otros dos cristales para usar otras dos frecuencias``, ``mi socio ya tiene el permiso para explotar un canal de TV en UHF``. Vaya que todo esto quedó en sueños solamente, pero es de llamar la atención que éste Sr. es todo un personaje y muy a pesar de su edad, contagia su ánimo por la vida y por su querida ``emisora``. Actualmente la ha ``rentado`` a un grupo gringo, de esos ``religiosos``, en fin, así vino a terminar la XERTA... El ya también tradicional ``foro de emisoras`` tuvo lugar como última actividad ``oficial`` del encuentro; participaron: Radio Educación, Radio México Int., Radio Mil, Radio Nederland y Radio Universidad. Entre otras cosas, se comentó que el programa ``encuentro dx`` de Radio Mil se reanudará, Radio Educación comenzará de nuevo a emitir de nuevo 6 horas de su señal de o.c. y lo más emotivo fue el anuncio de Ana Cristina del Razo que se separa de la dirección de Radio México (Iván López Alegría, extraído de su informe sobre el OCTAVO ENCUENTRO DE CLUBES DX MEXICANOS Y ESCUCHAS DE LA ONDA CORTA, Jalapa, Veracruz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) His report runs much longer, also covering tourism and local culture. More, in English at end of this DXLD ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Three of our 500 kW transmitters at Flevo are now back on the air, including transmitter #4 which was the one damaged by fire a few weeks ago. Some transmissions continue to be relayed from Germany. The schedule has been updated. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html Digital Radio Mondiale 7 August 2002 Tests have now started from Bonaire in stereo mode. Juelich is now using different beams in alternate weeks for its test transmissions at 1305-1455 UTC on 5975 kHz. Details on our DRM pages at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/drm_latest.html A Tangled Web The Internet is sending out mixed messages at the moment, with some spectacular business failures, but also indications of better times for some. But looking at the global picture, what is the current state of the Internet? http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/internet020809.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Aug 9 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Sunday 11 August: Please note on Saturday Night /Sunday morning 10/11 August immediately after the Forces Programme, RNZI will have coverage of the Tri-Nations Rugby - NZ v South Africa. Time: 0105 NZST [1305 UT]. Frequency: 6095 kHz. Regards, Adrian Sainsbury, Technical Manager, Radio New Zealand International, P O Box 123, Wellington, Aug 8 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) So will Democratic Voice of Burma, at 1430 on 9500, be pre-empted? (gh, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KGYN Guymon OK, heard under WPHT with C&W and ID at 0043 EDT. I think they must be on their ND day pattern. My first logging on 1210 other than WPHT! (Barry McLarnon, somewhere in Canada, Aug 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) For years and years I couldn`t hear `em and now I can`t get rid of `em. Did they change patterns? (Richard Dale, Collins, MO, DX398, Drake R8A, horizontal Slinky, ibid.) Three stations have been nighttime regulars here (Fort Worth) for the past couple of months which have NO business being heard with such regularity: 880 KRVN 1030 KCTA 1210 KGYN as their nighttime patterns and /or power should not favor this area. At first I was tickled to hear KRVN and KGYN, but then they were in every night. 880 and 1210 are well west of me and their nighttime patterns are 'all-westbound'. 1030's nighttime pattern shoots 113 Watts this way from 340 miles. I suppose it's possible, but 1030 is so messed up here. KGYN has an APP before the FCC to move about 250 miles east to a Tulsa suburb with what looks like U7 50000/10000, Critical Hours 50000 protecting San Antonio to the south and of course, Philly to the east. We'll see how that plays in DC! My 2/5 of a nickel's worth. 73, (Bill Hale, ibid.) ** OKLAHOMA. BBCWS has a new relay in Enid, OK – and I`ll bet they don`t know about it in London. KUAL-LP, 104.7, has been running the first few minutes of the 1200 UT news (probably off internet feed) an hour later at 1300 during their local morning show, at least on weekdays, first noted July 29 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PALAU. KHBN relays via KSDA: See GUAM ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3205, Radio Sandaun off for a few weeks now (Hans Johnson, WY, Jul/Aug, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. R. América: Hello All: After reading a message in Glen[n]'s DXLD, I E-mailed my very tentative reception report of Radio América. Mentioning that I could hear the very distinct "swooshing" actually a very fast "switt" sound of a tube type transmitter being tuned up or adjusted and very softly played bells, like hand bells being played. And to my surprise the following: Paraguay, 7300, Radio America-ZP20, partial data frequency and time E Mail QSL, v/s Adán Mur-Technical Advisor, for E Mailed report, reply in 12 hrs. v/s states 25 watts. Thanks to GH's DXLD tip, for motivating me into sending an otherwise very questionable reception report. A copy of the E QSL and E Reception Report follow: From: "raerica" ramerica@rieder.net.py To: "Joe Talbot" Subject: RE: Radio America Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 06:46:24 -0500 Mr. Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, CANADA Dear Mr. Joe Talbot: I have pleasure in verifying your reception of our test transmissions, on the frequency of 7300 KHZ, 41 Metres, heard during the hours of 0230 to 0400 UTC, at your location. The details mentioned correspond with the test transmissions being realized by ZP20, Radio América. I sincerely appreciate your comments. The "swooshing sounds" mentioned come from fine-adjustments being made in the system, and from demodulation interference, originating with a nearby, high-power transmitter. The bells come from the Compact Disc of Classical Music, utilized as test programming. The transmitter on 7300 KHZ is solid-state, and is capable of generating 2,4 KW of output power. It is a Class A Linear Amplifier. This transmitter is located at our Villeta site. Owing to wild electrical supply, our equipment at Villeta functions from a group of accumulators, recharged by rectifiers. The frequency of 7300 KHZ feeds a large Corner Reflector Antenna, having a theoretical gain of 25 dBi. This antenna is oriented towards 184 degrees from Magnetic North. Your reception most likely came from a trans-Polar, South-North Pacific Ocean path. I should mention that we are not yet at full power, but test at much less than the 2,4 KW. Your reception was from a power of, approximately, 25 Watts! The frequency 15185 KHZ is temporarily off-air, for equipment reconstruction. We received no reports on this frequency, whatsoever. At present, we are testing on 1610 KHZ (Medium Waves), using low power and a 5/8-ths Wavelength Antenna. The tower is 125 Metres tall; on 4830 KHZ, 60 Metres, also using a vertical tower; and on 7300 KHZ, with the characteristics previously noted. Your reception reports are always appreciated! With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Greetings, in the Guaraní language) Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe Talbot To: ramerica@rieder.net.py Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 9:24 PM Subject: Radio America Hello: Greetings from western Canada. I have been hearing what I believe is part(s) of your station`s ongoing test transmissions on 7300 kHz, at various times during our local evenings, 0230-0400 GMT. What has been heard are the swooshing sounds made by a tube type transmitter as it is being loaded up or tuned, also more importantly is the distinct sound of soft bells not unlike hand bells that choirs play. This could be a signature tune or interval signal? It is definitely not another station signing on as these sounds and soft bells are being heard well before the top-of-the-hour or bottom-of- the-hour. Nothing has been heard on your 15 MHz frequency after nearly a previous week of monitoring. I would be interested to hear back from you or your staff regarding Radio America, I would especially be interested in knowing if you could provide me with some sort of schedule of your testing hours. I would be more than happy to listen for your "test" and report back to you. I wish you and your staff continued success and await your kind reply. 73's to you all. Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. N: 52-16-18 W: 113-48-46 Grid: DO32cg Rx: Rockwell Collins HF-2050 Antennas: 7 Slinky-28m, 32m Sloper. 19.7m Tower. (via Joe Talbot, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note an additional test frequency first mentioned above: 4830! (gh) ** PERU. Hi Glenn- I noticed the report by Marie Lamb that you published about my QSL from Radio Bethel Arequipa. A small point, but for accuracy, Radio Bethel sent me a prepared card and letter as well as 2 beautiful postcards of Arequipa with a metered postage rate of S/. 5.80. I sent them the Bill Plum rate of postage (S/. 3.20) which is still valid for an airmail letter of the lowest rate to the US. So, they didn't use my stamps but didn't return them, either. In addition, when rechecking the postage, I noticed the street address is Avenida Unión "225" on the envelope and the letter, not "215". I had reported elsewhere that the address is the same as in the 2002 PWBR. This is not the case for the street number but everything else is OK. 73s- (John Sgrulletta- NY, Aug 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4824.4, La Voz de la Selva, Iquitos, heard 30 January 2000 at 005-1018 [sic]. SINPO=15311. "Transformation of a witch into a snake" QSL +personal letter v/s Julia Jauregui Rengifo, via Iquitos in 908 days. Responding to my mail DX Report + 6 mail reminders + fax reminder +registered letter + post paid reply package ...10 in all. MORAL: Never give up! (George Glotzbach, NM, Cumbre DX Aug 9 via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. BFBS SIERRA LEONE CLOSES DOWN The British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS), has closed down its operation in Sierra Leone. The decision was taken by the UK Ministry of Defence, which said that with the rationalisation of British military support to Sierra Leone following the end of the civil war, the service could no longer be justified. The BFBS programmes have been popular amongst the local population, but a Ministry spokesman said that there was still plenty of choice for viewers and listeners, including radio from the BBC and the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service, and a number of satellite TV channels. BFBS had been operating in Freetown on FM 91 and 107 MHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 8 August 2002 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. 1535 UT 8 Aug 2002. I have not yet personally heard "new" Brother Stair material since he's been out. They're simply running old tapes as while he was gone. He's probably too busy preparing his defense. What I have noticed that's different now is that they are once again back to the routine of asking listeners to call in and say what time it is and what frequency they're listening to. More than 50% of the time this request is coupled with the offer of a free gift to the caller. Prior to Brother Stair's captivity, this was a regular feature of his broadcasts. It ceased while he was gone (for the most part). Now it seems to be taking up about 20% of the broadcast time, as before. No references have been heard to his having come back, no thank yous or hallelujahs either on the air or on the website or any evidence he was ever gone (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. It looks like we lost another domestic service on SW. I don't think its a temporary thing (though I hope so); otherwise they wouldn't be carrying the foreign service on the usual HS frequencies. From the efficiency point of view, 6070 and 7115 are much more suited for regional transmission than frequencies higher up in the SW band. Besides, FM radio is getting more popular in Thailand. Already ten years ago, there are 50 FM stations in Bangkok (including 4 English channels) and some of these even have audiences in Rayong (100 km to the East) and Kanchanaburi (more than 200 km to the west). Radio Thailand already transmits on FM frequencies in the provinces for quite a while and as the story goes, once FM becomes popular, so SW and even MW stations lose their audiences. I don't even think that MW stations have much of an audience in Thailand anymore, except for those who like talk programs. Saw the PRD website. From what I can see, no mention that SW is being dropped in the Thai portion of the website -- who would notice anyway? (Richard Lam, Singapore, Aug 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U K. STEPHEN FRY JOINS CLASSIC RADIO LINE-UP By Anthony Barnes, Showbusiness Editor, PA News Actor Stephen Fry and newsreader Katie Derham are adding a new string to their bows by becoming presenters for radio station Classic FM, it was announced today. They have both landed weekend slots on Britain's biggest commercial station as the station revamps its schedules to add more complete performances. Ex-Radio 1 host Simon Bates sees his role at the station expand to a daily drivetime show. And station boss Roger Lewis has given a big break to a radio wannabe who has now landed her own show after simply writing to him. Violinist Lisa Duncombe, 22, who has just graduated from Trinity College Of Music, has been given a daily programme, Lisa Late and Live which starts at midnight. "She wrote to me completely cold and struck lucky," said Lewis. Katie Derham, a skilled violinist herself, will front a new afternoon show each Saturday at 2 pm. Derham, who hosts the annual Classical Brits show, said today: "I love radio and I love classical music, so what better combination?" Stephen Fry will present an authoritative but irreverent 20-part series tracing 1,000 years of classical music, The Incomplete And Utter History of Classical Music, at 2 pm each Sunday. Also joining the weekend line-up is ex-Virgin Radio and Heart FM presenter Mark Forrest, who along with Tim Lihoreau and news anchor Anne-Marie Minhall will form Saturday morning presenting trio Mark, Tim and Annie. Other changes include full works, rather than excerpts, being given greater prominence with the Classic FM Evening Concert going seven days a week, presented by Nick Bailey. Managing director Mr Lewis said today: "We feel we have taken our audience on a pretty extraordinary journey so far and in the evenings there's an opportunity to take them even further with full works. "We have put in record audiences for the past four consecutive quarters and now have our highest ever audience of 6.38 million listeners a week. "But now is not the time to sit back and rest on our laurels. We need to go forward with a fresh new sound. Our tenth birthday this year is a time to look forward, not back. There are still people we can introduce to classical music. "This is a really really strong field of broadcasters." Simon Bates, famed for his Our Tune slot on Radio 1, broadens his role at Classic FM by taking over a daily 4 pm show on top of his At The Movies programme on Saturdays (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) WHEN start they? I checked the website Aug 9, and no sign of e.g. Fry on the presenters` list. Station does have a webcast (gh, DXLD) ** U K. FIRST REPORTS OF UK 5 MHZ ACTIVITY RECEIVED, From The RSGB Tim Kirby, G4VXE, in Windsor was one of the first UK amateurs to receive a 'Fivemegs Experiment' NoV on the morning of Monday, the 5th of August. Within a few minutes he was on the air using a 100-watt transceiver and an end-fed wire tuned for the 5 MHz band. Tim reports working G0NBD in Wallasey, G3RXH in North Yorkshire, MW0AQD in South Wales, G0HNW in Huddersfield, G3JFS in Plymouth and G3YXM in Birmingham on the first day of operation. His first impression of 5 MHz propagation is that UK signals seem to be consistent throughout the day and evening. "Even at around 2045 local time, I was getting excellent reports from the Midlands - notably better than on 40 metres", he said. There seem to be long periods of fading and at Tim's location a lot of local noise, but he added: "It's really exciting to have the chance to unravel propagation on a 'new' band, first-hand." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K [non]. RADIO FESTIVAL 2002: See LATVIA ** U S A. CNN banned from Israeli cable systems: see ISRAEL in this and previous issues ** U S A. The following story appeared in The Globe Online: Headline: SEEKING A VOICE IN ARAB WORLD, US TRIES RADIO Date: 8/7/2002 WASHINGTON - Radio Sawa, the US government's latest attempt to win the Arab world's hearts, has captured audiences across the Middle East with a cutting-edge mix of Jennifer López, Janet Jackson, and Arab idols like Egypt's Amr Diab." ... ____________________________________________________________ To read the entire story, click on the link below or cut and paste it into a Web browser: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/219/nation/Seeking_a_voice_in_Arab_world_US_tries_radio+.shtml ____________________________________________________________ (This message was sent by Bill Westenhaver, via DXLD) RADIO SAWA: OBJECTIVE NEWS OR PROPAGANDA? From Arab News, SAUDI ARABIA'S FIRST ENGLISH DAILY, 09 August 2002 By Barbara Ferguson, Arab News Correspondent WASHINGTON, 9 August – Worried the US was increasingly perceived as out of touch with the Arab world, the Bush White House decided to develop a transitory effort to deflect Taleban disinformation about the Afghan war into a permanent "Office of Global Communications," aimed at relaying the administration's foreign policy message and supervise America's image abroad. The new office was the idea of former senior Bush adviser Karen Hughes, who guided the administration's efforts to ensure a uniform message on domestic policy. Although Hughes returned to Texas last month, officials say she will remain closely involved in the new operation. Charlotte Beers, the advertising agency executive Bush appointed last year to the State Department's top public diplomacy job, heads the Office of Global Communications. One of their first ventures is Radio Sawa, the new Arabic-language broadcasting service that began broadcasting to the Arab world last spring, and started a 'streaming audio' on its Internet site earlier this summer http://www.radiosawa.com Run by the US government-funded Middle East Radio Network (MERN), Radio Sawa is modeled after Top-100 FM stations here, and aims to attract Arab listeners under the age of 30. It features news and music 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Radio Sawa ("sawa" means "together" in Arabic) is a pilot project of the Voice of America (VOA), and is available to millions of listeners across the Middle East on medium wave (AM), FM and short-wave frequencies as well as on the Internet and through the digital radio satellite channels of Arabsat, Nilesat and Eutelsat Hotbird. This fall, the service is expected to broadcast news, analysis, interviews, opinion pieces, roundtable discussions, sports, weather, music and features on a variety of political and social issues in five regional Arabic dialects, and targets the Gulf states, Jordan and the Palestinians, Egypt, Iraq, and North Africa. The Washington-based staff includes Mouafac Harb, MERN's news director who worked as Al Hayat`s Washington bureau chief, and as the general manager of radio and television at the National Broadcasting Network of Lebanon. Harb, who is currently traveling in the Middle East and was unavailable to speak to Arab News, earlier said MERN was committed to producing "objective, fair and balanced" news. Not everyone agrees. "Radio Sawa is one element of a public diplomatic offensive that the US government is working on in the hopes that they can reach people in the Arab world. They want to win the ears, and through that, the minds and hearts of the Arab world's youth," said Abdulwahab Alkebsi, director, Dialogue of Civilizations, for the Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy, a Washington-based think tank. "They have told us that they hope to reach people in the Arab world, `by communicating with them, and not just by waiving a big stick,`" said Alkebsi, who said Radio Sawa hopes to achieve this through the combination of sanitized Arab and American pop songs, with pro- American news broadcasts. Alkebsi said MERN hired Bert Kleinman to start up Radio Sawa. "His claim to fame is that he produced `Casey Kasem`s Top 40,` and is familiar with what people want to hear. "They did a great job of running surveys in the Arab world, what they like and dislike. So they pretty much know what Arab youngsters like to hear — for example, they found out that rap, hard rock, country, would not sell, but pop does." said Alkebsi. "On the news side, they are going to fill the news with what American government wants the Arabs to hear. So it is a contrast: on the music side they will deliver what the Arabs want to hear, but will send the news that the American government wants them to hear." Alkebsi emphasized this is being done from by people with the right perspective. "They are in the Department of State, and they want to win the Arab hearts and minds, which is good, especially when you compare this with some people in the Defense Department, who want American unilateralism, and who don't feel they need to win anyone's hearts," said Alkebsi. "Although many Arab youngsters will listen to the music, it will not lead to a genuine dialogue between Arabs and Americans. Our fear is that it will be perceived as American propaganda. At best, it will not win the hearts and minds of the Arab people, and at worse, it will hurt, as many Arabs will perceive this as another attempt to corrupt Arab culture," said Alkebsi. Daniel Nassif, who is an editor for the Iraqi section at Radio Sawa, dismissed the criticisms. "Our aim is that the station will develop more understanding between American and Arab youth. We are trying to introduce American culture and values in the area, but at the same time, we want to sound very local to the Arabs," he said. "So far, it has been very favorably received throughout the Arab world. We are continuing to conduct research as to what our listeners want in regards to news and music," said Nassif. Regarding the news reports, Nassif said Sawa "covers Washington like no body else, and at the same time, we cover the Arab regions with up- to the minute reports for every capital in the Arab world, including Baghdad. We have 35 correspondents in the region." Nassif shrugged off the idea that the radio is a mouthpiece for the US administration. "It is not a propaganda piece. If Bush speaks, we have to cover it, but that doesn't mean its propaganda. We don't run editorials, so I don't know how we can be accused of running a propaganda machine. "It is up to the Arab youth in the region to decide for themselves. And I think they will be fair in judging us, because I think they will like what they are listening to." (Editor's Note: Radio Sawa`s FM broadcast capability will be amplified at the end of this month.) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. No sign of WBCQ III, originally slated to come on late spring or summer. Was to have been for the Overcomer, but perhaps delayed or nixed due to Stair's arrest (Hans Johnson, Aug 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ?? They do have three transmitters, as 7415, 9335 and 17495 can be heard at the same time, e.g. from 2100 Wed. in http://wbcq.net --- 2100 5:00pm - 6:00pm 17495 The Full Gospel Hour 2100 5:00pm - 6:00pm 7415 The Clone Zone 2100 5:00pm - 12:00am 9335 Christian Media Network 2200 6:00pm - 6:30pm 7415 Glenn Hauser's World of Radio And WOR is also on 17495, not yet shown here (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. Hello Glenn; We saw your online posting about Kirsten: Yes, it is, and you can see it at: http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/DailyNews/2020_rightwomen_000210_chat.html (Brian and Kirsten Betsworth, Dec 2...) Kirsten has finished writing her book: "The Bondage of Self" and it will be in print soon. Do you know people who would be interested in reading her book? (Brian and Kirsten Betsworth, Aug 7, 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What`s this about? Kirsten Kaiser is the ex-wife of Kevin Alfred Strom, neo-Nazi, evident successor to William Pierce on American Dissident Voices via WWRB. This has been covered here before, but the reminder is timely (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I'm not sure if Hank Bennett is still with us or the status of his data. Hank was profiled in an issue of Fine Tuning's "Proceedings" sometime in the late 1980s/early 1990s, and he seemed to be getting up in years then. I'm not aware of anyone in Flint, MI handling the WPE/WDX list. Back in 1981, I had lunch with Art Salsberg, who was then editor of "Popular Electronics," and he explained the whole WPE story to me. . . . . turns out that his predecessor as PE's editor, Perry Ferrell, kept his involvement with Gilfer secret when he was at PE and used the names from the WPE registrations for Gilfer's mailing list. When the Ziff-Davis people found out, they canned Perry --- secretaries were being paid overtime to process the certificates! --- and Z-D handed the WPE files over to Hank Bennett as a parting gift for being their SW editor for so many years. I think Tom Kneitel is still selling his scanner listener "call signs" through CRB if you really want to register your listening post! BTW, I saw a WPE monitor certificate for sale on eBay a couple of weeks ago, apparently from the estate of William Graham, an active SW DXer in the 1960s/early 1970s (Harry Helms WPE4HKE/6, Ridgecrest, CA DM15 NRC-AM via DXLD) TASBEM (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. KLON BECOMES KKJZ ON FRIDAY Thursday, August 8, 2002 Radio station KLON-FM (88.1) will change its call letters Friday to KKJZ to better reflect its format of jazz and blues. "While our call letters have changed, we are unwavering in our goal of bringing a wider audience and respect to jazz and blues through our programming, promotions and events," General Manager Judy Jankowski said Wednesday. The station had been known as KLON since it went on the air in 1981 on the campus of California State University Long Beach. The KKJZ call letters became available after a station in Portland switched from a jazz format to soft rock. Copyright 2002 Los Angeles Times (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. KXMS, Fine Arts Radio International, Joplin MO, continues to be plagued by a search/seek receiver picking up 88.7 for its webcast. Previously it had landed on 89.9, KRPS. August 9 at 1500 UT, when we brought it up to hear the scheduled Singapore national anthem, gospel music station KOBC 90.7 Joplin was there instead, with ID, slanted news. Notified KXMS again, and by 1937 when we checked again, classical music was back on the KXMS stream. They really need to provide their ISP a receiver which will stay locked on 88.7 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. From Aug. 7 Radio and Records: FCC FINES WWFE/MIAMI $21,000 A field agent in the commission's Tampa office on March 28 noted that the Fenix Broadcasting Spanish News/Talker failed to have Emergency Alert System equipment installed, failed to exhibit tower lights from sunset to sunrise and failed to enclose the station's antenna towers within effective locked enclosures. Fenix has until ... (via Brock Whaley, GA, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC ORDERS SWITCH TO DIGITAL TV Thu Aug 8,10:39 AM ET By CONNIE CASS, Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Dissatisfied with the speed at which the industry is going digital, the Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to require television manufacturers to have digital tuners on all sets by July 2007. Commissioners voted 3-1 to require manufacturers to add the tuners to all TV sets with screens of 36 inches and larger by July 2004, while the requirement for smaller sets would be phased in over the following three years. Congress has mandated that the nation switch to digital TV, which offers clearer pictures and better sound. But the transition to this new technology has been delayed by reluctance within the industry to make the switch before most households can receive digital signals. "This action will take these electronic appliances from being HDTV (High Definition Television) ready to HDTV reality," said Michael Powell, the commission's chairman. Powell rejected industry complaints that the action would force consumers to pay more for television sets, saying the price of digital tuners would drop quickly as they are mass produced. The dissenting vote came from Commissioner Kevin Martin, who noted that most TV viewers no longer receive their signals over the air and therefore do not need digital tuners. "I believe the cost of this particular proposal outweighs the benefits," Martin said. Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy said the requirement was necessary to move the switch to digital TV forward. Without this requirement, "the transition remains stalled," she said. "There's no question in my mind." In advance of Thursday's decision, Jenny Miller, a spokeswoman for the Consumer Electronics Association, had said, "We believe there's going to be a mandate for the inclusion of a digital broadcast television tuner in all television sets." But she also said she felt the manufacturers might challenge such a ruling in court, if necessary. Miller said the requirement would cost $250 for each set, amounting to an annual "TV tax" on the industry and consumers of about $7 billion. She said that with most consumers receiving television signals by cable or satellite, putting the tuner in all TVs would make people pay for a device most won't use. Broadcasters, who need consumers to be able to receive their digital signals, support a requirement for the tuners. They call the manufacturers' cost estimates "outlandish and ridiculous." "We don't think consumers will see any cost increase," said Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters. "The simpler you make it for consumers — you build the features into the set -- the faster you get to consumer acceptance of this new technology." He said digital tuners are especially important to give people access to digital broadcasts from local stations not carried by cable or satellite. The broadcast industry says 455 television stations are now broadcasting digital signals in markets that include nearly 90 percent of the nation's TV households. But they say less than 1 percent of the 25 million sets sold each year have digital tuners. Congress is requiring most broadcasters to convert by 2006 from existing analog technology to more efficient digital television, which allows much more programming and data to be transmitted over one channel. Broadcasters were given second TV channels for free to do so. When the switch is complete, broadcasters must return their analog channels to the government for other uses. Digital TV development has stalled over a number of issues, including the limited availability of high-definition programming and the pricey equipment needed for viewers to see it. Cable and satellite service providers also have balked at allocating additional space for digital programming, while local TV stations struggle with the cost of converting to digital signals (via yahoonews via Artie Bigley, Tom McNiff, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 12085 and 12115: When I switched right to the both frequencies around 1455...1456 UT: 12085.00 carried an Arabic program still in progress, I guess it was Syrian Radio Damascus, according to the limited signal strength of poor S=5, and some scratchy noise, amongst also Thunderstorm scratches, which occurs now every day, in past three weeks. 12115.00 at 1456 UT carried the usual RUS/CIS 800-1000 Hz tone procedure, like on transmission opening at Samara or Armavir-Krasnodar site. Signal was 8-9, with some deep fadings 12115 1500 UT Transmission started exact at 1500 UT with soft piece of Arabic music. When compared both outlets between about 1500 and 1502 UT, program on 12085 was different. But then, when checked again, from 1503 and 15.30.00 UT the programs were of s a m e content, B U T 12085 was ahead, or let's say 12115 behind by about 27 seconds !! 12115 signal was much, much stronger than 12085, at about S=8-9, despite the usual bearings of Samara or Armavir to the south is 190 degrees. [290 degrees towards Stuttgart instead] I taped the whole broadcast of 32 minutes, and will cut some pieces as mp3 file later this night. Two announcer could be traced, a female and a male voice. No clear program ID heard, I'll send the mp3 file to Tarek in Cairo to make his expertise, he may check the [Ar] accent and the soft music type. The lady announcer mentioned words like Iran, Iraq, Democracy, Quadina, Madina, Medina, Sahel, Hassan, Saharaui. 12085 sign off 1530. 12115 program / music still on air till 1532.02 UT, cut of audio feed. 12115 transmitter switched off at 1532.10 UT. Conclusion: so it seems an additional [unknown to me] Arabic language program, which broadcast via different sites on 27 seconds delay of each other. Both via Damascus 12085, and via CIS / Samara-Armavir site. But 0330-0400 morning service time span is much UNCOMFORTABLE for European audience, so I'll not ready at the early 'bird' tomorrow, to follow this service on 9950 kHz ! 73 de wolfy (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 12115 brings to mind the TDP Ethiopian clandestines via Samara? But those are in the 1700-1800 hour (gh, DXLD) Re: UNID Arabic 12115 kHz, 7 Aug 2002, 1452-1532 UT Hello Everyone, I've just been monitoring 12115 and 12085 (Aug. 8). 12115, when tuned at 1454 had on/off tones - a short one at 1456 then only carrier until programme began at 1500 with march music, what I assume was their ID - but none of it was understood - then talk and music. Signal strength around S7. The transmission stopped/cut-off during music at c1529:53 and the transmitter went off soon afterwards. 12085 Syrian Radio was heard and identified at 1450 and on air until at least 1500 (by which time I was concentrating on 12115). However, there appeared to be a co-channel carrier which was causing a flutter effect to their signal from at least 1455. No tones were heard. When checked again c1505 Syrian Radio had gone off and the programme now was the same as on 12115 - but approx. 43 seconds behind. Such a delay could hardly be attributed to a satellite feed - could it? It suggests the same programme was being transmitted from two sources. The signal strength on 12085 was also about S7 but this transmission was with better audio quality than Syrian Radio. Transmission stopped/cut-off at c1531 and carrier dropped c1531.40. A carrier came on to 12085 at c1554 and very low audio c1601. This is obviously Syrian Radio returned to air. I think someone with a knowledge of Arabic is needed to ID this transmission - Tarek in Cairo maybe? There does seem to be a connection with Syria, or why would their service go off air to accommodate this other one? (Noel Green, England, Aug 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I condensed the recording file for the most interesting pieces. Mostly S=8, in peaks up to S=9, but Stuttgart isn't the MAIN target. Samara? Krasnodar/Armavir? RUS/CIS? 73 de wb df5sx Tarek Zeidan, SU1TZ from Egypt checked my mp3 File, and `narrowed' the Arabic accent to Syrian/Iraqi matter/area. But he said something about an 'OPPOSITION' program, not really from Damascus itself! So, the \\ 12085 kHz outlet isn't coming from Syria !??? Tarek will monitor the outlet today. He hasn't heard any ID yet! regards wolfy, Aug 8 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNID Arabic 12115 kHz. SOUT AL WATAN - V. of Home. Finally I managed to get an ID for the station according to the file you sent me 12115- part-2. The ID is SOUT AL WATAN - Voice Of WATAN in ARABIC mainly means the country you live in. So we can call that HOME Sout said by a YL and Watan said by OM, in the back ground there's a very well known song called "HOB EL WATAN" - Love of my country/home. I'm 100% sure now, this is a Clandestine station beamed to Syria. The program included in your file Wolfie was mainly about the journalist, human rights activist in the Syrian jails and also other nationalities there like Lebanese, Iraqis etc. By the end of the file, around 5:40 they started calling listeners in the Syrian cities by the city name, like my dear bro' in "halab", my dear friend in "demascus" etc. And ... I was expecting more info, like which party this station is representing or anything. But, - the mp3 file ended !!! But I'll give it a try on my SONY today and sure will give you all the info I got. All the best from Cairo, a rather HOT Cairo ;-) (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, Aug 8, BC-DX via DXLD) The Arabic word Watan is usually translated as Fatherland. Sawt al Watan then would be Voice of the Fatherland (Homeland, Motherland are possible alternatives). 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meanwhile, Andy Sennitt has been working on this independently:- 12085 AND 12115: Hi Glenn, The station was there as reported today between 1500 and 1530. Unfortunately I missed the opening - hopefully I will catch it tomorrow. The broadcast on 12085 was about a minute behind 12115, suggesting different transmitter sites. Also the audio quality on 12115 sounded better. Programme ended with a song that faded out, no closing announcement. Doesn't sound lime anything I heard before. Unfortunately the only person I know at RN who speaks Arabic, Bertus Hendriks, is on vacation. I'm currently searching online Arab media (at least the English pages thereof) for clues. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Holland, Aug 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I'm now inclining to the view that this could be a (new?) service from Syria. Listening to the tape I made yesterday, right at the end of a long talk, Syria is clearly mentioned. That's not conclusive, of course, but with 12085 being used, it points in that direction. Doesn't explain the time/audio difference on 12115 though. It could equally well be someone broadcasting *to* Syria, hoping to catch listeners already tuned to 12085. Will try to catch the opening today. [Later:] Hi Glenn, I made some further observations on this station. The transmitter on 12115 seems to be in the CIS. Prior to s/on they ran several minutes of tone bursts like typical Russian/CIS transmitters do. The ID defintely mentions 'souriya' (Syria). Today, I guess because it's a Friday, there was not much talk - just music, some Qur`an recitations, and more music. I've a hunch this is a test transmission and not a regular programme. I've discovered that another RN colleage understands some Arabic, and I will ask him to listen to the tape on Monday. I'm continuing to check for news references to a new station, but so far nothing. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Holland, Aug 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 914.762 MHz: Nothing heard here in Virginia near DC. (T, Monitoring Times Chatboard via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONVENTIONS +++++++++++ VIII ENCUENTRO NACIONAL DE OYENTES DE LA ONDA CORTA XALAPA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO AGOSTO 2002 This is the eighth version of the Mexican DX Meeting; these conferences started back in 1995 and have been in the scene ever since. Following is the list of previous meetings: Tepic, Nayarit en 1995. Zacatecas, Zacatecas en 1996. Veracruz, Veracruz en 1997. Tehuacán, Puebla en 1998. Orizaba, Veracruz en 1999. Oaxaca, Oaxaca en 2000. Guanajuato, Guanajuato en 2001. This year the number of attendees surpassed 70. DX fans come from all Mexico and from abroad, China, Argentina, Ireland, Colombia, Spain and USA. We have two and a half days (August 1st to August 4th) of intense activities including a DXpedition on Friday night. Meeting started on Thursday night with registration and a beautiful "fiesta" enjoying superb regional Veracruz meals, drinks and music. Pepe González delighted us with his organ performance. First conference (Sociedad de Ingenieros Radioescuchas) was about DX and Internet; conclusion is that Internet will not substitute for Radio for the time being and will be more a complement to DXing. Attendees suggested to have live broadcast of the next meetings via SW or Internet. On the second conference by Germán Martínez A. (Radio Universidad de Veracruzana), we had a very interesting discussion on the role radio has to play for the community; an extensive experience on Radio Huayacocotla (2390 kHz) was shared. Education is a must on the Radio; was noticed the well done work on the international SWB programs compared with poor work on several commercial stations such as content and language skills. A contribution of Radio Nederland was the next point on the Agenda, DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale). Project started in 1998, today is a consortium made up of 73 broadcasters, network operators, manufactures and researchers. DRM is a digital AM system for Short-wave, Medium wave, and Long wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. Special test recordings were played AM/SW vs. DRM/SW results are astonishing; we were very pleased and awaiting for next generation broadcast technology. Conference was very educational and people really enjoyed the presentation. Radio Nederland presentation ended with huge applause. Broadcasting SW bands (Nayarit DX Club) presented the several opportunities we have on the spectrum to do DX; reference was made to the DXing Day for Mexico August 2nd. Ute DXing (Sociedad de Ingenieros Radioescuchas) was presented next. A very interesting discussion on the listening to aero frequencies, NAVTEX, military, coastal and diplomatic communications. We had a live demonstration, DXers were very active and took us much time so we have to postpone the last conference on the Agenda. We left (2000) to have some dinner and be ready for the Noche DXista at the beautiful Park of Los Berros. We gather round 2200 and started to prepare our gear, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Cuba, China, Spain were among the several logs we made. Enjoyed a nice weather and great time. Saturday 3rd started with DX for Kids. Host did not attended so among the audience we have to pick a kid. Isaac (11) and Keyla (10) Mauleon Tolentino from Tuxtepec, Oaxaca went to the podium and shared their experience on the SW. They started the hobby 3 years ago when they moved to Tuxtepec at that time no electricity was available so radio was the family entertainment. Big change on the family and kids; they are the best at school and have been able to share and introduce some new subjects at school. Environmental care for the Papaloapan river is a daily duty for school children because of the Ecological knowledge they learned on the radio. Mauleon kids told us about their favorite shows and radio stations. This kids make us cry and teach us what a family should be, a beautiful story with a great hobby. Next on the Agenda was our host Pepe González. He elaborated on 3 subjects; first How the visit of the Pope to Guatemala and Mexico was covered by the SW stations; DX Clubs situation in Mexico and the relationship with their members finally Radio Transcontinental de America troubles and opportunities. [see MEXICO] Antennas and how to construct one (Club de Radioexperimentadores) was the third lecture of the day. Very nice and professional presentation to the audience, a lot of questions and participation. Miguel A. Rocha, very good friend and old participant of these forums, did not attend this time but sent a presentation on how to prepare a SW Reception Report for getting a QSL. A practical guide with very good hints on the collection of QSLs. Radio Nederland covered the next two items on the Agenda; the first was about the 55th Anniversary of Radio Nederland; a portion of the RNW speech at the 2nd Encuentro Internacional de la Radio para una Cultura de Paz celebrated in San José de Costa Rica was read. A very reach and emotive opinions and memories of the audience with RNW programs, producers and presenters was exchanged. Long standing applause. The second part of RNW was a very clever idea; to record Cartas@RN live from the DX meeting to be broadcast next Sunday. This is a very popular RNW show conducted in Spanish for Sunday listeners. The experiment was a hit, everyone wanted to participate; our foreign DXers in a fiesta environment were the first to be targeted to speak on the micro. We had a lovely party time. The last issue on the Agenda was Clipperton Island Expedition 2000. This is a video that shows the story of preparation and experience of 12 multinational DXers at Clipperton Island (Pacific Ocean West of Mexico). Only trouble with this video was English version only, promise to have it translated into Spanish for next DX meeting. Club de Radioexperimentadores del Valle de Mexico announce a DXpedition for 1stQ[uarter] next year to an island in front of Veracruz Port. We ended the day around 2030, tired but very pleased with lectures presented during the meeting. Sunday was the last day of our Encuentro DX; and reserved for SW Broadcast, a round table with Radio Nederland, Radio Mexico International, Radio Mil, Radio Miami International (direct link) Radio Educación and host Radio Universidad de Veracruz (this station actually does not broadcast SW). The broadcasters point of view of DXing. SW is going to stay, great expectation for DRM and a revival of DX. The radio shall change towards nationalism showing the values of each country with their nationals abroad and listeners trough out the world; because of globalization. Radio Mil changes in their Mexican stations to adapt to new owners view of the Market. Radio Educación starts again a SW production separated from their AM. Radio Mexico International also announce changes on their managerial positions. RMI Manager Ana Cristina del Razo leaves the station after a very good job. She attended DX meetings with listeners and SWB. Every one wish her the best on her new activities. I would like to take advantage of this report to thank Lucha Olivares and Pepe González for excellent work and very well organized meeting, Radio Universidad de Veracruz for hosting us on their installations and DXers who attended and shared experience and knowledge. Finally I have to mention that a lot information was provided by Lucha and Pepe, contribution from Spanish Juan Franco Crespo, material from HCJB Ecuador, Radio Miami International as well as Radio Nederland; Kenwood as a provider and Radio Shack as vendor were present too. Memorabilia from R. Netherland, R. Mexico I. and others were given in a very amusing raffle. Next Encuentro DX will be at Tizayuca, Hidalgo Mexico and our host will be Martín Herrera who can be contacted by e- mail at mnhajz@hotmail.com (Carlos Jiménez V., México, Aug 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-125, August 7, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1143: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Aug 9] (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1143.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1143.html [from Aug 8] FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 on 17495, 7415; Thu 0415 on 7415 WWCR BROADCASTS: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN/GERMANY. DETAILS OF NEW GERMAN-RUN VOICE OF FREEDOM RADIO IN KABUL | Text of report in English by Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site on 6 August A Germany-funded radio station, Voice of Freedom, started broadcasts to Kabul in Dari and Pashto on 4 August 2002. Programming on the FM station includes news, music, features and language courses. The station is based in the German military camp to the east of Kabul. German experts have trained two Afghan newsreaders and several technicians to work for the station. Richard Hunsicker, spokesman for the German forces, says that the running costs of 2,000 US dollars a month come from the German military budget. The station was officially opened by Afghan Minister of Information and Culture, Sayed M. Rahin. Source: Radio Netherlands "Media Network" web site, Hilversum, in English 6 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?? ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Here is the revised IBB Dari/Pashtu schedule as it appears today on their website. It seems I was correct in assuming that 15690 is WER - it had to be, at such strength! I also note that VOA is using DB 972 and 1143 which seems to be new??? And I also note this: 18990 1230 1300 VOA G UZBE IRA 02 348 which obviously replaces former 19015. I must remember to check to see if the Chinese big band has found it yet. DA RFE AFG 0000 0030 IRA 05 13810 340 DA RFE AFG 0000 0030 WER 01 12140 090 DA RFE AFG 0000 0030 KAV 05 9785 095 DA RFE AFG 0000 0030 IRA 06 7430 334 DA RFE AFG 0000 0030 DB A 972 999 DA RFE AFG 0330 0430 IRA 02 17670 340 DA RFE AFG 0330 0430 IRA 05 15690 340 DA RFE AFG 0330 0430 WER 01 12140 090 DA RFE AFG 0330 0430 HOL 04 9615 077 DA RFE AFG 0730 0830 IRA 05 21680 334 DA RFE AFG 0730 0830 IRA 03 19010 340 DA RFE AFG 0730 0830 UDO 03 17690 300 DA RFE AFG 0730 0830 WER 01 15690 090 DA RFE AFG 0930 1030 IRA 05 21680 334 DA RFE AFG 0930 1000 IRA 03 19010 340 DA RFE AFG 0930 1030 UDO 03 17685 300 DA RFE AFG 0930 1030 WER 01 15690 090 DA RFE AFG 1000 1030 IRA 06 19010 340 DA RFE AFG 1330 1400 IRA 05 21680 334 DA RFE AFG 1330 1430 IRA 01 19010 334 DA RFE AFG 1330 1430 UDO 02 17685 300 DA RFE AFG 1330 1430 WER 01 15690 090 DA RFE AFG 1330 1400 HOL 04 15370 077 DA RFE AFG 1400 1430 IRA 06 21680 334 DA RFE AFG 1730 1830 WER 01 15690 090 DA RFE AFG 1730 1830 IRA 06 12140 340 DA RFE AFG 1730 1800 HOL 02 11705 077 DA RFE AFG 1730 1830 UDO 01 9845 300 DA RFE AFG 1800 1830 MOR 03 11705 067 DA RFE AFG 2330 2400 IRA 05 13810 340 DA RFE AFG 2330 2400 WER 01 12140 090 DA RFE AFG 2330 2400 KAV 05 9785 095 DA RFE AFG 2330 2400 IRA 06 7430 334 DARI VOA AFG 0130 0230 UDO 04 17670 300 DARI VOA AFG 0130 0230 IRA 05 15690 340 DARI VOA AFG 0130 0230 IRA 01 12140 340 DARI VOA AFG 1130 1230 IRA 05 21680 334 DARI VOA AFG 1130 1200 IRA 06 19010 340 DARI VOA AFG 1130 1230 UDO 03 17685 300 DARI VOA AFG 1200 1230 IRA 01 19010 334 DARI VOA AFG 1200 1230 DB B 1143 999 DARI VOA AFG 1530 1630 IRA 04 15690 340 DARI VOA AFG 1530 1630 IRA 06 12140 340 DARI VOA AFG 1530 1630 UDO 02 7235 300 DARI VOA AFG 1930 2030 DB A 972 999 PA RFE AFG 0230 0330 IRA 02 17670 340 PA RFE AFG 0230 0330 IRA 05 15690 340 PA RFE AFG 0230 0330 WER 01 12140 090 PA RFE AFG 0230 0330 HOL 04 9615 077 PA RFE AFG 0630 0730 IRA 05 21680 334 PA RFE AFG 0630 0730 IRA 03 19010 340 PA RFE AFG 0630 0730 UDO 03 17690 300 PA RFE AFG 0630 0730 WER 01 15690 090 PA RFE AFG 0830 0930 IRA 05 21680 334 PA RFE AFG 0830 0930 IRA 03 19010 340 PA RFE AFG 0830 0930 UDO 03 17685 300 PA RFE AFG 0830 0930 WER 01 15690 090 PA RFE AFG 1230 1330 IRA 05 21680 334 PA RFE AFG 1230 1330 IRA 01 19010 334 PA RFE AFG 1230 1300 UDO 03 17685 300 PA RFE AFG 1230 1330 WER 01 15690 090 PA RFE AFG 1230 1330 HOL 04 15370 077 PA RFE AFG 1300 1330 UDO 02 17685 300 PA RFE AFG 1630 1730 WER 01 15690 090 PA RFE AFG 1630 1730 IRA 06 12140 340 PA RFE AFG 1630 1730 UDO 01 9845 300 PA RFE AFG 1700 1730 HOL 02 11705 077 PA RFE AFG 2230 2330 IRA 05 13810 340 PA RFE AFG 2230 2330 WER 01 12140 090 PA RFE AFG 2230 2330 KAV 05 9785 095 PA RFE AFG 2230 2330 IRA 06 7430 334 PASH VOA AFG 0030 0130 UDO 04 17670 300 PASH VOA AFG 0030 0130 IRA 05 15690 340 PASH VOA AFG 0030 0130 IRA 01 12140 340 PASH VOA AFG 0030 0130 DB A 972 999 PASH VOA AFG 1030 1130 IRA 05 21680 334 PASH VOA AFG 1030 1130 IRA 06 19010 340 PASH VOA AFG 1030 1130 UDO 03 17685 300 PASH VOA AFG 1430 1530 IRA 04 15690 340 PASH VOA AFG 1430 1530 IRA 06 12140 340 PASH VOA AFG 1430 1530 UDO 02 7235 300 (IBB website; Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Aug 5 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA [non]. Because of the lack of hydroelectric power in Albania, TWR is considering to move all Russian SW broadcasting to Moosbrunn, Austria (dx_bistro Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia, Signal Aug 6 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [non]. Estimado Glenn, sobre ARGENTINA e GRÃ-BRETANHA -- Radio Liberty e Rádio Atlântico del Sur (DXLD 2-117 e DXLD 2 118) Estive lendo o interessante artigo e os testemunhos sobre a Rádio Liberty, emissora argentina que operou durante a guerra das Falkland/Malvinas. A bem da verdade, os britânicos através da Rádio Atlântico del Sur em 9710 kHz via transmissores da BBC na Ilha Ascensão, também tinham a sua ``Tokio Rose``. Ela se chamava ``Mariana Flores`` e durante a guerra todos os dias, na programação da Rádio Atlântico del Sur , num espaço denominado ``La pausa sentimental com Mariana Flores`` , com uma voz sensual recitava poesias e dedicava musicas a comandantes argentinos (citando inclusive nomes) que supostamente teriam sido arrestados pelos britânicos, sugerindo com isto que enquanto os soldados argentinos sofriam dificuldades no terreno da guerra seus comandantes capturados estariam se divertindo com mulheres britânicas (Sérgio Dória Partamian, São Paulo - Brasil, DX Clube do Brasil, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Glenn, Mali [q.v.] missing tonight does have one good benefit - 4835, 2130, ABC Territory Radio, Alice Springs, Australia. News & Music // 4910 kHz, 242, 5/8 GP (Graham Powell, Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook & 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Re Mike Brooker's comments about Canadian coverage of the Commonwealth Games: I listened to coverage of the games on 6PR Perth Australia, which picked up coverage from the Southern Cross Network in the overnight period in Australia, which is exactly 12 hrs ahead of EDT. The US (TV) networks have received lots of criticism in past Olympics here in Canada for their almost exclusive coverage of American athletes. In my opinion the coverage by this (private) network was extensive, very entertaining, but unfortunately lost sight of the fact that countries other than Australia were participating. I NEVER heard (except in passing once) ANY medal tallies from countries other than Australia. I found a webpage from BBC Manchester and kept track there. I don`t know if Radio Australia covered the games, or how they did. Some amazing results by some small Pacific nations, but I heard about these in spite of 6PR (Fred Waterer, Ont., Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Glen[n], is it possible that you are unaware of the development in Austria? The German service relays home service most of the time. English, French and Spanish are practically scaled down to the daily "Report from Austria". And you ask for an English and Spanish DX programme? ``Trouble is, they keep interrupting Hans for voice-overs in German!`` I found that quite amusing. Trouble is, this is a German show! We usually complement interviews like this one as a webcast in the original language. (See IM 275, North Korea). But Somalia is a 4-part- story with more than 100 clips and cuts... 73 de (Wolf Harranth, Austria, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Wolf, Of course I am aware of the sad situation there. I am also very glad that you are still able to do an Intermedia show especially (?) for external service. My comments were somewhat tongue-in-cheek. When you do have a webcast in the original language, would appreciate your notifying us in the Englishspeaking DX world, with a direct link to it, as I may or may not hear about it otherwise. 73, (Glenn to Wolf, via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. See MYANMAR ** BIAFRA [non]. Re Ribas` Cumbre report of V. of Biafra International at 1903-2000 Saturdays only on 12125 as from Germany: I guess, the transmission on 12125 came always from Armavir, Krasnodar in Russia, in forefield of the Caucasus. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850, Radio Free Bougainville was active from Jul 16th til 22nd. Fade in here around 0955 till 1107* UT. Tok Pidgin and English. Clear IDs heard every day. Before signing off regular an IS was given and close announcements, with a choral before s-off. Weak signal, best in SSB mode, but the transmission is in AM! Some QRM from Indonesian hams. Modulation was good, and the tx on exact even 3850 kHz (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, BC-DX July 26 via DXLD) {So does this mean it had been off for 4 days as of 7/26; and still? Has anyone heard it since? See 2-130 (gh)} ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma at 2330 UT via Madagascar: this is on 9760 [ex 11715] as of July 31st (Andy Sennitt, Holland, in RNMN NL Aug 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. Bob Padula has just put himself through another grueling visit to southeast Asia. He explicitly forbids us to publish his reports, so we refer you to issue 585 at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm Later on it will be available in their archive (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. GLOBAL VILLAGE: This week on Global Village, Radio Radio Radio: Radio Tikal in Guatemala, Sami Radio in Sweden, B-92 in Belgrade, plus stations in Germany, Turkey, Hungary, Botswana and Mali. That's Global Village, with host Jowi Taylor, tonight at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio One (CBC Hotsheet for Wed Aug 7, 2305 UT in Atlantic zone, plus 1/2/3/4 hours westward, via gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. REVERENT MEDIA KEEPS THE FAITH DURING POPE`S VISIT Celebration and hype have become the stock-in-trade of the media, but there`s usually a little self-restraint Dateline: Monday, July 29, 2002 by Linda McQuaig ``How can one keep one`s faith in a secular world?`` asked the host of a CBC radio show. But as the papal coverage built to a deafening crescendo last week, until it was difficult to distinguish some of our main media outlets from the Vatican press office, I started to ponder a different question: ``How can one keep any sort of secular perspective in a world awash in faith?`` In fact, I suspect the world isn't as awash in faith as it may have seemed. Listening to people talking on the street, one got a more grounded view of the situation. But the mainstream media would have none of that, as the coverage soared with the flourish of full organ pipes. By mid-week, those attending World Youth Day weren`t just participants, they had been transformed into ``pilgrims.`` Huh? Is that the CBC I just turned on or Radio Free Vatican? ... http://www.straightgoods.ca/ViewFeature.cfm?REF=592 (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** CANADA. 1610, CJWI, appears to be on sporadically once again. Although I did not log a date or time, I heard them in the middle of this past week around 0400 UT (Jul 31 or Aug 1) with the previously heard test format (sounded like identical station ID), along with same music format of rap/rock styles. I called this station the other day using the number listed by Sheldon Harvey and spoke to Jean Ernest Pierre, who I believe is the station owner. When I started to read off the reported address, he said it was changed and now is: 3733 Jarry East, 2nd Floor, Montreal, PQ H1Z 2G1 (John Sgrulletta, NY, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** CHILE. UT Aug 5 at about 2235 UT on 17680 kHz, I chanced upon Voz Cristiana in Spanish. Lots of Spanish pop music. I also heard a reference to a Radio Paraíso broadcasting on 97.1 MHz. SIO was 4-4-4 with some interference from RNZI on 17675 kHz. By 2300 UT, I heard a short news bulletin (Paul Santos, Quezon City, Philippines, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. On 6140 kHz, Radio Rebelde, Cuba. SINPO 4/4. At 1120 UT with a news and comments program named "Haciendo radio". Greetings (from Catia La Mar, in VENEZUELA, Respectfully, Adán González, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. APLAZAN EL ACCESO DE LA POBLACIÓN A TELÉFONOS CELULARES LA HABANA, 5 de agosto (Juan Carlos Linares, Cuba-Verdad / http://www.cubanet.org) - El proyecto según el cual algunos cubanos accederían a los teléfonos celulares fue aplazado por orden del gobierno de Fidel Castro, reveló una empleada de CUBACEL, empresa a cargo de la comercialización de esos aparatos. Según la fuente, que no será identificada para protegerla de represalias en su contra, el proyecto de los teléfonos celulares interfiere ciertos planes políticos del gobierno, al parecer dirigidos a proveer ese tipo de equipos a la red de delatores del Ministerio del Interior. "No se sabe cuándo se reanudará este proyecto, si es que se reanuda", dijo la empleada. Hasta el momento, el acceso a los teléfonos celulares está limitado a extranjeros y a funcionarios castristas autorizados a poseer este tipo de servicio. La fuente precisó que el servicio que se aplazó sólo tendría alcance nacional. Algunos analistas independientes coincidieron al suponer que la postergación de instalar teléfonos celulares a los cubanos que puedan pagar por ese servicio se debería principalmente a la llamada "batalla de ideas", con la que el régimen de Castro trata de reducir a la mínima expresión la capacidad de comunicación interna y de divulgación de informaciones. La fuente confirmó que la mayor parte de los aparatos ya se encuentran en almacenes del país. El gobierno de Castro ha prohibido que los cubanos tengan acceso a Internet, persigue a los proveedores particulares de vídeos, a los constructores y dueños de antenas de UHF, interfiere las transmisiones de radio y televisión provenientes de otros países, confisca cualquier texto que considere "contrarrevolucionario", y según trascendió en breve sancionará una ley que restringe la entrada a Cuba de videocaseteras (VCR). Hace más de un año que se trabajaba en la realización del proyecto de teléfonos celulares. Se estima que inicialmente alrededor de 50 mil cubanos se beneficiarían con este servicio. Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet. CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente. 73's (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) ** CUBA. Concurso RHC: RADIO HABANA CUBA Y EL SINDICATO NACIONAL DE TRABAJADORES DE LA EDUCACIÓN LA CIENCIA Y EL DEPORTE, LE INVITAN A PARTICIPAR EN EL SIGUIENTE CONCURSO EN SALUDO AL IX CONGRESO DE LOS TRABAJADORES DE LA EDUCACIÓN (DEL 20-22 DE DICIEMBRE DEL 2002). El primer premio consistirá en la inscripción gratis al congreso, el alojamiento y la alimentación por espacio de una semana para el ganador y un acompañante. También habrá diez menciones, consistentes en materiales del congreso y souvenir. LA PREGUNTA A CONTESTAR ES: - ¿Qué conoce usted sobre la obra educacional de la Revolución Cubana? El plazo de admisión de las respuestas cerrará el 1 de Diciembre del 2002. Usted puede dirigir su respuesta a Radio Habana Cuba AP.6240, La Habana, Cuba; Fax.(537)8705810; a las dirección electrónica radiohc@e... [radiohc@etecsa.cu I think – gh] (via Nicolás Eramo, Conexión Digital, Aug 6 via DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH. Re: GAELIC ON GERMAN EXTERNAL RADIO IN WW II In 1941 the German External service included staff of approximately 500 people, 89.500 foreign language transmissions, at about 30.500 program hours. In 1944 the European external service alone used 29 different languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Faroese[!], Flemish, Dutch, Irish[!], Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, White Ruthenian, Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian, and Polish. (Word Battle on Ether, German External Radio Service in WW II 1939-1945, in German language, Deutsche Welle, ISBN 37759 0147 7 of 1971. Via Wolfgang Bueschel, df5sx BC-DX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BTW, I hope no one takes offence; it is my decision to head historical items about the Nazi era under DEUTSCHES REICH (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB has another historical QSL available. This card from 1973 shows a diesel engine used by HCJB to back up the power supply, in case there is a failure of the power from their hydroelectric plant. Anyone who sends in a reception report can get this card by requesting it. The address: DX Partyline ** HCJB ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador. E-mail: dxpl@hcjb.org.ec (DX Partyline Aug 3, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. FM EN SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR Hola, a continuación el listado de emisoras de FM en San Salvador (ya que me cuesta actualizar mi página): Como pueden observar, no hay canales libres :-( 88.5 Paz 88.9 Que Buena 89.3 Cool FM 89.7 Bautista 90.1 Laser (español) 90.5 Progreso 90.9 Upa 91.3 Pulsar 91.7 UCA 92.1 La Klave 92.5 Club 92.9 Laser (inglés) 93.3 Globo 93.7 El Mundo 94.1 Fama 94.5 Vox FM 94.9 Astral 95.3 Feliz 95.7 Verdad 96.1 Scan 96.5 Adventista 96.9 Nacional 97.3 Corazón 97.7 Luz 98.1 La 98 98.5 Cuscatlán 98.9 RCS 99.3 Mesías 99.7 Guapachosa 100.1 ABC 100.5 RV 100.9 La Chévere 101.3 Monumental FM 101.7 Mil Ochenta 102.1 Doble F 102.5 Femenina 102.9 102 Nueve 103.3 Clásica 103.7 Central 104.1 KL La Poderosa 104.5 Sonora 104.9 Fiesta 105.3 Salsa 105.7 YXY 106.1 El Camino 106.5 Ranchera 106.9 Maya Visión 107.3 YSU 107.7 Más Hits (Humberto Molina, El Salvador, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Christian Senne in Berlin is planning a site devoted to Freiheitssender 904, a [clandestine radio] station that broadcast from Berlin to West Germany for many years. For the full stories, go to http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html (Andy Sennitt, Netherlands in RNMN NL Aug 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. At 2300 UT, I was listening to the English language service of Deutsche Welle to Southeast Asia. Reception on their four frequencies, namely 9815, 12000, 17560, and 21790 kHz throughout the 45 minute broadcast was quite good, with an average SIO of 5-4-5, though I should say that reception on 9815 kHz can be quite variable because of the distance of the transmitter site (in Germany I think) to the target area. Heard from my home in Quezon City, Philippines, using a Sony ICF SW7600G receiver with a 10m wire antenna. Until the next time (Paul Santos, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DEUTSCHES REICH ** GUYANA. On 3292 kHz, The Voice of Guyana. On Wednesdays with top hits of Indian music at 2315 UT. BBC relays (from Catia La Mar, in VENEZUELA, Respectfully, Adán González, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. Complemento informativo sobre la reactivación de La Voz Evangélica en 4819.2 kcs. A lo informado por Hans Johnson en Cumbre DX vía DXLD vía Radio Nuevo Mundo No. 288 página 20, y Björn Malm en SW Bulletin abril 7 vía DXLD vía RNM 288 p. 20, agrego que: aquí las fechas exactas en que estuvo inaudible esa emisora fueron del 28 de octubre 2001 al 1 de abril de 2002 (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic Nawosat, Villa Diego, Santa Fe, Argentina, June Lationamérica DX via DXLD) EPP adds that his surname, properly spelt with a hook over the z and an acute over the c, in Croatian is ``Povéryenich``. I have been pronouncing it as I believe it be hispanicized: por-seh-NEEK (gh, DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Radio Budapest benefited from the perception that Hungary was the more ``western`` oriented of the Soviet satellites. The usual tributes to Janos Kadar were heard, socialist solidarity etc. Radio Budapest also had a listeners club, which lasted for many years --- and served to bring many listeners together. I was a member and a request for penpals netted me over 60 responses from around the world. Hungary started drifting away from the old ways earlier than the other countries --- it was startling to hear some of the broadcasts and reports on the changes going on in the country. It was truly amazing to hear one broadcast when the bodies of the 1956 leaders were reburied amidst suitable honours. Remarkable changes are taking place in Eastern Europe. As these countries head towards eventual membership in the EU and NATO, programs are dominated by reports on these subjects. Hungary also has a particularly vigorous political system. This is also reflected in the broadcasts. Radio Budapest`s website is not much better than Radio Tirana`s. Not very informative and the schedule is a year out of date. Again probably just trying to maintain a foothold on the internet, lacking resources to do much more. There is at least one really nice picture of the Radio Budapest building. http://www.kaf.radio.hu/ (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Updating unID on 15150 kHz [c.f. BC-DX TopNews #584, not EGYPT] UNID with distorted sound 1730-1800 on 15150 kHz, difficulty to understand the language, July 20/21. It seems V of Indonesia at 1730-2100 in Spanish, German, French, English, is already only on weekdays. On weekends with terrible audio is in presumed Indonesian, July 27/28 (Ognyan Chengeliev, Bulgaria, via Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO FOR USE WHILE TRAVELLING Hi, I have been using the Worldspace FREE digital radio service for more than a year in Greece, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Africa and it is very good and cheap. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist for the US --- check http://www.worldspace.org --- but in ITU 1 and 3 it provides great CD quality sound. There are various radios for WS. I own the Hitachi WS + SW + FM + MW radio ($175) as well as new Joyear from Korea ($125) which is same as a thicker CD-box and has a planar antenna, 4 AA battery power, and 17 hour non-stop operating capability. I even put it in the car window (aiming South East) and listen to the news while driving (except when passing bridges, but then how often are these found??) There are many radio stations including NPR, WRN1 and WRN2, BBC, CNN, Bloomberg, Kaya (Johannesburg FM radio station) and another 40 stations on WS. Yes I do support SW. Yes, I am a very active radio ham (and carry a FT-817 around the world with me). Yes, I like listening to aeronautical shortwave. But when it gets to listening to news (including the ability to listen to 9/11 events - the day when the web ground the halt) nothing beats Worldspace. Best, Peter, KC1QF/LX1QF (Peter P. Vekinis, e-mail: peter@t12.org web sites: t12.org or vekinis.org.lu Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Was this an ad or review? ** IRAN. RADIO, TV TRANSMITTERS PRODUCED LOCALLY | Text of report in English by Tehran Times web site on 6 August Tehran: "Domestic production of radio and television transmitters will reduce foreign exchange requirements", Mr Tabyanian announced, according to Central News Bureau (CNB). Talking to IRIB's Channel 2, the telecommunication professor in San'ati-Sharif University added that the problem of troubled frequencies caused by tall buildings is not limited to the radio and television waves, but includes mobile cell phones as well. He said transmission of waves to remote parts of the country via microwave is very expensive. Because of this, satellites and converters are being utilized to send and convert signals back for use at required locations. The professor noted, to be able to cover the entire country by radio- telecommunication waves, more transmitters are needed. The use of fibre optics is not economical. He added, before the Islamic Revolution of Iran the Broadcasting Corporation used to import all its required facilities and equipment from abroad. But now, radio and television transmitters with various power ratings are manufactured domestically. This is in consequence to IRIB backing researchers. Tabyanian stated that today we are witnessing the production of radio and television equipment domestically, with considerable savings in foreign currency expenses. And in case of any breakdowns, they can be repaired more easily. A transmitter which cost the country 1,000 dollars a few years ago is now being produced domestically costing the same. This will lead to creating more jobs and engaging university researchers and specialists. The professor stressed that in order to be able to export the above equipment made in Iran, economic structures already set up must be coordinated. Source: Tehran Times web site in English 6 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Glenn, I am getting the below stuff on 9563 kHz. Sa`udi Arabia, 9563, Voice of the Iraqi People, Cland, Presumed, 2305- 2324. Noted a man in Arabic comments until 2318, then a woman talks briefly. Signal fades out by 2325. ID based on frequency listing. Signal was fair at beginning of period. I based my ID on the Passport entry for 9563. The signal is right on that frequency. The above data says faded by 2325, but still there at 2328 with a weak signal when it faded back (Chuck Bolland, FL, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. From http://members3.boardhost.com/spangles/msg/1470.html Statement - Nova 252 Posted by Chris Cary on August 4, 2002, 5:52 pm A complete update on the current situation is as follows. Yes, I have been trying to negotiate a future for Radio Nova on LW 252. Firstly, with UK Betting Plc and also with RTE directly. This is probably the only chance of Radio Nova returning to daytime broadcasting. As it is RTE's perogative to do as they wish with their facility one can only wait for the next six weeks to take their course, to see if there is a change of heart, which would allow a third party to operate this frequency/licence. Although, trying to intelligently second-guess the situation it makes sense for RTE to retain this facility and frequency. RTE have always had this insurance policy, since they first became involved. When they first started the feasibility studies with RTL, almost twenty years ago, they knew that the facility could always be put to good use as a domestic service with better coverage of the UK. My personal view is that RTE played a blinder - so far it's been all the third parties that have failed to deliver the goods and show any integrity. Putting on my media strategist's hat, I think one sensible avenue to explore would be to call it Radio Tara/Tara Radio (the original name) and rebroadcast the best of RTE Radio 1 and 2FM combined, to create a broadcast to the millions of Irish people living in the UK. This would achieve an audience of several million very quickly, create a good commercial enterprise, and be a success in the UK and Ireland. It's perfectly obvious that Radio Nova's Adult Contemporary approach to broadcasting would have had a huge appeal in the UK (and Ireland). Especially as BBC Radio 2 dominate the audience ratings here. With young/teenage radio best left to FM and Digital. The listening comfort of AM/LW is in no way such a problem to an adult audience. I have the Finances in place. The Presenters have been chosen. The Music scheduled. New Jingles sourced. For Radio Nova to take to the airwaves and challenge BBC Radio 2 would only take a matter of days. I cannot imagine the slightest difficulty. Getting the tiger by its tail is the hard bit, swinging it is the easy bit! A studio on the Isle of Man was a possibility I did explore, as a half-way house between Ireland and England. But in practical terms to use Mornington House in Ireland and a satellite studio in the UK (for presenters who found it difficult to move to Ireland) is the real solution. The cost of Music Rights is also a major consideration. Hope this puts all 'anorak' gossip to rest, and that I shan't read any more gossip and conjecture which is sometimes, to say the least, embarrassing. But the hundreds of emails of support for this project have been incredibly encouraging. Just wish I could be given the chance. Once again, thanks.......thanks.........thanks..... You have to admit, it makes sense for me to try. I do not believe that it has failed yet. This site will be the first to have the announcement should it come to fruition. But I would not expect to see anything for a month or so. If it's a definite 'no' that will also be posted. On October 5th (my Birthday!). (Chris Cary. Sunday August 4th 2002. Via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Yes indeed - adjacent channels 243 and 261 were often wiped out by splash, and I suspect that the transmitter was operating to a wider bandwidth than it should have been. 252 was same strength here as Droitwich, but the latter signal does not splash so intensely, and 189 & 207 are easily heard (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Aug 2 via DXLD) ** ISLE OF MAN. Latest press release from Isle of Man International Broadcasting http://www.longwaveradio.com/News.html COURT BACKLOG DELAYS NEW LW STATION The Isle of Man's long wave radio project received a huge setback on Friday in the High Court when a request for judicial review was further adjourned to a hearing in January 2003. The Petition is being brought by a local parish council who are objecting to the Isle of Man Government's decision to allow the radio station to build an offshore transmission platform. The hearing might take three days and the first opportunity for this would be next January. Until the legal process is completed, the transmission facility cannot be built, even though the company is not the defendant in the case. "We are both astonished and bitterly disappointed that after so many delays due to circumstances beyond our control, the project should again be delayed by a simple request for a judicial review," said project founder Paul Rusling. "We hope that a more rapid solution can be found." he continued. "There is still considerable interest in the station and in Long Wave generally, with several established media operators keen to become involved." (via Mike Barraclough, and Mike Terry, England, Aug 5, DXLD) More details from the local paper today http://www.iomonline.co.im/fullstory.asp?storyid=3 "LONGWAVE RADIO COURT BLOW" The man planning to bring a long-wave radio station to the Island has vowed to fight on despite being dealt a 'huge setback' in the High Court. Paul Rusling, of Isle of Man International Broadcasting, says he's 'astonished and bitterly disappointed' that a high court petition against a decision by the Department of Transport, through the territorial sea committee, to grant the firm permission for an offshore platform has been adjourned until January next year. The petition of doleance was filed by Bride Commissioners in March and seeks to have the approval in principle for the platform and transmission mast overturned or referred to a public inquiry. In the High Court last week acting Deemster Andrew Williamson, who was standing in for Deemster Cain, who has been taken ill, said the first opportunity for a hearing would be on January 21, 2003. The hearing could take three days and the upshot is that the delay prevents IoMIB from building the mast, even though it isn't the defendant in the case. 'We are both astonished and bitterly disappointed that after so many delays due to circumstances beyond our control, the project should again be delayed by a simple request for a judicial review,' said Mr Rusling. 'It's most unfortunate that First Deemster Cain was taken ill at this time and we wish him a speedy recovery. 'We hope that a more rapid solution can be found. The project is of such huge potential benefit for our company and the Island that we are not even considering stopping now. 'There is still considerable interest in the station and in long wave generally, with several established media operators keen to become involved.' The siting approval for the mast four kilometres off the coast at Cranstal was granted by the territorial sea committee, which regulates use of the seabed. The committee is made up of officers of various government departments, but operates under the wing of the DoT. Both the commissioners and those Bride residents opposed to an offshore mast are questioning whether IoMIB is in effect bypassing the planning process because the Planning Act doesn't apply to structures below the low water mark. They are also concerned about the visual and environmental impact of the mast and believe the issue must go to public inquiry before final siting approval is given by the DoT. Earlier this year, the Communication Commission granted IoMIB a substantive broadcast licence which comes into effect in October next year and the radio station has to be broadcasting within one month of the start of the licence. In May, Bride residents' spokesman Nick Cussons lodged a separate petition against the commission, calling for the licence to be declared null and void. However, this petition won't be considered until the first is resolved. This High Court delay is just the latest twist in a long-running story. IoMIB had originally planned to build the mast on land at Cranstal, but following a special inquiry in September 2000 it was turned down by a planning inspector. Mr Rusling says the adjournment to January leaves the firm facing a tight timescale, with the platform having a seven-month build time. If the petition is thrown out, he says there will be enough time to get it up and running by October. But he added: 'If there are any more delays we would have to question whether it would be possible. We would then have to look at the other alternatives, one of which might be asking for the licence to be extended because it is something that is beyond our control.' (via Mike Terry, Aug 5, DXLD) ** JAPAN. NHK World Radio Japan English section is going to broadcast a special program "Japan and the World 44 Minutes 'Peace Prayer' to the World" on Thursday August 15, 2002. They wish to invite you to tune in to this program and, if possible, to share your opinions and impressions with Radio Japan. Please be as kind as to send your report by e-mail or fax. I also personally request you to listen it and send comments to: info@intl.nhk.or.jp Title: "Japan and the World 44 Minutes 'Peace Prayer' to the World" Date: Thursday August 15, 2002 (JST) Time: 1415-1500 (JST) (0615-0700 UT) (repeat) 1515, 1915, 2315, 0215, 0615, 0915, 1015 (JST) (0715, 1115, 1515, 1815, 2215, 0115, 0215 UT) (Will be rebroadcast on the same schedule as regular broadcast of "Japan and World 44 Minutes") Frequency: Same as regular broadcast of "Japan and World 44 Minutes" Language: General Service in English About the program: Born in Okinawa. Completely blind. Tsutomu Aragaki's heartfelt song 'Sugar Cane Field' is creating a quiet sensation. 'As a native of Okinawa, where a ground war was fought, I want to send out a message of peace to the world through my music,' says the singer. We talk with him on the occasion of the August 15th anniversary that marks the end of World War Two (via Partha Sarathi Goswami, Siliguri - 734401, West Bengal, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN/QATAR. JORDAN CLOSES AL-JAZEERA'S OFFICE | Text of report by Jordanian news agency Petra web site on 7 August The Minister of State for Political Affairs and Minister of Information Dr Muhammad Affash al-Adwan has decided to close the office of the Qatari satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera in Jordan and withdraw the licence which was granted to the office and stop all the facilities given to it - in accordance with the law on printing material and publication No 8 of 1998 and its amendments and the regulations concerning the correspondents of the foreign media No 2 of 1999 - and stop all persons who work as correspondents of the channel from undertaking any activity inside the kingdom, failing which they will face legal proceedings. Dr Adwan said that the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel has always deliberately undermined Jordan and its national stances, in a direct way at times and indirectly at other times. He added that this channel has violated all professional and moral values in dealing with many national issues and targeting certain stances in a way that confirms that Al-Jazeera has no aim but create rumors in the Arab ranks and fuel disorder, seeking to serve doubtful purposes known only by those who are in charge of this station and those who plan its programmes. He added that Al-Jazeera has violated all forms of politeness in its programmes in dealing with leaders of the Arab nation and its honorable men and stood against every pan-Arab tendency, particularly concerning Palestine and Iraq. Dr Adwan said that Al-Jazeera deliberately and constantly undermined the Arab nation's achievements and used defamation in order to highlight all the negative aspects of the Arab societies. Source: Petra-JNA news agency web site, Amman, in Arabic 7 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KENYA. EAST AFRICAN REPORT with Chris Greenway in Nairobi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings from Nairobi and apologies for letting my East African Reports lapse for a few months. KENYAN TV One obvious omission from my previous reports has been television. At home I don't have either a satellite dish or a cable TV subscription, but I can still watch seven free-to-air terrestrial stations. Two of them come from the state-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) with the remaining five run by a variety of private operators. All rely heavily on imported programming and on relays of various Africa-wide networks. For example, Stella Television (STV) is the local rebroadcasting partner of the South Africa-based network, TV Africa. The well-known M-Net, another South African channel, is relayed by KBC's Metro TV, while KBC TV's Channel 1 carries programming from the Africa Broadcasting Network (ABN). Yet another South African service, Channel O (pop videos), gets relayed by more than one Kenyan station. CNN is extensively relayed as a sustaining service - at various times of the day you can see it on KBC, Kenya Television Network (KTN), Nation TV and Citizen TV. STV uses Sky News from London for the same purpose. On KBC you'll also see China Central TV (CCTV) and Deutsche Welle TV news and features in English. DW TV also gets aired on Citizen TV. These news relays are generally used to fill up the schedules outside prime time (all of the private stations are on air 24 hours a day). On 11 September however, KTN switched to a continuous relay of CNN throughout that evening (it was late afternoon in Kenya when the news broke) and STV did the same with Sky News (which was itself carrying much material from Fox News). The relays of Sky News apart, British TV gets very little air time. BBC World TV news was once relayed by KBC, and more recently by STV, but that has ceased now. I've seen a few BBC comedy shows from a while ago (e.g. "Yes, Minister") on KBC. During prime time, KBC TV offers the best chance of seeing local Kenyan entertainment programming. Nation TV and KTN are the best channels for local news. One Nairobi station, Family TV, is a Christian channel specialising in American-style preaching. It has a sister radio station in Nairobi, Family FM. Technical buffs will be interested to know that KBC Channel 1 broadcasts on VHF Bands One and Three. The other TV stations in Kenya broadcast on UHF only. This means that, for many people, getting good reception from all stations means having two aerials. As not all the UHF stations use the same transmitting site, sometimes three aerials - pointing in different directions - can be required for perfect pictures on all channels. WORLD CUP TV Africa - mentioned above - had the rights for the World Cup in several countries, and took action when Tanzanian private station ITV relayed its World Cup coverage without permission (they used a satellite feed intended only for Mozambique). When ITV refused to comply with a demand that it cease the relaying, TV Africa inserted a scrolling message on the screen telling viewers that the law was being broken if anyone could read the message outside Mozambique. ITV's response was that they were complying with FIFA's request that the World Cup be viewed as widely as possible across the world. Eventually they reached agreement with TV Africa to relay the games legally. In Kenya, there was the opposite problem, with a TV station in trouble for NOT showing the World Cup! TV Africa had signed a contract with KBC and STV for both of these Kenyan stations to broadcast all the games. The problem came on 1 June, which is the anniversary of Kenya achieving internal self-government in 1963. The occasion, like three or four others in the Kenyan political calendar, is always marked by a lengthy parade at the main stadium in Nairobi, followed by a major speech to the crowd and the nation from President Moi. Naturally the whole show is relayed live by the KBC on both TV and radio. But this year the parade and presidential speech clashed with a World Cup match. What was the KBC to do? To anyone who knows Kenya, it will come as no surprise to learn that the football got the chop and the president got his usual TV appearance, even though that meant KBC had to break its contract with TV Africa, which said that all games must be relayed live and uninterrupted. It looked like a repeat of this episode might occur on Budget day - 13 June - when KBC normally gives over the best part of the afternoon to showing the president arriving at parliament and listening to the reading of the government's annual budget. But TV Africa said that unless KBC relayed the match that afternoon live, it would lose the rights to air subsequent matches. This time the KBC gave way and so budget watchers had to listen to it on the radio instead. It was possible to listen to World Cup commentaries on local radio as at least two enterprising private FM stations, Radio Citizen and Kameme FM, provided live commentary in local languages simply by having a presenter describe what he could see on a TV screen in their Nairobi studios! A soundtrack of continuous crowd noise provided a suitable background, though it was noticeable that the "spectators" were always making the same noise, irrespective of how well their team was doing! (Chris Greenway, Kenya, August BDXC-UK Communication via editor Tony Rogers, DXLD) ** MADAGASCAR. I don't know if RTM has changed its frequency but at the moment (1630 Aug 6) it is being heard on 5021 instead of 5010 (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MALI. ORTM, Bamako, is missing tonight (August 5th) from both 60 metre band frequencies of 4784.38 and 4834.98 kHz. The signal is still audible at very good levels on 5995 kHz (Graham Powell, Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook & 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk DX LISTENING DIGEST) See AUSTRALIA ** MYANMAR. The technical quality of 4725 could be better if they could only get that awful hum off, and that goes for Bangladesh as well on 7185 and 9550 1230-1255 in English as well and later with other langs. Finally The Defence Forces Station s-off at 1630 UT 6570. S-on at 1328 with some Burmese music which is soon followed by the beating of a gong for about 30 seconds. 1630 s-off also with some Burmese mx. Signals are fair on normal antenna, but with a 2 element beam for 40 m ham band signal comes up very well. (Victor A. Goonetilleke 4S7VK, BC- DX Aug 4 via DXLD) That was featured on his RKI report Aug 4 I just listened to OD (gh, DXLD) Bob Padula`s report on MYANMAR is in issue 585 of: http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm (gh, DXLD) ** NEPAL. Glenn, Heard Nepal when I last checked on Aug 1: 5005.01, 2308 Radio Nepal, Khumaltar, Nepal. Test tone, IS at 2311, followed by chimes at 2315. Then ID and opening announcement by OM in Nepali. Local Music. 343 01/08 (Graham Powell, Webmaster for the Online DX Logbook & 21 MHz.Com Full details available at: http://www.shortwave.org.uk DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also UNIDENTIFIED I now wonder if in previous report, RN `dead on` 5005, Victor Goonetilleke meant no signal --- or frequency was exact?? (gh, DXLD) 5005 appears to be somewhat erratic these days. I can swear that at 1140 when I checked 5005 I was hearing Malaysia, but at 1155 Nepal strong and clear. I also observed a few days back Nepal not on at 1700. I need to check whether they are sign off earlier or whether that was one of those days. 4/8 off as early as 1610 when checked (Victor A. Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, Sri Lanka, BC-DX Aug 4 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Last week I mentioned that Summer had suddenly reappeared in The Netherlands. Unfortunately this has had negative consequences for Radio Netherlands. The weather was so hot here on Monday and Tuesday that the cooling system at Flevo couldn't cope, and the temperature inside the transmitter hall rose well above the recommended maximum of 25 C. Consequently, some of our transmitters are currently off the air, and colleagues from Nozema are working feverishly to get them working again. In the meantime, all our transmissions are being maintained, thanks to our German colleagues at Juelich and Wertachtal. An updated schedule is now online at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html (Andy Sennitt, RNMN NL Aug 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. During the local elections, all regionals were active, except: 3335 and 3395. And 3385 only on service July 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and inactive afterwards. Other regionals heard July 1st til 22nd. (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, BC-DX July 1-22 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To advise that we continue testing on 1610 KHZ (Medium Wave) and 7300 KHZ (41 Metres), and have received tentative reports for these two frequencies. We have not received reports for 15185 KHZ, and have taken the transmitter off-air, for improvement, and, hopefully, increase in power. The construction work on the 1610 and 7300 KHZ facilities is progressing, nicely, with corresponding increase in power. The frequency 1610 KHZ uses an omnidirectional antenna, 125 Metres tall. Transmission power varies, but has been low. This antenna has a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. The frequency 7300 KHZ uses a large Corner Reflector System, having a theoretical gain of 25 dBi. Transmission power also varies, but has been low. All reception reports would be most welcome. With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Christer Brunstrom tells in his Christian Shortwave Report about Radio Bethel from Arequipa, Peru. On April 14th of this year, Swedish DXer Johann Verblom heard a weak signal on 5940 kHz. Björn Malm in Quito, Ecuador confirmed that this was Radio Melodía from Arequipa, Peru on a new frequency. On May 31st, Malm reported that Radio Melodía had gone back to its usual frequency of 5996.6, but a new station was on 5940.12 with the ID of "Radio Bethel, Arequipa." Bethel had previously been heard on 5950, but they have been heard widely on 5940.12 since the switch. Their format is Christian. As "Radio Arequipa" on 5950, the station had a history going back to the 1930s, and in 1983 Ralph Perry wrote about Radio Arequipa, which was heard at that time on 5950 and on 1050 AM. In the 1980s, it was a family-run station with news, local and international music, poetry and drama, plus some Catholic religious programs. Today, Radio Bethel is run by the Pentecostal Christian Church of the World Missionary Movement. They began on radio in 1983 by renting airtime from commercial stations in Arequipa. In 1999, the church was able to buy Radio Arequipa. Christer suggests that, by this time, much of the radio ad revenue in Arequipa was going to FM stations, so that MW and SW stations were less profitable to operate in that market. The station's name was changed to "Radio Bethel Arequipa" but they usually just ID as "Radio Bethel." On AM, they operate with the callsign of "OAX6B" on 1050 with 1 kW. Their shortwave callsign is "OAX6A", and they operate on 5940.12 with 1 kW. They are on shortwave from 2300 to 0500 UT. They can often be heard in Europe through that entire time, although signals are often poor. However, the lack of interference makes up for that, so it gets through to European listeners. Programming is mostly Christian songs and instrumental music, with occasional announcements. There are also Bible teaching programs. According to a letter Christer recently got from the station, they have just received a license for TV broadcasts on UHF channel 47. However, they lack equipment to get started, so they would appreciate used but working TV equipment from other Christian broadcasters, either for sale or as a donation. (Note from Marie: Their address was not given. However, their Gerente (general manager) is Rvdo. Josué Ascarruz Pacheco. Their postal address is: Radio Bethel Arequipa ** Avenida Union 215 ** 3er piso ** Distrito Miraflores ** Arequipa ** Peru. An e-mail address recently mentioned for them in Cumbre DX is: arequipa_josue@hotmail.com According to a recent report in Cumbre DX, the station does QSL; John Sgruletta sent mint Peurvian stamps with his report and cassette, but the stamps were returned unused.) (HCJB DX Partyline Aug 3, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. You might be interested to know that Radiodifusão Portuguesa's Portuguese service broadcasts on 11655 with a good signal to the US and Canada at 2300-0200 UT Mon.-Fri. This broadcast includes a wealth of local music, some of it quite beautiful (John Figliozzi, NY, Aug 7, swprograms via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOR offers a varied mix of news, analysis, and feature programming; as a fan of domestic life-oriented programming, one of my favorites is Kaleidoscope. While this will likely never be in the class of Ira Glass` This American Life from PRI, Kaleidoscope nonetheless provides a window onto domestic matters that would rarely make the pages of the New York Times or the schedule of CNN. The program airs in the North American schedule block on Tuesdays at 0230, and Sundays 0330. WRN offers Kaleidoscope on-demand from Sundays 0430 through Mondays 0430 at their website, and WRN airs Kaleidoscope Sunday in their live North American audio at 0730 (Richard D. Cuff, PA, Easy Listening, August NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Come and listen to pieces of local air in Izhevsk: http://victorcity.narod.ru/Cities/izhevsk.htm In my opinion, the most useful of them is: http://victorcity.narod.ru/Clips/Izhevsk_udmurtia.rm (474 K) (Victor Rutkovsky, Yekaterin`burg, Russia, Signal Aug 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [and non]. [Part of a thread on longwave prompted by reactivation of 171 kHz:] Felsberg uses a very tight gain reduction towards the East, as we already discussed so frequency-selective that one gets closer to the tx a powerful but awfully distorted signal. On the other side 177 was considered as a freq which is well audible also in Poland despite Bolshakovo 2500 kW plus Sasnovy 500 (or 1000?) kW plus Krasne 1000 kW on 171 (remember the Polish bcs aired on 177 only, they not even bothered to put them on SW, too). And 189 is no longer an issue at all (Kai Ludwig, Germanmy, BC-DX Aug 3 via DXLD) BT: I heard many reports from Poland about the good coverage on 177 in the East, esp. in Poland. What antenna system is used to provide this coverage, what is the radiation pattern? (Bernd Trutenau-LTU, BC-DX Aug 2) LW 177 kHz. Yes, here it is again, Bolshakovo on 171, this time with R Rossii, a satellite delay behind Taldom 17660. The signal is about as strong as Allouis 162, should well be sufficient for outdoor listening despite the nearby 177 powerhouse, it is hardly a problem because Zehlendorf runs really docile modulation (audio bandwith limited to 4.5 kHz and no dynamics compression in use). Regarding Zehlendorf 177 kHz: The antenna is a single mast of 360 metres height, carrying a double-cone consisting on twelve wires. The construction has some similarity to the ARRT design but the largest diameter of the double-cone is much larger. Of course this single mast has an omnidirectional pattern but it seems that the signal gets off much better in the eastern directions; I found it astonishing how weak the signal at Wiesbaden is. It would be also without the splash from 183 (which has heavily processed audio of high density, unlike 177) hardly sufficient for regular listening. Evidently the Polish lowlands are much better for LW propagation than the mid-German mountains. By the way, the current longwave antenna at Burg (mounted on the 324 metres tall mast which once carried the mediumwave ARRT) is of a similar design with a large double-cone, too, and works really good, considering the coverage which is very good for a mere 50 kW. The old Tesla tx fed into a 210 metres pipe mast, actually a mediumwave antenna but converted for longwave operations after the original longwave mast (350 metres tall, situated about 2 km away from the other antennas) collapsed in 1976. Again concerning the Zehlendorf tx and Poland: Does anybody in Poland remember the Polish bcs on 182 (or where ever Zehlendorf transmitted then) around 1980? They were produced in an almost clandestine-like fashion: On-air talents with knowledge of Polish were taken out of their teams (also a DT64 talent got its order) and committed to secrecy. The editorial work was done in a remote, specially locked shack, and probably a similar fuss was made about the studio (most likely one in the old furniture plant building where RBI as well as Stimme der DDR operated). Indeed the GDR radio staff considered all this "secrecy" as a mere fuss, not even knowing that the Polish broadcasts were presented just as special Stimme der DDR programs, nothing particular at all (Kai Ludwig-D, BC-DX Aug 3 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Brother Stair seems to be out on bond now. As usual, I can't get accurate and reliable details, but the fact he's out seems to be pretty much confirmed. His website has now removed all references to his ever having BEEN in jail (including any statement of thanks ("hallelujah") that he's OUT of jail). And I believe (though I cannot prove) that Brother Stair is not pleased that someone put the information on his website in the first place. I think he would have preferred to keep this information off the radio and off his website. But others were handling matters while he was out of power. This Brother Stair fellow seems to have come out of jail and immediately taken control of things, including his website, which now has a whole slew of buttons (links) to check radio schedules, etc., that weren't available during his captivity. It's sad that hucksters of the Brother Stair personality-type, whether religious or not, in the long run do better than good, innocent people. That's one of the reasons the downfall of a Brother Stair makes so much news. It's newsworthy for someone like him to go down (Robert Arthur, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See http://www.overcomerministry.com ** SRI LANKA. Service to the ME s-on at 1610, some days 1600 and s-off at 1845, some days 1900 on 11775 from one of the Japanese 300 kW, but running at about 200. Domestic English Service on 4940 is currently off because the transmitter used for 5020 Tamil Service burnt a relay. Tamil is a priority service, so English transmitter on 4940 is used for 5020 service. The Sinhala services on 4870 and 4902 continue till approximately 1700 (Victor A. Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, Sri Lanka, BC-DX Aug 4 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Wednesday: Interview with Swedish Liberal Party leader Lars Leijonborg Thursday: In "GreenScan" seal death and Baltic environment issues Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Our monthly current affairs magazine "Sweden Today" Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" Swedish film and Supernatural (SCDX/MediaScan Aug 7 via DXLD) ** THAILAND. 7115 and 6070 have been missing for one week, R. Thailand domestic service in Thai; the service in English disappeared last December. We hope both will come back (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Murtiwave Feedback Aug 4 via DXLD) Monitoring this week makes it appear that R Thailand`s Domestic Service relays have been taken off. 7115 and 6070 are off the air when checked since the 28th July. Let's hope they don't go off altogether. 4830 which carried the English Service was last heard on the 10th of Dec 2001. [Later:] R. Thailand`s Domestic SW transmitters which stopped Home Service relays some weeks back are carrying the 1200-1215 Bahasa Malaya program on both 6070 and 7115. I tuned in at 1210 and at 1215 there was an English announcement about the times of the BM transmissions, 1200-1215 UT and after one bar of the R Thailand Tuning signal, station s-off and dropped carrier. Signals were very strong on 7115 in Malay that I thought it was someone else, but when I found 6070 in \\, decided to wait for an ID! (Victor A. Goonetilleke, 4S7VK, Sri Lanka, BC-DX Aug 3 via DXLD) I was about to report the same thing. Haven't been able to trace 6070 and 7115 for several months now. The only R. Thailand transmissions remaining on SW appear to be the relays via the IBB/VOA site in Udon Thani. By the way, R Thailand World Service now has a website, mostly in Thai, at http://www.geocities.com/hsk9th/ (Alan Davies, Indonesia, visiting Cirebon, DXplorer Jul 30 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** TIBET. I and my friend UTPAL Roy and Tapas Halder found the Voice of Holy Tibet -- we think a clandestine, from 0700 to 0715 UT and 1630 to 1645 UT in English around between 5950-6100 kHz (1 frequency), between 9420-9500 kHz, announces the address some where in Lhasa, Tibet, (I not sure but Tapas said he recorded the address clearly; I will let you know as soon as I receive the address) but my request is, do you know what the exact frequencies are? Please let me know (Partha sarathi Goswami, Kishalay - Book Stall, College Road, Siliguri - 734401, West Bengal, India, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is not clandestine, strangely enough, but the Chicom-controlled official station with a program for tourists, as reported here several times before, but the 0700 airing is new to us. The 9 MHz frequency would be 9490 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 29 July, 2020 - 4976 kHz. Radio Uganda in French, 44444. Didn't hear since a long time. Went off after 2100. (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal via DXLD) Surprised at that, as I didn`t think they had an external service (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Found a very detailed review of Ukrainian radio broadcasting, maintained by Boris Skurativsky: http://skurafm.tripod.com (Pyotr Feshchenko, Kyiv, Ukraine, Signal Aug 6 via DXLD) ** U K. Mondays 1405 and Tuesdays 0005, beginning Aug 12: Meridian -- Masterpiece is the regular BBCWS arts program featuring in-depth interviews and other long-form features regarding ``big`` cultural ideas and great artistic endeavors. A three-part series, Three Wise Men, looks at the contribution of Arab culture to the making of modern Europe through three of the greatest philosophers in medieval Islam: Avicenna (the European rendering of Abu Ali Ibn Sina), Maimonides, and Averroes (real name: Ibn Rushd). (Richard D. Cuff, PA, Easy Listening, August NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U K. BBC SOFTENS STANCE AGAINST FINES FOR BREACHING STANDARDS Matt Wells, media correspondent. Tuesday August 6, 2002, The Guardian The BBC is preparing to relax its opposition to the government's plans to impose fines for breaches of programme standards. The BBC had argued that fines would only penalise licence fee payers, but senior corporation figures - under pressure from ministers - are ready to give way. "It's not something worth dying in the ditches for," said a source with knowledge of BBC policy. Rival broadcasters, already subject to fines, want a level playing field, and the BBC has had difficulty promoting a credible alternative argument. Gavyn Davies, chairman of the BBC board of governors, upset staff last month when he suggested they could be sacked or demoted if they were responsible for mistakes. "Firing the people is a much better remedy than fining the public," he said. In its response to the draft communications bill, which sets up the single broadcasting regulator, Ofcom, the BBC maintains its opposition in principle to fines. In private, officials are more conciliatory. "If they decide to go ahead with it, we'll find a way of making it work," one said. In its response, ITV suggested that any fines levied against the BBC could be imposed on its commercial arm, BBC Worldwide, to avoid the problem of fines appearing to penalise licence fee payers. "A financial penalty is extremely rare but very effective," it said. "We believe financial penalties should apply to all broadcasters... in the same way that all broadcasters are subject to financial penalties if they lose libel cases." ITV noted that the biggest fine levied by the independent television commission, which regulates commercial broadcasters, was £2m, which would "hardly make an impact" on the BBC's £2.5bn income. It also said that Channel 4, a public corporation without shareholders, is subject to the same regulations as ITV. A committee of both houses of parliament, set up by the government to examine the draft bill, supported the principle of fining the BBC. It said in its report, published last week: "Extensive and repeated payment of fines by the BBC would be a waster of licence payers' money, for which the BBC and its governors would be held publicly accountable. That seems to us a reason for the BBC to so arrange its activities as to ensure that it does not incur such penalties, and not an argument for immunity from such penalties." Some experts say the BBC will concede because it would detract from more controversial areas that it wants kept outside of Ofcom control. Under government plans, the responsibility for approving new BBC channels and the corporation's public service remit will remain with ministers, not Ofcom. One said: "It suits them to have people focused on fines as a distraction." Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** U K. SUMMER OUTING TO THE ROYAL SIGNALS MUSEUM Nestling in the lush Dorset countryside is the market town of Blandford Forum. Situated on the site of the old racecourse is the Blandford Army Camp, and within the Camp is the Royal Signals Museum, venue for the BDXC summer outing at the end of July, enjoyed by several BDXC members, and their children. There was something for everyone, from First World War embroidered greetings cards, to full mess uniforms, from Royal Despatch Rider motorcycles to medals. . . and we also saw some radios! The story unfolds with heliograph and semaphore signalling, with hands on demonstrations for children of all ages. We then find, after an Italian scientist known as Marconi, that signalling became quicker, but we were not sure about some of the so-called mobile equipment! During the Second World War, and after, some of the transmitting and receiving gear needs its own dedicated lorry because it is so heavy. An example of an SOE portable suitcase transceiver was shown, and an equivalent suitcase filled with sand was to allow the weight comparison. We concluded you needed very good arm muscles to be in SOE! There were even two fish-friers (because of their shape!) which were trailers containing teleprinters, an Arctic expedition vehicle complete with fake snow, and vehicles and radios for every conceivable climate. Even if you are not the slightest bit interested in radio, the exhibition contains many other specialist collections. Peter Wells, being eagle-eyed, noticed that the AR88D was wrongly labelled as the AR88LF, which then led Tim McLellan to wonder why his AR88 was not being displayed following his gift of this all time classic receiver to the museum several years back. We saw American and Canadian receivers, an R107, HRO . . . you name a well known manufacturer during and after the Second World War, and it was represented, sometimes behind a screen, other times you can feel the smoothness of the analogue tuning knob. If you have yet to see an Enigma machine, go to Blandford! There is a good supply of information and spying and codes and ciphers, and this keeps the sub-teenager happy whilst you can browse in peace and quiet. Within specific display cases were communications equipment for particular conflicts, and in the Northern Ireland exhibit there were two captured home-made illegal broadcast transmitters. For the Malay uprising the experts had to find ways of dealing with high humidity and heat. All in all, a good day out, and if you were unable to join us, make sure you include Dorset within your holiday itinerary (David Morris, August BDXC-UK Communication via editor Tony Rogers, DXLD) ** U S A. SENATE CONFIRMS BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS CHAIRMAN | Text of press release from the US Broadcasting Board of Governors dated 5 August Washington, DC, 5 August 2002: - The Senate has confirmed Kenneth Y. Tomlinson as the third chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which supervises all US government-supported, non-military international broadcasting. Tomlinson will succeed Marc B. Nathanson, who has served as a member of the Board since it was established in 1995 and as its chairman since October 1999. Tomlinson, who is a former director of the Voice of America, has more than 35 years of journalistic experience. He began his career as a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1965. In 1968 he joined the Washington bureau of Reader's Digest, then served as a correspondent in Vietnam, and eventually in Paris, where he covered events in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Tomlinson director of the Voice of America, where he served until 1984. After his tenure at VOA, Tomlinson returned to Reader's Digest to serve as managing editor. He was subsequently named executive editor of the Digest in 1985 and editor-in-chief in 1989. He retired from Reader's Digest in 1996. Tomlinson is the co-author of "P.O.W.", a history of American prisoners of war in Vietnam. He has served as the chairman of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (1985), as a member of the US Board for International Broadcasting (1986-1994), as well as on the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (2000-present). In 1995 he was named Virginia Press Association's Virginian of the Year, and he is a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. He is married to Rebecca Moore Tomlinson, a former Congressional aide. They live at Springbrook Farm in Fauquier County, Virginia, and have two sons. The Broadcasting Board of Governors is a nine-member, presidentially appointed body which supervises all US government-supported international broadcasting, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and VOA, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti, and Worldnet Television. Tomlinson will join current governors Norman J. Pattiz, Robert M. Ledbetter Jr, Edward E. Kaufman, Cheryl Halpern and Secretary of State Colin Powell. He will replace Tom C. Korologos, who is a charter member of the Board, serving since 1995. Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors press release, Washington, in English 5 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Posted by Barry on August 05, 19102 [a.k.a. 2002y] at 13:29:07: On the latest Spectrum program (Aug. 03 2002), I heard them say this might be their last new show. They might have to move to a new studio location and do not know if they have the money and time to do so. For the next few weeks on WWCR, Spectrum will be in repeats. (- Barry, Monitoring Times Chatboard via DXLD) UT Sun 0300-0400 on 5070 ** U S A. Dear Glenn: On August 5, 2002 at about 2225 UT (0625 local, August 6), I chanced upon a broadcast of the 9th Brickyard 500 race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on 17510 kHz. This being the first time I've heard of a NASCAR event being broadcast on shortwave, I listened to it intently, trying to find out where it was coming from. I was listening to the pre-race commentary, with plenty of comments about the heat (90 F with high humidity). Then, a clue; midway through the ads, I heard an announcement that the shortwave broadcast of the Brickyard 500 was being sponsored by a manufacturer of active indoor shortwave antennas. Another clue: an announcement for call-in prayers from the LeSEA organization. That sent me running to my WRTH 2002 handbook and, what do you know, KWHR in Hawaii is listed as a user of the frequency. I then looked up whr.org and it also says that KWHR broadcasts on this frequency from 2200 - 0400 UT. SIO was 3-5-3 to 4- 5-4. Heard from my home in Quezon City, Philippines, using a Sony ICF SW7600G receiver with a 10m wire antenna (Paul Santos, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Oh, yes, if you hear a car race, chances are it`s WHR. There is a high correlation between evangelism and going around and around in circles (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Healthy, Wealthy and....Eighty-Three. Rick Kogan spends a day with veteran radio pausemaster Paul Harvey for this lengthy Chicago Tribune profile. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/chi-0208040446aug04.story via The Spike Report http://www.spikereport.com/ (via Chet Copeland, and Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, Since Aug. 1, http://www.wor710.com has been streaming via NJ.com instead of yahoo broadcast, with much better audio (Ivan Grishin, Ont., Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Here's a link to one of the better history pages about a small town AM station. Click on KPQ History [Wenatchee WA]. http://www.kpq.com/history1.htm Nice to see someone interested in the history of radio. At the other end of the spectrum: This is what happens when the "time sales" guy is asked to write about the station. Click on http://www.kvi.com/about.asp [Seattle] (Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, USA, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Another Salon.com piece on ClearChannel, RADIO'S TITAN HITS THE SKIDS By Eric Boehlert http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2002/08/07/clear_channel/index.html 73- (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** VATICAN. VR has retimed its S Asian service as of August 1: now 1430-1600, ex 1450-1610, still on 12065, 13765, 15235 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, RKI Murtiwave Feedback Aug 4 via gh, DXLD) When is the English segment now?? (gh, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. Conditions have improved a great deal, with ZBC again being heard on both 5975 and 6045 around 2135 UT August 6 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. On 7309.1, The Voice of the People in Zimbabwe. SINPO 4/4. Starting at 0330 UT. Closing time may vary between 0400 and 0424. Vatican Radio [7305] interferes a lot (from Catia La Mar, in VENEZUELA, Respectfully, Adán González, Aug 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MADAGASCAR. This [new] version of the schedule http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html also incorporates two other changes: Voice of the People has temporarily suspended its program at 1630 UT (the morning broadcast continues), and there's a frequency change for the Democratic Voice of Burma... [q.v.] (Andy Sennitt, in RNMN NL Aug 2 via BC-DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. On August 4th, 2002 I came across an station on 3446.30 kHz playing non stop mostly instrumental music. I did not sound typical Latin American, but more 'easy listening' format. To me it looked like this station came from South America. No talk or ID heard. Station was audible for some longer time around/after 2215. Signal/audio was not too loud, so sometimes difficult to copy. Did not sound as an mixing product. Used an 300m beverage towards South- America to pick it up. Anyone?????????? (Dick Van Der Knaap, Holten, Netherlands, dxing.info via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5005.63~. For the past few evenings around 0130-0200 I am hearing a very weak station on close to 5005.63 or so. On occasion it makes it above the noise floor and not certain if this could be Nepal as I don't recall them off frequency the few times I have ever heard them. Language unknown and music is a variety which is not much help. Last nite, some classical tunes, and this evening a few flute tunes. Heavy QRM from 5009.8. Any ideas? (Robert Montgomery, PA, DXplorer Jul 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Reception in Curitiba, Brazil, using an Icom R75 and a T2FD antenna of 15 meters in length. 5130-USB, 0248-0300 Aug 6, music, flute suggests that it might be Andean/Latin American, talking way down in the noise, no carrier, SIO 222 (Rik van Riel, SWBC via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Dear Mr Hauser, Following my earlier report [DXLD 2-118, unseeming Syria] about an unidentified Arabic station, it is still heard here in Delhi and at the additional time of 0330-0400 UT on 9950 kHz. The later transmission is at 1500-1530 UT on 12085 and 12115 kHz with the same broadcast as aired at 0330. A web site is mentioned but I did not catch the details. Sincerely, (K.M. Patel, India, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Perhaps it`s a new clandestine? 9950 was a former Syrian frequency and 12085 is a current Syrian with domestic service scheduled during +1500-1530+, so that`s suspicious. At other times of day 9950 is used both by India and Egypt. 9950 was already on before 0330 August 7, very fluttery and weak signal here (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. What`s the station on 15715 at 1900 August 6, religion in English, sounded like `Voice of Zion`? (George Thurman, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be V. of Hope/High Adventure Ministries via Germany, as schedule updated in June: 1800-2100 15715 JUL 100 / 115 Daily ME English (gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I am curious about 914.762 MHz. Everywhere I've checked it there is a transmission of some sort on that frequency, but I don't know why. Like a keyed down mike. Transmitters in that range have a maximum range of a few hundred yards at best (by FCC reg.). Yet this buzzing or hissing on 914.762 MHz seems to exist wherever in the U.S. I go. I wonder if it comes from a TV or radio station operating on another frequency that somehow happens to affect this one. Whatever it is, it's big and powerful (Robert Arthur, Aug 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Posted by Rick on August 06, 19102 at 20:17:28: In Reply to: 914.762 MHz??? posted by Glenn Hauser on August 06, 19102 at 18:59:38: I don't hear it here in the Pacific Northwest. Maybe it's a birdie. (MT Chatboard via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONVENTIONS +++++++++++ The biggest European DX and shortwave gathering, the EDXC Conference 2002 (joined with the Finnish DX Association's summer meeting) is on the door. The meeting will take place 15th to 18th of August in Pori, Finland. It is still possible to join us, we do have some hotel rooms still available. The conference pages at http://www.sdxl.org/edxc/edxc2002.html have currently been updated. The e-mail address edxc-@sdxl.org [truncated] is ready to assist you and to answer your questions. Don't miss this meeting. Hurry up. Join us now. (Risto Vahakainu, EDXC Conference organising committee, Aug 6, swprograms via DXLD) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CYBERSPACE 1968 -- Lou Josephs writes about a site he has put together: "The year is 1968 and yes the web site is retro ugly...WNYW, The Pops with Roger Wallis, Windward Islands Broadcasting, some heller jingles, old drake jingles, and other gems including bits from Media Network." (Lou Josephs) See: http://www.ibcworks.net/radio68.htm I've been meaning to put together a web page about Roger Wallis, Kim Loughran and the "Saturday Show", with some material we still have lying around here, including the record and cassette that was issued (and the three "Alice in Swedenland" sketches). Any interest? To whet your appetite, here's a link to one of the Windows Media Player clips from Lou's site: http://www.ibcworks.net/swl4%20.wma (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Aug 7 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ If you thought we were on the downside of the sunspot cycle: "Solar solon Tad "You Are My Sunshine" Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Sunspots keep growing and growing, and one wonders if the peak of the solar cycle has really passed. With sunspot numbers topping 300 this week, it almost seems like a third peak in a cycle with a double peak so far. Sunspot numbers peaked on Saturday at 323--the highest number since March 2001. The mean daily sunspot numbers for the week were 122 points higher than the previous week. Average daily solar flux was up by nearly 39 points. "Average daily sunspot numbers for all of July were 183.5. This is much higher than June, which was 146, but not as high as May's average, at 204.1. Average daily solar flux for July was 174.4, higher than then 148.7 for June and around the same as May's 178.4. "Over the next few days solar flux values should decline a bit. Solar flux predicted for Friday through Monday is 185, 180, 170 and 165. Current helioseismic readings suggest several active regions on the sun's far side, so more excitement may be in store. There is the possibility of aurora on Friday morning. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday is 15, 10, 12 and 10. "Sunspot numbers for July 25 through 31 were 299, 319, 323, 300, 304, 297 and 265, with a mean of 301. The 10.7-cm flux was 217.7, 241.5, 230.8, 238.8, 234, 227.2 and 208.5, with a mean of 228.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 17, 19, 12, 11, 8 and 9, with a mean of 12.7." Looks like those absorptive conditions are going to continue on MW for the coming season! On the other hand, if you do anything on the higher bands (like 50 MHz) it seems likely there will be more F2 skip there this winter (via Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA, Aug 4, NRC-AM via DXLD) Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 07 August-02 September 2002 Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels. Isolated low-level M-class flares are expected during the period. However, there is a chance for isolated major flare activity during the second half of the period with the return of old Regions 39 and 44. There will be a chance for a proton event during the latter half of the period. Greater than 2 MeV flux levels are expected to be at normal to moderate levels during most of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels during most of the period. However, active conditions are possible during 7 - 8 and 23 August due to coronal hole effects. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Aug 06 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Aug 06 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Aug 07 140 15 3 2002 Aug 08 135 15 3 2002 Aug 09 130 10 3 2002 Aug 10 135 8 3 2002 Aug 11 145 8 3 2002 Aug 12 150 10 3 2002 Aug 13 155 10 3 2002 Aug 14 160 10 3 2002 Aug 15 160 10 3 2002 Aug 16 165 10 3 2002 Aug 17 165 10 3 2002 Aug 18 170 8 3 2002 Aug 19 180 8 3 2002 Aug 20 190 10 3 2002 Aug 21 200 10 3 2002 Aug 22 210 12 3 2002 Aug 23 215 15 3 2002 Aug 24 215 12 3 2002 Aug 25 210 10 3 2002 Aug 26 205 10 3 2002 Aug 27 200 8 3 2002 Aug 28 190 8 3 2002 Aug 29 180 10 3 2002 Aug 30 170 10 3 2002 Aug 31 150 10 3 2002 Sep 01 150 8 3 2002 Sep 02 140 10 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-124, August 5, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1142: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1142.html RFPI BROADCASTS: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WWCR BROADCASTS: Wed 0930 9475 ** AFGHANISTAN. Just saw a report on the TV that the Germans have set up a station in Afghanistan (or are about to) called Radio Freedom. A comment was made about the mountainous terrain making communications difficult, so wonder if it will be on SW? (Richard Jary, Australia, Aug 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Read on: NEW RADIO STATION INAUGURATED IN AFGHANISTAN | Text of report by Afghan radio on 4 August Esteemed Dr Sayed Makhdum Rahin, the minister of information and culture, this morning, in the presence of General Akin Zorlu, general commander of peacekeeping forces, and General Manfred Schlenker, commander of [German] ISAF contingent, inaugurated Radio Voice of Freedom which will be broadcasting from now on with the assistance and cooperation of the peacekeeping forces. Pointing to the importance of Radio Voice of Freedom broadcasts, Dr Rahin added: The broadcasts of a new radio station will add to the awareness of the esteemed citizens of Kabul in various fields. Listening to a variety of radio stations will enable the citizens to choose the programmes of their own choice. Esteemed Dr Rahin added: I hope broadcasting educational programmes on the history and culture of Afghanistan, democracy and respect for peoples opinions, and through conducting interviews with the public and broadcasting their views, the radio will firm steps to consolidate the spirit of democracy and serve the cause of peace and democracy. In turn, General Gen Zorlu and General Schlenker expressed the hope that by broadcasting better programmes the radio station would serve the noble people of Afghanistan. The radio will broadcast news and music from 0500 to 0600 hours [0030 to 0130 gmt] and from 1700 to 1800 [1230 to 1330 gmt] on FM and 9905 MHz frequency. Esteemed Dr Soraya Rahim, deputy minister in charge of women affairs, and esteemed Gholam Hasan Hazrati, head of the Radio Afghanistan broadcasts, also attended the inauguration ceremony of Radio Voice of Freedom. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 4 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Ambiguity, ambiguity! Surely not 9905 MHz; do they mean it is on FM, AND shortwave 9905 kHz?? Or is it FM 99.05 MHz??? (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Could anybody tell me the mail or email address of 18940 kHz Radio Afghanistan? (Qiao Xiaoli, China, Aug 3, dxing.info via DXLD) Here email is: radioafg@yahoo.com Here url is: www.radioafghanistan.com (Danny Wu, Fuzhou, ibid.) I seriously doubt the above applies to the 18940 kHz station! The URL merely links to a defunct magazine. Need I reiterate that one must be very careful in keeping all the various exile and official Afghan stations separate?? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. USA/AFGHANISTAN: RFE/RL, VOA JOIN FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN | Text of press release by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty dated 4 August Washington, DC, 4 August 2002: In an effort to provide the people of war-torn Afghanistan with a coordinated, easy-to-find and easy-to- identify 24-hour stream of news, features and music in their native Dari and Pashto languages, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Radio Free Afghanistan service and the Dari and Pashto Services of the Voice of America (VOA) have created a new joint program that was heard for the first time today on both shortwave and FM in Afghanistan. RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine hailed the new, coordinated RFE/RL-VOA Afghan radio stream as "another demonstration of how RFE/RL and VOA can combine forces to better serve our listeners while maintaining each US international broadcaster's distinctive and complementary mission". VOA Director Robert Reilly added that "the new, joint VOA-RFE/RL Pashto and Dari program stream into Afghanistan is an extraordinarily important development in our efforts to bring the latest news and information to the Afghan people. We are delighted to be working so closely with our colleagues at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty at this critical time." The new program, according to Radio Free Afghanistan Director Andres Ilves, features 12 hours each of programs created by RFE/RL and VOA every day - marking an increase of 1.5 hours per day of RFE/RL programming to Afghanistan. All programs are scheduled to start at the top of the hour in Afghanistan, with Pashto programs always available on the odd-numbered hour, while Dari programs will be broadcast during even-numbered hours of the day. All programs will share common sign-on music and other production elements and a common program clock throughout the day. RFE/RL and VOA are also dramatically increasing the amount of interaction and coordination among their Afghanistan- based journalists and among managers based in Prague and Washington, respectively. The new 24-hour continuous stream of US international broadcasting to the people of Afghanistan can be heard on shortwave and in Kabul on 100.5 FM. RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan broadcasts are available live and on-demand on the Internet at http://www.rferl.org/bd/af Radio Free Afghanistan commenced broadcasting on 30 January 2002, as part of RFE/RL's response to the challenges of the 11 September 2001 attack on America and the war on terrorism. VOA has broadcast continuously in Dari and Pashto to the people of Afghanistan since the early 1980s. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; the Caucasus; and Central and Southwestern Asia funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Washington DC, in English 4 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Saw an interesting ad in the auction pages of the Brisbane Courier Mail on Saturday 3rd August. Expressions of Interest --- TELSTRA MARINE RADIO NETWORK Over 100 Transmitters to 10 kW, over 140 Receivers (Tunable and Fixed, Console Equipment, Computer and Component Racks, Over 65 Aerial Arrays (25 W to 1 kW), Aerial Towers and Masts. Register Your Interest NOW at telra-@ad.com [truncated] Well, I wouldn't mind a couple log periodics. Anyone have any spare cash? (John Smith, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. This week`s RVI Radio World has part of Donna Ring`s talk on SWLing at Kulpsville -- not Donna Reed, as she was repeatedly identified -- I think, listening closely (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. During my unexpected scan of 49m, Aug 4 at 1000, heard some Brazilian on 6160 with excessive reverb, but could not make out ID. No sign of Canadians. Per PWBR this is R. Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, relaying LBV Mundial 24 hours (unless it`s the other one, a new listing for 2001, R. Rio Mar, Manaus, which supposedly operates only at 2300-0300). Not a good Brazilian morning, weak, as was even 6180. Don`t recall Brazilians actually being reported recently on 6160, so could be new? Nothing listed currently at http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm But the archive at http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/swarchive.htm has this: 6160 BRAZIL R Rio Mar, Manaus [0220-0800] Jan 00 C 6160 BRAZIL Sistema Mundial LBV, Pt Alegre [0625-1007/0109-0115](.1) Apr 01 B //9550, 11895 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Get it while you can, before it breaks down again, and this low-priority service takes another few weeks to fix: CFRX, 6070, with good signal at 0955 UT August 4, something about battered women, 0957 ID as ``Newstalk 10-10, CFRB``; but this had the perpetual heavy co- channel in Spanish, no doubt Voz Cristiana, Chile, which has been on this frequency since its inception - only a few Hz apart causing heavy subaudible heterodyne and alternating dominance of audio. At this hour there were plenty of empty frequencies on 49m. Why don`t these two stations coördinate so they don`t clash? Answer: the management of neither gives a damn (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CJAD 800 found to be using a narrow-band FM signal on 26.200 MHz [not 26.800 as in summary] before and during Montreal Alouettes football games; presumed to be studio-remote audio link. The audio on 800 was 7 seconds behind 26200, because of all the phone-in programs they do. May be new system, as not heard before in frequent 26 MHz band scans. Could be is only used during football games. Altho in St. Lambert, I was not far away from studio or Molson stadium, this was a weak, weak signal, I guess one watt. Could also be very small antenna, even indoors (Alan Roberts with Sheldon Harvey, CKUT International Radio Report Aug 4 via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CANADA. CJWI-1610 was on testing again last night, with Afro/Carib music and numerous "CPAM" and "Radio Union" slogans. Best signal heard here thus far. What's with "CPAM"? Does it stand for anything? They can't use CPAM as a callsign, unless Canada signs a deal with Bolivia. BTW, given Canada's friendly relations with Fidel, how about a deal to allow MOJO-640 to have the call CMEN? They can pronounce it acronymically to boot :) Now a mini-rant for Canadians only: are you as disgusted as I am with the CBC's lack of coverage of the Commonwealth Games? Virtually nothing has been broadcast live. Perhaps we've been spoiled by all the live coverage of the Olympics and World Cup, and perhaps the CBC blew its financial wad in Salt Lake City. But the Commonwealth Games deserve better broadcast coverage, even if it's not quite the Olympics. Canada is winning a whack of medals (third behind Australia and host England) and many of the athletes who we haven't been getting to see are getting some good training for Athens in 2004. 73 (Mike Brooker Toronto, ON, Aug 3, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA [or non?]. Tim Bucknall in UK received something in French on 87.75, audio frequency of channel A6; there was also activity on channels A2 and A4. Can anyone decide whether this brief clip has a Canadian accent? (gh, DXLD) This is Tim Bucknall's French station on 87.75 --take a listen. Try http://fmdx.usclargo.com/al.mp3 or http://fmdx.usclargo.com/isthiscanadaorfrance.html -- (Mike Bugaj - Enfield, CT USA, WTFDA via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI`s Marti FM studio-transmitter link failed a few weeks ago; must go back to US for repair. Now using instead a cable link between studio and transmitter, about 1000 feet of coax underground, with an FM transmitter feeding into the cable, receiver at other end; but entails some hum and RF problems; trying to fix. The current reduced schedule of 2200-0800 on both 7445 and 15040 is required due to funding; current power consumption costs about $1000 a month; another $500 would allow expansion of 15040 into more daytime hours. 7445 had some problems this week. A switch between main power lines and transmitter failed, now replaced but 7445 has been off sporadically for past week. Were able to buy a replacement and install while AC was on; about one inch diameter cables. Should be reliable now. Needs $250 to $300 for tower crew to move 7445 antenna from shorter to higher tower and switch to AM. ``Heart of the Matter`` is a new program, behind the headlines, solution-centered conversations building on one another, hosted by Mark Summer, Mainstream Media Project. Instead of Earthspan, Tue 2030, Fri 2100 [actually 6 and 12 hours later.] A new Global Community Forum planned for this Saturday night, only half an hour, to get it going again, UT Sunday 0230. Interactive Radio Show may be returning too (Joe Bernard and James Latham, RFPI Mailbag Aug 2, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Woke up at 0945 UT Sunday August 4 so checked RFPI frequencies: surprised to find both 7445-USB and 15038.6 still running, much later than currently scheduled 0800* including weekends; but a couple minutes later they were gone tho the 15038.6 carrier was still on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECHOSLOVAKIA. Radio Prague was also a favourite of mine in the good old bad days. One-hour transmissions were heard daily, with powerful signals. Excellent music, from folk to rock could be heard. Of course a daily dose of the party line was heard too. The usual party glorification and achievements of socialism were heard. In 1989, amid the turmoil going on in the region, an incident occurred that galvanized the public. Police either did, or were believed to have fired on some demonstrators. Unfortunately, this occurred 50 years to the day since the Nazis had executed some student protesters in Prague. The communists were seen to be no better than the Nazis. At the same time the Soviet Union commented that perhaps the invasion of 1968 HAD been a bad idea, that the Czechs had in fact been practicing perestroika. This served to cut the legs out from under the Czech government, whose leader had been installed amid Russian tanks in 1968. In a whirlwind of activity, Vaclav Havel became the country`s leader, going from a dissident to the president. After a brief period when many of the staff from the days of the old regime were removed Radio Prague returned in its present form…a scaled back version of its former ``glory`` but nevertheless a 30 min program of great interest. Shortly thereafter, the Czech and Slovak parts of the country split apart, peacefully. Gone were the worst aspects of the station, while retaining the best - -- the music and features are truly wonderful. The staff also has a certain ``cheekiness`` about them --- humorous without being silly. Radio Prague has one of the nicest websites I have seen, well organized and extremely informative. Programs and articles are fully archived and many many program features are available in real audio on demand. So for instance you can hear the ABCs of Czech in consecutive order if you like. http://www.radio.cz/en/ Slovakia Radio Slovakia International was formed from part of the old Radio Prague when the country split apart. Radio Slovakia walks a tightrope; the fact that Slovakia was an ally of Nazi Germany during World War II is largely glossed over, except for pride in the fact that the country was ``independent`` --- sort of. Many reports concentrate on the resistance movement to the fascists and the ``Slovak National Uprising`` is still revered here. The programs have come a long way, from the early days when the Press Review consisted of people sitting around the studio reading items from the various newspapers. Radio Slovakia`s website is quite good, some cool pics of all their QSL cards over the years and the funky looking RSI building. Many articles taken from their programs, some archived. There is even a small amount of advanced program information to be had, if only a few days ahead. Programs can be heard in real audio from the site or via http:///www.wrn.org/ondemand http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi/index.html (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. See CZECHOSLOVAKIA above ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4959.8, RADIO CIMA 100. Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. 0840-0902 Agosto 3. Música Bachata? en el espacio "Los Gigantes del Amargue". No sé si "Amargue" sea algun ritmo pero me suena algo distinto a la bachata; además ellos tienen un programa dedicado a este tipo de música llamado "Los Gigantes de la Bachata". Al dar la hora se identifica así: "...La hora en Cima100, 5 de la madrugada... ésta es Cima 100". Luego a las 0955 vino una completa ID par luego el himno Nacional de la Republica Dominicana así: "...Radio Cima 100; 100.5 megahertz proyecta sus ondas desde Santo Domingo, capital de la República Dominicana apegada a los reglamentos que rigen la radiodifusión en nuestro país y bajo las normas y acuerdos internacionales. Tratamos de ofrecer y somos los pioneros de la más variada programación en la frecuencia modulada; complacer su gusto musical es lo más importante para nosotros..." Luego del Himno vino un especial musical de Boleros y Baladas, pero a las 1006 intempestivamente fuera del aire (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) [HCDX] R. Cima 100 is back This morning I received a station with LA music on 4959.9 kHz (O=3). Time: 0045-0105. In my sleeepiness I nearly missed the ID (and also my cassetterecorder was not activated). I only heard that the QTH was announced as Santo Domingo (Dom. Rep.). First I thought this was probably R. Villa, which was active here some time ago. However a quick search in the Internet (G. Hauser, DXLD, WOR 1142) showed that this station is in fact "R. Cima 100" from Santo Domingo. Website: http://www.cima100fm.com/cima100.htm This page takes an awful time to load, but the live stream gives plentiful reward - endless bachata music. IDs as "Cima Bachata". R. Cima was also the predecessor of R. Villa (active some 5 years ago). It may also be possible that station + transmitter are the same and that just the name has changed. Happy listening! (Aart Rouw, Bühl, Germany, AR7030+20m longwire/MLB, Aug 2, Hard-Core-DX mailing list Aug 5 via DXLD) Looks like I have to correct this logging [as R. Villa]. After I sent it, many people indicated that they heard Radio Cima Cien on this frequency. Fortunately I kept a recording, and I listened to it again. And indeed, after listening to it a few time (reception was not all that great) the ID sounds like "Radio Cima" (not "Cima Cien" this time). I'm sorry for the mistake (Mark Veldhuis, the Netherlands, DXing.info Aug 3 via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. INFORMACIONES TOMADAS DESDE RELAMPAGO DX DESDE JAPON cortesia TAKAYUKI INUOE NOZAKI POR LAS RUTAS DE QUISQUEYA #2 Radio Cima Cien The following item is taken from Relámpago DX #113 (January 2000) by Takayuki Inoue Nozaki. It is placed here with permission. It was in the middle of September 1992 that Radio Cima 100, a commercial station broadcasting on 100.5 MHz FM in Santo Domingo, made its first appearance on shortwave band. The shortwave outlet initially established on a drifting frequency in the vicinity of 4962.3 kHz, but subsequently it moved down to the official assigned frequency of 4960 kHz. The shortwave transmission of Radio Cima 100 was sporadically heard on the frequency range between 4959.8 kHz and 4960.1 kHz from the middle of September of 1992 to January of 1999. Afterward, HIAH Radio Villa "La Sencilla", another station of "Circuito Radial Roberto Vargas" which formerly broadcast on 1330 kHz, started to operate on the same shortwave frequency in the middle of September of 1999. According to the announcement, the station is on the air simultaneously on 1480 kHz medium wave and 4960 kHz shortwave. While I was in Santo Domingo in late December 1998, I noted that Radio Visión operated on 1330 kHz on which Radio Villa "La Sencilla" had been formerly on the air, and the newly assigned frequency could not be found. On December 28, 1998, I visited the broadcasting facilities of Radio Cima 100, located at Avenida 27 de Febrero No. 265, a main thoroughfare in Santo Domingo. The station was in a third story building, contained a bank on the first floor and several offices on the second and third floors. There was no station's billboard outside, but the remarkable antenna towers on the top of the building made me easy to find the station. Upon entering into the reception room, the secretary immediately recognized me from a photograph of myself and of my DX shack which I had enclosed with my reception report. But I was informed by her that Roberto Vargas, the station owner and director, had just left but might return an other day. As for my limited time in Santo Domingo, I should visit other shortwave broadcasters, I could not come back to visit Radio Cima 100. While eagerly explaining why I could not have enough time to back again, a youngish man entered. The secretary briefly spoke him about the visit of a Japanese listener, and soon later cordially greeted me. I went around the broadcasting facilities and transmitting units under the guidance of him. The facilities consisted simply of a small reception room, an owner/director's office, an operating studio, and a recording studio. The operating studio was equipped with a "LPB Signature III" brand console mixer (6 channel), two "Denon" brand DN-650 model MD decks, a computer which controlled the programming and time check for 24 hours a day, and no microphone. Daily programs are edited and scheduled by the computer system. Therefore the operators observe the scheduled programming and commercial advertisements with the computer and audio monitor, and if they notice errors, they take measures against problems and modify the programs. The FM transmitters were installed in a strongly-built ferroconcrete house, located at the back of the building. Radio Cima 100 owns two transmitters of the "RCA" brand; BTF-20 model (20 kW) and BTF-10 model (10 kW). Generally the FM outlet runs with the transmitter of 20 kW. In case of power outage, the standby transmitter of 10 kW will be utilized with its own generator of an output of 20 kW. The 1 kW transmitter which had formerly been used by the FM outlet on 100.5 MHz, was transferred to La Roma Manacurita in the Province of Monseñor Nouel. It is currently used for the repeating station for the Region of Cibao, broadcasting on 88.7 MHz. Hurricane Mitch caused serious damage to the Dominican Republic, and also some Caribbean and Central American countries. As Radio Cima 100 naturally suffered a great loss from the disaster, it discontinued operations for about two months. Behind the building, I saw that a couple of horribly snapped and broken iron antenna towers were left in ruins. These destroyed antenna towers described to me the horrifying damage of the hurricane. The shortwave transmitter had been located in San Cristóbal, about 30 kilometers west from Santo Domingo, however, it was established in the same second floor of the building where the studio and office occupied. The transmitter site was also tremendously destroyed by Hurricane Mitch, and it was difficult reconstruct the transmitting house and the antenna at the same site. Therefore, the transmitting unit was transferred from San Cristóbal to Santo Domingo. The shortwave outlet was equipped with a 1 kW transmitter, designed and manufactured by a famous Dominican electrical engineer, Ing. Andrez Infante, and fed into a 1/2 wave dipole antenna (35 meters high above the ground). During my stay in Santo Domingo, the station was audible with fairly strong signal on the measured frequency of 4960.1 kHz from evening through early morning. After a short tour in the station facilities, Sr. Gerardo Vargas, the eldest son of the station owner, and I swapped stories on many aspects of shortwave broadcasting and DXing. Radio Cima 100 was founded in 1978 by Roberto Vargas. Initially the station transmitted on 100.5 MHz with programming of 18 hours at 1000-0400. Afterward, it commenced the 24 hour broadcasting. In September of 1992 on the occasion of the year of the 500th anniversary celebrations honoring the arrival of Christopher Columbus to the New World, Radio Cima 100 commenced shortwave transmissions on 4960 kHz in the 60 meter band. Since then the station began to be logged in different countries in the world. As of December of 1998, Radio Cima 100 runs for 24 hours and has a staff of 15 persons. Radio Cima 100 broadcasts on 100.5 MHz from Santo Domingo and 88.7 MHz from La Roma Manacurita. The shortwave outlet operates on 4960 kHz at 2200-1000 daily, relaying the programs of the FM outlets, and covers the whole Hispaniola Island and neighboring Caribbean countries from the evening through the early morning. The programming is composed of a variety of music including: merengue, salsa, bachata, ranchera, adult contemporary and easy listening, with the exception of the micro news "Boletín de Noticias". The one minute news bulletin which is conduced by Orland Ortiz, is on the air every half hour. Canned identification "Cima Sabor Navideño transmitiendo desde Santo Domingo en los 100.5 MHz, cubriendo la región sur, este y noreste del país; en cadena con los 88.7 MHz desde La Roma Manacurita en la Provincia de Monseñor Nouel, cubriendo to el Cibao. Cima Sabor Navideño, su aguinaldo radial nacional." QSLs Radio Cima 100 is undoubtedly a good verifier. They gratefully wish for reception reports on the shortwave transmission. If the reports are correct in the details as to programming and the quality of reception, the station will verify with a hand made QSL card and an attractive pennant which shows station mascot and the Alcazar palace of Christopher Columbus. Send your reports in Spanish to the following mail address: Apartado postal No. 804, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Technical Information HIVR 4960 kHz: is equipped with a transmitter (1 kW) manufactured by Ing. Andrez Infante in 1992, and a 1/2 wave dipole antenna (35 meters high above the ground). The nominal frequency officially assigned to the shortwave outlet is 4960 kHz, but it was actually heard on 4960.1 kHz during my stay in Santo Domingo. HIVR 100.5 MHz: is equipped with two "RCA" transmitters: BTF-20 model (20 kW) and BTF-10 model (10 kW), and a 5 elements omni directional antenna (70 meters high above the ground). The transmitter of 10 kW power is occasionally utilized in emergencies. Transmitter site: Avenida 27 de Febrero No. 265, segundo piso, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Studio: Avenida 27 de Febrero No. 265, oficina 201, Ensanche Piantini, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. (via Dario Monferini, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. A HCJB transmite o programa DX-HCJB, com informações do mundo das ondas curtas. Vai ao ar, nos sábados, às 0830, em 9745 kHz. Nos domingos, às 0100, em 11920 e 12020 kHz. É reapresentado, às 1730, em 15295 kHz. A apresentação é de Eunice Carvajal. Endereço: Caixa Postal 16050, CEP: 81611-970, Curutiba(PR). (Célio Romais, @tividade DX August 3 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. SWR EDXC2002 Radio What is the name of the game? 17th August 2002 Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat will have a 24 hours extra transmission during EDXC-Conference in Pori Western Finland. SWR will be an official radiostation of this meeting. You can listen us on following frequencies: 5980, 5990 or 6170 kHz on 48 mb and 11690 or 11720 kHz on 25 mb. Look details from our web-page: http://www.swradio.net/edxc Special EDXC 2002 transmission will contain lot of radio- and dx- oriented programmes as well direct reports from conference place each hour all day long. So you have a good opportunity to follow happenings even thought you for some reasons could not be with in conference place itself. Reports and QSL's We have issued a special QSL-card to be sending everyone reporting these EDXC 2002 Radio- programmes. This very rare collector's item-QSL might be a nice souvenir to have for this event. You should post your report (with 2 Euros/IRC's/US-$'s) to: SWR EDXC2002 Radio, P.O.Box 35, FIN- 40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND Call and take part! It is highly recommended to take part to programmes of SWR EDXC2002 Radio. You can either call or send SMS messages to direct studio line 0400 995 559 (international +358 400 995 559). To get more info you can visit Scandinavian Weekend Radio web page: http://www.swradio.net. And our e-mail address is: info@swradio.net. Visit SWR! All representatives of media and radiolisteners are very welcome to visit Scandinavian Weekend Radio in Liedenpohja-village of Virrat. You can get more info and driving instructions by calling (or sending SMS- messages) to Alpo Heinonen, 040 722 1218 (International +358 40 722 1218) SWR presentation in Pori You can meet a part of our staff in EDXC-conference. They will tell the whole story of Scandinavian Weekend Radio on presentation around 10 AM on Saturday. [Later:] Hello, Take part and vote The best radiosong to SWR EDXC2002 Radio "Top 20 RadioSong"-programme! http://www.swradio.net/cgi- bin/vote.cgi This programme will be aired on 17th August 2002, 19 UT. frequencies of SWR. SWR EDXC2002 Radio http://www.swradio.net/edxc With Best Regards, (Alpo Heinonen, Aug 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY/USA. DEUTSCHE WELLE ADDS DIGITAL TRANSMISSION TO NORTH AMERICA | Excerpt from report in English by press release by Deutsche Welle on 5 August As of 15 September 2002, Deutsche Welle (DW) will deliver its TV and radio programmes to cable headends and rebroadcasting stations in North and Middle [Central] America through a digital C-band channel on AMC-1. Satellite communications provider SES Americom and DW signed a corresponding agreement. For a smooth transition DW's signal will be distributed on both AMC-1 digital and analogue for at least four weeks, with the termination of analogue broadcasts on 14 September. "DW-TV makes the move to AMC-1 digital to better serve our partner stations in North America with clear, high quality digital broadcasts. The move completes DW's digital transition which began with the launch of PAS-9 in 1997 as well as the launch earlier this year of our new digital subscription channel German TV. With this change to digital on AMC-1, DW-TV is now truly a digital player in North America," says DW Director General, Erik Bettermann... Reception data: Position: 103 West Transponder: 2 Frequency: 3.740 GHz Polarization: Vertical Symbol rate: 29.270 Msymbols/s FEC: 7/8 Video Standard: NTSC Video Compression: MPEG-2/DVB Audio Compression (TV Sound): MPEG-1/Layer 2 and AC3 Audio Compression (Radio): MPEG-1/Layer 2 Modulation: QPSK Radio Channels: DW 1 (German), DW 2 (English), DW 7 (French and various other languages). More information about DW: http://www.dw-world.de Source: Deutsche Welle press release, Cologne, in English 5 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** HAWAII. [A thread about the last time AK and HI have been heard on MW east of the Mississippi...] Quite frankly, given sunspot minimum and good winter conditions, KORL should be heard in the midwest still and under optimum conditions in the east. Alaska has always been more difficult, in part due to more stations on those frequencies (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, amfmtvdx Aug 4 via DXLD) What frequency are you referring to? KORL used to be on 650, and now it also used to be on 99.5 FM. (Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) I think all these reports are for KORL's longtime frequency of 650. In the early 90's 650 became KHNR. KORL now on 690 with Radio Disney. The old KORL tower (when east coaster's heard them) was in Waikiki, near the Ala Wai canal and the Ocean. Today, 650 shares a tower with now co-owned 940 (Salem), and is in an area far from the ocean. The tower is cut for 940, and the area is has even worse ground conductivity then the famous low conductivity of Hawaii. These days, in Honolulu, KORL sounds more like 1 kW then 10, and runs low modulation. I was there in March, and at night, KFI 640 slop could be heard on 650 ! After the inland tower move, it was easy to null out KORL on a loop, and hear WSM, on the windward side of Oahu (Brock Whaley, WH6SZ, Atlanta (In Hawaii 1984-2000) AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) ** ICELAND. A nice QSL received from AFN/Iceland Keflavik, 3902.8A kHz sent by Mr. Sigurdur Jonnson, Chief Engineer, NAVMEDIACENBCST DET KEFLAVIK, PSC 1003, Box 25, FPO AE 09728-0325 - v/s signed by P. Huizinga, JOCS(SW) USN, Officer in Charge (Torre Ekblom, Esbo, Finland, August 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. World Radio Network has started a new weekly newsletter of program previews from many of the stations it carries, edited by Thomas Voelkner (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The signup URL is one click from: http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/ Regards, (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Kanimbla Update Just a few weeks back, we presented the story of the radio station on board the Australian motor vessel, ``Kanimbla``. On that occasion, we mentioned that the ship was built in Belfast Ireland and that it was the only ship in the world into which a radio station was installed at the time when the ship was constructed. The ``Kanimbla`` sailed for Australia on April 26 1936 and it made four radio broadcasts each day throughout the entire voyage. One month later, the inaugural broadcast was made for listeners in Australia with a nationwide relay on the ABC mediumwave network. From that time onwards, the passenger liner travelled the Australian coastline, frequently sending out entertainment programs over the 50 watt broadcast transmitter, VK9MI. In those days, a VK callsign indicated an experimental station, not necessarily an amateur station as is the case these days. These hour long broadcasts in the evening were presented by the station announcer, Eileen Foley, and they were picked up by local mediumwave stations in the AWA commercial network and relayed to local audiences. The final broadcast from VK9MI on the ``Kanimbla`` went on the air right at the beginning of September 1939 and when war was declared, the broadcast station was silenced forever. Station VK9MI never radiated another entertainment program. We could ask the question: What happened to the ``Kanimbla`` after that? One of the really fascinating aspects about research into the history of radio broadcasting is this. When you think that you have completed research into all of the available information on a particular station, then unexpectedly, new information becomes available. This is the case with the story of the radio broadcasting ship, ``Kanimbla``. For much of this additional information, we are indebted to Dr Martin van der Ven in Germany, who maintains a website on the story of radio broadcasting from ships. His website is:- http://offshore_radio.de Just one month after the outbreak of the European Conflict, the ``Kanimbla`` was taken over by the Royal Navy and the ship was commissioned as HMS ``Kanimbla``, that is His Majesty`s Ship ``Kanimbla``. The ``Kanimbla`` then made its way to Hong Kong for re- outfitting as a navy troop transport. Acting as a navy vessel, the ``Kanimbla`` carried troops and supplies to allied forces in the Pacific and Asia. During this era, the ship was operated by the Australian navy on behalf of the British navy. Nearly four years later, HMS ``Kanimbla`` was re-commissioned in a ceremony in Sydney and it joined the Royal Australian Navy as ``HMAS ``Kanimbla`, that is, His Majesty`s Australian Ship, ``Kanimbla``. The ship served a similar role in the Australian navy for a period of six years after which it was de-commissioned in Sydney in 1949. At this stage, the ``Kanimbla`` was re-outfitted again as a passenger liner and then returned to its original owners when it rejoined the passenger traffic. Then in 1961, the ship was sold in Asia and renamed the ``Oriental Queen`` for passenger traffic in Asian waters. Three years later again it was placed under charter to a Japanese company, and after three more years, they purchased it. In 1974, just 40 years after it was built, the glorious ship ``Kanimbla`` was unceremoniously broken up for scrap. That then is the end of the long and interesting saga of the ``Kanimbla``, the only ship in the world that had a radio broadcasting station built into it at the time when the ship was constructed. However, there are two more items of interest. There was a soldier in the American army by the name of A. J. Haley. A few years ago, he read an article about the Australian ship, the ``Kanimbla``, in the American radio magazine, ``Popular Communications``. He wrote to the editor of the magazine stating that he rode the ``Kanimbla`` during its era of service as a troop transport vessel in the Pacific. After his demobilization, Haley entered the radio world himself in an amateur role, with the callsign K8UJW. The other item is this. In recent time we have received several batches of old QSL cards for the AWR Historic Collection. One of these cards is an original QSL card from VK9MI for a reception report dated August 5, 1937 and it was signed by the announcer, Eileen Foley herself. Another QSL card also verifies a reception report on a transmission from the ``Kanimbla``, and it was during its time of service under the Australian navy. The callsign was VLFS and the ship was calling the maritime station VIS in Sydney at the time on 12380 kHz. The date of reception was May 30, 1946 (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan August 4 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel - web broadcast The IBA web broadcast has changed.... http://bet.iba.org.il no longer has the 1900 UT Reshet Hey broadcast. There is now one URL which includes all of the domestic English (Reshet Alef) broadcasts. When a new broadcast is recorded, it overlays the old one. Since the recording is automatic, you sometimes hear Hebrew or French (depending upon the broadcast), for the first few moments of the audio. The links for English / French / Spanish can be found at the left side of: http://bet.iba.org.il/ The http://www.israelradio.org link, which says 10 PM, goes to the same audio file. From on top of the link to the English RealAudio file: "English Kol Israel broadcasts its English news at 07.00 (IST), 04.00 GMT; 13.15 (IST), 10.00 GMT and 19.30 (IST), 16.30 GMT." French: "Les journaux d'informations en langue française sont diffusés de 7h15 a 7h30, heure israélienne – 4h15 – 4h30 en temps universel; 13h a 13h15, heure israélienne – 10h15 – 10h30 en temps universel et 19h45 a 20h, heure israélienne – 16h45 – 17h en temps universel." Spanish: "Las transmisiones de Kol Israel en español para el exterior, salen al aire todos los días a las 20.00 hora local, 17.00 GMT. La emisión es de 15 minutos e incluye noticias, notas de actualidad, entrevistas y música popular israelí. Un experimentado equipo de redactores, locutores y cronistas llevan a cabo día a día la labor informativa sobre la actualidad nacional." Also, the IBA website now has a searchable schedule (in Hebrew) of their domestic networks (Reshet Alef, Gimel, Dalet, Kol Hamusica, Reshet Moreshet). Interestingly, Reshet Bet is absent... Actually, it's on the list of networks to search, but it's not on the main page - and if you do search, it doesn't come up with anything. http://www.iba.org.il/radioprog/mainShidurim.asp ------------------------------------------- [later:] Now I'm not so sure what's being recorded on the IBA site. It's now 1.5 hours after the 0400 UT broadcast -- and it definitely doesn't have the 0400 broadcast. On the other hand, I can't figure out what broadcast it is. The announcer said something like 'Good evening, Shavua Tov, a pleasant week) and have a good evening' -- and the next language was French (and the weather forecast said, tonight it will be, and tomorrow). The beginning of the broadcast was cut off, so I don't know the time -- and the end didn't say anything. I would think it would be the Reshet Hey broadcast, as French follows English, but A) There should be 5 minutes in between. B) The announcer quickly says (in Hebrew), that 'Hebrew programming on Reshet Alef will restart in a 1/2 hour.' Unfortunately, I don't speak French, so I couldn't hear what they're saying. When I emailed the contact email address, asking which broadcasts they were recording... he said to look at the caption which I quoted before (which has all the Reshet Alef broadcasts). Incidentally, there is text which scrolls on the http://bet.iba.org.il homepage, which says that there are now more broadcasts in English/French/Spanish available on the website. BUT, the announcement is in Hebrew text! I must've heard the 1015 UT broadcast on Thursday (or was it Friday) morning, as French was heard PRIOR to English (Doni Rosenzweig, August 3-4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. I can confirm that Kol Israel is using the following frequencies for English at 1900-1925 UTC, 11605, 15615, 15640 and 17545. All are beamed to Europe and North America except for 15640 which is directed to Africa (per their schedule). 15640 extremely weak here. Monitored at 1900 UT 8/4/2002 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN [non]. Dear sirs, The special broadcast in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Japan Short Wave Club will be held as follows: Station: Adventist World Radio from Agat, Guam Language: Japanese Date, time and frequencies: 18 August 2002 / 2100 UT / 11850, 11980 kHz 19 August 2002 / 1300 UT / 11705, 11980 kHz Program host: Masaru Kawagoe Program contents: Interview, etc. (Approximately 20 minutes-long program just after the opening ID at 2100/1300 UT) Although the above program is in Japanese, according to Toshimichi Ohtake, a senior member of our club, you can hear the recording of the past DX program "SWL Digest" of Radio Canada International. A special QSL card from JSWC will be issued for correct reception reports sent to: Japan Short Wave Club (JSWC), 50th Anniversary Committee, P.O.Box 138, Yokohama Port, 231-8691 Japan. Please write your report in English and enclose 1 IRC or U.S. 1 dollar bill. Source of information: "SW DX Guide" Vol.51 No.8 (August 2002), Japan Short Wave Club / Toshimichi Ohtake, a member of JSWC. We hope your continuous support of our club activities in the future. With kind regards, Nobuya Kato, A volunteer staff of JSWC 50th anniversary project e-mail: jswc50@par.odn.ne.jp (BC-DX Aug 4 via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. Meeting Japanese DXers, by Jim Solatie In summer 2001 I had a chance to visit Tokyo. Besides business, I was honoured to meet a group of Japanese DXers. We spent one Saturday evening together discussing our great hobby, enjoying superb Japanese seafood and - of course - drinking marvelous sake! Because sake tasted so good, I wasn't able to write down all the details we talked about. So after returning home we made an interview over the Internet with Mr. Hideki Watanabe, Mr. Tooru Gouhara and Mr. Takashi Kuroda. Please enjoy their views below! [illustrated] http://www.dxing.info/articles/japanese_dxing.dx (via gh, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. See TURKEY ** MEXICO. R. Educación, 6185, with usual nice selection of music, but Aug 4 at 0959 surprised to hear them playing Mexican NA at an hour which is neither local midnight, sign-on, nor sign-off time; then ID for 1060 outlet (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [non]. Como notó nuestro oyente Rafael Rodríguez en Colombia, había un cambio de horario para la primera transmisión de la apertura del Octavo Encuentro Nacional de Diexistas Mexicanos esta mañana, 3 de agosto. La transmisión salió a las 0900 en vez de las 1000 UT, y fue repetida a las 1100. Para aquellas personas especialmente en América Latina que no pudieron escuchar la primera transmisión, vamos a repetir el programa el próximo lunes, miércoles y viernes (agosto 5, 7 y 9) a las 1130 UT en 9955 kHz, además de los otros horarios mencionados en nuestro boletín de prensa inicial sobre estas transmisiones (Jeff White, WRMI, August 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. Re DXLD 2-123: The Roumoules LW/MW site is located 100 km to the west of Monaco, far into France proper. Saying this is "near the border to Monaco" seems misleading (Olle Alm, Sweden, Aug 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I kept looking for Monaco on the entirely inland map including Roumoules but it was too far away (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. 9504.9, Radio Tacna logged 24 July with rather poor reception at 0005 clasical music program - QRM from Radio Record, Brasil. On 9720.4, Radio Victoria, Lima heard 29 July also with poor reception, some sort of national festival at 2340 - severe QRM started at 0000, time checks and "La Voz de Liberación" [evangelical program] announcements (Torre Ekblom, Esbo, Finland, Aug 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** QATAR. 17755.2, Qatar Broadcasting Service, 0240-0305 Aug 1, open carrier noted but no audio until 0258 when music heard. This was followed by a man with Arabic talk, ID and announcements at 0300. Poor (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SAINT KITTS & NEVIS. 555, 04/08 0500, ZIZ, Basseterre. Músicas caribenhas apresentadas por locutor em EE. Não foi possivel ouvir nenhuma identificação porém comparei a programação com o programa da mesma emissora que é transmitido via Internet através do site http://www.skbee.com/zizLive.html 22322. Com esse são 172 rádio países ouvidos (Marcelo Toníolo, Greenvale, NY, radioescutas via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. See CZECHOSLOVAKIA ** TURKEY. Turkey has lifted its ban on Kurdish-language broadcasting, according to BBC reports. At the same time it has decided to allow education in the Kurdish language, and to abolish the death penalty. The BBC says these measures are connected with Turkey's desire to join the European Union (Roger Tidy, UK, Aug 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ** TURKEY. MINISTER SAYS REGULATION ON KURDISH COURSES TO BE COMPLETED IN 3 MONTHS | Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia Ankara: National Education Minister Necdet Tekin said on Monday [5 August] that works on a regulation related with opening and supervision of courses of different languages and dialects under the European Union (EU) adjustment laws adopted at the parliament could be completed within three months after the law was put into force. Tekin told AA [Anatolia] correspondent that 11th article of the EU adjustment law permitted "teaching of different languages and dialects used traditionally by Turkish citizens in their daily lives". The National Education Ministry was authorized to set the principles and producers regarding this issue, Tekin said. Tekin noted that under this law, the courses to be opened for teaching of different languages and dialects used in daily life would be subject to provisions of the Law on Special Education Institutions No 625. There were currently 375 courses in Turkey giving education in languages like English, German, French and Arabic, Tekin stated. Tekin pointed out that 276 inspectors of the ministry and elementary school inspectors in every city were supervising these courses. "Language and dialect courses like Kurdish and Circassian will probably be added to these existing courses. Such language and dialect courses will not be contrary to fundamental principles of the republic," Tekin said. Tekin noted that the newly-adopted law permitted the opening of only special courses on different languages and dialects. "The National Education Ministry will open and control new courses as French courses are opened under its supervision. Principles and procedures related with opening and supervision of courses of different languages and dialects will be set by our ministry and passed after it is approved by the Council of Ministers. I think this will take three months. Maybe it can be concluded earlier," Tekin added. Meanwhile, officials of the National Education Ministry said that there were currently a Regulation on Special Education Institutions Under Auspices of National Education Ministry and a Regulation on Special Courses. The officials noted that these regulations could be amended instead of preparing a new regulation. Source: Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English 0741 gmt 5 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Come to think of it, none of the Kurdish SW clandestines are aimed at Turkish Kurdistan, if you`ll pardon the expression. How come? More: (gh, DXLD) ** TURKEY. PUBLISHER GETS JAIL SENTENCE FOR PUBLISHING US BOOK ON KURDS | Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 2 August New York, 2 August: On 31 July, Abdullah Keskin, a Turkish publisher charged with "separatist propaganda" for publishing a US journalist's book about Turkey's Kurdish minority population, was convicted and sentenced to a six-month prison sentence, which the court converted to a fine of about 500 US dollars. An Istanbul State Security Court ruled on Wednesday [31 July] that Keskin had violated Article 8 of Turkey's Anti-Terror Law when his publishing house, Avesta, printed a Turkish edition of After Such Knowledge, What Forgiveness? My Encounters in Kurdistan, a book about the Kurds written by retired Washington Post correspondent Jonathan Randal. Keskin, who was out of the country and did not attend the hearing, will appeal the verdict, his lawyer said. State prosecutors based the charges against Keskin on several passages from the book that contained references to "Kurdistan," which literally means "land of the Kurds." Turkish courts often cite such references to justify prosecuting journalists and intellectuals for allegedly supporting the separatist ambitions of Turkey's Kurdish minority population. Despite recent legislative efforts in Turkey aimed at alleviating restrictions on freedom of _expression and improving the country's chances of membership in the European Union, courts continue to apply restrictive laws to prosecute journalists for their work. "While we are relieved that Keskin will not spend time in prison, this conviction shows that practising journalism can still be a crime in Turkey," said CPJ executive director Ann Cooper. "Turkey is far from bringing its laws in line with international standards for press freedom." Randal's book, originally published in 1997, was later translated into several languages. The Turkish edition, which Avesta published in 2001, was confiscated on 15 January 2002 and remains banned. In January 2002, Keskin was charged with violating the Anti-Terror Law. His trial began on 3 April. Currently, Turkey jails more journalists than any other country in Europe or the Middle East. At the end of 2001, thirteen Turkish journalists were in prison, mainly because of their affiliation with pro-Kurdish or leftist publications. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 2 Aug 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ANALYSIS: TURKEY TO ALLOW KURDISH-LANGUAGE BROADCASTS | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 5 August Turkish MPs voted on Saturday 3 August to allow Kurdish TV and radio broadcasts as part of a package of reforms intended to boost the country's prospects of joining the European Union. An estimated 12 million Kurds in Turkey will also be allowed to have private Kurdish- language education. Parliament voted by 267 votes to 114 to allow the Kurds to broadcast in their mother tongue, provided that the programmes follow constitutional principles and do not incite violence. "The right to broadcasting in the mother tongue is to be introduced. Radio and TV broadcasting in the different languages and dialects used traditionally in the everyday lives of citizens of Turkey will start. These broadcasts will be monitored by the Radio and Television High Council [RTUK] and their style and content will also be determined by RTUK," Istanbul-based NTV reported. Analysts said the decision was partly a recognition that satellite technology has made it impossible for Turkey to enforce its ban on Kurdish-language broadcasts transmitted from abroad. This view was echoed by the Istanbul newspaper Milliyet, which commented on 3 August: "Does not every house fitted with a satellite dish receive Kurdish television and radio? Furthermore, from transmitters making separatist broadcasts. Now these broadcasts will be both regulated and monitored. It will contribute to our citizens of Kurdish origin sharing the concept of constitutional citizenship. Turkey has turned negatives into positives." Expatriate Kurds in Europe have been broadcasting via satellite to Turkey for years on channels such as French-based Medya TV, launched in July 1999, and its now defunct predecessor, the London-based Med TV. Turkey has accused these Kurdish-language satellite TV channels of operating as mouthpieces for the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The legalization of broadcasts in Kurdish is a reversal of severe restrictions which have been in force for many years. But it has been one of the most controversial elements of the reform package, attracting the wrath of nationalists MPs. Nationalists said the reforms would divide the country and amounted to concessions to guerrillas who fought a 15-year war for autonomy in mainly Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The Nationalist Action Party (MHP), and many nationalists in other parties, fear that allowing Kurdish broadcasts might encourage armed separatism in the south-east. Kurdish representatives, however, welcomed the moves. "Our reaction has been very positive," exiled Kurdistan National Congress member Akif Bozat told the BBC. "We were looking to Turkey to take those steps long ago, but better late than never. We are pleased to see reforms, and hopefully they will be applied in reality and put into practice," he added (BBC Monitoring research 5 Aug 02 via DXLD) ** U K. August 03, 2002 From The Times, On Line Radio: Paul Connolly Sounds familiar. Commercial radio has never had it so bad. At the start of 1999 the BBC was just 2.8 per cent ahead of its commercial rivals. But in the first quarter of this year this slim lead had increased to more than 7 per cent. Needless to say, the commercial sector is yet again whinging that the BBC has an unfair advantage in being able to alter its remit without reference to the Radio Authority. Commercial radio executives are now pinning their hopes on the recently announced plans for further deregulation, which they hope will kickstart the (Classic FM aside) largely moribund sector. However, I seem to recall similar hope and anticipation 12 years ago when the landmark Broadcasting Act deregulated the radio industry. The prospect of a proliferation of competition was exciting, especially in the key area of music. As well as more mainstream channels for listeners who like their tunes safe and comfortable, a range of interesting new stations would spring up, playing the weird and wonderful. Unfortunately, only half that supposition has proved correct. There are now more than 250 radio stations in the UK; more than twice as many as in 1990. And the problem is that they all sound pretty much the same — a local radio station in Clyde will have more or less exactly the same playlist as one in Exeter. The motive for this bland homogeneity is simple — money. Every advertiser is chasing the high-spending 20-40 age bracket and safe, familiar pop music is an effective lure. So why on earth commercial stations feel that they have the right to complain about BBC Radio`s ability to overhaul existing stations and even launch new digital stations such as 1Xtra is bewildering. They made their choice back in the Nineties and they all chose to do the same as each other. Do they really think further deregulation will help? Once the first wave of mergers is over we'll be left with the same insipid fare operated by fewer companies. Terrific. And which organisation will still be making news-making radio documentaries and breaking thrilling new music? Why, the BBC of course. (Vanora Bennett is away). (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. The following may explain the significance of Gerrards Cross, England, as referred to by R. Taibei International previously (gh) Kingston's Italian Job Kingston inmedia, the satellite-centric broadband solutions provider of Kingston Communications (KCOM.L), which launched ESPN Classic Sport to the French direct to home market, has won a contract to provide digital playout and terrestrial communication circuits for ESPN Classic Sport Italia. The channel is broadcasting to the Italian DTH market by Tele + Digitale in Milan. It is the sister channel to the French service that debuted earlier this year, and sees ESPN Classic Sport and Kingston inmedia combining once again to deliver quality sporting content to European satellite viewers. The service is played out from Kingston inmedia's playout facility in Gerrards Cross; the content is distributed by fibre circuits to Tele + Digitale for distribution to the Italian DTH market. The fibre circuits are provided by Dynergy and Kingston inmedia's sister company, Kingston infrastructure. Says Nick Thompson, Managing Director of Kingston inmedia. "Repeat business is the mark of a happy customer, and Kingston inmedia is in the business of keeping customers happy. Our playout service has been racing along since the launch of our unique automated digital playout centre last autumn, and we are proud of the strong relationships we have forged with customers who have experienced our outstanding service first-hand." Kingston inmedia's base at Gerrards Cross offers a collocated service that is unique to the satellite market. It is home to one of Europe`s leading teleports, has access to the fibre network from the Kingston Communications group, and contains a fully featured data centre alongside TV studios including Studio K, with an impressive virtual reality facility. The playout centre offers industry leading functionality, flexibility and redundancy within a cost effective service; factors that add up to a desirable and sensible top quality broadcast solution (AIB International Broadcasting News Aug 5 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. Beware of going to the Laser Radio website http://www.laserradio.net/ if you are listening to something via the web, since an embedded player launches automatically with station on Live365.com as noted 1800 UT August 3. Still nothing definite about their future plans (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWRB`s extravagant claims from http://www.wwrb.org as of August 3; some of this is obviously aimed at WWCR; which one gives you a better, more reliable signal, I ask? Claims below to undertake propagation studies, but apparently has not yet discovered the auroral zone, as coverage maps show unhampered reach directly over the pole. August 15 is the big day when new antennas are to become operational. Note that WWFV site in Georgia still exists as a `back-up`. Does this mean there are still transmitters available there? And since WWRB has a previously-stated policy of absolutely no visitors, one cannot drop in to compare claims with reality. The rationale for moving does not go into big problems with the neighbors Dave Frantz had in Georgia and told me all about (gh, DXLD) WWRB Facility Information Background: In 1995, Radio Station WGTG began operations with one transmitter and one rhombic antenna, located in scenic McCayesville [sic], Georgia, high in the Appalachian mountains. From this start, the station grew exponentially, adding more transmitters and antennas; soon it had exceeded the local community's utility power supply and telephone infrastructure. However, the final decision to relocate was made when, at the behest of numerous clients who wished to economically broadcast to the Middle East / Africa, the planning for the construction of a Middle East / Africa antenna was begun. It was soon apparent that it was impossible for the radio waves (beam) from the antenna to clear a significant intervening mountain range located due east of the facilities. This, combined with the above reasons, proved sufficient incentive to relocate the main portion of the station. The relocation spawned Radio Station WWRB, which now operates in Manchester, Tennessee, with Radio Station WWFV (the original call letters were changed during the move,) in McCayesville, Georgia, as a backup station. Buildings: All building (housing) construction in connection with WWRB's relocation program has been completed. The new transmitter building, studios, power generation plant, power distribution, antenna switching matrix, antenna matching network buildings, and transformer / power supply buildings are complete. Antennas: Upon inspection of the following antenna capability lineup, one can soon see that Radio Station WWRB will possess one of the most technically astounding antenna capabilities being utilized by a private for hire shortwave station. Most private shortwave stations in the continental United States generally broadcast in one or two general directions; however, Radio Station WWRB will soon have the ability to cover the entire globe upon completion of our relocation project. In addition, most private shortwave stations use small, close to the ground (most antennas do not perform well when less then 100 feet above ground) compromised, low efficiency rhombics, log periodics, and short spaced Yagi antennas. We at WWRB use full size, high efficiency, dual feed curtain reflector antennas, full sized wide spaced yagi antennas, and 135 foot high dual feed rhombic antennas for maximum performance. It is imperative to understand that all shortwave radio stations in the United States are required by Federal Communications Commission rules to use directional antennas, which concentrates the signal in a specific direction like a flashlight beam. When choosing a shortwave station, ask where the antenna you will use points. You need to be aware that many shortwave radio stations attempt to inflate their antenna/station capabilities by talking about 'side lobes' and 'back wash' signals. 'Side lobes' and 'back wash' signals are extremely weak and unreliable, which is why they are not recognized as legitimate broadcasting directions by the Federal Communications Commission. We do not rely on our 'side lobes,' 'back washes,' and 'Hog Washes' to reach your target areas. Instead, we construct an antenna pointing directly towards the target areas, allowing full power to reach the intended point of reception. Click on the Antenna Azimuth below to see coverage area: 360d Reflector Curtain Antenna - Fully Operational after 8/15/02 045d Dual Feed Rhombic Antenna - Fully Operational 090d Reflector Curtain Antenna - Fully Operational 150d Wide Spaced Yagi - Fully Operational after 8/15/02 270d Reflector Curtain Antenna - Fully Operational after 8/15/02 340d Dual Feed Rhombic Antenna - Fully Operational WWRB's full size, uncompromised rhombic, wide spaced yagi, and curtain antennas encompass approximately sixty acres of land. The rhombic antennas' radiating elements average 135 feet above ground, while the curtain antennas average 140 feet above ground level. Propagation Studies: Radio Station WWRB conducts periodic propagation studies as part of our reliability program, detailed below. Many stations will say that they send people to personally check on their station's signal in various parts of the globe. However, this is unnecessary and downright wasteful; it merely creates an expense that the station will expect its clients to pay for. There is no guarantee that the day after this person leaves that part of the globe, another station cannot start broadcasting on that frequency, now causing interference. At Radio Station WWRB, we use technology to our advantage; through the use of computerized, scientifically developed technology used by private industries and governmental agencies such as NASA, the NSA, VOA, CIA, FBI, the FCC, etc., we are able to model shortwave propagation accurately, and through the use of internet controlled shortwave radios, which are located around the world, we can check our signal with no hassle, no expense, and in real time. This is much more effective then sending personnel on world tours to check signals. Web controlled radios and computer modeling of radio wave propagation, using antennas that specifically target various areas of the globe, along with listener reception reports are much more effective. Transmitters: Global-1: Fully Operational Global-2: Fully Operational Global-3: Final Testing Global-4: Under Construction / Organization Global-5: Under Construction / Organization WWRB utilizes both Harris and Conquest Broadcast Technologies transmitters, which are the peak in state-of-the-art shortwave broadcast technology. The transmitters are equipped with digital computer controlled, solid state modulators, are fully frequency agile, and can transmit on any frequency from 550 kHz to 30 MHz, which allows operations in the standard 'car radio' AM broadcast band (upon Federal Communications Commission authorization i.e. national emergency,) all military HF communications frequencies, including maritime, aircraft frequencies, and all international shortwave broadcast frequencies. Our transmitters are capable of all-mode operation such as AM, FM, Single Side Band (SSB), Independent Side Band (ISB), and Spread Spectrum, Phase Shift Keying (PSK), MFSK, Radio Teletype (RTTY), packet, Morse code, Slow Scan Television (SSTV), AMTOR, PACTOR, and is compatible with any digital modulation formats known at this time. The transmitters are also capable of being paralleled, combining all output power as one stronger, synchronous transmitter output. Our oldest transmitter is less than eight years old, while our newest transmitter is less than one year old. All of our transmitters undergo periodically scheduled upgrades and scheduled maintenance, keeping them running well and at or beyond the level of current broadcast technology. Our transmitters have been approved by both the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Aviation Administration. Audio Processing: During natural speech, the human voice does not maintain a standard volume. As words are articulated, the volume of a person's voice rises and falls. For a shortwave signal to attain maximum clarity, comprehension, and signal strength, it is imperative to maintain a preset level of volume. To assure that the broadcast signal is at its best at all times, Radio Station WWRB uses technologically advanced, state-of-the-art Digital Signal Processing in conjunction with our peak of current technology audio processor. This amplifies and maintains the input signal (your program,) fills in the gaps in the audio, and digitally equalizes the audio, thereby ensuring the best possible signal. Studios: Our studios are all-new modern technology, a paragon of the shortwave broadcast industry. We can take your program material via C-series cassettes, C or Ku band satellites, telephone patch, CD, LP, STL, DAT. If a mutually acceptable agreement / lease is negotiated between the purchaser and WWRB, we will perform the necessary upgrades and installations to accommodate the client. Listener Services: We at WWRB have developed a method to broadcast to our hearing impaired 'listeners.' The approach is that you would send WWRB a text printout of your message / sermon along with your program (or we can obtain it from your web site). We then upload your message into our mainframe computer system for broadcast via the digital transmission format encoded on WWRB's transmitter digital modulators. The system utilizes a simple, freeware decode program, a shortwave receiver with Single Side Band, and the hearing impaired listener's personal computer's Sound Blaster! compatible audio card. As a result, your message / sermon appears as plain text on that person's computer screen, which they can print and share with others. We received FCC approval for this service on January 4, 2001, making WWRB the only shortwave broadcast station offering this service. Ships at sea, amateur radio operators, military deployed, government services, clandestine Christian churches overseas, hobby shortwave and many other people already have the capability to receive these broadcasts. We have already been in contact with various hearing impaired support agencies and internet message boards, informing them of this service. Currently, we offer broadcast to the visually impaired by broadcasting the Authorized Version AV-1611 King James Bible and other informative and unique programs specifically for the visually impaired on tape worldwide at various times throughout the broadcast day and week. This is listener supported. We are planning to enhance our outreach to the visually impaired in the next few months when Global-3 or Global-4 is commissioned for broadcast service. For more information, please call us at (931) 841-0492. Network Services: Radio Station WWRB currently offers no internal network services at this time, but we are obtaining and installing the necessary equipment to provide network functions, such as taking telephone calls from host and listeners, and automation software for jingles and commercials. News Services: We have been contacted by several news and weather services who wish to put their programming on our transmitters. This is on a barter basis; in return for allowing them to program and advertise for the first five minutes of each hour, they will air the current news and weather. We are currently praying and seeking listener and broadcaster feedback on whether or not we should use this service, which would consume five minutes of valuable airtime per hour. Engineering Staff: Radio Station WWRB has three fully qualified engineers on staff. We do all of our building construction, maintenance, tower work, tower rigging, tower installation, tower painting, equipment repairs, and transmitter repairs on site, meaning less down time and HUGE savings of time and money passed onto the clients. As most stations contract this work to either the equipment manufacturer or independent contractors, this means premium dollar repair charges which are recaptured in excessively high airtime charges passed directly to the clients. (You!) Spare Parts: Radio Station WWRB stocks spare parts in sets of four(4) for all equipment, including, but not limited to, tower lights, spare tower sections, transmitter systems, and support circuitry. This results in absolute minimum down time as the engineering staff has in stock the proper parts to effect immediate repairs. Combined with our full time on-site engineers and fully redundant systems and subsystems, minimal downtime is assured. Reliability Program: The finished product of this Radio Station is your program. To safeguard and ensure delivery of your program, once each month, our staff conducts a detailed study of all systems, radiowave propagation, operational errors (if any,) logbooks, transmitter outages, antenna problems, and then compiles a reliability report. The staff then meets and discusses the report findings, and, if necessary, institutes corrective action. As an example of the effectiveness of the reliability program, one transmitter, over the course of six months, experienced a capacitor failure three times. Each time it failed, we contacted the manufacturer, who assured us that the capacitor was the correct part for the application; however, the study suggested that there was a failure trend caused by the part. A technical investigation was instituted by our engineers, and it was clearly determined that the part was insufficient for the application. Faced with this information, the manufacturer of the part admitted that we were correct. The part was exchanged with another version from a different manufacturer, and it solved the problem. As a result, we have upgraded the capacitor on all our other transmitters. (from http://www.wwrb.org via gh, DXLD) We looked thru the entire WWRB program schedule and found nothing but gospel huxters and far right wackos topped by this neo-Nazi show of the just-late William Pierce, and the not-late Kevin Alfred Strom, which is too repulsive for any other SW station to carry: AMERICAN DISSIDENT VOICES Sat 6:00 and 11:00 pm ``Eastern Standard`` on 5085 and 6890 (does this mean 2300 and 0400 UT, or 2200 and 0300? The latter, I guess, since at 0425 UT Sunday August 4 check, 5085 was off and 6890 had something else) (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WHY LOCAL RADIO SOUNDS LIKE WHITE BREAD HUGE feature in Globe and Mail, Review page 1. Part one of two. Does not seem to be on the Internet. However, the side bar is... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?current_row=10&tf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.html&cf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/config&encoded_keywords=radio&option=&start_row=10&start_row_offset1=&num_rows=1&search_results_start=1&query=radio DJ'S MANDATE IS TO BUCK THE STATUS QUO By SARAH KENNEDY, Saturday, August 3, 2002 -- Print Edition, Page R1 In radio's bleak state of one-hit wonders and the same songs churned out hourly on commercial stations, Los Angeles's Nic Harcourt is making his own rules. The host of Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW (a public radio station heralded as the only one in L.A. that allows DJs pick their own music), Harcourt's diverse morning roster has placed him at the bleeding edge of music. "I think most radio is very narrowly focused now. Very tightly play- listed and not very much fun," he said. "Radio today tends to be about the bottom line. Most radio is controlled by major corporations like [Clear Channel Communications, of San Antonio, Tex.] and it has become more about pleasing the shareholders." Harcourt's philosophy is to introduce music ahead of the curve to a discerning audience by taking chances on bands that are largely ignored by mainstream radio. And indeed, some of today's top-selling artists have Harcourt to thank for their success. Popular British band Coldplay made its first radio appearance on Morning Becomes Eclectic. British pop singer Dido's single Here With Me was picked up as the theme song for television's Roswell after it was first played on Harcourt's show. "The difference with me and other stations is if I like something, I can play it. There are no restrictions. I knew that David Gray was special and we were playing it six to eight months before he got picked up by a label." Although Harcourt may be launching some musicians into the spotlight, he doesn't see the station as having the power to revamp the industry. "I think we're an oasis, I think we're influential, but I don't think we'll change it." To battle the status quo, these are the rules Harcourt says must be broken: Play more than one female artist in a row. Play independent bands. Listen to demos. "I get about 200 submissions a week but we do listen to everything that comes in. I go out to shows about once or twice a week -- we're always looking for something new." Create a free-form radio show. "Morning Becomes Eclectic is a show put together every day. I play what I feel like playing. There are no play-lists." Challenge the audience. "I have a belief that if good music has the opportunity to be heard, then the audience will respond." (via Ricky Leong, Aug 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. IMPROVING COMMERCIAL RADIO (AT A PRICE) RADIOS TO HAVE LCD'S FOR ADS (etc.) E-Media Tidbits: A Group Weblog Steve Outing on new technology The Los Angeles Times reports on technology that allows radio stations to broadcast text messages along with radio signals --- capable of being displayed on newer radios that have LCD screens. This isn't new technology, but it's gotten a big push forward by Clear Channel Communications beginning to utilize it. This is cool because radio listeners will be able to see what song is being played by looking at their radio's small screen --- something that Internet radio listeners have been able to do for some time. The radio industry will monetize this by sending text advertisements, too, so it will be a mixed blessing. As for improving the dreck that is commercial radio, don't count on that (via http://www.poynter.org 7/29 via Chet Copeland, NY, Aug 5, DXLD) I.e., RDS, we know. Do they ever get around to referring to this by its proper name? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Única/MLS. This item from http://www.mlsnet.com -- Major League Soccer's official website: Part of Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber's "State of the League" address on August 2 at the site of the league's All-Star Game in Washington included the announcement that MLS has reached a new partnership with Radio Única, the leading national Spanish-language radio network in the US. Garber said that Radio Única will produce a weekly MLS show on its network of owned and operated stations during its popular "Única en Deportes" programming block. The working title for the show is "La Hora de MLS", or MLS Hour, and it will be supported by daily MLS updates on the network. Radio Única will also partner with the league in bringing the MLS Cup championship game, to be played October 20 in Foxboro, MA, to the Hispanic radio audience. "As the 'League for a New America', and THE sport for Hispanic- Americans, we are excited about the exposure and credibility Radio Única brings to our sport and I would personally like to thank and recognize Radio Unica's president, Mr. José Cancela, for his friendship and support", Garber said (via Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Aug 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC TO MANDATE DTV RECEIVERS? http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2002-07-30-fcc_digital_x.htm claims that next week, the FCC will propose regulations that would require all TVs to be DTV-capable by the end of 2006. Another portion of the same story says Rep. Tauzin is considering legislation that would require cable systems to carry DTV stations. — This is (as with many things wrong with the FCC these days) pretty much mandated by Congress. Many in Congress are unhappy with the slow pace of the digital conversion & looking for ways to speed it. (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, July 30, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. BACK TO THE GOLDEN DAYS OF RADIO The Lafayette [IN] Journal, Sunday, August 4th 2002 By Kevin Cullen, Journal and Courier Turn the big, fat knob on the 1946 Philco radio and for a moment you're back in the days of Harry Truman, nickel Cokes and the breathless start of the Baby Boom. Slowly, glass vacuum tubes warm up. Dials start to glow. Then -- ever so softly -- mellow, buttery sound waves begin to radiate through the cloth-covered grille and the streamlined wooden cabinet. A whisper grows to full volume... http://www.lafayettejc.com/news20020804/200208030local_news1028436851.shtml (via Mike Terry, DXLD) [Lest you think this be off-topic, keep reading... gh] ** U S A. An AANEWS Special Report... BESIEGED CEO'S TURN TO PUBLIC PIETY, RELIGIOSITY FOR REDEMPTION Disgraced, Implicated In Financial Scandal? "Show Up At Church" The recent wave of financial scandals has sent shudders through Wall Street, and in the words of one ABC news analyst, made some of the most powerful top executives "look pretty bad." Over a trillion dollars in shareholder equity has evaporated in the past three months. Tens of thousands of people risk the loss of jobs, along with a big chunk of their retirement nest egg. But beleaguered "Masters of the World" who looted their companies and became gourmet chefs when it came to cooking the accounting ledgers are turning to a tried-and-true remedy for deflecting public wrath. Some are broadcasting their credentials as men of God, stable family-raising, church-going4 Americans. Others have maintained a self-righteous, high profile religious stance, denouncing the ills of society while raiding their share holder's portfolios. Embracing religion in a time of publicity crisis is nothing new. When Bill Clinton was under media scrutiny for his dalliances with Monica Lewinsky, press flaks assured the media that the president was meeting with a team of religious "counselors," and immersing himself in a redemptive regimen of prayer meetings and meditation to recover his status with both the Almighty and the voters. Jesse Jackson adopted the same strategy when it was revealed that he had been dipping into the funds of one of his non-profit organizations in order to support a former mistress and illegitimate off-spring. One way of polishing his tarnished credentials was for underlings to announce that Jackson had gone into a week-long "retreat" in order to "heal." Several days later, Jackson was back to work at Operation PUSH, and apparently reconciled with his deity for years of unfaithfulness and financial hanky-panky. The list of such redemption-seeking public icons is long, from PTL ("Praise the Lord") televangelist Jim Baaker whose multi-million dollar proselytizing empire collapsed amidst scandal, to former Washington, DC mayor Marion Barry. A good mea culpa can quench the thirst of many critics and pave the way for a future political or financial resurrection. Need Help? Head For The Pulpit ... In today's scandal-ridden climate, there are certain do's and don'ts for those tainted by financial impropriety. Reporter Catherine Valenti provided guidance last week "(Scandal Sheet," ABCNews.com) with a laundry list of tongue-in-check recommendations for white collar executives caught raiding the corporate cookie jar and facing possible time behind bars. Don't flaunt your wealth, says Valenti, or cry poverty when it is simply not true. It's hard, for instance, for the public and laid-off workers to believe such claims, as when Enron exec Kenneth Lay's wife went on national TV to insist "we lost everything." And stay away from the multi-million dollar mansion if you don't want to encounter the press. That's good advice for Mrs. Lay, who pleaded poverty in front of one of the couple's splendorous multi-million dollar houses in Aspen, Colorado. It's also good counsel for Scott Sullivan, the disgraced CFO at WorldCom who allegedly masterminded the firm`s $3.8 billion accounting crash. He`s building a $15 million mansion in Boca Raton, Florida. "Show up at church or a baseball game," Valenti adds. "This gives the image of being a family-oriented, religious citizen." Carol Ruth, a veteran of the public relations trench wars, is watching the growing CEO scandal with alarm. She see nothing improper with corrupt executives being held accountable, and pursued by media. "You're supposed to be a person who recommends equities based on your expertise -- so tell us what happened," she told ABC. As for recovering from angry revelations and accusations of financial impropriety, Ruth added: "Church is like the first thing everyone (implicated) is told to do. Go to church and play ball with your kids." * When Bernard J. Ebbers, the CEO at bankrupt WorldCom came under the glare of the spotlight, he dodged an onslaught of questions from members of the U.S. House of Representatives and instead tried to wash away sins in his local Baptist Church in Brookhaven, Mississippi where he also teaches Sunday school. Parroting Richard Nixon, Ebbers -- a staunch fundamentalist Christian and member of the Promise Keepers men's group -- told fellow congregants, "I want you to know you aren't going to church with a crook." Even the religious were a bit skeptical. Asked writer William Bole of Religion News Service, "Did Ebbers go before the faithful because he knew they would go easy on him, easier than secular authorities would?" Ebbers, say investigators, began cooking the books at WorldCom back in 1999. The company had entered into a deal with the then-thriving Promise Keepers to generate the staunch Christian group extra revenue by providing discount long distance and other telephone services to members. Amidst growing scandal, Ebbers resigned earlier this year after funneling $408 million from WorldCom accounts to cover personal stock losses. * Last week, pictures of another CEO falling from grace captivated the newspaper and television media. John Rigas, founder of Adelphia Communications Corporation relinquished control of the troubled cable provider after it was learned that he and his relatives used the company to guarantee billions of dollars in personal loans, and then kept those liabilities off the accounting ledger. Rigas had built the company up over a period of nearly half-a-century into the nation's sixth largest cable provider. He stepped down from the Adelphia board in late May, along with sons Timothy, Michael and James, and son-in-law Peter Venetis. Under a negotiated agreement, Rigas-controlled corporations would diver $567 million back into Adelphia, and surrender their stock which will be placed in trust pending repayment of other monies. All told, the financial sleight-of- hand involved more than $3.1 billion in loans, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission, none of it revealed to shareholders, workers or other officers. As a result, Adelphia is still under investigation by the SEC and grand juries in two states. The company also failed to make a $38.3 million interest payment and a $6.5 million dividend payment. John Rigas is out as president, CEO and chairman of the troubled company, but received a handsome $4.2 million severance package to run over the next three years. During his long tenure with Adelphia, Rigas developed an odious reputation for censorship and efforts to promote purity by banning salacious cable content. The Los Angeles Times reported that the 76- year-old telecommunications founder "has operated his business and personal life in line with Christian principles," and turned Adelphia into "the only one of the nation's eight large cable companies that lacks adult programming." One victim of the cable provider's self-righteousness was Susan Block, a sexologist whose program was cut by Adelphia after purchasing the local Century Cable. The story became front page news in the Los Angeles Times last year. Columnist Robert Scheer supported Block's program, describing her as "one of the nation's leading sexologists ... and a very bright and funny woman to boot." Block, a minted Yale Ph.D. had been on hundreds of episodes of her popular cable show since 1992. In 1998, however, the legal department at Adelphia began rejecting installments, warning Block that her show "constitutes obscenity" and would not be aired. Meanwhile, Adelphia was also slicing other adult fare including "Spice" and the Playboy Channel. Rigas went public, issuing a statement announcing that Adelphia was dumping all adult programming including pay-per-view content. Decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court didn't help the situation. The justices had tried to design a test for "obscene", defining it as "Whether the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to prurient interest; whether the work depicts or describes in a patently offensive way sexual conduct specifically defined by applicable state law; and whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value." As ACLU attorneys know, these standards seem to vary considerable, from backwoods villages to downtown New York and, yes, Los Angeles. Rigas, a Greek Orthodox known for his religiosity, was awarded Block's "Book Burner Prize." "This old-fashioned moralist from small-town Pennsylvania is trying to dictate programming to open-minded Angelenos, and is flouting the rules of public access," charged Block. Rigas enjoyed the support of the religious right during his on-air purity campaigning. James Dobson, the avuncular head of Focus on the Family, urged followers to contact Rigas and Adelphia and praise the firm for being 'the only major cable operation with a policy against pornography." Rigas, said Dobson, "believes it undermines family values. Other organizations such as "Hollywood Prayer Digest" joined the show of support, praising Rigas for "carrying the torch for cable pioneers who long shunned adult programming." The last laugh seems to be had by Dr. Susan Block, though, who found a cable provider elsewhere, and suggested that viewers dump their Adelphia stock before it was too late. * Maybe there is something about crusading against smut that distracts the public from more pressing concerns (like financial accountability), and appeals to scoundrels. George Bush has vowed to carry on the flagging war on "obscenity," and during the year 2000 campaign declared "pornography has no place in a decent society." It is all reminiscent of Charles Keating, a tycoon caught up in the midst of the old savings and loan (S&L) scandal, who poured millions of dollars into anti-pornography groups including his Citizens for Decency Through Law. While pointing the accusing finger at porn peddlers, though, Keating companies like Lincoln Savings & Loan and American Continental Corporation were busy bilking investors -- many of them elderly -- out of their last dollars by hawking unsecured and worthless junk bonds. Taxpayers covered some of the losses to the tune of $3.4 billion dollars. Keating was convicted in federal and state courts of numerous counts, and served five years of a twelve-and-a-half year sentence. * While the Enron roller coaster was crashing, not all of the heat was on Kenneth Lay. The firm's Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Fastow was also coming under scrutiny, and was described as a up-and-coming figure in corporate America as well as a devout Jew. That caused concerns within the Houston Jewish community, where Fastow and his wife were building a $1.3 million home in the posh River Oaks section of town -- a neighborhood where for decades, according to news reports, Jews and blacks were not exactly welcomed. In reporting the Enron scandal, no one seemed to be playing a religion card until Fastow himself sought public redemption by seeking the support of a local rabbi. After all, one of the courageous whistle blowers in the Enron debacle is Jordan Mintz, a senior lawyer who sent memos to corporate higher-ups warning that something was amiss with the accounting ledgers. "Some Houston Jews say Mr. Fastow is being singled out for blame even more than former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay," noted the Jewish newspaper "Forward." "Others see Mr. Fastow's prominence at Enron as a sign of just how far Jews have come in an oil town where memories of anti-Jewish discrimination are still fresh." While groups like the Anti-Defamation League monitor coverage of the Enron collapse for signs of anti-Semitic bias, though, "it appears that Mr. Fastow himself has been playing the religion card by directing calls (from media) to his rabbi, who has vouched for his moral character," notes Forward staff writer Rachel Donadio. Indeed, Rabbi Shaul Osadchey of Houston's Congregation Or Amni lauds Fastow. "He's a mentsh," he told the Forward. "He's a very committed member of the community. He's active in supporting Jewish causes and he's a devoted supporter of Israel." The "mentsh" moniker has appeared throughout the national media, including Newsweek, the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, the Washington Post, Cox News Service and U.S. News and World Report. It raises ethical and journalistic concerns, though, for Post reporter Lois Romano, who was directed by Mr. Fastow to Rabbi Osadchey. "When does religion come into a story? When the subject brings it into play," Ms. Romano opined. "And the subject brought it into play." Not all Jews agree that Fastow is acting properly in turning a close spiritual adviser and friend into a PR flak catcher. Evan Smith, editor of the Texas Monthly magazine and a Jew, said "It's the marketing of religion as a cure-all for sins. Now when the white collar guys are in trouble they quote the clergy as a way to sanitize their sins." Even Kenneth Lay has played the religion card notes ADL's Martin Cominsky. "I see religion and people's faith background coming into all the stories." Cominsky noted that coverage of Mr. Lay's religion has put the former Enron Chairman "within a Christian narrative of sin and repentance, even casting him in the time-honored Texas role of prodigal son." The February 11 issue of the New York Post conspicuously splashed Lay on the front page under a banner headline declaring, "Lay Prays." A story accompanying the "photo exclusive" noted that Lay, fresh from stinging revelations of financial impropriety and stonewalling to investigators, emerged from seclusion to put in a public appearance at Houston's First United Methodist Church. Lay told eager reporters, "With God's help, we'll get through." The ties go even deeper, of course, linking Enron, Lay and people like Ralph Reed, former whiz-kid director of the Christian Coalition and now a political gun-for-hire operating out of Atlanta. Reed's firm, Century Strategies, approached Enron with an offer to stage a publicity blitz using a select list of religious-right political contributors, talk shows and shadowy advocacy, non-profit groups to press Congress for favorable legislation. A February 17, 2002 story in The Washington post revealed that the $380,000 fee also covered "blast fax" saturation of Capitol Hill lawmakers. One question about this cozy arrangement is whether Karl Rove, stage manager for Bush's 2000 campaign and now a senior White House advisor, sought to land the Enron contract for Reed in exchanging for paying Reed campaign consultation fees. Others on the Enron consulting payroll including Bush economic adviser Lawrence B. Lindsey, William Kristol of the Weekly Standard, and even Republican National Committee chairman Marc Racicot. There has also been speculation that Enron was a quasi-religious cult, with chairman Lay operating in a manner hauntingly reminiscent of David Koresh or Marshall Applewhite of the bizarre Heaven's Gate sect. The similarities are hard to ignore, asserts David Arnott, a management professor at Dallas Baptist University and the author of the book "Corporate Cults" which describe how some aggressive companies take over the lives of workers and create a totalistic environment. "There are elements of cultist behavior in Enron," said Arnott. These included the requirement that employees yield their complete devotion to corporate culture; the presence of a dynamic, charismatic leader; and the fostering of a climate separate from the larger community. The Enron work place was awash in intense motivational sessions, emphasis on "team play," and long hours. "At any hint of attack," notes journalist Froma Harrop, "and they'd rush to their companies defense." Like a cult, Enron management sought to keep the outside world at bay. But while seeking redemption in public religious spectacle, Lay, Ebbers and the other fallen Masters of the Universe -- real life incarnations of Michael Douglas's character in the movie "Wall Street" -- still bear the responsibility for bringing down the lives of others, including share holders and workers. For that, Jesus may forgive -- hopefully, Caesar will not. For further information: http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/enron1.htm ("Family ties -- Enron, the Taliban and the Religious Right," 2/21/02) (AA Newsletter, July 29 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ PACIFIC ASIAN LOG I've recently updated the Pacific Asian Log and posted it on my web site. As many of you know, the PAL is a comprehensive listing of medium wave stations in Asia and the Pacific basin. It lists over 3600 stations in 59 countries, covering an area as far west as Afghanistan and as far east as Alaska. It's over 100 pages long and can be downloaded from http://www.qsl.net/n7ecj The website also includes audio files and logs of Trans-Pacific DX heard in the northwestern U.S. This log is mainly an update to the January 2002 edition, with many changes and additions. I've also added a column to indicate inactive and drifting stations. As with previous editions, the log is available sorted by country or by frequency. Thanks to everyone who commented on the previous editions. Your contributions are always welcome and appreciated. 73, (Bruce Portzer, Seattle, WA, USA, IRCA via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-123, August 2, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1142: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1142.html RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Thank you very much for your DX Listening Digest to help me to listen more radio stations in the world! (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 17870, R. Voice of Afghanistan, London, via Moosbrunn. was still heard July 19 at *1330-1340 in Pashto with 3 IDs: ``Radio Seda-ye Afghanistan``. 35333. But on July 29 and 30 at 1330- 1340 it was off the air (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** ALBANIA. This morning I heard Radio Tirana on 9540 kHz, program in English. Today Radio Tirana has very good signal heard in here, first report the news and then report the Albanian Press Review, Political Party and Finance, etc. then playbacks, folk song (male and female duet) at 2142 UT. Every time when I hear the Radio Tirana English program during 2142-2147 UT, the station on 9545 has sent stronger RF carrier and to pitch or covers the signal of Radio Tirana and at 2155 UT, the station on 9545 kHz send 1 kHz tone strong signal, and then at 2158 UT I heard the announcement as "This is the Voice of America, Washington, D.C. signing on." So the last program after 2142 UT is easy to be heard clear! Sincerely Yours, Your reader (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan, Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. COSAS QUE SOLO PASAN EN LA ARGENTINA Ayer conversaba telefónicamente con el queridísimo amigo y colega Norberto Pugliese quien, entre otras cosas, me contaba que en la ciudad de San Justo, ubicada a 20 minutos de viaje de aquí, comenzó a transmitir en pruebas desde hace unos días Megacanal (por supuesto, sin autorización), en el Canal 4. Lo curioso (en nuestro país poner "increible" sería casi una obviedad ya que nada lo es. Todo puede pasar) es que a escasos 4 km de esa localidad (San Justo), en Villa Madero, emite Sol TV (demás está decir que también opera sin autorización), también por el Canal 4, recibiéndose las 2 señales con interferencia recíproca (Arnaldo Slaen, Aug 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 6230, The Utility station VMC/VMW verified with e-mail QSL letter. They say they have been experiencing technical problems with VMW, however VMC is working well. More details about this station will be published later in SWN. V/S: Brendan McMahon, Bureau of Meteorology Service Policy Branch-Marine. Address: GPO Box 1289K, Melbourne 3001, Australia. E-mail: mcmahon@bom.gov.au (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW SOFTWARE KEEPS THE TALKBACK 'DOGS' OFF AIR TOM is on the air on Sydney radio station 2GB talking about his favourite topic: how much he really *really* doesn't like Prime Minister John Howard. More accurately, he's ranting, and he isn't easy to stop. "Let me finish, let me finish," he snaps as talkshow host Chris Smith tries to interpose a word into the flow.... The full story is available at: http://theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,4805249%255E7582,00.html (The Australian Aug 1 via Bill Westenhaver who added this note: I wonder how many stations use this software?) ** BIAFRA [non]. CLANDESTINE from GERMANY to NIGERIA. 12125, Voice of Biafra International, 1903-2000. English program, speeches for freedom of Biafra. Between 1945-1950 speech in vernacular language (Igbo). Transmissions only Saturdays from TDP transmitters. Excellent reception, 55444 (Nucio Ribas, Brasil, July 27, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. R. Independent Mekumui, presumed, 3850, fairly good in Pidgin around 1000 UT August 1 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Você sabia que a freqüência de 4805 kHz, da Rádio Difusora de Manaus (AM), está na ar desde a sua inauguração, em 24 de novembro de 1948? Esse e muitos outros detalhes estão no sítio da emissora, gentilmente indicado por Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé(AM). Acesse: http://www.difusoramanaus.com.br (Célio Romais, Brasil, Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 5990, R. Senado verified with QSL letter, but no data. V/S: Lourdes Maria Vieira Carneiro, Chefe da Administração. Address: Senado Federal, Anexo á, Bloco B, Térreo, 70165-900 Brasília, DF, Brazil (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9675, 0628-, Radio Canção Nova, July 22. Excellent reception except for minimal splash from upper side with preaching in Portuguese by male. Brief announcement at 0629, and back into the same preaching. No parallels were noted (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURKINA FASO. 5030. No data form letter QSL signed by Tahere Ouedraogo, Chef de Services des Programmes. Report in French sent to Boîte Postale 7029, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, via registered mail. Replied after 132 days (Nucio Ribas, Brasil, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. NEW ZEALAND 9500, 1423-, Democratic Voice of Burma, July 27. S9+10 signal. Non-stop western music until 1427, then a few minutes of dead air, and into Burmese male vocal. Then another brief signature tune, and presumed sign-on announcement by YL just before 1430. 'Kilohertz' heard a number of times (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also MYANMAR ** CANADA. It's 6 PM eastern time here in Montreal on Thursday August 1 and 1610 is definitely back on the air here right now. Just tuned it in after reading your message. No confirmation yet as to whether this is just another test transmission (Sheldon Harvey, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CATALUNYA. HOLA, GLEN[N], SALUDOS DESDE ESPAÑA. ENVIO INFORMACION SOBRE RADIO LIBERTY- PLAYA DE PALS (Girona, Costa Brava). La IBB ha transferido las instalaciones a Radio Nacional de España (RNE). Pero al parecer NO van a ser utilizadas por la radio española, y el Gobierno español (propietario actual) tiene que decidir seguramente el desmantelamiento de la planta transmisora. Adjunto reportaje publicado en el periódico de Barcelona 'La Vanguardia'. Saludos desde España (FRANCISCO RUBIO CUBO, Editor MUNDO DX de la ASOCIACION DX BARCELONA, August 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ESTADOS UNIDOS DEVUELVE LAS INSTALACIONES DE RADIO LIBERTY DE PALS A RNE === LA VANGUARDIA - 05.03 horas - 01/08/2002 ANTONI F. SANDOVAL, Girona. El proceso para la definitiva desaparición de las gigantescas antenas de Radio Liberty de la playa de Pals (Baix Empordà) dio ayer un importante paso adelante. Con fecha de 31 de julio del 2002, el International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB) formalizó de manera oficial y en nombre del Gobierno de Estados Unidos la cesión a Radio Nacional de España de "la emisora de la playa de Pals y de todas sus propiedades". Radio Liberty había dejado de emitir el 25 de mayo del 2001. Estados Unidos pone así fin a un periodo de 43 años de ocupación de los terrenos de la playa de Pals desde que en 1959 se iniciaran las emisiones de Radio Liberty dirigidas a los países del bloque comunista. En una nota hecha pública ayer por el consulado de Estados Unidos en Barcelona se señala que la emisora de Pals tuvo una historia "larga y sobresaliente" y desempeñó "un papel crítico a la hora de hacer llegar información objetiva a los habitantes de la antigua Unión Soviética". El Gobierno de Estados Unidos "agradece" los años de dedicación a todas aquellas personas que han trabajado en Pals y da las gracias al Gobierno, a la Generalitat y a RNE por su "inestimable colaboración para que la emisora pudiera cumplir su valiosa misión". La IBB tenía un contrato de arrendamiento de los terrenos que ocupaba Radio Liberty en Pals hasta el 2015 por el que pagaba cerca de un millón de dólares al año al Gobierno español. La directora de Radio Nacional de España, María Jesús Chao, confirmó la cesión de las instalaciones de Pals por parte de la oficina de radiodifusión internacional norteamericana, que vuelven así a ser de RNE. Sin embargo, Chao señaló que el organismo que dirige se "encargará sólo de vigilar esas instalaciones hasta que, lo antes posible, las cedamos nosotros también a Patrimonio del Estado, que es el propietario legal". Será a partir de ese momento cuando se pueda comenzar a plantear el desmantelamiento definitivo de las antenas, que ocupan más de un kilómetro y medio del frente de mar en la playa de Pals. La desaparición de esas instalaciones es una vieja reivindicación de grupos ecologistas, políticos y vecinos de la zona (Vanguardia Digital August 1 via Rubio, DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINESE SCHOLARS ISSUE DECLARATION ON RIGHTS OF INTERNET USERS | Text of faxed report entitled: "Eighteen Chinese scholars issue a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet" to advocate Internet freedom" by Hong Kong Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy on 29 July Today, 18 scholars including a famous economist and a film academy professor have entrusted our centre with publishing a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet". This declaration has raised questions about the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" to be enforced on 1 August and asks the National People's Congress [NPC] to examine the constitutionality and legitimacy of this law. In this declaration, the 18 scholars including dissident literary critic Liu Xiaobo, economist Mao Yushi, Beijing Film Academy professor Hao Jian, historian Wu Si, and others expressed that (I) the "citizens' rights for the Internet" are part of the citizens' right to freedom as well a part of the civil rights stipulated by the "constitution," the "Declaration of Human Rights," and the "Human Rights Convention" and (II) the citizens' rights for the Internet should at least include 1) freedom of speech on the Internet: citizens have the right to set up web sites and web pages and express their views on Internet forums and should not be banned in advance but to react after the fact and the targets of the reaction are only limited to pornography, slander, violence, and other content; 2) the freedom of Internet information: netizens have the right to browse any Chinese or foreign web pages and any measures to block overseas web sites should be regarded as unlawful; 3) the freedom of Internet organizations: citizens have the right to set up Internet cafes and other Internet service organizations and the government should not establish a license system in this regard. Therefore, the declaration raises questions about these "provisional regulations" and asked the NPC and international human rights organizations to examine its constitutionality and legitimacy. The declaration maintains that the jurisdiction and legitimacy of the government over the Internet must be submitted to the NPC for a ruling to see whether it has violated the constitution or not, or be handed to the people as a whole for a discussion according to law. The declaration believes that the lessons of China's society in modern times have told us that we should never shut our door to the international community, especially at a time when China is confronted with the transformation to a modern society. [Preceding four grafs handwritten introduction provided by source] 29 July 2002 A DECLARATION OF CITIZENS' RIGHTS FOR THE INTERNET On the eve of the enforcement of the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" by the order of the State Press and Publications Administration and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Industries of the People's Republic of China (the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" was examined and approved at the 20th administration affairs meeting of the State Press and Publications Administration on 24 December 2001 and at the 10 ministerial affairs meeting of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom Industries on 27 June 2002 and will be enforced from 1 August 2002), we, as Internet freelancers, personal web site managers, personages who are concerned with the Internet freedom, and Internet users, solemnly publish a "Declaration of Citizens' Rights for the Internet", so as to safeguard the legitimate rights of the PRC [People's Republic of China] citizens to use the Internet. We believe that the following principles are self-evident: I. The "citizens' rights for the Internet" belong to parts of the civil rights stipulated by the "PRC Constitution," the "Universal Declaration of Human rights of the United Nations," and the "Convention of Civil and Political Rights". II. The citizens' rights for the Internet should at least include the following: 1) the freedom of speech on the Internet: citizens have the right to set up web sites and web pages on the Internet, express their personal views on any open Internet forums not to be banned in advance but to react after the fact and the targets of the reaction are limited to "obvious and factual" slanders violating the freedom of speech on the Internet, pornography, and offensive and violent behaviour; 2) the freedom of Internet information: citizens have the rights to browse any Chinese or foreign web sites and web pages and exchange information through e-mail and Internet forums and any measures to block web sites and monitor, restrict, and undermine the above-mentioned personal exchange of information should be regarded as unlawful; and 3) the freedom of Internet organizations: citizens have the right to set up Internet cafes and other Internet service organizations and the government should not establish a license system in this regard. Therefore, we query the legality of the "Provisional Regulations for Internet Publication and Management" and suggest the legislative organizations of China and those international human rights organizations which China has joined examine the constitutionality and legitimacy of this law. We firmly believe that under the present circumstance it is necessary to submit the jurisdiction and legitimacy of the departments concerned of the Chinese government over Internet freedom to the NPC to rule whether it has violated the constitution or to the people as a whole for a discussion according to laws and regulations. We suggest that it has become unavoidable to formulate some laws and regulations according to laws to restrict the power of the government as well as its power to violate Internet freedom. Finally, we reemphasize that a modern government should be based on the right of individual freedom of speech, the right of organizing associations, the right of questioning government decisions, and the right of openly criticizing the government. Only by expressing free and uncensored views can cultural prosperity and political peace emerge in a society. Internet freedom is of a pioneering constructive significance to the progressive causes of mankind and China. One of the causes for the failure to transform China's society in modern times has been the policy of shutting our door to the international community followed by the government including an enforcement of a blockade on public communication between the peoples at home and abroad. Today, we have reasons to be on guard against the policy of shutting the door to the international community. A modern society should be an open society. At the historical juncture of the Chinese nation once again transforming itself from a traditional society to a modern society, any blockade measures are all unfavourable to China's society joining paths with the world and the peace and progress of China's society. The current situation has pressed us to once again enter into an era of responsibility. Every citizen and government should undertake its responsibility and it has become extremely urgent to safeguard Internet freedom. Ren Bumei, Wang Yi, Yu Jie, Yu Shicun, Chen Yongmiao, Wu Si, Liu Xiaobo, Shi Tao, She Daobin, Yang Xiaokai, Mao Yushi, Zhao Cheng, Hao Jian, Zhang Yishan, Mu Nong, Huang Ji, Xiao Shu, and Su Han 29 July 2002 The occupations of some people: Mao Yushi: a noted economist and founder of Tianze Economic Research Institute Hao Jian: a professor of Beijing Film Academy Wu Si: a historian and editor of a certain magazine Most of these 18 people are scholars, university teachers, editors, and so on. The initiator is Liu Xiaobo, telephone no 86-10-88511820 Source: Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, Hong Kong, in Chinese 29 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi: David Smith, late of UN HQ, is in fact now in the Congo and is the head of R. Okapi, and confirms that they will have three 10 kw Marconi SW transmitters working in September. He hasn't had time to sort out QSL-cards yet, but says he will (Jerry Berg, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Dear Friends, We are pleased to announce we can now receive donations over the internet safely and securely via PayPal. This will make it easier for you to help us. Simply go to our website at http://www.rfpi.org and there is a button on the top left hand side of the index page. In September 2002, RFPI will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary. The first 15 years have been full of challenges; however, we are working continuously to improve the station, its programs and projects. While we are implementing many new initiatives to make the station self- supporting, we still depend entirely on the generosity of our friends and listeners to keep operating. We are very cognizant of the fact that the world economy is in a downturn at this moment and our bank account mirrors this situation. Since September 11, 2001 many non- profit organizations have ceased operation for financial reasons and certainly we don't want to see RFPI suffer the same fate after we have made a difference in the world for 15 years. Your donation today will keep our vital work broadcasting worldwide on shortwave and the internet, researching, publishing, training, teaching, networking and promoting world peace going strong. Thank you in advance for your help. In Peace, Debra Latham P.S. If you don't want to use PayPal, the mail still works fine, too. The address is: RFPI, P.O. Box 1094, Eugene, OR 97440. -- Radio For Peace International, P.O. Box 88-6150, Santa Ana, Costa Rica, Central America PH: +506/249-1821 Fax: +506/249-1095 e-mail: info@rfpi.org * WWW: http://www.rfpi.org * ON-DEMAND REAL AUDIO: http://www.rfpi.org/webcast.html * LIVE STREAMING IN MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org available 2200 - 1400 UTC M - F, 24 hours Saturday/Sunday _______________________________________________ * Join our mailing list for weekly program previews, schedule and frequency updates and more: http://www.boinklabs.com/mailman/listinfo/rfpi-announce (RFPI via DXLD) ** CYPRUS. SECURITY GUARD STABBED OUTSIDE US RADIO STATION POLICE were yesterday investigating the claims of a security guard at the American radio station in Nicosia that he had been assaulted and stabbed by two unknown men. Charalambos Iakovou, 63, alleged that he had been stabbed by two men, possibly of Arab origin, while he was on guard duty outside the station in Makedonitissa. The assault, Iakovou claimed, took place at 2am, while he was near the station's entrance. The assailants who were hiding near the garbage storage pulled out a knife, injured him on the hands and abdomen, and then fled north, Iakovou said. He was treated in hospital and subsequently discharged. Police however were treating the incident with suspicion, especially after state pathologist Eleni Antoniou, who examined Iakovou after the incident, said that his wounds were too symmetrical to have been inflicted during a struggle. Nicosia Police Director Nikos Theodorides said that Iakovou's claims were puzzling. It is the second time Iakovou has reported that unknown individuals had approached the radio station. On January 17, he told police that while he was on guard at the station, individuals of Arab origin had attempted to enter the compound using a ladder (August 2 edition of the Cyprus Mail newspaper: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/August/2/news5.htm via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Previous story made clear this is an FBIS monitoring station, not a transmitting station (gh) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4959.85, R. Villa, Santo Domingo, Jul 27, at 0315-0325 with Bachata music, but heavily disturbed by utility on 4960.4, 22332. Had been off since January 2002 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) 4960, Radio Cima, 0840-1000* Aug 2, "Radio Cima Cien" IDs and "Los Gigantes de la Marengue" slogan. Excellent signal, armchair level listening to nice bachata music. 0958 ID, anthem, jingle, and sign-off at 1000 (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) When I checked website, the player would not work, and the flash introduxion was agonizingly slow (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Hi radiofolks, this is SWR of Finland... SWR is now ready to transmit... Are you ready to listen??? Very special and interesting first Saturday of August is just beginning.... So.... Ready.... Steady....Go...oooo! Time- and frequencytable (some changes might happen) for SWR's Saturday 3rd of August 2002 transmission. (So REMEMBER starting time is: 21 UT on FRIDAY 2nd): Time Time 48mb 25mb local UTC kHz kHz 00-01 21-22 6170 11690 01-02 22-23 5980 11720 02-03 23-24 5980 11690 03-08 00-05 5980 11720 08-11 05-08 6170 11690 11-18 08-15 6170 11720 18-19 15-16 5980 11720 19-22 16-19 6170 11690 22-23 19-20 6170 11720 23-24 20-21 5990 11690 You can either call or send SMS messages to direct Scandinavian Weekend Radio studio line 0400 995 559 (outside Finland +358 400 995 559) during transmission. To get more info you can visit our web-page: http://www.swradio.net And our e-mail address is: info@swradio.net Reception reports are higHly appreciated. Send them (with 2 Euros/IRC's/US-$'s) to: SWR Reports, P. O. Box 35, FIN-40321 JYVÄSKYLÄ, FINLAND. Brand new 2002-model T-Shirts available. We have just got new SWR T- shirts ready for sale! The shirts have new pictures and logos both in chest and back. The printing is black, but the shirts are colourful as ever. http://www.swradio.net/fin/myydaan.htm SWR EDXC2002 Radio 17th August 2002 Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Virrat will have an extra transmission during EDXC-Conference arranged by FDXA. This European DX Council conference will be held in Pori, Western Finland. SWR will be an official radiostation of this meeting. Best Regards, DJ MadMan (Alpo Heinonen alpo.dx@pp.inet.fi August 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM. 5765 and 13362, AFRTS, Barrigada was off the air on Jul 8 due to the heavy typhoon passing the island. On Jul 15 and 16 the station was back on the air again. English ID ``AFN``, news. 35443 heard // Hawaii 6350 (33533) (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, Estación Educativa Evangélica "Radio Verdad". Received a letter some weeks ago from Dr. Édgar Amilcar Madrid, Director and Manager for the station, in which he says that the station has been hit by lightning. That destroyed some parts of the transmitter and they are now running 270 watts. He is looking for power transistors for the transmitter and he has been in touch with Omnitronix in Italy and with the subsidiary firm in the US. He also found out that the electronic diagram, supplied with the transmitter, was not the correct one. Now he asks for reception reports to find out how the signal is with only half of the transmitter working. The address is: Estación Educativa Evangélica "Radio Verdad", 4a Ave. 2-24, zona 1, Apartado No. 5, Chiquimula, Guatemala, C.A. He also says that they soon will start a program in English, "Back to Jesus Broadcast", at 0415 UT every day (Claes Olsson, Sweden, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9425, AIR Bangalore. During our local daytime they use relay of Delhi FM II. Then 1350-0050 it is program of National Channel which is different from the other SW channel of the Northern Service on e.g. 3223, 3365, 4860, 4880 and 4910. The National channel also uses 1566, 1215 etc. on MW and some FM (Jose Jacob, India, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. From The RSGB: 2 August 2002 With two weeks to go to this year's International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend, over 225 stations in 36 countries have registered their station and site. A full list can be found on the Internet, and there's a link from the RSGB's site at http://www.rsgb.org Please allow a couple of minutes for the data to download. The International Lighthouse / Lightship Weekend takes place from 0001 UT on Saturday the 17th of August until 2359 on Sunday the 18th. The organiser, Mike Dalrymple, GM4SUC, asks that if you have registered your station you should check to ensure the details are correct. Any corrections can be sent by e-mail either to Mike: gm4suc@compuserve.com or to Kevin, VK2CE, who compiles the website. His address is vk2ce@amsat.org It is not mandatory to register, but if you wish to do so, there is still time. Again, contact either Mike or Kevin (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRELAND [and non]. LONGWAVE, GOODBBYE? Analysis by Andy Sennitt: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/longwave020802.html (via gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. This CNN story has also made the New York Times now. 73- Bill Westenhaver ISRAELI CABLE OUTLETS GET PERMISSION TO REMOVE CNN August 2, 2002 By JIM RUTENBERG Israel's cable television commission yesterday granted the country's cable providers permission to remove CNN International from their services. While none of the three Israeli cable companies - Matav, Golden Channels and Tevel - have done so, they have dangled that possibility in months of tough contract negotiations with CNN, a subsidiary of AOL Time Warner. The companies say the prices they have traditionally paid CNN, which neither side would disclose, are untenable now that they are facing financial difficulty. They recently began to offer their customers CNN's main competitor in the United States, Fox News Channel, a unit of the News Corporation, instead. The cable negotiations have taken place against a backdrop of loud complaints about CNN's coverage of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Government officials and activists have accused CNN of showing a bias toward the Palestinian side. (Palestinians have in turn complained that CNN shows a bias in favor of Israel.) Complaints from Israel hit a low note in June, when CNN's founder and former chief, Ted Turner, was quoted as likening both sides of the conflict to terrorists. CNN responded by dispatching top executives to the region to meet with government officials. They also met with Israeli reporters to restate the network's commitment to balanced coverage. An Israeli government official said yesterday that the commission's decision had nothing to do with CNN's coverage. Rather, he said, the government was giving the companies the freedom needed in their commercial dispute with CNN. "If it is a pure business decision, we should not interfere," the official said. CNN's contracts with the companies last through October. The network, based in Atlanta, said it was confident that it could reach an agreement by then. In a statement, CNN said, "Frankly, it is very hard to imagine that the Israeli cable operators, let alone their customers, will be willing to remove such a valuable source of information during this critical time in Israel's history." A CNN International executive said the network had shown a willingness to cut its prices. But Reuters quoted Ram Belinkov, the acting chief executive of Golden Channels, as saying: "We gave them a proposal of the maximum we are able to pay. If they meet it, we will not take them off. But so far it looks like they don't want to meet it." http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/02/business/media/02TUBE.html?ex=1029291424&ei=1&en=2d708c5a89b1cacd Copyright 2002 The New York Times Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** JAPAN, 6055, 1357-, NSB Radio Tampa, July 27. Lovely signal from Japan this morning. Symphonic music until 1358:30, then sign-off announcements by YL in Japanese. Multiple ads. Parallels 3925 (poor), 9595 (good with minor splatter). Did not sign-off at 1400, but continued with a program called Korea Information (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN/KYRGYZIA. Kyrgyz president accuses Radio Liberty of 'information terrorism' Wed Jul 31, 9:56 AM ET By ELENA LISTVENNAYA, Associated Press Writer BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has called Radio Liberty a threat to his Central Asian nation and accused it of "information terrorism," and a leading opposition activist said Wednesday that the U.S.-funded station's broadcasts were being jammed. Akayev's comments at a round table with opposition groups and independent media last Friday came after months of political turmoil in impoverished Kyrgyzstan - and while the country is hosting nearly 2,000 U.S. and other foreign troops for the anti-terrorist campaign in nearby Afghanistan. Commenting angrily on media coverage of bloody opposition protests in March, Akayev called Radio Liberty "one of the fundamental threats to democracy in Kyrgyzstan," and said its broadcasts were "tendentious and one-sided." He accused Radio Liberty and unnamed foreign news agencies of "information terrorism directed against Kyrgyzstan." Radio Liberty was one of the few media in Kyrgyzstan to cover opposition statements about the March protests, in which six demonstrators were killed in clashes with police. Most media only reported the government's side. A leading opposition party, Ar-Namys, independent newspaper Respublika and several human rights activists have formed a group to defend Radio Liberty in Kyrgyzstan, Topchubek Turgunaliev, an opposition leader and former presidential candidate, told reporters Wednesday. He said the station's broadcasts were being jammed in some regions, and that the group would start monitoring how often the programs are interrupted. Radio Liberty broadcasts five hours a day in the Kyrgyz language. The Kyrgyz government has denied any jamming. Radio Liberty's headquarters in Prague had no immediate comment on the jamming or Akayev's statement. "Only through Radio Liberty do people, especially in distant regions, receive reliable information about events in the country," Turgunaliev said. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, nonprofit corporation that receives funding from the U.S. government. It was established in 1949 to spread pro-Western news to countries behind the Iron Curtain and to promote democratic values and institutions. In May, Kyrgyzstan was named one of the 10 worst places in the world to work as a journalist by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The group said Akayev has been emboldened by the presence of U.S. troops and "used the threat of international terrorism" as an excuse to suppress independent media. In the early 1990s, Kyrgyzstan was known as an island of democratic and free market reform in a region of authoritarian states, but Akayev increasingly has cracked down on dissent in recent years. "The president discredited the country and himself in declaring freedom of speech then persecuting Radio Liberty," Turgunaliev said. (via Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX August 2 via DXLD) ** LIBYA. 15435, Radio Jamahirya-Voice of Africa, 2315-2338 July 27. Arabic vocals at tune-in, to Arabic text segments, interspersed with musical bridges to announcer`s extended script to 2329. "Jamahiya" audible twice. Possibly a national anthem for Arabic closedown, into English service news at 2330. Topics of interest on Africa and the Middle East. Additional ID at 2337, into Arabic newscript. "Voice of African" mentioned several times during brief English news (Gayle Van Horn, NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MONACO [non]. /FRANCE. 216/702/1467: During my vacation in Southern France a month ago I passed the LW/MW transmitters at Roumoules near the border to Monaco. It is used by R Monte Carlo and Trans World Radio. If you are interested in seing some photos, please look at http://www.qsl.net/oz3yi/Roumoules.html (Erik Køie, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 6570, Defense Forces Station, July 27, *1330-1630*, is very active. I will be inserting an audio clip in my R. Korea International report this coming first Sunday (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) See also BURMA [non] ** MYANMAR. 5985.84, 1410-, Radio Myanmar, Jul 27. One of my favourite targets. Wonderful local music until 1415 followed by English program. A little too weak to make much out of the English, though. About an S5 signal (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. Nepal is dead on 5005 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, Jul 27, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) 5005.10, Radio Nepal (tentative), Kumaltar, 1148-1201, July 28, Musical program (local folk music), 22342, (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Signal via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Election began on July 1 and lasted several days due to electricity problems. During the election many stations were heard with special programs with voting results from various provinces. Extended broadcasts until past 1500 were noted. All stations were heard except 3245 R Gulf, 3335 R East Sepik, 3345 R Northern and 3395 R Eastern Highlands. 4890, NBC, Port Moresby, July 1-7, *1900-2000*, now regularly relays R. Australia via satellite // 6080 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 4890, 1342-, National Radio, Jul 27. Remarkable S9+10 reception. Late night radio program. 16 minutes until wind-down. Tok Pisin. At least 2 hours after sunrise here, on an otherwise poor morning propagationally. Lengthy sign-off at 1400 with announcements in English, and National Anthem (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: To keep you informed, as to our latest test developments: We continue to operate on 15185 KHZ, with 5 Watts, and with improvements in the antenna and transmission system. We hope to augment the power, perhaps even today. Antenna is of 5/8-ths-wavelengths, omnidirectional, with 8.84 dBi of theoretical gain. The vertical take-off angles are 3 to 27 degrees. Tests also continue on 7300, with varying levels of power, and with many improvements. All transmissions on this frequency continue to beam toward 184 degrees, from Magnetic North. The primary target is Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. Antenna is a large Corner Reflector, having 25 dBi of gain. The active element is of 5/8-ths wavelength, with vertical take-off angles of 3 to 27 degrees. The frequency 1610 KHZ is also testing, with low power, and, especially, during the hours of darkness, local time. Antennas used vary between a 5/8-ths-wavelength tower (125 Metres tall) and a slanting-wire "Delta" antenna. The frequency 1480 KHZ is in permanent operation, using 1 KW of power, and feeding a quarter-wave tower. All DX Reports are most welcome. With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Aug 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. All stations heard past weekend, in DX Camp Chascomus, with DXers Nicolas Eramo and Enrique Wembagher. [Please see:] http://www.dxing.info/community/viewtopic.php?t=347 (Arnaldo Slaen, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 11885/15120/15270, R. Pilipinas, Tinang, July 13 and 14, *0200-0330*, Overseas Service with English, but still announced old 12015 instead of 11885. Taped program heard with strong signals (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. DZBF, Marikina City, Philippines, 1674 kHz: Just received a chatty e-mail confirmation from Sally A. Balagot, piod- @mozcom.com [truncated] for CD recording, brochure and US$1, sent to: 2/f Marikina City Hall, Shoe Ave., Bgy. Sta. Elena, Philippines 1800 (Paul Ormandy, NZ, August 2nd, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. In response to a message I sent many weeks ago, I have now received this, but, as usual, they don't give me an exact date, nor do I know why he's not a flight risk today when he was yesterday. (Was gonna flee to Switzerland or some such, as I recall.) Also, I heard that Brother Stair had the two dropped charges reinstated (by a grand jury) and has had two more charges added for a total now of six. Don't have much good details, though (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From: "Brother Stair" brotherstair@overcomerministry.com Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 10:39:20 -0400 Subject: RE: Out on bond.. Still wating for trial. (via Robert Arthur, August 2, 1439 UT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. A new update of Spanish MW Stations List was uploaded at: http://www.aer-dx.org/listas/eaenom.htm The list is compiled by Martín Estévez, ee@aer-dx.org, and edited by Pedro Sedano, editor@aer-dx.org; both are members of AER Asociación Española de Radioescucha (= Spanish Radiolistening Association) http://www.aer-dx.org The data of every station are: QRG, Name, Location, Network, kW, Observations (e.g., local broadcasts), Tx Location, QSL policy, Address, Tel. and Fax. There are 3 PDF files sorted by frequency, by location and by network and, forma now, a new Spanish map which includes all Spanish MW stations in GIF format. Changes inside this update: - New telephone numbers of many stations - New map in GIF format with all spanish MW station Till next one! -------------------------------------------------- Pedro Sedano, Madrid, Spain PSEDANOR@coitt.es editor@aer-dx.org ------------------------------------------------- AER http://www.aer-dx.org info@aer-dx.org (via hard-core-dx via DXLD) See also CATALUNYA ** SRI LANKA. The frequencies for the All Asia English Service at 0025-0430, 1230-1550 are: 6005 10 kW (Phillips transmitter) 9770 100 kW (Marconi from Radio SEAC 1949 running at 80 kW) 15425 35 kW (pushing out about 28 kW ex VOA Collins) I often listen to it because of the nice Oldies music of the 60s (which I love!) which the Anglo Indian Community in India appreciates very much and treats more or less as their home radio service. The Service to the Middle East/Gulf Area where there are many thousand Sri Lankans working, including my son-in-law and daughter, is at 1600-1900 on 11775 mainly in Sinhala via NHK 250 kW Kokosai transmitters (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** SURINAME. Ayer, visitando de casualidad el sitio de Radio Apintie, de Paramaribo en Internet, me entere que hoy, 02 de agosto, se celebra el 44 aniversario de la emisora, invitando a los escuchas a mandar sus congratulaciones por correo electronica a la emisora. La emisora esta en Internet en http://www.apintie.sr y lo mas importante es que puede ser escuchada esporadicamente en los 4990,9v, en la onda corta (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** U K. PUTTNAM IS RIGHT TO WANT BROADCASTING TO STAY BRITISH Blair's new 'openness' doesn't seem to apply to the communications bill [by] Jackie Ashley, Wednesday July 31, 2002, The Guardian Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. It all seemed to be getting so much better. Look at Tony Blair's recent openness - the two press conferences, the evidence to the Commons committee, the declared opening up of the lobby system. It clearly "worked" for the government, in the sense that it produced no embarrassing stories and was widely welcomed. Now, of course, everyone is going around scratching their chins and declaring: "Hah, clever tactic. Speaking openly! Very sneaky." Honesty, or at least submitting yourself to lengthy public questioning, is seen as just the latest twist in the game, a tactical ploy of no greater merit. It was clear to those of us watching the performances that Blair's "honesty" did not mean opening the sluice gates of state information or revealing the innermost contents of his mental sock drawer. Again and again, charmingly, politely and firmly, he simply refused to answer questions: it wasn't the right time; you wouldn't expect me to tell you that, ho, ho; I'm sure the committee would understand if I didn't. Nevertheless, it was a start. Overall, the new approach is greatly to be welcomed, and not simply as a clever tactic. Apart from anything else, it reminds us of Blair's mastery of language, the mixture of theatrical charm and lawyerly cunning that explains why he still bestrides the political scene. The trouble is that this personal talent does not come alongside a commitment to real pluralism or openness. This week we are seeing the darker side of Blair, his instinct for striking private deals to advance his political agenda, even against the wider good. Parliament isn't sitting. Most MPs have gone away. Yet the government's response to the joint committee on the draft communications bill is one of the most important political decisions about power we've seen this year. Most media ownership issues are dizzyingly complicated, but this one is not. The committee, set up by the government under the chairmanship of Lord Puttnam, is deeply concerned about plurality in the British media, and does not believe that the proposed communications bill does enough to ensure it. The economic case for lifting restrictions on ownership has not been made, the committee argues. So, Rupert Murdoch should not be allowed to snaffle Channel 5 and break into British terrestrial television. Nor should other big US-based firms, such as AOL Time Warner or Disney, automatically be allowed to move in, bringing a further Americanisation of British television. Not only have the committee's recommendations already been leaked but, extraordinarily, even before they were published the government had made clear that Tony Blair will brush them aside. His personal sanction for overturning the committee is described by a Whitehall figure as "extremely rare". What's going on? No mystery there: my Lord Puttnam and friends came up with the wrong answer. Blair is ferociously pro-American and equally pro-Murdoch, whose newspaper empire delivered him electoral fruits so long denied to Neil Kinnock. Now he desperately needs something more from Murdoch: his grudging acquiescence (it will never be support) to help win a euro referendum next year. The early signs are not good. In an interview with the Financial Times last month, Murdoch made it clear that his opposition to the single currency is not softening, and that he will use every last column inch of his papers to further that view. But who doubts that the go-ahead for his terrestrial television ambitions could dent, or at least divert, his opposition to the euro? It's not cynical to say so - this is power politics in its rawest form, and neither Blair nor Murdoch has ever flinched from playing the game. It is often said that the hole at the heart of the Blair philosophy is democracy: any real commitment or concern about keeping alive a vigorous, dissenting, arguing country. Perhaps the prime minister understands this, an d this is why he has made efforts recently to take the Commons more seriously. But you can't have a lively democracy without plural media - in television and radio as much as in print. If government is for anything, it is for regulating to maintain that pluralism. And if tycoons are for anything, it is for doing their level best to achieve a monopoly, or near-monopoly. The worry about creeping Americanisation is connected. You might say that battle is lost, with the torrent of cartoons, sugar-sweet US teen drama and mainstream Fox and Disney fare already here. But both ITV and the BBC are still producing a hugely impressive quantity - not always quality - of alternative programming. If the Americans take over commercial television in this country, that will go. French, German and Italian companies do not pose the same threat: their programmes are in different languages and far less likely to wash into our culture. What is at stake is identity. The French subsidise their own film industry as a barrier to Hollywood. We British have given up on that and identify ourselves much more through television. What defines "Britain"? Its democracy, of course, and its mix of peoples; but also its news programmes, documentaries and social concerns, its soap operas, its crime shows, its dramas, its sport. That's what we talk about. That's what keeps us. The American media corporations which flood our imaginations through the cinema, the internet, music and much of television are not yet all-powerful, and that matters. Why don't the politicians get it? Perhaps a strange form of cultural elitism is to blame - West Wing-itis. The Washington and Boston-loving "preppy" boys around Whitehall adore the pinnacle of really good American programming, from ER to The West Wing. But they have little clue of how truly awful the other 98% is, the stuff that surges through cable and satellite channels here already. They see the worst of British programming, from Big Brother to Pop Idol, and think, what's so bad about the Americans? This is like leafing through a book of Michelangelo drawings and saying, hey, I think cartoons are much misunderstood. No, for central reasons of democracy, pluralism and maintaining British identity in a world that speaks American, the committee is absolutely right. Yes, of course winning the euro referendum matters. Yes, of course there are some rather good US television programmes. But nothing justifies surrendering the genuine pluralism of British broadcasting, or giving Murdoch an even tighter grip on the national agenda. This is not an arcane matter. It is the good guys and the bad guys. And the next time Tony Blair stands up to give one of his fluent, winning press conferences, in early September in Sedgefield, I hope he gets asked some very hard questions on this. And - even more - that he answers them (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Re 5 MHz band ham frequencies: Krasnoyarsk has been broadcasting on 5290 for years 20 hours a day with 50 kW which these authorities would know, if they switched on their receivers! But besides that, no other broadcasting station is using these five frequencies (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. On July 24 I received the following temporary QSL by e- mail on their tests July 13 and 19: ``Thank you so much for your recent detailed reception report concerning the 5935 kHz test transmissions of LaserRadio.net which I can confirm as being correct. We are still awaiting our QSL cards from the printer and will certainly send you a card ASAP (maybe another 3 weeks!). This Sunday 28th July is our final Test on 5935 kHz. We are holding a board meeting next Monday to decide whether to continue from Ulbroka. If we do continue, we would hope to start regular broadcasts every Sunday from 1600 to 2200 UT with programmes of good music and items of interest to swl's, dx-ers and Amateur radio hobbyists. Thank you again for your report and interest in our project. Regards, Andrew Yeates, Managing Director, LaserRadio.net http://www.laserradio.net (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. Hi, some explain of an Egyptian national, 73 wolfgang DF5SX VoA Arabic service, called SAWA. Dear Wolfie, well, as a matter of fact, I'm really surprised that those guys are digging so deep to get the meaning of the word. HI! SAWA is a slangish word for together ... in the original Arabic language called FUS'HA the meaning of together would be MA'AN. I was really surprised also that VOA did choose such a name for the radio station, but as I said before as long as the target is the teens ... then what else would be better that slangish Arabic :-) yours (TAREK ZEIDAN, SU1TZ, Cairo, Egypt via BC-DX Aug 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB has updated their website and is giving out a new email address- dfrantz@tennessee.com (Hans Johnson, WY, July 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. [via WWRB]. The American Dissident Voice program is continuing in the wake of William Pierce's death. This week was a replay of an old Pierce speech, but as of next week, Kevin Alfred Strom will be the speaker. This per the National Alliance website. (Hans Johnson, WY, July 28, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. After speaking with a local engineer, I've found that after their move from 1360 to 1370, WWLG is running daytime only with 21,000 watts beamed east from the new six-tower straight line array in Edgewood, 10 miles east of Baltimore. Here's where it gets screwy: They are co-owned with WCBM, 680 AM. The WCBM site was just west of the Baltimore beltway off 795 in Owings Mills. Those old 1940's self supporting towers (4) have been taken down and were seen in a local steel scrapyard near one of our AM sites! WCBM is now supposedly on the air from their new site. I'm not sure where it is; originally it was supposed to be north of Baltimore near Sparks (appropriate!) with 50kw day/20kw night. They were 10kw/5kw. But 100000watts.com shows the new site not far from the old one west of Baltimore. Obviously, they're on from a new site somewhere because the old sticks are gone! Not sure of power yet, either. But, there is now a new night site to be built for WWLG 1370 with 6 kw on the old WCBM site in Owings Mills! Seems like a helluva lot of trouble for two underperforming AM stations. And as I said before, the new daytime 1370 signal is not good; they have to protect 3rd adjacent WWIN on 1400 in Baltimore, so obviously those six towers are there to block the 21,000 watts from roaring into Baltimore. I'm just not seeing much sense out of their reasoning on this one. 73 and good DX! (Bruce WB3HVV Colllier, Aug 2, God Bless America! IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Friday, 08/02/02 | Middle Tennessee News & Information COURT SAYS TOWER ILLEGALLY ZONED; NEIGHBORS CONSIDER RULING A VICTORY P. CASEY DALEY / STAFF [caption:] David Crockett leans against the fence of his Rutherford County farm, 8 feet from a guy wire of a radio tower on land that the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled is improperly zoned. Crockett estimates that he's spent more than $200,000 fighting the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, which owns and operates the tower. _____Related map_____ by SCHERI SMITH Staff Writer The sound of Christian radio may be different now that the Tennessee Court of Appeals has ruled that a 500-foot radio tower in Rutherford County was illegally spot-zoned. The tower, owned and operated by the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, was built on 3 acres near Eagleville, Tenn., in 1997. Ever since, a group of neighbors, spearheaded by David Crockett, has been battling the tower's existence. ''I've been through so much with these people,'' said Crockett, who bought his farm in 1992. ''I just can't wait for the day that the tower comes down.'' Last week the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that the Rutherford County Commission's decision to rezone 3 acres on a private farm had elements of ''arbitrariness and capriciousness'' that amounted to spot zoning. Spot zoning is the practice of rezoning a small section of land to benefit one person. It is prohibited by Tennessee law. John Davis, director of the county planning commission, would not comment on the issue. County attorney Darrell Scarlett was unavailable for comment. The tower, which was built on Glenna Williams' land, broadcasts Christian programming for Smyrna station WFCM-FM 91.7. The institute pays Williams $500 a month for the use of her property. There is also an unrelated 300-foot tower on her farm. Williams, who said she did not know about the appellate court decision, would not comment. Heidy Hartley, spokeswoman for the institute, said it was ''disappointed with the decision. It is now investigating options for moving forward.'' The institute has 60 days to ask the Tennessee Supreme Court to review the case. But Crockett's attorneys, Joseph Woodruff and Charles Williamson of Nashville, said the state Supreme Court probably would not review the case. ''Even if they did that, it has been conclusively established that Rutherford County engaged in spot zoning,'' Woodruff said. ''Spot zoning is against the law because it's a way to put a brake on the power of the zoning authorities so they don't run wild.'' Crockett says he can see the tower from almost every vantage point on his 600-acre horse farm. He first filed a lawsuit in 1996 to try to stop construction of the tower, but that injunction was denied. Then in 1999 he and his lawyer took the case to Rutherford County Chancery Court, where Chancellor Bob Corlew referred the decision back to the Rutherford County Commission. It wasn't until last week that Crockett felt any sense of victory. He estimates he has spent more than $200,000 fighting the institute. ''My neighbors are behind me, but I didn't expect them to shell out,'' Crockett said. ''They've done the best they can do.'' The tower, which stands on a hill with an elevation of 500 feet, has 16 grounding wires that help stabilize it. Some of the wires are grounded right at Crockett's property line. Crockett says they've acted as ''lightning rods,'' causing water pumps and breaker boxes to burn out on his property. Woodruff said the whole ordeal had taken a toll on a lot of people. ''It's been a long and difficult process,'' he said. ''But Mr. Crockett was willing to take it, because he and his neighbors had not been treated properly by the zoning process.'' Scheri Smith covers Rutherford County for The Tennessean (via DXLD) ** U S A. HOLY MOTHER WITH A MEDIA EMPIRE (Filed: 02/08/2002) A television network started by command of the Archangel Michael is heading this way, reports David Rennie She is, some say, the most powerful nun on earth. Her no-nonsense religious homilies reach 75 million homes worldwide, on a television network that she founded herself starting with $200, a borrowed garage and a command from the Archangel Michael. You probably have not heard of Mother Angelica, a 79-year-old Franciscan nun, or of her Catholic media empire, the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). But now, the least likely media mogul in history is spreading her wings and aiming for Britain with her uncompromising message of piety, family values and strict obedience to papal teachings. Although British viewers can access EWTN via a German satellite, the network is keen to break into the mainstream market. Currently, it does not have the £500,000 a year needed to buy a slot on Sky's British satellite line-up, but the network's chiefs are unfazed. In 21 years of operations, they have never had enough money for any of their expansion plans. Yet, in the end, the cash has always turned up (EWTN has become a major force among Catholics in North and South America, Africa and the Pacific Rim.) It is, they say with grave certainty, the Lord's will. Staff at EWTN casually talk of miracles as a daily presence. But you do not have to believe in them to acknowledge that something remarkable has been built at their headquarters in Irondale, a sleepy suburb of Birmingham, Alabama. Alabama is not Catholic country - it is the Deep South, a land of clapboard Baptist churches, pick-up trucks with gun racks, and large men in dungarees. Yet Mother Angelica, born in Ohio to a family of Italian immigrants, moved there in 1962 after promising God that she would found "a monastery in the south", if He would ensure the success of a risky spinal operation, needed after an accident with an industrial cleaner. After 21 years of constant expansion, the site of her first monastery is home to a state-of-the art media campus, with satellite dishes, a printing press, 24-hour-a-day television and internet operations, together with coachloads of adoring "pilgrims", as studio audience members are known. The network broadcasts television in English and Spanish, on five satellites, and over cable. Its radio programmes are made available, via satellite, to AM/FM stations across America, and by short wave worldwide. Its internet site carries streaming audio and video, religious commentaries and digital archives - from papal encyclicals to the teachings of St Thomas Aquinas. There is no advertising, and the network has never commissioned a ratings survey - nor does it intend to start. Its programmes include daily Masses, theological talk shows, biblical dramas, lavish coverage of the Pope's world travels, and cartoons depicting the lives of the saints. The most popular shows are live call-ins, including The Journey Home, a show about lapsed Catholics returning to the church. Mother Angelica herself has been off air for six months, following a stroke. According to notices sent in by viewers, 356,000 rosaries have been offered to date for her return to the airwaves; 233,000 Holy Communions; 59,000 novenas and 687,000 Lord's Prayers. In 1999, Mother Angelica moved her 38 nuns to a new monastery, away from the noise and hubbub of the television network. Following a vision from the infant Jesus, she built an exact replica of a 13th century Italian monastery and church in the rolling green Alabama hills - its fine marble and stonework paid for by anonymous donations from five families. She recently built a small medieval castle next door, to encourage pilgrims to become knights for the faith. Yet neither the monastery nor the media centre are theme parks. The atmosphere is reverent: the nuns are strictly cloistered behind 13- foot walls, and may only be interviewed through an iron grille. This is not the world of America's "televangelists" - all big hair, stretched Cadillacs and brows glistening with sweat, as they order viewers to give, give, give. EWTN is firmly part of the Catholic hierarchy. Its presenters are priests, loaned to the station by their bishops. The floor managers are young Franciscan brothers, swishing around the set in brown robes. The network even has a resident theologian, who vets all programming to check that it is in accordance with Vatican teaching. Mother Angelica is a Franciscan abbess, under the authority of Rome. EWTN has no business plan, and no cash reserves, and has never made a profit. It relies wholly on donations and Mother Angelica allows only minimal fund-raising. At the end of programmes, presenters say: "Remember us between your gas bill and the electric bill." A self-confessed technical innocent, Mother Angelica has embraced multi-media technology, emerging from her contemplative seclusion to attend cable conventions and lobby businessmen, her wimple and robes keeping her safe amid the porn merchants and cable sharks. She appreciates the irony of the strange company that her network keeps, says Michael Warsaw, EWTN's president. "She once said: 'You know, we're on satellite, on cable and the internet - wherever you find filth, we're there, providing an alternative.' " This has been a bleak year for the American Catholic church, as it has emerged that church leaders shielded scores of paedophile priests for many years. EWTN has come out fighting, attacking liberal teachings with even greater zeal than before, and arguing for strict obedience to the laws of priestly celibacy. EWTN's chairman and CEO, "Deacon Bill" Steltemeier, believes that the horrors of the past 12 months - from the paedophile scandal to September 11 - are a warning from God. Such views have made EWTN, and Mother Angelica, loathed by church liberals. A few years ago, the liberal Archbishop of Milwaukee, Rembert Weakland, engaged in a public slanging match with the television nun. The trigger was a pageant staged during a papal visit to America, in which a woman played Jesus. Mother Angelica told her flock this was "blasphemy". Archbishop Weakland called her attack: "disgraceful, un- Christian and offensive". This May, Archbishop Weakland took early retirement, after acknowledging he had paid a young man £300,000, to settle a sexual abuse claim. Priests visiting EWTN this week were not afraid to draw a lesson from the archbishop's fate. Rev Tom Griffin, from Chicago, explained: "Bishop Weakland didn't have a lot of time for Mother Angelica's theology. But she's still here - and he's gone." http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/08/02/nmed02.xml © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002. (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. INTERNET RADIO STATIONS GO UNDERGROUND By Dale Tournemille, CTV News Staff Iain McLeod is mad as hell and he isn't going to take it anymore. "I never did like bullies," McLeod says from his home in Warrington, England, where for the past few months he's worked in secret to create software called Streamer that allows anyone to anonymously run their own Internet radio station. The free software has become a rallying point and McLeod a figurehead for pirate radio on the Internet in a looming war over copyright and royalties. "Let's start a broadcasting revolution!" says McLeod.... http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20020731/tech_column_netradio_020731/Specials/story/ 73's (via Wade Smith, New Brunswick, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. A useful news portal is http://www.inboxrobot.com because it searches for words in headlines. Use it to search on radio and you will see several recent stories about this or that Web radio station shutting down or threatened with shutdown (Kim Elliott, DC, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. BC-PA--Anarchy Radio, Bjt,760 WEST PHILLY GRASSROOTS RADIO STATION AMONG DOZENS NATIONWIDE By CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Broadcasting from a tiny room in a decaying Victorian house in West Philadelphia, disc jockeys play punk, pop and old jazz records and expound on issues like the death penalty, religious freedom and sexual health. You're listening to Radio Volta. Anarchy is on the air. "We think it's a very dangerous future for us if ordinary citizens don't report," said Pete Tredish, 32, a former radio rebel who uses his pirate pseudonym. Part of a nationally growing grassroots media movement, Radio Volta was founded by political activists -- some of them former radio pirates and some who identify themselves as anarchists. The station, named for the female 19th century anarchist Voltairine de Cleyre, is streamed online and on a community station at night. "It's better than a bullhorn," said DJ Diane Imelda Fleming. "There's sort of a crackdown on protest. This is a nice complement." For several years these anti-mainstream media warriors have been scrambling around the streets with tape recorders, posting online and broadcasting to anyone who will listen. They set up battle stations at the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1998 and the 2000 Democratic and Republican conventions. After broadcasting online during the Republican Convention in Philadelphia, this group is still going. Today the station has about 30 staffers and broadcasts seven nights a week. "We were out on the streets covering protesters, taping speeches," said Fleming, 37. "We realized we had a great thing going." The founding principle is that this is radio by the people, for the people. No one is a trained journalist and many have day jobs. There is no boss and no hierarchy at the station. They invite anyone with a story to tell it. "One of our primary interests is getting the average everyday person who would typically sit at home and watch the news," said Anthony Mazza, who works on the news show. "Anybody can cover an event in their area." The tiny studio has pink walls, cramped shelves full of records and antique-looking stereos and radio equipment crammed in the corner. Most of the technical pieces were donated or found. Under the name Mediatrix, which she says means conduit, Fleming broadcasts Thursday nights, playing old Ray Charles and T. Rex records and talking about birth control and women's sexual issues. With her biker boots, leopard-print top and layered hair reminiscent of the Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde, she looks like a rock 'n' roller as she speaks slowly into the mic. Tonight Nicole Miller birth-control pill cases and family planning funding abroad are on the agenda. "The media should be used to educate people," she said. "There's a lot of things people need to know." She says the music is just fun. "Most of us are record collectors," she said. "We play things you'll never hear on regular radio, because they're not on these very small playlists." Other shows on the station discuss general news, religion, social justice and abortion. Tredish, who owns the house and also works on the Prometheus Radio Project, which campaigns for greater radio access for community members, said independent radio is vital. "We have a media that is getting down to a point that the vast amount of media is owned by six multinational conglomerates," he said. Amanda Bellerby who discusses independent media during a show called The Indy Hour for a community station in Mendicino, Calif., said "by using this people's media system, anybody is able to create their own media." Bellerby said the independent media movement first started in Seattle. A makeshift-newsroom was set up and audio and video news reports were streamed online. "We noticed that nobody was talking about any of the issues," she said. Since Seattle and the 2000 political conventions, about 170 independent media centers have opened around the country, she said. While Volta, the radio branch of Philadelphia's Independent Media Center, would like to move to larger quarters, the group remains camped out in the tiny studio, DJs championing their causes. They have little idea if anyone out there is listening, but say what they're doing is important. "Most people think it's a dead medium," says Tredish. "We gave it CPR," Fleming retorts. ------ On the Net: Radio Volta: http://www.radiovolta.org Independent Media Center: http://radio.indymedia.org AP-NY-08-01-02 1454EDT (via David R. Alpert, DXLD) ** U S A. BAD NEWS --- RATINGS ARE PLUNGING, STAFFERS ARE LEAVING. WHAT'S GOING ON AT CHANNEL 4? --- By Matt Pulle Not long after the Meredith Corp. bought WSMV-Channel 4 in 1995, the Iowa-based company decided to renovate the station's Knob Hill offices. At the time, Channel 4 enjoyed a nationwide reputation for blending winning ratings with serious and award-winning journalism. Proud of its stature, the station had decorated its hallways with the many trophies and plaques it had won over the years. But when Meredith officials began redecorating, they decided they didn't like all the clutter. And so they chucked all the awards into the parking lot Dumpster. "Staffers were distraught as they pulled out all the station's hard- earned awards from the trash," says Lorraine Grula, who began working at the station in 1982 in the special projects unit and just recently resigned. "Things just began to change when Meredith took over." Nashville's oldest television station, Channel 4 is in the midst of one of the gloomiest periods in its long and distinguished history. In May, during the all-important sweeps period, the station lost to its longtime rival WTVF-Channel 5 in every single time slot. And while the July sweeps aren't as important, they do seem to signify a trend. At press time, it looked like WTVF-Channel 5 would again sweep every newscast. So it's no fluke. Channel 4 is an also-ran station. "I think we had a plan to dominate in this market, but I'm surprised that it happened so quickly," says Channel 5 news director Mike Cutler. Making matters worse, the onetime standard bearer in broadcast journalism has revamped its reporting over the last year, focusing on shorter and more sensational stories. Channel 4 even filmed a live burglary as a part of a weeklong series that featured a former thief- turned-consultant telling viewers the tricks of his past trade. That piece won't win Channel 4 any trophies for the trash. In the wake of a ratings plunge, morale has sunk while Channel 4 has watched nearly 15 employees depart over the last year. Here are just a few: Two weeks ago, Channel 4's general manager, Frank DeTillio, resigned under pressure after seven years on the job. Longtime anchor Sharon Puckett, who had worked for the station for 28 years, abruptly left earlier this month. Jackie Pillars, Channel 4's special events producer whom one former reporter characterizes as the "lifeblood of the station," resigned last week after telling The Tennessean that she didn't feel appreciated. She had logged almost 20 years at the station. And reporter Dorinda Carter quit Channel 4 last week to work for rival WKRN-Channel 2, a jump that would have been viewed as a questionable career move just one year ago. "There are some people at Channel 4 who are still very happy, but there are a lot of people who don't like everything that's happening and I think those people are praying for a miracle," says Carter, who began her career at Channel 4 six years ago. "I think I'm going to be able to go over to Channel 2 and do the best work of my career there." In the 1980s and early '90s, Channel 4 was a remarkable station, airing long, complex stories on the 6 p.m. news while delving into other issues ranging from philosophy to education with the kind of depth and precision rarely seen on television. "Ten years ago, we'd do at least one piece during the 6 o'clock news that ran five minutes or more," says attorney Tom Lee, who worked at Channel 4 from 1989 to 1992. "It might be a consumer investigation, political piece or environmental story. Every night there was a chance to learn about something in extraordinary depth." While Meredith has run Channel 4 for nearly seven years, only recently has the station management come under fire. With 10 other stations under its wing and a vast print business -- Meredith publishes 16 magazines, including Better Homes and Gardens -- the 100-year-old company gave Channel 4 a measure of autonomy. But all that began to change last November, when Meredith brought in the brash, swash- buckling Kevin O'Brien to run Meredith's broadcasting division. In just eight months, under O'Brien, five of the company's 11 general managers have resigned, including Channel 4's DeTillio. Six news directors have also left under O'Brien's watch, and the chatter among Channel 4 reporters is that their boss, Mark Schafer, may be next if ratings continue to head south. Although O'Brien works from Las Vegas, he watches many Channel 4 newscasts from his computer. O'Brien, who's in his mid-50s, has visited the station at least three times and has not exactly endeared himself to Channel 4's rank and file. In fact, at one meeting about how to improve ratings, Lorraine Grula says he told staffers that "journalism doesn't work." In a subsequent meeting, O'Brien denied uttering such newsroom blasphemy, but few staffers believe that he's committed to quality journalism. O'Brien even said as much at a recent meeting, when he reportedly told staff that anybody interested in doing quality, long-form journalism should go work for PBS. "He can be very much of a bully," Grula says. "At one point, he told the staff that he wanted everybody to be happy. Then he turns around and says that everybody here is lazy and needs to work harder and that it's our fault that the station's in trouble. Then he says he can't understand why morale is down." "He's fiery -- he's like a drill sergeant," says Carter, who witnessed O'Brien in action during two staff meetings. "And his bottom line is that he wants to make money, and that's the most important thing for him." O'Brien could not be reached for comment, but Jody Judge, a spokesman for Meredith, says that O'Brien was recruited to resuscitate the company's flagging broadcast division. "Kevin O'Brien's goal is to come in and increase the profitability of Meredith," Judge says. "Some of the changes that have been made are directly attributable to that goal," he says. "Anytime you implement change, you'll have people who accept it and people who resist it." Long before O'Brien arrived, Channel 4 had begun to stray from its impressive traditions. In fact, under news director J.T. Thompson, now departed, Channel 4 began airing the kinds of sleazy sweeps stories that were formerly anathema to the once proud station. Under O'Brien's watch, the station is not as lowbrow, but it's still a shell of its former self. One of O'Brien's mandates, staffers say, is that, stories as a rule should rarely exceed one minute and 15 seconds. Complaining incessantly about newscasts being boring, O'Brien demands that there be high story counts, but that encourages cursory reporting on simple issues. Watching a typical Channel 4 newscast offers the evidence. The anchors nearly have to speed-read to get through all the stories. And an abundance of gloom-and-doom pieces gives viewers the impression that Nashville is on the verge of the apocalypse. In fact, in a recent newscast, Channel 4 aired four grim stories in a row, the first two on local car crashes, the last two on fires. Not long ago, Channel 4 would have scoffed at such story selection. "You don't want to turn on the news every day and see that your city is a crummy place to live, but that's the way it's coming across," one frustrated staffer says. "O'Brien's theory is that death, destruction and mayhem will lead the newscast." Other contributions from O'Brien include a heavy emphasis on live shots and props. During the recent state budget debates, reporters would be live at Legislative Plaza during the 10 p.m. newscast, even though all the characters who helped make the site a colorful place during the day had long since gone home. In addition, reporters always seem like they have to be holding a door, picking up a sign or moving something with their hands. (If you mute a typical Channel 4 newscast, it looks like the reporters are playing a game of charades.) "It's a stretch to have a meaningful demonstration that really adds to the story every night," says longtime anchor Demetria Kalodimos. And having a crew report live from an empty building just to add another live shot is not always a wise use of resources, she adds. "The emphasis on live shots unfortunately squanders the ability of our photo staff, which is probably the strongest it has been since I've been here," Kalodimos says. "We have some of the finest photojournalists in the country, but it's tough if they have to put together a live shot instead of putting a whole story together with pictures." Judge says that O'Brien's approach to journalism is, if anything, scientific. "We've done a lot of research at our different markets on what our viewers want," he says. Most media critics, however, view market research as the bane of journalism, turning media outlets into followers of public opinion rather than independent purveyors of information. Channel 4's more experienced hands especially dismiss that kind of convenience-store approach. "For better or worse, research and focus groups carry a lot of clout with our owners in how we do news," says veteran anchor Dan Miller. "Personally, I put very little stock in having people tell us what kind of news they'd like to see before it even happens. I seriously doubt that anyone said, on Sept. 10, that we should present more coverage of terrorists who fly planes into big American buildings." Kalodimos also scoffs at the station's heavy emphasis on shorter stories. "How do you explain the proliferation of 20/20s, Datelines and other magazine-style journalism shows where very often the stories approach five minutes?" she says. "The attention spans are there, the ratings are there and, while I'm not saying that it's all grand journalism, it's certainly longer form than one-minute stories." While O'Brien remains a resoundingly unpopular figure in the Channel 4 newsroom, station news director Mark Schafer cuts a more complicated reputation. Some staffers say that while Schafer has sound journalistic instincts, his management skills are suspect. That's an especially crippling flaw when you preside over a crew of reporters and anchors--a group not known for humility. "Schafer may be a respected journalist and a wonderful investigative reporter, but his leadership ability and people skills are terrible," reads one post on the industry Web site tvspy.com. "Schafer's reputation is that he is a really nice guy and a big thinker, but that he can't lead on a day-to-day basis," says a staffer at a competing station. "He's a very good journalist. I just don't think he's right for the job." Schafer declined to comment for this story. But one staffer says that while the station has struggled since Schafer took the reigns just a year ago, don't blame the bad news on him. "Mark is powerless," one reporter says. "Nobody should be blaming him right now; he's just a pawn." Kalodimos, for one, says that Schafer can lead Channel 4 out of its current doldrums. "I've known Mark for 18 years, and I respect him a great deal because he has done everything in this business," she says. "If he is allowed to follow his own vision, we're in great hands." For now, however, Channel 4's immediate future looks bleak. The station still boasts popular anchors and hardworking reporters, but it has nevertheless hemorrhaged top talent over the last few weeks that will be difficult to replace. And another thing is undisputed: O'Brien's formula isn't working. His fondness for live shots, props and short, sensational stories has continued Channel 4's ratings slump. Dan Miller says that, while he personally hasn't noticed any change in newsroom morale, the station isn't accustomed to being second-best. And the spate of defections hasn't helped matters. "When people are fired or resign, especially a high-profile veteran like Sharon Puckett or the general manager, it causes apprehension or even sadness," he says. "But on the other hand, there's a sense of rallying among many of the people still here." Kalodimos says that Channel 4 can return to its high-flying days, but only if it stops trying to be something it's not. "If we get in comfortable clothing again, we'll do our best," she says. "It' about being sincere, letting some of the humanness show and bringing personality back to the newscast. Currently the story count is so high that you can barely have an aside if a story is funny. And believe it or not, those are the things that endear you to viewers." All content is © 1995-2002 Nashville Scene unless otherwise noted (via DXLD) ** VATICAN [and non]. 13765 and 15235, Vatican R., July 28, 1330-1530. I was listening to a direct relay of the 17th International Youth Convention in Toronto where my son is also camping out attending it. 800,000 estimated attending. Nothing on the TV, CNN, etc, so this is the only way for me. Reception was very good and excellent on my R71 with the Cushcraft Log Periodic beamed to Vatican City! No way that I could spend more than 2 hours on the Internet paying per minute for the telephone, where they announced they also were with a live webcast. The broadcast to S Asia is being retimed from Aug 1 to 1430- 1600 on 12065 Tashkent, 13765/15235 from Santa Maria di Galeria (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window July 31 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-122, August 1, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1142: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1142.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1142.html [available Fri] RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 MUNDO RADIAL JULIO-AGOSTO: Todos los viernes 2115v, miércoles 2100 en WWCR 15825 (BAJABLE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0207.rm (CORRIENTE) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0207.ram (GUION) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0207.html MONITORING REMINDERS --- Our online calendar is quickly filling with lots of good listening suggestions, mostly on internet, for August. We suggest you check it frequently: http://worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** AFRICA. Africalist http://www.poba.de/africalist.html will be updated as .xls-database on August 1st. However it contains an enormous number of question marks. A new feature will be a list of stations currently inaudible on SW and if something is happening there to change this situation. If anybody knows more or better, just send to me and I will complete the list (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. NINILCHIK RESIDENTS WORRY TRANSMITTERS ARE DANGEROUS The Associated Press (Published: July 31, 2002) Kenai -- High-frequency radio antennas under construction near Ninilchik have neighbors concerned that the transmissions could be hazardous. The antennas also have caught the attention of two government agencies. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has handed developers a cease and desist order because of possible wetlands violations, and the Environmental Protection Agency is investigating the project. The antennas are designed to broadcast religious programming to Russia and the Far East. According to the project's construction permit application, the company building the complex is addressing the wetlands concerns. Company officials also say there would be no danger to the public or to wildlife. The broadcasting complex is being built by Aurora Communications International Inc., a California-based nonprofit corporation that produces and disseminates Christian educational programming and radio broadcasting. According to corporate president Alexander Kozned, the nonprofit is supported by donations and the project is being built by volunteers. Kozned said the station's transmission power is not unusually high or the towers unusually tall. "This is not going to be Voice of America," he said. "They broadcast at 500 kilowatts. They have antennas that are whoppers compared to ours." Initially, transmission will be at 100 kilowatts, about the power at which a similar station near Anchor Point broadcasts. Eventually, he said, the power could be boosted to 250 kilowatts. Kozned's Ninilchik-area neighbors, Paul and Sue Dionne, say they are concerned with the engineering and power of the transmitters. In late June, they filed an informal complaint with the FCC over several issues and are seeking to postpone Aurora's permit. Paul Dionne said Aurora did not properly notify the public regarding its FCC application. Dionne also expressed concern that the station is being built near critical habitat areas and on the edge of Cook Inlet. According to Phil North of the EPA's Kenai office, work last year proceeded without a wetlands permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. EPA required Aurora to remove excess fill and restore some areas, which was done. The Corps of Engineers is addressing new illegal fill, which has generated the cease and desist order. North said he expects the Corps of Engineers to turn over that matter to EPA shortly. Kozned said he expects the wetlands issues to be resolved. Copyright © 2002 The Anchorage Daily News (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) This is the old KGEI transmitter, as previously reported (gh, DXLD) ** ALASKA. NEW AERO VOICE STATION ``Annapolis, Maryland, USA --- When a pioneering Russian air crew made the first flight over the North Pole to the United States in 1937, there was no reliable voice radio contact over the Arctic. Today, there still isn't. Thousands of commercial and private flights a year travel the polar routes beyond the range voice radio --- even beyond satellite coverage. The communications above the Arctic ice cap today is for electronic data --- the high-frequency (HF) data link system that ARINC deployed in 1999. In June 2002, that long Arctic radio silence will be broken when ARINC initiates voice radio coverage of the Arctic regions from a powerful new HF voice ground station in Barrow, Alaska. Installed at the same site as ARINC's HF data link facility, the voice station will have a useful signal range of 3,000 nautical miles --- enough to reach across the ice cap to Russia. The new HF voice service will complement ARINC's HF data link, allowing pilots to choose between text messages and voice when contacting their dispatchers and company offices. Even though text data signals carry farther without degradation, voice contact is superior for many situations, including emergencies. ARINC is installing the Barrow HF voice station at the request of customers, including Continental Airlines and United Airlines. Like many other carriers today, they make frequent use of polar routes, which can shorten their flight times to Hong Kong etc.`` The above is copy of portion of a May press release from ARINC. The station will be remotely controlled from San Francisco which suggests the NP - 3/4 MWARA , which includes Anchorage and portion of the Kamchatka Peninsula. The area could be extended to include Barrow and nearby parts of the Russian mainland. Frequencies would be 2932, 5677, 8915, 13339, 17946 and 21925. On the previous day ARINC released information about their successful tender for an electronic data system for Melbourne Airport, stating it was their first major project within Australia (Allen Fountain, Utility DX, August Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ((((((((((((((((( INSIDE THE ABC NEWSLETTER ))))))))))))))))) issue 2, 25 July 2002 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ~Welcome ~Issue 2: Inside the ABC New-look Sundays Tim Flynn 1948-2002 A way to choose the news MD in Wagga Looking at the facts Online timeline ~Online archive ~~ WELCOME ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear 'Inside the ABC' subscriber, Welcome to the new-look email Version of 'Inside the ABC'. In this edition, you'll find short summaries of all the stories from the latest edition. The links take you to our new 'Inside the ABC' web site, where you can access the full transcript, print it out or even send the page address to an interested friend. And the all-colour, portable document format (PDF) version is also here. Access it from the link at the end of this message or get it from the Web site. And if you don't have a PDF Reader, then please use the link on our site to download it. Kind regards, Newsletter Editor, 'Inside the ABC' ~~ ISSUE 2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inside the ABC, by Barrie Cassidy This month Insiders celebrates one year on air. Insiders host, Barrie Cassidy traces the birth and growth of a political program with a difference. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632254.htm New-look Sundays From 4 August, ABC News and Current Affairs is expanding its coverage on television with the introduction of three new programs on Sunday mornings. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632524.htm Tim Flynn 1948-2002 The staff at ABC NewsRadio were saddened by the death on 28 June of Tim Flynn a loved colleague and friend. He was 54. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632530.htm A way to choose the news, by Bob Johnston In 1995 the ABC s Multimedia Unit was created and the ABC`s original website went live, covering six areas of content including news. The news component was compiled in a small, self-contained unit in Brisbane s radio newsroom, under the editorship of the Radio News Editor, Bob Johnston. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632578.htm MD in Wagga On 1 July, the day the ABC marked its 70th anniversary, Managing Director, Russell Balding celebrated the occasion with staff at ABC Riverina in the NSW regional city of Wagga Wagga. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632584.htm Looking at the facts, by Russell Balding On 2 July, having noted the ABC s 70th birthday celebrations, The Australian ran an editorial which questioned the ABC`s relevance in contemporary urban Australia. It claimed the argument in support of taxpayer-funded broadcasting services for well-off, usually Left- leaning urbanites starts smelling of middle-class welfare. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632593.htm Online timeline The ABC s Archives and Library Services have marked the ABC`s 70th anniversary with a project which will continue to develop and grow and serve Australians long after this year s celebrations are finished. http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/stories/s632599.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PDF version ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Get 'Inside the ABC' issue 2 as an Acrobat Reader file: http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/inside02_jul2502.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ONLINE ARCHIVE ~~~~~ Access all articles from all issues of 'Inside the ABC'. Go to: http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/archive2002.htm Newsletter Editor, 'Inside the ABC' http://abc.net.au/corp/pubs/iabc/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (via Matt Francis, Australia, DXLD) see also TASMANIA ** AUSTRIA. I took a listen to the current Intermedia show previously referenced under Somalia, for Hans Johnson`s interview about DXers assisting stations here and elsewhere with equipment. Starts about 7 minutes into the current audio link via http://roi.orf.at/intermedia/ Trouble is, they keep interrupting Hans for voice-overs in German! The show has quite a few English elements which get translated, in this case a followinginterview via hamradio with Sam Voron from August 1993. Seems to me when they have all this material originally in English, ORF might as well produce an equivalent DX program in English, not as long as Intermedia, 25 minutes, since a lot of that is of primary interest to German-speakers, but, say 10 or 15 minutes, or even 5 minutes, which they can spare for Spanish DX. They could call it --- how about, Austrian Shortwave Panorama? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** BARBADOS. 19741.4 - 8PO - Barbados Radio, Bridgetown - 70 dias Recebida carta confirmando todos dados necessários de minha escuta e informações sobre as transmissões em modo SITOR. V/S.: ???? (Supervisor Barbados Radio 8PO). Eles mencionam na carta que as transmissões em modo FAX são estritamente confidenciais. Atendendo a seu pedido Anderson, coloco a confirmação QSL que recebi da 8PO - Barabdos Radio (Ilha de Barbados). Anderson, acho que foi erro deles mesmo. Vejo que algumas emissoras são descuidadas e mandam confirmações QSL com erros. Foi o caso da minha que recebi da Barbados Radio. Eles colocaram o meu nome no topo da carta, mas na hora de colocar os dados do IR que fiz, colocaram os dados do IR do Anderson Assis de Oliveira, o que é uma pena. Talvez envie de novo o IR para ver se desta vez me mandam corretamente a confirmação QSL (Rubens Ferraz Pedroso, Bandeirantes, PR, @tividade dx via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. R. Minsk usually has co-channel on 7210, but in the clear UT August 1 at 2030-2100 in English, ID at conclusion. Europeans have been booming in, instead of Africans (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) English is not daily ** BRAZIL. Tem emissora brasileira mudando de freqüência. É a Rádio Educação Rural, de Tefé (AM). Deixará os 3385 kHz e passará a emitir em 4925 kHz. A informação é de Cláudio Rotolo de Moraes. Paulo Roberto e Souza, que reside em Tefé, conversou com o diretor da emissora e recebeu a informação de que a mudança está prevista para o final de setembro (Jornalista Célio Romais, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. The DX programme of Radio Bulgaria can be heard after the ten first minutes of the spanish transmission, following the news bulletin and a small report. It is made by their technical department (might be Ivo Ivanov one of them). El espacio DX-ista de Radio Bulgaria puede ser sintonizado tras los primeros diez minutos de transmisión que incluyen el boletín de noticias y un pequeño reportaje (Ramón Vázquez Dourado, España, Aug 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CAMEROON. COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY LAUNCHES INTERNET NEWSLETTER | Excerpt from report by English by Cameroon CRTV radio on 29 July Mincom Online is now operational. Created in June 2002 by the Ministry of Communications, the cyber journal will meet with Internet challenges by providing instant African news, as well as strengthen Cameroon's image abroad. The journal, updated on a daily basis, is manned by the personnel of the Ministry of Communications under the supervision of Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo... anybody who wants to consult Mincom Online should click on http://www.mincom.gov.cm Source: CRTV Radio, Yaounde, in English 1830 gmt 29 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. According to the New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, "twee" means "Sweet, dainty, chic. Now chiefly derogatory, affectedly dainty or quaint." It also gives an example of usage, from the Independent newspaper: "We do not want Coniston to end up as another twee tourist village." Since it's principally a British usage, I'm not sure why Mills used it. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: SAY IT WITH MUSIC: Dream Girls in Concert: Last September, an all-star live concert version of the 1981 hit musical "Dreamgirls" dazzled New York for one night only. Fortunately, it was recorded, and today Richard Ouzounian will share it with you. You'll hear the vocal talents of Audra McDonald, Heather Hedley and Lillas White. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. [2000-2100 UT on webcast from Toronto] (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) ** CATALUNYA. THE REVENGE OF PLAYA DE PALS TRANSMITTER??? INTERESTING INFORMATIONS COMING FROM: From: "Salva Ribes" almoines@iespana.es FMDX ESPANA To: fmdx@yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, July 29, 2002 9:35 PM http://www.abc.es/nacional/noticia.asp?id=117245&dia=28072002 EE.UU. quiere emitir para los países islámicos desde las antenas de Radio Liberty en Gerona ANGUERA. EE.UU. no ha olvidado Radio Liberty. Las instalaciones de la emisora en Gerona han recuperado el interés del Congreso norteamericano por su privilegiada situación para emitir hacia los paises islámicos, mientras sus vecinos ansían recuperar una de las pocas playas vírgenes de la Costa Brava. BARCELONA. El Congreso de los Estados Unidos aprobó el pasado lunes una propuesta para recuperar las instalaciones de Radio Liberty en Pals (Gerona) con el objetivo de emitir propaganda antifundamentalista a los países islámicos y el África subsahariana. Esta radio, con la que Estados Unidos enviaba propaganda anticomunista a los países del Este de Europa, suspendió sus emisiones el año pasado. Actualmente está en proceso de rescisión el contrato de arrendamiento de los terrenos de Pals, que originalmente otorgaba el uso de este espacio a EE.UU. hasta 2015. Las instalaciones, gestionadas actualmente por RNE, también son propiedad del Estado. En este sentido, el secretario de Estado de Aguas y Costas, Pascual Fernández, aseguró el martes en una visita a la población gerundense que las antenas de Radio Liberty podrían quedar definitivamente desmanteladas en 2004. La emisora suspendió su programación, dirigida a los países del Este de Europa, en mayo de 2001, cuando el gobierno norteamericano concluyó que su programación, formada básicamente por propaganda anticomunista, ya que no tenía ningún sentido con el cambio de regímenes políticos en la zona. Prórroga a la concesión El terreno en el que están ubicadas las antenas, cinco kilómetros cuadrados de playa en plena zona naturista, está sujeto a una concesión administrativa que terminará dentro de un año y medio. Ahora, el gobierno norteamericano podría pedir una ampliación de la concesión con la vista puesta en el Magreb y el África subsahariana. Sin embargo, los partidos políticos y las instituciones locales lucharán porque no sea así. Unos, con el objetivo de preservar uno de los pocos espacios vírgenes de la Costa Brava. Otros, con la idea de urbanizar la famosa playa o incluir parte de los terrenos que se liberarán en 2004 en un campo de golf. Proyectos contrarios que podrían quedar en suspenso si finalmente Estados Unidos puja por alargar la concesión. En este sentido, el diputado de CiU en el Congreso Jordi Xuclà ha reclamado esta semana al Gobierno que garantice el desmantelamiento de las instalaciones. Xuclà explicó que el Ejecutivo tiene «todas las cartas en sus manos» para rechazar la reutilización de la emisora, por lo que instó al Gobierno a «ser coherente» con las resoluciones aprobadas en el Senado para acelerar el desmantelamiento de las antenas de Pals. La formación nacionalista ya negoció con la anterior ministra de Ciencia y Tecnología, Anna Birulés, la recuperación de esta franja marítima, por lo que el diputado convergente expresó su confianza en que Josep Piqué no dé marcha atrás al proyecto de regeneración de la playa. De hecho, la recuperación de este espacio ha despertado hasta ahora el apoyo unánime de todas las fuerzas políticas en el Parlamento catalán. La planta de Radio Liberty en Pals, muy deteriorada, está formada, al margen de las oficinas, por trece torres -la más alta de 177 metros y la menor, de 75-, nueve grupos de antenas y siete de conmutadores, además de kilómetros de tubos de cobre. Sin embargo, la mitad de esas antenas es inservible si atendemos al Real Decreto de 2001 que establece los límites de la radifrecuencia, según el cual, para volver a emitir sería necesario aplicar a las antenas esferas de protección de 250.000 watios, lo que dificulta enormemente su puesta en funcionamiento. A esto hay que añadir, además, la falta de mantenimiento de las instalaciones desde que cesaron las emisiones. Medio siglo de emisiones La planta de Radio Liberty de la playa de Pals dejó de emitir el 25 de mayo de 2001, cuando la famosa emisora propagandística norteamericana acababa de cumplir 50 años de emisiones por todo el mundo, con el objetivo de conseguir adeptos para la cultura occidental en plena Guerra Fría. Radio Liberty de Pals emitía, en el momento de su clausura en dos frecuencias: 9.555 KHz, en serbocrata, y la 15.130 KHz en ruso. El parque de antenas está orientado a 52 grados, es decir, a Moscú, pero con la posibilidad de abarcar desde Lituania al Turquestán. Las instalaciones de Pals empezaron a emitir en 1959, fruto de los acuerdos entre España y Estados Unidos en 1957, con los que el régimen de Franco rompió el aislamiento internacional al que se veía sometido desde el final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial. end of article. (via Monferini) So the US still considers Radio Liberty in Gerona looks like a place to be utilized for their personal activities and not an area belonging to the Catalan government ??? (Dario Monferini, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. As I already pointed out quite a number of third world applications for visa to attend the Roman Catholic World Youth Day were rejected, possibly to avoid illegal or unwanted immigration. According to the German News of Radio Vatican, some 20 of 200 Cuban Youth who attended the Youth Day asked for political asylum. Kanada. Rund 20 kubanische Weltjugendtags-Teilnehmer haben bei den kanadischen Behörden um politisches Asyl gebeten. Wie die Zeitung "Toronto Sun" berichtet, gelang es den Jugendlichen, sich während der Papstmesse am Sonntag von der übrigen Gruppe abzusetzen. Die 20 Jugendlichen waren Teil einer 200-köpfigen Delegation, die mit Erlaubnis der kubanischen Regierung zum Weltjugendtag nach Toronto reisen durfte. Die eigens mitgereiste Sicherheitspolizei konnte die Flucht der Jugendlichen nicht verhindern. (News Radio Vatikan - 30.7.2002 via Dr. H.J. Biener via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) The RAC convention organizers arranged for a recorded telephone message from Arnie Coro to be played at the convention banquet. Its been archived in .mp3 format on the RAC convention website at http://www.rac2002.org if you'd like to hear it. 73 de (Bob VE3SRE Chandler, ODXA via DXLD) Keeps dumping out after first few seconds (gh) ** CYPRUS. SECURITY GUARD STABBED OUTSIDE U.S. RADIO MONITORING STATION --- Thu Aug 1, 4:38 AM ET http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020801/ap_wo_en_po/cyprus_us_attack_1 NICOSIA, Cyprus - A Cypriot civilian security guard was stabbed overnight outside a United States radio monitoring station, police reported Thursday. A police statement said the guard, Charalambos Iacovou, 63, was patrolling outside the wall surrounding the station when two assailants attacked him about 2 a.m. (2300 GMT). They stabbed him twice in the stomach and arm and then ran off. Police did not say what the motive might have been. Iacovou, who was hospitalized, was not seriously hurt, the statement said. The United States Foreign Broadcasts Information Service complex on the outskirts of Nicosia is surrounded by a high wall. It monitors commercial and other radio broadcasts emanating from eastern Europe, western Asia and the Mediterranean. Like the U.S. Embassy, it is guarded by uniformed Cypriot civilian security guards armed only with clubs. The attack is the first against any of the security guards protecting the embassy and the monitoring station. The U.S. Embassy declined comment (via yahoonews via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Re: [radioescutas] Radio Cima 100 Saludos colegas diexistas. Vamos a corregir la información. La emisora que se está captando en 4960, se está identificando como Radio Cima 100. Pero antes de identificarse como lo está haciendo ahora, hace unos años, lo hacía como Radio Villa. Si estoy equivocado, por favor corrijan el error. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, July 31, radio- escutas via Dario Monferini, DXLD) Hola Josè, Gracias por la aclaración, Radio Cima 100 opera en 100.5 MHz; en su WEB muy colorada anuncia : "ESCUCHE DIARIAMENTE EN LOS 4960 kHz EN LA BANDA DE 60 METROS ONDA CORTA, RADIO GLOBAL INTERNACIONAL , PROXIMAMENTE !!!" Bueno así es ! http://www.cima100fm.com/cima100.htm Tienes audio live y se puedes sintonizar perfectamente en qualquier horario. También en la WEB anuncian "MUY PRONTO RADIO HIGUEY 1500 AM LA RADIO COLOR DEL ESTE" (Dario Monferini, Italy, July 31, WORLD OF 8RADIO 1142, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. HCJB has a supply of [yet] another QSL card from the past. Allen Graham found some copies of card 1981-F, which shows then-and- now photos of former DX Partyline host Clayton Howard. The first photo shows Howard as a young man, inspecting an HCJB transmitter in the 1940s. The later photo shows him at the control desk at the Pifo transmitter site in 1981. This card was part of a series for HCJB's 50th anniversary. This card may be specially requested instead of the current card, or in addition to the current card, if you send a reception report. There is a good supply of these cards available, so there is no hurry on sending a report to get one of these 1981-F QSL cards. The postal address: DX Partyline ** HCJB ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador. E-mail: dxpl@hcjb.org.ec (DXPL July 27, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** FRANCE. ID Cast will be testing from two sites in the Paris area with power ranging from 1 to 5 kW on 981. Target dates between 16th and 30th September. (Remy Friess, France, Medium Wave Circle via August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** FRANCE: PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AM BAND | Text of report by French RadioActu web site on 24 July The CSA [Conseil Superieur de l'Audiovisuel, French media watchdog] has launched a tender for the AM band and has just authorized the ID Cast company to carry out tests for broadcasting on medium-wave in the Paris region. ID Cast has explained to RadioActu that these tests, which come within the framework of the forthcoming allocation of AM frequencies by the CSA, will take place between 16 and 30 September 2002 at two sites in the Paris region, one in the north east and the other in the south west. The CSA has authorized these tests on the 981 kHz frequency with a power of 1 to 5 kW. These tests will enable the coverage to be measured in urban areas and the new DRM compatible transmitters and the audio processing specific to medium-wave transmission. Headed by Michel Bassi, former director-general of RMC and SFP, the ID Cast company intends to become the first private operator broadcasting on medium-wave, breaking the historic monopoly held until now by TDF. ID Cast has developed new broadcasting technologies, using mainly aerials made of fibre-glass, which are discreet and are less bulky than traditional installations. According to the Geneva frequency plan of 1975, about 50 medium-wave frequencies are available in French territory, and the CSA should make public the frequency plan for this band. Up to now, 37 applications have been deemed acceptable by the regulating authority. Source: RadioActu web site, in French, 24 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** HAWAII. Hi Glenn: This from http://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/ As of August 1, 2002, Hawaii Public Radio's AM station, KIFO 1370 will cease operations as a public radio station. The sale of the station to Diamond Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Legacy Communications Corporation of Utah, has been underway for a matter of months and became final in the second week of July 2002. KIPO 89.3FM and the other radio stations owned by HPR will be unaffected by this change. Interesting story about the new owners of KIFO 1370 at: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Jul/21/ln/ln21a.html And a bit more coverage at: http://starbulletin.com/2002/01/28/business/story1.html 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Quite a bit!: (gh) PUBLIC RADIO SELLING AM FOR $500,000 -- The Hawaii station will change frequencies when the prospective owner from Utah assumes control By Erika Engle Hawaii Public Radio is selling KIFO AM 1380, its only AM station, for $500,000. The deal is expected to close before the end of February, according to HPR President Michael Titterton. Separately, the station's frequency will change to 1370 to accomplish two goals: enabling a station in Washington state to redirect its signal without interference and eliminating interference problems suffered by KIFO. Half the proceeds from the sale would be put toward debt retirement, while the remainder would be used to re-engineer KIPO (89.3 FM), he said. Retrieval of information from the buyer's side has been more difficult, with inconsistencies turning up along the way. The sale negotiations took several months and were carried out between Titterton and E. Morgan Skinner Jr., president of Utah-based Legacy Communications. However, the buyer is Diamond Broadcasting Corp., also based in Utah, headed by President Jeffrey Bate. He is Skinner's son-in-law. Bate owns no other radio stations, but the Federal Communications Commission has granted him construction permits, and he has applications pending for at least four, and possibly five, AM radio stations in Utah and Idaho, according to the FCC Web site and interviews with those associated with the transaction. Neither he nor his company could be found in an online search of state of Hawaii business registrations, and Bate was not available for comment. A call to the company's Utah phone number netted a recording, "At the customer's request (the number) has been temporarily disconnected." A search of online business registration records for the state of Utah identified Skinner, not Bate, as Diamond Broadcasting's registered agent. Skinner's name also popped up several times in a search of the FCC Web site, not just as a licensee, but as a licensee against whom the agency had levied fines. Despite deregulation of the radio industry over the years, the FCC maintains an enforcement bureau to investigate complaints and monitor compliance. FCC records show some of Legacy's mainland stations have been fined thousands of dollars for various violations; those stations have recently been sold. In Hawaii, Legacy registered to do business as KBUG Inc. and owns the license for 1170 AM Honolulu, formerly a Japanese-language station known as KOHO. The purchase involved only the license as KOHO had gone "dark," or off the air, and had lost its studios and broadcast equipment in troubles suffered by its previous ownership. The call letters have been changed numerous times since April of 2000: to KBUG, KBNZ, KZEZ, back to KBNZ, and in January they were changed again to KENT. A radio station is required to be in continuous operation or it faces forfeiture of its broadcast license, but there has been no continuous programming on 1170 AM. Legacy has sought and been granted so-called "Special Temporary Authority" on multiple occasions, allowing it to remain silent, citing difficulty in finding a transmitter site. The Star-Bulletin obtained from the FCC a mailgram apparently faxed to the agency by Legacy's law firm "confirming" that the station had resumed broadcasting on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2001, pursuant to the STA issued three days prior. The mailgram bears the name of Chief Engineer Bill Traue and lists Legacy Communications' address in St. George, Utah, as well as the Corporate Office Centers at Waterfront Plaza in Honolulu. However, according to Waterfront Business Center Manager Tracey Lake, the company had not been a tenant in the office suites since at least April when she started her job there. Further, Traue, contacted at his home in Idaho, was unfamiliar with the mailgram that bore his name. He's never been to Hawaii and had done "no hands-on work" for the station here, he said. He surmised his name had been used as a "rubber stamp." The station's latest STA was granted Sept. 19 with the caveat that its broadcast license "will automatically expire as a matter of law if broadcast operations do not commence by Aug. 16, 2002." Skinner responded to Star-Bulletin queries but declined to speak on the record. According to Titterton, the purchase agreement calls for KENT's broadcast equipment to be installed on the KIFO tower near the Waiawa Correctional Center. The tower also hosts KLHT AM 1040, which is owned by Calvary Chapel of Honolulu, but the church has requested permission to move its equipment to a tower on Dillingham Boulevard, according to broadcast engineer and Broadcast Resources President Ernie Nearman. He performs engineering work for KLHT and other stations. He called the Waiawa site a "terrible location," noting KLHT is unable to broadcast at its authorized 10,000-watt strength because the resulting signal would interfere with the FCC monitoring station between the tower and the bulk of its desired audience in town. "My understanding is that (Skinner) wants to co-locate with KIFO," said public radio's Titterton. He added the switch from 1380 kilohertz to 1370 will enable a station in Washington state to redirect its signal without interference from the Hawaii station. It will also, Nearman said, eliminate interference problems suffered by KIFO as its position at 1380 on the dial "is the second harmonic of 690, KQMQ AM, so when you're anywhere in the area of Kewalo basin or Kakaako, it just blasts them out; you start picking up the Disney Channel instead of Public Radio," he said. The purchase requires FCC approval. Hawaii Public Radio's "future is not in AM," but in expansion of KIPO FM, Titterton said. The organization plans to re-engineer the station and to make its news and information programming "heavily interactive -- as much as we can make it as we build repeaters (on the neighbor islands)," he said. (Honolulu Star Bulletin July 28 via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** HONDURAS. Hoy me toca reportarles la siguiente emisora: Radio Litoral: desde la ciudad Puerto de La Ceiba, en Honduras, en la frecuencia 4830v a las 0340 UT. Entre los comentarios pude escuchar lo siguiente: ``Era para complacer a la familia Ortíz en barrio La Isla a esta hora de la noche en compañía de la familia ?????? y a los que nos escuchan en otras partes de la Ciudad Puerto de La Ceiba, como también a sus alrededores, confiamos en el Señor de que muchas personas aún quizás sintonizan la señal, pero de que por alguna razón no nos escriben o no nos lo hacen saber, pero total, gracias a Dios porque sabemos de que ellos cuentan con nuestra señal, cuentan con nuestra señal la cual es del emisor ? para nuestra vida espiritual... vamos a aprovechar estos minutos que nos restan para escuchar más canciones aquí ?????????? en español, veinte minutos para las 10 de la noche, Radio Litoral.`` Copiado textualmente de la grabación hecha, la cual está a la orden de los colegas que la requieran. Receptor: SONY ICF 2001D. Antena: RZ 600 Portable Shortwave Reel Antena de SIEMENS. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, July 31, Conexión Digital via DXLD) So they want reports ** INDIA. AIR Jeypore seems to be affected by power problems lately. 5040 is noted off air these days around 1330-1430 UT (7.00 to 8.00 pm local time which is peak electrical consumptiom period). The parallel frequency of 1467 kHz MW is also affected then as it is not heard on some days at that particular time. Sometimes it is also not heard as strong at that time suggesting that they must be using the standby transmitter of 20 kW instead of the regular 100 kW (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO Tech guru John Dvorak is highly critical of the two new American digital satellite services, XM and Sirius (which carries Radio Sweden via a WRN channel). Writing on the "PC Magazine" website, he begins: "Technologies fundamentally change whenever two particular events happen at once. First, there must be a performance improvement, and second, there must be an actual need for change. The arena of consumer electronics, above all, is a bumpy road of failed new ideas because the two events required for change seldom happen at once. Quadraphonic sound is a perfect example of a failed idea. AM stereo radio is another example. More recently, the quagmire around the two satellite radio initiatives -- Sirius and XM -- gives these two initiatives the earmarks of dual losers. It will be a miracle if the satellite radio companies survive, despite the deep pockets of their respective backers." His objections range from content (the supposedly talkfree themed music channels have announcers) to price (who really wants to pay around USD 120 year for the same radio program coast to coast in your car?). The fact that the receivers involved for the rival systems are not compatible will slow down (or sink) introduction, and Sirius' recent objections to interference from wireless networks (the latest take-off technology) bodes ill. For the entire article see: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,1906,00.asp (pcmag.com via NPR's Jeff Rosenberg, via SCDX/Mediascan...) I just wonder why anyone would want to listen to the same "no talk" radio station while driving across the continent, or even in rush hour traffic? Listening to local stations as you travel is part of the experience, and listening to local traffic and weather can be a top priority during rush hour. Otherwise you can play a CD or listen to an audio book. Of course being able to listen to Radio Sweden and the rest of our WRN partners is always nice.... (George Wood, Radio Sweden via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. LIGHTHOUSE NEWS AND ACTIVITY PanAmerican Lighthouse-Lightship Weekend. Activity will be on all modes and sponsored by the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society from 0001z, August 3rd through 2359z, August 4th. Suggested frequencies are: CW -- 1830, 3530, 7030, 14030, 21030, 28030 kHz SSB -- 1970, 3970, 7270, 14270, 21370, 28370 kHz. Exchange: ARLHS member or lighthouse number or year first licensed, name, and SPC. For complete guidelines and awards, see the Web site at: http://www.waterw.com/%7eweidner/arlhs/page3c.html Or send a1 SASE to ARLHS, Box 2178, Riverton, NJ 08077 (KB8NW/OPDX May 27/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD 2-086 May 26 via DXLD 2-122 August 1) However, that link does not work now. I guess the following be unrelated ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND Mike, GM4SUC, would like to remind everyone that the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend has grown in popularity and participants. It will be held from 0001z on Sat Aug 17 until 2359z on Sun Aug 18. Already over 100 entries in 27 countries have been received by VK2CE at the official website http://vk2ce.com/illw Further info from Mike at gm4suc@compuserve.com (Vernon Ikeda, Ham Radio Report, July CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** IRAN. RADIO-TV OFFICIAL SAYS HE CAN THROW COUNTRY INTO CHAOS | Text of report by Iranian news agency IRNA Tehran, 31 July: The deputy director of the Voice and Vision [state radio and TV] has said: I can throw the country into chaos with one sentence. The deputy director of the Voice and Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Rahmani Fazli, said: I can throw the country into chaos with a sentence or by broadcasting a single picture. This is my speciality. Rahmani-Fazli, who was speaking at the second meeting of the directors and experts of the public relations offices of various ministries and government organizations, said: "90 per cent of the population watches the news programmes of the Voice and Vision". He added: Our polls have shown that 79 per cent of those watching our programmes have faith in its content. Rahmani-Fazli admitted: "On many occasions, the Voice and Vision does not cover many issues." He added: However, when the issue is important we do broadcast the programme and confront the officials with a done deed. He described, "casting a shadow of doubt, extremism, not disseminating correct information in various areas, efforts to portray the regime as ineffectual and trying to spread despair among the people" as political tools used by Americans, saying: The Voice and Vision must crash these policies. Rahmani pointed out to the policy of moderation adopted by the Voice and Vision emphasizing on the law and said: We will deal with anyone who breaks the law. Rahami said that the Voice and Vision does not have the capability to provide the people with all the information, adding: We can not disseminate more than 40 to 50 per cent of the news. He stressed: The Voice and Vision does not address problems that deal with the fundamentals of the system. He added: Our main problem is with the executive organs. Rejecting the criticisms levelled against the Voice and Vision, Rahmani said: These are all political rhetoric aimed against the Voice and Vision. Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in Persian 1222 gmt 31 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. HISTORY - A FEW POINTS ON SOME OF THE INACTIVE STATIONS Radio Iran Toilers Organization: Iranian Tudeh (communist) Party According to the Institute of Social History site. Radio Zahmatkeshan (Toilers) broadcast from Afghanistan was jointly run by the Tudeh Party of Iran and the Organisation of the Iranian People¹s Fedaian (Majority) a separate but allied movement. There are video inter- views of some individual involved in Iranian clandestine radio held at the institute, presumably only in Farsi See http://www.iisg.nl:80/image_sound/video/iran.html Voice of the Sarbedaran (Those Who Have Laid Their Heads on the Block), Voice of the Guerillas This is almost certainly the Union of Iranian Communists (Sarbedaran) a Maoist guerrilla group. They are now the Communist Party of Iran (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) Their site is http://www.sarbedaran.org but no mention in the English pages of radio activity (K. Coyle, Hong Kong, July 31, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Glenn, It appears that Teamtalk 252 closed today. 252 is silent (well I can hear Algeria) as is Sky Digital 910 although it is still carrying programme details. According to the website control has reverted to RTE. I wonder if anyone heard the closing minutes? I thought not (Nicholas Mead, UK, July 31, WORLD OF RADIO 1142, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The item of radio news I have is that Ireland 252 is off air. It is not a frequency I regularly listen to, but I did note it active earlier this week. I guess this means the end of TeamTalk via LW. As I type at 1615 I hear what I assume is Algiers peaking about S5, and playing pop music, but there is too much static to copy clearly. Before IRL arrived, ALG used to be regularly heard here. I wonder what we will next hear via IRL - more pop music or UCB religion??? Personally, I would prefer RTE Radio na Gaeltachta and some nice Irish music! (Noel Green, UK, via Kai Ludwig, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. TEAMTALK FOLDS WITH 40 JOBS LOST Owen Gibson, Thursday August 01 2002, The Guardian Sports radio station Teamtalk 252 has gone silent, closed after just five months on air with the loss of the 40 jobs at the station. The station was set up as a competitor to TalkSport, owned by Kelvin McKenzie's Wireless Group, and BBC Radio 5 Live, and broadcast on the former frequency of music station Atlantic 252. Last month, online bookmaker UKBetting bought the holding company behind Teamtalk for £14m, primarily for its website and mobile operations. It decided to close the radio station, which has lost £2.2m in the five months since launch on top of the £2m Teamtalk paid for the licence. The frequency has been sold for a nominal fee to Irish state broadcaster RTE, which already owned a 20% stake in Radio Tara, the holding company that owned the licence. RTE has yet to decide what to do with it, but options include trying to sell it on to another broadcaster or using it to broadcast one of its two Irish stations in the UK. The former Teamtalk chairman and chief executive, Bill Wilson, had already stepped down before the company was sold, as the cost of the venture spiralled out of control. He was replaced by Chris Oakley, the former chief executive of Regional Independent Media, who immediately slashed jobs and costs before also stepping down when the company was sold. In all around 150 jobs have been lost at the station. Brendan Fatchett, the managing editor of the radio division, said the closure was no reflection on the staff, who had worked hard to make the station a success despite the difficulties of the weak long wave signal and its lack of exclusive sports rights. "We had a very good team of 45 or 50 people who tried very hard to make it work. We had lots of exciting plans that we wanted to put into practice but the economic realities of the business meant that we weren't able to do so," he said. The station built up an audience of 400,000 listeners during its short time on air, although this figure was still 600,000 short of the number of listeners that Atlantic 252 used to get during its dying days. Staff from UKBetting's other websites, including Sportinglife.com and Sportal, will now move into Teamtalk's Leeds offices. The integration will be led by David Annat, the former Sportinglife managing director who has been made content director of the enlarged operation, which will have a combined staff of around 170. Mr Annat said the Teamtalk brand would remain as a premium football website and mobile division but he would look for ways to link the various sites together. He also plans to take the Sporting Life online radio station, currently produced by a third party, in house using Teamtalk's technology. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) TEAMTALK252 - CLOSED 1st August 2002 ukbetting plc Disposal of interest in radio business The board of ukbetting plc is pleased to announce that it has agreed in principle to dispose of TEAMtalk Media Group plc's ("TEAMtalk") indirect 80% shareholding in Radio Tara Limited for a nominal consideration to Radio Telefis Éireann, which owns the remaining 20% shareholding. TEAMtalk and RTE have entered into exclusive negotiations with a view to completing the transaction at the earliest opportunity. As part of the agreement TEAMtalk 252 will cease broadcasting with immediate effect. The 80% shareholding in Radio Tara Limited was acquired by TEAMtalk in December 2001 for a consideration of GBP 2.0 million. Since its acquisition Radio Tara Limited has also incurred unaudited pre tax losses of GBP 2.2 million . The disposal of this shareholding will stem a significant cash drain on the TEAMtalk business (Richard Helmsley, Media UK forums via Barraclough) I can confirm that there are no signals from Ireland on 252 this morning (Mike Barraclough, UK, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. It turns out that Israeli cable systems have now been given permission to drop CNN; see this "breaking news" piece from Ha'aretz. http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=193288 (via Bill Westenhaver, and also Kim Elliott) Here's the link to a Jerusalem Post piece about it: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1027506425126 73- (Bill Westenhaver, Aug 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. SHORTWAVE CIRCUMSTANCE IN JAPAN WAS SAVED! On July 31, PLC research committee of Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications of Japan denied to release shortwave (2-30 MHz) for faster PLC communication, proposed by power line companies. The main reason of the denial was that the radiation from the PLC lines will badly affect the existing shortwave communication used by aviation control, amateur radio, radio-astronomy etc. and cannot exist together with other shortwave services at the present. The committee has made hearings of who concerned and experiments (the result: shortwave broadcast was inaudible at 3m from power line, affected even at some hundreds meters away!). Shortwave users in Japan -- shortwave listeners, radio amateurs, astronomists, defense forces, shortwave broadcasters, police agency, maritime safety agency, aviation control agency, medical techonologists -- were all against the PLC realization. Some power line companies planned to begin PLC service and sell PLC modems from autumn this year. The result of "public comment" requirement done by the government in May was: 109 objective views against PLC, instead of only 2 in favor. (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, August 1, via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** JAPAN. Mentions interference to shortwave broadcasting....: JAPAN NOT READY FOR POWER LINE-BASED NET ACCESS: GOVT PANEL Story Filed: Thursday, August 01, 2002 4:49 AM EST TOKYO, Aug 01, 2002 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- It is too early to commercialize Internet-access services using ordinary power lines, mainly because of air wave interference that might result, an advisory panel of the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications concluded Wednesday. At the present stage of technological development, noise interference generated by power line communication (PLC) for the Internet would seriously affect short-wave radio broadcasting and amateur radio communications, and the new bandwidth should not be allocated for PLC services, the panel concluded. PLC is widely seen as a promising technology for low-cost broadband Internet services because it requires little modification to subscribers' households, unlike fiber-optic-based broadband services, which involve costly modifications to homes. Japan Broadcasting Corp. and amateur radio operators strongly oppose PLC, however, citing electron-noise interference. In tests conducted by the panel, PLC sometimes generated noise that was 10 times higher than the maximum permissible level. But some modems that are capable of preventing noise leakage have already been developed, and the panel recommends further testing for commercialization by PLC service providers and modem makers. Some regions in the U.S. and Europe are already moving toward adopting PLC after noise-prevention standards are established. The panel concluded that Japan should reconsider PLC-service licensing when an international agreement is reached on electronic-noise prevention. (Nikkei) (C) 2002 Asia Pulse Pte Ltd (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** KALININGRAD. At my location in the north, Bolshakovo 171 comes in at a convenient S-9 + 20 level. This is 10 dB above Warsaw 225. 177 is barely audible, but instead there is a local carrier on 173v from a TV or something at S-9. If I tune to the lower side of 171 reception is clean. (Listening at 0900 UTC using a 180 meters antenna and a NRD- 535.) 73s (Olle Alm, Sweden, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, here it is again, Bolshakovo on 171, this time with Radio Rossii, a satellite delay behind Taldom 17660. The signal is about as strong as Allouis 162, it cannot satisfy here within the flat but should well be sufficient for outdoor listening despite the nearby 177 powerhouse, it is hardly a problem because Zehlendorf runs a really docile modulation (audio bandwith limited to 4.5 kHz and no dynamics compression in use). Anyway 171 is no longer an empty channel here, so the weird "here used to be a station" feeling is now limited to 261 only as far as longwave is concerned. I still remember how I tried the old Radio-1 on 171 on the shore of the really nice lake (a filled coal-mine) at Senftenberg. Only the weather forecasts prevent me from doing it once again, for today thunderstorms are announced, so I was there already yesterday. Certainly it is an interesting consideration why Radio Rossii leased the 171 outlet at Bolshakovo. They could intend to reach the Baltics, but probably it is even more important for them to serve Belarus` with a better signal. As well-known all Radio Rossii transmissions there were stopped because our dear president did not like the program; 873 now delivers a useless duplication of BR 2 while the FM network and the wired net channel once occupied by Radio Rossii now carries Voice of Russia programming instead. I wonder if they will now fire up the 171 transmitter at Sasnovy again with something else, or will they hesitate from doing so because the purpose would be too obvious? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KYRGYZSTAN/KYRGYZIA. KYRGYZ OPPOSITION URGES DEFENCE OF OPPOSITION RADIO | Text of report by Kyrgyz newspaper AKIpress web site 29 July Recent statements by Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev regarding the activities of Radio Azattyk [Freedom] in Kyrgyzstan have evoked a response inside the country. On 26 July 2002, while speaking at "Round Table-3", Askar Akayev criticized Radio Azattyk, accusing it of foreign-funded information terrorism. In this connection, a number of opposition members have distributed an "Appeal to the people and democratic forces of Kyrgyzstan". They think that "the authorities are switching to a new stage of unjustified attacks, accusations and bans on the independent media". In particular, the document mentions that "suppression of freedom of speech in Kyrgyzstan started long ago" and such examples as the shutdown of the parliamentary newspaper Svobodnyye Gory [Free Mountains] in 1994, the trial of a journalist of the newspaper Respublika, and also the shutdown of the newspapers Politika, Ordo- Kriminal, Asaba and others are quoted. Also quoted is Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolay Tanayev's comment that "the authorities lost the information war" during the Aksy events, including Radio Azattyk too. We cannot agree with such an assessment of the activities of Radio Azattyk in Kyrgyzstan. The radio broadcasts objective and true information about what is happening in our country, covering the viewpoints of all sides in society, as well as the actions of the authorities, the appeal says. In conclusion, it appeals to everyone "who cares for the ideals of freedom of speech to defend Radio Azattyk". The statement was signed by Respublika's editor-in-chief, Z. Sydykova; the chairman of the Erkindik party, T. Turgunaliyev; the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan, K. Adzhibekova; the chairman of the Kyrgyz Human Rights Committee, R. Dyryldayev; the deputy chairman of the guild of prisoners of conscience, A. Abdrasulova; the chairman of the Human Rights Movement and of the committee for protection of the Aksy tragedy victims, T. Akunov; and a number of other people. Source: AKIpress web site, Bishkek, in Russian 29 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) I think the R. Azattyk referred to here is the U.S.-sponsored Radio Liberty (gh, DXLD) ** LATVIA. See UK [non] ** LEBANON [and non]. VOICE OF THE OPPRESSED & EASTERN RADIO Voice of the Oppressed (listed [in CR.com] under Israel: inactive) is now definitely inactive. It seems 648 kHz has been off since 1996 but now VHF/FM within Lebanon also closed down on 19 July. Eastern Radio ([listed in CR.com under] Lebanon: active) must be in Northern Israel. Lebanese authorities would not permit it to operate inside Lebanon. This freq used to be from Kfar Kila of course. http://www.dailystar.com.lb/22_07_02/art24.asp (via J. FitzSimons, UK, July 19, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. Radio Liberia International, 5100, heard 29th July, 2100 to 2120 tune out with news programme in English, fair strength. Not noted 30th July, was reported off air 30th May by BBCM (Mike Barraclough, August World DX Club Contact via WORLD OF RADIO 1142, DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. History - A few points on some of the inactive stations Voice of Malayan Revolution/Voice of Malayan Democracy The correct name of the original party was the Communist Party of Malaya. The CPM did not initially recognise the division of Malaysia and Singapore into separate states in 1965 and kept the name it had used since the time of the British Empire, referring to both territories. The CPM later split with the second group calling itself the Malaysian Communist Party. However this second party also split. I will check my records on this later to see which group broadcast Voice of the People of Malaysia. Also according to the writer Bertil Lintner, "During the 1970s, The Communist Party of Malaya`s Suara Revolusi Malaya ("Voice of the Malayan Revolution") broadcast from Hengyang south of Changsha in Hunan province" not Kunming as stated; the party had offices in Kunming but the transmitter was elsewhere. Perhaps this was also the case with the CP of Thailand`s Voice of the Thai People. See http://www.irrawaddy.org/database/2000/vol8.7/article.html (K. Coyle, Hong Kong, July 31, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** MALI. After several months of unsuccessful attempts I heard Mali on 9635 again, on July 31st, 0810-0845, in vernacular, fair signal. Was this transmitter off? (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, WORLD OF RADIO 1142, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. MEXICO RADIO STATIONS BAN DRUG MUSIC, Fri Jul 19 http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20020719/ap_en_mu/mexico_drug_music_3 TIJUANA, Mexico (AP) - There will be no more drugs and violence on Mexican radio stations in and around Tijuana. Baja California state radio stations signed an agreement Thursday to ban songs known as narco-corridos, and instead have decided to play only songs that promote positive messages and good values. They also urged Spanish-language U.S. stations across the border in California to do the same. Casio Carlos Narváez, a representative of the Radio and Television Industry Chamber, said stations won't be able to compete if their U.S. counterparts don't take the same step. "We should promote this self-imposed regulation to avoid converting into heroes and examples people who break the laws of our country," he said. Narco-corridos have long been popular in Tijuana, a city trying to clean up its image as a haven for drugs and crime. The northern Mexican folk songs chronicle the tales of drug lords to the backdrop of accordions and strumming guitars. Other border states in Mexico have discussed similar bans, and many stations have already removed narco-corridos them from their playing lists. Baja officials said their decision was an effort to help the government fight drugs and crime. Mario Enrique Mayans, an industry representative in Baja California, said the stations wanted to be an example "in eliminating themes that go against good, moral customs and apologize for violence." (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. On every Sunday morning (local time 0607-0627), Radio Nederland broadcasts a classic music program in Indonesian named MUSIK KLASIK on 7285 and 9590 kHz. Both are well heard here and during 1207-1227 UT heard same program on 11690, 17580 and 21480 kHz. The best is 21480, signals are very good than their morning service. This is a very good program, but unfortunately I cannot understand Indoneaian language! Sincerely yours Your reader (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan 1/8 10:59, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. From Herman Boel on the Medium Wave Circle list: As of tomorrow, 1 August, Radio Nationaal will only be broadcasting non-stop music (on 1296 kHz via Orfordness). This is the result of a decision by the Rotterdam court, which states that the authorities cannot issue licenses bases on a comparative study of the candidates, but is to auction the licenses for a duration of 8 years. This means that the highest bid will be accepted. Radio Nationaal says that they therefore will have no chance of obtaining a license and cannot further permit to spend much money. Three quarters of the staff have now been laid off. This once more shows that authorities and courts have absolutely no idea what radio is all about. The Flemish FM situation for instance --- have a look at http://users.pandora.be/hermanb/vlarad.htm --- is the result of decisions by succesive backward governments. A less backward but still unintelligent scheme is now to be followed in the Netherlands. Radio stations with financially strong backings are now eagerly awaiting the auction, which should come round in the coming weeks or months. The NOS have announced that as of 1 September 2002 they will switch off their MW transmitters of Radio 1 on 891 and 1008 kHz. It is curious though that 891 kHz is currently off air for maintenance, and after that will only be put on for a couple of weeks. 73 Herman Boel ----------------------------------------------------------------- Author of the European Medium Wave Guide http://users.pandora.be/hermanb/ located in Aalst, Flanders ----------------------------------------------------------------- (via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. In the OBN, you mentioned that KOMA doesn't appear to have any news talk programming. They run Bill O'Reilly weekdays from 1-3 p.m. It appears they may gradually become a talker. You have a great site! Keep up the good work! (OKCityRadio.com July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. MANAGEMENT OF RADIO STATION FOR POLES ABROAD REPLACED | Text of report by Polish news agency PAP Warsaw, 30 July: The board of [public] Polish Radio on Tuesday [30 July] unexpectedly recalled the management of Radio Polonia. Maciej Letowski will be replaced in the post of head of the station by Marek Traczyk. Traczyk has latterly been the editor of the magazine TTG Poland, which promotes tourism in Poland abroad. Malgorzata Raczynska, the former [public] Polish Television correspondent in Germany (1994- 99), has become his deputy. Minister of Foreign Affairs Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz has recently been critical of the activity of Radio Polonia. Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 2039 gmt 30 Jul 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1142, DXLD) ** POLAND. Polish Radio has always been one of the more difficult catches. First heard them just prior to the crackdown on Solidarity in 1979 and prior to the imposition of martial law. Heard them again in 1984. Poland was not a priority to listen to, nor was it easy to do on my very old, analog receiver (about as sensitive as Andrew Dice Clay). I`ve heard them on occasion over the years, but really became a fan when I discovered them on the CBC Overnight service, listening as often as I could. The communist era broadcasts left no real impression on me --- probably that was their intention (I have become a real fan of Radio Polonia, listening pretty much daily via World Radio Network. The one-hour program available on demand is an interesting mix of news and features. I especially enjoy the interaction between the presenters of the Mailbag program. There is also a chap who delivers an occasional commentary about some aspect of life in Poland. He is bitingly witty. A real treat to hear. It`s a shame reception of this station is so dreadful on shortwave. The Radio Polonia webpage seems to be as out of date as Radio Budapest`s --- the same articles have been posted there since I last looked at it in 2001. Also the program schedule lists Polish lessons but a recent mailbag program indicated that these had been discontinued. One nice feature is a (partial?) script of the day`s newscast (as with Bulgaria). See http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/angielska.asp (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. The Spanish language department of the Radio Moscow marks its 70th anniversary today. It is one of the oldest departments together with German, French and English languages of the state broadcasting company ``Voice of Russia``. These days the Voice of Russia has been receiving greetings from politicians, public figures, scientists, writers and cosmonauts from Russia, Spain, and Latin America. According to the Guatemalan ambassador to Russia Alfonso Matta Fasen, the radio has no borders and is the best link between the peoples of the two countries. A deputy of the Lower House of the Russian parliament Ivan Melnikov has said that radio programmes from Moscow are an important channel of information about new democratic Russia. This helps to strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between Russia and Spain and Latin America. Voice of Russia News, 01/08/2002 Hoy se cumplieron 70 años del comienzo de las emisiones en españoles desde Moscú. El servicio en español es uno de los mas antiguos de Radio Moscú Internacional, hoy ``La Voz de Rusia``, junto con los servicios en inglés, francés y alemán. Hoy día, cuando celebramos este septuagésimo aniversario lo hacemos con varias generaciones de oyentes de América Latina y de España. A todos ellos agradecemos la invariable atención a nuestros programas, las cartas y tarjetas de saludo enviadas a la redacción y confiamos en que, al igual que nosotros, consideren esta una fiesta común. Siendo así, felicitaciones amigos y continuemos la cita que dura ya 70 años en las ondas de ``La Voz de Rusia``. NOTICIAS DESDE MOSCÚ 01/08/02 (via Sergei Sosedkin, DXLD) ** SPAIN. Dear Glenn: This earlier morning (local time 0005-0055 = 1605-1655 UT), I heard Radio Exterior de España on 21,570 kHz, 55555. All music was Spanish style music and composers, including MUSICA VALENCIANA, LA ZARZUELA, MUSICA ESPAÑOLA, etc. It is a very good program for classic MUSIC LOVER. I hope Monday to Friday can be heard this program, but sometimes signal are very very low caused by not so good radio wave propagation, during 0805-0855 UT on 21,570 kHz, so I must wait to midnight (local time) to hear and record the music of NUESTRO SELLO; the music of Nuestro Sello has a good quality heard here everytime! Above programs are in Spanish (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan 1/8 10:59, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also NETHERLANDS non for more classical. See also CATALUNYA ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN --- Coming up on Radio Sweden: With Sweden's general elections coming in September, we're presenting interviews with the leaders of the parliamentary political parties every Wednesday. Here's the schedule: July 17 Left Party leader Gudrun Schyman July 24 Christian Democrat leader Alf Svensson July 31 Center Party leader Maud Olofsson August 7 Liberal leader Lars Leijonborg August 14 Conservative Party leader Bo Lundgren August 21 Social Democrat Prime Minister Göran Persson August 28 Green Party If you missed any of the interviews, we'll have RealAudio on demand soon. And don't miss our coverage of the Swedish elections on September 15. [August 1+] Thursday: Special feature on Junibacken, the Stockholm amusement park themed on characters from Astrid Lindgren's children's books Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In "Network Europe" prostitution and corruption in politics and the media Sunday: "In Touch With Stockholm" meets Americans of Swedish heritage (SCDX/MediaScan July 31 via DXLD) ** TASMANIA. Local Tasmanian media news On last night's evening news it was announced that Tasmania's existing two commercial television networks had successfully applied to the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA) to run a third commercial network which would be exclusively digital as a joint venture. No channels have yet been announced and the venture is expected to commence in 18 months time. Hopefully by then the price of digital receivers would have come dramatically down. Presently they are just under $10,000 and unavailable here in Tasmania and not many being sold on the mainland either where digital TV is operational. HDTV as a standard is also likely to be abandoned whilst the SDTV digital format will continue. The joint venture is between Southern Cross TV (based here in Launceston) and the mainland based WIN which operates in Hobart (the State capital). Ironically the two stations were known as Tas TV when they were part of the ENT Network and that is going to be the name of the new venture. The Announcement came also on the day when the death of Edmund Rouse was revealed. Rouse started TNT 9 on May 26th 1962 , two years after TAS TV (TVT 6) commenced. Rouse as CEO of the "Examiner" newspaper steadily built up it into a major regional media empire by acquiring TVT6, making a single commercial network in Tasmania. Rouse went on to acquire 3UZ in Melbourne ((927) and 4NA Nambour plus sundry other business enterprises.7EX and 7HT were already part of the empire Rouse had become very influential because of his media interests and also because he championed the north of Tasmania in parochial battles with the South. He was egotistical and arrogant and eventually received a CBE from Her Majesty for services to the media. Then at the height of his power he did a very stupid thing which even he admitted. In 1989, The Labor Party and the Liberals were locked together in a state election and a new political party emerged holding the balance of Power. It was the Greens. After a lot of horse trading, Labor signed an accord with the Greens, which gave them government. But before they sat in Parliament, Rouse had already conspired with a 3 UZ sales manager to contact a former employee who had been elected on the Labor party ticket with a substantial bribe if he would defect and cross the floor and join the Liberals. The MP became suspicious and immediately contacted the Tasmania Police who mounted a telephone bugging and caught the sales manager whilst he was online with the Bribe offer. He was arrested and sang like the proverbial canary, naming Rouse as the fellow conspirator. He too was quickly arrested and pleaded guilty in court. Rouse's media empire quickly evaporated after he was charged and sent to gaol. The flagship "Examiner" newspaper was sold to Fairfax and a small country Tasmanian newspaper in a joint venture followed quickly by Launceston's channel 9, which was bought by the Melbourne based Southern Cross Network. 3 UZ was sold prior to this scandal as was 4NA. The remaining media empire was quickly snapped up by WIN a major regional TV network with close ties to Packer's PBL empire. The result was the local commercial electronic media passed out of local ownership. 7HT and 7EX were eventually purchased by the TAB and became a boring narrowcast station with silly horse racing. The other local news is that our Migrant Resource Centre has organised a fund raising activity day this coming Saturday to raise funds for World Music Radio, which they are hoping to establish here in Launceston, presumably on FM. The existing Launceston Community FM station 7LTN-FM does have ethnic programming but there have been reports of friction from the language presenters and largely student based operating committee. Whether WMR gets a license from the ABA is unclear at this juncture (Robin L. Harwood, VK7RH, Norwood, TAS 7250, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. 4930, Turkmen R, 1940 July 31, presume the one here with agricultural news in English, weak signal. Back into Turkmen language after brief musical interlude at 1944. New English segment in addition to 0840 & 1540??? (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. The BBC is to spend 2.8 billion pounds on revamping its vast property empire. More than 400 million pounds will be spent on returning its news operations to Broadcasting House in Central London. New regional headquarters will be built in Glasgow and Birmingham, costing more than 150 million pounds, and up to eight new buildings will transform its White City offices in West London into an open media campus. The BBC will raise funds by selling dozens of its 520 properties. The chief casualty will be Bush House which will close when the BBC`s lease expires in 2008. Alan Yentob, director of drama, said the BBC aimed to create interactive buildings for the interactive digital era, enabling the licence paying public to enter its buildings and see the BBC at work. All the BBC`s television and news will return to Broadcasting House which will feature 140 recording studios and nearly 19,000 miles of cabling. The BBC`s 40 local radio stations are likely to face a search for new homes when their leases expire. The BBC said it favoured shifting its regional operations to shopping centres where it could capitalise on its brand and be more accessible to the public (The Times, 26th July via Mike Barraclough, World DX Club via DXLD) ** U K [non]. LATVIA. Laser Radio tested most weekends last month on 5935 1400-2200, using the Ulbroka transmitters just outside Riga. Reception and technical quality here was very good, much better than previous use of this transmitter. The station says they will be transmitting every Sunday as soon as possible. Address is Laser Radio, BCM Aquarius, London WC1N 3XX, they ask for a contribution of 2 pounds, 3 Euros or $3 US for a QSL card (Mike Barraclough, England, August World DX Club Contact via WORLD OF RADIO 1142, DXLD) ** U S A. BBG EXPRESSES CONCERN WITH REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING Washington, D.C., July 31, 2002 -- The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) applauded a new report that calls for strengthening public diplomacy, but disagreed with certain recommendations on U.S. international broadcasting. "We congratulate the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) for undertaking this creative review of U.S. public diplomacy and the challenges it faces around the world," said BBG Chairman Marc Nathanson. The CFR, a New York-based organization, released a report July 30, 2002 by its Independent Task Force on Public Diplomacy. But Nathanson said a key recommendation in the CFR report, if enacted as stated, could damage the credibility of U.S. international broadcasting, and breach the firewall between its journalists and policy-making institutions in the foreign affairs community. Among other things, the report suggests creating a Public Diplomacy Coordinating Structure (PDCS) to help define communications strategies and streamline public diplomacy structures. "In many ways, the PDCS would be similar to the National Security Council, in its role as adviser, synthesizer, coordinator, and priority-setter," the report said. PDCS members would include the secretaries of State, Defense, Treasury and Commerce, as well as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and BBG chairman. The president would appoint the chairman. BBG members objected to the BBG being included in the coordinating structure. "One of the most important jobs of the BBG, and one of the main reasons for our status as an independent agency, is to preserve the journalistic integrity of the broadcasters," Nathanson said. Norman J. Pattiz, a BBG member who served on the CFR task force, said the BBG should not be a part of any coordinating organization. "Preserving this firewall, not as fiction but as a reality, could be undermined by BBG membership on this new body," he said. "Membership on a coordinating board could, at the very least, give the perception that journalists were not objective," he said. The current BBG structure --- a nine-member board of eight presidentially-appointed private citizens plus the Secretary of State --- provides a mechanism for the BBG to gain broad foreign policy guidance and insulate broadcasters, said Pattiz, who also serves as chairman of the BBG's Middle East Committee. Tom Korologos, another BBG member, said, "The intent of Congress was very clear when it created the board and made it independent in 1999 - to protect the credibility of U.S. international broadcasting and prevent anyone from influencing the content of our broadcasters." The BBG supervises all U.S. non-military international broadcasting, including the Voice of America http://www.voanews.com --- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty http://www.rferl.org --- Radio Free Asia http://www.rfa.org --- and Radio/TV Marti http://www.martinoticias.com For more information, contact: Joan Mower (202.260.0167 or 202.401.3736) jmower@ibb.gov, or http://www.bbg.gov (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** U S A. WHAT DOES "SAWA" MEAN ? I looked up "sawa" in my 4th edition of Hans Wehr Arabic-English. Under the s-w- root (where letter s is the "siin" form) there is a listing for " sawaa' " which is "equality, sameness". I can't find any such listing under the S-w- root (where s is the "saad" form). (note the long "a" form and the hamza, as well, lost in the English transliteration). So this program name may be intended to politicize the concept of Muslims being equal to non-Muslims. Just a thought (Robert Foxworth, FL, July 28, hard-core-dx via CRW via DXLD) Well, I don't mean to pound this into the ground at risk of boring many of you about "sawa". Allow me to report on what I have discovered about this word. It's a bit involved since I don't have an English to Arabic dictionary, the one I have seen is poorly printed and hard to read. The Arabic to English by Wehr (1301 pages) is regarded by many as the best for non-native speakers/students, though it lists by root form and not strict alphabetization. It has a thorough breakout by root. As you know, many related-in-meaning words derive from the same 3-consonant root form. e.g. d-r-s the concept of teaching gives darrasa = to teach, mudarris/mudarrisa = teacher, madrasa = place where teaching is done i.e. a school, we all know this word by now. (the prefix ma-- before a word signifies a place where the action happens) In Wehr [3] on p. 519, the listing for " sawaa' " (the " ' " is a hamza), lists "equal, equality, sameness" and then "sawaa'an " (under the form " sawaa' baswaa' " gives "equally, indiscriminately, without distinction; together" followed by other forms for "making no difference" So this may be a very specialized slang usage, outside of what I found, below, for the idea of "together" - perhaps something kids there say now. And this of course would be unlikely to appear in many dictionaries. I found a reference for "together", the mystery word of the 1548 Kuwait station program name, pointing back into Arabic [1] which transliterates back as " jami:a " (the : signifies the letter 'ghayn', written vaguely like a backwards three, no English equivalent) and which indicates a j-m-: root form. There is another listing for "together" [2] which script transliterates back as " ma:an " (final alif has nunation) but no further explanation of origin. Looking up the j-m-: root form in Wehr [3] gives many forms derived from this root, to wit: jama:a = to gather, unite, combine...put together, join,...link, bring together... jam: = gathering, collection, combination, joining, accumulation... jam:ii = collective, social, common, joint, mutual... jam:iiya = club, association, society, organization, assembly... jamii: = total, whole, entire ... (w. following genitive) jumaa: = aggregate, total... jamaa:a = group (of people), band, gang, party...... tajammu: = coming together, meeting, gathering... ijtimaa: = meeting (corporate body, parliament) (consider the origin of Qadhafi's "Libyan Arab Jamahiriya"...) Looking up the same root j-m-: in Qafisheh [4] (Gulf Arabic) gives tajamma: = to assemble, congregate together... njima: = to be collected, gathered together... jtima: = to meet, have a meeting... jam: = collecting together, gathering of people... jam:iyya (pl. jam:iaat) = association, organization, society, part of "League of Nations", "General Assembly" etc.) jimii: n-naas = all of the people, l-jimii: = everyone, everybody jamaa:a = group of people jtimaa: = meeting majmuu: = collected, gathered However neither [3] nor [4] appear to have a listing simply for the word "together" by itself (maybe I don't have enough dictionaries?) The only s-w-- forms in [4] are "sawaa" forms (s-w-ii) which mean "equal, equivalent (p. 338). [1] "Arabic for Beginners", Syed Ali, Hippocrene, 2001, page 158 "adverbs of affirmation" [2] "Teach Yourself Arabic", J. R. Smart, Teach Yourself Books, 1986, reissue in 1992, page 311, in "Arabic-English Vocabulary". [3] "Arabic-English Dictionary: The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic", edited by J. McCowan, 4th Edn, Spoken Language Services, Ithaca, N.Y., 1994, page 159 (book totals 1301 pages) [4] "NTC's Gulf Arabic-English Dictionary: A Compact Dictionary of the Contemporary Arabic of the MidEast", Hamdi A. Qafisheh, NTC Publishing Group, 1997, page 97 (book totals 650 pages) In closing, I can find just one thing that weakly links the form of the 'word' "sawa" to "together", but four modern references that link the idea of "together", "gathered together" etc. to a totally different root form. So now you have an idea of what they mean when they say "the Qur'aan is non-translatable..." Maybe I am sorry I even brought it up ... but it was a learning experience (Robert Foxworth, FL, July 31, hard-core- dx via CRW via DXLD) ** U S A. 1630, KNAX, Fort Worth, TX, seems to have snuck on the air on Saturday 7/27. First noticed in passing Saturday afternoon. As much as I am able to determine, they are // KTNO-1440 Denton with SS religion. The only ID I've heard is for 1440. If there was a mention of the 1630 facility, I couldn't pick that out of the IDs. And I've made it a point to listen to several top-of-hour segments. The FCC database has a line item for them as being U1 1000/1000 along with the 'normal' expanded band listing of U1 10000/1000, but being only 6.6 miles from the transmitter, I'm unable to tell if they 'power down' at night (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, July 29, NRC-Am via DXLD) Checking 1630 on the drive into Downtown Dallas from the northeast suburbs, 1630 is OK and // 1440, but 1440 is much louder (processing issues?). I haven't checked the night time signal yet but I expect it to be similar to KTBK-1700 at my location, there but not solid. In the scheme of things the 1630 channel was granted to replace KHVN- 970. But that was under a previous owner. KHVN-970, KGGR-1040, KTNO- 1440 and KNAX-1630 are presently under common ownership, though (Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WBBR [1130, New York] will be doing transmitter tuning/maintenance in the near future, and will experience some silent time. The most likely date is late Saturday night 10-Aug or very early morning on Sunday 11-Aug. But the engineer pointed out that they may not get the final approval for downtime until the day before, and that the date may well change depending on the current news activity. It should be no more than a couple of hours. The engineer indicated that the downtime would be on a weekend and definitely not be during the week. That's the all the info I've got. I'll check in with him later next week and post an update here (Rick Kenneally, Wilton, CT, Aug 1, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WJKM, 1090, Hartsville TN, the daytimer widely reported a few weeks ago by DXers operating at night, now appears to be off the air. Nothing was heard when driving by the station at night. WJKM has reportedly been turned off and the CE let go. Following the reports in DXLD, the ownership is probably aware that someone had noticed their nighttime operation (George McClintock, TN, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. F. W. Robberts Broadcasting, owner of WWCR and WNQM in Nashville, among others, has been granted a construxion permit for 1600 kHz in Memphis TN, with 50,000 watts day power; 500 watts pre- sunrise, and 35 watts at night. This was possiblized by buying out the two nearest 1600 kHz stations, in Helena AR and Martin TN. Actual city of license will be Lakeland TN, a Memphis suburb, but tower and studio will be in Memphis. Callsign: WMQM, for Memphis Quality Ministries, which was previously used by the company on 1480 in Nashville. Expected to be on air by October 1. Will use a 3DX50 transmitter like WSM, a newer version of that used by WNQM (George McClintock, WWCR, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Both the office/studio, and transmitter portions of the WWCR buildings have now been air-conditioned, not so much for cooling, but to reduce dust getting into the components (George McClintock, WWCR, July 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. PBS KNUCKLEHEADS SINK NETWORK IN DEEP DOO-DOO [by] JOHN DOYLE From globeandmail.com, Thursday, August 1, 2002 PASADENA, CALIF. -- Normally, I'd feel sorry for PBS. The American public broadcaster either gets the front end of the press tour or turns up right at the very end. Either way, only about half the critics at TVHOT (TV Hacks on Tour) are around to cover the channel. PBS doesn't have much money to promote itself and it's a teeny-tiny outlet compared with the big four commercial networks. I'm not feeling sorry for PBS any more. The network has managed to make itself look ridiculous, mercenary and amateurish. It's in deep doo-doo. There are so many issues with PBS. For a start, it cancelled Mystery! and moved Masterpiece Theatre to Monday nights. Then it looked like PBS was introducing a new, HIV-positive character on Sesame Street. When a reactionary faction in the U.S. Congress expressed dismay, the head of PBS wrote a weasly letter to the old coots and backed away from the idea. The biggest issue is Louis Rukeyser. Now, as lots of Canadians know, Wall Street Week With Louis Rukeyser was a wonderful show -- a business program that was intelligent, cogent and hosted by a dapper old-timer who had a marvellous, dry sense of humour. The show had a large and loyal following in the United States and Canada, even among people who know diddly about the stock market. Rukeyser was that rare thing -- a natural on TV because he seemed to be a gentleman and wag. The show was made by Maryland PBS and, this spring, Rukeyser got the heave-ho. Conniptions ensued when it emerged that PBS had gone behind Rukeyser's back to hatch a deal to get younger hosts and a faster- paced show. Rukeyser was furious (when I wrote about his departure a few months ago, I got a letter from his New York lawyers congratulating me for scathing comments about PBS) and decamped to CNBC. He has since replicated his old show and now, ironically, about 160 PBS stations have decided to carry it. It's Rukeyser's revenge. What's particularly galling, and appears to be lost on PBS, is that the stock market and financial skullduggery are the big stories right now. Rukeyser has the authority and smarts to comment forcefully on these issues. Rukeyser's show was replaced by Wall Street Week With Fortune. Two young, yammering financial experts from Fortune magazine host it. They showed up here to promote the show. The critics at TVHOT weren't impressed. In a delicious irony, it turned out that the day before, AOL Time Warner, which owns Fortune, had been the subject of speculation about dodgy bookkeeping. The two hosts and the producer yakked away for ages before taking questions they wanted to avoid. Anybody could tell they knew trouble was coming. Asked about Rukeyser, they danced around the issue, saying what a great fella he is, yada-yada. About Fortune and AOL Time Warner, they pointed out that there are really, really strict guidelines at the magazine about reporting on the parent company. "I assure you that we're going to be every bit as objective and unsparing in dealing with AOL Time Warner on this show as we have been in the magazine," co-host Geoff Colvin said. Then he was asked if he's ever recommended selling AOL Time Warner stock on the show. The pause before his namby-pamby answer was greeted with laughter. We all shrugged, shook our heads and thought what boobs these people are. Masterpiece Theatre is moving back to Sundays, by the way. This is just to confuse you after you got used to Monday night airings. The first big offering this year is a remake of The Forsythe Saga. The original, 26-part adaptation of the John Galsworthy novels put PBS on the map in the United States in 1969. The female star is the gorgeous, gangly Gina McKee (Our Friends In The North, Dice) and she walked among us here. Unlike the skinny, petite American starlets who don't have enough body fat to endure the ultra-cold air conditioning in the Ritz, and who shiver all the time, McKee went around sensibly draped in a man's suit jacket over her dress. That's a Brit actress for you. However, it appears from clips of The Forsythe Saga shown to us here that although McKee plays a main character, the true star is actually a red-velvet dress worn by McKee's character. There were several scenes of chaps clasping the empty dress with intent. Mystery! is back but it's not entirely the same. The big production this fall will be a series, Skinwalkers, based on the Tony Hillerman novels set among Native Americans. We're not talking Hercule Poirot here, people. Robert Redford produced it. Meanwhile, Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke appear in a television version of the play The Gin Game. There's a repeat of Ken Burns's The Civil War in September, from a remastered tape, and then there's a whole bunch of shorter docs made over the years by Burns. This is all very nice and earnest, but PBS isn't getting sympathy and support from critics any more. And that's it from me at TVHOT. It's been, like, a slice. (via Ivan Grishin, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi Glenn! Here's the link to a piece in the August issue of LOS ANGELES magazine about Tavis Smiley, who's doing that Black- oriented talk show on NPR: http://www.lamag.com/media.htm I presume the link will expire when the September issue is posted. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, August 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. CLASSICAL STATION DEBUT IS ON HOLD Marc D. Allan July 04, 2002 Plans for a new 24-hour classical music station in central Indiana have hit a snag that could delay its start for as little as a few weeks or as long as several months. WRTV (Channel 6) has filed an objection with the Federal Communications Commission, expressing concern that the radio station's signal at 89.1 FM could interfere with the television reception for people in the Cloverdale area who watch Channel 6 over the air.... http://www.indystar.com/article.php?tvcol04.html (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CONVENTIONS & MEETINGS ++++++++++++++++++++++ 9TH ANNUAL MADISON WI GET-TOGETHER The 9th Annual Madison Get-together for DXers and Radio Enthusiasts will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2002. This year's hosts are Bill and Nina Dvorak, and the event will take place at their home, 501 Algoma Street, Madison WI 53704-4812. Activities will begin at 1 PM and end when the last person leaves (come when you can and leave when you must). What can you expect at this event? Good fellowship and lots of DX talk in an informal atmosphere. Please feel free to bring any equipment, QSL's, station souvenirs, log books or anything else that would like to show or share with the group. Everyone is encouraged to participate in a group photo, so bring along your camera. Soft drinks and snacks will be provided at the event. If you prefer another beverage, please feel free to bring your own. Dinner is planned for the Esquire Club at approx. 6 PM, and will regroup at Bill and Nina's afterward. For more information, contact Bill Dvorak at dxerak@aol.com or mail him at the above address. He can also be reached at 608-244-5497. When e-mailing, please include reference to the 9th Madison GTG in the subject line. If you do plan to attend, please notify him beforehand for planning purposes. He can provide directions by e-mail, or if you prefer, he will send you a map that includes a handy list of accommodations. A word about the GTG: The Madison area DXers have held this event in late August every year since 1994. We have had an average attendance of 16 DXers per year, and over the years five states and the District of Columbia have been represented at this GTG. This is an all-band event, and draws a diverse group of hobbyists. We hope that you can come, and look forward to seeing you! 73 (Bill and Nina Dvorak, Madison WI, via DXLD) 2002 IRCA SEATTLE CONVENTION - TUKWILA, WA AUGUST 16-18 Time is running out to register for the 2002 IRCA Convention! It will be held near Seattle WA, at the "Towne and Country Suites", at 14800 Interurban Ave S, in Tukwila WA 98168 on August 16-18th 2002. Bruce Portzer and Phil Bytheway will be your hosts. Make your room reservations at 1-800-545-2323; (be sure to mention IRCA discount). Room rates: $69/night (single), $83/night (double- triple). Their web site is http://www.towneandcountrysuites.com Phil Bytheway, 9705 Mary Ave NW, Seattle WA 98117-2334 will handle convention registration (checks made out to Phil Bytheway). Registration will be $30. Ship auction items to: Bruce Portzer, 6546 19th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98115. If you have any questions/etc, contact Phil Bytheway (email phil_tekno@yahoo.com). The convention agenda as of July 30: Friday the 16th, two tours are planned. One will be at KJR, the other TBA. Nick Hall-Patch, DX Monitor's Technical Editor, will hold a technical session. Dinner will be "on your own", most likely, something will be spontaneously organized. Saturday the 17th, a tour of the KIRO AM/FM/TV facilities will take place in the morning, followed by a technical session with Craig Siegenthaler of KIWA Electronics. The official IRCA Business Meeting will be held, and there will of course be the Banquet and Auction on Saturday night. More details will be released as they are firmed up. If you're planning on attending, please register as soon as possible. Bruce and Phil look forward to seeing you there (IRCA Soft DX Monitor August 3 via DXLD) NRC CONVENTION LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN LIMA, OH This year's National Radio Club convention will take place from August 30-September 2 at the Hampton Inn, 1933 Roschman Avenue, in Lima, Ohio. Registration for the convention is $40.00 per member, with a spouse or significant other at $20.00. Both must register at the same time to take advantage of this special rate. To book your hotel room, call the Hampton Inn direct at 419-225-8300. Mention "Code N.R.C." to get the special room rate of $69.00 per night, plus 12% room tax. If you have any questions or wish to register for the convention, contact Fred Vobbe at 706 Mackenzie Drive, Lima Ohio 45805-1835, by telephone at 419-228-6223, FAX 419-221-1609, or E-mail him at fredv@nrcdxas.org Auction goodies should be sent to Fred as well. More details, and an online registration form, can be found at http://www.nrcdxas.org/convention/02nrccon/ (IRCA Soft DX Monitor August 3 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary July 16 2002 through July 29 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 7/16 172 12 3 minor minor 9 geo storms 17 180 16 3 moderate minor 6 geo storms 18 181 7 1 minor strong 1 19 182 10 4 minor minor 8 geo storms 20 185 18 4 minor strong 6 21 182 22 2 minor none 6 22 190 15 3 minor minor 6 geo storms 23 198 11 2 minor strong 9 24 208 11 2 minor minor 5 25 218 11 3 minor minor 5 26 242 16 3 minor minor 7 27 231 14 3 minor moderate 7 28 239 10 2 minor minor 3 flare 7/29 234 12 3 minor minor 5 flare ********************************************************************** (IRCA Soft DX Monitor August 3 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-121, July 30, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1141: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1141.html NEXT RFPI BROADCASTS: Wed 0100, 0700 on 15038.6 [7445-USB is off] NEXT WWCR BROADCAST: Wed 0930 on 9475 FIRST BROADCASTS of WORLD OF RADIO 1142: WBCQ: Wed 2200 on 17495, 7415; Thu 0415 on 7415 WWCR: Thu 2030 on 15825, Sat 0500 on 5070 UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL The [concern about temporary] suspension of your web site shows how many folks are interested in your DXLD. Keep up the good work for our great hobby! I read all your DXLD's (Stewart MacKenzie, CA, WDX6AA, July 29) ** ALBANIA. TWR Slovak at 0430 UT on 6235 fundamental, also on spurs +/- 56.6 kHz, 6178.4 and 6291.6 monitored (Herbert Meixner, Austria, A-DX Jul 23 via BC-DX via DXLD) Cerrik 0430-0445 Slovak daily, 6235 kHz, 100 kW, 350 degrees (BC-DX) ** ANGOLA [and non]. Angolan / Cuban Signals Intelligence 1987-1988 http://cryptome.org/ao-cu-sigint.htm (via Oscar,Miami, July 30, DXLD) Hmmm, lots of other seemingly very sensitive `top secret` info at http://cryptome.org (gh, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9615, R. Cultura, São Paulo, 0800 July 30, noted at sign- on. Weak signal to start with then gradually improving. Very rarely heard these days (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. In the late 70s and to this day, Radio Bulgaria, or Radio Sofia as it was then known, has had a strong, listenable signal. If you didn`t mind long tributes to party boss Todor Zhivkov it was quite interesting to listen to. As the first station I ever heard, I liked to listen to it when possible. Bulgaria in the late 70s and into the 80s was one of the most stalwart allies of the Soviet Union. The propaganda was thick and heavy. Bulgaria, like many of the nations discussed here, would flood your mailbox with magazines, books and souvenirs. One of the most ironic gifts I ever received from a station was the marble ashtray and cigarette box that I won in one of their contests (I am asthmatic). Despite the fact that Canada Post managed to smash the cigarette box, they were rather attractive. Later, I would hear Radio Bulgaria discussing not Todor Zhivkov`s achievements but his arrest. Bulgaria has had a lively political culture, swinging between anti-communist and reformed communist governments. Recently they elected a new Prime Minister -- the former King! Again some stunning cultural programs and great folk music here. Radio Bulgaria`s web presence is better than some stations in the region. The day`s news broadcast is available in both script form and real audio format. Not a whole lot of information here, but better than Albania or Hungary. Unfortunately the rest of Radio Bulgaria`s programming seems unavailable as of yet on the `net. http://www.nationalradio.bg/English/bulgaria.htm (Fred Waterer, Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. 9800, Radio Varna, 2221-2236, July 28, Comments and musical program by man announcer, give an address and ID "....Varna", 23322 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX Camp in Chascomus, a small city located 120 km SW of Buenos Aires in front of the lake of same name, ICOM ICR 75, Antennas: Longwire 20 m oriented to the West, Longwire 30 m oriented to the North of S America, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Re DXLD 2-120: As I understand its usage, "twee" means something excessively, perhaps nauseatingly, cute (Mike Cooper, GA, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA [non]. Canadian Press Tuesday, July 30, 2002 BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) - Actor Jim Carrey will play a disconsolate TV reporter in the upcoming comedy, Bruce Almighty, which will be shot on location in Buffalo and Niagara Falls in September. Carrey's character, Bruce, exasperates God with his constant grousing to the point where he's given the chance to run the universe for a day. Director Tom Shadyac, who also directed Carrey, 40, in Liar Liar and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, said the actor watched Buffalo TV stations while growing up across the border in Canada and learned everything he needed to know for his role from local news broadcasts. (canada.com news) (There were some characters on Buffalo TV!-fw) (via Fred Waterer, Ont., July 30, DXLD) ** CHILE. Hora Oficial de Chile en la Web: Juan Pablo Lopez me informa de este interesante sitio del Servicio Hidrográfico y Oceanográfico de la Armada (SHOA), http://www.horaoficial.shoa.cl (Hugo López, Chile, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CHINA. 4990, China Huanyi Bc, Fuzhou, 1104-1107, July 28, English news program by female announcer, "thank you for your listening" and then man announcer in Chinese program, 34343 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX Camp in Chascomus, a small city located 120 km SW of Buenos Aires in front of the lake of same name, ICOM ICR 75, Antennas: Longwire 20 m oriented to the West, Longwire 30 m oriented to the North of S America, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Ex unIDs: v6076.06 ... 6076.1 Yushu PBS, Quing Hai. Fade in at 1030 UT, past 1300 UT. Tibetan lang, few Chinese. I was also able to get an English ID! At the top of the hour TA, jingle ID, Tibetan ID. In English they mentioned "Junshu ... Quing Ha" , not "Jusuh". SINPO 23432 at best. NOT CRN1 progran as listed in DSWCI DBS (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippiens, July 4-11, BC-DX via DXLD) BUT take care, on 6075 sometimes CNR-1 is active in Chinese too, S=7. Fade in around 1125 UT, in \\ MW 756, 1017, and 1359 kHz, which can be heard all with clear ID (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, July 1-12, BC-DX via DXLD) 6080, Hailar Menggu, in Mongolian. Fade in around 1150 UT, past 1300. ID at the top of the hour, TA, nx by female and male voices. Like hill tribe, native mx, very exotic sound. Native theatre radio play. S=around 5-7, 23332 (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, July 1- 11, BC-DX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La voz de su Conciencia ha estado activa, pero ahora está en los 6060 kHz; otra cosa es que su señal mejoró notablemente, y ahora presenta un nivel de modulación mas alto; además, por lo menos por estos lares, prácticamente no tiene QSB, algo que anteriormente era una característica de todos los días. Algo más, es que la antena de esta estación estaba, orientada en sentido Norte-Sur franco y no favorecía a Norteamérica, por lo que en sus planes estaba el cambiar un poco su posición, para tratar de mejorar la señal hacia los Estados Unidos, lo que también disminuiría la señal hacia Sur, pero esto no sé si lo hicieron finalmente. Bueno Arnaldo, esto es todo por los momentos. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe), YV5LIX, July 29, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Un millón de gracias por toda la información, estimado José. Realmente muy útil. Como le decía a Glenn Hauser, creo que por más DX camps que hagamos, debemos olvidarnos de escucharla por aquí. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) ** CUBA [non]. /CANADA The delays in processing the thousands of visa applications for the World Youth Day Festival in Toronto appear to be having major consequences for a popular Cuban radio personality. It might be necessary to note that many applicants from developing countries applying for visa to attend the Catholic World Youth Day Festival in Toronto were not allowed to come to Canada. One might speculate whether the authorities wanted to prevent large scale illegal immigration (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, July 25, BC-DX via DXLD) See also ANGOLA ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague`s essay contest: The winner was Nikolay Loginov in Russia whose essay went as follows: "Prague, Prague... What comes to my mind when I hear this name? Several things. Various objects, events, places. My first memory comes from my childhood, my birthdays. On those days there was always a "Prague" cake on the festive table at home. At that time I did not know Prague was the beautiful capital of Czechoslovakia. So during my childhood, Prague was a lovely cake for me. Moreover, there were two varieties of "Prague" because my mother had two recipes: One from the "Rabotnica" magazine and the other from a tear-off calendar. My second memory is that of Victory Day. My father would don his uniform with medals and distinctions. He had many of them but there was one he valued the most - a medal for the liberation of Prague. For my father the Second World War ended on May 9, 1945 in the newly liberated Prague. Thanks to the stories my father told me, the celebrations of Victory Day are closely connected with Prague in my mind. It was he who told me about "Golden Prague", its beauties and the goodness of its citizens. Another memory is connected with the term "democratisation". For me it started in 1968 along with the "Prague Spring". I was at high school and I already followed world events. I understood that what was going on in Czechoslovakia was very important and the events had great significance for the improvement of ordinary people's lives. My assumptions were being reassured by the "hostile propaganda" I was listening to despite the radio jammers. Several of my friends were doing there national service at the time, and they had to take part in the "international assistance" to Czechoslovakia. When they returned home they told us about the real events in Czechoslovakia and that people did not welcome the Warsaw Pact troops with flowers but leaflets and barricade s made of cars and buses. The "international assistance" to Czechs and Slovaks was in fact an occupation meant to prevent Czechoslovak citizens from living differently. The "Prague Spring" was suppressed, but without it the democratisation of Eastern European countries in the 1980s and 1990s would not have happened. Prague comes to my mind also in connection with the Arbat quarter in Moscow. I go there every time I come to Moscow. I walk alone or with my wife along the legendary street. And what is the first thing one sees after getting off the underground? The "Prague" restaurant. One cannot get into Arbat without passing Prague. So in my mind Arbat equals the "Prague" restaurant. And finally a recent association: radio. Radio Prague, of course. There is no evening without Radio Prague and on weekends I listen in the mornings too. So my radio too means Prague. So this is what comes to my mind when I hear the word Prague." Nikolay Loginov, Russia (via Jonathan Murphy via Paul Youngs, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) I thought I'd have a go at entering after reading this in the magazine and so wrote the following short essay. Imagine my surprise and then subsequent disappointment to learn that I had come second in the contest, thus just missing out on the week long all expenses paid trip to Prague! Oh well, I did win a 12 band analogue radio as a runner up prize, so all was not lost. Best Wishes, Simon, 1945 Hereunder, Simon's 2nd prize winning essay. Prague has a very special place in my memory, largely due to the role played by Radio Prague itself. The original interval signal from the early 1970s was very recognisable all over the short waves and encouraged me to tune into the latest news from Czechoslovakia. As I listened, I became interested in life behind the iron curtain and your station was one of the most open and interesting of the Warsaw pact stations, even if your announcers had a peculiar way of ending sentences! Prague also conjures up images of great beer halls such as the world famous U Fleku. I can picture myself in the Knight Hall or perhaps Vaclav's Room with a glass of beer and a dish of bacon dumplings, smoked pork and perhaps a little sauerkraut and horse radish on the side. Truly a beer drinker's paradise! As a fan of the space race, I also followed the flight of the first non-Soviet or American to travel into space with great interest. This cosmonaut was Vladimir Remek, who in 1978 visited the Salyut 6 space station. Later, he became Deputy Director of the Flight Research Institute in Prague. Then of course there is the beautiful architecture. Wonderful Romantic streets and buildings largely untouched by modern developments. In short, Prague is a magnificent city for a weekend break, or a summer holiday. However, the most enduring impression of Prague to a short wave radio enthusiast such as I is its unique place in radio history. It was the home to a very strange form of transmission, a station so obscure that very few people would have ever heard of it, let alone actually tuned in. A small street in Prague called Nad Stolou houses the Ministry of the Interior, or Ministerstvo Vnitra in Czech. In the early 1990s a strange radio station broadcast from this building, sending odd messages to unknown persons. This station was one of the so called number stations which do nothing other than send five figure groups out into the ether. The Prague station was unique amongst the examples in other countries in that it was quite open in its activities. It was the only number station to actually send out a QSL or confirmation of reception card to its listeners, of which I managed to obtain a couple of examples. It also used a proper call sign called OLX, although officially OLX was in fact issued to the Czech Press Agency CETEKA. OLX operated 23 hours per day with mind numbing precision in both Morse code and voice formats. At the top of the hour a Morse signal tapping out VVV DE OLX would begin. Then, either a Czech female voice appeared repeating something like Yedna Dva Yedna over and over, or Morse sending the same thing. The actual message consisted of five figure groups read out with a robot like rhythm. "Pyet, Deviet, Shtiri, Shi, Nolla, Dva, Dva, Nolla, Shi, Pyet" and so on. This would go on for ages, inducing a soporific state of mind. A voice coming straight from the heart of the Czech capital sending a message to whom? No one knows. So when I think of the city of Prague, it's this mysterious station that springs to mind, sadly ended in 1996. A simple lesson in Czech number pronunciation from a mysterious lady. Read about and hear this station on my website at http://www.simonmason.ka roo.net/page61.html Konec! (SIMON MASON, UK, July 5, via Paul Youngs, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH. I recently read Andrew Walker's history of the BBC World Service "A Skyful of Freedom" and was struck by a mention of shortwave broadcasting from Nazi Germany in the 1930s in "such unlikely tongues as Gaelic", presumably directed to disaffected Scots. The book mentions English and German transmissions (directed to North America) from 1933 and later other languages - Afrikaans, Hindustani and Arabic. There is also mention of services directed at the Soviet Union and Latin America, but not what languages used. As far as I am aware even Radio nan Gaidheal has never had an external voice, and unless Irish RTE na Gaeltachta has an external service these wartime propaganda broadcasts from Germany are unique? Since then I turned to Martin Doherty's book "Nazi Wireless Propaganda", in which he claims that by 1943 German "black" propaganda stations were broadcasting in up to 53 languages. However the most likely suspect, "Radio Caledonia", seems to have only ever used English, all be it with a "pseudo-Scots accent". So, was Gaelic one of the 53 languages ? And in "Hitler's Airwaves" (Bergmeier & Lotz) there is also a mention of these Nazi broadcasts in Gaelic, but here it is implied that the target was Ireland. Does anyone know anything about these Nazi broadcasts in Gaelic? Both of the latter books include much serious historical research on "black" and "white" radio propaganda from Germany and the many people involved, such as William Joyce (Lord Haw-Haw). Both also come with CDs containing recordings of broadcast material. "Hitler's Airwaves" is especially interesting on the subject of jazz music as propaganda with an important discography and lots of transcribed lyrics - Here's a 1940 version of Harold Arlen's "Stormy Weather" Don't know why I cannot blockade the sky. Stormy weather, Since my ships and the German planes got together I'm beaten every time. Life is bare, Gloom and mis'ry everywhere. Stormy weather - Just can't keep my ships together, They're sinking all the time. O, blimey, they're sinking all the time ! When I walked into Norway The Germans came along and met me. My hair has turned to grey Now that the French are against me. All I do is call my Royal Navy for action To attack French ships in their peace base. Can't go on - even my truest friends are gone. Nasty weather - Just can't keep my poor self together- I'm beaten all the time, I'm beaten all the time! recorded by Charlie and his Orchestra, vocalist probably Karl 'Charlie' Schwedler. (Paul Youngs, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Excellent, Paul. Reference to broadcasts made by Charles and his Radio Propaganda Dance Orchestra was made in this column twelve or more months ago just after his recording of "Hold Me" was aired on BBC Radio 2. This was the second of these recordings known to be aired. All the listenable propaganda broadcasts by Charles that survived the 1940's were copied long ago. Doubtful if any others are in existence and even if so and dubbed with today's modern techniques any unlistenable ones probably wouldn't be marketable. No doubt about it this band was good for its day. The arrangements were smooth, the brass and reeds blended well and the musicians were well directed. Research by the German propaganda machine into how the British liked their dance music could have been taken from the prewar visits to Germany by the Jack Hylton Concert Orchestra climaxing with the 1938 springtime appearance at the Scala, Berlin when the house was brought down with orchestrations, swing and dance music backed by well over a dozen well-known vocalists most of which was included in a German aircheck direct from Berlin and relayed by the BBC National Programme that night and has survived. One could hear a pin drop as Miss Eve Becke backed by a section of strings went through her version of 'Little Old Lady'. Finally, for this time, my father was a big fan of Lord Haw Haw in 1940 gluing his ears to his Majestic cabinet each night so as not to miss a word. Next morning he would say, paraphrasing, "How b..... stupid does he think I am to believe that rubbish!, but I like him". However, I don't think he demonstrated on London's Tower Hill in the autumn of 1945 with a William Joyce forever placard; probably he'd have volunteered for the firing squad! hi. (Arthur Ward, ibid.) Paul, reading the above reminded me of an unread book sitting on my bookshelf called "Hitler's Irish Voices" by David O'Donoghue - all about German radio's wartime Irish Service called Irland Redaktion, which confirms that Gaelic was indeed one of the languages used - this book also mentions that the Nazis broadcast in 54 languages during the war. I must find time to read the book soon (Alan Roe, ibid.) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4959.9, R. Villa, 0425-0502 UT July 28. Fast moving C American music with frequent IDs by M for R. Villa. Good levels over the past few nights. Usual screaming announcer with R. Villa ID at 0459 UT (Don Nelson, OR, DX-plorer via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. A propósito de la visita del Papa a Guatemala y a México, recuerdo que en una visita anterior de él a Centroamérica pude seguir los acontecimientos a través de las emisoras de onda corta de Guatemala (en especial Radio Tezulutlán 4835) que retransmitían la señal de emisoras de AM que generaban la señal en vivo. Fue una buena oportunidad de escuchar algunas emisoras que de otra forma sería muy difícil; además recuerdo que les envié un mensaje felicitándolos por la transmisión y recíbi algunos recuerdos conmemorativos a la visita. Pensaría que en esta ocasión pueda presentarse el mismo caso, aunque nunca se sabe (Rafael Rodríguez, Colombia, July 29, Conexión Digital via DXLD) See also MEXICO ** GUATEMALA. En esta oportunidad me toca reportar a: Radio Maya, de Barillas en la frecuencia 3325. Captada el día lunes a las 1030 de la noche hora local, 0230 UT dia martes. Pude oir cuando el locutor saludaba a personas en Huehuetenango, a otros oyentes en la zona 6, así mismo la transmisión era en castellano y en otro dialecto maya. Tenía bastante tiempo que no la escuchaba. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, July 30, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** INDIA. Re: A VISIT TO AIR THIRUVANTHAPURAM by Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Thiruvanthapuram is the capital of the South Indian State of Kerala. Some more information is available from http://www.tvmlive.com/services/air NB! The correct city name is Thiruvananthapuram. Not the easiest name to spell out correctly... The actual pronunciation seems to be close to the former British name Trivandrum. Kerala, on the Malabar Coast, is made up of the neighbouring former princely states of Cochin and Travancore. Cochin featured a long line of Maharajas in its very exotic looking stamps (Olle Alm, Sweden, July 23, BC-DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WORLDSPACE Worldspace have added several channels to its line up on Afristar West beam. The Hop is broadcasting oldies from the fifties, sixties and seventies. Being American programmed there are many tracks featured that you do not hear on UK gold stations including, for example, many doo wop numbers. Oyeme is broadcasting Latin music. America's National Public Radio is now available on its own channel 24 hours a day. Two weather service channels have started in English and French, aimed at mariners in European and Atlantic waters, and available on a subscription basis. RDS and YWI are music and information channels from Italy and Senegal and the Comoro Islands national broadcaster is now audible in Europe via Worldspace. The latest addition to the Worldspace lineup is Radio Caroline who have been transmitting a test tape of continuous music and jingles in preparation for relays of their live programming from Maidstone, currently available via the internet and satellite, which will be offered to Worldspace users on a subscription basis. A report on Worldspace's finances by Nathan Vardi for Forbes.com says Worldspace has run through nearly US $1 billion. However it has fewer than 3000 subscribers and only 150,000 sets have been sold worldwide, mostly in India and Kenya. It had an estimated US$10 million in revenue last year, largely from leasing out channel space. At the company's start Saudi sheikhs Khalid bin Mahfouz and Mohammed Hussein Al-Amoudi donated US$1.1 million for an 80% stake and Saudi wheeler dealer Saleh idris bought an 8% stake. This caused Worldspace some image problems when in 1998 the Clinton administration rocketed a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan belonging to Idris, alleging the plant was used by Osama Bin Laden to produce chemical weapons. Idris is suing the US government which has now dropped its freeze on Idris' assets. Founder Noah Samara took over most of the company by 2000, negotiating Al-Amoudi's exit and converting his equity into more than US$1.5 million in debt owed to Mahfouz and Idris. He has struck a two year US $5 million deal with Kenya to provide educational content that can include internet downloads. To raise new money Samara says he may sell a piece of the company but offers no details "We actually have a very small chance of turning this into a phenomenon," he says "Those are odds I can deal with." (via Mike Barraclough, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Hmm, the Idris connexion could explain why USG stations like VOA haven`t been interested in being on Worldspace (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. Here's your opportunity... From Newsdesk newsdesk@r... Monday, July 29, 2002 8:03 AM The two ships widely speculated to be heading to a future in offshore broadcasting are now up for sale. The nearly 40 metre long 'Grampian Dawn' and 'Grampian Princess', formerly 'Ben Strome' and 'Linden Lea', have been held in Ipswich docks for some time, whilst speculation in anorak circles has suggested that one was scheduled to be converted into a travelling RSL ship, and the other would be put to a more 'offshore' use. Built in 1960 and 1962 in Aberdeen the former deep sea trawlers, latterly used as rig support ships and standby vessels, have fully working Gardner generators, and Mirrlees main engines that are in good order. Structurally the ships, which haven't been used properly for over 10 years, are sound but in need of a lot of cosmetic repair and attention. Neglect has meant that rust and decay dominate the superstructures. As soon as the ships were purchased, strange rumours started about their intended use, including that one was intended to broadcast as 'Radio Caroline' from the North Sea. Whilst this has never been confirmed, it seemed, from the unsolicited publicity the ships received, that some people were desperate to ensure no re-fitting could be completed in secret. Now, the current owners appear to have given up on the offshore radio potential these ships held and placed them back on the market. Further unconfirmed speculation is that profits from the sale will help in the launch of a new Sky Digital satellite radio service in the style of a famous 1960s offshore radio station. Available for around £75,000 each, either ship would easily convert to multi purpose use including dive support, trawling, houseboat, or . international offshore radioship. News you wish to share? email it to newsdesk@r... Want to add a comment? Hit 'Respond' on the web or email caroline@r... [addresses truncated by yahoogroups] (via Andy Cadier, BDXC-UK via DXLD) I am sure I read somewhere that these two boats were not that long ago bought for just £10,000 under a "Buy one, get one free offer". They had been standing derelict for the best part of 10 years. Phew, talk about inflation (Andy Cadier, ibid.) ** IRELAND [non]. UK/IRELAND 15585 replaced by 15315? English program of RTE Dublin heard usually at 1800-1830 in high quality on 15585 kHz, but missed today (Daniel Miskulnig, Austria, A- DX Jul 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) http://wwa.rte.ie/radio/worldwide.html#shortwave shows new 15315 channel: A half-hour information bulletin from RTE R 1 is available daily on SW around the globe. Target areas, frequencies and times are as follows: 21630 kHz (Africa) 1830-1900 UT. 15280 kHz (SE Asia, including Australia) 1000-1030 UT. 6155 kHz (C America) 0130-0200 UT. 13640 kHz (C and E America) 1830-1900 UT. 15315 kHz (Middle East) 1800-1830 UT. [Rampisham 500 kW, 105 degr.] Reception should be available outside the immediate target areas. (Martin Elbe-D, A-DX Jul 25 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL [non]. DIFFICULTIES FACED BY ARAB STATIONS BROADCASTING IN HEBREW Arab countries' broadcasts to Israel in Hebrew have increased in number lately; however, it is very hard to receive Arab and Iranian TV and radio broadcasts in Hebrew and audience levels are nil. These stations air issues which "do not catch the ear of the average Israeli listener". Few Israeli listeners have the means to receive Nile TV; however, as the head of the Nile TV Hebrew department said: In six months' time, all Israelis will be able to watch Nile TV's Hebrew programmes. The following is the text of a report by Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv (Sofshavua supplement) in Hebrew on 26 July; subheadings as published Whoever is acquainted with the history of propaganda broadcasts from Egypt can only heave a sigh longingly. The days have gone when the anonymous announcer on Egyptian Radio's Hebrew transmission, who sought to curse but ended up blessing, read out the unforgettable battle cry: "Our forces are attacking on all fronts." The days have also gone when Ahmad Sa'id, the broadcaster on the Nasserite radio Sawt al-Arab, reported in his booming voice from Cairo that "our forces have occupied Tiberias and are advancing on Akko," and then added: "From the raging ocean to the stormy gulf, we have good news for you, fish of the sea, you will have something to enjoy. We are going to throw the Jews into the sea!" There have been a number of developments in the information broadcasts transmitted by Arab states (and Iran) to Israel in the last year. First, they have intensified: the State of Israel has never been subjected to such a broad information offensive. Second, they have assumed a matter-of-fact and moderate character, making them more journalistic. Third, in spite of the intensity and the journalistic tone of the broadcasts, only few Israelis can receive them, and even fewer Israelis bother to take an interest in them. Your prophets are here It would be interesting to know, for example, how many Israelis heard the radio message sent here on 11 June by one of the leaders of the Jewish community in Iran, Manuchehr Elyasi, 60, a doctor by profession. He delivered his comments after 2200 [local time]. It was the first day's broadcasting of the Voice of David, the first Iranian newscast in Hebrew. The newscast was produced by the foreign broadcast department of Iranian Radio, which is under the direct authority of the spiritual leader, Ali Khamene'i. A Hebrew-speaking announcer read the Jewish doctor's monologue, with Elyasi's voice in the background. After a short talk about his activities in the Jewish hospital and as a member of the Iranian parliament, Elyasi began to talk about the Israeli government. "These people," Elyasi said, "are misusing religious principles and are threatening world peace and stability. They are exploiting Jewish tradition in order to realize their objectives. This is counter to our culture and religion. "Listeners to the Voice of David," he continued, appealing to his few listeners, "we hope that all the Jews will be able, with God's help, to live in peace and friendship with all peoples of the world, as it was many years ago, and in the 2,700 years of Jewish history in Tehran. We lived with our brothers from the other religions, and our prophets were buried in this land, such as Prophet Daniyel and the prophets Habakkuk, Esther and Mordekhay. And as everyone knows, Prophet Mordekhay was the first minister in the palace of the Persian kingdom." Elyasi ended with the following words: "Dear listeners, I am using this opportunity to condemn the crimes in the occupied territories in Palestine. The war there may be called a civil war. And I hope that peace will come to that land, and that all peoples, including the Palestinian people, will live in peace." How many Israelis listened to these words of reproof from Elyasi? Very few. Although the Israelis are the target audience, it is hard to receive the Voice of David in the State of Israel. The audience levels are nil. But the Iranians are not giving up on the information effort. There's no harm in trying. Balancing the picture Iran is not alone in its big information effort. Throughout its existence, the State of Israel has never been subjected to such a varied media offensive from Arab states. Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon are trying to appeal to us directly these days and to persuade us to mend our ways. First came Nile TV, an Egyptian government satellite station, which started transmitting a daily news bulletin in Hebrew on 1 January. Four months later Syrian TV launched its daily Hebrew newscast. These joined the traditional radio transmissions of Cairo Radio in Hebrew, which are still aired every evening, the short bulletins in Hebrew from Damascus Radio, and Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV station, which has been broadcasting stills and clips in Hebrew for some years. In all the cases, except for Hezbollah, these are governmental broadcasts. When they first came on the air, the Iranians, Egyptians and Syrians stated that their aim was to bring "another opinion" to the audience in Israel, that is, the official position of the governments. "The other opinion" is a subversive turn of phrase, which has been bestowed upon the Arab dialogue by the Arab Al-Jazeera TV channel with the intention of airing precisely the stands that these regimes are trying to hide. "Our aim is to show the facts as they are and present them to the Jewish listener on occupied Palestinian lands," explained Mohammad Saraparaz, deputy head of Iranian radio and television foreign broadcasting. "The aim is not to criticize Israel," adds Dr Ihab al-Sharif, Egypt's chargé d'affaires in Tel Aviv. "We feel that the Israeli media, as a result of the current state of tension, has slightly moved away from the objective report. We are only aiming to balance the picture." The project of broadcasting in Hebrew to the Israeli public is the most practical result of the summit of Arab League information ministers, which was held in Beirut exactly one year ago. This summit was quick to assemble after the Israeli government, groaning under a media offensive from all around the world, decided to set up a satellite channel to broadcast to neighbouring states. The neighbours, as very often happens, took this statement with extreme seriousness, and decided to take pre-emptive action. The Arab information ministers convened under Syrian pressure in Beirut and called for the setting up of an Arab satellite channel in which all the Arab governments would be partners. This station, suggested Adnan Umran, the Syrian information minister, would transmit to the Europeans, Americans and Israelis in their languages. Umran's proposal was not put into practice fully, but his Egyptian colleague, Information Minister Safwat al-Sharif, picked up the challenge in his own backyard. With only 10 days' warning, the personnel in Cairo Radio's Hebrew Department set up the TV newscast, which is transmitted on Nile TV. The Egyptians, and the Syrians after them, thereby succeeded in pre- empting the "Middle East Channel," the Israeli satellite channel in Arabic, which only hit the airwaves four weeks ago. Heading Nile TV's Hebrew Department is Dr Hasan Ali, 56, the senior Hebrew interpreter of President Husni Mubarak. Ali speaks fluent Hebrew. He holds a doctorate in Hebrew, and in the past did research on Arab imagery in the works of A.B. Yehoshua. Working under him are 35 Hebrew-speaking professionals, some of whom are members of Cairo Radio's Hebrew Department, while others hold university degrees in Hebrew studies. The Egyptians started with a daily half-hour bulletin, and in time succeeded in putting on a two-hourly daily programme. The Egyptian bulletin consists of a news summary, a political commentary, summary of the Israeli newspapers and a personal column, usually by an Egyptian journalist. The tone of the reporting is very critical, although not hostile. The decisive part is concerned with the political arena. The material comes from news agencies or the Israeli media, which ensures that the Israeli viewer does not discover anything new from the Egyptians that he has not found in his newspapers or TV channels. Whoever gets through the first half hour can enjoy two light corners: a short film on the archaeological treasures of Egypt, designed to promote Israeli tourism, and a daily song, one of the best current hits by an Egyptian singer, translated into Hebrew. "I met you before anyone else, may our lives be long," sings the popular singer Hani Shakur to his beautiful bride next to a white limousine on the Red Sea coast, "if I had known you before, long ago, I wouldn't have lost hope, nor would tears have fallen from my eyes." Nile TV fields an important line of political commentators, all academic figures, who speak flowery but unpolished Hebrew ("the tactic of the government of Ariel Sharon is designed to throw sand in the eyes"). What is noticeable about them is that they invest time and much earnestness in producing the daily bulletin. Between the lines one can find sensible remarks, but the teething troubles are still there. It is not an attractive bulletin, and the main messages repeat themselves. It focuses on IDF activities in the territories, various political issues and moves by the Egyptian political echelon of the kind that do not catch the ear of the average Israeli listener. According to Nile TV, only Israelis are worthy of criticism, whereas the Palestinians are totally clean. On Monday and Tuesday two weeks ago, the bulletins opened with a report on the Africa Union congress in Durban, South Africa. One after the other, the Israeli listener - if he had not turned off - was asked to listen to a long list of officials with whom Egyptian representative Foreign Minister Ahmad Mahir met at the congress: the presidents of Niger, Djibouti, Algeria, Libya and Sudan; the foreign ministers of Tunisia, South Africa and others. "Mahir placed the emphasis," the presenter told listeners in Zion, "on the prevailing trend in African countries towards strengthening the processes of freedom and democracy." Few Israelis have the means to receive the Egyptian TV channel. The station's transmissions are received in Egypt and Arab states via a satellite package, but not of the kind supplied by Yes. Israeli cable channels do not supply Nile TV transmissions in their Hebrew packages either, but its counterpart, Egyptian TV Channel 1. The only ones capable of receiving Nile TV here are those who have put private satellite dishes on their roofs, an old and well-known arrangement particularly among Israeli Arabs. But they are not the typical target audience of the Hebrew broadcasts. "I heard that the Israeli viewer is not receiving our broadcasts," says Dr Hasan Ali. "I know that they can be obtained by cable, but this involves a number of technical problems. My objective is to reach every home in Israel. I want them to see me and that's why it really bothers me." [Hugi - recording] You've been applying yourselves for half a year and no one here sees you. [Ali] I know, but I can tell you that in the next six months, they will see everything, God willing. [Hugi] Why did Arab states in the Middle East start broadcasting to Israelis in Hebrew at the same time? [Ali] The conditions demanded it. I mean the developments regarding the Palestinian situation and the occupation of the territories. The aim is to get the Arab position across and tell the Israeli citizen that things cannot go on like this. Our knowledge of Hebrew must be put to use in this problematic situation. The language is a key that can set in motion the network of relations between the Israelis and the broad Arab public. [End of Ali recording] Dr Ali admits that Arab reporting in the 1960's and 1970's did not meet purely professional standards. "Maybe there were unjustified claims in the past about reporting," he puts it carefully, "but today we treat the facts as they are, that there is a State of Israel and a Palestinian state next to it. That's completely different from 30 years ago. In addition, time has gone by and we have acquired experience. I've been involved in Hebrew broadcasting since the 1970's and there are many other veterans with me here." [Hugi] Have you heard about the Israeli Arabic satellite channel? [Ali] Yes, I often see it. They air programmes like films, news and entertainment. [Hugi] Do you feel that they are competing against Arab satellite stations for the Arab viewer? [Ali] No. Every country has the right to exploit the skies in the satellite age. If the channel is objective in its survey of affairs and takes a positive view, there's no problem. [Hugi] In your opinion, is this a propaganda channel in the service of the Israeli government? [Ali] Certainly. It attempts to falsify the facts of the situation in order to win support from the Arab public. But what can Israeli propaganda say to the Arab citizen these days, especially after the Palestinians announced that they recognize the State of Israel? Every Arab citizen is waiting for this reply. [Hugi] If that is so, then your channel can also be regarded as propaganda. [Ali] No. What propaganda? What we are doing is information. We are explaining our position, which is based on right and international law. Is that propaganda or information, you tell me? Propaganda has no basis, it seeks to falsify the facts. By contrast, information seeks to explain the facts. [End of Ali recording] In an attempt to overcome the problems of reaching the Israeli audience, the Egyptians are talking about a partial solution that will be carried out soon: transmitting the broadcasts via Internet. Information Minister Al-Sharif announced this last Friday [19 July]. Saying that he intends to expand the broadcast from two to three hours a day. The extra hour, Al-Sharif said, is likely to include broadcasts in Russian for the new immigrants in Israel. "We're looking into the matter," he said. "This is a vital requirement. There are one million Israelis who speak Russian, after all." Fluent lady Our neighbours in Damascus possess a certain advantage. The government-run Syrian station is included in the package of Arab channels offered by cable companies to the Israeli consumer. Some Galilee and Golan communities can receive its transmissions. Anyone who perseveres in watching the bulletin, broadcast daily at 1900 [local time], will learn of the Palestinians' "martyrdom operations," the Israel Air Force's "war planes," and "holy Al-Quds," that is, Jerusalem. He will also get an almost daily commentary on various aspects of the failure of "Sharon's Operation Defensive Wall." The Syrian bulletin is transmitted every evening at 1900 for 15-20 minutes. In contrast to their Egyptian brothers, who are always identified, the Syrian broadcasters are men who are never named, and they alternate. The newscast's resident female commentator, who has a fluent and rich command of Hebrew, is not identified by name either, and only her voice is heard. "This operation," she said of the results of Operation Defensive Wall, "has turned into a serious source of concern and fear on two levels: psychological and economic." As with the Egyptians, the photographic material in the Syrian bulletins is not independently obtained: it is taken from pictures distributed by news agencies worldwide. Playing a starring role in the pictures are scenes from cabinet meetings and the Knesset, as well as the daily events concerning ministers and senior politicians, and pictures of the war in the territories. As with the Egyptians, and unlike the Iranians, commentary is often mixed into the news report. "In a racist step," the presenter says, "MK Shaul Yahalom called for an expansion of settlements." To a large extent, the Syrian bulletin recalls the news broadcasts of Jordan TV in Hebrew, which were received clearly in most parts of Israel prior to the signing of the peace agreement. They are short, unpleasant and devoid of feeling. At that time, the Jordanians were the ones to tell us about "the Israeli occupation forces." Both involve a dry style of presentation, which matches up well with the lean reporting style of the traditional newscasts of the Arabic channels. Whoever views this as an attempt to be cruel to the people of Israel at least has some consolation: the Spanish and English bulletins, the sisters of the Hebrew bulletin, go on the air at 0330 and 0430 in the morning. The Syrians, like the Egyptians, do not excel in understanding the areas of interest of the Israeli public. Granted that they quote the Italian Il Manifesto, which "described the Israeli steps against unarmed Palestinian civilians as racist measures"; or that they report that the youth branch of the Swedish Social Democratic Party is to submit a lawsuit against Ariel Sharon. Yet when President Bashar al- Asad visited the ruins of the Zayzun Dam, which left 4,000 people homeless, the report was preceded by one about 2 IDF soldiers being killed. The report on the shooting attack at the settlement of Dugit, which took place on 15 June, took 6th spot in the newscast. The Syrian editor preferred to lead with reports on the meetings held by Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shar'a with his Saudi colleague, the visit by Turkish Minister of State Mustafa Yilmaz to Damascus, and the comments by the Austrian defence minister in praise of the Saudi peace initiative. "Two Israeli soldiers were killed," in the words of the Syrian presenter, "and four others were injured, one seriously, during a martyrdom operation against the settlement of Dugit, in the north of the Gaza Strip. A Palestinian youth who carried out the attack also died." Persian tempo The news bulletins on the Voice of David happen to be the most balanced, the closest among all the newscasts to being a matter-of- fact news report. The Voice of David report keeps up a tempo and includes a larger number of news items for the listener, between 15 and 20 daily on average. The Iranian bulletin is part of a wider operation involving 30 radio stations and eight satellite channels from Iran, all of which are designed for the listener abroad. Heading the foreign broadcasting authority of Iranian radio and television is Ali Larijani, and the regime's conservative leadership directly oversees its operations. The authority puts out daily bulletins in English, French, Hebrew and even in Swahili. The service to Israel, on short wave, is not received in most parts of Israel, but that does not stop the Iranians from producing an updated bulletin nightly. That's the way it is when you have to export a revolution. "On our programme we present you with news, opinion and analysis of what is going on in the Jewish arena, Israel and the world," the Voice of David presenter tells listeners. "We hope that you will cooperate with us. Then we'll achieve justice and peace in Israel and the world." In an interview with the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat, published in London, Larijani's deputy, Muhammad Saraparaz, explained that the idea behind the Voice of David is the recognition that a distinction can be drawn between Jews and Zionism. "The Zionists ruling in occupied Palestine are not representative of all Jews," he says, and explains: "There are Jews in the world who think that Israel is an illegal country. Take Neturey Karta, for instance. There's a political and social force among the Jews that opposes Zionism and accuses it of racially discriminating between Jews and falashas, eastern and western Jews." The Iranians do not hide their criticism of the Palestinians when necessary. They reported recently, for example, on the anger of residents in the refugee camp in Jenin at the PNA and international aid organizations, which are holding up money for rebuilding houses demolished by the IDF. A report such as this would not get past the door of Nile TV or Syrian TV. The people behind the Voice of David do not reveal their names. However, they do give listeners access to them through a telephone number in Tehran (those interested can ring 982- 12046397). There are also mail box numbers in Tehran, Damascus, Beirut and Manama, the capital of Bahrain. You can also send a fax or e-mail message to the station's operators. "Please keep in touch, listeners, with your station, the Voice of David," the announcer states, and reads out the wavelength of the station and the Internet location where its broadcasts can be heard. The Voice of David's bulletin opens with a techno-like beat taken straight out of a shady Tel-Aviv dance club. After the introduction, which includes useful information for listeners, the presenter reads a well-edited newscast, including the main events of the day in an order that is acceptable to the Israeli listener. Here there is no mix of news and commentary, although that can be far sharper. The editors of the Iranian bulletin, apparently Palestinians or Syrians who speak Hebrew, understand the needs of the Israeli listener well, and have no intention of oppressing it with terms that the ear will not tolerate. The Voice of David terms bombings "terrorist attacks," and their perpetrators "suicide bombers," not martyrs. But it will not spare its listeners a report on looting by IDF soldiers during Operation Defensive Shield (reports of which were first published in the Israeli press), or a poll on the intentions to make "yerida from the country" (in these words) [emigration from Israel], a subject that much preoccupies the editors of the Iranian bulletin. "Israel is having difficulty counting the numbers who are leaving," says the presenter in a commentary after the newscast. "We all know that the State of Israel is keeping away the low-level aliyah [emigration to Israel] s though it is disowning it." Humiliate the Israelis Those for whom the soft Egyptian and Syrian tempo is inadequate are invited to take a peep at the jumpy propaganda clips of Hezbollah. These broadcasts are produced by the organization's TV station, Al- Manar (the "lighthouse"), which transmits from Beirut on the airwaves and by means of satellite dish. In contrast to the other three bulletins, which attempt to win the hearts of Israeli listeners or viewers, Hezbollah's Hebrew information aspires to humiliate him. It screens films seeped in hostility, accompanied by fire and smoke effects, and makes use of all possible visual manipulations. Al- Manar's clips in Hebrew, which are screened many times daily, most often present the Israeli as slaughtered or massacred. It is a mix of bloody pictures and rhythmical, loud music with nothing much behind it. The technical method favoured by the Al-Manar short film editors is a mix of photo material from terrorist attacks, bloody clashes of soldiers, or photos of Palestinians from the refrigeration room, alongside captions of the loud kind. Hezbollah made its television introduction to Israelis in the years when the IDF was still in Lebanon. At that time it mainly screened stills in Hebrew to soldiers, in an attempt to persuade them not to serve in an army that oppresses an occupied population. In the last few years, Al-Manar has also shown blunt propaganda clips in Russian, aimed at new immigrants in Israel, and in English, for satellite viewers in Europe and the United States, where it has a large audience among Lebanese immigrants. Today, the station shows many pictures from TV channels in Israel on a daily basis, along with translation as required. Israel is called "the enemy," the Israelis are called "Zionists," and Galilee communities are called "settlements in northern Palestine." When there is a large-scale terrorist attack, the station moves into live coverage, screening pictures in real time from Channel 1 or Channel 2 with constant updates. In the last few weeks, the Hezbollah station has been running two permanent clips in Hebrew. One shows alternating stills immortalizing a series of serious terrorist attacks in Israel after Operation Defensive Shield. After these pictures have appeared after each other, in the colour of fire and blood, they make way for the caption crying out in Hebrew and Arabic: "The collapse of the wall." Another short film shows IDF armoured forces in the territories, alongside the caption: "More than 2,000 armoured vehicles." The picture changes, and its place is taken by one of soldiers with the caption "more than 20,000 infantry soldiers." Then a red dartboard appears on the screen, with the words written in Arabic and Hebrew: "The aim", and right after it the reply: "An end to Palestinian resistance operations." Like other Arab stations, Al-Manar's broadcasts run into difficulty on their way to Israel. Viewers in the Upper Galilee and Golan Heights can receive them from the air, but in other places in Israel reception is only possible with a private satellite dish. The rating is very low, but Hezbollah is not losing its cool; they get exposure via the Israeli media, which shows clips from Al-Manar. Source: Ma'ariv (Sofshavua Supplement), Tel Aviv, in Hebrew 26 Jul 02 pp 26, 28, 30, 32 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** KALININGRAD. We will resume our Radio Rossii relay on 171 kHz via Kaliningrad starting on August 1st. The schedule: 0100-2100 UT daily, 600 kW, ND. Please write me some words if you will check this one... (Mikhail Timofeyev, St. Petersburg, July 30 via Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, DXLD) ** MEXICO. sábado, 27 de julio 3:20 PM TRANSMITIRA IMER ACTIVIDADES DE QUINTA VISITA DEL PAPA JUAN PABLO II México, 27 Jul (Notimex).- El Instituto Mexicano de la Radio (Imer) transmitirá, a través de su noticiario Antena Radio, todas las actividades de la quinta vista a México de Juan Pablo II, durante los días 31 de julio y 1 de agosto, informó la Secretaría de Gobernación (Segob). Indicó que en un esfuerzo sin precedente para la radio pública del país, el Imer ofrecerá al auditorio el seguimiento periodístico completo del viaje de Su Santidad con reportajes y crónicas especiales a cargo de reporteros, redactores y comentaristas del Sistema Nacional de Noticiarios. De esa forma, se cumple con uno de los principales objetivos del actual gobierno: hacer de la radio pública un verdadero medio del Estado al servicio de los ciudadanos. La dependencia recordó que en su momento, su titular, Santiago Creel, aseguró que "el gobierno del Presidente Vicente Fox tiene muy claro el papel que puede jugar la radio pública en el país, y está decidido a explotar esa vertiente de comunicación y encuentro con la sociedad". "La cobertura de la visita papal es punta de lanza para la radio pública en los nuevos tiempos, poniéndose a la altura de una radio profesional, de calidad, veraz, oportuna y dinámica que sirva de instrumento de servicio social, al acercar a toda la Nación a un evento de gran importancia como éste", expuso la Segob. Antena Radio transmitirá en directo, a toda la República por sus siete estaciones en el Distrito Federal, además de otras 12 en el interior del país, las misas de canonización de Juan Diego y la beatificación de los Mártires de Oaxaca así como todo el recorrido que hará el Papa durante esos dos días. Todo ello a través de la Unidad Móvil de Antena Radio en la Basílica de Guadalupe; la conducción estará a cargo de la periodista María Elena Cantú, quien se enlazará con los titulares de la primera y segunda emisión, Enrique Lazcano y Nora Patricia Jara, respectivamente, conforme se desarrolle la visita papal. Las frecuencias del Imer en el Distrito Federal son: La Candela 660 de AM, Alma Musical de México, 710 AM; La B Grande de México, 1220 AM; La Hora Exacta, 1350 AM; OPUS 94, 94.5 FM; Órbita, 105.7 FM; y Horizonte 108, 107.9 FM. En el interior de la República: En Comitán, Chiapas a través de XEMIT, 540 AM; en Campeche, Campeche, XETEB, 920 AM; en Cananea, Sonora, XEFQ, 980 AM; en Colima, Colima, XEBCO 1210 AM; en Cacahoatán, Chiapas, XECAH 1350 AM. En Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, XELAC 1560 AM; en Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, XECHZ 1560 AM; en Acu;a, Coahuila, XERF 1570 AM; en Mérida, Yucatán, XHYUC 92.9 FM; en Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, XHSCO 96.3 FM; en Tijuana, Baja California, XHUAN 102.5 FM; y en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, XHUAR 106.7 FM (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) See also GUATEMALA Y ¿cuál de XERMX, R. México Internacional, en la onda corta de 9705 y 11770? ¿No merece mencionarse en este informe, o talvez no pueda acomodar Antena Radio fuera de sus horas habituales? Algo bien más imporante acontece en México poco después: (gh, DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. WRMI (Radio Miami Internacional) transmitirá este fin de semana y la semana que viene programación especial desde el Octavo Encuentro Nacional de Diexistas Mexicanos que tendrá lugar en Jalapa, Estado Veracruz, del 2 al 4 de agosto. La apertura del evento el viernes en la mañana será transmitido por WRMI el sábado (3 de agosto) a las 1000-1030 UT en 9955 kHz, y será repetida UT domingo (4 de agosto) a las 0330-0400 en 7385 kHz y UT domingo a las 1200-1230 UT en 15725 kHz. El foro, debate y clausura del Encuentro que tendrá lugar el domingo en la mañana será transmitido por WRMI el mismo domingo 4 de agosto de las 2100-2300 UT en 15725 kHz, y el programa será repetido en dos partes de las 0900-1000 UT el lunes 5 de agosto y el miércoles 7 de agosto en 9955 kHz. Los horarios son sujetos a cambios de último momento. WRMI agradece la ayuda de los organizadores del Encuentro DX Mexicano -- Pepe González y Lucha Olivares -- y de Rafael Méndez, Director de Radio Universidad en Jalapa, para los arreglos de estas transmisiones especiales desde el Encuentro. El Encuentro Nacional de Diexistas Mexicanos atrae oyentes de onda corta de todas partes de México, y este año se espera la participación de diexistas de los Estados Unidos, España y Argentina también. Emisoras internacionales, incluyendo Radio Nederland, Radio México Internacional, Radio Educación y otras, enviarán representantes al evento, y la empresa Radio Shack tendrá una exhibición de receptores de onda corta (Jeff White, WRMI, July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4950.18, Radio Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado, 1045-1050, Spanish, Musical program, female announcer, TC "cinco de la mañana con cuarenta y cinco minutos bienvenidos a nuestra programación a partir de las seis de la mañana, Comunicados", 34443. 5300.05, Radio Superior, Bolívar, 0002-0005, July 29, Spanish, musical program, man announcer, ID "Radio Superior en la provincia de Bolívar, ahora somos Radio Superior", 23322. 6249.40, La Voz de Andahuaylas, Andahuaylas, 0036-0053, July 28, Spanish mixed with quechua, musical program (Huaynos), man announcer, mention several times of Andahuaylas, 23332. 6536.10, Radiodifusora Huancabamba, Huancabamba, 0003-0010, July 28, Spanish mixed with quechua, man announcer, Musical program, ID "la programación de Radiodifusora Huancabamba en la frecuencia modulada 101.1 y en la Onda Corta, frecuencia internacional", 34333. 6782.72, Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca, 0256-0308, Spanish, musical program (Huaynos), also in the second harmonic (13565.44) where the quality of signal is better, 35343. 6819.59, La Voz de las Huaringas, Huancabamba, 0011-0019, July 28, Spanish, man announcer, Px "Presentando Coplas", ID "en la Voz de las Huaringas", 33333. Note: La Voz de las Huaringas is the official name according to the entity regulator of the Peru and the nominal frequency is 5060 KHz and call ID is OAW-1B. Receiver: ICOM IC R75; Antennas: Longwire 20 m oriented to the West, Longwire 30 m oriented to the North of S America (Nicolás Éramo, DX Camp in Chascomus, a small city located 120 km SW of Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU [and non]. Re DXLD 2-119: I've uploaded the spectral traces onto my website (CORRECTED and checked) http://www.dxradio.co.uk/mwoffsets/index.html (Mark Hattam, UK, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 17302, Murmansk heard on Tue July 23, at 0824-0900 UT (end of transmission, no announcement at close). Radio Murmansk on maritime channel of 17302 kHz, fine USB-Signal O=3/4 (Herbert Meixner, Austria,A-DX, July 26, BC-DX via DXLD) see also KALININGRAD ** SAIPAN. FAR EAST BROADCASTING ASSURES CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS By Annie Ruth C. Sabangan, Variety News Staff THE recent closure of Far East Broadcasting Co.`s radio station will not affect its operations on Saipan. In a recent letter, Robert L. Springer, executive director of Far East Broadcasting Co., assured House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R- Saipan, that the closure of KSAI-936 AM will not affect the operations of the company`s international shortwave station, KFBS, in Marpi. ``It is our desire to reach a large part of Asia with the similar family-oriented and Biblically based programming to that which was heard on KSAI,`` he said. KFBS broadcasts from Saipan in 27 different languages and to 13 Asian countries. Springer said people in Russia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Vietnam depend on the Saipan broadcasts each day. ``It is a service which the people of the CNMI should justly feel proud of. We plan to continue this service for many years to come,`` he said. Far East invited lawmakers to visit the company's facilities for them to understand and appreciate the importance of the company`s operations in the CNMI. Springer likewise thanked Hofschneider for his ``most kind gesture`` in introducing House Resolution 13-48, which recognizes KSAI for its 24 years of service in the CNMI. ``We, at the Far East Broadcasting Co., could not have done the job through all these years without the cooperation of all the CNMI government offices and particularly those in the legislative branch,`` Springer told Hofschneider. (© 2002 Marianas Variety, Published by Younis Art Studio Inc. All Rights Reserved, via E. Baxendale,UK, July 30, DXLD) ** SOMALIA. RADIO MOGADISHU BACK ON AIR AGAIN The radio station operated by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia - which calls itself "Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic of Somalia" - was heard again in Mogadishu on 30 July, having been unheard there since 23 July. A separate station in Mogadishu, STN radio, reported on 24 July that "last night" Radio Mogadishu was attacked by a militia group and looted of some of its equipment. "The radio is now off the air," the report said. Radio Mogadishu had been off the air for most of the first half of July, apparently owing to a business dispute. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 30 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 4940, SLBC Ekala, 1320- in English, 45444 S=9+20 dB. 4870 SLBC Ekala 1320- in Sinhala 35443 S=9 +10 dB. 5020 SLBC Ekala 1320- in Tamil 24332. Superb modulation on the 4940 channel. (Roland Schulze, Mangaldan, Philippines, July 1-12, BC-DX via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Radio Dellen from Delsbo, Sweden will be on the air with two DX tests on Wednesday, July 31. The first test will start at 00.00 UTC (02.00 Swedish local time) and run for a couple of hours. The next - and our final broadcast - will run from 18.00 to 22.00 UTC (20.00 to 24.00 Swedish local time) and at 22.00 UTC Radio Dellen will close down as our temporary license is only valid until midnight July 31. The frequency is 1602 kHz and power is estimated at 65 W. Listeners in Scandinavia and some parts of the continent should be able to pick us up if conditions are favourable. During the shows you can phone in directly to the studio and our no. is +46 651 15519 (fax +46 651 16946). Our e-mail is radiodellen@hotmail.com and it will be continously checked during the tests. If you would like to submit some DX loggings for our DX bulletin you are very welcome to do so. We will also try playing any musical requests you may have. For further info about Radio Dellen please visit the Delsbo Radioklubb web site at http://hem.passagen.se/drak/index2.htm Good DX from the Radio Dellen team! (Ronny Forslund, July 30, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** U K. ===UK 5MHz Band Starts 01 August 2002=== The RSGB just announced the allocation of 5 channels in the new 60 metre [sic] amateur band for 4 years of UK amateur radio NVIS experiments. 5260 kHz= 1st Working Channel="FA" 5280 kHz= 2nd Working Channel="FB" 5290 kHz= 3rd Working Channel="FC" 5400 kHz= Primary Calling Channel="FE" 5405 kHz= Secondary Calling Channel="FM" A Radiocommunications Agency Notice of Variation (NOV) is required for UK amateur radio licence holders before operating on these 3kHz- wide channels. Applications are handled by RSGB. The first NOVs are expected to be issued on or after 01 AUG 2002. Amateurs may apply for the NOVs by application forms provided by RSGB (on the website). All operation is by the use of nets. Channels are +/-1.5kHz from the listed centre frequencies. Stations will use the word "Foxtrot" instead of calling CQ, and the first station on a blank channel is considered "net control", which is passed on to another station after signing off. More accurate transmitter frequency stability is required for operation. Communications with military and military cadet stations is permitted. Channel Notes: 5260 "FA" [LSB: 5261.5 kHz] Preferred for speech Nets. 0700-1000 UT NVIS Only Other times: Controlled Nets 5280 "FB" [LSB: 5281.5 kHz] Preferred for CW or Narrowband Data (below 650 Hz) 24Hours Controlled Nets 5290 "FC" [LSB: 5291.5 kHz] Preferred for Wideband Data (above 600 Hz) 0100-0259 UT International Tests 0300-0559 UT Data Only 1800-2059 UT Data Only Other times: Controlled Nets Times may shift as solar cycle progresses 5400 "FE" [LSB: 5401.5 kHz] Primary Calling Channel 0000-0659 UT Controlled Nets Other times: Calling Only Make contact here, then QSY to channels FA, FB, FC 5405 "FM" [LSB: 5406.5 kHz] Secondary Calling Channel 24Hours Calling Only Make contact here, then QSY to channels FA, FB, FC ---- Although any mode (except PULSE) may be used if it fits inside the "spot frequency" 3 kHz channel bandwidth, the LSB dial frequencies are listed in [brackets] to make it easier for operators to tune in the "Foxtrot" stations. Amateurs traditionally use LSB on frequencies below 9 MHz. It is likely that LSB will continue to be the common SSB mode amongst amateurs in the 60 metre band. However, it is possible that communications with the military cadet stations may occur in USB mode. "NOV" application for UK Full Class A licence holders only: http://www.rsgb.org/licensing/fivemegs/application5mhz.pdf ===================== NJ QRP Club Mailing List ===================== To unsubscribe from this list, send email to listserver@applegate.org and put the text "unsubscribe njqrp" in the message. To post a message to the list, send email to njqrp@njqrp.org (via Bill Bergadano, DXLD) Be interesting if they run into some outofband broadcast stations, notably Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 5290, 2200-1800 per SW Guide (gh, DXLD) ** U K. RADIO AUTHORITY AM SUBMISSION The Radio Authority recently concluded its consultation exercise on the future of AM in the UK and has published the submissions received on its website. Amongst the more interesting ones were these: Travis Baxter who set up and ran Atlantic 252: He says AM is being increasingly sidelined by a failure to invest adequately in appropriate programming. New formats can drive listening as in the United States including local sports, local news, adult standards and children`s. In both Chicago and San Francisco three of the top 5 stations broadcast local services on AM. All households have AM equipment and can thus choose to listen to services provided. Like many he is very critical of the networked Classic Gold stations with little local content and points out, that with few exceptions, this has resulted in declining audiences for AM. He also advocates introducing new technical standards to broaden the bandwidth and increase the transmission quality to US standards. Radio Caroline points out the Radio Authority are holding an AM frequency of 225 kHz and have held it for eight years without offering it to any party for any gainful use. They also question why the Radio Authority cannot licence short wave AM broadcasts. They ask why shortwave could not be included for specialist operators and point out that the fact that any legitimate operator can book shortwave air time via Merlin but cannot apply to broadcast independently is an anomaly. They say that it was probably never intended that commercial radio broadcasting in the UK would end up being in the control of a small number of operators owning dozens or scores of stations. They propose an affordable licence, limits of automation, no networking and a "sink or swim" rule with the licence being returned to the Authority if stations are unable to continue rather than the station being sold on to another operator. Stations should be able to operate as fully commercial, part commercial, part volunteer, so long as a full radio service is provided to the listener. As previously mentioned in DX News The Evangelical Alliance has submitted a long and detailed submission saying AM can still deliver audiences by increasing listener choice through a wide variety of programme formats. They specifically propose regional stations (1kw to 50kw) using frequencies currently occupied by the BBC local radio stations. David Blaxhall of Calderdale Sound points out that AM has some distinct advantages over FM: the ability to be better received in hilly terrain and that it can be restricted in service area more easily than FM. Their own restricted service licence stations in Todmorden moved from FM to AM and was a great success, the signal covered the area more clearly, it was less costly as the did not need relays, as they had done for FM, and listeners responded well. He favours using AM for purely local services using powers of 10 to 100 watts. Digital News Network points out the potential for AM speech radio, citing stations such as WINS New York and WTOP Washington as being among the higher reaching stations in their respective markets. They propose that the Radio Authority advertise a number of city wide local licences on AM in all the major population centres in the UK. DNN says that they would use AM to promote the advantages of digital radio, in particular the interactivity of the digital format. The BBC says AM represents a cost effective way of delivering services where wide geographical coverage is needed, and when terrain obstruction is a significant factor. In response to the question, posed by the Authority, about simulcasting of BBC local services on AM and FM, they say any migration to just one band would result in a reduction in coverage and would incur unnecessary costs. The BBC released several AM frequencies to the Radio Authority in the early 1990s, giving up medium wave altogether in 10 of its local areas. Where more than one waveband is used this is to meet coverage objectives or to provide editorial diversity at key times of the day. The BBC say they are keen to ensure that AM remains "un-polluted" by sources of electromagnetic interference that may degrade its quality. Specifically they are concerned by the possibility of interference by the broadband services that use domestic wiring, such as ADSL and are keen to achieve a technically compatible approach to the successful co-existence of AM radio and broadband services. Mid Downs Hospital Radio, who have a low power AM licence, point out how much support to those in need they, and similar stations, can provide by acting as a focal point in promoting the many different support groups and agencies that exist within their communities and in providing a service that is unique to those who use the various medical facilities within the area. In response to the consultation exercise the Authority proposes a more sympathetic approach to format changes and keeping the current requirement for a minimum of 4 hours local programming for networked AM stations. A new phase of local AM licensing is possible, though at the expense of local FM licensing plans and so-called "third tier" services could use the AM waveband such as those in the current Access radio trials. The Authority hopes to complete a frequency plan based on current and possibly new AM channels to allow the new regulator, Ofcom, to consider AM at an early stage (via Mike Barraclough, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U S A. ANALYSIS: US POLICY GROUP NOTES MEDIA'S VITAL ROLE IN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 30 July A new report by an influential policy group in America says the US government needs an urgent public relations overhaul to improve its image in the international community. The report by the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations says public diplomacy must be a central element of US foreign policy. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September, the Council assembled an independent task force of experts and opinion leaders from government, the media, the arts, advertising and public relations, as well as Islamic and regional scholars. Their conclusion is that while President George W. Bush sounded the right rhetorical notes about upgrading public diplomacy to combat terrorism and America's shaky image abroad, he must do more and better urgently. The report bemoans the current state of American public diplomacy, saying that a legacy of underfunded and uncoordinated efforts has left the USA underperforming significantly in its efforts to capture the hearts and minds of the public in foreign countries. "Use interactive media to reach younger audiences" The report, published on the Council on Foreign Relations web site http://www.cfr.org says: "The task force applauds the positive steps taken by the administration, including appointing an undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and launching an Arabic-language radio station targeted at younger Middle Eastern audiences, but it also points to recent polls showing America's image problem is global - not just isolated to the Middle East." American public diplomacy, the report goes on, should focus on "supporting moderate voices and reaching out to younger people, particularly in the Middle East where the young comprise an unprecedented and growing share of the population". The task force recommends more intensive and creative use of interactive media to reach the majority of this population, and calls for "identifying and supporting independent messengers in the region, who can criticize fanaticism with more credibility". It recommends "greatly expanding the use of the department's multilanguage internet web sites and leased satellite TV and FM radio broadcasting channels, strengthening the Office of International Information Programs, and significantly increasing media skills and public diplomacy training for all ambassadors and foreign service personnel". "Cultivate foreign journalists" Further recommendations include cultivating and improving access for foreign journalists, "because they are the main transmission belts for what the United States is doing and why". Foreign reporters "are highly credible messengers, but are generally given short shrift by administration spokespersons. The administration should increase foreign press access to senior American officials and engage foreign journalists more effectively at all times, not just during crises," the Council on Foreign Relations believes. The Council on Foreign Relations adds that part of the problem has been a dramatic decline in funding for government departments that were once dedicated to promoting US policy and values overseas. Funding boost required The report urges lobbying in Congress for a substantial increase in funding for public diplomacy initiatives. It argues that to make public diplomacy the kind of priority the administration has talked about would involve a budget far in excess of the approximately one billion dollars currently spent by the State Department and the Broadcasting Board of Governors in their public diplomacy programming. It notes: "As a point of reference, just one per cent of the Defense Department's proposed budget of 379bn dollars would be 3 to 4bn dollars. This pales in comparison to the 222bn dollars American companies invest annually on overseas advertising." The Council's report warns that "a lack of political will and absence of overall strategy have rendered past public diplomacy programmes virtually impotent in today's increasingly crowded communications world". "While sound public diplomacy is not a silver bullet for America's image problem, making it a true component of the foreign policy-making process is a vital step towards ensuring the nation's security," it concludes. Source: BBC Monitoring research 30 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** U S A. [Greece and Kuwait also]. About the new Radio program beamed to the Arab world called R. Sawa, here's my report. Mainly there are two transmitters broadcasting R. Sawa to the ME on the MW band, 1260 from Greece [Rhodes Island] and 1548 from Kuwait. I noticed that there are two different networks of Radio Sawa; they only join to broadcast the news, but when it come to songs it's totally 2 different networks. The one from Kuwait on 1548 is not as strong as the one from Greece on 1260. The formula of the program, only music, one hit in Arabic - mainly for new singers, no old tradition singers like OM KALTHOUM or ABD ALWAHAB ... only new singers from all over the Arab world mainly Egypt, the Gulf region and some RAII Music from North Africa. The news is like a capsule; it'd take like 5-9 minutes, and that's all --- come to think of it, when I used to tune in to VOA in Arabic, there was so many current affairs program and also there was special program for listeners to call and join a chat held by a VOA host. It's like the Arabic version of Talk To America. But now there's no such thing: they have dropped VOA Arabic and all its programs. Effect on the youth: I was to get a question by the son of my aunt, who lives in Alexandria and works as a teacher --- do you listen to Sawa?? He asked. I replied, do you??? He said yes. The guy knows nothing about MW-SW stuff, so I was really curious to find out, how did he hear about it and what does he think?? He said he heard them loud and clear, next to R. Monte Carlo, Cyprus on 1233 kHz, and the program was really cool, as he said. He liked the songs, especially when they play the latest Arabic hits, not the old boring stuff!! I watched a special program on Abu Dhabi TV on the Nilesat Satellite 7 W, and it was really amazing as the youth in this Emirate was really enthusiastic about this station. One of the (dudes) said even when he goes to the barber he requests listening to R. Sawa!! And so many other chaps were saying it's #1 station they love to tune in to when they are driving. In an interview with VOA on 1/1/2002 I was interviewed by Dr. Kim Andrew Elliot for a special edition of his program Communications World. He asked me about the media scene in the Mideast and I replied that most of the major stations that the Arab world would love to listen to like BBC Arabic and Radio Monte Carlo started a new trend of making it easier and clearer for the listeners to hear them by switching from MW and SW for the BBC to the FM band. Which is much easier to get on the FM bands in the Arabic countries, as this band is not that crowded as it is in Europe or USA --- was that a hint. R SAWA is now on the FM bands in Jordan and Kuwait, and I think more to come mainly in the Gulf states. But if we are talking about the major Arab countries like Egypt. NO, don't think so --- so far the media - controlled by the government --- no private radio stations have been allowed. Lately they gave the licence for 2 TV channels and they were only beamed by satellite, so you have to get a satellite receiver to be able to catch them. I think Syria, and Iraq are out of reach as well. Personally, I prefer the old formula of VOA Arabic, not the new R. Sawa, but I think as a 34-year-old Arab, I'm not the target for this radio (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, SU1TZ, July 27, BC-DX via DXLD) ** U S A. WEB RADIO LAW CHANGES INTRODUCED From http://www.atnewyork.com/news/article.php/1433921 By Ryan Naraine In a last-ditch effort to protect smaller Webcasters from what they describe as unfair royalty obligations, three influential U.S Congressmen on Friday introduced the "Internet Radio Fairness Act," a new law seeking to change existing Web radio laws. Carrying through with a promise to introduce legislation that would essentially codify "fair use" provisions of copyright law, Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) joined with Reps. Jay Inslee (D-WA), George Nethercutt (R-WA) to introduce the new legislation. The bill is designed to make the Copyright Arbitration Royalty Process (CARP) "more fair for smaller entities," the Congressmen said in an announcement that the Bill would go before the House of Representatives' Judiciary and Small Business Committees. The three have been among the most vocal critics of the controversial CARP royalty rate structure that sets the per-performance fee at 0.07 cents per performance, retroactive to October 1998. In a statement, Rep. Inslee said, "Congress should support creative and innovative uses for new technology, not drive small web radio broadcasters out of business with huge fees. We need to refine the current law on digital technology quickly, before more small web radio broadcasters are forced out of business." "Changing the standard for setting royalty rates is crucial to the survival of this innovative sector. We seek a balance between just compensation and Internet development. This process must be fair but not free," he argued. Rep. Nethercutt joined in blasting the CARP ruling which was effectively forcing smaller Webcasters out of business. "No one wins under the current CARP standard -- Webcasters will close shop, consumers lose access to a wide selection of programming, and copyright holders collect nothing," Nethercutt said. "Our legislation protects small businesses from the onerous CARP ruling, ensuring the continuation of Webcasting, and incidentally, creating a long-term revenue stream for copyright holders." Rep. Boucher described the law that produced the royalty rate "flawed" and said the Bill would seek to fix the process that he said was weighed heavily against the Internet radio industry. Highlights of the "Internet Radio Fairness Act" include: Small businesses (six million dollars in gross revenue) will be exempted from the CARP fees for web radio. The royalty ruling, which was accepted by the Library of Congress, would stand for larger Web radio providers. All future CARP processes must change the royalty rate standard from the "willing-buyer/willing-seller" to the "traditional" standard that was enacted by the 1976 Copyright Act. Royalty payments for the small businesses that have been exempted from the current CARP decision will be calculated using the traditional standard, and rolled into the next CARP. Small businesses will be exempted from the payment requirement for participation in future CARP proceedings. During the most recent arbitration process, all participants were forced to pay an equal share of the total costs, forcing many small businesses out of the process. All future CARPs must eliminate fees for temporary recordings ("ephemeral recordings") that Web radio broadcasters create to facilitate the transmission of the song to users. "The Registrar of Copyrights has determined that these temporary recordings have no independent economic value, and should not be subject to a separate royalty payment," the Congressmen argued. Broadcasters should not be charged for temporary storage files that listeners never hear and which are not saved. All future CARPS must comply with the Regulatory Flexibility Act. This will require CARPs to specifically consider the impact of any decisions on small businesses (via Mike Terry, July 29, DXLD) ** U S A. Minnesota Public Radio Makes History -- Streams Live, Via Internet, Concerts From the World's Largest Gathering of Choral Musicians --- For the First Time Ever, Audiences Around the World Can Hear Performances At The Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music -- As They Happen August 3-10, 2002 http://www.mpr.org SAINT PAUL, Minn., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- From August 3 to 10, more than 3,000 international choral musicians and scholars will gather in Minnesota as the United States -- for the first time -- hosts the World Symposium on Choral Music. Audiences worldwide can visit Minnesota Public Radio's Web site, http://www.mpr.org to hear Symposium concerts live. Concerts streamed live: Sunday, August 4: -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): Little Singers of Armenia, Cantoria de Merida (Venezuela), St. Jacob's Chamber Choir (Sweden) -- (9:00 p.m. EDT): Chamber Choir of the Moscow State Conservatory (Russia), University of Pretoria Concert Choir (South Africa) Monday, August 5: -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): Taipei Philharmonic (Taiwan), Wiener Kammerchor (Austria); Riga Dom Cathedral Boys Choir (Latvia) -- (9:00 p.m. EDT): Boni Pueri (Czech Republic), Riga Dom (Latvia), The Australian Boys Choir and the Vocal Consort (Australia), Helsinki University Chorus "YL" Men's Choir (Finland), Chor Leoni (Canada), the American Boychoir (USA) Tuesday, August 6 -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): Red Leaf Children's Choir (China), National Folk Dance Ensemble of Croatia LADO (Croatia), the Elmer Iseler Singers (Canada) -- (9:00 p.m. EDT): Choeur de Chambre de Namur with the Baroque Ensemble la Fenice (Belgium), Entrevoces (Cuba) Wednesday, August 7 -- (9:00 p.m. EDT): Bobby McFerrin and Voicestra (USA) Thursday, August 8 -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): Michigan State University Children's Choir (USA), Garganta Profunda (Brazil), Ansan City Choir (South Korea) Friday, August 9 -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): The Adelaide Chamber Singers (Australia), the Okubo Mixed Chorus (Japan) -- (9:00 p.m. EDT): World Youth Choir (international) Saturday, August 10 -- (2:30 p.m. EDT): The Gifu High School Choir (Japan), the Namibia National Youth Choir (Namibia), Det Norske Solistkor (Norway) -- (8:30 p.m. EDT): The St. Olaf Choir, the Dale Warland Singers, Moore by Four, Vocal Essence (all USA) Minnesota Public Radio's World Symposium on Choral Music Web site http://www.mpr.org goes live July 26, 2002, and features background information, photos of the events, an interactive world map, and a link to a Cyber Cafe where Symposium participants and music fans worldwide can post messages. (All concerts will be archived and can be accessed any time at http://www.mpr.org ) SOURCE Minnesota Public Radio -0- 7/23/2002 /CONTACT: Andrea Matthews of Minnesota Public Radio, +1-651-290-1303, or amatthews@@mpr.org / (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) A bit over-hyped, it seems to me, nice but not exactly earth-shaking; and why list in EDT??? Minnesota is in CDT (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Victor Lewis Smith, in the Funny Old World column in Private Eye, quotes this story from the Illinois Quad-City Times of 27th May: It`s true that Benjamin Stomberg made the cash promise on his radio show," a spokesman for Cumulus Broadcasting told reporters in Illinois, "but he only did it as a practical joke. There was never any intention of paying money to people who had the 93.5 KORB station logo tattooed on their forehead. The idea was simply that persons who responded to the announcement would be publicly scorned and ridiculed for their greed and lack of common sense." Earlier Richard Goddard Jr. and David Winkleman had explained why they were filing a $300,000 lawsuit for damages against Cumulus, the owners of 93.5 KORB. "We were listening to Stomberg`s radio show one day, when he announced that anyone willing to have the station's logo permanently tattooed on their foreheads would be awarded $30,000 a year for life. It sounded like a good deal to us, but we phoned in just to make sure, and he told us he was serious. His word was good enough for us, so that afternoon we went to the Scorpion`s Den tattoo parlor, where a man who said he worked for KORB, paid for our tattoos, took some photographs and left. Next day we were both fired from our jobs, because of the tattoos. And the station has never paid us so much as dime one. We're tattooed, we're angry and we're suing." Craig Levene, the attorney for Columbus, said that "the company is vigorously contesting the lawsuit. Any intelligent person would have realised that Stomberg's offer was a practical joke. Trouble is, not all our listeners fall into that category." (Private Eye via Mike Barraclough, August World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U S A. SENDING D.C. A CLEAR SIGNAL by Katy Bachman, Media Week, JULY 29, 2002 Embattled radio giant Clear Channel Communications watched its stock price whipsaw last week, tanking on the news that controversial radio group CEO Randy Michaels was being shifted to a new-technologies unit, then stabilizing by week's end. The consensus is that Michaels was a political liability that Clear Channel could ill afford to carry as the company's radio operations come under intensified scrutiny in Washington for questionable business practices, many of which Michaels spearheaded. Clear Channel initially lost about $4 billion in market value on the news of Michaels' removal. Some analysts questioned why the company made the move without a successor in place. But after CC moved up its quarterly-earnings conference call by a week, the stock recovered a bit and analysts largely stopped commenting on the Michaels matter. "Michaels has done an incredible job of building the radio company and its unparalleled assets," said Mark Mays, COO of the parent company and acting CEO of the radio unit. "There has not been an event or a poor performance that has led to this mutual decision, which has been contemplated a long time." With Michaels at the helm in radio, CC has drawn increasing criticism from Capitol Hill, culminating in a Justice Department investigation into the division's aggressive business practices. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) has proposed legislation that would outlaw some of the practices in question. On Michaels' watch, the San Antonio-based company has been accused of everything from manipulating the music business in pay-for-play schemes to animal cruelty for an on-air stunt. In response, CC recently set up a political action committee and pressured employees to contribute to it. So was it time to find a scapegoat to send a clear message to the Hill that the controlling Mays family's conservative corporate sensibility is back in charge at CC? Some believe so. "Michaels had become a political liability," said one top radio industry analyst, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The search for a new radio CEO, which Mays said will take six to eight weeks, is likely to yield a chief with a much more subdued style. "Clear Channel Radio did not have a CEO -- it had a morning man," quipped one competing radio executive. Possible candidates include Clear Channel Radio COO John Hogan; Kenny O'Keefe, former COO of AMFM, who was Michaels' No. 2 for a year following the CC-AMFM merger; Tom and Steve Hicks of investment firm Hicks, Muse & Tate, which holds a significant interest in CC; and former AOL exec Bob Pittman. (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA, July 29 via DXLD) ** U S A. 1630, UNID TX, 7/28/02 2118-2125 [EDT?], Spanish music amid static crashes, QRM from KCJJ. Strong with antenna N/S. From the "amen"s, perhaps this was SS Gospel music? Station strong 2122, ID in EE and SS littered with QRN - "KMAH(?)", "Radio 'Ab-dah'"(?) ID for station on 1440 in Dallas/Ft. Worth/?? - simulcasting, I guess, but QRN destroyed last part of this - and it was in SS. (I tried to find this ID out on my own, but I have an old URL for 10000watts.com - anyone have the new address? I checked with the FCC site; there's a KTNO in Denton on 1440, but I don't think that's what I heard. I have that there's supposed to be a station on 1630 in Dallas/Ft. Worth - KOGE - but I know those calls are old - any ideas?) (Lynn Hollerman, Lafayette, LA, IRCA via DXLD) Check out the IRCA Web site http://www.ircaonline.org Lynn, this is KNAX from Ft. Worth. It came on Sat. I heard this same thing last night and didn't know who it was at first. It QRMed KKWY which has a pretty nice classic country format in stereo (Kevin Redding, AZ, July 29, ibid.) Looks like 1630 Dallas KNAX is on the air. I thought those calls were going to be used by 1630 Fresno (did KNAX sell those call letters away?), then 1630 Fresno was KBEG or similar. They're not on the air, obviously... (Robert Wien, CA, ibid.) Yes, around 0400 UT July 30, on 1630, first an ID for their 1440 station, then for 1630 as KNAX, which once applied to Clovis CA (gh, DXLD) 1630, KNAX TX, Fort Worth, heard with SS Ranchera type mx, with ID at 0601 EST [sic] 7/30 "14-40...KTNO...Denton, Ft. Worth...." No mention of KNAX calls though // with 1440 apparently. New. X Band #47. 1630 KNAX TX, Ft. Worth, hrd again at 0659.30 EDT 7/30 with ID "14-40 KTNO, Denton-Dallas-Ft. Worth... KTNO, Denton-Ft. Worth- Dallas..." u/o KKWY. This will be a regular! Drake R8, 1500' Eastern Beverage, term. (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KAVT Reception Manager, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. Hello Mr. Hauser, Last week while scanning the X-band for new stations, I was puzzled to hear the National Weather Service Weather Radio continuous transmission on 1700 kHz in the X-band here in suburban Detroit. This is the service typically heard on 162.55 MHz in many areas. It was a fairly weak signal, not any better than the VHF service. I checked the NOAA website to see if they were doing a TIS type service in some areas, but it showed nothing but the VHF transmissions. There was also a few words of a public service announcement occasionally breaking in. It turns out this was a transmission from a municipal radio station, WPTC-520, run by the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights, Michigan. Per the press release, it is designed to provide the residents with news of community activities and emergency information, and occasionally they will switch over to the NOAA weather broadcasts if severe weather is forecast for the area. There are no technical details at the web address, http://www.ci.sterling-heights.mi.us/newsroom/sterlingheightsradio1700 Per the press release the signal is only designed to be heard in the suburb, about 25 square miles in area. At nighttime they are pretty well smothered by commercial X-banders on the frequency, but might be a good DX catch around sunrise/sunset for those not too far from Detroit. 73s (Ben Loveless, WB9FJO, Bloomfield Hills, Mich., July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. 6010.02, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Montevideo, 1545- 1551, Jul 27, Spanish, Musical program, Ads. 34443 (Nicolás Eramo, DX Camp in Chascomus, a small city located 120 km SW of Buenos Aires, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I don't know if you're an expert in the higher ranges but I noticed a few years ago, and noticed yet again the other day, that almost no matter where I seem to go w/in the U.S. there is on 914.762 MHz a transmission of nothing intelligible. It is just as though someone is transmitting but not talking into the microphone. No tone or beeping or buzzing or talking, but a mike seems to be keyed down. Any idea what that is? Because it is so widespread geographically, could it be from a big TV station or radio station? Any idea??? (Robert Arthur, July 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s well above TV broadcast channel 83. Perhaps someone can look up at least what services are authorized around this frequency (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ KA2EMZ Hi Glenn. Just wanted to pass on to you and your DXLD readers, I now update weekly the latest DX news of the ham radio bands on my website- http://www.ka2emz.com 73s from a very hot and humid New Jersey! (Bill Bergadano, KA2EMZ, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-120, July 29, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1141: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1141.html NEXT RFPI BROADCASTS: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 NEXT WWCR BROADCAST: Wed 0930 9475 UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Hi Glenn, Thanks for your attention! [re missing issue]. Now I have got them all - and I really enjoy reading your bulletins! Thanks a lot for keeping them coming! 73 from (Björn Fransson, Sweden) ** ALBANIA. Perhaps the most dramatic evolution of a radio station has occurred at R. Tirana. In the 70s this was the voice of the hardline Enver Hoxha regime. For the size and wealth of the country, it had an enormous broadcasting output --- one of the last of the Stalinist regimes, extremely hostile to almost everyone! Albania was the darling of the folks in the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist) who looked to Albania and saw the fulfillment of the Marxist ideal. (Most of us just saw a poor backward country with a despotic government --- to each his own.) Once proclaimed the first atheist state in the world, many evangelical ministries broadcast today from Albanian transmitters. It was amusing to hear the station after the fall of the communist regime. A whole generation had grown up thinking in terms of Marxist rhetoric, jargon and slogans. While discussing affairs in the now multi-party parliament, the announcer used phrases like ``the broad masses of the `x` party manifested a demonstration``. I`m listening to a broadcast from Tirana as I type this. Gone are the rhetoric and the jargon. In essence the religion of communism has been replaced with nationalism. This is true in many countries in the region, the most blatant example being the former Yugoslavia. Albania faces many ethnic and financial challenges. The music one can hear, via R. Tirana`s English broadcasts and the nightly Albanian broadcasts, is fantastic. The R. Tirana webpage http://rtsh.sil.at/index.html is very out of date. The most up to date items included links to programs dated 1999 that don`t seem to work. Perhaps it is a product of short staff and short budgets. Not much at all in English (Fred Waterer, St. Catharines, ON, Programming Matters, July ODXA Listening In, retyped by gh for DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. ALEMANHA - A Rádio Ecclésia, emissora católica de Angola, que transmite via Jülich, está de sítio novo, na Internet, de acordo com o Coordenador do DXCB, Caio Lopes. Anote: http://www.recclesia.org (@tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) It`s not been via Germany for months, but via South Africa (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. In response to Dave Hochfelder's comment: my analogy of Tokyo Rose? What about the Argentines'? The interview makes it clear that they intentionally used her as a model, whether she was real or imaginary. But thanks for de-bunking this legend, which has become a stereotype for psychological warfare by radio. And thanks, Glenn, for the translation (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. A Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), está de volta na faixa de 16 metros. De acordo com Denis Zoqbi, o pessoal da manutenção está alinhando o transmissor. Segundo ele, "a Cultura estará no ar várias horas por dia" até normalizar totalmente as emissões. A Cultura transmite em 17815 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) Some reports of it recently in NAm until about 0300* (gh, DXLD) BRASIL - O governo do Estado de Goiás poderá ter uma emissora de rádio em ondas curtas. De acordo com o sítio da Câmara Federal http://www.camara.gov.br o projeto que concede o canal de radiodifusão está tramitando desde setembro de 2001. Atualmente, está na Coordenação de Comissões Permanentes. A concessão sairá em nome da Agência Goiana de Comunicação - AGECOM. A agência é responsável pelas notícias que envolve o governo estadual goiano e publica o sítio http://www.noticias.go.gov.br (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) QEAFK? BRASIL - A Rádio Educadora Seis de Agosto, que emite desde a cidade de Xapuri, no Acre, continua sendo ouvida no Sudeste do Brasil. A emissora transmite em 3255 kHz. Foi captada, em Salto (SP), por Júlio Baldim, em 23 de julho, às 0940. De acordo com ele, a identificação é a seguinte: "Radio Seis de Agosto, Xapuri, Acre, transmitindo em ondas médias de 820 kHz e ondas tropicais de 3255 kHz, com estúdios à Rua Pio Nazário, 31, Xapuri, Acre, Brasil. Rádio Educadora Seis de Agosto, pronta para o novo milênio!" (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) BRASIL - O Departamento Técnico da Rádio Brasil Central, de Goiânia (GO), está de parabéns. O radioescuta venezuelano José Valdes, de Caracas, informa que a emissora está sendo captada, durante os últimos dias, com sinal excepcional, naquela localidade, na freqüência de 4985 kHz, por volta de 2230 (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 2480, 20/7 2257, R. Arapongas, Arapongas PR, "Arapongas a R. do povo", PRIMEIRO HARMONICO 1240 X 2, 24322 SDP/WR. 2460, 20/7 2156, R. Novo Tempo, Governador Valadares MG, programa religioso da "Rede Novo Tempo, 1230 X 2 = 1o. Harmonico - o harmonico entra muito forte! 44444 SDP/WR. DX-PEDITION de Sérgio Dória Partamian (SDP) e Wilson Rodrigues(WR) a zona rural da cidade de Itaitiaiuçu-MG-Brasil, de 21 a 25 de julho de 2002; Receptores utilizados: Sony ICF 2001-D, Sony ICF SW7600G, Yaesu FRG7, Auto Rádio Pioneer, modelo KE - 2850QR. Antenas: Longwire, Beverage 100 m, Loop 1 m., RGP-3, e K9AY, 25 metros cada triângulo (2 triângulos) (radioescutas via DXLD) Mais: Colegas, Em recente visita a Itatiaiuçu-MG, com o colega Wilson Rodrigues, entre as diversas emissoras interessantes que foram ouvidas esteve a R Novo Tempo em 2460 kHz. O sinal era extremamente forte e durante 3 dias estive tentando indentificar sua procedência e consegui; não é uma nova emissora de ondas curtas mas sim o 1o. harmônico da Rádio Novo Tempo, da cidade de Governador Valadares, MG (1230 X 2 = 2460 kHz). "Novo Tempo" é a denominação dada uma rede evangélicos adventistas que, conforme pudemos certificar, além de Governador Valadares MG, inclui uma outra "Rádio Novo Tempo" de Cariacica, ES. 73 a todos (Sérgio Partamian, radioescutas via DXLD) 2 x is called the second harmonic, not the first (gh, DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO. Em mensagem por e-mail a Rádio Burkina enviou a seguinte direção postal: RTV Burkina Boîte Postale 7029, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso V/S: Taheré Ouedraogo, Chef de Service des Programmes. (Ivan Dias, Sorocaba, SP, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Uma das agradáveis surpresas da programação, em espanhol, da Rádio Bulgária, é o programa Espacio DX-ista. Os últimos programas versaram sobre a captação de sinais de rádios à longa distância em FM e TV. Também as notícias apresentadas são interessantes. Confira aos domingos, na emissão entre 0100 e 0200, nas freqüências de 9500, 9700 e 11600 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) At the end of the hour? We shouldn`t have to listen to the entire hour to find it (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. [AMFMTVDX] TORONTO SPECIAL FM STATIONS FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY Get them while they're on. I hauled my Eskip-deprived FM radio down to Toronto -- used a car radio actually -- and -- like fellow Toronto DXer Niel Wolfish a few days ago -- noted all but 2 of the 10 frequencies applicant Gary Hooper received permission for had programming. Niel listened in last Wednesday evening. I was there Saturday night. All stations were simulcasting the same World Youth Day events, mostly music intermingled with religious (Catholic, the Pope is in attendance) exhortations. My official loggings started at 2220 with signals heard -- in order -- on 104.9, 102.7, 101.7, 90.7, 98.7, 91.9 and -- with some difficulty - - 99.5. Nothing at all was heard on 89.9 (Buffalo NY and Sunderland ON stations present) and 96.9 (Buffalo). I drove up to the site at Downsview, a large park near Keele and Sheppard streets, and drove around the site perimeter. I am convinced there are / were no stations operating on 89.9 and 96.9 because 99.5 did come in at times, whereas nothing at all appeared even when I nulled the pests on 89.9 and 96.9. WDCX, a Christian station, probably made 99.5 hard to hear for some attendees. The others did quite well at the site and some could be heard a few miles away (104.9, 90.7 were perhaps the best, followed by 102.7 and 91.9 and even 103.9). Signals were mono and, to my understanding, 10 watts. The idea was to broadcast in different languages on each of the frequencies, but all I heard was live music from the site, and some English announcements and speeches. I did hear some Spanish on 90.7 earlier in the day while driving down a nearby highway en route to Toronto, but did not have an opportunity to go to the site at that time. I may head there tomorrow, the final day, to try to determine the language accorded each frequency. I heard seven of the nine stations downtown last Tuesday doing open carrier with the sound of equipment banging around in the background. I am of the opinion that I will only count these stations once, despite the fact that they have obviously operated from two different locations roughly 15 miles (I'm guessing) apart. There was no sign of the stations downtown, tonight... (Saul Chernos, July 27, amfmtvdx via DXLD) I-C [Industry Canada] database lists three sets of applications on these frequencies: "CNE" 43-38-00N/79-25-07W 11m EHAAT "DOWNSVIEW" 43-44-33N/79-27-56W 27m EHAAT "QUEENSPARK" 43-39-45N/79-23-35N 17m EHAAT {Estimated Height Above Average Terrain} Best I can tell all three sites were eventually authorized. They were, in fact, authorized for 10 watts, circular polarization (unlike many Canadian LP stations which are often either horizontal-only or vertical-only). I would imagine they were assigned VF#### calls at some point but right now I don't see them (Doug Smith, W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), http://www.w9wi.com WTFDA via DXLD) For what it's worth I listened for a few minutes on my Sangean ATS 909 on Saturday evening from a house in the west end of Toronto (Etobicoke). The only signal I could hear at all was on 90.7. At the time they were simulcasting what ever event was taking place up at Downsview Park. The hymns/singing were exactly in sync with the TV audio from CBC Newsworld, but whenever they spoke the 90.7 had German translation. I thought I may have heard some German on 90.7 the other day too. Interesting since Saul thought he had heard Spanish on 90.7 earlier (Niel Wolfish, Toronto, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Previews for July 29-August 2 at 9:05 PM local: IDEAS. All this week on Ideas, a re-broadcast of "The Scapegoat: Rene Girard's Anthropology of Violence and Religion. Girard believes that human societies have always needed to focus their hostilities on a victim, a scapegoat, an evil one against whom the community could unite. Ideas producer David Cayley explores the thought of Rene Girard on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. A REBEL'S QUEST TO TRANSFORM CBC RADIO 'WE CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO CHANGE' [by] Sarah Scott, National Post CBC Radio runs the risk of being "perceived to be a white anglo network," says Adrian Mills, the new head of programming who is introducing radical changes to the morning lineup. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Adrian Mills, the man in charge of CBC Radio programming, was still learning how to handle his imposing new job. Mills had come from children's TV to transform the sound of CBC Radio, but he was clearly an outsider in the public radio service, the jewel in CBC's crown. Mills had never worked in radio, or in radio news. So that morning, six weeks into the job, Mills was still in listening mode. At 9:30 a.m., Mills was talking with a CBC drama executive when a secretary interrupted the meeting to tell him the twin World Trade Center towers in Manhattan had been struck by planes. Mills turned on the TV. All the major networks showed the same horrifying image -- the two towers on fire. He turned on CBC Radio to listen to This Morning, the national show that aired every weekday from 9 a.m. to noon in each time zone across the country. Mills was dismayed at what he heard. "I think it was a discussion of softwood lumber," he says. He was listening to a discussion that had been broadcast live an hour earlier to the Maritimes, and was now being repeated, on tape, in the Eastern time zone. That morning was Mills' "baptism by fire." Not only did it reveal some technical barriers to responsiveness within the CBC, it would also give Mills some ideas about how to make the most radical change to the morning lineup in 30 years. But at that precise moment, the one thought running through his mind was: We should have been live on the air. "I don't believe in doing people's jobs," he says, "but I knew, even coming from children's TV, that this was a story we should be covering." Not in half an hour -- right then, as the World Trade Center towers were burning and hell was breaking loose in Manhattan. The immediate question was, do you interrupt This Morning and local morning shows in Western Canada with the biggest breaking story on the planet? New to the job, Mills called people in News and Current Affairs. "They were upstairs planning the most efficient way to go live." At 9:40 a.m., the news executives stepped into Mills' office with their answer: They would wait until 10 a.m. "The next point we could go live cleanly was at the top of the clock," Mills says. "It took me well past September to understand it." There was a technological issue: CBC could not just flip a switch and cut into the local morning shows that were still going on west of Ontario. Each station had its own switch. Moreover, the network did not want to offend the regions. "If we decided to go at 9:45 a.m. or whatever, we ran the risk of cutting people off in mid-sentence. So we chose the option that we were used to taking, that was tidier and cleaner. But in fact it turned out that going live, as untidy as it would have been, would have been a better option." And so, while CBC Radio fretted, a third plane hit the Pentagon; the White House and the Pentagon were evacuated; airports were shut down; and planes were diverted to Canada. Firefighters and police were streaming into the towers as thousands of people were trying to escape. One of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. "So," I ask Mills, "CBC Radio waited another 20 minutes because it's impolite to cut people off?" "I think that's a reductionist way of looking at it," Mills replies, then pauses. "I thought, this is 2001," he says, finally. "This is the information age, and I want information now." - - - Nearly one year later, Mills thinks the infamous 9/11 time lag has given him, the new boy on the block, considerable leverage in his quest to transform morning radio. "I don't scream blue murder. It's not my style. I just made it very clear what my expectations were. It's pointless baying for blood. It's about understanding why decisions are made and putting systems and processes in [place] to make sure it doesn't happen again." For one thing, Mills has made it a lot easier for the network or the regions to break into regular programming with hot breaking news. He has loosened the reins of central control. But the experience also led him to challenge the traditional morning weekday format, in which local shows yield to a national one from 9 a.m. to noon. It has been like that for a generation. That three-hour slice of the day was presided over by the legendary Peter Gzowski, who hosted Morningside from 1982 to 1997. Then, when This Morning was created to fill that time slot, it was hosted by Michael Enright and Avril Benoit and, most recently, Shelagh Rogers. Now Mills has proposed an entirely new morning set-up, in which local shows will pass on the torch to a national 90-minute show starting at 8:30 a.m. That show, which is supposed to start on Nov. 18, will have Anna Maria Tremonti as its host. It will be "driven by news stories of the day -- a proactive place where we start to define the nature of stories," Mills promises. Then at 10 a.m., CBC will switch to another new show, to be hosted by Shelagh Rogers. That show, yet to be named, will debut in October. When I ask him for details, Mills draws a series of boxes on the blackboard to illustrate its architecture. "It will have very, very different content [from This Morning]," he says. For one thing, the content will be created by production teams across the country, not just in Toronto. Rogers will be in the chair, but not all the time. The set-up will be modelled somewhat on 60 Minutes. "One thing I learned in children's TV," says Mills, "is that you can own a brand and still lease it to someone else. I think Shelagh, because of her strengths, will be able to own territory and give it up sometimes to other people." That description of the morning shows does not reassure the skeptics at the CBC. By now, they say, we should know exactly what these shows will be. Yet Mills' concept does not go much further than setting the time slot. During a two-hour talk with Mills, I do not detect any deep thinking about the content or the approach of the morning shows. It is as if he is making a picture frame and leaving it to the creative types at the CBC to decide what the picture will be, and how to draw it. As a practitioner of the art of managing creative people, Mills would think this is a good thing. Yet it exposes him to the criticism that he is transforming morning radio without a clear idea of what he wants it to be. For a man thus poised to transform the landscape of CBC Radio's prime real estate -- a move that will cost a tidy sum he will not disclose -- Mills seems remarkably relaxed. At 43, his hair greying a little, Mills is neat and casual, polite, careful in his selection of words as he sips a cup of hot lemon water. "I was always one to challenge convention," he says. Growing up in Winchester, an ancient city in southern England, he used to look for little ways to rebel: "Whenever I went to a fancy dinner party, I would always use the wrong fork and knife, just on principle, just to annoy people." Mills laughs at the memory. "That shows the kind of rebel I am ... with a certain lightness of touch. I don't steamroller in and do the big bravado thing." As a teenager, Mills says he skipped the sex and drugs and rock 'n' roll phase. "I was very boring. I would go to orchestra practice [he played French horn in a youth orchestra] and choir practice. I was a bit geeky." He studied child psychology at Lancaster University and ended up at the BBC before following a friend, a doctoral student in Russian history, to Canada. His friend, he says, "couldn't stand it and went back to England, and I stayed." Mills loves Toronto. "It's an amazing city that more people should appreciate." He loved it from the moment he came to Toronto about 15 years ago with Ron Reagan Jr., the former president's son, to film a show about the Guinness World Records. "Canada can always be relied upon for crazy world records," he says. "We found the world yo-yo spinning champion and the world's fastest yodeller." The yodeller, from Brampton, Ont., did his thing in under a second -- he was the world's fastest -- but Mills had seven minutes to fill. "So we took him to the top of the CN tower and made him the fastest and highest yodeller at the same time." At TV Ontario, Mills won an international Emmy for devoting a whole day to shows for kids and produced by kids. There, Mills learned how to manage creative people and then moved to CBC TV as the head of children's, youth and daytime programming, before switching to CBC's English Web site. Then about 18 months ago, Alex Frame, vice-president of CBC Radio, invited him for coffee and offered him the big job of running the radio programming. "It was out of the blue, completely unexpected," Mills says. Frame and Mills spent a lot of time talking. "CBC Radio had a very clear sense of where it had come from and where it was, but I wouldn't have said it had a clear sense of where it was going." But wasn't that a sensitive issue for CBC Radio stalwarts? After all, why should they change what they saw as a good thing? Mills is very careful when he answers that question. "It wasn't so much that something was wrong with it," he says. "But the world is changing so quickly we can't afford not to change. I don't believe in change for change's sake," he adds quickly. "But I think the communication and media world is so volatile, so unpredictable, that in order for anyone to be able to function effectively in that world, it needs to be flexible enough to be able to move." That explanation sounds a little vague to me, so I ask him to explain. Mills runs through the usual argument about how the big media players are ganging up and threatening to block out smaller voices. But, I interrupt, hasn't convergence run its course? Mills switches to Reason No. 2: "Canada is changing," he says, "and society has changed, so CBC Radio needs to make sure it is as relevant to future generations as it was to previous ones." OK, now we're talking. As immigrants have flooded into cities, the face of Canadian cities has changed. Does CBC Radio reflect that? Mills chooses his words with caution: "I would say that most people who work in different parts of the country would say, well actually, not as well as we could, as we should." A little later, he puts it more bluntly: "I was concerned we could be perceived to be a white anglo network." The young people in CBC's focus groups saw CBC Radio as "radio for older people," Mills says. "They felt we were perhaps not as intriguing or interesting as they would like." The numbers put it in a more brutal way: Only 6% of the 35-49 audience tuned into This Morning this spring, down one percentage point from a decade ago. Overall, This Morning captured 13% of the English-speaking listening audience over age 11 in the spring, but that is because so many of its listeners are older Canadians. In the past 15 years, Mills notes, CBC Radio's audience has aged faster than the Canadian population. Fifteen years ago, just over one-half of CBC Radio's listeners were over 50. Now that figure is nearly 70%. "That in itself is not a bad thing," Mills says. But he wants CBC Radio to include younger people along with older Canadians. The target market is, after all, curious people between age 35 and 64. One thing Mills promises not to do is design programs specifically for the 35-49 set. He learned that lesson in children's TV: "Once you target young people, they'll have no interest at all," he says. Well, maybe they would like a little more variety. Listening to CBC now, one is rarely surprised. When Mills started his job, he listened carefully to the shows: "All the programs were consistently good. When I came to CBC, I knew exactly what I was getting. Tonally, the programs exist within a narrow bandwidth. The programs are gently rolling from one to the other. What I'd like to do is broaden that emotional range, that bandwidth, and try to get more peaks and valleys in terms of texture ... more colours and variety and tone in the programs." It has been a steep learning curve, with some setbacks along the way. Mills' plans for an eight-hour live show on Saturdays has been put on ice because it would cost too much. He is not sure yet what to do with Saturday mornings, but he learned quickly, when he tried to cancel The House, that well over 400,000 Canadians actually like to listen to a show about politics on Saturday morning. It is not always easy to change a big and well-established institution. "Getting people to be open about finding new and different ways to achieve their goal -- that is sometimes a challenge," he acknowledges. How will Mills know if the new weekday morning shows are working? He will look at the audience numbers, of course. "But if in a year, one doesn't increase the number of people under 50, that's fine, too." So how will he know he is on the right track? "At the end of the day, it's gut," he says, one hand gently punching his chest. "It's instinct. Mine. The producers'. Shelagh's. The hosts'. Public broadcasting comes from here, from somewhere inside." Do you mean from the heart? "Yeah. It sounds twee, doesn't it? It's an internal something people in broadcasting have." http://www.nationalpost.com/review/story.html?id=EA17EAD2-C351-46FA-83F3-B09AD39F7C8A © Copyright 2002 National Post (via Bill Westenhaver, Mike Cooper, DXLD) twee??? ** CANADA. Radio Canada International - "CyberJournal" Yesterday I got my usual mailing from RCI of programme schedule, sticker and a card about this new service so I looked at http://www.rcinet.ca and here are the details: "Welcome to RCI's CyberJournal. Once you sign up for this free and valuable service, you'll receive via e-mail a daily summary of the top Canadian and international news stories. The RCI CyberJournal provides a user-friendly link with Canada for people living or travelling abroad. It takes only a few minutes to catch up on the latest Canadian news. As well, the CyberJournal includes sports and business news, the daily weather forecast, and a brief outline of the top international news. Each morning at 04h30 UT, we send the CyberJournal out to Canadians and non-Canadians around the world who need to know what's going on in Canada. It's free and comes with no obligation. The CyberJournal is sent via e-mail and is designed to be easily and quickly downloaded and read. (We know how valuable your time is!) For travellers who might not have access to their e-mail accounts, there is an easy way to stay in touch with Canada. Simply ask your hotel concierge to subscribe to the RCI CyberJournal and to print you up a copy each morning. That way, you won't miss a single edition! It costs nothing to subscribe to the RCI CyberJournal, and you can cancel your subscription any time. And RCI guarantees that its electronic mailing-list will not be distributed to any other person or company. So sign up now. It's easy! " Needless to say I have signed up. Good DX (Mike Terry, UK, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. == LIST QUESTION OF THE WEEK == "If you were given the authority, how would you reform the AM band? Before answering, define what reform means to you, and why it is necessary." From a Canadian perspective: Reform of the AM band would mean trying to do something -- anything! -- to try and stem the tide of migration to FM. At the current rate, only Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and a few other major markets will be left with AM stations. But I don't think that is possible, short of the Canadian government offering financial compensation to AM broadcasters who claim they're losing money hand over fist unless they move to FM. For the AM stations that remain: require local ownership and local programming - even if it means a proliferation of brokered-time religious or ethnic stations with virtually no programming in EE or FF. Canada does not need any more stations regurgitating Dr. Laura, Art Bell, Sporting News Radio, and other satellite-fed U.S. junk. FCC-type rules requiring a legal call letter ID at the top of the hour would be a good idea too, particularly in the Toronto market (home of Fan-590, Mojo-640, Team-1050, Prime Time-740, 680 News, Edge 102, Q107, Kiss 92, Energy 95, Easy rock 97, Mix 99, etc.) 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Professor Arnaldo Coro CO 2 KK, Radio La Habana DXers Unlimited: From my correspondence contact to Arnie: he has travelled to Germany twice in past decade easily, and was invited by both Radio Deutsche Welle officials at Cologne and Berlin, as well as by the German Ham radio society (wb df5sx, WWDXC BC-DX via DXLD) Glenn, This may help explain why Arnie Coro had trouble with his visa application: (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) But, but.. Arnie would be the last to defect, he likes Communist Cuba so much, and it was the Canadian government keeping him out, not the Cuban government preventing him from going. Still... (gh, DXLD) CUBANS ASK FOR ASYLUM --- Pilgrims defect after mass By TOM GODFREY, TORONTO SUN July 29, 2002 More than a dozen young Cuban pilgrims are being hidden in city safe houses after defecting to Canada following the World Youth Day mass in Downsview Park yesterday. The Cubans were spirited to freedom in a precision rescue mission by members of the Cuban community in Toronto. Members of the Cuban Canadian Foundation (CCF) said great secrecy and planning were required to identify and split the defectors from their 200-member World Youth Day delegation and spirit them off the site of the papal mass. Cuban pilgrims were watched by Cuban security police. The defectors will claim political asylum at Toronto immigration offices this week, said CCF president Ismael Sambra. Federal immigration officials had planned for a hike in refugee claims from pilgrims from Third World countries who won't be returning home. Department officials expected more than 200 pilgrims to file claims after WYD wrapped up but as of yesterday morning the total was around 10. Most will claim they'll be persecuted for their religious beliefs if they return home, according to immigration lawyers. Citizenship and Immigration spokesman Rejean Cantlon said refugee application hearings are now being scheduled for August and early September. A decision on their claim would be made in three business days. Sambra said dozens of Cuban pilgrims may stay in Canada, rather than return to Fidel Castro's communist regime. "The young people who defected are afraid," Sambra said. "They are afraid for their families back at home." He said the defectors are being housed by community members in city safe houses. He refused to identify the defectors. "We expect more to stay behind," he said. "In Cuba they cannot express their freedom of religion." Sambra said most of the delegation was to return to Havana today, with others travelling to Montreal. Cuban activist Alberto Benítez said community members were approached by pilgrims who sought to remain here (via Ivan Grishin, Ont., July 29, DXLD) ** EGYPT. Cairo Contesta é o nome do programa onde o Departamento de Língua Espanhola da Rádio Cairo responde as cartas e relatórios de recepção dos ouvintes. É levado ao ar, nas segundas-feiras, às 0115. A apresentação é de Verónica Banderas. Confira em 9475, 9740 e 11715 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, The AIR External Service to Pakistan in Sindhi at 0100-0200 on 5990 is now using Panaji transmitter. The funeral of the late Vice President of India is taking place today Sunday. AIR is broadcasting a live running commentary of the event from 0925 UT (2.55 pm IST). All stations of AIR will be relaying it (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. In fact you are paying Sky if you have Sky satellite. We are paying a licence fee for the BBC, we are paying for ITV in one sense because it is supported by advertising which costs money, which can only be recouped by the public paying the companies for their products, so when you buy something there is always a hidden advertising cost in it anyway. You are paying for The Hop and Radio Voyager because I think that when you buy a Worldspace set they get a percentage of the purchase price, part of which goes to fund their own channels. Worldspace has gone through $1 billion and from a business point of view their immediate objective must be to cover their operating costs. Radio Caroline relies on voluntary presenters and, I believe, a small number of paid programmes but they still have costs to cover. It is a station not controlled, as many are, by large corporations. The money for Worldspace and Radio Caroline has to come from somewhere, I don`t see any real problem with them offering a subscription service; whether people choose to take it up is their choice. Their target market is people who could probably be described as "anoraks" and expatriates who have bought Worldspace sets to listen to the BBC, CNN, NPR etc. and may wish to supplement their listening by subscribing to a type of music they cannot get from their domestic channels. Whether it will work or not is a different matter but I don`t think people can complain about subscription based radio. Worldspace has introduced some subscription based channels in Asia I believe and, if you read the posts in recent DXLD's about the lack of variety, until quite recently, in Indian Radio you can see why some would be prepared to pay for an alternative service. I think the point also needs to be made that Worldspace was set up to be an educational channel and fight the devastating spread of AIDs in Africa which is causing the life expectancy in many countries to be less than it was at the start of the last century. If Worldspace can get some much needed income from those of us lucky enough to live in the developed world by charging us a small amount to listen to Radio Caroline and thus keep both Worldspace and Caroline on the air, fine. I find that a much better use of my money than giving it to Rupert Murdoch (Mike Barraclough, UK, July 26, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 13420, 21/7 0435, R Voice of Mojahed, em farsi com discursos anti Irã, mudando de freqüência a cada 2 minutos na medida em que era perseguida por um Jamming; frequencias utilizadas: 13420, 13440 e 13460 kHz. 33433 (DX-PEDITION de Sérgio Dória Partamian (SDP) e Wilson Rodrigues(WR) a zona rural da cidade de Itaitiaiuçu, MG, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD; see BRAZIL for equipment) ** IRELAND. From http://www.radiowaves.fm/news/index.shtml SATURDAY 27th JULY 2002 CARY PLANS NOVA RETURN Chris Cary is planning to relaunch Radio Nova on 252 kHz, Ireland's long wave frequency. Cary, who changed the face of Irish radio in 1981 with the original Radio Nova, now lives on the Isle of Man and wants to base the station's studios in Douglas. "Everything I can possibly do to bring back Radio Nova on 252 LW is being done," he says. "This has got to be the biggest minefield of negotiations ever. Everyone agrees that it's right - but no one will say 'yes'. It's not about money. It's just bloody-mindedness. It's very frustrating." UK sports station TeamTalk 252 replaced Atlantic 252 on the famous frequency at the start of this year, but have failed to attract listeners. Ironically, back in the mid-eighties with the internationally-assigned frequency lying idle, Cary himself was the first to broadcast from Ireland on long wave when he ran tests (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) So much for my intention to file these under UK [non] (gh) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel, July 28 *1625 on 15615 with IS, could not tell language until fadeup 1635, definitely English today, unlike previous days; don`t know about the other frequencies. French followed at 1645 UT, starting with a timecheck for 1845 local, immediately corrected to 1945... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DXLD) 17545 was also in English at 1630 today. The 1630 UT Kol Israel English shortwave broadcast on 15615 and 17545 is working properly as of today. For some reason, for the past week, they were broadcasting Romanian on the English frequencies (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If you haven't noticed, the http://www.israelradio.org site has been updated with the latest Kol Israel schedule changes. Also, notice that the 1030 UTC broadcast is now 1015-1030 UT (6:15 AM ET, 1:15 PM Israel Time from Reshet Alef) - some of the earlier schedules didn't note that change. Direct URL for the schedule: http://www.israelradio.org/sw.htm The direct URLs for the graphical Kol Israel schedules - from the Chief Engineer at Bezeq are: MS PowerPoint format: http://www.bezeq.co.il/Download/A02list.ppt PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format: http://www.bezeq.co.il/Download/Pop.pdf [Later:] I've been told that accessing the URLs directly doesn't work: You can reach both PowerPoint and PDF formats at: http://www.bezeq.co.il English->About us->Shortwave Program schedule (Daniel Rosenzweig, July 28-29, DX LISTENING DIGEST Kol Israel English pgm back on 17545 and 15615 at 1630 today! (7/29) I did not get a chance to check yesterday so I do not know if they fixed their problem then or not (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE. Hi Glenn, Exceptional conditions towards Singapore and Malaysia today Sat July 27th. I could easily hear all the Singaporean and Malaysian frequencies mentioned in WRTH: 7170 SINGAPORE in TAMIL SIO 444 1515 UT 7235 " in MALAY SIO 444. Very lively px, really loved it! 1515 UT. 6150 SINGAPORE in English SIO 343 1520 with sign/off 16 UT. 6000 Singapore`s Chinese px with s/off 16 UT. SIO 232. MALAYSIA: 7295 R MALAYSIA /HS with nx in EE 15 UT. SIO 343 9750 SUARA MALAYSIA in Bahasa Malaysia (?) 1510 UT. SIO 333. To hear these Far Eastern stations on SW means our short summer is coming to its end. No summer after August. Extending our summer in December in Fortaleza, Brazil!!! 73`s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, July 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. RNW Flevoland. Tx #4 at Flevo is still off the air following the fire two weeks ago. Latest information is that the transmitter is being tested on dummy load, but before the engineers give the OK for it go back into normal operation, further tests have to be completed. Meanwhile, the 100 kW reserve is providing backup. My technical colleagues also inform me that our Madagascar relay station has resumed full operation, so the 1630-1725 UT txion in Dutch to South Africa on 6020 kHz is now once again from MDG rather than Meyerton (Andy Sennitt, Holland, in RNMN Newsletter Jul 27 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN [and non]. PAKISTANI PAPER REPORTS PRO-AL-QA'IDAH WEB SITES UNAVAILABLE | Text of report by Rahimullah Yusufzai entitled: "Two web sites of Usamah, Al-Qa'idah shut down", published by Pakistani newspaper The News web site on 29 July Peshawar: Two Arabic-language web sites supporting Usamah Bin-Ladin and Al-Qa'idah have been shut down while a third one is now operating from a new address. The web sites, www.jehad.net and www.jihad-online [domain name as received], could not be accessed on Friday and Saturday [26-27 July]. The message simply said the page cannot be opened and that it was forbidden. The two web sites were a major source of information on Usamah and Al-Qa'idah. They also carried news, views and comments about other Islamic movements and highlighted the achievements and sacrifices of the Hamas, Islamic Jihad and like-minded groups in Israeli-occupied Palestine, the Chechens fighting Russian troops in Chechnya, and Taleban and their supporters resisting the US and its allied forces in Afghanistan. However, another pro-Usamah web site, alneda, is still functional. Meaning "the call", alneda can now be accessed on the address, www.66.132.29.71 It has struggled to remain online in the face of efforts to track and close it down. It is a fairly resilient web site and has emerged as a leading source of information about happenings in Afghanistan and the Arab world. Its addresses have changed from Malaysia to Venezuela and then to Columbia. For a while it claimed to be operating from US President George W. Bush's home state, Texas. The alneda web site has been striving to put together whatever information it can regarding Usamah Bin-Ladin, Al-Qa'idah and other Islamic leaders and organizations. It also displays past Usamah interviews and statements. Information about Taleban is also available on the web site. The exclusive Taleban web site, www.alemarh.com is also functional. It is in Arabic and Pashto languages and provides information about Taleban Islamic Movement and its founder, Mola Mohammad Omar. It still is not clear who is operating these web sites. Source: The News web site, Islamabad, in English 29 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3325, BOUGAINVILLE, R. Bougainville, 1133 July 27, OM in EG/Vern, Vern pops, fair after Guatemala fadeout (Jerry Lineback, KS, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) This one had just been reported off for non-payment of electricity bills (gh) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Friend Thord Knutsson: To share with you an update on our transmitter plant construction project: We are now broadcasting, 24-hours-a-day on 15185 kHz, 19 Metres, on an experimental basis. This frequency began operation, today, Friday, 19 July, and presently has continuous, classical music. On Saturday, 20 July, we will begin rebroadcasting the regular programming of Radio América, in Spanish and in Guaraní. This frequency uses an omnidirectional antenna, of the 5/8ths Wavelength type, with a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. The initial transmission power is low: 5 Watts. We will be increasing power as soon as possible. To my knowledge, this is the first time in about 40 years that Paraguay has used 19 Metres. Tests continue on 7300 kHz, 41 Metres, and on 1610 kHz, Medium Waves, but are sporadic. This is due to the need to rebuild equipment, in order to strengthen it against power supply variations, and other, unpleasant surprises. The frequency 7300 kHz remains beamed at 184 degrees, from Magnetic North, using an antenna system with 25 dBi gain. The frequency 1610 kHz feeds an omnidirectional antenna, 125 Metres tall, of the 5/8ths Wavelength type, which provides 8,84 dBi of theoretical gain. Any DX reports will be most welcome at ramerica@rieder.net.py or at radioamerica@lycos.com or via FAX: 595 21 963 149. Correct reports will be verified, immediately, by E-Mail or FAX. With best regards to Inger, Björn and yourself! Greetings from Paraguay! Dom Mur (Ha en bra sommar! 73:s, via Thord Knutsson, SW Bulletin July 28 via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. O fado é uma canção popular deste país, triste e fatalista, de linha melódica simples, acompanhada do som de guitarra ou acordeom. Para conferir esse tipo de música, nada melhor do que acompanhar a Rádio Portugal. A emissora possui um programa especial sobre o tema: A guitarra portuguesa e o fado, levado ao ar, nos sábados. É apresentado por Luís Sarmento, entre 1805 e 1900 e 1905 e 2000, em 21655 e 21800 kHz (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX July 28 via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. See MALAYSIA ** SOMALIA. Hans Johnson`s recent interview on Somalia's Puntland station (Cumbre's spare parts aid) this week on http://roi.orf.at/intermedia/ Wolf Harranths's [OE3WHC] Media program audio on demand klick Intermedia aktuell 25 mins. mp3 file download dx[1].mpga 5776 kB Map of Somalia on http://roi.orf.at/intermedia/im_aktuell.html http://roi.orf.at/intermedia/im_somalia.html or broadcast via shortwave Sun July 28, 1630-1655 UT on 13730 kHz. 73 de wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. CORRECTION: A couple issues ago there was a logging of Sri Lanka by Rich. The frequency should have been 9770, not 9970. Sorry (NASWA Flashsheet July 27 via DXLD) ** TIBET. 6130, 27.7 1640, China Tibet People's Broadcast Co. with greetings "to Mr Ullmar Quick in Norrköping and all the members of the Shortwave Bulletin". I wonder if anybody was listening? 2-3 CB (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin July 28, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD who adds:) (Ullmar Quick is still around and was a well known MW DX-er some 20 years ago specialised in and was very familiar with the situation in Albania.) ** TIBET. English transmission at 1100 UT on 9490 kHz is being heard with very weak signals. On 7/20 I caught the female announcer giving a postal address and "I hope you all have a nice weekend" at 1113; continued in presumed Chinese. On 7/27, tuned with instrumental music from 1050, ID at 1100 included "...Tibet...", talk to 1112. My monitoring is restricted to Saturdays only. This will probably improve in eastern North America by September when near-grayline conditions will exist. Best on LSB to avoid splatter from 5 kHz up. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. OZGUR RADYO BANNED ONCE AGAIN | Text of report by German- based Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Politika web site on 28 July "Ozgur Radyo" ["Free Radio"], which began broadcasting in 1995, just cannot escape from being closed down for punitive reasons. Ozgur Radyo, which was put off the air for a year for having included, during the course of its programming, a musical piece entitled "Nurhak", will come into contact with its listeners once again on 30 July. But following six days of broadcasting, the radio will once again be forced to stop broadcasting for six months, this time in connection with a comment made regarding Rauf Denktas, the leader of the Turkish sector on Cyprus. The broadcasts had been halted due to the musical piece entitled "Nurhak" played on 9 June 2000. The Supreme Board for Radio and Television (RTUK), in a ruling of 23 July 2000, had punished the radio station with a suspension of one year for having broadcast in violation of section G of article 4 of Law Number 3984. Officials of the radio station, stating that cassettes and CD's [compact disks] of the musical piece cited as the basis of the offence are in fact sold within the borders of Turkey, had then appealed to the Administrative Court. But the Ankara Administrative Court Number Two, on 20 December 2000, gave a negative response to the motion of the radio station officials because "No situation contrary to the law has been determined in the actions taken by the plaintiff administration". Thus Ozgur Radyo, which has been closed for the past year for this reason, will reach its listeners again on 30 July. But the radio station, after broadcasting for only six days, will once again be obliged to suspend its broadcasts for six months, this time on account of a comment regarding the leader of the Turkish sector on Cyprus, Rauf Denktas. The station will thus close on 5 August for a six-month period. Fusun Erdogan, the manager of the radio station that will thus have been obliged to maintain silence for three years and nine months out of seven years, in commenting on whether or not the radio will broadcast during the six-day period between the two suspensions, spoke as follows: "We have no choice. We want to turn on our microphones and give our listeners the message that 'We are here.' And this will also be a response to those who are seeking to silence us unjustly. Consequently, we will indeed be together with our listeners on the 95.1 [FM] frequency starting on the night of 30 July." Source: Ozgur Politika web site, Neu-Isenburg, in Turkish 28 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) How odd! One suspects freedom of speech is not exactly a priority in Turkey. Since this was reported by a Kurdish exile group, does that have something to do with the suspensions, not mentioned in this story? And what`s the deal with `Nurhak`? (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Radio Dial, on Sunday July 28 2120 (perhaps postponed from yesterday by the Lviv air disaster), announced that RUI's current Real Audio server, located in Sweden, can only serve 20 listeners at a time. They are looking at alternatives to serve more listeners. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) I doubt Ukraine is using 1000 kW. It gets a decent signal into NAm, but 100 kW can do that job. By the intermittent nature of reception, I would venture a guess that this is all they're generating (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms July 28 via DXLD) Re 12040 at 21, 00, 03 Well, I *was* attributing RUI's web-site. And down here in the Catskills, I get a much stronger signal from Radio Ukraine than I do from Radio Bulgaria, which would lead me to believe that the former is using a stronger transmitter. Also, using a 1000 kW transmitter would help explain why they get knocked off the air for nonpayment of electric bills. The intermittent nature of their reception (at least for me) isn't due to good reception vs. bad reception on certain days, but clear reception vs. no signal whatsoever. I could be wrong, of course; it certainly wouldn't be a first :-) (Ted Schuerzinger, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. HOW AUNTIE`S RADIO KILLED BAIRD VISION From http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/index.cfm?id=813132002 Sun 28 Jul 2002 [by] TOBY MCDONALD RADIO killed the video star. The son of Scottish TV pioneer John Logie Baird has blamed the BBC`s obsession with radio for his father`s failure to capitalise on his invention. Malcolm Baird, in a major new biography of his father, accuses BBC bureaucrats of squandering a 10-year lead in television technology handed to them on a plate by the inventor. It allowed competitors in the US to dominate the market and led ultimately to the failure of Baird`s company, according to his son. Baird died in 1946, aged 57, having also invented infra-red night sights and helped to develop radar, but he never received the knighthood given to many fellow scientists. The new evidence of Helensburgh-born Baird`s battles with the BBC are contained in John Logie Baird - A Life, to be published next month. The book is co-authored by Malcolm IH Baird, 67, a professor of chemistry in Ontario, who has uncovered new material on the negotiations between the corporation and his father. "My father has not been recognised by history as he should have been," said Baird. "He was bitter about the way the BBC - which even then was a huge bureaucracy - failed to grasp the future of television. "His company, Baird Television, was starved of investment for experiments - they even had to pay for their own broadcasts on BBC equipment - and they fell behind in technology as the negotiations dragged on." The first director-general of the BBC, the "domineering and puritanical" Sir John Reith, was wary of television - first demonstrated by Baird in 1926 - and his technical staff took their lead from the top, Baird said. "By 1936, when the BBC held a competition between my father`s company and the American-backed rival to decide which system they would adopt, his company had fallen behind. "The lead had been lost, and the US won out. I`m afraid he was quite bitter - he felt the BBC should have been much more willing to co- operate." Baird, a son of the manse born in 1888, studied electrical engineering at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow and at Glasgow University. Early commercial enterprises included socks treated with a powder to absorb moisture to keep feet dry and an unsuccessful year making jam in the West Indies. On his return to Britain, he moved to Hastings, Sussex, and in his small lodgings began tinkering with an idea he first had in Helensburgh - television. "He was able to scrounge money and equipment from various sources and succeeded in building a TV apparatus almost entirely from scrap materials," said Baird. The breakthrough came in the autumn of 1925 when he was able to send recognisable black and white pictures of a human head from one room to another. A public demonstration for members of the Royal Institute in 1926 put the new technology on the map and a company was formed. The following year, Baird sent pictures from London to Glasgow and then topped that with a transatlantic transmission. But the major problem he faced in exploiting the new technology and selling TV receivers was the BBC`s monopoly on public broadcasting. With the BBC rooted in radio culture, corporation chiefs were sceptical about TV`s future. According to Baird, his father experienced severe difficulties in persuading the BBC to back him with the necessary funds. "We have minutes, notes from BBC files and notes from one of the directors of the Baird company which reveal a series of tortuous negotiations," Baird said. Test transmission began in 1929 but Baird claims the BBC didn`t take it seriously. He added: "The television signals were being put out in the late evening, after 11 pm, after the regular broadcasting had finished." The BBC also made the fledgling Baird company pay for the use of the transmitters. "That was a sore point as well," Baird said. "But the company was trapped - they simply had to have someone broadcasting before they could sell any receivers." Frustrated by the BBC`s lack of interest, Baird set up a US subsidiary. But by 1936 his company, starved of funds, had slipped behind newcomer RCA, which had entered into a leasing deal with US electronics giant Marconi/EMI. Unfortunately for Baird, Marconi/EMI`s 405-line system produced a better quality picture than his 240-line system and the BBC eventually switched to the Americans`. By February 1937, the Baird company was no longer transmitting, but it had a good line of receivers. "For a short time it looked as if the company was going to prosper," said Baird, "but with the outbreak of world war it went into receivership." His father`s technical talents were quickly recognised and he was drafted into secret work, developing radar and infra-red night vision for pilots. But his contribution to one of the great inventions of the 20th century was overlooked and he never received the honours given to his scientific peers. Baird believes his father paid the price for patriotism and his desire for his work to be exploited first in his home country. " The BBC said his system was not up to the Americans` and he said that was because he had no funding to develop it. It was the old chicken and egg situation and he was most upset when the system the BBC adopted was not his." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. THE `FIVEMEGS EXPERIMENT` STARTS THIS WEEK -- From RSGB The Radio Society of Great Britain is pleased to announce that permission has been granted by the Ministry of Defence and the Radiocommunications Agency for the allocation of five spot frequencies in the range of 5250 to 5450 kHz. The purpose of the experiment is to carry out propagation and antenna investigations aimed at improving the understanding of Near Zenithal Radiation or NVIS - Near Vertical- Incidence Skywave - communications via the ionosphere. The frequencies assigned are 5260, 5280, 5290, 5400 and 5405 kHz. These will be made available in the form of 3-kHz bandwidth channels by way of a Notice of Variation to the amateur radio licence. In the first instance, NOVs will only be issued to Full Class A licence holders. It is hoped to relax this ruling as the experiment progresses. As this is a controlled experiment, applicants will be required to report their findings and results to the RSGB. The RSGB is tasked with providing both the Radiocommunications Agency and the Ministry of Defence with reports on findings as the experiment progresses. Full licence holders interested in taking part in the 'Fivemegs Experiment' can obtain an application form and further details from the RSGB website. The first NOVs are expected to be issued by the Radiocommunications Agency on or around the 1st of August. It is anticipated that the experiment will run for a period not exceeding four years (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Recently revamped schedules for VOA French make no reference to Roger Guy Folly, longtime host of daily and weekend music-mailbag shows. He was no Georges Colinet (veteran host of music-request shows on both VOA in EE and FF), but I'm surprised to see that such a high-profile (for VOA) personality is apparently no longer on the air. Anyone know anything more about his disappearance? (Mike Cooper, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WILLIAM PIERCE (Filed: 25/07/2002) http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/07/25/db2503.xml William Pierce, who has died aged 68, was America's leading white supremacist and author of The Turner Diaries, which inspired Timothy McVeigh, perpetrator of the Oklahoma bombing that killed 186 people in 1995. This novel, which the FBI regards as "the bible of the racist Right", was privately published under the pseudonym Andrew Macdonald in 1978, to little notice. However, half a million copies have now been sold, following the discovery of seven pages from it in the getaway car from the atrocity. The book depicts the violent overthrow of the American government by a small group of white supremacists who finance their activities by counterfeiting and bank robberies. Both the fictional and the real bombings involved a truck which is left outside a federal government building and explodes at 9 am. Pierce's success stemmed from the growing exasperation with the liberal agenda which has mushroomed with political correctness; and he was clever enough to keep out of police hands by eschewing any direct links with acts of violence. When asked about the book's influence he had little to say; and members of his National Alliance who got into trouble with the police received no help from him. He shrewdly used the profits to embark on other ventures. There was another novel, Hunter (1984), which abhorred mixed race marriages and was dedicated to a serial killer, a comic book and translations of material into German, Russian, French and Swedish; Pierce claimed personal links with European Right-wingers but was disappointed that he could never obtain permission to visit Britain. In addition to a newsletter, he also made broadcasts on local radio stations, and owned Resistance Records, which produces CDs and a magazine promoting what is claimed to be a new industry - white power music. William Luther Pierce was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 11 1933. He obtained a PhD in Physics, and taught at Oregon State University in the mid-1960s. But exasperation with the civil rights movement led him to give up his tenured post, and join the John Birch Society. As his political views grew ever more radical, Pierce moved to Washington, DC, to become an associate of Lincoln Rockwell, leader of the American Nazi Party. When Rockwell was assassinated in 1967, Pierce became a principal founder of the National Socialist White People's Party, though he abandoned this to found the National Youth Alliance, which wanted to enlist students to "smash" liberal causes on campuses. Inevitably, Pierce and his co-leader Willis Carto fell out, and he formed the National Alliance with those who supported him. At first he held weekly meetings to attract new members, near Washington, while formulating the philosophy of "cosmotheism" which stressed the superiority of the white race and its unity with nature. But recruitment in the nation's capital proved disappointing. In 1985 he moved to a 346-acre farm in rural West Virginia, which he named the Cosmotheist Community Church. Pierce rebutted suggestions that the $95,000 price was paid for by bank and armoured car robberies. But he failed to gain tax exemption on the grounds that the alliance was an educational body and its buildings were used exclusively for "religious purposes". Pierce could be interviewed in the two-storey trailer block, with a corrugated iron roof behind a barbed wire fence, which served as his headquarters. He would be surrounded by piles of papers, with Hitler's Mein Kampf at his side and George Bernard Shaw's Man and Superman on a shelf behind him; his Burmese cat Bradley would perch on a computer or squirm seductively round his neck. While abhorring multi-culturalism and all its associations, he would carefully deny advocating violence - then denounce Jews as blood- sucking ticks. The engineers of America's discontents were the media bosses, he would declare: the feminised, judaised wimps needed to be removed from government, media and educational institutions in favour of "real white men". In an occasional moment of introspection, he would admit that this would be "a tough job." Pierce's death on Tuesday evoked varied reactions, but even his opponents admitted that he was "one of the brightest stars intellectually in the hate world". He was reported as having children, but unmarried at the time of his death. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. Something`s going on with WRR-FM, Dallas` classical music station. Ads (billboards?) around Dallas indicate its frequency 101.1 will become some new format, hip-hop?, and swap frequency with some other station (Mark Sills, TX via George Thurman, July 28, DXLD) Nothing found about this at http://www.wrrfm.com or the inconvenient http://www.dallasnews.com as of July 29 (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WWJ-AM's Sonny Eliot performs his afternoon gig: Finding a few rays of sunshine regardless of actual weather conditions [caption] THE WEATHER'S ALWAYS WACKY WITH SONNY --- MEDIA LEGEND SONNY ELIOT HONORED WITH SPOT IN BROADCASTING HALL OF FAME By Michael H. Hodges / The Detroit News... http://detnews.com/2002/entertainment/0207/27/c01-546018.htm (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WWLG in Baltimore, formerly 5 kw on 1360 w/separate day/night transmitter sites has moved to 1370 with 21 kw day, 6 kw night. It's a new 6-tower array 10 miles east of Baltimore along I-95 in Edgewood and it all goes east/northeast in the daytime. The daytime signal in Baltimore so far is awful --- much worse than 1360 was --- maybe they're still tweaking it, I don't know. If not, they have screwed up in a BIG, expensive way. Don't know how the night signal is --- I'm home by that time, and I'm not sure where the night signal goes either. Does anyone know of a website for AM siganl patterns? Kodi's site no longer provides the patterns, just station info. 73 and good DX! (Bruce WB3HVV Collier, July 29, IRCA via DXLD) This is the station previously mentioned here pretending to be ``WLG`` (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, As I was driving to work today I was tuned to WCBS 880 AM to hear the latest news and weather as usual. After the "traffic and weather on the 8's" at 8:28 a commercial began that startled me. "December 7th, 1942 Pearl Harbor ... July 20th, 1969 man walks on the moon ... " The ad begins. The ad continues to explain that you can hear these things as they happen from thousands of correspondents all over the world, 24 hours-a-day on shortwave radio with Grundig. It mentions Grundig at Radio Shack. I don't think I've ever heard a commercial radio station on the AM or FM bands ever say "Shortwave Listener". I did today! Hope it makes a difference. (No mention of the BBC either :-) (Pete Costello, NJ, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I wrote to WSHB to point out that their TX on 13770 at 2200 on Sunday is obliterated here in W Europe by a Chinese TX on the next channel up; but they say they are happy about it and will not be shifting (Jonathan Kempster, UK, July 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 7310, MADAGASCAR, Radio Voice of the People, 0333- 0403 Jul 24, English interview with female Zimbabwean singer, talk of her record label, performances of some songs. Male interviewer with ID - "you are tuned to Radio Voice of the People" Interview over at 0400 and into political commentary on Zimbabwe. Fair signal degrading after 0400 (John Beattie, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4873v, 1.7 0100, unID LA, 4872.7, very hard to get any indication of location. Lousy audio. July 2 they were on 4873.5 at 0000 and one hour later found on 4873.25. Maybe after all one of the many Peruvian pirates getting lost and found in the 60 mb? QSA 1-2. WIK (Rolf Wikström, Sweden, SW Bulletin July 28, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn, I have a new station (New to me) on 6105 kHz using Oriental language. It could be Chinese. Sounds like a upbeat type format with man and woman in comments. Some music which I can't identify as type - definitely oriental however. Heard this broadcast between 1000 and 1100 UT. Signal was at good level. Any ideas? I looked everywhere I could think of to find some help but nothing matched. The station is still audible here and active at 1120 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston Florida, July 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You must not have checked the new Shortwave Guide, which shows 6105 at 1000-1400, two hours each in Hakka, Cantonese from the CBS Dialect Network, Taiwan, 250 kW (gh, DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRIME TIME SHORTWAVE A new Shortwave Frequency Sort is now available on the new improved Prime Time Shortwave website, http://www.triwest.net/~dsampson/shortwave/ Also available are schedules sorted by time or by country. A DX media program guide is available too along with links to some of the best radio related websites and international broadcasters. Your comments on the improvements are always appreciated. Good listening, (Dan Sampson, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-119, July 27, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1141: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1141.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030?, 0630? 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 NOTE: Our main website has just changed servers, and should be back up shortly if not already, as new DNS info circulates: http://www.worldofradio.com For more on the change see the ANOMALY ALERT page http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html If still unavailable to you, some recent files are linked at backup: http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html ** AFRICA. This weekend shows an interesting tropo setup. Now the odds are slim of this, but thought I'd point out the possibility anyway. Fri nite/Sat morning looks like a possible Trans-Atlantic TR link from Cape Cod, MA to the West Coast of Africa. Sat nite/Sun morning shows a possible link from Nova Scotia to West Africa. Tropo keeners might want to check this out. (No money-back guarantees on this one). Refer to: http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_nat.html (W. Hepburn VEM3ONT22 July 25, WTFDA via DXLD) [Later:] There is a much better shot at a tropo duct to West Africa for South Florida DXers than that mentioned for MA/NS. It will be coming up on Sun/Mon...with Level 7 conditions along the entire path! See: http://www.iprimus.ca/~hepburnw/tropo_nat.html The Canaries and Cape Verde as well as the rest of West Africa may be within range. It might be hard to find open frequencies in the South Florida area, but if you can aim your antenna east. Remember, mid-day DX is possible with ocean ducts as well as night-time/morning. Good luck (W. Hepburn VEM3ONT22, July 26, WTFDA via DXLD) Quick, what are some good active high-power frequencies for WAf FM stations? (gh) ** ANGOLA. During the long Angolan civil war, UNITA had a powerful propaganda weapon in the form of its radio station A Voz Resistência do Galo Negro (VORGAN) - Voice of the Resistance of the Black Cockerel. During his visit to Angola earlier this year, Radio Netherlands' Eric Beauchemin managed to locate and interview some of the people behind VORGAN. Their stories provide a fascinating glimpse into the often closed world of political clandestine broadcasting... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/angola020726.html (Media Network July 26 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA [and non]. Please translate the Radio Liberty article! Those were some very interesting times on the shortwave bands. Best wishes, (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, Yes, I think it would be great if you translated the Radio Liberty piece. The Tokyo Rose analogy of John Cobb's is a bit strained, as there never was any such woman as "Tokyo Rose." The woman who was convicted for treason after the war, and pardoned by Pres. Ford in 1977, was Iva Toguri. She was an American citizen stranded in Japan when the war broke out and worked for Radio Tokyo as a typist to earn money, then went on the air in late 1943, calling herself "Orphan Ann" and playing music mainly. Despite soldiers' beliefs and rumors that "Tokyo Rose" singled out specific units and had access to intelligence about troop positions and movements, both the Office of War Information and the Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service concluded that there was no such person as "Tokyo Rose" and that none of the announcers on Radio Tokyo (including Toguri) made the taunts and threats attributed to her. The FBIS broadcast transcripts are in the National Archives and take up several boxes, if anyone is interested in looking through them. Axis Sally (Mildred Gillars) and Lord Haw Haw (William Joyce), on the other hand, were actual people and were indeed traitors. A good website for WW2 radio propaganda is http://www.earthstation1.com/ It contains short biographies of the announcers and wav clips of broadcasts. Thanks, (Dave Hochfelder, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Good morning Glenn, As my Spanish is very limited, I would like a translation into English of the Liberty Piece (2-117). I remember how Erik and I listened to 'Argentine Annie' and I still have her voice on tape. Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voilà: ** ARGENTINA. RADIO LIBERTY The radio that was born to discourage English soldiers in the Malvinas War was called Liberty and its task was secret. Silvia Fernández Barrio and Enrique Mancini were recruited by the military government to be added to the intelligence strategy against enemy troops. RECOVERING THEIR ROLE If World War II had Tokyo Rose to discourage allied troops, the Malvinas War had Liberty radio. Fourteen civilians participated in this communications strategy whose objective was to break Anglo-Saxon morale. Silvia Fernández Barrio and Enrique Alejandro Mancini were two of the civilians who participated in the operation, and who desire today to reveal what had been restricted by a pact of silence, or pure prudence. The first one, who had been part of ``60 Minutes``, worked then for the Badia [station, network?] program ``Everybody`s Saturday``; the second was a regular in the well-known news cycle on the ATC channel. ``One day I am on `Everybody`s Saturday` and they tell me, ``you have a call from the military committee.`` ``What did I do?`` was my first thought, recalls Fernández Barrio, ``Why are they calling me? They take me somewhere and tell me:`` ``We have made an intelligence study; you are the most reliable person who knows English. Do you remember Tokyo Rose?`` ``Yes,`` I answered. ``Good, we want a kind of Tokyo Rose, but she will be called Liberty.`` And so was born Liberty radio. ``You were the most reliable, to whom?`` ``Reliable for the Argentines.`` ``But the objective was for the English to be listening...`` ``Obviously. But I suppose they wanted someone who would not tell the English anything. Don`t ask me, but I suppose that in a war there would be spies, people who send information. I would be reliable because they understood that I would not play for the other side.`` ``Who was in charge of the operation?`` ``Theoretically, in charge of the Liberty operation was the Army Intelligence Service, which was quarreling with the Navy Intelligence Service.`` ``Who actually ran it?`` ``We were all civilians.`` ``The editorial slant was military?`` ``They would set a line, but afterwards between whoever wrote it, and myself, we would change the line. If it was cruel or hard, we would not let it through like that. We would make it much softer. We would never speak of deaths or ugly things. We put it out more that they were estranged from their country and they should not come to lands that they had no knowledge of. And that is what we did between June 7 and 14.`` ``Was it possible for you to say, `No, I won`t do it?``` ``Yes, absolutely. I could have said no.`` ``Why didn`t you?`` ``Because I understood that I was doing something peaceful, and that at the best I could help. I believe that when your country is at war, you don`t have much time to think about which side to take. For me when the Malvinas march is played, tears erupt over what I lived through, for what we believed as innocent creatures, for the damage that was done to so many people. It freezes my heart.`` ALEJANDRO, THE UNFORGETFUL The exact details about Liberty are provoked by the prodigious memory of the announcer and director Enrique Alejandro Mancini, who coordinated the recording, and contributed, with his own material, Irish, Welsh and English music, even the Beatles, which was included in the transmission. Via shortwave, Liberty reached London, New Zealand, Australia, those metropoles which could identify with the English troops. And Mancini remembers that it bothered the British parliament so much that they created another station, with the same objective, but since it did not have a vast Argentine record library, always played records by Juan D`Arienzo. ``Where did you do the recording?`` ``We recorded on the 14th floor of what is now the building of Radio Ciudad de Buenos Aires. We recorded very early in the morning a tape of about 45 minutes. Once it was ready, it was taken on motorcycle under the responsibility of a police official of the province of Buenos Aires, to the transmitter site of Transradio Internacional. From there it was broadcast on different frequencies, to which sometimes were added the shortwaves of Radio Nacional. The frequency was always changing, on a certain meterband, to avoid interference by British intelligence.`` ``Fernández Barrio, who spoke English, was the announcer.`` ``She spoke American English very well, so an Irish translator marked Victorian tones, English pronunciation. The texts were written by several people, but the most important was a radio and TV script writer and sometime actor, in TV sitcoms.`` ``What was said?`` ``The content of the programming was a very expressive text, about the setbacks the English had, in which was shown the grief over their death. They spoke, for example, to the father of a fallen British soldier, and told him they understood his grief, because his son had died, that he was going today to see the Tottenham [ship?] but would no longer be with his boy who came to lose his life to defend a factory 14 megameters from the city. He said that in his room would be found all alone his records, like this one, which his son listened to, and then they played the music in question, such as something by the Beatles.`` The broadcasts of Liberty radio were prolonged up to 48 hours after the fall of Puerto Argentino [Stanley, Falkland Islands]. That day, Mancini remembers, a bilingual farewell was done, in English and Spanish: ``The battle was lost, but not the intention of regaining the islands, because the Malvinas have been, are, and will be, Argentine.`` (Miriam Molero, in the daily La Nación, Argentina, on Internet, April 7, via Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital, July 16, via DXLD 2-117 in Spanish, translated by Guillermo Glenn Hauser for this DXLD) ** ARMENIA, 15270 kHz, VOICE OF ARMENIA, partial data QSL-card in English (site and power missing); card shows '1700th anniversary of proclamation of Christianity as state religion in Armenia', v/s not given, schedule and 'thank you'-letter, envelope with nice stamps on it, in 132 days for a report with 1 IRC to Voice of Armenia, 5 Alek Manukjan Street, 375025 Jerewan, Armenien (Martin Schoech, Germany, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I.e. in English, Yerevan, Armenia ** AUSTRALIA. The two new weather stations that have replaced the coastal maritime stations are now operational and easily copyable here in the Chicago area. Kind of fun listening to weather for waters off Australia! A nice URL with details can be found at: http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/voice_services.shtml 8113 VMW Wiluna Australia 7/16 1230 USB 6507//8176//12365 VMC Charleville Australia 7/17 1200 USB (best on 12365) (Dave Tomasko, MARE Tipsheet July 26 via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. I listened to a radio clip amongst a series on PNG at Radio Australia. There they had several references to Bougainville and how the village of Paru Paru had hydro power, courtesy of parts stolen from the abandoned copper mine. This allowed for power for Radio Free Bougainville --- a much more believable story than the one propagated a few years ago about coconut oil powered generators! (Walt Salmaniw, BC, July 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CLANDESTINE from/to PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3850, R.I.M. Sam Voron confirms that they are operating at 80 watts using a generator for power. He adds that he will confirm reception reports with a QSL card. Cassettes are OK and reports should include 4 or 5 IRCs. His address is 2 Griffith Ave, Roseville NSW 2069, Australia (Hans Johnson, WY, Jul 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. No hotsheets received here, but CBC R1 and R2 Saturday July 27 programming is here: http://cbc.ca/radioguide/SearchByDate?date=07%2F27%2F2002&submit=Go%21 and you can change the date for Sunday (Glenn Hauser, swprograms July 26 via DXLD) E.g.: THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Saturday, Plan Colombia. The United States is pouring big money into a campaign to wipe out cocaine production in Colombia. Planes drone over coca fields, spraying a powerful herbicide on the plants. But farmers in neighbouring Ecuador say the the deadly clouds don't respect national boundaries and are making everything they grow sicken and die. Moreover, as Reese Erlich reports, they say the chemical is making people sick, too. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson Saturday at 6:00 (7:00AT, 7:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. Saturday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. 2200- 2230 UTC Saturday to the USA, Caribbean, and Latin America on 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, 15305, 17880 kHz. THE SUNDAY EDITION: A story of courage and resolve from Nigeria, where women activists have accomplished so much - without weapons. And in hour two, Saving Ryan: a moving documentary about a group of firemen, and the toddler they rescued from a burning building twenty five years ago. And Paul Kennedy takes us to all three of Canada's coasts in Ocean Explorations: Learning from our Oceans. We'll learn about the current state of ocean sciences and consider the timeless, ever- changing metaphysics of the sea. The series continues on The Sunday Edition throughout July and August, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. 1300-1559 UTC Sunday on RCI 9515, 13655 and 17800 kHz to the USA and the Caribbean and on CBC North Quebec 9625 kHz. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP. This week Toronto is taken over by the excitement surrounding World Youth Day and the visit of Pope John Paul the Second. Hundreds of thousands of young people have made the journey to celebrate their faith ...and see the Pope. What's your reaction? What's the nature of the Pope's appeal? Join host Rex Murphy Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, Sunday afternoon from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND SUNDAY: The Great Granddaddy of the Hippy-Dippy weatherman, Mork from Ork and the baddest EMCee today is Lord Buckley, flyest of the fly. His recordings have a cult following forty years after his death. Buckley's "hipsemantic" translations of Bible stories and the writings of such illustrious dead white guys as Shakespeare-- Willie the Shake--are down with the times. Jon Kalish wails on Lord Buckley, jazz philosopher and wizard of words. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 (7:00 AT, 7:30 NT) on Radio One and Two. That's on the World This Weekend, with Lorna Jackson, Sunday at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. 2200-2230 UTC Sunday on RCI to the Americas on 6175, 9590, 11920, 13670, 15305 and 17880 kHz (CBC via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Glenn, Sunday July 28 1300-1700 Papal Mass, Video feeds: http://www.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.htm http://www.ctv.ca then click on CTV Newsnet live (30 minute limit) CBC R1 will not cover the mass, but CFRB/X will. http://www.cfrb.com or CFRX 6070 73, (Ivan Grishin, Monitoring Reminders, WOR via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 5953.6, Radio Casino seems to be inactive. Used to be quite regular in Wyoming at *1030, but station has not been noted in over six weeks (Hans Johnson, July 21, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RELOCATION OF US RADIO NECESSARY BUT EXPENSIVE - CZECH MINISTER | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 25 July: Moving the headquarters of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) station from the centre of Prague is necessary, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda said on interview BBC today. He nevertheless warned that it is an "extremely expensive matter", though he does not have the exact budget. According to Svoboda, it is necessary to ensure the safety of the US- financed radio station which remains, after last September's terrorist attacks on the USA, a potential target of terrorists. It is however necessary to find the financial means for the relocation, Svoboda said, adding that the money might have to be found in the 2003 budget. Svoboda told the daily Pravo earlier that there was no money for the relocation of the RFE/RL in either this year's or next year's budgets. Svoboda said on BBC that he doubted that the station would be moved by the end of this year. He pointed to the fact that the ministry would have enough work with the NATO November summit in Prague. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1828 gmt 25 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 4959.85, Radio Villa; Santo Domingo, July 27, 0151-0200, Merenque music with short slogans and jingles in Spanish. Full ID at 0157; "Desde Santo Domingo, capital de la República Dominicana, ...América, ...Radio Villa, ...megahertz Frequencia Modulada..." Then static crashes, so not sure if the shortwave frequency was also mentioned. This is a reactivation, I believe. 24333 (Mark Veldhuis, Netherlands, SWBC via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. OFFICIALS AGREE TO BUILD NEW AIRPORT IN QUITO, ECUADOR Jul 25, 2002 HCJB World Radio will begin moving its shortwave transmitters and antennas to a new site near Ecuador`s coast now that the City of Quito has signed an agreement to build a new airport just six miles from the mission's broadcasting facilities in Pifo, Ecuador. The final contract is expected to be signed on Sept. 15 with construction slated to begin in March 2003. Officials representing Quito and the Canadian government signed the agreement at noon Monday, July 22, to build the Quito International Airport in the valley east of Quito in Puembo, reported the daily Quito newspaper El Comercio. HCJB World Radio`s Pifo installations are considered to be a ``high risk`` to the operations of the future airport, prompting the move to the Santa Elena peninsula (about 1 sesquihour [by road???] from Guayaquil). The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) will finance the five-year, US$300-million project to build the new airport. In October the CCC begins operation and administration of the present Mariscal Sucre Airport. This will continue for up to five years or until the new airport is completed. Then the CCC will operate the new airport for two sesquidecades. The document was signed by CCC Executive Vice President Hugh O`Donnell and Diego Pachel, executive director of the Airport Corporation and Duty-Free Zone of Quito. As witnesses, Quito Mayor Paco Moncayo also signed the agreement along with the ambassador for Canada in Quito, Otch von Finckenstein. In anticipation of the agreement, HCJB World Radio`s board of trustees recently approved Project SERVE (Santa Elena: Renew the Voice from Ecuador), a $4.6-million, four-year project to move the international transmitter site to the Santa Elena. ``We need to take a number of steps in the coming days,`` says Gonzalo Carvajal, director of Project SERVE. ``We need to determine the best sale option for the Pifo property; the design of the power lines to the Santa Elena site; the best options for obtaining and importing the needed towers; the designs for antennas, buildings, and offices; as well as water and road access to the site.`` HCJB World Radio purchased a 500-acre site near the coast about a year ago after it appeared probable that the Pifo installation would have to move. Initial broadcasts from the new site could begin as early as mid-2003. Engineers plan to install 11 shortwave transmitters and 17 antennas at the site. The project will be financed primarily by the sale of the 110-acre site in Pifo, but funds also will have to be raised to purchase at least one new 100,000-watt transmitter. ``I`m excited about the chance to develop a new facility that prepares us for the future and strengthens our coverage of the Americas,`` says Engineering Director Charles Jacobson. ``At the same time, it`s an overwhelming task, especially considering the timeframe. Our Pifo facility has grown and developed for 50 years, and one does not easily replace it in four.`` The new site will provide an even better shortwave signal to HCJB World Radio`s target audiences in the Western Hemisphere with broadcasts primarily in Spanish, Portuguese, English, German and Quichua. Portuguese programs will also air to central Africa via shortwave. Source: (HCJB World Radio) (HCJB website via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. CLANDESTINES from GERMANY to ETHIOPIA. Radio Xoriyo, 15530, *1630-1657* July 19. Noted with 1000 Hz tone, then I.S. of instrumental music, sign-on in Somali, with ID for 'Radio Huriyo, shab Ogadinya' by male speaker. Into Kor`an verse at 1632, followed with political talks, instrumental music ('Horn of Africa') with singers. Noted to 1657 sign-off with closing comments, ID and short instrumental music (I.S.). Clear with some noise (Ed Kusalík, Coaldale AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 15530, Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice & Democracy / Radio Fithi, via Julich 15530, *1558-1625* July 20. Noted with sign-on with instrumental music/ I.S., then clear IDs for 'Radio Fit-hi', more music (up-beat), into a political commentary in Tigrina by male speaker. Noted to 1625 with sign-off in mid-song. Signal gradually improved to rather good signals (Ed Kusalík, Coaldale AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 15530, Voice of Ethiopian Salvation *1600-1610 July 21. Noted with 1000 Hz tone, then I.S. of flute/instrumental with several IDs in Amharic as 'Yth ye Ethiopia Dimts(?)' by male speaker. Into martial type of music, followed with political commentaries by male speaker. Signal quite noise and distorted at times (propagation?) (Ed Kusalík, Coaldale AB, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** FAROE ISLANDS. 531, Utvarp Faroya, 1837-1900+, 12-Jul; M in Nordic LL translating comments in EE by Mathias Reust, a German who flew a small plane into Russia as a peace protest and was imprisoned. ID @1855, comments by W in LL then EZL mx @1900. VGood. 2038, 12-Jul; EZL mx and LL versions of pop oldies. VGood. 2044-2109*, 13-Jul; Parisian concertina mx to brief anmt in non-Nordic LL @2050 then Nordic LL rlgs px. Nx @2100. Anthem, sounding like a rlgs hymn @2108 and off @2109. Good (Harold Frodge, visiting Iceland, q.v., MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ** GUAM. THE EYE OF THE STORM PASSES OVER GUAM - ENTRIES FROM A RADIO DIARY Just recently, Typhoon Chataan (cha-TAHN) passed over several island groups in the western Pacific, leaving a sorry trail of damage, devastation, and death in its wake. In the islands of Chuuk (CHOOK), 35 people died in mud slides caused by the ravages of Typhoon Chataan. When this typhoon subsequently struck the island of Guam, again there was extensive damage and destruction. The AWR shortwave station, KSDA on Guam also suffered at the impact of Chataan and here is a progressive account of events at the radio station as chronicled by Dan Weston, the Chief Engineer for Adventist World Radio on Guam. Thursday July 4 Typhoon Chataan moves into Guam with sustained winds of 110 miles per hour and wind gusts up to 125 miles per hour. Friday July 5 The eye of the storm passes right over the AWR shortwave station soon after daylight with a total of nearly 8 hours of heavy winds. An assessment of the storm damage later in the day indicates that all four of the curtain antennas have sustained moderate damage and are unusable in their current condition. The island power system is down and the governor states that it could be two months before power is finally restored to all areas of the island. Saturday July 6 Three antennas were repaired during the day and three transmitters were activated with regular AWR programming, using the AWR emergency generator. Sunday July 7 The fourth antenna was repaired during the day and the fourth transmitter was activated with the regular schedule in the evening. Monday July 8 All four transmitters are on the air, though at lower power due to generator problems. Tuesday July 9 All four transmitters are on the air at full power with their regular full schedule in the AWR shortwave services to Asia. However, another wind storm, this one named Typhoon Halong, is beginning to threaten Guam. We pray that it will turn aside and go out into the uninhabited Pacific (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan July 28 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4799.8, Radio Buenas Nuevas, 1030-1115 tune-out July 20. Tough thru Codar and thunderstorm static, good signals, female announcer with religious talk, corridas and marimba music. USB reduced Codar QRM to only slightly annoying rhythmic thumping (Rick Barton, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4845, Radio K'ekchí. We got the transmitter back up to full power but it blew something else right before I left. So they are on the little backup rig again. I hope to return in August to repair the large transmitter (Larry Baysinger, KY, July 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 1530, AFN Keflavik, 2153-2203+, 16-Jul; "AFRTS News Center in Washington" to 2155 then local PSAs for US base. Spot for "Channels 2 and 5 for the Keflavik family community". ID as "AM 15-30 Keflavik Iceland". Fair from about 50 miles east. (Frodge-SW Iceland, MARE via DXLD) ** INDIA. Friends, Due to the demise of the Indian Vice President Mr. Krishan Kant, India is oberserving state mourning for 3 days from today. AIR and Doordarshan is also oberving it by cancelling its entertaintment programmes. Devotional music etc., is broadcast instead. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India, July 27, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. From http://www.worldspace.com/about/pressroom/releases/index.html PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release NPR NOW PORTABLE IN EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE MIDEAST ON WORLDSPACE WASHINGTON, DC --- For the first time, native residents, international travelers, expatriate populations and military personnel stationed abroad can hear NPR programming 24 hours a day via international satellite broadcaster WorldSpace. Listeners with portable, digital WorldSpace radios can access the same popular NPR programs heard throughout the U.S., including Morning Edition® with Bob Edwards, All Things Considered®, Fresh Air®, Car Talk®, Talk of the Nation®, Wait Wait -- Don`t Tell Me® and Marian McPartland`s Piano Jazz. [® -- whatever symbol you see -- is for registered trademark] The NPR service on WorldSpace is the latest historic example of American news media teaming up with satellite technology --- a partnership begun 40 years ago when Walter Cronkite first broadcast American news to international audiences. NPR on WorldSpace brings the same NPR programming heard domestically to a vast potential audience worldwide, allowing listeners in Europe, Africa, Western Asia and the Middle East to hear firsthand what`s happening inside the U.S. and how international news is reported by NPR. WorldSpace estimates its potential audience at 4 billion people. Early users to NPR on WorldSpace include NPR News foreign correspondents Rob Gifford and Michael Sullivan, whose assignments often take them to remote corners of the world where access to information --- in English or otherwise --- is limited or nonexistent. Gifford, who reports from South Asia, and Sullivan, who is based in New Delhi, use the radios in the field to keep informed and to aid the reporting they do for NPR. ``The WorldSpace radio is an invaluable addition to my tool kit,`` says Sullivan. ``With it, I get the most up-to-the-minute news, direct from NPR and other broadcasters. WorldSpace helps keep me connected, whether I`m in New Delhi or Kabul or Karachi.`` Listeners can learn more about NPR on WorldSpace at http://www.npr.org/worldwide or at http://www.worldspace.com which includes a footprint of the WorldSpace service area. In addition to its channel on WorldSpace, NPR Worldwide transmits award-winning programs to audiences around the world on over 140 radio stations, in more than 25 million homes via direct broadcast satellite and in 7 million homes via cable. Contact: NPR: Jenny Lawhorn +1-202-513-2754 jlawhorn@npr.org WorldSpace: Nichole Johnston +1-202-969-6161 njohnston@worldspace.com Copyright 2001, 2002 all rights reserved WorldSpace Corporation (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. MUZZLE THAT MICROWAVE! WELCOME TO RADIO QUIET ZONE Thu Jul 25,12:27 PM ET By Deborah Zabarenko GREEN BANK, W.Va. (Reuters) - Welcome to the National Radio Quiet Zone. Feel free to shout, play the tuba or let out a primal scream. Just don't think about using a microwave oven.... http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=572&ncid=811&e=4&u=/nm/20020725/lf_nm/space_quiet_dc_2 (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. CLANDESTINE from FRANCE to IRAN: KRSI: An undated listing on their website mentions two frequencies, 15740 and 17510. They also have extensive instructions for an anti-jamming antenna at http://www.krsi.net/us-en/antijamming.asp (via Hans Johnson, Jul 22, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. I'm not sure now what Kol Israel's sked is. I checked 17545 and 15615 at 1630 on 7/26 and found them there, but not in English (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I checked July 27 from tune in about 1625, 17545 not making it, but 15615 sounded like Romanian and there was no change at 1630. Indeed, `summer shortwave schedule` supposedly effective July 21 at http://www.israelradio.org shows Romanian at 1625-1645 but on different frequencies: 9435, 11605, 15640, 15650. Something was on 15650 but I could not make out what. There was a timesignal at 1645, perhaps introducing a different language. Perhaps they have their networks crossed. How long before they notice? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Thanks Glenn. I checked again myself today 7/27 on 17545 and 15615 and both carried the same program at 1625-1645, but not English. I will check all the others tomorrow or Monday to see if indeed they have the feeds switched. It won't be the first time they've made that mistake! (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 6973.04, Galei Zahal, Tel Aviv. 0008-0036 July 21. John Fogerty's rendition of 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine'. Deep fades intermittent at 0016. R&B tunes to Hebrew announcements from YL DJ. 'Papa Was a Rolling Stone' at 0026 into 'Summertime' tune, followed by Ray Charles vocal. Station's transmitters are 5 kW, located 25 km southeast of Tel Aviv. Additional frequency noted as 15785. Website: http://www.glz.msn.co.il (Gayle Van Horn, NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. I know that other people have been less than successful with the DPRK but I sent a request via snail mail for a QSL card about a sesquimonth ago, and today I received a nice little package from Radio Pyongyang/Voice of Korea; had a card, a magazine, newspaper, pennant, reception forms, and a very nice little pin. Of course the publications are very very "Communist," out Stalin-ing Stalin. BTW when I sent the letter I marked it "Via Beijing," don't know if that helps. cheers, 73s, (Sue Hickey, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, Canada, July 26, GRDXC via DXLD) [Her tagline:] ______________________________________________ "I am in terrible ignorance of everything." Blaise Pascal ** KOREA SOUTH [non]. CLANDESTINE/SOUTH KOREA. 3912, Voice of the People (tentative), 1130 July 20. Coming in SINPO 44454 with talk by female announcer, music. Propagation favoring the station but not the usually present jammer, now only barely heard. Was nice to hear the programming sans jammer (Rick Barton, AZ, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. 1548 | VOA Relay, Kabd - Kuwait City, JUL 25 0030-0130 - I listened to this several times over an hour and was mystified by the same station playing Middle Eastern and Indian music along with western (US/Euro) pop hits. The female announcer was somewhat mumbly, so I wasn't sure of the language. I did hear an ID that Herman Boel in Belgium confirmed as being "Radio Sawa", an entertainment service being run on VOA Kuwait. The signal was very strong on peaks. At Rowley, MA (GC= 70.829 W / 42.745 N) (Stackyard Road / Parker River - Nelson Island wildlife refuge: salt-marsh) Receiver: Drake R8A. Antenna system - Rowley: two active whips, spaced 50 m (164 ft.) E-W axis. Superphaser-2 phasing unit (Mark Connelly, MA, hard-core-dx via DXLD) see also SRI LANKA ** KYRGYZIA. KYRGYZ PRESIDENT SLAMS US RADIO FOR BIASED INFORMATION | Text of report by Kyrgyz newspaper AKIpress web site on 26 July At the [third national] round table "Interaction and Cooperation in the name of Kyrgyzstan" that ended today, on 26 July 2002, Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev subjected Azattyk radio to severe criticism. "The biased and one-sided coverage of events by Radio Liberty, Azattyk, is one of the main threats to our state. This is information terror unleashed by Radio Liberty, Azattyk, that is being financed from abroad, against the Kyrgyz Republic." In reply to this statement, well-known human rights activist Tursunbek Akunov shouted several times for the whole hall to hear: "That's a lie!" Source: AKIpress web site, Bishkek, in Russian 26 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, RTM Radio 4, 1054 July 17. Pop music to two men talking in English. 1100 time pips to the news with several mentions of Malaysia. 1110 ID as Radio 4, with FM frequency given. To woman with talk over music. Strong but fluttery signal, in the clear. Best ever heard (Dan Ziolkowski, WI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MEXICO. R. Transcontinental de América, XERTA Mexico City, 4800.7 kHz, Partial-data e-mail in 11 days after several follow-ups for a 1998 report. Also stated that Ing. Roberto Nájera Martínez is no longer at the station and that their format has changed. New website: http://www.misionradio.com/ V/S: Veronica Coria Miranda, Representante Ejecutiva (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP, Helena, MT, July 27, hard-core- dx via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. 3270.1, Namibian BC (presumed), 0500-0545 July 20. Talk by man. Very enjoyable African pop music. Announcement by woman at 0530, followed by more music. Signal slowly improved 0510-0530, which appears to coincide with local sunrise in Windhoek, then began to fall off slowly. Noticeably weaker at 0545 tune out. Heavy atmospheric noise and fading made it difficult to identify the language, but it appeared to be an African dialect. Best SINPO 24222. Last heard on Oct 20 with a much narrower reception window (Jim Evans, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Within two weeks Alfa Lima will use a new QSL card. A full colour one witch of course you can obtain to send a report to our station. As usual there will be also a info sheet inserted when we send away a QSL. Reception reports as you al know obtains always a few details of the heard program and a reply fee (just enough to cover the reply) witch might be 1 US dollar or if you don't have local currency. About IRC's, it seems we can not exchange them here in the Netherlands so we prefer the USD. We enclose with this email an example of the new QSL [features bare-breasted woman] Greetings, Alfred _____________________________________ Download Info's and new photos in high resolution http://www.alfalima.net/foto-paket.zip Huge webpage with just everything related to short-wave http://www.alfalima.net and take a look at our SW-online shopping centre. http://www.alfalima.net/store.htm Contact information Alfa Lima International, pobox 663, 7900AR Hoogeveen, the Netherlands Enclose 1 US$ email: alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl http://www.alfalima.net (Alfa Lima International July 26 via DXLD) ** PERU. Here`s a translation of the item we had earlier: RADIO SAN ANTONIO FORCED OFF AIR AS EXTREME COLD KILLS THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS, MENACES PEOPLE by Brother Rolando del Carpio Montalvo, Director, Radio San Antonio Callali-Calloma, July 22 (special) -- My dear friends, the reason for this report is to greet you and at the same time tell you that for over a week there has been no signal broadcast from Radio San Antonio. We hear by international news that the south of Peru has been declared an emergency because of the natural disasters such as the change in climate with blizzards, strong winds, and low temperatures. All these are causing serious respiratory problems among children and the elderly. In addition, these are causing a high rate of mortality among animals such as alpacas, sheep, and llamas, which have nothing to eat. As a result of these woes, a crusade of help has been organized on the national level for all the zones affected by this climatological phenomenon, which for the present year and the next will cause difficulties for all the people of this area who live solely by raising domestic animals, given that because of the altitude there can be no agriculture. Because of the blizzards, an electric power transformer has blown, by which for more than a week all the towns of the high zones of Arequipa province have no electric current and we are still trying to get the authorities to give us fuel for our generator and thus keep all the people of these high altitudes informed, because we are the only radio station that keeps everyone who inhabits these high altitudes informed. We hope that by tomorrow or the end of the week we will be back on the air. Later I will be reporting to you more of the situation of this southern area of Peru. Until then I say goodbye until the next occasion. Database Arequipa (Callalli-Cayoma): OAW6A Radio San Antonio 3375 khz (1,000 watts) y OAW6B on 3375 khz [sic]. Parroquia de San Antonio de Padua, Asociación Promotora San Francisco Solano, Apartado Postal 1817, Arequipa. Hermano Rolando del Carpio Montalvo, director. Plaza Principal s/n, Callalli, Depto. Arequipa, Perú. ID "Es Radio San Antonio...que transmite desde la ciudad de Callalli para todos los oyentes, es una emisora Católica a servicio de la comunidad" 5 a.m.-9 a.m. and 5 p.m.-9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. E-mail: rsan_antonio14@hotmail.com (via Catholic Radio Update July 29 via DXLD) ** PERU. An excellent report on Peru`s latest political and meteorological crisis, basically disappointment in or betrayal by Pres. Toledo, is on NPR Morning Edition, Friday July 26: Peru's President Toledo Anne Moncrief reports that one year into his term, President Alejandro Toledo is facing strong opposition from politicians and the public. His approval ratings have fallen amid strikes and scandals, and there is growing demand for new elections. (4:36) http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/me/20020726.me.14.ram (via gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Yesterday I received a QSL from Radio Comas Televisión in Perú. It consists of an information letter and a QSL certificate. The letter is signed by Edgar Saldaña Reátegui, Jefe de Prensa, e-mail: edgarsaldana@latinmail.com The certificate is signed by Julio Saldaña Reátegui, Gerente Comercial. By e-mail he can be reached via: rtcomas@protelsa.com.pe I had sent a snail mail follow-up with a dollar and some enclosures and an e-mail follow-up. The e-mail follow- up was also answered a few days ago. I had used the following address, from which there was also the reply: rtcomas@terra.com.pe Snail mail address is: Radio Comas Televisión S.R. Ltda., Av. Estados Unidos 327, Comas Km. 10 Av. Túpac Amaru, Lima, Perú. I should perhaps mention that all this was for a report of September 2000 when the station was on 4880 kHz. They also indicate this frequency in their letter head now. So I am not sure where they transmit now, because in the meantime I saw them reported on 3250 kHz again. Best 73's and good DX (Hans- Dieter Buschau, Hildesheim, Germany, July 26, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PERU [and non]. [See previous item under USA non] Over the past few nights I've been monitoring 1470 kHz using audio analysis to "watch" the various carriers fade-in, sign-off or fade- out. It's a very busy channel with many carriers slightly offset from each other. Fade-in has been as early as 2130 when only Brazil or Argentina is realistically possible, and mostly the strongest signal has been CPN, Lima, Peru peaking 0300-0330 UT. Does anyone have a list of Brazilian MW stations with sign-off times? Or in fact other South American countries too ... I've uploaded the spectral traces onto my website http://www.dxradio.co.uk/mwoffsets/index/html The rig is a AOR 7030+, with a 40-inch square MW loop, and the audio analysis is done using Spectrum Lab. I've tuned to 1469.000 kHz in USB and analysed the audio from 925-1075 Hz ... 1000 Hz would correspond to a zero Hz offset on 1470.000 kHz obviously. CPN Lima would appear to be the station registering on 995 Hz on the scale, i.e. 1469.995 kHz given its fade-in time and peak. 73s (Mark Hattam, London, England, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 11720, Radio Pilipinas, 1758-1830 July 18. Program in Tagalog, with feature called 'Country Profile' which in this case was Singapore. After this a feature on News about Regional Development and Assistance Project. 1827 EG ID, with schedule and frequencies given. Signal good at times (Ed Kusalík, Alberta, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** POLAND. MILITARY HANDS OVER FREQUENCIES TO BROADCASTERS, PHONE OPERATORS | Text of report by Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza on 25 July The army is beginning to hand over frequencies it will no longer be using. The Office for the Regulation of Telecommunications and Postal Services [URTiP] has announced those frequencies will be used to develop digital media and GSM cellular phone networks, as well as to establish an UMTS network. An agreement signed between the URTiP and the Ministry of National Defence [MON] provides that the army will be gradually freeing frequencies that are not used by armies in the west. In exchange, it will receive other frequencies from the URTiP which it will use for its own purposes. Part of them are in the lower ultra short wave range that was used by radio networks 2.5 years ago. The media have been waiting for the military frequencies for a long time. Experts even said once that the MON frequencies coupled with single free civilian bands would suffice to establish another nationwide television channel (after the First and Second Channels of Polish Television and Polsat). "That is an exaggeration. Terrestrial television and radio networks would not be able to switch to digital broadcasts. We would also have to back out of building the two planned digital terrestrial television networks in order to establish a single supra-regional - and not nationwide - network the size of TV4," says Krystyna Roslan-Kuhn, head of the URTiP chief's secretariat who was director of one of the departments of the National Radio and Television Council until recently. In her opinion, the military currently uses 28 per cent of the frequencies necessary to establish two nationwide terrestrial digital television platforms in Poland. URTiP chief Witold Grabos stresses that digital media are an absolute priority. "We will be reserving part of the frequencies we receive from the MON for the needs of digital television. Broadcasters can count on getting only single frequencies that cannot be used in the digital network," Witold Grabos assures. What implications does this have for radio broadcasters? "None. They have no use for what we will be getting," the URTiP chief explains. Unofficial sources at the URTiP say that the Third Channel of Polish Television that has been recently established by a joint effort of regional centres has the largest appetites for new frequencies. This is currently a supra-regional network, but the Polish Television management wants to expand. Cellular phone operators will also benefit from the agreement as they will be able to develop their networks. "The safety of railway communications will improve thanks to a special system called GSM-R," Grabos stresses. The military frequencies will also be used to establish third-generation cell phone networks (UMTS). The army will hand over further frequencies as old equipment is withdrawn. The MON is to hand over the first of 11 bands with various frequencies this year. The next bands will be freed in 2003-2004. The process may continue up until 2017. Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw, in Polish 25 Jul 02 p 18 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. WVUV 648 kHz Leone, full-data prepared card with letter, sticker and business card in 11 months after 2 follow-ups (heard from Grayland SP, WA). Verie signer: Larry Fuss, Pres. of South Seas Broadcasting (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP, Helena, MT, July 27, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [and non]. Hi Glenn, Re ```SRI LANKA. In DXLD 2-102 under CONGO DR we had a reference to Sri Lanka being on 9770: ``Also SLBC Ekala-SLK-CLN is registered there til 1630 UT. 9770 1230-1630 41 EKA 100 350 1234567 3103-271002 CLN SLB SLB (BC- DX)`` --- so I guess the recent report of 9970 is a typo ---- but by the reporter, or by the station when punching up the transmitter frequency?? (gh)``` ...which appears in DXLD 2-117. When reading the original report of the SLBC being heard on 9970, it did seem reasonable to assume that someone had made a mistake - particularly as their original frequency is/was 9770. The SLBC is not currently audible on 9770 here - which doesn`t necessarily mean it isn`t working there - and 9970 is blocked by Belgium. When reading DXLD it becomes obvious that it is not a rare occurrence for stations to operate where they are not meant to - or should that be don't mean to - for whatever reason. On July 17th I found an Arabic broadcast on 13650 at 1545, unknown to me, and which eventually identified as Kuwait. Their frequency should have been empty 13620, and, sure enough, that's where it was next day. If there's a motto perhaps it should be not to trust the engineer if a new, but very familiar looking, frequency is heard! And as for typo's, we all try hard, but inevitably the odd one gets through. Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, July 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Anybody know what's up with Radio Ukraine International? I haven't been able to hear anything on 12040 kHz for the past few days, and it has nothing to do with solar activity, AFAIK: I could pick up Radio Romania International on 11775 kHz at 2300 UTC just fine, as well as Radio Prague at 0000 UTC on 11615 kHz. But RUI, which should be on 12040 kHz from at least 0000-0400 UT, has *nothing*. The Real Audio link, which is allegedly at rtsp://real.nrcu.gov.ua:7554/encoder/rui.rm (although I've never seen the rtsp protocol before) is also dead. Can anybody with better equipment than I've got pick up a signal? And if not, does anybody know what's going on? Thanks in advance! - (Ted Schuerzinger, July 25, swprograms via DXLD) 10 to 1 Ted, it`s just as in the past -- Radio Ukraine ran up another whopper of a electric bill with the power company there and the power utility in Kiev stopped the electric flow to the power plant; it has happened in the past. 73s (Bill KA2EMZ Bergadano, ibid.) As recently as this past Wednesday both the webcast and shortwave were working -- the webcast as recently as 03 UT July 25th. I just checked the webcast and it was fine -- in Ukrainian anyway. I believe (others here can verify) the rtsp protocol is the preferred protocol for RealMedia files; normally all you see are http protocols with *.rm or *.ram file extensions, which have the rtsp information "hidden" in them so you wouldn't normally see it. I know their HTML coding on the web page generates errors -- at least it does in MSIE v6.0 on my machine (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. A LITTLE U.S. POP-AGANDA FOR ARABS At New VOA Radio Station, Music Is Light and So Is the News Voice Of America correspondent Mahmoud Zawawi at his booth during a broadcast in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday. (AP) [caption] By Howard Schneider, Washington Post Foreign Service Friday, July 26, 2002; Page A24 AMMAN, Jordan -- After 30 years with the Voice of America and more than seven as an Arabic language correspondent in the Middle East, Mahmoud Zawawi has had to ditch the VOA's documentary style for brief news flashes. In his new gig, he dispenses with full-length interviews, forgets about in-depth reports on U.S. politics and economics and scraps the film reviews that were his passion. In the name of reaching Arab youth with a product that will not be associated with heavy subjects, such as the U.S. war on terrorism or violence in neighboring Israel, the United States has gone pop with its outreach radio. It has switched to the FM band and replaced the VOA's Arabic language service with a new station, Radio Sawa, that mixes the latest Arabic tunes with light American rock for 50 minutes every hour. The little bit of news sprinkled in with the rest of the broadcast would be depressing to the VOA veteran except for one thing: People are finally listening, at least here in Jordan. "Most of my friends never heard my voice until three months ago," when the new service began, Zawawi said. "It is catching on like fire. Very relaxing. Quick pace. A little news." Planning for Radio Sawa was underway before the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and at the Pentagon. It was prompted mostly by the VOA Arabic service's sparse audience, a group Zawawi said was limited to "elites" -- political officials, academics, journalists and a handful of others. The station broadcast on an AM signal from Greece, and reception varied throughout the region and with the weather. But since Sept. 11 the project has taken on a new dimension as the United States has tried to strengthen diplomacy in the Middle East and burnish an image that, for many, has become associated less with democracy and free speech than with the airplanes and helicopters deployed by the Israeli military. Neither is the United States alone. In recent months virtually all key players in the Middle East dispute have intensified efforts to spread their point of view in other languages. The programs include a $22.5 million Arab League fund to produce English and Hebrew programming. Hebrew radio and television broadcasts are being aimed at Israel from all directions. Egypt is broadcasting two hours of Hebrew television each day via its Nilesat satellite. Iran recently inaugurated the "Voice of David" radio broadcast, meant to provide its view of the news to Jewish listeners throughout the Middle East, and particularly in Israel. Syria added 15 minutes of Hebrew news to its daily satellite television programming, hoping, as the presenter said on the first night, "to reveal the truth to the Israelis." The Shiite fundamentalist organization Hezbollah in Lebanon, which operates the Al-Manar television station, often includes Hebrew propaganda in what station executives characterize as an attempt to demoralize Israeli citizens. Israel has responded in kind. Last month it launched an Arab language satellite station that Israeli official Raanan Cohen said would be a "counterbalance to the sea of venomous propaganda surrounding us." Whether anybody listens is another matter. Egypt may have the most experience. Its Hebrew radio show, "Voice of Cairo," began in 1954. The director of Hebrew broadcasting, Hassan Ali Hassan, said he has only anecdotal evidence that the radio and the new television broadcasts are well received. But he said demographic studies and audience data are not needed to justify the effort. If the technology is there, he said, any country that does not take advantage of it is foolish. "Every country has a message to distribute. It should be part of every country's policy to explain and clarify, or else its message will be held back," he said. In an environment focused on regional troubles, Radio Sawa, which means "together" in Arabic, may hold the most promise for building an audience. Non-ideological, not even identifiably American, it is designed as entertainment rather than public posture, although news content may expand over time, Zawawi said. With U.S. taxpayer support, it can run its music -- programmed by a staff in Washington -- commercial-free. Radio Sawa was given quick approval to establish local FM transmitters in the countries most trusting of the United States, Jordan and Kuwait, and airs there 24 hours a day. It has also been approved in the United Arab Emirates and is expected to win approval in Bahrain and Qatar, Persian Gulf countries where the United States has a large military presence. The core of the Arab world, however, remains out of reach. Egypt, with 70 million people the most populous Arab country, keeps broadcasting under state control and is finicky about content. Syria and Iraq for political reasons are not likely candidates for the Radio Sawa chain, while Saudi Arabia for cultural reasons is also not expected to comply. While those countries can receive a few hours daily of Radio Sawa programming, sent via the old AM signal from Greece, it is unlikely to make the impact that has been felt in just three months in Jordan. Located at FM-98.2, the broadcast is routinely heard in taxis, coffee shops, hair salons and other public spots, Jordanians say. Sipping a frozen lemonade with friends in downtown Amman, Ahmad Sharabati, 18, was quick to show a visitor how he had programmed Radio Sawa into his mobile phone, so he could listen through the ear piece. Reliable audience data are unavailable. But Sharabati and a group of recent college graduates -- an age group in the Arab world that often talks about boycotting American products -- said the station quickly became their favorite. The Arab music is up to date, he said, and alternates with American tunes, mostly light pop and ballads, that cater to Arab tastes. "Everyone in Amman is listening," he said. "One English song. One Arab song. Some news. It has got everything. It has nothing to do with being American." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2157-2002Jul25.html © 2002 Washington Post Company (via Kraig Krist, DXLD) see also KUWAIT ** U S A [and non]. WJIE and High Adventure Ministries have entered into a joint venture agreement. Effective Sept 1st, the corporate staff of HAM will be moving to Kentucky. KVOH will continue to be solely owned by HAM. The HAM shortwave operation planned for Nigeria is being moved to Liberia. While WJIE has plans to upgrade to a 100 kW transmitter, HAM doubts they will be able to reach the Middle East as the former is planning to do (Fax and follow up conversation with Marjorie Carpenter at HAM July 22 [via Baysinger, or Johnson?] Cumbre DX July 26 via DXLD) In spite of what their website says, WJIE shortwave is not operating at 50 kW. They were on with about 30 kW their first day and then went off for quite some time. They didn't even have the 7490 kHz exciter running into the antenna until last week when I was at the site working on WJCR's backup FM transmitter and notified Gary Richardson that everything in the shortwave transmitter building was turned off! WJIE then turned the exciter back on. As for as having "two 50-kW transmitters" - I had to remove several components from the 13595 transmitter in order to repair the 7490 transmitter, so they only have two "working" 100-watt exciters - not 50-kW transmitters (Larry Baysinger, July 25, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Narrator: WORLD WAR 2 MEMORABILIA - CALIFORNIA ON SHORTWAVE At the time when the Pacific War flared up to an international conflict in December of 1941, the United States government did not own nor operate any shortwave broadcasting stations on the west coast for coverage into Asia and the Pacific. However, by the end of hostilities, a total of a dozen different transmitter locations had been pressed into broadcast usage during that dramatic four year period. A spate of intensive research into the available radio publications of that era indicates that the programming of the Voice of America VOA and the Armed Forces Radio Service AFRS was on the air during that dramatic time period from as many as 50 different shortwave transmitters at the dozen shortwave locations, all in California. This is the story. The only shortwave broadcasting station in California at the time was KGEI, a General Electric facility that was launched as W6XBE in 1939 at the World`s Fair on Treasure Island. After the Fair was over, the station was renamed as KGEI and transferred to Belmont, a little south of San Francisco. In 1942, this station, along with many others along the eastern seaboard and in the mid west, were all taken over by the government for use with OWI-VOA programming. In order to secure adequate coverage into Asia and the Pacific, the government contracted the usage of several utility transmitters that were already on the air with communication traffic. Most notable of these station were the following:- RCA station at Bolinas (bol-EE-nas), AT&T station at Dixon, Press Wireless station near Los Angeles. The RCA station at Bolinas was a long established facility and it had often been heard in pre-war days with the relay of radio programming to and from Hawaii and other countries on the Pacific rim. Over a period of time, several of the Bolinas transmitters were noted with OWI-VOA programming. Early in 1942, an additional 50 kW RCA transmitter was installed at Bolinas and this was noted with radio broadcast programming under the callsign KRCA. A sister unit was installed three years later and this was allocated the callsign KRCQ. QSL cards were issued to verify several of the Bolinas callsigns, including KES2, KES3, and KRCA. The utility station at Dixon was owned and operated by the telephone company AT&T and this was on the air with OWI-VOA programming under six different callsigns, four of which were verified with the now famous red white and blue QSL cards. The callsigns on these cards are KMI, KWU, KWV and KWY. The Press Wireless facility was located near Los Angeles and two of its transmitters were in use with wartime programming, one of which was verified with a QSL card, station KJE8. Additional shortwave transmitters in California also carried the VOA- AFRS programming, though little is known about these stations. The U. S. navy wireless station at San Francisco was noted with the relay of AFRS programming, as were also station KZH and KNY, the specific locations of which are unknown. At the same time as contract radio coverage was taken out over these many utility transmitters, plans were laid for the quick installation of additional shortwave transmitters at already established locations specifically for broadcast coverage. The first of these new units was station KWID. The 100 kW transmitter for KWID was co-located with a mediumwave station KSFO at Islais Creek and the studios were installed in the Mark Hopkins Hotel on the seafront edge of San Francisco. A 50 kW sister transmitter KWIX was installed at this same location during the following year. Another utility station was the Mackay facility located at Palo Alto and two new transmitters at 50 kW were installed here under the callsigns KROJ and KROU. These units left the air for ever after the end of the war. In addition to these smaller units, two large shortwave stations were built specifically for trans-Pacific broadcast coverage and these were the CBS station at Delano (de-LAH-no) [sic – it`s de-LAY-no!! --gh] and the NBC facility at Dixon. The Delano station was inaugurated in 1944 as KCBA and the Dixon station was inaugurated in 1945 as KNBA. Interestingly, only one of these many historic radio stations is on the air today with broadcast programming and that is the very large Voice of America station located in a country area near Delano, north east of Los Angeles in southern California. During this hectic four year period when all of these many shortwave transmitters were in use with radio programming, they were heard far and wide throughout the Pacific rim, as well as in Europe and elsewhere. Many thousands of QSL cards were processed for these stations, and the AWR collection in Indianapolis contains a large album with nearly 50 of these neat red white a blue QSL cards, each with its own distinctive callsign (Adrian Michael Petersen, AWR Wavescan July 28 via DXLD) ** U S A. Friday, July 26, 2002 AROUND THE DIAL A WORD FROM THE SPONSOR: READ THE RADIO Technology widely used in Europe is offered on five local Clear Channel stations. If it catches on, expect written ads. By STEVE CARNEY, Special to The Times Music fans driven crazy by disc jockeys who never identify the songs or artists they're playing can rejoice: Now the radio itself will name that tune. For listeners who already think there are too many advertisements on the radio, this is not good news; the ads are starting to appear on the radio in the form of text messages scrolling across the display screen. Radio Data Service is a technology that has been around about a decade, enabling FM receivers to automatically display the call letters of a station or identify the song and artist being played. Advanced systems can shut off a CD or cassette if a traffic report or weather warning comes on the air, if the user has programmed it to do so. Widely popular in Europe, where the receivers can also switch between stations of the same format to find the best reception, Radio Data Service has mainly languished in the United States because neither broadcasters nor the electronics industry ever embraced it. Only about 700 of the 5,000 radio stations in the United States employ it, according to the National Assn. of Broadcasters... http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Print-X!ArticleDetail-67196,00.html? (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) LA Times stories soon disappear ** U S A. RADIO LAW: CQ SAYS YES TO NEW HAM BANDS The publisher of several hobby radio magazines is urging the FCC to proceed in the creation of several new ham bands. However, it is voicing significant concern that the regulatory agency appears to be placing the interests of unlicensed services on a par with, if not ahead of, those of licensed services. Amateur Radio Newsline`s David Black, KB4KCH, tells us who filed and why: Most magazine publishers traditionally stay out ham radio politics. But the people who publish CQ Amateur Radio, CQ VHF and Popular Communications magazines are making an exception this time. The publishers have filed comments with the FCC strongly supporting proposals that would create two new amateur bands and elevate a current amateur allocation from secondary to primary status. CQ wants the FCC to adopt a proposal to create a ``splinter band`` at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz -- this would give amateur radio its first allocation above 200 meters in nearly a century. The company proposes opening the band to all amateurs with General Class or higher licenses, not imposing mode restrictions and making technical requirements flexible enough to encourage a wide range of experimentation. CQ is also pushing for creation of a new ham band at 60 meters from 5.250 to 5.400 MHz. The proposal suggests that full amateur power be permitted; that there be no sub-banding, either by mode or by license class; and that the band be open to all amateurs with HF privileges. That would include CW privileges for hams holding Novice Class licenses or Technician licenses with code credit. Finally, CQ voices strong support for the FCC`s proposal to make the Amateur Service primary on 2400 to 2402 MHz. The publishers say they`re very concerned about one Commission request in its Notice of Proposed Rule Making. That requests solicits comments on the change in status that might affect non-licensed users of this band, such as cordless telephones and wireless computer networks. CQ wants the Commission to reaffirm its long-standing policy that the interests of licensed operators and services are primary on any frequencies shared by licensed and non-licensed users. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m David Black, KB4KCH. CQ`s comments were filed electronically and may be viewed in full on the FCC`s Electronic Comment Filing System website at http://www.fcc.gov/e-file/ecfs.html by selecting ``Search for Filed Comments,`` then typing in ``02-98`` under ``Proceeding`` on the search page, scrolling through comment summaries until the CQ comments are reached. (CQ) (Amateur Radio Newsline July 26 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. Replies to NRC`s Question of the Week: "If you were given the authority, how would you reform the AM band? Before answering, define what reform means to you, and why it is necessary." What reform means to me is to get rid of most of the syndicated satellite programming and give the programming back to the communities. I am tired of travelling to find Rush, Dr. Laura, Art Bell, you name it everywhere on the dial. Why not have local talk shows, local DJ shows like we used to have. There would be a place for the high school kid to start in radio like I once did (KVAS-Astoria). When I travel I try to find a "local" station that is not satellite programmed. Sure you have national network news on the hour. That is fine, national sports, all fine, but let`s have local programming. I don't mind hearing the news item about how the local fire dept. saved a cat out of a tree, or info on the local high school basketball game, or someone selling a TV on the air, local auctions, you name it. Give radio back to the local people of the community! (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, KAVT Reception Manager, NRC-AM via DXLD) Reform; to form again or anew, to remove defects, necessary in this case to improve reception of high power radio stations, to restore local access to the airwaves, to reduce interference, and to provide quality receivers. 1. Define two types of channels, local and clear: Local channels would simply be 250/250 U1, 500/500 U1 and 1000/1000 U1, to restore local access to the airwaves with ownership limited to a single station. License fees would be reduced and the application process streamlined per the Paperwork Reduction Act for the local channels. Clear channels would include a power increase to 100 kW maximum. There would be 68 clear channels; 530, 540, 640 - 780, 800 - 900, 940, 1000 - 1140, 1170 - 1220, 1500 - 1560, 1580, 1610 - 1700. Remaining frequencies would be local channels. [why not 990, 1160? gh] 2. IBOC would be scrapped, instead going with Eureka-147 in the 1465 - 1485 MHz frequency range like Canada. Those radio stations that are "victims" of the new local/clear channel allocations would be given priority assignments of new digital channels and temporary authority to continue broadcasting on a local channel regardless of ownership. 3. Conducted and radiated emissions standards would be vigorously enforced and tightened if necessary. Notorious interference sources would be targeted, including but not limited to power lines, cable TV, light dimmers, electric motors, and digital electronics. The FCC would be given the power to pursue criminal prosecution for repeat offenders. 4. Finally, FCC type acceptance of AM receivers would require compliance with minimum standards for sensitivity, selectivity, image/IF rejection, dynamic range, and audio quality approaching the AMAX standard (C-QUAM stereo would be optional). (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH http://members.aol.com/baconti/bamlog.htm NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Posted by Rachel Baughn on July 25, 19102 at 05:33:42: Please join us on our shortwave segment 7/28/02 12am EASTERN on WBCQ 7415 kHz, also on W0KIE GE7 Ch5 7.5 MHz and the net feeds when we will have a segment with Mason from Canada as he interviews Ken Burg, VE7KEN talking about the RAC (Radio Amateurs of Canada) conference. This is part of our shortwave show; join us July 28th at 12am ET or 0400 UT. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Duane Whittingham (N9SSN) - Producer Tom and Darryl Radio Shows Heard on C-Band Analog Satellite (W0KIE) - GE7-CH5-7.5 mHz Also on WQNA 88.3 FM, WBCQ 7415 kHz and the Internet. Fridays 9pm ET, Sundays 12am ET and Tuesdays 1am ET An Independent Freeform Eclectic Radio Show. http://www.tomanddarryl.org (via Monitoring Times Chat Board via DXLD) ** U S A. WBCQ SCHEDULE CHANGE - EVM JEWISH RADIO NETWORK SUNDAY SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR EVM JEWISH RADIO NETWORK ON SUNDAYS ON 9335 CANCELLED - LAST PROGRAM 7/14/2002 [UT, then EDT] 2000 4:00-5:00pm 9335 EVM: Mystical Insights: Ideas of Chassidic Masters 2100 5:00pm - 6:00pm 9335 EVM: Ask the Rabbi: Questions from Listeners 2200 6:00pm - 7:00pm 9335 EVM: Jewish Music and Its Meaning ------------------------------------------------------------ SCHEDULE CHANGE FOR EVM JEWISH RADIO NETWORK ON SUNDAYS ON 7415 Sunday Schedule on 7415 as below ended July 14, 2002. (except for 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM .. see following info) Beginning Sunday, July 21, 2002 -- (only) 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM - 7415 EVM Jewish Radio Network email link: yspivak@aol.com 8EVM, P.O. Box 317, Monsey, New York 10952 The Jewish Radio Network 1-866-722-2497 (toll free) Torah Talk with Rabbi Yaakov Spivak can also be heard via the internet on American Freedom Network - http://www.americanewsnet.com/ --------------------------------------------------------------- old schedule: 1300 9:00am - 10:00am 7415 EVM: Torah Portion of the Week 1400 10:00am - 11:00am 7415 EVM: Jewish Music for the Morning 1500 11:00am - 12:00pm 7415 EVM: Talmud For Today 1600 12:00pm - 1:00pm 7415 EVM: Israel and the World (People & Politics) 1700 1:00pm - 2:00pm 7415 EVM: Talkline with Zev Brenner 1800 2:00pm - 2:30pm 7415 EVM: The D'Var Program - Rabbi Chaim Friedman 1830 2:30pm - 3:00pm 7415 EVM: Music of a People 1900 3:00pm - 4:00pm 7415 EVM: Mining the Midrash: Insights from the Rabbis (WBCQ July 25 via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. De acuerdo a un correo enviado a la lista por el colega y amigo José Valdez, La Radio Nacional de Venezuela ha confrontado algunos problemas con sus transmisiones de Onda Corta, pero se está trabajando para mejorar este servcio, que se espera esté al 100% dentro de muy poco tiempo. La Radio Nacional de Venezuela actualmente no está en la onda corta,pero de todas maneras hay que estar siempre pendientes de la frecuencia 9540 de RNV. Atte: (José Elías, July 26, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VIRGIN ISLANDS US. 1620 | WDHP, Fredriksted, St. Croix, JUL 12 0100 - WDHP ID; fair. + JUL 25 0049 - "Chariots of Fire" music followed by ads including "Amigo Enterprises" used cars in St. Croix (tel. 719- 8960) and Tom's Concrete and Building Supply (tel. 719-4554). 3- station ID given, then a promo for the Virgin Islands lottery. Good signal. [Mark Connelly, Rowley, MA, hard-core-dx via DXLD; see KUWAIT for equipment] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION REPORT ++++++++++++++++++ 3 X class flares in the past week have meant conditions have been pretty active. Things have been fairly quiet for the past 24 hours but 2 regions on this side of the sun remain flare capable. A CME associated with the flare on July 23 should have impacted by the time you read this leading to possibly storm levels of geomagnetic activity. Geomagnetic activity was high on Jul 17 and 20/22. Other active periods are expected Jul 27/28 and Aug 1-3. Further shortwave fadeouts remain possible (Prepared for Cumbre DX by Richard Jary using data from http://www.ips.gov.au via DXLD) TRANSATLANTIC TROPOSPHERIC VHF DX FROM AFRICA TO NORTH AMERICA is possible; see AFRICA at top of this DXLD! (gh) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-118, July 25, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1141: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1141.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1141.html [available 7/26] WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 NOTE: our main site http://www.worldofradio.com may have some down time in next few days. If so, check for latest info at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html SELECTED ENGLISH LANGUAGE DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS ON SHORTWAVE July 25 update by John Norfolk: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN. MISSION COMPLETE, From The Radio Magazine 23rd July 2002 London based Voice of Afghanistan has finished its short wave broadcasts to the country after nine months. The station broadcast news and comment during the transitional phase of the Taliban regime to the new Interim Government. Manned by a ten-strong editorial team of well-known broadcasters and journalists who had left Afghanistan to become refugees in London, the station was originally intended to be on air for just three months (via Mike Terry, UK, July 25, DXLD) So nothing here about a 3-month break, and then to return (gh) ** ARGENTINA. I was fascinated by the Radio Liberty item [DXLD 2-117], and although my Spanish is severely limited, I gleaned some insight regarding the "Tokyo Rose" of the 1982 Falklands War. I listened to her nightly as the conflict played out on TV news and BBCWS, a voice speaking from the other side, dreamlike, with all the bravado and naive psychology of that World War II seductress. I think I actually learned of these transmissions on one of your early WOR programs. "Argentine Annie", as she was being called, could be heard daily at midnight UT on 17740 kHz, usually with a good signal. The modulation, however, was mushy, making intelligibility poor. Since then I have been curious as to whom that syrupy voice belonged. Silvia Fernández Barrio styled herself as "...a woman who can say today, more than ever, that the world listens when Argentina speaks." With her taunting words, breathless delivery, and a throaty laugh that she could hardly suppress while speaking about young British soldiers coming to die in the Malvinas, you could picture the wicked femme fatale, a la Marlene Dietrich or Hedy Lamarr, dressed in black satin, smiling into the microphone. "Hel-lo! I'm back - were you waiting for me? Oh, yes! I am Liberty..." Every few minutes, she was interrupted by music guaranteed to make the UK servicemen homesick: Bee Gees, Rod Stewart, Matt Monro, Beatles; even the chimes of Big Ben. Then she would coo some more tidbits of intelligence, so we would know that they knew. The program always opened and closed with an instrumental recording of "Yesterday." It was pure propaganda and pure kitsch, and I doubt that we shall hear anything like it again (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I am tempted to translate the Liberty piece; would anyone like that? (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. R. Australia COMMONWEALTH GAMES COVERAGE Thu. 0910-1000 (replacing AUSTRALIA TALKS BACK) - A History of Australia at the Games. Thu. 1955-2145 - Opening Ceremonies - live from Manchester (on 11650 only) Fri. 0955-2130 - Live Games Coverage (on 11650 only) Sat. 0755-2130 - Live Games Coverage (on 11650 only) Sun. 0655-2130 - Live Games Coverage (on 11650 only) And on regular RA frequencies, CG Reports from Brendan Telfer pre- empting other programming: Fri 2030-2040, Sat 0405-0415, 2145-2200, Sun 0405-0415... (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. VOICE INTERNATIONAL, HINDI TO INDIA If you have entered the Voice International competition, then keep listening to find out if you're a winner. The winners is announced on the first week of the month. If you do not win then please keep trying and keep listening to The voice. Please email us with your requests and dedications for your family and friends. The Voice will bring you music and ministry to feed your spirit and soul. The Voice is currently being transmitted on 13,635 kHz shortwave frequency. As from 5th August 2002 you can hear the voice at the following times Indian Standard Time IST: Monday to Friday 16:30 to 19:30 Dharkhan with Raj Masih [1100-1400 UT] 19:30 to 22:30 Chahat with Harry Dass [1400-1700 UT] Saturday and Sunday 16:30 to 19:30 Jawani {1400-1700 UT] 19:30 to 22:30 Aaina with Reema Braich [1400-1700 UT] Kind regards from Narinder Choranji (Mrs) ****************************************** (via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, July 25, DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. BURMA/NORWAY: CONFERENCE STRESSES NEED FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA | Text of report in English by Burmese opposition electronic newspaper BurmaNet News on 20 July The media conference organized by the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) to commemorate its 10th anniversary came to an end on 20 July. The conference, attended by Burma's prominent journalists and experts, emphasized the importance of the role of independent media in Burma. Since 1962, media in Burma has been tightly controlled by the successive military governments. Free expression and the right to criticize government policy have been completely suppressed. Speaking to the Mizzima News, Mr Vincent Brossel, the Asia-Pacific Director of the Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontières [RSF] said that there can be no freedom of media in Burma unless there is democracy. "The SPDC [State Peace and Development Council] (Burmese junta) has sent to jail a large number of journalists and writers who are supporters of the democratic movement. In Burma, at least 16 journalists are still detained. The future of press freedom in Burma is deeply linked with the future of the democratic transition. "As we usually say in RSF, there is no freedom without press freedom. In the case of Burma, we might say, there would be no press freedom without democracy". DVB may be independent in near future The Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) was established on 19 July 1992 in Norway after Burmese democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. As DVB has completed 10 years identifying itself as a voice of the exiled government - the National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma [NCGUB], most of the DVB team members are keen to see DVB as an independent body in future. "DVB has been working under the banner of NCGUB. Even though we function independently, many see DVB as a propaganda machine of the NCGUB. We want to broadcast only the reliable, fair and true news and information. We want to continue DVB to become as an independent media in future Burma. However, we will not deviate from supporting the cause of democracy", said DVB's Director Ko Aye Chan Naing. Dr Sein Win, Prime Minister of the NCGUB, said that he would discuss with his cabinet ministers regarding the matter (whether DVB should be independent from NCGUB or not). "Whatever it may be the outcome (of cabinet decision), DVB has to be the voice of democracy movement and gives credible information to the people of Burma", he added. Since most of the participants were Burmese journalists in exile working for different Burma-related media organizations, they shared their experiences with each other and discussed possibilities for future cooperation among themselves. The two-day conference concluded that the role of media is important for the establishment of democracy in Burma and support programmes to strengthen the Burma media organizations-in-exile should be organized. Moreover, the participants also decided to regularly meet once a year. Source: BurmaNet News in English 20 Jul 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) And for more on the political and human rights background, read the special report by my colleague Yvette Turlings, who recently visited Burma. http://www.rnw.nl/development/html/history020718.html (A. Sennitt, Holland, in Jul 19, 2002 MediaNetwork-NL via CRW via DXLD) ** CANADA. http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2380 ANNA MARIA TREMONTI NAMED HOST OF CBC RADIO ONE'S NEW NATIONAL WEEKDAY 8:30-TO-10 SHOW Today, CBC Radio announced Anna Maria Tremonti as host of CBC Radio One's new national weekday morning 8:30-to-10 show - a topical, spontaneous and provocative look at events around the world that are uppermost in Canadians' minds - which makes its debut November 18. "Anna Maria's range and depth of experience with Canadian and international news will be an enormous asset to this new national program," said Adrian Mills, executive director of programming for CBC Radio. "The level of journalistic excellence that Anna Maria brings to the table will help ensure that the new show is a must-listen event for Canadians across the country." An award-winning foreign correspondent and host of CBC Television's the fifth estate, Tremonti's CBC career began with CBC Radio in Fredericton in 1981. She worked in both radio and television news in the Maritimes, the west and in central Canada before joining The National as a Parliament Hill reporter in 1987. From there, she was posted to Berlin, London, Jerusalem and Washington. Major stories that she covered include the fall of Communism, the war in Bosnia, the rise of the neo-Nazi movement in Germany, the Georgian revolution and the split-up of Czechoslovakia, and Iraq's confrontation with the West - in a number of instances filing stories for both CBC Radio and CBC Television. "Anna Maria has made a great contribution to the fifth estate, and indeed to CBC Television News and Current Affairs as a whole," added Tony Burman, editor in chief, news and current affairs, CBC Radio and Television. "There is no doubt that she will captivate CBC Radio listeners in this exciting new role." In 2000, Anna Maria made the transition from foreign correspondent to investigative journalist when she joined CBC Television's the fifth estate. Her stories there included The Murdered Bride, which looked into allegations that a young Indian woman's mother and uncle arranged for her death; and Squamish Five: 20 Years Later, which explored the notorious guerilla group's cross-country spree of militancy and violence two decades ago. "My work with the fifth estate was richly rewarding, and gave me a chance to explore new ways of telling complex stories in greater depth," said Tremonti. "Launching a new national information program for CBC Radio presents new and different challenges, and is an opportunity that I just couldn't pass up." Among her numerous awards, Tremonti has received Geminis for her coverage of the war in Bosnia and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Her reports from Bosnia also earned her the Ron Laidlaw Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association. In 1997, she received "Outstanding Achievement" honours from the Toronto Women in Film and Television. Last spring, she received an honourary doctorate from her alma mater, the University of Windsor. CBC Radio One's new 8:30-to-10 program, part of a new morning line-up on the network, complements the previously announced new 10-to-noon show, which will explore how Canadians are living their lives in the 21st century. Hosted by Shelagh Rogers, it debuts on CBC Radio One on October 14 (via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) ** CANADA. At the risk of posting something actually about radio, all I know is that Gary Hooper has been granted authority to operate 10 limited duration low power FM radio stations in various languages (Arabic, Croatian, Czech, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovene, Slovak, Spanish, Ukrainian as well as in Aboriginal and Chinese languages). The frequencies being used are 89.9, 90.7, 91.9, 96.9, 98.7, 99.5, 101.7, 102.7, 103.9 and 104.9 and the effective radiated power is supposed to be 10 watts. The licenses expire on July 28. For what is worth, I checked all of the frequencies yesterday afternoon (July 23) and again this morning from a location very close to where the Papal Mass will be on the 28th. I didn't hear any of them. I suppose that today might be a good day to listen on these frequencies if you are near Exhibition Place. Ironically, in the Downsview part of North York, 99.5 is blocked by WDCX Buffalo, which is religious, and 101.7 has both CKNX-Wingham and WLOF-Attica NY. WLOF is part of the EWTN network (Niel Wolfish, Ont., ODXA via Saul Chernos, WTFDA via DXLD) A couple observations re WYD stations during my brief stop-over in Toronto to log the stations (whereupon I'm escaping the madness and heading back to DX-land at Burnt River until the weekend when I must return for a day or so). * Ironically, 101.7 WLOF in Attica NY was carrying what *appeared* to be live coverage of the WYD events yesterday - Tuesday evening (speeches etc...), and the WYD people have chie chosen 101.7 for one of their frequencies. EWTN, the network that WTOF is on, is a Catholic network. * Upon my arrival downtown (where I live) last night, around 11 pm, I noted open carriers on 90.7, 91.9, 101.7, 102.7, 103.9, and 104.9. Toronto DXer Wayne Plunkett heard six stations broadcasting in different languages, but our frequencies don't quite match. I had fluttering on some of the others, but the signals are MONO, rather than stereo, so the proof will be in the pudding if there is any actual programming. I am here till noon, then must depart (Saul Chernos, Ont., July 24, WTFDA via DXLD) As an update I noted all but 2 of the 10 frequencies had programming on Wednesday evening. They all seemed to be simulcasting the same World Youth Day concert, including one rocking tune that began with the line "J-P 2, we love you". This was around 9 p.m. with the signals heard on 90.7, 91.9, 98.7, 99.5, 101.7, 102.7, 103.9 and 104.9. The Signals were in mono and were pretty good on 90.7, 91.9 and 104.9 in and around the Leaside neighbourhood. The other frequencies were still being dominated by the usual station that would occupy the channel (such as CBC Radio Two in Peterborough on 103.9), but one could detect traces of the concert underneath the dominant signal. No sign of anything on either 89.9 or 96.9, however. By the time I got up to Yonge and York Mills CBC Ottawa was ruling the roost on 90.7 (Niel Wolfish, Toronto, July 25, ODXA via DXLD) Glenn, I took a drive past Exhibition Place in Toronto, site of WYD, and tuned in all ten frequencies you had mentioned on WOR. Nothing was heard on any of them around 1600 July 24. Perhaps these are only used during specific times and events. The CN Tower is very close by, so there was a lot of bleeding from other FM stations. 73, (Ivan Grsihin, Ont., July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Chinese "musical" jamming Jamming signal: Chinese instrumental folk music. Special nonstop compilation. Loop playback from hard drive. Duration of 1 cycle - 1 hr 00 min 00.2 sec._ Modulation - AM (non-distorted). Most suitable time for reception in Europe - from 1600 to 0900 UT. Frequencies, on which the musical jamming could be heard 1 and more hours per day, kHz: 21700, 21690, 21650, 21540, 21500, 17720, 17640, 17615, 15680, 15665, 15515, 15510, 13690, 13675, 13670, 13625, 13610, 11945, 11935, 11795, 11785, 11750, 11700, 11520, 11510, 9955, 9945, 9915, 9455, 9355, 7515, 7190, 7160, 7150, 6035, 5925. Musical jamming is a long distance high power (100-500 kW) skywave jamming operation. Other known Chinese jamming modulations: programs of China National Radio in AM mode (non-distorted, skywave, high-power); programs of China National Radio in Narrow FM mode (distorted; groundwave, low-power). (R. Pleikys, Lithuania, Jul 15, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch July 24 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Glenn, I have been listening to that station on 6064.57 kHz for more than an hour hoping to hear the ID. It 's now 1109 UT. The station gave a possible ID at 1000 UT, but I didn't catch it. All I heard was "... para Quito, Ecuador". I am wondering what is up here? According to what I have read in DXLD recently, this is supposed to be a Colombian station? The format is religious. A man talks for a couple of minutes then a couple of secular Spanish tunes are presented and then back to the Religious comments. Like I said, it's after 1100 and the station is still pretty strong here in South Florida. Have you heard anything further on this station on 6064.57 kHz? Hoping to hear from you. Thanks (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, July 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sounds like Conciencia to me, even if you heard Quito mentioned (gh) Hola Amigos, Para reportar qué está de nuevo en el aire La Voz de tu Conciencia a través de los 6064.5, luego de un par de semanas. A pesar que había posibilidad que saliera al aire en la frecuencia autorizada por el Ministerio de Comunicaciones 6.060 Khz.; escuchada esta mañana hacia las 1130 con un programa llamado Fuerza de Paz; mejoró en la modulacion de audio, la señal en 5 (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, July 24, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) Glenn, The station on 6064 has possibly moved down to 6060.21 kHz. Same format as yesterday that was on 6064.57 kHz is on 6060.21 kHz with music and then brief religious comments. Still can't get the ID. Heard one at 0900 UT but as usual the QRN crashes and the low tone of the announcer's voice didn't produce anything worth logging. The constant sameness of the music is enough to drive one crazy. It would be better if they gave a few more ID's instead of that music! Anyway, I'll leave this for someone else to catch (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here`s your confirmation: Hola amigos, después de regresar del trabajo, me encuentro que ya está transmitiendo en la frecuencia autorizada La Voz de tu Conciencia, 6060.2, aunque está retransmitiendo la señal de la onda media 1530 kHz con el programa "La Verdad sobre La Verdad"; Identificándose como: "...Alcaraván Radio, transmitiendo su señal en los 1530 kHz A.M., 1530 emisora de interés público del municipio de Puerto LLeras..." La señal continúa llegando en 5 (Rafael Rodríguez, Bogotá, Colombia, July 24, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. When I owned HCRM1 and some others in Quito, Ecuador, I discovered that the May-September period in the Andes at the Equator had lightening like Florida and NE New Mexico. Every few weeks, when I did transmitter maintenance on each AM, I carried a file and a bunch of emery paper to file the tower baseplate that sat on top of the base insulator; a corner of this 3/8 inch plate pointed at a home-made metal ball on a rod that was spaced to take lightening hits to ground. I would carefully file and brush the baseplate where it had been pocked, and use the emery paper on the ball to work off any surface irregularities. Then the gap was carefully spaced. I used the headlights from my 4WD to illuminate the tower base, as this was always done at abut 2 AM on a Sunday morning. One of the towers sat on a hill at 9900 feel AMSL with no other mountains or hills nearby, so it took multiple daily hits at times. Only once in 7 years did either station on the tower (HCRM1-570 and HCFV-805) get knocked off the air with this constant maintenance of the gap. My HCSP at 590 was located in a wide valley with peaks on either side; I don't believe it ever got hit by lightening, although it may have gotten some static discharges (David Gleason, CA, NRC-AM July 23 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. From swradio@swradio.net -- Hi folks, Following interesting Scandinavian Weekend Radio-programme will be aired 3rd of August 0900-1100 UT. 6170 and 11690 (9-10)/ 11720 kHz (10-11) . Alpo Heinonen, SWR, The History of Finnish Radio: Radio Meteor. DJ Tex Willer presents the history of legendary Finnish Free Radio Radio Meteor. Stories, audioclips, etc. DJ and operator Rick Random will give us a live interview by telephone. You can take part in the show by sending your Radio Meteor -questions and memories beforehand to tex.willer@swradio.net (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** FRANCE. Plans Sept 16-30 for `compatible` DRM tests on 981 kHz: Ciao ! L'articolo originale compare su ACTU FM della Francia ma non è riproducibile per via del copyright; se volete leggerlo cliccate su: http://www.radioactu.com/index.php?goto=flash&edit=T&id=9514&id_rubrique=6 (Dario Monferini, Italie, July 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. According to DLF announcement at 0555 UT today, the longwave 153 unit will be OFF for maintenance July 22nd til FRIDAY 26th, (break usually at 0610-1548 UT). 73 de wolfy df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, July 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUYANA. 3290 kHz, Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, Georgetown. Partial Data letter signed by W. Carr along a sheet with geographical data of Guyana. Sent reception report and 1 IRC to GBC, 44 High Street, Werk-En Rust. 64 Days (Marcelo Toniolo, Greenvale, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. TEST OVER KAUAI BROADENS COMMUNICATIONS HORIZON Associated Press Communications equipment aboard an unmanned, solar-powered plane flying 12 miles overhead successfully transmitted mobile telephone and high-definition television signals in a test of technology that aims to bring satellite systems closer to Earth. The test of SkyTower Inc.'s telecommunications system aboard a NASA-developed prototype plane took place 65,000 feet above Kauai on Saturday, company officials said. Developers of the technology say it will provide higher bandwidth for a host of communications systems, allowing users to videoconference over Palm Pilots or download Internet files at five times the speed of cable modems or digital subscriber line connections -- all at a fraction of today's cost. SkyTower executives have declined to provide exact figures on how much it would cost to operate the equipment. The system establishes a new, high-altitude wireless communications base between satellites thousands of miles in space and the world's highest communications towers. It allows clearer transmissions of signals by bringing satellite technology closer to Earth, but keeping it high enough to avoid interference from buildings and trees. The technology also could be used to monitor natural disasters such as hurricanes and assist emergency services, said Stuart Hindle, vice president of strategy and business development for SkyTower. Saturday's tests involved the beaming of signals for mobile telephones and handheld devices and transmission of a high-definition television signal to the prototype plane Pathfinder-Plus (via Brock Whaley, GA, July 23, DXLD) WTFK?? ** INDIA. Friends, Look out for the normal Delhi channels of 11830 and 15135 for the running commentary of the swearing in ceremony of the new President tomorrow from 0350 UT. [Later:] Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam will be sworn in as the new President of India tomorrow 25th July 2002. AIR will be relaying the live running commentary of this from 0350 UT. All stations of AIR will be relaying it. Look out for the regional stations on 6 and 7 MHz and any additional channels on 9, 11, 15 MHz. The commentary is expected to last about 1 hour. The following new frequencies used last time are worth checking: 11595, 15140, 15220. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, July 24, dx_india via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) [this was posted in advance on our MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR] ** INDIA. From The Hindu... Online edition of India's National Newspaper, Tuesday, July 23, 2002 NATIONAL AIR COMPLETES 75 YEARS Mumbai, July 23. (PTI): "This is All India Radio" the once-familiar baritone sound that the nation woke up to every morning and tuned in without fail, along with their hot cup of tea, turns 75 today. To celebrate its platinum jubilee, the Mumbai division of All India Radio (Akashwani) has chalked out a series of programmes aimed at boosting its reach and widening the listeners' base, Assistant Station Director Kirit Barot said. Starting today, listeners could dial 2875705 or 2875708 to relate their experiences with All India Radio and their special relationship with the organisation. The entire programme would be broadcast live, Barot said. Listeners would also be treated to a week-long special programme in Marathi on Mumbai B channel from 9.30 PM to 10.30 PM while listeners of Mumbai A would have an opportunity to listen to multi-lingual programes, comprising talks with some of the well known celebrities connected with the AIR. Also on the cards is an archival special that would take listeners down the memory lane with a nostalgic flashback of some of the most popular programmes in the over seven decades of the existence of the AIR. A special programme would also be aired on 23rd of every month all throughout the year to mark the occasion. A unique museum showcasing some of the old equipment used by AIR during its 75 year history was also inaugurated today. The museum has also on display signatures and comments of some of India's celebrities, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu and C V Raman. Copyright © 2002, The Hindu (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. RADIO HAM FINDS LOST SATELLITE From BBC News Wednesday, 24 July, 2002, 14:48 GMT 15:48 UK A radio enthusiast has traced the whereabouts of a communication satellite which had been lost in space. Dave Rowan found the Oscar 7 satellite, which stopped working in 1979, using equipment he has set up in his garden shed. The enthusiast had recognised the code because he had tracked the satellite when it was working in the late 1970s. Now scientists at the University of Surrey have asked Mr Rowan to monitor Oscar 7 so they can work out why it went wrong. Mr Rowan said: "It was an old friend. I had spent many hours in the early hours of the morning tracking this satellite. "When it made a reappearance and I confirmed it was Oscar 7 I was quite delighted." The satellite stopped working in 1979 Mr Rowan believes the battery on the satellites stopped working but somehow the solar panels have begun to work again. "It is live but not necessarily that well. "It has no battery and the guess will be how long will this spacecraft last again. "After 20 years in space with millions of miles to its credit, there is no reason it shouldn't last further time." Mr Rowan's wife said he spends much of his spare time in his shed which is fitted with powerful radio equipment with a satellite dish outside. She calls herself a "radio widow" and Mr Rowan has fitted an intercom from the shed to the house so she can get in touch with him. Mrs Rowan said: "He has got everything in his shed but a bed. "And I won't allow that." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) WTFK??!! ** IRAQ [non]. Voice of Iraqi People, 9570.0 via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Jul 18, 1715-1725, heard here ex 9568.5 under much QRM // 9563 (best with 24333) and 11710. Talks in Arabic about Iraq (A. Petersen, Denmark, Jul 18, 2002 for Clandestine Radio Watch via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) Voice of the Islamic Revolution of Iraq, 9685, via VOIRI, Iran, Jul 20, 0410-0440, Arabic talk about Iraq, Kuwait and Washington, 0424 ID: "Sawt el-Sawra el-Islamya fiel-Iraq", 33333 (QRM Romania 9690), heard // weaker 7120 and 7245 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, for CRW via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. SUMMER TIME WON`T STOP FOR YOM KIPPUR Shas has once again done an about-face on the matter of daylight- saving time and yesterday recanted its demand that summer time come to an end early to make fasting on Yom Kippur somewhat easier. At a meeting yesterday of the Knesset House Committee, it was agreed not to shorten daylight-saving time by three weeks and that it would continue until October 7, as set out in a law passed two years ago. Two weeks ago, the Knesset approved the preliminary reading of a Shas proposal to shorten daylight-saving time by three weeks. This contradicted a historic compromise agreement reached between the religious and secular Knesset factions in July 2000. But after this amendment was approved, Shas leader and Interior Minister Eli Yishai agreed to a compromise initiated by Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit under which daylight-saving time would be halted for two days before Yom Kippur and resume after the fast. At yesterday's committee meeting, MK Moshe Gafni (United Torah Judaism) surprised those present by calling on the Shas representatives to freeze their amendment to shorten summer time. "There is no reason for this issue to become a point of contention between the two publics," Gafni said. Shas then asked for time to confer, with MK Yair Peretz subsequently announcing that the party would acquiesce and that he would withdraw his bill. House Committee Chair, MK Yossi Katz (Labor), welcomed the decision, saying: "It is good that Shas has acted in this way and has thus saved millions for the economy and reduced the friction between the secular and religious." The Shinui faction said in response that Shas had apparently decided not to stretch its luck with the secular public just one day after the passage of the Tal Law, which anchors draft deferral for thousands of yeshiva students in legislation. By Gideon Alon (Ha`aretz July 25 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A CHRONICLE OF ABJECT FAILURE The franchises of 13 regional radio stations have been extended for four years. It is difficult to understand why By Anat Balint and Uri Ayalon Quietly, almost secretly, the council of the Second Television and Radio Authority decided to extend the franchises of 13 regional radio stations by another four years. This was made possible thanks to the media uproar that accompanied the government's decision to support the extension of Channel 2's franchisees. Next year, the first eight years of the franchises granted to the regional radios will come to an end. To win an extension the owners will have to prove that their radio stations meet the original conditions of the franchise and offer ways to improve programming.... http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=190096 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Here is a summary of Dutch mediumwave news from a German bulletin board: Q - The Beat has again ceased to broadcast, the transmitter (that's 1224) was switched off after only the open carrier was transmit for some time. On September 1st a thorough reshuffling of the Dutch FM networks will take place. It is said that it will be forbidden to distribute the same program on both FM and mediumwave from this date. This would require Radio 10 FM to leave 675, Business Nieuws Radio to leave 1395 and last but not least NOS 1 to leave 1008 and 891. At least a shut- down of 1008 and 891 (the latter one frequency is anyway off air at present due to transmitter maintenance) is considered as very likely. Word is also that Business Nieuws Radio would remove the transmitter installation, so another broadcaster could not simply take over the frequency. That's at least how we interpret this news item: "Officieel is er voor de 1395AM vanaf 1 september geen opstelpunt meer beschikbaar. De frequentie wordt wel in de vergelijkende toets uitgedeeld, maar de winnaar kan er niets mee, aangezien je de zender nergens neer mag zetten. Business Nieuws wil naast een verlenging van de vergunning voor 1395 AM dus ook dat de vergunning voor het huidige opstelpunt, Trintelhaven, wordt verlengd. Dit totdat de zender klaar is met het aanzetten van het FM zendernet." http://www.radio.nl/home/medianieuws/001.zero_base/zerobase_nieuws/default.asp?readid=11014 (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI has an interesting special election-related dramatization: UT Sunday 0406 on 17675: LIVE TO AIR - An Election Drama. In a break to the serialization of "A Suitable Boy", RNZ presents a "news drama" made over the weeks leading up to the election. Recorded on the streets of Wellington, at election press conferences, offices, bars, the Westpac Trust Stadium, Vox Pops tells the story of a political reporter, John and his ex-partner Claire, a GP intent on moving abroad, as they make life-defining decisions about their own future. Building into it the very latest news events, the production will be completed only moments before it goes to air. Sunday 0806-1000 on 9885 - SOUNDS HISTORICAL with Jim Sullivan. This week: "Early days of aerial top-dressing". (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ?? Referring to `hats` which used to be put on MW antennas to dampen skywaves?? (gh, DXLD) ** PALESTINE. VOICE OF PALESTINE RESUMES SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING The Ramallah-based Voice of Palestine, the official radio station of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), was observed on 24 July to resume its scheduled programming. The station had carried only music for the previous three days after it was observed back on the air on 21 July. Prior to that, Voice of Palestine had not been heard since 1015 gmt on 24 June, when Israeli troops entered Ramallah. The station was heard with good reception on the FM frequency of 90.7 MHz. The radio signed on at 0400 gmt on 24 July. After Koranic recitations, the station at 0430 gmt carried the daily 90-minute news programme "A New Day". The programme included updates by correspondents on various developments in PNA areas, an interview with PNA Information Minister Yasir Abd-Rabbuh and a scheduled newscast. It also included an interview with PNA Health Minister Riyad al-Za'nun on the condition of Palestinians wounded as a result of the Israeli air raid on a Gaza district on 22 July. The radio carried its scheduled news summaries on the hour, in addition to patriotic songs. Source: BBC Monitoring research 24 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Mr Glenn Hauser, World of Radio, U.S.A. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: I have the privilege of writing to you, in order to share information, concerning our test transmissions, which may be of interest to the DX Community. We are Radiodifusión América (Radio América), ZP20, in Asunción, Paraguay. Our station ZP20 operates on 1480 kHz, with a power of 1 kW, feeding a quarter-wavelength vertical tower. The station operates 24-hours-per-day, and serves the area of metropolitan Asunción. ZP20 has been in existence for approximately 50 years, having been located in Villeta, for many years, and earlier on, in San Juan Bautista, Department of Misiones. We have been in the process of constructing a new transmitter plant, near Villeta, the better to serve our audience on the Medium and Short Waves. At present, 1480 kHz continues to transmit, from Ñemby, a suburb of Asunción. We are also transmitting, 24-hours-per-day, on 15185 kHz, 19 Metres, from Villeta. The initial power is low, 5 Watts, feeding a 5/8-ths- wavelength, omnidirectional antenna, with a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. The vertical take-off angles of this antenna are from 3 to 27 degrees. Programming on 15185 consists of the regular programming of Radio América, and classical music. Tests are underway on 7300, 41 Metres, also from Villeta. On this frequency, the beam is directed on 184 degrees, from Magnetic North. The antenna has a theoretical gain of 25 dBi, a horizontal beamwidth of 22,5 degrees, and vertical take-off angles of 3 to 27 degrees. Power varies from 100 Watts to much more, depending upon the tests underway. On the frequency of 1610 kHz, 202,7 Metres, also from Villeta, tests are underway, using a vertical tower, 125 Metres tall, which represents 5/8-ths wavelengths at 1480. This antenna also has a theoretical gain of 8,84 dBi. Power varies from 100 Watts, upwards. Reception reports are most welcome, and will be verified, promptly. With best regards from Paraguay! Maiteípa! (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay, ramerica@rieder.net.py July 24, WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dear Mr Mur: Many thanks for the news of your station. Please keep me informed about future developments. No doubt everyone will shortly be straining to hear your 5 watts on 15185. I am not aware of anyone reporting actually hearing your 7300 yet either. Have you had some DX reports of it? Regards, (Glenn Hauser, to Dom Mur via DXLD) Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Thank you very much for your message, and for your kind encouragement. Our experimental frequency of 15185 kHz is on-air, around-the-clock. We hope to augment the transmission power, shortly. The frequency of 7300 kHz is on the air, sporadically, owing to improvements being realised in the equipment. We have severe energy- related problems, in the rural zone of the transmitter plant, and operate our transmitters from a large group of accumulators, recharging them from rectifiers. In a sense, we have a stationary, non-submersible equivalent of a diesel submarine. It is the same, basic system! The 7300 kHz is beamed at 184 degrees, from Magnetic North. We have not received reports on this frequency, although we did receive several reports for tests on 7740 kHz, realised a few months ago. The frequency 1610 kHz tests, in substitution for 1480 kHz, so as not to cause interference with the mother station. In future, 1610 kHz will offer a community service. DX Reports may be sent to us at: E-Mail: ramerica@rieder.net.py FAX: 595 21 963 149; Post: Casilla de Correo 2220, Asunción, Paraguay. With greetings from Paraguay (Adán Mur, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. SOMALI GOVERNMENT RADIO OFF AIR AGAIN; THIS TIME AFTER BEING LOOTED BY MILITIA The radio station operated by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia - which calls itself "Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic of Somalia" - is off the air again. A separate station in Mogadishu, STN radio, reported on 24 July that "last night" Radio Mogadishu was attacked by a militia group and looted of some of its equipment. "The radio is now off the air," the report said. Radio Mogadishu had been off the air for most of the first half of July, apparently owing to a business dispute. BBC Monitoring observations early on 24 July confirm that the radio is again silent. Sources: BBC Monitoring research 24 Jul 02; STN radio, Mogadishu, in Somali 0400 gmt 24 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. I have nothing to report from Brother Stair except that as late as this morning U.S. time his radio show was still going, running old tapes. They re-ran the sermon that I've heard often (even before his jailing he used to do re-runs mixed in with recent material) to the effect that there NEVER were any such things as dinosaurs, are not now, and "never will be." (That's the gist of the sermon, classic Brother Stair. I wish they'd re-run my "favorite" brother Stair sermon, the one in which he denounces the concept of airplanes. He says of the pilots flying over his farm: "That pilot is somebody's father, somebody's brother, somebody's son. Yet they defile themselves to fly such an abominable contraption." Words to that effect.) Incidentally, in the past week I've heard other shortwave radio preachers mention the Planet X crash (with Earth) that is scheduled for May of 2003. Some preachers approach this from the angle that the regular news media are censoring this information. Others say that it's the U.S. government that's censoring the information. And Brother Stair says simply that it's the wrath of god and doesn't get into any discussion about who's censoring whom and why. He merely treats it as common knowledge among his listeners that Planet X will be crashing into Earth in May 2003. Knowing Brother Stair, he will still be airing re-runs of his prediction in July of 2004 (Robert Arthur, July 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. On UT Thursday, July 25 at 0100 on 7415 [Table of Truth, on WBCQ] I heard an anti-Brother Stair broadcast. It was very lamely and unprofessionally produced, and consisted of an inarticulate religious nut who kept referring to his audience as "Saints of the God Most High" or "Saints of the Most High God" (which is how Brother Stair himself addresses his own audience) who repeatedly played tapes from May of newscasts about Brother Stair's arrest (as though that proves something). (During the 30 minutes, the same arrest newscast was replayed three times!) Nothing new or more recent was given in terms of the latest news, but I did hear a reference to some charges against Brother Stair being "reinstated." I don't know what that means and whether to trust guys like this with technical terminology. Anyway, most of the broadcast consisted of an interview with some guy who's in his mid-20s, who, back in 1999, along with his young wife, went to live at Brother Stair's community, after having listened to him on the radio. Brother Stair and his staff treated him and his wife very nicely until after they moved there. Once they were moved in, 95% of the days he was screamed at for being "rebellious" and for similar infractions. Finally, after three months he was kicked out without even being allowed to pack his belongings. The next day at his own expense he got a U-Haul to collect his stuff. All in all this guy lost about $8000, and says he will probably never see any of it unless his lawsuit is successful, which it might not be. His credit is ruined and he can't buy another house, etc. The host of the show said, "But you're young." And the guy responded, "Yes, I'm young and I can probably recover, although that will take time. How do older people do it? How do older people do it?" I was disappointed in the broadcast as it was just like a Brother Stair broadcast in every way except that it was anti-Brother Stair. It was incoherent, a hodge-podge that was impossible to follow from one segment to the next, without transition in between segments or even thoughts. Like a schizophrenic experience. Perhaps this is deliberate to reach Brother Stair's own audience, which would be accustomed to this. But I doubt it. I think the anti-Brother Stair forces are as messed up in the brain as the Brother Stair forces. It's sad to see them duke it out, like blind leading the blind. It's as though both sides have agreed, "Rational arguments not allowed," and they're duking it out within those agreed bounds (Robert Arthur, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. EXECUTIVE SALARIES CONCEALED Matt Wells and Kevin Maguire, Wednesday July 24, 2002, The Guardian The BBC is concealing the extent of its executives' salaries and bonuses at the same time as it is imposing one of the worst pay deals in the public sector on lower ranking staff. Full details of the salaries drawn by the 17 strong board of management did not appear in the BBC's annual report, published last week, and details of a £50,000 incentive scheme for the head of its commercial division were omitted altogether. Meanwhile, union leaders are furious at the 2.8% offered to thousands of junior staff, complaining it compares unfavourably with the £1.2m in bonuses banked by executives. Rupert Gavin, chief executive of BBC Worldwide, is the BBC's highest paid executive after director general Greg Dyke. Last week's report said he was paid a basic salary of £270,000 plus bonus and benefits worth £69,000. Last year's annual report revealed him to be the beneficiary of a long term incentive plan in addition to his performance-related bonus. This year's report referred to the incentive plan, but made no reference to the April 2002 timescale - a month after the end of the financial year - or the fact that it was "in addition" to the performance related bonus. If paid in full, it would be worth at least £50,000. This year's report detailed the total pay earned by top executives over 12 months to March 2002, but did not list present salary levels. "We think that what matters is what they get in their pay packet, not what their nominal annual salary is," a BBC spokesman said. The board's bonuses and benefits totalled £1.2m. Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said: "When BBC bosses are paying themselves huge bonuses, they should be ending the disgrace of low pay." Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. Good news for cricket fans! The BBC announced on 25 July 2002 that they will once again be providing live cricket commentaries on the internet via http://www.bbc.co.uk.tms [sic] or via the England & Wales Cricket Board's website. This is especially good news, bearing in mind the problems of internet sports rights over the past few years. The remaining test match dates in England this year are 25-29 July, 8-12 August, 22-26 August and 5-9 September. If this situation also applies to domestic cricket commentaries in the Cheltenham and Gloucester knock-out trophy, the remaining dates there will be 31 July, 1 and 31 August (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, England, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Entries in MONITORING REMINDERS for Thursday July 25 could also be applicable later for those interested: 2000-XXXX *BBC Manchester Commonwealth Games Radio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/2002/radio/schedule/index.shtml 2000-XXXX *BBCR5 COMMONWEALTH GAMES OPENING CEREMONY http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/fivelive/shtml [didn`t work] Webcam: http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/commonwealthgames/webcam.shtml [turned off, swamped?] The 5LIVE audio link can be reached by going through the main page: http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive (Ivan Grishin, DXLD) See also AUSTRALIA ** U K [non]. Laserradio news update From http://www.laserradio.net/ BROADCASTING EVERY SUNDAY ON 5935 KHZ SHORTWAVE --- NEWS UPDATE Results from our Sunday 21st July test broadcast are very promising. We received reports from several countries across Europe and the majority stated a 'strong' signal was being heard at most locations. The most distant reception reports to-date have come from the USA and a listener in Brazil ! The Laser Radio group is experimenting with high-powered shortwave transmissions beamed into the UK and Europe. An hour-by-hour cross- country analysis of signal strength and viability with be conducted during all of our test broadcasts during the month of July. The date of our next broadcast on 5935 is : Sunday July 28 - 14h00 to 22h00 UT If you can hear the broadcast please send a reception report. Our broadcasts on 5935 originate from a 100,000 watt transmitter located at Ulbroka in the Republic of Latvia. When regular operations commence, the primary content of our programming will feature items of interest for radio hobbyists, anoraks and radio amateurs, all blended together with the very best music from the 60's, 70's and the 80's (via Mike Terry, July 25, DXLD) From laserradio@yahoogroups.com This being the final weekend of July, on Sunday it's the last week of LaserRadio.net in test transmission mode on 5935 kHz. We should then be in a position to announce our plans during the middle of next week. It is quite important that we collect your reception reports and comments. So could we please ask for as many as possible this Sunday? We need to know what you think of the audio quality and whether you'd be happy to listen to 5935 on a regular basis. We are also examining a number of other options during August, and may well go through another period of tests elsewhere. Again, we'll be in a position to announce what is what next week. It has been mentioned before that LaserRadio.net intends to be a campaigning radio station, and it will rely very much on listener support. No, we are not talking money here, although that's always welcome! We mean that we need your support in our aims. LaserRadio.net has a number of things to say. For example, we don't understand why satellite broadcasts are encrypted so that only certain countries can receive them. Okay, yes, we do understand why they are of course, but we want to know why the bodies that want to exert control over such things can't give way to global audiences and the idea of sharing. The same things happen with `regions' on DVDs and games. Why? As we move towards a single united world this is destructive and divisive. It is the division in this world that we want to challenge beyond the technologies as well. We want to see if we, with your help, can set people thinking. No, we are not anarchists or politically motivated in any way, but questions need to be asked. LaserRadio.net wants to ask those questions and set people thinking about how to make this world a better and safer place to co-habit in. Once people are thinking about it, they change their attitude and start to live more harmoniously. We aren't stupid enough to believe LaserRadio.net can make a big difference, but all we need to do is get the ball rolling and let nature take its course. We also want to do this in a fun way, and have no intention of being a dirgey and boring station banging on like a religious broadcaster. Laughter and comradeship, which is what holds together a lot of `anoraks', are what binds LaserRadio.net, and this will reflect in our eventual programming. If we are going to kick butt, we are going to need your help! We've got to work together (via Mike Terry, July 25, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. NEO-NAZI BROADCASTER DIES http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/24/obituaries/24PIER.html William Luther Pierce, an ascetic physics professor who built an organization of young supporters for George Wallace for president into the nation's largest neo-Nazi group, and whose novel "The Turner Diaries" was credited by Timothy J. McVeigh with inspiring the Oklahoma City bombing, died yesterday. He was 69. Four weeks ago, Dr. Pierce, as he preferred to be called, learned that he had terminal cancer and began preparing for others to continue the work of his organization, the National Alliance, said Kevin Strom, editor of its magazine, The National Vanguard. [...] Last broadcast (link from Eastern European Jewish History Yahoogroups list) http://www.natall.com/pub/072002.txt AMERICAN DISSIDENT VOICES: Broadcast of July 20, 2002 Katyn, By Dr. William Pierce Hello! A background noise that seems never to go away is the constant whining and yammering of the Jews about how the world owes them a living because of their losses during the so-called "Holocaust." They do it, of course, because they make such a big profit on it. The latest flare-up of this Jewish play for a handout came more than a year ago when they began demanding that the Swiss pay them $7 billion, which "Holocaust" victims allegedly had stashed in numbered Swiss accounts before being hauled off to gas chambers during the Second World War. [...] (via Joel Rubin, July 24, swprograms via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/3721360.htm The Miami Herald Wednesday July 24, 2002 WILLIAM PIERCE, 68, TURNER DIARIES AUTHOR CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) White supremacist leader William Pierce, whose book The Turner Diaries is believed to have inspired Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, died Tuesday of cancer. He was 68. Pierce died at his compound in Mill Point, said his business manager, Bob DeMarias. He became ill three weeks ago and his kidneys failed, DeMarias said. The novel, which some have called a grisly blueprint for a bloody race war, includes a chapter entitled the ``Day of the Rope.`` It describes white corpses hung from every street corner with placards reading, ``I defiled my race.`` FBI investigators said McVeigh was a fan of Pierce`s book and used it as a blueprint for bombing the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995. The book includes a truck-bombing of FBI headquarters. The Oklahoma City bombing wasn`t the first violence that federal prosecutors linked to The Turner Diaries, which was published in 1978. In 1985, 10 members of a supremacist group called The Order were convicted of racketeering and other charges in Seattle. Among the crimes they were accused of were armored-car robberies and the 1984 machine-gun slaying of Jewish radio talk-show host Alan Berg. One witness testified that a defendant told him, ``You should read it, partner, it`s all there. Everything that`s going to happen is in The Turner Diaries.`` Pierce led his group, the National Alliance, from a two-story steel building on 400 acres deep in the Appalachians four hours southwest of Washington. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, estimated the group makes more than $1 million a year, mainly through sales of white power music and supremacist or neo-Nazi literature. ``This is the major hate group in the United States. It`s the most organized, the best run and the wealthiest,`` said Mark Potok, editor of the center`s intelligence report on hate groups. Pierce`s death is a significant development because the group has no clear heir, Potok said (via rec.radio.shortwave via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ?? What about Kevin Alfred Strom? (gh, DXLD) American Dissident Voices (ADV) has been airing on American station WWRB on Saturdays. ADV started on shortwave in December 1991. While the website of the National Alliance http://www.natvan.com does mention his death in an obituary written by Kevin Alfred Strom, it is unclear whether the radio program will continue. In the early years of ADV, Strom was often heard, but in recent years the program has simply been Pierce monologues (Hans Johnson, WY, Jul 24, Cumbre DX Special July 25 via DXLD) Time and frequency for ADV on WWRB? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WNNY Noticias 1380 NY ha cambiado hoy al formato de música ranchera identificándose ahora "La X 1380" (Dino Bloise, Jersey City, NJ, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Re: [NRC-am] NEW CEO AT CLEAR CHANNEL I`ll make a prediction. Look for him to champion payments to media for downloaded songs, etc. Look for fees, or for him to ask Congress to tax users of the Internet for their usage of media. Look for licensing of services like Real Audio and WinAmp with some compensation going to CC. Think of something bizarre and it might just happen, Dave (Fred Vobbe, OH, NRM-AM July 23 via DXLD) Scott, Randy Michaels may be a great guy and a talented engineer. He may not even be the root problem. IMHO the root problem is the trend toward monopoly and concentration in the industry, with a concomitant disregard for the public interest. Monopolies, if allowed to come into existence, ought to be regulated to protect the public welfare. Guess I would've made a good Progressive... (Dave Hochfelder, NJ, ibid.) Precisely so. Clear Channel as we know it today exists only because the 1996 Communications Act made it possible. CCU simply moved faster than anyone else (Infinity, Cumulus, Citadel, etc) to exploit the provisions of the law to an extent I doubt its framers ever envisioned. The problem with a bill like the '96 law is that undoing it is so very much harder than doing it. How do you force a company to sell 1100 of its 1200 stations? (And even if you could, who'd be in a position to buy them now - in most markets, any company buying part of an existing cluster would end up with a license, *maybe* a tower but more likely just a lease, some equipment and a small fraction of the staff they'd need to run the individual station solo. But they'd need to find new office and studio space, hire a stand- alone sales and promotions staff, find an engineer, etc. It wouldn't be an easy task, especially if the spin-offs are the "pseudo-stations" like the two CC runs in the Rochester market (WISY 102.3 and WLCL 107.3) that have *no* airstaff and in fact no staff of their own period, depending on playlists sent up from Cincinnati and being sold as additional "combo" buys with the "real" stations like WHAM and WVOR. -s (Scott Fybush, ibid.) Well said, David. To that, I'll add that while they don't provide community service, they are running promos saying how good they do, how they are the weather leader, the one to turn to, etc. Reminds me of a kid standing in a pile of glass and cookies with chocolate on his face telling you "no, I didn't steal a cookie." The one thing that will have me at odds with CC and their clones, as well as some members of Congress that support these monopolies, is that they have removed my opportunity to own a station. Since 1996, values of stations have gone up as much as 400%. A station that my wife and I were looking at that was appraised at $390k is now listed at $1.9mil. The owner makes no excuses. He is convinced that CC, Cumulous, or someone else with fat pockets will eventually come his way. When they do, he will get his price and the station will be automated to just another voice-tracked repeater. Along with the fact that the large corporations own everything, the costs of properties are now so high that it's impossible to bid against someone like CC for a property, so the system is stacked dramatically against the average public and favors the large corporation. And while I'm on a rant, let us not forget all the little divisions of these corporations which are not normally claimed. I find it interesting when you follow the money, and dig through the "whose who", that many stations who appear to be independent are controlled by larger companies (Fred Vobbe, OH, July 24, NRC-AM via DXLD) Broadcasting IS heavily regulated by the government. Who do you think tells CC, Infinity, etc., the frequencies, transmitter powers, antenna patterns, call letters, etc., they can use? You can't start a new AM, FM, or TV station in your community without government permission. Just who has lost sight of the "public interest" (whatever that means) here --- the broadcasters or their purported regulators, the FCC? The current mess was a bipartisan effort---both Billy Tauzin (R-LA) and Ed Markley (D-MA) and their friends were bought and paid for a long time ago by the NAB. Broadcasting deregulation was pushed by NAB and its lobbyists, and, as others have noted here, those who voted for the bill had no real idea of what the ramifications would be. Deregulation coincided with new competitors for local ad dollars (like cable TV systems) so it's no surprise that so many stations had to either sell to someone like CC or become terrestrial relays for satellite-delivered programming. The best hope for meaningful competition would be expanded LPFM with fairly liberal licensing requirements and measures to keep licensees truly local instead of part of a national religious group. That will never happen because of NAB opposition. Like the rest of the entertainment industry (movies, music, etc.), the NAB enjoys disproportionate influence because of its fund-raising ability and uses that clout to fight any incipient competition (like LPFM or netcasting). CC, Infinity, and their ilk are part of an oligopoly, but that oligopoly was created and is maintained by the government (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, ibid.) It beats me how anyone could actually think that a lot of the stuff that CC has done in theory to stop the bleeding would help. - Will the loss of listeners due to elimination of local news/programming/identity offset the savings of expenses? - Will any possible increase in listeners on an already viable station offset the expense of the consultants and focus groups ? - Will the above translate into a lose/lose - lose money on the expense side and lose listeners as well ? - Will the loss of listeners from the practice of voice-tracking offset the cost savings? And on and on. This stuff reminds me of the kind of thing management does in any company to plug the holes when the ship starts sinking. How much of this was Randy Michaels' idea and how much he actually believed in we'll never know, but whether or not he engineered his change, he's probably moved out at the right time. CC has managed to reduce the base value of so many of the stations they bought - particularly so for any potential individual sale - that when they inevitably have to shed the excess, it will be far more painful than they ever thought (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) I beg to differ. Strenuously. The current problems will never be solved by *more* stations, whether they're LPFM or otherwise. This transcends any LPFM-specific issues. Meaningful competition and variety will at minimum require CC to shed a lot of its excess baggage of stations, and their purchase by people who are experienced, knowledgeable, have moderately deep pockets and are dedicated to providing variety and diversity. It will also require that some number of excess stations pass out of existence. But, given the current political and economic climates, that is also just as unlikely, and for the same reasons (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, NRC-AM via DXLD) "More competition" is not the same thing as "more stations" (although that might be the short-term impact). It means that others can more easily enter the business and offer alternatives to CC and existing broadcasting monoliths. Something like LPFM (and why not "LPAM" while we're at it?) is just one way---IF done correctly!---to offer locally produced alternatives to CC, Infinity, etc. What I liked about LPFM is that it would've lowered the entry cost for new local broadcasters to a few thousands of dollars, making broadcasting a much more viable option for one or two people with more creativity than cash. That (and the increased competition) is what made LPFM anathema to NAB. I think CC will eventually crash unless it trims some of its station holdings because it will be unable to generate sufficient revenues to keep its "empire" broadcasting. Empires are expensive and can drag you down -- ask the British or the Soviets! I still stick with my prediction that alternatives to terrestrial broadcasting (like satellites and 4G wireless) will eventually result in some AM and FM stations going dark. While Randy Michaels clearly got kicked upstairs at CC, it also shows CC is aware that it will soon be facing competition from new sources. Maybe Randy had some shortcomings as a day-to-day manager, but he does have a good track record of seeing what the future holds (Harry Helms AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, ibid.) Hi Scott and List, I must admit that what I took in that Randy comment was a bit of a cheap shot. I know that one person isn't responsible for the state of radio in this country. I thank that Randy has become "the guy radio folks love to hate", he's the Bill Gates of our industry. I was not aware of those little morsels of his background. From a pure intellectual perspective I know that Randy isn't the one cause of radio's sorry state. I do disagree with a large variety of Clear Channel's policies, extensive voice tracking, lack of localism, out of market air talent pretending they are live and local, total centralized control and market semi-domination, etc. I will give CC credit where it is due, regarding upgrading of physical plants. I would be interested in getting the opportunity to talk with Randy. Like him or dislike him, he is one of the movers and shakers of this industry and has achieved remarkable success in a relatively short time. I think CC only had their Texas properties before 1996. I am not the total media expert and I don't have a monopoly on all the answers but as I said before I do find more than a few of CC's practices distasteful to say the least (Dave Marthouse, VA, ibid.) Randy is probably neither the ogre he's portrayed to be nor anything close to a broadcasting saint. His reputation on the specific scores Dave mentioned is well-deserved. He earned it. While the industry types and some DX'ers may recognize engineering accomplishments, the average listener is largely oblivious. And his 'private' interests and what he may be like as a person are completely obscured in the eyes of the public and media critics by what is both more obvious and more important to those groups - exactly what Dave has indicated above. (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Does Clear Channel *have* a monopoly? (in the sense of holding 100% of the stations in a market, of course not. In the sense of holding the vast majority of the viable stations in a market, I don't think so either) Might it be not the FCC's job to determine whether one owner has a monopoly, but that of the people in the Justice Department who deal with monopolies in other industries? (not that the Justice Department is doing particularly well, witness the Microsoft situation) Some argue that radio stations do not compete only with other radio stations. Competition includes television, newspapers, outdoor (billboards), even direct mail. CCU isn't into newspapers at all, nor are they into cable. (which means they would have to own all the Big 3 network TV affiliates in a market to have a TV monopoly) They are into outdoor but at least around here they have plenty of competition. Arguably, they could own every radio station in Nashville and still not be a monopoly. (I don't agree with that interpretation, but many do) I would imagine coming up with the capital would be the big problem. Especially with the soft advertising market. Who would lend the money? Chances are many stations would simply turn in their licenses and go silent. (which may not be a bad thing<g>) Or end up losing money under the control of an under-capitalized local owner. (which could really mess up the AM band. When's the last time you've heard of a CCU station running day power all night? Now, when's the last time you've heard of a *locally-owned* station doing so?) (Doug Smith, ibid.) What good is a listing at such an inflated price if a) it really isn't worth it; and/or b) there are no buyers anywhere near that price ? It's meaningless! At some point down the road, I suspect there will be stations there for the buying at affordable prices - trouble is the buyer will have to start from scratch because all they'll have is the core physical plant and the license, no staff, no programming, and not much reputation. CC paid inflated prices for what they acquired, did it too many times, and then has tried to scrimp and save their way out of the mess they created. Now all these independent owners think they're sitting on a gold mine which they expect to increase further in value (Russ Edmunds, ibid.) Many owners are holding out for the bucks, and speaking with appraisers that seem to feel the same way. One appraiser showed me statistics that in some markets stations are being sold for 7x value. While you and I would not buy a $2,450 Sony ICF-2010 or a $350 GE SuperRadio III (cost comparison), there are people that will pay because they want the property and have the cash. Starting from scratch is a challenge, but it can be done. As we have said here often, give people what they want and they will support your station. I would love to see many stations become available for the communities that need a good local service. Heck, look no further than Cleveland OH where a daytimer sold for $7- mil. I was looking at a station with an asking price of $2.1-mil. I asked the broker what the station would go for if the 7/7 rule was back. He replies, "$425,000". Nuf' said (Fred Vobbe, ibid.) Yes, but overpaying for things based on speculation can backfire. Ask the people who paid $400 a share for Amazon if you doubt it! :-) Maybe CC overpaid for many of their properties and suddenly the cold wind of reality is starting to blow? (Harry Helms AK6C, ibid.) Does anyone remember the Clip Clop Corp., from back in the 1880s? Clip Clop's founder, Cumulus Citadel General, determined that there was a great financial future in horseshoes, and sought to corner the market. He offered operators of blacksmith shops all over the country buy-out prices they could not refuse. Soon, a farmer could not shoe his horse without taking it to a CC smithy. CC equipped its shops with standard-size molds ... small, medium and large. Each mold was made to conserve on iron, and CC horseshoes were 3/16ths of an inch thinner than those that usually were produced individually by the corner smithy. Not quite so strong, but there was repeat business. It cost a horse owner much less to shoe his horse at Clip Clop. Because there were only three sizes of shoe, some horses' hooves were too big or too small for a standard CC shoe. Too bad. The horse owner had two choices ... he could apply an ill-sized shoe to the hoof and hope for the best, or he could find a hold-out local smithy who could still produce custom-built shoes. The latter option, though, became narrower and narrower, because the mass trade switched to Clip Clop and the niche market blacksmith couldn't stay in business. That left the horse owner one more option ... horse meat. By 1890, nearly every horseshoe in America was emblazoned with the Clip Clop logo, which looked like two Cincinnati Red logos, side-by- side. Clip Clop's penetration appealed to investors, who ponied up to supply venture capital for CC's expansion into the harness business. For a while, CC bought horses with non-standard-size hooves ... at a deep discount ... for the leather for its harnesses, but horsemen complained that some of their horses sensed where the leather came from and were spooked. CC experimented with cotton and wool derivatives and came up with a secret formula that was much less expensive than leather. Not quite so strong, but there was repeat business. Horseman, attracted by the lower prices, turned to CC for their harnesses, just as they had for horseshoes, and CC cash reined in most of the local harness shops, leaving only a handful to fight the competition. Cumulus Citadel General was a true visonary. At the peak of Clip Clop's financial success, he surprised his happy investors by selling them his entire interest in CC. Of course, the investors paid top price. Old C.C. used the money to found a new company. While memories of Clip Clop Corporation have faded into the murk of distant memory, surely you are familiar with the name General Motors? (John Callarman, Krumudgeon, TX, ibid.) Before long, there will be a seller's market and CC's problems just might trigger it. The current appraised prices, even though there are always some folks with more money than sense to buy, are simply unsustainable over time (Russ Edmunds, July 24, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. ANALYSIS: INTERNET RADIO UNDER THREAT IN USA | Text of editorial analysis by Martin Peters of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 25 July In the United States, thousands of Internet-only radio stations look set to close following a decision by the American Librarian of Congress who ruled that from 20 October 2002, web radio broadcasters must start paying royalties to record companies and artists. In addition, many traditional broadcasters who also stream over the Internet are likely to close off this alternative method of delivery before fees become due. Traditionally, royalties are split into two categories: those paid to the composer, and those paid to the performing artist and their recording label. Conventional radio stations are generally exempt from paying the latter, since they are considered promoters of new music. The royalties due to the composers are paid on a "per-song" basis and are calculated as a percentage of stations' revenue. The proposed fees are based on the number of listeners and the number of songs played, equating to 70 US cents per song per 1,000 listeners. Moreover, royalties due would be backdated to 1998. In May, hundreds of webcasters united in a "Day of Silence" in protest against the implementation of the levy. Most stations remained off the air from dawn to dusk while others, keen to keep their listeners on board, managed only the occasional "moment of silence" throughout the day. More recently, on 22 July, a live webcast of a concert organized by the International Webcasting Association (IWA), and aimed at promoting their campaign to rescue the independent Internet radio concept, was broadcast out of the State Theatre near Washington DC. It's being claimed that the vast majority of American Internet-only stations will be forced off the air by this ruling. Many of them are privately-run hobby webcasters with little or no financial backing. Only the largest of the established terrestrial broadcasters with an online presence are thought likely to continue streaming. A number of stations pre-empted the ruling by closing down well ahead of the October deadline - StarDogRadio and Radio Free Tiny Pineapple are among two of the more recent casualties. "We're toast", declares the web site of the latter. Live365.com, which offers a hosting service to radio hobbyists, enabling users to transmit niche programming, announced it will add a monthly 5 US dollars fee for each station, beginning 1 August. According to chief operating officer Raghav Gupta, that move alone is expected to reduce the number of stations on their books from 25,000 to about 5,000. On 15 July the National Association of Broadcasters, as well as several entities with interests in Internet radio, appealed against the new ruling, claiming that the US Copyright Office had misinterpreted the law when it decided that radio stations would have to pay musicians and recording companies when streaming over the web. The appeal claims that Congress intended the fees to apply only to music download sites, and that Internet streams should be subject only to those royalties paid for conventional over-the-air broadcasts. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), an organization representing several major record labels, claims that Internet radio stations pose a threat to the industry since it is possible for listeners to record digitally the music being broadcast. The RIAA added that it hoped the radio stations would lose their appeal. The future of Internet radio in the United States now hangs in the balance. What happens will depend on whether the royalty ruling is reversed or amended. Over the last few years, Internet radio stations have flourished, partly because of their associated low start-up and running costs. Without an 11th hour change in policy, the vast majority of Internet radio may be consigned to history. Source: BBC Monitoring research 25 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Subject : 1470 kHz monitoring Despite it being summer, and despite the splatter across the band here, I have been amazed with the results I've had from audio analysis of some MW channels recently. In particular, 1470 has yielded carriers (i.e. stations) with pretty distinct s/off's or darkness power-downs. I've tuned my AOR 7030+ 1 kHz lower than the desired channel, e.g. I've tuned to 1469.000 kHz in USB mode, and fed the audio from the receiver to the PC's sound card. On the PC, I've analysed the audio using Spectrum Lab software --- free from http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/spectra1.html --- with FFT settings to enable a resolution down to around 20 milliHertz. Thus, it's easy to discern individual carriers either side of 1000 Hz, the expected pitch of stations having carriers on the 1470 kHz channel. The software allows you to auto-save the spectrum display at intervals, and I've uploaded these spectrum plots to my website. They range in size from around 1 MB for channels like 1350 kHz where there's a whole 24 hour display, to around 400-500 kb for channels like 1470 kHz where there's only the night-time activity to record. http://www.dxradio.co.uk/mwoffsets/index.html For 1470 kHz, there are currently 6 traces on the website covering the nights 18-19, 19-20, 20-21, 21-22, 22-23 and 23-24 July. The "carrier ends" could mean either a sign/off or a significant power drop. Not every night is the same by a long way. 18-19 July fade in 2200 2300 UTC carrier at 1003.0 Hz ends 2310 UTC carrier at 984.5 Hz ends 0100 UTC carrier at 1020.0 Hz ends 0105 UTC carrier at 993.0 Hz ends 0210 UTC carrier at 996.0 Hz ends fade out 0430 19-20 July fade in 2150 2255 UTC carrier at 1006.5 Hz ends 2300 UTC carrier at 1001.0 Hz ends 0100 UTC carrier at 1020.0 Hz ends 0105 UTC carrier at 993.0 Hz ends 0200 UTC carrier at 996.0 Hz ends fade out 0400 20-21 July fade in 2130 2312 UTC carrier at 1020.0 Hz ends 0100 UTC carrier at 993.0 Hz ends fade out 0440 21-22 July fade in 2110 2320 UTC carrier at 1020.0 Hz ends 0012 UTC carrier at 1002.0 Hz ends 0300 UTC carrier at 996.0 Hz ends --hour later than other days 0300 UTC carrier at 1024.0 Hz ends 0325 UTC carrier at 970.0 Hz ends fade out 0440 One of the carriers - the one on approx 995 Hz - would appear to be CPN, Lima, Peru which peaks 0300-0330 UTC, and which fades in later that some at around 2320 UTC ... just when the daylight/darkness terminator crosses Peru. It was also interesting that on the 19-20 plot especially, some of the carriers were much "fuzzier" than others that night. Perhaps due to auroral activity? Comparing these fade-in times with GeoClock (or other daylight / nighttime / greyline "calculators") is interesting too, in as much that Eastern Brazil and Argentina get sunset at much the same time as the UK, with everything else trans-Atlantic still in daytime. I was actually amazed at how early some of the fade-in's occurred, and the probability of sun-down DX from Latin America. If only I could extract audio too ... plotting carriers by audio analysis is actually easy. I haven't yet ID'd any of them as the audio (when I've listened) has been almost non-existent. Some of that though is due to my location here in west London, and also the limitations of just having a 40 inch square MW loop and/or a Wellbrooke ALA1530. There's the possibility of other interpretations too of the "carrier ends", e.g. propagation changes or my receiver's AGC being hi-jacked by 1467 kHz. But with a few more night's worth of monitoring, the pattern should emerge. It would be good obviously to correlate these plots with other people's experiences too - whether on 1470 or some other commonly accessible channel. (Mark Hattam, Hayes, Middlesex, UK, July 23, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. SYSTEM TO MONITOR USE OF NATIONAL RADIO FREQUENCIES IS SET UP A system of technical control over the radio frequency spectrum has been put into operation in Uzbekistan to guarantee the efficient use of radio frequencies and to detect illegal users of the airwaves. Computer management of the system makes it reliable and extends the range of control. The following is an excerpt from a report on the subject, entitled " The airwaves: control and compatibility" and published in the Uzbek newspaper Pravda Vostoka on 16 July. Subheadings have been added editorially. At present, nearly 179,000 radio-electronic transmitting, receiving, relaying or producing stations, devices and installations go on air daily in Uzbekistan on various waves and frequencies. They help enterprises, organizations and individual citizens to carry out modern production, technical, research and cultural information work. The Uzbek Agency of Communication and Information Technology has issued an order approving a state commission enactment putting into operation a radio frequency spectrum technical control system. An important stage has been completed in strengthening and upgrading the material and technical basis of a service providing technical control over the state of Uzbekistan's radio frequency resources and their efficient use, and over the extent to which all those using the airwaves observe the rules for cooperation and electromagnetic compatibility when using various radioelectronic devices and installations. In all, 53 legal entities and individuals have been granted licences to operate in the fields of radio communication, radio broadcasting and television to design, build, use and provide services... Electromagnetic Compatibility Centre In Uzbekistan, these functions are carried out by the Electromagnetic Compatibility Centre, which will mark its 15th anniversary this year... "The development of advanced technologies in the field of radio communication is leading to a considerable growth in the number of radioelectronic devices," R.P. Mansurov, head of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Centre, says. Accordingly there is a higher demand for control over their use so as to ensure their efficient operation, exclude mutual interference and determine the lawfulness of their use. The Uzbek Posts and Telecommunications Agency together with the Electromagnetic Compatibility Centre have carried out a great deal of work to introduce a radio frequency spectrum technical control system. In accordance with a Cabinet of Ministers resolution dated 26 May 2002, "On implementing the project for supplying equipment, assembling, adjusting and putting into operation a radio frequency technical control system", a contract was signed with the German company Kurt Mitterfellner GmbH, and advanced radio monitoring and direction-finding equipment produced by the well-known German company Rohde & Schwarz was bought... Centralized control Now the radio monitoring and direction-finding system includes four stationary and one mobile station located in the towns of Tashkent [the capital], Termez [in the south] and Samarkand [in central Uzbekistan]. All the stations are managed from the control centre. Information is transferred from the stations working autonomously. The centre makes it possible to control the operation of receivers and direction-finders and also to see the processes occurring in the airwaves in real time. The control system also makes it possible to hear and make digital recordings of the transmitters monitored. The direction-finding module of the system enables the operator to quickly and accurately find the location of a transmitter, displaying the data on an electronic map, which makes the search easy. The computers linked to a single control centre have been deployed. Now it is possible, without going to the site, to quickly and precisely determine both the geographical location and the actual source that is causing concern, and to take measures quickly. Experimental operation of the system started in October 2001. Over that short period of time, radio control efficiency has increased considerably, the search for complicated radio disturbances and their detection have become simpler, the percentage of detecting illegally used radioelectronic devices has grown and instrumental surveying of the frequency range from 1,000 to 3,000 MHz has become possible. So the operation of the system has considerably influenced the number of illegally used transmitters: the number of radioelectronic devices used without licences was 492 in 2000, and 1,020 in 2001. With the help of a mobile radio monitoring station a great deal has been done in Tashkent to survey the GSM 1,800 waveband, which our cellular operators are starting to use. Decoding and location capability Now the system has been put into permanent operation. As a whole, the new system performs a number of functions simultaneously. They are to analyse the loading of the radio frequency wavebands, to measure the spectral characteristics of radio signals, to file the sound messages and to display a map of the observation range with the possibility of changing its scale and of representing pictograms of various facilities against the background of the map, besides decoding various radio signal codes, etc. Computer management of the system ensures its high reliability along with simplicity and ease of management, as well as quick access to the measurement results which are permanently preserved in its own database. The current configuration of the system developed from the need to ensure monitoring of regions with a large number of radioelectronic devices. For the time being, it makes it possible to carry out the functions mentioned above on a regional level, while, with the help of a mobile complex, it can carry out measurements and direction-finding in remote areas too. Measurements and direction-finding in medium and short wave can be done throughout the country. The facility was built in a short period of time, the major work being carried out by local specialists with the help of foreign consultants. Four of the specialists were trained in Germany and also combined work with study with the help of specialists from the supplier company. The software was developed with due regard for the specifics of our tasks, today we have a good database of the radioelectronic devices currently operating, their use is monitored and any deviations from the norm, including any unregistered radioelectronic facility going on air, are immediately detected. Thus, purity and order in everyone's using the national radio frequencies are guaranteed. Source: Pravda Vostoka, Tashkent, in Russian 16 Jul 02, p3 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [and non]. Radio Nacional de la R.A.S.D. En la página http://www.ongsario.com/ se puede acceder a la programación de la Radio Nacional de la R.A.S.D., que también se transmite en la banda de 41 mts. Onda Corta, 7470 kHz en el horario: de 1800 a 0000 horas GMT. Cabe señalar que las últimas ocasiones en que se captó esta estación (yo no la puedo sintonizar desde hace bastante tiempo) pudo ser escuchada por los 7460v hacia las 2230+UT. Además, otra cosa curiosa. En la página hay un acceso que permite conocer la nómina de los radioaficionados y estaciones autorizadas para emitir desde la República Árabe Saharaui Democrática. Con licencia oficial: S01A Naama. S01MZ Mahfoud. S01CNU, EA2CNU Roberto. S01XC, EA2XC Julian. S01JG, EA2JG Arseli. INDICATIVOS AUTORIZADOS: S0RASD, S0LYNX, S0EA, S01A, S01MZ, S01HA, S0A, S02A, S02UN, S03UN S04UN, S02R, S03A, S03R, S04A, S04R, S05A, S05R, S06A, S06R, S08A, S08R, S09A, S09R, S0R (A. Slaen, Argentina, Jul 16, 2002, Conexión Digital via CRW via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. From alt.radio.pirate Tuesday, July 23, 2002 5:57 PM Heard three unidentified stations last night on 6777 khz talking about a clandestine ship being outfitted somewhere along the U.S. east coast with broadcast transmitters. Said the ship will broadcast outside U.S. jurisdiction, as soon as it is ready to sail. Stations QSY'd to another unidentified freq. (lost in QRN.) Anyone have further on this? Will (via Mike Terry, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re 6985, from Ian Baxter, Australia, DXLD 2-117 SOMALIA: Glenn, My immediate response would be Voice of Freedom and Renewal, broadcasting to Sudan, as 6985 was used by this station until it moved to 6965. And the time fits. But I haven't heard the station for a while and was only speculating the other day that it may have closed. But, interestingly, Ian notes that it is erratic, so maybe I have just been unlucky with my occasional checks. But I wouldn't jump to conclusions. There have been various red herrings around that frequency - Kurdish stations, Galei Zahal, spurious signals from Radio Jordan. I'll listen out again myself. I may be a while in reporting back as I'm going to be on leave and out of e-mail range for a week or so (Chris Greenway, Kenya, July 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. I'm hearing weak Spanish after 1000 UT on 5241 LSB, which has the sound of the Argentine SSB feeder relays. Has it been reported here? (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Dear Mr Hauser, I have read and respected DXLD for many years but never before written. I have been hearing an unknown Arabic station on 12085 and 12110 kHz at 1500-1530 UT. Both are generally SIO 444 here in Delhi. At first I thought it might be Syria but the modulation is quite different. Good in fact. It plays a lot of Arabic music. Perhaps an Arabic speaker can identify the broadcast. Sincerely, (K. M. Patel, New Delhi, India, July 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE GUIDE Here`s another review, pointing out a lot more mistakes: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/booklist/html/swguide.html (gh, DXLD) RECEIVER TIPS +++++++++++++ Glenn, Radio Shack (USA) has the DX-396 receiver (cat no. 20-226) on sale at $49.99 for the August sale period. A single conversion "AM" mode only set. Reg price is $99.99. Regards, (David Zantow, Janesville, WI, July 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave's Radio Receiver Page: http://members.fortunecity.com/swradios PROPAGATION +++++++++++ :Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts :Issued: 2002 Jul 23 2212 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 15 - 21 July 2002 Solar activity alternated between low and high levels during the period. Major solar flares occurred on 15, 17, 18, and 20 July from two active regions: Region 30 (N19, L = 012, class/area Fkc/1350 on 16 July) and Region 39 (S12, L = 212, class/area Dac/330 on 22 July). Region 30 produced an X3/3b flare at 15/2008 UTC, an M8/1b at 17/0713 UTC, and an X1/2b at 18/0744 UTC, all of which were associated with Earth- directed coronal mass ejections (CME). Region 30 entered a decay phase on 16 July, though it remained large and magnetically complex with multiple delta magnetic configurations. It rotated out of view on the day of this report. Region 39, which rotated into view on 22 July, was the likely source for an X3 X-ray flare at 20/2130 UTC from beyond the southeast limb. It was also the likely source for multiple far side CME activity observed during the period. On the day of this report, Region 39 produced an X4 X-ray flare associated with a halo CME, which will be summarized in next week's report. Region 30 was still too close to the limb for a detailed analysis, but appeared to be very large and magnetically complex. Solar wind data were available from the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft for most of the summary period. A weak high-speed solar wind stream associated with a positive-polarity coronal hole was observed during 15 – 16 July with peak velocities to around 440 km/sec. CME passages occurred during 17 – 18 July and 19 – 21 July following major flare activity from Region 30. The 17 – 18 July passage was relatively weak. It began about 17/1520 UTC and was associated with peak velocities of about 500 km/sec and brief periods of southward IMF Bz with maximum deflections to minus 16 nT (GSM). Multiple CME passages occurred during 19 – 21 July with velocities as high as 920 km/sec detected on 19 and 20 July. IMF Bz was mostly southward from late on 19 July through 21 July with maximum deflections to minus 10 nT (GSM). A greater than 10 MeV proton event began at 16/1750 UTC following the X3/3b flare on 15 July. This event peaked at 234 pfu at 17/1600 UTC, and ended at 18/1550 UTC. Another greater than 10 MeV event began at 19/1050 UTC, reached a peak of 13 pfu at 19/1515 UTC, then ended at 19/1535 UTC. Greater than 10 MeV fluxes remained enhanced and began to gradually increase on 21 July following the X3 flare of 20 July. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo-synchronous orbit were at normal to moderate levels through 20 July, then increased to normal to high levels on 21 July. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels during 15 – 16 July due to weak coronal hole effects. Quiet to active conditions occurred on 17 July due to a CME passage. Field activity ranged from quiet to minor storm levels during 19 – 21 July due to multiple CME passages. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 24 July - 19 August 2002 Solar activity is expected to range from low to high levels. Isolated low-level M-class flares are expected throughout the period. Region 39 is likely to produce isolated major flares before it rotates out of view on 04 August. Proton events will be possible until Region 39 rotates out of view on 04 August. There will also be a chance for a proton event during the rest of the period with the return of old Region 30 on 06 August. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo- synchronous orbit are expected to be at normal to moderate levels for most of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to minor storm levels during 24 – 26 July due to a CME passage. Active conditions will be possible during 03, 06, and 09 August due to coronal hole effects. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected for the remainder of the period. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Jul 23 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Jul 23 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Jul 24 190 15 3 2002 Jul 25 195 40 6 2002 Jul 26 195 30 5 2002 Jul 27 190 12 3 2002 Jul 28 180 10 3 2002 Jul 29 180 10 3 2002 Jul 30 180 7 2 2002 Jul 31 180 7 2 2002 Aug 01 180 12 3 2002 Aug 02 180 15 3 2002 Aug 03 175 12 3 2002 Aug 04 170 10 3 2002 Aug 05 165 15 3 2002 Aug 06 170 12 3 2002 Aug 07 175 10 3 2002 Aug 08 175 15 3 2002 Aug 09 180 10 3 2002 Aug 10 185 8 3 2002 Aug 11 185 8 3 2002 Aug 12 185 8 3 2002 Aug 13 185 8 3 2002 Aug 14 185 8 3 2002 Aug 15 185 8 3 2002 Aug 16 185 8 3 2002 Aug 17 185 8 3 2002 Aug 18 190 8 3 2002 Aug 19 190 8 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1141, DXLD) SPACE NEWS - Space weather experts meet in Adelaide Scientists have gathered in Australia for the first time to discuss space weather and how to better predict it. http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/space/SpaceRepublish_615553.htm (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-117, July 23, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1140: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1140.html NEXT WWCR BROADCAST: Wed 0930 9475 NEXT RFPI BROADCAST: Wed 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 FIRST WOR 1141 BROADCASTS on WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495, 7405, Thu 0415 7415 NOTE: our main site http://www.worldofradio.com may have some down time in next few days. If so, check for latest info at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Glen[n], In another package the Summer Edition of the WRTVH or Listen to the World. I hope you enjoy. I`m looking forward to seeing the review in DXLD as I know how good you are in doing them. I think people don`t realise how good you are in the DX hobby, making life easier for all of us. All the best, (Chris Hambly, Mont Albert North, Victoria, Australia, July 17) Dear Glenn: I Note of thanks for a job well done.Your many years of hard work and dedication to the hobby is well appreciated. I always enjoy hearing from you and tuning in to both shows on a regular basis. I also found that i have provided a link to your site with mine, so please bookmark the following URL: http://home.earthlink.net~nwest025/hobbies.htm Thanks and have a great weekend! 73's! Nbraindude11@aol.com (Noble West, TN) ** AFRICA. Subject: [GRDXC] African Email addresses Could any one in this group help me by sending me the E-mails of African stations which are known to them. The ugabro@infocom.co.ug e- mail address of Radio Uganda is returning mail with error. 73s, Sincerely, (Harjot Singh Brar, GRDXC) This is an extract of my database... ANGOLA R. ECCLESIA ecclesia@snet.co.ao GUINEA R. CONAKRY l.conde@caramail.com (director) KENYA KBC wechebf@africamail.com LIBYA VOICE OF AFRICA africavoice@hotmail.com MAURITANIA R. MAURITANIA rm@mauritania.mr NIGERIA VOICE OF NIGERIA vonlagos@fiberia.com TANZANIA R. FREE AFRICA fra@africaonline [dot something missing – gh] WESTERN SAHARA RASD rasdradio@yahoo.es WESTERN SAHARA RASD c/o ARSO arso@arso.org YEMEN R. REPUBLIC OF YEMEN yradio@y.net.ye ZAMBIA CHRISTIAN VOICE cvoice@zamnet.zm ZIMBABWE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE voxpop@zol.co.zw Roberto Scaglione http://www.bclnews.it (GRDXC via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** AFRICA. Glenn, Thanks for Thorsten Hallmann's interesting report from Cape Town. I would guess the station he heard on 6210 is Radio Fana from Ethiopia rather than Radio Kahuzi from DRC. Here in Nairobi I'm a little closer to Kahuzi than Fana, but the latter is very much stronger. Also, Kenya is definitely no longer active on 4935. The only active SW channel is 4915 kHz (10 kW). Yes, Dar es Salaam has been on 5050 only for quite a while (i.e. not on 5985/7280). Regards, (Chris Greenway, Kenya, July 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. EMISORAS DE ONDA MEDIA EN BANDA AMPLIADA: Listado actualizado al 20 de Julio de 2002. 1610 / RADIO CANTICO NUEVO QTH: Av. Oliver 1319, Barrio 9 de Abril (1842 Monte Grande) Tel: (011) 4272-2943 DG: Alfredo H. Soto 1610 / RADIO EXITOS QTH: España 1189 (1712 Castelar) Tel: (011) 4458-1601 DG: Ana María Menéndez de Montagna 1620 / RADIO TROPICANA QTH: Av. San Juan 2461 (1232 Capital Federal) Tel: (011) 4941-1723, 4941-9280, 4941-7601 OP: Asociación Civil "Jesús es mi Salvador" DG: Genuario Rodríguez Almeida 1630 / AM1630 RADIO BUEN AYRE (RED 92) QTH: Calle 32 Nro. 426 (1900 La Plata) Tel: (0221) 483-0478 E-mail: <am1630@r...> OP: NCA S.A. 1640 / RADIO BOLIVIA QTH: Av. Int. Francisco Rabanal 1465, PA (1437 Capital Federal) Tel: (011) 4919-3659 DG: Haydee E. Catalano 1660 / RADIO UNIDAD (*) QTH: Molina 830 (Rafael Calzada) Tel: (011) 4241-2544 OP: Iglesia Internacional Unidos en el Amor de Jesús DG: Alicia del Carmen Velil 1670 / BBC AMERICA LATINA (*) E-Mail: <1670@s...> TXR: via RADIOMANIA (San Justo) 1680 / AM GETRO QTH: Av. San Martín 4280, Dpto. 2 (1824 Lanus oeste) Tel: (011) 4286-1735 OP: Iglesia Jesucristo La Roca Viva DG: Pablo J. Mahíquez 1690 / APOCALIPSIS II QTH: Monseñor Bufano 3386 (1754 San Justo) Tel: (011) 4484-4517 OP: Fundación "Cristo la Solución" Nota: (*) Reportada inactiva (DG) Director General o Propietario / (OP) Operada por ... Cabe señalar que otras estaciones que operaban en esta parte del dial, actualmente se han mudado de frecuencia. Ellas son: 1470 / Radio M.E.C. (Caseros) - Ex 1710 KHz 1580 / Radio Restauración (Hurlingham) - Ex 1650 KHz 1600 / Radio Luz del Mundo (Rafael Calzada) - Ex 1610 KHz (Marcelo Cornachioni, Argentina, Conexión Digital July 21 via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. RADIO LIBERTY La radio que nació para desalentar a los soldados ingleses en la Guerra de las Malvinas se llamó Liberty y su tarea era secreta. Silvia Fernández Barrio y Enrique Mancini fueron convocados por el gobierno militar para sumarse a la estrategia de inteligencia contra las tropas enemigas. Reivindican su papel Si la Segunda Guerra Mundial tuvo a la Rosa de Tokio para desalentar a las tropas aliadas, la Guerra de las Malvinas tuvo a radio Liberty. Catorce civiles participaron de esta estrategia comunicacional cuyo objetivo fue horadar la moral anglosajona. Silvia Fernández Barrio y Enrique Alejandro Mancini fueron dos de los civiles que participaron de la operación, que hoy desean contar aquello que quedó guardado bajo un pacto de silencio o por pura discreción. La primera, quien había sido parte de "60 minutos", trabajaba entonces en el programa de Badia "Sábado de todos"; el segundo, permanecia en el famoso ciclo de noticias de ATC. "Un dia estoy en "Sábado de todos" y me dicen: "Te llaman del comité militar". "¿Qué hice?", fue lo primero que pense -cuenta Fernández Barrio-. "¿Para qué me llamaran?" Me llevan a un lugar y me dicen: "Hemos hecho un estudio de inteligencia, usted es la persona mas confiable, y que sabe inglés. ¿Se acuerda de la Rosa de Tokio?" "Si", contesté. "Bueno, queremos una especie de Rosa de Tokio pero se va a llamar Liberty". Y ahi nace radio Liberty". -¿Eras la más confiable para quién? -Confiable para los argentinos. -Pero el objetivo era que lo escucharan ingleses... -Obviamente. Pero te imaginas que querrían a alguien que no les dijera cualquier cosa a los ingleses. No me preguntes a mí, pero me imagino que en una guerra habrá espías, habrá gente que manda información. Me imagino que sería confiable porque entendían que yo no les iba a jugar para el otro lado. -¿De quién estaba a cargo la operación? -Teóricamente, el encargado de la operación Liberty era el Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército que se peleaba con el Servicio de Inteligencia Naval. -¿Quiénes lo hacían? -Éramos todos civiles. -¿La línea editorial era militar? -Ellos daban una línea pero después entre el que la escribía y yo, la línea la cambiábamos. Si era una línea cruel o era una línea dura, no la pasábamos así. La pasábamos mucho más suave, no hablábamos nunca ni de muertos ni de cosas feas. Nos tirábamos más a que extrañaran a su país y que no vinieran a unas tierras de las cuales no tenían ni idea. Y eso lo debemos haber hecho entre el 7 y el 14 de junio. -¿Tenías posibilidad de decir: "No, no lo hago"? -Sí, absolutamente. Podría haber dicho que no. -¿Por qué no dijiste que no? -Porque entendí que estaba haciendo algo pacífico y que a lo mejor podía ayudar. Yo creo que cuando tu país está en guerra, no tienes demasiado tiempo para pensar de qué lado te vas a poner. A mí me ponen la marcha de Malvinas y se me caen los lagrimones por lo que viví, por lo que como inocentes criaturas creíamos, por el daño que se le hizo a tanta gente. A mí se me hiela el corazón. Alejandro, el memorioso Las precisiones acerca de Liberty las brinda la prodigiosa memoria del locutor y conductor Enrique Alejandro Mancini, que coordinaba la grabación y aportaba, con material propio, la música irlandesa, galesa, inglesa y hasta de los Beatles, que se incluía en la transmisión. A través de la onda corta, Liberty llegaba hasta Londres, Nueva Zelanda, Australia, aquellas metrópolis que podían identificarse con las tropas inglesas. Y recuerda Mancini que tanto inquietó al Parlamento británico que crearon otra radio, con el mismo objetivo, pero como no tenían una vasta discoteca argentina, pasaban siempre discos de Juan D´Arienzo. -¿Dónde se hacian las grabaciones? -Grabábamos en el piso 14 de lo que es el edificio de Radio Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Se grababa de mañana muy temprano, un rollo de 45 minutos, aproximadamente. Una vez listo lo pasaba a retirar en moto un oficial de policía de la provincia de Buenos Aires, y lo llevaba bajo su responsabilidad a la planta transmisora de Transradio Internacional. Ahí se difundía por distintas frecuencias a las que a veces se sumaban la ondas cortas de Radio Nacional. Siempre se cambiaba de frecuencia, en distinto metraje de onda corta, para evitar la interferencia de la inteligencia británica. -Fernández Barrio, que hablaba inglés, era la locutora. -Ella hablaba muy bien el inglés americano, por lo cual un traductor irlandés le marcaba el tono victoriano, la pronunciación inglesa. Los textos los escribían varios, pero el más importante era un autor de libretos de radio y TV, a veces actor, habitualmente de comedietas televisivas. -¿Qué se decía? -El contenido de la programación era un texto muy sentido, sobre las bajas que tenían los ingleses, donde se manifestaba el pesar por su muerte. Le hablaba, por ejemplo, al padre de un soldado británico caído y le decía que entendía su pesar porque había muerto su muchacho, que él iba a ir hoy a ver el Tottenham pero que no iba a estar más con su hijo que vino a entregar su vida para defender una factoria que estaba a 14.000 kilometros de la metrópoli. Decía que en el cuarto se iban a encontrar sólos los discos, como este, que escuchaba su muchacho, y se pasaba el tema en cuestión que podía ser un tema de los Beatles. Las emisiones de radio Liberty se prolongaron hasta 48 horas después de la caída de Puerto Argentino. Ese día, recuerda Mancini, se hizo una despedida bilingüe, en inglés y en castellano: "Se perdió una batalla, pero no el propósito de recuperar las islas, porque las Malvinas han sido, son y serán argentinas". (Miriam Molero, para diario La Nacion, Argentina, en Internet, Abril 7, via Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, lista ConDig, Jul 16 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, Alice Springs, weak 0950-1005 23 July. For an insight into life in Alice Springs: Alice Springs News HTTP://www.alicespringsnews.com.au/ (Bob Wilkner R-75, ground level 10 meter wire, Margate FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Innsbruck Aldrans, 6000 kHz [50/10 kW], der ... ORF Steilstrahler fuer Nord-, Ost- und Suedtirol auf 6000 kHz. Nicht nur Herbert Kuhnle in Hoeflein hat die Schliessung damals bedauert. Aber die jungen Herrn "Inschenaeaeeere" wussten es ja besser, von wegen UKW Vollversorgung usw. (wb) Irrtum. Die Abschaltung erfolgte nicht "von wegen UKW Vollversorgung", sondern weil mit der RAS ein System zur Direktversorgung von Suedtirol geschaffen worden war. Die italienische Seite bestand, im Gegenzug, auf die Beendigung der KW-Versorgung. Schuld waren also ausnahmsweise nicht die "Ingeschnaeaeeere", sondern die "Polihiitiker". Wir haetten gern Aldrans fuer den Auslandsdienst bekommen. Das scheiterte an den Leitungskosten. (Heutzutage waere derlei kein Problem, und wir wuerden uns - siehe "Radio Nachbar in Not" oder DRM - alle zehn Finger abschlecken vor Freude ueber diesen Sender an diesem Standort.) Der 50 kW-Sender steht heute als Standby in Moosbrunn und bewirkt natuerlich gar nix mehr (Wolf Harranth-AUT OE1WHC A-DX Jul 16, via BC-DX July 23 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. La Cruz del Sur was excellent at 1000 July 23 on 4877; unusual propagation conditions (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. R. Free Bougainville, Clandestine - active on 3850 kHz AM. Fade in around 0945-1107 UT s-off English + Pidgin, difficult QRN the last couple of days!! 100% (Roland Schulze, Philippines, BC-DX July 20 via DXLD) Sam Voron tells me today that the word 'Mekamui' translates as 'holy land' with the station being for the people of Independent Central Bougainville. Sam is happy to confirm correct reception reports. Please send Sam enough return postage or remuneration to cover all of his costs or a little more to cover some of his other costs associated with establishing independent radio stations for the people in war ravaged countries. See his latest volunteer work in the Solomon Islands at http://www.H44A.com (Ian Baxter, AUSTRALIA, July 23, ARDXC via DXLD) See also SOLOMON ISLANDS ** CANADA. Re CJWI 1610, Montreal, still silent: Larry Dolan(?) drove by and found a building with a sign saying CPAM Radio Union.com, pretty sure the antenna is there, a white tower structure on the roof of a 2-storey building at 3733 Jarre ? East at the corner of Leonardo da Vinci, a few blocks west of where we thought it was, Addison Electronics outlet. Law offices in same building. Studio may be there or elsewhere (Sheldon Harvey, QC, International Radio Report July 21 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Arnie Coro`s visit to Canada is off due to visa holdup: see CUBA [non]. He was also going to an informal ODXA gathering during his stopover in Toronto (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. SPECIAL REMOTES OFFERED FROM WORLD YOUTH DAY by Larry Nolte, program director, New Heart New Voices St. Louis, July 13 (special)– I do a Catholic music radio show on WRYT-AM, St. Louis. I have arranged to go to this coming World Youth Day, July 22nd to 28th for the station as a journalist. I will be producing 10 minute updates daily for broadcast. The segments will consist of interviews as well as news and feature pieces on all aspects of attending WYD as a pilgrim. We hope to cover the music, the Pope's arrival, security and everyday pilgrim experiences. IF all goes well. We've been planning this for a couple months. The segments, one or two a day, will be uploaded to the shows website, http://www.newheartnewvoices.com in both streaming realaudio, for listening and 128 kbps for downloading and rebroadcast. The segments will be in English only. I will be glad to offer these to any Catholic station free of charge that might want to use them. This is a very exciting event and deserves the broadest coverage. Any station manager that wants to make arrangements can email me at lar@newheartnewvoices.com. Details will be available later this week on the website under a "radio" link. (Catholic Radio Update July 15 via DXLD) Glenn, http://www2.delasalle.toronto.on.ca/events/wyd.html Check under "What to bring" at this website for pilgrims. Bring a radio (hope it has FM! -- and WTFK?). New antennas to handle increase in cell phone use. I haven't seen any reference in articles on security about cell phone jamming. 73, (Ivan Grishin, Ont., July 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ``Battery powered radio. All events will be broadcasts over the radio in seventeen different languages. Since you may not be close to and event, you will be able to hear it on the radio.`` (site above via gh, DXLD) We had an item a month ago on this with frequencies (tho not which languages on which), and mentioned on WOR 1140 (gh) ** COLOMBIA. 6064.5, La Voz de tu Conciencia, 0754 July 23, noted again so maybe has QSY'd back here from 6060 or is this a re- activation after a brief period??? Much stronger signal than previously too. ID 0756 then into religious message, ID again 0801 (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Have seen no reports yet of their actually being on 6060 (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE VERNON, BC. The delays in processing the thousands of visa applications for the World Youth Day Festival in Toronto appear to be having major consequences for a popular Cuban radio personality. Professor Arnaldo Coro is Chief Engineer at Radio Havana Cuba's English language shortwave radio service. He is known worldwide among amateur radio operators and shortwave radio buffs for his bi-weekly radio programme "DX'ers Unlimited". Professor Coro is in fact so popular that he has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the National Convention of Radio Amateurs of Canada, the national organization representing Canada's 50,000 amateur radio operators. The Convention is this weekend (July 26-28) in Vernon, British Columbia. Professor Coro's flight was to arrive in Toronto on Monday evening en route to Vernon, but the Canadian Embassy in Havana has yet to issue him a visa. The Canadian Embassy had promised convention organizers that a visa would be issued Friday afternoon, just in time for Professor Coro's Monday afternoon flight. However, when a courier from the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) arrived at the embassy on Friday he was left standing in the baking tropical sun outside the embassy grounds for several hours and was given no explanation by Canadian personnel why Professor Coro's visa documents were not ready. On Saturday, senior embassy staff informed convention organizers that the delays were due to a backlog in visa processing because of World Youth Day. However, in an e-mail from Havana to the Convention Organizing Committee, Professor Coro states, "The justification coming from the big Catholic Youth Festival in Toronto overloading their system is not valid here in Cuba, as very few Cubans will be traveling to that event." Flights to Canada are booked solid. If Professor Coro's visa is not issued Monday morning, it will be highly unlikely that he will be able to attend the convention. Professor Coro points out his concerns, "I never thought this kind of thing will happen with Canada, this is a very sad situation that is jeopardizing the relations between our respective amateur radio associations, as I am one of the founders of the Federación de Radioaficionados de Cuba, and one of the nation's best known radio amateurs, so my organization will take this very seriously indeed." "Professor Coro is an internationally respected ham radio operator with radio friends all over the world," said Wilfried Mulder, Radio Amateurs of Canada's convention chairman. "All we want is for his visa to be issued and for him to be on that plane Monday. World Youth Day may be an important event but the whole country shouldn't grind to a halt because of it". Ham radio operators are amateur radio experimenters who are often capable of transmitting radio signals around the globe with very low power. Despite the growth of the internet and cellular telephones, ham radio operators have remained a very important part of emergency communications for everything from major storms and earthquakes to the World Trade Center terrorist incident. - 30 - FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wilfried Mulder Radio Amateurs of Canada Convention Committee Phone (250) 308-9211, Fax (250) 545-3174, email chairman@r... [truncated] *********************************** Radio Amateurs of Canada, RAC 2002 National Convention, Vernon, BC July 26, 27, & 28 http://www.rac2002.org (via Bob Chandler, VE3SRE, July 22, ODXA via DXLD) [Later:] It is with sadness that I must report that the meeting scheduled for July 31st at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto with Professor Arnie Coro, CO2KK, Chief Engineer from Radio Havana Cuba has been cancelled. What saddens me is that the cancellation is not because of Arnie or any problems with travel arrangements. The fault lies totally with the Canadian Embassy in Havana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs mandarins in Ottawa and our politicians for allowing things like this to happen. As well, I would like to apologize in advance for this particularly long e-mail. Its just that I am very upset at the way Arnie was treated by Canadian officials. Arnie was to be in Vernon, British Columbia as the keynote speaker at the Radio Amateurs of Canada national convention that is being held this weekend July 26-28th. Arnie had some "lay-over" time between connecting flights both on the way out to Vernon and on the way back to Havana and so the plan was that Arnie would be staying with me during his Toronto lay-over and we took advantage of his "Toronto time" to arrange the meeting at the Ontario Science Centre with the kind assistance of Alf Hepplestone, VE3ALF who is in charge of the ham radio programme at the OSC. Arnie was not only looking forward to meeting with ham radio operators and shortwave enthusiasts in the Toronto area but we had also planned to do a "side trip" to the Hammond Museum of Radio in Guelph. Arnie was planning to do an edition of his "DX'ers Unlimited" radio programme on his visit to the museum. Arnie, Wilf Mulder VE7OHM and his fellow members of the RAC Convention Committee worked their hearts out on travel arrangements and on Arnie's Canadian visa application. They left nothing to chance. They made sure to send all the paperwork via fax, e-mail and via courier. When at the last minute, the Canadian Embassy in Havana asked for additional information on the purpose of the visit they again sent everything via all three methods. They fully cooperated with the embassy and gave them any information they asked for. Arnie was required to pay a $50 U.S. non-refundable visa application fee to the Canadian Embassy. You must bear in mind that Arnie's salary is paid in non-convertable Cuban pesos. So, it was necessary for him to borrow the money from a relative in order to pay the visa application fee. Arnie was booked on a LACSA flight that was scheduled to leave Havana at 6:30 pm bound for Toronto on Monday, July 22nd and then go on to Vernon the following day. He was advised by the LACSA representative in Havana to arrive by at least 3:00 pm as there was a possibility that the flight was overbooked. About a week ago, the Canadian Embassy had promised to issue Arnie's visa at 1:00 pm on Friday, July 19th. This was a very tight time frame as Arnie's flight was to leave early Monday evening and the embassy was of course closed on the weekend should anything go wrong. The representative from the Cuban Institute for Radio and Television (ICRT) arrived at the embassy gate at 12:30 pm Friday to collect Arnie's documents and ended up standing there in +30 degree C temperatures for over two hours waiting for a response. There was none. And, the Canadian Embassy did not return Arnie's passport as is the normal thing when a country decides not to issue a visa. Wilf was in touch with Canadian Embassy personnel over the weekend and he was told that the problems were due to the overload of visa applications connected with World Youth Day in Toronto. They told Wilf to tell the folks from the ICRT to be at the embassy at 8:00 AM Monday morning. This morning (Monday, July 22nd) Wilf heard from Havana that the embassy was "reviewing" Arnie's visa application and that they would have something to say to the ICRT at 1:30 PM. It was a case of "we won't call you, you call us". At around 2:00 PM, Wilf received a call from an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa who told him that Arnie's visa application had been denied. Wilf asked why and the official said that he could not explain why due to the provisions of the Privacy Act. Wilf immediately e-mailed Arnie to give him the bad news. It seems that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs folks couldn't keep their story straight because the ICRT representative in Havana was told to "come back tomorrow" (Tuesday) at 8:00 AM...of course, long after Arnie's probably overbooked flight had left. I spoke to both Wilf and Arnie today by telephone and all of us are upset at this bureaucratic nightmare. Why did the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs do this? None of us know for sure. When talking with Arnie today both he and I are of the opinion that this is part of some kind of deliberate diplomatic "snub" to the Cuban authorities for some reason or another. Arnie has taught at several universities in Havana over the years and has been involved in training the diplomatic corps. So he is well-versed in the "ins and outs" of diplomacy. The thing that upsets me, if indeed this is part of some diplomatic "snub", is that the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has "used" the Canadian ham radio community, which prides itself on being non- political, to make whatever political point they were trying to make. Hams simply share a love of the science of radiocommunications and we willingly put our abilities to work for our communities whenever there is a crisis. And because of either bureaucratic bungling or political intrigue we lose an opportunity to hear from a very prominent member of our world-wide community. If you are as upset as I am over this disgraceful treatment of Arnie and the Canadian ham radio community you might want to make your thoughts known to: [truncated] Canadian Embassy in Havana havan@d... Hon., Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs Graham.B@p... Hon. Allan Rock, Minister of Industry Rock.A@p... Your local MP. 73 (Bob Chandler VE3SRE, July 22, ODXA via DXLD) Wilf Mulder VE7OHM sent me an e-mail today mentioning that he'd been interviewed by CBC Radio Vancouver. He also mentioned that he should be on "Daybreak" at 6:45 AM tomorrow. The CBC folks told him that some of this may hit the national network. I'm not the best "morning person" so can't remember off-hand if "Daybreak" is CBC Radio's Vancouver morning programme or if it`s CBC television's national morning programme. All of this stuff isn't going to bring Arnie to the convention (at least this time), but at least the powers that be will know that radio hobbyists do not like being used as "political footballs". 73 de (Bob VE3SRE, July 23, ODXA via DXLD) As I recall, Daybreak is the CBC Radio One BC morning show that goes to that part of BC outside of metro Vancouver, and Vancouver Island (each of which have their own shows) (Eric Flodén, BC, ibid.) I caught the item on the 4:30 pm CBC Vancouver Regional news via real audio. It was about the third item and very well done. Thank you CBC!! Foreign Affairs is sticking to their story about the problem being because of the backlog due to WYD. Folks in these parts should be able to catch the 5:30 pm news at 8:30 pm eastern daylight time on the CBC website. 73 de (Bob VE3SRE, July 23, ibid.) Can be heard at http://vancouver.cbc.ca/ram/latest-vancouver.ram (Brian Smith, ibid.) Tsk, tsk, Arnie had no problem getting into Oklahoma for previous ham events. Why did they wait so long to get the visa? This week`s DXULs could be interesting, tho he no doubt had pre-recorded some editions. Caught part of the 0140 UT Wed airing when 9820 was weaker than usual, and usual stuff, no rant; try 0340, 0540 if in time (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. Voz Cristiana intends to test some curtain antennas at Santiago site, Chile, which have recently become licenced after several years of inactivity. The tests are planned to commence at 2230 UT on 17th July and end at 0130 UT on 18th July. The following antennas in Santiago (site code SGO) will be tested with 100 kW, modulation 1 kHz tone: A.=ITU code 158 (AHR 2/4/1), azimuth 45 deg. B.=ITU code 218 (AHR(S) 4/4/1), azimuth 75 deg, slew +/- 30 deg. C.=ITU code 218 (AHR(S) 4/4/1), azimuth 75 deg, slew +/- 30 deg. We test each antenna for just a few mins at a time within the following schedule: 6110 kHz: 2300-2400 9730 kHz: 2330-0100 11930 kHz: 2300-0130 13620 kHz: 0000-0130 15240 kHz: [?]2200-2400 17650 kHz: 2300-2400 We have endeavoured to identify frequencies which will not cause any disturbance to existing routine transmissions. Christian Vision, tel +44 121 522 6087 fax +44 121 522 6083 e-mail andrewflynn@christianvision.com (July 16) I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay awake for all of the SGO tests, but will try to hear. 15240 at 2200, R Australia via TWN is using the frequency, but never very strongly heard here. ... I listened at 2200 last night (17th) on 15240 but heard nothing at all - no trace of SGO and no trace of Australia either. Maybe nothing happened until 2230? (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Jul 18) Despite the test time span is not so comfortable for the European audience, I managed to check the 11930, 15240 and 17650 channels just till 2340 UT. Used the good old Sony 2010, telescopic ant in the living room. Nothing observed at 2200-2300 on 15240 except RA/Taiwan? co-ch. I heard a 1000 Hertz test tone only on 15240 S=8-9, start from approx. 2300 UT, but to about 2315 UT only; not from 2200. Signal strength: 9 of 10 diodes shining on the 2010. At about 2328-2334 UT same 1000 Hertz tone on 17650 kHz, same signal strength like on 15 MHz. Then I went to the dreamland ... (wb) (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6089.91, R. Esperanza, 0956-1055 July 21. Seems to be a regular here in Oregon after Gene Scott signs off at 0955 (Esperanza is heard underneath Gene's signal on 6090 until his signoff) and until R. Japan signs onto 6090 with Korean at 1058. Nearly continuous music with low level M announcements between some of the music (contemporary SS music, not religious). At 1039 UT, managed to snag a good ID ("En Temuco, Chile.....Radio Esperanza...banda international de...Temuco"). There were other ids at poor levels (compared to the music) during the broadcast (Don Nelson, Oregon, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. NEWS FROM WRMI - July 22, 2002 Ten months after discontinuing its broadcasts to Cuba, the Cuban American National Foundation is resuming its shortwave service, "The Voice of the Foundation." A few weeks after the September 11th tragedy last year, the Foundation was forced to suspend its 12-year-old shortwave service due to financial difficulties. The new, more limited "Voice of the Foundation" will be broadcast (in Spanish) each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1030-1130 UT on 9955 via WRMI in Miami, beginning July 24th. The Cuban American National Foundation is the largest and most influential Cuban exile organization in the United States. NOTICIAS DE WRMI - Julio 22, 2002 Diez meses después de descontinuar sus transmisiones a Cuba, la Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana está reiniciando su servicio de onda corta, "La Voz de la Fundación." Un par de semanas después de la tragedia del 11 de septiembre el año pasado, la Fundación tenía que suspender su servicio de onda corta -- que ya llevaba 12 años -- debido a dificultades financieras. La nueva, mas limitada "Voz de la Fundación" será transmitida cada lunes, miércoles y viernes a las 1030-1130 TU en 9955 vía WRMI en Miami a partir del 24 de julio. La Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana es la organización de exiliados cubanos mas grande y de mas influencia en los Estados Unidos (Jeff White, WRMI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. TOP CZECH PRIEST ASKS US PRESIDENT TO DELAY CLOSURE OF US RADIO CZECH BROADCASTS | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 23 July: The Czech Catholic Primate Cardinal Miloslav Vlk has written a letter to US President George Bush saying that it would be useful to preserve the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's (RFE/RL) Czech broadcasts at least until the Czech Republic joins the EU, which is expected in 2004. Vlk wrote to Bush in mid-July, Czech Bishops' Conference spokesman Daniel Herman told CTK today. A letter with a similar content has been recently sent by Petr Pithart, the Czech Senate [upper house of parliament] chairman, to the RFE/RL Council of Governors, Pithart's adviser Jaroslav Veis said. The Czech-language section of the US-run RFE/RL is to cease broadcasting on 1 October, after 52 years, the RFE/RL Council of Governors decided in Washington several weeks ago. The RFE/RL broadcasts are no longer necessary in the Czech Republic as it is a democracy. Similarly, the RFE/RL's Polish and Hungarian broadcasts were stopped long ago, Washington says. According to RFE/RL director Thomas Dine, the USA needs money to extend the station's broadcasts to other countries in connection with its fight against terrorism. The director of the Czech broadcasts, Olga Kopecka, said she would try to save the broadcasts. To achieve the goal, she has to gain the necessary sum equivalent to the hitherto US subsidy of 650,000 dollars. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1040 gmt 23 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** FRANCE. UNIDENTIFIED. Via MWC kreeg ik hetvolgende bericht over 1062 khz: Re Andrew Tett's suggestion that this mystery signal on 1062 kHz could possibly originate in France. This is possible as the signal peaked to the South East from here (Caversham, Berks). From memory, 1062 kHz has been used in France for temporary licences in the past (e.g. R Latina from Villebon during the World Cup from France?). There have also been DRM tests on 1062 from Villebon (near Paris) this year (are they still happening?) After Denmark closed at 2230 UT last night, signal was fairly clear - still with Chinese music with sound like a faulty CD player. Identity is still a mystery - any member in France confirm any current usage of 1062 kHz? (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, MWC via Maz van Arnhem, BDXC via DXLD) This mystery station playing quick short bursts of Chinese style music audible at present here in Caversham (2130 UT 21 July). It`s audible even on a portable when it fades up and Denmark, the dominant station on the frequency here is nulled. It`s not Italy either which is also audible on 1062 at times. (thanks to tip below from Max van Arnhem/ Dick vd Knaap (via MWC Email list): Thanks to a tip of Dick vd Knaap, the Netherlands I also heard a station on 1062 kHz transmitting Chinese type music and songs without announcements. He reported the station the last few evenings and nights and I also heard this station tonight (21 July). My ALA is beaming SW-NE. Anybody knows more about this station? (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, BDXC via DXLD) L'émetteur parisien qui diffusait en continu des signaux DRM depuis le 1er juin diffuse depuis aujourd'hui un programme de chansons qui semblent chinoises sur la fréquence de 1062 kHz. Après un quart d'heure d'écoute, pas la moindre identification (Thierry VIGNAUD - Boulogne-Billancourt (France) http://www.emetteurs.fr.fm via fr.rec.radio via Dimitri Tomarov, July 22, BDXC via DXLD) Translation: The Paris transmitter that has broadcast DRM since the 1st of June, now transmits a programme with Chinese sounding songs on 1062 khz (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, MWC via BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** GAMBIA. Subject: [GRDXC] GRTS opens Multimedia site (NON-DX) Dear Friends, Here is an Non-DX interesting item I found on the web from Gambia Radio & TV News. When I visited the site it says: GRTS Online! COMING SOON In just a few hours time... 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar for GRDXC...) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Banjul The Gambia Radio and Television Service (GRTS) will be opening its audio-visual multimedia website on the July 22nd Anniversary of The Gambia Revolution. This website will be located at http://www.grts.gm and will be broadcasting video news over the Internet via streaming Real video technology. The website will also be carrying Daily News from The Gambia in plain text format with some accompanying pictures. Under the management of the new Director General, Mr. Bora Mboge, GRTS, with the help of Unique Solutions, a local multi-media company intends to further expand its' online audio-visual presence to include famous Radio and Television programmes like the popular 'Land of our Heritage' programme. For more details, please contact info@grts.gm or visit http://www.grts.gm (GRDXC via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. I found the following on the RSGB web site. I expect you know about it already! (Richard Buckby-UK G3VGW, RSGB, Jul 19) Hello to all LF'ers, on Wednesday, 24th of July, the 153 kHz transmitter of Deutschlandfunk in Donebach (JN49ON, 50 km SSE of Frankfurt) will be off air due to scheduled maintenance. By the friendly co-operation of the site personnel and with consent of the regulation authorities, a small group of German LF amateurs has been granted access to one of the 360 metres masts between 0700 and 1500 UT. With a little luck we might be able to achieve about 30 dB more radiation efficiency than at home. We will probably need some time to work out the impedance matching. After that, we intend to operate preferably in CW and Slow-CW modes. As we expect a rather high noise floor from the Frankfurt area, we will bring along a tuned loop for receiving, and we will be QRV on 7030 kHz in CW as well. If nothing else works, please give us a phone call on +49 174 3692499, or send an email note via the reflector or to dj2lf@darc.de or markusvester@aol.com Let's look forward to a successful day, hopefully without thunderstorms or strong noise. 73 The group: Markus - DF6NM, Walter - DJ2LF, Ralph - DL2NDO, Ralph - DK3GH, Roland - DL3NDR, Franz - DL5NER. (RSGB web site via Richard Buckby-UK G3VGW, BC-DX Jul 19 via DXLD) I was not aware of this [amateur radio] test, although it was on discussion with the chief engineer of DTK-Deutsche Telekom, during our sightseeing tour to Donebach site on June 14th, this year. The engineer told us that the two transmitters are silent on July 23 till 25th during daytime, most likely 0610-1555 UT. The CW test on LF will be in the 136-137 kHz range of LF Ham R Band [secondary band usage], not on v153 kHz broadcasting band. 73 wb df5sx 136 kHz (135.7-137.8 in GB). Secondary. Available on the basis of non- interference to other services (inside or outside the United Kingdom). Morse Telephony RTTY Data Facsimile SSTV. 153 DLF DTK Donebach tx. Maintenance break during July 23-26, 2002, according time slots given on the DLF program. Interesting to listen to Nordcap-NOR, ALG and ROU transmitters instead. Abschaltung fuer Generalueberholung 23. bis 26. Juli 2002, dann Noerdliches Norwegen Nordkap, Algerien und Brasov-Bod-ROU hoerbar. Abschaltzeiten werden im DLF Programm angesagt. (DLF Donebach sightseeing tour, BC-DX Jun 14) DTK / DLF Donebach 153 kHz silent since 0610 UT today, seemingly one day earlier than expected. BREAK schedule most likely daily 0610-1547 UT, on 22nd til 26th?? of July, 2002. Seit 0610 UT an diesem 22. Juli ist der LW Sender DTK Donebach 153 kHz abgeschaltet. Offensichtlich beginnen die Generalueberholungsarbeiten schon einen Tag frueher, heute am 22. Juli. Die Unterbrechung der Aussendungen des DLF auf dieser Frequenz duerften bis circa 1555? UT dauern. 73 wb df5sx 153 kHz. Von 1300[0610-] bis 1547 UT war in der Naehe von Hannover nur Radio Romania Actualitata zu hoeren. Ab 1547 UTC Donebach wieder aktiv. 198 kHz. Polskie R war hier gleichstark mit der BBC aufzunehmen (nicht \\ mit 225 kHz). 1600 UTC schaltete Polish Radio ab. Nach Abschalten des polnischen Senders war noch ein schwaches Signal unter der BBC zu hoeren. Zu schwach, um ihn zu identifizieren. (Uwe Volk-D, BC-DX July 22) Ich bin gerade 1556 UT nach Hause gekommen, zu dieser Zeit war Donebach schon wieder on air. Danke fuer Deine Beobachtung, damit habe ich die genaue Abschaltzeit [0610-1547 UT] eruiert bekommen. Morgen und uebermorgen werden die Wartungsarbeiten weitergehen, vielleicht auch noch am 26. Juli, ja wenn die erste Information von Herrn Karl-Otto Wohlfarth (DTK Donebach), E-Mail: arl-Otto.Wohlfarth@telekom.de richtig war. Ich bin extra nach draussen gegangen, mit dem besseren Sony, den ICF 2010 aus 1995 aus den USA. Habe aber tagsueber nichts auf 153 kHz gehoert. Nur die schwach einfallenden Stationen mit S=1-2 auf 171? welches Programm? Tilsit-Bolshakovo? Kai weisst Du das, was hoerst Du?, 198 BBC, 216 Monaco, 225 POL gehoert. Stark - ohne Probleme - hoere ich tagsueber 177, 185, 207, 234, 243, 270 kHz, spaeter dann auch 252 aus ALG und IRL, sowie nachts 279BLR kHz. Ich glaube aber, dass Bod-ROU nicht mehr mit voller Leistung arbeitet, die waren frueher staerker, selbst in Italien war neben Donebach nichts aus ROU aufzunehmen, selbst wenn ich Donebach auf Ferrit-Ant- Minimum zurueck gedreht habe. 73 wb df5sx (all: BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Am 29.6.2002 protestierten mehrere hundert Anwohner im Rahmen eines "Valleyer Informationstages" gegen die Sendeanlagen des International Bcing Bureau http://www.ibb.gov Die Station wurde vor 50 Jahren fuer Mittelwellensendungen nach Osteuropa errichtet und beherbergt zur Zeit vier 250 kW-Kurzwellensender. Die Proteste, die in den 90er Jahren immer staerker wurden, fuehrten bereits zur Abschaltung der Mittelwelle (frueher 719/720 kHz, zuletzt 1593 kHz [150 kW]). [we had a report on this in English some time ago --- gh] Bei der Zusammenlegung der Anlagen von Voice of America und R Free Europe/Radio Liberty in die Verantwortung des International Broadcasting Bureau wurde Mitte der 90er schon die Schliessung angekuendigt. Auf dem Protesttag praesentierten Elektrosmog-Experten Ergebnisse von Untersuchungen in Holzkirchen, Moosbrunn und Schwarzenburg. Zusammenfassungen sind auf der Homepage http://www.sender-freies-oberland.de zu finden (Dr Hansjoerg Biener-D, 30.6.2002; ntt, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GUYANA. Disturbed conditions could lead to some unusual reception over the next day or two, particularly on the lower frequencies (especially tropical bands and MW). Possible aurora has also been forecast. Currently hearing V. of Guyana on 3291.25 with fair signal (23 July 2325) in English though suffering sporadic ute interference. Heard last night also from 2350 to past 0100 UT. Not sure if this reception is due to the disturbed conditions? (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / beverage, July 23, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR COMPLETES 75 YEARS OF BROADCASTING TODAY Hyderabad, July 22: The All India Radio celebrates 75 years of broadcasting on Tuesday. It started as Broadcasting Corporation of India on July 23, 1927. So far as Hyderabad`s own history of broadcasting goes, it began in Chirag Ali Lane, in 1933, with a one-watt ``toy`` transmitter, set up by a postal clerk. It then went on to become the Deccan Radio in 1938 — under the Nizam, and finally it was merged with the AIR, on April 1, 1950. Hyderabad got its AIR services only from 1950. The Vijayawada AIR station, however, was set up on December 1, 1948, in composite Madras and was inaugurated by the then revenue minister Kala Venkat Rao. Radio has stood its ground through the years as a living medium. Some of the famous old-timers of the AIR (Vijayawada and Hyderabad) spoke to Deccan Chronicle on Monday about their AIR experience. Says flautist and former music producer of AIR N S Srinivasan: ``I joined AIR in 1959. We worked with legends like Devulapally Krishna Sastry and Pingle Lakshmikantam. AIR was part of people`s life.`` He recounts the popularity of radio legends such as Radio Annaiah Ganapati Raghava Rao and Radio Akkaiah (his wife) Kameswaramma. V S N Camphor, a Peshawar refugee, used to narrate a children`s story during a five-minute break before the news at 7.05 pm. ``Children would stop playing and run to listen to his story,`` he says. His wife Sharada Srinivasan, also associated with AIR as a drama artist, recollects, ``During the Diviseema cyclone, AIR staffers visited cyclone-hit areas. We later produced a programme Kanneeti Keretaalu, recording voices of people who had been hit by the cyclone. Listening to this many came forward to help.`` Indiraganti Srikanta Sarma scriptwriter for AIR initially said, ``The ambience was so creative and fulfilling that we produced 15 Sanskrit and Telugu programmes, 14 of which won national awards.`` Special radio broadcasts today All India Radio, Hyderabad, will broadcast special programmes on Tuesday in connection with the completion of 75 years of broadcasting. Special programmes in Hyderabad A Channel: At 7.15 pm — Udayatarangini (`Radio ki 75 Vasanthaalu` — a feature on broadcasting in India). At 8.30 am: Carnatic vocal by M S Subbalakshmi. A special phone-in-programme to collect listener`s views on broadcasting in India along with film songs will be broadcast at 9 am. Listeners can call between 9 am and 10 am on 3232080 or 3232073 to express their views. A Carnatic music programme by G N Balasubrahmanyam will be broadcast at 1.30 pm. ``Radio Natakam`` — a programme based on excerpts of archival plays and opinions of eminent personalities will be broadcast at 8.15 pm. AIR is also broadcasting special programmes on Hyderabad B Channel (217.8 Mtrs, 1377 KHz). Antharangam — a programme on listener`s opinion in connection with AIR`s 75 years will be broadcast at 6.15 pm. A special programme ``Kuch Yaadein - Kuch Baatein — Aap Ke Saath`` will be broadcast at 9.30 pm. (Via Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad 23 July 2002) http://deccan.com/city/template.shtml# AIR completes 75 years of broadcasting today. Several special programs were heard on AIR in connection with their platinum jubilee, in local languages (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. I always considered Playboy magazine and its video offspring to be essentially visual media. (Yeah, I know you only read the articles and never look at the pictures. Well I still look at the pictures just to refresh my fading memory.) Today I learned that XM Satellite Radio is going to add the Playboy channel to its program lineup. Playboy on the radio -- now there's something that would bring audiences back to BBC World Service (sneaky obligatory SW reference). People complain that talking on cell phones is distracting and causing accidents. "They ain't seen nothin' yet", as Jimmy Durante used to say. Picture this redneck truck driver hurtling down I-95, pedal to the metal, all glassy-eyed, listening to XM's Playboy channel, while his Vacu-jack machine hums softly to the rhythm of the road. The mind boggles. The following is from the XM press release announcing their third quarter absence of earnings: Programming Enhancements Today, XM announced significant programming enhancements to its 100- channel lineup to take effect on August 26, 2002 based on subscriber feedback involving channel adds, format changes and deletions. XM will introduce an audio books and radio drama channel, a Radio Classics channel, as well as channels dedicated to Electronica, Folk, Easy Listening, Neo Soul and Urban Hip Hop as well as its first premium channel, Playboy Radio, offered to subscribers at $2.99 per month beginning on September 3rd. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Methinks that an audio book channel, like most shortwave listening, (obligatory SW reference), would be more dangerous for drivers than Playboy Radio. A recent study concluded that drivers with Cellular Phones, either hand held OR NOT, lost enough concentration in their driving ability to give them "tunnel vision". I see the same thing happening with spoken word services like those. Such audio items would require an ability to use the theater of the mind, and with most of us not using that gift we developed when mama read us a bedtime story as children, we could loose site of reality while driving, or worse fall asleep at the wheel. Unless you are already conditioned by listening to hours of Ayn Rand on cassette, or vintage radio programs like "Suspense" or "X minus One", or Glenn Hauser's World Of Radio program, this can be hazardous while driving. Now if the Audio Book was say something of a lighter vain, like Eric Idle narrating the Monty Python version of nursery rhymes, then.... OOPs, Playboy IS doing that. Sign me up! ("Big Steve" Coletti, ibid.) ** IRAQ [non]. SAUDI ARABIA. Clandestine V of Iraqi People via (supposed) ARS moved at last from its long-standing 9568v to 9570.0 (BTW, it was silent for some months). Another freq 9563.0 remains untouched, still bringing strong het to 9565 VOA Ukrainian at 2000- 2030 (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, DXplorer Jul 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) By the way, their third \\ channel is still 11710.3 (Mikhail Timofeyev, Russia, DXplorer Jul 18 via BC-DX via DXLD)) ** ITALY. It seems that AWR Europe will not be constructing the proposed Argenta transmitting stn in Italy after all. There seems no need for it, as they are already getting good coverage from all of their relay sites (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX July 19 via DXLD) ** MONACO. 3AC Monaco Radio. Station located close to parliament building on a road cut into the cliffside. Small building with a log periodic antenna and folded dipoles mounted on a tower at the railing of the road (Boulevard de Suisse in the town of Monaco) opposite the building. Unlike other coastal stations both transmitters and receivers are located in the building. Listen for weather forecasts in English and French at 0930 UT on 8806, 13152, 17323 and 22768 kHz (Karl-Erik Stridh, Sweden, WWDXC TopNews July 19 via BC-DX via DXLD) So are we now to conclude the HF antennas for this one are actually inside Monaco? (gh, DXLD) ** MOZAMBIQUE. An item from Agência de Informação de Moçambique (Maputo) July 18, 2002, Posted to the web July 21, 2002 Listeners to Radio Mozambique have been puzzled this week by the national station's disappearance from its habitual spot on the medium wave band of their sets: now they know that this is not due to any technical fault - instead vital pieces of radio equipment have been stolen. As a result, Radio Mozambique's national broadcast can only be heard on FM, thus drastically reducing the station's range. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, GRDXC via DXLD) or more specifically: ** MOZAMBIQUE. THIEVES SILENCE RADIO MOZAMBIQUE MATOLA TRANSMITTER Radio Mozambique´s mediumwave transmitter in Matola has been off the air in for the past few days after thieves stole vital pieces of broadcasting equipment. Radio Mozambique engineer Luis Loforte told the press that the thieves broke into the broadcasting centre in the city of Matola on Saturday, and stole three copper bobbins. As a result, Radio Mozambique's national broadcast can only be heard on FM, thus drastically reducing the station's range. Loforte noted that the theft was a "risky" operation, since it involved high voltage power. He therefore concluded that it was the work of people with a good knowledge of broadcasting technology, since they did it in such a way that they succeeded without any damage to themselves, and without being detected. Reporters who visited the site said that the fencing around the premises in Matola is very vulnerable, and that more security guards are needed. Loforte said that it will not be easy to replace the stolen copper, but the station will do its best to get the mediumwave transmitter back on the air before the end of this week. In the meantime, Radio Mozambique listeners in the central and northern provinces cannot hear the national station on mediumwave. Radio Mozambique's provincial stations are unaffected. Radio Mozambique had received the stolen equipment under a cooperation programme between the station and the Japanese government. Replacing it will probably mean a delay in receiving other materials that Japan would otherwise have supplied. This is not the first time that there has been a serious theft at the Matola centre. Earlier cases involved the theft of copper cables used in shortwave broadcasts. The Matola site was originally used by Radio Clube de Mozambique (© Radio Netherlands Media Network July 23 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. Although the following message has no relation with DXing but came because of DXing. I sent a request for latest sked and V. of Nigeria Airwaves from V. of Nigeria via email. The following message came in reply of that. May be replied if you are interested. Kind regards, (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) You guessed it --- another variation of the banking scam. Do NOT reply and above all do not give them your banking info, or the only money transferred will be your own, to them!!!! (gh, DXLD) ** PALESTINE. VOICE OF PALESTINE RADIO OBSERVED BACK ON AIR 21 JULY Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine from Ramallah on 21 July was observed to broadcast the following announcement: "Voice of Palestine is with you, from you, and for you. This is a radio for all listeners on FM 90.7 MHz." At 1015 gmt, the radio began to carry songs by Lebanese singer Fayruz. The first song was entitled "We are returning". It was the first time the radio was observed since the station went off the air at 1015 gmt on 24 June when Israeli troops entered Ramallah. The station later carried a musical play by Fayruz. Source: Voice of Palestine, Ramallah, in Arabic 0000 gmt 21 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3395, R Eastern Highlands, Goroka, 1950 July 22, carrier till 1956 then PNG pop song, female announcer in Pidgin at 1958 with id and MW freq. NBC news from Port Moresby at 2000. Last time heard was April 1 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. By the way, Kerema is reported to be without fuel and without electricity for the past two days, due to lack of fuel deliveries. Electricity is reported OFF (fuel gone...) so no 3245 R Gulf. The newspaper reports they may get fuel into the province soon. Cited by one of the PNG newspapers. (Independent as I recall). That third link is... http://www.niugini.com/independent/ And of course there is some news this morning From Today's Post- Courier. 'VOICE OF THE SUNRISE' FALLS SILENT RADIO Bougainville fell silent yet again yesterday after the provincial government's power station pulled the plug on the transmission site because of unpaid bills. This is the second time the station had been closed this year. In February the station was also closed down briefly, again due to financial problems. The announcement of the closure comes at a time when the province's leaders take the first steps to set draft a Bougainville constitution in preparation for a Constituent Assembly and an autonomous Bougainville govt. But Bougainvilleans in remote areas who rely on radio news will be missing out on new developments without R Bougainville, or their "Maus B'long Sankamap" (Voice of the Sunrise), which is their radio station ID. Kubu Power House officials confirmed that power to the transmitter was switched off yesterday due to non-payment of power bills. They would not disclose the amount. "Just last week, our management requested for some funding from the Bougainville administration to keep the station on air while we wait for the remaining K70,000 from this year's appropriation," station officials said. "Radio Bougainville has been struggling to remain on air through its committed staff, who keep on pretending that all is well - until this morning (yesterday)." (via Don Nelson, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I'm not aware of a web site for a PNG newspaper called the Independent, but the two papers I check sometimes are: http://www.postcourier.com.pg/ http://www.thenational.com.pg/ As Don indicated, PNG papers can help provide reasons why some frequency slots are vacant. I appreciate Don's comments, as he must monitor these sources more than I do currently (Guy Atkins, DXplorer Jul 18 via BC-DX via DXLD) Another good PNG morning, with many stations heard, most with G / VG signals. Here's a quick PNG bandscan from metro Denver, from 1100 to 1200 UT on 17 July: 2410 - blocked by local mixing product 3205 - strong carrier, under-modulated M ancr 3220 - VG signal; ended with mx at 1158, s-off at 1200. After 1200, presumed Korea left on the channel. 3235 - Good with tribal drumming at 1143; slop from local mixing product on 3240 3245 - not heard 3260 - VG signal; s/off at 1159, anthem at 1200. 3275 - VG 3290 - local mixing product 3305 - weak carrier only 3315 - VG signal; 1115 with M ancr, island-flavored pop/reggae sounds. 3325 - 2 or 3 mixing here, prob PNG and/or INS/GTM. 3335 - not heard 3345 - not checked 3355 - good 3365 - fair 3375 - not checked 3385 - not heard 3395 - VG 3905 - VG 4890 - VG Gee, this is just like the old days - what a treat! The only negative at this location is that we have local AM stns operating on 1600, 1650, and 1690 and the harmonics and mixing products from these land smack-dab in the 90 mb (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer Jul 17 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PERU. From: Radio San Antonio de Padua Callalli-Caylloma-Arequipa rsan_antonio14@hotmail.com Estimados amigos el motivo de la presente es para saludarlos ya a la vez comunicarles que desde hace una semana no hay señal de radio San Antonio ya que como se habrán enterado por los cables internacionales el sur del Perú ha sido de clarado en emergencia debido a los desastres naturales como son el cambio de clima con fuertes nevadas fuertes vientos y bajas temperaturas lo que esta ocasionando enfermedades respiratorias agudas en los niños y ancianos y por otro lado el alto indice de mortandad en los animales como son alpacas, ovinos y llamas que no tiene que comer por lo que a nivel nacional se ha organizado una cruzada de ayuda para todas las zonas afectadas por este fenómeno climatológico por lo que el presente año y el próximo es difícil para toda la gente de esta zona que solo vive de la ganadería ya que por la altura aquí no hay agricultura. Debido a las nevadas se ha que mado un transformador de la luz ,por lo que desde hace máas de una semana todos los pueblos de la zona alta de Arequipa no contamos con fluído electrico y por lo visto todavía va a demorar por lo que estamos haciendo las gestiones ante las autoridades para que nos proporcionen combustible para nuestro generador y así mantener informados a todos los de la zona alta ya que por aquí es la única emisora que mantiene informados a todos los que habitan por las alturas por lo que esperamos que mañana o en el transcurso de la semana estemos saliendo al aire. Ya mas adelante les estaré contando más de talles de esta zona sur del Perú , sin más que decirle por el momento me despido hasta una próxima oportunidad. saludos. Hno Rolando del Carpio Montalvo ([sic] via Chuck Bolland, FL, also sent to many other DXers, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio Victoria, Lima, 9720.4 khz, 0026-0055 GMT, very good signal, ID as "...Radio Victoria, una radio para tí...", SIO 333 (Daniele Canonica, Switzerland, July 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4790 RADIO ATLANTIDA. Iquitos, Perú. 2240 – 2256 Julio 20: Música del grupo español La Oreja de Van Gogh. `` ...5 de la tarde con 43 minutos, 5 con 43 en Atlántida la fabulosa 106.5...`` Prog. Radio Éxitos 106.5 5470.9, RADIO SAN NICOLAS. Rodríguez de Mendoza, Perú. 1110 – 1125 Julio 21: S/on después del Himno Nacional ``...Señoras y Señores desde la provincia más fértil del departamento de Amazonas, Rodríguez de Mendoza, bajo el arrullo del Río San - - - transmite Radio San Nicolás iniciamos nuestra transmisión correspondiente al día de hoy esperamos que a loa largo y ancho de nuestra programación usted se sienta complacido con nuestra música, saludos y noticias, primicias, comentarios y sobre todo la mejor animación...inicia su transmisión Radio San Nicolás ....`` 5500.2, RADIO SAN MIGUEL. San Miguel, Perú. 2256 – 2330 Julio 20: Comunicado del jurado electoral No. 001-1 ``...no lo piense más quédate con San Miguel, la radio ganadora...`` completa ID a las 2305 ``...Una voz peruana en los cielos de América, Radio San Miguel 101.1 frecuencia modulada; 1450 amplitud modulada; 5500 onda corta, para el Perú y el mundo... Radio San Miguel estudio master Jirón Alfonso Ugarte 668 San Miguel de Cajamarca, Perú.....`` Luego música con el grupo Néctar. A las 0000 con el programa Buenas Noches Perú. ``... feliz aniversario Perú, te desea Radio San Miguel, una voz peruana en los cielos de América...`` (Archivo de Audio) 5940. RADIO BETHEL. Arequipa, Perú. 0015 – 0045 Julio 21: Cultos y alabanzas para el día domingo del Movimiento Misionero Mundial de la Ciudad Blanca. A las 0020 un mensaje en inglés del cual alcance a grabar: ``...to you Bethel Radio International 5940 short wave Arequipa, Perú; if you want communication with us, send your letter to the postal address Union avenue 225 Miraflores, Arequipa, Perú. Also you can call us too 051 054 220450 ... we praying for you and remember God is your salvation….`` Luego vino el espacio La Hora de la Transformación con el Reverendo Rodolfo González con el Evangelio de la Santidad...`` Luego a las 0147 capte esta ID: `` Para todo el sur, Latinoamérica y Europa, somos Radio Bethel llevando el mensaje de Dios...`` (Rafael O. Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** POLAND. During Radio Polonia's Multimedia Show of the 9th of July, the following was said by way of clarifying the situation there. There is lots of activity at Polish Radio as it is the time for approval of ideas and plans as well as the new budget. The station will stay on shortwave, despite difficulties. Sufficient subsidies from the government, principally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been secured. The programme continued to state that, savings must be made on the transmissions and there is no problem broadcasting from territory outside Poland. This clears the way to use either, or indeed both, Rimovska, Slovakia and Julich, Germany for relays. These are anything up to 50% cheaper than the present TPSA transmitters outside Warsaw. (Costs could not be specified, but transmissions are understood to be at least 2/3 of the budget.) There is a new projected agreement that, as of the new year, radical changes will be taking place in the programming and transmission of Radio Polonia. (Jonathan Murphy, County Cork, Ireland, World DX Club email group, via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. [Previous item about WDJD being on 580 was] from the radio-tech discussion group. It is also reported that the station advertises 580 in the newspaper (nothing found on the web). Also: "This was an Auction 32 filing, and the FCC had it *originally* listed as 580 kHz. On 10/09/2001 the FCC issued a correction stating it should have been on 585 all along." Curious to find myself quoted verbitim on a Danish DX web site! (Geoff Fairbairn, UK, July 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.82, R UNSAMIL Freetown. E-mail verification reply back in ten days from Patrick Coker. He acknowledges my RR of R UNSAMIL and also states that my postal reply should be answered. So it seems postal reports are (maybe) getting through. This reply to my reception report of May 20th 02, which I sent a e-mail report follow- up on July the 5th addressed to Station Manager Ms. Sheila Dallas at info@unamsil.org Patrick thanked me for report and hope that I continue listening to their station. v/s Patrick Coker (Edward Kusalik, Alberta, DXplorer Jul 16 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Check out http://www.H44A.com Sam's latest international radio crusade is to create a group of local Solomon Island amateur radio operators from local interested folk in Guadalcanal area of the Solomon Islands. To do this they need Solar panels, transeivers, receivers amd the like. However Sam for the moment needs the assistance of someone (with a PC, printer and appropriate software) to create some blank CERTIFICATES for qualifying local Amateur Radio Operators in the Solomon Islands. He needs 2 types of certificates, 9 of each. CERTIFICATE 1 is for a Unrestricted Amateur Radio Licence Qualifying Course. CERTIFICATE 2 is for the Amateur Radio Examiners Qualifying Course. The certificates should show sketches or graphics of antennas between coconut trees and village huts with ground plane verticals (consisting of 4 ground plan radials). If you can please help Sam out please contact me and I'll pass on Sam's Sydney Telephone number. Sam generously devotes much of his time and money to many good causes relating to amateur radio / radio stations and needy people. He also unselfishly QSLs many SW reception reports for DXers (e.g. Radio Free Bougainville), so if you can kindly help out Sam please drop me a note at ausr-@volcanomail.com [truncated] Sam also mentions that his students at the Amateur Radio School of the Solomon Islands can sometimes be heard or contacted on 27.295 MHz LSB, that's channel 29 on the Australian HF CB Band. (Good Luck) Regards (Ian Baxter, AUSTRALIA, July 23, ARDXC via DXLD) See also BOUGAINVILLE ** SOMALIA. 6985kHz or not (?) - that is the question. One for the SW gurus!! Throughout most of June and early July I've been hearing a station of 6985 kHz that makes an appearance around 1500-1530 UT or a little later with an erratic schedule maybe heard 1 to 3 times a week. I've thought it to be Radio Gaalkacyo for the past months, based on the frequency, propagation, language and music. But according to Sam Voron (Sydney, Australia) who established the radio station, it isn't!! Apparently Radio Gaalkacyo has been off air for some months now. So I'm left pondering who on earth is it. To me if it's not Radio Gaalkacyo then it's definitely from that region of Africa as everything else fits. Language and music to me sounds as though it's from the Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudanese area of northern Africa. Sam also mentions that he can hear the same station I'm hearing, but re-affirms that it isn't Radio Gaalkacyo. I remain bewildered. This is one to be investigated. Anyone know who it is then? Regards, (Ian Baxter ausradio@volcanomail.com AUSTRALIA, July 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. In DXLD 2-102 under CONGO DR we had a reference to Sri Lanka being on 9770: ``Also SLBC Ekala-SLK-CLN is registered there til 1630 UT. 9770 1230-1630 41 EKA 100 350 1234567 3103-271002 CLN SLB SLB (BC- DX)`` --- so I guess the recent report of 9970 is a typo ---- but by the reporter, or by the station when punching up the transmitter frequency?? (gh) ** U K. Most of the first two weeks of BBC Prom Concerts --- but no promises thereafter? -- are being webcast, which in BBC parlance means video as well as audio. We`ve found the video production excellent, actually for domestic broadcast, with carefully planned shots highlighting instruments soloing at the moment, many of them extreme close-ups, such as the piano (or toy piano) keyboard; `cello playing a single note. Subtitles are provided for any lyrics in fornlangs (e.g., ``His long yellow nose rests in his white beard`` -- Shéhérazade.) And host Charles Hazlewood wore a really loud shirt July 22, overlapping TV screens(?) black outlines on white, but the next day it was a modest solid pink. On our Real Player 8, the video can be choppy depending on the connexion speed at the moment, but there is never a video/audio sync problem, and the audio quality does not seem to be degraded by the player having to handle the video as well. Typically 80 kbps. You may not find the video feed link easily, but it`s under `interactive` via the Proms page at http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/broadcasts/interactive.shtml Most concerts start at 1830 UT (``7:30 pm``), but on Tue July 23 there is an early one at 1800 and a late one at 2100. So we were frustrated when the (video) webcast insisted it would not start until 7:30. Were we going to miss the first half hour? No, the entire video version was delayed half an hour from the BBCR3 live feed, who knows why, and finally started at 1832, so we first heard and then saw and heard again, the opening number, Elgar`s ``In the South`` overture. Strangely my screensaver (currently `snakes`) cannot detect the motion on the RP box and keeps overriding (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. MINISTER BACKS PLAN FOR WORLD SERVICE TV CHANNEL Matt Wells and Maggie Brown, Monday July 22, 2002, The Guardian The government is considering a radical plan to invest public money in a television equivalent of the BBC World Service. Foreign Office officials are examining ways of using public and private funding to turn the BBC's struggling international TV news channel, BBC World, into a global player along the lines of the World Service radio network. The use of public money would infuriate rivals such as CNN, but ministers believe World Service TV would be more than just a news channel: its existence would promote "good governance" and help raise Britain's international profile. Dennis MacShane, the junior minister responsible for World Service funding, said: "A World Service television network that was popular and successful would do more to promote British interests abroad than almost anything else I can think of." He said that a television version of the World Service could be broadcast in some of the world's major languages - at the moment, the radio network can be heard in 43 versions including English - with particular concentration on "areas of crisis". The incentive to boost the reach of BBC television is clear: the World Service's radio audience fell by 3 million last year to 150 million after years of growth. Audiences in India and Indonesia have dropped over seven years by 45% to 14.6m. But BBC World - the corporation's existing international news channel - is dogged by crippling losses, which rose from £13.2m in 2000-01 to £15.3m in 2001-02. It does not have the same reputation for speed and impact as CNN, although its impartiality and tone have won recognition around the world since September 11. The BBC is attempting to turn BBC World's fortunes around by bringing it into a "global news" division headed by the World Service director, Mark Byford. Under the plan, which is awaiting approval from the Department of Culture, Mr Byford would take charge of the BBC's international TV, radio and online news services. Under present rules, BBC World TV can not draw on public funding, and must remain separate from the domestic news channel, BBC News 24. Mr MacShane suggested the two could eventually be merged. "It's absurd that News 24 is funded out of the licence fee while BBC World has to be funded from advertising. These are the first areas that we have to look at. We have to see how they could come together." The first opportunity for changing the BBC's funding rules will come at the renewal of the corporation's charter in 2006. The plans are at a very early stage, and no decision about whether to commit any new public money would be reached until officials and the BBC came up with a firm set of proposals. Mr MacShane said BSkyB would be invited to submit ideas on how it could become involved. Mr Byford said the first priority was to make the current BBC World television channel break even by 2006. Asked whether eventually it could be turned into a multilingual service along the radio model, he said: "In the past we have had an Arabic TV service and a Hindi TV service, but they have not worked. Anything is possible, but they cost money." Staff at the World Service would be suspicious of any switch in priority to television. One said yesterday: "It sounds like a mad idea. Radio is so cheap - look at what you get for your money with the World Service. With TV you get much less bang for your buck." The Foreign Office has agreed a generous increase in the World Service's grant of about £180m that amounts to an extra £48m over the next three years, significantly above the rate of inflation. The World Service has earmarked an initial £8m for Afghanistan and the Arab broadcasts, and to expand news and current affairs programmes for Africa, where audience levels are rising. New programmes will focus on development and health issues, including Aids. It will also start an English language business service for China. Its controversial policy of switching broadcasts from short wave to FM will be extended. (© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Daniel Say, DXLD) At this point, Parliament still prohibits funding for BBCWS to do television. BBC's international television is, theoretically, at no cost to the British taxpayer or license payer, through the commercial partnerships of BBC World. Unfortunately, international television to many parts of the world has insufficient commercial potential. I would guess BBCWS is anxious to start using television to reach the Arab World and India, at least. But it will take an act of Parliament to do this with government funding. The problem is the fragility of access to satellite transponders. For the Arab World, BBC now has access to Arabsat and Nilesat, the satellites of choice for dish-owners in the region. But if war comes to the region, or the political situation deteriorates, will BBC be evicted from Arabsat and Nilesat? BBC would still be able to reach the Middle East via Hot Bird, but dishes in the region would have to be turned in that direction. And, presumably, BBC would still be broadcasting to the Middle East via shortwave and medium wave. In times of war, people tend to dust off their shortwave radios and resume listening to them (Kim Elliott, DC, swprograms via DXLD) ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. Current schedule: "Our summer frequencies are 7150 khz in the 41 meter band and 17570 in the 16 meter band. If you have any problems, please email me, I'll try to fix things! Judy Lessing, Executive Producer, UN Radio" (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Re 1730- 1745, I suppose (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. A very weak signal audible on 7490, perhaps WJIE again (George Thurman, Chicago, 1500 UT July 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nothing audible here over noise level; should check at night. Yes, at 0510 UT July 23, on 7490, could hear preaching in English, perhaps at slightly better level than previously, so apparently reactivated, tho no ID. Passed the ``is it an image`` test. Still no match for the nearby T-storm noise level and no comparison to other US 7 MHz signals, such as KTBN-7510. If anyone hear WOR at previously scheduled time of 0645, please let me know, and which edition (gh, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LEGISLATORS VOTE TO BOOST BROADCASTS TO MUSLIM COUNTRIES | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 23 July The US House of Representatives has voted to increase American radio and TV broadcasts to Muslim countries and to promote other public diplomacy measures in an effort to counter rising anti-American sentiment in those regions of the world. The Freedom Promotion Act of 2002, passed on Monday 22 July, allocates 135m dollars to expand radio and TV programming from the USA to Islamic nations in the Middle East, Asia and Africa to broaden their access to what the legislators described as "uncensored news and entertainment". The act provides for a total of 255m dollars to be spent over two years to improve State Department communications strategies and finance exchange programmes in journalism training, English language teaching, twin-city partnerships and academic exchanges with predominantly Muslim countries, as well as expanding US international broadcasting. Funds would also help to modernize technology used to distribute information about the United States and increase translation services at overseas posts. "Much of the popular press overseas, often including the government- owned media, daily depict the United States as a force for evil, accusing this country of an endless number of malevolent plots against the world," Henry Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said in Monday's debate. The Republican representative from Illinois, who is the chief sponsor of the bill, added: "Even as we strike against the network of terrorists who masterminded the murder of thousands of Americans, our actions are widely depicted in the Muslim world as a war against Islam." There is a need, Hyde said, to ensure that "the truth about our country rises above the cacophony of hate and misinformation that often passes for discourse in many areas of the world". US broadcasting "ineffective and antiquated" In testimony last year before the House International Relations Committee, the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which oversees US international broadcasting efforts, stated that "we have virtually no youthful audience under the age of 25 in the Arab world," Hyde recalled. He went on: "It is increasingly clear that much of the problem lies in our ineffective and often antiquated methods. For example, broadcasts on shortwave radio simply cannot compete with AM and FM channels in terms of accessibility, to say nothing of television, the most powerful medium of all. Shifting our efforts into these and other broad-based media, including the Internet and others, will take time and money, but this reorientation is a prerequisite to reaching our intended audience." According to officials in Congress, the information counter-offensive would involve government-owned Voice of America stepping up its radio broadcasts on AM and using more local FM radio relays, as well as seeking broader access via local TV channels in the Muslim world. Supporters of the act said US public diplomacy specialists should increase their use of the Internet and take a more active part in the public debate in Muslim countries. The legislation still has to be considered by the Senate, but according to Hyde, the State Department supports it. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** U S A. I was wondering if anyone in the northeast has heard any further news about the Ibiquity Digital experimental station? A construction permit for 1700 kHz was issued for the Ibiquity facility in Warren NJ on April 18th under the call sign WI2XAM (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, July 21, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WEB RADIO - GOING UNDERGROUND? From http://www.slyck.com/newsjuly2002/072002c.html Saturday July 20, 2002 Netizens may soon find Internet radio stations far and few between. A recently established royalty rate may force many smaller web casters to shut their operations down, as already witnessed by KPIG. While KPIG's shutdown may be temporary, many others won't be able to work a deal out with the music industry. With these increased royalty rates, many in the web casting industry are predicting near certain doom for net radio. Paul Maloney, editor of RAIN (Radio and Internet Newsletter), stated for News.com "It's almost certain that unless some emergency legislation goes through, most of the Web casting industry will go away." While the business model of net radio may be in trouble, web casting may continue to be a nemesis for the music industry. The music industry may have received the results they wanted by eliminating legitimate web casting, however a "Phantom Menace" lurks in the shadows of P2P networking. Welcome "Streamer", dubbing itself "Pirate radio for the digital age". This application utilizes P2P technology to allow 56k peers right up to Cable users to establish net radio stations. Recent upgrades to the software have eliminated the web interface and DOS module for a more user friendly windows GUI. The application is still in its infancy, however it shows promise as we were able to connect to several net stations. In all, about 10 stations were operational, with a decent selection of music available. In order to be a viable presence and replacement for the impending doom of net radio as we know it, "Streamer's" population will have to grow to substantial numbers. Ten stations won't cut it, as hundreds, if not thousands of legitimate stations presently exist. With the right promotional effort and press coverage, we may witness net radio's renaissance thought the technology of P2P networking (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. CONTROVERSY ARISES OVER PUBLIC RADIO By: Christine Dippold 07/11/02 -------------------------- The Board of Education for the Columbus Public Schools rejected a resolution to end all negotiations with outside parties concerning relinquishing the management of WCBE 90.5 FM yesterday. The board is involved in negotiations to transfer management of the public radio station to Ohio State's WOSU or another entity. Board members debated the controversial resolution, discussing the possibility administrators may have been involved in private negotiations for the public station. "The main reason to pass the resolution now is it is a way out for everybody involved," said board member Bill Moss before the resolution was voted upon. "It appears this Board of Education has been party to a hoax, a deception on the public." Controversy emerged via a recent Columbus Alive article stating a confidential proposal was made in 1998 by WOSU to enter into a management agreement between WOSU and WCBE. Columbus Public School administrators declined the offer. That proposal would have allowed for a future signal trade with the Dispatch Broadcast Group's WBNS 1460 AM, which broadcasts some of OSU's games, and the more powerful WOSU 820 AM, Moss said. The current proposal does not involve WBNS 1460 AM. WCBE is an educational public broadcast radio station licensed to the Columbus Board of Education. The station airs news programs, such as National Public Radio, broadcasts school board meetings and plays a variety of local and world music. The original proposal between WCBE and WOSU called for a collaboration between the stations. "Right now WOSU and WCBE have 55 duplicate program hours," said David Carwile, WOSU's station manager. "We don't want to ask the community to pay twice for the same programming." Carwile said WOSU would like cut down on the duplicate programming and add new programming which would better serve blacks and other minorities. Board member Loretta Heard suggested negotiations remain open, but with an outside committee to oversee the negotiations. "This situation does belong to the citizens of the school district," Heard said. "Let's be honest, we still have an opportunity to do it in an open manner." Other board members were adamant about rejecting the resolution, claiming not enough information was available to simply arrest all negotiations. Board member Jeff Cabot said ending all negotiations would close doors for the board in terms of future decisions over the radio station. "If we reject the resolution tonight, we still have the availability to retain the station as it is now," Cabot said. Moss said some board members were participating willingly in an exercise to "fool the public." "I am disappointed and disturbed by the attitude and appearance of (the board) that this is a 'perfect deal' for the Columbus Public Schools," Moss said. "It appears we have another growing scandal on our hands." Angered citizens shared similar views as Moss. Prior to the meeting, a local group, On the Columbus Plantation, handed out copies of the Columbus Alive article surrounded by pictures of most board members and the word "crooks." Also on the copy was a picture of board President Stephanie Hightower with caption, "Stephanie Hightower is not good for our children." The resolution was rejected, with only two "yes" votes from board members Moss and Heard. The vote evoked heckling from community audience members, who called the board members liars, thieves and conspirators. -------------------------- Story Source: The Lantern (via DXLD) ** U S A. CHERISHING AN OLD-TIME GROOVE, By Sue Anne Pressley STAUNTON, Va. Ray Houser, host of one of the longest-running radio programs in America, takes a seat at the piano, behind the big, black microphone. His old cat, Cooter, is prowling around the edge of the living room, and out past the screen door, there's the sound of traffic whizzing by.... To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41524-2002Jul21.html (via Tom McNiff, DXLD) ** U S A. Update with Grosse Pointe AM 1170 Hi everyone. I have been out of town the last day in a half, and when I got back today I got a letter from the people who were testing out 1170 for Grosse Pointe. They do not consider themselves to be pirates, but rather they are just experimenting with different antenna patterns and they will be moving to a new frequency soon. They didn't go on because of WQRS, but like I said right now they are just experimenting. Will let you all know if I hear anything (JEFFREY MICHAEL KENYON, MI, July 21, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. SISTER MARY CATHERINE CALLS INTO EWTN PROGRAM TO REPORT ON MOTHER ANGELICA`S HEALTH Irondale, AL, July 8 (EWTN)— Sister Mary Catherine, Mother Vicar of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama called in to EWTN`s Mother Angelica Live program last Tuesday evening to provide a live update on the condition of the Foundress of EWTN. Speaking with the program`s interim host, Father Mitch Pacwa, SJ, Sister Mary Catherine remarked that Mother Angelica is doing well, six months after she suffered a very serious stroke. Sister Catherine said as she stood at Mother`s bedside that first evening, she wasn`t sure Mother would even survive the night. At that time, Mother`s doctor told Sister Mary Catherine ``She`s in God`s hands, but medically speaking, it`s not good.`` Sister Catherine termed Mother`s recovery to date nothing short of a miracle and attributes her vastly improved condition to the thousands of prayers offered worldwide for Mother Angelica. Sister Mary Catherine also commented on Mother`s prognosis, saying that while she has overcome the paralysis, her speech is not yet in order. ``She isn`t able to communicate properly,`` she said. ``She`s able to speak in sentences, but very often in the middle of a sentence, she`s not able to continue.`` Sister Mary Catherine said that Mother Angelica wants to be with her ``EWTN Family`` but knows she is not ready. ``Mother occasionally watches the network and she is very happy with what she sees,`` she said. ``But,`` she continued, ``Mother also knows this is God`s Will and she is accepting this `Cross` as she has so many other crosses during her lifetime. I know her suffering is doing great things for the Church.`` Mother Vicar asked for everyone to continue praying for Mother Angelica`s full recovery and eventual return to EWTN. Michael Warsaw, president of EWTN, said to date more than 365,000 Rosaries, 59,000 Novenas, 194,000 Mass Intentions, 233,000 Holy Communions, 95,000 Holy Hours and 687,000 Lord`s Prayers and other prayers, have been posted in the Spiritual Bouquet for Mother Angelica on EWTN`s website http://www.ewtn.com (Catholic Radio Update July 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. From Radio and Records: RANDY MICHAELS OUT OF CLEAR CHANNEL RADIO DIVISION Michaels, who assumed control of Clear Channel's radio stations following the company's merger with Jacor in 1999, will now oversee Clear Channel's New Technologies Division, focusing on the interactive, wireless broadband and satellite technologies businesses. Clear Channel President/COO Mark Mays will serve as acting CEO of the radio division until a permanent successor to Michaels can be found. John Hogan will continue as COO of Clear Channel Radio. "Randy has been, and continues to be, a great contributor to Clear Channel," Mays says. "Without his vision and foresight we would not have been able to develop the best, most well-positioned, unduplicatable collection of radio stations in the world." (via Dennis Gibson, July 22, IRCA via DXLD) CLEAR CHANNEL LEADS RADIO STOCKS' DROP by David Wilkerson, CBS MarketWatch.com, July 23, 2002 (10:44 a.m.) NEW YORK (CBS.MW) -- Radio station giant Clear Channel Communications' shares plunged 24 percent Tuesday afternoon, dragging the radio sector lower amid concerns about second-quarter earnings. The stock was recently changing hands at $22.68, down $7.29 after the company said Randy Michaels has resigned as chief executive of the radio unit to lead a division dedicated to new technologies. Jordan Rohan, media analyst at Soundview, said Michaels' move only heightened existing doubts about achieving the radio division's earnings target. "(We) have heard that local station GMs within CCU's radio group have become a bit nervous about meeting internal projections," Rohan wrote in a report on Tuesday. "We have yet to find any smoking gun, and believe that it is difficult to extrapolate from one inconclusive data point. That said, the sudden reassignment of ... Randy Michaels casts some doubt on the radio group's performance." Other radio shares dropped sharply as Entercom Communications fell $5.23, or 12.6 percent, to $36.35; Emmis Communications lost $1.98, or 12.4 percent, to $13.95; Radio One dropped $1.70, or 13 percent, to $11.41; and Hispanic Broadcasting lost $1.83, or 9 percent, to $18.89. Viacom, owner of the large Infinity radio group, was down $3, or 9 percent, at $31.55. The company is slated to report second-quarter results Thursday (via Dennis Gibson, July 23, IRCA via DXLD) Oh Boy!! Now Randy will find another aspect of the media industry to ruin (Dave Marthouse, VA, NRC-AM via DXLD) Dave, you know how much I respect you when it comes to all things radio (and how much I envy you having your own "candy store" and living the dream so many of us have or once had) - but I have to disagree, and vehemently at that, with the knee-jerk portrayal of Randy as a one-man Satan of the radio industry. I've been fortunate enough to get to know Randy, in at least a small way, over the last year or so, and it's no exaggeration to say that he would fit in perfectly at an NRC convention. He is an avid MW DXer (he has a longwire at his home outside Cincinnati, which he uses to tune in WSM during the day, and he DXes from his plane, too) with a knowledge of broadcast history, lore and legend that would put most of us to shame. During the Jacor years, at least, Randy revived - almost singlehandedly - the financial viability of AM news-talk radio in America. At stations like WLW, which Jacor took from ratings limbo to #1 in Cincinnati, Randy showed that it's possible to use FM attitude and FM imaging to make AM sound relevant and fun. And did I mention that Randy is an engineer by trade, who rebuilt the original 1927 Western Electric transmitter at WLW - a unit that is still used occasionally as a backup-backup-backup? (It was on the air for Y2K, in fact.) Randy assembled a phenomenal team of engineering talent at Jacor/Clear Channel Radio - guys like Al Kenyon, Jeff Littlejohn and J.T. Anderton who know more about the AM spectrum than anyone else out there, and who have taken literally hundreds of tired facilities that hadn't seen maintenance in decades and rebuilt them to modern standards. None of which is to imply that I approve of a lot of what Clear Channel has done in recent years. Where AM is concerned (and this is the AM list, after all), too many of Clear Channel's stations (like WHTK 1280 here in Rochester) are forced to play seventh-fiddle to their bigger AM and FM sisters, receiving no promotion and no attention. And voice-tracking, which can be a very useful and versatile tool in the right circumstances, has probably been pushed too far in too many CC venues. BUT - and I'll maintain this vehemently in the face of all the message-board gloating we're seeing today - anyone who expects these problems to somehow magically disappear in the wake of Randy's ouster doesn't understand what's really happening at Clear Channel. The business pressures under which Randy had to operate were not of his own making; they came from the big Clear Channel bosses, Lowry Mays and his son Mark, down in San Antonio. With Mark running CC Radio for now, and the Mays family saying the next CC Radio boss will be based in Texas, not Cincinnati, expect the bottom-line mentality to get a lot worse, not better, especially without a leader who understands and loves radio as deeply as Randy. And I don't care who they hire next (unless, perhaps, the team of Vobbe, Bowker and Durenberger moves into the executive suite!) - whoever they get won't understand and love radio as deeply as Randy does and did. I can't wait to see what he does next. -s (Scott Fybush, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. I found a site with loads of network and local logos, old and new. It looks like some have been lifted from other sites, but it's still a great page. http://members.fortunecity.com/teamfx2000/television/television.htm (Chris Carter, Brookhaven, MS, WTFDA via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. En la frecuencia 5170 pude captar una emisora de números y letras a las 2310 UT; la estuve escuchando por varios minutos y repitieron siempre el mismo mensaje: VLBA181 (José Elías, Venezuela, July 22, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ The Hammarlund Historian website is under new management at its new address: http://www.hammarlund.info Barry Hauser and Les Locklear, who had provided most of the historical info to the original site, Andy Moorer and Al Parker are now overseers. Les has added to the historical info, Andy has been scanning and uploading manuals, Al P. has been working on a new service section and a new overall look for the site. We hope to have many more Hammarlund manuals available for (free) download, many are already there. The new service section has as it's main feature an article by Ray Vasek, W2EC, on re-capping the SP-600, which has been published in Hollow State News, of which Barry Hauser is the editor. We invite you to take a look at the "new, bright" format and the new features. We hope to be adding to the content and making it a source for answers to many of your Hammarlund questions. 73 de Barry H., Les L., Andy M. and Al P. (oops, lost source via...) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ "The Shortwave Guide" (volume 1) Here's a copy of some correspondence I had with the publisher, Nicholas Hardyman (with his kind permission of course; thanks, Nicholas): Hello Mike, Good to hear from you again, and thank you for your kind comments about The Shortwave Guide. ``One small quibble, a lot of the email addresses on pages 186 to 202 are bouncing, it may be my PC but I doubt it, this happened using WTVH when it was published as well. Not sure what you can do for future editions except to check with the stations direct which will take some time I suppose (assuming you can contact them cheaply anyway!).`` E-mail addresses are a big problem because they change so often that it is hard to keep up with them. We have considered, but rejected, simply putting in web addresses where we have both, on the assumption that the website will last longer and will list the latest e-mail contacts. The solution is indeed to ring every station each year and get the latest e-mail details (although even these will change during the year) but this does take a lot of time. Contacts with international broadcasters is something I am investigating at the moment (Nicholas Hardyman, WRTH, via Mike Terry, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ MAJOR STORM ALERT We might be getting some calls during the next couple of weeks from customers with new shortwave radios complaining that they can not hear anything or they think their new radio is defective. But that probably will not be the case. Over the last week we have experiencing exceptionally stormy solar conditions which renders the HF spectrum completely devoid of any signals for extended periods of time. Over the weekend, things went so quiet that I was convinced that my coax cables had gone bad after the X3.3 flare/sudden ionospheric storm on Saturday. And now from CQ Propagation Editor, Tomas Hood, comes the word that things could be even more active over this next week and into next with solar storms/flares the likes of which we haven't seen in years. Larry Van Horn, N5FPW Grove Enterprises Technical Support Department Monitoring Times Assist Editor, Fed File/Milcom Columnist Telephone: V-828-837-9200/F-828-837-2216/800-438-8155 -----Original Message----- From: Tomas Hood - NW7US Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 7:50 AM Subject: Major Storm Alert We are in for an interesting week! Minor to major storm levels of geomagnetic disturbances are expected as early as in the late afternoon on July 24 over North America, with increases in geomagnetic activity starting today (July 23). The next week may see extreme solar flare activity. Region 10039 (Catania sunspot group #35), which produced the X3.3 flare of July 20, struck again on July 23, producing an X4.8 flare with the X-ray flux peaking at 0035Z. This solar flare is a proton- producing flare and the energetic protons are expected to reach the Earth and begin slowly enhancing the radiation in the near-Earth space environment by the end of today (July 23). Region 10039 has rotated fully into view at the southeast limb. This region has the potential to produce occasional X10+ flares. During the X4.8 flare, a large and fast full halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was observed with a leading edge speed above 1700km/s. Although the fastest part of the CME headed eastwards, Earth should receive an impact on July 24, resulting in a severely disturbed geomagnetic field for 12 to 24 hours after the impact. This event is very similar to the eruption of July 20, probably at the origin of the geomagnetic disturbances of yesterday (July 22) around noon (Zulu). But this one will be stronger and more geoeffective. Minor to major storm levels of geomagnetic disturbances are thus expected as early as in the afternoon of July 25 (late afternoon on July 24 over North America). Additional major X-class solar flares from this Region over the next two weeks might produce very active and geomagnetically stormy conditions, the likes of which we have not observed in over 10 years. If Region 10039 holds true to its potential, the spot complex will continue to produce very energetic solar activity about once every 2 to 3 days as it rotates across the face of the Sun. The Region is well-placed for producing large, geoeffective impacts on the earth, and it will remain visible for about another 12 to 13 days. The next week or two could see some considerable solar radiation storms, auroral storm activity, ionospheric storming, and significant geomagnetic storming. Similar historic periods have produced heavy Auroral events, radio blackouts, and so on. These Auroral event have been visible throughout the continental United States and Canada, even into parts of Mexico. New Zealand, Australia, Southern Africa, and South America have witnessed the "Southern Lights" during such events. This type of Aurora might happen as early as July 24. Storms of this magnitude ("superstorms") occur on average once every six years or so. It has now been about 12 years since the Earth was hit by a superstorm. Shortwave (High Frequency) propagation will experience fadeouts, with possible R1 to R2 radio blackouts from July 23 through July 25. Long distance medium wave (AM) band propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes is poor to very poor. If we get the Aurora, look for Auroral-mode propagation. 73 de Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA -- : CQ Propagation Editor, CQ Magazine - - http://prop.hfradio.org : : Brinnon, Washington 122.93W 47.67N -- http://hfradio.org/barsc : : http://hfradio.org http://swl.hfradio.org http://accessnow.com : : 10x56526 - FISTS 7055 - FISTS NW 57 - Member Army MARS & ARRL : : A.R.Lighthouse Society 144 -- CW, SSB, RTTY, AMTOR, DX-Hunting : _______________________________________________ WUN mailing list WUN@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/wun (via Larry Van Horn, MT, DXLD) Official Space Weather Advisory issued by NOAA Space Environment Center Boulder, Colorado, USA SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY BULLETIN #02- 2 2002 July 23 at 12:00 p.m. MDT (2002 July 23 1800 UTC) **** ( CORRECTED ) MAJOR SUNSPOT ACTITVITY **** A major sunspot region has rotated onto the visible face of the sun. This region, designated as Region 39 by NOAA Space Environment Center forecasters, is believed to have been the source of three large coronal mass ejexions on the far side of the sun beginning on July 16. This region will rotate across the visible side of the sun over the next two weeks and is expected to produce more solar activity. Since appearing on the visible side yesterday (July 22) this region has already produced a major flare at 6:35 pm Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on July 22 (0035, July 23 UTC). Radio blackouts reached category R3 (Strong) on the NOAA space weather scales. In response to the major flare, a geomagnetic storm is possible and is expected to begin between 8:00 pm MDT on July 23 and 8 am MDT on July 24 (0200 - 1400, July 24 UTC). The geomagnetic storm may reach category G2 (moderate) levels on the NOAA space weather scales. Category R3 radio blackouts result in widespread HF radio communication outages on the dayside of the Earth and can also degrade low frequency navigation signals. Category G2 geomagnetic storms can lead to minor problems with electrical power systems, spacecraft operations, communications systems, and some navigational systems. Aurora Borealis / Australis (northern / southern lights) may be seen down into the mid latitudes (New York, Madison, Boise, Vladivostok, Rome, Tasmania, Wellington - NZ, Puerto Montt - Chile) Data used to provide space weather services are contributed by NOAA, USAF, NASA, NSF, USGS, the International Space Environment Services and other observatories, universities, and institutions. For more information, including email services, see SEC's Space Weather Advisories Web site http://sec.noaa.gov/advisories or (303) 497-5127. The NOAA Public Affairs contact is Barbara McGehan at Barbara.-@noaa.gov or (303) 497-6288. (via Ian Johnson, ARDXC via DXLD) A G2-level Geomagnetic storm forecast for 0200 - 1400, JUL 24 02 UTC. Major X4.8 Flare with CME is cause. Aurora likely in mid-latitudes. Elevated solar wind expected. Some fading as well as radio blackouts likely. Trans Global Propagation Via F layers will be affected (Many years on the SW bands From SE England, Karl kruger 73's :-{) July 23, GRDXC via DXLD) ON-LINE NOW - THE NEW IPS WEB SITE Following a preview period over the past month, IPS has now switched over to its new web site. * Where? The home page address of our new site is the same as that of the old - http://www.ips.gov.au * Will I be able to access IPS pages I currently have book-marked? Clicking on book-marked pages from the current site will re-direct you via a transfer page to the new site. To find the location of a previously book-marked page, you can enter the title of the page (not its URL) into the Site Search Engine, located in the Navigation Bar at the bottom of each page. This will re-direct you to the nearest equivalent page on the new site. Alternatively, the Navigation Bar at the top of each page will help you find your way around. * Who do I contact for more information? If you have any problems locating a page from the current site, please e-mail webhelp@ips.gov.au, and advise us of the title (and URL, if possible), of the page you are looking for. We will then advise you of where to look on the new site (Patrick Phelan via Daniel Say, July 21, DXLD) DXERS CALLING +++++++++++++ Hi Everyone, thanks to some good advice from George Maroti, I've now got your favourite DX program available for download in the 'files' section of Audiosend, including, Paul Ormandy SPDXR, World of Radio with Glenn Hauser, Fred Moe and Random Transmissions, and my own 'dxers calling media report'. Dxers Calling Audiosend is designed for listeners who miss the shortwave broadcast and /or when other sites malfunction, and is available at: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/dxerscallingAudiosend Click on the files section. You can download the files when you're free to do so, you no longer have to wait for the email to arrive. Marie Lamb and DXing with Cumbre and Chris Lobdell's Pirating with Cumbre will be available this Saturday from 0700 UT. If you are a producer and would like to add a program at DXers Calling Audiosend, feel free to post it to me at nri3@yahoo.com.au and I'm also looking for other program makers to put together 10 to 15 minute specials about radio (any subject) which will be heard during Dave N1DK 'Cybershortwave' on alternate weekends Sunday at 1500 UT and here at Audiosend. Dxers calling media news is also looking for alternate producer/program makers. Finally, feel free to invite others to become involved with 'Dxers Calling' and 'Cybershortwave' and Jen's 'MVR Radio' (Mountainview radio 1700 UT alternate Sundays, Fridays, Saturdays). Thanks again, and I hope you find the Dxers Calling group useful, 73 (Tim, Dxers Calling Audiosend and Newsgroup, AUS, via DXLD) TIPS FOR RATIONAL LIVING ++++++++++++++++++++++++ Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, and others participated in a discussion on the second hour of WAMU`s Public Interest, Monday, July 22. - ATHEISTS AND SECULAR HUMANISTS Atheism, agnosticism, secular humanism, free-thinkers and skeptics -- the terms are often used interchangeably. Join Kojo for a look at a set of beliefs that are often misunderstood and occasionally vilified. Norman Allen, Executive Director of African-Americans for Humanism Ellen Johnson, President, American Atheists Allen Stairs, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Associate Chair of the Philosophy Department, University of Maryland at College Park It is available ondemand indefinitely via: http://www.wamu.org/ram/2002/p2020722.ram ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-116, July 21, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1140: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1140.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Mon 0000? 9475, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 NOTE: our main site http://www.worldofradio.com may have some down time in next few days. If so, check for latest info at http://www.angelfire.com/ok/worldofradio/anomaly.html ** ANTARCTICA. FACILIDADES Y FRECUENCIAS DE COMUNICACION Bases Antárticas Argentinas [with callsigns] BASE JUBANY: HF: 4490 y 4705 KHz. AYQ743/AZD36/LTA 284 BASE BELGRANO II: HF: 4490 KHz; 7980 KHz; 11440 KHz; 14402,5 KHz. HF: LTA 115 BASE ESPERANZA: HF: 4490 KHz; 7980 KHz; 11440 KHz; 14402,5 KHz. HF: LTA 116 BASE SAN MARTIN: HF: 4490 - 7980 KHz; HF: LTA 126 BASE MARAMBIO: HF: 4490 KHz; 8980 KHz; 2455 KHz; 4705 KHz. BASE ORCADAS: [South Orkney] HF: 4, 5 y 6; 4490-8980 KHz (from http://www.dna.gov.ar/INTINFO/ARGPERES.HTM via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, July 20, Conexión Digital via DXLD; gh excerpted HF only) ** ARMENIA. Dear Glenn, referring to your current World of Radio in which you mentioned some times/fq's of Armenia, I can tell you that I still hear them in English as follows: 1940-2000 UT on 4810 and 9960 kHz Mon-Sat 0810-0830 UT on 15270 kHz Sunday (but covered by co-channel Italy) 73, (Erik Koie, Copenhagen, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Voice International, 18 July 1300-1400+ on 13685 running a loop for an hour, about technical difficulties with English programming; would resume momentarily, but never did (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia - special broadcast for Commonwealth Games (held in Manchester UK) Radio Australia is also broadcasting ABC Radio`s specialist Commonwealth Games coverage live to the Asia-Pacific region on a dedicated short wave channel – 11650 kHz – for the duration of the Games. ABC RADIO`S COMMONWEALTH GAMES COVERAGE: 11650 kHz [for any of us not in Suheevah, subtract 12 hours for UT] Fri 26 July (opening ceremony): 8:00 am (Suva time) Sat 27 July: 8:00 pm (Suva time) Sun 28 July: 7:00 pm (Suva time) Mon 29 July - Fri 2 August: 8:00 pm (Suva time) Sat 3 August: 8:00 pm (Suva time) Sun 4 August: 7:00 pm (Suva time) Coverage closes at 7:00 am each day, 9:00 am for opening and closing ceremonies For more information on Radio Australia's comprehensive coverage of the 2002 Commonwealth Games visit the Radio Australia Sports website (click on the Commonwealth Games icon) at http://abc.net.au/ra/sport. For additional information: Andria Hutchins, Marketing Manager, ABC Radio Australia, tel. + 61 3 9626 1723 (via E. Baxendale, UK, July 19, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Uma das figurinhas difíceis das ondas curtas é a Rádio Difusora 6 de Agosto, de Xapuri(AC). Pois o Júlio Baldim, de Salto (SP), captou a emissora em duas oportunidades: em 18 e 19 de julho, às 0947 e 0933, respectivamente. A emissora transmite em 3255 kHz. De acordo com o Júlio, a identificação da emissora é a seguinte: "Rádio Difusora Seis de Agosto, mais música regional!". (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - A Rádio Nacional AM, do Rio de Janeiro(RJ), que emite em 1130 kHz e teve tempos de glória nas ondas curtas, não virou mera repetidora da programação gerada pela Radiobrás, em Brasília. De acordo com a Diretora da emissora, o governo pretende investir 800 mil reais para recuperar a Nacional. Os programas musicais, humorísticos e radionovelas dos áureos tempos da Nacional serão remasterizados. Marizete Mundim convida os ouvintes da Nacional a permanecer na audiência. As informações são da jornalista Magaly Prado, na coluna Pensata (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - E a nova programação da Rádio Gazeta, de São Paulo(SP), hein? "Foi para as cucuias", conforme definiu Magaly Prado, em sua coluna publicada no sítio: http://www.uol.com.br/folha/pensata Recordando: a Gazeta pretendia transmitir programação feita pelos acadêmicos da Faculdade Casper Líbero. Para tanto, rescindiu o contrato de concessão de suas emissoras para a Igreja Pentecostal Deus é Amor. Os religiosos não gostaram e entraram na justiça alegando a quebra de contrato. Ganharam em primeira instância e as freqüências de 5955, 9685 e 15325 kHz voltaram a emitir a programação religiosa (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - O radioescuta brasileiro Sarmento Campos, residente no Rio de Janeiro(RJ), acaba de lançar um sítio com informações sobre o mundo das ondas curtas. Tem uma lista com todos os horários e freqüências das emissoras que emitem em português e espanhol. Confira em: http://planeta.terra.com.br/arte/sarmentocampos/OndasCurtas.htm (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - Um programa interessante para os radioescutas "coroas" é levado ao ar, aos sábados, pela Rádio Brasil Central, de Goiânia(GO), entre 0030 e 0300. São executadas músicas de Nat King Cole, Trio Los Panchos, Dolores Durán, Pepino di Capri, dentre outros. A dica é do José Moacir Portera de Melo, de Pontes e Lacerda(MT). A Rádio Brasil Central pode ser captada nas freqüências de 4985 e 11815 kHz. Confira! (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - A Rádio Verdes Florestas, de Cruzeiro do Sul(AC), foi sintonizada em Tefé(AM), pelo radioescuta Paulo Roberto e Souza, na freqüência de 4865 kHz, em 18 de julho, entre 0005 e 0030, transmitindo avisos para as comunidades e seringais da região. De acordo com o Paulo, no Estado do Acre, "a atividade extrativista dos seringueiros ainda tem importância econômica considerável". (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) BRASIL - Uma emissora brasileira que respeita os ouvintes é a Rádio Difusora, de Poços de Caldas(MG). Vilmar Garcia, apresentador do programa Volta do Sucesso, levado ao ar aos domingos, entre 0100 e 0200, informa que todas as cartas são respondidas com o envio de um postal da cidade. É mais uma oportunidade para obter a confirmação da emissora, que emite em 4945 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 17815, Rádio Cultura, 0210-0252 Jul 19, program of romantic vocals hosted by a man with Portuguese talks. Poor to fair and mainly over Romania until RRI dominated channel with Listeners Letterbox program at 0240 right through close down at 0256 (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CANADA. LATE ITEM: Canadian Catholic Radio is offering daily World Youth Day programs in English and French at no charge. See the news item at http://www.zenit.org/english. The Zenit article is copyright and I cannot reproduce it. CCR did not send me a press release, although they read this newsletter (Mike Dorner, LA, Catholic Radio Update July 21 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Among the programming on R. Católica Nacional is two hours of Ecuadorian music M-F 1330-1530, supposedly launched at http://www.ecuadormedia.com/radio/quito/radios/radiocat.html (via Catholic Radio Update July 22, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB is offering another vintage QSL card. It is the 1968- C card, which was part of the "Project Outreach" series of six cards. The cards depict various broadcast and transmitting equipment, and the 1968-C card shows a 50-kW transmitter they were using at the time. It was designed and built by HCJB staff while the station was looking into the possibility of buying 100-kW transmitters, and it was considered Phase 3 out of the six phases depicted in the cards. This card is available to anyone who sends in a reception report and specifically requests this card. Reception reports may be e-mailed to dxpl@hcjb.org.ec, or may be mailed to: DX Partyline ** HCJB ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador (HCJB DXPL July 13, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) HCJB has found more QSL cards from past decades, and they are available for those who send reception reports and request the specific cards. The 1974-F card was part of the "Mountains of Ecuador" series. Only 12 of this design are available, so six of the cards will be given to the first six people who request them by e-mail, and the other six will be given to the first six who ask for them by regular mail. Requests that are received after these run out will receive the 1974-D card, which shows the summit of Mt. Cotopaxi. The e-mail address is dxpl@hcjb.org.ec and the postal address is: HCJB ** DX Partyline ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador (HCJB DXPL July 20, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE via DXLD) ** HAWAII. HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO SELLS KIFO AM By Wayne Harada, Advertiser Entertainment Writer Posted on: Sunday, July 21, 2002 Hawai'i Public Radio's AM station, KIFO 1370, has been sold and will cease operations as a public radio station on Aug. 1. Diamond Broadcasting, a subsidiary of Legacy Communications Corp. of Utah, has acquired the station in a sale that has been under negotiation for months. KIFO will continue to broadcast its regular programming through the end of this month. The purchase price was $500,000, half of which is earmarked to help reduce HPR's debt. The rest will be spent on a re-engineering of KIPO 89.3 FM, known for its news and jazz broadcasts, to boost service and access. The re-engineering will make KIPO as accessible to listeners as sister station KHPR 88.1 FM, the network's classical music station. "Selling KIFO has been under discussion in HPR board meetings since 1999," said Michael Titterton, station president and general manager. "The board is now totally focused on our objective of broadcasting two high-quality program services to all of Hawai'i." KIPO (in Honolulu) will continue its format of providing news, information and entertainment programming, with jazz, world, blues and other types of music in the evenings. KHPR (in Honolulu), KKUA 90.7 FM (in Wailuku) and KANO 91.1 FM (in Hilo) feature news and classical music formats (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) KIFO was great when it took over the "dark" 1380 about ten years ago. It ran almost all the NPR speech offerings, and cleared Morning Edition and ATC live from east coast feed. The FM delayed both to fit in Hawaiian local time. In the last couple of years, KIFO has just been a 24/7 simulcast of KIPO-FM, so no great loss. At one time, KIFO, when it was on 1380, was one of only two directional AM stations in Hawaii. It had a null to protect the FCC monitoring station. When on 1380, it always suffered severe co-channel QRM from the second harmonic of the 10 KW on 690, whose tower was much closer to downtown (Brock Whaley, Atlanta GA, July 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR is celebrating its 75th anniversary on Tuesday 23 July 2002. So look out for special programs on AIR. There are announcements about this platinum jubilee on AIR stations especially on the Vividh Bharthi about special phone in programs etc. Only July 21, 2002 Sunday AWR Wavescan is having a special program on AIR (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRà - Está no ar mais uma edição do tradicional concurso da Voz da República Islâmica do Irã, o Fadjir VII. Este ano o tema é a Intifada Palestina. Para participar, basta enviar um texto sobre o assunto. A emissora promete valiosos prêmios. O prazo final é 31 de dezembro de 2002, conforme monitoria de Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé(AM). A Voz do Irã pode ser captada, em espanhol, nos seguintes horários e freqüências: das 0030 às 0127, em 9515, 9655 e 13755 kHz. Entre 0130 e 0227, em 9560, 9655, 9810 e 13755 kHz. De 0230 às 0327, em 13730 kHz. Também entre 0530 e 0627, em 17590 e 17785 kHz. Por fim, das 2030 às 2127, em 9750 e 11765 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 20 via DXLD) ** KENYA [non]. There was a great band from Philadelphia in the early 1950's, known, amazingly enough, as the Nairobi Trio. The things that group could do with a few mallets, rubber masks and banana peels. Ernie lives. If you are curious as to where the word "Solfeggio" comes from, check out this web page: http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/scales/solmization/syllables.html The piece was aptly named. Ernie Kovacs used the piece so often that when MGM decided to release it on record in 1953, they changed the title to "Song of the Nairobi Trio" because that title had greater public recognition. The piece was written by Robert Maxwell and performed by Maxwell, his harp and orchestra. The vocal performance was by the Ray Charles singers. The song is today available on CD in an album entitled "The Ernie Kovacs Record Collection" Varese Sarabande VSD-5789. I remember first hearing and seeing it performed on Ernie's TV show as an instrumental. I think it was MGM that added the vocal part. I'm trying to remember whether that was on his 15 minute nightly show from Philadelphia's channel 3, WPTZ which I think preceded John Cameron Swayze's Camel Caravan newscast on WNBT channel 4 in NYC or after he moved to WABD channel 5 NYC. In those days it was unusual for folks in NYC to see programs originating in other cities. The coax cable only extended to Philadelphia in one direction and Boston in the other direction. For those of you like Ralph Brandi who never had the pleasure of seeing the first true video craftsman at work, I would like to recommend a six tape set of some of Ernie Kovacs' better skits. He influenced Rowan and Martin, Johnny Carson, and Steve Martin among others. It is available from Amazon.com and the Museum of Television and Radio gift shop in NYC. The cost was about $38 from Amazon and slightly more at the Museum with the NYC sales tax, etc. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ I first saw Ernie Kovacs' work in my television classes at college. The man created the vocabulary of television. Before him, TV was just radio with pictures. I wasn't kidding when I said he's my hero and inspiration. I've written articles explaining that what the web needs is its very own Ernie Kovacs to usher it out of its infancy by showing us what the web is good at doing rather than trying to do all that old stuff on the web. Right now, the web is in its radio with pictures stage, and that's what I find inspiring about him. I would recommend getting the set that Joe mentions on DVD instead. Tapes wear out. That set is produced by a company in the next town over from where I live. - (Ralph Brandi, ibid.) ** KOREA NORTH. ARRL okays RTTY contacts with P5/4L4FN for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced that it will now accept RTTY contacts with Ed Giorgadze, P5/4L4FN, for DXCC credit, effective with contacts made on or after November 1, 2001. P5/4L4FN QSL Manager Bruce Paige, KK5DO, reports some good news and some bad news. Giorgadze has repaired his Ameritron AL-80A linear, which had a blown rectifier bridge. But he has had to take down the Hex Beam he`d installed, because the mast he was using wasn`t strong enough to support it and the rotor. ``He is looking for something that will work better, and that might have to wait until he goes back to Beijing in four to five weeks,`` Paige said. ``His work at the present time has kept him from doing as much operating as he would like, but he will be back on more as things settle down.`` Giorgadze was featured in a program about Amateur Radio in North Korea that aired July 5 on Radio Austria. RealAudio or MP3 files in either English or German are available on the Radio Austria Web site http://roi.orf.at/roi/intermedia/im_aktuell.html Scroll down and click on ``DIE P5-STORY / THE P5-STORY Amateur Radio in North Korea.`` The 25-minute program covers all previous P5 operations plus interesting interviews with P5/4L4FN about his activity (ARRL Letter July 19 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** LIBERIA. Requesting Prayer For Trip To Liberia WJIE International Shortwave Radio, Jul 19, 2002 If you do not wish to recieve these regular updates regarding WJIE International Shortwave, please click 'Unsubscribe' on the bar above. God bless you! Dear friends, On Sunday the 21st, I will be leaving for Monrovia, Liberia, to establish a Christian FM radio station. I would like to request your prayers for protection and wisdom in this project. Please pray that we will be able to get our shortwave equipment shipped over from Nigeria, where Pastor Bob Rodgers of Evangel World Prayer Center is right now. Once that equipment is in place, we will work to place our new 'Voice of Liberty Shortwave' on the air this fall, and work toward building Liberty Television. Thank you to all of you who sent tapes and cds (you will be receiving a personal letter from me in the next few days). The response was overwhelming! I literally received over 300 compact discs of music, and HUNDREDS of hours of ministry teaching on cassette and cd. God bless you! I will pray that the seed that you have planted in this outreach will be multiplied back to you a thousandfold! I hope that you will take time to visit http://www.wjiesw.com and see what is in store for the future. You can not only find out the latest information, but now you can purchase books on prayer and fasting, and also donate to the broadcast ministry. Starting in September, you will see a new name for what we do... [see USA!] (Doc Burkhart, WJIE Shortwave, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Subject: Hello Dear radio DXers. From: "Radio Alfa Lima International SW" alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl Finally seems that propagations are looking better in the upcoming months. We cross our fingers and hope the forecast is right on this. What is happening at Alfa Lima International. We did increase our activities on the 48 mb and where mostly on 6275 or 6265 kHz and were every weekend (only one time we didn`t) on 15070 kHz. Must say that instead of being there whole night we often stopped earlier due low response on our live transmissions. Sometimes we did shut down around 01.00 or 02.00 utc witch was also sometimes a mistake as the next morning sometimes we still received a lot of reactions on such a px. Also more SW magazines and Online dx pages are asking info about our station for publications. For those that want such info, just send us an email and we will share it with you. We also have a zip file available on our webpage http://www.alfalima.net/foto-paket.zip with high resolution pictures and info`s witch are free for publishing. the file is not so big (1,75mb) so does not take a long download period. If you have books or mags with publications about our station, tell it to us. We are very interested in such stuff. We also did several updates on the webpage with pictures and other stuff so if you have spare time take a surf. So!!!,, Every Saturday we start around 2200 or 2300 UT and lots of times we continue till 0700 or 0900 Sunday mornings. Frequency as always 15070 kHz AM and lots of time // to the 48 mb When you hear us feel free to send us comments to info@alfalima.net or sms to + 31 619 508 938 witch is a number you can also call to so you will be taken live on air. Greetings, Alfred _____________________________________ Huge webpage with just everything related to short-wave http://www.alfalima.net and take a look at our SW-online shopping centre. http://www.alfalima.net/store.htm _____________________________________ And are you already a member? SW pirates group!!! Receive the latest SW-Pirates info Simply subscribe by sending a blanc email to: SWpirates-subscribe@egroups.com More info at: http://www.egroups.com/group/SWpirates _____________________________________ Contact information Alfa Lima International, pobox 663, 7900AR Hoogeveen, the Netherlands Enclose 1 US$ email: alinter@rendo.dekooi.nl http://www.alfalima.net (rec.radio.shortwave July 19 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. BOUGAINVILLE'S "VOICE OF THE SUNRISE" FALLS SILENT BUKA, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea (July 18, 2002 -- Post-Courier) Radio Bougainville fell silent yet again yesterday after the provincial government's power station pulled the plug on the transmission site because of unpaid bills. This is the second time the station had been closed this year. In February the station was also closed down briefly, again due to financial problems. The announcement of the closure comes at a time when the province's leaders take the first steps to draft a Bougainville constitution in preparation for a Constituent Assembly and an autonomous Bougainville government. But Bougainvilleans in remote areas who rely on radio news will be missing out on new developments without Radio Bougainville, or their "Maus B`long Sankamap" (Voice of the Sunrise), which is their radio station ID. Kubu Power House officials confirmed that power to the transmitter was switched of yesterday due to non-payment of power bills. They would not disclose the amount. "Just last week, our management requested some funding from the Bougainville administration to keep the station on air while we wait for the remaining K 70,000 (US$ 18,326) from this year`s appropriation," station officials said. "Radio Bougainville has been struggling to remain on air through its committed staff, who keep on pretending that all is well -- until this morning (yesterday)." For additional reports from The Post-Courier, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT News/Information Links: Newspapers/The Post-Courier (Papua New Guinea). Provided by Vikki John (VIKKI@law.uts.edu.au) (via E. Baxendale, UK, July 19, DXLD) [WTFK?? 3325] ** SAMOA AMERICAN. G'Day List, WDJD logged here this afternoon on 580 kHz with a spoken program in Samoan. Is this a permanent move from their assigned frequency of 585 kHz? Thanks to Glenn Hauser's 'dxld2114' for the tip. Interesting the reason given for being on 580 is that their American radios cannot tune the 9 kHz spacing. How long will this last ?? Sig at good level here, better than a few nights ago. Cheers (Chris Martin, Australia, July 21, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Just a short note to say that I heard the SIBC tonight at 0855 GMT with a strong signal on 945 kHz. I'm pleased with this as 4HI usually dominates this freq. I also heard them on 1035 but 945 was a much better signal (Barry Murray, Cairns Qld., July 21, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Brother Stair was moved to maximum security "through no fault of the inmate" said the Colleton County Jail. Also they tell me Stair has been "a model prisoner." (Robert Arthur, July 10 on message, July 19 on inbox, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UK. UK RADIO AMATEURS GET NEW BAND FOR PROPAGATION STUDY UK Radio Amateurs will shortly be able to use a number of spot frequencies around 5MHz, to take part in a four-year propagation study. A full Class-A licence holder wishing to take part will require a Notice of Variation (NoV) to his existing licence. At the present time, the final administrative arrangements are being put into place. A further announcement will be made regarding the start date shortly (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News July 21 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U K. DYKE DEFENDS £1M OF BONUSES PAID TO CHIEFS By David Rose and Julie Tomlin Posted 18 July 2002 00:00 GMT Dyke: received £97,000 bonus [caption?] BBC director general Greg Dyke defended the £1m in bonuses and perks awarded to senior executives as journalists voiced fears that programme quality could suffer. Figures published in this years annual report showed that Dyke received a performance-related bonus last year of £97,000 on top of his £357,000 annual salary. This year journalists were barred from the presentation of the annual report. But BBC governors did not get off the hook when they went before the cross-party media committee and were quizzed over salaries and bonuses given to the 21 top executives. Labour MP Derek Wyatt challenged Dyke to justify why nine executives were paid more than the Prime Minister. But Dyke defended the payments, claiming if they were not adequate the BBC risked losing its senior executives to the commercial broadcasters. The people who run the BBC are outstanding people and have ready access to jobs in the media, Dyke said. The people concerned could do a heck of a lot better if they moved. The payments have been criticised by journalists who recently rejected a 2.8 per cent pay offer that threatened the £4,000 unpredictability allowance. At the top level, wages predictably go up in leaps and bounds while for the rest of us our wages and allowances are unpredictable, one source said. NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear, who was at the hearing, told Press Gazette there were also concerns about programming. We welcome the fact that more money is being put into programming but are concerned that at the same time executives have received more than £1.2m, he said. At a time when theres an increasing demand to cut costs and improve efficiency we have concerns that this could be at the expense of quality. The governors warned programme makers in their report to check material thoroughly and to be aware of their responsibilities to behave fairly and edit legitimately. This report coincided with diamond company Oryx this week claiming victory in its libel action over being falsely linked to the Al-Qa`ida terrorist network on the Ten O`Clock News. Geoffrey White, deputy managing director of Oryx, said: The BBC never had a shred of evidence for its broadcast. Our reputation suffered and we sustained enormous financial damage. The BBC will now have to compensate us. But the BBC said, although it had conceded some legal points, it would be contesting the size of Oryx`s damages claim in court in January. (Press Gazette, All contents © 2001, Quantum Publishing, or its affiliates, via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K [and non non]. WORLD SERVICE MUTED BY BBC BLUNDER X-URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4460613,00.html Vivek Chaudhary, Guardian (London), Saturday July 13, 2002 Many countries will receive only restricted coverage of the Commonwealth Games because BBC World Service radio, considered one of the most important sources of information in many parts of the world, has failed to secure full commentary rights for the event. The BBC is the host television broadcaster for the event but, in what is being viewed as a major oversight by BBC radio officials, did not pay for overseas commentary rights. As a result millions of people living in remote regions of Commonwealth countries who do not have access to a television will have little idea of what is going on at the event that is being held in their name. The situation has caused anger and embarrassment among BBC World Service sports journalists who claim that the corporation has missed a golden opportunity to cover an event that is likely to attract interest from millions of their listeners. It is also an obvious event for the World Service to cover given the connections between the radio station and the Commonwealth. BBC World Service listeners in many African and South-East Asian countries rely on the radio for news and sports information; millions of people without access to television tuned in during the World Cup. But instead of receiving comprehensive reports on the games, which start on July 25, World Service listeners will be limited to a five-minute daily round-up, two programmes on the history of the Commonwealth Games and further round-ups in a weekend sports programme. The move to limit the World Service's coverage follows protests from radio stations in Africa and Asia who paid for full commentary rights. They claimed that if the World Service - which generally offers better reception - were allowed to cover the event in full they would lose large numbers of listeners in their own countries and effectively have wasted large sums of money on acquiring the rights..... (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. Read this VERY interesting report from Friday's Financial Times: INDIAN AUDIENCE TURNS SOUND DOWN ON BBC WORLD SERVICE By Edna Fernandes and Carlos Grande Financial Times; Jul 19, 2002 http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=020719000684&query=india&vsc_appId=totalSearch&state=Form (via Larry Nebron, CA, July 20, swprograms and via Chuck Albertson, DXLD) ** U K [and non]. ROLL UP FOR THE FLOPPY TELEVISION, By Pete Harrison LONDON (Reuters) - First they went wider, then flatter, and now televisions are set to go floppy. Roll-up, flexible televisions, akin to the melting watches of Salvador Dali's surreal landscapes, have become possible thanks to a glowing plastic compound perfected in the laboratories of Britain's Cambridge Display Technology (CDT).... http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=technologynews&StoryID=1223357 (via Jeff Kadet, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U K O G B A N I. From The BBC Thursday, 18 July, 2002, 13:32 GMT 14:32 UK The Catholic Church in Northern Ireland could be fined thousands of pounds for broadcasting Masses to housebound parishioners. The CB radio broadcasts of Masses are against the law and a number of complaints have been received by the Radio Communications Agency. Father John McManus, diocesan media liaison officer for Down and Connor, said worshippers were angry the service might have to stop. "It is illegal and we accept that," he said. "What we are saying is that the elderly people are totally incensed by this. "It is something that has been happening - rightly or wrongly. When we introduced it, it appeared to be legal at that particular stage. "Now it is certainly illegal and we accept that. But old people are incensed, and so are the housebound, that this has happened at this particular stage." (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. I hope that you will take time to visit http://www.wjiesw.com and see what is in store for the future. You can not only find out the latest information, but now you can purchase books on prayer and fasting, and also donate to the broadcast ministry. Starting in September, you will see a new name for what we do. It will be called 'World Prayer Broadcasting Network' (WPBN). Under this umbrella you will find WJIE Shortwave #1 & #2, WJIE-FM Louisville, WVHI-AM Evansville, KVOH Shortwave #1 & #2, KHBN Shortwave, Voice of Liberty FM/Shortwave, and Liberty Television. We are also in the process of purchasing four more AM stations that will be added to the family. God bless you for your prayers, and please know that I pray for the people on this list on a regular basis. In His Service, (Doc Burkhart, WJIE Shortwave, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also LIBERIA! ** U S A. NEW MICROPHONES FOR THE QUEEN MARY From The RSGB 20 July 2002 A special presentation of 'commemorative microphones', honouring the amateur radio operators of the Queen Mary ocean liner will be made next Saturday, the 27th of July. The Queen Mary is permanently docked at Long Beach, California, and is a popular tourist attraction, as is its amateur radio station, W6RO, which operates daily from its historic wireless room. It is there that the presentation will be made. The new microphones are being custom-made by one of amateur radio's leading microphone manufacturers specially for the wireless room. They are to be exact replicas of the broadcast microphones used during the years the Queen Mary was at sea. ['Amateur Radio Newsline'] (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. I feel I'm in somewhat of a position to comment on DTV as I have the equipment to receive the actual digital broadcast. Since I'm in the consumer electronics repair business for several major manufacturers, I had to purchase all the test equipment to repair these things. I've personally invested over $40,000 in the finest Sencore and other test gear to receive and repair these things. I feel the image quality is far superior to the analog signal, especially the color purity. That said, I also find it very difficult to receive the digital signal. I have some of the best receiving antennas made. (Towers, rotators, deep fringe antennas and have a hell of a time getting the local Tampa DT stations. In this market, most of the stations have been assigned a frequency that is adjacent to their own analog frequency. In almost all cases the digital signal is at least 10 db or more less than the analog signal. This swamps the front end of these consumer receivers and the digital signal is not receivable. The receivers don`t have the selectivity needed to separate the digital signal from its super powered adjacent channel analog signal. So, I see a serious problem with people trying to receive the DT signal. I've been out on numerous service calls where people cannot receive the DT signal and there is nothing wrong with the customers setup. So until the analog signal is reduced in power, I don`t see many people buying the DT sets. Just my $0.02 from someone on the consumer side of this, that has broadcast engineering experience. (Paul Smith, W4KNX, Sarasota, FL, July 17, NRC-FMTV via DXLD) "The cost really doesn't vary a whole hell of a lot whether you're in New York or Yakima," says Elizabeth Murphy Burns, president of Duluth, Minn.-based Morgan Murphy Stations. "In some cases, the cost of converting to digital is more than the station is worth. Right now, we're sort of stymied." I happen to have worked for Ms. Burns in Madison. Her two biggest stations (there and in Spokane) are running in digital but it's awfully hard to see a way to make it work in the smaller markets. (LaCrosse, Yakima, Kennewick) And she's absolutely right, the cost of doing it is not substantially lower in smaller markets. In Yakima and Kennewick it could actually be substantially *greater*. (because multiple translators are required to cover the market. To achieve market-wide coverage it could become necessary to build a complete duplicate translator network. Except that it's likely enough channels are not available...) -------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm beginning to wonder if not all 8VSB modulators or ATSC encoders are created equal. I have had significant difficulty receiving WTVF-DT, 18 miles away. Figured it was the fault of the 8VSB/ATSC system or a flaky UHF antenna. But then, WKRN-DT came on the air. Their transmitter is 10 miles *further* away. And their analog signal is the weakest in the market. (frequently buried by skip) WTVF's analog signal is the *best*. Yet WKRN-DT is far, far easier to receive than WTVF. I have also, given good tropo conditions, received several of the Kentucky Educational TV DTV transmitters. These are all low-power stations, on the order of 50kw and with relatively low antennas. Even more impressive is the reception of WPSD-DT 32 from Paducah, about 95 miles distant. WPSD is running 4.5 kw ERP from a temporary antenna on their studio-transmitter link tower, less than 200 feet high. Reception of Paducah low-power analog stations is not all that common, especially at this lower-than-many-LPTVs power level. (I have also received VERY briefly a signal from WMC-DT in Memphis. This station is said to be of similar power to WPSD-DT, and is 80 miles further away...) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is said to have told the government they only intend to build DTV transmitters in the ten largest Canadian cities. Viewers elsewhere in the country will be expected to subscribe to satellite if they want digital CBC. I would not at all count out the possibility of Canadian private broadcasters following suit. And when it comes down to it, unless the advertising market recovers *soon*, I would expect to see the same thing in rural areas of the States (Doug Smith, Nashville TN, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. WOR to test IBOC... (From Radio World Magazine) Here's the complete URL: http://www.rwonline.com/dailynews/one.php?id=1742 Date posted: 2002-07-15 IBIQUITY TO TEST AM ON WOR Buckley Broadcasting's WOR will be a test station for IBOC Digital AM radio. Buckley says WOR will be the first AM station in New York City to broadcast a digital signal with tests to begin sometime in August. The average listener will not notice any difference in WOR's signal, according to the station. Ibiquity needs to do additional tests for AM IBOC at night for both groundwave and skywave conditions. The NRSC has recommended FM IBOC for day and night use, but has only endorsed AM for daytime use so far. WOR employs a directional transmitting antenna and is in the test protocol to help answer questions as to how AM IBOC will perform with skywave interference. WOR was also chosen as a test station to help answer questions about how the digital portion of an AM signal will react in the "concrete canyons" of New York City (and other major cities, as well). Thomas R. Ray, III, Corporate Director of Engineering for Buckley Broadcasting/WOR states, "I take great pride in having our radio station be part of the development of one of the biggest technical advancements in radio broadcasting since FM stereo in the 1960's. WOR has been a pioneer since being one of the only radio stations on the air in the U.S. in 1922. We have been part of the development of the profanity delay, were pioneers in the development of the AM directional transmitting antenna, and were one of the major players during Radio's 'golden era' by forming the Mutual Radio Network. I'm proud of being given the opportunity to pilot WOR through another technical pioneering phase". (via Paul Smith, W4KNX, July 19, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. THE CGC COMMUNICATOR CGC #525 Thursday, July 18, 2002 Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Editor Copyright 2002, Communications General Corporation (CGC) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL REPORT - RFR - PART II This Special Edition of the CGC Communicator newsletter continues our coverage of last week's FCC inspection at Mt. Wilson. That inspection concerned alleged excessive RF signal strengths in the KMEX-TV driveway, a location which was apparently accessible to members of the general public at the time of the investigation. In all fairness, the measured "hot spot" may have little or nothing to do with KMEX's own signal (we will await the FCC's verdict on that issue), and our use of the term "KMEX" should not tarnish the fine image of that station, or its employees. HISTORICAL NOTES: Many years ago, CGC engineers surveyed the KMEX driveway and found that most of the power density was created by a single FM station. That station was advised of the problem - long before human exposure to RF signals was generally regarded as a serious issue - and the station voluntarily incorporated a reduced- downward-radiation design into the new antenna they had planned to install anyway. In so doing, the station significantly improved the Mt. Wilson radiofrequency radiation ("RFR") environment. Convincing station managers to even think about RFR wasn't easy in those days. Since that time, a number of stations have installed reduced-downward- radiation antennas - some incorporating "oddball" but carefully chosen interbay spacings. Unfortunately, those good efforts have been compromised by the fact that many more stations have moved to Wilson (including digital TV facilities), and much tighter RFR standards have been adopted by the FCC. Where we were once concerned about the old OSHA 10 mW/square centimeter standard for workers, we are now very concerned about a 50-times-tougher standard for the general public: 0.2 mW/square centimeter in the 30-300 MHz frequency range, for example. ENTER THE FCC: Today, it is possible that several stations will be cited by the FCC as significant contributors to the KMEX hot spot. Any station that creates 5% or more of the maximum power density permitted at a given location is regarded by the FCC as being a significant contributor to the problem, and is eligible for a citation if the aggregate power exceeds the proscribed limit, which reportedly was the case here. In each case of excessive RFR, the FCC has to consider the facts at hand in determining whether to issue a citation. In the present case, the road serving the KMEX driveway is traveled by members of the general public, the driveway chain and warning sign were down at the time of the inspection, and no one attempted to "shoo away" or warn the FCC inspectors that they had entered a high RF zone. Bottom line: Don't look for an FCC verdict soon: The Commission is backlogged with RFR cases. Moving now from the KMEX driveway to tower climbing situations, you can imagine the much stronger signals that are involved. The logistics of coordinating power cutbacks at multiple stations in order to permit tower climbing activity can be a difficult task, and the extraordinary steps needed to minimize "downtime" for your neighbors can be expensive, as many of you know. Obviously, life has become much more complicated for broadcast stations in the KMEX zone because of the large number of independent operators, the FCC's tough RFR standards, and the lack of an updated RFR document for Mt. Wilson with recommendations for specific power cutbacks when climbing activity is underway. Let's return now to the issue at hand: The events surrounding the FCC's Mt. Wilson FCC inspection of July 12, 2002. ****************************************************************** LETTER TO THE EDITOR ****************************************************************** COMMENTS FROM KDOC-TV When it became necessary to replace our burned up antenna in the middle of the Mt. Wilson farm, it was necessary to do a lot of research in a hurry. I attempted to determine the significant sources of RF radiation directed toward the project elevation on the monopole, adjacent to the post office. It was important to me to protect John Hignite's workers because he has been climbing my towers for over 36 years. I used a 2001 study done for American Tower for their new tall tower inferring that it was essentially accurate given the proximity with the monopole. It took several days to get all the contact information and send out notices. Adding a couple of new stations not on the study, the ten stations I advised were entirely compliant and eager to cooperate. On the day of the climb, the RFR alarms were sounding and I learned that at least one inference from the RFR study was incorrect. An FM station using a directional antenna was putting more energy at the top of the monopole than I predicted. Fortunately I was able to make contact with the FM Chief Engineer and he reduced power by 20% for me and the tower climbers went back up. On the following day we were advised that the engineer's superiors were not willing to operate at 80% and that he was prevented from complying for the additional days needed to complete the work. This is only the latest incident that may have influenced the FCC to look more closely at Mt. Wilson. I am not certain that KDOC had any special issues that caused the FCC to visit Mt. Wilson. It may have simply been the straw that broke the camel's back, or it may have been entirely coincidental. Clearly with the gin poles of two climber's stuck on the tops of two towers, we were facing gridlock at a time critical to DTV installation. Tower Structures was unable to either go forward or to remove their equipment from the KMEX tower for months. All it takes is one non- compliant station to shut down a crew. How can we satisfy everybody? For example, Univisión stations were indicating that the World Cup Games were being aired in the early morning hours and they did not want to reduce power for us at night, so we elected to climb in daylight. Beyond that, it is just safer to do the heavy lifting in the daytime. After all, are we not talking about climber safety? Tower rigging is dangerous enough in itself, and in my opinion, we have a legal duty to these men not to make the job even more hazardous. [The venue now shifts to Sunset Ridge. -Ed.] Following Friday's inspection by the FCC, I inquired as to the duty of the designated Chief Operator of a station in regard to RFR. When KDOC removed its antenna from Sunset Ridge, we faced an unexpected power increase ordered by an out-of-state manager. The FCC agreed that the local engineer or operator could be cited as well as the licensee. Management cannot legally direct its designated Chief Operator to emit signals contrary to the rules. The RFR rules are no exception. Cooperation among engineers is nothing new, as the ten compliant stations proved. We lend parts and advice to our competitors all the time. For some reason managements will fight, perhaps because this is just a highly competitive business. RFR, however, is not the battlefield. I want to express my thanks to those who participated in keeping our workers safe. Cooperation in good faith can work. Roger Knipp, N6VU, Chief Engineer, KDOC-TV/KDOC-DT ****************************************************************** APPARENT UNSAFE TOWER CONSTRUCTION ON MT. WILSON ****************************************************************** BUILD A TOWER, BUT DON'T NEGLECT RFR Four parties have contacted CGC to report apparent unsafe recent tower construction activities at one or more sites on Mt. Wilson (unsafe practices are NOT the norm, by the way). According to the reports, the workers involved in the incident/s wore no RFR-protective clothing in an area notorious for high on-tower fields, had no visible personal RFR monitors, and at times engaged in unsafe climbing practices including being un-clipped from the tower structure. One party claimed to have pictures of the event "somewhere." Another party indicated it was "an out of state tower company" presumably hoping to get the tower up before they got caught violating safety rules. Some of the climbers reportedly wore shorts and tennis shoes at times. So, what do you do if you see suspicious activities like these in the future? (1) Consider approaching the crew chief and ask to see and discuss his or her RFR safety plan, and the power cut-back call list. Perhaps the chief knows nothing about RFR compliance, but would be willing to learn and cooperate. (2) If you need to contact someone on the outside, would the FCC be the best party to call? Specifically who should be called, and will they respond promptly? Would it ever be appropriate to contact OSHA? These questions remain unanswered at this juncture, and we are asking for input from responsible parties. (3) Could your station become involved in an injury lawsuit because it illuminated careless workers on another tower structure? Could you help insulate your station from legal ramifications by reporting suspect tower climbing activity when it occurs? Again, we are looking for input from responsible sources. Knowing what to do the next time questionable tower climbing practices occur is crucial. Incompetent climbing will occur again. ****************************************************************** MT. WILSON NEEDS AN UPDATED RFR STUDY ****************************************************************** THE AGE-OLD PROBLEM: GETTING EVERYONE TO AGREE TO ONE RFR STUDY There are always holdouts when it comes to RFR studies. There are those who do not want to participate and pay their share, and those who elect to take shortcuts when it comes to RFR paperwork. However, preparing an RFR report without power cutback calculations to support climbing activities on ALL towers should be regarded as an unacceptable practice. (This is where the FCC could help by requiring cutback calculations to be made, and filed at Commission headquarters.) Mt. Wilson needs a new/updated RFR study at this time. That study should not cost a fortune each time a facility is added or modified. Perhaps the users at Wilson can contract with an outside firm to develop a computer model of the entire site - with software OWNED by the users group - a model which could be quickly updated when facilities are added, removed or changed. ****************************************************************** ALTERNATIVES TO THE TERM "RFR" ****************************************************************** RFE, RFF & RFS HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED The term radiofrequency radiation ("RFR") too often triggers fatal images in the public's mind: Images of atomic (ionizing) radiation and people "glowing in the dark." Of course, RF energy is non-ionizing and for that reason is much different than atomic radiation - but the point is difficult to convey to the public once the "R" word is unleashed. We have used the RFR term in this newsletter because it is familiar to broadcast engineers. However, members of the general press who may happen to pick up this issue of the CGC Communicator are encouraged to use a different term, perhaps radiofrequency energy ("RFE"), radiofrequency fields ("RFF"), radiofrequency signals ("RFS"), or something entirely new and different, to more accurately convey the issue on deck without being an alarmist. ****************************************************************** MORE TO COME ****************************************************************** THANKS! The number of letters received on the RFR topic were far more than we expected, or could handle in one newsletter. Watch for another Special Edition CGC Communicator soon. We plan to publish many of the letters - one right after another - on the points that have not been summarized above, and which in our opinion add to the discussion. If you have more comments, hold them for now. The time to respond is AFTER the next Special Edition is published, so you can comment on the complete record. Thank you for standing up to the plate and discussing RFR - a very sensitive topic - in a professional manner. By pulling together, we can work toward eliminating some of the problems that are plaguing our industry. ****************************************************************** SUGGESTED READING ****************************************************************** THIS IS NOT HARD There is one FCC document we recommend be read at this time. It is Appendix B of OET-65, and it's only three pages long. The Q&A format is easy-to-read and shows what must be done to resolve a variety of common RFR situations. Step 1: Assemble the following URL into one continuous line (if it isn't already), and download FCC pamphlet OET-65 in pdf format: http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet65/oet65.pdf Step 2: Scroll to the last three pages (Appendix B), print them, read them, and implement the required steps. Step 3: Take a well deserved vacation. You have just saved yourself, and your company, an immense amount of grief. ------------------------------------------------------------------ The CGC Communicator is published for broadcast professionals in so. California by Communications General Corporation (CGC), consulting radio engineers, Fallbrook, CA. Short news items without attached files are always welcome from our readers; letters may be edited for brevity. E-mail may be sent to: rgonsett@ieee.org or telephone (760) 723-2700. CGC Communicator articles may be reproduced in any form provided they are unaltered and credit is given to Communications General Corporation and the originating authors, when named. Past issues may be viewed and searched at http://www.bext.com/_CGC/ courtesy of Bext Corporation. _________________________ End _______________________________ (via Dennis Gibson, DXLD) ** U S A. This appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle--Saturday July 20, 2002 ROYALTIES SILENCE KPIG WEBCASTS By Benny Evangelista, Chronicle Staff Writer ---------------------------------------------------------------------- KPIG, the pioneering Webcaster that was a symbol of the eclectic nature of Internet radio, has suspended its Web simulcasts because it says it can't afford new Web music royalties fees that go into effect in September. The Santa Cruz County radio station joins a list of about 50 Internet Webcasters that have curtailed operations or gone silent since June 20, when the Librarian of Congress approved a contentious royalty rate designed to compensate record labels and artists for each song streamed over the Internet. "This is the last refuge for people who want to do radio with no restrictions, doing it for the love of radio, not radio for maximizing revenues in the quarter," said Bill Goldsmith, KPIG's Web consultant. KPIG, which in August 1995 became the first radio station to simulcast on the Web, will continue broadcasting from its studios in Freedom, a small town north of Watsonville. But its low-power, 2850 watt FM signal has a limited range of about 32 miles. As of Thursday, Internet listeners who tuned in received a limited selection of live recordings and news commentary not subject to royalty fees. Program director Laura Ellen said Webcasts will be "a far cry" from KPIG's usual alternative programming that ranged from rock to country to folk. KPIG is liable for about $24,000 in royalty fees for songs played since January under a set of rates approved by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, who ruled that all Webcasters will have to pay 0.07 cents per song per performance. The Recording Industry Association of America sought higher rates, arguing that compensation to artists and record labels has been long overdue. But Webcasters say the rates are too high and could kill an industry that has yet to generate enough revenue to become profitable. Billington's decision is already having an impact on the fledgling industry. The day after he ruled, SomaFM, a Web radio station operated out of a garage in San Francisco, went silent. A long list of Webcasters catering to specific genres or audiences subsequently have halted operations, including sites like MonkeyRadio.org, SavageRockRadio.com and StarDogRadio.com. Foster City's Live365.com, which offered radio hobbysists the ability to transmit niche programming like "Ricky Nelson 24/7," announced it will add a $5 per month fee for each station beginning Aug. 1. That move is expected to reduce the total number of stations from 25,000 to about 5,000, said Live365.com Chief Operating officer Raghav Gupta. Seattle author L.A. Heberlein, who in his new book, "Rough Guide to Internet Radio" described KPIG as one of the top Internet radio stations for its "fresh, inventive and lively programming," was disappointed to learn about the station's decision to halt Web simulcasts. KPIG was a symbol of the diversity of programming found on Web radio, he said. The impending music royalty rates won't kill Internet radio, but "the funky, marginal stuff is what you're going to lose," Heberlein said......... (via Don Kaskey, San Francisco, IRCA via DXLD) http://www.kpig.com/ (Jul 18, 2002) Sad Day in the CyberSty... KPIG's owners have decided that they have no choice but to suspend KPIG's live webcast in the face of the fees that would be due under the most recent Copyright Office ruling. We're definitely hoping that this is just temporary, and that a reasonable solution can be found soon. Our webcast will continue with a mix of live recordings made here at KPIG (which aren't subject to the fees) - with more features coming soon. For the time being, the playlist will continue to show what's on FM - so at least you local Pigs can use it... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- (Jul 15, 2002) Rally the Swine! Let's join the Million Fax Stampede!! Find out why it's important to let your congressmembers know right now - via fax - why they should support emergency legislation to stop the impending death of Internet radio. Click here for more info http://www.voiceofwebcasters.org/fax/carp/smallweb/ (via Joel Rubin, swprograms via DXLD) This will really be a great loss if KPIG internet shuts down. Although I can't run RealPlayer 7 to listen on my present computer/OS, allow me to wax anecdotal: In March 2001, in order to publicize our Woody Guthrie song concert at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, Country Joe McDonald and I did a live appearance at KPIG. Great fun...studio in an abandoned motel in a Watsonville strip mall. And my friend from Washington, DC, who happened to hear us, e-mailed a greeting while we were on the air. As most of you will know, KPIG(formerly KFAT) has a long history as an influential independent music station, and I understand it is high in listener numbers as an internet broadcaster. Cheers, (Saul Broudy, ibid.) ** U S A [and non]. From The Observer: Internet radio is a great illustration of why the unregulated internet stimulates so much innovation and allows an unparalleled range of choice. Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that it's under threat. John Naughton, Sunday July 21, 2002 Way back in 1994, a chap named Rob Glaser had a great idea for ferrying audio signals across the Net. It had always been possible to transfer audio files - some of us were doing it in the 1980s - but the problems were that (a) the files were large and (b) the entire file had to be transferred before you could start listening to it. Glaser's Big Idea was to compress the file and dispatch it over the Net in the usual way, but with one magical twist: special 'player' software (available as a free download) would, after a brief pause, start playing the audio even as the rest of the file was downloading, thereby giving the listener the illusion of being able to listen to audio programming live. Thus was born 'streaming media'. Henceforth, audio (and, later, video) signals could be [italics] streamed [unitalics] over the Net and listened to by anyone with an Internet connection and a PC. The name Glaser choose for his invention was 'Real Audio', and it spread like wildfire. En passant, the Real Audio story provides a great illustration of why the unregulated Internet has stimulated so much innovation. Because the network is owned by nobody, and because it is a 'dumb' system designed to do only one thing - deliver data packets from source to destination - anyone with a good idea can harness it. If you can do it with packets, the Internet will do it for you. Glaser had a great idea for sending audio in packets, so all he had to do was write the software and - Bingo! - the network did the rest. If, however, the Net were proprietary, he would have had to apply for permission and would then have become embroiled in arguments about what constituted legitimate and illegitimate use of the system and, well, you can imagine the rest... But I digress. One of the reasons Real Audio took off was because it enabled anyone to set up a virtual radio station. No longer did one need a broadcasting licence and a transmitter and all the other expensive apparatus of broadcasting: all that was required was a server, a broadband connection, some server software (available at a modest price from Mr Glaser) and a source of audio material. It followed as the night the day therefore that Internet radio stations mushroomed like flowers after a desert storm. Today, there are at least 10,000. Some are just Webcasting subsidiaries of conventional radio stations, but the majority are not. Indeed the most interesting are highly specialised outlets for narrow musical genres: there is, for example, one devoted entirely to the Grateful Dead. What happened, in other words, was a stupendous extension of consumer choice at a time when conventional radio was becoming increasingly bland and standardised as a result of corporate consolidation. Streaming radio demonstrated the power of digital technology to reverse the tendency to turn cultural products into adjuncts of mass marketing - to enable listeners to listen to [italics] precisely [unitalics] the music they like, rather than having to accept the playlists foisted on DJs by corporate requirements. Now, however, this glorious explosion of consumer choice is under threat. The record companies persuaded the US Copyright Office that Internet radio stations should pay more onerous royalties than those imposed on conventional broadcast stations. The Office ruled that Webcasters should not only pay a royalty to songwriters, but also to the record companies, and added the crippling requirement that the Webcasting royalty should be levied on a [italics] per listener [unitalics] basis. The liabilities involved (which will, of course, be backdated) are so large that only Webcasters with substantial corporate backing will survive. The Webcasters are appealing, but I wouldn't bet on their prospects. It's just another case of how the owners of intellectual property are trying to choke off the future. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Ed Mayberry, who lost his home and International Listener website in the Houston flood over a year ago, can be heard presenting a musical feature on The Flatlanders, as the final item in hour two of NPR Weekend Edition Sunday, July 21, soon available ondemand from http://www.npr.org/programs/wesun (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. The UNID-station somewhere from Europe playing non-stop Chinese music on 1062 kHz is on again. Unfortunately I could not go to my beverage QTH, because of the bad weather situation. As far as I can hear on my indoor mediumwave loop I can hear the station again right now SAT JUL 20, 2155 UT on 1062, but completely blocked by a mix of Denmark, Italia and Czech Rep. (Dick, MWC-492/DKp4733, BDXC via DXLD) Had an exciting night with some fine signals from Asia on mediumwave. Between 2145 and 2300 I heard stations from Thailand on 1386, 1395, 1467, 1476 and 1593kHz. Signals slowly faded from unreadable to loud (well over the s9). The fading periods varied, sometimes a station disappeared for some minutes, while it came back later with nice signal strengths. Biggest surprise came just after 23 UT, when I came across an station on 1062 kHz, playing non-stop Chinese music. Unfortunately after listening to this station for more than 2 and a half hours (!!!!!) most of the excitement had gone, because it became more and more unlikely that this was a station from China. This was confirmed by the fact that I found the best signal on my beverage direction UK, France/Spain. When arriving home at 02 I was even able to pick it up on my indoor loopantenna! So, I probably overlooked this new station somewhere in a list or so. During the almost 3 hours that I listened I did not hear a single announcement. Just non stop Chinese style music, with always a few seconds silence between the songs. Signals from the UK seemed good last night, so, that makes it a bit more likely to be an UK station. I hope that somebody could help me with this interesting station, that really can one make nervous, hihi. 73! Dick, MWC-492 Receiver: AR7030plus operated from car out in the fields. Antennas: 450m 2-wire beverage, swtichable Asia/South America 350 temporary single wire beverage towards S-Asia (Thailand) (D.G.A. van der Knaap, July 20, MWDX via DXLD) Great logs Dick. As I'm new to the list could you let me know where you are? It seems unlikely to me that it would be a UK station - I haven't heard of anything being licensed there - and because of Talksport on 1.053 I'd have thought a pirate would be able to find a better channel. I'm in Cornwall so I'll tune in tonight to see what I can hear (Nicholas Mead, MW-DX via DXLD) Location: Holten, Netherlands (dxing.info via DXLD) Hi Dick, Op dit moment hoor ik Denemarken (veronderstel ik tenminste aan de hand van de richting, met een soort "muziek" dat ik meestal alleen hoor wanneer er een auto door de straat rijdt met een ritmisch opbollend dak) héél sterk hier, en als ik die zoveel mogelijk uitnul, hoor ik vaag Italiaans op de achtergrond, maar dat is alles voor het moment... en gezien het gestamp op de voorgrond weet ik niet of ik hier lang naar kan blijven luisteren... [Later:] Ik denk dat de Deen overbelast is door de krachtige pulsen van de afgelopen minuten. Ik hoor nu de Tsjech en ook duidelijk herkenbaar Chinees (of althans Chinees-achtig) gezang met een vrouwenstem... Als ik de Tsjech wegdraai, is het duidelijk te horen (nog best mooi ook!), alleen is het jammer dat ik geen Chinees versta... (Frank van Gerwen - ICQ # 2231692, Bakkum-Noord/Netherlands (52 34' N / 4 43' E), ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. July 21 at 0215-0230 R. Prague in Spanish was on USB 8983, covering USCG; someone was trying to call Clearwater, but could not get thru until the Prague relay went off after the interval signal only once at 0230. Someone apparently relaying R. Prague to jam USCG (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE GUIDE Thanks to Chris Hambly for sending a copy of the new WRTH `summer supplement`, which indeed resembles PWBR. Except the frequency list in this has more colour-coding of languages in the timespan bars. Possibly because I suffer from mild colour-blindness, I find the 25 shades a bit too much to distinguish easily, at least without a very bright light upon the pages, which are stitch-bound, and with some encouragement, almost lie open, if not flat. For example, Dutch, Mandarin and Other are all similar shades of yellow/orange (and I think I perceive some stereotyping here...). Arabic, Romanian and Urdu look like similar shades of green. Usw. The colour key is on the bottom of each page, but no two are the same: reflecting the languages actually appearing on each individual page. But is there really enough broadcasting in Swedish, Tibetan or Turkish to justify their very own shades? The lack of info on transmitter sites has already been remarked and dealt with. One much-needed improvement would be some heavier vertical timelines at 06, 12 and 18 (or even at 3, 4 hour spacings), to keep one from having continually to follow the line to the top or bottom of page in order to tell the span of the horizontal transmission time bars. Remains to be seen if further lookups will prove accurate and up to date, but I was pleased to see that WWCR`s replacement of 15685 by 15825 recently is already included, e.g. But WWV is listed at 25000 kHz, where they have been inactive for decades, except as a harmonic. Speaking of which --- no actual harmonics are deliberately shown. The very first entries leave us hankering for a bit more info: 2310, 2325 (and 2485) are all shown merely as Northern Territories [sic] Shortwave, with no hint of their location in three different towns. But then, we may be expected to refer to the regular WRTH if we really want to know any more than shown here. On the other hand, there is too much info: take RFPI on ``15040`` --- split or variable frequencies tend to get rounded off --- which is displayed on 9 different lines (some 10 kW, some 30 kW, not the case), because of itty bitty segments in non-English, and supposed day-of- week variations. Oops, on 15006 there is a timesignal called EBC in `CAN`, but if there is such a station the calls indicate Spain (excuse me, `E`). WWVH is shown as USA, even tho HAW has its own `country` code. I don`t see any indication of the few frequencies which operate in SSB, e.g. RFPI`s 7445 and recently deactivated 21815. On 13810 we find a Radio Ecclesia in AFS (meaning Afrique du Sud --- we just can`t escape irrelevant languages in English-language publications, can we?) --- that would be the station originating in Angola, formerly relayed from Germany, and nothing to do with South Africa, except it is now relayed from there on a much different frequency. The Directory Of International Broadcasters in the back, 17 pages in almost alphabetical order by name, is rather hit-and-miss, including only the larger stations, but not clear where the cut-off point was. If one wants more info on e.g. the 4576 kHz R. Uno, Peru listing, one is out of luck here. And this needs to be purged of some very out of date listings, such as WVHA in Mount Dora, Florida! The Clubs for DXers list has some notable omissions, but also some that I have never heard of until now. Is it up to date? The country codes, listed on the last page, are a curious mix of ITU codes, and non-ITU codes, reminding me of the Klingenfuss approach previously reviewed here. I am still hunting for SW broadcasts from places such as `VCT` -- St. Vincent & the Grenadines! Some countries are more equal than others, meriting single-letter abbrs., B, D, E, F, G, I, J and S. China and USA are not big, European, or important enough for this honour. Yes, I know, two of those are non-European. Two entire pages are taken up by photos of unidentified antenna towers, with incomplete color. Filling this with more useful text would be appreciated. Well, no doubt if I keep looking, I could find more details to pick apart, but I don`t mean to discourage this good effort, some much- needed competition to PWBR. One can only wonder whether this format will somehow merge with the WRTH itself, or continue to be issued at mid-year in alternation. This is `Volume 1`. If the price of this 208-page softbound seems a bit steep, keep in mind that there are only two pages of paid advertising, inside front and back covers, from Merlin and Universal. No doubt they`ll do their best to accumulate more in future. Prefacing the 166 pages of frequency charts is an Introduction to Shortwave Radio, by Bernd Trutenau, only 5 pages of text plus a chart, a map and a diagram, which is fine as far as it goes (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-115, July 19, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1140: (ON DEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1140.html [available soon] WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000? 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN. SURVEY OF RADIO/TV STATIONS IN KABUL AND HERAT The following TV and radio services were observed by BBC Monitoring during recent a recent survey in Kabul and Herat (all times mentioned are in GMT/UTC): Kabul - Television Afghanistan TV broadcasts on channel E11 (217.25 MHz vision/222.75 MHz sound). It is on the air at 1315-1900 daily (sign-off time varies) and additionally at 0430-0730 on Fridays. News in Dari was observed at 1430-1435 and 1500-1530 daily; news in Pashto was at 0530-0535 (Friday only) and 1600-1630 daily. Kabul - Radio The following radio services were observed on the air in Kabul: Radio Afghanistan FM: 93.0 and 105.2 MHz; MW: 909 and/or 1278 kHz : 0030-0340 Saturday-Thursday, 0230-0800 Friday, 1230-1815 daily. SW: 15485 kHz: 0130-0330 Saturday-Thursday, 0230-0330 Friday. [presumably via Abu Dhabi --- gh] SW: 18940 kHz 1330-1630 daily. [originally via Norway, now via where??? --- gh] Radio Kabul: FM 93.0 and 105.2 MHz: 0340-0830 Saturday-Thursday - not broadcast on Fridays. News in Pashto 0430-0435; news in Dari 0730-0735. BBC World Service: FM 89.0 MHz: 24 hours in English/Pashto/Persian. Radio Free Afghanistan/Voice of America: FM 100.5 MHz: 24 hours in Dari & Pashto. Radio Turkiyem: FM 101.3 MHz: 0230-1830 in Turkish for ISAF contingent. Information Radio (US PsyOps): MW 864 kHz and SW 8700 kHz (in upper sideband): 24 hours in Dari & Pashto. Herat - Television Herat TV broadcasts on channel E7 (189.25 MHz vision/194.75 MHz sound). It is on the air at 1500-1830 daily (sign-off time varies), and additionally at 0430-0730 on Fridays. News in Dari & Pashto 1700- 1730. Herat - Radio Radio Herat uses two mediumwave frequencies: MW 1512 kHz: 0200-0400 daily. MW 828 kHz: 1230-1530 daily. News in Dari & Pashto 0300-0315 & 1400-1500. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 1-14 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 18940, R. Afghanistan, Kabul, still via Kvitsøy, Jul 7 & 15, *1330-1627*, usual programs with the following, confirmed schedule: Pashto 1330-1400, 1430-1500 and 1530-1600, and Dari 1400- 1430, 1500-1530 and 1600-1627. SINPO 25333. But the morning broadcast *0130-0327* on 15240 has not been heard recently, so Al Dhabbaya, UAE seems to have changed frequency to avoid QRM from R Australia. Two other 19 mb stations heard broadcasting in Dari/Pashto at the same time are not R Afghanistan, but VOA, Udon Thani on 15185 and BBC, Cyprus on 15470 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN LEADER SETS UP COMMISSION TO SUPERVISE RADIO, TELEVISION PROGRAMMES | Text of report by Afghan radio on 17 July Decree by esteemed Hamed Karzai, the head of the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan, in connection with the establishment of the commission in charge of supervising radio and television programmes. With the aim of reforming, improving and advancing the affairs of government departments and in order to fulfill and implement the pledges made to representatives of the nation at emergency Loya Jerga, the formation of the commission in charge of supervising the programmes of radio and television is hereby announced. This commission will supervise all programmes on radio and television and will present their opinions for the amending, improving and advancement of the programmes to officials of the radio and television. The radio and television officials are duty bound to implement the opinions of the commission. Similarly, the commission should evaluate the opinions of radio listeners and television viewers and use them to improve the affairs [of radio and television broadcasting]. The following have been appointed as members of this commission: Esteemed Abdol Hamid Mobarez, deputy minister of information and culture in charge of broadcasting, Esteemed Aziz Ahmad Fanus, from the media department of college of journalism of Kabul University, Esteemed Asadollah Ghazanfar, writer in Pashto and Dari languages and expert and critic of radio programmes, Esteemed Mrs Shafiqa Habibi, a former employee of Radio Afghanistan, Esteemed Mrs Jamila Mojahed, announcer of radio and television, Esteemed Rezwanqol Tamana, member of the Supreme Council for Media and Culture, Esteemed Habibollah Rafi, member of the Supreme Council for Media and Culture, Esteemed Amanollah Obaidi, member of the Supreme Council for Media and Culture, Esteemed Osman Akram, the managing editor of the Zanbil-e Gham magazine, Esteemed Engineer Mohammad Eshaq, general director of radio and television, Esteemed Dad Mohammad Anabi, member of the Supreme Council for Media and Culture. The commission will be chaired by esteemed Mobarez, and its affairs and performance will be supervised by the minister of information and culture. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 17 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. 15475.6, R Arcángel San Gabriel finally confirmed with nice attractive QSL card and letter. It says that Director is: Juan Carlos Pérez Arrieu, Technical operator: Segundo Rodolfo Balcarce, Second technical operator: Javier Rossetti, In charge of program and announcer: María Rosa Gabrielli de Pérez Arrieu, Announcer: Silvana Rossini de Celayes, Fabiana Flores de Balocchi, Esther Plana de Dobarganes. E-mail: esperaanzaantar@infovia.com.ar or esperanzaantar@hotmail.com orlra36@infovia.com.ar (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850.0, R. Independent Mekamui (tentative), Jul 15th 0908 with music/song with Papua New Guinea tribal sound to it, any talk pretty well lost in static crashes, but improving. More songs and Pidgin talk. Sounded like feedback squeals at 0916. Time check (I think) mentioning 8 o`clock something at 0921. Heard a Radio Independent ?? mention at 0935. Some HAM QRM past 0940 but short lived. Program was mainly songs and short talks between them. Still fairly decent at 1000, but no ID noted (Don Moman, Alberta, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) I guess around 0935 was when that recording was made, featured on WOR 1140 (gh, DXLD) 3850, R Independent Mekumui, 0907 July 19, male announcer with talk in Pidgin and ID, then Country song. Best heard from here since activation (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. The Democratic Voice of Burma is celebrating 10 years on the air. It started in Norway as a gesture of the Norwegian government's support for Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/burma020719.html (RN Media Network 19-07-02 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re: July 14 Inside Track on CBC Radio One: Estimado Licenciado... Is that online for downloading or maybe somebody has a recording? 73 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Horacio, I found this page for the previous Inside Track. Presumably the one you want will be available shortly if you change 7/7 to 7/14: http://cbc.ca/insite/INSIDE_TRACK_TORONTO/2002/7/7.html 73, (Glenn to Horacio, via DXLD) ** CANADA. Glenn, the Catholic pope actually arrives in Toronto on Tuesday July 23 after all. 1 PM ET. Why confuse people with TWO welcoming ceremonies? Here's a link to the CBC TV coverage, but nothing about CBC R1 coverage yet. http://cbc.ca/news/features/wyd/coverage.html (Ivan Grishin, Ont., July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: TAPESTRY: This week on Tapestry... a look ahead to the Pope's visit to Toronto for World Youth Day. More than a quarter of a million people in their twenties and thirties are coming to Toronto for ten days of music, festivities and religious services topped off with a visit from Pope John Paul II. Meet some of the young Canadians who put this huge event together. That's on Tapestry, with guest host Mary Wiens, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (2:30 NT; 4:00 p.m. MT; 3:00 pm. PT) on CBC Radio One. VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL 25TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL: Live from the Vancouver Folk Festival, a bilingual simulcast of conversations, impromptu performances and memories of 25 years of great music. Featuring performances by Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer, The Backstabbers Country String Band, Ferron, Rokia Traoré and La Bottine Souriante. Hosted by David Grierson and Andre Rheaume. That's the Vancouver Folk Festival 25th Anniversary Special, Sunday night at 10:00 p.m. (11 AT, 11:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. (CBC Hotsheet via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. Re Okapi: Glenn, No, 11690 not heard here yet. I also don't recall hearing 9550 recently (Chris Greenway, Kenya, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COSTA RICA. Hauser heard clearly on RFPI 7445 Jul 17 at 0200 with QSA 3-4 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) That would be Continent of Media, UT Wed (gh) ** CUBA. The unID at 5064, must surely be a new Pirate coming out of mainland Cuba. Radio Cienfuegos. A friend here in Puerto Rico has been lucky enough to catch it on both 5400 and 11300. We all presume that trying to avoid Cuban Security Monitors they change frequently from side to side. I posted also something on HCDX but no one said anything. Good luck to you (Hector (Luigi) Pérez, PR, NP4FW, KPR-260- SWL via Thomas Nilsson, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. De viaje por Cuenca, muchos años ha, no pude dejar de visitar el flamante edificio de Ondas Azuayas Radio y TV. Una de las cosas que más recuerdo es la colección de postales enviados por los oyentes de todas partes del mundo - aunque con una neta preponderancia por los países del norte europeo - abigarrada decoración ésta que cubría una pared entera. Entre los recuerdos que me llevé, quiero destacar una bonita tarjeta QSL sin rellenar de Ondas Azuayas TV (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** INDIA. 9425, AIR Bangalore, Jul 6, 1820 English with western pop music and requests until 1830 and then news. 1835 I think they have changed to Hindi. Announces as The National Channel of All India Radio. Return to English at 1840 with programme highlights. Signal was a good S9 but with side-splash (Noel Green, UK, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) ** INDIA. A VISIT TO AIR THIRUVANTHAPURAM by Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Thiruvanthapuram is the capital of the South Indian State of Kerala. It is located almost in the Southern Western tip of India. It was earlier known in English as Trivandrum. Before the independence of India, it was the capital of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore, which had its own stamps, coins and even a radio station. During my recent trip to my native place, I undertook a 6 and half- hour trip by a Super Fast bus to cover 225 kms on a rainy day to visit the different facilities of the AIR station there, by prior appointment. It was the 15th AIR station that I could visit and here are the details of that station. The history of AIR Thiruvanthapuram goes back to the days of Travancore Broadcasting Station which came on the air on 12th March 1943 when the Maharaja (King) of Travancore, Sree Chitira Tirunnal Balramavarma switched on a 5 kW Medium Wave Transmitter. The transmitter was made by STC (Standard Cable & Telephone) and the antenna mast was of 76 Meters. AIR is now celebrating 60 years of Malayalam broadcasting to commemorate this first broadcast from this station. (Malayalam is the local language of the State). The callsign of the station was at first VUR which later changed to VUG and it used the frequency of 658 kHz. In 1946, it used to operate on Wednesday and Saturday evenings for one and half hours. After over two and half years of Indian independence, when Travancore became part of the newly formed state of Kerala, this station was inducted to the All India Radio network on April 1, 1950. The present studios and offices of AIR Thiruvanthapuram are at Bhakti Vilas, Vazthuthacaud in the city which was set up in November 1952. It was recommissioned on December 12, 1959. It was earlier a palace that was used by the famous Diwan (Governor) of Travancore, Sir C. P. Rajagopalachary. It is a heritage building and is nicely maintained by AIR. The Station Engineer`s office was in fact the Diwan`s bedroom! Thiruvanthapuram being the capital of the state, all the other 6 stations of AIR in the state relay several of its programs as well as the little station in neighboring Kavaratti in Lakshadeep where the local language is also the same. Its programs are unlinked via INSAT 2C Satellite and the downlink frequency is 49.725 MHz [GHz?]. Most of the External Service programmes in Malayalam language broadcast at 1730-1830 UT to the Middle East are also unlinked to Delhi from here. The studio to transmitter link is via UHF on 1489 and 1521 MHz made by DB Electronica Telecomunicazoni in Italy and by Meltron. I also saw a 2 watt Meltron RT43S transceiver for two-way VHF communication system between studio and transmitter site. The transmitters of AIR Thiruvanthapuram are at different places. 1. Medium Wave: (A Channel) Its main MW site is at Kulathoor, which is about 12 kms away from the studioes. The old 5 kW transmitter installed for the Travancore Broadcasting Station in 1943 was replaced by a 10 kW BEL HMB 104 Transmitter on February 15, 1973. This transmitter's serial no. is 4. It used the frequency of 660 kHz till the MW frequency reshuffle on November 23, 1978 and then it was changed to the present 1161 kHz. At the end of 2001, this 10 kW transmitter was replaced by a solid state 20 kW Harris DX 20 transmitter made in USA. Its output power can be selected as 5, 10 or 20 kW. It uses a self-radiating mast of 122 Meters. There are generators here to be used in case of any power failures. The morning transmission of this MW service starts at 5.50 am (0020 UT) and the evening transmissions end at 11.05 p.m. (1735 UT). The old 10 kW Transmitter is used as standby here. It is tested daily for a couple of minutes between 5.00 and 5.30 am before the normal morning transmission starts. 2. Vividh Bharati MW (Studio) The Vividh Bharati Service from this station started on March 6, 1966 with a NEC MB 122 A transmitter of 1 kW on 1170 kHz with a 28 meter self-radiating mast antenna installed at the studios. Later it was changed to 1494 kHz during the MW frequency reshuffle on November 23, 1978. It was converted to a Commercial Broadcasting Station on May 1, 1975. This MW Transmitter was taken off the air in favor of FM which started from here in 1999 but it is still kept as standby with an L antenna at the studios. 3. Short Wave: There were plans for SW transmission from here very long back but the transmitter meant for here was diverted to Kurseong in the early 1960s during the war with China. Ultimately, a BEL HHB 144 SW transmitter of 50 kW was commissioned here on November 6, 1994 after being tested from around October 1992. The serial no. of this transmitter is 8 which is capable for operating between 3.9 and 26.1 MHz. The transmitter site is near the seacoast at Muttathura about 12 km away from the studio. During the testing time the following frequencies were noted: 3315, 4990, 5950, 6085, 7260, 7280 and 9650 kHz. Presently there are 3 transmissions from here on SW as follows: 0050- 0215 UT on 5010 kHz, 0230-0400(Sun 1030) and at 0630-0930 on 7290 kHz. There are no broadcasts on SW from here now for the evening/night transmission due to shortage of staff. They use distilled water and air cooling systems to cool the transmitter. There are 3 antenna towers and the antennas are dipoles for 5 bands viz. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 MHz. There is an emergency studio also here I also saw a Sangean ATS 818 CS digital receiver there. 4. FM: The FM transmitter is located at Kudappanakunnu at the TV station, about 8 km away from the AIR studios. It was inaugurated here on August 15, 1999. It carries the Vividh Bharati program on 101.9 MHz in Stereo. The transmitters are two numbers of 5 kW BEL HVB 165/A. There are 3 transmissions daily and most of the programs are in Hindi relayed via Satellite from Mumbai. The morning transmissions start at 5.55 am and the evening transmissions end at 11.00 p.m. The history of FM broadcasting in Thiruvanthapuram if fact goes back to back to January 1983 when a 5 watt FM Transmitter assembled by AIR Tirunelveli staff was on air for a couple of days during an AIR conference held here. This low power transmitter which was installed at the AIR Studios used the frequency of 107.1 MHz. It was taken back after the conference was over. The local TV station using the same site by the way has two 10 kw transmitters operating on Ch. 9 (DD1) and Ch. 11 (DD2). At first it was a low power 100 watt station which was inaugurated on January 1, 1985. I have received several confirmations for my reception reports to this AIR station. Letters from foreign listeners are forwarded to New Delhi and QSL Cards are issued from there. -------- 12 Mar 1943 Travancore Broadcasting Station, VUR, 658 kHz, 5 kW MW STC 1 Apr 1950 Inducted to AIR 6 Mar 1966 1 kW Vividh Bharati NEC MB 122 A (at Vazthucaud Studio) 15 Feb 1973 5 kW MW tx replaced by 10 kW BEL HMB 104 (Kulathoor) Jan 1983 5 watts FM 107.1 MHz (demonstration by AIR Tirunelveli at Studio) 6 Nov 1994 50 kW SW BEL HFB 144 (Muttathura) 15 Aug 1999 MW Vividh Bharati replaced by FM Stereo 2x5 kW BEL HVB 165/A (Muttathura) Dec 2001 20 kW Harris DX 20 Tx replaced 10 kW MW (Jose Jacob, dx_india July 18 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Very difficult to express During the more than 33 years that I`m writing about the medium radio it was never before so difficult to search for words by compiling a story than today, July 18th 2002. Yesterday evening, after an operation, Howard G Rose died at the age of 49 years after a heart attack. Most people in radio land knew Howard as deejay Chrispian St. John or Jay Jackson. He was one of the very first British Anoraks who I knew after I started writing for Pirate Radio News in 1969. Very young, 16 years of age at that stage, Howard wanted to grab and eat everything which had to do with Pirate and Offshore Radio and so he did also read my magazine and got, on regular base, in contact with me. Of course he couldn't avoid to start his own station at that time but was doing illegal things in England working for a land based radio station. Although this was a very tiny little one, bigger stations would come soon reality for little Chrispian. It was in 1971 that he, as a 18 year old guy, climbed onboard the MEBO II, the then radio ship of Radio Norht Sea International. There he became part of the international service which supplied us with the perfect sound of `RNI, the Summer of 71`. Howard learnt a lot from his fellow deejays like Paul May, Martin Kayne and the guy who hired him at that time, Steve Merikke. It was also on one of my visits to the Oude Boerenhofstede at Naarden, where the land based studios of RNI were housed, where I met Chrispian for the very first time. In 1971 he was dismissed by the station and recently he wrote a story of his dismissal in Soundscapes, the online journal for media and music culture at the University of Groningen. See spring edition under Volume 4 the article with the title `Getting the sack`. http://www.soundscapes.info But it was not only RNI which took the interest of Howard. In 1972 he went to the station, where he tuned in to in the sixties: Radio Caroline. In March 1968 both Caroline vessels were towed away from the British Coast and went into Amsterdam harbour. After being there and in Zaandam harbour for many years, they were sold for scrap in order of the Wijsmuller Tender Company, to which Caroline had to pay still a lot of money. It was Gerard van der Zee who bought the MV Mi Amigo back for Ronan O`Rahilly so Radio Caroline could be on the air again soon. First they started as Radio 199 and being almost winter the station came in clearly and we especially enjoyed the Christmas programming in 1972, where Howard, a.k.a. Chrispian, played a key role. It looked like that the station would as soon stop again as it restarted as the crew, which wasn`t properly paid by the organization, hijacked the ship and towed it into harbour again. With hard working of the deejays and volunteers, the MV Mi Amigo was soon back at sea and the most famous radio station on Earth was a rocking good way again from the only place Radio Caroline can be, the international waters. It seemed Chrispian was very restless and later, at the end of 1973, he wrote me that he would soon leave for Germany. There, in the harbour of Cuxhavn, a new radio ship would be fitted out under very hard conditions. Even one of the crewmembers died during the out fit of the MV Jeanine. The new ship would be used for Radio Atlantis, which had earlier hired transmission time from Radio Caroline. With their own ship, off the coast of Zeeland, they started also an international service and Chrispian once again was part of a very good team including Steve England, Andy Anderson as well as Terry Davis. In the Seventies Howard played a role within the Independent Radio, which started with LBC and Capital Radio in 1973 as the first commercial stations in Great Britain. He could be heard at stations like Swansea Sound and Viking Radio, but the sea still had a special feeling for Howard. It was Abe Nathan`s Voice of Peace, a station in the Mediterranean, which was the next station to work for. Howard stayed for many years there. While doing my research for my book on the history on the Voice of Peace I interviewed a lot of people and every time Chrispian was mentioned as a very good deejay and friend, although some told me that he sometimes could be very pigheaded and tried several times to get things his way. Then more `Rocking on the Northsea` came for Howard under his nickname Jay Jackson, sometimes adding `J` between his both names. Not only was he responsible for the newsroom from 1983 on board the MV Ross Revenge, the new Radio Caroline ship, he also made a lot of prestigious album music programs, we will never forget. The combination of the music he played, compared with his knowledge of the music, his beautiful voice made it all complete for listening with good pleasure. About his period on board the MV Ross Revenge Jay Jackson wrote a book called `The Pirates Who Waive the Rules`, a book which didn`t get the publicity it deserved. In the eighties Howard played an important role in co-starting the very first golden oldie station in Britain, Radio Sovereign. It became headlines, not only in Britain but also in Western Europe. It was an illegal station and therefore it was one day forced to go off the air, but it returned later at the Riviera in France. In the years Howard made thousands of contacts within the radio industry and he would love, at one stage, to highlight the radio world from another corner. An own Radio Magazine was his idea. After a false start, a second attempt was very successful and The Radio Magazine was born, now already more than 12 years ago. In between he was also one of the co- owners of KCBC, a radio station in his home town Kettering. Howard, which whom I stayed in contact all those years, one time more than the other, asked me to write for the Radio Magazine for the news from the Benelux. He also wrote on regular basis for the Freewave Media Magazine since the late seventies of last century. Just last week the message came in that Howard and Patricia, his wife, had sold The Radio Magazine and the Gold Crest Communications to a big publisher. It was stated that Howard would be staying as the key role man, but the new step in his career could not last for longer than a week. He died yesterday at the age of 49, leaving behind Patricia whom he did marry last year, and three children. I hope they have the strength in the time to come to carry this heavy loss (Hans Knot, 18.07.02, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. Since the 252 kHz LW facility is operated out of the UK, I plan to file future items about it under UK [non] (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN. MINISTER SAYS COST OF PREVENTING RADIO INTERFERENCE AT 180BN YENS | Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 19 July: The national expense of preventing possible radio wave interference [RF interference] between terrestrial digital and analogue television broadcasts will total some 180 gigayen, the telecom minister said Friday [19 July]. "The government would like to pay the expense by tapping the pool of fiscal resources from taxes charged on the use of assigned radio wave frequencies" by TV broadcasters, Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Toranosuke Katayama told a lecture meeting. The government plans to have private television broadcasters start terrestrial digital broadcasts by the end of 2003. Private TV broadcasters and the ministry have been trying to accurately estimate the cost of preventing possible radio wave interference between digital and analogue broadcasts. The cost for preventing such interference was initially estimated at 70-80 gigayen, but a closer examination of relevant potential expenses produced the latest estimate of 180 gigayen, ministry officials said. The government will officially release the figure later in the day, they added. Source: Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 0657 gmt 19 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LATVIA. More Laser Radio tests: see UK [non] ** LESOTHO. 4800, LNBS Full data prepared card received in 7 weeks for a registered f/up report sent via Hungary. My card was signed by Emmanuel Rametse, the Transmitter Engineer for Radio Lesotho. Unfortunately they could not exchange the dollar I sent with my report as there are strict laws regarding currency exchange by local citizens (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX July 18 via DXLD) What is the point of sending via Hungary? To make your letter stand out from the crowd? (gh, DXLD) I have had some very friendly e-mail exchanges with Lebohang Rametse, the son of the Radio Lesotho Transmitter Engineer, who tells me that the spare parts for the shortwave transmitter have arrived, and is currently being fixed. I learned that the local instrument that is sometimes heard at the top of the hour is called a Lesiba, which means "feather" in English. This is a very old instrument and it was usually played by herd boys. It is a long hollow pipe (about 1 meter) of wood with a hole on one end and side, where the player blows air into the tube and then it subsequently makes that purr noise. There is a picture and description of a Lesiba at the following URL: http://www.und.ac.za/und/music/Thabos.html#lesiba I suggested that such information would be of interest to Radio Lesotho's English speaking listeners, if they would only have a cultural type program. Apparently this suggestion was very well received by Radio Lesotho's program manager, as they already have such a program in Sesotho, and it would just need to be translated into English. Although there is enthusiasm for such a program, it is contingent upon the re-structuring of the government budget (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. Thinking of sending a reception report to Liberia? http://news.bbc.co.uk/low/english/world/africa/newsid_2133000/2133294. stm LIBERIAN MAIL RETURNED TO SENDER KLM aircraft http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38114000/jpg/_38114412_plane-bbc-300.jpg KLM is one of the airlines boycotting Liberian post Letters and parcels are being returned to senders in Liberia as a ban on the country's international mail begins to bite. The ministry of posts and telecommunications is taking the measure following the ban by international airlines on deliveries to and collections from Liberia, according to the Associated Press news agency (AP). The ban was instituted at the end of June because of Liberia's failure to pay off long-term debts to the Dutch airline KLM and Ghana Airways. Ghana Airways is the only international airline making regular flights to Liberia. It collected Liberian mail and passed it on to KLM, which distributed it worldwide. Rebel fighters http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38140000/jpg/_38140649_liberiasold150_.jpg The war has also disrupted postal deliveries Some of the Liberian debts to KLM and Ghana Airways has been outstanding for more than 10 years. KLM has been sending Liberia bills and letters requesting settlement of the debt for the last year but no payments have been made, KLM spokesman Frank Houben told BBC News Online. The airline will not lift the embargo until the debt is paid, he said. Liberia has been experiencing problems with its postal services for a number of years as a result of war and the displacement of people, Juliana Nel of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) told BBC News Online. In addition to the mail ban, the United Nations has imposed a travel ban on Liberia's leaders, an arms embargo and a diamond sale embargo in order to end Liberia's support for rebels in neighbouring Sierra Leone. Refunds Liberia owes KLM $373,000 and Ghana Airways $56,000, according to a KLM spokesman. Its failures to pay its annual dues to the UPU have led to the suspension of its voting rights in the postal union, according to Juliana Nel of the UPU. The union is still trying to assist Liberia in restructuring its postal system. It is trying to improve and expand them and provide services in districts "where services have been suspended as a result of political instability," she said. Liberian refugees http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/38140000/jpg/_38140694_libdisplaced150_.jpg Thousands of Liberians have been displaced by war The stoppage in international mail collections and deliveries has required the Liberian postal ministry to start returning mail to its Liberian senders. Postal workers are collecting receipts from customers and returning the backlog of mail in Monrovia. One postal worker, who asked not to be named, told AP that he did not know how or when refunds would be made to those who had paid to send mail abroad. The Posts and Telecommunications Minister Miwaseh Pay-Bayee is trying to get permission from President Charles Taylor to go to Ghana to ask the government there to join Liberia in asking for a lifting on the mail ban (BBC News Online via Chris Greenway, Kenya, July 19, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. 6090, RTL Radio, Jul 10, 0710-2030: the test mentioned in DX-Window no. 198 was heard here throughout the day and evening with fair reception, but always severe QRM from Bayerischer Rundfunk on 6085 having the same signal strength. German DJ mostly with British oldies, ads and IDs: ``RTL Radio`` and ``Die neue Deutsche Welle`` (The new Deutsche Welle !!!). SINPO varied from 33443 midday to 53544 at night. In my e-mail report to RTL I recommended them to find another frequency in the 49 mb (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 4845, Radio Mauritanie, Nouakchott 0045-0103 July 17. Western Sahara music (with vocals) played on an Ud instrument at tune- in, followed by a brief segment of rapid recitations, but it was not the Qur`an. Resumption of Sahara music interspersed with Arabic announcements. Piano music bridge at 0050 into definite Qur`an to 0100, as signal began to fade slightly. Arabic closing comments including station ID to martial national anthem and sign-off. Open carrier to 0103. Signal initially S9 at tune-in, shifting to S5 by sign-off (Gayle Van Horn, NC, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 12015, V. of Mongolia, Jul 14, 2020, fair in EE with Mongolian music and comment, ID 2029. Normally blocked by R Canada Intl (Ken Baird, New Zealand, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Another outlet has been reactivated, 3395 heard here UT July 18 at 1945 in vernacular, music; 3345 Poppondetta was also in. Paul Ormandy has reported these in the local evenings, but I hear them in the mornings (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3395 listed in 1998 WRTH as R. Eastern Highlands, Goroka (gh, DXLD) ** PERU. Re R. Nacional del Perú silent on 854 kHz: Deduzco lo siguiente. Dejaron morir lentamente el transmisor de onda media, al igual que el de onda corta (6095 khz) y no se preocuparon "para que si ahi hay otro" (el de la Crónica) los imagino sin esfuerzo. Y no hay pretexto por la cuestión económica ya que alberga una buena cantidad de personas ganando cerca de 4 digitos mensuales... (Alfredo ``Spacemaster`` Cañote, Lima, Conexión Digital July 18 via DXLD) ** RWANDA [non]. See USA -- VOA ** SURINAM. 4991, R. Apintie, 0735 July 18, presume the one with a weak signal and Hindi-sounding music. This one usually heard with English pops (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. Hello Glenn, I was interested in your reference to Gerrards Cross under "TAIWAN" in DXLD 2-114, July 17, as I live a few miles away. It's a small town in a now rather built-up area about 20 miles west of London. The Radio Taipei map seems to be implying it's a transmitter site but there are no masts of any significance in that area and never have been. (It's close to a popular private airfield.) There's no reference to "Merlin" in the phone book covering Gerrards Cross and I couldn't find the place on their website but they presumably have something there. I expect it's the last "stop" before the link to the transmitting site - probably one used by the BBC. (As you may know 3955 kHz is an old World Service frequency.) Many thanks for all the work you put into "WOR" and "DXLD". They really are invaluable sources of reference, particularly when so many "DX type" programmes have now disappeared. Kind Regards (Paul Kennett, Chorleywood, Herts., England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, Gerrards Cross is a village in Buckinghamshire, the next rail stop down from Beaconsfield going towards London. I've been through it many times on my UK visits; my wife's sister lives nearby. The Thames Valley seems an unlikely place for a HF site. I would like to try and find it on my next trip, whenever that will be. 73 de (John Cobb, GA, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 6240 Xizang PBS in DX Window no.198, which was 5240, NOT 6240. Sorry to confusing, my error (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 17 via DXLD) ** U K. See TAIWAN [non] above re Gerrards Cross ** U K. LISTENERS TUNE OUT THE 'BEEB' An article from http://www.globeandmail.com July 17, 2002 Associated Press London --- The British Broadcasting Corp.'s World Service lost three million listeners from its global radio audience in the past year because of increased competition and market deregulation, according to the corporation's annual review published Wednesday. The network praised for its coverage of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States also suffered from a slump in listening in India, director Mark Byford said. "In the context of more intense competition and market deregulation, the overall global radio audience for BBC World Service fell ... from the record high in 2001, to 150 million listeners," Mr. Byford said. In India, the fact that "less than one in four now listens to any radio station, impacted severely on the overall World Service global figure," he said. "Our first all-India survey revealed a 45 per cent drop in our audience there, down 12-million to 14.6-million listeners." Successes included a doubling of the audience in Australia, Mr. Byford said. On Sept. 11 and 12, the service ran a much-praised, 40-hour uninterrupted broadcast about the attacks. It has also been praised for its coverage of the recent conflict in the Middle East, rising tensions between India and Pakistan and Zimbabwe's presidential elections. Earlier this week, the network learned it would receive an extra $118- million (Canadian) in government funding over the next three years to expand its services. (via Bill Westenhaver --- I wonder how much of the drop came from discontinuing the service to North America? --- DXLD) BBC WORLD SERVICE LOSES 3M LISTENERS From The Guardian, John Plunkett, Wednesday July 17, 2002 The BBC World Service was listened to by an average of 150 million people last year - 3 million down on the previous 12 months and 5 million below its audience target. In its annual report, the government-funded global broadcaster was praised by the BBC chairman, Gavyn Davies, for its "professionalism and courage... in the face of bitter attack from the enemies of free speech". The World Service broadcast the longest news programmes in its history in the wake of September 11 and the invasion of Afghanistan. Traffic on its website almost doubled to 75 million page impressions a month. Mr Davies said: "The professionalism and courage of the World Service's editorial teams during this turbulent year, often in the face of bitter attack from the enemies of free speech, has ensured that high quality news and current affairs programming has been available to a global audience of around 150 million listeners on radio and online. "That this reporting has received widespread acclaim has further enhanced the World Service's profile in Britain and abroad." But overall listening was down 3 million from 153 million in 2000/2001. The biggest shortfall was in Asia and the Pacific region, where audience figures fell 11.5 million, mostly a result of a slump in radio listening in India. The World Service watchdog, the governors' World Service consultative group, called on management to improve sound quality and make better presentation style a "high priority". The regulator said the World Service strategy in India should be overhauled because of the growing threat from TV. It called for a "thorough review" of its Hindi output to respond better to audience needs and expectations. The verdict comes just two days after the government awarded the World Service a £48m boost. The sum is about two-thirds of the amount the service requested. The extra cash, to be spent on producing more global-oriented programming and boosting online and FM services, coincided with a further "rigorous programme of efficiency" at Bush House. World Service managers made £3.2m of "efficiency savings" last year. The director of the World Service, Mark Byford, said: "The battle for radio audiences is increasingly ferocious across the world as markets deregulate and listener choice explodes. "Rapid technological advances, lifestyle changes and growing competition mean it is imperative for the World Service to have an even stronger understanding of audience needs and market developments." The BBC's services were extended in Afghanistan and the surrounding region during the "war on terror". The proportion of funding spent directly on content production is now 88%, still 2% short of its stated aim of 90% by 2003/2004. The World Service has also faced three accusations of racial discrimination this year (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. BBC News Online to offer more choice and relevance* http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/hi/english/world/newsid_2131000/2131907.stm In the next few days, we are going to make some changes to the way BBC News Online is organised and presented. Here they are explained (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** U K. I'm all set to hear the first Proms this afternoon [July 19 1830 UT]. Starting tomorrow and every day for the next two weeks (except July 21), the concerts will be "videocast" live on the Proms website, or so that's what they appear to say. You can be sure I'll be checking that out! (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UK. CHANGE OF NAME FOR MERLIN COMMUNICATIONS | Text of press release from UK transmission company Merlin Communications on 19 July As you may be aware, Vosper Thornycroft Holdings plc (VT) acquired Merlin Communications in December 2001 as part of their strategy to move into the technical services sector. This additional investment is allowing us to continue to grow the company quickly and exploit future opportunities in our existing markets, as well as provide greater access to new markets. On Friday 5th July 2002 at their annual general meeting, the VT board proposed to change the name of the group from Vosper Thornycroft Holdings plc to VT Group plc, which was agreed by shareholders. VT will also be implementing a new branding strategy that involves all VT's operating companies, and as part of this strategy Merlin Communications International will be renamed VT Merlin Communications. As a result of VT's branding strategy, Merlin will receive a new corporate identity, involving a new VT Merlin logo and brand colour. We will however continue to use our existing Merlin logo as a product specific logo. The new brand will enhance the image of Merlin and identify us with a large blue chip organization that can provide an even greater end-to- end solution to many of our customers. It also reflects our transition into a fully integrated subsidiary of a major FTSE 350 PLC. We certainly do not envisage any changes in our customer commitment and service provision. Our new corporate identity and brand will be rolled out from July 2002, with the official name change commencing from 1st August 2002. Should you have any questions whatsoever then please do not hesitate to contact your designated account manager, or Laura Jelf, Merlin's Marketing Manager. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to Merlin. Yours sincerely, Fiona Lowry, Chief Executive Source: Merlin Communications press release, London, in English 19 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. From The Radio Magazine 17th July 2002 The sale of London station LBC to Bloomberg, for an expected £10 million, has fallen through at the last minute. Bloomberg, the financial news organisation, had been planning to re-model the station on New York station WBBR-AM.. More in this week's issue! (via Mike Terry, July 18, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. There is a dearth of radio north of Watford, although radio can sound fresher than the rather tired formats down here where the Palm trees grow. I don't think you missed much with the offshore RSLs - 1 watt ghosts of radio days past. I was brought up in the north-west and enjoyed a good choice of Irish, Manx, Dutch offshore and BBC national, local commercial and pirate stations from the early 70s on. That was the real thing in its time, not vintage revivals. Maybe I am anti-shortwave but that is only because it just seems so irrelevant to the ordinary radio listener in Western Europe. The range of good programming in English on shortwave is very limited. The changes in propagation and frequency confuse most people and the audio quality is often poor. If it ever arrives commercially, DRM may deliver AM/FM-style stations via SW without the listener even being aware they are tuned above 3 MHz. The free-to-air radios on DAB, Sky Digital and WorldSpace extend the radio choice for an outlay of around £150 pounds but I'm not sure that a whispy, fading, seasonal, weak shortwave signal from a station trading on the name of a once great station reaches more than a few dozen enthusiasts. In the post this morning some promo material came from the "Caroline" asking for funds to put the station on Sky Digital. Well good luck to them. It harped on about the ship and funding "for future use". It seems that a Sky signal isn't good enough, they want to keep painting a rusting marine studio, floating aerial and transmitter base which they don't use. I will not give them money but I am sure many will. It is no different from the appeals for funds many US stations air. Anyway, I absolutely respect your opinion and assure you that any southern bias in my comments was enviromental and not genetic. Cheers (Chris McWhinnie, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K [non]. This is a bit of a mystery - Mike) 16 July 2002 Reports arriving at the Laser office following our recent weekend test broadcasts indicate that a certain party is taking an unhealthy interest in having LaserRadio.net removed from the airwaves. Despite our engineers adhering to the strictest technical operating standards and the transmitter being fully licenced and authorised by the Latvian authorities, certain objections have been lodged regarding our operation. LaserRadio.net is a Free Radio service supported by its listeners and whatever advertising we manage to gather. The management of this station wish to make it perfectly clear we offer no 'threat' to any individual, group or government. We just want to play our music and entertain our listeners. We can assure our supporters we shall not give in to the bully tactics of those who would have us shutdown - They will NOT succeed. (via Mike Terry, UK, BDXC-UK via DXLD) As far as I am aware the 5.935 MHz Transmissions are perfectly legal, as, presumably, they are on a transmitter owned and operated by the country's (Latvia) public broadcaster. I also presume that Caroline have come to some sort of financial agreement with the said public broadcaster, for these transmissions. The only proviso I would suggest is that, if these transmissions were to become permanent, the Latvian public broadcaster (Radio Riga, I presume) should register these with the High Frequency Co-Ordination Committee (HFCC). This of course is NOT the concern or responsibility of (in this case) the Caroline organisation. All I can say is that the issues concerned, seem to me, to be, as stated above and are thus quite clear in my mind (Ken Fletcher, 1735UTC=1835UTC+1 17th July 2002, BDXC-UK via DXLD) From laserradio@yahoogroups.com Wednesday, July 17, 2002 11:35 AM Our engineers have made some modifications to the transmitter and we shall be running a brief test for two hours on Friday July 21 st. [sic – the 21st is Sunday, Friday is the 19th --- gh]. We will start at 09h00 UTC until 11h00 UTC. Reception reports most welcome! (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Presumably still referring to 5935 Latvia Laser Radio 5935 reception Reception of Laser Radio's test from Ulbroka Latvia on 5935 kHz here this morning (19 July) was not as good as last weekend's afternoon/evening transmissions. From tune in at 0823 to close at 0959 UT signal was weaker, noisier and with more fading than heard last weekend. Today's SIO 343 at 0823 deteriorated to SIO 242 at close. No interference on this channel though. (Last weekend here: SIO 444 at 1815 13 July; SIO 443 at 2157 14 July) Programme of continuous rock (REO Speedwagon, America, Bread etc) plus English announcements of UK address and mobile 'phone number for reports and comments. Reception was not really good enough to sit back and enjoy this sort of music programme on shortwave this morning though. Next transmission is scheduled this Sunday (21 July) 1400 to 2200 UT on 5935 again (Alan Pennington, Caversham, UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) July 13, 2125-2157: At 2115 tune-in, I could detect a carrier, and by 2125 recognizable audio was heard, with Herman's Hermits' "I'm Into Something Good". This was followed by a "laser" sound effect produced on a synthesizer. This pattern continued; every two or three pop/rock songs followed by a sound effect. No ID heard. The only other song I recognized was the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Runnin'". Signal improved at 2145, with SINPO of 24332 (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA TO EXPAND KINYARWANDA, KIRUNDI OUTPUT; MAY RELAY RADIO RWANDA | Text of report by Rwandan radio on 18 July The head of the Africa Division of Voice of America [VOA] radio, Ms Gwen Dillard, says the VOA will soon broadcast in Kinyarwanda and Kirundi twice a day - in the morning and at night - instead of just in the morning. Ms Gwen Dillard announced this to the press following talks with the director of the Rwandan Information Office, Orinfor, Mr Joseph Bideri. Ms Gwen Dillard also said the VOA was thinking of relaying some Radio Rwanda broadcasts on the VOA in order to enable the entire world to become acquainted with realities in Rwanda. The head of the VOA's Africa Division is in Rwanda within the framework of celebrations to mark the first anniversary of the launch of VOA FM broadcasts in Rwanda. Source: Radio Rwanda, Kigali, in French 0445 gmt 18 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Can You Feel the (TV Critics) Love? X-URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2002/07/15/DD51629.DTL&type=printable CNN'S CHUNG JUST DEAD WEIGHT TIM GOODMAN Monday, July 15, 2002 ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle. Pasadena -- Getting spun is just part of the program of sitting down here listening to networks talk about themselves. What are they going to say -- we're lousy across the board? No. Even if they are lousy across the board, they will find a few positive numbers and try to stick them on your face with glue and paper. That's fine by most critics here. Bring it on. We expect it. Lots of practice has honed our ability to cut through it. So when CNN veered away from what it had a distinct right to brag about -- that it does good journalism, that it has a better news gathering machine than any other network and a verifiable commitment to news that goes beyond cheap studio talk -- it was almost insulting. Do executives there really think we're dumb enough to believe Connie Chung is doing important journalism for the channel? Apparently. As a reminder, they passed out a flier of her "exclusives" and previous guests and topics. The list read partly like sleaze, partly like ego puffery based on nothing of substance, and partly like cheap spin meant to remind us at the very last second to Vote Connie. Too bad this session came a couple of hours after a riotously funny, brilliantly delivered bit from Comedy Central's Jon Stewart, who was a guest on Chung's first show, a rocky start by all accounts except Chung's. It included her apparently serious question about whether Stewart, who "anchors" Comedy Central's "Daily Show", which spoofs network news, had ever been asked to anchor CBS's "Evening News" or ABC's "World News Tonight." Stewart gave a hilarious, non-verbal Tex Avery cartoon imitation of how he felt -- all bug-eyed, head-shaking, lip-shivering, tongue-hanging out, heart- beating-out-of-chest incredulousness. Point: Chung is out of her mind. Back in the CNN session, we found Teya Ryan -- the network's executive vice president and general manager -- continuing her bulldog-fierce support of Chung and blindly dismissing the idea that a tabloid sensibility reeks on most topics Chung covers. Pedophilia? Missing children? Drunk airline pilots? Enron employees posing nude? Nah. It's the news of the day. It chose us. For his part, Walter Isaacson, Chairman and CEO of the CNN News Group said, "Man, that's a cool show." OK, stop. We can buy into the argument Isaacson makes about being second to the glossy, opinionated Fox News -- "Emphasizing straight and decent journalism is not the easiest path to popularity," he said. CNN will be No. 1 on terms that don't erase its credibility. It won't sell out, etc. All great stuff and a fine motto. But getting Chung was an ill-advised bit of desperation meant to keep up with the Joneses, something CNN seems panicked about. Chung's show is bad. We know that. The CNN execs claim not to. Hell, even Jon Stewart knows that. So it was a little insulting for people who had otherwise made sensible and admirable claims about CNN's lofty journalistic goals to, all of a sudden, clump Chung in the same group. This is a woman who would pull her car over on the way to the Pulitzer party to cover a carnival sideshow. And how weird was it that CNN announced it was picking up Stewart's "Daily Show" and repackaging it as "The Daily Show: Global Edition," and sending it to 161 million homes in 200 countries? "The Daily Show" is, after all, a spoof of the news. Asked whether CNN should be concerned that people in other countries just might take his show, um, seriously, Stewart said, "That's an excellent question and one that I should answer -- not the head of CNN." And, asked whether he thought CNN didn't get the joke (because, obviously Chung sure hadn't), Stewart said, "I can't speak for them -- oh, what the hell, let me speak for them: They don't get it. They think it's cute. They don't understand that we're actually angry at them." Uproarious laughter is a good thing, and we got a lot of it there. Maybe -- and this isn't a joke -- CNN should have just hired Stewart instead of Chung. At least "The Daily Show" hasn't done overkill on the Elizabeth Smart story. ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle. Page D - 1 (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. HAL SIMMS, CBS ANNOUNCER IN EARLY DAYS OF TV By Tom Long, Globe Staff, 7/12/2002 Hal Simms' name may not ring a bell, but his voice was certainly familiar to a generation of TV viewers who tuned in to ''The Edge of Night,'' ''Beat the Clock'' and ''The Frank Sinatra Show'' during the early days of network television. He was a CBS announcer from 1948 until 1972, but was really a jack-of-all-trades who also acted, reported, and delivered weather forecasts while the new medium was defining itself. Mr. Simms, 83, who grew up in Boston's old West End, died July 2 at Goddard House, a Brookline nursing facility. ''For a kid from a tenement, it was really quite a life,'' his son Adam said yesterday. ''He was there when Walter Cronkite and Eric Sevareid were young men in a new medium. He got to work with sports figures such as Frank Gifford and entertainers like Frank Sinatra - figures who were larger than life.'' In 1958, he recalled the early days when ''a three-station hook-up was a major network, and you reached a couple of hundred thousand people at peak hours.'' He and his colleagues ''practically froze'' at the thought of telecasting into homes in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia simultaneously, when that was the extent of network TV. ''No one dreamed of a network spanning the entire nation, making it possible to be seen and heard by millions upon millions of viewers,'' he said. Mr. Simms often recounted the time he was told to cover the races at New York's Belmont Park. ''He had never been to a racetrack and hadn't any idea what win, place, and show meant,'' said his son. An editor of the Racing Form gave him a quick tutorial and that afternoon Mr. Simms was at Belmont calling the races. He was the announcer for the game shows ''Beat the Clock'' and ''To Tell the Truth,'' the soap opera ''The Guiding Light,'' and many other TV shows. He also announced radio shows and for 10 years prior to his retirement was announcer in chief of CBS. Nobody knows how many times he delivered the lines ''CBS presents this program in color'' or introduced ''The Edge of Night,'' with the emphasis on the word ''edge,'' a hallmark of the show for many years. He was also an announcer-actor on the ''The Morning Show'' with Jack Paar. One morning, when the two finished a skit wearing gorilla costumes, the cue came to deliver the weather forecast. Never one to miss a cue, Mr. Simms delivered the weather in the gorilla suit. The CBS switchboard lit up. One evening, he was announcing the ''Songs for Sale'' show, and host Jan Murray contracted laryngitis and couldn't go on, so Mr. Simms hosted the show. ''Never in my life was I so scared,'' he said. ''Luckily, things went off without a hitch.'' And there was the time he and a crew taped the ''The Frank Sinatra Show'' at the Paramount Theater in New York City, where ''old blue eyes'' was performing. When they returned to CBS, they realized they had forgotten to load the camera. Sinatra had decamped for Hollywood, so Mr. Simms and his colleagues followed the singer to the West Coast to retape the show. ''Frankie couldn't believe his eyes when we walked in,'' said Mr. Simms. Mr. Simms graduated from the University of Michigan, working his way through school by selling shoes and newspapers and working in the school's kitchen. During school breaks, he hitchhiked to Boston to visit his family. He began his career in radio in Portsmouth, N.H., where he earned the princely sum of $20 a month. He was working for a Philadelphia radio station, his son said, when his college friends Robert Q. Lewis and Mike Wallace persuaded him to move to New York and join CBS. Early in his career, Mr. Simms was asked to go to Hollywood, step out of the announcer's booth and into the limelight and take a chance at a big-time career. He declined because his children were young and he didn't want to relocate. ''He passed on the pursuit of glamour,'' said his son, ''and he never regretted it.'' He leaves another son, Hank; a daughter, Sarah Simms Rosenthal; and three grandchildren. funeral service was held. This story ran on page B7 of the Boston Globe on 7/12/2002. (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. LEFT OF THE DIAL: NON-COMMERCIAL RADIO STAYS ON THE AIR FOR ITS OWN SAKE by Joe Tarr It's hot as hell inside the broadcast booth of Knoxville's newest radio station on a muggy summer afternoon. The double-wide trailer— whose outside walls are spattered with graffiti—sits along a heavily wooded road in South Knoxville. The station's organizers squat rent free, but the neighbors don't mind—the place used to be a crack house until the station cleaned it out and moved in. The broadcast equipment doesn't look like much: some used CD players, a small mixing board, a microphone, a broken tape deck. The transmitter is located in a cramped closet with a lock that requires a screwdriver to open. The antenna has been strung to the top of a tree out back. Oh, and a video monitor in the booth shows the driveway outside, in case Federal Communications Commission agents should happen to visit. You see, Knoxville's First Amendment Radio (KFAR), is broadcasting illegally at 90.9 FM.... http://www.metropulse.com/dir_zine/dir_2002/1228/t_cover.html [This is a very long article, which deals with all the less than 92 MHz Knoxville stations, including WUOT, WUTK, WDVX, WNCW and two gospel huxters --- gh] (via Howard Box, Oak Ridge, TN, DXLD) All low-end FM fans should be impressed with how much Joe Tarr found gong on there but in fact he missed what some of us also find there. Rightly famed music commentator, Karl Haas can be heard at 9 am every weekday on WSMC 90.5 from Collegedale. And that station still carries ``Marketplace`` at 5 pm, which WUOT lost in the budget crisis. They also offer the other public radio news [``The World``] at 4 pm put out by a WGBH-BBC consortium. The East Tennessee State station, WETS on 89.5, is also heard well in Knoxville with what I`ll call ``jazz, etc.`` in the afternoon, and the 8 to 10 am Sunday NPR news [``Weekend Edition``], as well as a later run of daily NPR news. They even have an occasional program drawing on THEIR university resources! The ``compleat listener`` will appreciate that both offer much classical music that only infrequently duplicates WUOT, and sometimes offers a different time slot for a program we would otherwise miss. Really upsetting in Tarr`s fascinating article was not the ``pirate`` station, but the little note that supposedly non-profit ``Love 89`` and ``Easy 88`` on 89.1 and 88.3 have WRJZ as their common e-mail address, and are programmed by the TN Media Association. What is going on at that very low end of our non-profit corner? Are spaces being held until the FCC opens it up to commercial exploitation – as they did to the original high end non-commercial and, and as they have done to short wave? Who knows? ``Is anyone listening?`` Is anyone watching them? P.S. Blow the public mind if you want by telling them they can hear channel 6 at the very-very-low-end of FM with traffic and weather and soap operas for people who don`t have enough trouble of their own (Rev. Howard Box, July 12, letter to the editor of Metro Pulse, via DXLD) ** U S A. ATHEIST DIRECTORS ON THE AIR MONDAY IN NORTH CAROLINA American Atheists State Directors Wayne Aiken (North Carolina) and Kyle Oden (South Carolina) will be the guests this Monday, July 22, 2002 on WFAE-FM News Radio out of Charlotte, NC. Tune in to 90.7 on the FM dial beginning at 9 AM Eastern for an hour-long special on Atheism! You can also listen to a live feed on the internet. Just point your browser to http://www.wfae.org/wfae/index.cfm WHAT: Hour-long radio special on Atheism. WHO: Wayne Aiken and Kyle Oden, North Carolina and South Carolina State Directors for American Atheists. WHERE & WHEN: WFAE, 90.7 on the FM dial or on the net at http://www.wfae.org/wfae/index.cfm this Monday, July 22, 2002 beginning at 9:00 AM Eastern. MORE INFO: http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/aamedia.htm http://www.atheists.org/nc (Office of the State Director, NC) http://www.atheists.org/sc (Office of the State Director, SC) (AA Newsletter July 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. Bringing up the KXMS Fine Arts Radio International webcast, for the scheduled Iraqi National Anthem at 1542 UT July 17, as in the KXMS posted schedule, and in MONITORING REMINDERS, Ivan Grishin and I were surprised to hear something completely different. It turned out to be NPR Performance Today rather than KXMS` own classical programming, and even stranger, and ID on the KXMS webcast at 1600 as KRPS Pittsburg, Kansas, which is the next-closest public radio station to Joplin. We notified KXMS, and they notified their ISP. Later that afternoon Kevin Kelly checked and found that KXMS had its webcast back, but the next morning Ivan found KRPS once again. As it happens, KRPS has declined to do its own webcasting, so this was a rare opportunity to hear it (however, it does have a considerable audio archive of locally produced features on its website). We also feared that KXMS had suffered another financial setback and had been forced to convert to a satellite of its neighboring public radio station, after having to curtail its own local classical programming to only 3 hours M-F for the duration of the summer. We always got prompt replies from KXMS GM Jeff Skibbe, and this anomaly seems to correlate with whenever KXMS loses power and goes off the air, however briefly. It appears that the ISP is picking KXMS up off the air 88.7 as input to the webcast, and when the signal is lost, the receiver goes seeking on up to the next strong signal, namely KRPS at 89.9! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. RELATIVES OF DEAD FIREFIGHTERS WILL GET TO LISTEN TO SEPT. 11 EMERGENCY RADIO TAPES The Associated Press 7/16/02 9:04 PM NEW YORK (AP) -- Relatives of firefighters killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center will be allowed to listen to recordings of emergency radio transmissions, fire officials said Tuesday. The Fire Department of New York said the U.S. attorney's office had agreed to allow family members to hear the recordings on the condition that they sign confidentiality agreements. Until now, the U.S. attorney's office has not released the tape due to court rules that prohibit the disclosure of possible evidence to the public. The U.S. attorney in Virginia has cited the recordings as possible evidence in the upcoming trial against Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person charged in the Sept. 11 attacks. Moussaoui has denied involvement in the attacks. The fire department, which lost 343 members on Sept. 11, said its family assistance unit would contact family members in the near future to arrange for them to hear the recordings. Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. [WUN] MAJOR CHANGE TO THE ECPA THAT IMPACTS EVERYONE... Date: Wed, 17 Jul 2002 11:46:01 -0400 From: Dave Emery die@die.com To: fedcom@mailman.qth.net, wun@mailman.qth.net Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but something of enormous importance to radio hobbyists has just happened in Washington, and so far I haven't seen any mention or discussion of it on any scanner or ham lists I follow. I hope this message will alert others to what has just happened and get people thinking about the consequences... The House just passed the Cyber Security Enhancement Act (HR3482) last night (7/15/02) by an overwhelming margin of 385-3. Buried in an otherwise draconian bill that raises penalties for computer hacking that causes death or serious injury to life in prison and allows government monitoring of communications and email without warrants in even more circumstances is the following seeming obscure language: : SEC. 108. PROTECTING PRIVACY. : : (a) Section 2511- Section 2511(4) of title 18, United : States Code, is amended-- : : (1) by striking paragraph (b); and : : (2) by redesignating paragraph (c) as paragraph (b). For those of you who don't realize what this means .... USC Section 2511 subsection 4 of title 18 (the ECPA) currently reads as foilows.... the CSEA will strike part (b) of this language. Penalties.. : (a) : : Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection : or in subsection (5), whoever violates subsection (1) : of this section shall be fined under this title or : imprisoned not more than five years, or both. : : [The following section will be eliminated by the new law...] : (b) : : If the offense is a first offense under paragraph (a) : of this subsection and is not for a tortious or illegal : purpose or for purposes of direct or indirect commercial : advantage or private commercial gain, and the wire or : electronic communication with respect to which the : offense under paragraph (a) is a radio communication that : is not scrambled, encrypted, or transmitted using : modulation techniques the essential parameters of : which have been withheld from the public with the : intention of preserving the privacy of such communication, : then - : : (i) : : if the communication is not the radio portion of a : cellular telephone communication, a cordless telephone : communication that is transmitted between the cordless : telephone handset and the base unit, a public land : mobile radio service communication or a paging service : communication, and the conduct is not that described : in subsection (5), the offender shall be fined under : this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or : both; and : : (ii) : : if the communication is the radio portion of a : cellular telephone communication, a cordless telephone : communication that is transmitted between the cordless : telephone handset and the base unit, a public land : mobile radio service communication or a paging service : communication, the offender shall be fined under this : title. What this does is change the penalty for the first offense of intercepting an unscrambled and unencrypted radio communication that is not supposed to be listened to (e.g. AMPS cellular calls, commercial pagers, cordless phones, common carrier communications) for hobby purposes (eg not a tortuous or illegal purpose or for direct or indirect commercial advantage or private commercial gain) from a misdemeanor (one year or less prison time) to a federal FELONY (5 years prison time). And further this changes the status of the specific offense of listening to a cell call, cordless call, a pager, or a public land mobile radio service communication (eg a telephone interconnect) from a minor offense for which one can be fined a maximum of $500 to a federal FELONY for which one can be imprisoned for up to 5 years. In effect this removes a safe harbor created during the negotiations over the ECPA back in 1985-86 which ensured that first offenses for hobby radio listening were only treated as minor crimes - after this law is passed simply intentionally tuning a common scanner to the (non-blocked) cordless phone frequencies could be prosecuted as a felony for which one could serve 5 years in jail. And in case any of my readers have forgotten, a federal felony conviction (even without any jail time) deprives one of the right to vote, to own firearms, to be employed in a number of high level jobs and professions, to hold certain professional licenses and permits, and important for certain readers of these lists absolutely eliminates for life the possibility of holding any kind of security clearance whatever (a recent change in the rules) - something required for many if not most interesting government and government related jobs. So merely being stopped by a cop with the cordless phone frequencies in your scanner could conceivably result in life long loss of important rights and privileges. For some of you out there this may seem small potatoes and irrelevant since it merely changes the penalties for an already illegal act (which you are not supposed to be engaged in) and doesn't make anything new illegal. But this is a rather naïve view. The federal government was certainly not going to prosecute a hobbyist for radio communications interception under the old version of the ECPA if the worst penalty that could be levied was a $500 fine - there simply is not the budget or the staff to prosecute people for what would be a very minor offense (equivalent of a speeding ticket). And even prosecuting hobbyists for more serious interception (eg not cellular, cordless or pagers) was still a misdemeanor offense prosecution with jail time unlikely. So in practice the only prosecutions were of people who clearly had a commercial purpose or otherwise engaged in egregious and public (e.g. the Newt call) conduct - no hobbyist ever got prosecuted. And this was doubtless the intent of Congress back in 1985-86 - it would be illegal to monitor certain radio traffic but only a minor offense if you did so for hobby type personal curiosity or just to hack with the equipment or technology - and a serious felony if one engaged in such conduct for the purpose of committing a crime or gaining financial or commercial advantage (e.g. true spying or electronic eavesdropping). But after this bill is signed into law (and clearly it will be), it will be quite possible for a federal prosecution of a hobbyist for illegal radio listening to be justified as a serious felony offense worth the time and effort and money to try and put the guy in jail even if the offense is not for a commercial purpose or part of an illegal scheme. Thus "radio hacker" prosecutions have now become possible, and even perhaps probable. And federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents get career advancement and attention from senior management in their agencies in direct proportion to the seriousness of the offense they are investigating and prosecuting - nobody ever advances to senior agent for going after jaywalkers, thus by raising the level of less than legal hobby radio monitoring offenses from a jaywalking class offense to a serious felony for which there can be real jail time it becomes much more interesting from a career perspective to prosecute radio listeners. And needless to say, such prosecutions would be shooting fish in a barrel type things given that many individuals are quite open on Internet newsgroups and mailing lists about their activities. And of course this MAJOR change in the ECPA also has the effect of making the rather ambiguous and unclear meaning of "readily accessible to the general public" in 18 USC 2510 and 2511 much more significant, since intercepting something that isn't readily accessible to the general public is now clearly a serious crime even if done for hobby purposes as a first offense. Thus one has to be much more careful about making sure that the signal is a legal one... And further than all of this, and perhaps even MUCH more significant to radio hobbyists on Internet scanner lists .... The careful, thoughtful reader will note that section 4 has been revised a bit lately, and that this new section 4 (see above) now makes it a federal felony with 5 years in jail penalties to violate section 1 INCLUDING the following provisions of section 1: 18 USC 2511: : (1) : Except as otherwise specifically provided in this : chapter any person who - : : (c) : : intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to : any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or : electronic communication, knowing or having reason to : know that the information was obtained through the : interception of a wire, oral, or electronic : communication in violation of this subsection; : : (d) : : intentionally uses, or endeavors to use, the : contents of any wire, oral, or electronic : communication, knowing or having reason to know that : the information was obtained through the : interception of a wire, oral, or electronic : communication in violation of this subsection; or : : shall be punished as provided in subsection (4) or : shall be subject to suit as provided in subsection (5). This seems to have changed the status of revealing as part of a hobby list any hint of the contents of a radio communications that might or might not have been legally intercepted from a potentially minor misdemeanor offense or less to a serious felony. Thus if a court finds that any communication reported on an Internet list was not legally intercepted, felony penalties apply for publishing the information even if the interception was for hobby purposes (which of course most scanner list intercepts are). Most significant for many of us, the section 18 USC 2510 exceptions to the prohibitions on intercepting radio communications in 18 USC 2511 are pretty silent about military communications - not prohibited, or specifically allowed except as "governmental communications". So it is possible that military comms might be found to be illegal to intercept and thus passing around information about them a potential felony, even though of course the military has complete access to the world's best COMSEC technology and uses for anything sensitive. But in a paranoid age (post 9/11) anything goes... and if the government wants to go after scanner lists (like Milcom) it might now be able to do so with prosecutions with real teeth and jail time. Thus the legal climate has fundamentally changed, and one can assume that since the Bush administration has been pushing for the passage of this bill that they perhaps intend to start prosecuting at least some category of radio hobbyists under the new provisions - no doubt as an example meant to scare the rest of us into handing our radios in at the nearest police station... So yet another blow to the radio hobbies.... and a big one indeed... -- Dave Emery N1PRE, die@die.com DIE Consulting, Weston, Mass. PGP fingerprint = 2047/4D7B08D1 DE 6E E1 CC 1F 1D 96 E2 5D 27 BD B0 24 88 C3 18 _______________________________________________ WUN mailing list WUN@mailman.qth.net http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/wun == end == (via Tomas NW7US // AAR0JA Hood, swl via DXLD) Well, I have to disagree... I resent very highly those of you who are scanner enthusiasts listening in on my cell phone communications. Therefore, I support this new language in the law. I think that anyone, even a fellow ham who attempts to listen in on my or anyone else's private communication SHOULD go to jail and pay a heavy fine. Also thinking it will make a major impact or the radio hobbies is the old domino/ Big Brother theory applied to radio hobbyists. I just cannot see it happening (Eric Cooper, KB6VPI, ibid.) This bill is not limited to just cell phone communications. But to ANY communication not intended for general public consumption. So, that could include listening in to the Coast Guard rescue communications, local police and fire, and so on. On topic? I know that listening to any Shortwave Frequency that some governmental agency decides is not for general public use would be covered by this bill. Making even scanning through those frequencies a federal crime. Cell phones are a very limited part of what this bill impacts. 73 de (Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA, ibid.) Next step, you'll have to register your radio down at the local Police department obtaining a permit. And then later you'll only be able to buy radios that cover the FM and Mediumwave broadcast bands, and 'maybe' if you're lucky the International Broadcast bands. Anyone owning a vintage general coverage receiver such as a Hallicrafters, Hammarlund, Icom etc will be "suspect" and possibly open to criminal charges. And, God forbid that you should even think of owning a ``DC to Daylight`` receiver. Of course, criminals will always be able to "buy them on the street", for the right price. Does that sound like any other kind of government control we know of? (Phil, KO6BB Atchley, ibid.) I disagree that the new penalties automatically mean that the government will go after hobbyists. The intention might just be putting teeth in a law to use in investigating and prosecuting more serious crimes. Like applying tax laws to drug dealers, it's another tool in the box. Of course, I am a hopeless optimist (Chuck Boyle, kb5rvv, ibid.) This is not an OT subject. It does have the potential to limit our listening enjoyment. Although I am not a 'libertarian', I do believe that the founding fathers were correct in limiting government's power to prevent potential abuse in future generations. It's not possible to predict what government will feel 'they have to do to protect us'. I do believe we need a strong central government for protection against other nations, to regulate international trade and treaties, and provide limited in-country 'policing' that the individual states are not incentivized to do - i.e.; FCC, FAA, ICC, SEC, etc. A good example of this is the 'right to bear arms'. The founding fathers felt that the central government might attempt to usurp the independence of the states. Remember, that in the 1770's, virtually all of the real military power were in state raised, state financed, and state controlled militias (armies). It was felt that if the states had their own well armed 'militias', they could both easily prevent a central government takeover AND quickly repel a foreign invader - as they did in both the revolutionary war and The War of 1812. It was not until the 1820's that the US central government had grown large enough to field an effective army. Today, these state militias (National Guard) are, despite the rhetoric to the contrary, effectively under federal control. The standard of living of the 'average American' has been gradually eroding since the late 70's, melding with the rest of the world's. In 1965, a 'factory worker' could own a home and a car AND go on vacation once a year. Today, that same skill set barely produces enough income to make car payments. When the standard of living of this 'average American' approaches that of the 'typical Asian factory worker' (I've worked there and can testify to it), the US will NOT want 200 million armed citizens! Just look at the criminal chaos in many of the now 'free' African nations. Many other countries do limit what radios their citizens can own and operate. With only a handful of amateurs, most non-democratic countries do keep their licensed amateurs under some scrutiny. In China, unless you are a loyal and ranked 'party member, having even a legal amateur station subjects you to frequent inspections and monitoring. I've been there and seen it... Many of our in-country employees who were amateurs, would come to work to use our own company stations for conversations with their friends in other countries - afraid of being called on the carpet to (McCarthy era like) to explain their actions. Could the US force you to 'register' your radio and limit ownership to only standard broadcast band receivers? Sure. Probably not in the next generation or so, but in the 'brave new world' of the mid 21st century, who knows... 73 (Frank ----, swl , where the moderator declares this off-topic, via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO STATIONS APPEAL INTERNET ROYALTY DECISION From Reuters, Wednesday July 17, 5:41 AM Radio stations have asked a federal appeals court to rule that they do not have to pay musicians and recording companies when they play music on the Internet because they do not pay royalties for regular, over- the-air broadcasts. In a motion filed late Monday, a group of radio stations said a federal court in Philadelphia and the U.S. Copyright Office had misinterpreted the law when they said that radio stations had to to pay musicians and recording companies when they "stream" their songs over the Internet. The Copyright Office established a rate of 0.07 cents per listener per song in June, which means that Internet-only "Webcasters" and broadcast giants like Clear Channel Communications Inc. would be on the hook for 70 cents for each song played to an audience of 1,000 listeners. The rate was decried as onerous by radio stations and Webcasters, many of whom said they would be forced to shut their doors. Webcasters did not participate in the appeal of the August 2001 decision, which was filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Radio stations have historically been required to pay per-song royalties to songwriters but not performers, recording companies, and anyone else who own the rights to the "sound recording" of a song. Congress said sound-recording owners should get paid for Internet transmission when it updated copyright laws for the digital era in 1995 and 1998. But Congress intended the law to apply only to services that would enable users to select and download songs, not online radio-style broadcasts that do not allow users to save songs, the broadcasters said in their appeal. While downloadable music may dampen CD sales, radio broadcasts over the air and through the Internet stimulate sales, they said. "Congress has long recognized the mutually beneficial relationship between the radio and recording industries, particularly the enormous promotional benefits derived by the recording companies from radio airplay of sound recordings," the appeal said. The Recording Industry Association of America ( news - web sites), which represents the five major labels, said it hoped the radio stations would lose their appeal. "Rather than seek special treatment from the courts, we encourage the broadcasters to work with the labels and artists as our industries transition into new businesses," said Steven Marks, a senior vice president at the RIAA. The appeal was filed by the National Association of Broadcasters and radio firms Bonneville International Corp., Clear Channel, Cox Radio Inc., Emmis Communications Corp., Entercom Communications Corp. and Susquehanna Radio Corp. The RIAA represents music divisions of Vivendi Universal, AOL Time Warner Inc, EMI Group Plc, Bertelsmann AG, and Sony Corp. (Reuters/Variety via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. From The New York Times: By MARGO JEFFERSON I LOVE to wander around my apartment, lie on my couch and listen to the radio. I can control what I hear there, but I can't predict it. Of course, we can all predict what we'll hear on commercial stations with their generic playlists. (Warning: do not purchase this product and do not listen to it again unless accompanied by diverting video images on television.) And I binge on nostalgia at regular intervals. "Don't it kinda strike you sad when you hear our song," as Donna Summer keened and whined in her 1979 disco hit, "On the Radio." As for the higher pleasures, it excites me to hear music I know nothing about and respond with no interference from anything or anyone. A good radio station or program can ambush my prejudices - change my mood. No, I do not want to hear Brahms or John Coltrane. But I give in, I listen clinically, And either way I'm rewarded. My response shifts, or feels even more justified. Finally, I use radio as a mental tuneup. I've always envied dancers the warm-up that starts their working day, and ever since Yvonne Rainer called one of her dances "The Mind Is a Muscle," I've made radio part of my prewriting ritual. News at breakfast; it makes me absorb facts and think about context. Then a brief period of quiet, followed by a search (sometimes desperate) for music that induces concentration and seems to have some link (rhythm, cadence, structure) to my work. I know I could get the same effect by programming my CD collection. But I know its contents. The mystery of not knowing what the radio will yield is closer to the mystery of not knowing exactly what I am about to write. Margo Jefferson is a cultural critic for The Times (via Mike Terry, July 17, DXLD) ** U S A. The following text is from http://www.dxing.com/dxld1009.htm: The International Broadcasting Act of 1994 requires the Broadcasting Board ``to review, reviewuate, and determine, at least annually, after consultation with the Secretary of State, the addition or deletion of language services.`` Language service review and the setting of language priorities are key components of the BBG`s broad responsibilities as an independent federal entity since Oct. 1, 1999. 'reviewuate' is not a word. I think you must mean 'evaluate'. Best wishes (Mark Drury, Head of Marketing, National Library for the Blind, UK, July 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone." (Jo Godwin) Well, I suppose this coinage means ``review and evaluate``, and seems somewhat useful, even tho I am not responsible for it. Somewhat redundant, tho, right after ``review`` (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Should have put a cross reference in DXLD 2-114 for those seeking AFN frequencies, in that issue under GUAM --- so here it is now (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. SMALL TV STATIONS REEL UNDER ORDER TO GO DIGITAL By David Lieberman, USA TODAY Duhamel Broadcasting Enterprises has provided a nice income to the Duhamel family since World War II. First a radio company, it entered the television age with KOTA in Rapid City, S.D. The station beams ABC shows and local news to the No. 175 TV market: 88,000 viewers spread over an area the size of a triangle from Washington, D.C., to Boston to Buffalo, N.Y. So company President Bill Duhamel was stunned when the federal government ordered all TV stations — even in tiny markets such as his — to buy the towers, transmitters and other gear needed to join the long-awaited and fitful national march from analog to digital television (DTV). "I would guess it's going to take three to four years of operating profits just to pay for the first stage" of retransmitting ABC's digital signals, he says. The full transition can cost up to $3 million per station. "The deal I have with the family is, they better make their living someplace else. It's not a great situation." A lot of station owners in small markets feel the same way about DTV. For them, it's not just a troublesome mandate. Many of them see it as a threat to their survival. They find it next to impossible to amass the needed dollars in the midst of the worst ad recession in decades. And they grumble that the conversion mandate hits small stations harder than big ones. "The cost really doesn't vary a whole hell of a lot whether you're in New York or Yakima," says Elizabeth Murphy Burns, president of Duluth, Minn.-based Morgan Murphy Stations. "In some cases, the cost of converting to digital is more than the station is worth. Right now, we're sort of stymied." Federal officials ordered the national conversion from analog to digital TV in 1997. It seemed like a good idea. They wanted to spur development of high-definition TV (HDTV). They wanted to save valuable spectrum — six or more non-HDTV digital channels fit in airwaves used by one analog channel. And they wanted to raise billions by selling the spectrum saved to wireless companies. But the transition has been rocky. Cable companies balked at carrying stations in both analog and digital form during the change. Digital TV sets remain costly. Consumers have shown little interest. And nobody seemed to consider the plight of smaller stations. Some 68% of the USA's 1,240 commercial television stations failed to meet the government's May 1 deadline to begin transmitting some digital programming. The majority of the laggards are in small markets. Just 13% of the 443 stations that now offer DTV are in the 110 smallest markets — those smaller than No. 100, metro Brownsville, Texas. They'll have to move fast, though, unless they can persuade the Federal Communications Commission or Congress to give them more time. "The law says you have to do it, and if you don't, they have the right to take your license back," says CEO Don Cornwell of station owner Granite Broadcasting. The industry's National Association of Broadcasters warns that consumers may lose in the rush. Stations scrounging for cash "have to cut back on news or services to a community to fulfill a government mandate," says Edward Fritts, NAB chief executive. "That's just wrong." In fact, several news operations at Emmis Television's 15 stations — in midsize markets such as Orlando, Wichita, Omaha and Topeka — have felt the pinch. "Everything from cameras, news production systems and satellite trucks have had to fall to a lower priority, and some have been eliminated" to accommodate DTV, says Randall Bongarten, Emmis president. The threat is real Industry analysts say small-station owners aren't just crying wolf. "These guys have really got a problem," says Sanford C. Bernstein's Tom Wolzien. "It can cost $3 million to convert to digital. But a smaller TV station is lucky if it makes $300,000 a year in free cash flow." The government's General Accounting Office reached a similar conclusion in April. In a survey of station owners, it found that: Digital expenses represent an average of 11% of yearly revenue for the mostly big-market stations that have already made the transition. By contrast, the costs for stations in the 100 smallest markets, when they do go digital, will be about 242% of annual revenue. Lack of money was "one of the most prevalent problems" for stations that haven't made the transition. Some 6% say they can only pay for DTV by putting themselves up for sale. About 56% of station owners say that consumers in their markets have "low" interest in DTV. An additional 7% said their viewers have no interest in it. The last point, a consumer yawn on DTV, helps explain lenders' reluctance to help stations. "When you go to bankers for a (DTV) loan and they look at return on investment, there isn't any," says Liberty President James Keelor. There's no mystery why. Digital conversion raises stations' costs. Advertisers supply virtually all of a station's revenue. But advertisers won't pay extra for their ads to appear on DTV when only a handful of consumers have bought TV sets capable of receiving digital signals. The FCC gave stations some relief in November. "For the first time, the commission created the possibility of an extension of time based on financial hardship," says Rick Chessen, who chairs the FCC's DTV task force. "You can't just come in and say, 'I don't have the cash.' You have to show why your financial condition precludes the build-out." The FCC has gotten 193 hardship requests but says it doesn't track them by market size, so it could not say whether small stations dominate the list. In another easing of the burden, the FCC cut the requirement that a station transmit digital signals to everyone in its current broadcast territory. That lets small stations with big areas install low-power transmitters that reach homes just in their immediate home city. "That downscales a number of items needed for the investment," says Dale Mowry, vice president of transmission systems for Harris, which supplies about two-thirds of the market for DTV transmission equipment. "A station can get on the air with a digital signal for as little as $160,000." There is disagreement in the industry, however, over whether that's a smart investment in the long run. Mowry says it is. He thinks most of the equipment can still be used later when the FCC sets a date for stations to raise power to reach everybody. But others say that low power would leave a lot of viewers feeling left out now and that the equipment may not last that long. "I wouldn't call it a waste of money, but when you want to go high power, you'd have to throw it out," Cornwell says. Low-power technology also is just part of the story. Whatever the power level, many stations still have to pay much more to build or modify their towers to accommodate DTV. They would pay higher electric costs. And production costs would soar to produce local programs. Several station owners in rural markets add that low power doesn't solve one of their biggest problems: To cover vast territories, they often have several repeater stations that basically just relay programming from the largest outlet in the group. The FCC wants each of these repeaters upgraded to carry DTV. Stations bear digital risk Underlying station owners' arguments is their feeling that they're taking most of the risks in the DTV transition. For example, only a few cable operators have agreed to carry local stations' DTV programs. And TV makers still charge top prices for sets with DTV converters, dampening consumer interest. "This is not really an orderly transition," Duhamel says. "Smaller markets need a substantial amount of time, because there's no demand for DTV here. We're out there as the Lone Ranger. Cable isn't doing anything. Set manufacturers are sitting on their hands. Return on investment is so far out there that this thing is crazy from a financial viewpoint." Despite their problems, small stations don't expect to get much more relief from the government. Federal officials plan to get tough with DTV laggards. The FCC denied 71 of the 843 requests for six-month extensions from the May 1 deadline. Regulators also threatened, in sanctions proposed last month, to yank the licenses from stations that they see as stalling. "For the most part, people are trying to get on with digital," Chessen says. Although there have been "some bumps in the road," progress has been "slow but steady, and we have to keep in perspective that it's a massive transition. These things don't happen overnight." Still, the NAB wants to goose the process and shift some of the risk: The powerful lobby group is asking Congress to require cable operators to carry local stations' DTV broadcasts, as well as the current analog ones. It also wants to require TV manufacturers to include DTV tuners in all new sets. Because stations must pay for DTV transmission even though there's no market for it yet, "we have no safety net," Fritts says. "We have to have this transition work. It's time for Congress to complete the circle. Without Congress acting, (small-market stations) have no hope. The FCC has been sensitive to the concerns of Congress and now we have to sensitize Congress to the concerns of small and rural markets." Without dramatic change, station owners in the smaller markets will have little choice but to plead for even more time. "We need to be flexible about the date when we go (from low power) to full power," Bongarten says. "It's really a question mark as to when the consumers and manufacturers will be in sync. If there isn't greater demand, then the FCC will have to take a closer look at what they're doing." (via Fred Vobbe, July 17, NRC FMTV via DXLD) ** U S A. GM RESIGNS IN SHAKEUP AT WSMV By KEITH RUSSELL Staff Writer The parent company of WSMV-Channel 4 replaced the television station's general manager yesterday amid reports of financial challenges and staff departures at a broadcasting operation that until recently dominated news ratings in the Nashville market. A spokesman for Meredith Corp. confirmed the resignation of Frank DeTillio, which ended his seven-year run as WSMV's general manager. Dick Williams, a 34-year broadcasting industry veteran who 15 years ago worked at WSMV, was named the station's acting general manager. At a meeting yesterday afternoon, Kevin O'Brien, president of Meredith's broadcast division, told staffers that a management change was necessary because WSMV was losing money. O'Brien boarded a plane to leave Nashville shortly after the meeting and could not be reached for comment. A humbling loss to WTVF-Channel 5's news programming in the all- important May ratings period might have helped to seal DeTillio's fate. The ratings are critical because they determine how much stations can charge advertisers. ''That's got to be a factor,'' said Whit Adamson, executive director of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters. ''That's the bread-and-butter, and that stabs you right in the heart.'' DeTillio was named WSMV's general manager in 1995, shortly after Meredith purchased the station from Cook Inlet Television Partners for $159 million. He did not return phone calls placed to his home yesterday. Adamson said he was surprised by DeTillio's departure. ''Anytime we lose anyone who's been here that long in a position like that, it's a big deal,'' Adamson said. Meredith spokesman Jody Judge said Williams (whose wife, Judy, is a WSMV sales manager) would run the station until a permanent replacement is found. ''The search will begin immediately,'' Judge said. O'Brien was brought in last November to run Des Moines, Iowa-based Meredith's broadcast division after it posted a $10 million drop in quarterly profits. Since then, he has made sweeping changes to the company's 11 TV stations. DeTillio is the fifth general manager to depart since O'Brien came on board. ''He has taken charge and made changes to get the ball moving in the right direction,'' Judge said. That may take some work at WSMV. An NBC network affiliate, WSMV is Nashville's oldest television station. For years it led news ratings in the Nashville market, which encompasses Middle Tennessee and stretches into southern Kentucky. Channel 4's star has faded of late, however, especially after May's ratings loss to Channel 5 in every news time slot. The decline has heightened the pressure to perform and has sunk morale at WSMV, contributing to several staff departures. Four of the station's 11 sales staff members recently resigned. Of those, three left on the same day to join Sinclair Broadcasting, which operates Fox network affiliate WZTV-Channel 17 and UPN network affiliate WUXP-Channel 30. On the news side, executive producer Katie McManus-Faye was fired on July 1. A week later, anchor Sharon Puckett surprised colleagues by announcing her retirement after 28 years at the station. Jackie Pillars, WSMV's special events producer, also is leaving after 17 years. ''I just didn't feel as appreciated as I had been in the past by management,'' Pillars said yesterday. ''I definitely will miss the people who work here.'' Williams, who had most recently been serving as interim general manager for Meredith's Atlanta TV station, said he was unfamiliar with the recent staff changes and declined to comment on them. He added that Meredith would start formulating a game plan to revive the station. ''We've got to take it back to where it was,'' Williams said. ''When I was here 15 years ago, this was a pretty dominant television station. It needs to get back there.'' Staff writer John Shiffman contributed to this report. (Nashville Tennessean via cgoss549 July 18 via DXLD) ** U S A. EVENING HOST DIAMOND EXITS WOR July 17, 2002 By DAVID HINCKLEY, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER You can view the entire article at http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/ent_radio/story/3752p-3410c.html (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD ** VENEZUELA. There are 118 illegal broadcasting station in Venezuela, says the Cámara Venezolana de la Radiodifusión in a report. The majority of the offenders are in Western Venezuela, in Barinas, Táchira and Trujillo states. Full story in an article called "Radio Anarquía" (Radio Anarchy), at http://www.talcualdigital.com/ediciones/2002/07/17/f-tal.asp?pv=f-p1.htm&st=f-p1s1.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary June 17 2002 through July 15 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. [first, an historical item ??? -gh] 10/22 233 53 4 moderate-high active-mas 9 mas 1645/ maf 1759 6/17 143 5 1 none none 4 18 143 8 4 none none 8 19 146 13 2 none none 6 20 145 7 1 none none 4 21 140 7 2 none none 7 22 142 7 3 none none 8 23 143 10 2 minor none 6 24 150 6 2 none none 4 25 145 11 3 none none 7 26 144 7 1 none none 5 27 139 4 1 none none 6 28 137 6 2 none none 2 29 143 7 2 none none 5 6/30 147 12 4 none none 8 7/ 1 147 16 2 none minor 6 2 149 5 2 minor minor 3 3 173 6 2 strong minor 3 4 146 6 3 minor minor 6 5 139 14 4 minor minor 7 6 134 21 3 minor minor 10 7 137 11 2 minor minor 4 geo storms 8 131 10 4 minor minor 3 9 136 17 4 minor minor 7 10 129 8 2 none minor 6 11 136 7 2 moderate minor 4 12 133 15 2 minor minor 6 geo storms 13 135 7 2 minor minor 6 14 144 4 1 none minor 2 7/15 160 5 2 strong minor 5 ********************************************************************** (IRCA Soft DX Monitor July 20 via DXLD) PROPAGATION REPORT The sun became quite active over the past week with 2 X and a few M class flares. MUFs have been enhanced near the equator but depressed over mid latitudes. Geomagnetic conditions have been fairly quiet but the faint halo CME observed in association with the X1-flare on 18 July is expected to impact the Earth and produce minor and possible major storm levels late on 20 to 21 July. Solar activity is expected to remain high. There is a reasonable chance of continued CME and associated intermittent geomagnetic activity over the next couple of weeks due to several active regions currently on the visible sun and rotating into view. (Prepared for Cumbre DX July 19 by Richard Jary using data from http://www.ips.gov.au via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-114, July 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1140 [available by early UT July 18]: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1140.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1140.html FIRST WBCQ BROADCASTS: Wed 2200 on 17495, 7415; UT Thu 0415 on 7415 FIRST WWCR BROADCASTS: Thu 2030 on 15825; Sat 0500, Sun 0230 on 5070 FIRST RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, 2400 on 7445-USB, 15038.6 ** AFGHANISTAN/UK. RADIO VOICE OF AFGHANISTAN TO STOP BROADCASTING FOR THREE MONTHS The founder of Radio Voice of Afghanistan, Sayd Jamaloddin Afghan, has announced that the radio's broadcasts will stop for three months. In an unscheduled speech on the radio which replaced the 1330 gmt news bulletin, he said that during a recent visit to Afghanistan he saw "painful" scenes which are even "difficult to explain". He said the radio was not able to broadcast "the truth" and report what was happening in Afghanistan because of "the current conditions governing the country". He expressed the hope that the country's situation would improve in three months and the radio would be able to resume its broadcasts. The radio began broadcasting around eight months ago from London. The following is the text of a recording of Sayd Jamaloddin Afghan's speech broadcast by London-based Radio Voice of Afghanistan on 14 July: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Respectable brothers and sisters of the Muslim nation of Afghanistan, peace be upon you. About eight months ago Radio Voice of Afghanistan was inaugurated and started [its broadcasts]. I hope that the radio - by broadcasting independent, neutral and your favourite programmes - has served the respectable listeners properly. To start the radio, our only aim was - with the help of professional and specialist workers without any ethnic, regional or political affiliations - to broadcast the current affairs and related problems, information, reports, news, interviews and independent broadcasting. A few days ago I went to my dear country Afghanistan. I spent more than one week there and visited several provinces and met different people. I saw painful scenes and unbearable attitudes and incidents which are even very difficult to write about freely on a piece of paper [sentence as heard]. As everybody knows, the duty of an independent and neutral radio is to broadcast everything independently without any censorship. I don't want to worsen the situation by pointing out the problems of a country which is passing through a very sensitive period. Without a doubt, the situation is practically not suitable for broadcasting. On the other hand, the Radio Voice of Afghanistan cannot keep silent about these injustices and sinister actions. Esteemed listeners and compatriots! I don't want to say that Mr [Hamed] Karzai [head of the transitional government of Afghanistan] is responsible for this distressing situation. But I think that all those people who are in power, all groups and all of us Afghans are responsible for these incidents and the present situation. I believe that the influential people want to utilize their influence in the government for their personal, regional and tribal benefits. It should be mentioned that during the Afghan jehad [holy war against the Soviet Union] and for the sustaining of national unity all the Afghan groups like Tajiks, Pashtuns, Uzbeks, Tukmens and Hazaras made countless sacrifices. Esteemed compatriots! For the unity, independence, peace and security of the Muslim nation of Afghanistan all groups [political parties] and opposition groups need to be patient, tolerant, and should end their selfishness and take quick steps to serve the suffering Afghan nation. They should not be allowed to divide Afghanistan into small states and have their own police, army and customs. There should be a police and national army which obey the elected head of the government and they should keep in mind the national interests of the country and they should prevent Afghanistan from becoming involved in a dirty war by shunning personal, tribal and military interests. Afghanistan is the mutual home of all Afghans and all Afghans have equal rights to decide its fate. Any group should not consider itself superior to others and should not give itself the right to decide the destiny of Afghanistan. All the people of Afghanistan like Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras and others should have equal part [in Afghanistan]. We should not condemn each other for this or that reason. Such nasty behaviour should vanish from the Afghan culture. Every Afghan - without any racial, linguistic or regional discrimination - should have the right to fulfil his responsibilities and duties. Now is not the time for settling accounts, now is the time for passion, forbearance and forgiveness. By taking revenge we cannot relieve our dear Afghanistan from poverty and adversity and cannot improve the living standards of the Afghan people. We should not waste the sacrifices of our mojahedin. Only by giving a hand to each other we can forget our sorrows and pains. Let us dress the wounds of the people. Due to this, I decided to stop the broadcasts of the Radio Voice of Afghanistan for three months temporarily and let Mr Karzai's government overcome the difficulties and solve the problems of the people of Afghanistan. Because, as a free and national radio, Voice of Afghanistan cannot remain silent about the pain and suffering of the people of Afghanistan and not broadcast the voice of the people. Dear compatriots! I beseech God Almighty for the complete resolution of our dear country's problems in three months when we shall resume our broadcasts of the Radio Voice of Afghanistan and for peace and stability to return to the country. I wish that every Afghan could live in peace and tranquillity. Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330 gmt 14 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) This was the one via Austria 17870 at 1330-1430 (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. Having recently returned from a trip to Kabul and Herat, the Afghanistan page of the Interval Signals Archive has been modified with several new and updated audio files of Afghan radio stations, such as Radio Herat, Radio Kabul and Radio Turkiyem. There is also a link to another page with photos of Radio Afghanistan and Kabul. All this is at http://www.intervalsignals.net Regards, (Dave Kernick, July 16, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AFRICA. Back from a short trip to Cape Town, here`s my short report of what I heard on the short waves. I only had a cheap portable receiver with me and not spend so much time listening, so no surprise that I did not hear any real rarities. Also I did not spend my time logging those dozens of Chinese (many of those only continuous music as we know it from 7530 etc), Indian and other Asian stations that crowded the bands from late afternoon onwards and complicated the search for the weaker African stations. To mention only one of them: Listening to 7185 Radio Bangla Desh was no problem throughout the afternoon. But now back to Africa: No signals from July 5 to July 10 from Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon (RTV), Kenya (?), Lesotho, Malawi, Moçambique, Uganda (!!!), and many countries from Northern and Western Africa. The others from southern Africa: Angola: 3375: RNA External Service, quite weak in the evening, 2100 English 4950: RNA Canal A, much stronger, from late afternoon into the night 7215/7217: Radio Ngola Yetu?, only heard in the afternoon, Vn... No External Service heard on 41 meters or anywhere else but the weak 3375. 11955: RNA Canal A, strong, always some heterodyne, morning to early evening, off at night No sign of any regional stations on shortwave Botswana: 4820: early afternoon till 2200*: mostly very strong and // 7255 7255: very strong during daytime, sometimes also evening, but seemed to be off from 1700 on some days. Congo DR: Only tentative/unID but most certainly African: 6210 Kahuzi (early evening), 7435 Lubumbashi (dto.), 9550 Okapi (late evening), 9770 RTVNC, 1600. Congo Rep. of: 5985: inaudible (off) or very strong... 9610: 0700- fair signal in the morning, fading in again in the afternoon till 1700* Equatorial Guinea: 5003: no trace 6250: tentative, weak, during the evening Kenya: only tentative on 4935, late afternoon Madagascar: seems to be back to its normal SW schedule or even less... 5010: *1500-1900*, fair/good all others not heard at all Namibia: 3270: not heard at all 3290: only tentative: English service in the evening, but not very strong 6060: NBC, very strong during daytime and into the evening, but not heard after 1900 or so. 6175: NBC, English/German: mainly heard in the morning, much weaker than 6060, not heard in the evening South Africa: Radio Oranje very strong and according to known schedule. Tanzania: 5050: Daressalam, fair signal during the evening 11734: Zanzibar, better... not heard on 5985 or 7280 or any other Zambia: 6165: ZBNC II, English, very strong, early afternoon till 2200* 6265: ZBNC I, Vn/English, see above. Zimbabwe: 5975: ZBC, Vn, very strong all day and evening, but some breaks 6045, ZBC, VN, not // 5975, else see above Nothing else from this station VOP: did not try... 6145: SWR, very strong, from 1600, starting with English broadcast Northern/Western Africa Benin: 5025, Parakou? Tentative, weak signal in the late evening 7210 not heard Burkina Faso: 5030 very strong during the evening Ghana: 3366: not heard 4915: fair/weak all evening 6130: tentative around 1600/1630 Mali: 4835 heard in the evening, but weak. Nothing else Mauritania: 4845 sometimes quite strong in the evening. Nigeria: 6090: Kaduna? weak, tentative at 0650, 1750, 2200 with African music No sign of the other Nigerian regionals 7255: VON, if Botswana was on, audible under that in the evening, strong signal when Botswana was off 15120: mainly heard in the morning till 1200* 11770: still seems to be off Miscellaneous: Apart from TWR, AWR, Channel Africa, BBC, VoA, Deutsche Welle is very present. I could listen to the German programme at any time; in the evening at least four frequencies can be easily heard: 6075, 7185, 9545, 9735. Also Bavaria on 6085, Radio Sweden 6065, Radio Finland 6120 cannot be missed (Thorsten Hallmann, back in Germany, July 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) It will be a bit tedious to cross-reference all the countries mentioned, so we have decided to keep this report intact under AFRICA. Remember that if you need to look something up futurely. We shall include them all in the contents index at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html (gh, DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. TERRITORIO ANTARTICO. Sobre la noticia del esquema de LRA36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, cabe señalar que el esquema correcto es: Lunes a Viernes en 15476 khz de *1800-2100*. La emisora emite con 10 KW de potencia, aunque actualmente está saliendo con menos potencia que la mencionada. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Alice Springs was off both frequencies for a couple of days, they told me due to a transmitter cooling problem, but they are back now (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT July 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. As I plow through the backlog of Radio Australia reception reports that had to be neglected due to illness, I am seeing quite a few that give the frequency 5 kHz off. While I do not have an encyclopaedic knowledge of receivers, I think that most, if not all, relevant are capable of some sort of synchronous AM detection. With my own receiver, IC-R75, I have seen it lock on to an adjacent frequency in the absence of a carrier on the displayed frequency. However, the R75 is hardly a good example of sync' detection. I wonder if this is a trap for the unwary. Any comments? Regards (Ian Johnson, ARDXC via DXLD) Well, I haven't found a R. Australia frequency yet that doesn't bleed well outside of the international standards. 5 kHz bleed either side of freq. Is the norm for R. Aust. Often found it well beyond 5 kHz even. Try the advertised freq. and then start tuning above and below - -- it is quite a shocker. It is the only major SWBC that I have this problem with. Am waiting on replies from overseas contacts regarding this, will advise all when data to hand. 73 Tony Smith ARDXC / WEWN / EDXP / CQ SHORTWAVE NEWS / DX-394 GROUP, Rockhampton Qld. Australia, ibid.) Sure it`s not just a funxion of proximity, ideal skip distance? WEWN could be accused of that around here! (gh, DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. Radio Independent Makumui: a wav file from Don Moman, Alberta of 3850 drew these comments from Bill Smith, TX: Don, you should be assessed an 8 dBi penalty for the 4-element Yagi. Heh Heh. Nevertheless, jolly good show. Impressive signal to noise ratio. Mr. G, I was just jesting with Mr. Don ... he was using his 4-element 80-meter rotatable Yagi to log and tape record RIM. The Yagi is a decided advantage ... at least 8 dBi gain over a dipole ... and listening to his tape wav, he had plenty of readable signal over the noise...a very nice recording of a reported 80 watts of AM. 73 amigo de (Bill Smith, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3850, R. Independent Makumui, Bougainville. Good at 1020 w/PNG pops, ID. In full AM, several IDs 1105, off abruptly 1112 on 14/7. Also noted on Dx-Pedition to Limekilns [NSW] on 10/7 0845-1032, though definitely in LSB on that occasion and I thought I heard a "Radio Free Bougainville" ID 0906, but need to review the tape to be 100% certain. Signal strength is much stronger than when the station was previously heard a couple of years back and now armchair level from home most evenings, noise notwithstanding (Craig Seager, Australia, ARDXC July 15 via DXLD) So that raises the question whether it is really much more than 80 watts now (gh, DXLD) 3850, 1028- July 16, Radio Independent Makumui. First tuned in at 1023 with a barely audible signal in AM, not LSB as reported elsewhere. Mostly music, with short announcements. Seemingly gradually fading up. A tentative, but presumed logging as I can't see who else it could be. Many thanks to Don Moman motivating me to get up at this early hour to monitor this most interesting station (fabulous audio clip from yesterday morning). Minimum static crashes today. Serious fade down by 1054, so peaked here about 1045. No ham traffic at all. Carrier but not much else at 1102. Gone when rechecked at 1114. Seems to me to have been very much more difficult in past years when it was Radio Independent Bougainville. Perhaps they have a better antenna and/or transmitter now vs in the past, as they seem to be widely heard. Best here using K9AY antenna (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also PAPUA NEW GUINEA ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, Markham is in the Toronto area -- therefore those two applications for 1610 in Toronto are competing ones. P.S. That would wash out 1610 Montreal, wouldn't it? Regards, (Ricky Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Seems to me Toronto and Montreal are far enough apart at top of band for groundwave --- and who cares about skywave? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. CRTC Quebec City decisions http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/NEWS/RELEASES/2002/r020716.htm OTTAWA-GATINEAU — The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is releasing three decisions today pertaining to the Greater Québec City area. The first decision awards Cogeco Radio-Television Inc. a licence to operate a new FM radio station in Québec City. The second decision renews the licence of CHOI-FM Québec for a two- year period, attaches a number of conditions to the renewal, and will monitor the licensee's respect for the conditions and its conduct during this period. Finally, the third decision reiterates that the licence granted to CKNU is intended to serve the residents of the Portneuf region. In light of the circumstances with respect to this application, the Commission denies Genex Communications Inc. the permission to move its main antenna in order to access the Greater Québec City area market (via Ricky Leong, July 17, DXLD) ** CANADA. Even Glenn Hauser would have enjoyed today's CBC broadcast of Inside Track. They presented the history of silly ball games on the radio with lots of sound bites from as early as 1927's first broadcast of a football (soccer) match by the BBC. From Marconi and Fesenden to BBC 5 Live, they showed how radio can present a unique word picture of the action on the pitch (field). They contrasted the radio coverage with TV, highlighting radio's strengths at painting a picture in sound. It was a great documentary on the evolution of broadcasting silly ball games. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, July 14, swprograms via DXLD) I heard this show too, by accident (I disregarded the program previews this weekend as my time was not going to be my own), and was delighted. Speaking as someone who is mostly NOT a sports fan, I thought the show was delightful & will be waiting for it to be replayed. It certainly highlighted the way radio can excel in so many ways (Eric Floden, Vancouver BC, ibid.) ** CANADA. Old CBC antenna tower on Toronto's Jarvis Street to be dismantled http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?current_row=1&tf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.html&cf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/config&encoded_keywords=dismantling+a+cultural+landmark&option=&start_row=1&start_row_offset1=&num_rows=1&search_results_start=1 From globeandmail.com, Wednesday, July 17, 2002 DISMANTLING A CULTURAL LANDMARK Photo exhibit salutes the CBC-TV tower and marks passing of analog era to digital technology JAMES ADAMS, NATIONAL ARTS CORRESPONDENT It has never achieved the iconic status of the CN Tower, or enjoyed the kind of literary immortality that Hart Crane bestowed on the Brooklyn Bridge. Still, when workers begin to dismantle the 45-storey CBC-TV tower in downtown Toronto next week, Canada will lose one of its most important cultural and technological landmarks, a poignant reminder of the Golden Age of Electricity when CBC ruled the airwaves and Juliette, Wayne & Shuster and Hockey Night in Canada were touchstones of English-Canadian identity. When it was erected in 1952, the transmission tower was, at more than 150 metres in height, the tallest free-standing structure in the Ontario capital. It was more than capable of holding its own, signal- wise, against what was emanating from Buffalo. On Sept. 8 of that year, English-language Canadian television essentially got its start at the tower, beginning at 7:15 p.m. with a transmission of a weather report, followed by a puppet show starring Uncle Chichimus and Pompey. The inaugural broadcast evening ended about two hours later with a concert by an all-female choir, then a news broadcast by Lorne Greene, who would soon become a staple of CBC-TV's Sunday evening programming playing Ben (Pa) Cartwright in the network's rebroadcast of NBC's Bonanza. A mass of approximately 1,000 iron girders held together with 10,000 bolts, the CBC-TV tower rose from a base of 5.9 square metres located between the old Havergal Ladies College, which CBC bought for about $120,000 in 1944-45, and historic Northfield House built in 1856 on Jarvis Street north of Carlton. The tower is coming down to make way for two condominium towers, collectively called Radio City, and the new headquarters, parking space, residences and studios of the National Ballet School. The actual dismantling and demolition are expected to take five weeks. A crew of seven will start at the very top, taking it down section by section, much like lumberjacks slicing off sections of tree trunks. There was talk of using a helicopter to haul off pieces, stage by stage, but this was scotched when it became clear that it would be too time-consuming to secure air rights for such a tight space and forest firefighting might limit the number of available helicopters. One man who recognizes the piquancy of it all is J. P. (Jim) Shea, who has lived in a condominium across the street from the tower for the past eight years. He has spent the past two years photographing it in all its moods, in all kinds of weather, at all times of the day. An exhibition of 14 of his photographs opens tomorrow evening at Northfield House at 372 Jarvis St. The show's title, "Eiffel on Jarvis," is taken from a description of the tower in a Toronto newspaper in 1952 calling it "a little like the Eiffel Tower in Paris" -- although the Eiffel, opened in 1889, is more than twice its height. Mr. Shea, 41, knows that the transmission tower never came close to that stature. For one thing, visitors couldn't climb its orange- and-white girders to various observation decks (although this didn't stop a Quebec nationalist from scaling it in the early seventies to plant the Quebec flag.) The site also lacked sufficient "breathing space" to achieve true monumentality in the urban topography. When it came time to paint the tower -- it usually took two weeks each summer -- brushes were used instead of spray-cans to prevent orange paint from splattering passersby, cars and apartments. Still, it had "a certain presence" in the Jarvis/Carlton/Wellesley neighbourhood, Mr. Shea observed, and, from his balcony at least, a sort of majesty. The CBC stopped using the tower and switched to the CN Tower in the late seventies (it also transmitted for Radio-Canada; the Ontario Education Communications Authority, the precursor to TVOntario; and Ryerson University's CJRT). The tower's demise appeared likely in 1993 when CBC left Jarvis Street to merge its broadcast operations under one roof; it became inevitable in 2000 when Heritage Minister Sheila Copps announced plans to sell half of the Jarvis site to the ballet school for $1. "Now that it's going, I feel this need more than ever to capture its image," Mr. Shea said. His pictures, all shot with a digital camera, are at once a salute to "a very ordinary, yet extraordinary urban industrial structure" and a meditation on "the passing of the analog era by the onset of digital technology." Eiffel on Jarvis is at Northfield House, 372 Jarvis St., Toronto, Friday 1-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 1-4 p.m. both days. (via Mike Terry; also John Grimley via Saul Chermos, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** CHILE. 6090, Radio Esperanza, Temuco. 0902-0930. July 14. Spanish transmission. Christian programme conduced by two male. Greetings: "saludos a todos quienes nos escuchan". Gospel music. ID as: "...estamos en su Radio Esperanza". 34433. Past July 10, at this hour, in this frequency I only head to World University Network, from The Valley (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No Luxembourg here in Oregon through 1139, but did catch a nice signal from R. Esperanza on 6089.96. After s/off of R. Japan in Korean (at 1131), R. Esperanza was "exposed," SP, reading a list of listeners in Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and US, with frequent mentions of Temuco and into local music program with long commentary by man between. Nice "rolled R" R. Esperanza ID at 1144 and into local music. Not heard by me before (Don Nelson, OR, DX-plorer via DXLD) 6089.91, me-tooing Don's log, heard this one at surprisingly good level at 0800 Jul 14, program "Noche de Esperanza," mix of light Christian vocals and religious talk, finally at 0858 a complete ID with frequencies. QRN, and QRM from Bandeirantes-6089.96, but Chile dominant almost all the time. Surprised to hear this so well, and no sign of Gene Scott (Jerry Berg, MA, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** CHINA. This week`s edition of Wavelength will look at English radio in Shanghai. Also a tribute to longtime Canadian broadcaster Gord Sinclair (Wave-Length, China Radio International, Beijing, China Attention: Lu Feng & Keith Perron e-mail: wavelengthcri@yahoo.com website: http://www.cri.com.cn/english DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s 0045 UT Friday, or is it 0040, via webcast and ondemand until UT Monday during the one-hour file (gh, DXLD) ** CONGO. 9610, Radio Congo / Brazzaville. Good Reception at 1545-1630 July 16 with African Songs, announcements, ID and news and commentary in French and in vernacular (Mahendra Vaghjee, Mauritius, hard-core-dx via DXLD) See also AFRICA ** CONGO DR. Dear Glenn, A report on the UN IRIN's web site - http://www.irinnews.org - gives the current SW freqs for Radio Okapi as 6030, 9550 and 11690 (i.e. not 10690 as reported by Radio Netherlands). Regards, (Chris Greenway, Kenya, July 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Well, it was the MONUC website as cited in DXLD 2-111 that claimed 10690; I saw it myself, but rechecked July 16 that had been corrected to 11690. So have you heard it, Chris, and for that matter 6030 or 9550 lately either? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Details of Radio Okapi's eight FM relays published; four more planned | Text of report by UN regional information network IRIN on 15 July Nairobi, 15 July: Radio Okapi, the network operated by the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), has expanded its service to the northwestern town of Gbadolite, broadcasting on 93 FM. Gbadolite becomes the eighth location in the DRC to have a local relay, the others being Kisangani (94.8 FM) in the northeast; Goma (105.2 FM) in the east; Kalemie (105 FM) in the southeast; Kananga (100 FM) in south-central DRC; Mbandaka (103 FM) in the northwest; Kindu (103 FM) in east-central DRC; and the capital, Kinshasa (103.5 FM), from where all broadcasts originate. In addition to FM relays in the major cities, a shortwave transmitter site is under construction in Kinshasa and is due to be completed in early September. Meanwhile, Radio Okapi is already operating on shortwave using three 100-watt transmitters at frequencies of 6030, 9550 and 11690 kHz. A joint initiative of MONUC and the Swiss-based Fondation Hirondelle, Radio Okapi was launched on 25 February to coincide with the convocation of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City, South Africa. It broadcasts 24 hours per day, seven days per week in French, Kiswahili, Lingala and Tshiluba. In the coming months, additional FM stations will be opened in Beni (east), Bukavu (east), Bunia (northeast), Lubumbashi (southeast) and Mbuji-Mayi (south-central). The material broadcast by Okapi is made available to other local media free of charge. Radio Okapi enables Congolese to talk to each other across the country's political divides, the organizers say. The radio's transmitting stations are guaranteed freedom from censorship under agreements with the various authorities in the DRC, and broadcast from UN military mission bases, guarded by UN troops. Currently, no medium in the DRC has the capacity to broadcast nationwide, although the government has announced its intention to establish one. Few politically independent broadcasters exist, although Radio Amani in Kisangani, and Radio Maendeleo in Bukavu have managed to survive as independent news broadcasters, and have operated intermittently over the past three years. Their reach is very limited, however. Source: UN Integrated Regional Information Network, Nairobi, in English 15 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) UN-RUN RADIO OKAPI TO BE ESTABLISHED SOON IN NORTHEASTERN TOWN | Text of report by Congolese rebel-controlled radio from Bunia on 17 July Ituri Provincial Governor Jean-Pierre Molondo Lofondo yesterday at his official residence in Quartier Mulunge held talks with the chief of Radio Okapi, Mr David Smith. Mr Smith had gone to inform the Ituri provincial governor of the establishment of Radio Okapi in Bunia [town in northeastern DRCongo base by Uganda-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy - Liberation Movement] in the near future. Radio Okapi, which is run by Monuc [UN Mission in DRCongo], broadcasts in all the languages... Source: Radio Candip, Bunia, in French 0515 gmt 17 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. R. Prague in English is on 21735 at 1300-1327, \\ 13580, July 2 and earlier. There is a strong station on 21745 and R. Prague moved away (David Crystal, Israel, for CIDX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Offshore Echo's have recently updated their website to include a very extensive section on Radio Normandie, the French station which broadcast widely listened to commercial radio programmes in English to the UK before the Second World War. The URL is http://www.offshoreechos.com/radionormandie/RadioNormandy01.htm On an IMac the site was rather slow in loading on Mac IE5 and the arrows at the bottom right, which link you to the next or previous page, do not always appear, no problems however using Netscape 4.71 Mac. If you have problems, the page URLs go 01.htm, 02.htm, 03.htm, 04a.htm, 04b.htm, 05.htm, 06.htm, 07.htm, 08.htm, 09.htm, 10.htm, 11.htm and 12.htm (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [and non?]. 7135, 0432 8/6, UNKNOWN, RFI to Africa in French, multiple broadcasts of the same program slightly delayed from each other – KAB (Ken Baird, Christchurch, NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JULY 2002 via DXLD) This used to be via South Africa. By `multiple` do you mean at least three?? (gh, DXLD) ** GEORGIA. There are no doubts in regard to the location of the SW transmitter in Sukhum (9490 and earlier frequencies). The QTH Sukhum for this tx was confirmed in a QSL-letter to Jerry Berg by the deputy director of Abkhaz State Radio already in 1996. You find a scan of that letter at: http://www.qsl.net/yb0rmi/abkhazia.htm. Quote: " We inform you that shortwaves transmitter on frequency 9495 is in Abkhazia - in her capital, Sukhum." The relays from Sochi (R. Rossii and regional program from Krasnodar/Sochi) are picked up unauthorized from FM as the deputy vice chairman of Sochinskaya GTRK explained to Mauno Ritola earlier this year: "9490v: I just received a nice verification letter in Russian for my follow-up report from Sochinskaya GTRK by e-mail. Mr. V. K. Glazunov, the company vice chairman says: " We are very pleased that our programs can be heard by such far-away listeners. We confirm that such a program of R Sochi went on the air at the given time. Our transmissions go on the air on 71.93 MHz, but you received a relayed transmission of our program through the Abkhazian Republic Radio, which is situated in the town of Sukhum (Zvanba street 8), the capital of the autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, which belongs to the Republic of Georgia. For us it is a foreign state, and there isn't any official agreement about co-operation with our Abkhazian colleagues. So we can't officially confirm operation of our radio on the frequency of 9490 kHz." (Mauno Ritola-FIN, BC-DX May 15)" 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DEUTSCHE TELEKOM BOARD APPOINTS NEW HEAD | Excerpt from report by German news agency ddp on 16 July Bonn: The Deutsche Telekom board of governors has appointed Helmut Sihler as new chairman of the board of directors for an interim period of six months. This was announced by board chairman Hans-Dietrich Winkhaus in Bonn on Tuesday evening [16 July]. Sihler, who has been a member of the Telekom board of governors since May 2000, succeeds Ron Sommer, who announced his resignation before the end of the extraordinary meeting of the Telekom board of governors. Sihler's deputy will be Gerd Tenzer, who has been head of the technology sector up to now... Source: ddp news agency, Berlin, in German 1736 gmt 16 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** GUAM [and non]. Re AFN USB transmissions: Charlie, I have talked with AFN on this subject numerous times. These broadcasts are feeder only. They may or may not be up depending upon transmitter needs at the associated NAVCOMSTA they are being broadcast from. In other words they are second fiddle. I have spoken with three Navy personnel directly involved with the project and most recently with Journalist Chief Foutch at the Navy Media Center who stated: "I endorse AFN skeds over NPR skeds. In all matters. Not in just the schedules listed. v/r, JOC Foutch" This response was in regards to a query I made concerning the discrepancies between the AFN skeds on the NPR website and those posted on the Navy Media Center website. My message is below. AFN Website: Guam Upper Sideband 13362 kHz 5765 kHz I know for a fact the 5765 freq is a good one. I just recently monitored it myself. That would indicate that Guam's old 4 MHz freq (4319) is probably gone. The 13 MHz frequency is probably a replacement for their old 10320 which now seems to be used by Pearl Harbor and Keflavik Iceland. Given that these schedules come directly from the source of programming I am NOT inclined to pull any of our listings from the shortwave freq directory in MT until I can confirm personally from the Navy directly that they have ceased these broadcast from Guam or any other site. Below are the two current schedules. It is quite obvious that the Navy contacted NPR and got them to change their skeds finally. Current Shortwave High Frequencies Keep checking this web page for the posting of new frequencies and transmitters when they become available. Location Band Daytime Nighttime Diego Garcia Upper Sideband 12579 kHz 4319 kHz Guam Upper Sideband 13362 kHz 5765 kHz Key West, FL Upper Sideband 12689.5 kHz 12689.5 kHz Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Upper Sideband 10320 kHz 6350 kHz RR, Puerto Rico Upper Sideband 6458.5 kHz 6458.5 kHz NPR has a website http://www.npr.org/worldwide/shortwave.html that shows the AFN stuff as follows: [Note: presented in a different order than above, but changed by gh to same order here for ease of comparison; plus Iceland here, not there] Transmitter Location Band Daytime Evening Diego Garcia Upper Side Band 12579.0 kHz 4319.0 kHz Guam (Barrigada) Upper Side Band 13362.0 kHz 5765.0 kHz Key West, FL Upper Side Band 12689.5 kHz 12689.5 kHz Pearl Harbor, HI Upper Side Band 10320.0 kHz 6350.0 kHz RR, Puerto Rico Upper Side Band 6458.5 kHz 6458.5 kHz Keflavik, Iceland Upper Side Band 10320.0 kHz 6350.0 kHz Given the nature of these broadcasts, the current dismal summertime props we are experiencing (typical), and the general decline in sunspot numbers right now, I don't feel I can trust any field reports over the schedules we receive directly from the Navy. 73 Larry Van Horn, N5FPW ATC (AW) USN (Ret) Grove Enterprises Technical Support Department Monitoring Times Assist Editor, Fed File/Milcom Columnist Telephone: V-828-837-9200/F-828-837-2216/800-438-8155 (Reply to inquiry from MSG USNS SUMNER, via DXLD) ** HAWAII. 1460 kHz has held some interest for me with reception of Honolulu and Salinas. The Hawaiian station has an illegal ID at TOH as: "This is AM1230 Radio Korea KYPA Los Angeles" !! Cheers (Chris Martin, Australia, July 16, ARDXC via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. DISNEY RADIO PLANNED FOR HONG KONG Walt Disney International plans to launch its first Asian radio channel in Hong Kong to boost brand awareness ahead of opening a theme park in the territory. Jon Niermann, Disney's Asia-Pacific chief, told the South China Morning Post that discussions were underway with local radio stations to create a Radio Disney franchise ahead of the park's 2005 opening. The company is working to secure a deal with one of Hong Kong's two commercial stations - Metro Broadcast and Commercial Radio. If the deal goes through, the round-the-clock radio channel would be Disney's fourth, partnering transmissions in the US, Latin America and Britain, the report said. In addition, the company is also planning to beam its Disney Channel to Hong Kong cable viewers. The 24-hour channel is currently available in eight Asian markets (AFP via RN Media Network 15 July 2002 via DXLD) ** INDIA. I received the message below from a U of Florida doctoral candidate. If you have any information about All India Radio's program content (comments, personal opinions on AIR's programs, etc.), please respond to him directly, off-list. 73 (Mike Brooker, Toronto, ON, Canada, dx_india via DXLD) Original Message ----- From: "Gatorlink User" amclark@ufl.edu To: aum108@idirect.com Sent: Saturday, July 13, 2002 8:46 AM Subject: All India Radio Hi, I came across your web page during an Internet search and wonder if you can help me. I'm writing a dissertation on the use of international broadcasting by regional powers and one of the stations I'm focusing on is AIR external. I'm having trouble picking up its broadcasts, and finding any detailed information on its programming content. Do you have any information on the content of the programs broadcast, any contacts that might be useful, or any tips on when the best times to listen are? Thanks, Andrew Clark, Doctoral Candidate, University of Florida (via Mike Brooker, dx_india via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. As for Radio Caroline, I was a big fan when it had atmosphere, could be heard over east, south-east and central areas of England in the car or at home and played a decent range of music. The musical choice on the station which now calls itself Radio Caroline has narrowed and the atmosphere has evaporated. Caroline's ship and part of the organisation slipped into the hands of neither the commercial big-guns, who could develop the idea, or well-funded die-hard law breakers. The ultimate selling points, the marine location, the unique free-style music and hoisting two-fingers at the law have gone. I wish it would end and we could cease the pretence. How about a final week at high-power for charity in international waters? If it gets raided then what a fine way to go. If it lasts the week, all the anoraks could say a proper goodbye, flash their car lights, listen to Johnny Walker on AM, have a final over-modulated play of the Fortunes, a test-tone, instructions on how to retune to BBC Radio 2, silence, static and a funeral wake at Frinton .... please! (Chris McWhinnie, UK, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Oneword for 252 LW? 16 July 2002. UBC Media, owners of Classic Gold and digital service Oneword, have confirmed their interest in acquiring Teamtalk 252. Simon Cole, the chief executive of UBC Media has told Inside Radio: "We are always on the lookout for interesting acquisitions," and added, "we are already the owner of more AM assets in the UK than any other broadcaster." Teamtalk launched in March following the closure of Atlantic 252. Online betting operation UKbetting announced their intention to buy the Teamtalk media group in May, when the group announced it would be put up for sale. 60 redundancies at Teamtalk were announced last month, and UKbetting is expecting the sale of Teamtalk to be agreed shortly. If the radio service were bought by UBC, it's expected that digital station Oneword would broadcast on the longwave frequency (insideradio.co.uk via Mike Terry, DXLD) I would like to know why Ireland is hardly ever mentioned in connexion with the 252 kHz facility, whoever may run it now and in future. The heading above was provided by gh. Is the separation and independence of the Republic of Ireland from the UK pretty much a fiction in practical terms? (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. A02 schedule change effective from 21st July [I guess this info is `backwards` due to original Hebrew?? And includes what would have been time shifts from October 6 -- gh] DELETE: 31.3-20.7 fren 300 315 27.28.6-10 515 500 17545 31.3-20.7 fren 300 330 27.28.6-10 5:15 5:00 15640 6.10-31.10 fren 300 330 27.28.6-10 5:15 5:00 15640 6.10-31.10 fren 300 315 27.28.6-10 6:15 6:00 17545 31.3-20.7 ENG 300 315 27.28.6-10 16:30 16:00 17545 6.10-31.10 ENG 300 315 27.28.6-10 17:30 17:00 17545 ADD: 21.7-6.10 fren 300 330 27.28.6-11 4:30 4:15 15640 21.7-6.10 fren 300 315 27.28.6-11 4:30 4:15 9435 6.10-31.10 fren 300 330 27.28.6-11 5:30 5:15 15640 6.10-31.10 fren 300 315 27.28.6-11 5:30 5:15 9435 21.7-6.10 ENG 300 330 27.28.6-10 16:45 16:30 17545 6.10-31.10 ENG 300 330 27.28.6-10 17:45 17:30 17545 21.7-6.10 ENG 300 315 27.28.6-10 16:45 16:30 15615 6.10-31.10 ENG 300 315 27.28.6-10 17:45 17:30 15615 21.7-6.10 SPAN 300 330 27.28.6-10 17:15 17:00 17545 6.10-31.10 SPAN 300 330 27.28.6-10 18:15 18:00 17545 21.7-6.10 SPAN 300 315 27.28.6-10 17:15 17:00 15655 6.10-31.10 SPAN 300 315 27.28.6-10 18:15 18:00 15655 TEL: +97236264562 FAX: 97236264559 (Moshe Oren, ISRAEL- Frequency manager, BEZEQ-engineering & planning division, July 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is the list of Kol Israel -frequency- changes, which start July 21. I haven't spent too much time studying it -- or any time modifying it. It looks like, for English, at least, it's just a time shift of the 1600 UTC broadcast to 1630 UTC (12:30 PM ET) (as previously mentioned) with the same frequencies (15640 and 17545). This list is from Moshe Oren, the Frequency Manager. (Daniel Rosenzweig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non]. Distinti Signori, la presente per invitarVi all`ascolto della trasmissione RADIOMAGAZINE prevista per il giorno 21.7.02, dalle 11,00 alle 1200 ora legale italiana (dalle 09.00 alle 10.00 UTC) su 11.880 kHz via Deutsche Telecom, su satellite SIRIUS, e dal sito INTERNET european strem (real audio): http://www.europe.awr.org Si ricorda che il programma RADIOMAGAZINE continuerà ad essere irradiato per tutto il perido estivo. I prossimi appuntamenti saranno per i giorni 4 e 18 agosto, 1, 15 e 29 settembre. Cordiali saluti, Dario Villani RADIOMAGAZINE 21.7.02 Intervista telefonica con Manfredi Vinassa De Regny (Sestri Levante/Genova). De Regny, che si occupa di radioascolto da diversi anni, racconta di come si avvicinò all`hobby. In un secondo momento ebbe un incontro con Mondadori, uno dei massimi editori italiani, e per lui realizzò ``I segreti della radio``, uscito in Italia in più ristampe sotto la collana degli ``Oscar Mondadori``. Tale libro, che stabilì un vero e proprio record di vendite nel settore radiantistico, ha rappresentato per alcuni anni un punto di riferimento per tutti gli ascoltatori delle onde corte. A patire da quella esperienza, De Regny ha pubblicato numerosi altri libri, sulle stazioni di utilità (emittenti marittime, radiofari, etc.), sulla Banda Cittadina, e il radioantismo in generale, raccogliendo sempre grande successo di pubblico. Nell`intervista a Radiomagazine, De Regny parla di questa sua avventura letteraria, rispondendo anche a quello che può essere il futuro della radio, in relazione all`avvento delle nuove tecnologie. L`intervista si conclude coi nuovi progetti editoriali che l`autore ha in cantiere. Durata: 15`00 COMUNICATO STAMPA Per questioni di carattere organizzative dal dicembre dello scorso anno, la AWR Europe ha dovuto chiudere l`impianto trasmittente di Forlì, peraltro vetusto e di debole potenza. Tale decisione, rientra nell`ottica di un più ampio e fruttuoso utilizzo di altri e più potenti impianti ad onde corte, quali quelli della Deutsche Telecom a Juelich, Radio Nederland/Madagascar, Sentech a Meyerton (Sud Africa) e più di recente dagli Emirati Arabi Uniti; mentre continuano le trasmissioni dall`unico centro di proprietà della AWR a GUAM, regolarmente registrato presso la FCC americana. Il nuovo assetto delle trasmissioni, ha visto un ridimensionamento delle trasmissioni in Italiano su onde corte, che di fatti sono irradiate solo il sabato e la domenica da Juelich. Continuano però ad essere sotto responsabilità di AWR tutte le trasmissioni acquisibili quotidianamente dal satellite SIRIUS e ritrasmesse sul sito INTERNET www.awr.org in real audio, in onda dalle 1100 alle 1200, dalle 1400 alle 1530 e dalle 2200 alle 2230 ora legale italiana. Il programma ``Spazio 3600`` della AWR Europe, continua ad andare in onda ogni domenica, e a settimane alterne anche il programma ``RadioMagazine`` condotto da Dario Villani. Radiomagazine si rivolge agli appassionati del radioascolto, ed abbraccia vari argomenti inerenti il mondo dei media, INTERNET, comunicazione e radioantismo in generale, attraverso notizie, interviste, interventi esterni e sondaggi. Tra i servizi offerti dalla trasmissione, oltre al testo del programma, anche una serie di diplomi per tutti gli appassionati. La seconda domenica di ogni mese, ``Spazio 3600`` ospita anche la ``Casella Postale`` con in studio Stefano Losio e Marco Conte che prendono in esame le lettere degli ascoltatori e i loro rapporti di ricezione, offrendo loro numerose cartoline QSLs e gadget della AWR. AWR attualmente trasmette in oltre 53 lingue differenti, lo schedule completo è disponibile in Redazione. Ecco gli orari: AWR/Adventist World Radio Europe Programma italiano Dalle 1100-1200 ora legale italiana/ Su 11880 kHz /Onde Corte Solo il sabato e la domenica via Deutsche Telecom Juelich Lo stesso programma viene ripreso via satellite (SIRIUS e Hot Bird) e ritrasmesso dalle stazioni a Modulazione di Frequenza della Voce della Speranza/Chiesa Avventista del 7 Giorno e in real audio sul sito: http://www.europe.awr.org Per eventuali ulteriori informazioni si può visionare il sito web: http: www.awr.org mentre gli indirizzi sono i seguenti: e-mail: europe@awr.org AWR Europe Casella Postale 383 47100 Forlì Italia Altri programmi radio ``avventisti`` dal sito: www.avventisti.org ---------------------------------------------------- Dear Sirs, the present for anticipate that for the day 21 July 2002, we broadcast a special interview with Mr. Manfredo Vinassa De Regny, writer by Mondadori ``I segreti della radio``. Radiomagazine continue in the summer to broadcast at this appointment/rendezvous: august 4 e 18, september 1, 15 and 29. The special will broadcast in the course of the Italian programme of the AWR/Adventist World Radio Europe, on the air from 09, 00 to 10, 00 UTC/ 11, 00 / 12, 00 Italian Time, on the frequency of 11880 kHz/Short Wave (via Deutsche Telecom/Juelich). The programme is on the aire also from the SIRIUS satellite and Hotbird (news about the reception from the web site awr.org). In real audio on INTERNET, european strem from the site: europe.awr.org. Yours sincerely Dario Villani E-MAIL darioxvillani@hotmail.com Dario.Villani@poste.it Dario.villani25@libero.it (via Michael Bethge, WWDXC via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** JAPAN. Radio Tampa, JOZ2, 6055 kHz had fair to good signal tuned at 0955 UT with Tchaikovsky symphony, ID in JP 0959 and into jazz show with man and laughing girl over bumper music. Weaker \\ 3925 JOZ had ham QRM. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Icom R75 and 80-foot Windom w/tuner, July 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. There goes another one, converted to gospel-huxtering as the new website implies; we listened for a few seconds and confirmed it was insipid gospel-rock in Spanish. Not that it has ever been anything more than a curiosity on SW, with extreme technical problems. This article is on the website at http://www.misionradio.com/articulos.htm México D. F. a 05 DE ABRIL de 2002. NUEVA ESTACION SURCA EL CUADRANTE MEXICANO Por: Samuel Ortigoza Una nueva radiodifusora de cobertura internacional, nació en la ciudad de México, XE-RTA Radio Transcontinental de América ubicada en la calle de Ayuntamiento esquina plaza San Juan dentro del centro histórico de la capital Mexicana. Resurge el concepto radiofónico que dará promoción a música cristiana evangélica, integración familiar, valores humanos y éticos, culturales e históricos de México. El atractivo de la emisora consiste en que tiene cobertura continental a pesar de transmitir con 5,000 vatios via ionosfera- onda de cielo. RESPIRO A LA ONDA CORTA Para algunos especialistas del tema, es positivo el surgimiento de XERTA porque le dan un respiro a la onda corta tan desatendida en México ya que en nuestro país está muy atrazado en este hámbito, no así en otros paises. Incluso en Latinoamérica en algunos países donde no había sido exitosa la onda corta al pasar a ser administradas por organizaciones cristianas se convierten en exitosas así es el caso de ¨VOZ CRISTIANA¨ en el país de Chile o HCJB de Quito, Ecuador. A la fecha en México sólo hay siete emisoras de onda corta; una de ellas es XE-RTA en la frecuencia de 4810 khz.... (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Flevo Update: Cleanup Still in Progress Rocus de Joode visited the Flevo site on 12 July, and reports: "as it looks now, transmitter # 4 will be under repair for at least one more week. Today (Monday) a special team is cleaning the transmitter hall, since there were a lot of particles, dust etc flowing around in the hall. Cleaning the transmitters is no use before the hall has been cleaned. After the cleaning, the engineers hope to rebuild the transmitter. Then intensive tests are needed to check if everything works fine." We've added some photos take by Rocus on 12 July to our photo page http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/flevo020708.html (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 15 July 2002 via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. NZ ELECTION: On Saturday 27 July New Zealand goes to the polls. RNZI will have full coverage of the NZ Election, results at 0700-1100 UT [1900-2300 NZST]. Sean Plunket hosts a Radio New Zealand News special with results and comment as the vote count continues. Programme scheduled to run until 2300 NZST. Listen on short-wave to 9885 kHz or via the Internet. RNZI's real audio live stream will be available from http://www.rnzi.com Regards (Adrian Sainsbury, Technical Manager, Radio New Zealand International (via John Figliozzi, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3905, 1112- July 16, Radio New Ireland. Absolutely great reception this morning with news in Tok Pisin. Same YL followed by a very brief ?ad, then talk about schools, islands. Mentioned phone number 9821746 at 1130:40. A bit of hash on the upper side. ID for Radio New Ireland at 1132, then good night, and into music. A real treat having so many PNGs back! Every bit as strong as 4890 (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOUGAINVILLE ** PERU. Radio Nacional ya NO transmite por los 850 kHz... razones... DESCONOZCIDAS. Llamo por fono y NO saben dar razón... más importancia le dan al lado virtual: http://www.radionacional.com.pe tanta prioridad que NO existe un link en el cual ver qué frecuencia usan en tal o cual ciudad peruana... Ahora lo hace (SIN AVISAR PREVIAMENTE, CLARO ESTÁ) por los 1320 kHz, frecuencia perteneciente a Radio La Crónica, emisora pertenciente al aparato estatal... Lo mejor para Ustedes 73s (Alfredo `spacemaster` Cañote, Perú, July 16, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. WDJD 585 in Samoa has tentatively been reported in recent days by Nev McKenty from Napier. Nev first heard the station on June 15 with no call sign ID but mention of ``the family station``, modern style hymns, ads for the internet, books and a religious message at 1059. Early in July I heard the station again. The programme was in Samoan with mainly modern style hymns in Samoan. There were a couple of western style but could only guess at one being called ``Victory for Jesus.`` Very good signal on peaks lasted from 1030 pm to 1100 pm local time [1030-1100 UT]. There was no ID given last night.`` Paul Ormandy has kept a look out for the station too, and says Ruatoria is on top at that hour for him but there are two others underneath ! (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JULY 2002 via DXLD) Glenn, You may already be onto this, but just in case: ``WDJD-AM Tafuna, American Samoa. Authorized for 585-kHz, operating on 580- kHz. This part of the globe uses 9-kHz spacing, but I guess they discovered that all the radios with 10-hKz steps couldn't get them, so they took it upon themselves to change frequencies.`` (via Geoff Fairbairn, Broadcast Engineering Manager, World Radio Network, July 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting; source? ** SAUDI ARABIA. US STUDY SAYS SAUDI CENSORSHIP OF INTERNET "WIDESPREAD" A study by researchers in the United States has revealed the widespread nature of internet censorship in Saudi Arabia. Researchers at the Berkman Centre for Internet and Society at Harvard University [web site: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/] found that a special government body which operates the high-speed data links that connect Saudi Arabia's internet services to the rest of the world blocked out not only pornographic web sites but also those on religion, women, humour, health, education, human rights, entertainment, swimsuits and even lingerie. The researchers said that when internet users in Saudi Arabia try to access blocked sites, a message pops up on the screen explaining that the action was taken to preserve the country's Islamic values. Source: BBC Monitoring research 17 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International provides a terse look at upcoming programming at its website. The current week (July 15th-21st) highlights are at this URL: http://www.slovakradio.sk/rsi/ang/program.html Here's an example: 15.07.2002 Monday - News, Topical Issue - A story about the development of archeology in the territory of Slovakia & its meaning today ... - Enviromental News 16.07.2002 Tuesday - News, Topical Issue - A profile of the Slovak Recycling Fund - Sport News 17.07.2002 Wednesday - News, Topical Issue - The Scientist of the Year 2001 - awarding the best scientists in Slovakia - Business News - Currency Update 18.07.2002 Thursday - News, Topical Issue - The music festival "Under a Diamond Arch" in Kremnica - an interview with the Oscar awardee for the music to the film "Limelight" by Charlie Chaplin - Culture News 19.07.2002 Friday - News, Topical Issue - An interview with the Slovak ambassador to Poland about Slovak- Polish relationships - Back-Page News 20.07.2002 Saturday - News - Insight Central Europe - a joint programme of Radio Slovakia International, Radio Austria International, Radio Prague, Radio Budapest & Radio Polonia 21.07.2002 Sunday - Sunday Newsreel - Listeners´ Tribune By the time we hear these programs in North America, it's the next UT day, so the Monday programs will be heard in the Tuesday 0100 and 0200 UT broadcasts. [?? I thought it was only at 0100 --- gh] Since I probably won't always be able to post this information, you might leave yourself a weekly E-mail reminder (see http://www.memotome.com for an example) to visit the Radio Slovakia International website if you would like this information (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, July 15, swprograms via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. GOVERNMENT RADIO HEARD AGAIN The radio station operated by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia - which calls itself "Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic of Somalia" - was heard again by BBC Monitoring on 15 July for the first time since 3 July. (According to a report published on the Ruunkinet web site on 6 July, the TNG had been in dispute with two businessmen over the supply of generators for the radio station, which may have led to its temporary closure. See our item published on 9 July entitled "Somalia: Government radio off the air, apparently as result of business dispute".) Source: BBC Monitoring research 15 Jul 02 (via DXLD) WTFK?? ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Brother Stair: The two dropped charges (according to S.S.) were the two criminal breach of trust charges. The two remaining charges are the C.S.C.s. The judge said he'd hold another hearing on or after July 29 on the question of release on bond. B.S. seems to think there's a good chance those charges also will be dropped (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. Radio Taiwan publishes a map of their transmitter links that might be of interest http://www.cbs.org.tw/english/images/2002_espflow.gif (Daniel Say, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes; goes by microwave to transmitter sites in Taiwan. Elsewhere, the first step is by undersea cable to Family Radio in Oakland; then by one satellite link to Okeechobee; by another, also including an internet link, eventually to a Merlin transmitter at Gerrards Cross, England on 3955. Never heard of that place; I assume it is better known by another name (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** TIBET. 9490, 1102- July 16, Tibet PBS. Fair to good signal in difficult to follow English. YL proceeded to talk about dimensions of some structure or another, though she mentioned a monastery. This is the end of this program at 1111:45, and also mentioned Holy Tibet. Into a Tibetan (or Chinese?) vocal song. Very much a tourist sounding program. Unable to hear any other parallels at this time (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. WORLD SERVICE GETS LESS THAN REQUESTED From The Guardian, John Plunkett, Monday July 15, 2002 The BBC has welcomed a £48m boost for the World Service - even though it is only two-thirds of the funding hike it requested. Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown announced the increase in the Commons today (MON) as part of the Government's spending review until 2006. The increase, to be spread over the next three years, will coincide with a "rigorous programme of efficiency" at the Bush House broadcaster over the same period. BBC World Service director Mark Byford said: "The settlement is a strong endorsement... at a time when the global appetite for international news and analysis has increased. "It is recognition that the need for our values - of impartial, authoritative and editorially independent journalism - is greater than ever." The extra cash - equivalent to an annual funding increase in real terms of 3.4% - will be ploughed into recently extend BBC services in the wake of September 11 and the war on terror, in Afghanistan, south Asia and the Arab world. It will be used to develop landmark radio programmes on issues like global security, democracy and Islam, and on flagship programming for Africa, China and Europe. The cash will also be spent boosting World Service availability on FM and online. BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies added: "We feel the Government has justifiably recognised the importance and impact of the World Service by providing substantial new investment." The World Service broadcasts in 43 languages and is listened to by around 150m people every week (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. Potentially Interesting Potential Time Waster: From the Ratio [sic] Times (UK): Fancy writing a sitcom about some cleaners? Of course you do. And now you can, along with five other budding writers and the aid of modern technology (the intercyberweb). A new show is being crafted and honed on the net, with the BBC seeking a team of writers to work together and make it into a worldwide success. The sitcom is about a group of late-night office cleaners and will be written online, with plotlines and characters being discussed in a virtual writers' room... but for once, the public will also be able to chip in with their own ideas and viewpoints on gags and storylines... Info is available on http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/ so start thinking up your hygiene-based jokes now... (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U K [non]. From laserradiolimited laser@ukmail.com laserradio@yahoogroups.com Sunday, July 14, 2002 11:01 PM Just a few lines to say a big Thank-you to all of you who either posted here or e-mailed us with your reception reports. The results look promising and once we enter the fall things should improve further! We shall be back again on July 21 - Our program director tells me he is even considering allowing a microphone in the studio for the next broadcast ...... (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. GLOBAL CONCERT TO SAVE WEBCASTING ON 22 JULY The International Webcasting Association (IWA) has teamed up with TV Worldwide.com, an Internet broadcaster and streaming media service provider, to produce a global Webcast promoting the IWA's campaign to save the Internet radio industry. The Webcast, to be carried live from State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, will start at 2330 UTC on 22 July. TV Worldwide.com will provide a link for simulcast transmission via Internet radio stations around the US. The event is being held in response to the growing effort to assist Internet Radio webcasters who are being forced out of business after a decision from the US Librarian of Congress regarding royalty rates paid to performers. These performer royalties, which are not paid by conventional radio stations for terrestrial broadcasts, are based on a per-listener structure rather than percent of revenue basis, resulting in royalties far in excess of the total revenue some Internet radio sites generate. The onerous nature of these rates and their retroactive enforcement are causing many Internet-only radio stations to go dark. "Webcasters recognize there is a cost to do business. What they cannot accept is a fee that restricts their ability to stay in business," commented Susan Pickering, Executive Director of the IWA. "Without a percentage of revenue structure, there is a barrier to entry for all but the largest webcasters. Webcasters provide an outlet for new artists and their music, and a source for listeners who are looking for audio entertainment not available on terrestrial radio." The Save Internet Radio Concert Webcast event will be available live and archived for later viewing at http://www.webcasters.org http://www.tvworldwide.com and through other Internet radio stations to be named shortly. Participants should have the free Real Player installed and should log on 15 minutes prior to the event at 2330 UT on 22 July (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 15 July 2002 via DXLD) ** U S A. CLASSICAL MUSIC: TUNING UP FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Radio stations balance quality with capitalism Joshua Kosman, Chronicle Music Critic Monday, July 15, 2002 ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle. Travel to just about any American city these days, and the odds are you'll have to work harder than ever to find the music of Bach, Brahms or Stravinsky on the radio dial. From Florida to California, classical stations look more and more like an endangered species. Major markets such as Detroit and San Diego, as well as San Jose and Fresno closer to home, have been without a commercial classical station for years. And the trend only seems to be getting worse. A recent Arbitron survey found that 34 of the nation's top 100 radio markets didn't have a classical station. Earlier this year, Miami's classical station, WTMI, became the latest casualty when its new owner, Cox Communications, switched it to a dance format. New York's public radio station, WNYC, has slashed its music programming in favor of more news and talk. At this rate, classical radio may soon be a thing of the past. That, at least, is one version of the story. Another version, championed most forcefully by the Bay Area's KDFC (102.1 FM), has it that classical radio has simply begun to join the 21st century. "Classical radio spent a long time imitating the concert hall experience," says Bill Lueth, the station's operations and programming manager. "That no longer works, because that's not how working-aged people listen to radio. "As classical stations figure this out and try to learn more about what their radio audience actually wants, their potential is still alive." From a business perspective, the station's success is hard to argue with. KDFC's ratings are consistently among the Bay Area's highest, a rare accomplishment for a classical format. According to Lueth, in the past three years KDFC has ranked in the top six out of 127 radio signals in the Bay Area almost every quarter and No. 1 twice. When Bonneville International Corp. of Salt Lake City took over the radio station in 1997, KDFC was 16th in the winter ratings. "Only two other major classical stations make the top 10 ever, hovering around seventh to 10th," Lueth said. "They are WCRB in Boston and our sister station WGMS in Washington. Most others rarely make the top 15." Earlier this month, the National Association of Broadcasters nominated KDFC for major-market station of the year, competing against stations from all formats. But that financial and ratings success has come from adopting conservative, marketing-driven programming, with an emphasis on short, soothing pieces -- sometimes one-movement excerpts -- drawn almost exclusively from the 18th century. For listeners looking for more adventurous fare, the KDFC formula is a mixed blessing at best. "Anybody can make money," says Bill O'Connell, a former KDFC program director who is now vice president and program manager for WCLV in Cleveland. "If you're willing to take the temperature of your audience and play only what focus groups say you should play, that's certainly a way to go. "But another way to go is the situation where the station is not owned by a large company but by a local company that feels a responsibility to the classical music aficionados of their market -- and to potential classical music partisans -- to play a wider range of styles and textures than the stations that are under financial pressure." The debate over how far classical radio can or should adapt its offerings to the changing marketplace has been fiercely fought in recent years, with charges of "pandering" and "purism" being bandied about. But there is agreement that money has indeed changed everything. Since the Telecommunications Act of 1996 deregulated radio ownership, large media companies have been buying up radio stations for enormous sums -- and then trying to make that money back with steeper profits than classical stations can ordinarily provide. "The number of classical radio stations is declining not because they were abysmal performers, but because owners need to recoup their investment," says Mario Mazza, vice president of programming at WCRB, Boston's only commercial classical station. "Classical doesn't do that. It makes money, but the margins may not be as large as they want. That doesn't mean there's a problem with the format, though." Where classical stations have changed hands, the result has been either a more populist programming approach, like that of KDFC, or a wholesale change in format. And for local owners, the lure of a big sale price can be hard to resist. Mazza cites the case of WNIB-FM in Chicago, whose owners bought the station for $8,000 in 1956 and sold it last year for $156 million to Bonneville -- which immediately changed the format to classic rock. "If you're an owner and get offered lots and lots of money for your property, it's hard to say no." One holdout is Saul Levine, the owner of Los Angeles' successful classical station KMZT-FM (K-Mozart). He bought the frequency in 1958 for next to nothing, and recently, he says, has been offered as much as $400 million for it. "That's more money than I need -- what would I do with it? I buy two suits a year and drink a bottle of good wine every couple of days. We keep going because we're dedicated to the format." In the Bay Area, though, Levine has had more difficulty keeping his hand in the classical game. He briefly tried to resuscitate the old KKHI call letters in the mid-1990s; more recently, his station at 1510 AM, also with the call letters KMZT, was offering a broad range of classical music. But last month, Levine switched the station to country -- prompted, he says, by the fact that since the demise of KYCY ("Young Country") the Bay Area had no country station. "I'm a broadcaster, not a guy who only likes to listen to classical music." ©2002 San Francisco Chronicle. Page D4 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. I haven't heard Chinese music on the California station on 1620; they run EWTN programming, which generally alternates between recitations (Hail Mary etc.) and egregious "discussion" programs where unskilled hosts clumsily butcher even the simplest truths of the Bible night after night. (Pretty painful stuff if you enjoy studying the Good Book -- Even goofy Art Bell is probably right more often than these guys, which ain't saying much :) ) 73, (Tim Hall, CA, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. THE CGC COMMUNICATOR CGC #523 Tuesday, July 16, 2002 Robert F. Gonsett, W6VR, Editor Copyright 2002, Communications General Corporation (CGC) ------------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL REPORT Human exposure to radiofrequency signals is in the news again as the FCC conducts a surprise inspection on Mt. Wilson. The issues uncovered will apply to many smaller communications sites, so sit back and read this entire Special Report. The views expressed in the following Letter to the Editor are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of CGC. The author is an experienced broadcast engineer known to CGC, and his or her name has been withheld upon request. ****************************************************************** MT. WILSON - FCC TAKES HUMAN EXPOSURE TO RADIO FREQUENCY MEASUREMENTS Today [Friday, July 12, 2002], the FCC, in an unprecedented move, shut down every Los Angeles FM and TV station operating from Mt. Wilson in a surprise RF hazard inspection. The situation seems to have started a few weeks ago with the attempted installation of a new antenna for station KDOC, CH-56. KDOC is located in the ground floor of the building known as the "Post Office." The KDOC antenna was to be mounted on a 150' pole [actually a 226' pole - Ed.] directly West of the Post office. KDOC engineers had calculated the stations that needed to reduce power and had sent out requests. When it came time to climb the pole, the tower crew found that the RF levels were still too high. They eventually found that the offending signal was from an FM station that was not on the KDOC list of stations that needed to reduce power. The station's engineer was called and asked to reduce power to 80%. He was willing to comply but was overruled by a corporate engineer saying, "I can't reduce power while everyone is listening to my morning man!" (Note that the FCC order obliges stations to comply with requests to lower power as a safety matter and without regard to ratings or revenue issues. The corporate engineer may not have known that he was exposing his company to many thousands of dollars in fines.) The FM station, after a week of negotiating, finally agreed to cooperate. Yesterday, a team of six FCC "agents" arrived at Mt. Wilson. Their first step was to perform a field intensity survey of their own. They located a site that, according to their instruments, did not meet the safety levels for public access. The site is the KMEX driveway as it rises up behind KBIG and until it reaches the KMEX building. Since there has been considerable construction in that driveway over the past few years, the gate has long since disappeared. Since there is no gate, the driveway is publicly accessible and therefore in violation. It would not have been a violation if there had been a chain across the driveway and a "No Trespassing" sign. Today, the FCC showed up ready to find out who was responsible for that hot-spot in the driveway. They had called the Chief Engineers of every station to meet at Mt. Wilson at 12:00 noon.... They set up their meter at the hot-spot and then asked each station to shut down completely, one-by-one, just long enough to make another measurement. Most stations were off for from 20 seconds to 40 seconds. This process actually took hours to complete as communications was difficult between each transmitter and the man taking the measurements. The Fox- lot stations were then asked to do the same thing for another hot-spot over there. After all of the measurements were done, everyone met at the Mt. Wilson Pavilion to discuss the situation. The agents said that they were not able to review the measurements in the field. Once they were reviewed at the office, there would be Notices of Violations and Notices of Liability (fines.) Many of the Chiefs felt that the stations exceeding the limits would probably be a handful of close-by FMs. The agents then spent a considerable time explaining the rules and the FCC's expectations. They said that the rules have been in place for several years now, and that they were no longer warning people, but enforcing the law. There was also a Q&A time. There was also considerable talk about a group of stations joining to have a new, comprehensive field study done by a qualified engineering firm. Such studies are required for licensees under the new rules. The last time this was done was in 1998 by Hammett & Edison. While some stations have shown little interest in joining the group, there is clearly a cost and accuracy benefit in having as many stations as possible join the group. Perhaps this incident will change the minds of the stations that show little interest. They are still looking for bids and there is not yet a cost estimate. The contact is Steve Colley: Steve.Colley@nbc.com or 818-840-3375. An FCC agent then explained that they were there on a regular inspection and not as a result of some incident. Most observers there did not buy this. The agents seemed to have arrived poorly prepared for the inspections, as though they had been called to Mt. Wilson at the last minute. According to some who had spoken to them on Thursday, they were very well aware of the KDOC incident. Perhaps they did not want to pursue the KDOC incident but just make a statement that was loud and clear. If so, their statement was indeed loud and clear. In any case, this incident should alert us to the fact that we have a new responsibility that cannot be ignored any longer. ****************************************************************** RESPONSE FROM READERS An advance copy of the above Letter to the Editor was circulated to a few broadcast engineers for their comments and opinions. The opinions received are divided into two groups, as follows. ****************************************************************** ABOUT THE MT. WILSON/FCC INSPECTION I think (the above story) pretty much sums things up. It will be very interesting to see what comes of this. The inspector would not give any indications of exactly what (the FCC) might do. - Radio Station Engineer ____ Perhaps this is a technical point, but there has never been a gate at the KMEX driveway as far as I know (back to at least 1984). There's always been a chain there with a RF warning sign on it, and there is another warning sign on the side of the KMEX-TV building. But alas, (when the FCC arrived) the chain was unlocked and down. And the sign was laying flat on the ground. It probably wasn't the KMEX folks that dropped the chain, rather the tower folks dealing with KDOC. That's only my guess. The chain was up and locked the day before. I (check the chain) every time I can. - TV station engineer ____ The fact that the FCC made a surprise inspection is not really a surprise. They have stated this would likely happen on several occasions during that past 12 months. Most recently, at the IWCE convention in Las Vegas, in April, one of the FCC's Enforcement Officers stated that we should not be surprised to see the issuance of Notices of Violation and Notices of Liability during the remaining part of the year as the FCC was gearing up to illustrate some examples of violations of their RF rules. The FCC did this last year on Lookout Mountain west of Denver. - Consulting Radio Engineer ****************************************************************** ABOUT GENERAL HUMAN EXPOSURE TO RF ISSUES ON MT. WILSON Seems that a few broadcasters are not very enthusiastic about human exposure to RF compliance issues. When asked to reduce power to facilitate tower work on Mt. Wilson, these excuses are sometimes heard: "I'm unavailable that day" - "I'll be on vacation then" - "How about if we reduce power from, say, 1 to 4 a.m.?" Since multiple stations may be involved in power cut backs to permit tower work, sometimes it's a miracle any work gets done at all. One tower maintenance company complained that after a power reduction was finally accomplished on Mt. Wilson, a TV GM ordered his engineer to RESUME FULL POWER operation immediately. Full power operation was resumed, without warning, and with climbers on the tower structure! Obviously, too many people do not understand the absolute necessity of cooperating and complying when it comes to human exposure to RF signal issues. Compliance with the FCC's exposure rules is the law, and failure to comply could lead to serious liability consequences, to say nothing of FCC sanctions. Much more could and probably should be said on this topic, and we hope you will send us your thoughts. ****************************************************************** YOUR COMMENTS ARE INVITED Written comments from broadcasting professionals on any of the above issues are welcome, and invited. Names will be withheld if you ask us to do so. This forum is to identify problems and look toward solutions in a generic sense, without pointing fingers at specific individuals, stations or companies. All meaningful comments (please be concise) will be published together in an upcoming Special Edition of the CGC Communicator. Let's pull together, learn from the Mt. Wilson incidents and move on. {continued in DXLD 2-116} __________________________________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------ The CGC Communicator is published for broadcast professionals in so. California by Communications General Corporation (CGC), consulting radio engineers, Fallbrook, CA. Short news items without attached files are always welcome from our readers; letters may be edited for brevity. E-mail may be sent to: rgonsett@ieee.org or telephone (760) 723-2700. CGC Communicator articles may be reproduced in any form provided they are unaltered and credit is given to Communications General Corporation and the originating authors, when named. Past issues may be viewed and searched at http://www.bext.com/_CGC/ courtesy of Bext Corporation. (via Dennis Gibson, DXLD) ** U S A. House Radio Bill http://www.mail-archive.com/cypherpunks-moderated%40minder.net/msg01671.html Dave Emery (N1PRE)'s outstanding review of the radio reception provisions in the Cyber Electronic Security Act passed by the House on Monday, July 15. "In effect this removes a safe harbor created during the negotiations over the ECPA back in 1985-86 which ensured that first offenses for hobby radio listening were only treated as minor crimes - after this law is passed simply intentionally tuning a common scanner to the (non-blocked) cordless phone frequencies could be prosecuted as a felony for which one could serve 5 years in jail. ..." And there's more, including changed provisions related to the publication of material heard by radio. http://www.newsignals.com http://www.spectrumfinder.net (Benn Kobb, July 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FALLING RATINGS: BITTER MEDICINE FOR DR. LAURA? By JAY KRALL, The Associated Press, 7/15/02 8:45 AM The Wall Street Journal Recent ratings have been as hard on radio star Dr. Laura Schlessinger as she can be with the callers she sets straight on her nationally syndicated show. In the past three months, the "Dr. Laura Show" has been dropped in Boston, Chicago, Milwaukee and Charlotte, N.C. The show, based in Los Angeles, was canned in New York and Philadelphia last year... http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0028_BC_WSJ--LauraSchlessinge&&news&newsflash-financial (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. -------------------- Static At ESPN Radio ------------------ KORNHEISER SUSPENSION LATEST IN PERSONNEL SHAKEUP By KEVIN CANFIELD, The Hartford Courant, July 17, 2002 With the recent firing of four producers and a popular on-air personality and the suspension this week of perhaps its best-known talk-show host, ESPN Radio is bordering on disarray. Tony Kornheiser, the longtime Washington Post columnist who hosts a midday show on the network and co-anchors a 5 p.m. free-for-all on ESPN's TV side, is off the air for a week after management took umbrage at some of his comments. Kornheiser's suspension follows the firing last month of Jason Jackson, who had been with ESPN for nearly seven years as a television and radio host. Jackson, a source close to the Kornheiser show said, was fired for allegedly making unwanted and suggestive comments to a female colleague. ESPN's radio unit has been an increasingly powerful force in recent years, annexing drive-time slots at stations across the country and consistently netting the best guests, from Michael Jordan to then- President Clinton. But it has been a summer of chaos at the Bristol headquarters of the sports broadcasting powerhouse. About a dozen staffers, including Eric Schoenfeld, general manager of ESPN Radio, have been let go or given time off for violations of company policy. Schoenfeld, a source said, was suspended for allegedly threatening a co-worker. Mike Soltys, an ESPN spokesman, said the network would not comment on personnel matters, and neither Kornheiser nor Schoenfeld could be reached Tuesday. It is clear, though, that this has not been an ordinary month or two for ESPN Radio. According to a source, after Jackson's firing, management looked at e-mail sent by a number of its employees. Though the e-mails were not directly related to the Jackson matter, they did contain profanity. This, the source said, led to the suspension of five employees and the firing of four producers. Two worked on the radio network's afternoon offering, "The Dan Patrick Show"; the other two worked on Kornheiser's show. The firings - particularly that of his show's senior producer, Denis Horgan Jr., whose father is a columnist at The Courant - upset Kornheiser. Kornheiser discussed the firings of Horgan and associate producer Kelvin Álvarez several times on the show. "I would do just about anything to get them back," he said on a recent broadcast. "Denis' contributions to this show were enormous. All the funny, creative things were Denis', just about." ESPN management apparently asked Kornheiser to stop talking about the matter on the air. He did but continued to discuss it on commercial breaks, which until recently were broadcast over the Internet. The network stopped broadcasting the commercial-break banter between Kornheiser and his producers about three weeks ago, and Kornheiser, who reportedly makes $500,000 a year, was notified late last week that he would be suspended without pay for a week. Meanwhile, Keith Olbermann, a former host of the network's "SportsCenter" who left ESPN in a highly publicized parting five years ago, recently hired Horgan to help write the commentaries he delivers daily for ABC Radio. "Denis is just one of the funniest, one of the brightest guys, one of the most loyal, one of the best workers I've ever worked with," Olbermann said. "If you've got rules that force you to get rid of a decent guy like Denis Horgan, there's something wrong with your rules." Copyright 2002, Hartford Courant (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. VOA affiliate stations: - an up-to-date list can be found at their site: http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt IBB website: http://monitor.ibb.gov/ (Jens Soendergaard, Randers, DENMARK, hard- core-dx via DXLD) Sorry, no, I mean the *affiliate* stations on FM and MW like R Free Africa etc. They relay VOA for part of the broadcasting time, like R Free Africa in Tanzania. There is a sample of Greek stations on http://www.voa.gov/greek/greekaff.html with a link htttp://www.voa- afl.gov but it doesn't lead anywhere. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Kiihtelysvaara, Finland, ibid.) ** U S A. KGEM, 1140, Boise, ID, is FINALLY operating non-directional daytime. They had been running with their night DA all the time because of problems with the daytime matching network. July SR is 6:15 am MDT and SS is 9:30pm. It gets dark here well before local sunset by the end of July (Bill Frahm - Boise ID, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Would you like to rephrase that? And I assume the point is that KGEM could now be heard eastward around sunset whilst non-direxional. KGEM was my first (and only) Idaho MW catch for many years back in the sixties. Still the same call, even more remarkable (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTIENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Legal Stuff saying that no one can stop you from installing an antenna: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/facts/otard.html Found this link on Winegard's web site. Enjoy, (Bill Nollman, July 16, WTFDA via DXLD) The subject line of the Bill's e-mail is a bit broad. While it is true that under the R&O, an owner/dweller has a right to install an antenna for TV use, that is about all it means. The Rule was written to infer a Rule of Reasonableness. Now, as anyone who has gone to law school would tell you, such rules are nothing if not vague. But, I think it is clear that the Rule is intended to allow a resident to install an antenna suitable for everyday viewing. DXing, a court would most likely find, is NOT everyday viewing (really, by definition). Of course, I can imagine that a reasonableness rule is location- dependent. Here in Germantown, TN, the type antenna allowed might be significantly smaller than someone in rural Nebraska might be allowed, as transmitters are very near my home. In short, if I attempted to install a 7' UHF dish 12' above the roof line, I would get my butt enjoined. And I should get it enjoined -- I would have gone well beyond the spirit of the Rule. The same sort of Rule applies in PRB-1, the rule that requires municipalities to "reasonably accommodate" Ham antennas. Courts will be wrestling with that definition for a while, and that will only get worse if PRB-1 is extended to CCRs. The jury is still out on this one (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M./AG4KI, Germantown, TN/EM55, ibid.) Good points, Peter. Luckily, my neighborhood has to get a majority of people to go to court to fight anything they don't like. Task #1 when I moved in was to make darn good friends with the neighbors, which is also good for day to day stuff as well! I also made every effort to "hide" my FM antenna behind the peak of the roof, which clears the peak by a few feet but isn't terribly visible from the street. Of course, the 7ft CM dish and VHF yagi are both in the attic :-( (Bill Nollman, ibid.) Peter, all of this is subject to a few variables, one of which is where you're located, another, as you've pointed out, is how 'extreme' you get with your antennas, still another is the jurisdiction, and still another has to do with the size of your property and where the antenna is on it relative to potential aggrieved parties. There is still a requirement that the person suing you has to demonstrate some minimum level of harm. Actually, there are some within the ham community who argue that PRB-1 guarantees every ham who owns his/her own property not within an airport's flight path to erect a tower - and a big one. We all know that ain't reality. At least those of us who are DX'ers and hams can put up two kinds of antennas :-} But, finally, for some of us, the question of a tower or how much/what antennas not infrequently comes down to a different authority - one's spouse! ===== (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) ** URUGUAY. Otra radio uruguaya online---- http://www.cx4radiorural.com/ 610 CX4 Radio Rural, Montevideo (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, July 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. VOICE OF VIETNAM CHIEF FIRED Tran Mai Hanh, Director General of Radio Voice of Vietnam, has been fired in a purge of senior party officials linked to a corruption scandal. Hanh is accused of having sought an early release from custody for gang leader Truong Van Cam, who was charged with murder, gambling and fraud. "We must pay a very painful price for the free lifestyle of a number of degenerate cadres who have failed to maintain their political standards and ethics,'' said party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh. The Voice of Vietnam's Web site lists the new Director General as Vu Van Hien (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 July 2002 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Que Huong QSLs (from John Durham). The following is extracted from their QSL (verbatim): Monitoring of our broadcasts is important for the technical information we receive, as well as for information about our audience. Additionally, the stories of our listeners augment dimension of our transmissions , putting a ``face`` at the leading end of the short wave. As background, you should know that Que Huong Radio is a private Vietnamese Broadcasting Corporation mainly serving the Vietnamese American in Northern California, United States since 1994. Que Huong Radio is the only 24 hour daily, all Vietnamese radio station outside Vietnam. We are broadcasting on 1120 AM frequency. On shortwave program which mainly broadcasted to Vietnam, we are trying to promote freedom and human rights for all Vietnamese people in Vietnam. If you have any friend who is a shortwave listener, please encourage him to send reception reports to us at above address. Reports can be in English and Vietnamese. Signed Nguyen Khoi, Manager of Que Huong Radio. Addr: 2670 S. White Rd, Suite 165, San José, CA 95148. URL: http://www.quehuongmedia.com/ E-mail: quehuong@quehuongmedia.com Sked via KWHR: Apr 02: 1300-1330 9930 kHz (NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES JULY 2002 via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL INFORMATION PAGES 6000 Thanks to the help from old and new contributors and to an exchange agreement with another DX Club (BDXC-UK) the QSL Information Pages [QIP] for BC-DX er's at http://www.schoechi.de/qip-indx.html have been updated several times in the past days. Now QIP presents QSL logs from more than 6000 BC stations from 226 radio-'countries'. Even the zip-files have been updated in order to provide you with all the logs when you are 'offline'. All comments, QSL-logs and design-advices are very welcome. But please do not send pictures to me (only pictures of Clandestine Radio Stations) Martin Schöch --------------------------------------------------------- Martin Schoech - PF 1136 - 06201 Merseburg - Deutschland --------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: schoechi@gmx.de Website: http://www.schoechi.de +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Space Weather News for July 16, 2002 http://www.spaceweather.com A remarkable sunspot is crossing the face of the Sun. The large active region stretches 15 Earth-diameters from end-to-end and poses a threat for powerful flares. Indeed, on July 15th, twisted magnetic fields above the spot erupted. The explosion sparked an X-class solar flare and hurled a coronal mass ejection into space. As a result, sky watchers on Earth might spot auroras on Tuesday or Wednesday night. Visit spaceweather.com for more information and updates. (via Russ Edmunds, NJ, amfmtvdx via DXLD) At 1958Z, a major flare began. At 2008Z, it was at an X3.0 on the scale. This is a MAJOR event. Most HF is degraded - no propagation. More info follows. One may see the current level at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html And other info at http://prop.hfradio.org/ 73 de (Tomas, NW7US // AAR0JA swl July 15 via DXLD) PROPAGATION WARNING: Conditions could become pretty Rough for a short time within the next 48 Hours. More likely on 17th and 18th July 2002. This is due to 2 'X' Solar Flares and maybe concurrently the effects (Now diminishing) of an old Coronal Hole. which may have rotated into a partially Geoeffective Position, by to-day, 16th July 2002.. (Ken Fletcher, UK, 1820UTC=1920UTC+1 16th July 2002, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Product: Weekly Highlights and Forecasts Issued: 2002 Jul 16 2212 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly.html # # Weekly Highlights and Forecasts # Highlights of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 08 - 14 July 2002 Solar activity was at low to high levels. Activity rose to high levels on 11 July due to an M5/2b flare from Region 30 (N19, L = 013, class/area Fkc/780 on 14 July). Region 30 also produced isolated low- level M-class flares on 08, 11, and 13 July. All of these flares were unremarkable in radio aspects. Region 30 grew steadily in size and magnetic complexity and developed multiple magnetic delta configurations by the close of the period. Forecaster's note: Region 30 produced an X3/3b flare and halo CME on 15 July. Details will be provided in next week's edition. Solar wind data were available from the NASA Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft for most of the summary period. Solar wind speeds were elevated during 09 – 10 July with peaks to around 530 km/sec, likely due to a negative- polarity coronal hole. Speeds were also elevated during 12 – 13 July with peaks to around 600 km/sec, likely due to a positive-polarity coronal hole. A greater than 10 MeV proton event ended at geo- synchronous orbit at 08/0620 UTC (the event began at 07/1830 UTC following a long-duration event near the Sun's southwest limb). There were no proton events during the rest of the period. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo-synchronous orbit were at normal to moderate levels through 11 July, then decreased to normal levels for the rest of the period. Geomagnetic field activity was at quiet to active levels during 09 and 12 July, likely due to coronal hole effects. There were also brief minor storm periods at high latitudes on 12 July. Quiet to unsettled conditions prevailed during the rest of the period. Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 17 July - 12 August 2002 Solar activity is expected to range from low to moderate levels during most of the period. Isolated low-level M-class flares are possible throughout the period. Region may produce additional isolated major flare activity before it rotates out of view on 23 July. There is a chance for a proton-producing flare from Region 30 before it rotates out of view on 23 July. Greater than 2 MeV electron fluxes at geo- synchronous orbit are expected to be at normal to moderate levels for most of the period. Geomagnetic field activity is expected to increase to active to minor storm levels during 17 – 18 in response to the halo CME observed late on 15 July. Active periods are possible during 20 July; and during 02, 05, and 08 August due to recurrent coronal hole effects. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected during the remainder of the period. Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt Issued: 2002 Jul 16 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Jul 16 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Jul 17 180 20 4 2002 Jul 18 185 20 4 2002 Jul 19 185 12 3 2002 Jul 20 185 15 3 2002 Jul 21 185 10 3 2002 Jul 22 180 10 3 2002 Jul 23 160 8 3 2002 Jul 24 150 7 2 2002 Jul 25 145 7 2 2002 Jul 26 145 10 3 2002 Jul 27 145 10 3 2002 Jul 28 145 10 3 2002 Jul 29 145 10 3 2002 Jul 30 145 7 2 2002 Jul 31 145 7 2 2002 Aug 01 140 12 3 2002 Aug 02 135 15 3 2002 Aug 03 135 12 3 2002 Aug 04 135 10 3 2002 Aug 05 140 15 3 2002 Aug 06 150 12 3 2002 Aug 07 155 10 3 2002 Aug 08 160 15 3 2002 Aug 09 165 10 3 2002 Aug 10 170 8 3 2002 Aug 11 175 8 3 2002 Aug 12 175 8 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-113, July 14, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1139: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1139.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html NEXT WWCR BROADCASTS: Wed 0930 on 9475 NEXT RFPI BROADCASTS: Mon 0630, Wed 0100, 0700, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO AFGHANISTAN TO RESUME BROADCASTS IN LOCAL LANGUAGES ON FM ON 15 JULY | Text of report by Afghan radio on 14 July Announcement by the Broadcasting Department of Radio Afghanistan: Broadcasts in languages of the fraternal ethnic groups of Afghanistan - Uzbek, Turkmen, Pashai and Nurestani - was expected to resume after a break on 24 Saratan of the current year [ 15 July] from 1700 to 2000 [1230 to 1530 gmt]. In view of technical problems, dear listeners can listen to these programmes from 1400 to 1700 [0930 to 1230 gmt] starting tomorrow, Monday 24 Saratan, on FM frequency. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1430 gmt 14 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. RADIO VOICE OF AFGHANISTAN STOPS BROADCASTING FOR THREE MONTHS The founder of Radio Voice of Afghanistan, Sayd Jamaloddin Afghan, has announced that the radio's broadcasts will stop for three months from today. In an unscheduled speech on the radio which replaced the 1330 gmt news bulletin, he said that during a recent visit to Afghanistan he saw "painful" scenes which are even "difficult to explain". He said the radio was not able to broadcast "the truth" and report what was happening in Afghanistan because of "the current conditions governing the country". He expressed the hope that the country's situation would improve in three months and the radio would be able to resume its broadcasts. The radio began its broadcasts around eight months ago from London. The text of the speech to follow. Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330 gmt 14 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) Three months, or forever? This doesn`t make sense. If conditions are so bad in Afgh, it would seem RVOA is needed more than ever (gh, DXLD) Heard wot I thought was V. of Afghanistan at 1400 7 July, 17870, Afghani sounding music, and M.A. (SINPO 24444 to Australia). Then at 1430 a brief break in transmission, few clicks then a Male Announcer in English "Welcome to Voice of America in Farsi..." followed talk by MA and FA in.... Farsi, I guess! Which matches V. of America`s published sched showing: 1430-1530 UTC 9555 15750 17870 and V. of Afghanistan`s sched showing Dari Programme on 17870 kHz 1400-1430 UT on their website The signals sounded the same before and after the break, suggesting same transmitter (Jem Cullen, Australia, July 12, ARDXC via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. NORUEGA/AFGHANISTAN. 18920, Radio Afghanistan (Tentativo), via Kvitsoy, 1300+. 8 de julio. Transmisión en pushtu??. Boletín de noticias leído por OM. 24442 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, en DX Camp-Villa Loguercio, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Ex-18940? I am amazed at the resounding silence from all quarters since The Observers in Bulgaria asserted that this emission is no longer via Norway (gh, DXLD) ** ARMENIA. Dear Glenn: Yesterday I received a QSL card, a dated on 10,6,2002, letter by Mr. Armen Amiryan, General Director of the Public Radio of Armenia, and a Summer 2002 Program schedule of The Voice of Armenia, it listed the time, frequency and language but no target area as following: MW 864 kHz and SW 4810 kHz 0230-0300 1-7 Farsi 1300-1330 1-5 Azeri 1300-1315 6-7 Azeri 1330-1345 1-5 Turkish 1315-1345 6-7 Turkish 1345-1415 1-7 Kurdish SW 4810 kHz 1645-1715 1-7 Arabic LW 234 kHz 1220-1230 1-6 Georgian SW 4810 kHz and 11625 kHz 1830-1900 1-6 Armenian 1900-1920 1-6 French 1920-1940 1-6 German 1940-2000 1-6 English Via satellite "Hot Bird" 13 degree/12.111 GHz, (For local listeners 107.6 FM) 1730-1740 1,2,4,5,6,7 French 1740-1750 1,2,4,5,6,7 German 1750-1800 1.2.4.5.6.7 English SW 4810 kHz and 15270 kHz 0730-0750 Sunday French 0750-0810 Sunday German 0810-0830 Sunday English SW 9965 kHz 0200-0230 1-7 Armenian 0230-0245 1-7 Spanish Thank you very much for your valuable DX information! Your reader (Yin Yung-chien, Taipei, Taiwan 13/7/2002 08:45, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Re Australia's Indonesian service at 2130 on 11935 - China's big band concert was audible on the freq July 10 with not even a tentative of Darwin. It does seems unfortunate that RFA Saipan and Darwin should both use the same freq - albeit in different directions (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jul 12 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Very interesting Austrian radio history pages of 1945-1955 era: http://www.amospress.at/Z/bdn/BDN2/HIST1945.HTM Also some services of the Allied occupation all over Austria are covered, like American Rot-Weiss-Rot, Russian RAVAG, British R. Alpenland etc. Occupation transmitters in Austria 1945-1955. http://www.amospress.at/Z/bdn/BDN2/HIST1945.HTM#BDN (Josef Haas, Austria, A-DX July 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 6080: At 0700 and at 1000 UT [while monitoring LUX 6090 test] when using the small Collins 2.7 kHz filter, I noticed a warbling-oscillating signal on 6080 and also Belarus` talk there. The audio sounds like an oscillating transmitter fault. Any ideas? Is that the usual sound of the 6080 unit, or is that audio originating from a 'rival' source in CIS ??? (wb df5sx BC-DX via DXLD) The jitterbugging signal on 6080 is BLR, \\ 279 (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX July 10 via DXLD) BLR tx, they are faulty (as I noted) for few weeks (suspect even more) +/- 5 kHz are suffering mostly (f.i. DW's "eternal home" 6075 now comes with [SIO] 322, 433/422, 533 tnx to BLR). BLR itself is 544/533 here with its own transmitter degradation only (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC-DX July 10 via DXLD) Yes, and BLR 6080 is in that faulty condition since at least 2 months already (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, BC-DX July 10 via DXLD) Re the jitterbug on 6080 - this is a very difficult freq on which to hear anything at my location, but something very peculiar sounding is audible. If, as Bernd says, this fault has been on going for some time, it seems to prove that no one ever checks what is actually going out. During a recent discussion (HCDX) about the radio with the worst audio - which two writers suggested was Cairo (I do know of others!) - the question was asked whether they had any listeners outside of the studio. Perhaps BLR has electricity to spare during summer time? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jul 12 via DXLD) Current BLR schedule of July 13: 2738 1800-2200 Mayak/SSB 2829 1800-2200 Mayak/SSB 4982 0300-1800 Mayak/SSB 5134 0300-1800 Mayak/SSB 5970 0100-0300 FS 6010 1500-2200 BR-1 6040 1500-2200 BR-1 + local 6070 1500-2200 BR-1 6080 0300-2200 BR-1 6190 1500-2200 BR-1 + local 7105 1500-1700 BR-1 7105 1900-2100 FS 7145 1500-1800 BR-1 + local 7210 0100-0300 FS 7210 1900-2100 FS 7265 1500-2100 BR-2 (incl Mayak) (Mikhail Timofeyev-RUS, DXplorer Jul 14 via BC-DX via DXLD) Radiostation Belarus (R Minsk) Addr: ul.Krasnaya, 4, 220807 Minsk, Belarus Tel: (375-17) 2395831, 2395832, 2395875 Fax: (375-17) 2848574 WEB : http://www.tvr.by Director: Khlebus Nataliya Vasiljevna Tel: (375-17) 2395830) Schedule: 0100-0130 on 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz in Belarussian. 0130-0200 on 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz Mon-Sat in Belarussian, Sun in Ru. 0200-0230 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz Mon/Wed, Fri-Sun in En. Tues in Belarussian. Thurs in German. 0230-0300 1170, 5970, 7210 kHz Mon in Ru. Tues-Sat in Belarussian. Sun in German. 1900-1930 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz in Belarussian. 1930-2000 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz Mon in Belarussian, Tues-Thurs in En. Wed/Sat/Sun in German. Mon in Russian. 2000-2030 on 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz Tues-Fri in Ru, Sat/Mon in Belarussian. 2030-2100 on 1170, 7105, 7210 kHz Tues in Belarussian, Wed/Fri in En. Thurs/Sun/Mon in German. Sat in Russian. (Sergei Alejsejchik, Grodno-BLR, "Kvadrat" DX "Signal", RUS-DX Jul 13 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850 Radio Independent Makumui, 1052 July 12, sounding like any other PNG, but much weaker. Pops and pidgin talk seemed to have anthem of sorts just before 1102* Need to review recording (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Em artigo recente, publicado no Jornal do Brasil, edição de 19 de junho, Carmen Lúcia Roquette Pinto, afirma que a Rádio MEC está sucateada, com o consentimento do governo brasileiro. Segundo ela, "através de mecanismos insidiosos e ilegais". A Rádio MEC, que tem seus estúdios no Rio de Janeiro, foi doada ao governo, em 1936, por Roquette Pinto. A autora afirma que o governo passou para as mãos de entidade privada um valioso patrimônio, sem consultar a população. A Rádio MEC transmite em 800 kHz e já emitiu em ondas curtas, no passado. As informações são de Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé(AM). BRASIL - O cateretê é uma dança rural brasileira, feita em filas opostas e cantada. Para quem gosta da boa e verdadeira música sertaneja, como é o caso do cateretê, vale conferir o programa Festa na Roça, levado ao ar, de segunda a sexta-feira, pela Rádio Difusora, de Poços de Caldas(MG). É apresentado de 2300 às 0130, em 4945 kHz. No programa do dia 12 de julho, o apresentador disse que a Rádio Difusora recebe periodicamente informes de recepção de todo o mundo. Anunciou o seguinte e-mail para contato: am1250@d... [truncated] BRASIL - A Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, ao que tudo indica, está no ar, em 11780 kHz, em grande parte do dia. Aos domingos, a emissora apresenta, a partir de 2300, o Noite Nacional. É comandado pelo veterano Pereira Lima, que labutou na extinta Rádio Nacional do Brasil. Lima também já trabalhou na Rádio Coréia Internacional. O programa apresenta sucessos da música popular brasileira e mundial. A participação dos ouvintes é feita pelo telefone: 0800 610980. Também aceita, por carta, ao seguinte endereço: Caixa Postal 258, CEP: 70359- 970, Brasília(DF). BRASIL - A audiência do programa Além Fronteiras, da Rádio Canção Nova, de Cachoeira Paulista(SP), é grande no exterior, principalmente na Finlândia. Durante o programa levado ao ar em 6 de julho, vários dexistas daquele país tiveram seus informes respondidos no ar, entre eles, Mika Makelainen. O programa é apresentado aos sábados, entre 2200 e 2300, nas freqüências de 4825, 6105 e 9675 kHz (all: Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 13 via DXLD) ** CANADA. GORD SINCLAIR, CANADIAN PIONEER BROADCASTER PASSES AWAY From http://www.cjad.com/cjad/www/ Gord Sinclair passes away at 74. MONTREAL, Posted 13 Jul 2002 11:39 AM -- CJAD 800 marks the passing of one of Canada's finest broadcasters Gord Sinclair. During a career that spanned more than 50 years, Gord touched the lives of countless Canadians. He has left an indelible mark not only on his listeners but also on his colleagues. Born January 26, 1928, Gord Sinclair's radio career began at CHVC Niagara Falls, Ontario June 1st, 1947. It was in 1982, that he joined CJAD 800. Gary Slaight, President and CEO of Standard Broadcasting Limited said: "It has been an honour having Gord Sinclair as part of our Standard family for 20 years. Our thoughts are with wife Linda, daughters Connie, Jennifer and Heather as well as their families." "Gord was a tireless Canadian and had an intimate knowledge of all corners of the country," said Rob Braide, Vice-President Standard Radio Montreal and General Manager of CJAD 800. "He will be sorely missed by Montreal, Quebec and all of Canada." He was clearly a special Canadian. Part of Gord's legacy is the Radio Television News Directors' Association Gord Sinclair Award for Special Events coverage. CJAD Deputy News Director Derek Conlon says "he was the kind of broadcaster we all aspire to be and his legacy lives on through that award in communities and Newsrooms across the country." "Gord Sinclair was an icon and a gentleman," said Rick Moffat, Program Director of CJAD 800. "Though so many of us admired him as somehow larger than life, he knew the listeners always mattered most. He was famous for stating his opinions openly and honestly, but he always gave Montrealers the last word." (via Mike Terry, Sheldon Harvey, DXLD) Gord Sinclair was the son of the legendary Gordon Sinclair of Toronto who passed away several years ago. Mr. Sinclair was, for several years, a mainstay at CFCF in Montreal except for a period when he was the owner of CFOX (C-FOX) in Vancouver. Returning to Montreal and his long-time home at CFCF, he eventually gave up trying to compete with CJAD and joined their staff! I was fortunate to hear his booming voice when visiting Montreal last summer. It was not at all a stretch to hear his father in that voice!! In all, in becoming one of this country's great radio personalities, Mr. Sinclair had an astounding 55-year career in the business. Between the Gordons, père et fils, there must have been at least a century of broadcasting and in keeping with the family tradition of on air talent, not to mention employment at Standard Broadcasting, his (the Gordon the Younger's) daughter is in the news department at CFRB. (Ori VA3ORI, LISTENING IN NOSTALGIA Columnist, Ontario DX Association, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CJAD'S GORD SINCLAIR DIES AT 74 ALAN HUSTAK Montreal Gazette Saturday, July 13, 2002 Gord Sinclair as a CFCF radio morning man around 1955 [caption] Gord Sinclair, CJAD's tough talking news director and a veteran Montreal broadcasting executive, died yesterday in the intensive-care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was 74. Mr. Sinclair was a familiar voice for the past two decades on the station's noon-hour news and public-affairs talk shows, Free For All and Feedback, where he cultivated a reputation as a cranky, reactionary tightwad with a common touch. He thrived on being contrary. "A lot of people had the impression that he was a loudmouth, big-C conservative, but that wasn't Gord at all," CJAD's acting news director Derek Conlon told The Gazette. "He was opinionated, yes. But he was also the kindest, most gentle, and most accepting person. He loved to argue, but he always accommodated other people's opinions. That was his strength as a broadcaster." Political commentator Graeme Decarie, who regularly faced off against Mr. Sinclair, said that for all their explosive on-air disagreements, they never once exchanged cross words off the air. "He had a broad streak of decency," Decarie said. "He was genuinely a conservative, as he appeared to be, but he was never thoughtless or unkind. He was always dead honest. He wasn't a hypocrite. He liked things open and up front." Gordon Arthur Sinclair was born in Toronto, Jan 26, 1928. His father was the flamboyant Toronto Star reporter, celebrity broadcaster and Front Page Challenge TV panelist, Allen Gordon Sinclair, who died in 1984. Father and son were never close. The elder Sinclair tried to prevent his son from going into the broadcasting business. "He was dead set against it, even violently," Mr. Sinclair once said. "He used to write to me regularly telling me to quit radio, that I would never amount to nuthin'." Mr. Sinclair, who refused to be called Junior, had no formal education beyond high school. While still in school he was a teenage correspondent for the Canadian High News, a local Toronto CBC radio program, and was seduced by the microphone. He ignored his father's advice and in 1947 started his professional broadcasting career in Niagara Falls, Ont. He worked for several radio stations, including CFNB in Fredericton, N.B., before he moved to Montreal in 1951 to get out from under his father's shadow. Mr. Sinclair joined CFCF radio and became that station's top-rated morning man until 1960 when he left to open his own radio station, CFOX, in Pointe Claire. He sold the operation in 1973 to Standard Broadcasting and returned to CFCF. He was lured to CJAD in 1982 to become news director. "Gord projected the image of tightfisted curmudgeon, but he treated everyone equally and he had populist sensibilities," said Rob Braide, the station's vice-president and general manager. "He was a hard-nosed boss who defended and stood behind his staff like no other news director I have ever met. He defended the autonomy and the editorial independence and integrity of his newsroom fiercely." Four years ago, to celebrate his 50th anniversary in broadcasting, Mr. Sinclair was honoured at a charity banquet at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel that raised $40,000 for the Montreal Association for the Blind. Mr. Sinclair never eclipsed his father's reputation but several years ago told a reporter that although he would never be famous as a household name, "I'm as rich as he was, and that counts for something." Mr. Sinclair was a diabetic most of his life and died of complications following a stroke he suffered on the Victoria Day weekend at the family summer home in Muskoka, Ont. He was twice married and has three daughters. There will be no religious funeral. Mr. Sinclair was a confirmed atheist, who stopped believing in God 60 years ago after the death at Christmas of his 11-year-old sister. CJAD will broadcast a memorial tribute today at noon. © Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) LONGTIME MONTREAL RADIO BROADCASTER GORD SINCLAIR DIES AT 74 MONTREAL (CP) - Montreal radio legend Gord Sinclair died Friday in hospital after a series of strokes. He was 74. Sinclair was a broadcaster for more than 55 years and was news director at CJAD Radio Montreal until his death. The all-news radio station planned a tribute broadcast Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. - Sinclair's regular slot. Sinclair was known for his unique, ad-lib- style newscasts and was also an editorialist and talk show host at the station. Broadcasting was in his blood. "I think Gord Sinclair has done a tremendous amount for our industry over the years," said Eldon Duchscher, a Saskatoon broadcaster and president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association of Canada, an organization that was dear to Sinclair. "He was a driving force behind the RTNDA. . .Anyone who has ever met Gord has a great story to tell. He was a helluva broadcaster. He knew a good story, and he knew how to tell it." Sinclair was the son of Gordon Sinclair - a long-time radio host at CFRB Toronto and panellist on TV's "Front Page Challenge." Gord Sinclair Jr. began his radio career in 1947 as a newscaster and disc jockey at Ontario radio stations in Niagara Falls, Oshawa and Hamilton. He moved to Montreal in 1951 to become the morning man for CFCF. By 1954 Sinclair's program was the top rated morning show in the city. In 1960, he and some associates started CFOX Montreal. He built it up to the number two station in the city but it was sold to Slaight Communications in the 1970s and he returned to CFCF in 1975. Sinclair became news director at CJAD in 1982, covering Quebec politics and other major stories such as the Oka crisis and the Ecole Polytechnique massacre. "I think he understood Quebec politics better than any other broadcaster in the city," a caller named Brian told CJAD on Friday evening. "Now there is no one to interpret it for us." CJAD's airwaves were flooded Friday by callers expressing their sense of loss and sorrow. "I'm very shook up over this; I've been calling for 21 years," said Lois of St-Sauveur, Que. "One thing I adored about him was that everything was very personal. There was never a call that went unanswered. . . . I never met him physically, but I knew him very well." Sinclair suffered from diabetes and was dependent on insulin his entire life. He was a strong supporter of many charities, including those for diabetes and its associated eye problems. Sinclair is survived by his wife, Linda, and three daughters, Connie, Jennifer and Heather. © The Canadian Press, 2002 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CANADA. TWO NEW APPLICATIONS IN THE EXPANDED BAND Application by SAN LORENZO LATIN AMERICAN COMMUNITY CENTRE for a licence to operate a non-commercial AM Type B community radio station to broadcast ethnic programming in Toronto. The new station would operate on frequency 1610 kHz with a transmitter power of 1,000 watts, day and night. By condition of licence, the applicant proposes to direct ethnic programming to a minimum of 4 cultural groups in a minimum of 4 different languages per broadcast week. The Commission will only proceed with this application at the public hearing if advised by the Department of Industry, at least ten days prior to the hearing, that it is technically acceptable. ------------------------------ Application by MAGIC 1610 MARKHAM RADIO (on behalf of a corporation to be incorporated) for a licence to operate an English-language AM commercial radio station in Markham. The new station would operate on frequency 1610 kHz with a daytime transmitter power of 10,000 watts and a night-time transmitter power of 5,000 watts. The applicant is proposing a station format consisting of local news, sports, business and community events. The applicant is proposing to broadcast, by condition of licence, a weekly maximum of 28% of ethnic programming. By condition of licence, the applicant proposes to direct programming to a minimum of 15 groups in a minimum of 8 different languages per broadcast week ---------------- 73 and Best of DX, (Shawn Axelrod, amfmtvdx via DXLD) The AMANDX DX Info Site including the Canadian DX, AM Slogans and Expanded Band Pages: http://www.angelfire.com/mb/amandx/index.html Markham, where? ** CHILE. 5674.7, unID LA. Our member Tore B. Vik/TBV has an unID on this frequency . TBV writes: "A new challenge for you - 5674.7 --- probably a religious station - ID "Voz Cristiana" --- heard relaying R. Manantial - Rivadavia - Argentina. What can this be?" BM: I have listened to this station both mornings and evenings but here there is nothing at or around this frequency. TBV says in a later mail that it comes in late, about 0220 UT and he also thinks it is a pretty northern station, for instance Central America. I have several times heard "Voz Cristiana" in Chile with co-transmission or relay of different Argentinian FM-stations. On behalf of our member Tore Larsson/TL at WRTH`s staff, I recently contacted Radio Filadelfia-1170 kHz in Guayaquil and got to know that within a month they will start up transmissions from Quito on the frequency of 780 kHz. By satellite they will have transmissions from "Voz Cristiana" in Florida. So I wonder: is there a connection between "Voz Cristiana" in Chile and Florida? TBV means it is not probable that it is a harmonic. But if we play a little with the thought. I have checked some of the possibilities and on the frequency of 17024.38 kHz there is a very weak signal with extremely faint audio so I can´t get the language. In theory it is 3 x 5674.79 = 17024.38 kHz. (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 14, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course there is a connexion between VC in Miami and Chile. The SW transmitters in Chile get their program feed from Miami, where the studios are. I expect that any other LAm stations relayed are also coördinated thru Miami. See next item for explanation (gh, DXLD) ** CHILE. I've been hearing this signal for a few months already on my old Sony 7600G, but wasn't sure if it was for real or not. I'm still hearing it on my Icom R75, so now I'm pretty sure it _is_ real. It seems that Voz Cristiana (from Chile) is putting out a spur on 5675 kHz at night, probably between 0000 and 1100 UTC. The spur on 5675 is the difference between 6070 and 11745 kHz, the frequencies used for the overnight Spanish service to South America. The signal isn't very strong, but should still be audible for anybody with a good antenna. After tweaking the passband a bit I'm getting SIO 244. I'm listening with an Icom R75 and a 15 meter T2FD, from the city of Curitiba in the south of Brazil. regards, (Rik van Riel, harmonics yahoogroups via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Colombian on 6064.5 to resume broadcasting on 6060. Russ Stendal tells me that the new crystal has arrived and that the station is due back on the air some time next week (week 29). Their new canned ID will be as follows: "La Voz de tu Conciencia, 6060 kHz en onda corta. Transmitimos nuestra señal desde Lomalinda, Colombia, para el mundo. Una emisora del Sistema Alcaraván Radio." (Please note that it says "tu", instead of "su" or 'la". Also please note that in their ID there is no mention of "emisión de prueba", test transmission). Programming is actually not religious. Instead it is "philosophical" in nature, not aimed at any particular combatant factions, but rather to all of them (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO. 5985, 11.7 1900, Radio Congo very good in English; 1915 French. QSA 4 (Jan Edh, Hudiksvall, Sweden, SW Bulletin July 14, translated by gh for DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. The Chesky Rozhlas program schedule shows that the CRo 6 network indeed closes down already at 2000 now but still includes some broadcasts of RFE (RSE); see http://www.rozhlas.cz/program/ (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. My little shack, or "la cabina" as we say here, is soaking wet from ceramic plates, cement and stones. The reason is, for the first time (!!) during my 40 years as a DX-er, I have finally decided to fix a decent earth connection. I contacted the local electric power supplier here in Quito. They arranged for one of their engineers to take care of this work. It turned out that it was not suitable to attach the 1.8 metre long earth stake of copper, 16 mm in diameter, outside the house as the earth wire to my radio should be too long. More than 2-3 meter earth link will not work too well. My wife was deathly pale in her face when I explained that we probably had to take up a "hole" inside my radio shack. It turned out to be really difficult; the engineer worked hard 2-3 hours yesterday and will continue later today - he says it is difficult but it will work out to fix a good earth to my radio with the earth stake of copper together with a cable of roughly 1 metre, 8 mm in diameter. There are also some changes above earth. As you know I have used a 24 metre "L"-antenna coupled via a "magnetic longwire balun". Now I have erected another antenna, a straight 12-metre. The point where those two, the 24 metre and the 12 metre, meet is coupled to the balun and from there with coax down to my radio. This type is called "T"-antenna and is clearly better than my old antenna. It will be very exciting to return to Quito later this autumn to check out the result of a new antenna and a good earth connection. /BM (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 15, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) see CHILE, PERU, UNIDENTIFIED ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 12110, Dejen Radio, audible here July 13th 1715 tune in with commentary, recheck 1750 commentary with mention of "democratia" and "Tigrina" cut off mid sentence 1800 for 1 minute of incidental music and off 1802 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Via Samara, Russia (Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. Netsanet Le Ethiopia, Amharic Natanat Lediopyan Radio. Freedom Radio 1700-1800 Wed, Sun 12110 SAM Radio Sagalee Oromia, Oromo 1730-1800 Mon, Thu, Fri? 12110 SAM Dejen Radio, Tigrina 1700-1800 Sat 12110 SAM = Samara Russia. (BC-DX via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. There are different points of view about the location of mysterious transmitter operating now on 9489.8 kHz. Around 10 years ago during the battles between Georgia and Abkhazia in 41 mb. Later on changed to 9365 and 9510 etc., till now finally on 9489.8 kHz. Here are now some conclusions: 1 - The tx is not officially registered either in Russia, or in Georgia/Abkhazia. 2 - It is strange the tx carried out the programs of four stations (feat Sochi, Kuban, Rossii, Abkhazia). 3 - In the local evening on 9490 kHz there are often two txs, - one officially registered by Russia (on 9490) with R Rossii program and another on 9489.8 also with R Rossii progr, both with rumbled sound. 4 - The two txs are owned by two different administrations, one by official, and another clandestine, secret etc. 5 - The 50s-80s Soviet jammers were operated on non-exact frequencies, usually +/- 0.2 kHz off nominal freq. 6 - Who is supporting Abkhazia (already almost for a decade) to be separate from Georgia? I remember at the end of November 2001, when I heard about typhoon in the area of Sochi-Krasnodar, and I tuned to 9490 & 1350 kHz. At 2045- 2100 on 1350 there was a transmission from Sukhumi on 1350, but no signal on 9490, as usually latter on air at 1400-1800. On the next morning there was a broadcast on 9490, but only from studio in Krasnodar (not from Abkhazia or Sochi). After live phone interviews on the air, the speaker of R Kuban said, that in Sochi there is no electricity, but they located in Krasnodar are waiting to get such of from Abkhazia. I guess that means the transmitter is located near Krasnodar and not Sukhum or Sochi (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jul 4 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. 6140 0600-1900 27,28 175 (ex130) degrees, 240602-271002 DW English: A very bad result, poor signal of DW in English 0600-1900 UT on 6140 kHz via DTK Juelich. After changing the azimuth since June 24. 1727-1830 heard here VIRI Iran in Russian, plus an Arabic speaking station on July 3rd (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jul 3 via DXLD) ** HAITI. RÁDIO 4VEH HAITI: Em resposta a Caio Fernandes Lopes, o Diretor Jason do serviço em inglês da FM Horizon deu as seguintes explicações sobre as atividades da Rádio 4VEH. - Atualmente, Radio 4VERH é ouvida em 840 kHz e em 94.7 MHz, Horizon FM. Nossas transmissões são realizadas em francê, creole e inglês. Rádio 4VEH é ainda proprietária de um freqüência em ondas curtas, mas infelizmente nós não temos o transmissor capaz de transmitir neste modo. Nossos planos agora é cobrir todo o Haiti com as Boas Novas de Jesus Cristo através de nosso serviço Francês/Creole em AM 840. Temos planos também de criar uma rêde via Satélite para atingirmos todos os "cantos"do Haiti em parceria com outras estações cristãs locais que queiram retransmitir nossos programas. Em um futuro próximo, nós esperamos tornar este serviço disponível na Internet para que pessoas no mundo inteiro possam desfrutar a programação da 4VRH. Para maiores informações sobre a rêde via Satélite: http://www.sonnysolar.com/sat_info.htm Jason, Horizon 94.7 English Director, 4VEH webmaster, http://www.radio4veh.org (@tividade DX July 13 via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5010, AIR Thiruvananthapuram (presumed), 0050 Jul 14, Subcontinental music with female singer. Various announcements, but I did not get an ID. Fair signal strength. Nice grayline path, relatively low lightning static and quiet geomagnetic field conditions made for decent reception (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. The full schedule of AIR Bangalore on 9425 kHz with 500 kw Home Service (Hindi & English)is: 0128-0530, 0930-1235, 1320-0042 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Hyderabad 500082, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3231.89, RRI Bukittinggi is active again, first day on the air June 28th, from tune in at 1140 to past 1330 UT. At the top of the hour they relay RRI Jakarta news, popular music, Dangut music, fine modulation!! Moderate signal strength. On the next day June 29th, the station came on air at 1145 UT, no ID at s-on, playing popular music. So I hope, they are now on air regularly! Last heard in March 2001 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, BC- DX July 15 via DXLD) 3117.30 RSPDT2 Halmahera Tengha, 1200-1335 UT June 28, very disturbed modulation, weak signal (Roland Schulze, Philippines, BC-DX July 15 via DXLD) 4606.4, RRI Serui, 1306 July 8. Noted as reactivation with Jakarta news in \\ with RRI Ujung Padang (4753.3) and RRI Jambi (4925). Not heard for some time. Signal was weak compared to the other two Indos. Best in LSB as ute is above (Don Nelson, OR, DXplorer July 8 via BC-DX via DXLD) 4606.4, RRI Serui 1234-1245* July 11. Presumed with lite music, no announcements. Suddenly left the air, carrier and all, about 1245 UT. Rather weak signal here (John Wilkins, CO, DXplorer Jul 11 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. MUSEUM SHIP SPECIAL EVENT Remember this special event takes place next weekend (July 20-21st), and is sponsored by the USS Salem Radio Club (K1USN). Over 70 Museum Ships and Submarines are taking part Worldwide. The Museum Ship Special Event is the opportunity for you to work Warships, Submarines and various Motor Vessels from W.W.II and earlier (USA, Russian, German U-Boats, Canadian, British and more......). ADDED NOTE: Look for the K1USN to be active from the USS Salem. QSLs via K1RV (Please with a Business Size SASE). Certificate for working 10 or more Museum Ships requires your log listing the ships/callsigns and a 9" x 12" SASE sent to KC1XI. The K1USN Web page for a list of Museum Ships and operating frequencies can be found at: http://www.qsl.net/k1usn/event.html (KB8NW/OPDX July 15/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** IRAQ. A terrible audio and a very [un?]pleasent time to listen to Baghdad in German 0200-0230, 0230- English program, both on 11787 kHz. (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jul 4 via Wolfgang Bueschel July 13, DXLD) ** KASHMIR. RADIO BHADARWAH GOES ON AIR IN KASHMIR TO COUNTER PAKISTANI PROPAGANDA | Text of report by Indian news agency PTI Jammu, 13 July: With an aim to counter Pakistani propaganda in Doda area in Jammu and Kashmir, a radio station was commissioned at Bhadarwah on Saturday [13 July]. With a range of nearly 30 km, Radio Kashmir (Bhadarwah) would be initially run by signal staff of three army, a defence spokesman told PTI here. The station would run programmes from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.(1030 to 1630 gmt) every day and some of them will be in Bhadarwahi language, he said. The radio station would expose Pakistani propaganda regarding security forces, project Bhadarwah as tourist destination and give boost to cultural and traditional heritage of the region, the spokesman said. The Bhadarwah radio station was set up in 1993, but due to militancy, it was not made operational. Now that army took a lead to man it, the station became operational from Saturday, he said. Source: PTI news agency, New Delhi, in English 1519 gmt 13 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CENTRE ALLOTS RS 74 CRORE TO COUNTER PAK MEDIA PROPAGANDA KT NEWS SERVICE BHADERWAH, July 13: To counter ongoing propaganda by Pakistani electronic media, Union Government has sanctioned 74 crores for establishing 12 radio stations in different parts of the state, said Union state minister for Defence, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta here today during the commissioning of AIR station Bhaderwah. Dedicating this station to the nation, Union MoS for Defence Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta said that keeping in view the long pending demand of the public of District Doda, the moment ultimately reached when after 11 years of its completion, Bhaderwah radio station goes to the air today. He however, held the bureaucrats policy responsible for the delay of its commissioning. Prof. Gupta further said that besides, countering the Pak sponsored propaganda, this station will go in a long way to highlight the ancient and peculiar culture of Bhaderwahi origin vis-à-vis will give the boost to the exploitation of tourism potential of this region, minister added saying that three more radio stations are under construction at Rajouri, Nowshera and Poonch in Jammu province and an amount of Rs 74 crores has already been earmarked for the installation of 12 AIR stations in the state. While appreciating the role of Army who have been playing a key role in commissioning of these FM stations at Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua and Nowshera beside AIR Bhadarwah, Prof. Gupta alleged that that some Human Right Agencies keep banging about the violation by the army, but keep mum about the atrocities committed by militants, he said. While supporting the legitimacy of Governor's rule in the state prior to assembly polls, Gupta said that there is separate policy, with the government of India to ensure free and fair polls in the state perhaps for the first time, beside ample financial and economical packages for the state. It is mentionable here that AIR Bhaderwah which goes to air today at 10 hours. 51 minutes and 20 seconds, will cover a population of 3 lakhs and can be heard at a frequency of 101 MHz from 4 PM to 10 PM daily at its first stage and within three months shall start its own production and will be down linked to Jammu, Srinagar and Delhi AIR station. This was disclosed by Chief Engineer AIR Delhi, Mr Ganshyam Singh, while giving a resume of the station. Prominent dignitaries who were present in the commissioning ceremony include Lt. Gen. JBS Yadav (GOC-16 Corps), GoC-Delta Force, Brig. Pardeep Saini (Cdr. 4-Sector RR), Daya Krishan Kotwal (President State BJP) and Dr Jatinder Udhampuri (Station Director AIR Jammu). {WTFK??} (Source : Kashmir Times) (via Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. The following is a link to the unofficial website of the Voice of Korea: http://www.hikoryo.com/ser/vok.htm The site is apparently hosted in China and is part of a larger website devoted to North Korea. Listeners to its Mandarin broadcast may also email reports via this link http://www.hikoryo.com/200207/research.htm (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX July 12 via DXLD) Seems to me R. Pyongyang used to have an (unofficial?) site hosted by sympathizers in Japan (gh, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Clandestine stations observed recently: 1620-1630* 3985 V of Iranian Kurdistan, back on air. *1625-1755* 3930, 4605, 6800 V of Komala. *1627-1733* new time ex1600-1700, 3880, 4380 V of Communist [Party] of Iran. 1610-1728* 4240 V of (?Schachmasati?) Kurdistan. 1620-1655* 4260 V of Iranian Kurdistan (different program to 3985, see ABOVE. 1620-1659* and 1845-1930 4130 R Kurdistan. 1650-1657* 4170 unID in Arabic. *1700-1850* 7070 V of Mojahed 2nd program, back on the air. (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, BC-DX Jul 2 via DXLD) ** LATVIA. It`s definite, Laser Radio tests from here; see UK [non] ** LUXEMBOURG. 6090, the difference in reception at various locations is quite remarkable, I think. Does this indicate that the omnidirectional antenna used is actually more directional to some areas than others? Or is it all down to propagation? I listened at various times during the day, and the signal was weakest for an hour or two around 1200 UT. But never below S9 - and BR 6085 had also gone down then too, so allowing virtually QRM free reception. The strongest signal noted was around 1900 when peaking over S9 +30 dB. No co-channel was audible, but splash from 6085 was obvious, even on the narrowest of my three bandwidths (NRD-525). As said in my previous, the main "problem" was phase-distortion? - i.e., fading + distortion. I was impressed at the quality of transmission from these long silent transmitters - maybe not perfect, but still very good, I thought (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jul 12 via DXLD) The test of R Luxemburg on 6090 kHz around 1800 on July 10 was heard here in Kyiv, Ukraine, worse than I had assumed. Signal strength was 2...3 with a moderate fading - weaker than Bayerischer Rundfunk on 6085 kHz. There were moderate interference in the channel (maybe from BBC in Persian) and splashes from BR. Pop-music from the 60-s...70-s. To avoid 5 kHz interference from the adjacent stations, I simply use a special precise homemade notch filter in AF part of the receiver (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, WWDXC BC-DX July 11 via DXLD) Good morning. We will gradually increase modulation as the transmitters will warm up. Optimod is in use. 2 x 250 kW Telefunkens, Turnstyle antenna, horizontal [cross] dipole 0.4 Lambda above ground level, vertical lobe of 35 degrees, like fountain antenna towards Central Europe in daytime ! Some hundreds of reception reports received from New Zealand, Brazil, USA, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Yugoslavia, France, Belgium, Germany, and Norway, to mention a few. Vielen Dank fuer Ihre wertvolle Mitarbeit. Zum Sender: 2 Telefunkensender von je 250 kW Traegerleistung auf Turnstyleantenne (Horizontaler Kreuzdipol 0.4 lambda ueber Boden) Vertikaler Abstrahlwinkel ca. 35 degr ausgelegt fuer Versorgung von Mitteleuropa im Tagesbereich. Wir planen den Sender mittelfristig auf digitale Modulation (DRM http://www.drm.org umzuruesten. Es werden noch weitere Tests folgen, vielleicht auch analoger Regelbetrieb zu bestimmten Tageszeiten. Many thanks for your contribution Eugene Muller Broadcasting Center Europe S.A an RTL Group company Tel: +352 42142 7703 Fax: +352 42142 7709 e-mail: eugene_muller@bce.lu http://www.bce.lu (July 10) Auf meine Frage, wieviele RR woher auf die BCE-RTL-Testsendung gekommen sind, gab Eugene Muller folgende Antwort: Lieber Herr Gerhard, Vielen Dank fuer ihre wertvolle Mitarbeit in unserem Test. QSL wird ihnen zugesandt durch RTL Radio http://www.rtlradio.de Die Zahl der Empfangsberichte ist im Momemt noch nicht abzusehen, es sind mehrere Hunderte! Neuseeland, Brasilien, USA, Finnland, Schweden, Spanien, Portugal, Italien, Jugoslawien, Frankreich, Belgien, Deutschland, Norwegen, um einige zu nennen. Es gab schon eine beachtliche Resonanz. Mit den besten Gruessen, Eugene Muller. (Spitzenwert hier in FrankfurtM war abends mit S 9 +50 dB --- Siegbert Gerhard, A-DX July 11, via BC-DX via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. 7245, R Mauritanie, Nouakchott, this time noted on a Friday, viz. at 1436-1528 airing talks in vernacular, rated at 15342, but also heard today 14 July about mid morning via the K9AY loop (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jul 5/14 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 4670, XERTA (presumed), 1029, Distorted audio, only readable in FM mode. Heard rap song then, Latin pop. ID in SS, but I don't speak the language, so only presumed to be XERTA, which has been logged around here in the recent past. Strong signal (David Hodgson, TN, July 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Sign-on time of 3290 varies widely; sometimes 2030, 2015, or today UT July at already on at 2000, just music, no ID heard (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 2410, R Enga, 1044 Jul 14, Very nice signal strength, but poor audio level. Sounded like some kind of children's theatrical production, but mic placement/level was poor (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4531.98/ 4536.41 Radio Cielo, Chiclayo, el departamento de Lambayeque. 2320 UT. After the Japanese DXer TIN visited Chiclayo in the beginning of this year I have noted Radio Cielo occasionally up to July 5 and July 10 operating respectively on 4531.98 and 4536.41 kHz. After a long time of listening at different frequencies I think the QTH of the station is Chiclayo. I read with a big laugh what TIN writes --- this pirate is run by Sr. Cielo Salazar in Chiclayo who is both a radio technician and a policeman(!!). Thanks Takayuki! (See SWB 1479 via Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, Japan, DSWCI DX Window Feb 13 via DXLD). Now also Radio Santa Rosa has its own little QTH! 5122.17, Radio Santa Rosa, el distrito de Tabaconas, la provincia de San Ignacio, el departamento de Cajamarca. July 6 2002 - 2320 UT. I feel very satisfied and happy when I finally after more than a month of listening managed to catch a QTH for this "Radio Santa Rosa" with unknown QTH --- logged for the first time May 28 and was listed in SWB 1486. Even if you speak good Spanish it is often difficult to catch the QTH given by the DJ, this due to lousy signal, weak modulation, bad microphone, etc. I recommend everyone to visit "Ventanaperú" (see SWB 1459) --- you seldom need to go down to the level "caseríos"; mostly it is enough to go to "distritos" which can be found in this excellent site. To have the geographical names in front of you when you listen to the tape recording is of enormous help to get an ID. Gave the address: "Radio Santa Rosa, Avenida Huancabamba s/n, Tabaconas". (s/n means "sin número"/without number). Info from "Ventanaperú": Provincia de San Ignacio, cuya capital es San Ignacio. Sus distritos son: Chirinos, Huarango, La Coipa, Namballe, San Ignacio, San José de Lourdes, Tabaconas; con una población total de 111,070 hab. 9674.79, Radio Pacífico, Lima. July 2002 - 2200 UT. Two female DJs in the program "La voz de los chicos". ID: "Radio Pacífico, LV evangélica del pueblo peruano en su frecuencia de 640 AM". Gave telephone number as : 4 33 19 14. 73 from BM (Björn Malm) in Quito! bjornmalm@yahoo.es (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 14, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. Radio Maryja verifies my RR after 272 days with a full detailed QSL-letter, stationsinfo, card and sticker. v/s Malgorzata Zaniewska Radio Maryja, ul. Zwirki i Wigury 80, 87-100 Torun, Poland http://www.radiomaryja.pl e-mail: radio@radiomaryja.pl (Klaus-Peter Hilger, Germany, BC-DX Jul 14 via DXLD) freq time zones tx kW degr date 7380 1700-1830 28 ARM 250 290 010902-271002 S-02 7380 1830-2200 28 SAM 250 285 310302-271002 A-02 12010 1500-1700 27,28,37 SAM 240 285 010902-271002 S-02 12010 1500-1830 27,28,37 ARM 240 290 310302-010902 Z-02 15455 0500-0800 27,28,37 ARM 250 290 310302-271002 A-02 (hfcc via BC-DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Audio quality on new 300 kW Thales transmission. I managed to monitor 13640 (new 300 kW Thales unit of RDP) yesterday, and could rate that outlet at fine! audio, compared to rather disturbed audio fed on remaining RDP outlets on 12020, 17, and 21 MHz. Mon-Fri: 0500-0755 9840, 0800-1200 11960, 1600-1900 15525 Sat+Sun: 0700-1345 13640, 1400-2000 15555 (wb, df5sx, Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, BC-DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Glenn, I didn't see the results of the Tchaikovsky Competition last month, so I found this from the BBC website: Monday, 24 June, 2002, 16:55 GMT 17:55 UK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Gala concert ends Tchaikovsky contest Russia's prestigious Tchaikovsky music competition finished on Sunday with a gala concert attended by President Vladimir Putin. The international contest, held every four years since its launch in 1958, featured 244 young musicians from 34 countries. Among the winners was Chinese violinist Chen Si, whose shoulder was injured by Moscow rioters after Russia's loss to Japan in the World Cup. The 9 June riot left two people dead and caused widespread damage to the centre of the Russian capital. Ayako Uehara of Japan took first prize in the piano category, and was praised by Russian conductor Mark Gorenshtein for her "feel for Russian music", Russia's ORT television reported. [end] I think that VoR has concluded their series on the competition Tues 0630 (Ivan Grishin, Ont., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, UNAMSIL (presumed) 0535-0545 July 7. Just audible on signal peaks in severe atmospheric noise and fading. Heard light rock music, also male and female voices. I believe the male voice was that of the announcer. First time monitored here. Definitely there, but very difficult copy. SINPO 24222 on the peaks (Jim Evans, TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Received the following message from R Veritas. ***************************************************** Thanks for your email. Amazing that we can be heard even in India! We broadcast on shortwave on the 41 metre band (7.24 MHz) from 12h00 - 13h00 and then on the 90 metre band (3.28 MHz) from 18h00 - 21h00. This is local time. I don't know what it would be in your time zone. Do you hear us clearly? We are a Catholic radio station and broadcast the mass at 12h00. In the evening we have a youth programme from 18h00 - 18h30; and news programme from 18h30 - 19h30 - national, international and Catholic news from Vatican radio and then from 19h30 to 21h00 I usually interview a bishop or church leader or leader of another faith community. So ours is a mere four hours at present until we can afford more. On Wednesday evening we have an apologetics programme where we answer questions of callers about the Catholic faith. On Saturdays we have a kiddies programme and a half hour programme by the Lebanese community. So it all variety and we are trying to play our part as Catholics in the re-construction and development of our country as seen through our Catholic perspective. Hope this is helpful. I wish you many hours of listening and hope you receive us clearly to some extent. Yours sincerely, Fr Emil Emil Blaser OP, PO Box 134, 2110 Mondeor (011) 680-4611 residence (011) 433-0913 fax residence (011) 624-2516/7 Radio Veritas (011) 614-7711 fax Radio Veritas 083 325-1719 eblaser@iafrica.com ************************************************************ Regards, (via Swopan Chakroborty (Mr) 2/171/B Sree Colony P.O. Regent Estate Kolkata - 700 092 (Calcutta) India Dial : +91 33 4141222 Email : swopan@vsnl.net July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. 9970, Radio Sri Lanka, 0034-0058 Jul 8, male announcer with English talk, TC and ID ("7 past 6 … You are listening to Radio Sri Lanka"), followed by a program of greetings and musical requests. Fair to good with \\ 15425 poor to fair (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) That would be a new frequency; unusual for them to be so out of band (gh) ** U K [non]. Laser tests on 5935: the signal is reasonable now (1800 UT) but up till 1730 it had suffered severe splatter ex 5930, rendering it virtually useless on an ` ordinary` receiver... (``jrservs``, BDXC-UK Jul 13 via DXLD) I have constant music here now at 1900 UT with the occasional Caroline Loving Awareness jingle. The Dutch transmitter on 5930 is not on air at present. Regards (Andy Cadier, Nr Dover UK, ibid.) Excellent signal on clear channel here. Note the website is now confirming the broadcasts are coming from the 100kw transmitter at Ulbroka in Latvia (Mike Barraclough, UK, BDXC-UK, July 13 ``2:20 pm``) BROADCASTING ON 5935 KHZ SHORTWAVE News Update The Transmitter is currently ON-AIR and we will continue until 22h00 UTC this evening. There will be some breaks in transmission as the antenna and transmitter are adjusted. Don't forget you can participate and also submit your programme ideas by joining our discussion group. Click here to visit the laserradio discussion group The Laser Radio group is experimenting with high-powered shortwave transmissions beamed into the Uk and Europe. An hour-by-hour cross- country analysis of signal strength and viability with be conducted during all of our test broadcasts. The confirmed dates for our broadcasts on 5935 Khz are : Saturday July 13 - 14h00 UTC to 22h00 UTC Sunday July 14 - 14h00 UTC to 22h00 UTC Sunday July 21 - 14h00 UTC to 22h00 UTC Sunday July 28 - 14h00 UTC to 22h00 UTC If you can hear the broadcast please send a reception report. Your reception reports will help us decide whether to continue broadcasting beyond July on 5935 Khz. Our broadcasts on 5935 Khz originate from Ulbroka in the Republic of Latvia. This week`s tests are intended to include music from a number of different styles, and to spice things up rare jingles from Caroline and RNI will feature alongside short extracts of offshore programming. This is to set the tone for the future broadcasts. When regular operations commence, the plan is to provide a full 'anorak' service for 'radio and technology enthusiasts who love good music'. (from http://www.laserradio.net July 13 2053 UT via Mike Barraclough, Mike Terry, DXLD) LATVIA. 5935, Laser Radio, 1845 July 13, Excellent signal on clear channel with back to back music, Radio Caroline Loving Awareness jingle 1900. Last week`s test transmissions did not take place. Website http://www.laserradio.net gives this information on the test transmissions, nothing about sending dollars or euros for QSL cards now [as above, plus:]: Contact Us LaserRadio.net BCM Aquarius London WC1N 3XX England Text (SMS) Messages: +447904259243 Voicemail: 00447904259243; (within UK 07904259243) (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, July 13th) If you have a shortwave receiver give this a listen now as its a strong signal here in Bournemouth at 9.35 pm. Apparently it`s a 100kw transmitter at Ulbroka in Latvia. Now they are playing "The Loveship" track in full, well known of course to Caroline listeners as a jingle. I believe they are also playing the occasional Caroline Loving Awareness jingle. Now the "remember this golden classic" jingle followed by "Here it comes again" by the Fortunes. Now (9.38) Thunderclap Newman, it all good stuff... Anyone know their email address? Do they qsl? (Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Later: I wanted one but not for £2! From http://www.laserradio.net/qsl.htm QSL Card Reception Confirmation LaserRadio.net will acknowledge reception reports for our shortwave broadcasts with our special 'first year' QSL card. Only 2002 of these numbered QSL cards will be produced. We ask those requiring a LaserRadio.net QSL card to please make a contribution of £2 or 3 Euro or $3 toward the cost of preparing and posting requested QSL cards. Payment can be made by British Postal Orders or cash. LATVIA. 5935, Laser Hot Hits, 2120 July 13, presume the one with soft English pops, e.g. Mary Hopkins, Peter Sarstedt. ID after laser sound- effects as "5-5-8" at 2135. Poor-fair signal suffering QRM from Xizang (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I caught just a wee bit of audio between 2150 and 2200. Later a on a weaker signal seems to have replaced the other stronger one on 5935. in between 2150 and 2155 it seemed as though two guys were talking to each other, that was about it, right on the noise floor here. Might have been nice to be farther east this afternoon (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, via Mike Terry, DXLD) Had we already received a confirmation that the Laser Radio transmissions on 5935 originates from Latvia? If not, http://laserradio.net/ includes this statement now, alongside with an announcement of further transmissions for the next two Sundays, both 1400-2200. Right now Ulbroka comes in quite well on 5935 here. The modulation problems of the old Sneg rig were evidently fixed in the meantime, the audio is good and clean now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, 1852 GMT July 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, just monitored Laser Radio around 1940 UT, 5935 outlet like a 100 kW signal - S=9 +10 dB, equal to/from Rome (5970) and Prague (5930), but for example Rimavska 250 kW on 5920 is much stronger like S=9 +40 dB. Audio is/was much better[!] than any outlets heard before via Ulbroka transmitter (wb df5sx, Wolfgang Bueschel, July 14? BC-DX via DXLD) I assume it's Laser I'm hearing on 5935. I managed a very quick check today July 13 c1610 when the signal was S5 to 7 and have now tuned again at 1840 and find the signal is peaking to 9+20dB's with splash from equal level 5930. As yet, no annt has been heard - just continuous oldies. It's been a long time since last I heard Riga, but this is a very good signal if from there. The signal is very "Luxembourg" type with continuous 'fading' and distortion - and audio quality is also somewhat distorted as well. That could, I suppose, be due to the audio link or transmitter. ID heard at 1900 in a vocal version as Laser 558. I wonder what it's like north and south of my location? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX, via DXLD) ** U S A. 13 x 2 = Bleah! I caught local WNET-TV PBS 13 fooling around with (I assume) their primary and auxiliary transmitters early Sunday morning around 4 am. They had both if them on at the same time creating a very odd beat. The beat between transmitters appeared to be varying in frequency. Also, the transmitters seemed to be upstaging one another in signal strength. One would be dominant, then the other would overtake the first. They were, of course, way out of time with each other creating complete crosshatches throughout. An interesting thing to witness. You would think that a station's main and aux would be extraordinarily close in frequency and stable. You would also think there would be a system in place to prevent more than one being on the air at once. Broadcast engineering has really changed its tone since I was a kid. It used to be so formal and by the book. Now it's a lot like listening to amateur radio on off hours where kooks are tuning up and experimenting on the air when no one is listening. There is an invention called a dummy load. It's supposed to prevent dummies from getting on the air with their experiments, hence the name, right? On another note, the head of Sony Broadcast America, Ed Grebow, is said to be leaving Sony to head the broadcaster's consortium promoting the discovery of a new site for a master antenna for the NYC area. Why someone in this important position would want to take on such a challenging and potentially thankless job is a mystery to me. Ed has also worked for CBS and Chyron Corporation (the character generator people). The two sites now being proposed are Governor's Island and a site in (I think) Jersey City, NJ. It seems no one wants any part of the new tower structure. NYC mayor Bloomberg has nixed every concept so far. The only HDTV presence noted here are Fox on 44 and CBS on 56. The PBS 61 outlet barely makes it to my office about 25 blocks from the transmitter site. LOL. I recently saw a demo of a DirecTV feed of HDNet in a store. When motion artifacts are apparent in high definition, noise reduction becomes a very necessary ingredient. Nothing like very distinct blurry pixels. Boy, this technology still has a long long way to go. You simply need much more bandwidth or a very clever algorithm (or both) to make this fly right. I also found it ridiculous that HDNet fills large holes in their schedule with film to HD transfers of old TV shows like Hogan's Heroes. I really like NTSC more and more. It works and is relatively simple. CUAGN soon es 73 de (N2KZ, Karl Zuk, NY, July 14, WTFDA via DXLD) About a new master antenna site for NYC TV and FM, has anyone noticed that in public hearings and in the latest poll, 50% or more of the people feel the WTC towers should be rebuilt? I thought that was a dead subject but it still might happen. And there is also a proposal to build a new 110 (or so) story tower but it would be vacant from the 60th floor to the top!!!! I also understood the Mayor Bloomburg basically killed the Governor's Island tower site....raised enough questions about it to keep lawyers in court for 20 years if someone did want to go forward with it (Joe Fela, NJ, ibid.) ** U S A. KGO-AM 810 KHZ BATTLES SAME FREQUENCY WITH KTBI-AM The following was sent by a fellow SWL to: feedback@kgoam810.com : "On the evening of July 12, 2002, while driving from San Francisco back to Sacramento via Tracy and Stockton, I was listening to the Bernie Ward show but had much difficulty due to interference from a religious station in the state of Washington (KTBI). From Castro Valley through Pleasanton it was almost impossible to comfortably listen about 10:30pm to 11:00pm, PDT. As the KGO signal would take selective fades, KTBI would completely take over. When the KGO signal was good I could still hear KTBI underneath. This persisted all the way up Interstate 5 to Sacramento. Upon arriving at home at about 1am PDT the next morning, I tuned in KGO 810 on my Yaesu FRG-100 with a loop antenna. I was able to phase KGO out and the interfering station (KTBI) in. "The latest information indicates KTBI in Ephrata, WA., runs 50 kW daytime and 23 kW nighttime. In the recent past, they were 50 kW daytime only. It is obvious they are now on 24 hours. You can inform announcer Bill Wattenberg to no longer identify KGO as the 50,000 watt clear channel voice up and down the west coast so long as KTBI continues its nighttime operation." (-- Matthew, N4DLA/6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. AWR new listeners letter address for European branch (ex Forlì Italy branch), from July 15th. AWR hat eine neue Anschrift fuer die Hoererpost: Adventist World Radio 39 Brendon Street London, W1H 5HD England or e-mail: letters@awr.org (via Johannes Carl Zeller, A-DX July 8 via BC-DX via DXLD) Empfangsberichte und QSL-Anforderungen ueber den Kurzwellenempfang der Sendungen von Adventist World R (AWR) sind ab 15. Juli 2002 an die neue Adresse in England zu senden. In einer Uebergangszeit bis 31. Juli 2002 werden ueber die alte Adresse in Forli/Italien eingehende Empfangsberichte noch dort bearbeitet. Spaeter eingehende werden nachgesandt. Inhaltliche oder technische Anfragen zu den deutschsprachigen Sendungen sind jederzeit willkommen und sollten direkt an das Studio gesendet werden: STIMME DER HOFFNUNG Am Elfengrund 66 D-64297 Darmstadt Deutschland Telefon ++49 (0) 6151 95 44-65 Fax ++49 (0) 6151 53 933-65 E-Mail: dxer@stimme-der-hoffnung.de KW-Empfangsberichte, die auf dieser Adresse eingehen, werden umgehend an die zustaendige Stelle weitergeleitet. Die Rundfunksendungen der STIMME DER HOFFNUNG, dem deutschsprachigen Programmanbieter von AWR werden unveraendert ab 31. Maerz 2002 bis voraussichtlich 26. Oktober 2002 nach bereits veroeffentlichtem Sommerplan ueber Kurzwelle, Satelliten und auf Abruf im Internet ausgestrahlt: Kurzwelle Moosbrunn (Oesterreich): 0700-0730 UT, 7230 kHz 41 mb 300 kW non-dir 1500-1530 UT, 7165 kHz 41 mb 300 kW non-dir Internet: http://www.radio.stimme-der-hoffnung.de Empfang der Radioprogrme im Internet auf Abruf! Jederzeit kann das Programm des aktuellen Tages oder eines der 29 vorhergehenden Tage abgerufen werden. Format: RealPlayer. Lothar Klepp, Technischer Hoererservice, A-DX July 8. (via BC-DX July 15 via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINE from RUSSIA to CAMBODIA. 15660, V. of Khmer Krom *1359-1459* July 9. M&W with talks, many mentions of Vietnam, more so than mentions of "Cambodia". Saw somewhere this was bcst in VT lang, but sounded more like Cambodian to me. Also, IDs seemed to be "Kampuchea Krom," rather than "Khmer Krom". Good signal at tune-in, but deteriorated somewhat after 1420 (John Wilkins, CO, Cumbre DX, via DXLD) It`s the other way round. It is not to Cambodia (and the Russian site is only incidental), but to ethnic Cambodians in southern Vietnam, and thus in Cambodian (gh, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]/SPAIN. 7460, New e-mail address for RNS (Radio Nacional Saharaui): rasdradio@yahoo.es (Rudolf Sonntag, Germany, A-DX Jul 5 via BC-DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 5064.77 Unid LA. June 28 2002 - 2345 UTC. Only heard this date with ads for something in "Santa Clara". Close down 0015 UTC. Cuba? (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin July 14, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NASB PARTICIPATES IN HFCC CONFERENCE IN BONN [by] Jeff White --- Radio Miami International The Gaestehaus Petersberg, a stately mansion atop a hill overlooking the scenic Rhine River just south of Bonn, Germany, was the site of the A02 High Frequency Coordination Conference (HFCC) February 4-8, 2002, sponsored by Deutsche Telekom. The Petersburg is an official guest house of the government of Germany for visiting foreign dignitaries, and also serves as a commercial hotel. Past guests have included the likes of Leonid Brezhnev, Bill Clinton and in December of 2001, the delegates to the United Nations Conference on Afghanistan, where Hamid Karzai was chosen as the interim leader of the country. So it was appropriate that this international guest house was the venue for the semi-annual HFCC-ASBU Conference, where shortwave frequency planners from around the world gathered. (``ASBU`` indicates that it was a joint meeting with the Arab States Broadcasting Union.) In fact, this HFCC Conference had a record number of participants -- something like 135. Approximately 80% of the world`s shortwave frequency usage is planned at the HFCC, in this case for the period from March 31-October 26, 2002. This was my second opportunity to represent the NASB at the HFCC Conference, the first time having been in Montreal in August of 2001. Twice each year, for four-and-a-half days, the world`s HF frequency planners get together at the HFCC Conference to plan their frequencies and negotiate deals to avoid interference and chaos on the shortwave bands. This time, the task was even more monumental since the terrorist acts of Sept. 11th had sparked a sudden increase of approximately 25% in shortwave transmissions (particularly to Afghanistan and the southwest Asian region), and a corresponding increase in frequency usage. Each day of the conference, new lists were produced -- hundreds of pages long -- of station broadcast schedules and ``collision lists,`` the latter of which show co- and adjacent-channel frequency usage by two or more stations at the same time to the same target areas which could result in mutual interference. In addition to many hours of hovering over laptop computers and conversing with frequency managers of other stations, there were some interesting seminars presented at the HFCC Conference. For example, Norbert Schall of Deutsche Welle spoke about a relatively low-cost remote monitoring system he has developed, and Merlin Communications presented a prototype receiver to pick up DRM digital shortwave transmissions. The five-star Hotel Petersberg was nestled in the woods in a rather isolated location that was conducive to the business at hand. But a short taxi or shuttle bus ride took delegates to the nearby town of Konigswinter, where many conference participants in fact stayed in alternate hotels, and where many others went for dinner at picturesque small restaurants along the Rhine River which served excellent local and international cuisine at very reasonable prices. On the Wednesday night of the conference, host Deutsche Telekom took the entire delegation by bus to the beautiful city of Cologne, a half hour away, for a lavish buffet and musical entertainment in a typical German beer hall just a few steps away from the famous Cologne Cathedral, drenched in green floodlights that amplified its majesty against the cold night sky. In addition to myself, NASB member station WEWN sent Terry Borders and Dennis Dempsey to observe the frequency coordination process. Their frequency manager, Stanley Leinwoll, normally attends the HFCC conferences, but was unable to attend this time. Also NASB member station KTWR had a representative, Jeff Lecureux, who was very active in the coordination activities for his own station. The Adventist World Radio and Far East Broadcasting delegations looked out for their stations on U.S. territory as well as their overseas stations. George McClintock of WWCR in Tennessee also attended the conference. In his opening remarks, HFCC Chairman Oldrich Cip thanked the NASB for its continuing assistance in gathering frequency requirement data from some of the major Latin American shortwave stations. Tom Polzin and Tom Lucey of the FCC`s International Bureau were on the scene in Bonn. This was the first time the FCC has sent two delegates to an HFCC conference, and the Commission will likely only send one delegate to future conferences. HFCC Chairman Oldrich Cip asked Tom Polzin and myself to meet with him to discuss the NASB`s future participation in the HFCC and its conferences. I explained that while we find it very beneficial to attend these conferences, financial realities may prevent us from attending some meetings due to their distance and costs. (For example, the next two meetings will be in Bangkok and South Africa.) For this reason and others, I explained that we prefer to remain a part of the FCC delegation, rather than seek separate membership status in the HFCC. Tom Polzin said that he welcomes the NASB`s participation in the FCC delegation to assist him since we have more detailed knowledge of the individual member stations and their technical characteristics and needs. Also, Tom pointed out that the FCC`s budget is very changeable, and at any moment it could decide not to send any more delegates to the HFCC conferences. Therefore, he thinks it is very prudent for the FCC-licensed stations to familiarize themselves with the frequency coordination process and make contacts, so that they could take over their own frequency coordination at a moment`s notice if this were to become necessary at any point in the future. As a result of our meeting, Oldrich Cip agreed to approach the HFCC Steering Board about the possibility of granting pass codes to the frequency managers of all FCC-licensed shortwave stations which would give them access to the private area of the HFCC website where tentative frequency requirements are posted approximately three weeks prior to each seasonal meeting. This would permit stations to identify potential collisions and come up with possible solutions even before the HFCC conferences, thus making everyone`s jobs a little easier. The Steering Board later approved this measure, and it is hoped the new system can be implemented very soon. Our presence in Bonn enabled us to solve several scheduling problems involving the privately-owned U.S. shortwave stations. For example, we were able to notify Doug Garlinger of LeSEA Broadcasting about a potential collision involving KWHR, which fortunately did not seem to be a problem. Doug e-mailed us a list of schedule changes that he had originally submitted in December, but for some reason did not appear in the updated HFCC list. We gave these to Tom Polzin, who got them into a revised list. However, Tom noticed a problem with a change of azimuth from Africa to Europe, which produced a co-channel collision with Radio Portugal. I e-mailed Doug to see if he preferred to look for an alternate frequency for that transmission, or if he preferred to leave the azimuth toward Africa and thus avoid the collision. He chose the latter course, and a collision was avoided. We were also able to notify member stations WTJC and KNLS about collisions indicated on the HFCC lists. Hans Johnson, the frequency manager of WINB -- a non-member of NASB at that time -- had submitted their A02 schedule to us before the conference, and I found that their new requirements were not on the HFCC list. Again, the correct requirements were given to Tom Polzin, and the next day they were in the updated HFCC list. However, careful checking revealed four WINB listings with incorrect start and stop dates, plus an extraneous listing that would have made it appear that WINB was listing ``wooden transmitters.`` These errors were pointed out to Tom, and they were duly corrected in the following day`s update. As a result of the assistance we provided WINB, Hans Johnson indicated that the station had decided to become a member of NASB. For frequency planning purposes, Tom Polzin of the FCC`s International Bureau explained that the use of out-of-band frequencies by FCC licensees has to be approved by an interagency governmental body. He provided us with a list of pre-approved out-of-band frequencies which we were authorized to make available to legitimate frequency managers of any NASB member station. This list will save a lot of time and possible frustration for our members. Both Adventist World Radio and independent frequency manager Bernd Friedewald approached us in Bonn to offer surplus transmitting equipment to members of NASB who might be looking for shortwave transmitters, antennas, etc. I asked them to submit the details to us by e-mail for inclusion in the NASB Newsletter. We were also approached by Walter Brodowsky of Deutsche Telekom regarding an agreement to broker airtime on their large shortwave station in Julich, Germany. Deutsche Telekom will be preparing a draft agreement for NASB`s review. Even if NASB as an entity decides not to pursue this type of commercial activity, some of our member stations may find it an attractive opportunity. Thursday, February 7, was a local festival in the Cologne area called Weiberfastnacht (the day before Carnival). According to tradition, women take over the local government at 11 minutes past 11 a.m., and they are authorized to literally cut the ties off of any man who dares to wear this item of apparel on this day. In keeping with the tradition, HFCC Chairman Oldrich Cip was temporarily deposed at 11:11 a.m. and replaced by Teresa Beatriz Abreu of Radio Portugal, who skillfully wielded a pair of scissors and cut off Oldrich`s tie and those of a few others who did not heed the warning. At the end of the day, Teresa was thanked for her leadership and Oldrich was replaced as Chairman, just in time for the Plenary Session of the Conference. It was announced that the next HFCC Conference will be August 26-30, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand, sponsored by Merlin Communications. July 19, 2002 is the deadline for submission of tentative requirements for the B02 broadcast season. HFCC delegates accepted the invitation of Rodgers Gamuti of Sentech to sponsor the February 2003 HFCC Conference in Sandton (near Johannesburg), South Africa. Independent frequency manager Ludo Maes of the well-known Transmitter Documentation Project (TDP) in Belgium was admitted as the newest member of the HFCC with a round of applause. And brief reports were presented by the heads of HFCC committees dealing with propagation and coordination software, a survey of antenna designs used by members worldwide, a monitoring group which will verify whether stations are actually on the air according to their coordinated schedules, and shortwave-related issues to be discussed at the 2003 World Administrative Radio Conference. Jan-Willem Drexhage of Radio Nederland explained a bit about Power Line Communications (PLC) -- a new system that will give very fast Internet connections to people in Europe, but will also interfere severely with shortwave listening. ``It`s very dangerous for our broadcasts,`` said Jan- Willem. (For more information on PLC, see the ``Projects/Links`` section of the HFCC web site: http://www.hfcc.org Finally, a few financial matters were discussed. The Bonn HFCC Conference wrapped up around mid-day on Friday, while many of the participants left throughout the day and on Saturday to return to their respective countries, in most cases much more confident about the clarity of their transmission schedules for the coming six months (July NASB Newsletter via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ANALYSIS: NET BALANCE Text of editorial analysis by Ian Piper and Martin Peters of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit Free internet culture The Internet's free and open culture may be on the way out with the likes of FT.com and US-based search engine Alta Vista, Yahoo, CNN and numerous newspapers all charging users. Online versions of existing newspapers were among the first to offer content, free of charge, to web-literate readers. The theory was that advertising revenue would far outweigh the minimal cost of providing the online service. The reality was that while users were inevitably happy to make use of the facilities, advertising failed to meet even the most pessimistic forecasts, and the sites were run at a loss. The online properties were perceived as a threat to their conventional counterparts, because it was anticipated that readers would remain online, deserting printed versions. The providers hope the customers are now hooked on their services and information and that enough of them will pay to continue when charges are introduced. This may be a dangerous path, for internet trends have been difficult to predict. Another idea, already being trailed, is to require registration before access to the main area of the site is permitted. This information can then be supplied to potential advertisers, anxious to target consumers effectively. Research has shown that few subscribers are lost when required to register, with some even recognizing the advantages of being sent advertisements tailored to their interests and needs. That print sales are trailing off as a result of information being made available online has proved to be unfounded. According to a recent report by media consultants Borrell and Associates, 76 per cent of online readers either live outside the papers' markets or continue to subscribe to the printed version. In a similar vein, Atlanta-based CNN has begun charging online subscribers for video content. Meanwhile, search engine Alta Vista has discontinued its free e-mail service, citing "business refocusing" and returning to its roots as a comprehensive search engine. If the current trend continues, newspapers, among others, offering free content online will be remembered as part of the Internet revolution's "golden era". Number of online papers now stable The rapid increase in the number of online editions has stabilized, with only 50 new titles launching web sites over the last year, bringing the total to around 3,000. Most sites have enjoyed significant growth in terms of visitors, with Lidove noviny in the Czech Republic claiming a 228 per cent increase. However, advertising has not kept pace, with many entities declaring no change or even a downturn in on-line revenue. Many are now feeling vulnerable, the World Association of Newspapers reported in May. In their report, Borrell and Associates believe the trend towards charging is a mistake in the long term. Only a handful of newspapers charge for their daily content, but up to 350 others are known to be considering such a move. Their report suggests rather than simply charge for hitherto free content, newspapers should create a value-added area within their web sites. Customized newsletters and archive material, both unavailable in the printed version, are two obvious areas deserving investigation. The BBC has announced that it is planning to allocate 10 per cent of its total budget to web site development by 2006. Along with many other international broadcasters, the BBC sees the Internet as playing a significant part in the future of programme and information delivery and is budgeting heavily for the continued development and exploitation of the net. While publicly funded organizations continue to provide free internet services, there is an underlying trend within the private sector to start making users pay for value-added services which were previously enjoyed for free. \ \ US online news consumption constant In the United States, online news consumption has remained constant, according to the Editor and Publisher web site. The biennial media survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre for People and the Press in Washington DC revealed that even though the Internet made universal access to news possible, the only people using the new media for news were those who had previously consumed old media. The Internet, the reports says, has not been able to live up to its expectations of becoming the dominant source of news media. The survey showed that 25 per cent of Americans seek online news three times a week, a figure just 2 per cent more than two years ago. Online spending and surfing in the US also remained flat for the week ending 30 June 2002. \ \ Japanese net growth continues Japan, the world's third largest economy, is experiencing a protracted recession. Its internet market continues to defy the country's general economic trends by maintaining growth, the Cisco IQ web site reported. Net sites are starting to take steps to protect their products and information by restricting external links to their sites. \ \ Links limited A Danish web site called Newsbooster was this week ordered to stop linking to 20 Danish newspapers without permission. The court ruled that the site was a competitor to the other newspapers and by linking to them they were compromising the value of the newspaper's advertisements, USA Today reported. Newsbooster is a paid subscription service which allows users to search for topics and receive lists of relevant news items via the web or e-mail. Newsbooster said it still had links to 4,480 international newspapers and thus far had received no complaints from those foreign publications. It seems that future internet development decisions will have to be based on sound audience research and customer information, not on marketing guesses or rumours. There is a real need for accurate data on which investment and development decisions can be based. Companies need hard facts and evidence. \ \ Standardized internet ratings - NZ-only An industry group representing many of New Zealand's major internet publishers, advertisers and advertising agencies recently announced a preferred supplier to deliver standardized internet ratings and audience measurement figures to the New Zealand online and advertising industries. The new standard incorporates web site traffic and audience measurement with demographic information on New Zealand net users. It will give web site owners and advertisers the ability to accurately compare one online property with another, as well as an understanding of the differences in demographic profiles between sites, the IDG.net.nz web site reported. \ \ Cyber-crime Another problem which existed before the modern Internet was even invented is the ever present threat of cyber crime and security breaches. Such issues undoubtedly put many users and potential customers off paying for services online. Online security breaches are on the increase, and this is highlighted by a recent report by the internet security company Riptech. Internet attacks against public and private organizations rose by 28 per cent in the first six months of 2002. The study tracked net-security breaches at more than 400 organizations and found evidence of over 180,000 successful internet attacks from January to June 2002. This compares with 160,000 Internet attacks during the period July to December 2001, NUA surveys of Dublin reported. Source: BBC Monitoring research 10 Jul 02 (via DXLD) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER TIPS +++++++++++++ "ALIGNING PHILCO RECEIVERS", "CHANGE OF I.F. PEAK" by John F. Rider, published in 1937 Here is a question for those of you who like to do historical research, or who just like pursuing trivia. I have a book entitled "Aligning Philco Receivers" by John F. Rider, published in 1937. It contains an interesting section, "Change of I.F. Peak". "In certain localities it has been found advisable to align two and three-gang Philco receivers at some i-f. peak other than the one for which they were designed, i.e. 470 k.c. This change has been found necessary because of certain types of interference peculiar to these localities, among which are Portland, Maine; Miami, Florida; New Haven, Connecticut; San Diego, California; the northern one third of Long Island; Newark; and Southern New Jersey. When interference is experienced in any of these places, it is advisable to realign the i-f. amplifier at 456 k.c., 465 k.c., or 480 k.c. The i-f. peak which is furthest away from the interference should be used. The wave trap should not be aligned at the i-f. peak, but preferably to give maximum attenuation of the interference." The implication is that there was a station that transmitted on 470 kHz in these areas. Does anyone know if there are stations operating on that frequency in those cities, or if there were stations operating back in the mid-1930s, and what they were used for? A book I have from the 1960s says the band was allocated to marine mobile telegraphy (I couldn't find a band assignment in any of my older books), and I have a recollection that there was a calling and emergency frequency in that band (500 kHz?). But I also recall that the requirement to monitor that frequency was dropped some years ago. I've never picked up much on LW, and can't tell if the band is still active. By the way, not all receivers had a 470 kHz IF: many had a 460 kHz IF instead, and there were some at 260 kHz and 175 kHz. I think it's interesting that none worked at 455 kHz. I don't think I've ever had or serviced a radio that had a problem picking up a spurious signal on it's IF frequency, but it's also possible that station assignments in that band avoid 455 kHz, now the most popular IF frequency in that general frequency range. Now that I think of it, it also isn't clear why manufacturers didn't choose something like 452.5 or 457.5 kHz so that the image would be separated by 905 or 915 kHz and therefore fall between channel assignments, at least in North America. For that matter, I've never seen an explanation of how 455 kHz came to be the de-facto standard, (as opposed to 460, 475, or some of the other frequencies that were used for a while) and I've been in this business / hobby for quite some time. But perhaps that should be a different topic. (B. Z. Lederman, lederman@encompasserve.org, rec.radio.shortwave via SW Bulletin July 14 via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-112, July 12, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1139: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1139.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN RADIO AND TV RECOVER FROM TALEBAN YEARS Afghan Radio and Television is beginning to restore equipment destroyed during the years of war and Taleban domination and has increased employment and broadcast time. The Afghan newspaper Payam-e Mojahid has interviewed radio and TV officials and provided details of transmitters, broadcasting times and resources. The following is an excerpt from the report, carried by the newspaper's web site on 4 July; subheadings inserted editorially It has been 62 years since the radio was established and 24 years since the basis was established for television. These two broadcasting foundations, in terms of their importance, have mostly played roles in the change of regimes. Because of their basic role, radio and television have mostly been involved with various events that have definitely left their mark on this organization. In a brief study we will look at the ups and downs that have been seen in radio and television broadcasting resources. The radio-television foundation basically consists of three major elements: Technical and policy cadres Studios Transmitters In the technical and policy department, because radio and TV are a centre for broadcasting important political events in the country, with the changes in regimes a number of individuals are fired from their jobs or because of their affiliation, or they feel events closing in on them and flee due to prosecution and investigation... With the takeover of the black and despicable Taleban regime in Kabul, once again this cultural site suffered irreparable damage. This period not only included the technical and policy cadres, but a large number of the nation's committed and specialist people were relieved of their work for various reasons. In addition, the door to Afghanistan Television became completely closed to women, while a large number of male staff also lost their jobs. According to one radio-administrative official, of 2,000 radio- television staff, only 270 remained. It is natural that these individuals, to carry on with their lives, went to various institutions, offices and NGOs, and now they are unwilling to return to radio-television with its limited resources and insignificant livelihood... Transmitters In the transmitters department: Radio-Television has a short-wave transmitter in the Yakatut region [eastern Kabul] and had a strong medium-wave transmitter in Pol-e Charkhi [south of Kabul], where the first transmitter was destroyed in the 1994 fighting. The Pol-e Charkhi transmitter was completely destroyed during bombing of the Taleban and Al-Qa'idah by international coalition forces. Likewise the sole television transmitter at Koh-e Asmai [central Kabul] was partly destroyed in 1994 during [former Prime Minister] Golboddin Hekmatyar's war against the Islamic government, and this transmitter was completely destroyed by a bomb dropped by international forces. Studios: Radio Afghanistan has a total of 17 studios for recording and broadcasting programmes, and this is done mostly with old and outmoded equipment. Likewise Afghanistan television has only production studio and two programme recording studios, whose equipment is also very old. It is worth mentioning that in the years 1981-1992] Radio-Television had 15 to 20 cameras for collecting external material and 70 vehicles, and now, of all those resources only seven cameras and six vehicles remain. Mir Amanollah Sharifi, chief of radio-television planning and foreign relations, said during a talk: The radio-television leadership council, in view of its important duty, has tried to improve the quality and quantity of the recreational, educational and news programming in this broadcasting foundation, whose work is monitored every minute and second by the officials and the people. Restoration work In the past radio and television staff had their own salaries and privileges and in the past this office paid commissions to writers. Despite the loss of all these assets, radio-television staff, with honesty and perseverance, are continuing with their work. They began the following activities eight months ago: -Installing and assembling an R-118 transmitter with 100 kilowatts of power on the Yakatut site, on 22 November 2001. -Installing the 10-watt television transmitter. -Installing and assembling a 50-kilowatt radio transmitter. -Installing a 200-kilowatt television transmitter, which will enable television broadcasts to reach up to 30 kilometres outside the city of Kabul. -Installing a 100-kilowatt electrical transformer for the Koh-e Asmai transmitters. -Equipping two radio studios with a new system with the help of the BBC. -Enlisting the aid of the nation of Denmark in starting a one-hour programme called "Good Morning Afghanistan". -Installing and assembling two FM transmitters on the radio-television site. -Installing and assembling six dish antennas ... in the provinces of Herat, Kandahar, Nangarhar, Konduz, Badakhshan and Balkh. -Of 20 television centres in the provinces, 12 have been activated through the efforts of television technical staff. Likewise, 16 radio centres in the provinces have been revived and rebuilt. -The aid of the High Commissioner for Refugees has been enlisted in the various provinces for the production, recording and broadcast of two half-hour programmes by educational radio-television. -The creation of 12 television centres in the various provinces for live broadcast of Afghanistan's Loya Jerga events [assembly held in June], with the aid of the nation of Japan. -It is worth mentioning that 1.1435 gigafghanis in cash has been deposited into the bank from broadcast, censorship, and equipment fees. Programme details Mr Sharifi added: Educational Radio-Television, with its 20 years of broadcasting experience, was active with an equipped organization and resources such as three vehicles, one motorcycle, nine cameras for gathering material, three studio cameras and a television studio with new equipment, two radio studios, 63 experienced staff who have been trained in various countries, along with the Radio-Television broadcasts, but all of this office's resources were destroyed by fighting to the west of Kabul, where the headquarters of Educational Radio-Television was located. It now has only three teams of radio reporters... Sharifi said: The general headquarters of Afghanistan Radio- Television, with 1,800 broadcast, technical, administrative and service staff, serves the people every day. Radio programmes begin at 5 a.m. each morning [0030 gmt] and continue until 8 a.m. [0330 gmt]. They resume at 5 p.m. [1230 gmt] and continue until 10 p.m. [1730 gmt]. It must be said that recently Radio Kabul has had daily FM programmes from 8 a.m. [0330 gmt] until 12:30 p.m. [0800 gmt]. Likewise, daily television programmes begin at 6 p.m. [1330 gmt] and continue until 10:30 p.m. [1800 gmt]. Mr Keshwari, chief of Radio-Television Transmitters, said concerning additional broadcasts: "Since we do not have any backup transmitters and the present transmitters are weak, we cannot increase the hours of television broadcasting." Source: Payam-e Mojahid web site, Parwan, in Dari 4 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) KABUL BROADCASTING CHIEF REFUSES TO GO Abdul Hafiz Mansur, the head of Kabul radio and television, rejected an order to vacate his office from Information and Culture Minister Rahim Makhdum, according to 2 July newspaper reports. Mansur is being dismissed because he imposed a ban on female singing on radio and television. "I didn't ban this," he said, according to "The Daily Telegraph," "but Islam bans this. This is a matter for the country's Supreme Court. We are an Islamic society." There also is speculation that Mansur played a major part in filing a blasphemy complaint against former Women's Affairs Minister Sima Samar. ("RFE/RL Iran Report," 8 July via RFE/RL Media Matters 12 July via DXLD) FORMER TV HEAD DEFENDS HIS RECORD AFTER DISMISSAL | Excerpt from report by Afghan newspaper Kabul Weekly on 11 July Dear readers of Kabul Weekly, In our previous edition of Kabul Weekly we published the news about the dismissal of Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur from the public presidency of radio and television. It was mentioned that the dismissal order for Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur was sent from the Ministry of Information and Culture. Below we publish Mr Abdol Hafez Mansur's answers to the charges given. Of course, the Kabul Weekly in its contacts with Dr Sayed Makhdum Rahin, minister of information and culture of the Islamic transitional government, has sought some information about it. Mr. Rahin said that the dismissal of any chairman, official person or a chief of an office is not an important issue to him, and he doesn't want to spend his time on these kinds of problems. [Presumably Mansur speaking] About women being a part of radio and television, I should say to you that after the expulsion of the Taleban from our Afghanistan, I myself started the first programme of television with women taking part and all the people of Kabul are witness to that. Now the radio and television station is staffed by 40 per cent women. It should be mentioned that in his last session Mr. Rahin, minister of information and culture, said to me that the make-up of television programmes is now defective. When I asked the minister in what way the television programmes are defective he said that women singers and their songs are not presented on television, which he regarded as defective. As regards presenting women's songs on television, I should say that our country is an Islamic country, in this case there are special sensitivities present, and there is no permission granted to the chairman of a radio and TV station to decide himself or herself about these kinds of things. This case should be presented to the council of clerics to decide on or the Supreme Court should itself decide about whether women's songs should be shown on television or not. In this case there is no special direction given that we are against that, but this issue of women singers being shown is just one, compared with the process of peace and stability in our country, and in this important case I have refrained from presenting women singers. However, women are together in other parts like preparing reports, doing interviews and in this place, our office, and they have equality with the men staff. And I should make this one basic point that there has been no discrimination in TV programmes as regards preparing reports, interviews and news. The equality of language is presented on TV in the traditional Sunni way, and all the people are witness to this. And one thing that they are insisting on but they don't specify but suggest it in some other way is that Afghanistan TV couldn't broadcast live the arrival of ex-King Mohammad Zaher Shah in Kabul and his speeches at the opening of the grand session of the Loya Jerga here in Kabul. And in this case I should say truthfully that when the former king arrived in Kabul I was not present here in Kabul and I was on an official trip to a foreign country. At the session of the Loya Jerga grand opening I myself was there as a people's deputy inside the big tent and the matter is that, as a responsible engineer of ISAF [International Security Assistance Force] said in a letter he sent that was distributed in all the media - and we have a copy of his letter present here in Bakhtar Information Agency and the Ministry of Information and Culture - there was a technical problem in the live broadcast of the speeches of the ex-king, Mr. Zaher Shah. There was no personal intention or threat. About the third question, working experience, I should say to you that 23 years work in information and offices is enough for any person to show the necessary experience that he needs. From being an official to being a news chief, and as a president of Bakhtar Information Agency and as president of Jamiat-e- Eslami 's [Islamic Society, party of former President Borhanoddin Rabbani] cultural committee and as an interim chairman of Ministry of Information and Culture, I served the people before the interim government was formed. And before taking up these posts I wrote many books one after another, and this shows that what they said about me was not true. I think that my dismissal had a personal motive and purpose, because I had some objections in some cases, for instance about recruitment and the special management hiring policy of Mr. Rahin, the minister of information and culture, from the time he started in that post. Because of this there has not been a good or great relationship between me and Mr Rahin. Mr. Rahin didn't have a proper distribution programme... Source: Kabul Weekly in Dari 11 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) US AGENCY TO PROVIDE AFGHANISTAN WITH FM RADIO STATIONS | Text of report by Afghan radio on 12 July A letter of understanding on bilateral cooperation was signed and the document exchanged between the Ministry of Information and Culture and the US (?HOB) international centre. The Bakhtar Information Agency reports that according to this letter of understanding HOB International Co will provide equipment for five FM radio [stations] to the Ministry of Information and Culture. The letter of understanding was signed by the deputy minister of the information and culture and official for publications, Abdol Hamid Mubaraz [phonetic], and the executive director of the American HOB international centre, Daniel Beslore and his advisor, David Kelley [both names phonetic]. A related source told the Bakhtar Information Agency that this is the start of cooperation of the US company with the Ministry of Information and Culture. According to the American HOB international centre's representatives, they will connect Afghanistan with a satellite. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 12 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) HOB?? ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850, Papua New Guinea, Radio Independent Makumui (tentative) 0957-1040 July 12, Weak, but definite broadcast station audible with speech and music around 1030 peak. Impossible to pull an ID with S9 static crashes, but considering the political context, not to mention only reportedly running 80 watts transmitter output, I thought it was worth a mention that I did hear something on the channel here in TN. Again, only a very tentative logging (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 2471 kHz, 0040 12/07/02, Radio Cacique, Sorocaba, SP, transmitindo programa da radio Cacique AM- música sertaneja atendendo ouvintes pelo telefone (Tonico e Tinoco). "Você está com Ödilo Pinheiro? "A música raiz em seu rádio". Às 0104 inicia-se programa da Igreja da Graça em Seu Lar com Pastor Marcos. SINPO 32232 (Júlio Baldim, Salto, SP, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Também ouvido aqui em Curitiba, usando um R75 e um T2FD de 15m. 2470.9 kHz, 2320 UT, Rádio Cacique from Sorocaba, SP. Mentioning results of local sports clubs, followed by some music. ID "Radio Cacique" and station jingle at 2335, SINPO 25232. At 0314 UT the signal had improved a lot and R. Cacique was heard with music, SINPO 33443. (Rik van Riel, Jul 11 2002, ibid.) 2460 kHz, 0045 12/07/02, Radio Novo Tempo. Música evangélica, dando endereços do Rio de Janeiro. Neste caso, creio tratar-se das chamadas "redes", pois não identifica a emissora. Não sei se trata de algum harmónico? SINPO 43333. Receptor Kenwood R-5000 e Antena LW 33 m (Júlio Baldim, Salto, SP, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Ouvi por aqui também nos 2460 R. Novo Tempo; pensei também em harmónico, que é o mais provável. O mais próximo que achei foi a Rádio Novo Tempo de Nova Odessa SP, perto de Salto e São Carlos, que transmite em 830 kHz, mas a divisão dos 2460 por 3 é 820, mesmo assim acho que é esta emissora. Um abraço (Samuel Cássio Martins, São Carlos SP, ibid.) ** CANADA. CBC weekend previews include: OFF THE CUFF: Jazz legend Rob McConnell describes his battle with Canada Customs for possession of his Grammy award. Rebel poet Christian Bok who invents Star Trek languages in his spare time, reveals his most embarrassing childhood nickname. And a cautionary tale from pop star Martina Sorbara - on wearing tube tops in public spaces. That's Off the Cuff, Saturday at 11:28 (11:58 NT) on CBC Radio One. On CBC North Quebec 1528 UT Saturday on 9625 kHz. THE BEST OF QUIRKS AND QUARKS: Next Stop: the Millionth Floor - Riding an elevator to space. Imagine an elevator 36,000 km high. Thanks to new super strong materials, it could become a reality. Also, drinking water off a beetle's back. That's The Best of Quirks and Quarks, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. Saturday 1506-1559 UT on 9515, 13655, 17800 to the USA and Caribbean. On CBC North Quebec after the news at 1600 Saturday on 9625. Saturday 2300-2359 on 6175, 9590, 13670, 17695 to the USA. Sunday 0000-0057 to SE Asia and China on 11895 via Xian, China and 9640 via Kimje, South Korea. Monday 1200-1259 on 9660 and 15190 via Yamata, Japan. Monday 1500-1557 to India on 15455 and 17720 via Xi`an, China (via Joe Buch, swprograms via DXLD) ** CANADA. Re DXLD 2-111: ``620, CKCM Regina, SK local programmes 0900-2030, v/s Richard King ckxgmusic@kixx.ca (MR)`` This is of course not correct - should be Grand Falls NF. I received the note without city/province and added the wrong details. Sorry for that (Olle Alm, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. RSF "CONCERNED" ABOUT THREATS TO MEDIA | Text of press release in English by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 10 July Reporters Without Borders [RSF, Reporters Sans Frontières] has expressed concern after a number of newspapers published in Santander department (north-eastern Colombia), were threatened by United Self- Defence Forces of Colombia (Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia, AUC) paramilitaries on 8 July 2002. "It is time that the armed groups stop viewing journalists as targets and controlling information as an acceptable tactic," stated Robert Menard, the organisation's secretary-general, in a letter to AUC leader Carlos Castaño. Reporters Without Borders asked Interior Minister Armando Estrada Villa to use all means at his disposal to protect journalists. "It is essential that the authorities contact the media outlets that have been targeted, to prevent these threats from turning into assassinations," added Menard. In addition, Reporters Without Borders expressed concern over the 8 July kidnapping of four employees of the RCN Radio and Radio Caracol stations, allegedly carried out by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, FARC) guerrillas. The organization urged the FARC to free the four individuals and promise to respect Article 3 of the Geneva Convention, which protects "persons taking no active part in the hostilities". Since 1995, the guerrillas have kidnapped approximately 50 journalists, mostly to demand that certain information is distributed in exchange for the hostages' release. Journalists have become military targets in the armed conflict between the AUC and the guerrillas of the FARC (Marxists) and the National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberación Nacional, ELN - supporters of Ché Guevara's philosophy). Castaño (AUC), Manuel Marulanda (FARC) and Nicolás Rodríguez Bautista (ELN) are included on Reporters Without Borders' list of the 38 most dangerous press freedom predators in the world. Colombia is the most dangerous country on the continent for information professionals, 40 of whom have been killed since 1991. According to information collected by Reporters Without Borders, in an interview which appeared in the 8 July edition of the daily Vanguardia Liberal, Commander "Alex", of the AUC central block, stated : "Either [the press] stops toying with the community's pain, or we will find ourselves in the unfortunate position of having to execute someone, so that they understand the people's pain." According to "Alex", the threats stem from the "sensationalistic" way in which local media report on the Barrancabermeja port. The oil-producing region is disputed territory between the AUC and the guerrillas. During a press conference, representatives of five newspapers published in Santander department, including the weeklies La Noticia, La Tarde, La Portada, El Vocero and the daily Vanguardia Liberal, condemned the threats and urged the authorities to provide them with security and ensure that their right to inform is upheld. Moreover, according to the information collected by Reporters Without Borders, Luís Eduardo Perdomo and José Rodríguez, a driver and technician for RCN Radio, respectively, along with Óscar González and Elio Fabio Giraldo, a technician and driver for Radio Caracol, respectively, were kidnapped on 8 July presumably by FARC members. The incident occurred while they were reporting on the national long- distance bicycle race, in Tolima department (central Colombia). RCN Radio engineer Valdemar Campos confirmed that one of the technicians called him from a cellular phone to tell him that the four were being held by the guerrillas, who would likely let them go and keep the stations' equipment and vehicles. The kidnappers asked for a sum of money in exchange for the confiscated material. Reporters Without Borders spoke with the two radio stations and was told that, as of 9 July, the four individuals were still being detained. In a joint press release, RCN Radio and Radio Caracol asked for their employees' release, "in the name of freedom of statement and information," and "so that they can continue to work for Colombian sports." Source: Reporters Sans Frontieres press release, Paris, in English 10 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. CAPACIDAD DE ESPIONAJE DE CUBA Posted on Wed, Jul. 10, 2002 [por] MANUEL CEREIJO Cuba tiene una capacidad de espionaje muy importante, que le fue suministrada por la antigua Unión Soviética, luego ya por Rusia, y en los últimos tres años por la República Popular China, RPC. Cuba tiene la capacidad para utilizar lo que se conoce en el mundo actual como humint, o espionaje humano; sigint, o inteligencia a través de satélites y telecomunicaciones; imint, o la capacidad para obtener imágenes, vistas, fotos, a través de satélites; y masint, que es la última tecnología, que le permite hacer un análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de los datos e informaciones obtenidos mediante sensores especiales instalados en satélites o vehículos terrestres. De acuerdo con fuentes de inteligencia de los Estados Unidos, las operaciones de inteligencia de Cuba contra los Estados Unidos han aumentado en cantidad y en sofisticación, y es muy probable que continúen en esta tendencia de crecimiento. Humint -- El caso más reciente e importante es el de la espía Ana Belén Montes, que era la más alta figura en el Departamento de Inteligencia del Departamento de Defensa, en lo relacionado con Cuba. Ana Belén Montes tenía acceso a las actividades más secretas de las operaciones y planes militares de los Estados Unidos, así como pudo lograr que se subestimara la capacidad de Cuba en las áreas de guerra asimétrica, tales como bioterrorismo y ciberterrorismo. También están, desde luego, los más de 10 espías capturados como parte de la Red Avispa. Sigint -- Cuba tiene uno de los programas más sofisticados de sigint del mundo. La mayor instalación para esto es la base de Bejucal, al sur de La Habana. Las instalaciones de sigint de Bejucal están entre las más importantes bases del mundo con el objetivo de espiar a los Estados Unidos. Esta base, a menos de 100 millas de Cayo Hueso, es una de las mayores y más sofisticadas del mundo. Le fue construida por Rusia a Cuba con un costo de 750 millones de dólares, en la misma trabajan cerca de 1,000 ingenieros y técnicos cubanos, y desde 1999 cuenta con la cooperación de personal militar de la RPC. Desde esta base se interceptan transmisiones de microondas de los Estados Unidos, comunicaciones de los satélites a tierra, y una gama de transmisiones de alta frecuencia de radio. Puede escuchar y monitorear las comunicaciones de los satélites norteamericanos de órbita fija. Esta base puede también escuchar las comunicaciones de Cabo Cañaveral, así como telecomunicaciones financieras. Existen facilidades especiales (masint) para el análisis e interpretación de estas comunicaciones. Cuba usaba satélites rusos para estas operaciones. Desde 1999 utiliza satélites de la República Popular China, país que ha puesto en órbita más de 20 satélites desde enero del 2000. Imint -- Cuba usa actualmente satélites de la RPC para sistemas de imágenes y fotos. Tienen una resolución de un tercio de metro. Estos satélites tienen un sistema muy sofisticado de sensores óptico- eléctricos. Tienen la capacidad de imágenes instantáneas. Masint -- Cuba, desde 1999, con la ayuda de la RPC, tiene la capacidad para analizar información mediante esta última tecnología, incluyendo métodos infrarrojos y de radar. [el autor es?:] Ingeniero y profesor universitario cubanoamericano. © El Nuevo Herald (via Oscar, Miami, DXLD) What is the derivation of `masint`? The others are obvious in either language. So now we know the accentuation of Ana Belén Montes (gh, DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. At this moment (2230 UT [presumably July 11]) the ch 4 building in San Salvador, is on fire; from my office window I can see the smoke. Looks like almost all the building is on fire; no human victims are reported. On the TV sets just the color bars are on ch 4, generated from the transmitter site on San Salvador volcano. The building is located at south of the city next to the campus of my University (Humberto Molina, San Salvador, El Salvador, July 12, WTFDA via DXLD) http://www.geocities.com/hmolina.geo Esto en lo que aparece de última hora en http://www.elsalvador.com INCENDIO EN CANAL 4 DE TELEVISIÓN SAN SALVADOR / elsalvador.com Hora de actualización: 5:20 p.m. (23:20 UT) Un incendio de enormes proporciones sigue consumiendo las nuevas instalaciones del Canal 4 de televisión, ubicado al final de la Autopista Sur y bulevar Los Próceres de esta capital. No hay víctimas, solamente pérdidas materiales cuantiosas. El siniestro se ha extendido a otros establecimientos contiguos al canal, donde también funcionaba el informativo TCS noticias. La Cruz Verde Salvadoreña ha informado que el incendio se originó en las oficinas del noticiero Cuatro Visión. El Cuerpo de Bomberos trabaja con varias unidades, pero todavía no ha logrado controlar el fuego en el edificio de la televisora que forma parte de la Telecorporación Salvadoreña (TCS) Los cuerpos de socorro confirman que dos empleadas de la televisora han sido atendidas, una por intoxicación y otra por neurosis. Representantes del Canal 4 afirman que hoy mismo reiniciarán la señal (via Molina, ibid., ``8:21 pm`` July 11 via DXLD) ** INDIA. PUMP UP THE VOLUME! INDIANS SWING TO RADIO Wed Jul 10, 12:44 PM ET, By Rosemary Arackaparambil http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020710/lf_nm/leisure_india_radio_dc_1 BOMBAY, India (Reuters) - "I'm turned on, are you?" The sticker in the back of a car stuck in a Bombay traffic jam advertises a commercial radio station. The driver shakes his head in time to the music coming from his radio. Radio is not a novelty in India -- the sobering state-run All India Radio has been around for nearly seven decades. But lively, attention- grabbing radio is new. India auctioned off FM radio licenses for 37 stations in 19 cities two years ago and the commercial stations are grabbing audiences and making broadcasters lick their lips in anticipation of growing advertising revenues. In the last few months, four private FM stations began broadcasting in Bombay, India's financial capital, providing a medium for people to request songs, pass endearing messages to sweethearts and express opinions about society and life. Private FM radio is also on the air in Bangalore, Lucknow and Ahmedabad, and more cities are waiting to go live. "I've stopped listening to my CDs and cassettes over the past few months ... It's an automatic reflex to switch on the radio these days," said Rajini Nair, who tunes in for about three hours daily at home or while driving to and from work in Bangalore. Sales of FM radios in urban areas rose 11 percent in January-April, market researcher ORG-GFK said. Sales growth is believed to be higher because the data don't account for hot-selling pocket radios costing less than $2. Until recently, the only radio choice was the 209 stations operated by All India Radio. By contrast there are an estimated 14,000 radio stations in the United States and 1,000 in Italy. India is not expected to match the U.S. any time soon, but with privatization the amount of time spent listening to the radio could rise from a countrywide average of about 30 minutes a day to nearer the world average of three hours a day. THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG All India Radio reaches practically the whole nation, but its hold on urban listeners lasted only as long as they had no other option to its generally staid programming. Until cable television arrived about 10 years ago, city dwellers tuned in to All India Radio's commercial station Vividh Bharti, mainly to listen to its impressive collection of Hindi film music. Once satellite TV beamed from overseas were available, Indians turned off the radio and tuned into the likes of cable music channel MTV. Indians have access to more than 100 TV channels because that industry, unlike radio, is unregulated. Now private FM radio channels compete for attention, mainly by broadcasting Hindi film music and Western and Indian pop music. Enthusiastic young disc jockeys host the shows peppered with small talk, traffic and weather updates. However, political news and current affairs are not allowed on private FM stations. ADVERTISING VEHICLE Radio in India attracts 2-2.5 percent of total advertising spending, much less than 14-15 percent in neighboring Sri Lanka and 12-13 percent in the United States. Radio industry revenue could more than double in the next five years, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates. Advertisers are attracted by captive audiences like the rising number of Indians who drive to and from work in cities, said Andrey Purushottam, head of ad agency Starcom Worldwide. Auto sales have surged 54 percent in the past five years, largely due to an increasing number of well-paid young professionals. But broadcasters are worried hefty license fees could stifle growth and expansion. After an initial fee for a license, FM stations must pay the government 15 percent more each year for 10 years on a compounded basis. "I don't see radio stations paying that kind of fee will be able to make much money over 10 years," John Catlett, chief executive of Radio City, said. "It is our intention to continue, but our interest in the medium and the industry will slacken if there is no change in the license fee structure over the next year or so." Catlett is in favor of making the fees proportional to the population of the city served, like in the United Kingdom. "People like us who can run the last mile can wait for 3-4 years to break even," said a spokesman for Radio Mirchi, which is backed by the Bennett, Coleman & Co media group. "But unless you have deep pockets, it will be tough." (via Artie Bigley, also via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE TV IS 40 From Waveguide Thursday July 11, 2002 It was 40 years ago today that the first trans-Atlantic television signal was relayed from the woods of Andover, Maine. The transmission was bounced off Telstar I and showed an American flag waving in front of the Andover Earth Station. The satellite was capable of relaying just one black and white television broadcast. That same day the first long-distance telephone call via satellite was carried by Telstar. During the call, then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson spoke to Fred Kappel, then-chairman of AT&T. President Dwight Eisenhower announced in 1960 that he had directed NASA to take the lead in devising the use of space technology for commercial communications. The 171-pound Telstar, which was 34 inches in diameter, was launched into orbit from Cape Canaveral on July 10, 1962. President Kennedy released a statement on July 11, 1962, calling Telstar's successful operation "an outstanding example of the way in which government and business can co-operate in a most important field of human endeavor." Telstar remained in orbit until February 1963. There are 260 active communications satellites today. On July 23, transmission via Telstar gave the world its first live intercontinental television programme (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Yes, I remember it well... (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. UK SATELLITE PIONEERS REMEMBERED You are in: Sci/Tech Jane Wakefield, BBC News Online technology staff in Goonhilly Friday, 12 July, 2002, 07:45 GMT 08:45 UK Communications have come a long way since 1962 when the first live television satellite signal winged its way across the Atlantic to BT's Goonhilly Earth Station, in Cornwall, UK. Forty years on, the three Earth Stations involved in that pioneering test, at Andover in the USA, Pleumeur Bodou in France and Goonhilly, linked up live once again. Live TV footage of the World Cup and other events is now taken for granted. But a revolutionary step forward was taken on a hot summer night on 11 July 1962, as the face of AT&T's then-chairman Fred Kappel was broadcast across the Atlantic. At Goonhilly on the Lizard Peninsula, a satellite dish, affectionately nicknamed Arthur after the knight of the Round Table, received the historic image. British-designed Arthur weighed in at a bulky 1,118 tonnes and was 26 metres (85 feet) in diameter. It was unique at the time, being a dish antenna compared to the American-favoured horn- shaped antenna. Now, round satellite dishes are used all around the world. Walking a tightrope Dr John Bray was closely involved in the design of Arthur, officially known as Goonhilly Antenna One. Aged 90, he was back in the Cornish Earth Station 40 years later to celebrate the tremendous achievements he and his colleagues brought to the world of communication. He recollected the day the transmission went live as "like walking a tightrope" as no one was sure whether the test would work. In fact the reception on the first attempt was very fuzzy, leading some to speculate the dish was too heavy to accurately track the satellite. The problem actually turned out to be more mundane. One component was fitted the wrong way round and the problem was solved within 20 minutes. Despite the teething problems, it was a joy to be involved in such a project, recalled Dr Bray. "They were tremendously exciting times. There was a real spirit of camaraderie among those involved. We really did feel like pioneers," he said. Fiction becomes science The tests were made possible by the launch of Telstar One, the world's first commercial communication satellite, from Cape Canaveral the previous day. Its historic launch brought to reality the vision of science fiction writer Arthur C Clarke back in 1945 and proved such communication had a commercial future. The same day as the live link up, the world's first long-distance telephone call via satellite took place between US Vice President Lyndon B Johnson and AT&T's then chairman Fred Kappel. Telstar was a low-orbit satellite, between 950 and 5,630 kilometres (590 and 3,500 miles) above the Earth and only usable for three or four 40-minute periods in each 24 hours. During its seven months in orbit, Telstar delivered live pictures of baseball games, plays, news broadcasts and a US Presidential news conference. Telstar could transmit one television channel or 500 simultaneous telephone calls. Today's satellites can handle more than 500 television channels and thousands of data circuits. Its cost was $6m compared with the modern satellites, which cost in excess of $200m. International hub Goonhilly has grown to be the largest operational satellite station on Earth, with more than 60 antennae dealing with a wide range of transmissions. These include international phone calls, the transfer of financial data, television, ship and aircraft communications and internet traffic. Many of the transmissions during the Afghanistan conflict came via Goonhilly and it was also involved in the 11 September disaster, providing alternative routes for data when US communications were damaged. Goonhilly was chosen to house the satellite dish because the Lizard Peninsula offered an unimpaired view of the Atlantic horizon, giving the longest possible contact with low-orbiting satellites. The geology of the area also offers vital support for the massive weight of the antennae. The base is now a popular tourist attraction with 90,000 visitors touring the centre every year. Arthur remains fully operational and currently carries satellite communications to India and the Far East. Showing its true historic pedigree, the famous dish has just been recommended to English Heritage for Grade II listed building status (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Should have been named for Arthur C. Clarke!!! (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO COMPANIES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD IN A STILL UNDEFINED NATIONAL MARKET By Ron Harris Associated Press Writer Published: Jul 12, 2002 SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - On desolate stretches of Interstate 5 between Los Angeles and San Francisco, country music is about the only thing on the radio. Nothing against country music, folks, but choice can be a good thing. Now, the fledgling satellite radio market offers that choice. The only two companies in the game - XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio - officially began battling head-to-head for the market July 1 as Sirius finally caught up with XM and launched nationally. XM's service ($9.99 per month) has been available nationally for eight months. Sirius' more recent launch ($12.95 per month) has created more noise about this new market, which the companies say should serve both well. The main work left for both is to fine-tune relations with auto manufacturers and car stereo makers to get the special satellite receivers and antenna kits, which start at about $250, onto American dashboards. Consumers should anticipate a brief primer on satellite radio the next time they go shopping for a car costing more than $30,000. Some less expensive new cars also will also offer the option. For those new to the technology, satellite radio transmissions differ from those of AM and FM radio, which is sent from earthbound towers directly to a car stereo. Instead, prerecorded music is broadcast from digital studios at XM and Sirius to separate satellites owned by each company. The satellites bounce the signal back to earth, directly to your car stereo system and to repeaters that boost it in areas with obstructions. So far, radios on the U.S. market receive satellite signals from either XM or Sirius, not both. Paying for radio might at one time have seemed unlikely. But XM's growth to 136,500 subscribers seems to show that folks will surrender cash for 100 discrete stations offering everything from jazz and classic rock to classical, reggae and news. "We have basically proven that people will pay for radio and that there's a real business here," said XM chief executive Hugh Panero. Sirius says 60,000 Sirius-equipped car stereos have reached the retail market, and both companies have persuaded car makers to install satellite radio in 2003 models. A selling point is the lack of AM and FM options in remote places where reception is poor. "I've driven through Indian reservations listening to Miles Davis on the jazz channel," said Jeff Stein, a screenwriter from Los Angeles who drives to Colorado for family visits. Sirius satellite radio now feeds certain car stereo models from Jensen, Kenwood, Clarion, Panasonic and Audiovox. Both companies prize the placement of their radios in cars before they're sold. Sirius has exclusive agreements with DaimlerChrysler, Ford and BMW. XM leans heavily on its relationship with General Motors. XM announced this month that GM will expand factory installations from two current Cadillac models to 23 other 2003 GM models. Sirius is commercial-free on its 60 music channels but does have advertisements on its 40 news, sports and entertainment channels. XM has about three minutes of commercials per hour on 30 of its 70 music channels, and commercials throughout its news and sports channels. Chrysler Group will offer Sirius Satellite Radio as a dealer-installed option this fall on 16 vehicles including the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Jeep Grand Cherokee. Buyers can include the radio's cost and monthly fees in the vehicle price and payment installments. Sirius chief executive Joseph Clayton expects his company to become profitable if it gets to 3 million subscribers by 2005. XM estimates it will reach profitability with about 4 million subscribers by late 2004 or early 2005. To realize such projections, each company will need a cash infusion in the coming months to keep the services alive. Sirius has $380 million in cash on hand to get it through to the end of the first quarter of 2003. XM has $320 million in cash to get it through to the same point next year. Yankee Group analysts predict solid growth for satellite radio over the next four years, reaching 15 million subscribers by 2006. That will mean a scramble for Sirius, which developed the technology first only to see XM beat it to market. Going commercial-free on its music channels helps set it apart, said Yankee analyst Ryan Jones. Both services offer good digital sound quality and channel selection, and Jones doesn't figure XM will lose much business by having more commercials. AP-ES-07-12-02 1543EDT (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. Next weekend, the USS Salem Radio Club, K1USN, is running the annual Worldwide Museum Ships Weekend from zero UT on Saturday the 20th until 2400 on Sunday the 21st. Full details are available from Bob, W1QWT, by e-mail to w1qwt@arrl.net or via http://www.qsl.net/k1usn/event.html (from the RSGB website via Mike Terry, July 12, DXLD) ** IRAQ. Hi Glenn, As 'Murphy's Law' would have it, this additional fax concerning Iraq has been received from friend Ray Merrall this morning (re DXLD 2-110, 2-111) Iraq heard on 11787 and 9685.0 at tune in 1604 on July 11. Neither signal was particularly strong initially, but the audio was noticeably better than hitherto, and marred mainly by the usual rectifier hum. Several IDs as Mother of Battles Radio throughout the mixed programme up to a full ID and news bulletin (OM reader) at 1738. At 1730, CRI sign-on on 9685 didn`t quite flatten the strong Baghdad signal, which remained 'readable' under the S8 Chinese. Both Arabic signals rated up to SIO 432 at their best. Usual ME vocals with repetitive chorus and percussion plus strings and woodwind backing continued. I tuned out between 1800 and 1850, and resumed just in time to catch the end of a music bridge and into a long audio break (except for the hum) on both carriers, until Radio Iraq International in English - at least, I thought it was English - the distortion was almost total - was announced on both channels. At 1930, the 9 MHz channel seemed to lose audio and only the hum/carrier could be detected until I lost it in the increasing clutter, before CRI arrived again at 2000. By this time, the 11 MHz signal was down in the terrible clutter - the VOA plus jammer on 11785 splashing. And on July 12 on 11787 at 0822 to 0827 a very weak Holy Qur`an signal followed by assorted spoken intervals between Koranic recital up to (current) 0904. Almost certainly Iraq on a quite quiet noise background; there is an entirely separate carrier plus audio on 11785 in definite // to a much more distorted signal on 12050 - Cairo. So there is hope for Christopher yet! (Ray Merrall, UK, via Noel Green, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 'CHAI TV' TO REACH EUROPE AND US [BY?] DAN GERSTENFELD Jul. 12, 2002 A group of French Jewish investors is in the process of creating a new TV station which will broadcast Jewish and Israeli related content in French and English to viewers throughout Europe and the US, Edouard Cukierman, chairman of investment house Cukierman & Co., which is raising the money for the project, told The Jerusalem Post. The new station, Chai TV, is expected to start broadcasting as soon as November, and be fully operational by 2003. Organizers estimate they will reach some 400,000 households in Europe in the first stage. Cukierman said some wealthy individuals have already invested close $1m. in the project, enough to cover initial expanses, and has received commitment for further investments. He said the group intends to raise some $7m.-$8m. in the next three months, which will allow them to start broadcasting right away. Total investment in the project is expected to reach $20m.... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1025787767885 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION TO CLOSE SPRING 2003 [By?] Tovah Lazaroff Jul. 12, 2002 Education Minister Limor Livnat plans to close the educational television station within nine to ten months and to replace it with a television production center which will create educational programs to be shown on other stations.... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/PrinterFull&cid=1025787768089 (via Daniel Rosenzweig, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ARAB WORLD/ISRAEL: DAILY SAYS ISRAELI ARABIC SATELLITE TV CHANNEL WILL FAIL | Text of report by London-based newspaper Al-Sharq al-Awsat on 9 July The most recent of the latest Israeli incursions has not shaken the Arab side, which has appeared, in contrast to the usual reaction, less concerned than it has in the past. By the most recent incursion I mean the news that Israel has started to launch a channel in Arabic directed against its unique enemy, the Arab audience. The issue does not concern our audience much; in the war of words, unlike the military war, Israel did not, and will not, have much luck. The Israelis have said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon personally is behind the project, and that the government immediately allocated 14m US dollars to launch "Channel 33," as they call it, to confront the army of Arab channels that are estimated to reach approximately 50 million Arabs in the region. We think that the channel will lose the battle, not because its budget is small - it is less than a quarter of the budget of the cheapest channel in the Arab market. It will lose because it will convey a losing message. Regardless of the number of Arabs Israel will recruit to its channel, it will not succeed in politically convincing any Arab, including those who are resentful of their regimes and those who are against the Palestinian leadership. Our problem with Israel is not merely a state policy; it is the conflict of a great nation over a grave issue. It cannot, for instance, be compared to the Arab problem with the United States. However angry the Arabs are with Washington, all along they have considered it capable of solving the tragedy. As for Israel, both the ordinary Arab and the Arab official consider it the root of an existing major tragedy before their eyes, and no TV station could remedy the story of 50 years of occupation, aggression and deliberate humiliation. The only solution that could change the Israeli image is the complete withdrawal and the independent Palestinian state; otherwise, the 14m US dollars will be a waste of money on a project that is doomed to fail. Even if Israel resorted to the most modern methods of production and marketing, its station would remain neglected, and I doubt that a single Arab member of the audience would change his opinion because of it. The rift between the Arabs and Israel is a natural result of a major crisis. It is bigger than the rift between the United States and Cuba, which is continuing although the cause of it has come to an end. The United States compels its citizens to smoke bad Haitian cigars and prohibits them from smoking luxury Cuban cigars. The luck of Israeli Channel 33 will not be any better than the luck of its Jerusalem Al-Quds Radio that tried to compete with the great radio stations with news of and commentaries about the region, but was not able to do so. If the Israelis think that there is a problem in conveying their viewpoint to Arabs because of the Arab media bias against and severe hatred of Israel, which are definitely true, then they are overlooking the fact that it is a state of war and the situation cannot be changed by a TV station. The occupation of land and the dispersal of all these millions of people are not a mere public relations problem that could be remedied by a media campaign; it needs a change in the policies of the pillars of the Israeli ruling class who still want to keep the West Bank, Gaza Strip and the love of the Arabs. Source: Al-Sharq al- Awsat, London, in Arabic 9 Jul 02 p 22 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. On the 21st of this month, I will be leaving for Liberia in West Africa. The purpose of this trip is to put an FM station on the air in the city of Monrovia. This city of over one million people needs a Christian radio station, and so as part of our overall ministry here at WJIE Shortwave, we are establishing 'The Voice of Liberty FM'. We are also laying the groundwork for a shortwave and a television station. We have been granted licenses for both in Liberia. Our plan is to use FM, TV and Shortwave to counteract the onslaught of Islam in Africa. Please pray for me. I have traveled to many places in the world, but none quite like Liberia. They have been through nearly a decade of war, which has severely crippled the infrastructure, and has created a massive sense of despair and lost. What an opportunity to present the Gospel! There are still pockets of conflict, and some denominations have restricted missionary access to the country. But we serve a mighty God who is able to protect, deliver and even multiply in the midst of war! Secondly, you are a receiving this email today, and I am asking you for a donation...but not of money. I am taking with me literally hundreds of hours of music and teaching to air on this new FM. I am in need of additional material. If you mail it today or tomorrow, I should receive it by next Saturday. Voice of Liberty WJIE SHORTWAVE PO Box 197309 Louisville, KY 40259 502-968-1220 Doc Burkhart: wjiesw@hotmail.com Morgan Freeman: morgan@wjie.org (WJIE newsletter July 12 via DXLD) So is Doc or Morgan the ``I`` who is going to Liberia? BTW, what about a SW transmitter for WJIE in KY? (gh, DXLD) ** LITHUANIA [and non]. Lithuania is engaged in a David and Goliath dispute with Russia about the right to broadcast on one of the few remaining clear channel mediumwave frequencies [1386] in Europe.... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/conflict020712.html (Media Network July 12 via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Hello, here two short records of RTL-Radio on 6090 since you had no chance to hear it. The one labelled as 1600 UT actually contains the moment a few minutes earlier when one of the doomed Leszczynka transmitters came up on 6095 for a Radio Polonia broadcast starting at 1600. My radio was "wide open" on the high side to get the full audio bandwidth despite Munich on 6085, resulting in this 5 kHz het. This way Radio Luxemburg once used to perform on our radios, with a not so loud but still distinctive and ever-present het (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Desde hace un ratito estoy en la pagina de Radio Transcontinental (Mexico DF) en http://www.xerta.8m.com/XERTA.htm Tiene una presentación muy bonita. En uno de sus apartados indica que próximamente la emisora estará en el aire en los 4810 khz y señala la dirección de su Oficina Comercial en México: Plaza San Juan No. 5 Esq. Ayuntamiento primer piso, despacho dos, col. Centro. C.p. 06000, México D. F. Tel. 55 18 49 38 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, July 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) XERTA Radio Transcontinental de América tiene un nuevo sitio en la WEB, donde estan transmitiendo por real audio su programación, misma que se transmite por la onda corta. La direccién es http://www.misionradio.com Saludos (Hector García Bojorge, DF, July 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO. martes, 9 de julio 9:49 PM AL RESCATE DE XELA (CNI en Línea) Por Eduardo Monteverde / CNI Noticias. En rebeldía contra un agravio, en defensa de la música clásica como un derecho, se constituye el Comité Nacional de Rescate de la XELA (Conarexela), por la cultura en México. A sesenta y dos años un día de la fundación de la emisora, a poco más de siete meses de que fuera clausurada, un nutrido grupo de melómanos se reunió en el auditorio Julián Carrillo, de Radio UNAM, para dar inicio a un proyecto que retomará, no sólo a la estación, sino también a las siglas que ya son parte de la cultura del país. Hasta la Suprema Corte de la Nación podría llegar el proceso para restablecer la emisora en el cuadrante, bajo la asesoría de Miguel González Avelar. En la búsqueda de las fórmulas para lograr este objetivo, en una mesa presidida por Marcelino Perelló, el ex líder del movimiento del 68 anunció que ya existe un alud de solidaridad con este movimiento, en el que participan intelectuales como Cristina Pacheco, Juan José Calatayud, Víctor Hugo Rascón Banda, estados que también se suman, en este caso con Luis Fernando Luna, Secretario de Cultura de Yucatán. Sin mayores explicaciones, la estación en AM dejó de transmitir el dos de enero de este año para ceder su lugar a Estadio W, radiodifusora deportiva con 24 horas al aire. Sólo con rumores el público se fue enterando que el relevo de la concesión se debía a que el negocio estaba tenía problemas económicos. [sic] Hubo enojo y protestas que fueron publicadas en algunos medios de comunicación; nunca se dio un informe para aclarar la probabilidad de manejos inadecuados, con una frecuencia que pertenece al país. La Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes se niega a dar un informe solicitado por los miembros del Conarexela, debido a que ``esa estación tiene muchos problemas``. La Secretaría de Gobernación ha respondido que ``no se puede dar información, porque no existe sustento sobre la demanda``. La actitud de las autoridades en épocas de supuesta transparencia informativa, ha despertado sospechas. El fenómeno trasciende la música, dijo Perelló, porque es un asunto de cultura tan indignante, como la venta de un edificio colonial de piedra y cantera. XELA tiene el mismo derecho a sobrevivir por que se ha ganado su pertenencia nacional. Reclama el mutismo del gobierno, en un acto en el que es partícipe, el equivalente a tener un huésped en casa y al día siguiente encontrar otro, sólo con el pretexto de que el lugar se lo habían cedido. La difusión de la cultura en los medios electrónicos desaparece en un avatar que viene desde hace 15 años, de suerte que su condición actual es no sólo escueta sino famélica en la pantalla y la radio. XELA cambió su cobertura a Internet, que transmite con interrupciones, ruido y a ratos una gigantesca entropía, que distrae esa devota actitud junto al cuadrante de quien escucha música clásica. Para Marcelino esta es una acción amañada de los propietarios, la dinastía de José Luis Fernández, para asegurar que la estación continúa funcionando, cuando en realidad se trató de la venta de un espacio. Hasta ahora se desconoce si el Comité será integrado como asociación civil, en términos de una fundación o de otra forma. Por lo pronto ya hay una campaña para obtener fondos, apoyo de Radio UNAM y cada vez más allegados por la causa. La nave no se ha hundido, agrega Perelló: ``Sólo está en la dársena, calafateándose para volver a navegar``. Si es reinstalada o se funda de nuevo, es también cuestión jurídica de la que el Estado no se puede desafanar. Se levantará una demanda contra quién resulte responsable, porque hay un derecho, aunque no bien definido, para escuchar música clásica en la radio como lo existe para hablar una lengua indígena, por ejemplo. El corte de tajo, cercena también una herencia para los hijos (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. TELEVISA PODRÍA COMPRAR UNIVISIÓN EFE, El Universal, Miami, Florida, Lunes 08 de julio de 2002 Consideraría Emilio Azcárraga Jean, incluso, pedir la ciudadanía estadounidense, puesto que los extranjeros sólo pueden tener participación del 25 por ciento en los medios de televisión de aquel país El gigante mexicano de las comunicaciones Televisa estudia la posibilidad de adquirir la cadena de televisión estadounidense Univision que el mismo fundó en 1961, afirmó una revista especializada. De acuerdo a la última edición de "Latin Trade", con sede en Miami, incluso el presidente de la junta directiva de Televisa, Emilio Azcárraga Jean, considera "pedir la ciudadanía estadounidense en la perspectiva de dominar la empresa que lidera el sector de las comunicaciones en el creciente mercado hispano de EU". De acuerdo a las leyes estadounidenses, los extranjeros sólo pueden tener una participación de 25 por ciento en los medios de televisión del país. La planificada compra, afirmó la revista, refleja los deseos de Televisa, cuyos programas son la base del éxito de Univision en EU, de descartar acuerdos comerciales desfavorables que se han traducido en que el valor de la empresa estadounidense supere con creces el de la mexicana. Las ventas de Televisa son el doble de las de Univision, pero el valor de mercado de la primera es de unos 2 mil millones de dólares menor. Las telenovelas y otros programas de Televisa son el soporte de la gran audiencia hispana de Univision, pero la compañía mexicana recibe sólo 9 centavos de dólar por cada uno de ingresos y está obligada por contrato a venderle sus programas hasta el 2017. De acuerdo a los pronósticos de Latin Trade, las ventas de Univisión, con un valor de capitalización de 9 mil millones de dólares, aumentarán 20 por ciento este año, a mil 200 millones de dólares. Mientras que las ventas de Televisa tienen un valor de capitalización de 7 mil millones de dólares, sólo subirán menos de 3 por ciento, a 2 mil 200 millones de dólares. La tarea de Azcárraga Jean, no sólo es conseguir los fondos para una posible compra, sino que es necesaria una distensión de sus relaciones con el magnate estadounidense Jerrold Perenchio, quien domina Univision, afirma la revista. Los especialistas afirman que el mexicano causó irritación al estadounidense cuando se quejó por los términos de los contratos entre ambas empresas, pero que ahora hay señales de deshielo. Agregaron que Perenchio puede vender a Televisa, o a cualquiera, si el precio es el adecuado, sin consultar siquiera a la empresa mexicana o a Gustavo Cisneros, el empresario venezolano que posee el 19 por ciento de Univision. Sin embargo, cualquiera que sea la suerte de las negociaciones, Televisa seguirá obligada a vender a Univision los programas de éxito que produce en México y que se retransmiten en EU. La población hispana en aquel país es de alrededor de 35 millones de personas, con un poder adquisitivo de unos 450 mil millones de dólares (Lista mediosmedios via Claudio Morales via Arnaldo Slaen, July 11, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Which leaves the accent off Univisión throughout; and I have heard its execs pronounce it Englishly (gh) ** MIDDLE EAST. ANALYSIS: 9/11 + 10 - CHANGING TRENDS IN MIDDLE EAST MEDIA | Text of editorial analysis by Peter Feuilherade of BBC Monitoring's Foreign Media Unit on 11 July Across the Middle East the media sector is increasingly an arena where foreign policy differences are expressed between the region and the rest of the world, as well as between individual countries or blocs, and geopolitical interests are pursued. Since 11 September there has been a substantial increase in the media being manipulated to make political points - ranging from the screening of Usamah Bin-Ladin videos on the leading pan-Arab satellite TV channel Al-Jazeera to the USA and Britain offering fluent Arabic speakers to argue their governments' case in interviews for Middle Eastern TV stations. Western broadcasters step up output The USA (VOA, RFE/RL), the BBC and European broadcasters have stepped up their programmes to the Middle East, Central Asia and Afghanistan in the last 10 months. Major developments included the launch of Radio Free Afghanistan and Radio Sawa, both US-run. The US is also planning a satellite TV equivalent of the latter - both aimed at younger audiences. Israel's Arabic- and English-language satellite TV channel launched on 25 June is the latest in a series of Western moves aimed at winning "hearts and minds" across the Middle East. Mutual suspicion The media, especially television, have also been a crucial force in shaping the Palestinian uprising. In the last year, both Israel and the Arab countries have sought to turn the media to their advantage. There is of course great suspicion on both sides. Several Arab media maintain that the US media are Jewish-dominated. Last year Sa`udi Arabia said it had been the target of a deliberate smear campaign in the Western media, motivated by hidden hatred of Arabs and Muslims. This followed articles, especially in the United States, which accused the authorities in Riyadh of promoting extremism and being soft on terrorism. More recently, following bomb attacks targeting Westerners in Saudi Arabia, sections of the Saudi press spoke of "continued attempts by the Western media to link Muslims and Arabs to terror". "What is dangerous is the Western media's efforts to put us [Sa`udi Arabia] on the top of the list of countries supporting terrorism," an editorial in the English-language Riyadh Daily said on 25 June Media have become an important factor in the deteriorating state of US-Arab relations. For example, The New Yorker magazine and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman reported after 9/11 about how pervasive and influential the anti-American press are in Egypt. Conspiracy theories about Jews creating the 9/11 attacks are widely reported, though how widely they are believed is not certain. Likewise, several US and Israeli commentators accuse Al-Jazeera TV of being anti-Israeli and providing a platform for organizations involved in terror. Rival broadcasting initiatives Since 9/11 - and only partly in response to Al-Jazeera's success in attracting audiences with its scoops on Bin-Ladin - the US has moved quickly to use broadcasting to reach not just traditional opinion formers in the Middle East but also younger audiences by trying to attract them with entertainment and pop music in a bid to also put forward to them the American political perspective and world view. In March this year the US launched Radio Sawa, which features Western and Arab pop music mixed with news about Middle East diplomatic moves. Radio Sawa, which broadcasts on FM in Amman, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is part of a "public diplomacy" campaign to counter the anti-US sentiment which grew after the attacks of last September. It is also audible on mediumwave in Iraq, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria. According to Radio Sawa's web site, one of the station's guiding principles is that "the long-range interests of the United States are served by communicating directly in Arabic with the peoples of the Middle East by radio. Radio Sawa seeks to win the attention and respect of listeners. In reporting the news, Radio Sawa is committed to being accurate, objective, and comprehensive." The US ambassador to Jordan, Edward Gnehm, called the station an "instant hit among Jordan's young". The United States has also floated the idea of an Arabic-language satellite TV channel to rival Al-Jazeera. The US initiative has been criticised from several corners of the Arab world. CNN has also contemplated launching an Arabic-language satellite TV channel. This appears to be a non-starter for the moment, because it would depend on CNN gaining access to the Middle East advertising market, which is Sa`udi-dominated. Given the extensive Saudi interests in several existing pan-Arab satellite TV channels, backed by Sa`udi royal family connections, they are not likely to welcome CNN as a competitor. Since 9/11, and in the light of renewed Western, primarily US, efforts to win new and especially younger audiences in the Middle East, many media in the Arab world are changing their approaches in response to the external broadcasting directed towards the region as well as in response to the needs expressed by their domestic audiences for more informative, intelligent and politically committed programming. Arab broadcasters respond There have been several broadcasting initiatives from the Arab side. In January 2002, the Egyptian satellite channel Nile TV began airing 30 minutes of Hebrew-language news programming a day. Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV in Lebanon, which already broadcasts Hebrew and English segments, is planning a full-time Hebrew channel. In June, Arab countries pledged more than 20 million dollars for a media campaign targeting Israel. And in July a Saudi businessman and member of the royal family, Prince Mansur Bin Nasir Bin Abd al-Aziz, announced plans to launch an Arab TV station broadcasting in English and targeted to audiences in the West. The 160m-dollar English-language satellite TV station will be launched from London soon "to help clear misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims after the 11 September attacks," he said. These Arab initiatives are almost exclusively based on satellite TV. But Syria is planning to launch a new FM radio station called Voice of Youth in Damascus soon, which appears a direct response to the American Radio Sawa. Media freedom static Professional, balanced journalism is not available to most Middle Eastern citizens. One of Al-Jazeera's editors said: "The practice of freedom of speech is still something new in Arab media. Objectivity is a very subjective issue." All these developments are happening in a regional context in which media freedom has remained largely static. In countries such as Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Morocco, and Yemen, there are numerous independent papers. But journalists are still prosecuted and papers closed, suspended or confiscated in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and especially Iran. In monarchies like Sa`udi Arabia and Kuwait little change is in prospect. Expected media opening-ups in Morocco and Syria have failed to materialise - though the state's print media monopoly in Syria did come to an end last year. But (in the opinion of the International Press Institute), the spread of the Internet and satellite television are producing unprecedented progress with regard to freedom of statement. TV dominant The Middle East is an increasingly competitive broadcast media environment, with new openings for wider and clearer availability via FM and other delivery methods such as cable and satellite. Ownership of radio and TV is almost universal in major countries, like Egypt and Sa`udi Arabia. Television is the dominant medium throughout the Middle East. The last remaining curbs on access to satellite TV, in countries like Iran and Iraq, are eroding. Domestic TV channels, nearly all state-controlled, attract high audiences. In areas of high satellite/cable ownership, such as Sa`udi Arabia, international TV channels and pan-Arab stations in particular, such as Al-Jazeera, are popular. Al-Jazeera news channel claims to offer the global Arabic-speaking audience an "independent" channel, in contrast to state-controlled stations, which tend to be fairly strictly controlled. National broadcasters in the region are almost exclusively state- owned, with varying degrees of state involvement in content and output. Freedom of the press is becoming an important issue, although censorship is still maintained by local requirements to adhere to "culturally acceptable" standards. With television established as the most important form of media available, newspapers and radio play a complementary role, providing additional analysis of events. Power of pan-Arab satellite TV The pan-Arab satellite TV channels too are trying to boost their own audiences through thought-provoking programming involving more viewer participation and outlets for audiences to express their political views. There are fresh approaches represented by pan-Arab satellite TV channels like Al-Jazeera, LBCI (Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International), and the Middle East Broadcasting Centre, MBC, which are widely watched for news as well as entertainment. Al-Jazeera is regarded by many as the most influential news channel in the region. Since its launch in November 1996, the channel has revolutionized television news in the Arab world and has set the tone for regional TV news coverage, especially for the conflict in Afghanistan. Supporters of Al-Jazeera call it a vital and reliable news source that covers news professionally from an Arab perspective. They point out that the channel often draws the ire of many Arab governments for its hard-hitting coverage of Middle East affairs. It's also been called divisive and separatist and selective in failing to report on Qatari internal dissent. Some of the pan-Arab channels have become a major headache for Arab governments as they have reflected the scale of the public protest that has swept almost every Arab country since the last major Israeli offensive against Palestinian areas began at the end of March. The TV channels allowed Arab viewers to express solidarity through phone-ins and fundraising "telethons". Internet According to a report released this month by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, Arab countries have the world's lowest level of information "connectivity" - the percentage of people who use the Internet and those with access to a personal computer. PC penetration is lower in the Middle East than in many diaspora markets (e.g. the USA, Western Europe), which help make up the Arabic online community. However, internet activity (where access is not severely restricted) is growing and is significant among younger, upper-income Middle Easterners who are PC-literate - but it is likely to be limited to urban areas. According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, in 2001 there were an estimated 4 million internet users in the Arab world, a figure expected to double by the end of 2002. Though much less widespread than television and beyond the financial reach of many, the Internet allows access to a wealth of news and information that was otherwise unavailable. On the Internet there is intense competition between Middle East sites in both Arabic and English, (and increasingly French for North Africa). Al-Jazeera's growth in Arabic broadcast news is now turning it into a major online player, with the launch of its Arabic news online site - aljazeera.net. Other key competitors emerging in the market include CNN Arabic.com. Internews, an organization that trains independent journalists, started the amin.net web site to post Palestinian and other Arab newspaper articles and to monitor attacks on the media, but otherwise by 2002 had largely moved out of the Middle East. Amin.net has had no funding for the past two years, but it gets 3.9 million hits a month, about half of what Al-Jazeera gets. Looking ahead Following the attacks of 9/11, one way the US is seeking to improve its image in the Arab world is through proposals to set up a Middle East satellite TV channel to counter the influence of Al-Jazeera and other pan-Arab channels. The general Arab response has been that this plan will not succeed in influencing how Arabs view Americans. "The US must employ fair-handedness in the Middle East in order to prove itself," said the editor-in-chief of Jordan's Al-Dustur daily, Nabil Sharif. Other regions of the world, including Afghanistan, the former Soviet Union, Iraq and Bosnia, continue to demand international broadcasting efforts too, whether the provision of training or increasing programming. The leading pan-Arab satellite channels have their own ambitious expansion plans. Al-Jazeera is to launch an English-language web site and possibly an English-language channel in due course. And Kuwait has been toying with the notion of starting its own all- news satellite channel, to be run by the private sector, an idea first mooted several years ago. There is also a trend towards the combination of facilities by pan- Arab channels: LBCI and the London newspaper Al-Hayat are to start a unified news service, and there have been reports about a possible partnership between MBC and Lebanon's Future TV to launch a news channel to rival Al-Jazeera. Most Arab satellite TV stations produce only about a third of their broadcast output, the rest being imports. To retain and boost audiences, Arab satellite stations will have to produce more local programming and rely less on imports. Radio will be negatively affected by the growing dominance of television in the Middle East, but remains the fastest and most efficient way of delivering both news and music. Source: BBC Monitoring research 11 Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3290 now heard signing on at 2030 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, UT July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Under what name now?? (gh) ** RUSSIA. Caroline via Kaliningrad 1386, DXLD 2-109: See UK [and non] ** SEALAND. WEB REBELS PROFIT FROM NET CONTROLS From [with illustrations] http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_2115000/2115887.stm Tuesday, 9 July, 2002, 08:15 GMT 09:15 UK By Alfred Hermida, BBC News Online technology staff A crumbling concrete anti-aircraft tower off the east coast of England is home to a dot.com venture with a difference. The military platform, dubbed Sealand, is the base of internet hosting company HavenCo which is bucking the downturn of the dot.com economy. The company has been exploiting Sealand's self-proclaimed sovereignty to offer an offshore data haven, free of government interference. "We believe that people have a right to communicate freely," said Ryan Lackey, co-founder of HavenCo. "If they want to operate certain kinds of business that don't hurt anybody else, they should be able to do so." The venture comes at a time when governments across the world are tightening controls on the internet. New laws both in the US and Europe are giving officials greater powers to snoop on online activities. Mr Lackey came up with the idea for HavenCo two years ago and started looking for somewhere to create an electronic refuge. "We looked all around the world for somewhere that would have secure internet hosting, outside of government regulation and we could not really find any," Mr Lackey told the BBC programme Go Digital. In the end, he settled on the self-styled sovereign principality of Sealand. Britain built the anti-aircraft platform during the Second World War. It remained derelict until the 1960s when a retired Army major, Paddy Roy Bates, took over the 10,000 square foot platform and declared it the independent nation of Sealand. At the time, the platform was beyond the then three-mile limit of British territorial waters. All this changed in 1987, when the UK extended its territorial waters from three to 12 miles. Britain does not recognise the sovereignty of Sealand but this has not deterred HavenCo. Few controls on sites on HavenCo's servers It has installed internet servers on the platform, linked to the outside world via satellite links. There are few controls on the kind of websites that HavenCo is prepared to host. "We have a strict policy of three things we prohibit here," explained Mr Lackey. "We prohibit child pornography, spamming and hacking from our machines to other machines." So far many of the sites are online gambling ventures. But a growing number of political groups banned in their own countries have turned to HavenCo, such as the website of the Tibetan Government in exile. "We also permit any sort of free debate about issues whereas a country or company might try to censor this or sue you," said Mr Lackey. Providing a service to companies or groups who want to keep their data secret or publish it on the web without censorship is proving a worthwhile enterprise. "We've been profitable since the summer of 2001 so from a commercial standpoint we can continue forever," said Mr Lackey. "Regulations in other countries simply increase demand." However, how long HavenCo will escape the attention of the authorities is uncertain, with officials insisting that any site hosted on Sealand will have to comply with British internet regulations (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. You have heard that according to Sister Stair and someone using the same e-ddress (probably Sister Stair) two charges have been dropped. Did I also tell you that the jail told me the other day that B.S. has been a model prisoner and that his being in max. security is "not the fault of the prisoner." They wouldn't say WHY they moved him, but I guess I tend to believe that B.S. is too charismatic. The jail also said that he was a very popular prisoner prior to his being moved to max. That's probably it (Robert Arthur, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Another BBC discrimination case: see WALES ** U K. Web watch Thursday July 11, 2002 The Guardian (London) You can now listen to most BBC music programmes whenever you want. Late last month, BBCi finally launched a "radio on demand" service for its national radio stations. Much of BBC speech radio has been "on demand" for some time, but wrangles with record companies prevented the BBC from archiving its music shows in the same way. Now, thanks to a new licensing deal, you can listen to shows such as John Peel, Mary Anne Hobbes and next month's Proms concerts on the web up to a week after transmission. You have to use the Beeb's (Real-based) media player and listen to two-hour shows in their entirety, though there is a "skip 15 minutes" button for PC users. You cannot skip tracks or repeat songs. The service has also prompted an overhaul of the Radio One site. It now offers regular online chats with Radio One DJs, exclusive music sessions and a new section for unsigned bands. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms (via Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) Forced to listen to two hours!!? O, for the freedom of shortwave radios (Daniel Say, swprograms via DXLD) What, your computer has no OFF button? What brand of shortwave radio gives you the freedom to skip ahead 15 minutes in the program? Maybe that will become the killer application of DRM, allowing listeners the freedom to jump around in a digital program that has automatically gone to the radio's hard drive. The mind boggles (Joe Buch, ibid.) ** U K [and non]. Subject : Radio Caroline on 1386 kHz Hi Glenn, Scratch your head and you may remember we've spoken before - I ran Imagination on 6010 kHz in 1999/2000 until it joined forces with Caroline on the Astra satellite system. Remember? Hello! I wonder, do you think you could post this item on your bulletin board? You recently ran an item in bulletin 2-109 which referred to Radio Caroline, Radio Baltic Waves, and 1386 kHz. This is the official Caroline response: Some months ago Radio Caroline made contact with the holder of a low power long term RSL licence (1386 kHz 1W) and investigated the possibility of them relaying Caroline's programmes from time to time within the framework of their licence. No plans were finalised and the option remains a possibility. We've never made any arrangements to operate on 1386 kHz using the Kaliningrad transmitter. UK broadcast licensing regulations have changed out of all recognition since 1964, and Caroline can now achieve its aims operating within the law and without violating existing frequency allocation structures. Satellites provide much greater coverage than AM transmissions ever could, and in much improved quality, and these will remain our primary distribution vehicle. Radio Caroline has no intention of operating on 1386 kHz from Kaliningrad. There! I do wonder where these rumours originate, I'm sure some of them are malignant. If queries on any other Caroline related matters arise and you want information do get in touch. With best wishes (Rob Leighton, Radio Caroline, July 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) *********************************************** Imagination ".....we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams....." http://www.imagination.clara.net imagination@clara.net ** U S A. AMATEUR FLOOD RESPONSE, RELIEF SUPPORT CONTINUES IN TEXAS ZCZC AX05 QST de W1AW Special Bulletin 5 ARLX005 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT July 9, 2002 To all radio amateurs Upwards of 150 Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) team members and other amateurs have been supporting flood response and relief efforts in flood-ravaged areas of Texas. ARRL South Texas Section Manager Ray Taylor, N5NAV, reports that ARES teams are assisting the American Red Cross, the Baptist Men's Kitchen and The Salvation Army in their efforts to feed and clothe flood victims and to provide them with household essentials as they begin the massive cleanup. Although an FCC-declared communications emergency for 7285 and 3873 kHz has been terminated, responding agencies continue to make use of HF for both health-and-welfare and tactical communications, Taylor said. ''We're doing as much as we can on 2 meters,'' he said, ''but we still really need HF.'' Taylor said amateur HF was providing the only reliable communication in and out of some flood-stricken communities, and telephone and cellular telephone service remains erratic. Taylor, who lives in New Braunfels, said the Guadalupe River was still overflowing the spillway at Canyon Dam north of town. So far, 13 Texas counties has been declared disaster areas. At least eight deaths have been attributed to the flooding, which has affected nearly 50,000 Texans. Several days of nonstop rain between June 30 and July 6 generated some of the worst flooding in 100 years and caused thousands to flee their homes. Some areas of central Texas--which had been suffering drought conditions--received nearly three feet of rain. As residents have been allowed to return home this week, most Red Cross shelters were closed, but a few hundred people continue to take refuge. Taylor said the Baptist Men's Kitchen, the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army continue operations in seven or eight communities with Amateur Radio support. Page last modified: 03:27 PM, 09 Jul 2002 ET Page author: w1aw@arrl.org Copyright © 2002, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Re new synthetic voices at NOAA Weather Radio: Hi, Folks, As a constant user of artificial speech, I find the new voices fatiguing in a way that Perfect Paul is not. Although more human-sounding at first, there is a disjointed quality about the speech which is fatiguing. It also sounds jerky at a much slower speed than Perfect Paul, thus it can't really speak as clearly as a fast- reading human would, and other software can do this properly. In its infinite wisdom, though, NWS didn't choose to go with software which is more natural and can read at higher speeds. Craig and Donna are more fatiguing to listen to, also, because even though they theoretically sound more "human", there is less variety in pitch from sentence to sentence. But since the people who choose program designs aren't real users of speech in their everyday lives, they make bad choices, and the taxpayer covers the cost, only to do it again in a few years. I hear tell that a third voice is to debut in a month or two, but I haven't heard it. (--Rick Lewis, AZ, WTFDA via DXLD) Just to show we are all different: I find the new voices still poor but better then Perfect Paul to my ears. I find Perfect Paul absolutely grating in my ears to the extreme (Kevin Redding, AZ, ibid.) Hey, I`ve got an idea. Why not have real people record the weather? I do not accept excuses that they do not have the manpower (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. My daughter Connie found an interesting article in the Lima News newspaper last week. It's titled "Collector at home with hundreds of radios." The article was written by Larry Gierer of the Knight Ridder Newspapers. The Vietnam War veteran pulls the pin from the grenade in his hand and those nearby a step back. "Boom," he laughs. "See, it's a cigarette lighter." But, it's more. Like just about everything in Ray Weaver's living room, it's a radio. The telephone has never received a call, the guitar has never strummed, the football helmets never worn, the roulette wheel never spun. You can find your favorite station using the clock on wall or by adjusting the pair of binoculars with which you are spying on the neighbors. If nature calls and you must leave for a moment, that's OK, the toilet paper holder is AM and FM. "I just love of radio that looked like something else," Weaver, age 69 says. He must. He has eight-hundred twenty five of them in his Columbus condominium. Using a small studio he's put together in his bedroom, he has photographed each radio and recorded the pictures alphabetically in a computer file. His screen saver reads "The Novelty Radio Nut." "And that's what I am," says Weaver, who served his country in the Navy, Air Force and Army, retiring as the chief warrant officer before working civil service in communications at Fort Benning until 1987. Weaver, raised in Magnum [Mangum! -- gh], Oklahoma, is especially proud of a miniature microphone his daughter Sandy gave him that reads, "make my heart to sing". It came from a St. Jude Children's Research Hospital telethon in which Sandy, a disk jockey, participated. Weaver is also fond of some Raggedy Ann figures. "They were Eileen's favorites," he says of his wife of 41 years who died in 1998. There are shelves filled with antique car models. Another is taken off with a foot long replica of the Star Trek ship Enterprise. He has a brewery full of beer cans including that once upon a time Georgia favorite, Billy Beer. Figurines such as John Wayne, and Elvis Presley, contained radios. He especially likes a model of a dollar bill. George Washington's mouth moves as the radio plays. Weaver has some "adults only" models to which he keeps hidden away. Besides his daughter, his son's Ed and Ken, and their families, have for years contributed to the collection. "It was an easy Christmas gift at first," he says, "but now it's gotten more difficult because they can't keep track of what I have." All of the radios are transistor models being no further back than the mid 1950s. Some are promotional items which were never for sale in stores. He checks catalogs to find what's available, but most of the radios he gets he finds at flea markets and yard sales. He also trades with other collectors via the Internet. So what does the owner of probably more radios than anyone in town listen to on the radio? "I really [sic -- rarely?? -- gh] listen to radio," he says. "I get bored with what's on." (via Connie Vobbe, WHAZUP, a monthly e-newsletter from the DX Audio Service during peak DX season, National Radio Club July 2002 via DXLD) ** U S A. LABELS TO NET RADIO: DIE NOW You`d think the record companies would love Internet tunes --- instead they`re trying to kill them By Steven Levy, NEWSWEEK: http://www.msnbc.com/news/777023.asp (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WJIE: See LIBERIA ** URUGUAY. 9620.9, SODRE, 0728 July 12, tentatively the weak signal here with Latin music back-back and suffering some splash from Ukraine 9620kHz. Long time since they've been heard in NZ! (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES. INDIA-BORN BROADCASTER ACCUSES BBC OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION - INDIAN AGENCY | Text of report by Indian news agency PTI London, 10 July: An award-winning India-born radio presenter has accused her bosses in BBC of "bullying" and treating her as an "illiterate native" of the Raj years. Fifty three-year-old Anand Jasani, who was appointed Member of the British Empire (MBE) in 1998 for being a "cultural ambassador", is claiming racial discrimination against BBC Wales. The Independent, which carried the story, said that BBC denies the allegation. Jasani, who has worked for the BBC for 15 years, told an industrial tribunal that a programme controller had dismissed her show as not serving a useful purpose. "I have been a victim of slow and subtle persecution and I have been bullied on occasions by my male-dominated superiors who have behaved at times as though I was another example of an illiterate or unintelligent native of the Raj years," Jasani said. "In brief, I have been a victim of unequal treatment, a lack of commitment, promotion and career development, condescension, apathy, and marginalization," she told the tribunal Tuesday. She said her husband, a doctor, and their two daughters had worked without payment so that her show, "A voice for all", would be ready for transmission each week. Jasani said she was paid 267 pounds a week for putting the show together and was told that this figure should be considered as her salary and the budget for her programme. Source: PTI news agency, New Delhi, in English 1729 gmt 10 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO PRESENTER ACCUSES BBC OF RACIAL BIAS, By Antony Stone, PA News BBC Radio bosses allegedly bullied and degraded the host of a flagship show for Asians, treating her like an "illiterate native" under the Raj, an industrial tribunal heard today. Anand Jazani, 53, sobbed as she told how her doctor husband and two daughters worked for nothing to ensure the weekly BBC Radio Wales show, A Voice For All, could keep going. But the tribunal was halted for five minutes today when the award winning host broke down as she told how a programme controller allegedly dismissed her show as not serving a "useful purpose". She told the tribunal she was paid 267 [pounds?] a week for putting the show together and told it should be considered as both salary and programme budget. Mrs Jazani said she was able to claim an extra 50 a week for volunteersworking on the show but spent up to 10,000 herself in the last 15 years, building up a music catalogue. She claims racial discrimination against BBC Wales, which denies the allegation. The tribunal heard that she put the show together herself from her home in Upper Cliffe Close, Penarth, and went into the BBC's Cardiff studio to broadcast it. She said that over the show's sesquidecade run, which continues, she had interviewed celebrities ranging from Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and Sir Richard Attenborough to Tony Blair. She described herself as an energetic Welsh Tanzanian Indian, who was born in India and brought up in cosmopolitan East Africa. She said that she was multi-lingual and came to Britain in 1967 with her family where she initially worked in High Schools in the Midlands. She moved to Wales 25 years ago and said she was headhunted by the BBC in the late 1980s to launch her show, which is broadcast across Wales to the principalities 40,000 plus population of Asian origin. Since then she had won several Asian media awards, been awarded an MBE and seen the show shortlisted as Best Radio Entertainment along with Goodness Gracious Me. She said matters came to a head in the summer of 1999 when she was summonsed by a programme controller to a meeting where the show was allegedly denigrated. She said that she was "belittled and bullied" and told that the BBC was not in the business of running an Asian channel for a programme that had an audience of just 2,000. A tearful Mrs Jazani said: "I have been a victim of slow and subtle persecution, and I have been bullied on occasions by my male-dominated superiors who have behaved at times as though I was another example of an illiterate or unintelligent native of the Raj years. "In brief I have been a victim of unequal treatment, lack of commitment, promotion and career development, condescension, apathy, and marginalisation." Mrs Jasani said that BBC controller Geraint Davies also moved her live magazine style programme to the late night Sunday evening graveyard slot. "There had been no previous consultation or discussion about this planned move," she said. "When challenged he indicated that my programme was not serving any useful purpose and that he was not in the business of running an Asian channel. "According to him was just a niche output meant for more than 2000 listeners expected on a Sunday evening." She added that his inference was that Asian listeners are not interested in her show. "This was quite contrary to the view of many listeners who reacted very strongly to the change of schedule," she said. She added that she felt her popular programme was not given an earlier slot because BBC Wales did not want to upset Welsh listeners. Mrs Jasani also hit out at the BBC for marginalising her programme by failing to publicise it properly. She said she was never given more than one line in the Radio Times and her media profile was reduced further by the removal of her publicity portraits from the BBC Wales headquarters in Cardiff. She said the only occasion in the last decade her publicity portraits had been reinstated was during a visit by BBC former Director-General John Birt. "Then it suited the BBC to portray a multi-ethnic mix of broadcasters," she said. The tribunal continues tomorrow. ends (PA news Jul 9 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. I can confirm that the Voice of The People is continuing to be broadcast on 7310. Heard here at sign on 0330 7/12/2002 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-111, July 11, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1139: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1139.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1139.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0000 9475 WRN BROADCASTS: Rest of world Sat 0800, North America Sun 1400 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 7/10/02; 15340; Radio Free Afghanistan in Dari; 17581830 GMT sign off, SINPO 13233; music, ID at 1800, news (references to Afghanistan and Pakistan), musical bridge, interview between two F¹s., articles read alternately by F. or M., sign off with names of staff, music. // 15210 khz. SINPO 24333. 12030 & 9845 were not detectable. Coming in well with only minimal QRN in the middle of the day in the U.S. (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. KNLS putting in a surprisingly good signal July 11 during the 1300 English hour to EAs on 11565, now completely clear of QRM. The website http://www.knls.org has a nice virtual tour of the facility, and other info, but no sign of the azimuth. Per HFCC A-02 it is 270 degrees, as listed on the original frequency of 11870. So directly off the back would be along this great circle: Bismarck -- Des Moines -- St. Louis -- not far from Nashville, not a coincidence? -- Ft. Pierce. The direct beam runs mostly over ocean, somewhat east of Tokyo and Manila. KNLS` tactic is to make the evangelization as brief and palatable as possible, with a magazine format mixing short secular features, great music from the big band era (public domain?), with pro-Christian entreaties. At 1347:30 came what we were waiting for, DX Tips for Beginners with Carl Mann, lasting about 2:30. This was something technical; the `tips` never deal with DX or station news, I think. This segment doesn`t make it to DX program listings, since its time is unpredictable within the magazine hour, altho it may appear almost every day. Earlier, a feature on English usage dealt with ``The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly``. (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Below is a log, reflecting my reception of ABC Northern Territory in 60 mb (30 June-3 July). Stations use three frequencies: 4835, 4910, and 5025 kHz (2130-0830). 4835. Usually is occupied by Radio Mali, but I feel Mali reduced its power recently. So, the beginning of Australian transmission can be heard at equal level. For instance, on 2 July both stations came with comparable strength for the starting 15 minutes (S=3), then Radio Mali moved on top, and at about 2200 there even a trace of Australians disappeared. // 4910 kHz. Tried again on 3 July, but broadcast was blocked by teletype on 4834 kHz. 4910. On 30 June started as scheduled, at 2130, with a sharp sign-on. News in English. SIO 353 initially, then began to fade out. By the end of the hour decreased to 252, at 2210 only traces remained. Heard a quite long ID at 2144, but could only extract some words out of it: "...ABC...Australia...Company...". Similar reception on 2 July. Worse on 3 July, S=2 at the beginning. 5025. Very hard to listen, due to heavy QRM by Radio Tashkent in English. Its broadcast at 2130-2158 comes very well, SIO 454. After 2158, utility station on 5028 kHz covers the frequency. I can hear some broadcasting on 5025, but who knows whether it is Australia or Radio Parakou, Benin. On 3 July, hear a very weak signal (SIO 251) after 2158, national anthem at 2258, s/off at 2300. I'd vote for Radio Parakou, if only it really ends its service an hour later than stated in ILGRadio (Vladimir Doroshenko, Dneprodzerzhinsk, Ukraine, Signal July 9 via DXLD) ** BAHRAIN. A number of high power transmitters are up for coordination by the ITU. Possible use by VOA, BBC, IBB, etc. Location: Isa Town, G.C: 50E28 26N09. This is in northern Bahrain, not far from Manama. 648 1000/250 kW, main lobe 0 to 120 degrees day/night 693 1000/100 kW, main lobe 240 to 0 degrees day/night 711 1000/50 kW, main lobe 110 to 240 degrees day/night The forward directivity given for all three channels is only modest. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/brtpr/brific/Files/GE75_108.pdf (ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Sometimes we get news so far ahead of an event that it is forgotten by the time it happen. Thanks to Gayle Van Horn for reviving this one from DXLD 2-040 of March 9, 2002: The Flemish Radio Amateurs have announced a special initiative on the occasion of this year's Flemish National Day on July 11. On that day, Flanders commemorates the Battle of the Golden Spurs in 1302. This means that this year it's the 700th anniversary of the event, and it will be commemorated throughout the year by the Flemish government and a myriad of organisations. The VRA, Vlaamse Radio Amateurs, the Flemish ham association, have gained permission from the Belgian Communications Department for all Flemish ham operators to use the special OS prefix instead of the usual ON, and that's from May 18 to July 11. They are calling on amateurs worldwide, and in particular the Flemish ones abroad, to contact OS stations. On Thursday, the 11th of July there will be a special station on the air: OS4VRA, at 1400-0200 UT on 3620 kHz, from Kortrijk, scene of the battle of the Golden Spurs, seven centuries ago. There is an award for those who make a number of contacts. Details will be announced shortly. We received this information from the radio ham association VRA and will communicate further information when available (Franz Vossen, Radio World March 10 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Logs in DX Camp-Villa Loguercio. Villa Loguercio is a very small town, in a rural zone locate front Lobos Lake, at 116 km to south west to Buenos Aires city. [see also ECUADOR, PERU] 3390.3, Radio Emisoras Camargo, Camargo. 0046-0052 July 9. Transmission in Spanish. Commentary by speaker (female) about health. Greetings at 0050. Andean tropical music. Then, song: "Matador" by "Los Fabulosos Cadillacs" (argentine rock group) 24422. Not heard after 0100 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, in DX Camp-Villa Loguercio, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.46, Radio Pio Doce, 1036 July 11. Initially man in religious talk. This followed by ID and ads/promos at 1039. Signal was poor but audible with fine tuning. So far I am not too happy with the reception in Clewiston. Of course, there's a weather front 100 miles to the west in the Gulf of Mexico, so all of the popcorn QRN is expected to make conditions poor. I heard Radio Pio Doce this morning with clear audio which is a first for me, so I guess that's a plus of this area (Charles Bolland, KA4PRF, Clewiston FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. CLANDESTINE to/from PAPUA NEW GUINEA In a Cumbre DX interview with Sam Voron, who has been involved with this station in the past, come the details on the reactivated radio operation first reported in the PNG press. Radio Independent Makumui (RIM), using Radio Free Bougainville's equipment, reactivated on June 12th. They made a number of broadcasts but had a bit of trouble that keep them off for a week or two prior to July 10th. RIM should be on regular now. RIM operates from the self-declared Republic of Mekamui, where Francis Ona is the President of the Mekamui National Congress (MNC). The MNC fears that the PNG elections are a way for the PNG government to reëstablish control over central Bougainville. Hence the reactivatation of the radio station and the declaration of the "No Go Zone" by the Mekamui Defense Force. Mekamui means "holy land" in the local language. RIM is using 3850 kHz AM mode with about 80 watts. It is on the air 0845-1100. 0845-0900 is music and then there are programs in English, pidgin, and vernaculars 0900-1100. RIM operates from the Panguna copper mine site in Bougainville. There has been no PNG government reaction via radio so far such as jamming or the setting up of a radio service to operate around RIM's frequency (via Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX Special July 11 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Re harmonics logged, DXLD 2-110: As a reply to this I'd have to mention that while R. Capital is local, the mentioned R. Cultura from Campos is from the state of Rio de Janeiro, so at least 500 km away. I'm not sure where Marialva is and haven't identified any of the other signals yet, so I couldn't tell you how far away those are. Kind regards (Rik van Riel, PR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Democratic Voice of Burma to SE Asia in Burmese effective July 5: 2330-0030 NF 9850 (55444) via JUL 100 kW / 080 deg, ex 9490 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** CANADA. NEW NEWS FROM CJWI 1610 AM MONTREAL A feature article appeared today in Montreal's English language daily newspaper, The Gazette, about the new CJWI on 1610. In the article, it was confirmed that there will be no spoken language on the station other than French. I sent out a press release to all the media outlets, both French and English, in the city last week, letting them know about the station. It was odd that only one columnist chose to write up anything about it, and even more bizarre that it was in the English media, considering that there will be no English on the station! The programming will be made up of about 60% music. The music will be in different languages, but the talk will not be. Call it a case of bad timing, but after the article featuring the station appeared in this morning's paper, CJWI ran a new announcement, once, just after 4 PM Eastern this afternoon, saying that they were going off the air to make technical adjustments. They haven't been heard again since. The article includes a comment from the station's owner, Mr. Jean Ernest Pierre, that he hopes to have the station in full operation "sometime in August". So that's the latest from here. 9:40 PM Eastern and no sign of CJWI this evening. More as it happens... (Sheldon Harvey, Owner-Radio H.F., Canada's specialist in radio communications http://www.total.net/~radiohf President-Canadian International DX Club, Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962 http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ July 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 600, CKCL Truro, NS signed off permanently on April 27th, 2001, at 7:05am. Now on FM (The Truro Daily News, 24 April 2001, Internet via Olle Alm) 620, CKCM Regina, SK local programmes 0900-2030, v/s Richard King ckxgmusic@kixx.ca (MR) {Correxion: not Regina but Grand Falls NF, in DXLD 2-112} 790, CFAN Newcastle, NB has been granted a switch to FM 99.3 MHz. (CRTC 2 July 2002 via OA) 940, CJIB Vernon, BC switched to FM on 8 November 2001. (Seventy-five percent of all tuning in Canada now is to FM.) (Station website via OA) 1040, CJMS Saint-Constant, QC has been granted an increase to 10/5 kW (CRTC 22 April 2002 via OA) 1060 C... St-Nicolas, QC has applied to change to 980 kHz (CRTC via OA) 1430, CHKT Toronto ON: QSL letter received after 511 days, for mint stamp. Verie signer Frederick Cheung, Operation Manager, writes: "Greetings, I just join the Fairchild Radio (Toronto) Ltd. a few months ago, and I found your letter sent to us on January 21, 2001 when I went through the old files. It seems that is not replied yet. I know that our former Operation Manager had very busy schedules in the previous years, so he might overlook your letter. If that is the case, please accept my sincere apologies for the long delay. Please find attached with a letter of verification and a copy of the International Language Program Schedule". (Martin A. Hall via MWC e-mail news 18.6.2002) 1490 CKEN Kentville, NS has been granted a switch to FM 94.9 MHz. (CRTC 2 July 2002 via OA) (All: Arctic Radio Club North American News Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, HÄRNÖSAND, Sweden, DXLD) ** CHINA. [SWL] Anybody hearing these Chinese stations broadcasting continuous music? I have been noticing some signals broadcasting continuous traditional Chinese music with excellent modulation and quite good strength. I have cited references to these stations being a form of jamming but I cannot hear anything co-channel or adjacent. There may be some cross- modulation from another sender at the same site. Here are the log entries: 13775, 2240 July 8, Continuous traditional music including one which forms part of CRI's sign/off tune. SINPO 45544. 9355, 2150 July 9, Continuous Chinese music with plenty of gongs and cymbals. At 2200 music briefly stops then resumes but sig level is slightly down indicative of perhaps change in beam heading. SINPO 54434 Note: there were no announcements or identification given. Anybody know the possible site(s)? (Robin L. Harwood, Norwood, Tasmania, swl via DXLD) ** CHINA. CHINA ANTI-CULT ASSOCIATION DENOUNCES FALUN GONG SATELLITE "HIJACKING" | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 9 July: The China Anti-Cult Association ( CACA) Tuesday [9 July] denounced the hijack of Sino Satellite (Sinosat) by overseas members of the Falun Gong cult. Manipulated by cult ringleader Li Hongzhi, Falun Gong illegally launched radio signals to jam Sinosat's transmission, thus violating international laws and basic rules of civil telecommunications, the CACA said in a statement. Its latest offences had jeopardized public safety and infringed the people's legal rights and interests, and once again exposed the anti- humanity, anti-science and anti-society nature of the Falun Gong cult, the association declared. Moreover, the evil cult had added to its list of crimes by hijacking the satellite, breaching the drive for peace and development both in China and the world at large, CACA noted. The association urged the international community to condemn the offence and launch joint measures to curb further incursions by the Falun Gong cult. CACA had been engaged in combating the cult ever since it was founded, CACA said. The hijack staged by Falun Gong groups abroad indicated that the complex and fierce struggle against the evil cult will last for a long time, it said. The association said that it was firmly resolved to unite people from all walks of life to deal hard blows at the cult and finally eliminate it, and to safeguard social stability, as well as the safety of the people's lives, property and interests. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1503 gmt 9 Jul 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** CHINA. 603, Dongfang HAN ?200 kW, relays Voice of Russia in Vietnamese 1200-1255 (same transmitter broadcasts on 684 kHz 1300- 1700) 684, Dongfang HAN also relays Radio France Internationale in French 1300-1400 1116, HAN -- an additional transmitter carries Hainan PBS, parallel 954 and 1107 kHz (possible location: Dongfang) 1296, Kunming YUN also relays Radio France Internationale in Vietnamese and French 1500-1700 (Alan Davies, Indonesia, 26.6.2002, ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) Hainan, Yunnan ** COLOMBIA. According to information received from the station, La Voz de tu Conciencia, from Lomalinda, Meta, expects to be back on the air this weekend or next week on the new frequency of 6060 kHz. Reports are wanted and will be acknowledged by a QSL card. See previous DXLD for address information (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 9, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO FR. RADIO OKAPI CONTINUES TO EXPAND Radio Okapi, the radio network operated by UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, went on the air in the city of Gbadolite on 10 July. It becomes the eighth city to have a local relay of Radio Okapi, the others being Kinshasa, Kisangani, Goma, Kalemie, Kananga, Mbandaka and Kindu. Transmitters are also projected for Lubumbashi, Mbuji Mayi, Beni and Butembo. David Smith, Chief of Information to the UN Mission, tells Media Network that Radio Okapi, which launched on 25 February, is the biggest radio network in UN peacekeeping history. In addition to FM relays in the major cities, a shortwave transmitter site is under construction in Kinshasa. The station, which will have three 10 kW Marconi transmitters, is due to go on the air in early September. In the meantime, Radio Okapi is already operating on shortwave using three 100 watt transmitters. According to the station's Web site, the frequencies currently used are 6030, 9550 and 10690 kHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 11 July 2002 via DXLD) Site http://www.monuc.org/radio/ has audio on demand, but my WMP says `no combination of filters could be found to render the stream`` of some recent French bulletins clicked upon. However, I got `en direct avec le porte-parole` to play, but at half speed, or less... Yes, 10690 is sic --- DXers will be zeroing in on that one, but 6030 is a lost cause; however, those who have heard presumed Okapi on 9550 overriding Habana at times would dispute the 100-watt rating! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CROATIA. A-02 for Croatian Radio HS-1 on short waves via Deanovec: 0400-2200 6165 100 kW / non-dir 0400-0900 7365 010 kW / non-dir 0400-1700 9830 100 kW / non-dir 0900-2200 13830 100 kW / 305 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. These transmissions [RFE Czech via CRo 6] have already stopped, leaving the frequencies (1071, 1287 and 1233) open rather early in the evening (Bengt Ericson, ARC, 8.7.2000, Information Desk via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH. SW PROPAGANDA OF THE THIRD REICH A Chicago-based company International Historic Films offers a CD titled Shortwave Propaganda Broadcasts of the Third Reich. The CD features six tracks: 1. GERMAN AMERICAN BUND RALLY, Feb.20,1939. Portions of an evening- long Washington's Birthday rally at Madison Square Garden, New York. Recorded in New York by WOR-Mutual, but not broadcast. 11:00 2. PAUL REVERE, Sept. 9, 1941. Radio propaganda broadcast from Berlin by Douglas Chandler, whose radio pseudonym was Paul Revere. 6:45 3. ROBERT BEST, Sept. 9, 1942. A vicious hate speech from Berlin as this American (from South Carolina) campaigns for Congress (and every other office) in absentia from Nazi Germany. Recorded in Germany. 4:45 4. AXIS SALLY, May 18,1943. Reichsrundfunk Overseas Service in English, Midge at the Mike with Mildred Gillars (known by American G.I's as Axis Sally). 14:54 5. STATION D.E.B.U.N.K, April 29, 1942. German Propaganda shortwave station (in English)-Frequency Marker and Sign-on-music. Recorded in Germany. 1:57 6. LORD HAW HAW, April 30, 1945. William Joyce's last broadcast over crumbling German radio facilities (by transcription) while severely under the influence of alcohol. 10:00 Total Running Time 50 minutes. Price: 14.95 + 5.00 s&h Orders can be made at: http://www.ihffilm.com/cd11038.html (via Sergei Sosedkin - I am not associated with the company and I have not heard the CD/, DXLD) see also GERMANY ** ECUADOR. 3289.9, Radio Centro, Ambato. 1040-1046 July 9. Transmission in Spanish. Messages and local ads: "...somos distribuidores exclusivos en la zona..."; "...para erradicar esta terrible enfermedad (aftosa) ya es ley... es un mensaje de la Asociación de Ganaderos del Ecuador"; "...es la única cooperativa... venga a... la cooperativa de mayor crecimiento regional, frente al Mercado San Juan, en Ambato". Time check: "las 5 horas con cuarenta y cuatro en el territorio ecuatoriano". 33422 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, in DX Camp-Villa Loguercio, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 12110, Radio Sagalee Oromia noted July 8th *1730- 1800* with mix of commentaries and Horn of Africa music. Had been reported inactive. However Netsanet Le Ethiopia which was 1700-1800 Weds and Sun on 12110 was not audible July 10th (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Hi folks, Following interesting Scandinavian Weekend Radio-programme will be aired 3rd of August 09:00-11:00 AM UT... 6170 and 11690 (9-10)/ 11720 kHz (10-11). Alpo Heinonen, SWR The History of Finnish Radio: Radio Meteor. DJ Tex Willer presents the history of legendary Finnish Free Radio Radio Meteor. Stories, audioclips, etc. DJ and operator Rick Random will give us a live interview by telephone. You can take part in the show by sending your Radio Meteor -questions and memories beforehand to tex.willer@swradio.ne (Alpo Heinonen, July 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. MARITIME RADIO TELEGRAPHY WORLD WIDE NEWS From http://www.seefunker.de/sfk/CD-E.htm "Maritime radio telegraphy world wide news" is the title of a CD-album of the former German radio officer Sylvester Foecking DH4PB and contains aproximately 2 hours of different Wireless Telegraphy. He has composed this CD from collected information of the "Nautical high school Bremen" and from private sources. The CD starts with a short introduction of the 100 year old history of the Maritime radio telegraphy. It continues with telegraphic news from coast stations all over the world. You´ll find famous names like Norddeich Radio, Scheveningen Radio, Land´s End Radio, Halifax Radio, Washington Radio and Sydney Radio, just to mention a few. You´ll hear from near SOS-, distress and security-messages, iceberg-warning, weather forecast and press release and you´ll see how Maritime radio telegraphy was done in practice. From what you hear you may guess what kind of ability was necessary for a radio operator and what a sensitive ear was needed to select the right information. Today most of the coast stations do not sent messages anymore, at least not with this old method. Today communication via satellite has replaced everything else. Therefore the highlights of the CD are surely the farewell messages of some of the famous coast stations. With only some "CQ" and deeply impressive words in morse they said goodbye for ever. This may induce sadness, mainly when the Maritime radio telegraphy was part of your professional life. On the sea and on the shore the radio operators always did their duty. Today this profession has vanished and the communication duties had been taken over from the nautical officers. With his private initiative Sylvester Foecking has saved a part of the history of world-wide telegraphic news. The double CD with registrations from the 70ies and 80ies from all over the world are not only of interest for former radio operators but for all those that feel somehow attached to CW. One could also recommend the homepage of the editor http://www.seefunker.de "Küstenfunkstellen und ihre Rufzeichen/ Coast-stations and their call signs". See also "international" There you can hear coast stations with their original CQ-loops, so that you may already find some interest for this album. Order: Sylvester Foecking, Wormser Strasse 16, D 55276 Oppenheim. email foecking@main-rheiner.de The cost of the double CD is in Europe [unit symbol unknown] 13,00 incl. Postage and handling. We donate 2.50 to "Seefunkkameradschaft Bremen" "Society of Radio Officers Bremen" CD in USA/oversea $13 (all incl). Payment: pse ask. pse no advance payment. Delivery time ca. 14 Days. There is a German or English edition (cover and introduction) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) See also DEUTSCHES REICH ** GUAM [and non]. K57 webcast during Bohannon, July 10 at 1314 had a constant heterodyne, more like 1 kHz than 3 from nominal 567, fading and other QRM --- sure sounds like an offair pickup beyond local range. Is there something in NW Pacific/E Asia on 566 or 568? This of course is in the middle of the local night when skywave is at peak. But you`d think KGUM could cover small Guam itself with no problems; and pickup from some other island or mainland would not be reliable. WROW 590, Albany NY, confirmed with live webcast of Jim Bohannon, UT Wed July 10 from 0207, via the roundabout yahoo broadcast.com link. When I hear a recommendable guest or topic at 0207, 0307 or 0407 I`ll quickly post a MONITORING REMINDER, also for the K57 replay time, in case it funxion (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. As mentioned earlier, AIR Home Service has started a daytime National Channel on SW. It is a relay of AIR Delhi FM II programming on 9425 via Bangalore. Programs are in Hindi and English. More details later. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, July 9, dx_india via DXLD) The new daytime National Service of AIR heard with relay of Delhi AIR FM II as follows today 10th July, 2002 on 9425. Around 0130-0530 UT (7.00 to 11 am IST); Around 0930-1230 UT (3.00 to 6.00 pm IST) More details later ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, July 10, ibid.) AIR FM II relay noted sign on at 0129 UT on 9425. Breakfast News in English at 0300 (Jose Jacob, July 10, ibid.) Effective July 1, All India Radio started transmissions in new language, Kannada to ME: 0215-0300 on 11985 and 15075, both via 500 kW tx in Bangalore (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. PUBLIC RADIO NETWORK RRI TO BROADCAST ON INTERNET | Excerpt from report by Indonesian radio on 9 July [Presenter] In dealing with the current competitive environment of the information technology sector, RRI [Indonesian public radio network] has carried out some restructuring, said RRI Managing Director Suryanta Saleh in Banjarmasin as reported by Fauzi Husein. [Correspondent] RRI managing director, Suryanta Saleh himself attended the handover from incumbent Sazli Rais to Rahman Hakim. Speaking to journalists, Suryanta said that in dealing with the current competitive environment, RRI had carried out some restructuring including the use of sophisticated information technology systems such as satellite and Internet. These changes will mean that RRI programmes can be accessed immediately from all parts of the world. [Suryanta Saleh] What should be observed is the competition within the media sector, between RRI, private radio stations and other electronic media. Secondly, progress within the broadcast media sector. We know that RRI and TVRI [state-owned television network] are not the only media from which people obtain information and entertainment. Therefore, our efforts should be focused on, as I mentioned earlier, how RRI should carry out media convergence. Then people will be able to access our information direct using the Internet. Currently, RRI not only uses both AM and FM terrestrial transmitters, but it can also be accessed through the Worldspace satellite anywhere in the nine ASEAN countries... Source: Radio Republik Indonesia, Jakarta, in Indonesian 0700 gmt 9 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3231.87, RRI Bukittinggi (presumed) June 27 2108-0021 in Indonesian, poor because of weak signal. Jakarta news relay until 2135, then YL announcer and music. Jakarta news relay at 2159-2212 again. Reactivated (Takasaki, JAPAN via Yokohama-DX...) 3231.88, unID RRI. 1254 June 29 Arabic style music then talk in Indonesian. 1159 RPK, News from Jakarta. Weak signal. Presumed RRI Bukittinggi. Thanks Tip from Takasaki (Nobuo Takeno, JAPAN...) 3231.89, RRI Bukittinggi. 1140-1335 June 28, active again since March 2001, moderate (Roland Schulze, Philippines, via BC-DX...) 3976.1, RRI Pontianak. 1250 June 29, Music and talk by man. ID at 1251 with echo. Good (Nobuo Takeno, JAPAN...) 4000.2, RRI Kendari. IS at 1159 July 10, then local news. The signal was weak under Nei Menggu PBS on 4000 kHz but best time to hear in Japan (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN...) SCI: the Song of the Coconut Islands. RPK: Rayuan Pulau Kelapa. Same as above. 4606.4, RRI Serui. 1130 July 10, local pops, ID at 1159 then into Jakarta news relay without RPK in advance. From 1233 local pops program. At 1302 suddenly changed to Jakarta news relay. Thanks information of this reactivation for Don Nelson (Juichi Yamada, JAPAN; all: Jembatan DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Expecting to hear ELWA on 4760, but at 2100 UT July 11 an RRI ID, and s/off 2119*. What is this? (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. 13470V, V. of Mojahed, July 3 1447-1507, 33443 Farsi, Talk and local music. Shifted frequency 13400, 13460 (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Re DXLD 2-110: What I assume is Iraq is also "heard" on 11787, but I can only hear what Christopher reports too. I have received this report from DSWCI member Ray Merrall: I have turned up some puzzling noises on 9754.6v circa 1400 thru to a fade out c1545 almost every day for over two weeks now. Although extremely weak, there is definite Holy Qur`an chanting and, c1500 I hear a TS which is almost certainly from CNR-2 - but any Chinese programming is even weaker than the HQ transmission. This HQ transmission (was) reported back in mid-June, and at that time I thought it might be ERTU, Egypt; I have a feeling it could well be Baghdad at that time of day (1400 to 1545). The unID reported on v9755 at c0040 has not been heard again. This "signal" is also audible at my location but unidentifiable and, if Iraq and not Egypt, will not offer Christopher any better reception. There were transmissions loudly audible from Iraq last year (?) on various 9 MHz channels - 9755 was one of them - but nothing has been heard recently (via Noel Green, UK, July 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Here's the link to a piece from Thursday's Jerusalem Post re controversy over when daylight shifting time should end. You'll note the crazy proposition by the Justice Minister that daylight time should be suspended for a few days at the High Holidays. Jul. 10, 2002 SHEETRIT SOLUTION: 'YOM KIPPUR TIME' By NINA GILBERT AND NOAH SARNA Justice Minister Meir Sheetrit is proposing a compromise to the controversy over ending daylight saving time earlier than scheduled this year by suggesting that clocks be set back for only 48 hours for Yom Kippur. Sheetrit made his proposal yesterday after the Knesset narrowly approved the preliminary reading of a Shas-sponsored bill that would end daylight saving time on September 13 instead of October 7. Sheetrit said he does not believe there would be any legal or logistical problems with his "Yom Kippur time" idea. Moreover, he said it would be implemented only this year.... http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/A/JPArticle/Full&cid=1025787758186 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ITALY. Millions of pirate viewers tapping in illegally to Italy's largest pay-television service may be suffering from shock -- and one unrelated to the country's dramatic exit from the World Cup. Pay-TV service Telepiù, which has an estimated two million illicit viewers, has carried out the electronic equivalent of changing the locks in a bid to wipe out endemic piracy in what has become almost a national sport. Until July 1, Telepiù had more pirate viewers than paying clients, a headache for Rupert Murdoch, whose News Corp Ltd wants to form Italy's sole pay-television operator. At least 3.5 percent of the Italian population were previously tuning in illegally to watch films, soccer and re-runs of "Charlie's Angels" on Telepiù, according to estimates by research groups. Surreptitious viewing was probably even more widespread, informed sources say, as many subscribers paid for the basic Telepiù service but used illegal means to access all channels. To combat piracy, Telepiù decided that on a day in June -- previously labelled "day X" -- it would switch off its old decoder system and activate a new, more secure one, locking out the illicit viewers. That day was June 24. Out of an estimated 5.1 million satellite dishes nationwide, Italy's two pay-TV channels have between them nearly 2.35 million subscribers -- of whom 1.55 million are signed up to Telepiù and 800,000 to rival Stream. A further 500,000 satellite dishes are estimated to be used to tune in to free-to-air programmes from other countries -- for example, northern Italy can receive German TV -- leaving around two million illegal viewers, almost all watching Telepiù. According to research by Italmedia Consulting, the number of pirate households prior to the switch-off was equivalent to 136 percent of those paying, at a minimum, or, at most, 164 percent. By contrast Stream, co-owned by Murdoch and Telecom Italia, says it has never been hacked. Stream uses NDS technology which is identical to that used by Britain's BSkyB, owned by News Corp. and a rare example of a profitable European pay-TV operator. Telepiù also changed from the SECA system, dating from 1996, to Mediaguard technology. News Corp. recently agreed a preliminary deal to buy Telepiù and merge it with Stream in a plan to dominate Italian pay-TV. A clamp-down on piracy would help Murdoch, who plans to take 50 percent of the new monopoly, to generate profits. He is still searching for partners for the other 50 percent. Telepiu said the new Mediaguard system, which is already present in Poland, Spain and France, will thwart pirates (Reuters via SCDX, also via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** JORDAN. Spurious signals of Radio Jordan in Arabic: 1700-2000 on 10000 and 9660 or +/- 170 kHz from fundamental 9830 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** KASHMIR. 990: According to ITU coordination details, AIR wants to increase from current 300/50 kW to 300/100 kW. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/brtpr/brific/Files/GE75_108.pdf (ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) Presumably meaning day/night powers respectively (gh, DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. Re DXLD 2-109: The Radio Korea International changes took place at the start of the A02 season. The European evening broadcast from Skelton is at 2100-2130 on 3955, not 2130-2200; checked it July 9th (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA/USA. RFE/RL HEAD SAYS RIGA SUITABLE HOME FOR US RADIO | Text of report in English by Baltic news agency BNS Riga, 8 July: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) president Tom Dine on his visit to Latvia last weekend said the public Latvian Television (LTV) headquarters in Riga was one of the most realistic options for a new home to the radio, LTV news programme Panorama reported Sunday [7 July] evening. Dine, who was in Riga for the summit of NATO candidate states, also visited the LTV multi-storey building which has plenty of vacant space. His first impression was that both the location and area were suitable for accommodation of the RFE/RL staff of 650 people. He also agreed that Latvia would benefit greatly if the RFE/RL would move to Riga. "Imagine that Riga would have professional journalists of at least 60 different nationalities, who are analysts and experts in various international subjects. Secondly, every year we pay into the Czech State Treasury 41m US dollars in salaries as well as bills," said Dine. Latvian Prime Minister Andris Berzins also supports the proposal to move the radio to Riga but the Latvian government would not pay the moving expenses, something which the Czech government has also refused to do so far, reported the LTV. "If the Radio Free Europe management makes the decision [to move to Riga], we will start talks with them... I do not think we would pay any moving costs from the state budget," the Latvian premier said in the interview to Panorama. According to the television news programme, RFE/RL supervisory council will meet in two weeks to decide on a new home for the radio. So far no more than three options have been proposed. The offer to move RFE/RL to Riga was made by the Latvian premier this May after it was suggested to him by the public Latvian Television (LTV) head Uldis Grava, who had previously worked RFE/RL. Berzins said the move would boost Latvia's prestige and economy and also help the public television to fill its currently "underpopulated" 20-storey building in Riga. After 11 September terrorist attacks on the US last year, the Czech government announced it cannot guarantee safety of RFE/RL in its current premises in Prague centre therefore the radio had to start looking for a new home. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was founded by the US congress, broadcasting in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. The radio reaches an audience of 35 million listeners, broadcasting news and analytical shows every day. Source: BNS news agency, Tallinn, in English 0644 gmt 8 Jul 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG [and non]. 6090 is being heard today - July 10 - at 0640 tune in. The signal is very strong, peaking at 20dB over 9 but with constant fading and distortion - DW 6075 is much the same as this. Some side splash from BR 6085 is also audible from time to time, depending upon bandwidth used. Announcements are for RTL Radio in German - oldies programme which 1440 MW used to broadcast. Propagation once again appears to be disturbed today, which may account for some of the fading being noted. But, overall, the signal is much as I remember it pre-1994. So that's where "our" summer has gone - on holiday to Germany! The temperature is struggling to reach 20C here with cloudy skies and rain showers. Best 73's (Noel Green, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6090 was already on when first checked at 0555. Right now (0700) the signal is here at Dresden not really satisfying, noticeably weaker than München 6085 and Wertachtal 6075. So much for the moment. [Later, 1034 UT?] Still a similar situation here at Dresden: Some peaks but mostly quite poor signal (poor in regard of a nominal output of 500 kW), indeed the signal strength is similar to Mühlacker 6030. Yes, the audio is not perfect, a dynamic compression is evidently in use but the whole thing sounds "smeary" without presence. But this needs some further listening later at home (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I checked the Luxembourg frequency 6090 at 0710 UT too. Poor signal from LUX, like our local 20 kW SWR Muehlacker 6030 station, the modulation 'smells' like it is muffled. Here is the ranking for the 0700 UT time slot: [sorted by signal strength at Stuttgart-GER] 5955 Flevo HOL S=9 +60 dB 6075 DW WER S=9 +60 dB 6085 BR Munich S=9 +60 dB ++Powerhouse ! 5975 Voice of Hope, DTK Juelich S=9 +20 dB 6045 TWR DTK Juelich S=9 +20 dB 6140 DW DTK Juelich S=9 +20 dB 6005 DLR Berlin Britz S=9 +10 dB 5985 RVI, DTK Juelich S=9 6155 ORF Vienna S=9 6030 SWR Muehlacker S=8-9 6090 LUX S=8-9, no OPTIMOD, poor modulation from 0740 increasing to S=9 in peaks 6190 DLF Berlin Britz S=8 6165 Croatia S=6-8 deep fading 6025 HNG, S=5 6120 FIN S=4 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, July 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6090; BCE-test via RTL-facilities; German language; 0616 Oldies f. e. Beach Boys; TA and ID "RTL Radio", 0621 Yesterday's news (Start of TELSTAR 1 a.o.), Arlo and Woody Guthrie ment., 0624 Song by Nancy Sinatra "These boots are made for walking"; SINPO 33443; better to copy in LSB-mode because of very strong QRM from 6085 kHz (BR 2). 55 and 73 de Klaus/DL 3 EAY and DE 2 JLS. Logging(s) from Klaus Elsebusch, Im Isselgrund 17, 46499 Marienthal, Germany. DL 3 EAY and DE 2 JLS, DSWCI-No. 3385; KWFR-No. 1005; Coordinates: Lat. 51.73 N, Long. 06.74 E Transceiver: ICOM IC 751 A Receiver: LOWE HF 150 mod. and GRUNDIG Satellit 700 Antennae: 20 m Longwire, indoor, Azimut 0 deg., 15 m Longwire, indoor, Azimut 180 deg., Loop-Antennas AMA 3 D and 11, outdoor. Accessoires: YAESU FRT 7700 (Elsebuch, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Radio Luxemburgo, 6090 khz: no escuchada ninguna señal hoy por la madrugada a 0600+ al menos, aquí en Buenos Aires. Solamente, débil señal de Rádio Bandeirantes sobre la misma frecuencia. Mucho ruido y nada de DX. 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) I preferred to sleep at 0600; that`s well after sunrise in Luxembourg, and would not expect much multi-hop nightpath propagation to ensue. Besides, there`s DGS co-channel (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I tried to get something after 0600 UT here in Toronto but I had extremely strong signal on 6090 from one of those religious stations (Piotr Balcerzak, ODXA via DXLD) Tried to listen to the special test from Luxemborg On July 10 with no luck. I set the alarm for 0600 UT (0200 local time) and as expected the frequency was totally blocked by religious programming. Tried again at 1000 UT and 6090 was still blocked. Tried at 1100 to find a very weak signal on 6090 but presumed WSHB in French on 6095 made it impossible to hear 6090 AM made. Tried 6090 in USB with no luck as it was quite weak. I sure hope they try again in the future, possibly on a clear frequency (Lee Silvi, Mentor, Ohio, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yo tampoco pude captar Luxemburgo. Intenté sobre las 07 UT y hacia las 0830 ya con menos espectativas. Lo que llegaba a esta última hora era University Network, desde The Valley, Estados Unidos, con una interminable predica en los 6090. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Gracias por cedernos la isla británica de Anguilla (gh, EE UU) Chris Hambly from Melbourne heard 6090 at 0700 over Anguilla, 0900 Anguilla, and Luxembourg gone... bugger I was working... but got QSL... but well tough... (Johno Wright, ARDXC via DXLD) De haber algo, será con potencia reducidísima, ya que no escucho a las 1700 UT sino una emisora en un idioma parecido a farsi (dirigida la emisión pues hacia Irán o Afganistán). Escucho las emisoras alemanas en 6085 y 6075 sin mayor problema. Hace media horita había algo casi imperceptible, en alemán, debajo de la emisora mencionada. De ser Luxemburgo, no serían 500 kW, sino 5, o incluso menos. Estoy en el norte de Suecia. [Luego:] Faltando unos 10 minutos para las 18 horas UT, se produjo el fade-in en mi localidad nor-escandinava de la "RTL-Radio", en alemán, en los 6090, aunque siempre muy interferida por la emisora, no sé si la VOA, que emite en idiomas farsi, dari y pashtún, al parecer para Afghanistán. La señal no corresponde a la de un transmisor de 500 kW. Talvez sea más fácil la sintonía en cuanto se depeje un poco la frecuencia (Henrik Klemetz, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Listening now (6.25 pm UK time), it`s relaying RTL Oldies. It`s a strong transmitter. Stong signal, slight interference. 73s (Mike Terry, Bournemouth UK, July 10, ODXA via DXLD) Well, the Luxembourg test gave excellent reception conditions here in Europe till about 1115 UT when the signal started going weak. There was no sign of the Bayerischer Rundfunk who is usually on 6085. Strange. Anyone have suggestions? Best Wishes and God Bless 73 (Christopher Lewis, UK, ARDXC via DXLD) We're listening to it from several locations in Europe via our RMS network. Unfortunately, the signal is mostly buried by 'splash' from BR on 6085. Here's a RealAudio sample from Antwerp from less than an hour ago: http://europe.ibb.his.com/RMSPlayer/cgi-bin/PlayerCGI.acgi?brd=RTL&loc=ANTW&lng=TEST&frq=6090&day=&btm=1600&etm=1630&sound_da=yes [couldn`t get it even after fixing broken link --- gh] Shameless plug: See http://monitor.ibb.gov/rms for more info on IBB's RMS network. bw (Bill Whitacre, DC, IBB, swprograms via DXLD) Coming in with strong signal here in UK as I type (at 1730 UT) - playing "oldies" music (such as "Tragedy", "In the Year 2525" and the Beach Boys with "California Girls" playing right now ...) (Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, ibid.) As it is [splashed] in downtown London where we have a RMS. Unfortunately, the further east you go, the worse the BR 'splash' from 6085 gets -- this includes samples I've listened to from Antwerp, Vienna, Malmö, Helsinki, Belgrade, Skopje, Zagreb, Sofia and Bucharest. Now if I can hear it at home tonight playing music from the 60's/70's, I'll be transported back about 30 years when I used to listen to it nightly! Trouble is, I'll start tuning up to 6205 in hopes of hearing RNI too! ;-) bw (Whitacre, ibid.) RTL's shortwave test transmission on 6090 kHz was heard with fair reception quality in Central Portugal on 10th July between UT 1702- 1734. SINFO rating 34433; only slight interference from Bayerischer Rundfunk 6085. Good readability of signal. Receiver used: old Grundig Satellit 3400 Professional (location: basement). Antenna: 15 metre vertical wire climbing the external wall of a block of flats. I wonder how was the reception for example in Finland (Mika Palo, Tomar, Portugal, DXing.info via DXLD) I listened spasmodically from 1300 to 1700 UT and continuously from 1715 to close at 2104. Reception was variable in the earlier slot, mostly slight to moderate Strength. from 1715 your signal slowly became stronger, as unfortunately did adjacent channel 6085 ARD-Munich. Your Peak Strength was at about 1800-1830; however you remained stronger than during the day, up to the last 15 minutes or so, (2050) when you began to be affected by 'Residual' Coronal Hole Effects (From the Sun) http://www.spaceweather.com Yes, certainly there is a problem with 6085; I don`t think this transmitter was the full 100 kW it now is when you were regularly using 6090 prior to 1994. Certainly 'nostalgic' to hear you again on Short Wave. 73 (Ken Fletcher, Prenton, BIRKENHEAD, Merseyside UK (Near LIVERPOOL) 10th July 2002, report to Lux via BDXC-UK via DXLD) Glenn, Further to recent postings RTL's "Oldiesender" is putting a strong signal on 6.090 AM into Cornwall (far SW England). Unfortunately there is very severe splatter from 6.085. I rate it 42433 - time is 20:17u on the 10th July. It's great to hear it back - I have missed the Oldiesender since it was replaced on 1.440 by Radio Peking (Nicholas Mead, July 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is a quick reply to my reception report tonight. I can still hear a good signal but more fade and QRM now. Dear Mike, Thank you very much for your valuable contribution in this test. QSL will be sent to you by RTL Radio http://www.rtlradio.de Future will be the evaluation of digital service DRM http://www.drm.org on shortwave. Next tests will be driven soon, but no exact schedule is made up to now. Kind regards Eugène Muller, Broadcasting Center Europe S.A, an RTL Group company Tel:+352 42142 7703 Fax. +352 42142 7709 email: eugene_muller@bce.lu http: //www.bce.lu (via Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [and non, FRANCE]. Hi Glenn, zoom this site: http://www.cyber-monaco.mc/cyber/flash/monaco.htm but I think also, such log-periodic antennas of 3AC could never work on Monte Carlo downtown harbour site. See BELOW a copy of the contact mail with the most well known expert Thierry Vignaud, who established many websites on the RFI, RMC transmitter sites, longwave, shortwave Allouis and Issoudun sites, R Andorra, etc. See his well known website: http://www.emetteurs.fr.fm 73 de wb df5sx Re: Subject: 3AC - Monaco Radio, Inside Monaco soil??? please help A 17:43 09/07/2002, vous avez écrit : Bonjour dear Thierry, may you can help me: ? where is the exact location of the txs and antennas of 3AC / 3AF maritime station? Is that location on the mountains above Monte Carlo like Fontbonne Mont Angel, etc., where the RMC and TWR facilities are seen. Or is the tx center in south west Monte Carlo near the Harbour/beach of Quartier de Fontvieille??? Technique : Direction Générale : Gildo Pastor Center, 7 rue du Gabian, Quartier de Fontvieille Hi, Sorry but I don't know. I have founded a website : http://www.monaco-radio.com/ Perhaps that you get more information directly from them at monaco-radio@monaco-telecom.mc Q. Is your website http://home.worldnet.fr/~tvignaud/am/e1/fr-e1.htm not working anymore ??? My former provider Worldnet has closed down the first of June and now you can see my website at http://www.emetteurs.fr.fm ``One must ask, is the tx site for this one really inside Monaco? (gh, DXLD)`` I don't think that it was possible to put a SW station in Monaco; it's a very very small territory. All the broadcast and TV transmitters are located on the French territory due to a special law dated from 1945. Best regards, Thierry VIGNAUD - Boulogne-Billancourt (France) http://www.emetteurs.fr.fm (via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. Pessoal, Recebi uma carta da Voice of Mongolia, seção japonesa, confirmando a minha recepção do dia 07/03/2002. Além da confirmação, recebi um outro texto, escrito em japonês, que traz a foto de um antílope no alto da página e no verso várias outras fotos de outros animais. Porém, o que mais me surpreendeu foi que veio um osso junto com as cartas. Alguém saberia me explicar o siginificado desse osso? Suponho que seja do antílope que citei, mas não tenho certeza. 73's a todos, (Marco Antonio Archanjo, Brasil, July 10, radioescutas via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) This may be a first. VOM enclosed a *bone* with his QSL (gh, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. Frequency change on the latest RNZI website. 1106-1305 (ex-9515) 9850 325 degrees Daily. To W Pacific, Bougainville, East Timor, Asia. Note frequency change from Friday 12 July. 73 de Wolfgang df5sx (Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Adrian Sainsbury of Radio New Zealand International advises that as of Friday, July 12, the station will replace 9515 with 9850 kHz between 1105 and 1305 UT. The change is prompted by attempts to get a better signal into Asia (John Figliozzi, July 10, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And should be better in NAm, out from under Sackville (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 690, YNRH Radio Hermanos, address: de Banexpo ½ cuadra al este, Matagalpa. DG: Mons. Leopoldo José Brenes. Slogan: "Radio Hermanos - Voz y Sentir de la Diocesis de Matagalpa" stn 820, YNOL Radio Ondas de Luz, address Barrio Largaespada, Managua. Tel/fax +505 222 2250. Slogan: "La Misionera del Aire" stn 830, YNRZ Radio Zinica, address: Barrio Central (or Ap. 6), Bluefields. Tel +505 822 2771, fax +505 822 2456. E-mail: rzinica@ibw.com.ni Slogan: "Radio Zinica - en el alegre corazon costeño" stn 950, YNCC Radio Rumbos de Rivas, address: Carretera Hacia San Jorge, Rivas. 2,5 kW. E-mail: radiorumbos_950am@yahoo.com stn 960, YNRV La Voz del Trópico Húmedo, address: Costado Norte de la Iglesia Católica. 1100-0300. DG: Fernando Corea Valladares. Slogan: "La Voz del Trópico Húmedo - Pequeñita - Pero - Poderosa" stn 980, YN.. Radio Redención Internacional, address: Calle Edgar Lang, Managua. New station. Belongs to Radio América, 1220 kHz. E-mail: maugepc9@cablenet.com.ni Sch: 1200-0400. stn (Arctic Radio Club Central America column, July via editor Tore Larsson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Note above, Ondas de Luz, which once was a nice split DX signal in NAm when on 825; and R. Zinica, which a few years ago was on 49m. And Voice of the Humid Tropics! The secret is out (gh, DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. Salama Radio (1900-2000 UT, 15250 kHz, 500 kW), studio and transmitter in the UK, broadcasts are beamed to Nigeria. Main language is Hausa, but station also has broadcasts in Fulfulde and other, even more exotic, languages. You may hear many pieces of African music on its waves. Sometimes, at 1930, Brian Edwards, of Calvinist Church, reads his sermons. Reception is very good (Vasily Gulyaev, Astrakhan, Russia, Signal July 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** OMAN. ITU coordination details of the new BBC MW transmitters in Oman are as follows: Location: A'Seela, G.C: 59E27 21N57. This is some 60 km south of the easternmost tip of Oman, near the town of Al Ashkarah (Ashkirah). 702 800 kW, main lobe 290 to 340 degrees day/night 1413 800 kW, main lobe 320 to 110 degrees day/night http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/brtpr/brific/Files/GE75_108.pdf (ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3260, R Madang, 0939 July 11, reactivated with election returns in mix of English & Pidgin. Fair signal (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also BOUGAINVILLE ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [non]. Re DXLD 2-104, inquiry about Gordon Darling: Gordon has been back in the UK for several years now living in Sussex. I get news of him occasionally, usually through a mutual friend. He is no longer involved in the radio hobby (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5500.2, Radio San Miguel, San Miguel, Cajamarca Department. 2351-0020 July 8. Transmission in Spanish. Very nice instrumental folk music. The program is conducted by male. Greetings. Huaynos. Announcement and ID as: "y bien, estamos en esta noche en Radio San Miguel...". Time check: "7 de la tarde con 16 minutos en todo el Perú". Communicate and messages. Complete ID as: "Radio San Miguel, transmitiendo desde San Miguel, departamento de Cajamarca, en la banda de 60 metros, banda tropical". 24532 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, in DX Camp-Villa Loguercio, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** QATAR. From Variety Posted: Sun., Jul. 7, 2002 [book review] Public service broadcasting? Al-Jazeera, the Arab television station, aims for impartiality but it is still imbued with the prejudices of its audience, says Douglas Davis SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (LONDON) Abstract: AL-JAZEERA: HOW THE FREE ARAB NEWS NETWORK SCOOPED THE WORLD AND CHANGED THE MIDDLE EAST by Mohammed el-Nawawy and Adel Iskandar, Westview Press, pounds 16.99, 228 pp pounds 16.99 (pounds 1.99 p&p) 0870 155 7222 THE WORLD might not be quite ready for a full-blown biography of Al- Jazeera, the Arabic-language CNN wannabe, but in the process of describing the beginnings of this precocious five-year-old television satellite station, the Egyptian-born authors offer a valuable... (via Mike Terry, DXLD) BTW, I have a feeling this never got into DXLD, but I saw a report that the US has a new and growing base in Qatar, of all places. No doubt there will be communications facilities included (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Voice of Russia deleted 15560 via MSK 250 kW / 130 deg for transmissions: 1200-1400 in Russian and 1400-1500 in English (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. MEDIA TRIAL: 'PROPAGANDA' RADIO INFLUENCED THE RWANDA GENOCIDE, WITNESS MAINTAINS Internews (Arusha) July 9, 2002 By Mary Kimani Arusha --- Expert witness Alison Des Forges, a Rwandan historian and Human Rights Watch advisor, today maintained before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that Radio Television Libre Des Mille Collines (RTLM) played a key role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.... http://allafrica.com/stories/200207090349.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ** SAMOA AMERICAN. 585: ITU coordination details of the new station intended for this frequency: Location: Tafuna, power: 5 kW, G.C: 170W46 14S21, antenna height: 80 m. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/brtpr/brific/Files/GE75_108.pdf (ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [and non]. UAE(non): Additional freq for FEBA Radio in Persian: 0530-0700 Fri only on 9660 (55444) via DHA 500 kW / 345 deg \\ 15555 (34543) via SEY 100 kW / 352 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Response from Brother Stair`s E-mail account: My original message had been: Has the prophet been set free yet? I pray thee the charges be dropped. Hallelujah. But I see nothing in the papers. I've killed my television. What is happening on the case, and is the prophet set free at last? Response from Brother Stair's e-mail account (Sister Stair?): Not yet. The Two breach of trust (financial) charges were dropped. The other two charges remain. Keep praying for him (via Robert Arthur, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND. 954 kHz: ITU coordination is being sought for 100 kW on this frequency. http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/terrestrial/brtpr/brific/Files/GE75_108.pdf (ARC Information Desk July 8 via editor Olle Alm, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN --- Remember this week we're broadcasting Monday to Friday from the Baltic island of Gotland, and the annual week of political lectures and seminars centered around Visby's Almedalen Park. Some of the coming highpoints: Wednesday: We focus on the Center Party. We'll also do a little food tasting and we'll meet an up-and-coming rock band, home grown on Gotland and our feature is "Money Matters" Thursday: We focus on the ruling Social Democrat Party, and "GreenScan" looks at Gotland, which prides itself of being the leading eco-municipality in Sweden Friday: Our weekly review, looking back on the Political Week in Almedalen Saturday: Our monthly current affairs magazine "Sweden Today" Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" another chance to hear about pop-opera with Fredrik Kempe and Stockholm Live Day (SCDX/MediaScan July 10 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. UKRAINE'S BAN ON BROADCASTS IN RUSSIAN CAUSING CONCERN - diplomat. 9/7 Tass 347 By Irina Shatalova MOSCOW, July 9 (Itar-Tass) - Russian senior diplomat said Tuesday the Russian authorities were concerned by a resolution of the Ukrainian National Council for Broadcasting obliging the country's broadcasting companies to switch all their programming over to the Ukrainian language in the next twelve months. Alexander Yakovenko, an official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said: "We honor Ukraine's desire to develop its national culture and the Ukrainian language, but the move limits the opportunities of receiving programs in the native tongue for millions of Russians living in Ukraine, as well as for numerous Ukrainians for whom Russian is the native tongue". He also stressed that the order to cancel all programming in Russian meant a violation of the bilateral cooperation in the humanitarian sphere and international requirements for protection of ethnic minority rights, specified in the International Pact of Civil and Political Rights and the U.N. resolutions on minority rights. Yakovenko mentioned that the Russian government was taking into account the interests of Ukrainians living in Russia to getting information in their native tongue. The Year of Ukraine, underway here now, was largely targeted toward that, he said. The Russian and Ukrainian departments in charge of information policy had recently stepped up their contacts, Yakovenko said. "We hope that the Ukrainian authorities will heed our concerns on the issue," he said. -0-kle/dro (via David R. Alpert, area code 818, DXLD) ** U K. RELIGIOUS BROADCASTING IN THE UK From Waveguide Monday July 08, 2002 The Church of England said yesterday that worship on television has suffered an "unprecedented" decline over the last two years. A church group which has been monitoring religious output on television and radio said there had been a "marked decrease" in "liturgical and inspirational" programmes. The Religion in Broadcasting group analysed the number of hours and the scheduling of religious programming for 20 months. It found that the amount of "inspirational" broadcasting, including programmes such as the BBC's long-running Songs of Praise and ITV's My Favourite Hymns, dropped from about 25 to 20 hours a month, and religious services fell from about 20 to 10 hours. Television increasingly concentrated only on religious festivals, it said (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. 'CRITICAL TIME' FOR DIGITAL RADIO A senior industry executive has exclusively told Inside Radio that the next 6 months are 'critical' to the success of digital radio in the UK. Simon Cole, the chief executive of UBC Media, spoke to Inside Radio after commenting in the national press that the government should actively support and market digital radio. "The next 6 months are absolutely critical for the future of Digital Radio," Simon told Inside Radio earlier this week, "because for the first time the consumer will be offered the right devices, at the right prices, with the right services on them." "If we can prove the model in the next 6 months then we have very little to worry about." Earlier this week, UBC announced a deal that will see Classic Gold launch on digital radio across London, increasing its potential audience to over 29 million. The digital carriage deal will make the format the third largest on digital multiplexes. UBC Media which owns Classic Gold, already has significant digital radio interests including Oneword, and is also part of the MXR consortium, which carries Classic Gold on its regional multiplexes. The agreement signed today with the Digital Radio Group (DRG), means that the new service will include eight hours a day of local London programming and will feature news and information on London, to be provided by a yet to be announced partner. Launched on 25 January this year, the DRG multiplex includes a mixture of analogue and digital-only services, such as Choice FM, Liquid, the Arrow and Ritz 1035. The DRG is owned amongst others by GWR, the Wireless Group, Asian Sound and The Carphone Warehouse (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K. COMEDY ON THE BBC WORLDSERVICE Hi! I have another argument/rationale you can use when you respond to the often-repeated requests for radio comedy programs on the World Service: Radio comedy often depends on the audience being able to hear clearly and understand every word, or often just one specific particular word, in a joke punchline or pun or other verbal humor. You cannot rely on that with shortwave, and I believe also on Internet audio. On shortwave, it is inevitable that a burst of noise, a sudden fade, or some other interference will destroy the reception of that one vital word or phrase. Internet audio is also subject to dropouts and buffering problems that will mess up the understanding of that particularly important bit of audio. This is due to the innate animosity of the universe, a trait longtime shortwave listeners have grown used to, when the once-an-hour ID of some rare and marginally- heard station is the bit obscured by a lightning crash or a deep fade. Those of us who still listen to the BBC on shortwave here in North America are used to this sort of thing happening on your once-strong signals, along with the frequent transmitter dropouts on 15190 kHz during our mornings. I, too, along with the person whose letter you read in last week's WRITE ON, remember hearing "The Goon Show" on the BBC years ago. I also remember never being able to understand it! It wasn't until I discovered an LP record of Goon Show humor that I was able to make out enough of it to find it really funny. Before, it was just mystifying. This also leads into a comment about another letter you read, praising the variety of accented English variants in the speech of people participating in various BBC programmes. I believe that you there in Britain find the English speech of South Asians far more clear and understandable that we do here in North America. You probably hear such speech every day in the normal course of life. I, myself, find much of the speech of such people that I hear on various BBC programmes to be terribly difficult to understand. Whether it be a scientist interviewed on Science In Action, Discovery, One Planet, etc., or a filmmaker or reviewer on On Screen, etc., most of such speech is often a blur to me. I'd far prefer you transcribe their words and have an in-studio announcer read them in as neutral a standard accent as possible. Also, maybe you can process some peoples' speech to a different frequency range to make it clearer? For example, in this week's "Go Digital", I can clearly understand the female presenter's voice, but the deeper voice of the man she was interviewing was practically undecipherable. Regards, (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, July 10, to BBC writeon, cc to DXLD) I agree that you need perfect reception to appreciate fast-paced and idiomatic comedy, but such is now the norm via webcasts. I often listen to BBC Radio 2, 3 or 4 hours at a time with nary a glitch. I sometimes listen to the comedy strip, typically M-F at 1730-1800 UT on 4, and even so, many of the shows are hard to appreciate (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. BBC deleted the following freqs for ME: 13645 DHA 500 kW / 045 deg 0445-0700 in English 21735 RMP 500 kW / 085 deg 0445-0700 in English 21735 RMP 500 kW / 085 deg 0700-1000 in Pashto/Persian/English 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) ** UNITED NATIONS [non]. Updated A-02 schedule for UN Radio via Merlin Communications as of July 1: 1700-1715 Mon-Fri French NF 7150*MEY 100 kW / 076 deg, ex 6125 17705 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg 21490 MEY 500 kW / 342 deg 1715-1720 Mon-Fri Music 21490 MEY 500 kW / 342 deg 1725-1730 Mon-Fri Music NF 7150*MEY 100 kW / 005 deg, ex 6125 1730-1745 Mon-Fri English NF 7150*MEY 100 kW / 005 deg, ex 6125 NF 17570 ASC 250 kW / 065 deg, ex 15105 17710 SKN 300 kW / 125 deg 1830-1845 Mon-Fri Arabic 15585 RMP 500 kW / 115 deg 17565 SKN 300 kW / 180 deg * totally blocked by Radio Ukraine International in Ukrainian (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. OBSERVER #200 / 12-07-2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov & Angel Datzinov. Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER-BUL". All times in UT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer schedule of RFE/RL as of July 10: ALBANIAN 1900-1930 792 7165 11875 15140 ARABIC 0100-0300 9730 9865 12030 0300-0400 1314 9730 9865 11910 0400-0600 9730 9865 12030 1400-1500 1314 9825 13755 15170 17740 1500-1600 1314 9825 11805 15170 17740 1600-1700 9825 11805 15170 17740 1700-1800 9575 11805 17610 1800-1900 9705 11805 17610 2100-2300 7155 9615 ARMENIAN 0200-0300 6170 7275 1400-1500 9785 1600-1700 9620 11895 AVARI 0415-0430 9850 11760 15355 1715-1730 9810 11925 17630 AZERI 0300-0400 9680 0900-1000 15510 17665 21520 1300-1400 15145 15255 17710 1500-1600 15385 1800-1900 11865 BELORUSSIAN 0300-0500 612 1188 6170 7295 9635 1500-1700 612 9565 11725 15215 1700-1900 612 7190 11730 15480 1900-2100 612 1188 9530 9750 11865 BULGARIAN 0600-0630 11975 1000-1030 15115 1400-1600 15115 CHECHEN 0430-0445 9850 11760 15355 1730-1745 9810 11925 17630 CHERKASSI 0445-0500 9850 11760 15355 1745-1800 9810 11925 17630 DARI 0400-0500 11705 13790 15705 17560 17670 0730-0800 15345 17775 19010 21815 0900-1000 15220 17865 19010 21680 1300-1400 15265 15355 15370 17685 17740 1730-1800 9845 11705 12030 15210 15340 1930-2000 7285 9575 15190 15340 2230-2300 7430 9690 11990 13805 FARSI 0430-0730 9510 15525 17835 0730-0830 9510 15515 17835 1400-1700 15495 15530 17610 21775 1800-2000 5860 9875 9885 1900-2200 7175 11710 GEORGIAN 0400-0500 9595 1500-1600 17725 1900-2000 11690 KAZAKH 0100-0200 7170 9665 11845 1100-1200 11870 15195 17670 1300-1400 12140 13795 15455 1400-1500 4995 15355 15455 1500-1600 4995 13795 15355 2300-2400 7250 9625 9660 KYRGHYZ 0000-0200 6170 7295 9715 1200-1230 11930 15120 17615 1300-1330 11930 15205 17865 1400-1500 5860 11845 15345 1500-1600 5860 11960 11980 15340 PASHTO 0300-0400 11705 13790 15705 17560 17670 0700-0730 15345 17775 19010 21815 1000-1100 15220 17865 19010 21680 1200-1300 15265 15355 15370 17685 17740 1700-1730 9845 11705 12030 15210 15340 1800-1830 9845 12030 15210 15340 2200-2230 7430 9690 11990 13805 ROMANIAN 0300-0330 7210 9595 Monday to Friday 1500-1530 9505 11950 1600-1630 9505 9725 1630-1700 9505 9725 Monday to Friday 1800-1900 7165 11715 Monday to Friday RUSSIAN 0000-0100 6095 5985 7120 7170 7220 9520 0200-0300 6000 6105 7155 7220 7245 9520 0300-0400 6000 6105 7155 7220 9520 11725 0400-0500 6000 7220 9520 9760 11725 11885 0500-0600 7220 9520 9705 9760 11885 17730 0600-0700 9520 9705 11815 15130 17730 17810 0700-0800 9520 9705 11815 11860 15130 17730 17810 0800-1000 11860 15280 17730 17810 1000-1100 11860 11875 11885 15130 15145 17730 17810 1100-1200 11885 13745 15130 15145 15205 17730 1200-1300 11885 13745 15130 15145 15205 15215 1400-1500 9595 11725 11770 11885 11895 15215 1500-1600 7220 9520 11770 11895 13755 1600-1700 7220 9520 11770 11885 13755 1900-2000 6105 7115 7220 9520 9615 11885 2000-2100 5955 6105 7115 7220 7260 9520 9705 2100-2200 5955 6105 7220 7245 7260 9520 9715 2200-2300 5985 6095 7220 7245 9520 9665 2300-2400 5985 6095 7120 7170 7220 9520 RUSSIAN CE.AS 0400-0415 9850 11760 15355 1700-1715 9810 11925 17630 SERBOCROATIAN 0230-0330 1197 0730-0800 9555 11970 15260 1300-1330 9625 11795 17605 1600-1700 1188 1197 6040 7115 11925 1730-1900 1188 9625 13635 15245 2000-2100 5970 7165 7245 2130-2200 1188 2200-0100 1188 1197 6130 9635 11730 TAJIK 0100-0200 4760 9760 11660 0200-0400 9760 11660 15520 1400-1500 15145 15370 17855 1500-1630 9790 15145 15370 1630-1700 4760 9790 15145 15370 TATAR-BASHKIR 0300-0400 9815 11820 0500-0600 9725 15425 1500-1600 11995 15245 1900-2000 9650 11925 TURKMEN 0200-0300 864 7295 9555 15295 0300-0400 7175 9555 15295 1400-1500 13815 15265 17690 1500-1530 13815 15160 17690 1530-1600 864 13815 15160 17690 1600-1800 13815 15160 17885 UKRAINIAN 0300-0400 6065 7115 9710 Monday to Friday 0500-0600 7115 7165 11815 Monday to Friday 1700-1800 9855 11895 15115 1800-1900 7115 11660 11835 1900-2000 7145 11660 11835 Sunday to Friday UZBEK 0100-0200 864 0200-0400 9785 12015 15445 0400-0600 12015 17630 21770 1600-1700 9840 11980 15335 1700-1800 9595 11815 11980 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA Language Services: with years they began and ended if applicable: http://www.voa.gov/index.cfm?tableName=tblVOAHistory&articleID=10009§iontitle=VOA%20History (via gh, from a tip in July World DX Club Contact) ** U S A [non]. New schedule for Voice of Hope/High Adventure Ministries to ME, DTK changes: 0430-0600 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg English ex 0400-0600 0700-0900 21590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Arabic 0900-1000 21590 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg English CANCELLED 1500-1630 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg English ex 1500-1600 1630-1700 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Persian ex 1600-1700 1700-1900 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg Arabic ex 1700-1800 1900-2000 15715 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg English ex 1800-2100 Remnants Hope Ministry in English: 0800-0900 13810 JUL 100 kW / 250 deg Sat CANCELLED 1200-1300 6110 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg Sat/Sun CANCELLED (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) Brother Stair detractors. Wonder if they are still on US stations (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Well over 10 years ago, Gene Scott used to run channel 38 in San Francisco, along with channel 30 in the Los Angeles area (don't remember the calls). 38 was carried on my cable system. The programming on the "University Network" was basically closeups of him wearing funny hats and sunglasses under his reading glasses, with him either reading from scripture or just going on rants. When he was losing his licenses for the UHF stations, he set up a mechanical monkey to run and referred to it as the FCC. I think he used a rubber mallet on the thing too. There would also be musical interludes (even HE had to take a break, hi), with videos shown; sometimes a choir singing-- once he showed the transmitter site for the Caribbean Beacon, with a 360 degree view. He never ran SS on TV, and I've never heard him in SS on SW. While I last logged 1610 from CA back in the early 80s, I seriously doubt if the stations on 1610 and 690 deviate from his SW stations today. I think he just needed to get away from FCC influence when he brought the 690 / 1610 stations on line. (He lost his license because he wouldn't reveal his contributors to the FCC, he claimed.) (Richard Toebe, July 9, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE JULY 8 Days are local days in the Americas; times are UT MONDAY-FRIDAY/ To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 1000-1030 La Voz de la Junta Patriótica Cubana (español) 1030-1200 Viva Miami (English/español) Note: This transmission from 0900-1200 UT is temporarily not aired on Tuesday and Thursday. To North America on 7385 kHz Note: The following are Tuesday-Saturday UT 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Viva Miami (English, Friday) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) 0330-0400 Wavescan (English, Friday) SATURDAY/SABADO To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 0900-0930 Viva Miami (English) 1030-1100 La Voz del Escambray (español) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 2300-0000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) The following are Sunday UT 0000-0030 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) 0100-0200 Radio Revista Lux (español) To North America on 7385 kHz 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0230-0300 Drive-in Double Feature (English) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) SUNDAY To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 0900-1000 Foro Militar Cubano (español) 1000-1030 Radio Guiteras - La Voz de Jóven Cuba (español) To North America on 15725 kHz 1200-1300 Viva Miami (English) To the Caribbean and Latin America on 9955 kHz 2300-0000 Radio Revista Lux (español) The following are UT Monday 0000-0015 Radio Vaticano (español) 0030-0130 Radio Oriente Libre (español) 0130-0200 Conversando entre Cubanos (español) To North America on 7385 kHz 0200-0230 Radio Praga (español) 0300-0330 Radio Prague (English) (from http://www.wrmi.net/page714011.htm --- non-gospel programs only excerpted by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST; also via John Norfolk) ** U S A. PUBLIC BROADCASTERS PICK UP STATIC ON CAPITOL HILL Media: Officials fail to avoid a partisan debate over their programming as they seek funding for digital technology. By EDMUND SANDERS TIMES STAFF WRITER July 11 2002 WASHINGTON -- Public broadcasters asked Capitol Hill for half a billion dollars Wednesday to help it meet a government-mandated transition to digital technology. The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-pbs11jul11.story (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. GODDARD RADIO STATION FACES CLOSURE July 7, 2002 From The Rutland Herald, Rutland, Vermont By ROBIN PALMER, Staff Writer PLAINFIELD – A radio station that has served the central Vermont community for nearly 30 years is expected to go off the air later this month, ending an era and upsetting a group of volunteer programmers and listeners. Goddard College's WGDR will close on July 26 unless college administrators and trustees make a decision that will allow the station to stay on the air.... http://rutlandherald.nybor.com/Archive/Articles/Article/49569 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) WGDR was, once upon a time, a WORLD OF RADIO affiliate (gh) ** U S A. RADIO GAMES Is the school district`s public radio swap about more powerful broadcasts of the Blue Jackets and OSU sports? Confidential documents obtained by Alive show deals between WCBE, WOSU and WWCD have been discussed in secret for years --- by Bob Fitrakis Is it all about sports? Columbus School Board member Bill Moss believes that's the hidden agenda behind WOSU`s proposal to manage WCBE, the school district's public radio station. Moss fears a potential signal swap could be intended to secure a better frequency for Dispatch Broadcast Group sports station WBNS, radio home of Buckeyes, and put the FM home of the Blue Jackets on an improved broadcast tower. Public records obtained by Columbus Alive, including confidential communications between Columbus school administrators and Washington attorney Ernest T. Sánchez, suggest that Moss may be right. Though the school board began officially accepting local management agreement proposals just this spring, in an effort to outsource the management of WCBE, documents show that deals with WWCD and WOSU have been discussed in private for the last four years. Former Columbus Public Schools administrator Sherry Bird Long was in frequent communication with Sánchez during the three-year period prior to her resignation in April 2001. (At the time of her resignation, Bird Long was being investigated as part of a contract-steering scandal; she later pleaded guilty to a felony charge.) ... [very long story of intrigue:] http://www.columbusalive.com/2002/20020704/070402/07040203.html (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) ** U S A. Some months ago, the St. Louis community/alternative radio station KDHX (for Double Helix), suspended webcasting for the usual reasons, uncertainty about the royalty situation. Last week I tried them again and they were back, so I checked program schedule and entered a number of shows onto MONITORING REMINDERS. Since I was listening at a time not specified as (streaming audio!), I assumed that this wasn`t really strict. Then when I tried to hear the Thursday 1400 show, Great American Music, I got a `not available` message, so proceeded to remove all the shows I had entered on the calendar, but added a couple which do claim to be streamed: Friday 1500-1800 UT Songwriter`s Showcase. And Saturday 1500-1700 Down Yonder, bluegrass. Most of the shows allegedly streamed now are talk (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I told a few people in my area in an E-mail last night to watch out for the 1170 in Grosse Pointe, but I haven't heard it since Monday, and I just checked now and they are not on. At any rate, that is all that I knew with that, and I will let you know if I hear anything more (Jeffrey Michael Kenyon, MI, July 10, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. TV STATION KMOL SET TO AGAIN BE WOAI By Jeanne Jakle , Express-News staff writer Web Posted : 07/03/2002 12:00 AM http://news.mysanantonio.com/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlc=748644 KMOL, San Antonio's first television station, will revert to its original call letters, WOAI, on or before Jan. 1, the NBC affiliate's owners said Tuesday. After the change, subject to formal approval by the Federal Communications Commission, KMOL will be the city's only TV station with call letters beginning with a "W." "We are headed back to the future," said William Moll, president of television for San Antonio-based Clear Channel Worldwide, which owns both KMOL-TV, Channel 4, and radio station WOAI. He referred to the fact that KMOL, the city's first TV station, initially began broadcasting on Dec. 11, 1949, as WOAI, sister to the already established WOAI-AM radio. Southland Industries owned both properties back then. They were sold in 1965 to Crosley Corp., which later became AVCO. WOAI-TV changed to KMOL-TV in 1975. That happened after ownership was split. The radio portion was turned over to businessmen Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, founders of Clear Channel Worldwide. TV and radio joined hands once again last October, however, when Clear Channel Worldwide acquired KMOL from Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. "The name WOAI is also synonymous with news and information in San Antonio," KMOL Vice President and General Manager Don Perry said Tuesday. Generally, TV and radio stations west of the Mississippi begin with the letter "K." KENS, Channel 5, the CBS affiliate, is the only other TV station in the market with a sister radio station with the same call letters, KENS-AM. 07/03/2002 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WITH BY-THE-NUMBERS RADIO, REQUESTS ARE A DYING BREED July 11, 2002 By LAURA M. HOLSON LOS ANGELES, July 10 - Few executives better reflect the changes in the music industry these days than Tom Poleman, program director for Z-100 (WHTZ-FM), the top pop radio station in New York City and one of 1,200 stations owned by the conglomerate Clear Channel Communications. Mr. Poleman rarely plays his favorites. Instead, he spends each day crunching numbers in his office in Jersey City, reviewing spreadsheets and computer-generated data chronicling what listeners will want to hear... http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/11/business/media/11RADI.html?ex=1027417082&ei=1&en=cf1881619a3c3038 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW NOAA WX BROADCASTS SOUND LIKE HUMANS Weather Turns Mellow As Radio Voices Recast New Software Delivers More Human Tone By Michael E. Ruane Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, July 11, 2002; Page B01 Nobody liked Igor, who was also known as Sven. He sounded slightly Teutonic, slurred his sing-song speech and felt like someone you might want your kids to avoid. If he sounded inhuman, he couldn't help it. He was. And it cost him. As of yesterday, Igor/Sven, as he was nicknamed by many local listeners of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio system, is out of a job. The unloved computer voice that has weirdly recited forecasts and warnings over NOAA weather radio in our area for the last four years - - he could never properly pronounce the word Dulles -- has been canned. His replacements are Craig and Donna, who sound like soft-rock deejays and are at least semi-human: Their speech is made up of human voice fragments called phonemes, reassembled by a computer. Locally, they debuted yesterday morning from the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington office, after senior forecaster Chris Strong gave them final lessons in proper local pronunciations: stuff like Puh-TOW-mick, An-AH-pole-is, FAW-keer and NAW-fuk were potentially difficult, officials said. Earlier, Donna had a slight problem with the word degrees, as in 90 degrees. It came out "degrease." But she'll learn and be popular, especially among mariners, the Weather Service said. The automated voices are the latest effort by NOAA's National Weather Service to get weather information to the public as quickly as possible. The Weather Service has been broadcasting weather via special weather radio since the 1950s. You need a receiver that picks up the service to listen. Many marine radios pick up the broadcasts, and inexpensive weather radios are becoming increasingly popular, the Weather Service said. Originally, the broadcasts were done with tape-recorded human voices, said Joann Swanson, the Weather Service expert who headed the new voice project. And forecasters could always go live in an emergency. "In the old days, you had a human being who would rip and read off the Teletypes," she said. But that could be tedious, time-consuming and labor-intensive. About four years ago, during a period of broad technological improvement, the service concluded that automating weather radio would produce faster and labor-saving reports. In early 1998, the agency turned to technology that could render the broadcasts via a computer that read text and then spoke in an imitated human voice. It was fast and modern, and it bombed. "A lot of people felt that this was a dehumanization," Swanson said. The reports came in a computerized voice officially nicknamed "Perfect Paul." To many listeners, he quickly became Igor, Sven or Arnold. People complained that the voice had a foreign accent. Gradually, technology emerged in which an actual human voice was recorded and then disassembled by computer software into the 40 or so phonemes, or subsyllables, that make up human speech, Swanson said. The software was able to read text and reassemble the phonemes into the corresponding human speech. The Weather Service studied companies that made such products, polled listeners via the Internet and assembled focus groups to judge the candidates. The Weather Service selected a product called Speechify, made by Boston-based SpeechWorks International Inc. Speechify produced the voices that the Weather Service nicknamed Craig and Donna, after two Weather Service employees involved in the project. Yesterday, the Sterling office was broadcasting with both voices. Craig and Donna sounded tentative, with a slight tremor. That seemed inevitable: They were new, and Jim Travers, the meteorologist in charge of the office, said further pronunciation adjustments were probably inevitable. But they had done well. "I listened to it . . . and I was just enthralled," he said. "It's a huge improvement." ================================================================== http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52160-2002Jul10.html (via Steve Ely, alt.talk.weather et al. newsgroups, via John Norfolk [hmmm, am I saying your name right?]; also via Tom McNiff, Mike Terry, DXLD) I kind of liked "Perfect Paul." Once you get past the ads and promos [2:37], you can hear the new voices at NOAA weather radio. Miami will be interesting to listen to during the hurricane season. Click on http://broadcast-weather.net/noaa.html for NOAA Weather Radio Live - Hurricane, Tornado, Winter Storms, Flash Floods Weather Broadcasting. Good listening, (Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, US, July 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Grrr, I sat thru that incredibly informal and leisurely promo for 2:37, after clicking on one of the cities available at random, Marion IL, and THEN, ``connection could not be established to Paducah``! No apparent way to skip it (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. A major anti-Chávez demonstration is scheduled for Thursday the 11th, perhaps surpassing the one in April which led to his brief overthrow... (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) MAÑANA DÍA CRUCIAL PARA LA DEMOCRACIA VENEZOLANA Mañana Jueves se va realizar una Gran Marcha denominada ``Marcha por la Libertad``, donde se le va solicitar al Presidente de la República que renuncie de una buena vez. Lo particular de esta marcha, que a diferencia de las otras, la misma llegará hasta el mismo Palacio Presidencial de Miraflores, cosa que no fué posible el pasado 11 de Abril cuando las turbas armadas del oficialismo, asesinaron a tiros a 18 personas inocentes cuando protestaban de manera pacífica con pitos, cacerolas y banderas. Ya en la prensa venezolana se comenta que dicha manifestación está tan bien organizada, que es posible que supere la del 11 de abril que fue la más grande en la historia política de este país, cuando se cree que alcance a más de Un Millón de personas. Aunque se han tomado todas las medidas posibles de seguridad por parte de la Policía Metropolitana de Caracas, ayer el Presidente ordenó acuartelamiento a todas las guarniciones militares del país, así como también se vió en la capital la llegada de tropas de paracadistas en camiones militares leales al Presidente procedente de la Guarnición de Maracay, Estado Aragua, la más importante de Venezuela. Ya se sabe que el Presidente no estará en el día de mañana en el Palacio de Miraflores, sinó en Maracay rodeado con sus militares leales. Esta actitud del primer mandatario evidencia su temor de su posible salida, pero que no está dispuesto a realizar. Veamos que sucederá, pero mañana será un día histórico para Venezuela, a lo cual los invito a visitar la web http://www.auyantepui.com donde encontrará la sección de medios de comunicación, así como también sintonizar a las pocas emisoras venezolanas en la onda corta. Sin duda nuestro país será noticia en el mundo entero, esperemos que para bien. Que dios nos acompañe! ===== Quedo atentamente, (Econ. Jorge García Rangel E-mail: jorge.garcia@rocketmail.com July 10, WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VENEZUELA. Saludos colegas diexistas. Para todos un feliz Jueves. La siguiente información fué transmitida en el boletín de Noticias del Circuito Radio Venezuela. Tres hombres armados tomaron esta madrugada nuestra emisora hermana: Venezuela Tricolor, en Barquisimeto, Estado Lara. Los presuntos rebeldes se identificaron como miembros de un denominado Frente Armado de La Revolución. Sin embargo voceros de la oposición larense, señalan que se trata de integrantes de los llamados Circulos Bolivarianos que apoyan al gobierno de Chávez. Estos desconocidos luego de someter al personal de la emisora Venezuela Tricolor, colocaron una cinta con un mensaje que salió al aire. Los cuerpos policiales de Lara, interrogan a los trabajadores de la emisora a fin de dar con la identidad y paradero de los sujetos. Nota: Transcripción fiel del sonido del noticiero de Radio Venezuela. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, July 11, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. TAJIKISTAN(non): Radio Free Vietnam in Vietnamese now on air: 1400-1430 Mon-Fri on 15235 via DB 200 kW / 125 deg, ex TAC 200 kW / 131 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 9 via DXLD) i.e. same frequency but site changed from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to Dushanbe, Tajikistan (gh, WORLD OF RADIO 1139) ** ZIMBABWE [and non] POLICE RAID FAILS TO SILENCE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE On 4 July Zimbabwean police, accompanied by officers from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, raided the Harare studios of Voice of The People (VOP) and took away 133 tapes and files. A spokesperson for VOP's lawyers told local journalists that the police were looking for the transmitter the VOP was using to transmit its programmes. He said that by law, the police must return everything they seized. "We are waiting for a decision on whether to apply to the court for a speedy return of the confiscated equipment or appeal against the harassment to which VOP staff were subjected," he said. The Broadcasting Services Act 2001 bars anyone from broadcasting without a valid licence. However, in legal terms, VOP is not a radio station, but a production company which hires airtime on the Radio Netherlands Madagascar Relay Station, and beams the programmes back into Zimbabwe on shortwave. A spokesperson for VOP told Radio Netherlands that the raid had not affected its ability to produce material, and normal broadcasts are continuing (© Radio Netherlands Media Network July 10 via WORLD OF RADIO 1139, DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-110, July 9, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html WWCR BROADCAST: Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Wed 0100, 0700, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 WBCQ FIRST BROADCASTS OF WOR #1139: Wed 2200 17495 7415; Thu 0415 7415 DXERS CALLING Hi all, many thanks to all for their kind words with support of the Dxers Calling audio service; it is very much appreciated. After much thought as to how I may be able to provide audio to the many that may require it, I will be restarting Dxers Calling as a free subscription based audio distribution service, and will be willing to distribute DXing with Cumbre with Marie Lamb, World of Radio with Glenn Hauser, SPDXR with Paul Ormandy, Fred Moe and Random Transmissions, Tim Gaynor and Dxers Calling media report (also via Dave N1DK Cybershortwave), from this Saturday July 13 2002. All of the above programs will be offered either individually or as a 16KBPS MP3 Audio file through email. The URLS remain unchanged, http://www.geocities.com/nri3 http://www.angelfire.com/myband/tjg http://nrin.hypermart.net *except for the nrin site, which will provide some Shortwave and streaming news either about dxers calling and will also invite others to become an audio distributor to lighten the work load on myself. group site http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dxerscalling/post With regard to the streaming royalty issues, I will no longer stream through Live365.com as they will be charging all accounts a $5 U.S. rate to cover royalties, but I am of the opinion that this should not cover spoken word programs unless the program provider requests it. The Dxers Calling site is more of a hobby for me but is also a non- profit audio service of which I derive nothing in monetary terms. So I hope this will be a satisfactory arrangement for all! Any concerns, please email me, *Free Distribution! Thank you (Tim Gaynor, Dxers Calling, Audio from Australia and to the World (via ShortWaveRadio yahoogroup et al. via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. DEPUTY MINISTER INTRODUCES NEW HEAD OF AFGHAN RADIO | Excerpt from report by Afghan radio on 7 July At a ceremony, the deputy minister of information and culture on publication affairs, esteemed Abdol Hamed Mobarez, introduced the newly appointed head of the radio and television [organization], esteemed Engineer Mohammad Isaq, to his colleagues today. Bakhtar Information Agency reported, the ceremony, held on the occasion at the radio and television station, was attended by the station's directors, personnel and officials. The deputy minister of information and culture on publication affairs, esteemed Abdol Hamed Mobarez, spoke in detail on the role and influence of radio and television on people's opinions. He said: At this very delicate situation, the radio and television have a very heavy obligation and duty to enhance the national unity, to defend our independence and territory and to inform the public. Esteemed Mobarez praised the vital services of esteemed Engineer Mohammad Isaq, who was one of the closest colleagues of the national hero, Ahmad Shah Masud, during the period of jihad and resistance. He also pledged cooperation on behalf of all officials and personnel of the Ministry of Information and Culture. Following that, Engineer Mohammad Isaq said that he would not spare any kind of cooperation with the Ministry of Information and Culture to improve the affairs of radio and television in accordance with his capability and ability... It has to be mentioned that Engineer Mohammad Isaq was the editor in chief of the Afghan News during the jihad period and carried out the responsibility for a while in Kabul, too. He was the head of Payam-e Mojahed during the resistance period and following that he was a member of the [Islamic] United Front [for the Salvation of Afghanistan] in New York. He used to be a close colleague of the national hero, Ahmad Shah Masud. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Pashto 1500 gmt 7 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. I received a prepared postcard QSL with R. Maranatha written on front + 3 Iguazú post cards + 2 photos from family of Lino Fernández with his 8 childrens !!, and a T-shirt with "Cataratas del Iguazu - Argentina" written on front & picture of waterfalls + very friendly letter. v/s José Lino Fernández, producer of programme "Atendiendo a los Oyentes" and stamped with seal "Iglesia Evangélica Asamblea de Dios Morena", in 38 days. I sent my report directly to the announcer job QTH when I did not know the exact name of the station because on the ID's they have been mentioned firstly both names (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Bob Zanotti, ex-``R. Switzerland International`` as FV calls it, on the sad state of shortwave today, another 8-minute excerpt of his speech at Kulpsville appears on this week`s RVI Radio World: http://www.vrt.be/real/rvi/dalet/rw.ram Next week: Kim Elliott. BTW, if you save this as a RealPlayer favorite, you will always get the latest RVI Radio World show. Same can be done with Ask WWCR and others (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. R. Free Bougainville: This rebel station was powered by a generator running on coconut oil and was last heard by DX-ers in 1998 around 3850 on LSB at *1000-1030*. It verified by QSL (Anker Peterson, Ed., DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Canção Nova in Brazil is making available a chat channel for those radio listeners who want to participate in the Além Fronteiras by computer. It will be available next Saturday (July 13). The objective is to keep a two-way contact with our listeners. I want you help me to try it. Chat = http://www.cancaonova.com/dx Além Fronteiras --- Beyond Boundaries schedule Every Saturday from 22:00 to 23:00 GMT AM 1020 / 60m 4.825 / 49m 6.105 / 31m 9.675 Regards, Eduardo De Moura --- PY2TP, Radio Canção Nova _________________ We confirm radio reports on the air and 100% QSL back (via DXing.info July 8 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL [and non]. Hi, after a question about a harmonic on the radioescutas list, I've done some listening around on the bands and have run into the following MW harmonics. All the identified ones are from Brazil, with one station from my own city. Has anybody else heard some of these stations, or is anybody able to confirm the identity of some of these ? kHz fund date UT Details 2220.13 1110 ? 8/7/2002 0044 tent. R. Cultura, Campos "R. Cultura, voz de Campos" 2540 1270 24h R. Capital, Curitiba 2800 8/7/2002 0130 unid, Brazilian ? 2840.27 8/7/2002 0133 unid 3390 1130 Marialva ????? 3810 1270 24h (very weak) R. Capital, Curitiba 5080 1270 24h R. Capital, Curitiba I'm listening from Curitiba in the south of Brazil, using an Icom R75 and a home-brew T2FD of 15 meters. Regards, (Rik van Riel, Curitiba PR, hard-core-dx via DXLD) -- Bravely reimplemented by the knights who say "NIH". http://www.surriel.com/ http://distro.conectiva.com/ Normally we don`t take MW harmonics heard at local range very seriously, since actual harmonic power may be minuscule and/or due to local receiver overload. So I haven`t mentioned that I can hear KGWA 960 Enid on 2880, KCRC 1390 Enid on 2780, et al. (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. See NETHERLANDS [and non]. RN Madagascar relay is almost back to normal, including return to that site of DVOB after a few days via Tashkent on same frequency: 2330-0030 Madagascar 11715 055 200 Dem. V. of Burma SE Asia (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. The Voice of Vietnam's 0330 EG transmission via Sackville is off frequency at 6174.97 kHz. This transmitter closes at 0358 and then the transmitter for the Vietnamese broadcast opens on 6175.00 at 0400 (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN - bjordan@bcdx.org Icom R75 - Palstar R30C - Quantum QX Pro - Wellbrook ALA 330 Please visit the new BCDX website at http://www.bcdx.org July 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess this means they are switching from one transmitter to another for some reason. The things you can learn with precision frequency measuring! (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. New 1610 kHz station returns to testing, includes official IDs and phone number for reporting interference: (514) 287-1288 or pierre@qc.aira.com Signal strength bouncing all over the place. Not always testing with Caribbean music... sometime classical, French standards and pseudo- hip-hop-à-la-Eminem (International Radio Report July 7 via Ricky Leong via DXLD) 1610 Montreal: I've been listening down here in Rochester the last few nights, where the signal is OK but plagued by the RFI that seems to knock out half the X-band for me nightly, and I've noticed something different on their regular test announcements. While Sheldon Harvey initially reported them using the calls "CJWI," I'm hearing them ID'ing as "CJAM" or "CJAN" (say-zhee-ah-em or en). The CJAM-FM calls have long been in use at 91.5 at the University of Windsor in Windsor, ON; CJAN was (is?) the call in Asbestos, Quebec. I'd be happy to send an .mp3 of the test announcement to anyone interested in hearing it; I may also post a RealAudio version at fybush.com this week. Curiouser and curiouser... -s (Scott Fybush, Rochester NY, July 8, R8A/McKay Dymek DA-5 amplified ferrite rod, NRC-AM via DXLD) They're not just using the "CJ" part of their call with "AM" as a slogan cos they're on the AM band? Just a thought (Mark Hattam, UK, ibid.) Or, didn't Sheldon report that the name of the licensee is "CPAM"? (Doug Smith, TN, ibid.) He did, and it is, and the test message makes several references to "CPAM Radio Union.com", the full name of the licensee. But it also - twice - gives an ID of "CJAM (or perhaps CJAN) Montreal," with no mention of the "CJWI" calls that Sheldon heard. My French isn't great (just ask all the Parisians I tried to talk to a few months ago, hi), but I can tell the difference between "AM" and "WI." Something's still strange up there... (Fybush, ibid.) The official call letters, CJWI, are mentioned right at the beginning of the taped announcement running on the station. They are mentioned only once in the announcement. All other references refer to the company "CPAM Radio Union.com" This has been confusing to a number of people already. I had one guy here in Montreal, a ham operator, who insisted that CPAM were the call letters; quite a feat when you realize that the prefix "CP" is allocated to BOLIVIA!! (Sheldon Harvey, QC, ibid.) I've gone back and listened to my tapes of the station from last night a few more times. They seem to keep burying the beginning of the announcement under the end of the previous song, but I did pick out, as Sheldon says, a "CJWI" at the beginning. But it still sounds very distinctly as though the announcer is saying, "Ici CJWI, CJAM Montreal" before giving the "CPAM Radio Union.com" identification. Perhaps I'll be able to pull it in a little more clearly tonight... (Fybush, ibid.) Sheldon has cleared this up with me in private e-mail...what I was hearing is "CJWI, 1610 AM Montreal," which comes out in French as "say-zhee-double-vay-ee (CJWI) seize-dix (1610) AM Montreal." And through the static, "seize-dix" sounded like "say-zhee" (CJ). And hence the confusion. (This is why I let Lisa do most of the talking for me while we were in France!) (Fybush, ibid.) There is definitely some confusion circulating about the call letters for the new AM 1610 station in Montreal. Some of this has been caused, first by the call letters being given in French and, second by the name of the company running the station being CPAM Radio Union.com Here is the lowdown. The call letters, CJWI, are mentioned only once in the announcement, right at the beginning. The first line in French of the ID tape is: Ici CJWI 1610 AM Montréal... Translated, and phonetically, this might help: This is (phonetically) say-gee-dou-bluh-vay-ee The frequency is given as 16-10 which in French is seize-dix (phonetically) saize-dis. Hopefully this helps (Sheldon Harvey, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tape of it is on this week`s International Radio Report starting 5:15 into the 28:40 show; it`s not that clear even at local range (gh, DXLD) For those who wish to hear this wonderfully confusing bit of audio for themselves, it's now available as an MP3: http://www.fybush.com/cjwi.mp3 Enjoy all the electrical noise of a warm summer night in the Northeast, hi... -s (Scott Fybush, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) How late was CJWI on testing? I just got back from my first trip to Boston, and heard Latin music on 1610 0220 EDT Sun Morning July 8. Fadey, but heard words such as "Corazón" sung. Or is this one of the Boston-area pirates? Never heard any ID, but I didn't stay with it all that long (Rich Toebe, Davis CA [non], NRC-AM via DXLD) CJWI was on well past 2 AM Sunday night-Monday morning, and they're on now (12:27 AM EDT Tuesday). The ID seems to be running every 10 minutes or so... (Fybush, ibid.) ** CANADA. RADIO STATION TAKES FLIGHT AÉROPORTS DE MONTRÉAL PLANS TO BROADCAST INFORMATION FOR DORVAL USERS NICOLAS VAN PRAET, Montreal Gazette, Tuesday, July 09, 2002 Jamie Quinn, host of Take Off in the Morning on CFYZ, the radio station in Toronto's Pearson airport. [caption] Aéroports de Montréal, the non-profit company that runs the area's two airports, is quietly putting in place a low-power FM radio station that will broadcast parking and emergency information for travelers. But while Toronto already has an established airport station with live hosts and the possibility of fully commercializing its operations, Montreal is only beginning its radio experiment. Airport officials say the station, to be called CHDO, will likely be ready to hit the airwaves on Aug. 1. With a listening radius of 12 kilometres around the Dorval terminal building, CHDO will broadcast in French and English on 89.7 FM. Travelers will hear a looped recording of limited information about Montreal's main airport, mostly about parking. People will also be told what to expect during a storm or an emergency situation. "You'd be surprised at the calls we get about parking," said Jacqueline Richard, spokesman for the airport authority. "People are nervous. They just don't know where to go." Aéroports de Montréal received its license to operate the station from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission last December. By comparison, the Greater Toronto Airport Authority has been operating an airport information station called CFYZ 1280 for 18 years. That station added live programming two years ago. It now has three full-time employees and an annual budget of $300,000. Two announcers and station manager cram into studio space measuring 350 square feet. An estimated 2,000 to 4,000 listeners tune in during a typical 15-minute period. Fed information on four computer monitors in front of them, CFYZ's hosts rattle off the latest satellite weather, flight delays and road-traffic situation around the airport. Station staff produce original news content on the aviation and travel industries and provide listeners with travel advice and tips. "We broadcast literally anything from an adventure holiday that we heard to how do you handle the euro," said CFYZ station manager Stu Holloway. Montreal is a big enough market to support a radio station featuring live travel programming, he said, and the airport authority should consider a more ambitious project. "Disseminating instant information to the traveling public is the critical thing," Holloway said. "A radio station like that could actually be a profit centre." However, Aéroports de Montréal has no immediate plans to beef up the content of its station, Richard said. She said the airport authority's Web site and phone line provide detailed information to travelers. While CFYZ has a commercial license that permits it to sell and broadcast advertising, CHDO's license is non-commercial. As Canada's largest airport and Air Canada's main hub, Toronto Pearson saw more than 28 million travelers transit through its facilities in 2001. Dorval airport processed 8.2 million people. © Copyright 2002 Montreal Gazette (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CHINA, 3960, Xinjiang PBS, full-data hand written English QSL letter (no v/s but has station seal), Chinese stamps and a post card, in 15 weeks for English report and $1. Envelope has a lot of beautiful stamps. The person who wrote the envelope and letter showed it as "Xingjiang." (Ron Howard, Monterey CA, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** CHINA. Glenn, I saw this and thought it might be of interest for your show. Don't know if you have heard this before? CULT HIJACKS TV SIGNAL DURING WORLD CUP (07/09/2002) (China Daily) http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/news/2002-07-09/77002.html Regards, (Ulis Fleming, NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CHINESE MINISTRY SAYS FALUN GONG JAMMED TV TRANSMISSION 23-30 JUNE | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 8 July: The Radio Administration of the Ministry of Information Industry Monday issued a solemn statement on the attack of Sinosat by the Falun Gong cult stationed abroad. Manipulated and directed by Li Hongzhi, the Falun Gong cult illegally launched radio signals to jam transmission of China's Sinosat satellite between 23 June and 30 [June], the statement said. As a result, programme transmissions of China Central Television's 9 channels and 10 provincial television stations were seriously affected. In certain areas in the countryside and outlying mountainous areas, people could not normally view news, weather and flooding forecasts, the final games of the World Cup and other programmes, it said. This was a serious criminal act by the Falun Gong cult stationed abroad, manipulated and directed by Li Hongzhi, to disrupt normal broadcasting and reception of the country's radio and television programmes. It violated the basic principles of relevant international pacts and civilian communications, endangered China's national security and infringed upon the rights and interests of the public. It disrupted the normal order of radio airwaves and posed a serious threat to the safety of radio messages. "We strongly condemn such mean acts by the Falun Gong cult stationed abroad which trample on international laws and public morality," the statement said. Radio services were widely used in telecommunications, radio broadcasts, television, navigation, positioning, weather forecasting and many other areas of daily life. The beaming of radio waves must proceed in an orderly way, so that these waves would not interfere with each other, disrupting normal wireless message services and even such important services as aviation and maritime communications and navigation and emergency rescue operations that had great bearing on public safety and people's lives. The consequences would be dreadful to contemplate. Therefore, all countries and international organizations stipulated strict and explicit regulations on the beaming of radio signals, it said. By openly and deliberately attacking Sinosat in contempt of international laws and regulations, the Falun Gong cult was unscrupulously breaking the order of wireless communications and launching a challenge against civilization. "We solemnly warn the Falun Gong cult to immediately stop its lawless disruption of normal communications. We appeal to the international community to condemn such base acts and jointly take measures to crack down on such evil behaviour," the statement said. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1021 gmt 8 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CHINA VOWS TO PUNISH FALUN GONG FOR TV PIRACY INCIDENT Jim Randle, Beijing, China, 8 Jul 2002 14:15 UT Officials in Beijing are vowing to hunt down and punish sympathizers of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, who have been hijacking Chinese satellite TV signals. China blames overseas activists for helping the banned group get its message onto TV screens across the country. The pictures lasted less than half a minute and showed some Falun Gong symbols and members sitting in meditation. Top broadcast officials in China say Falun Gong and its supporters hijacked government satellite frequencies and interrupted broadcasts on June 23, reaching what they called a "vast" number of Chinese television viewers. In Beijing Monday, China's Ministry of Information pointed the finger at unknown overseas parties that allegedly helped plan and execute the broadcast interruption. Liu Lihua, China's top broadcast regulator, refused to say exactly where the signal came from, but insists Falun Gong supporters behind it will be found and "severely punished." "They can run, but they can't hide forever," Mr. Liu says. The satellite hijacking follows at least three incidents since January where Falun Gong supporters hacked their way into Chinese cable television systems on the ground to display programs promoting their illegal group. Falun Gong is such a sensitive topic in China that the British Broadcasting Corporation's TV news program was recently removed from a Chinese-owned satellite system because a program mentioned the Falun Gong. The group was banned three years ago after it alarmed Chinese officials by holding a peaceful but massive demonstration outside the compound where China's leaders live. The group says its exercises and philosophy promote good health, but Beijing has deemed the group an evil cult that brainwashes followers and deceives them into forgoing medical treatments. China's government says Falun Gong once had millions of members. But thousands of supporters have been detained, and others sent to labor or re- education camps. China's crackdown has brought strong criticism from human rights groups and foreign governments (Source: voanews.com via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) FALUN GONG IS ACCUSED OF DISRUPTING BROADCASTS By ERIK ECKHOLM, New York Times July 9, 2002 BEIJING, July 8 — Chinese officials accused the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement today of "launching a challenge against human civilization" by disrupting satellite television transmissions in parts of the country for more than 12 hours last month. In a news conference followed by a prime-time news special, broadcasting officials heaped new condemnations on the banned movement. Falun Gong has largely been crushed inside China over the last two years but still has closeted believers in China and a large, vocal following abroad. Officials said the operations of the Sinosat satellite, which broadcasts national and numerous provincial television channels to remote corners of the country, had been repeatedly "hijacked" during the week beginning June 23, endangering public security and violating international law. Officials said they had solid evidence that the disruptions were the work of "the Falun Gong cult stationed abroad, manipulated and directed by Li Hongzhi," the group's exiled founder. But they declined to provide backup evidence or to say where they believed the intruding signals originated. For long periods that week, the officials said, viewers dependent on the satellite saw black screens and for more than 20 seconds on June 23 they saw scenes of a Falun Gong rally and hundreds of meditating believers. Officials would not estimate how many viewers had been affected but said signals had been disrupted to 13,000 receiving stations, which distribute signals locally, located mainly in remote mountain areas. Viewers were denied the chance to see vital news, weather forecasts, the fifth anniversary celebration of the return of Hong Kong and some World Cup soccer games, the officials said. Earlier this year in at least two cities, followers cut into local cable stations and broadcast messages in defense of their banned spiritual movement and its leader. But today's statements were the first indication that Falun Gong followers might have taken the more advanced step of jamming satellite beacons and trying to substitute their own broadcasts. Falun Gong claims to harness supernatural forces for improved health and a clean society and attracted millions of believers in the late 1990's. It was outlawed as an "evil cult" after 10,000 members held an illegal demonstration in 1999, circling the leadership compound in Beijing to demand official recognition. The authorities acted harshly to stamp out the movement, sending thousands of die-hard believers to labor camps. But remnants in China and followers abroad have resisted with demonstrations and other tactics, such as the pirate television broadcasts. At today's news conference, called with only a few hours' notice, Liu Lihua, director general of radio regulation in the Ministry of Information Industry, called the airwave disruptions "extremely despicable." He said wireless communications were vital to aviation, navigation, flood warnings and other emergency operations and said interference could have consequences "that are simply too dreadful to contemplate." (via Chuck Hutton, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. 6064.5, La Voz de Su Conciencia, Puerto Lleras, Meta: La Voz de Su Conciencia now confirmed by email. It is a 5 kW ex- Colmundo transmitter they are using. They will be shifting to 6060 shortly in order to avoid QRM from Family Radio. Asking Russ Stendal for the actual name, here is what he writes: ``It is La Voz de Su Conciencia, (The voice of your conscience) and it is being licensed as an extension of our AM station which is Radio Alcaraván. The Alcaraván is a unique bird of the Llanos (eastern plains) that both runs on the ground and flies (similar to a roadrunner) and it also has a strong clear voice (this AM station puts out a good ground wave and also an excellent sky wave at night). We are presently making a decal of the Alcaraván with both names and frequencies (both AM and short wave) on it to send out to listeners (and DXers) with pictures.`` ``Both of these stations, AM and short wave, have unique experimental antenna systems in which the antennas operate over standing water to help project a better sky wave at an optimum angle. We are still running tests and making adjustments. The initial data that is coming in suggests that this system is even better than we thought it would be. Your input and help obtaining detailed QSL reports from DXers world wide is most appreciated.`` ``We have been low key up until now with the identification over the air for two reasons: 1) Our target audience is guerrilla and paramilitary forces who have almost no tolerance for criticism. 2) Our license is pending and even though we are allowed to conduct ¨tests¨ we have to take it easy until full and final permission is obtained (which should happen in a couple weeks). In a week or so we will be shifting the frequency from 6065 to 6060. When the license is approved we will be upping the modulation from 50 to 70 per cent to 100 to 120 per cent. We will also be shifting the programming to all voice (instead of mostly music) on short wave. The programming that is currently running on short wave is really our AM programming. If all goes well we are also hoping to transmit on the 31 meter band within a few months to see, if that will improve our daytime signal coverage``. I also have no idea how it might differ at night in comparison to the 49 meter band. Answering my query as to the address where reports can be sent, Russ M. Stendal says that his personal email address is fine: "Russell Martin Stendal" rms05001@neutel.com.co In his email letter he goes on to say that the postmail address is Carrera 44 # 13-69, Bogotá, Colombia, and that they are presently working on some material to send out to DXers for QSL. Their short wave license will be an extension of their AM station which has a distinctive of HKI-81 on 1530 kHz. "It remains to be seen if we will be given a separate distinctive for the short wave". Over the next couple weeks they will be making adjustments to the antenna and transmitter hoping thereby to improve clarity and modulation. The address given to me by Russ Stendal seemed a bit strange to me as it does not go to a neighborhood known for any significant business activity, and so I asked Rafael Rodríguez to doublecheck the info. Sure enough, the address info is wrong and should be changed to Calle 44 No. 13-69 Barrio Palermo, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia, Rafael tells me after contacting the bookstore by phone. As earlier reported by Rafael Rodriguez, the street address mentioned goes to a bookstore called Librería Colombia para Cristo, and so this name should preferably also be mentioned on the envelope. There is a website where one can contact the station at http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/emisora/contactenos/contactenos.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Dxplorer via DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) I have continued to work on this one, so here is a recap of what I have been hearing. The programming continues to be mainly local music with brief Bible references and religious messages after every few songs. There are longer spoken segments, however, and it is at the conclusion of those that a canned ID can be heard. There is usually a spoken segment starting roughly at 0655 and ending around 0725, at which time there is an ID. One day I heard the ID repeated twice at that time. On Jun 26 there was a spoken segment at 0857-0914, and at 0914 there was a canned ID again. Signal strength Jun 26 was pretty good, though with a lot of static. The canned ID at 0914 Jun 26 was: "En emisiones de prueba, transmite 6065, La Voz de su [or "tu"] Conciencia, desde Bonaire para el mundo." The "0725" IDs are similar, and appear to be: ``Transmite 6065, La Voz de su [tu?] Conciencia, en emisiones de prueba, desde Bonaire para el mundo.`` I heard the Apartado Aéreo 95300, Bogotá address reported by others given in mid- program Jun 24 at 0710. Jun 26 at 0913 at the end of a spoken segment and before the ID, I heard an "Avenida Caracas xxx5, Bogotá" address, probably a program address (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) Also heard Jun 30 and Jul 4, 0917-1000. Christian music (the singers were female). Religious talk. 15541. Impossible to hear the signal after 1000, when R. Universo, Curitiba signed on on 6060 (Jerry Berg, MA, and Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, ibid.) ** CONGO DR [non]. /GABON 9770, R TV Congolaise, Kinshasa via Moyabi, Jun 21, 23 and 26, *1600-1900*, French/Vernacular announcements, African light songs, Timesignal, news 1800, independence day celebration announcements and scheduled events, weather 1825 followed by more music, 43442 with adjacent QRM from Voice of Russia in English 9775 and CRI 9765 in Russian and then co-channel QRM from VoA 9770 via the Philippines at 1800 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal and Noel Green, England, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** DENMARK [non]. Last month the majority political parties at the Danish Parliament agreed about domestic broadcasting until 2006. I sent a letter to the Minister of Culture, Brian Mikkelsen, and asked about the consequences for shortwave broadcasting. In a letter dated June 21, he wrote back that the present shortwave and mediumwave broadcasts in principle are going to continue (Anders Brandborg via DDXLK, via DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** EASTER ISLAND. Hisato, 7K1WLE, will be active from here (IOTA SA- 001) for his summer vacation between July 18-24th as CE0Y/7K1WLE. Some may remember Hisato as VY0/7K1WLE last October. Activity will be on 160-10 meters, mainly on CW and some SSB. He will be using a IC- 706+IC-2KL(500W) with a wire antenna. Suggested operating frequencies are: CW - 1826, 3504, 7004, 10104, 14004, 18074, 21004, 24894 and 28004 SSB - 3795, 7088, 14265, 18145, 21265, 24945 and 28465 kHz. He may briefly be active from Papeete, French Polynesia (FO) for one day before and after his stay at Easter Island. QSL via JN1HOW: Toshihiko Niwa, 1081-8 Sakae, Kitakawabe, 349-1213 JAPAN (KB8NW/OPDX July 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** GREECE. Friday June 28, I happened to find the weekly version of Learn Greek with English responses shortly after I had made an hourly check of The Voice of Greece at 1200 UT. There is not much English on it and right now they are discussing the touristic values of the various areas of Greece. I have highlighted the new addition to my schedule and the times are the ones that they used this week July 5; last week, it ended at 1215 UT: 1207-1222 Friday on 11730, 12105, 15650, 17900. (The only other change is Delano shifting from 9590 to 11730 at 1200-1500 from May 25) Preceding Learn Greek, there is what I presume to be a part of the ERA Interprogram ``Orientations`` in a foreign language. Since the arrival of my VOG schedules from Athens in April, I have received nothing new from them. When I last sent my reports late in June, I asked Dionisios Angelogiannis to send me a copy of VOG`s program schedule, even though it would be in Greek, so that I might be able to pull out the English segments, but there has been no response so far. They have probably been busy with the Late Greek Easter and I assume that they are busy with their getaway plans for summer vacations, or else they are just too busy working. I seldom hear form Demetri Vafeas, now that he is busy installing FM transmitters in various parts of Greece. The frequency problem seems to have stabilized now that Greece joined the HFCC and they are able to get together on the frequencies that they want to use. When Demetri was the frequency manager, they had many frequency interference problems and were always switching around until I put him wise to the benefits of VOG in joining HFCC to thrash out frequencies. Ever since the gardening season started, I have been busy planting tomatoes, peppers, onions, beans, and potatoes, which tends to cut down my monitoring time, but at least I try to keep up with my hourly reports on VOG`s broadcasts directed to North America. Now that they have the use of Delano`s and Greenville`s transmitters, they seem not to need the information from us monitors. I doubt that they will ever put the donated VOA transmitters into service for the daytime, but they sure could use them on the 0000-0350 UT service. But, now that they have the Internet and 24-hour service on their subscription satellite, they don`t seem to worry about the peasants with their short-wave receivers (John Babbis, Silver Spring, MD, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUAM [and non]. Jim Bohannon was back on stream from K57, when checked Tue July 9 at 1307, the topic delayed from night before, beisuboru suturaiku. So I went back to BBC Radio 3. Rechecked at 1407, K57 stream was again background noise only; guess it`s hit and miss. At 1504 recheck, he was back with the third hour, as usual open phones, already underway, with dropouts, when news should still have been on. Mentioned in passing was another affiliate, WROW Albany NY. That station does webcast via yahoo broadcast.com --- so that is still in business, for how long? --- as confirmed at 1535 UT, but no mention found on http://www.wrow.com of Bohannon, nor even a program schedule among all the extraneous stuff! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4606.4, RRI Serui, 1306 July 8. Noted as reactivation with Jakarta news in // with RRI Ujung Padang (4753.3) and RRI Jambi (4925). Not heard for some time. Signal was weak compared to the other two Indos. Best in LSB as ute is above (Don Nelson, OR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Does anyone know what has happened to Iraq? I can hear their 11787 kHz transmitter with perfect signal strength, but they have very poor, maybe non-existent audio. Are there any people who can give any suggestions on hearing them on a better frequency etc etc? And has anyone any idea how old Iraq's transmitters are?? Thanks and Gods Blessings to every one (Christopher [Lewis], Host European DX Report, [HCJB], July 8, ARDXC via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. The English Kol Israel broadcasts, as of July 21, are: (UT) 0400-0415 no change 1030-1045 10 minute extension 1630-1645 50% reduction in time and move to later slot 1900-1925 no change That would be (ET): Midnight-12:15 AM 6:30-6:45 AM 12:30-12:45 PM 3-3:25 PM Israel Time 7 AM Reshet Alef 1:30 PM Reshet Alef 7:30 PM Reshet Alef 10 PM Reshet Hey (88.2 FM Jerusalem) No word on any frequency changes (only one broadcast is actually changing times). (Daniel Rosenzweig, July 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A couple of new things. Once the July 21st changes go into effect, the 1030 UT (6:30 AM EDT) English broadcast will no longer be available on the live web feed at http://www.israelradio.org The live feed is Reqa part of the day and Reshet Hey 88.2 the rest of the day. Since the 1030 UT broadcast is going to be on Reshet Alef, it will not be available on the web at all. Broadcasts of other languages which have moved to Reshet Alef (such as French) will have similar impacts. The other English webcasts will remain as is. The French and Spanish schedule -- all times ISRAEL Time. [and UT] French: In Reshet Alef: 7:15- 7:30 [0415-0430] 13:00-13:15 [1000-1015] 19:45-20:00 [1645-1700] In Reshet Hey: 18:30-18:45 [1530-1545] 22:30-22:45 [1930-1945] Spanish: In Rehset Alef: 20:00-20:15 [1700-1715] In Reshet Hey 22:45-23:00 [1945-2000] (Doni Rosenzweig, NY, July 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. ITALY CENSORS BLASPHEMOUS WEB SITES | Text of report by Italian news agency ANSA web site Rome: Five US-based web sites "specialized" in blasphemy against God and the Virgin Mary have been blocked in Italy by Rome's Special Units Command of the Finance Police after an inquiry lasting almost two years: the seizure and blocking of the Rome-based [as published] provider were carried out by Rome's Special Nucleus for Broadcasting and Publishing. During the searches, the men of the special units also discovered a parallel commercial activity consisting in the on-line sale of clothing garments printed with blasphemous sentences from the web sites. Source: ANSA news agency web site, Rome, in Italian 0953 gmt 9 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** LAPLAND [non]. LISTENING IN LAPLAND FOR 30 YEARS In the beginning of the 1970s, DX-listeners paid special attention to the listening results around the area of Oulu in Finland due to the great number of USA-stations and the degree of ``difficulty`` differing significantly from the results achieved in Southern Finland. Coincidentally there was a Finnish work group investigating the passage of medium wave signals and the location of the northern lights causing disturbance zones. The results of this analysis helped to provide a theoretical basis for the model why radiostations from the Vancouver area could be heard more easily in Oulu than in Helsinki! The idea was simple, but apparently correct: the route of the signals from the US West-coast to Oulu goes on a shorter trip through the harmful aurora belt than to the Southern Finland! Was that the magic wand of Oulu DXers? Anyway to some active Finnish DXers there occurred an assumption that the more in the North you listen to the Yankees, the better might the listening circumstances be! No sooner said than done! The first and historical DXpedition was headed for northernmost Finland to Karesuando just before the new year 1972-1973. There were understandingly not too high expectations for that trip, whereas the results of the journey surprised the whole Scandinavian DX-community surpassingly. Nearly the whole attention of the DXpedition concentrated on the good audibility of medium wave stations from the USA, which was from time to time incredibly strong. When it was previously customary to listen to the North-Americans during the night or in the top condition during the forenoon, now in Karesuando the strong radiosignals could be caught even late in the afternoon! Most unexpectedly, many radiostations were just from Alaska, which had been unheard before that in Finland. Publicity in mass media The DXpedition was something new and exceptional and the nation-wide big Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat wrote a feature about that unconventional expedition. The tape-recordings of the hikers were eagerly replayed in the numerous DX-meetings around this country and were kindling many other DXers to make their own adventure to Lapland. After the first DXpedition there have been several DX-entourages every year in Lapland regularly. The now 30 year uninterrupted history of DXpeditions has been an exciting example of continuous new learning. A trip to Lapland is always a very challenging performance. Therefore SDXL decided to publish ``the DXpediton guide`` leaflet already in 1985, in which the editorial staff included many experienced Finnish DXers. The main message of the guide was that ``well thought-out is nearly half-done!`` Quick-learning organization Increasing DX-experiences in the wilds of Lapland brought about many new skills. They learned how to build new long directional antennas. The meaning and importance of the different time of the day in hearing of different kinds of stations was noticed. And of course what is essential – many US radios earlier considered impossible could be caught! The appearance of the first Hawaii radios in Lapland in January 1974 in the Kevo camp must have been one of the most legendary events of DX-history, but already during the next season new headlines ``stopped the presses`` again – the weak only 250 watt ``graveyarders`` were marching into Finnish headphones. These local stations are really very small and hundreds and hundreds of such different stations operate on the same frequency! New steps in DXpeditions were taken next time in the middle of the 1980s, when the tours were more organized, planned one after another. In that way the same antennas could be utilized by several groups, even by ten different teams. So much work and valuable time for building the long directional wires was saved for the more essential listening! Gradually they also learned to figure out the top-DX-conditions according to the situation. During quite a short moment numerous local stations can be heard from a certain area. When developing night-listening at the end of the 1980s, a new type of station came up, daytimers transmitting only during the light time and normally signing off at local sunset. Also Asian DX saw a new dawning as well as listening to the Iberian stations. The network-broadcasting in Spain had nearly worn out interest in Iberia. In Lapland the true local Spanish broadcasts could be heard in the mornings giving a new boost to that hobby, too. Delicacy for dessert When the sun is getting rapidly activated, the geomagnetic field will become restless. This phenomenon can be seen as a transition of the auroral zone more to the South and then the northern lights can be seen even in the Southern part of Finland. Then radio contact to Northern America will be switched off, because the signals then go right into the middle of the disturbance zone. The moment just before the cut-off is anyway very interesting because then short exceptional DX-conditions can occur. The most common disturbance condition type is Quebec conditions! Momentarily the whole radioband can be bustling with well audible French speaking Canadians at 20-21 UT! The Northwest Territory stations are really grand rarities, but during similar DX- conditions even only 40 watt lonely robot transmitters of the Canadian wilderness [LPRTs] have been heard in Finland! The disturbance conditions efficiently prevent other North-American stations from being audible in Finland at the same time. During normal DX-conditions these stations are just impossible to be heard in Finland. The DXpeditions to Lapland have become a horn of plenty, which after 30 years have not shown any sign of ebbing away. The question is whether there will be new DX-generations and their ability to continue this activity. Thanks to the Finnish DXpeditions to Lapland, a huge amount of observations and even scientifically valid material about rare radiosignals has been collected! It is only a question of time before somebody puts all the Lapland DX-stuff analysis on paper and defends his thesis of DX-listening! We congratulate him in advance, whoever he will be! This feature is based on Hannu Tikkanen`s longer article in the book ``The boundless world of Radio`` published by the Finnish DX Association, SDXL. Compiled by Kari Kallio, Lahti Radiohobbyists, Lahti, Finland (via Kallio, DXLD) The text is mainly based on the article written by Hannu Tikkanen. It was published in "Radion Rajaton Maailma" (1996), which is a publication of The Finnish DX Association. Best regards, (Heikki Aarrevaara, Managing editor, Radiomaailma magazine, Finnish DX Association, P. O. Box 454, FIN-00101 Helsinki, FINLAND, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. I just heard Junglinster testing on 6090. At tune-in around 1210 [July 9, a day before the publicized test] there was music, presumably the RTL Radio program feed, then they switched to a 1 kHz tone. Off at 1215 re-check. The signal was quite poor here. A rumour from the gossip: Allegedly Starlet Media considers use of 6090 for the country music program they wanted to establish on 261 (as well-known this channel was allocated to Europe 1 instead). Of course that's merely speculation so far. PS. I took a day off today, actually for some shopping etc., but now I am sitting here in my flat instead due to a heat of about 35 degrees out there. But it is supposed to not last longer than for today, so I am quite glad that I do not sweat in the office now (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Enidisch temp (gh, DXLD) ** MAURITIUS. The Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation audio links at http://mbc.intnet.mu/ seem to be destroyed (Tom Sundstrom, NJ, Net Notes, July NASWA Journal via DXLD) Not when I checked at 0330 UT July 9: Both Kool FM (announcements in French), and Taal FM (Indian music, language) were perfect at 96.5 kpbs. Wonder if they have anything in English, the language of the website (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MONACO [non]. Re: 22768 3AC: One must ask, is the transmitter site for this one really inside Monaco? (gh, DXLD) That's such a tiny country, that the installations are located some 800 meters northwards on French soil, all long lasting rented land behind the Monacan frontiers. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. FIRE KNOCKS OUT TRANSMITTER 4 AT FLEVO - BUT BETTER NEWS FROM MADAGASCAR On the night of the 5/6 July, a fire broke out in the high tension section of transmitter number 4 at Radio Netherlands´ Flevo transmitting station. The transmitter is off the air and the reserve 100 kW transmitter is in use. As can be seen from the photos, http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/flevo020708.html taken by Rocus de Joode of our Programme Distribution Department, the fire has caused a lot of mess inside the transmitter, which has to be cleaned up by specialist contractors. Meanwhile, replacement parts have been ordered from the manufacturer in Germany. It´s expected that the transmitter will be out of service for about a week. But we´re pleased to report that, as the situation in Madagascar is now returning to normal, most of the transmissions that were temporarily moved to other sites will resume from Madagascar on Tuesday 9 July. Our technical schedule http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/schedule.html will be updated during the course of Tuesday (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 8 July 2002 via DXLD) [HCDX] Radio Netherlands: Fires r Us During the night on Friday/Saturday, an electrical fault caused a fire inside transmitter no. 4 at Flevo. If you're interested to see some photos of this unplanned barbecue, go to http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/flevo020708.html The transmitter is expected to be off for a week or so, while it's cleaned and replacement parts are fitted. Meanwhile we're using the reserve 100 kW transmitter, so Flevo is still broadcasting a full schedule, albeit with reduced power on some frequencies. Meanwhile, our Madagascar relay station is resuming an almost full service tomorrow, 9th July, following the recent departure of former president Didier Ratsiraka to exile in France, and a consequent easing of the tension there (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, July 8, hard- core-dx via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. [The KOSU Weekly] July 8, 2002 This week on Oklahoma's Public Radio... KOSU News - The candidate filing period begins this week marking the official beginning of the 2002 campaign season. Weekdays during Oklahoma Edition 7:50 a.m. "Oklahoma Audio Almanac" - It was in this week that the last execution was carried out under the authority of the Choctaw Nation. Wednesday morning at 7:30. "Ramblin' 'Round" - Steven Noche Kite visits Dewey, Oklahoma. Friday morning at 7:50. All Times - Central Time [UT -5]. Programs are subject to change without notice. Listen to KOSU live at 91.7 or at http://www.kosu.org This is a closed list. Auto-subscribe/unsubscribe is not allowed. Contact 800-228-4678 to make change/remove requests (via gh, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3345, R Northern, Poppondetta, 0756 July 8, male announcer in Pidgin with time-check then "Mr Tambourine Man" followed by "My Boyfriend's Back". ID 0859 and talk about situation in elections and more music. Another ID 0900. Has been inactive since approximately April 2002. There is also weak audio on 3395... stay tuned! (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 9504.9, R. Tacna, Tacna verified a reception report sent by ordinary mail a few days ago with a electronic message. The V/S is the General Manager, Ing. Alfonso Cáceres Contreras who asked for reception reports to: scaceres@viabcp.com He also wrote that the station broadcasts on shortwave with a small and old transmitter using only 200 watts (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 9580.5v, PBS, Manila again has transmitter problems. On Jul 1 I heard it very weak here. 11885, PBS, Manila – Overseas Service, Jul 1, *1400-1500*, English on new schedule ex 12015, heard // 15120 and 15270 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** POLAND. Radio Polonia is going to stop renting the SW transmitters in Leszcynka from 1 October 2002 and will instead lease airtime abroad. Transmitters in Germany and Slovakia have been taken into consideration as possible options, but despite of other reports, no final decision has been taken yet (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. TELEVISION ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER Testifying before the Federation Council's Information Policy Commission on 28 June, Russian Public Television (ORT) Director Konstantin Ernst said that "the majority of Russian television stations are on the verge of catastrophe as far as their technical equipment is concerned," RosBalt reported the same day. Ernst said that the country's television broadcasting system "is hopelessly outdated, and piecemeal repairs are proving more expensive to the channels than replacing it with contemporary equipment would be." He stated that most of the world has switched to digital broadcasting and that the analog equipment currently used by most Russian broadcasters is no longer manufactured. The commission's chairman, Dmitrii Mezintsev, said after the hearing that he agrees with Ernst's assessment and that he will try to secure state support for resolving the technical problems of the broadcast sector ("RFE/RL Newsline," 28 June via RFE/RL Media Matters July 8 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. GOVERNMENT RADIO OFF THE AIR, APPARENTLY AS RESULT OF BUSINESS DISPUTE The radio station operated by the Transitional National Government (TNG) of Somalia - which calls itself "Radio Mogadishu, Voice of the Republic of Somalia" - has not been heard by BBC Monitoring since 3 July. Observations in Mogadishu indicate that the radio is off the air. According to a report published on the Ruunkinet web site on 6 July, the TNG has been in dispute with two businessmen over the supply of generators for the radio station. The Ruunkinet report said the government, through the then information minister, Zakariye Mahmud Haji Abdi, bought the generators from the two businessmen at a total cost of 19,200 dollars, paying 8,000 dollars as a deposit. Subsequently, the minister was appointed to another post and was replaced by Prof Abdirahman Ibbi. "A meeting between Prof Ibbi and the two businessmen, Ahmed Dahir Madah and Abdinasir Naney, ended in disagreement on 3 July." Ruunkinet cited the businessmen as saying that they were left with no option but to repossess the generators on 6 July. "If the businessmen repossess the generators, the government radio station will fall silent, a situation that will embarrass the government." Ruunkinet noted that the government newspaper, Dalka, had already been closed down. Sources: Monitoring research 3-8 Jul 02; Ruunkinet web site in Somali 6 Jul 02 (BBCM via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. At 0000 UT I tried to hear your broadcast but some pyramid scheme has pre-empted it. Some scam to do with health. Two hucksters, male and female, pushing product in a multi-level sales concept. Really annoying. At 0030 I heard your broadcast but I can't get 15039. I had to use 15040, and it was rather distorted and there was much interference. If Sister Stair's e-mail is to be believed, two of the four charges have been dropped, and the judge laughed at the other two. So if there's any truth to this, we can expect Brother Stair to be released rather quickly, within 7 days her e-mail implies. But, when I talked to the court on July 3, the woman there knew nothing about it. My own two-cents' worth commentary: as much as I dislike Stair, I have believed from the start he shouldn't have been put in jail (and certainly not max. security) on charges from disgruntled former members, which by their very nature require skepticism (Robert Arthur, July 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) If and when he does beat this wrap, I prophesy that he will emerge more charismatic than ever to his deluded followers: after all, God must have ordained it (gh, DXLD) ** SWEDEN [non]. TOO EARLY TO COUNT SHORTWAVE OUT The Radio Nord memorial program attracted more attention than expected. It is apparently too early to count shortwave out, says Ronny Forslund, who has received correct reports from many countries, Germany and the UK, Japan, Korea, USA, Canada for a program which was entirely in Swedish. Ronny is particularly happy to see that a majority of reporters are unknown to him, i. e. they do not participate in HCDX or similar forums. The number of reports received so far exceeds one hundred and so his conclusion is that there are lots of "anonymous" shortwave listeners tuning the bands in many parts of the world (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 6240, Xizang PBS, Jun 29, 1630-1647, English news, ID "Hello and welcome to Holy Tibet in Lhasa. Tibet Broadcasting Company.", and music followed with good reception, but rather echoed (Masato Ishii, Japan, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) New frequency (DSWCI Ed.) Not a mistake for 5240? (gh, DXLD) ** U A E. Checking again for UAE Radio, Dubai on UT-July 7 at 0300 in Arabic, I noted only 15395 was in use, so what happened the previous day must have been the result of an error in frequency choice at the transmitter site, not aware that both channels were 5 kHz apart (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. MUSIC: WAVING THE FLAG FOR THE LAST NIGHT By Andrew Clark, Financial Times Auntie - otherwise known as the BBC - has got her knickers in a twist over the Last Night of the Proms. As promoter of the world's longest and most popular concert series, the Beeb can't decide what it wants. Should it allow the Last Night bunfight to continue, with its emphasis on party-hats and imperialist-era songs? Or should it take a lead from last year's sombre event, four days after September 11, and jettison rituals that many regard as out of tune with modern, multicultural Britain? The Last Night, one of the select British occasions televised around the world, is a party as much as a musical event - an excuse for Prommers, paying as little as £4 to hear top classical artists in the Royal Albert Hall, to let their hair down after a long summer. The evening traditionally ends with "Rule Britannia", "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory" - patriotic songs that usually raise the roof but were considered inappropriate so soon after the attacks on America. Many welcomed that break from tradition, and hoped the BBC would grasp the nettle. It had a variety of options. It could make a permanent break with the past. It could use the opportunity to generate a public debate. Or it could simply give tradition a clear vote of confidence. It has done none of these. It is clearly embarrassed by the event and doesn't know what to do. That became apparent this week, when Leonard Slatkin, the BBC Symphony Orchestra's American chief conductor, disclosed that there would be no "Rule Britannia" at the 2002 Last Night. He was "not comfortable" with it; the words were "outdated" and "militaristic". He went on to say that "though it's wonderful to celebrate who you are and have faith in your country, I don't think we should exclude others". Such arguments do not go down well with traditionalists, many of whom cling to their Last Night rituals as a quintessential expression of Britishness. They might be taken seriously if it was a British conductor taking the stand - as Mark Elder tried to do, unsuccessfully, at the time of the Gulf war. But just when the US appears increasingly bent on a unilateral course on Afghanistan, the Middle East and other international issues, criticism by an American of a harmless British tradition is not calculated to win sympathy. Slatkin apparently has no objection to other flag-waving parts of the programme, such as "Jerusalem" and "Land of Hope and Glory". He has even agreed to conduct a wordless version of "Rule Britannia", apparently oblivious to the fact that the Prommers will join in regardless. Realising the furore Slatkin's comments would cause, the BBC's propaganda department immediately went into damage-limitation mode. The dropping of "Rule Britannia", with its solo verses and choral refrains, was "an artistic choice". It had not disappeared from the Last Night for ever; no decision had been taken about the future. After flatly denying only two months ago that "Rule Britannia" was to be dropped, Nicholas Kenyon, the BBC's Proms supremo, now says the Last Night is reverting to the "original" version of Henry Wood's Fantasia on British Sea-Songs, from which "Rule Britannia" was extrapolated by Malcolm Sargent in the 1950s. Kenyon claims the change illustrates the way tradition reinvents and refreshes itself. "Leonard Slatkin is committed to tradition; I am committed to tradition." You don't need to be able to read music to realise Slatkin and Kenyon are singing from a different song-sheet. If Slatkin is "not comfortable" with "Rule Britannia", he shouldn't be conducting it - in its wordless version or any other. If, as Kenyon says, the reasons for the change are artistic, he should have been trumpeting it at the Proms launch, instead of trying to bury it. The worst of all this is the way the BBC seems to be blowing with the wind. Trying to justify a purely orchestral "Rule Britannia" on the grounds that it is the "original" version is typical of the spurious authenticity that has swept the musical landscape these past 10 years, with Kenyon one of its prime promoters. If Kenyon really wanted the original version, he would go back to the masque by 18th century English composer Thomas Arne from which Wood adapted his Fantasia. Unlike Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, to which patriotic words were later fitted, the music of "Rule Britannia" was written expressly for its text. Had Kenyon's argument about "original" versions borne any substance, the Proms would present "Land of Hope and Glory" in the form Elgar wrote it - as an orchestral march. Instead of shilly-shallying, the BBC must make up its mind what it wants from the Last Night. It loves the publicity, because it helps to justify the amount of money spent on the season as a whole. Deprive the Last Night of its eccentric English character, however, and the Proms would quickly lose their international ratings profile. There's no easy middle ground. In its present position, the BBC merely looks weak. So does Slatkin, who is already on his way out. After less than two years in his post, he recently announced that he will not be renewing his contract in 2004. The consensus is that he has not been a success. Brought in as a media-friendly conductor of English and American composers, he has turned out to be a dull interpreter specialising in second-rate repertoire. As a celebration of music - its changing tune and unchanging greatness - you can't do much better than the Proms: with audiences often exceeding 5,000 a night and tens of thousands more on the airwaves, they are the ultimate marriage of access and quality. The 2002 season, beginning a fortnight today, should prove their continuing vitality. The Last Night is always the most popular. Few in the audience attach much significance to what they are singing, and even fewer care. When I first went three years ago, the hall was sprinkled not just with British flags, but German, Swiss, Italian and Swedish as well. My neighbours were French. They had a whale of a time, because they entered into the spirit of the occasion. It's a pity Slatkin and Kenyon can't do the same. BBC Proms July 19-September 14. Tel +44 20 7589 8212. © Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2002 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. The new 18th edition of RADIO STATIONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (ISBN 0-9540223-0-0) is now available from the British DX Club. RADIO STATIONS IN THE UK is a comprehensive 56 page directory of mediumwave and FM radio stations in the UK. It covers all BBC, independent, access and long-term restricted service broadcasters and is a must for anyone interested in UK domestic radio - either as a casual radio listener or specialised DXer. This edition again includes a free supplementary guide to radio stations in the Republic of Ireland. Features include: - All stations listed by frequency as well as in A-Z order - Frequencies cross-referenced to show parallel channels - Transmitter sites and powers, postal and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers. - Full details of the new Access radio stations - Comprehensive listing of Low Power AM and FM stations at hospitals, colleges, schools, sports grounds, prisons and army garrisons - Irish supplement covers all RTE and independent stations RADIO STATIONS IN THE UK is available from BDXC's London HQ: British DX Club, 126 Bargery Road, Catford, London SE6 2LR, UK. PRICE per copy: 3 pounds sterling, or 5 Euros / 5 US dollars, or 7 International Reply Coupons (All prices include postage. For airmail please add 2 Euros/2 dollars or 2 IRCs) Recommended methods of payment:- - UK Cheque / UK postal order payable to 'British DX Club'. - International Reply Coupons. - Cash in Euros or US dollars Full details also on the BDXC-UK web site at: http://www.bdxc.org.uk (via MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** U K [non]. No Laser Radio transmission appeared on 5935 today. The below enclosed posting in the German A-DX lists states without giving a source that this was the result of technical problems at the transmitter site and that they hope to make it on the air next Sunday. Well, if I remember correct the Riga-Ulbroka transmitter had to be switched off for some time during the last Radio Caroline transmission on 5935. Transmitter engineers elsewhere state that difficulties are to be expected when firing up an older rig after it was silent for some time (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- From: "Simon-Peter Liehr" Subject: Re: [A-DX] Laser Fiel aufgrund techn. Probleme an der Sendeanlage in´s (Ostsee)wasser. Man hofft nun nächsten Sonntag auf Sendung zu gehen. ´73 Simon Hat irgendwer Laser auf 5935 kHz empfangen? Hier nur Rauschen im Wald. Die wollen übrigens gleich 3 Dollar für eine QSL, womit wir wieder beim Ausgangspunkt wären. Grüße (Rudolf Sonntag, 82205 Gilching, Germany, via Ludwig, DXLD) Hallo allemaal, Hopelijk zijn jullie nog niet massaal op vakantie. Gisteren (zo 6-7) zou laser radio op 5935 kHz voor het eerst uitzenden maar ik heb niets gehoord. ik heb om 14:00 utc geluisterd en later nog een paar keer kort maar niets. Heeft iemand wel iets gehoord????? Groeten, (Han Hardonk (BDXC 3196 JFH) ontvanger: AOR AR7030 en Telefunken ELK 639, Antenne : T2FD (17m.lang) / remote controlled MW- loop / ALA 1530; Extra's : MFJ 1026; BDXC topica list via DXLD) News Update The new dates for our Test broadcasts are : Saturday July 13 - 14h00 UT to 22h00 UT Sunday July 14 - 14h00 UT to 22h00 UT If you can hear the broadcast please send a reception report. Your reception reports will help us decide whether to continue broadcasting beyond July on 5935 KHz. LaserRadio.net will broadcast to listeners throughout Europe and the United Kingdom via Shortwave and at a later stage via digital satellite. Our programming on shortwave will feature the latest news from the world of media, technical reviews and items of interest for radio enthusiasts, all blended with a mix of the best music. (from http://laserradio.net July 8 via DXLD) (I also noticed the "contribution" requested for a QSL card has dropped to £2, 3 Euros or US$3 since I last checked the website) (Alan Pennington, Caversham UK, July 8, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U S A. General Communications Emergency Termination (Jul 8, 2002) -- Through mutual agreement with the president of the ARRL, Jim Haynie, W5JBP, effective today, July 8, 2002, at 1 PM, Eastern Daylight Savings time (1700 UTC), the Federal Communications Commission's July 5, 2002 Declared Communications Emergency terminated. The Declared Communications Emergency was in support of flood relief efforts in Texas. Amateurs can resume using the frequencies 7285 kHz and 3873 kHz (plus or minus 3 kHz). The Federal Communications Commission wishes to thank everyone for their cooperation and dedicated amateur service. Arlan K Van Doorn, Senior Advisor For Public Safety Enforcement Bureau (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. INTERESTING OPERATION OF THE WEEK. Look for the "Naturist Amateur Radio Club's" station, NU5DE, to be active from 0000z, July 8th through 2400z, July 14th, from Austin, TX. Activity will take place during the 27th Annual North American Nude Awareness Celebration. Suggested frequencies are: 7265, 14265, 21365 and 28465. QSL via: Naturist Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 200812, Austin, TX 78720-0812 (KB8NW/OPDX July 8/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. THE KPH PROJECT From http://www.radiomarine.org/kph-proj.html In cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the National Park Service, the Maritime Radio Historical Society has taken on the job of preserving and restoring KPH, one of the most famous coast stations in the world. KPH began its life at the dawn of radio. Its first home was the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, from which it derived its first call letters, PH. After the 1906 earthquake and fire the station moved to several locations. These included Green Street in San Francisco (where the neighbors were kept awake by the crashing din of the rotary gap), Hillcrest in Daily City (where the operators were plagued by the local skunks) and Marshall, on the east shore of Tomales Bay at the long wave receiving station. Eventually the KPH transmitters found a permanent home on the mesa west of the small town of Bolinas while the receiving station and control point was established on the mesa of Point Reyes. Along the way federal regulators added the K prefix to the original PH, creating KPH, one of the most famous radio call signs in the world. Radio operators ashore and afloat came to regard KPH as "the wireless giant of the Pacific". Only the best operators worked at KPH. They were there 24 hours a day, ready to help with everything from the mundane messages of maritime commerce to urgent requests for assistance from ships in distress. The KPH signal literally spanned the globe. Radio operators on ships in the far corners of the world were comforted by the steady signal of KPH in their earphones. As technology progressed the end of Morse code was predicted many times. But KPH soldiered on providing good, reliable service to the maritime community. The end came at Bolinas in 1997 when Globe Wireless purchased the license and the big transmitters were finally shut down. On July 12, 1999 Globe Wireless sent the last commercial messages in Morse code from KFS, their master station near Half Moon Bay. It was the last time the famous call KPH would be heard on the air - or so it was thought. Click HERE for a report on what it was like to be at KFS on the last day of commercial Morse in North America. Today the former KPH facilities are part of the Point Reyes National Seashore which has a strong interest in the important role the station played in the history of radio communications. The Maritime Radio Historical Society has been working with the Point Reyes National Seashore to preserve and restore KPH with the goal of eventually creating a museum dedicated to this great station that was once heard throughout the world. On 12 July 2000 KPH returned to the air from its original location, using its original equipment and its original frequencies - generously made available by Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH license and operator of the equally famous KFS from which the last commercial Morse message was sent. Veteran operators, radio engineers and those with an interest in radio history gathered at the Bolinas transmitter building to watch the station come on the air one year and one minute after the last Morse transmission from Half Moon Bay. Commemorative messages were sent by hand by the operators who once stood watch at the station. Contact was made with several of the last remaining ships still equipped for Morse transmission. It was a moving occasion that we came to call "the night of nights". We have assembled a collection of pictures showing KPH at various points in its history for your viewing pleasure. Take an armchair tour of KPH and see how this great coast telegraph station evolved through the years. Enjoy... Photos documenting the history of KPH from 1919 through the 1970s. See the buildings, equipment and operating personnel of KPH in its glory years. Most of these have never before been publicly available. Pictures of KPH as it appears today including the buildings, transmitter gallery and control room at Bolinas, antenna fields and the artifacts that remain from the great days of the Alexanderson alternator. KPH returned to the air one year and one minute after the last commercial Morse message was sent in North America - and 3 years after the station was shut down and left for dead! In a memorable event that we called the "Night of Nights" veteran operators once again sat at the key of KPH to send commemorative messages that were heard worldwide. Join them for an inside look at this great event. Jack Martini "DM" was the last manager of KPH. He worked under Frank Geisel, "Mr. KPH", and was one of Frank's "pillars of strength" along with Ray Smith. When Jack became manager of the station he didn't know he would be the last in a distinguished line. But when it fell to him to finally close the station he left all the receivers on to keep a symbolic watch over the airwaves. That tells you a lot about the kind of man Jack is and how he felt about his job and KPH. Jack kept a journal during his time at KPH. We are privileged to present it here. Read about what life was really like at KPH in its glory days (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Interesting games played by the VOA. It appears that VOA News-Now is blocked to USA domains, but the hip-hop VOA MusicMix music is not. If the music is your style --- it is commercial-free --- dial up http://www.voamusicmix.net/ and have a listen (Tom Sundstrom, NJ, Net Notes, July NASWA Journal via DXLD) Has the VOA audio stream link changed? I have this audio link but hasn't worked the last 2 attempts: http://www.voa.gov/stream/live/newsnow.ram If you have the new audio URL - if there is one please let me know (Petro Giannakopoulos, GA, July 5, swprograms via DXLD) There is an apparent lack of co-ordination between the two VOA web sites. The following just worked. http://www.voanews.com/real/live/newsnow.ram (Joel Rubin, NY, ibid.) I just saw/heard VOA Talk to America for Monday July 8. Very interesting about a new planet discovered 2 kilolightyears away. Perhaps it is still ondemand but shortly to be replaced by the July 9 show (Glenn Hauser, 1811 UT July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SLUG: 7-36491 Broadcasting in Arabic.rtf DATE=7/5/02 TYPE=English Programs Feature NUMBER=7-36491 TITLE=Broadcasting in Arabic BYLINE=Oksana Dragan EDITOR=Nancy Smart INTRO Today on New American Voices you'll meet Usama Farag, who came to the United States fourteen years ago from Egypt to be a broadcaster in Voice of America's Arabic service. Now he is the executive producer of VOA's new program to the Middle East, Radio Sawa. Your host is ______________. TAPE CUT 1 opening of Arabic program :15 "Radio Sawa, etc. etc." segue to TAPE CUT 2 USAMA "This is a new radio network that's called Radio Sawa, which means 'together', and it's a different radio station. We have changed to become almost an American commercial radio station. Now we broadcast music mix, Arabic and Western music 24 hours a day, add to it newscasts twice every half-hour. And of course we are in the early stages now, we are going to add many programs, many features, Americana, political programs, it's coming up within the next few months." TEXT As part of his duties as executive producer, Usama Farag selects the music for the new program. He says that, based on weekly research reports from the region, he can target Radio Sawa's music mix for each Arab country to which it is broadcast. TAPE CUT 3 USAMA "The amazing thing is that we can have different streams to different areas. We have a pan-Arab stream, we have a stream to Iraq, we have another one coming up to the Gulf and maybe another one to Egypt, so that you can modify your music according to the tastes of your listeners." TEXT Another new feature of the Middle East Radio Network is an emphasis on broadcasting on FM. Although the station also uses some medium wave transmitters, most of the programming is heard on leased local FM transmitters greatly improving the quality of the sound. TAPE CUT 4 sneak Sawa music, up :07 and fade TEXT Usama Faraq was born in Egypt, the oldest of four children of an Army officer and his wife. He was preparing for a career as a diplomat, but instead landed a much-sought-after job at Radio Cairo. After four years there he passed the test to join the Arabic Branch of the Voice of America, and pulled up stakes to move from Cairo to Washington. TAPE CUT 5 USAMA "I was an on-air talent, an emcee and news reader. There is a great deal of specialization, you know over there you can be a news-reader, a program host, a producer. When you come to the States you have to be all of this. And if you can be a producer, translator, newsreader, news writer, then you are really an international radio broadcaster. It takes time, two-three years, but in time you excel and you become much better." TEXT Usama Farag says like many young Arabs, he was fascinated by American pop culture as he was growing up. TAPE CUT 6 USAMA "Actually, unlike many people may think, Hollywood played a positive and very good role in drawing a picture of America in my eyes before I came here. So when I came here I did not feel a stranger, and definitely I think that the movies and the soap operas, and especially the cowboy movies that we loved there, played an important factor in understanding America. When I came here nothing really surprised me that much, I knew almost everything about the society, through what I watched on TV in Egypt." TEXT Usama Farag, who was 28 when he came to the United States in 1988, says that he faced no difficulties and met with no discrimination on account of his Arabic background. TAPE CUT 7 USAMA "Absolutely not. I got great opportunities here in the United States and I benefited from it, I worked hard, and I was rewarded very well". TEXT Mr. Farag is married to a pediatrician, also from Egypt. The couple has three children. Their oldest child and only son, Omar, is seven, and autistic a term applied to children who are self-absorbed and have severe social, communication and behavioral problems. TAPE CUT 8 USAMA "That's our challenge and our struggle. After we established our careers, my wife and I, we have to really provide him with - he's severely autistic, and that's why we have to provide him with a lot of assistance, and therapists, who come at home and deal with him. He is under supervision 24 hours a day He's my favorite kid. (I hope my daughters don't listen.)" TEXT Both Usama Farag and his wife, Samar Hussein, find their professions demanding and time-consuming sometimes at the expense of their family. TAPE CUT 9 USAMA "Basically I'm a workaholic, my wife is a workaholic too, and that's too bad for the kids, but we're trying to make up for it. We have our parents and in-laws coming to help us take care of our kids, because work is really demanding, and we have to work 12 hours a day, easy." TEXT For the present, Mr. Farag is absorbed in developing the sound and impact of Radio Sawa, which went on the air at the end of March. His hopes for the future concern his family. TAPE CUT 10 USAMA "I would like my wife's career to shine even more, she's a very good physician here, and I would hope that I can help my son be able to, you know, mingle and interact within his abilities with the peers around him. And I wish I win the lottery, so that I can spend as much money on him as I want." TAPE Sneak Sawa music, hold :06, fade under (VOA [tran]script via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Today I saw a bumper sticker for "WTJC 9370 Khz Shortwave" at a local parking lot here in Bristol, CT. This is the first time I have ever seen a bumper sticker for a shortwave station. I use to have an old KUSW sticker in my collection, but I never put it on my car (Kent Plourde, Bristol, CT, July 8, ODXA via DXLD) ** U S A. CONNECTICUT - RADIO ANTENNA ISSUE CAUSING STATIC By Vesna Jaksic, Staff Writer, July 7, 2002 Town residents and some school officials have fiercely opposed building a radio antenna near North Street School, but many experts in the field believe they don't have much to worry about. Several experts familiar with electromagnetic radiation said similar projects have not posed health risks in the past, though one said he is against building radio antennas near schools. The debate surrounds WGCH/1490 AM's proposal to build a 74-foot, 1,000-watt radio antenna on town-owned property adjacent to the school. While the local radio station has not submitted a formal application, the site is the station's best option since it was denied permission to build at the Beacon Point Marina in Cos Cob, said Peter Mutino, the station's general manager. "I'm confident that this is the best site given where we can and cannot locate," he said. Most experts agreed with Mutino that, if approved, the project on North Street would not pose a risk to the surrounding community. Henry Kues, who has reviewed nearly 20 applications for telecommunications towers for the Stamford Health Department, said scientific data show such projects are not dangerous. "What we found to date, without any exception to the sites I've reviewed, (is that) the proposed power levels of these facilities only come to about 1 percent or less of what would be allowed under (Federal Communications Commission) guidelines," said Kues, a senior staff scientist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. "The bottom line is, everything we've seen so far, with the individuals that are being exposed, the amount of exposure is so low, it nowhere comes near to the limits the FCC is advocating for." The FCC determines the guidelines for telecommunications facilities based on a number of criteria, including the type and frequency of transmission, proximity to other transmitters, the type of site and the length of exposure. Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News, a New York City-based newsletter about radiation, said children should be kept away from radio antennas until more research is done to determine their risks. "There are more questions than answers in all this, but I think when it comes to children one should take a precautionary approach, and I don't think you should bring a radio tower near a school," said Slesin, who has a doctorate degree in environmental risk analysis. He pointed to a recent study from Rome, which appeared in the June 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology. A study of people surrounding a high-power radio station there - which was more powerful than WGCH's proposal - showed increased risk of childhood leukemia for those living closer to the radio station. But the study came with a warning that it had "limitations" because of a small number of cases and lack of exposure data. This has been the case with numerous studies in the field that pointed out health risks, according to several experts. "There are some reports in the literature that occasionally pop up, (saying) there is some suspicions that there might be increase in incidence in some disease or something. But these, for the most part, these are very poor studies and are not verified," said Dr. Marvin Ziskin, a biomedical engineer and a professor of radiology and medical physics at Temple University. "I can't deny these things don't exist in the literature, but the overwhelming science in the area is pretty in accordance." To get a building permit for any type of a telecommunications device approved, numerous tests are conducted to ensure the amount of radiation is so minimal that it's harmless, said Ziskin, who serves on several national and international committees in the field, including the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety, which helped establish the country's guidelines for safe use of electromagnetic sources. Caroline Calderone Baisley, director of the Greenwich Department of Health, said she believes most of the opposition to building radio antennas generally comes from people who have not researched the scientific evidence available. "I think what the problem is, is the misunderstanding or the lack of information about radio waves," she said. "You see this thing and right away you think it's dangerous." Based on her readings on the subject, Calderone Baisley said she believes the FCC's guidelines are rigid enough to ensure approved projects do not pose any danger to the public. While she acknowledged parents and school officials' concerns, she also pointed out problems that could arise if the radio station is forced off the air. Mutino has said that the lease on the site where WGCH now has an antenna, 177 W. Putnam Ave., has expired, and if the station cannot build a new antenna soon, it risks going off the air. The station's landlord has said she has tried to reach a deal with WGCH to allow the station to continue broadcasting from its current antenna. "The town really needs to look at this because if they close shop, if they close down, we're not going to be able to communicate in case of emergency," she said. "We can't afford not to have a local radio station. . . We are not saying that (near) school grounds is the best location, we're just saying, we need a site." Copyright © 2002, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Geez, RF fears from a 1 kW MW transmitter, of which there are thousands in the US? How about all the ERP 100 kW FMs, 5000 kW UHFs in any metro area. Everybody(?) knows that RF is much more hazardous at VHF/UHF/microwave than MF. Even I cringe whenever I have to venture into the NE OKC antenna farm, but now I can worry about Enid`s two 1 kW MW stations a few miles away. Not that I would want to live or work right next to them (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. UPDATE WITH GROSSE POINTE, MICHIGAN'S 1170 AM It appears that the new 1170 from Grosse Pointe is only on for very limited hours, and I'm not talking typical daytime station hours, but when the air personality feels like signing it on and off. I don't know if it is temporary or not, but I posted about them Tuesday right after I had heard them, but they were off a few days, and then last night around 8:00 our time [UT -4] here they were on again. I don't know about the hours, but if anyone else form around the area or out of the area hears them at all let me know and thanks in advance. (Jeffrey Michael Kenyon, July 7, NRC-AM via DXLD) There is something VERY odd about this. The FCC Audio Services Division doesn't list an AM station on 1170 in MI. However, the FCC Mass Media Database under the General Menu Reports lists KPUG on 1170 with the "Facility City" as Grosse Point Farms, MI. It lists the "Community of License" as Bellingham, WA. These are, of course, 1900 miles apart. To add to the confusion there is a TIS station on 1170 in Saint Clair Shores, MI which is the city immediately adjacent to Grosse Point Farms, MI. It is WPNW619 licensed to the City of Saint Clair Shores. (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) The FCC Audio Services Division doesn't list an AM station on 1170 in MI. However, the FCC Mass Media Database under the General Menu Reports lists KPUG on 1170 with the "Facility City" as Grosse Point Farms, MI. It lists the "Community of License" as Bellingham, WA. These are, of course, 1900 miles apart. I believe the "Grosse Point Farms" listed under Facility City is simply the address of the station owners. KPUG is (was?) owned by Saga, which is based in GPF, MI (Scott Fybush, ibid.) The address in the "facility" table appears to be the address for official correspondence - where the corporate office is. For *many* stations it is nowhere near the city of license (Doug Smith, TN, ibid.) That's what I thought too although it seems like "facility city" is a rather misleading choice of wording on the part of the FCC. They do have a separate section for the owner`s address in the mass media database as well. But the interesting thing is that someone in the Grosse Point area has reported hearing local broadcasts on 1170. That seems like one heck of a coincidence unless he is hearing that nearby TIS and mistaking it for a broadcast station. I will be in Lansing MI on the 16th to pickup a fire apparatus and deliver it back to Denver. I haven't seen my travel itinerary yet but I suspect I will be flying into Detroit and driving to Lansing. If I get a chance I'll try to check out 1170 (Patrick Griffith, Westminster, CO, USA, ibid.) The reported 'programming' and schedule sounds like a pirate to me. TIS-type stations don't usually have music and DJ-types (Russ Edmunds Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Well, from what I've been able to tell this is sounding like it is being run out of someone's house and when they have a chance for it, but is this typical of new stations to just operate part time for a while and then go to some type of set schedule with sign on and sign off hours? On 1170? I haven't heard any TIS station on that frequency at all. Grosse Pointe Farms, and St. Claire Shores are actually about five miles a part, but maybe even less then that, but I'm not sure of the exact mileage So far, the 1170 station has been weak, but WWVA has been interfering with the Grosse Pointe Station when it has been on in the morning, so I don't see how this could be a 24-hour operation that easily, but like I said it seems like the Grosse Pointe station is coming and going as it wants. So far, I just have heard one air personality there, and no legal ID, and no request lines or anything like that. I am right on the divider street with the City of Grosse Pointe, and Grosse Pointe Farms, and the station isn't the strongest, but I don't know what the future plans are for the station. Also, if you listen in on 1180 from my location you won't even know there is anything on 1170 it is that weak now. Like I said I don't think it is a TIS, because they talk about gareening [?] and mention playing easy listening music, and play lots of classical and big band music (Kenyon, ibid.) Good morning everyone. This morning 1170 in Grosse Pionte was on and off again from 6:00 until just before 7:00. This time it was stronger, and it was the same old man with classical and big band music This morning I was also hearing WXLA 1180, but 1170 was not strong enough to interfere with 1180 or 1160, but 1170 was still getting interference from WWVA. Like I have posted before it is the same older man who is on the air and this morning he just asked about the holiday weekend, and didn't give a phone number or ID or anything like that. This must be a pirate or test of some kind (Kenyon, July 8, ibid.) Well, I neglected to mention, but back in May I heard maybe one test on 1170, and it was a younger man testing and saying what the format would be, and so far it has consisted of classical music, but they did mention talk about gardening, but there hasn't been any talk about gardening except when this older man makes reference to people doing work around the house or yard or garden. I don't know how 1170 was chosen, but there are a few other spots on the AM dial here in Detroit that could be used in the daytime. I wonder if this person knows about WWVA, and its ability to skip into Grosse Pointe rather well at night and early in the morning when he is operating, WWVA right now is degrading this person's signal with it beating against the local Grosse Pointe signal here. My guess is if this is a pirate it is someone who is upset over WQRS FM's not being around for a long time. WQRS was classical music for many years in Detroit at 105.1, but they went off in 1996. A friend of mine who worked at one of the record stores around here said that he would get customers in all upset because WQRS's being off the air. The morning show host at WQRS used to live in Grosse Pointe, and is a ham, but someone told me that after WQRS went off he moved to California. This person was involved in the community also playing the organ at one of the churches around here, but I don't think he is in town now, and I'm trying to think of who else it would be that would have the know how to start something like this, and could recruit the help of someone younger to test for him (Kenyon, July 9, ibid.) How well does this station's signal get out? Any chance of copying them here in Alabama? Pirates have always been an interesting breed to me. Here locally, we had a long running pirate on 1610 who used to broadcast on Tuesday nights from 7 PM until 11 PM. Their format was an "old school" top 40 rock station thing, using IDs and air checks from "WSGN 610" which had been the top 40 station here in the 60's. They were very professional sounding, with great audio. Signal coverage was good too...covering most of the metro area. "Russ Knight" was the D.J.'s name. They even aired the old "Chickenman" series which I really enjoyed. Finally got an e-mail QSL from them after weeks of trying. Station stopped broadcasting about two years ago, but I'm still hopeful they'll return to the airwaves at some point. Would love to hear this station...I'll set a timer for 1170 tonight if you think it's possible. 73, (Les Rayburn, July 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) What do you hear on 1170? Do you get WWVA at all from your location? I get other clear channel stations clearer then 1170, but you could try for it. Last night they were on, and last week and early this morning around 6:00 A.M. EDT they were on with a stronger signal then what they had had last week, and they were testing in May, and when they tested in may it was around 3:30 in the afternoon. Listen for classical music and mentions of gardening and Grosse Pointe. Last night they were on about 9:30, but I don't know what time they signed on, but I'm going to listen for them more now, because besides WWVA not much happens on 1170. The audio is fine for AM 1170 though with the beating of WWVA as I said (Kenyon, ibid.) So far, KVOO in Tulsa is my only log on this channel. Keep in mind that I just started MW DXing about six months ago. I'll run a timer this afternoon and see what comes up. I think this is a bit unusual for a pirate, only because ego is usually such a large factor in these operations that they tend to "over-ID" rather than avoiding them. But if they are motivated by the loss of a classic music station, perhaps this makes sense. As more and more voices are lost from media, I suspect we'll see more of this kind of thing. 73, (Les Rayburn, N1LF, Birmingham, AL, ibid.) You`re certainly not going to hear a low-powered MI pirate in AL in the middle of summer, hours before sunset (gh, DXLD) Well, I never heard them give a call sign, but last week when they went on the air I just thought they would be another day time station. They would have to be because of WWVA, but they are less then that. Has anyone had stations come on that when they first start operating they don't operate to the full extent that they do once they get going and have been on the air a while? If you are new to this all, you probably already know that this is not the best time of year to DX on AM, but I don't know if this station will be around when next AM DX season comes around or what the situation will be (Kenyon, ibid.) ** U S A. WBBR 1130 DOWNTIME IN EARLY AUGUST WBBR is the process of upgrading their transmitter. In the words of engineer Bob Janney (WB3EBN): "We are in the process of replacing our Aux transmitter ( Continental 317C ) with a new Nautel XL-60. This will become our main transmitter and the current main transmitter (Nautel Ampfet 50) will become the aux transmitter." Now for the good news (received today) for Northeast DXers: "The new transmitter has been installed and tested on the dummy load. Everything went well. We are planning factory comissioning for the first week of August at which time we will have the downtime. I will let you know exactly when as that time gets closer." So watch for WBBR downtime in that first week. I will broadcast the exact info as soon as I get it, but it may not be in time to make it into DXN. Let's hope for early warning and a storm-free night (Rick Kenneally, Wilton, CT, July 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. POSSIBLE WOR-710 DOWNTIME IN FALL According to WOR engineering, their transmitter relocation is clearing its various legal and permit hurdles. They will probably be off the air for testing sometime after September. I'll let you know when I know more. Now (pulling out the WRTH) when does St. Vincent sign on?.... (Rick Kenneally, Wilton, CT, July 8, NRC-AM via DXLD) I spent a very pleasant afternoon at the transmitter site with Buckley's director of corporate engineering a couple of weeks ago. The game plan is this: the current site stays up until the new site is finished. The new site, less than a mile away, will have ALL new gear - two new Harris Destiny 3DX50 transmitters, brand new processing and STL gear, three new towers, a new ground system, all courtesy of the state of New Jersey. While there will be a little downtime for testing the new site on-air, the expectation is that there won't be much, since the old site will be able to carry the load until the new one is all ready. (The existing DX50 at the current site will probably find its way to another Buckley station somewhere; if anyone wants the Continental 317 aux for home use, let the station know! :-) (Hey Fred, how about THAT for the next WNRC?...) -s (Scott Fybush, NY, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. PUBLIC RADIO STATION ADMONISHED FOR RUNNING ADS DAYSTAR PUBLIC RADIO, INC.. Issued an admonishment against Daystar Public Radio, Inc., licensee of WKSG(FM), Cedar Creek, FL for broadcasting advertisements and conducting impermissible fundraising in violation of Section 399B of the Act. Action by: Chief, Investigations & Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau. Adopted: 07/03/2002 by MO&O. (DA No. 02-1580). EB http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1580A1.doc http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1580A1.pdf http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1580A1.txt (via Fred Vobbe, July 9, NRC FMTV via DXLD) Here`s the entire document, text version; is KAYE paying attention? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) *Pages 1--5 from Microsoft Word - 19492.doc* Federal Communications Commission DA 02- 1580 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of DAYSTAR PUBLIC RADIO, INC. Licensee of Noncommercial Educational Station WKSG( FM), Cedar Creek, Florida EB- 01- IH- 0484 Facility #9714 MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER Adopted: July 3, 2002 Released: July 8, 2002 By the Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division, Enforcement Bureau: I. Introduction 1. In this Order, we admonish Daystar Public Radio, Inc. (``Daystar``), licensee of noncommercial educational station WKSG(FM), Cedar Creek, Florida, for broadcasting advertisements and conducting impermissible fundraising in violation of Section 399B of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (`` the Act``), 47 U. S. C. § 399b, and Section 73.503 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. § 73. 503. Daystar responded to our April 30, 2002, inquiry by its submission filed May 17, 2002. We have carefully reviewed the record, including Daystar's response, and conclude that the licensee has violated the pertinent statutory and Commission underwriting rule provisions. While we believe that no monetary sanction is warranted at this time, we find that an admonishment is necessary to redress the statutory and rule violations. II. Background 2. Advertisements are defined by the Act as program material broadcast ``in exchange for any remuneration`` and intended to ``promote any service, facility, or product`` of for-profit entities. 47 U. S. C. §399b( a). As noted above, noncommercial educational stations may not broadcast advertisements. Although contributors of funds to noncommercial stations may receive on-air acknowledgements, the Commission has held that such acknowledgements may be made for identification purposes only, and should not promote the contributors' products, services, or business. 3. Specifically, such announcements may not contain comparative or qualitative descriptions, price information, calls to action, or inducements to buy, sell, rent or lease. See Public Notice, In the Matter of the Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting Stations (1986), republished, 7 FCC Rcd 827 (1992) (`` Public Notice``). At the same time, however, the Commission has acknowledged that it is at times difficult to distinguish between language that promotes versus that which merely identifies the underwriter. Consequently, it expects only that licensees exercise reasonable, good- faith judgment in this area. See Xavier University, 5 FCC Rcd 4920 (1990). 4. In addition, the Commission has narrowly construed what constitutes permissible fundraising on noncommercial stations. Specifically, the Commission has held that, in the absence of a waiver, noncommercial stations are prohibited from conducting any fundraising activity which substantially alters or suspends regular programming and is designed to raise support for any entity other than the station itself, and for purposes other than station operations. See Commission Policy Concerning the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting Stations (`` Policy Statement``), 90 FCC 2d 895, 907 (1982), recon. granted, 97 FCC 2d 255, 264- 65 (1984); Ohio State University, 38 RR 2d 22 (1976). III. Discussion 5. The key facts in this case are not in dispute. Daystar admits that the station broadcast the five sponsored announcements described in our letter of inquiry and set forth in the attached transcript; that the sponsors are for- profit entities; and that it received consideration for airing the messages. The station also acknowledges that it broadcast a seventeen- minute interview with the proprietor of for-profit EZ Access Transporters, Inc., during which the station announcer solicited investment funds to assist the newly founded company in producing its product, the EZ Tilter Platform. Moreover, Daystar acknowledges that the announcements, ``as a whole,`` do not comply with Section 399B of the Act, and the pertinent Commission policies and rules. It also states that the interview ``violate[ s] FCC policies.`` Daystar contends that it assumed its management ``better understood`` the appropriate ``parameters of `on-air acknowledgments` `` and was disappointed to discover management`s grasp of this issue was faulty. The licensee asserts that it has since taken steps to ensure underwriting rule compliance by revising the station's donor acknowledgment policy and practice. It also states that the fundraising interview ``would never get by the present criteria of WKSG policies.`` 6. We find that the subject underwriting announcements exceed the bounds of what is permissible under Section 399B of the Act, and the Commission's pertinent rules and policies, in light of the ``good- faith`` discretion afforded licensees under Xavier, supra. In addition, we find that Daystar engaged in impermissible fundraising through the seventeen-minute interview with the proprietor of for- profit EZ Access Transporters, Inc., during which the station announcer solicited investment funds to assist the newly founded company in producing its product, the EZ Tilter Platform. In this regard, we note that the fact that the licensee did not receive consideration from broadcasting these fundraising pleas is not relevant to the question of whether the fundraising appeal itself was appropriate. Solicitations of the type conducted here are prohibited. IV. Ordering Clauses 7. In view of the foregoing, we conclude that a sanction is appropriate. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that Daystar Public Radio, Inc., licensee of noncommercial educational station WKSG(FM), Cedar Creek, Florida, IS ADMONISHED for broadcasting advertisements and for conducting impermissible fundraising in violation of Section 399B of the Act, 47 U. S. C. § 399B, and Section 73. 503 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. § 73. 503. 8. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Memorandum Opinion and Order shall be sent, by Certified Mail -- Return Receipt Requested, to Daystar Public Radio, Inc., 1403 Indian River Avenue, Titusville, Florida, 32780. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Charles W. Kelley Chief, Investigations and Hearings Division Enforcement Bureau ATTACHMENT The following text was transcribed from audio-taped recordings of underwriting announcements broadcast on WKSG(FM), Cedar Creek, Florida, on July 30, 2001: 1. Precision Air Heating and Air Conditioning (60 seconds.) For every system purchased, Precision Air Heating and Air Conditioning will donate $100.00 to the Bullet-Proof Vest Fund, Inc., a not-for- profit corporation. Donations may be made at any one of the eleven locations of Sun Trust Bank. . . . Again, thank you to Dave Leonard at Precision Air, home of the ``Trane Home Heating and Cooling Systems.`` Precision Air focuses on service, and when you call, you will speak to a live service representative, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That`s Precision Air Heating and Air Conditioning, 3330 S. E. 58 th Avenue. . . . The phone number is 352-624-4000. That`s 624- 4000. And when you call, they haul. AC decision? Call Precision. 2. Lord`s Gym (90 seconds.) Why settle for being merely physically fit when you can be spiritually fit as well? At Lord's Gym, we believe in giving you the tools you need to be the person you always knew you could be. It`s more than the recumbent bikes, the elliptical trainers, and stair- steppers. We`re revolutionizing the fitness industry with our Christian fitness center, right here in north central Florida. Lord`s Gym is more than you expect. We adhere to a different and, we feel, more complete vision of what it means to be ``in shape.`` The staff at Lord`s Gym is here to help you. Our personal trainers offer comprehensive one-on-one training sessions, and they look forward to helping you maximize your potential— inside and out. And don`t forget Kid`s Power. The exercise program just for kids, aged 6-12. It`s a circuit training workout. Kid`s Power is a comprehensive fitness program for children aged 6-12 years old. Non-competitive games, activities, are implemented in a fast-paced 45-minute class. As many as 20 children can participate in Kid`s Power. It`s Kid`s Power, growing strong together, at Lord`s Gym. Located at 2467 S. W. 27th Avenue, in the Shady Oaks Plaza. The phone number at Lord`s Gym is 352- 629- 7757. 3. All- County Plumbing (45 seconds.) I want to say thank you to my friends at All-County Plumbing. . . . The entire crew out there is just something special. All-County Plumbing specializes in repairs, remodels, new construction, 24- hour service, sewer and drain cleaning. They are Marion County`s premier drain surgeons. That`s right— you call them at 687-0806. 687- 0806. You call— they come. They`ll be wearing the white heats [sic] because they`re good guys. And you know, good guys always wear the white hats. 4. Sears Hearing- Aid Center (90 seconds.) [We] would like to say thank you to the Sears Hearing-Aid Center for their continued support of Daystar Radio. Sears Hearing-Aid Center is located in the sears Store in Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida. Sears Hearing-Aid Center offers the Miracle Ear Hearing-Aid System. Miracle Ear has been in business since 1947 offering unparalleled service to the hearing impaired for over half a century. Sears Hearing-Aid Center is a family-owned and operated business priding itself on its professional and personal one-on-one service. And let me say that excellence is not expensive, it`s priceless. Ricky and Deidre Richardson along with Ricky`s twin brother Dicky promise that they will make your visit and testing an absolutely pleasant experience. Guaranteed. It`s the Sears Hearing-Aid Center in the Sears Store in the Paddock Mall in Ocala, Florida. The phone number in Ocala is 352- 237-1665. 5. Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services (90 seconds.) Honor to those you love is the highest priority of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services. Understanding and guidance are essential tools of the Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services professional staff. Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services is a place of family. We are proud to be Marion County`s oldest business still in operation. The Hiers and Baxley families have given our company the strength to remain the only independent funeral service provider in north central Florida, who offers your family complete funeral, crematory, and advance-planning services. Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services has been serving families since 1885 and will continue to do so for generations to come. Hiers- Baxley Funeral Services – when trust matters most (FCC via DXLD) ** U S A. Robert Feder column on Chicago radio personalities who have been fired: http://www.suntimes.com/output/feder/cst-nws-feder07.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. In the Fast Lane -- METRO NETWORKS' LISA BADEN PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC By Paul Farhi, Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, July 9, 2002; Page C01 Just before she goes on the air -- which she does roughly 60 times every weekday morning -- Lisa Baden employs an old radio announcer's trick. She smiles. Smiling loosens Baden's jaw and facial muscles, making it easier for her to get her mouth around such popgun phrases as "backup on the Beltway to St. Barnabas Road." More to the point, Baden smiles to pump up her game -- in effect, to transform herself into a bigger, better, friendlier-sounding Lisa Baden. You can hear the change. Off the air, Baden can be understated, with an occasionally inaudible voice and a high tittering giggle. When she's on, she's the Traffic Queen -- authoritative, assertive, as whimsical as she wants to be.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A41416-2002Jul8?language=printer (all about traffic reporting, via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Boston Globe has a weekly column, apparently on Tuesdays, previewing mostly classical music available on local stations and webcast, as far as KAMU in Texas, BBCR3, etc. This week`s is at: http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/190/living/The_air_this_weekP.shtml (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Globovisión has enemies GRANADA FRAGMENTARIA CONTRA GLOBOVISIÓN Pánico vivió la gente de guardia en el canal noticioso ante un atentado terrorista con armamento de guerra: una granada fragmentaria. Esta fue lanzada contra el estacionamiento a la 1:30 de esta madrugada. No se reportaron vícimas, pero sí daños materiales. Source: http://www.analitica.com July 9, 2002 Detailed info in all major Venezuelan newspapers (via Henrik Klemetz, DXLD) ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. 7460, New e-mail address for RNS (Radio Nacional Saharaui): rasdradio@yahoo.es (Rudolf Sonntag, A-DX via Ratzer, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 6165, ZNBC, Lusaka, Jun 23, *0243-0305, Intervalsignal of crying birds until 0250, then orchestral anthem, 0252 ID and religious talk in English, hymn, faded out. QRM 6165 R Netherlands, via Bonaire, in Spanish, 32322 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. TANZANIA 6015, R Tanzania, Zanzibar, Jun 23, *0258-0310, Drums Intervalsignal, National Anthem, 0300 timesignal, ID in Swahili by man, Call to Prayer, 25232 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window July 5 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE. POLICE RAID PRIVATE RADIO STATION The Daily News (Harare) July 9, 2002 The police last week raided the offices of the Voice of The People (VOP), a private radio station in Harare, and confiscated 133 tapes and files. According to a spokesman for Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)-Zimbabwe, the police, accompanied by officers from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe, (BAZ) and armed with a search warrant, raided the VOP offices on Thursday around 4pm in search of a transmitter and any other broadcasting equipment. After failing to find any transmitters, the police "confiscated 133 tapes and files from the office". Bruce Mujeyi, of Gollop and Blank, the radio station's lawyers, who was present when the police searched the offices, said the police and the BAZ officers wanted the transmitter the VOP was "using" to transmit its programmes. Mujeyi said the VOP trust deed disappeared in the confusion during the search and it is suspected the police or BAZ officers took it. Mujeyi said in terms of the law, the police must return everything they seized. "We are waiting for a decision on whether to apply to the court for a speedy return of the confiscated equipment or appeal against the harassment to which VOP staff were subjected," Mujeyi said. MISA-Zimbabwe said it was reliably informed that VOP had no transmitter in Zimbabwe or anywhere else, and was not violating any part of the Broadcasting Services Act 2001 because it is not broadcasting. The Broadcasting Services Act 2001 bars anyone from broadcasting without a valid licence. No other broadcasters have been licenced since the law was passed in 2001. Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, controlled by the Department of Information and Publicity in the President's Office, remains the only broadcaster in the country. Copyright © 2002 The Daily News http://allafrica.com/stories/200207090478.html (via Dave White, DXLD) ?? Doesn`t everybody know they broadcast via Madagascar 7310 at 0330- 0430? Should be interesting to hear if there is anything there tonight (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. I have Español on 7.310 Mhz blasting in here 10/4+ Totally obliterating all weaker stations. A religious station on 7.311 in English, female speaking. More Spanish at 7.315. The big signal is doing the South American sports at the moment (Duane Fischer, W8DBF MI, swl, posted at 0326 UT July 8) [Later at 0348: I heard DXing With Cumbre on 7.315? A strong station in Espanol with some classical music at the sign off on 7.325 at 0342 UTC, more Espanol with a huge signal on 7.310. This station is so strong I can not even center the frequency. But the religious station around 7.311 is gone, female and in English. Nothing from Africa Stewart. Huge signals all over the place. Great DX out there tonight! (Duane W8DBF Fischer, ibid.) Vatican has Spanish at 0330 on 7305, if you are not sure of the frequency (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ DX-399 ON SALE Glenn, RadioShack has a super price on remaining DX-399 receivers, cat no 20-229 (a.k.a. Sangean ATS-606). I'm guessing many will be demo's and in some area's may already be sold out. Price $ 69.97. With AC adapter and carrying case. Any store can check remaining stock within their district. A great buy while they last.... Regards, (Dave Zantow, Janesville, WI, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave's Radio Receiver Page : http://members.fortunecity.com/swradios PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ SHORTWAVE GUIDE Dear Mr Hauser, I have just read Joe Hanlon's review of our new Shortwave Guide posted on DXLD at dxld2109. He raises two good points: why did we put the ITU of the originating country rather than the ITU of the transmitter site, and why did we leave out Norway. Both these decisions were mine although they followed the advice I was given. Whatever the reasoning behind the first, I have already decided that putting the country of origin was a mistake. In the next edition we will certainly put the ITU of the transmitter site. On Norway, I was informed that NRK was not intending to broadcast the domestic service internationally, and was just filling the air time, but nor was it a domestic broadcast. It is of course an international broadcast even if that is not the intention and so should have been included. I would be happy for you to post this response on your site if you feel your members would be interested. Best wishes (Nicholas Hardyman, Publisher, The Shortwave Guide, July 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RADIO STATIONS IN THE UK See entry above under U K. ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-109, July 7, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html WWCR BROADCASTS: Mon 0000 9475 {not this week}, Wed 0930 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sun 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Hi Glenn, Can you supply me with the latest address [mail and e-mail] for Radio Afghanistan the one being relayed from Norway on 18940 kHz with a strong clear signal in Southern England. Best 73's (Nick Sharpe, UK, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nick, Now that you mention it, I do not recall any addresses being reported, nor QSLs as yet. That is, of course, the official station in Kabul, but printed references from the last few years would have the Taliban station address, which may not be the same, or even if it is, might offend if not handled carefully. If addresses have been reported, they would be somewhere in the DXLD archives. Unfortunately, almost every issue has an AFGHANISTAN and/or AFGHANISTAN non entry, but you could try looking through them if you like. http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html 73, (Glenn to Nick, via DXLD) ** ANGOLA. Primeiros resultados com a nova antena K9AY, instalada na laje do prédio, 12 andares, onde moro agora, em Copacabana. Forma triangular, altura do mastro central 5 metros em PVC, base de 8 metros. Total cada loop cerca de 19 metros de fio. A caixinha é a mesma, da Wellbrook. Não posso usar o amplificador aqui: tenho vista ótica para a baía de Guanabara e Niterói aonde estão localizadas todas as antenas das locais. Condições muito favoráveis nos ultimos dias devido à forte atividade solar, que favorece normalmente a propagação E-W no inverno. 1484.54, 1940, Em. Prov do Kuanza-Sul, Angola. Programa evangélico Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus, sotaque de aqui, então produzido no Brasil ou com pastor brasileiro falando de lá. 1502, varios, 1950-2200, Em prov. de Benguela, Angola. Sinal forte mas modulação ruim. [He also reports with his new K9AY antenna a number of others from all over Africa, Europe, Middle East, as far as India 1566 and Taiwan 1557. `Varios` means several different dates; from late June to July 5 the other loggings were --- gh] (Rocco Cotroneo, AOR 7030+ Wellbrook K9AY, Rio de Janeiro, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) [Foreign gospel-huxters are taking over Argentine radio and TV, and causing great concern:] ** ARGENTINA. LA MÁQUINA TELERRELIGIOSA Con sólo 12 años en la Argentina, la Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios, de origen brasileño, cuenta con más de 80 templos y es el culto que más creció en los últimos años. Su gran vehículo de llegada son los medios de comunicación. Aunque sus autoridades no lo admiten, sería propietaria de Radio Buenos Aires (AM 1350), lo que violaría la ley de radiodifusión. Crecen sus espacios en la TV abierta y en varias radioemisoras importantes El padre Guillermo Marcó, vocero de prensa del cardenal Jorge Bergoglio, dijo que las Iglesias históricas no están en favor de los telepastores En medio de la desesperanza, la perplejidad, el derrumbe de todas las certezas y la crisis como único escenario palpable, la búsqueda de contención espiritual crece en la gente, abriendo paso a la irrupción de alternativas religiosas, que no siempre responden a la permanente necesidad humana de conectar con algo que trascienda y sea más perdurable que nuestra propia finitud. Se le atribuye al escritor Aldous Huxley, autor de Un mundo feliz, esta reflexión: "La eficacia de una propaganda política o religiosa depende, esencialmente, de los métodos empleados. En condiciones favorables, prácticamente todo el mundo puede ser convertido a lo que sea". Desde que desembarcó en Buenos Aires, en vuelo directo desde Río de Janeiro, Brasil, convertido en "una entidad religiosa por resolución 53, del 4 de abril de 1990", según datos del Registro Nacional de Cultos, de la Cancillería, la Iglesia Universal del Reino de Dios (IURD) no ha detenido ni por un instante su expansión en la vida cultural ni en los medios masivos de comunicación argentinos. Sus ofertas más recientes, de las que LA NACION supo por fuentes oficiales inobjetables, así como por palabras de los propios interesados, fueron para comprar radio Rivadavia, de Luis Cetrá (en convocatoria de acreedores); el canal de aire América 2, de Carlos Avila (en igual situación jurídica), y una de las nueve emisoras AM y su correspondiente FM en manos del grupo mexicano CIE, que las explota sin aprobación del Comité Federal de Radiodifusión (Comfer). Aunque no confirmada, una versión apunta a la ex radio Splendid. La ofensiva pastoral de compra de medios locales se suma a una cuarta iniciativa que la IURD ha puesto en marcha: recuperar la FM que corresponde a Radio Buenos Aires (AM 1350), su radio insignia desde la que emite 24 horas de programación religiosa. Se trata de FM Millenium, de Santiago Pont Lezica, la más escuchada en frecuencia modulada y una de las radios más premiadas en el exterior. La ley de radiodifusión vigente impide a un culto extranjero ser dueño de un medio de comunicación en la Argentina. El proyecto de ley que procura proteger a los medios locales de quedar en manos extranjeras, en tratamiento en el Congreso de la Nación, vendría a fortalecer esa postura legal. Sin embargo, la IURD opera a través de socios o productoras locales, lo cual neutraliza los efectos de la norma vigente. Además, en la ley de radiodifusión vigente, dictada en tiempos de la dictadura militar, no se contempla expresamente la facultad del Comfer de investigar el origen societario de los titulares de medios hasta dar con la nacionalidad de la sociedad matriz. Sin control, todo vale Al principio, el crecimiento de la Iglesia Universal fue paulatino. Producciones radiales diseminadas en distintas emisoras locales, sin control alguno por parte del Comfer, hasta que dieron el golpe maestro, el 14 de septiembre de 1999, con la compra de radio Buenos Aires (AM 1350). Por la compra de las acciones de Luis Fernando Herrera, socio mayoritario, Jorge Civit y Aníbal Piaggio en Radiodifusora Esmeralda, titular de radio Buenos Aires, Ricardo Cis, representante de la IURD en la Argentina, pagó US$ 15 millones, según consta en el expediente 534 del Comfer, al que LA NACION tuvo acceso. En ese trámite, iniciado el 20 de marzo de 2000, Cis pidió que se aprobara la transferencia de acciones a su nombre, acompañando como toda justificación patrimonial una declaración de datos personales, de la que surge que nació en Bahía Blanca, vivió en Río de Janeiro y trabajó en comunicación visual en Brasil. Su estado patrimonial al momento de denunciar la compra por US$ 15 millones, era de $ 28.834,46 netos. Pero, posteriormente, denunció ante la AFIP que tenía en el país $ 8.173.559,05, lo que no le alcanzó para justificar una compra por casi el doble y en dólares. Aunque la IURD no admite públicamente que la AM 1350 les pertenece, apenas uno se comunica telefónicamente con su sede, en Lavalle 940, de esta ciudad, el contestador automático da tres opciones: dejar el nombre para el libro de oraciones, conectar con la radio o pasar por la librería. La radio no es otra que la AM 1350. Además de esta emisora, la Iglesia Universal tiene contratados espacios que van de la medianoche hasta el alba del día siguiente en las radios El Mundo, Splendid, Libertad y Rivadavia, así como sus respectivas ondas FM. En el caso de Rivadavia, los pastores se han instalado en la ex FM Uno, reconvertida en FM Alfa, un formato idéntico a Millenium, que emite 24 horas música y mensajes de este culto. Su presencia televisiva también fue creciendo sin pausa. Al segmento de la medianoche en Azul TV, se le sumó más tarde el horario de apertura y cierre de programación en América. Este año, alentados por el éxito mediático, le ofrecieron al empresario Carlos Avila, dueño de América, comprarle el canal de cable CVN, aunque posteriormente la operación no prosperó. Hasta el año último, las fuentes más conspicuas en el mercado de los medios señalaban que por todos los espacios en los medios, la IURD desembolsaba entre 500.000 y 700.000 dólares mensuales. Pero llegaron la devaluación, la pesificación y el corralito, aunque los pastores quedaron felizmente fuera de este último. Hoy, los valores que admiten algunos medios que los tienen como protagonistas son infinitamente inferiores. Por ejemplo, en América, fuentes de la gerencia comercial señalan que por los horarios de apertura y cierre de programación pagan hoy 25.000 pesos mensuales. Otras fuentes inobjetables señalan que la cifra rondaría los 100.000. En Radio Rivadavia Jorge Tassara señaló que la cifra que pagan por la FM y el segmento nocturno en la AM es de 30.000 pesos mensuales. Otros guarismos, suministrados por fuentes irreprochables, elevan el monto del contrato a 70.000, aunque "el año último era de 120.000 dólares". Mariana Fioroni, hija de Carlos Fioroni, director de El Mundo (adquirida por Gustavo Yankelevich, Constancio Vigil hijo y Víctor González), se rehusó a brindar cifras con el argumento de que "son datos confidenciales". Sin embargo, fuentes de la emisora indicaron que, el año último, los pastores desembolsaban entre 40.000 y 50.000 dólares mensuales por el horario nocturno. En esta radio, la IURD consiguió extender su presencia hasta las 7 de la mañana, cuando a la periodista Carolina Perín, que conducía el ciclo Amanece que no es poco, le restaron el amanecer y la Iglesia ganó una hora más. El informante dijo a LA NACION que la decisión de Fioroni obedeció a que "la Iglesia Universal es conocida por pagar al contado y con billetes chicos". Tampoco en Azul TV quisieron dar cifras, pero los valores hasta el año último rondaban los 80.000 dólares. Palabras de vida y Pare de sufrir son las propuestas televisivas de este culto en la televisión argentina. Todas las fuentes coinciden en señalar que la Iglesia Universal "siempre paga una parte de sus coproducciones o alquileres en negro". Lo que salta, de inmediato, cuando se procura obtener información sobre la IURD, es la reticencia de los interlocutores y los obstáculos por sortear. Aun en las esferas gubernamentales, la desconfianza dilata la obtención de datos. El año último, cuando el Comfer, a cargo por entonces de Gustavo López, llegó a la conclusión de que Ricardo Cis, quien admitió en el programa Telenoche investiga (Canal 13) "ser el representante en la Argentina" de la IURD, no podía justificar su capacidad patrimonial por la compra de AM 1350, le negó la transferencia de acciones. Pero cometió un error jurídico: tal decisión le correspondía al presidente de la Nación. Civit y Cis, hoy, respectivamente, presidente y vicepresidente de Radiodifusora Esmeralda (aunque a Cis no se le aprobó aún su ingreso en esa sociedad) reclamaron la derogación de la resolución del Comfer y la obtuvieron. Desde entonces, Cis ha procurado probar en el expediente su capacidad patrimonial para que se le apruebe esa transferencia de acciones. En ese expediente abundan los contratos de compraventa, de cesiones de acciones en sociedades off shore, celebrados en Uruguay. En todos ellos siempre aparecen compradores o cedentes de sugestivos apellidos brasileños. Aun así, con todos esos esfuerzos por acreditar solvencia y el origen del dinero, que de cualquier modo en el expediente sigue quedando confuso, Cis logra acreditar un patrimonio de $ 6.986.921. A pesar de que el expediente registró movimientos hasta comienzos de este año, al momento de la consulta de LA NACION hace un par de semanas, el expediente estaba curiosamente archivado. Y el Comfer, sin mover una foja. Tampoco fue sencilla la búsqueda en la Secretaría de Culto, de la Cancillería, hoy a cargo de Esteban Caselli, ex embajador ante el Vaticano durante la gestión de Carlos Menem. El director del Registro Nacional de Cultos, doctor José Cardozo, fue muy cauteloso al brindar información sobre la IURD. Al final del diálogo le preguntó a la cronista: "¿Usted cómo lo ve? ¿Le pareció objetivo?" Cardozo aclaró luego que estaba impedido de emitir algún juicio de valor sobre ninguna entidad religiosa. Señaló que, luego del programa emitido por Telenoche investiga, la Secretaría de Culto inició un expediente de oficio, en el que se le pidió a Canal 13 "el envío de los elementos probatorios, pero no los mandó, que yo recuerde. La Iglesia Universal inició otro expediente, denunciando la existencia de una campaña difamatoria en su contra por parte de Telenoche investiga". Marcelo Gómez Sin embargo, Miriam Lewin, actualmente a cargo del equipo de ese programa televisivo, dijo que no existía ninguna causa judicial contra el ciclo. "Recuerdo que se reactivó un expediente en los Tribunales de Neuquén, según nos informó un periodista de allá, a causa de nuestra investigación", dijo. En esa emisión, Cis señalaba sin pudor (registrado por una cámara oculta) que la religión, entendida en los términos de la IURD, "hoy es lo único que funciona, es el único producto que paga, que da de comer y que se consume". ¿En qué estado están los expedientes de la Secretaría de Culto?, se le preguntó al director Cardozo. "A nosotros nos pidieron fotocopias de la investigación desde la Fiscalía Nacional de Instrucción Penal Nº 41, a cargo del doctor Jorge Sacco. En febrero de este año mandamos la documentación, pero no tenemos nada concreto. Después aparecieron otros particulares, algunos sumando críticas contra la IURD y otros, sus adhesiones", dijo. Cardozo agregó que "hasta tanto no se expida la justicia no podemos tomar una decisión. En su expediente, la Iglesia Universal pide que se acredite todo su trabajo social. En esta dirección no tenemos ningún elemento para probar algo categórico contra ella". Cardozo puso de relieve que, a menos que haya una sentencia condenatoria firme, no se le puede retirar a una entidad religiosa su habilitación para funcionar en la Argentina. Eso podría ocurrir sólo en el caso de que "le comprobaran actos atentatorios contra la seguridad o la salud pública, o contra derechos de terceros, o bien que afectaran a otra entidad religiosa, o contra la moral y las buenas costumbres", señaló. La IURD tiene incluso personería jurídica para funcionar como una sociedad comercial en la Argentina. Efectos y azares Con apenas 12 años en la Argentina, la Iglesia Universal cuenta con más de 80 templos. Está en 46 países, incluidos los limítrofes, y es el culto que más creció en los últimos 20 años. Según diversas fuentes, entre septiembre de 2000 y agosto de 2001, hizo movimientos bancarios por $ 5.878.931 y adquirió inmuebles por $ 2.350.000. Tienen en Brasil una sede con capacidad para 14.000 personas, que está valuada en US$ 16 millones. Y, cuando organizan campañas, pueden llenar tanto el estadio Maracaná, en Río de Janeiro, como la cancha de River, en Buenos Aires. Sus máximas autoridades en nuestro país son los obispos Franklin y Paulo Roberto, antes destinado en Portugal, Estados Unidos e Israel, donde solía disfrutar momentos de solaz en máquinas tragamonedas, según un video emitido por la poderosa cadena Globo, que mantiene un feroz enfrentamiento con la IURD en Brasil. En la Argentina, ¿cómo se controla lo que ingresa por donaciones? ¿quién vela por la salud mental de los concurrentes a los distintos cultos religiosos? En suma, ¿quién se encarga de hacer cumplir las leyes vinculadas con el funcionamiento de las entidades religiosas? La preocupación tanto de la Iglesia Católica como de varios comunicadores cristianos y de médicos psicoanalistas está latente. El año último, cuando LA NACION comenzó esta investigación periodística, el padre Guillermo Marcó, vocero de prensa del cardenal Jorge Bergoglio, dijo: "Las Iglesias históricas no están en favor de los telepastores. Hay que ser muy cuidadosos a la hora de manejar las emociones de la gente. Dios no obra de ese modo. Nadie puede garantizar salud ni milagros automáticos. Sobre todo, en estas religiones, donde no está claro el compromiso de la persona". Y, hace unos días, el sacerdote reflexionó: "La Iglesia Católica observa con preocupación que hay una suerte de facilismo en el mensaje de este culto, que no es protestante tradicional ni evangélico. Su fuerte es la recaudación que ofrece la salvación a precio de liquidación y apuntando a la angustia, a la desesperación de la gente, sin otra exigencia que la del diezmo. La exigencia está centrada en el tema económico". El experto en sectas, Alfredo Silleta, cuenta que "en España y Francia, la IURD tuvo un tratamiento muy duro, porque en esos países se castiga a los cultos que manipulan el cerebro de la gente. La IURD está entre las 100 sectas más peligrosas del mundo". En la página web http://www.sectas.org.ar de Silleta hay una interesante investigación lrealizada por El Mundo TV, el canal del periódico homónimo, que detectó que la IURD se encuentra detrás de una "secta llamada la Oración Fuerte al Espíritu Santo", legalizada en España en 1995. Un año más tarde, en la Argentina, "la Secretaría de Culto frenó la apertura de seis nuevos templos en la Argentina a causa de un escándalo desatado en Brasil, cuando un video de Globo mostró al pastor Sergio von Helder destrozando una imagen de la virgen Nuestra Señora de la Aparecida". Silleta explicó a LA NACION que "en la IURD, las reuniones duran dos horas. La mitad del tiempo está dedicado a la Biblia y la otra mitad, a recaudar coercitivamente dinero. Por ejemplo, se le dice a la gente que si quiere salir de la miseria, o conseguir trabajo, o sanarse de una enfermedad, tiene que aportar su diezmo". Manipulación Para el psicoanalista y especialista en discurso religioso, Enrique Stola, "lo interesante de la IURD es ver cómo se produce la manipulación de las personas". Este médico atendió como pacientes a varios fieles de la Iglesia Universal que decidieron salir de ese culto. "En una ocasión vino a verme una persona a quien le habían robado. El pastor le decía que le había ocurrido porque no estaba dando el diezmo y le ocultaba a Dios lo que ganaba. El hombre sintió que no lo querían y que sólo querían su dinero. Esto agudizó su depresión. Otros dejaron la IURD cuando sintieron que ya no los podían contener". Según Stola, el común denominador entre los fieles de la Iglesia Universal es ser de nivel socioeconómico humilde, con un bajo grado de instrucción educativa y caracterizados por una profunda soledad. No se insertan en redes sociales y son personas muy cercanas a la anomia. Esto significa que no pueden identificarse socialmente." La crítica de Stola se asienta en que "el discurso de este culto pivotea sobre el miedo. Si no se cumple con el diezmo se le dice a la gente que le sobrevendrán la desgracia y el demonio. Se le ordena no confiar en nadie más que en el pastor, y eso facilita la manipulación y la pérdida de libertad. "El tema de la IURD -agrega el especialista- no es religioso, porque cada uno es libre de creer lo que quiera y no está en juego la creencia. Es un tema político, de salud mental y de derechos humanos. Por esa máscara religiosa, algunos se hacen los distraídos y otros no se meten por falta de información. Es un asunto grave y hay una responsabilidad política del secretario de Culto, cuya palabra ayudaría a que se investigue. Que un funcionario se calle la boca es sospechoso, sobre todo, porque esta Iglesia tiene mucho poder económico". Santiago Pont Lezica presentó el mes último una denuncia en el Comfer, a causa de "manifestaciones verbales de los titulares de Radiodifusora Esmeralda (la IURD) de interrumpir las transmisiones de FM Millenium en forma totalmente inconsulta y arbitraria". Consultado sobre el asunto, el empresario señaló que "de seguir la presión de los pastores para tener más espacios de programación, FM Millenium deberá mudar de frecuencia en un futuro, dejando la actual 106.3 Mhz, la que pasaría a integrarse a la programación de la Iglesia Universal". Quizás al tanto de la situación, el senador Jorge Busti presentó en abril último un proyecto dirigido al Comfer para que informe sobre las actuaciones existentes en el organismo respecto de la "fuerte presencia de la IURD en numerosos medios de radio y televisión argentinos", así como si "se ha evaluado la dimensionada presencia" de ese culto en el país, entre otros puntos. Cuando LA NACION inició la recopilación de datos para esta investigación, a mediados del año último, Luis Herrera, vendedor de las acciones de Radiodifusora Esmeralda a Ricardo Cis, dijo: "Yo le vendí a este señor Cis, que no es conocido como empresario en los medios. Es un hombre común que trabajó en la radio en Brasil, tenía espacios religiosos. Yo le vendí en US$ 15 millones, incluido el edificio (donde la IURD ya construyó sus estudios para FM Alfa). Pagó con plata religiosamente. No tenía por qué desconfiar. Fue pago contra entrega". También sorprendido por la consulta inesperada, en aquella oportunidad, Jorge Civit agregó: "No sé cuál es el origen de los fondos con los que compró Cis. Creo que son recursos genuinos". El dueño del Bingo Lavalle mira, por estos días, con desasosiego el templo de la IURD. Según fuentes inobjetables, hace unas semanas comentaba: "Si yo hubiera sabido que por cada acto religioso podía sacar entre $ 18.000 y $ 20.000, te aseguro que no ponía el bingo". Como alerta, el escritor Sam Keen, en su libro Himnos a un Dios desconocido, dice: "Una cosa es permanecer abierto y maravillado ante el verdadero misterio, y otra muy distinta, renunciar a nuestra racionalidad y aceptar las mistificaciones religiosas de la secta y de la tribu. La mejor esperanza que tenemos de crear un futuro cuerdo provendrá del hábito renovado de hablar entre nosotros esas cosas que nunca pueden decirse del todo". Por Susana Reinoso, De la Redacción de LA NACION http://www.lanacion.com.ar/suples/enfoques/0224/nota.asp?pag=p02.htm [but the article linked is not the same one as above --- gh] (via Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Estimado Henrik: En la revista 3 puntos que se edita aquí en la Argentina, hay un informe sobre la IURD, son más de 10 páginas de investigación las que trataré de transcribir. En su página de internet http://www.3puntos.com se reproduce parcialmente el artículo. Cordiales 73s (Nicolás Eramo, ibid.) ** ARGENTINA/BRAZIL. Correction to my earlier post [COLOMBIA]: R. Nacional, Argentina is actually on reasonably stable 6059.94 kHz. I mistakenly assumed from memory that the unid on 6060.84v was Argentina. The unid station on 6060.84v is possibly R. Tupi, oscillating approx +/- 16 Hz every 2 minutes or so (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN - Icom R75 - Palstar R30C - Quantum QX Pro - Wellbrook ALA 330 hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. The Coast Radio Melbourne website has been updated. For information about Victoria's new maritime coast station and other coast radio stations around Australia, click to http://coastradiomelbourne.cjb.net Feedback is appreciated and when there, why not take our webpoll! Rgs, Monitoring Services (via Mike Terry, July 6, DXLD) The page claims: ``Coast Radio Monitors VHF Channel 16, 4125 kHz, 6125 kHz & 8291 kHz``. I should be very surprised if 6125 be used for maritime communications, within the 49m ISWBC band; tho possibly in daytime only, as one sometimes hears such anomalous 2-way even in the USA. Do they mean 6215??? Yes, another page, Frequencies to Monitor, does show 6215 for ``Ocean Grove has been selected for the new HF transmitting and receiving station`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA [non]. Checking out the 17920 Sackville mixing product, Sunday July 7 at 1550, not heard here, but its computed co-instigator, 17860 had something in Russian with a low het mixing with Austria in English, which faded up to dominate by 1557 closing. So what`s the Russian and why is it blocking Austria in its target area? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also CANADA ** BHUTAN. Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corpn, 6035, full data QSL card via snail mail. With a personal letter for the delay in reply. V/S: Dorji Wangchuk, station engineer. The QSL describes "This card is printed on traditional Bhutanese handmade paper. The paper is made from daphne plant which is widely found in Bhutan". The QSL card, covering letter and envelope are made by the same paper (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Radio Fides continues to expand its nationwide network. This historic network, operated by the Jesuits out of La Paz, is one of the most respected stations in Bolivia and Latin America. New transmitters are found in Copacabana, Riberalta, Tupiza, and Punata, but no frequencies are given, not even at the Radio Fides website. Their website has been completely redone and has a new address: http://www.fidesbolivia.com/ While you are there, you can listen to the standard Radio Fides network online, or to its La Paz FM geared to the young, Laser 98. National Network/Cadena Nacional: Radio Fides: La Paz CP29 760 AM, CP72 4845 khz, CP12 6155 khz y CP-- 9625 khz y 101.5 FM; Cobija, FM; Cochabamba 95.1 FM, Oruro 89.1 FM, Potosí CP82 1300 AM y 88.9 FM, Tarija 88.9 FM, Trinidad 98.3 FM, Yacuiba 97.1 FM; Copacabana, Riberalta, Tupiza, Punata—new; frecuencias desconocidas. [another station with SW:] San José: CP172 Radio San José 1490 AM (1,000 wats) & 5580 kHz (250 wats). Congregación Oblatos de San José. Plaza Principal. Oeste Wames. Casilla 15. San José de Chiquitos, Santa Cruz. Sr. Fabian Eugez Franco, director. AM 7 am-8 pm; OC 7 am-1 pm y 7 pm-10 pm (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update July 8 via DXLD July 6) ** BRAZIL. De acordo com Luiz Octávio de Mello Pena, apresentador do programa Caixa Postal Zero a Zero, a Rádio Inconfidência, de Belo Horizonte(MG), está "em época de crescimento". A emissora adquiriu novo transmissor. Tem sido captada, com bom sinal, no Sul do Brasil, na freqüência de 6010 kHz, após às 2330 (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) ** BRASIL. A Rádio Nacional, de São Gabriel da Cachoeira(AM), opera em 3375 kHz das 0900 às 0200. É uma emissora da Radiobrás, da qual retransmite os noticiários. Na programação, muita música, informação e prestação de serviço, voltados para a Amazônia. Destaque para o programa da Federação das Organizações Indígenas do Rio Negro, feito pelos próprios índios. Esse pequeno perfil da emissora foi elaborado pelo radioescuta Paulo Roberto e Souza, que reside em Tefé(AM). Ele acrescenta: "É bom lembrar que o Alto Rio Negro, onde está localizada São Gabriel da Cachoeira, tem uma das maiores concentrações de povos indígenas no Estado do Amazonas." (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) ** BRASIL. A Rádio Novas de Paz, de Curitiba(PR), firmou acordo com a Livraria Estrela da Manhã, com o objetivo de disponibilizar a venda de receptores de ondas curtas a seus ouvintes. Podem ser adquiridos dois receptores robustos, da marca Motobrás, ao preço de 150 e 160 reais. Mais informações podem ser obtidas pelo telefone: 0 xx 41 257.5488, com Luciana. A Novas de Paz emite em 6080, 9515 e 11725 kHz (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) ** BRASIL. A Rádio Anhangüera, de Araguaína(TO), permanece como afiliada da Rede Sonzoon Sat. Foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 23 de junho, às 2234, na freqüência de 4905 kHz, com transmissão das festas juninas da cidade pernambucana de Caruaru. Recentemente, a emissora havia sido ouvida com programação feita em Araguaína (Célio Romais, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn- Regarding the mixing product I'm hearing on 17920, you are absolutely correct about it being CBC 1 on 9625. I was unable to get any audio this weekend (July 6 or 7) on 17920, but did hear a CBC 1 ID at 1500. Also heard the 17800 freq you mentioned. I guess that will teach me to write presumed or tentative on the English broadcasts I hear, like I do for the foreign language ones in which I don't hear an ID! 73s- (John Sgrulletta, Mahopac, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also AUSTRIA non ** CHINA BANS COUNTY-LEVEL TV PROGRAMMES IN BID TO STRENGTHEN MEDIA CONTROL | Text of report by Fong Tak-Ho and Loretta Leung, published by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement) on 6 July Beijing has banned all county-level television stations from broadcasting their own programmes in an apparent bid to strengthen its control over the media in the run-up to the 16th Communist Party Congress, scheduled for this autumn. The move follows three successful attempts by the banned Falun Gong sect to hack into local television broadcasts. The policy took effect on Monday [1 July]. It stipulates that all county government-run stations can only broadcast their own programmes through newly established channels run by the provincial governments, said senior media official Li Bin, who works for the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, which oversees broadcasting policy. County television stations must use China Central Television (CCTV) channels, or other channels run by provincial or municipal bodies. Pan Huiming, vice-president of Southern Television - a provincial- level cable TV broadcaster - said the move was a part of the government's bid to put all county television stations under provincial broadcasters. "The county television stations must change their roles from operators to content providers," Mr Pan said. The policy comes during the countdown to the 16th Party Congress, when a central leadership reshuffle is expected to take place. It also comes in the wake of a spate of broadcasting blunders at county-run channels. Since January, the Falun Gong has successfully hacked into three local cable TV stations and broadcast footage promoting the banned spiritual movement in Chongqing, Jilin and Heilongjiang. Source: South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement), Hong Kong, in English 6 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de su Conciencia coming in well on 6064.54 kHz at 0800 7/5 with SP talk and vocals. Per email from Russ Stendel, rms05001@neutel.com.co they will be off the air for the next few days or weeks as adjustments are made to the transmitter and licenses formalized for operation on probable 6060 kHz. They have held off on making QSL cards and pennants until the frequency assignment is finalized, although both will be available soon. He also asked if I had time recommendations for their English broadcasts, and I advised of Radio Nacional Argentina on 6060.1v [but see ARGENTINA/BRAZIL] until listed 0300 and suggested he may want to wait until after the sign-off (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN - bjordan@nachash.com Icom R75 - Palstar R30C - Quantum QX Pro - Wellbrook ALA 330 July 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. RFPI goal for next month is to move the antenna for 7445 from the 100 foot tower over to the 200 foot tower, when funds to do this become available. At that time, 7445 can be switched from USB to AM; the transmitter is ready to make this change. 21815-USB had a tube failure so is off the air; was producing very low power from the very old tube; reception reports were drying up; sunspot decline is affecting 21815 more, so not getting much out of it. Needs new tube costing about $500, and not available in CR, to revive transmitter at 3 kW, SSB, and in next year or two, probably move to a lower frequency, such as 17 MHz range. Both remaining frequencies are `twins` now operating at same hours, 2200-0800. Turning on 7445 a bit earlier to favor Europe, where is heard from at least 2300, and very strong by 0000. 7445 is currently running full power, producing a good signal. Tim Hendel, traveling in the NW USA finds 15040 putting in a very usable signal there as it does in the SE (RFPI Mailbag July 6, notes by gh for DXLD) ** ECUADOR. HCJB has found some QSL cards from the 35th anniversary of HCJB in 1966, and they are available to those who request them when sending reception reports. One photo on the card depicts an engineer from the early days of HCJB with a crystal radio, which HCJB made available in Ecuador in the early 1930s so that people could hear the station. Another photo shows a 1966 transistor radio assembly line. Just ask for the 1966-C QSL card, but supplies of these cards are limited, so you should request one soon. The current 2002-D card is also available. Reports may be sent to Allen Graham dxpl@hcjb.org.ec or at: DX Partyline ** HCJB ** Casilla 17-17-691 ** Quito ** Ecuador (DX Partyline July 6, notes by Marie Lamb for W9WZE site via DXLD) ** ESTONIA [and non]. Here is a page about radio jamming by the USSR http://www.okupatsioon.ee/english/mailbox/radio/radio.html (James Welsh, July 7, BDXC-UK via DXLD) Long text, plus antenna diagrams, forbidden photos of transmitters (gh, DXLD) ** GUAM. UT Fri July 5 before and after 1400, K57 streaming featured only the raucous background noise, no Jim Bohannon Show as had previously been heard. Further chex are needed, but it may well be that station has been ordered to turn it off during this show, possibly as a result of the publicity from us. At another time of day, we found it working, and also UT Sat July 6 around 1400 when some other show was on. We merely wanted to availablize a good program to more listeners and this is the thanks we get? BTW, the station is really KGUM on 567 kHz, so why don`t they call it `K567`, `K-Guam`, or even --- wait for it --- KGUM??? This also raises the disturbing question of whether we should *not* publicize such finds (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. NOT monitored anymore in the Philippines: v3105 RSDPT2 Halmahera Tangha. 3214.8 RRI Manado 3395.8 RRI Tanjung Karang 3905 RRI Merauke 3987.1 RRI Manokwari 4003.2 RRI Padang 4606.3 RRI Seuri 4777.1 RRI Jakarta 4789.1 RRI Fak Fak v6070 RRI Jayapura 6154.2 RRI Biak 7171.3 RRI Seuri 9680 RRI Jakarta (Roland Schulze Mangaldan, Philippines, June 24, [P-mail to] BC-DX July 8 via DXLD July 7) ** JORDAN. R. Jordan spurs. R Jordan in Arabisch am 1.7. von mir gehoert zwischen 1850 und 1915 UT auf 10000 kHz \\ 9830 mit "Zuhoerer am Telefon"-px und guter Qualitaet (0=3/4). (Herbert Meixner, Austria, July 2, BC-DX via DXLD) Jordan R heard again on 10 MHz even !! Should also be on air on 9660 too ?? I have noted the 10 MHz freq being reported lately - and have heard it myself in the past. I guess it's symmetrical spurs which this station often radiates. I also noted that 11960 and 11810 were not on air during their morning transmission until c0715 s-off recently, but both have now returned. I haven`t checked to see if 11690 is back on (Noel R. Green-UK, July 3, BC-DX via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH [and non]. R. Korea International, Seoul, has advised that it has made some schedule changes for its English transmissions. The service from 0200-0300 to China on 7275, and to SAm on 11725 and 11810 have been cancelled. This broadcast is now carried only on 9560 to NAm, via the Sackville relay, and to NAm on 15575, direct from SK. The morning transmission to Europe at 0800-0900 is now on the additional frequency of 7550, in \\ with 13670, and on 9570 omni- directional. The evening service to Europe from the Skelton-UK relay station has been retimed, and is now available one hour earlier from 2130-2200 on 3955, instead of 2200-2230 (EDXP July 4 via BC-DX via DXLD) GVG is on RKI MWF this week as well as last (gh, DXLD) ** LATVIA. See UK [non] ** LUXEMBOURG. Some further research revealed now that both shortwave outlets from Luxembourg (6090 as well as 15350) were closed down by the end of 1994, not 1993 as my memory suggested without being contradicted previously. I found a couple of loggings for 15350 from 1994 (carrying RTL Radio German then), and Wolfgang researched his archive. By the way, the source of this item is pure nostalgia, too: Radioropa is history as the "Radiotreff" programme (until 1994 "DX- Report") is (Kai Ludwig, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That's nonsense to allocate adjacent SW frequencies to two neighbouring and powerful stations for non-directional transmissions. Another such nonsense - RUI 6020 and R. Budapest 6025. Unfortunately, the second RTL freq 15350 kHz is occupied by TRT almost all the day. (Alex. Yegorov, Ukraine, BC-DX July 3 via DXLD) I guess the 15 MHz antenna towards Quebec Canada was scrapped in 1995. According to Ludo Maes list, the 50 kW CSF transmitter scrapped in 1975, and replaced by a 10 kW RIZ Croatia unit (Wolfgang Büschel, ibid.) Re Luxembourg 6090 - this one was always a very strong signal here [at Blackpool, UK], but suffered very badly from fading and distortion. And there was always some splash from 6085 - especially at night time. Possibly this was due to the type of antenna used. We SWL's might listen, but I don't think anyone used to hearing FM will like it! And similarly 1440 - it was (still is!) certainly a stronger signal here in northern UK than LW via domestic receivers, but quality of audio suffered due to skywave propagation, and the station could no longer reliably reach the UK in daytime all year round, so the popular Sunday afternoon transmissions were dropped. The 15350 channel was not always audible - there was QRM, but also propagation into the UK was not reliable. [15 MHz signal towards CAN skipped over their heads, ed.] As the 6090 transmitters are two sesquidecades old, maybe the cost of operating and maintaining them will prove too much? But perhaps - as has been hinted - they ultimately have DRM in mind from new or converted equipment? (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jul 6, via DXLD) Just a further one, concentrating on R Luxemburg (i.e. the German program), here is the page with audio: http://www.radiochronik.de/rtl/oton.htm Especially nice for me was http://www.radiochronik.de/rtl/news.ram I still had the drop they inserted between the news literally in my ears! Well, four or six of the Wertachtal transmitters are as old as the 6090 ones; they are of the same Telefunken design, just 500 instead of 250 kW models. But I am somewhat sceptical about the reported idea to modify these old transmitters for DRM operations (Kai Ludwig-D, BC-DX July 6 via DXLD) http://www.bce.lu/services/bc/radio/ Or look to other 'Radio Luxembourg' pages in the Yahoo or Google options. I think there are some pictures and explanations. The SW unit is 2 x 250 kW Telefunken unit, the old 15 MHz 50 Kilowatt unit towards Quebec-Canada, went to scrap some decade ago (wb July 3, ibid.) According to information from technical director Eugene Muller, Broadcasting Center Europe S.A. plans to reactivate 6090 kHz for a one day propagation test. The 500 kW will be on the air throughout the day 0600-2100 UT in Germany. The company plans to go into digital bcing and considers rebuilding one of its SW txs for DRM. BCE is in charge of CLT-UFA radio txs in Luxembourg. These include the high-power AM txs in Beidweiler and Junglinster, the bc center in Marnach, FM txs in Hosingen as well as in Dudelange. With these long waves, medium waves and FM txs, BCE is able to offer broadcasting of radio programs in numerous European countries. BCE broadcasts the radio programs of RTL R Letzebuerg (first radio stn in Luxembourg with a market share of 75%), RTL R France (leader of the Fr radio sector), RTL Radio-die Groessten Oldies (German radio specialised in hits of the 60s, 70s and 80s), 100.7 Radio Socioculturelle (from Luxembourg), as well as a number of religious programs. BCE is currently developing into digital radio on long and medium waves. http://www.bce.lu/services/bc/ (Nico Scheer nico_scheer@bce.lu Head of Maintenance Transmitters Broadcasting Center Europe S.A. in an e-mail to Dr Hansjoerg Biener; see also http://www.DRM-Info.de 3.7.2002) (Dr. Hansjoerg Biener via WWDXC, July 3 via BC-DX via DXLD) I checked this morning, Jul 4th, and 6090, the frequency to be used by Luxembourg on Jul 10, was blocked by Anguilla to 1000*. They were there at 0730, and I see that PWBR has them as using the freq at 2200- 1000. If that is correct, query whether Luxembourg, even with 500 kW, will be heard at its scheduled start at 0600. Conceivably they might be heard before their scheduled close at 2200, but that would be early for 49 mb. at this time of year. This afternoon (Jul 4) at 2217, Dr. Gene was already holding forth on 6090; the freq was clear an hour earlier, but there were few signals on the band (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Jul 4 via BC-DX via DXLD) I have this note in a general history file: "The 2 x 250 kW txer on 6090 was on the air in December 1970. Closed down 31/12 1994." The closure date is also confirmed by DX magazines in early 1995 (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jul 6 via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. Dear Glenn, Good day! With reference to the item in DXLD 2016 [correct], is it possible to get the full e mail address of Radio Mauritania (which was truncated by yahoogroups)? Thanks for your kind attention, 73s, Sincerely, (Harjot Singh Brar for GRDXC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Samuel, O Harjot Singh Brar quer saber o endereço-E que perdimos no yahoosite. Eu também... Pode ajudar? 73, (Glenn to Samuel Cássio via DXLD) OK Glenn, o endereço é: rm@mauritania.mr Um abraço (Samuel Cássio, Brasil, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MÔNACO. UTILITÁRIA. 22768 3AC - Monaco Radio, Monte Carlo - 22 dias Recebida carta QSL partial data (mencionando apenas escuta em 22768 kHz), dois belíssimos cartões postais e dois cartões com as freqüências e horários usados pela estação. V/S: ilegível. QTH: Monte Carlo Radio, 1 Chemin du Fort Antoine, BP 377 MC 98008 Monte Carlo, Mônaco. Obs: IR e carta em francês e enviado disquete com a gravação da escuta. Escuta de transmissão em radiotelefonia (USB). Site da emissora: http://www.monaco-telecom.mc e e-mail: monaco-telecom@m... [truncated by yahoogroups] (Rubens F. Pedroso, Bandeirantes-PR, @tividade DX July 6 via DXLD) One must ask, is the transmitter site for this one really inside Monaco? (gh, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. One time program of Theremin Radio from the USA. They will be relayed in Europe but will be aired on 15070 // and somewhere nearby or on 6290. Both in AM. QSLs will be forthcoming for accurate reception reports to PO Box 69m Elkhorn NE 68022 USA. It will be aired next week or this week starting around 2300 or 2230 this Saturday. A repeat also might be aired on this or next week, Sunday morning, firing up around 0700 UT on the same frequencies. When the transmissions start up there will be a message sent to the SW pirates group. Info below. Greetings from the SW pirates moderator And are you already a member? SW pirates group!!! Receive the latest SW-Pirates info Simply subscribe by sending a blanc email to: SWpirates-subscribe@egroups.com More info at: http://www.egroups.com/group/SWpirates (Alfa Lima International, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SOMALILAND. Yesterday, July 2, heard R, Hargeisa on 7530 USB with news in English 1920-1930 UT. I heard the station until 2000 when it went off the air. Before 1900 there is no reception possible due to the continuous Chinese music on the same frequency (Erich Bergmann, Germany, BC-DX July 3 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Almost 1515 UT July 6. I called the courthouse on July 3. They told me that nothing is scheduled in Brother Stair's case until late July. They didn't know anything about Sister Stair's e-mail (which I forwarded to you) in which she said there was to be a hearing later that day, I think it was July 2 or some such. Supposedly nothing happened on this case July 2. Don't know what Sister Stair was talking about. I am confused needless to say. But the courthouse seems to be kind enough to answer questions when I call. Now I'm even more confused. When I talked to the courthouse on July 3, the woman there knew nothing of any hearing July 2. But on July 3 Sister sent this message, which I just received now as I dispatched my message to you. Dunno what to say. (Robert Arthur, DX LISTENING DIGEST) === God bless you all today, in the name of Yahshua, is my prayer for you. The Lord is good... the Lord is good. Blessed is the man that puts his trust in HIM. The Lord is good... the Lord is good. Taste and see that, the Lord, He is good.... Taste and see that, the Lord, He is GOOD!!! Mighty is our God! Mighty is our King! Mighty is our Lord! He's Ruler of EV'RYTHING! His Name is Higher - Higher than any other Name. His Power is Greater, for He has created everything! There shall be no end to the increase of His Government, or of His Peace. When the Government shall be upon His Shoulders - then there shall be no end to the increase... WONDERFUL, COUNSELLOR! When the Government shall be upon His Shoulders - then there shall be no end to the increase! The Lord showed Himself STRONG yesterday in court. What a Great, Great GOD we serve. We are on the LORD's side... and we are just standing STILL, in awe of HIM, and seeing the Lord's SALVATION. Glory be to the King! Keep praying, Saints. The prayers of the saints are going straight up unto the mercy seat, NO DOUBT!!! The Magistrate dismissed two out of four charges yesterday during the hearing. Joenathan Chaplin and Matthias Chaplin (Brother Stair's lawyers) were truly anointed by our mighty God; the anointing breaks the yoke. Two yokes are gone! Halleluyah! The magistrate laughed at the other two charges when our lawyer presented the facts. He actually stated that the women involved sound like their confused... Let GOD be true and EVERY man a LIAR. God's Truth will prevail. It was SO evident in that small court hearing yesterday. Thank GOD!!! Rejoice in THE LORD, ALWAYS, And AGAIN, I say, REJOICE!!! He alone is worthy to be praised. Brother Stair is in jail still... I believe the end of his bondage is very near... Yet SEVEN DAYS. Oh Yes! And then the FLOOD will come...! God knows how to DELIVER His own. May we all be in the ARK, wherever that may be... In Yahshua. He is the ARK of Safety. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the MOST HIGH. You are my hiding place... YAHSHUA...! Oh, how He loves you and me! Write soon...pray for ME also, please. So much to carry on here without Brother Stair around...Pray also for the other brethren who are a tremendous help here with the radio broadcasting...Brother Peter, Brother Will. Brother Mark Hodges, Brother Jonathan, and Brother Chip. They are working diligently to keep the ministry reaching out under Brother Stair's directions. Thank GOD! May our MIGHTY GOD show HIS STRONG ARM ... SOON! In Yahshua's Name. It will be so. I love you with the pure love of God. God bless you and keep you, always. Don't give up, my Brother... THE END IS IN SIGHT. Sister Teresa Grace Stair (via Robert Arthur, DXLD) ** TIBET. Ohne Probleme war die Sendung ab 1630 UT in Englisch und ID auf 6110 am besten (0=2) und nicht berichtsreif auf \\ 4905, 4920 (0=1) zu hoeren. Auf 6130 aber um 1650 (nicht mehr En) noch besser mit 0=3. Wobei ich nun 'annehme' - zumindest haben Musik und Sprecher gleich geklungen - dass da die selbe Station taetig war ;-) Um 16.52 anscheinend s/off (Herbert Meixner, Austria, A-DX July 3 via BC-DX July 8 via DXLD) ** U A E. Surprised to find Dubai, Arabic at 0230 July 6 on *both* 15395 and 15400, better on the higher one (Joe Hanlon, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reverse here, and with considerable flutter under the circumstances. Presumably the same for English an hour later, but both were poor by then (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NOTE: Following items concern two entirely different stations using `Laser` in their name. I, for one, have always found this odd, extremely faddish, and inappropriate, since broadcast stations are extremely far from laser wavelengths. But what do they know? (gh) ** U K [non]. Laser Hot Hits: Traditional News now and Laser Hot Hits have shifted slightly LF to 9385 for their 31mb outlet. I expect reports have been received long distance. The 31m outlet makes 4 !! in //. 6220 7465 3970 9385 (Ken Baird, Unofficial Radio, July DSWCI E-SW News via DXLD) If that [what?] e-mail address does refer to the current Laser radio then yes, that station is an Irish pirate. If you want to take a listen it is currently operating on 9385.0, 7464.8 and 6218.85 at 0830 - that's as close as I can get to the exact frequencies. But, I think the mail refers to the old Laser pirate (aboard a ship), which used to operate at the low end of the MW band. I could be wrong - of course - but this seems most likely. (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX July 5/6 via DXLD) 558 kHz I think? See what the webpage at http://laserradio.net/ says. Not much so far, I will include the whole text [as below?], but it makes clear that this is indeed meant as a revival of the old offshore station. The Riga-Ulbroka site in general still exists as the recent R Caroline tests via both MW transmitters (or rather two of them, I found that Ulbroka once had a third MW outlet on 1071) proved, so it is very well possible that they also kept the Sneg SW rig since the R Caroline tests on 5935 a couple of years ago. The original announcement claims that "100,000 watts" will be used, so Ulbroka indeed would be the likely origin (Kai Ludwig, Germany, BC-DX Jul 6 via DXLD) ** U K [non]. RADIO CAROLINE MUSICAL TRIBUTE KICKS OFF TEST TRANSMISSIONS FROM LASER The Laser Radio group is experimenting with high-powered shortwave transmissions beamed into the UK and Europe. An hour-by-hour cross-country analysis of signal strength and viability commences on Sunday (July 7th) between 1400 and 2200 UT on 5935 kHz, with actual programming starting in a few Sundays time, subject to the results of two week's test transmissions. This week's tests are intended to include music from a number of different styles, and to spice things up rare jingles from Caroline and RNI will feature alongside short extracts of offshore programming. This is to set the tone for the future broadcasts. When regular operations commence, the plan is to provide a full 'anorak' service for 'radio and technology enthusiasts who love good music'. A spokesman said, "We are not about being the same as everybody else. When Laser first appeared in the 80s it kicked butt by being different and making people stop to catch their breath. In this new millennium, we will again dare to be different. We have attitude. Not only will we champion and campaign the cause of technological cross-boundary freedom, but we will not stand idly by when things are obviously wrong. So many radio stations are just boring and complacent, toeing the party line and fully accepting whatever the authorities tell them to do. Whilst other stations have become old, predictable and have lost their smile, we won't be afraid to speak out in a brash way that hasn't been enjoyed since offshore radio first came to the UK." A team is currently being put together with a brief to experiment and have fun. If all goes to plan, they'll be slowly introduced on the air every Sunday from the end of July (via Mike Terry, July 7, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K [non]. To our knowledge, UK-based Radio Caroline is going to lease airtime on AM 1386 kHz channel at Kaliningrad (Bolshakovo) 1200/2500 kW radio station of Russian Federation.Let us to remind you, that according to the ITU Geneva Plan of 1978, AM 1386 kHz frequency is assigned to Lithuania's station in Kaunas. In March 2002, Vilnius- based Radio Baltic Waves International (RBWI) has been awarded with licence to broadcast on 1386 kHz medium wave with 32.1 dBkW (1622 kW) EIRP. At the time of this writing, final preparations are going ahead to launch a 750 kW nighttime (2000-0300 UT) station in Kaunas on 1386 kHz. Usage of this channel by any other station, including re- broadcasting of foreign radio programmes, is a violation of international broadcasting laws and a subject of legal prosecution. On-air tests of RBWI are undergoing to determine the station's coverage and level of interference from Russian station in Kaliningrad area. Instead of having a 1000 kW transmitter allowed by the Geneva Plan, Russia operates 1200/2500 kW transmitter. Instead of having a non-directional single-mast antenna with 2.1 dB gain allowed by the Geneva Plan, Kaliningrad (Bolshakovo) station uses a SV4+4 type antenna, beamed to Western Europe (azimuth 275 degrees, 8-mast directional array with 12.7 dB gain), resulting in much greater radiated power (EIRP) than allowed by international agreements (Rimantas Pleikys RBWI Project Coordinator, via Kai Ludwig, July DSWCI MW SW News via DXLD) ** U K. Was listening to BBCWS webcast via Radio 4 at 0100 UT July 6, when time checks were given for several world cities; including ``19 hours in Washington`` !! Just two hours off. If you can`t do it right, why do it? The others may have been wrong too, but I wasn`t paying attention (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. DON'T FINE US, WE'LL FIRE STAFF, SAYS BBC CHIEF [by] Matt Wells, media correspondent Wednesday July 3, 2002, The Guardian The BBC chairman Gavyn Davies enraged his staff yesterday when he said the corporation's board of governors should be able to fire employees for lapses in programme standards. Mr Davies said that instead of the corporation facing fines for breaching broadcasting regulations - which he argued would be a misuse of licence payers' money - editors and producers should be sacked or demoted. "Firing the people is a much better remedy than fining the public," he said during a debate at the Radio Festival in Cambridge. His remarks stunned the audience of senior radio figures. Among those who heard the comments was the Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt, who was at the centre of the row over a controversial outburst by the spoof rapper Ali G on the Sara Cox breakfast show. Mr Davies admitted that the Ali G incident, when the comic repeatedly made offensive remarks on air, was a severe lapse in standards. He said: "I'm not claiming that it was public service broadcasting at its peak." He suggested that the board of governors should hold programme makers accountable for such breaches - although any punishment would only be carried out with the approval of the director general, Greg Dyke. But Mr Davies added: "If the director general didn't agree, ultimately we could get rid of him too." Many BBC staff were left reeling by the comments: others in the audience included the Radio 4 controller Helen Boaden, Radio 2 controller Jim Moir, director of radio Jenny Abramsky and the director of drama and entertainment, Alan Yentob. One BBC executive who heard the remarks said they contradicted Mr Dyke's attempts to encourage risk taking. "I don't see how this fits in with Greg's 'cut the crap and make it happen' campaign. That's meant to cut through the BBC's risk-averse culture and encourage people to be creative. Are we then going to hang them out to dry when things don't work out?" The issue of fining the BBC is the subject of a government consultation: from next year BBC programme standards will be regulated by Ofcom, the new communications industry watchdog, which will also oversee independent broadcasters. Ofcom will be able to fine commercial stations and many believe the BBC should face the same sanctions. Mr Davies said he did not believe the BBC should be fined in the same way as commercial broadcasters: "How logical is it really to fine the public for mistakes made by the management? It shouldn't be the general public that suffers the consequences. Instead we should impose sanctions over careers." Asked whether he was suggesting the governors should have the power to fire the editor of the Ten O'Clock News if he or she broke the rules, he said: "Yes." Richard Hooper, chairman of the radio authority, which will become part of Ofcom, rejected the idea and said the BBC should be fined for lapses in standards; the corporation already faced penalties if it lost a libel action or was fined for health and safety breaches. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BLACK PROPAGANDA WEBSITE A group of parents from Emerson Valley school in Milton Keynes have been researching World War Two Intelligence activity in their area, apart from the well known Bletchley Park operations. They have a website at http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/emerson00/ It was from the Milton Keynes area that the various black propaganda stations to Germany and occupied Europe in World War Two mainly operated. It is a very extensive website with audio and video material, for example an interview with an engineer who worked on the Soldatsender Calais transmitters. Grindewald Productions http://www.grindelwald.co.uk/html/main.htm have done a two part documentary on the activities of the black propaganda radio stations during World War Two based on the website. The documentary will be aired on Six TV Oxford and then will be made available to for sale later this year, click on Latest for details (Mike Barraclough, UK, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. MORE EME DX-TV IN AUSTRALIA Tony Mann (Perth, Western Australia) has so far detected 19 US and 1 Aus UHF TV carriers via EME. See forwarded message below. Tony suggests others could try for DX-TV EME. I need to obtain a low noise wideband UHF TV preamp. High gain is not needed, since the coax lead length is not long. I gather the UA-900 is(was) the best amp available. Has anyone tried building a low noise UHF TV preamp? Does anyone recommend any commercial low noise UHF TV preamps? Regards, Todd Emslie. Fwd: From: Tony Mann ag-@physics.uwa.edu.au; Subject: uhf tv moonbounce update 28 June Hi folks, Here is an update on my moonbounce experiment. Twenty UHF TV carriers have been detected so far, including one from Australia: 1 WNDU-16 South Bend, IN 483.2505 ? 41.6N, 86.2W 5MW Z H 2 KWBT-19 Muskogee, OK 501.2482 35.8N, 95.8W 5MW Z H 3 WAPT-16 Jackson, MS 483.2510 32.3N, 90.3W 5MW ZdH 4 KUPB-18 Midland, TX 495.2512 31.8N,102.5W 5MW Z H 5 KXTX-39 Dallas, TX 621.2496 32.6N, 97.0W 5MW Z E 6 KPTM-42 Omaha, NE 639.2595 41.1N, 96.2W 5MW + H 7 KPPX-51 Tolleston, AZ 693.2494 33.3N, 112.0W 5MW Z 8 KUVS-19 Modesto, CA 501.2401 38.1N, 120.7W 5MW -d 9 KDTV-14 San Francisco, CA 471.2603 37.5N, 121.9W 5MW +d 10 WFTT-50 Tampa, FL 687.2497 27.8N, 82.3W 4MW Z H 11 KWEX-41 San Antonio, TX 633.2596 29.3N, 95.3W 5MW +d 12 CTC-35 Mt. Ulandra, NSW 576.2496 34.8S,147.9E 1.6MW Z H 13 WLTX-19 Columbia, SC 501.2589 34.1N, 80.8W 5MW +dH 14 WXIX-19 Newport, KY 501.2598 39.1N, 84.6W 5MW +dH 15 WAND-17 Decatur, IL 489.2499 40.0N, 88.8W 5MW ZdH 16 KTVG-17 Grand Is., NE 489.2489 40.7N, 98.6W 5MW ZdH 17 KXVO-15 Omaha, NE 477.24995 41.1N, 96.2W 5MW ZdH 18 KXAN-36 Austin, TX 603.24956 30.3N, 97.8W 5MW Z E 19 KTWB-22 Seattle, WA 519.25982 47.6N,122.3W 5MW + H 20 WBBH-20 Ft. Myers, FL 507.25995 26.8N, 81.8W 5MW +dH Last column is: power (MegaWatts); channel offset (Z=zero, +10 or -10 kHz); d = directional antenna (blank = omnidirectional); polarization, H = horizontal, E = elliptical. I emphasize that the signal-to-noise ratio is very poor, typically 5-8 dB in a bandwidth of ~ 2Hz. The strongest signal one night was 12 dB from KWBT-19, but I can follow signals down to 2 dB above the noise. There is a small chance txs 13 and 14 are the other way around - they were received nearly simultaneously. Tx no 12, at Mt. Ulandra (QTH of ABMN0), was also measured at 1210 UTC on 21 June by Todd Emslie. He obtained 576.249653 MHz, which is very close to my measurement the previous day of 576.24966 MHz. Todd is only 200 miles from this tx and receives it via scatter. 73s Tony Mann, 32S, 116E (via Todd Emslie, NSW, July 2, WTFDA via DXLD) Fanastic! Earlier reports on this were under OKLAHOMA since KWBT-19 was initially DXed. Will separate EME and terrestrial distance-record categories now have to be established by WTFDA? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Treating Viewers as Criminals Digital Renaissance By Henry Jenkins July 3, 2002 NETWORKS SAY WATCHING TV WITHOUT THE ADS IS THEFT. WILL BLIPVERTS BE NEXT? Remember blipverts? The 1980s science fiction series, Max Headroom, depicted a society "twenty minutes into the future" ruled by powerful television networks locked in ruthless competition for viewer eyeballs. Concerned by the growing trend towards channel surfing, the blipvert was developed as a rapid-fire subliminal advertisement which pumped its commercial messages directly into consumers' brains before they had a chance to change the channel. Unfortunately, the blipvert had the unanticipated side effect of causing spontaneous combustion in a certain number of overweight and chronically inactive couch potatoes. This outcome was viewed as an acceptable risk by the networks, even though it potentially decreased the number of viewers for their programs. I could not help but think about blipverts the other day when I stumbled across the recent comments of Turner Broadcasting System CEO Jaimie Kellner, who asserted that television viewers who skipped commercials using their digital video recorders were guilty of "stealing" broadcast content... http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/wo_jenkins070302.asp (via Jeff Kadet, July 3, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. Next week, Nightline will begin a second broadcast, called "Up Close," that will air in the old Politically Incorrect timeslot until the end of January. That's when a new comedy show will debut. Ted's first guest on the new show will be David Letterman, the first interview he has done in years. In the wake of what we here now call the "recent unpleasantness," it just seemed like the right thing to do. So again, "Up Close" will air after Nightline. The two will be separate broadcasts, sometimes linked thematically, but usually not. The plan is to put out a separate email to all of you about each night's "Up Close." And of course, Nightline will continue as it always has. So I hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend, and I hope that you'll join us tonight for a little bit of fun. Friday, July 5, 2002 (Leroy Sievers and the Nightline Staff, Nightline Offices, Washington, D.C., Nightline mailing list via DXLD) ** U S A. KOMU Goes Digital, [by] Jordan Yount COLUMBIA, MO (2002-06-28) KOMU T-V 8 is now also channel 36. The station is the first in central Missouri to broadcast in digital. KOMU-TV8 began broadcasting in digital during the six o'clock news last night. General Manager Marty Siddall says viewers won't notice any difference unless they've purchased a digital television or a conversion box to pick up 36. He says it's been an expensive conversion, and they're not done. Siddall says the station can broadcast either high definition television, or it can multi-cast anywhere from four to seven different programs at the same time. KRCG- TV plans to begin broadcasting digitally in August, while KMIZ-TV expects to make the transition by the end of the year (© Copyright 2002, KBIA, Missouri Radio Message Board via DXLD) One of the engineers at KSDK/5/St. Louis recently confirmed sharply higher utility costs for their digital equipment which also required adding a substation of some sort. KOMU-TV/36 is licensed to operate with a megawatt [1,000,000 watts] and the side-mounted antenna hangs just below the top of the mast. HAAT is 738 ft. Adding the antenna must have been a do or die proposition because the standard story over the years has been that the 1953 Blaw-Knox tower was already overloaded and there were concerns about its stability. Below it of course is the composite studio-office-transmitter building, potentially housing upwards of 100 or more people. The tower is an anachronism, height-limited by the proximity to Columbia Regional Airport which opened in 1967 and flight patterns work around the tower. About that time, KRCG/13 bought property in Moniteau County and secured FAA approval for a 2,000-ft. stick and hoped to interest KOMU in co-locating. At the time when CATV was just being developed in Boonville, Mexico, Jeff City, etc., both stations' enlarged coverage would have created a larger market, higher national ranking and increased revenues. Obviously, the tall tower never came to pass and by 1987, the acreage was back on the market. In last Sunday's Columbia "Tribune," there was a story about some of MU's television "adventures" that began more than fifty years ago. During the 1948-1952 television "freeze" when the FCC exhaustively examined its TV rules, MU was an early proponent of setting aside a channel in Columbia. One FCC commissioner -- that body's first woman, Freida B. Hennock -- wanted 10% of all the thousands of VHF/UHF channels set aside for non-commercial, educational purposes. In the FCC's March 21, 1951 "First Report and Order," channel 8 was allocated to Columbia but with a condition -- an asterisk meaning it was non- commercial. MU balked and asked for a 50/50 commercial/non-commercial mix. Meanwhile, another applicant -- MFA Insurance [now Shelter]-- was interested. When the freeze was finally lifted in April, 1952, channel 8 went to Columbia and its non-commercial status was lifted. With applications on file from both MU and MFA, the former argued it would mingle educational/instructional programming with programs from the four networks. The proceeding never got to the hearing stage because MFA knew it was licked by what amounted to a con-job by MU where with skimpy network service at the time, educators could bore the public with classroom lectures, demonstrations and "talking-head" shows. Whether the State of Missouri should own and operate a commercial television station was debated during the early-1950s in the state Legislature and Senate. Iowa State College [now University] was first educational institution to build a commercial TV station, going on the air in 1950, after grabbing its CP for channel 5 before the freeze and WOI-TV enjoyed the TV monopoly in the Des Moines market for several years. ISU has since sold WOI-TV. Springfield businessman Lester Cox was given credit for turning things around in Missouri while MU president Frederick Middlebush was battling for the station. In contrast, Illinois legislators only reluctantly supported the U of I's TV plans building WILL-TV/12 and forebade any sale of time. Channel 12 operated for years with low power and a short stick at one end of Memorial Stadium until the 1000-ft. tower went up near Monticello. MU's TV station operates as an "auxiliary business enterprise" with separate books and its own budget. The station was built with loans since repaid and MU officials claim it is "self-supporting." It was widely reported that surplus funds have been recently drawn providing some relief -- albeit tiny -- for MU and the state's budget shortfalls. There's been talk over the years of the state selling Channel 8 and when serious chatter got going in 1967, there was a chorus of wailing from J-School alums around the world. Then there was the time in the mid-1970s when KCBJ/17 [now KMIZ] filed an FCC rulemaking petition to add a UHF channel and make KOMU move there and convert Channel 8 into a non-commercial/educational station. It was never spelled out who would operate this non-commercial channel though the irony was KOMU's new UHF home was to be Channel 36! Maybe just as ironic is that MU -- which claims to be the state's premier institution of higher education is in the commercial television business while Warrensburg's CMSU carries the non- commercial PBS-television torch. Ironic too because in terms of their towers -- KOMU's puny 775-foot "stick" is a pigmy compared with the KMOS/6 2000-ft mastadon, also funded in part by our tax dollars (Posted by al germond on 7/2/2002, 12:45 pm Missouri Radio Message Board via DXLD) ** U S A. Following is an exemplar of the extraordinary measures the commercial broadcasting establishment will go to, in order to move yet another frequency into a metro area already saturated with FM signals, in pursuit of the almighty dollar. This has happened again and again, notably in the Texas/Oklahoma area, but we do not propose to cover this nonsense routinely in such detail. As for LPFMs being innocuous, it all depends on relative signal strengths and where you are. Long before the LPFM concept developed, we were incensed by equivalent-power translators springing up in Enid, one after another, blocking our access to public radio stations in the closest possible cities: 89.5 blocked KWGS Tulsa. 89.1 blocked KMUW Wichita. 90.3 partially blocks 90.1 KCSC Edmond and KHCC Hutchinson. Adding insult to injury, the public radio stations now lost were unwilling or unable to do anything to prevent this --- who cares about service to outlying areas??? A city of 46K with *no* public radio of its own? A low-powered but non-translator Enid station KBVV 91.1 blocked another Wichita non-commercial station, later converted to religious, so that no longer matters. An additional gospel-huxter translator in Enid on 88.3 (Family Radio) blocks numerous DX possibilities, and all of these are strong enough at my location, about a mile from the transmitter site, to cause significant damage to adjacent channels, leaving very little open in the so-called educational FM band. If translators can do this, so much worse a proliferation of LPFM. On the other hand, 99% of commercial FM stations are garbage, anyway, so LPFM may as well block them when possible (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) KNIGHTS OF OUR LADY LPFM IN CAMERON IN LIMBO AS NEW KANSAS CITY MOVE- IN FM THREATENS ITS SIGNAL Cameron, Mo. (CRU)— By all rights the Knights of Our Lady in Cameron, Missouri, a small town 52 miles northwest of Kansas City, ought to be excited about getting its new low-power FM station, KOFL-LP, up and running on 97.3 FM. It had sought and was awarded a permit, last December, on its own initiative (see Catholic Radio Update #153, December 17, 2001). But then, last November, just two weeks before, the FCC had issued an order permitting Best Broadcasting`s KCSX 97.3 FM in Moberly to move into the Kansas City area and upgrade to a Class C1 powerhouse. Since Kansas City and Cameron are only about 54 miles apart, and KCSX will run 55,000 watts off an antenna 1,171 ft above average terrain at Blue Summit, Missouri, near the intersection of Interstate 435 and US 24, little KOFL-FM at Cameron with only 64 watts off a 123-ft tower is going to have a tough time being heard. The Moberly move-in is an extraordinary piece of engineering, in that it affects 14 stations in three states. Here is the FCC in its Order (Docket #00-129): ``To accommodate the allotment at Lee`s Summit, the following substitutions will be made. All of the respective licensees or permittee have consented to the substitutions and the Joint Parties have reached an agreement with respect to reimbursement with each of the stations required to make changes to accommodate the allotment at Lee`s Summit. We shall substitute Channel 233C for Channel 247C at Topeka, Kansas, and modify the license for Station WIBW-FM accordingly. A staff engineering analysis confirms that Channel 233C can be allotted to Topeka in compliance with the spacing requirements at its current site. The coordinates for Channel 233C at Topeka are 39-00-19 and 96-02-58. To accommodate the substitution at Topeka, we shall also make changes at Junction City and Humboldt, Kansas, and Auburn, Nebraska. At Junction City, Kansas, we shall substitute Channel 248C1 for Channel 233C1 at its current transmitter site and modify the license for Station KJCK-FM accordingly. A staff engineering analysis confirms that Channel 248C1 can be allotted to Junction City at its current site. The coordinates for Channel 248C1 at Junction City are 39-00-53 and 96-52-15. Channel 237C3 can be substituted for Channel 232C3 at Humboldt, Kansas, with the authorization for Station KINZ modified to specify Channel 237C3 at a new transmitter site to which the licensee, Sutcliffe Communications, Inc., has consented. The coordinates for Channel 237C3 at Humboldt are 37-43-21 and 95-33-41. To accommodate the substitution at Humboldt, we shall substitute Channel 249A for Channel 237A at Burlington, Kansas and modify the license for Station KSNP(FM) accordingly. Channel 249A can be allotted to Burlington in compliance with the spacing requirements at its current site. The coordinates for Channel 249A at Burlington are 38-10-08 and 95-39-07. In order to substitute channels at Topeka, Kansas, Channel 276C3 will be substituted for Channel 234C3 at Auburn, Nebraska, with the license for Station KNCY(FM) modified to show operation on Channel 276C3. Channel 276C3 can be allotted to Auburn in compliance with the spacing requirements at its current transmitter site provided a substitution is made at Marysville, Kansas. The coordinates for Channel 276C3 at Auburn, Nebraska, are 40- 27-57 and 95-45-38. Channel 238C3 can be substituted for Channel 276C3 at Marysville, Kansas, at a new transmitter site for Station KNDY-FM. The coordinates for Channel 238C3 at Marysville are 39-56-06 and 96- 47-33. The licensee of Station KNDY-FM, Dierking Communications, Inc., has consented to the site change. To further accommodate the allotment at Lee`s Summit, we shall substitute Channel 280C3 for Channel 248C3 at Malta Bend, Missouri, and modify the license for Station KRLI accordingly, as was proposed in the Notice. The channel can be allotted to Malta Bend at Station KRLI`s current transmitter site. The coordinates for Channel 280C3 at Malta Bend are 39-21-59 and 93-24-12. In order to make changes at Malta Bend, it is necessary to change the channel and transmitter site for Station KCHI, Chillicothe, Missouri. Joint Parties have requested the substitution of Channel 253A for Channel 280C3 at Chillicothe which can be accomplished at a new site in compliance with the Commission`s spacing requirements. Channel 253A can be allotted to Chillicothe at coordinates 39-43-40 and 93-35-43. The licensee for Station KRLI has consented to the channel and site change. To further accommodate the allotment at Lee`s Summit, we shall substitute Channel 249C2 for Channel 246C3 at La Monte, Missouri, and modify the license for Station KPOW accordingly. Channel 249C2 can be allotted to La Monte in compliance with the Commission`s spacing requirements provided additional changes are made. The coordinates for Channel 249C2 at La Monte are 38-48-23 and 93-09-08. The licensee, Sedalia Investment Group, LLC, has consented to a site change for Station KPOW. In order to substitute channels at La Monte, we shall also substitute Channel 246A for Channel 249A at Warsaw, Missouri, at a new transmitter site and modify the license for Station KAYQ accordingly. The coordinates for Channel 246A at Warsaw are 38-20-41 and 93-23-10. The licensee, Valkyrie Broadcasting Company, Inc., has consented to the transmitter site change. To allot Channel 246A at La Monte, we shall substitute Channel 248A for Channel 249A at a new transmitter site at Nevada, Missouri. The coordinates for Channel 248A at Nevada are 37-52-06 and 94-20-01. The license for Station KNMO will be modified to specify operation on Channel 248A at Nevada in compliance with the Commission`s spacing requirements. Harbit Communications, Inc., licensee for Station KNMO, has consented to the channel and site change. As requested, to accommodate the new channel at Lee`s Summit, we shall change the transmitter site for Station KNIM, Channel 246C3, Maryville, Missouri. The coordinates for Channel 246C3 at Maryville are 40-21-06 and 94-52-17. Nodaway Broadcasting Corporation, licensee for Station KNIM, has consented to the change in transmitter site reference coordinates.`` LPFM stations are not protected from any interference caused by improvement of an authorized commercial or noncommercial FM station, nor from any new stations resulting from new assignments. So the Knights of Our Lady LPFM station is not named in the above Order and receives no compensation, monetary, engineering, or legal, as the result of the KCSX move-in to Kansas City. Ronald G. Heckadon, president and director, is trying to save the station. ``I cannot believe Our Lady has let us come this far and we are not going to be able to get on the air,`` he told the editor in a phone call several months ago. Under FCC rules, LPFM`s have 18 months from the date of their construction permit to get on the air. The Knights of Our Lady received theirs last December 6th; already, one-third of the time to construct and get on the air has passed. Recently, I dropped an e-mail note to him, asking how things were coming. ``We are working on it,`` was his terse reply. Database: Cameron: KOFL-LP 97.3 FM, Class L1 (64 watts ERP, antenna 37.3 meters [123 ft] AHAAT). Cameron Knights of Our Lady, Inc., P.O.Box 17, Cameron, MO 64429. Tel.: (816) 632-1138; fax (816) 632- 2568. e-mail: CKOL@catholicweb.com. Website: http://knightsofourlady.catholicweb.com/index.cfm/contact Ronald G. Heckadon, president and director; Barry R. Arthur, treasurer-director; John P. Farnan, secretary-treasurer; Joseph Sueferling, Jr., director. CP issued 12/06/01. (In the Diocese of Kansas City-St Joseph). Commentary: THE KNIGHTS OF OUR LADY NEED A KNIGHT OF THEIR OWN The way you heard it from the powerful commercial broadcasters lobby was that low-power FM (LPFM) stations, the United States version of community FM stations spreading around the world, were going to threaten commercial broadcasting as we know it. LPFM signals, to hear them tell it, would interfere with the commercial FM signals on which so many people depend for news, information, music, and commercials. Even the mighty National Public Radio, forgetting its grassroots, proclaimed that the new LPFM stations should not be allowed in the 88- 92 MHz band because these upstarts would interfere with the multiplex services of reading for the blind and handicapped piggy-backed on NPR signals. Exactly how 100-watt and 10-watt stations were going to do all this against 3,000 to 100,000-watt stations was not made clear. The commercial broadcasters, particularly through the powerful trade association the National Association of Broadcasters, began lobbying Congress. A recording purporting to show clearly just how LPFM interference would cause havoc to existing radio signals was given out freely, until someone discovered that the alleged ``interference`` was created, not off the actual airwaves using test transmitters in real situations, but inside a recording studio. Meanwhile, NPR, shielding itself mightily against criticisms from community broadcasting groups and groups that support it, lamely said that it was not against the concept of LPFM stations, but that it wanted to protect the blind. But it did not budge from its position. The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB), however, supported the LPFM proposal from day one. The NFCB is composed of mostly modest and small-sized stations that are staffed largely with volunteers and clearly match what community FM stations do, albeit with much greater power. The politicians in Congress meanwhile, succumbed to the NAB and NPR efforts, and the FCC was mandated to eliminate its regulatory 0.6 MHz separation (3 channels) for LPFM stations from existing commercial and noncommercial stations, and maintain it at the regulatory 0.8 MHz (4 channels) separation required among existing commercial and noncommercial stations. If LPFM stations must remain at least four channels from existing stations, and new commercial and noncommercial regular stations can be assigned no closer than four channels in the same locality, then clearly, any possible vacant channels that can be found for local LPFM`s run the real risk of being seized upon by engineers looking for vacant channels on which new commercial stations can be built. The sole provision is that other, existing, stringent separations from stations on adjacent frequencies must be maintained when a new channel is found for allocation, or an existing station and its channel are moved into a new area, such as we see with Moberly and Kansas City. Thus it is that, at least in the realm of potentiality, any LPFM license can be threatened at any time with such a move-in or new drop- in. If you think this is far-fetched or I am being an alarmist, reconsider: Who would have ever thought that a station in a rural central Missouri town would be moved 130 miles west into a major metropolitan area, displacing 13 other stations in the process, and causing a major headache for an LPFM? But look for that on the FCC website! Go to the LPFM pages http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/lpfm/ and particularly the LPFM FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) page at http://www.fcc.gov/mb/policy/lpfm/lpfmfaq.html and look for the clear statement, ``LPFM stations are not protected from interference from new stations or stations upgrading their facilities.`` You will not find it. Instead, you have to hunt through the FCC Regulations on LPFM`s to find it. I wonder how many LPFM permittees and applicants know that? I wonder how many of them know that, after investing several hundred dollars in filing an application, and even after investing as much as $30,000 (the FCC estimate) in putting their stations on the air, their stations can be forfeit to a powerful commercial or noncommercial signal that appears out of nowhere after legal process? I wonder how many of them know that they will get no monetary settlement, as received the other 13 broadcasters in the Lee`s Summit move-in of KCSX, nor any legal or engineering help to find a vacant frequency they can use? Unless, of course, the commercial applicant has a heart. (Is there much of that in radio anymore?). In the hundreds of existing cases where more than one LPFM application has been filed for a frequency, the FCC will eventually getting around to solving who gets the frequency by means of a point system that it uses for noncommercial FM and TV applications. More correctly, it will use the point system. Early last year all competing noncommercial applicants were told to figure out how many points they were eligible for, according to FCC rules, and tell the Commission, which would verify them and award the noncommercial frequency or television channel to the applicant with the most points. The deadline for notification was last summer, and the first point-system award has yet to be made. Hang on, LPFM applicants, even if you chose a frequency four channels removed from a local station. The FCC will one of these years get around to deciding who gets the frequency by using its point system. ``But wait!`` as they say on the ``call now 1-800`` commercials. In some cases, where the point system comes up with ties, the FCC will elect to split up the eight-year LPFM license term between winning applicants. That means that, if there are two with tied points, each will get the frequency for four years. If there are four, each gets it for two years. Thus, the winning applicants can go to the expense of building a station, knowing they will have to yield to tying competitor in a few years, and maybe come back on the air after the other applicant`s term is up. Imagine how many groups will find this scenario agreeable. This whole LPFM setup was not well thought out. Better yet, it was thought out by politicians, that miserable class of human beings who do little for the commonweal and everything for political appearance. The present and the previous administrations are responsible for this mess, Democrats and Republicans. If LPFM`s succeed, and that is a big IF, it will be in spite of the people who put the LPFM program together. One good thing in the Knights of Our Lady case: Thank heavens they found out about the Kansas City move-in before they spent any more money putting KOFL-FM on the air. Just think if they had built the station, launched it with public notice and enthusiasm, and then found out that no one beyond a few blocks could hear it because of KCSX Lee`s Summit (Michael Dorner, editor, Catholic Radio Update July 8 via DXLD July 6) [And Mike adds for us:] This LPFM move-in is bigtime serious. This isn't just about religious stations, which make up about 60-70% of the applicants, by my quick counts over the last two years. If Cameron can't find a vacant frequency 0.4 MHz from everything else around it, then it is kaput. Just think of all these fine little community stations started by interested people (a recent grant was to a youth program on the impoverished, drug- and alcohol-laden Hopi reservation) running the risk of being knocked off the air after having invested time, scarce money, lots of energy and the enthusiasm of volunteers and listeners, because somebody wants to move in a station from 100 miles away? Did they realize this when they set up the LPFM service? If not, they should have. If yes, they should be subject to universal contempt. It may well be that the FCC staff tried to tell the politicians, but we all know how political the FCC chair is (Michael Dorner, LA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BUENOS DIAS FROM A MEXICAN RADIO By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published July 7, 2002 DADE CITY -- Saturday means Sabado on the airwaves of east Pasco County. Aurora Juárez and the team of disc jockeys and supporting staff she assembled have taken to the airwaves for a Spanish-language, locally based radio program that Juárez says serves a growing Spanish- speaking community in Pasco, Sumter and eastern Hillsborough and Hernando counties. "We get so many calls, people from all over, Bushnell, Plant City, Dade City, Brooksville, it's great," Juárez said. "There was really a big need for this. People want to listen and hear music that they like, they identify with, and they want to be able to call in, to talk with the DJ and hear some community news." Juárez, 46, has always been active in the community, and she founded the Blue Angles charity fund last year in Dade City. The organization helps families meet burial costs when a loved one dies. She credits friend James DeChant of Maria's Silk Flowers for coming up with the idea for a radio program. "He suggested it, and we ended up talking with WDCF AM 1350, and they said, "Yeah, we need to reach the Spanish community,"' Juárez said. "As long as I filled up two hours, I could do anything I wanted." She started small, just some music and community announcements for two hours on a Saturday morning last November. The show was a hit. She expanded the show to six hours, then eight. This month, Juárez and her team -- which has grown to include club disc jockeys and others with announcing experience -- expand the program again. The show started with the name La Sabrosita, which she said loosely translated means "delicious." But as the show has grown, expanding again this month to run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 8 p.m. Sundays, she said she wanted a more professional-sounding name. The new name is "Radio M." "M is for music, it's for maximum and it's for Mexican," she said. "We'll be working with a lot of automated formats, getting in new information and music, and we'll be taking more local calls, putting people on the air, doing dedications and still announcing community events, fundraisers and things like that." With a cost of $100 an hour due to WDCF, Juárez and her team have had to not only produce a show, but also generate advertising revenue. She said Mayla's Fashions, Maria's Silk Flowers and restaurant La Herradura have been longtime supporters, and she expects other businesses to join in as they realize the need to reach the Spanish- speaking community. U.S. Census figures show 5,511 households in east Pasco reported speaking solely Spanish in the home. And while the show already reaches other counties, WDCF is planning to extend its range with a new tower that can reach Tampa and Central Florida, Juárez said. It's the mix of talent and the closeness of the team that makes the show fun for listeners, Juárez said. Gustado Lara is an active musician and has a fun time motivating listeners to call in, she said. Illene Carrillo is a popular dancer in the Spanish-speaking community of east Pasco and is a hit at live broadcasts, José Molina is a well- known announcer who emcees local events and has name recognition, and Juárez said she focuses on community news and event broadcasting. D.J. Moyo -- experienced in radio broadcasting, club disc jockey work and radio production -- was with the team this weekend. He helps put the shows together for the announcers, queing up the music in a computer format that makes the broadcast move smoothly. "We want to give the client something they are proud of," he said. "We're community oriented, but it's professional." Moyo said each show has its own flavor, with representations of many different styles of music from a variety of regions in Mexico, the tropics and Central America. "People say, "Oh, it's all the same,' but it isn't," Moyo said. "There's so much variety, so many different kinds of music, there's something for everyone." Moyo recorded introductions for each announcer and station identification bits. As he introduces disc jockeys, each announcement reminds the listeners, in Spanish, "And, of course, you are also a part of Radio M." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Subject: [SWL] (Fwd) STATION KPH TO BE HEARD AGAIN ------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Fri, 05 Jul 2002 14:37:18 +0100 From: Zyg Nilski zyg@morsum.demon.co.uk Subject: MM - The Morse Magazine To: MM Readers MMReaders@MorseMag.com A MESSAGE TO READERS FROM MM - THE MORSE MAGAZINE THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM RICHARD DILLMAN, W6AWO HISTORIC MORSE CODE RADIO STATION WILL RETURN TO THE AIR Station KPH To Be Heard Once Again In the third annual event that has become known as the Night of Nights historic Morse code radio station KPH will return to the air in commemoration of the last commercial Morse message sent in North America. KPH, the ex-RCA coast station located north of San Francisco, will return to the air for commemorative broadcasts on 12 July at 1701 PDT (13 July at 0001 GMT), 3 years and one minute after the last commercial Morse transmission in North America. These on-the-air events are intended to honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade on ships and at coast stations around the world. Transmissions are expected to continue until at least midnight PDT (0700 GMT). For this third annual Night of Nights one frequency for equally historic coast station KFS will also be activated. Veteran Morse operators, including many former KPH and KFS staff members, will be on duty at the receiving station at Point Reyes, CA listening for calls from ships and sending messages just as they did for so many years before Morse code operations were shut down. The transmitters are located 18 miles south of Point Reyes in Bolinas, CA at the transmitting station established in 1913 by the American Marconi Co. The original KPH transmitters, receivers and antennas will be used to activate frequencies in all the commercial maritime HF bands and on MF as well. KPH will transmit on 4247.0, 6477.5, 8642.0, 12808.5, 17016.5 and 22477.5 kc on HF and on 500 and 426kc on MF. KFS will transmit on 17026.0 kc. These frequencies have been made available through the generous cooperation of Globe Wireless, the current owner of the KPH and KFS licenses. Many of the transmitters will be 50s vintage RCA sets. Power output will be 4 to 5 kW. The transmitting antennas include a Marconi T for MF, double extended Zepps for 4, 6 and 8 Mc and H over 2s for 12, 16 and 22 Mc. Operators will listen for calls from ships on 4184.0, 6276.0, 8368.0, 12552.0, 16736.0 and 22280.5 kc on HF and 500 kc on MF. KPH and KFS will send traffic lists, weather and press broadcasts and commemorative messages, many of which will be sent by hand. At other times the KPH and KFS "wheel" will be sent to mark the transmitting frequencies. Reception reports may be sent to: Ms. DA Stoops, P.O. Box 381, Bolinas CA 94924-0381, USA Members of the public are invited to visit the receiving station for this event. The station will be open to visitors beginning at 1500 PDT (3:00 pm). The station is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and is on the route to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Watch for cypress lined driveway on the right about a mile past the entry to Coast Guard station NMC. KPH is operated by the Maritime Radio Historical Society in cooperation with the Point Reyes National Seashore, part of the National Park Service. Further information may be found on the Maritime Radio Historical Society Web site at http://www.radiomarine.org or by contacting Richard Dillman at +1 415-990-7090 (email: ddillman@igc.org) or Tom Horsfall +1 510-237-9535 (email: wa6ope@hotmail.com). MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MORSUM MAGNIFICAT - THE MORSE MAGAZINE - FLYING THE FLAG FOR MORSE The Poplars, Wistanswick, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 2BA, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1630 638306 Fax: +44 (0) 1630 638051 Editor/Publisher: Zyg Nilski G3OKD e-mail: Zyg@MorseMag.com MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Visit the MM Homepage at http://www.MorseMag.com for full details of this international magazine devoted entirely to Morse telegraphy past present and future MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM (via W2AGN, swl; Dillman via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, via DXLD) ** U S A. EMERGENCY DECLARED AS TEXAS FLOODING CONTINUES NEWINGTON, CT (Jul 5, 2002)--The Federal Communication Commission declared a general communications emergency Friday in response to severe flooding in parts of Texas. Days of nonstop rainfall have created some of the worst flood conditions in 100 years and caused thousands to flee their homes. At midday Friday, the FCC declared 7285 kHz off limits during the daytime except for stations handling flood-related emergency traffic. Also off limits is 3873 kHz during nighttime hours. Amateurs are required to stay at least 3 kHz away from these frequencies until the declaration is rescinded. FCC Enforcement Bureau Senior Advisor for Public Safety Arlan K. Van Doorn indicates the declaration may last up to 72 hours. ARRL South Texas Section Manager E. Ray Taylor, N5NAV, is directing ARES response from his home in New Braunfels, one of the communities being ravaged by the flooding. The Guadalupe River at New Braunfels normally flows at around 300 cubic feet per minute. The rate on Friday was estimated at 70,000 cubic feet per minute, after the water overran the spillways on an upstream dam. In addition to the wide-range emergency net on HF, Amateur Radio is providing communications to municipalities and volunteer groups. A Texas Baptist Convention mobile kitchen equipped with ham gear has been set up at a shelter in New Braunfels, Taylor said. About a dozen members of the Kendall Amateur Radio Society have been providing two- meter communications support to the police station and two shelters in Boerne, Texas, since Thursday morning, at the request of Boerne Mayor Patrick Heath. As of Friday evening, 23 Texas counties were under a Flash Flood Warning. More counties are likely to be added as the rain continues and the floodwaters flow toward the coast (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. KMOL HEADED BACK TO THE FUTURE KMOL-TV, San Antonio's NBC network affiliate and the city's first TV station, will change its call letters back to the original set that it began broadcasting with on December 11, 1949: WOAI-TV. The change also means that News Radio 1200 and Channel 4 will share the WOAI call letters. "We are headed back to the future", said William Moll, President of Television for San Antonio based Clear Channel Worldwide, which owns both KMOL-TV and News Radio 1200 WOAI. "KMOL and News Radio 1200 WOAI have a long history of a strong news and public service commitment to this community. To have these two successful stations share the WOAI brand acknowledges our historical roots in San Antonio. It is significant to our company and the Mays family." Switching the KMOL call letters to WOAI will also give Channel 4 a unique "W" designation in the market. In addition, Channel 4's call letter change to WOAI will also have an effect on its radio partner, News Radio 1200 WOAI. "I see this as a very positive move in that it can only further solidify WOAI's image as news leader in San Antonio," said Tom Glade, Vice-President/Market Manager for Clear Channel's San Antonio radio station group. The switch from KMOL to WOAI is expected to take place on or before January 1, 2003, pending formal approval by the Federal Communications Commission (From Shoptalk Magazine 7/5/2002 via Fred Vobbe, NRC FMTV via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Desde hace algunos minutos estoy escuchando una emisora con música el español y en especial varios temas de la cantante mexicana Paulina Rubio a través de los 4789.9; no he logrado identificar ya que la modulación de la locución es baja. En principio descartaría que fuera la reactivación de Radio Atlántida [PERÚ], ya que esta emisora llegaria con mejor señal hasta acá. ¿Alguien tiene alguna idea? Sigo en la escucha a la espera de obtener alguna identificación. Un abrazo (Rafael Rodríguez R., Santa Fé de Bogotá, Colombia, July 6 7:08 pm [=0008 UT July 7?], Conexión Digital via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ Today I have just received the new Shortwave Guide from the WRTH, have yet to do further reading on it but it seems to be an interesting reference with the frequency charts featuring the color-coded lines for different languages broadcast by the radio stations. I've noted that while Denmark's frequencies are listed, Norway, which is still on the air with their home-service relays, is omitted! Worse, stations are referred to by the ITU country code of the studio they're broadcasting from, not the actual transmitter site, which prevents some readers, especially newcomer SWL's, from realizing that many frequencies listed are coming from relays... so every BBC freq. is listed from the UK, or G in ITU terms? Gimme a break!. Transmitter location, NOT studio location, is very important for SWL's and radio monitors, and the ITU codes for such sites should be listed in future editions (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ In reaction to what I read in DXLD 2-108, listening at 1200 UT on July 6 indicated that nothing showed up on the higher frequencies with exceptions being broadcasts from US, Canadian and some Caribbean sites (such as BBC-15190 at 1155); also heard a trace of VOA in Cantonese (per the new WRTH-Shortwave Guide) at 1200 on 15360, likely from Tinian relay (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, July 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Are you noticing some decline in propagation on the higher bands? Now HCJB's broadcast to India at 02 UTC on 21470 isn't coming in like it used to earlier this season. I've seen some items in DX Listening Digest (part of Glenn Hauser's World of Radio site) about the declining solar flux numbers and now it looks as if we are headed for a slow decline in use of 21, 17 and 15 MHz, as we now head toward the projected solar minimum that will occur sometime in 2006. So, perhaps this problem is also affecting reception of HCJB in your area, too? On AIR's new Kannada language service, I'm hearing it at only fair level, monitored at 0240 on 15075 on July 6 (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, USA, dx_india via DXLD) ### ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-108, July 5, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html (ONDEMAND) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 1400 North America WWCR BROADCASTS: Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Mon 0100 9475 RFPI BROADCASTS: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 SOLICITED TESTIMONIAL 100% de acuerdo con D. Fischer!: es una buena hora para -una vez más- decirte Gracias! Glenn. Muchas gracias... por no aflojar ni abajo del agua!, como decimos en el Río de la Plata (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay) ** AFGHANISTAN. AFGHAN RADIO STATION BEGINS TO FIND VOICE Wed Jul 3, 3:43 PM ET, By Denise Duclaux JABAL-US-SARAJ, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Zakia Zaki broadcasts a message of stability and equality to Afghanistan, but, as director of a radio station that is breaking the mold, she knows she needs time and lots of it to get it across. "In my point of view, it will take a while," said Zaki, a proud woman with a bright smile who runs the "Voice of Peace" station with her husband Abdul Ahad in the bustling town of Jabal-us-Saraj, 40 miles north of Kabul.... [on FM] http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020703/lf_nm/afghan_radio_dc_2 (via Artie Bigley, and Mike Terry, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Recibí un hermoso (y gigante) certificado de sintonía enviado por Radio Baluarte, en unos 30 días. Además, remitió una pequeña tarjeta QSL que complementa el anterior (ambos con datos completos). El V/S es Hugo Eidinger, Director de la emisora. El slogan que tiene la emisora es: "La Voz de las Tres Fronteras de América". El certificado de sintonía tiene el sello de la emisora con la fecha en que fue verificado el reporte, es decir, el 27 de junio, habiendo sido despachada la carta el 29 de junio por correo simple desde Puerto Iguazú. La dirección a la que envié el reporte fue: Casilla de Correos 45, 3370 Puerto iguazu (Provincia de Misiones= Argentina (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, July 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [non]. 17895, Radio Africa International via Moosbrunn heard 13 January 2002 at 1544-1559. SINPO=35333. Africa map QSL received in 167 days, v/s Raphael Mbodinga, Associate Producer, via New York City United Methodist Church office. My original mail DX Report to Vienna did not elicit a reply, but my reminder to Donna Niemann in NYC drew an immediate QSL (George Glotzbach, Santa Fe NM, Cumbre DX July 4 via DXLD) Oops! If Niemann and Mbodinga QSLed this, they are just as confused as you are. The 17895 broadcast from Austria at this hour was ****not**** the Methodist ``R. Africa International``, which originates in NY and is transmitted at other times and other frequencies via Germany, but instead the Vienna ethnic station which has been carried at certain times via Moosbrunn. There is **no** connexion between them, as we have pointed out several times before, except that unfortunately they use the same name! Goes to show what can be accomplished in relentless pursuit of so-called ``verifications`` by not paying attention, on the part of broadcasters as well as listeners (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOUGAINVILLE. 3850 LSB, R Free Bougainville, 1039 June 28. Fading in and out with M in Tok Pisin with discussion. Surprisingly, this was heard only Friday PNG time, with nary a het at any time on Sat-Sun. On these days, a ham net was active but there were significant openings between discussions. The R Free Bougainville reception was very low compared with the other PNGs - entirely Tok Pisin with no opening (just faded up from the het which was on after 0930). There were the usual "long" and "long long" of Tok Pisin, as well as one mention of Bougainville. Pretty poor levels made this one a tough one, but I handed the headphones to John Bryant who also confirmed it as R Free Bougainville (he'd heard this before from Grayland years ago) (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 17920, CBCNS, 1545 June 30. I'm still hearing the Northern Service on this freq. as I did a week or two ago. Very fadey from poor to inaudible and // to 9625. Again off at 1559 while continuing on 9625. I believe GH picked up on this item last time I reported it and said it was a mixing product of RCI which relays the Northern Service at times. Since both times I heard it, it was on a Sunday morning, I assume he is correct (John Sgrulletta, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Yes, but not exactly as you put it. RCI does not relay the Northern Service. Both RCI and the NS do relay, at certain times, CBC Radio One. RCI uses 17800 for this, but only on Saturday and Sunday, including 1300-1600 for This Morning, Sunday, which is also on 9625 CBC Northern. Another Sackville transmitter relays Austria daily at 1500-1600 on 17860, which is halfway between 17800 and 17920. Thus the mixing product on 17920, which if it were stronger, might display some traces of the Austrian audio too, but not necessarily, as such spurs work. BTW, on M-F, the RCI relay of CBC in the morning runs an hour earlier at 1200-1500 and on 17820 instead, so this particular mix could not occur weekdays, but ought to be audible on Saturdays. Now, if you actually heard a Northern Quebec service ID on 17920, which I suspect you did not, but merely assumed this by \\ 9625, there would have to be an additional mixup in feed circuits Montreal/Sackville, which certainly has been known to happen as well (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. CBC Previews: Friday, July 5: ATLANTIC JAZZ FESTIVAL: ***pre-empts In Performance*** Tune in to CBC Radio Two...join host Peter Togni for Opening Night of the Atlantic Jazz Festival. In Hour One, Peter previews some of the acts in this year's festival. And in hour Two, live from the Schooner Room of the Halifax Casino, Greg Carter leads the Maritime Jazz Orchestra, featuring saxophonists PJ Perry and Mike Murley, Renee Rosnes on piano, trumpeter Paul Tynan, drummer Terry Clarke, and the great American jazz vocalist Kurt Elling. That's the Atlantic Jazz Festival special, starting at 8:00 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. IDEAS: Tonight on Ideas...Part One of Civil Disobedience: a look at the tradition of refusing to submit to arbitrary authority - from Henry David Thoreau in 1840s America to the protests of today. That's tonight on Ideas at 9:05 (9:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. (CONTINUES NEXT FRIDAY) CBC Previews for Saturday, July 6: GO: Tune in to CBC this Saturday morning for the premiere of Go, a hot new summer series. Join host Brent Bambury as he heads to Newfoundland to track down Canada's elusive "Gravel Pit Campers". Also on the program, a new twist on movie reviews, Saturday morning routines, and a chat with Josey Vogels, author of "The Secret Language of Girls." That's Go, Saturday morning at 10:05 (10:35 NT) on CBC Radio One. [so this is the replacement for BASIC BLACK] OFF THE CUFF: Tune in to CBC Radio One this Saturday for the debut of Off the Cuff. What's the best book native playwright Thomson Highway ever read? What does flamenco guitarist Jesse Cook do to keep romance burning? And why does songwriter Jimmy Rankin think all men are pigs? Find out on Off the Cuff - the game show that gets Great Canadians to tell stories for meaningless points. It all gets underway at 11:28 (11:58 on the Rock) Saturday morning on CBC Radio One. QUIRKS AND QUARKS: This week on Quirks and Quarks... Getting the Dope on Dope: The Science of Medical Marijuana. Canada recently made the use of marijuana as medicine a little easier. But does the science justify that decision? Do we really understand how marijuana works, and is it proven enough to move from the recreation room to the medicine cabinet? Also, news on genetically-modified corn and the Monarch butterfly. That's Quirks and Quarks, with host Bob McDonald, Saturday afternoon at 12:06 (12:36 NT) on CBC Radio One. DEFINITELY NOT THE OPERA: This week on the summer edition of DNTO... Nora takes on technology, separating reality from hype: remember how e-books were going to spell the end for paper publishing? Also, one of Chas Lawther's funny and thought-provoking stand-up documentaries. In "You're Here, Then You're Not," Chas takes on mortality. And on Rebel Angels of Song, the career of ground-breaking folk singer Sandy Denny. That's on Definitely Not the Opera Saturday after the one p.m. news (1:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Saturday on the World This Weekend... Women have made enormous progress in the western world in the past few decades. But not in Chile. Chile remains a bastion of machismo, in which women in bad or even abusive marriages cannot divorce. Men have all the property rights and are not required to support their children. A bill for divorce reform is in the works, but as Reese Erlich reports, the Catholic Church in Chile actively opposes it. That report and more, Saturday on The World This Weekend at 6:00 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. SUMMER COMEDY SUMMARY: This week on the Summer Comedy Summary... host Al Rae welcomes Steve Shuster, comedian and son of Frank Shuster. Steve talks about his famous dad. Also, hear from Steve's comedy writers and from Nancy White on gender inequality and why daddy gets all the hugs. That's the Summer Comedy Summary, Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m. (7:30 AT; 8:00 NT) on CBC Radio Two. WEEKEND HOT SHEET, SUNDAY JULY 7, 2001 --- THE SUNDAY EDITION: This week on The Sunday Edition, meet shark lover Peter Benchley, who's spent 30 years trying to make up for scaring us with his book "Jaws." Also, on Aging Dangerously: Louise Bennett has won many honours - in her homeland of Jamaica and her adopted home here - for her work as a writer, poet and performer. The Honourable Louise Bennett-Coverley - Miss Lou - spoke with Michael Enright in January. And more in Paul Kennedy's series "Learning from the Oceans." That's The Sunday Edition, with guest host Elisabeth Gray, right after the 9 a.m. news (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One. SUMMER COMEDY SUMMARY: This week on the Summer Comedy Summary [as above] Sunday afternoon at 1:00 (1:30 NT, 4:00 PT) on CBC Radio One. TAPESTRY: This week on Tapestry...The Joy of Emptiness: a conversation with Dr. Mark Epstein, a psychiatrist from New York City who uses Buddhism to help people heal. He believes that the only way we can become whole is to become empty. Also, a visit to a sanctuary for meditation that's inside the walls of Springhill Prison in Nova Scotia. That's on Tapestry, with host Don Hill, Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (2:30 NT; 4:00 p.m. MT; 3:00 pm. PT) on CBC Radio One. WRITERS AND COMPANY: This week on Writers and Company, more in the series Original Minds, wide-ranging conversations with luminaries in literature, science, music, economics and more. This week, host Eleanor Wachtel talks with American novelist and essayist Susan Sontag. For almost forty years, Sontag has devoted herself to an analysis and appreciation of European culture. Now she looks at America. That's Writers & Company, Sunday at 3:08 (3:38 NT, 5:08 CT/MT/PT) on CBC Radio One. CROSS-COUNTRY CHECKUP: Sunday on Cross Country Checkup ...world justice. This week the International Criminal Court came into being. It has long been sought as a permanent institution to try war criminals and heads of state previously protected by their positions. The U-S says it won't work ...it will be tainted by politics. What do you think? Does the U-S have reason to distrust the new court? Join guest host Alison Smith Sunday on Cross Country Checkup, from 4 until 6 (EASTERN) on CBC Radio One. THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND: Sunday on The World This Weekend...For almost twenty years, the southern Sudanese have been fighting for independence against the government in the north. This relentless war has deeply affected all aspects of living in southern Sudan, but the lives of children are most disturbed. For thousands of children there is no chance of an education. And, as Rupert Cook reports, they can only hope for a future without guns. Hear that report Sunday on The World This Weekend at 6 pm (7 AT; 7:30 NT) on both CBC Radio One and CBC Radio Two. SAY IT WITH MUSIC: This week on Say It With Music...a tribute to the late, great American singer Rosemary Clooney, who died last Saturday. Say it With Music, Sunday at 4:00 p.m. (4:30 NT) on CBC Radio Two. KINFOLK: Throughout July in the timeslot normally occupied by Roots & Wings, join host Kinzey Posen for Kinfolk, a very personal look at folk and jazz. This week, Kinzey introduces you to Mariza from Portugal, the latest artist to continue the Fado tradition. Also, the story of two proud mothers who can't say enough about their sons, one a lawyer, the other an incredibly well-known musician. And Kinzey pays tribute to bassist Ray Brown who died last Tuesday. That's on Kinfolk, Sunday evening at 5:05 (5:35 NT) on CBC Radio Two. (CBC Hotsheets, excerpted by gh for DXLD) ** CANADA. 1610 AM BACK TESTING, NOW WITH ANNOUNCEMENT TAPE Thanks to a tip this morning from Ricky Leong of Brossard, Quebec, we now have word that the new station in Montreal on 1610 kHz is testing again. He first heard them around 11 AM Eastern this morning, July 5. I tuned them in at 2 PM Eastern. They were fairly strong, playing a mix of music, but each 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour, they were inserting a French language station ID. I will translate it for the benefit of those not understanding French: "This is CJWI 1610 AM Montreal, a station operated by CPAM Radio Union.com. We transmit with a power of one kilowatt. We are presently in a period of technical verification. If you are a victim of noise or interference due to our transmission, contact us immediately at 514- 287-1288 (number repeated), or by electronic mail, pierre@qc.aira.com (address repeated). Very soon, CPAM Radio Union.com, 24 hours a day will offer dynamic programming destined for the French language cultural community of Montreal. Thank you for listening. CPAM Radio Union.com 1610 AM" (Sheldon Harvey, Owner-Radio H.F., Canada's specialist in radio communications http://www.total.net/~radiohf President-Canadian International DX Club, Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962 http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ (via DXLD) ** CHINA. Xinjiang People's Broadcasting Station. Received verification letter in Chinese in three months for Chinese report, used stamps, US$1 and SWL card. Station also sent used PRC stamps, taking care to leave the complete postmarks showing town names in Chinese and Uygur intact (some of these from remote locations!) and a postmark of the Id-Kah mosque in Kashgar. Regarding my feedback that there's co-channel QRM from Radio Tashkent on 5060 kHz, the letter says that they had since increase power output (!) to counter the interference. The letter is stamped with the station seal in Chinese and Uygur (Richard Lam, Singapore, Cumbre DX July 4 via DXLD) ** CHINA. OBSERVER #198 / 05-07-2002 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OBSERVER is an edition of RADIO BULGARIA compiled by Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov. Items here may be reproduced if it is mentioned "OBSERVER-BUL". All times in UT ---------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMER A-02 SCHEDULE OF CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL AS OF JULY 3: 0000-0027 Hakka 15400 15260 15100 11945 9550 9460 6140 Portuguese 11850 0000-0057 Russian 9870 9725 7110 1521 Spanish 17720 11880 0030-0057 Chaochou 15400 15260 15100 11945 9550 9460 6140 Portuguese 15420 11850 11650 0100-0157 English 9790 9580 Russian 1521 Spanish 17720 11880 9665 0200-0257 Chinese 15435 9690 Spanish 17720 13685 11650 0300-0357 Chinese 9720 English 9690 Spanish 11765 9560 Russian 17740 17710 15435 0400-0457 English 9730 9560 0830-0857 Hausa 7170 0830-0927 Indonesian 17735 15135 0900-0957 Chinese 17785 15440 15340 15250 15110 11905 11875 11700 9550 7360 English 15210 11730 0930-1027 Malay 17680 15135 0930-1527 Japanese 9855 7190 1044 1000-1057 Cantonese 17755 15440 11875 702 Chinese 17785 15340 7360 English 15210 11730 Russian 15110 9725 7820 7110 5145 1116 963 1030-1127 Cambodian 17680 15165 1080 Indonesian 15135 11700 1100-1127 Esperanto 9590 7170 1100-1157 Cantonese 17785 15340 11875 9590 702 Mongolian 5850 5145 Russian 9870 9725 7110 1521 1116 963 Vietnamese 9550 1296 1100-1257 Korean 5965 1017 1130-1157 Burmese 9880 9590 1269 1188 Tagalog/En 11700 1341 1130-1227 Thai 9785 7360 6010 1200-1227 Tagalog/En 12110 11700 1341 1200-1257 Cambodian 9440 1080 Cantonese 17680 English 15415 11980 11855 11760 9760 9730 1341 1188 Mongolian 9870 5850 5145 1314 Russian 1521 1323 963 Vietnamese 9550 1296 1200-1257 Chinese 17785 15260 15340 11875 1230-1327 Lao 9785 7360 6140 Malay 15135 11955 1300-1327 Burmese 11780 9880 1269 Esperanto 15210 11650 1300-1357 Chinese 17785 15260 11875 15340 9440 English 15180 11980 11900 11760 9570 7405 1341 French 13685 9890 Russian 9870 5850 5145 4883 4815 1521 1323 963 Vietnamese 9550 1296 1300-1457 Korean 5965 1017 1330-1357 Burmese 11780 9880 1269 1330-1427 Indonesian 15135 11955 Thai 9785 7360 6140 1400-1427 Sinhalese 15145 11900 1188 Turkish 15165 11750 1400-1457 Amoy 15340 11650 9715 7335 Cambodian 17710 15180 English 17720 15125 13685 15110 11675 9700 7405 Mongolian 9870 4883 4815 Russian 1521 1323 963 Tamil 15210 11575 9590 Vietnamese 9550 1296 684 1430-1457 Sinhalese 15145 11900 1188 Tagalog/En 12110 1341 1430-1527 Lao 9675 7360 6140 1080 1500-1527 Bengali 15300 11810 1188 Nepalese 9535 7215 1269 Pashto 11880 9665 Persian 11750 9570 1500-1557 Chinese 11825 11760 English 15125 13685 9785 7160 Hindi 11675 9690 Russian 11790 11650 9870 9765 4883 4815 1521 963 Vietnamese 9550 684 1530-1557 Bengali 15300 11810 1188 Nepalese 9535 7215 1269 Pashto 11880 9665 9570 1600-1627 Swahili 12000 11600 Turkish 11685 11740 Urdu 7175 1323 1600-1657 Arabic 17880 17580 15490 15125 11760 English 9870 9565 Hakka 15580 11825 Hindi 11675 9690 1269 Russian 13655 11945 11875 11780 9885 9765 1521 Vietnamese 7360 6010 684 1630-1657 Swahili 12000 11600 Urdu 7175 1323 1700-1727 Swahili 15125 12000 11640 1700-1757 Cantonese 15580 9770 English 15205 11920 9695 9670 9570 Russian 13655 11945 11875 11780 11685 11650 9885 9795 9765 1521 1730-1757 Hausa 13670 11640 1730-1827 Chinese 13610 11835 11760 11660 9745 9685 9645 1800-1827 Hausa 13670 11790 11640 Hungarian 11810 11775 9860 Persian 15595 9670 9550 1800-1857 German 15130 11650 Russian 11945 11875 11685 11630 9795 9765 9585 9535 1521 1830-1857 Bulgarian 11810 11775 9860 Italian 11850 9945 Persian 13650 11740 9670 9550 1830-1927 Arabic 11640 11835 12035 13670 French 11760 11660 9645 9620 1900-1927 Albanian 11810 9965 Czech 11775 9585 Romanian 11740 7305 Portuguese 11825 9535 Turkish 11750 9785 1900-1957 Cantonese 11895 9765 English 13790 9440 German 15130 11650 Russian 11945 11685 11630 9795 1521 1930-1957 Albanian 11730 9965 Czech 9585 7305 Romanian 11775 11740 Portugues 15125 13775 11810 11640 Turkish 1170 1930-2027 French 11835 11760 11660 9645 9620 2000-2027 Esperanto 11810 11730 9965 Polish 11775 9585 6150 Serbian 13650 11680 2000-2057 Chinese 13790 13775 11870 11610 9765 9685 7660 English 15110 13630 11790 11640 9440 Russian 11945 9795 7255 2030-2057 Bulgarian 13650 6150 Hungarian 11775 11680 Italian 11810 9965 Polish 11850 9585 2030-2127 French 13715 12010 11660 9730 9560 2100-2127 Albanian 6150 English 13630 11640 Italian 11680 9965 9610 Serbian 13650 9550 2100-2157 Arabic 11965 9765 9685 English 15110 11790 Spanish 11775 9640 2130-2157 Hungarian 9570 6150 2130-2227 French 15500 12015 11975 11660 11610 9560 2200-2227 Portuguese 15110 11650 2200-2257 English 9880 Spanish 11775 11690 9640 2230-2257 Chinese 15500 15110 11975 Esperanto 11700 9860 2230-2327 Chinese 15400 15260 15100 11945 9550 9460 6140 2300-2357 Chinese 11975 7170 English 13680 5990 Russian 17710 15110 Spanish 11880 11650 2330-2357 Cantonese 15400 15260 15100 11945 9550 9460 6140 73 from Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 5 via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. In WOR 1138 you add "[note correxion]" to the address of La Voz de tu? Conciencia, but the address you mention is in point of fact the wrong one. It should be Calle 44 No. 13-69 as in DXLD 2107. By the way, Stendal has now confirmed the actual name of station. It is as given in the following note. La Voz de su Conciencia (The Voice of your Conscience), presently on 6064.5, but shortly to move to 6060, can be reached by ordinary mail in c/o Librería Colombia para Cristo, Calle 44 No. 13-69, Barrio Palermo, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Address previously given as Carrera 44 No. 13-69 is incorrect. They are very interested in reception reports with specific information on sources of interference (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I didn`t notice the distinxion between Carrera and Calle, focusing on adding the Barrio (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Besides SW... It is important for RFPI to have available to listeners a 24 hour per day reliable live stream on the internet. Due to our remote location, this has been a challenge. We have devised a way to do this by using a cable modem connection here in Costa Rica. We will broadcast a data signal via microwave from RFPI to a remote site that has this cable connection. This will create a faultless link to the world wide web. We need approximately $6,000 for equipment (cables, connectors, modem, cable modem, 2 microwave dishes, towers, 2-4 GHz transceivers) to make this a reality. We need your help.... (Solicitation from Gil Carmichael, Executive Director, RFPI Office of Development, P O Box 1094, Eugene, OR 97440 via DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. Contrary to DXLD 2-103, typo in URL for very informative affidavit by FCC agent in the arrest of Ana Belen Montes, is really at http://www.fas.org/irp/ops/ci/Montes_092101.pdf or Click on AFFIDAVIT at http://www.fas.org/irp/news/2001/09/Montes_092101.html (Since I often find mistakes like this in DXLD before anyone else, it makes me wonder if anybody is really reading what I emit -gh) Here are just as few, 5 thru 7, of its many pages, relating to SW numbers: II. MONTES's Toshiba Laptop Computer and Shortwave Radio A. Communication From the Cuban Intelligence Service (CuIS) to MONTES via Shortwave Radio 11. Based on my knowledge and familiarity with the methodology of the Cuban intelligence service, I am aware that the CuIS often communicates with clandestine CuIS agents operating outside Cuba by broadcasting encrypted messages at certain high frequencies. Under this method, the CuIS broadcasts on a particular frequency a series of numbers. The clandestine agent, monitoring the message on a shortwave radio, keys in the numbers onto a computer and then uses a diskette containing a decryption program to convert the seemingly random series of numbers into Spanish-language text. This was the methodology employed by some of the defendants convicted last June in the Southern District of Florida of espionage on behalf of Cuba and acting as unregistered agents of Cuba, in the case of United States of America v. Gerardo Hernández, et al., Cr. No. 98-721-CR-Lenard(s)(s). Although it is very difficult to decrypt a message without access to the relevant decryption program, once decrypted on the agent's computer the decrypted message resides on the computer's hard drive unless the agent takes careful steps to cleanse the hard drive of the message. Simply ``deleting`` the file is not sufficient. 12. Based on the evidence described below, I have concluded that MONTES was a clandestine CuIS agent who communicated with her handling CuIS officer in the manner described above. 13. A receipt obtained from a CompUSA store located in Alexandria, Virginia indicated that on October 5, 1996, one ``Ana B. Montes`` purchased a refurbished Toshiba laptop computer, model 405CS, serial number 10568512. 14. During a court-authorized surreptitious entry into MONTES's residence, conducted by the FBI on May 25, 2001, FBI agents observed in her residence a Toshiba laptop computer with the serial number set out above. During the search, the agents electronically copied the laptop's hard drive. During subsequent analysis of the copied hard drive, the FBI recovered substantial text that had been deleted from the laptop's hard drive. 15. The recovered text from the laptop's hard drive included significant portions of a Spanish-language message, which when printed out with standard font comes to approximately 11 pages of text. The recovered portion of the message does not expressly indicate when it was composed. However, it instructs the message recipient to travel to ``the Friendship Heights station`` on ``Saturday, November 23rd.`` My review of a calendar indicates that November 23 fell on a Saturday in 1996; the next time thereafter November 23 falls on a Saturday is in 2002. Accordingly, this message was composed sometime before November 23, 1996, and entered onto MONTES's laptop sometime after October 5, 1996, the date she purchased it. Based on its content, I have concluded that it is a message from a CuIS officer to MONTES. 16. Portions of the recovered message included the following: ``You should go to the WIPE program and destroy that file according to the steps which we discussed during the contact. This is a basic step to take every time you receive a radio message or some disk.`` 17. During this same search, the agents also observed a Sony shortwave radio stored in a previously opened box on the floor of the bedroom. The agents turned on the radio to confirm that it was operable. Also found was an earpiece that could be utilized with this shortwave radio, allowing the radio to be listened to more privately. Similar earpieces were found in the residences of the defendants in the Hernández case, as described above in paragraph 11. 18. The recovered portion of the message begins with the following passage: Nevertheless, I learned that you entered the code communicating that you were having problems with radio reception. The code alone covers a lot, meaning that we do not know specifically what types of difficulty you are having. Given that it's only been a few days since we began the use of new systems, let's not rule out that the problem might be related to them. In that case, I'm going to repeat the necessary steps to take in order to retrieve a message. The message then describes how the person reading the message should ``write the information you send to us and the numbers of the radio messages which you receive.`` The message later refers to going ``to a new line when you get to the group 10 of the numbers that you receive via radio,`` and still later gives as an ``example`` a series of groups of numbers: ``22333 44444 77645 77647 90909 13425 76490 78399 7865498534.`` After some further instruction, the message states: ``Here the program deciphers the message and it retrieves the text onto the screen, asking you if the text is okay or not.`` Near the conclusion of the message, there is the statement ``In this shipment you will receive the following disks: . . . 2) Disk ``R1`` to decipher our mailings and radio.`` 19. Further analysis of MONTES's copied Toshiba hard drive identified text consisting of a series of 150 5-number groups. The text begins, ``30107 24624,`` and continues until 150 such groups are listed. The FBI has determined that the precise same numbers, in the precise same order, were broadcast on February 6, 1999, at AM frequency 7887 kHz, by a woman speaking Spanish, who introduced the broadcast with the words ``Attencion! Attencion!`` The frequency used in that February 1999 broadcast is within the frequency range of the shortwave radio observed in MONTES's residence on May 25, 2001.... (via DXLD) ** FINLAND. 2 YEARS BIRTHDAY PARTY OF SCANDINAVIAN WEEKEND RADIO ! SWR's 2nd Birthday will be celebrated with whole day long Special Transmission. This programme starts at 21 hours UT on Friday 5th July and it ends 24 hours later on Saturday 6th July. And you can follow that Party on SW's: 48 mb: 21-22 6170, 22-05 5980, 05-15 6170 and 16-21 5990. 25 mb: 21-22 11690, 22-08 11720, 08-10 11690 and 10-21 11720. Some changes might happen. You can get more info from our web-pages: http://www.swradio.net You can get Special QSL-card from our Birthday Transmission. Send your report to: SWR, P.O.Box 35, 40321 Jyväskylä, Finland! Don't forgot return postage 2 Euros/ 2 US-dollars/ 2 IRC's. You can spend that day also with us here in Radiostation situated in village of Liedenpohja in Virrat. We have Open Doors on Saturday 6th July 09-12 UTC. There is also a Finnish Band Hughman Tutsh playing their songs with acoustic equipments. If you are coming please call to our studio-telephone +358 400 995 559 and ask driving instructions. With Best Regards, Dj. Madman (SWR July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) In North America, check especially around 0030 UT Sat on 11720, where David Hodgson heard it in June (WOR Monitoring Reminders via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. Subject: article on CATHOLIC RADIO UPDATE Estimado Glen[n] Hauser, nos dirigimos atentamente a usted para hacer las siguientes aclaraciones, referente al artículo aparecido en CATHOLIC RADIO UPDATE, el 20 de junio del presente año: INFORMACION CORRECTA: 1.- Las siglas TGW pertenecen a la Radio Nacional, La Voz de Guatemala que tiene repetidoras en todo el país. 2.- Radio María 103.3 FM, TGAM, pertenece a Asociación Radio María Guatemala quien forma parte de la cadena Mundial de Radio María (World Family of Radio Maria) que tiene presencia activa en 30 países del mundo. 3.- World Family of Radio Maria, es la depositaria de la marca "RADIO MARIA" en muchos países del mundo, incluyendo Guatemala, en donde iniciaron su trámite de registro de marca en agosto de 1994. 4.- Radio María "La Voz de la Familia", TGML, 1600 AM. NO PERTENECE a la cadena de la Radio Nacional, tampoco a la Familia Mundial de Radio María, (WFRM) con sede en Italia. Agradeciendo tomen en cuenta lo anterior, Atentamente, (Asociación Radio María, 103.3 FM, TGAM, Guatemala, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. Friends, Last night the following stations of AIR were on air till 1957 UT (instead of the usual 1740) to bring the cricket commentary in English and Hindi of the day and night match between England and India. When the play was held up due to rain, Hindi film songs were broadcast. 3223 Shimla, 3315 Bhopal, 4760 Port Blair, 4880 Lucknow, 4910 Jaipur, 4960 Ranchi. Several MW stations also relayed the commentary. The next such broadcast is scheduled for July 11, 2002. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS Box 1555, Somajiguda Hyderabad 500082, India, July 5, dx_india via DXLD) 4760, AIR Port Blair/Leh, 1930 July 4, on late with cricket commentary England vs India. Noted with Hindi music and talk during breaks in play. Also on was Lucknow 4880, Jaipur 4910 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Per Jose, 4760 was Port Blair not Leh ** INDONESIA. 2899, RPDT2 Ngada 1049 June 30. ID at 1050 by M. Long BI talk. 2899, RRI Ngada 1121 June 28, M in BI with news (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [I guess it`s either RPDT2 or RRI, not both... --gh] ** INDONESIA. 2960.02, RPDT Mangarai 1052 June 30, M talking with M on telephone in BI. 3344.8, RRI Ternate 1138 June 30, M in BI with frequent mentions of Dari. [as I recall dari is a preposition, like meaning `from`? --gh] 4874.47, RRI Sorong 1055 June 28, Lagu2 Romantik programa (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRELAND. It has been announced on MediaUK that recently launched sports station Team Talk 252 will close down within the next 4-8 weeks. Staff we're told about the impending closure at a meeting held today. What does the future hold for 252 kHz now? (This was on Concept News today but I have not been able to confirm it with any other sources yet) (Mike Terry, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. KI ENGLISH CHANGES. I don't have the frequencies yet, but here are the updated Kol Israel English broadcast times from July 21. All Times UT: 0400-0415 no change 1030-1045 10 minute extension 1630-1645 50% reduction in time and move to later slot 1900-1925 no change (Doni Rosenzweig, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. 11585, Kol Israel, 0306 Jun 28, Relay of domestic Reshet Bet service in Hebrew with news, phone feed of woman correspondent, Israeli pop songs, ID, and ads for such things as a bank and Diet Coke. Switched frequency to 11590 at 0326; same programming continued. Still audible after 0430. Excellent signal (Marie Lamb, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Decent reception from the Middle East this evening, including Kol Israel propagating well into Memphis at 2200 with their Hebrew service on 11585.03, 15759.99 and 17534.97. These guys make those of us who listen in ECSS have to work a little bit for best fidelity (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN, July 4, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Just to sort out the Luxembourg story: 6090 was shut down by the end of 1993 (neither 1992 nor 1994). The two 250 kW Telefunken transmitters are SV2550 models with class B modulation from 1973, not really state of the art. The longwave transmitter in Luxembourg is on 234, not 216 (that's the frequency the RMC transmitter at Roumoules instead), and now operated from Beidweiler, a few kilometres away from Junglinster. But the old longwave facility at Junglinster was kept stand-by like the shortwave transmitters. And some Korinthenkackerei (no, I do not translate this into English): Marnach 1440 kHz is a 1200 kW facility "only". In fact the station is equipped with three Telefunken PDM transmitters of 600 kW each but I think it is not possible to operate all three rigs at once as a single 1800 kW. The Junglinster site is featured here: http://ibelgique.ifrance.com/georges-lang/junglinster.htm http://home.swipnet.se/radiomuseum/208/scott.htm I think the rig behind the 15350 kHz transmitter featured on the latter one page is one of the 250 kW beasts. Regarding the 5 kHz het matter: I literally still hear this ever- present tone, because the old Radio Luxemburg on 6090 was quite popular in the GDR in the seventies and was still listened in the mid- eighties in the area where Poland used to meet two countries which ceased to exist since then. From our point of view in fact Bayerischer Rundfunk on 6085 was the unwanted, disturbing station. Further information on the RTL Radio (German) homepage: http://www.rtlradio.de http://www.rtlradio.de/home2/technik.html Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MADAGASCAR: MEDIA BEHAVIOUR REPORT 0910 GMT 5 JUL 02 Further to our "Madagascar: Media behaviour report 0720 gmt 5 Jul 02": BBC Monitoring has continued to watch for transmissions from Canal 6, the TV and radio stations controlled by ousted Malagasy President Ratsiraka, who fled to the Seychelles this morning. Canal 6 was believed to have broadcast from Ratsiraka's base of Tamatave (alternative name: Toamasina) in eastern Madagascar. BBC Monitoring had been observing regular satellite transmissions from Canal 6 since early June, and up and including yesterday, 4 July. However, no transmissions from Canal 6 have been observed up to 0910 gmt on 5 July. Source: BBC Monitoring research 5 Jul 02 (via DXLD) and... ** MADAGASCAR. RATSIRAKA TV, RADIO STATIONS NO MORE OPERATING - STATE TV | Excerpt from report by Malagasy television on 5 July Reports from our colleagues in Toamasina [eastern key sea port town declared "capital" by Didier Ratsiraka's supporters, and from where Ratsiraka departed for the Seychelles today] say calm had prevailed in the town by mid-day today... [Reporter] ... [Ratsiraka] Canal 6 radio and TV stations have been closed, they have stopped operating. The local branch of the TVM [state Malagasy Television] is awaiting orders from Antananarivo to reactivate the station. [BBC Monitoring had been observing regular satellite transmissions from Canal 6 since early June, and up and including yesterday, 4 July. No transmissions from Canal 6 have been observed up to 1215 gmt on 5 July] Source: Television Malagasy, Antananarivo, in Malagasy 1000 gmt 5 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) So that`s the end of separatism? (gh) ** MALI. 25 June, 2320, ORT Maliènne here in French on 4783 kHz, which is rarely used by the station (34443), QRM: RTTY. All parallels have been also observed: 4835 (35443), 5995 (33443), 11960 (33542). The service ended at 2400 (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus`, Signal via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND. 3935.15, R Reading Service, 0758 June 28. Weak with M and F speaking between pop music. This was not // with R New Zealand on 9885 (RRS is often relaying RNZ) (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA [and non]. 3204.96, R SanDaun, 0902 June 29. News read by F in EE, // 4890. But with a significant echo effect that makes it difficult to listen to. Other PNG on air at 0902 include: 3220 (//4890 news, echo effect), 3235 (News, no echo), 3245 (news no echo), 3275 M in Tok Pisin, 3290 string bands, 3305 (//4890 news), 3355 (F in Tok Pisin), 3375 (// 4890), 3385 (pop mx), 3905 (F in Tok Pisin), 4890 (News). Very little SW DXING was done, but I append my logs. Attending this warmup weekend for the Grayland Invitiation. Organizers were John Bryant, Nick Hall-Patch, Walt Salminaw, and myself. Antennas were the usual NW 900 foot, W 700 foot, and 900 foot SW Beverages, terminated with copper pipe and bentonite into the water table (surprisingly, tests on our Seattle pest AM stations show no resistors are required --- the grounding situation is that poor even with copper pipe into the water table of the dunes. Weather was the usual pounding buckets of rain, with patches of sunshine. An additional antenna this year was a homebrew Active Antenna based on the Active Antenna Plans for Low Banders (A QST issue). This antenna PERFORMED VERY WELL. Its signal strength was comparable to the beverages but the signal-noise ratio was less than beverages (as expected). THIS ANTENNA DID VERY WELL PICKING UP MW - 738 Tahiti, 1098 Majuro, and a bunch of MW AUSSIES/NZ did very well (and it did exceptionally well on SW.) Most notable was the reactivation of almost all of the PNG stations, including Radio Free Bougainville [q.v. under B]. Missing were 3260 (faint het only), 3335, 3345, 3365 (Usually Milne Bay appears early before being covered by a pest ute at 0900), and 3395. All others were up at armchair levels --- I let some of the receivers mindlessly record hours of PNG on MD for consumption later. The election results in PNG are being covered - and the count is being done election box - by-election box. Interesting openings on MW to Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea (Bryant heard this, I'd heard before so didn`t check), New Zealand (the final morning had armchair quality NZ MW spread across the dial --- all too easy), Australia, and the Pacific Islands of Kirabati, Tonga, Tahiti, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, Fiji and interesting hets on New Caledonia/Wallis & Futuna/ and a faint possibility of Cooks on 630. Patrick Martin hears this one often out of [Seaside OR] (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio Bethel, Arequipa, 5940 kHz, full data Maroti prepared card and partial data personal letter in 28 days for registered report with cassette. Address label, envelope and mint stamps were enclosed but none were used. Letter and station stamp both show 5950 as freq, but body of letter has been changed to 5940. Also enclosed were 2 beautiful postcards of Arequipa. V/s is Rvdo. Josué Ascarruz Pacheco- Gerente. Power is 1000 watts. Postal address as in 2002 PWBR. E-mail address on the letter is Arequipa_Josue@hotmail.com (John Sgrulletta, NY, Cumbre DX July 4 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Greetings! Now you may listen Radio Studio from St. Petersburg in the Internet! 24 hours per day!!!!! mms://195.5.146.120/wma Yours faithfully, (Nemchenko Natalia, Radio Studio http://www.radiostudio.ru July 3 via Alokesh Gupta, GRDXC via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. On 28 June got a QSL letter from BBC Indian Ocean Relay Station (Seychelles), signed by Barrie Elding, Resident Engineer. Only day of reception written, no other details. I listened on 6005 kHz, a broadcast directed to East/North Africa. The letter lists other frequencies used by that relay base: 21470, 17880, 15420, 11860, 11730, 9770, 9610 kHz. Equipment: two Marconi transmitters, type B6131, 250 kW each, Pulse Width Modulation. Received the reply in 39 days (AcDX - Dmitry Puzanov, Kustanay, Kazakhstan, Signal via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.8, R. UNAMSIL (presumed), 0358 July 4. First time I've tried this station in a few weeks and they are apparently still there with a fair signal featuring lite rock this time and a male announcer in English. Unable to pick out ID at 0400 due to more summer static than when previously heard (John Sgrulletta, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.9, SIBS, 0709 June 28. M with public service message on development of the island. Channel new ideas through the house of chiefs before a new idea is done. Mention of Royal Police of Solomon Islands - an investigation jointly with the Royal Police of NZ into the death of a NZ person - findings reported to the NZ High Commission that it was an accident. Continues with local Solomon Islands news broadcast. [Note - an official of NZ was killed here in March by the locals hooligans] (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. 7002, Radio Banaadir noted here in April, but not May (Ted via Ron Roden, UK, IRAMUS June/July, via Cumbre DX via DXLD) Who and where is Ted, IRAMUS, and why did this take so long? (gh, DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 3320, R. Sonder Grense, 0008 July 2. Excellent copy this evening with an S-9 signal level. Male and female in Afrikaans language. Some fades but very good copy. Gent on the mIRC chat line from S. Africa that speaks the language says the show was about the hippies of the 60's and their drug use. Female announcer gave phone numbers for call in talk show in progress. Caller at 0019 talking about drinking problems. Female caller at 0021 was talking about how drinking caused many family problems. Several callers where a bit tipsy. Finally an ID heard at 0104 by male announcer who mumbled the ID. Signal had dropped to S7 by this time as the quality started to deteriorate. This was the best I have ever heard this station (Bob Montgomery, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** TIBET. Tibet PBS can be heard in English Mon to Sat at 1100 UT also besides 1630. The 1100 transmission is repeated at 1630. The station still identifies itself as China Tibet Broadcast Company and the program is "Holy Tibet". Frequencies audible at my QTH are : 5240 6130 7385 9490. 9490 is the best heard here at this time whereas 5240 is barely audible. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab, July 5, for GRDXC via DXLD) ** U K. Re BBC Monitoring job opening, DXLD 2-107: Q. May foreigners or foreign residents apply? A. People from countries within the European Community are free to seek employment in the UK. I believe that the situation with other foreign nationals applying is that BBC Monitoring would have to demonstrate that it had been unsuccessful in recruiting within the UK and the EC (CHRIS McWHINNIE, BBCM, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. RUSSIA, 17775, R. Ezra, 0500 June 30. Final Show, transmitted from Samaria [sic –meant Samara? Which is wrong – gh] ....Evolution is a religion as it requires you to believe. 14 minutes after 0500 UT, and this is the last show. Please write. Don't preach in the same manner that most radio preachers do -- teach morality (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. General Communications Emergency Declared (Jul 5, 2002) -- Under the authority of Section 97.401 of the Federal Communications Commission's Rules and Regulations [47 C.F.R. Part 97] a general communications emergency is declared to exist in Texas requiring the protection of amateur emergency communication frequencies. Amateurs are required to refrain from using 7285 [daytime], and 3873 [night time] plus or minus 3 kHz unless they are taking part in the handling of emergency traffic. This order is effective immediately until rescinded but may be as long as 72 hours. -- Arlan K. Van Doorn, Senior Advisor for Public Safety, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR broadcast something else July 4 instead of WOR at its long-scheduled time of Thursday 2030 on 15825. As usual, we had no advance notice, and must wait till later to find out if this was a temporary or permanent change. However, the printed program schedule, dated July 1 (as opposed to the website one still dated June 1) still shows WOR at this and all its other previously scheduled times; and in addition another new airing for Mundo Radial, Wednesdays at 2100 on 15825, as well as the usual Fridays 2115 on 15825 (Glenn Hauser, OK, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Important news regarding missionary radio 07/05/02 World Wide Christian Radio [sic, not to be confused with WWCR! --gh], Jul 5, 2002 Dear friends of shortwave radio, Starting July 8th, WJIE Shortwave is offering a new plan for ministries and churches to take advantage of shortwave radio. WJIE`s PartnerPlan! is one of the most innovative ministry developments in the shortwave industry. We desire to cooperate with a select group of organizations whose goals and ideals reflect our own. With PartnerPlan!, your church or ministry may be offered the opportunity to broadcast on international shortwave with no upfront cost. How is this possible? WJIE Shortwave is a ministry extension of Evangel World Prayer Center, a church dedicated to reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We believe in the ministry of shortwave radio, and want to see other organizations catch the vision! PartnerPlan! offers select groups either a daily or weekly broadcast. These could be programs currently airing on other stations, or one specifically produced for international shortwave. In exchange, we ask that you present the needs of shortwave radio to your congregation or ministry supporters. We would encourage you to do this at least once per month. For example, a church may take a special offering on Sunday morning once per month dedicated to international broadcasting. An evangelist may offer a special appeal or use two nights of meetings per month for shortwave radio. A missionary could use it as a special project to present while on the field or itineration. Whatever you decide, we will work with you to develop a plan that is right for the size and scope of your ministry. As you step out in faith and present your needs to your supporters, we believe that they will also respond in faith. This is a step of faith for us as well, but we believe as we partner with ministries such as yours, we will see great results. Jesus commanded us to ``Go into all the world.`` Through the ministry of shortwave radio, we are doing exactly that. Now you can be a part of this growing, dynamic ministry outreach. How do you get started? It's really very easy. Just contact WJIE Shortwave by any of the following Email: wjiesw@hotmail.com Web: http://www.wjiesw.com Phone: 502-968-1220 Fax: 502-964-4228 Mail: WJIE Shortwave, PO Box 197309, Louisville, KY 40259 The allotted broadcast time for this special project is limited, so we must offer it on a 'first-come, first-serve' basis only. So, no matter how big or small your ministry is, you can participate in this global outreach, but you must act quickly! We will need the following information: contact info, type of broadcast, preferred times (daily or weekly), and your plan for faith support of the broadcast (special offerings, special mailings, etc). We look forward to hearing from you soon! In His Service, (Doc Burkhart, General Manager, WJIE International Shortwave, WJIE mailing list July 5 via DXLD) Yes, but how about getting a transmitter on the air...? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. WUOT IS BACK IN BUSINESS AS OF FRIDAY, JULY 5th. The Tennessee General Assembly has now adopted a state budget for FY '03 which basically holds state appropriations at last year's levels. It will take some time to sort out all the details, but it appears WUOT will continue broadcasting through FY '03. We want to thank all of our listeners who supported WUOT in so many ways. Many of you wrote your legislators and UT administrators voicing your support for public radio, others participated in a "rally" to show your enthusiasm for WUOT and still others offered words of encouragement to staff throughout the ordeal! Thanks to you all! WUOT listeners are indeed THE BEST! (WUOT website July 4 via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 9620.8, SODRE relaying CX6 MW 650. They are still operative! Jun 30 (Horacio A. Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 17775, R Tashkent, 1321 June 29. Short music then announcement by M in English. Into talk by F on holding companies. mentions Natural Gas service, hotels, etc. M with mention of how to get additional information. F gives an address for R Tashkent. Then website address www.taskent..??... then telephone numbers given (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VANUATU. 7260.08, R Vanuatu, 0658 June 28. M in local dialect (Pidgin version). Vanuatu was up all 3 nights of Grayland '6'02 [so also June 29, 30] (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. Madagascar, 7310, V of the People, from 0332 June 30. Clear tonight - into program of music recorded by a guest. Roar of the Tiger was first song. Asked the recorder which instruments we were hearing -- percusion instruments and drums. Talked about growing up in Europe (Don Nelson, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PROPAGATION REPORT ++++++++++++++++++ The sun has woken up this week after a bit of a rest and a few big flares causing fadeouts have occurred. The largest so far being an X1.3 effort peaking at 0214 UT Jul 3. These flares could continue the next couple of days with more fadeouts possible. Geomagnetic activity should remain fairly quiet as the flares so far have not been aimed our way or been associated with CMEs. There is a chance of increased activity Jul 6 however. After July 8 geomagnetic and propagation conditions should return to normal (Prepared for Cumbre DX by Richard Jary using data from http://www.ips.gov.au July 4 via DXLD) PROPAGATION NOTES 4TH JULY 2002 The Sun is pretty active, however it seems that little of the recent activity is 'coming our way' except that there probably will be a rise in disturbance levels (gradual) caused by a Coronal Hole, starting 5th July 2002 for about three days. Watch the SOLAR WIND SPEED Figures, on http://www.spaceweather.com The 10.7cm Solar Flux, has really been dropping very fast in recent weeks. The Maximum for Cycle 23 was 235; don`t ask me why, but the minimum at the bottom of the Solar Cycle 23, (which is not expected until about 2006) will be no less than about 66. (This is 'normal') You will thus 'see' that we are just about half way there within about 9 Months (Flux now 'standing' at about 140-150). It almost certainly will 'wobble' up and down a bit and as it gets nearer to its minimum figure, I would expect the Rate of Decrease to 'slow' considerably. As I said, recently, I think we will notice quite a change in overall conditions, relatively rapidly, probably starting in early August, this year, this is because in early August last year, the Solar Flux Figure was MUCH higher, thus 'supporting' more Ionisation of the Ionosphere, even during days with less light. When you think about it, The Sun is responsible for both the Solar Cycle Activity and also as the earth starts to seasonally tilt away (if you looked at the items I suggested last week, you will have seen this) the Earth`s Ionosphere receives less 'charging' from the Sun. The effect of less charging is poorer conditions on higher frequencies and better conditions on lower frequencies. This being with reference mainly to HF between 3 and 30 MHz, but also affecting MF (300-3000 kHz) in terms of Dxing distant stations (IMPROVING in this case, as Solar Flux drops). Has anybody anything interesting to add to or even 'contest' this? I would be extremely interested to hear other 'points of view' and there are many!!!!! Many thanks to NOAA for their figures, which help me a lot with this. May I also recommend Mike BIRD's Bulletins, on http://www.rnw.nl --- click media and then look for 'Solar Conditions' on the Menu and click this (Ken Fletcher, UK, 2240UTC=2340UTC+1 4th July 2002, BDXC-UK via DXLD) The `tilt away` is an entirely hemispheric viewpoint (gh, DXLD) VHF HARMONICS +++++++++++++ Highlights of David Vitek's DX log for Feb - May, 2002. 44.103 (6 x 7.350) Harbin, China. 35.14 (2 x 17.57) R Nederland via Khabarovsk. 31.06 (2 x 15.53) Radio Veritas, Philippines. 35.475 (3 x 11.825) China CPBS, 35.525 (5 x 7.105) BBCWS Singapore. 35.95 (5 x 7.190) Radio Tashkent. 35.42 (2 x 17.71) China (R France via Xian). 35.61 (2 x 17.805) Phil VOA. 35.655 (3 x 11.885) R Philipinas via VOA Tinang. 35.95 (5 x 7.19) Uzbekistan, R. Tashkent David Vitek, Adelaide, South Australia. Icom R7000, NRD 525, G5RV 5 el 50 MHz yagi, 45-220 MHz Crossfire log-periodic. (from ICDX via Tim Bucknall, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-107, July 4, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html (ONDEMAND from July 5) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, on 7445-USB, 15038.6 HOLIDAY SPECIAL PROGRAMMING: much has been compiled, mostly webcast and TV for July 4-5+ at http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Have You Recently Said Thanks? How often the vast majority of us neglect, forget or procrastinate saying thank you to those of our fellows who make contributions to the radio hobby that make it immensely more enjoyable for us. For example, Marie Lamb and Glen[n] Hauser. Just to single out two of the many. Marie does a tidbits from HCJB's DX Partyline every week and it is posted on the HCI web site. I wonder how many of you bother to read it? She is a quiet and unassuming person, not interested in glory, but appreciative of thanks. Of course, this is but one example of the many things she does on a regular basic for the hobby. The most obvious being DXing With Cumbre on WHRI, of course. Glen[n] Hauser works hard in his 'retirement' to provide listeners around the world with very helpful and timely bits of radio news covering a wide variety of hobby areas. Certainly his contributers deserve some credit, but it is Glen[n] who puts what they send all together into a readable and structured format. His weekly radio program is also a great help to radio buffs. Now if we could just get him to spell his own name correctly! (grin)... We all benefit by sharing and caring. My personal thanks to each one of you. God bless you and on July 4th, may God bless our America. Great DX to all - (Duane Fischer, W8DBF List Admin via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. HEAD OF AFGHANISTAN'S KABUL RADIO AND TV DISMISSED | Text of report by London-based Radio Voice of Afghanistan on 2 July The head of Kabul radio and TV, Hafiz Mansoor [phonetic], has been dismissed for not broadcasting songs performed by female singers. But he has refused to accept this [the dismissal]. In today's edition, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported that yesterday Hafiz Mansoor tore up the order removing him from his post as the head of Kabul radio and TV that was sent by the minister of information and culture, Sayd Makhdum Rahin. Hafiz Mansoor said that he would leave his post only on the order of the head of the transitional government. In Kandahar, Afghanistan's second largest city, songs performed by female singers are being broadcast. But Hafiz Mansoor has stopped the broadcasting of singing by female singers on Kabul radio and TV. He is a member of the Northern Alliance Hezb-e Jamiat-e Eslami of Afghanistan [party] and was very active against the former minister for women's affairs of the interim government of Afghanistan, Sima Samar, who was accused of maligning Islam. Source: Radio Voice of Afghanistan, London, in Dari and Pashto 1330 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) HEAD OF AFGHANISTAN'S RADIO AND TELEVISION DISMISSED | Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA Kabul, 4 July: Head of Afghanistan's Radio-Television Organization Abdol Hafiz Mansur was dismissed following a suggestion by Information and Culture Minister Makhdum Rahin and an order issued by President Hamed Karzai. Hafiz Mansur's dismissal happened after many months of his dispute with the Information and Culture Minister Makhdum Rahin, who is a member of the "Rome Group" and a supporter of the former Afghan ruler Mohammad Zaher. Rahin returned to Afghanistan six months ago, following a 20 year stay in the United States. Abdol Hafiz Mansur, too, is a prominent cultural figure who has fought along the mojahedin for many years and been among the companions of the late Afghan commander of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Masud. According to the official news agency of Afghanistan, Bakhtar, President Karzai has appointed another companion of the late Ahmad Shah Masud, Mohammad Eshaq as the new head of Afghanistan's Radio-TV Organization. Eshaq's previous positions included, the managing director of Afghan News English-language daily, the managing director of the weekly publication of Afghanistan's Jamiat-e Eslami (Islamic Society) Payam-e Mojahed, and deputy aviation and tourism minister. Karzai has in the same state order appointed Azizollah Ariafar as the managing director of Afghanistan's television station. Ariafar was also the managing director of Afghanistan's TV station during the reign of the former Afghan president Borhanoddin Rabbani until the Taleban took control of the affairs in 1996 and shut down the station. In related developments, Zaher Sediq was appointed as the head of Kabul's Bayhaqi Publications, which means Hafiz Mansur has not accepted the responsibility, which was initially offered to him following his dismissal from the country's Radio-TV organization. Source: IRNA news agency, Tehran, in English 2011 gmt 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) AFGHAN GOVERNMENT REPLACES HEAD OF RADIO AND TELEVISION | Text of report by Afghan radio on 3 July In accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Information and Culture and approval of the head of the Islamic Transitional Government of Afghanistan, the following appointments have been made in various departments of the ministry: Engineer Mohammad Eshaq as general director of radio and television. Azizollah Ariafar as head of television broadcasts. Osman Najib as head of military broadcasts of television. Source: Radio Afghanistan, Kabul, in Dari 1600 gmt 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Freq change for RFE/RL/Radio Free Afghanistan in Pashto/Dari: 1700-1800 NF 11705, ex 11835 to avoid CRI Mandarin Ch \\ 9845, 12030, 15210, 15340 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. In regard to recent speculations about the audibility of 4810 kHz: the low signal strength in Europe should not come as a surprise. According to the HFCC registrations, this frequency is operated with 100 kW and an omnidirectional antenna (type HQ1/0.3), intended only for the greater Transcaucasus and Middle East area (CIRAF 29, 39, 40). 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The Voice of Armenia has confirmed the "new" 1600-1700 (v) broadcast in Armenian on 11685 kHz; it is a programme intended for listeners in Europe (in accordance with the HFCC registration for the A02 season). 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 1062, 4TI Thursday Island, Jun 28 1202 - Heard with Radio Australia News and sports at fair to good level. A QSL letter of three years ago informed me that that 4TI is no longer 'considered a station' by ABC and is remotely operated with only locally-produced programming in the morning. It is still exciting to hear a relay broadcast from this exotic location. 1638, 2ME Sydney , Jun 28 1226 - Noted with seeming IDs in Greek and EE as '2ME' or possibly just 'ME' at fair to poor level followed by ads and then into Greek music introed with a voice- over. (Bryant-WA) 1665, 2MM Sydney , Jun 28 1208 - Heard at fair level with rural Greek or ME music. Presumed only. (Bryant-WA) 1683.25, Radio Club AM, Sydney , Jun 28 1235 - Middle Eastern or Greek music hosted by a male announcer in pres. GK. Good level at peaks until bandfade at 1258. (Bryant-WA) 1701, 2NTC Sydney , Jun 28 1130 - Fair at peaks with rock music show hosted by male. IDed as 'NTC' and ran local ads at the half hour. (John Bryant, Grayland WA DXpedition, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, Alice Springs, 0925-0940 with increasing strength, music, yl commentary. 2325 and 2485 both poor. Good signal under t- storms (Bob Wilkner, Margate, Florida R-75 and 10 meter ground level antenna, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. LACK OF CONSISTENCY ADDS ANGST TO MIX 4 July 2002 JEFF Kennett has become just another voice in the market There's a First Rule of everything. In real estate, it's position, position, position. In journalism, it's accuracy, accuracy, accuracy. In radio, it's consistency, consistency, consistency. The full story is available at: http://theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,4621237%255E12280,00.html Bill Westenhaver added this note: I guess that this goes to show that even very colourful former politicians can't necessarily move over into talk radio with much of any success guaranteed. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Previews: UT Friday, July 5 at 2105 - FEEDBACK* - listener letters and news about RA. As the ABC was celebrating its 70th anniversary on Monday, staffers at RA were celebrating the fifth anniversary of RA's "resurrection". RA Managing Director Jean-Gabriel Manguy joins Roger Broadbent and discusses the state of RA today, five years after its "near death" experience. (via John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Repeats UT Sat 0005, 0605, Sun 0305 (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. R. Santa Cruz, in the place of the same name, 6134.8 heard on 21 Jun 2235-2249 at 44433 airing Spanish program for announcements, infos on the forthcoming elections, station slogans, interviews again on the plebiscite, and this seems to be the station menu for some time at least at the time I manage to hear it. Adjacent QRM only. R. Pio XII, Siglo Veinte (=20th century, an odd name for a location...), 5952.5, on 21 Jun 2236-2250 at 44433 programming consisting of relaying R Santa Cruz. Radiodifusoras Minería, Oruro, 5927, on 21 Jun 2244-2257 at 25332 in Sp w/ light songs (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. R Canção Nova, Cachoeira Paulista SP, 9675, heard on 23 Jun 0908-0940, i.e. when very near to fade out, at 24432 (adjacent QRM de RAI 9670), in Port, Braz. songs celebrating St. John's & St. Anthony's days (just like here in Portugal, where the former is on 13th June and the latter on 24th and finally St. Peter on the 29th!), then a mass was broadcast by which time the signal was severely attenuated (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** BURMA [non]. Morning transmissions of Democratic Voice of Burma in Burmese: 2330-0030 now on 11715 (55444) via TAC 200 kW / 131 deg, ex MDC 200 kW / 055 deg; \\ 9490 (45554) via JUL 100 kW / 080 deg 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** CANADA. 1260, 2307-, TIS Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Jun 29. Nice strong signal at 4:07 PM local using NW Beverage antenna with English and French park/weather/marine information (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, hard-core-DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. I checked several times today and there was and, to this point in time, is, no activity on 1610 from the new Montreal station. I'm wondering if Industry Canada and the CRTC appreciated the station going ahead with some tests over the weekend without their supervision (Sheldon Harvey, QC, July 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. *** Trouble for CFBU 103.7 St. Catharines ON ... ... This just in...I'm not editing out the obvious politics. I am sweltering in my downtown Toronto office and haven't yet checked to see if it's off-air. I can only assume it is. I am off tonight to my Burnt River ON DX site to DX, but I don't get CFBU all that well either here or there, so people closer to the scene may want to try to listen to 103.7. I am terribly sad to see this happen, having been involved in community-campus radio for four years. Some of these same complaints occurred at CIUT Toronto 89.5 nearly three years ago are at the root of what the author is getting at. CIUT escaped the Bailiff but one particular faction wrested control of the station (not the side I was on). I don't have any first-hand knowledge of what went on with CFBU, but I'd *always* prefer to lose a coup than lose a licence. I can only hope that the CRTC works with the people at the station to reorganize financially and prevent that drastic step of no return. I guess this opens 103.7 in the St. Catharines area of southern Ontario (near Niagara). The only bit of luck (for me) is that I logged this for the first time from Burnt River just a few weeks ago, after years of trying. I hope it won't be the last time (Saul Chernos, Ont., ODXA via DXLD) ----- Original Message ----- From: Pam Jones Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2002 10:00 PM Subject: WITH GREAT SADNESS !!!! As someone who was involved with Pirate Radio in the 70's - it is with such sadness that I have to tell you that during the course of the day. Bailiffs walked into CFBU AND CLOSED THE LITTLE WHITE HOUSE THAT COULD. Most of us are aware of why this happened! There will be a candlelight vigil outside the station Sunday 14th July at 9.30 p.m. Please bring a candle and a flower to lay at the door. The forces that be have closed the voice on democracy in the Niagara Region - but our voices will never be silenced!!!!!!!!!!! Shame on those who saw fit to be quiet !!! the blood is on your hands!!!! WE ARE WHAT WE DO !!! In solidarity. Please pass on (via Saul Chernos, July 4, ODXA via DXLD) URL for Brock University Radio is http://www.cfbu.niagara.com/ Apparently they are $20,000 in the hole. There are some details about the situation on the web page...there has been a struggle for some time up there, I don`t know all the facts, but an occasional read of the student newspaper leads me to believe there have been some sort of turf wars between the station, the newspaper and the students` union. Many years ago the union ran into huge debts, 10s of thousands of dollars and for many years the university was monitoring them closely. When I was accepted to Brock in 1979, I believe the student union debt was $40,000. That year a new council was elected and they brought in a video game...asteroids or something; they added more and more of these games and paid off the debt in little more than a year! I know there was some grumbling about the mandatory fee per course charged to students for CFBU operations. I will endeavour to find out more. Being line of sight to the school, CFBU put a killer signal in here...too bad, it was sometimes interesting to listen to. I can confirm that CFBU is off the air (Fred Waterer, Ont., ODXA via DXLD) ** CHILE. Hi friends, Pls, reach to Radio Parinacota [6010] via this e-mail: rparinacota@latinmail.com 73's GIB (Gabriel Iván Barrera, Argentina, July 3, dxing.info via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia quiere recibir informes de recepción En respuesta a mi pregunta, el director de la emisora Russell M Stendal me dice que los informes de recepción relativos a "La Voz de tu Conciencia", 6064.5 podrán ser enviados a la emisora a/c de la Libería Colombia para Cristo, cuya dirección es como sigue: Carrera 44 No. 13-69, Bogotá, D. C., Colombia. Están preparando ahora el material que pretenden enviar a los que les envíen informes de recepción. Mientras tanto, continúan en fase de prueba, y tratándose de un antiguo transmisor de 5 kW de Colmundo Radio, se supone que llegará lejos (ya se captó en Europa). Sin embargo, en el Cono Sur, pienso que la frecuencia de 6060, en donde próximamente piensan transmitir, será un poco complicada. Entre los libros que se venden en la mencionada librería – y que parece ser que también podrán ser bajados por internet – se encuentra "Secuestro y reconciliación", un relato del secuestro por parte de la guerrilla colombiana que le tocó vivir a Stendal. Ver: http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/libros/catalogo/catalogo.htm [Luego:] Pidiendo a mi amigo Rafael Rodríguez que me confirme la dirección callejera de la librería Colombia para Cristo, la cual me parecía un tanto peculiar, por no corresponder a un barrio comercial, me dice que la dirección que me dio Russ Stendal no es la correcta sino que debiera ser Calle 44 No. 13-69 Barrio Palermo, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. Para cualquier eventualidad también hay un sitio en el web que se puede usar para comunicarse con la emisora, y es la siguiente: http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/emisora/contactenos/contactenos.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 2, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. CPJ REPORTS MURDER OF RADIO STATION OWNER | Text of press release in English by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 1 July Bogota, 1 July 2002: The owner of a radio station, who recently had alerted the public to the presence of paramilitary fighters in the region, was shot and killed in northeastern Colombia. Efraín Varela Noriega, owner of Radio Meridiano-70, was driving home from a university graduation in Arauca Department on the afternoon of 28 June when gunmen yanked him from his car and shot him in the face and chest, said Col Jorge Caro, acting commander of Arauca's police. Varela hosted two polemical news and opinion programmes for the station in the town of Arauca and criticized all sides fighting in Colombia's 38-year civil conflict. "He criticized everyone," said José Gutiérrez, who co-hosted an afternoon programme called "Let's Talk Politics" with Varela. "No one was spared." Gutiérrez said that less than a week before the killing, Varela told listeners during his morning news show that fighters from the paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, or AUC, had arrived in Arauca and were patrolling the streets in the town, which is on the border with Venezuela. Tension has been building in the oil-rich province since early June when the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, began threatening to kill civil servants in the region who refused to resign. The rebels are battling the paramilitary army for control over lucrative territory not only in Arauca but throughout the country. Three years ago, Varela's name appeared on a list of people that the paramilitary army had declared military targets, said Caro, the acting police commander, adding that authorities were investigating rumours that the AUC was responsible for the killing. A frequent listener of the station, Caro said Varela seemed to reserve his sharpest criticism for the paramilitaries. Officials from Arauca's Prosecutor's Office investigating the case could not be reached for comment on 1 July, which was a holiday in Colombia. Varela, who was in his early 50s, was also the secretary of a provincial peace commission as well as its former president, said Evelyn Varela, his 28-year-old daughter, and the manager of the station. In recent months, Varela had begun warning his only child that his life could be in danger. "He had us prepared for the worst," his daughter said. Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in English 1 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. You may never have heard it on the air or seen it in lists, but we have finally found out that the registered callsign of Dr. Gene Scott`s Cahuita facility is TIRWR. Should we stop calling it `TIDGS`?? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6000, RHC La Habana - This morning [Jun 25] came across the usual RHC west coast service 0500-0700 UT, and discovered that RHC La Habana obviously use a 4th channel for regular service: - the 250 kW outlet on 6000 kHz was still on air too - fair signal, - in \\ to usual 9820 fair, - 9665usb strength fine - but suffered by Rome 9670 and another sce maybe DW ATG English, - 9550 was only poor. ... and CUBAN jammers on 9805 and 11775 against R Martí on air too ! (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, DF5SX, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) I haven`t heard RHC on 6000 lately after 0700, but will check it tomorrow. The SSB-USB channel 9665 is often very strong here too, but usually has some QRM from RAI 9670. And 9550 has splash from DW 9545, but often fairly good strength. The jamming seems worst on Marti 7405 here, but also audible on 9805 and 11775 too (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) Seemingly technicians fault; 6000 kHz appeared not at 0500-0700 on June 27 and 28 anymore (Büschel, ibid.) RHC was not audible on 6000, but 9665 USB was S9+ and 9550 about S7. Wednesday, I noted Romania on 9550, but not today c0635! (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 25/26 via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC/USA. RFE/RL TO STOP CZECH BROADCASTS AFTER 52 YEARS - RFE/RL PRESIDENT | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will cease broadcasting in Czech on 30 September after 52 years. The RFE/RL's board of governors in Washington decided to terminate funding. RFE/RL President Thomas Dine told reporters in Prague today that the Americans need money to expand broadcasting to certain countries as part of the fight against terrorism. According to Dine, the Czech Republic is a democratic country, a NATO member and on the verge of EU membership. Olga Kopecka, the director of Czech Radio Free Europe, wants to find a replacement source of funds and continue. She claims the broadcasting has a purpose. "I will do everything in order to be able to continue," she told reporters. Dine said that a year's broadcasting cost 650,000 dollars. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1705 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RFE/RL TO STOP CZECH LANGUAGE BROADCASTS | Text of press release in English by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty dated 2 July Thomas A. Dine, President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, announced today that funding for the Czech language Radio Svobodna Evropa will end later this year and by mutual agreement RFE/RL will dissolve its partnership with Czech Radio, which provides a frequency for the broadcast. Dine said RFE/RL's managing body, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in Washington, has decided not to renew financing for RSE in the new fiscal year which begins on 1 October. "It was an extremely difficult decision because Radio Svobodna Evropa has been a most important component of RFE/RL since it was founded more than half a century ago," Dine said, adding "but we have new priorities and new financial burdens we have to carry in our budget that did not exist before 11 September." RSE, affectionately known as "Svobodka" by Czech and Slovak listeners, is an American non-profit company, funded by a grant from RFE/RL. It was incorporated in Washington in February, 1994. Later, a tripartite arrangement with Czech Radio, RFE/RL and RSE was codified in an agreement signed in May, 1996. In the partnership, Czech Radio provides majority funding and RFE/RL contributes about a third of RSE's annual budget. RSE currently produces more than 40 hours of political and educational programmes weekly which are broadcast on Czech Radio 6, a frequency owned by Czech Radio. Prior to 1994, the Czech Service was located at RFE/RL former headquarters in Munich. Czech and Slovak Language Services were established in 1993, reflecting the political split between the Czechs and Slovaks. Previously combined and called the Czechoslovak Desk, it was RFE/RL's largest Central European service, held up as a model of excellence for other broadcast units. It was also the first service to go on the air from Munich. This week it will be 52 years since the new international broadcast station Radio Free Europe, on 4 July 1950 transmitted its first 30- minute experimental programme to then Czechoslovakia from the West German border. Dine said Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty ended broadcasting to Hungary in 1993 and to Poland in 1997. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe; the Caucasus and Central and Southwestern Asia funded by the US Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty press release, Prague, in English 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) CZECH PRESIDENT REGRETS END OF RFE CZECH BROADCASTS | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: The pending end of the Czech version of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), which was announced today, is mainly regretted by some former anticommunist dissidents who had cooperated with RFE in the communist era. "I think that RFE and its Czech broadcasts played and is still playing a significant role in our country's history. Being told that they are to be discontinued, I must say that I regret it," President Vaclav Havel, a former leading dissident, told reporters today... The US-run RFE/RL will discontinue its Czech version, known as Czech Radio 6-Radio Svobodna Evropa (CRo6-RSE) in the past few years, on 30 September after 52 years... According to media surveys, in the second half of 2001, the CRo 6 was listened to by 52,000 people on average, which is 0.4 per cent of the market... A different opinion was voiced by Ivan Langer, a deputy chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), who chairs the media commission in the outgoing Chamber of Deputies [lower house of parliament]. Langer told CTK that RFE had played irreplaceable role in the totalitarian era. However, now the country has become a standard democracy. That is why it is correct for RFE to aim at the countries where totalitarian regimes still exist, Langer said... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1857 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) RADIO FREE EUROPE CZECH BROADCASTS - BACKGROUND INFORMATION | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: The Czech broadcasts of Radio Free Europe, which was one of the few free sources of information for Czechs and Slovaks for almost 40 years, will have its funding cut and will cease broadcasting on 30 September. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) has been headquartered in Prague since 1995 and the demise of the Czech broadcasts means the end of a chapter in the history of broadcasting in the Czech Republic. The commission to create RFE was founded in 1949 on the initiative of the US government and the station's headquarters became Munich. The first test broadcasts meant for Czech and Slovak citizens were sent on 4 July 1950 from a van stationed close to the Czechoslovak border. Daily broadcasting began less than a year later on 1 May 1 with the sentence: "The voice of a free Czechoslovakia is calling"... In an attempt to lower costs, RFE/RL searched for a new headquarters at the beginning of the 1990s. In October of 1993 the Czech government offered RFE/RL the former Federal Assembly in the heart of downtown Prague. The first versions (Latvian, Russian, Ukrainian and Yugoslav) began broadcasting in Prague in March of 1995... The Czech broadcasts of RFE broke away from the mother even before the move. In February 1994, the foreign broadcasting committee decided on the creation of a new non-profit organization dubbed Radio Svobodna Evropa (RSE), which began broadcasting in July 1994 from the Czech Radio (CRo) building. The funding for this broadcasting came from RFE/RL and it is that which is to be cut off. Since November, 1995, a joint project of RFE/RL, RSE and CRo has been broadcasting from RSE's frequency under the name Czech Radio 6/Radio Free Europe. In the fall of 1996, the structure of the financing of the Czech version changes as one-third of the budget was paid by RFE/RL (which must be approved by the US Congress), most was funded by CRo and several firms and foundations also helped in the funding. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1812 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC / USA: REPLACEMENT HEADQUARTERS FOR RFE/RL STILL BEING SOUGHT | Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: Where the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) will move to from the centre of Prague is still unknown, RFE/RL director Thomas Dine told reporters today. Dine said that the Czech government has still not found a building that would meet the station's demands for broadcasting. Real estate agencies are also searching as the government has been unsuccessful, Dine said. The government offered 10 buildings, but only one was in Prague. According to RFE/RL, most were military installations and they did not meet size or location requirements for international broadcasting. According to information the daily Pravo published, there is no money for the move in this year's or next year's budget. Foreign Minister Jan Kavan hinted that the United States will help with the move. The question of the move's financing has not yet been solved. The US-run RFE/RL is headquartered in the heart of Prague on one of the city's busiest streets. Following last September's terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the headquarters is guarded by police, soldiers and armoured transports, thus clogging traffic. Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 1846 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 560, (tentative) R. Ritmos, HIAA, Santiago, JUN 28 0657 - (very) local WHBQ was silent running an OC this morning leaving KLVI-Beaumont mostly dominant w/ 2 LA stations underneath. SP talk and laughter slightly dominant at 0657 into brief instrumental interlude until TOH announcements at 0701 w/ 2 mentions of Santo Domingo then fading back down. Was hoping to use this rare opportunity to catch Dominica on 555 but found only a very weak het [Brandon Jordan, Memphis TN, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD] ** EASTER ISLAND. CE0Y Easter Island QRV schedule Hello all, This is Hisato, 7K1WLE; I will be active from Easter Island IOTA SA-001 between July 18-24 as CE0Y/7K1WLE. Activity will be on 160m -10m, Mainly on CW and some SSB. Using IC-706 and IC-2KL 500W with wire antenna. Operating frequencies are CW: 1826, 3504 7004 10104 14004 18074 21004 24894 28004 SSB: 3795 7088 14265 18145 21265 24945 28465. QSL via JN1HOW. Please call me! Hisato 7K1WLE (via Bob Chandler, ODXA, via DXLD) ** FINLAND. During 2nd Birthday Transmission of SWR, Scandinavian Weekend Radio on 6th July, DJ Madman will have an DX-Contest. It will be quite a simple one; you need only listen to World Radio Roulette programme and during contest-time try to identify 1 station from audio sample played and then call to studio and tell the right answer! Telephone number to SWR studio is +358 400 995 559. Call and win! Best Regards, Dj. Madman PS. More info of our Birthday-transmission will be posted here later! (Alpo Heinonen, July 4, also via Mike Terry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Hi Glenn, as far as I know Wertachtal uses no delay systems. Nauen definitely has no such equipment; when I visited the site all four transmitters carried DW-Radio German in synch, easily to observe on the audio level meters (they measure the actual input of each transmitter, behind the Optimod 9105). Unfortunately I cannot remember our findings when checking 6075 against the satellite outlets in detail, but I think it was no two seconds delay we found them to be apart from each other (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. 153 kHz, DLF Donebach transmitter. Maintenance break during July 23-26, 2002, according time slots given on the DLF program. Interesting to listen to Nordcap-NOR, ALG and ROU txs instead. Abschaltung fuer Generalueberholung 23. bis 26. Juli 2002, dann Noerdliches Norwegen Nordkap, Algerien und Brasov-Bod-ROU hoerbar. Abschaltzeiten werden im DLF Programm angesagt (DLF Donebach sightseeing tour, BC-DX Jun 14 via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Holzkirchen HFCC schedule of A-02 April 3rd: freq time ciraf call kW degr anttype 6095 0000-0100 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 6105 0300-0330 29 HOL 125 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 6105 0330-0400 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 6105 1700-1730 29 HOL 250 39 302 D IBB VoA 6105 1730-1900 29 HOL 125 39 302 D IBB VoA 6105 1900-1930 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 6105 1930-2200 29 HOL 125 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7120 0000-0100 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7120 2300-2400 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7220 0300-0330 29 HOL 125 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7220 0330-0600 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7220 1700-1730 29 HOL 250 39 302 D IBB VoA 7220 1730-1900 29 HOL 125 39 302 D IBB VoA 7220 1900-1930 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 7220 1930-2200 29 HOL 125 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9520 0500-0800 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9565 1500-1700 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9595 1400-1500 29 HOL 250 59 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9615 2200-2300 29 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9665 2100-2200 29 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9750 1900-2100 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 9875 2300-2400 42,43 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFAS 11705 0300-0500 40 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 11770 1600-1700 29,30 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 11775 1300-1400 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB VoA 11835 1700-1800 40 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 11835 1800-1900 29 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 11885 1000-1300 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 11975 0100-0300 42,43 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFAS 11980 1500-1600 30 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15130 0600-0800 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15215 1400-1500 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15355 0400-0500 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15370 1200-1400 40 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15425 0500-0600 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 15455 1400-1500 30 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL 17730 1000-1200 29 HOL 250 57 302 D IBB RFE/RL 17855 1200-1400 42,43 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFAS 17855 1400-1500 42,43 HOL 250 77 302 D IBB RFE/RL Holzkirchen schedule acc to IBB website 6095 0000 0100 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 6105 0300 0330 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 6105 0330 0400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 6105 1700 1730 VOA D RUSS HOL 04 039 6105 1730 1900 VOA D RUSS HOL 04 039 6105 1900 1930 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 6105 1930 2200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 059 7120 0000 0100 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 7120 2300 2400 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 7220 0300 0330 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 7220 0330 0600 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 7220 1700 1900 VOA D RUSS HOL 03 039 7220 1900 1930 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 7220 1930 2200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 9520 0500 0600 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 01 057 9520 0600 0800 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 01 057 9565 1500 1630 RFE RL-4 BR HOL 04 059 9565 1630 1700 RFE RL-4 BR HOL 04 059 9595 1400 1500 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 059 9615 2200 2300 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 01 077 9715 2100 2200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 01 077 9750 1900 2030 RFE RL-4 BR HOL 01 057 9750 2030 2100 RFE RL-4 BR HOL 01 057 11705 0300 0500 RFE RLAF AF HOL 01 077 11770 1600 1700 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 057 11775 1300 1400 VOA D RUSS HOL 03 057 11835 1700 1800 RFE RLAF AF HOL 02 077 11835 1800 1900 RFE RL-7 UK HOL 02 077 11885 1000 1300 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 03 057 11980 1500 1600 RFE RL-9 KY HOL 01 077 15130 0600 0800 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 057 15215 1400 1500 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 04 057 15355 0400 0415 RFE RL-3 RU HOL 02 077 15355 0415 0430 RFE RL-3 AV HOL 02 077 15355 0430 0445 RFE RL-3 CH HOL 02 077 15355 0445 0500 RFE RL-3 CI HOL 02 077 15370 1200 1400 RFE RLAF AF HOL 04 057 15425 0500 0600 RFE RL-8 TB HOL 02 057 15455 1400 1500 RFE RL-7 KA HOL 02 077 17725 1500 1600 RFE RL-2 GE HOL 02 077 17730 1000 1200 RFE RL-1 RU HOL 02 057 17855 1400 1500 RFE RL10 TA HOL 01 077 (IBB Frequenzen vom 4.6.2002 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. DTK changes: WYFR/Family Radio effective June 23: 1600-1800 13855 JUL 100 kW / 145 deg to NoAf in English CANCELLED 1700-1900 9695 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg to RUS in Russian CANCELLED 1800-1900 15775 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg to Af in French CANCELLED 1900-2000 9495 JUL 100 kW / 115 deg to ME in Arabic CANCELLED 1900-2000 13855 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg to NoEaAf in French CANCELLED 1900-2100 15775 JUL 100 kW / 160 deg to Af in English CANCELLED 2000-2200 13855 JUL 100 kW / 200 deg to NoEaAf in English CANCELLED Deutsche Welle effective June 24: 0600-1900 6140 JUL 100 kW / 175 deg to Eu in English NEW 0600-1555 6140 JUL 100 kW / 130 deg to Eu in English DELETED 1555-1900 6140 WER 125 kW / 120 deg to Eu in English DELETED (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** GHANA. The GBC, Accra, 3366, very nice as usual, e.g. at 2151-2206 at 55343 while also fairly (!) detectable via the also usual spurs, viz. 3446.5 (and 3285.5 at worse level) at 44342 ("2" on account of poorer audio quality) while airing En programming for songs, phone- ins, R 2 ID+QRG announcement, TS, news jingle prior to news bulletin. Static spoiled reception on 3366 though: 55343 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. R. Verdad, 4052.5, QSL report: full data ``4th`` [quarto?] QSL paper, paper pennant (different type from NASWA Journal April page 37), nice letter, calendar, receipt for $1 for English report, in one month. V/s is Edgar Amilcar Madrid, Director and Manager; he is 60 years old, retired professor from State University. He wrote they have already received reports from 213 different towns in 34 countries and 16 provinces of Guatemala. Their transmitter is 1 kW; however, they have been using 300 to 700 watts reduced power due to some governmental limitations. He wrote on QSL back that the power was 300 watts when I received R. Verdad at DXpedition in November of last year. They still do not have call sign. Schedule as of March is 0500-2300 Guatemalan time, 1100-0500 UT. They have celebrated second anniversary on Feb 25 this year (Takeshi Sejimo, Komoro city, Nagano, Japan, Radio Nuevo Mundo June 7 via DXLD) ** GUINEA. 1386, R Conaky/R. Rurale, Labe, hrd on 25 Jun at 2131 after checking Mauritania 783: program was in vernacular with talks, tribal songs. A tone signal was noted underneath. 24242 (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) ** GUYANA. V. of Guyana, Sparendaam, 3291.3, noted again on 21 Jun at 2217-2236 at 45343 airing English programming for sports news, ad, football world cup comments; like on 1st Jun, a het with 3290 was still present. Good reception on the following day's evening, but that's almost impossible if trying this and others here in Lisbon. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) 3291.22, V. of Guyana, 0930 strong with mix of music and YL OM commentary (Bob Wilkner, Margate, Florida R-75 and 10 meter ground level antenna, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONG KONG [and non]. HONG KONG TV COVERAGE OF JIANG ZEMIN AXED OVER FALUN GONG FEARS | Text of report by Wang Xiangwei, published by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement) on 3 July China Central Television [CCTV] and Phoenix Chinese TV scrapped live coverage of President Jiang Zemin's speech and the swearing-in ceremony for Tung Chee-hwa and his new cabinet on Monday [1 July] because of fears it would be sabotaged by the Falun Gong, industry sources say. The surprise move came after the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday that members of the outlawed sect had hijacked one of the mainland's major broadcast satellites and transmitted pro-sect messages and images twice earlier that week. Fears that Falun Gong members could intercept Monday's live broadcast and create an international embarrassment for Beijing were the main reason behind the cancellations, industry sources said yesterday. They said Mr Jiang's speech was one of his last major public addresses before the Communist Party's landmark 16th Congress scheduled for October when leadership changes are planned. Yesterday, officials from different CCTV departments declined to comment on the cancellations. Hong Kong-based Phoenix also declined to comment. Mainland viewers said Phoenix Chinese TV, which can be seen by more than 100 million people on the mainland, announced its live coverage of the Hong Kong ceremony during its main news magazine programme on Sunday. On previous occasions when Mr Jiang has visited Hong Kong, both CCTV and Phoenix Chinese TV carried live broadcasts of his speeches or activities. Sources said the president's speech at the Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday was billed by mainland officials as an important one in which he outlined the central government's views of relations between Hong Kong and the mainland over the next five years. Yesterday, nearly all the mainland's major newspapers, including the Farmers' Daily [Nongmin Ribao], carried the full text of the speech on their front pages. On Monday night, CCTV broadcast a taped version of Mr Jiang's full speech in a special time slot immediately after the main evening news bulletin. Sources said yesterday that mainland security forces are stepping up investigations to trace the source of last week's satellite hijacking. Most of CCTV's 10 channels and 10 other provincial channels carried on the Sinosat-1 satellite were interrupted on 23 June and 25 June with pro-Falun Gong messages which lasted for just seconds to several minutes. The satellite carries TV signals especially for the mainland's rural and remote areas. Security officials are baffled as to how Falun Gong followers managed to pull off such a sophisticated act. They now suspect the followers staged the hijacking from a foreign country or operated hi-tech equipment on a moving vehicle in a mainland city to avoid detection. Source: South China Morning Post (Business Post supplement), Hong Kong, in English 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3231.89, RRI Bukittinggi, 1140-1335 active again since March 2001, moderate. 3117.30, RSPDT2 Halmahera Tengha, 1200-1335, pres. destroyed [? Maybe means presumed, distorted] modulation. Weak (Roland Schulze, Philippines, BC-DX June 28 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [and non]. The latest revision of Bill Snyder`s Hurricane Frequencies list, dated June 30, has been posted at http://www.hurricanefrequencies.com (John Norfolk, OKCOK, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Il y aura bien une réorganisation des services de Kol Israël. Cette étape, prévue initialement fin juin, a été repoussée au 21 juillet. Voici la nouvelles grille des émissions en français : 0415-0430, 1000-1015, 1530-1545, 1645-1700 et 1930-1945 TU. Il y aura donc une émission de plus, et toutes les transmissions ne dureront plus que 15 minutes. La perte n'est que de 5 minutes par jour (d'après un couriel de Mati ben Avraham, Kol Israël - 03 juillet 2002 == les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) Et anglais?? ** LITHUANIA. R. Nord special program: This interesting feature program contained excerpts from actual Radio Nord programming, music, news and ads as well as comments on the same by two listeners, one of them DXer Jan Edh. Also, two members of the m/s Bon Jour crew, newsman Seve Ungermark and technician Lasse Karlsson, gave their version of the story. Forty years later, one can easily see that to the Swedish state-owned broadcasting Radio Nord was a pain in the back, a wasp that made a sleepy elephant stir. It is ironic that this broadcast would come from a country where radio was a state monopoly up until some 10 years ago. Lasse Karlsson has a website, http://www.nostalgia.nu with audio files and sale of memorabilia (Henrik Klemetz, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Re the Radio Nord special nostalgia program over 9980 Lithuania June 30, it was heard well here, but too miserably I believe to attract the average listener. I missed 75% of the show because I had simply forgot about the event, and tuned in at 2035 UT. (My only excuse is too much TV that evening here - for once.) Had to use USB mode to get the sharpness of the sound needed for fair readability. Very good programming, and a kick for those who were around at the time 40 years ago. To the producer(s), many thanks for this shortwave event, and tell our Lithuanian friends that the transmitter was a bit meek this time (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, July 2, with an AOR7030 and K9AY a bit down for the moment, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. Test transmission of "Broadcasting Center Europe" on July 10, 2002: 0600-2100 on 6090 Jünglinster 500 kW / non-dir. (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ! LUX has been absent from SWBC for many years (gh, DXLD) Ooooooooooh Luxembourg 6090 will re-appear; that causes mostly an unwanted 5 kHz interference tone to BR Munich Ismaning 6085 kHz outlet too. 73 de (Wolfgang df5sx, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Gracias al OM Jerry Berg de Dxplorer tuve la oportunidad de visitar la siguiente página: http://www.bce.lu/info/reachus/ Jerry Berg confirmo por e-mail con BCE la noticia suministrada por Wolfgang Bueschel. La dirección para enviar los reportes sobre la transmisión del próximo 10 de julio es la siguiente: Broadcasting Center Europe 45, Bd Pierre Frieden L-1543 Luxembourg – Kirchberg e-mail: eugene_muller@b... [truncated] Radio Broadcast Los informes deberán ser enviados por correo ordinario. (Nicolás Éramo, Argentina, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Radio Luxemburgo trasmitía muy buena música POP a mediados de los 80, y su ultima transmisión fue el 30 de diciembre de 1992. En esa época tenían un trasmisor de onda media de 1300 kW en Marnach, ¿casi nada no?, y trasmitían en 1439 kHz y posteriormente en 1440 kHz, algunas noches estas transmisiones de MW podían ser escuchadas acá en Venezuela si se contaba con una buena antena exterior. Junto con la QSL te enviaban franelas, gorras, llaveros y algunos otros regalos como recuerdo; yo tengo un llavero con el logo de la estación enviado en 1991 junto con la confirmación. Ojalá podamos escucharla nuevamente este 10 de julio. 73/DX (José M. Valdés R. (Joe) YV5LIX, ibid.) Dear M. Waldes, 6090 will be on air on July 10th from 0600 to 2100 UT with 500 kW. Program will be the German "RTL Radio Die grossten Oldies". This will be a one time event, especially dedicated for remote monitoring in order to evaluate coverage areas in view of DRM. (Digital Radio Mondiale). QSL requests will be answered. Regards (Eugene Muller, Broadcasting Center Europe S.A, an RTL Group company Tel:+352 42142 7703, Fax. +352 42142 7709, email: eugene_muller@b... [truncated] http://www.bce.lu via Jorge M. Valdés, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Broadcasting Center Europe (CLT-UFA RTL) will reactivate that SW installation again in future. Some tests are planned before one of the two present units will be rebuilt by an extension to DRM mode. The station plans some ANALOGUE test towards Central Europe. The present non-directional antenna is used, similar antennas used by DTK/DW Wertachtal 6075 kHz. (via Wolfgang Bueschel...) "Yes it is true, we will broadcast a test over the still existing RTL transmitter on 6090 kHz to verify coverage of this xmtr via remote monitoring. I would be delighted if I could get some feedback over the coverage in USA. Best regards, Eugene Muller.", Radio Broadcast Dept., Broadcasting Center Europe. Muller also says that requests for QSLs should be sent to him at the postal address shown on their website http://www.bce.lu/ which is 45, Boulevard Pierre Frieden, L-1543 Luxembourg. (via Jerry Berg) (via Harold Sellers, ODXA via DXLD) LUXEMBOURG TO REACTIVATE 6090 KHZ SHORTWAVE RTL Luxembourg plans to reactivate its shortwave transmitter on 6090 kHz. The first test is scheduled for July 10th at 0600-2100 UTC with 500 kW of power (2 x 250 kW Telefunken units). The programming will be a relay of RTL-Radio - Die grössten Oldies. Shortwave transmissions ceased in the end of 1994, but Broadcasting Center Europe (CLT-UFA RTL) has continued to operate transmitters on 216 and 1440 kHz. The company plans further analogue tests on shortwave but is also preparing to rebuild another one of the two units to be able to broadcast digital DRM signal. Mr. Eugène Muller is in charge of verifying reports and can be reached by email eugene_muller@bce.lu or by mail to Broadcasting Center Europe S.A., 45 boulevard Pierre Frieden, L-1543 Luxembourg. In the audio section you can listen to Radio Luxembourg's station identification (Jerry Berg and Wolfgang Büschel via DXplorer via http://www.DXing.info/news July 4, 2002 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 1475, 1145- June 30, Suara Malaysia. John Bryant tells me that this is a propaganda station. Decent signal in Tagalog. No doubting this 700 kW station as it occupies a frequency all by itself (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, hard-core-DX via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. Another good one currently is a[bout?]15294.9 - it was peaking to S9 today around 0900 with news in B. Malay. And I could also hear traces of it on 9750 same time, but there is another on that channel - either NHK or Kuwait I would guess. [always NHK, ed.] (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) ** MALI. R Mali, Bamako, 5995 kHz is a tricky outlet at this time, viz. 1834 (observed till 1851) on 26 Jun airing Vernacular programming for talks, 24332 (unID heard underneath). Obviously, it does improve after conditions settle down, but reception here is always far from that on 4835, Bamako's best 60 mb outlet, i.e. a lot worse! Today's monitoring on 7284.8, i.e. 30 Jun 0836-1039 f-out at 25342 only audible via the K9AY aerial airing French program with talks on schools, news magazine, African songs, Vernacular too, talks (Carlos Gonçalves, Porgual, BC-DX Jun 26/30 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. I can confirm the previous report of QSY from 12015 to 12085 kHz, heard there on 7/3 with IS at 1000 UT and presumed English, signal barely detectable. Their Web site is showing an outdated winter schedule. 73, (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3365 R Milne Bay, 0830 July 4, noted active again after an absence with islands music and announcements in Pidgin. Steadily gaining strength past 0850. Other PNGers noted on 3205, 3220, 3235, 3245, 3275, 3290, 3305, 3315, 3325, 3355, 3375, 3385, 3905 and 4890 (Paul Ormandy, New Zealand, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Evening's observations on Peruvians also via the SW coast [of Portugal?] Central America [?]. Beverage of 250 m: R San Antonio, Callalli, 3375.1, heard on 22 Jun 2220-2237 at 25332 w/ Spanish programming for Indian songs, TCs, IDs and announcements. Co-channel Angola is normally detected underneath, and when so, a het is normally heard too, but not this time. R Huanta 2000, Huanta, 4746.8, logged on 22 Jun 2241-2254 at 45433 w/ very good audio, airing vernacular programming for music, talks and some Indian songs. R Sicuani, Sicuani, 4826.4, on 22 Jun 2257-2311 at 34433 airing Spanish program with ads. R La Hora, Cusco, 4855.8, on 22 Jun 2258-2314 at 35433 in Spanish with ads, IDs, talks. R Ondas del Rio Mayo, Nueva Cajamarca, 6797.5, picked up on 21 Jun 2250-2304 at 24432 in Spanish with talks on football; utility QRM spoiling reception. R Ilucán, Cutervo, 5678, on 21 Jun 2258-2309 fair at first but rapidly went to a 24332 rate; Spanish programming with info, TCs and light songs (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 1575, 1105- June 30. DXJR, fascinating listening for a good solid hour, often at good levels. Full ID noted by Don Nelson. Programming in Tagalog, possibly an educational program? Best on the SW Beverage. VOA Thailand just fading in and co-channel after about an hour (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, hard-core-DX via DXLD) 1575, DXJR, Cagagan de Oro C, Mis. Or, Jun 30 1108 - First spotted by others. Man talking in presumed Tagalog. A sermon or long speech. Interrupted at 1148 with station ID in English as per WRTH. VOA heard at times beneath DXJR, becoming totally dominant at and after 1200 (John Bryant, Grayland WA DXpedition, IRCA DX Monitor via DXLD) ** POLAND [and non]. Listened to the July 2, 1700 UT broadcast of Radio Polonia via the World Radio Network. The presenter had a discussion with an official of the station. This official indicated that the budget had had some cuts but that Radio Polonia would continue broadcasting in foreign languages. Also he indicated that "shortwave was far from dead" in response to those who deemed that internet was the way to go in the future. He also indicated that Radio Polonia would be closing down its obsolete transmitters in Poland and had reached agreement to broadcast via Julich in Germany and via Slovakian transmitters as well. So if you want to log them via Poland time is running out. If you want to hear them with a clearer signal, those days are coming (Fred Waterer, July 4, ODXA via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Caro Sr.: Gostaríamos de solicitar a sua colaboração no sentido de nos fornecer alguma informação sobre as condições de recepção da nossa emissão para o Brasil, das 23.00 às 02.00 UTC, nas frequências de 13660 kHz (22 m) e 15295 kHz (19 m). Pedimos-lhe o favor, também, de verificar se o áudio está límpido ou se, pelo contrário, sofre de algum tipo de distorção. Gratos, desde já, pela sua colaboração apresentamos os nossos melhores cumprimentos. P' Grupo Redes de Emissores, Teresa Beatriz Abreu (via Valter Aguiar, radioescutas via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. CENTRE TV TO BROADCAST ON US CABLE NETWORK | Excerpt from report by Voice of Russia "DX Club" web site on 3 July Russia/USA: Russia's Centre TV channel plans to begin broadcasting on US cable networks at the end of July. Test broadcasts are already under way in New York. Transmission of the international version of Centre TV is expected to begin officially on 7 September. The project is unique in that it is partially interactive. Seventy-two hours of programming output (three days of broadcasts) will be stored in digital format on huge servers. Each user can select the programme he wishes to see at a given time i.e. can draw up the programme schedule himself. The aim of the project is the regional development and expansion of the foreign audience with emphasis on Russian- speaking viewers... The international version differs from the Russian version in that copyright will be tightened up and it will show no trailers for films, particularly bought-in foreign films. All other programmes will be checked from the point of view of copyright. The channel plans to create a special Centre TV-International channel. The company has already received offers of cooperation from European countries and from Israel. The channel offers a large number of analysis programmes and other programmes it makes itself. Source: Voice of Russia web site, Moscow, in Russian 3 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WHAT cable network??? ** SAINT HELENA. Auf der Seite http://www.sthelena.se gibt es einen Link zu Radio St.Helena. Dort kann man sich auch noch einmal Mitschnitte der letzten Sendung von 1999 anhoeren und erfaehrt viel Wissenswertes. Diese Woche traf bei mir die QSL von R. St. Helena von der letzten Sendung von 1999 ein, einschliesslich den schoenen aber zugleich traurigen Abschiedsbrief. Solche Kurzwellenenthusiasten auf der anderen Seite des Mikrophons finden man heutzutage noch selten. Uebrigens habe ich damals meinen Bericht per Email noch waehrend der Sendung geschickt. Obwohl ich Programm- und technische Details einschloss habe ich keine QSL verlangt, ich hatte ja schon drei von der Station. Trotzdem kam eine, was nochmals meine obige Aussage nochmals bekraeftigt. Farewell St. Helena! (Erich Bergmann, Germany, A-DX Jun 30 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. http://www.arabnews.com/Article.asp?ID=16580 `VOICE OF MUSLIMS` ARAB TV STATION TO GO ON AIR SOON By a Staff Writer, Published on Wednesday, July 03, 2002 RIYADH, 3 July — An SR600 million English-language Arab satellite TV station will be launched from London soon to help clear misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims after the Sept.11 attacks. Prince Mansour ibn Naser, a Saudi businessman, told Al-Watan Arabic daily that the station, ATV, would be on the air "after finalizing some necessary procedures." He said feasibility studies had been completed, but did not give a specific launch date. The station has received funds from some charities and loans from international banks, the prince said. In the first phase, the station will broadcast in English mainly to viewers in Europe, the United States and Canada. It will broadcast in German, French, Spanish and Italian at a later stage, he added. "The station will monitor the misconceptions and distortions broadcast by enemy stations" against Arabs and Muslims and try to refute them, Prince Mansour said. "The non-profit station will be the voice of Arabs and Muslims in the West. It will rely on sponsorships and advertisements for Arab and Islamic products," he said. "It will help improve the image of Muslims in the West, which was damaged" and linked to terror following the Sept. 11 attacks in the US, Prince Mansour said. The station was also designed to help attract foreign investments to the Arab and Islamic worlds by highlighting investment opportunities and explaining investment laws in force in Arab and Muslim countries. "ATV will help repatriate Arab funds worth $800 billion invested abroad," he said, adding that the repatriation of funds would lead to strengthening Arab economies and creating new job opportunities for Arabs. The television will interview prominent businessmen in the West to know the obstacles they face for investments in Arab and Islamic countries, he said. "This will help Arab decision-makers to adopt appropriate resolutions to soften regulations and facilitate procedures to attract more investments," he added. The new TV also aims at promoting products manufactured in Arab and Islamic countries, and encouraging tourism to Arab and Muslim destinations. "Ours will be a balanced channel focusing on truthful viewpoints that would help correct misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims among the Westerners," the prince said. Another objective is to promote products of Arab and Islamic countries in the West. "At present our products are rarely marketed in the West". Prince Mansour described the new TV station as the dream of millions of Arabs and Muslims. "They have been waiting so long for such a channel that would serve Arab and Islamic causes at political and economic levels and highlight Arab and Islamic views," he pointed out. Copyright © 2001 ArabNews All Rights Reserved (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. Received a verification from Radio UNAMSIL in Sierra Leone (6137.8 kHz). Details [but no look at the verie] and more info on the station in a new profile article at http://www.dxing.info/profiles/6138_unamsil.dx 73 (Mika Makelainen, Finland, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [and non]. Early June I had to think back to the sixties, when a few offshore radio stations had religious programmes in their output, just to finance the whole business. Later on, in the seventies and eighties, Caroline had a lot of religious organisations who did buy airtime. One of them was the organisation of Brother Stair. He named himself the real prophet of God in the modern world. Just a type of: ``you sent me your money and I will pray for you``. Well Brother Stair has been jailed last week. Not only he had his financial bookings not done properly, he also built a new building without permission. Above all two members of his congregation admitted that the brave Brother Stair had 70 times had sex with them without permission. And what does sister Theresa say, the wife of Brother Stair? They knew what would happen and they agreed Brother Stair had sex with them. Well he can now have a quiet time within jail. And as always for the longer, in depth, stories I invite you to take a regular visit to our on line journal for media and music culture: http://www.soundscapes.info Greetings (Hans Knot, Past and Present Column on Offshore Radio, June, via DXLD) The following was dated morning of July 2, from Sister Stair. I haven't heard the outcome of the hearing. If news media were present, there might be something in the local papers. = = = = I just wanted to let you all know that on tomorrow, Tuesday, July 2, at 2 PM, several of us here will be going to a pre-trial hearing concerning Brother Stair. Brother Stair will be there, along with the lawyers and, I am sure, the press. This hearing has been postponed several times, because of the LACK of evidence against him. I am amazed how the devil desires to dig up dirt, trying to find anything by which he can accuse the brethren. As far as ANY charges are concerned, BROTHER STAIR IS INNOCENT! ...AND I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM. Praise be to Yahweh, FOREVER I WILL PRAISE THEE, OH LORD, AMONG THE PEOPLE AND THE NATIONS! For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. BE THOU EXALTED, OH GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS! LET THY GLORY BE ABOVE ALL THE EARTH!!! BE THOU EXALTED, ALMIGHTY GOD! IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? No one, dear brethren. No, not any one! The Lord is our Advocate and, BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, WE ARE ALL BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM! WHO CAN LAY ANYTHING TO THE CHARGE OF GOD'S ELECT? And yet, Satan goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he MAY devour... PRAISE GOD! HE HAS TO GET PERMISSION, AND THAT, FROM THE LORD!!! Dear saints, we are not ignorant of his devices. May God help us, moment by moment, to put on the WHOLE armour of God, that we MAY STAND in the EVIL DAY. THAT DAY IS UPON US! Please be in prayer for us and we continue to hold all of you before the Lord in prayer. Thank you for your love and your concern, especially for your prayers. We have often sent Brother Stair's letters, which he has written with his own hand in prison, as a response to the letters which we receive through the malbox at the post office. When Brother Stair is here, he always reads and answers most ALL of his mail - personally. Since he is now not able to do that, I have come to realize the HEAVY LOAD he has borne in this work, at least for the last 25 years that I have been married to him. AWESOME!. He has been a faithful servant with the work in this ministry. ALL GLORY GOES TO THE FATHER, ALWAYS. AMEN. Please write again. Your letter blesses me; I feel honored to be able to receive them and read them. Also, I pray you understand that I have not answered each one individually; when certain ones need special attention, I give it to one of the brethren here to attend to. I know you understand. I love you with the LOVE of Yahshua. THE LOVE OF GOD... It is SO REAL to me! I thank God for His love! His banner over me IS LOVE!!! What a great work is being done here, in all of us. He is perfecting His CHURCH! May we all be able to see through the eyes of God in this testing of our faith. We shall come forth as GOLD!... tried, as by fire. The Lord has been GRACIOUS unto me, and for this, I bless His Holy Name...YAHSHUA. Until then, my heart will go on singing; until then, WITH JOY, I'll carry on... God bless you. In His presence, I am, Sister Teresa Grace Stair (complete via Robert Arthur, July 3, DXLD) 9475, WWCR Nashville TN (presumed); 2048-2101+, 14-Jun; Bro. Stair sez he's serving the Lord while in captivity. (Most of us call it 'serving time' not 'serving the Lord!...) Sez broadcast coming from a small farm in SC. (Captivity?... Hide the sheep!) Apparently accused sex offenders in captivity can still broadcast. Wants a few folks to send 100K$ or even a million. No ID or any break at ToH, into different religious program. SIO=524- w/brief fits of on/off and distortion. 'QRM' is loud transmitter buzz (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** SYRIA. 13610, Radio Damascus; 2206-2217+, 9-Jun; W reading poem; ID 2208. Man with news to 2209:30 close and anthem. All in English. Started Arabic music after anthem, then pulled the plug at 2210:45. Back on again at 2212:30 with Arabic music. Sung anthem at 2215:15 and woman in Arabic at 2216:10. SIO=443 (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. StarStar Broadcasting Station (clandestine via TWN), [ex New STAR BROADCASTING STATION]: 0800-0900 11430 New Star Channel 1 15388 New Star Channel 2 9725 New Star Channel 3 8300 New Star Channel 4 13750 New Star Channel 5 (Wolfgang Büschel, BC-DX via DXLD) Foreign broadcasters via Taiwan in A-02: 2330-0030 11605 RFA Viet 2330-0030 15110 RA Viet 250 kW 225 degr 0100-0200 15445 AWR Viet 0900-0930 11550 RA Indo 250 kW 205 degr 1000-1100 11780 WSHB En 1400-1500 11605 RFA Viet 1400-1500 15490 AWR Viet 2130-2330 11550 RA Indo 250 kW 205 degr (BC-DX via DXLD) ** TAIWAN [non]. New transmission for Radio Taipei International in Mandarin via WYFR: 2100-2200 on 15130 (55544) (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** TIBET [non]. Voice of Tibet in Tibetan and Mandarin Chinese noted on June 28-30: 1213-1300 NF 15170 / NF 15225 / NF 15330, ex 15655 / 15660 / 15670 \\ 15645, 21585 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) But frequencies change from day to day, even minute to minute (gh, DXLD) ** U K. JOB OPENING at BBC MONITORING: TECHNICAL OPERATOR, MEDIA SERVICES, Caversham Park, Reading --- c£18,000 ...examines open source media from over 150 countries in more than 70 languages. It provides news and information to the BBC, government and commercial customers. Track media and access signals... ...ensuring monitoring teams have source information. Carry out research, informing customers of media developments. Work shifts, including nights, and travel overseas. In-depth knowledge of foreign media... ...from frequencies of signals to the spin of their content. Ability to operate wide variety of satellite and other receiving equipment, understanding signal paths from origin to reception. Computer literacy, including familiarity with the Internet, plus research and report writing skills required. Job share agreement will be considered. For more details and to apply please visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/jobs/ or telephone (quoting reference 56211) 0870 333 1330. Textphone 020 7765 1192. Applications to be received by 19th July 02 (Chris McWhinnie, BBC Monitoring, July 3, BDXC-UK via DXLD) May foreigners or foreign residents apply? (gh, DXLD) ** U K / U S A. WORLD'S BIGGEST RADIO GROUP EYES BRITISH STATIONS John Cassy, Tuesday July 2, 2002, The Guardian The chief executive of US company Clear Channel, the world's biggest operator in the radio sector, last night admitted he would like to take over one of the UK's major groups. His comments are likely to reignite speculation that the Clear Channel is preparing a bid for Capital Radio or Emap. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be able to bring one of the leading UK radio groups into the Clear Channel family," Lowry Mays told an audience of industry leaders at the Radio Academy's festival in Cambridge. "It would benefit from what we know about radio and by association with the other legs of our out-of-home strategy, that is: live entertainment and outdoor. "Clear Channel is not a hostile acquirer, so don't expect to find me camping on your doorstep. When you are ready to create synergy, call us." Analysts say the group is seen as one of the most likely candidates to take advantage of proposals in the government's communications bill that would allow foreign firms to take over UK media assets. However, some industry watchers believe Clear Channel's short-term ambitions could be thwarted until the bill becomes law and the group pays down some of its several gigadollars of debt. Mr Mays spoke to the festival as the radio sector prepares to launch a widespread marketing campaign promoting the benefits of digital radio. The chances of the medium becoming a common feature in kitchens and living rooms around the country received a significant boost yesterday, with the launch of the first mass market, £99 set. The first sets will go on sale at the John Lewis store in Oxford Street, London, later this month, with thousands more being delivered to chains including Allders, Argos and Maplin Electronics throughout Europe. The radio industry is hopeful the widespread availability of "cheap" sets manufactured by niche retailer VideoLogic will lead to mass take- up of a technology that has so far disappointed many analysts. The Digital Radio Development Bureau, or DRDB, says 68,000 digital radios have been sold in the UK so far and predicts a further 50,000 sales by the end of the year. "The introduction of the £99 kitchen-style digital radio heralds the start of the most exciting development since the launch of the transistor wireless, and provides a gateway to new volume business for the radio of the 21st century," said Ian Dickens, the chief executive of DRDB. A high profile on-air marketing campaign will support the launch of the £99 set as the industry attempts to improve awareness of a product which offers better sound quality and dozens more channels than standard analogue sets. The BBC, Capital Radio, Classic FM owner GWR, Emap and UBC Media are among the providers and broadcasters promoting awareness of the advantages of digital receivers. (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. DOJ LOOKING INTO RADIO BUSINESS PRACTICES Radio Business Report [From Shoptalk Magazine - 7/3/2002] There is a new sheriff in town and his name is the DOJ. RBR has learned that the Department of Radio Schedule Justice [sic!] is "reaching out" and talking with individuals and companies that have concerns about radio companies and sources say in particular the business practices of Clear Channel (CCU). These chats are on going and continue. Conversations are talking place with the DOJ's Antitrust Division and include artists, promoters and radio companies. We hear folks are mailing in materials to Jim Wade Department of Justice Antitrust Division at 1401 H Street NW in Washington DC 20530. RBR Observation: Who would have thought a Republican administration would be looking into such matters. Must be very serious to warrant such a dialogue. As we now know the Senate will be looking into the allegations of potential antitrust issues with the just announced legislation by Senator Feingold "Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act". (via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM July 3 via DXLD) ** U S A. MILLIONS LOST IN RADIO SCAM By John Pacenti, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, July 2, 2002 Among the infomercials on WFTL-AM 1400 for weight loss products, vitamins and real estate, self-professed market guru Sean B. Burns made his get-rich-quick pitch over South Florida's airwaves for weeks. With a slick English accent, Burns -- interviewed by longtime talk show host Joyce Kaufman -- claimed he could double investors' money in foreign currency exchange markets. Retired teachers, office workers and even the well-to-do looted their savings, cashed in their retirement funds, raided their kids' college funds and took out second mortgages on their houses (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, I just read the webcast royalty decision from the Library of Commerce, I mean Congress via WOR. It looks like the RIAA has killed another mode of grassroots communication in our country. Can you say GREED? Why is the Library of Congress doing the RIAAs bidding? Can you say conflict of interest? Regards, (Dave McDonald, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn: I came across an interesting interview posted on Mark Morhmann`s Dxing from Vermont website. The interview is published by the IEEE, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., and is entitled "Harold H. Beverage and H.O. Peterson, Electrical Engineers, an oral history conducted in 1968 and 1973 by Norval Dwyer, IEEE History Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA." It can be found at: http://www.ieee.org/organizations/history_center/oral_histories/transcripts/beverage1.html I think anyone who has a love for radio will enjoy reading this 1968 interview with a couple of the pioneers of early radio experimentation. Aside from the fascinating recounts of technical developments such as the wave antenna, experimentation with short waves, the diversity system, and so forth, there is a really interesting discussion about the decline of creative thought and experimentation in modern times. Men like Marconi, Alexanderson, and Edison were not great mathematicians. They did not rely on engineering and mathematics to lead them to new discoveries but rather often were able to visualize the discovery in a sort of intuitive way. In this 1968 interview Beverage laments the decline of that type of creative genius in modern times, and speculates that the reason for the decline has to do with a greater importance placed on collective rather then individual endeavors. He does concede that as technology becomes more and more complex it also requires more specialization, yet he does point out that there is also a mindset at work currently, which discourages intuitive thinking. Definitely a good read (David Hodgson, TN, July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. NICE PLACE FOR A BEVERAGE Beverage DXers FYI -- Before my recent business trip to Las Vegas, Karen and I drove up to Great Basin National Park and stayed at the Border Inn, an older motel on US 6-50 right on the NV/UT border (restaurant on the NV side so they can have slot machines, motel rooms and gas station on the UT side where room/gas taxes are apparently lower!). This location has the following to offer DXers: * Rooms are cheap. About $35-40 per night. * There is no electrical noise to speak of. * The nearest AM stations are in Ely, NV (55 miles, mountain blockage) and Delta, UT (80 miles). * US 6-50 continues straight east for miles, and it's very easy to lay out beverages in that direction. It looked like you could run wires to the SE pretty well too. (I had a limited amount of wire with me, so I just ran 1250-1275 ft. to the E along the highway). There are no fences or "no trespassing" signs in sight. The terrain is totally flat, with a small amount of sagebrush and similar plants. Very easy to set up (and recover) beverages. * They have a large gravel parking lot, and the restaurant and gas station are open 24 hours as a truck stop, so no one gives you a second look if you're sitting out there at night. In just a couple short nights of DXing, I logged 53 graveyard stations. I'll be back with more wire next time! Has anyone else found any good spots like this to share with the group? 73, Tim (Tim & Karen Hall, amfmtvdx via DXLD) I`ve been to that very place; must start carrying beverage wire around with me (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. I ran across an article on EKKO "stamps" on the web; these were stamp-like pieces of paper, perforated and gummed, which were issued by the EKKO Company to various radio stations. There was a collecting craze for these items when the DXing hobby was developing back in the 1920s. Listeners could receive these stamps as verification for reception, and the company issued an album to collect these in. These are a part of the history of our hobby, pre-bumper stickers, t-shirts and coffee mugs. To read more, check out http://www.antiqueradio.com/gilbertcombs_ekko_6- 97.html (writer unknown, IRCA Soft DX Monitor July 3 via DXLD) ** U S A. "Concert Hall" and many other shows were discontinued in 1999 when VOA News Now went on the air. But this year, in celebration of our 60th anniversary, VOA is hosting a series of classical music concerts in our auditorium. The concerts will be broadcast, once again on Sunday evenings, through the rest of the year... Listen for VOA Snapshots throughout our 60th anniversary year, here on VOA (from a VOA script via Mike Cooper, DXLD) So, what times? Every Sunday? ** U S A. If you haven't heard this Jean Shepherd show before you really have to. (Of course if you ARE a Jean Shepherd fan you probably HAVE heard it before or read or seen some version of the story.) Ludlow Kissel and the Dago Bomb Summary: A Depression Fourth of July in the Indiana industrial suburbs of Chicago ends in magnificent disaster. http://www.becmfg.com/shep/07-04-75.rm (Note - I am not promoting the use of an offensive name for Italians - that's the title of the program.) (Joel Rubin, NY, July 2, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. Yet another mixup prevented WBCQ from running 17495 as well as 7415 during WORLD OF RADIO, Wed July 3 at 2200. They`re going to keep trying (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. New transmissions for WYFR/Family Radio: 2100-2300 Italian/German on 11565 ADDITIONAL (ex RTI German/English) 2100-2300 English/Portuguese 15770 ADDITIONAL (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. New transmissions for WYFR/Family Radio via MERLIN COMMUNICATIONS: 1400-1500 17800 (45544) DHA 500 kW / 085 Hindi to IND ex 15520 DHA 1500-1700 17800 (45544) DHA 500 kW / 085 English to IND ex 15520 DHA 1700-1800 21680 (55544) ASC 250 kW / 085 English to CeAf ex via JUL 1700-1900 15290 (55555) RMP 500 kW / 062 Russian to RUS ex via JUL 1900-2000 9590 (55555) WOF 300 kW / 114 Arabic to ME ex via JUL 1900-2100 3230 (23222) MEY 100 kW / 005 English to SoAf ex via JUL 2000-2100 15195 (45444) ASC 250 kW / 065 English to WeAf ex via JUL (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, July 3 via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. SODRE, 6125.0 usual sign-on is 1030, on 22 of the 23 days it was monitored in April 2002; on one day it opened at 1045; but due to QRM it is not audible before 1030. It was also heard on 4 evenings in April. Radio Monte Carlo, 6140.0, sign-on time varies widely; in April, 7 days from *0830; 7 days from *1000; 6 from *1015; one each from *0800, *0900 and *1010. Also heard on four evenings. Radio Monte Carlo y Oriental, 6140.0, opened at *1030 on 27 days of April, one day at *1100. Also, three evenings. [apparently he considers these two separate stations --- gh] Banda Oriental, 6155.0, not heard in mornings, but 16 evenings in April from *0134 (Emilio Pedro Povrzenic Nawosat, Villa Diego, SF, Argentina, April Latinoamérica DX of the Asociación DX del Litoral, Rosario, via Radio Nuevo Mundo, Japan, June 7, retyped by gh for DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Noticed a strong het on 640 at 0605 UT [July 2] and found a strong carrier but on 639.27 kHz looping approx 75 degrees towards N. Africa. Carrier strong and steady and the faintest suggestion of audio by 0610 and weaking at 0615. If this is a TA signal, looking at GeoClock would suggest a possible West African at transmitter sunrise but the 2002 WRTH doesn't list any likely candidates. Anyone have any idea what this is? [Later:] I still can't find any candidates on this frequency matching the sunrise at transmitter region indicated by GeoClock. There was no sign of the carrier at 0640. There was minor geomagnetic activity at this time. (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN - bjordan@nachash.com Icom R75 - Palstar R30C - Quantum QX Pro - Wellbrook ALA 330, NRC-AM via DXLD) Spain is typically strong here on 639 kHz (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) Brandon: The Spanish transmitter on 639 is at La Coruña in Galicia, which is in the very northwest corner of Spain. Sunrise there is right at 0600 GMT and the ionospheric control point would be some minutes later; 10 or 20 minutes would normally be a good guess but TA's can sometimes hang in an hour or more after local sunrise. If you hadn't said the freq was 270 Hz off, I'd be pretty sure you had Spain's carrier. I don't think I've ever heard an RNE transmitter off frequency. But on the other hand, I don't have a better guess. Good luck nabbing it next time (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) I considered Spain at first. Looking at GeoClock for 0600 UT it seems that Spain is well past sunrise, or perhaps I have GeoClock set up incorrectly. Also the bearing I was getting seemed to rule out Spain. The only decent audio that I have ever pulled from a TA here in the Memphis without a beverage was Senegal back in 1996 and I haven't had a beverage since the 1970's. :) I have a K9AY on order from Wellbrook and have my fingers crossed it will be able to help snag some audio from these carriers this fall. 73, (Brandon, ibid.) My first thought is that if you've got your coordinates and time input correctly in GeoClock there's not much else to set up. Unless you have a very old version, it should account for even some of the EDT/EST exceptions unless they're very local. I'd check that if it applies. Second, Chuck is correct that a TA signal, particularly one from Iberia or North Africa could easily stay in up to an hour after sunset [sic, means sunrise]. Third possibility is whether or not your loop bearing is skewed by another signal on frequency or perhaps on 640, or that you're nulling something as well. But, my final thought is that this could be a domestic off frequency, or a pirate off frequency, or even a Cuban (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Russ-- It is definitely possible that the bearing was extraordinarily skewed as I do have a local, WCRV-640. I don't think it was a Cuban but at this point it appears doubtful it was TA. Good point about signals still available up to over an hour after sunrise, in my log of Senegal in 1996 that I mentioned in the previous message, the carrier was still there over an hour after sunrise at the transmitter. That was a pretty amazing night with multiple TA LW stations logged with useable audio, and Senegal which briefly attained excellent levels. As to GeoClock, there are commands that allow you to configure terminator and twilight sittings. Since I have changed the sittings recently, I thought for a minute that I may have set it up incorrectly (Brandon Jordan - Memphis TN, ibid.) Depending on what the bearing is from you to WCRV, you could have major skewing. Did you happen to check the other side - 640.73 in case it could be a WCRV parasitic? Well, Cubans are not always careful about frequency control, and 640 is a big transmitter there.... Most of my experience with GeoClock is version 6.0 and prior, and if those settings were available, I didn't alter the defaults. Alas with the faster machines, I need to upgrade - just haven't gotten around to it, although this old machine I'm using for the shack only might still run what I have, as it's only 166 MHz. Have to try that... (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) Agreed, not likely a TA and probably just another wandering LA; Cuba's Frequency Check Department has never been a world leader. TP-land is all in daylight except for New Zealand, so I wouldn't think this was a TP. Paris sunrise today was exactly 5:54 AM GMT, and La Coruña (España) should be about 6:50 GMT per fiddling with the "VCR" controls of GeoClock. That might seem a little unusual, but remember La Coruña is as far west as Portugal, which is the westernmost part of Europe except possibly the west of Ireland - I don't remember for sure. Plus, the sunrise line is slanted from NW to SE so that Portugal and the NW corner of Spain are the last Europeans to see sunrise (Chuck Hutton in Seattle, where there's still a bit of light at 10:30 PM and it's sunrise at 5:17 AM, ibid.) Chuck-- Paris sunrise is one hour earlier GMT than you stated and La Coruña sunrise is 0459 GMT per GeoClock (Brandon, ibid.) Right you are. My home PC, Ben and you all agree. My work PC disagrees. I will flog it properly tomorrow as it is a major sin to mislead NRC members. It shall remember this flogging for a long time....... (Chuck Hutton, WA, NRC-AM via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 28290 ?? 7/1 0225 reading the Gospel in English, rather weak and faded in and then out. Any ideas?? (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE via DXLD) Wasn't there some Irish or Scottish 'pirate' activity in this area of the spectrum a while ago? My memory is hazy -- anyone else? 'Course the obvious is that it could be a harmonic 3 x WSHB on 9430. Ideas? – kvz (Kenneth Vito Zichi, MARE ed., via DXLD) I`ll go with WSHB X 3, also reported in harmonics group without attribution; easy enough to check parallel; always do that with suspicious frequencies like this (gh, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DRM +++ UK's Roger Parsons couldn't be more precise; I mean some in the broadcast industry and media really seem to be "flogging a dead horse"! Being HF widely used for communicating into places where AM or VHF-FM (let alone DAB!!!) is simply not as easy or trivial as in other countries, far from it, why then so much waste of taxpayers's money in carrying out the annoying "DRM" tests? Will it be all right for those pulling the strings that if someone`s interested in receiving digital HF signals then he/she will perhaps need a very special receiver and\or a PC? If so, what target areas have those gentlemen in mind? (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) DRM`S UNIVERSAL STANDARDIZATION ADVANCES WITH IEC APPROVAL: Geneva - Moving fast toward universal standardization, the on-air system Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) has been endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), which published its DRM Publicly Available Specification (PAS62272-1). DRM is the world`s only non-proprietary, digital AM system for short-wave, medium-wave and long-wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. The IEC approval, together with DRM`s existing certifications by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), puts DRM a step closer to its 2003 launch. The ITU approved its recommendation of the DRM system within its BS 1514 in April 2001. DRM had submitted its system to the ITU`s Radiocommunications sector (ITU-R) in 2000, and the ITU-R subsequently recommended the system for approval by its 189 member countries. ETSI published a Technical Specification of the DRM system in September 2001. The document is called ETSI TS 101 980 V1.1.1 (2001-09), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM); System Specification. Free downloadable copies are available at the ETSI Web site at http://www.etsi.org Use the search parameter DRM. With near-FM quality sound that offers a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 MHz in markets worldwide. DRM will be on display at IBC 2002 in Amsterdam, and at the ITU s next World Radio Congress. The DRM Consortium is made up of 73 broadcasters, network operators, manufacturers and researchers who joined forces in 1998 to create a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM has reached several milestones toward its launch. It unveiled mobile reception tours at IFA 2001, Germany`s largest consumer electronics show, in Berlin last August. DRM introduced new equipment specially built for its system, at IBC 2001 in Amsterdam last September. DRM audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org (From Media Zoo Updated 02 July 2002 via Mike Terry, DXLD) DX-ERS AS POTENTIAL TERRORISTS...... ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear DXers, The times that shortwave listeners who received mail from R. Moscow and R. Peking automatically obtained attention of the secret service, are way behind us. However, in the post 9.11 days other dangers are emerging, as my experiences show : During longer international travels I usually take my Grundig Yachtboy receiver with me and also in most cases a small ferroloop antenna (amplifier box + separate ferrite rod), to boost local MW reception. To make sure thing do not get lost, I keep these in my hand luggage. During the last months I made four trips to the USA. In the increased security environment, the presence of my hobby gear has produced several reactions: 1. No reaction at all (not spotted on the X-ray, or ignored) 2. The bag is selected for further inspection and the contents produces puzzled looks at the faces of the inspection people. So far the explanation that this was a radio + antenna was accepted. 3. Further chemical analysis for explosives (wiping with tissue). So far always negative. 4. General excitement, as below : During my last trip, in Atlanta security people picked out my bag as "suspicious" and created a lot of problems. My SW radio was described as "funny" and also the statement was made "we do not have such radios in the USA" (although I bought this radio in the USA some years ago). After another security officer stated "I believe it is German", this argument was put to rest (so much for German industrial design). However, the combination with a small black box and ferrite rod prevented a quick solution. It did not help that I stated this was just an innocent radio + antenna. Things were run again and again through the X ray scanner. (Nice pictures!). The printed circuit boards + electronic components that were clearly visible only helped to feed the suspicion. After I showed some obvious signs of irritation (after explaining to a third person that this was just a radio), things became a little bit tense and I was afraid I was about to make some involuntary headlines. In the end things were settled, after someone from the airline came along and allowed me to take things on board (though stored removed from my place and with the batteries of the radio removed). It helped that he recognized the ferrite rod as "something from a radio". I am not sure if the above should serve to ridicule the efforts of the security personnel, or to praise them because of their stubbornness in trying to get information. However, I am sure there are other people on this list who occasionally travel with radios and/or antenna gear. I was bit embarrassed by the way this went (and the time that it cost me), and I wondered if there are ways of preventing this confusion. Is it possible to obtain a kind of document that describes equipment as being innocent? Storing it in the luggage that you check in, is not a solution because (apart from the risk of loss), in some cases this luggage is now also opened and inspected. Regards, (Aart Rouw, Bühl, Germany, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Just for background, a few years ago Media Network did an investigation into the potential problems of carrying radio equipment on board aircraft. I personally had the opportunity to ask a few questions of a security man in Philadelphia when he was doing a routine search. It turns out that there was not (and most probably still isn't) a single policy enforced at all airports and by all airlines. He worked for British Airways, and said that the rules for carrying such equipment not only vary from airport to airport and airline to airline, but even between different routes with the same airline! In short, my personal advice to those of you travelling with shortwave equipment is to check well ahead of time with both your departure airport and your airline about any potential problems. But do not assume that any advice you receive automatically applies every time you travel. BTW may I wish those of you celebrating the 4th July a happy and peaceful day (Andy Sennitt Radio Netherlands, ibid.) I recently travelled to Amsterdam, from Boston, with a stop in London, and back to Boston a week later. I carried a RadioShack DX-398 shortwave radio in my carry-on bag, with an extra reel up antenna. I felt that for sure the bag would be closely examined at Boston, since this is the point where two hijacked planes departed on September 11th. However, no security screeners at Boston (or London, or Amsterdam) ever took a second look at my bag and its contents. Security is still a joke (at least in US airports, better in European ones). For example, one individual who checked my passport prior to the x-ray machine in Boston spoke practically no English. The screeners target people who obviously pose no realistic terrorist threat. It's surprising that I should walk through with a bag full of electronic equipment (shortwave radio, digital camera, extra batteries, etc.) while the middle aged woman behind me gets her purse carefully dissected by someone who has no idea what they are looking for anyway (Damon ---, ibid.) ### |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-106, July 2, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO #1138 [already available early UT July 3]: (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1138.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1138.html [probably available later July 3] (ONDEMAND from Friday) http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html FIRST BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Wed 2200 17495 AND 7415; UT Thu 0415 7415 FIRST BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0500, Sun 0230 5070 FIRST BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Fri 1930, Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800... on some of: 7445-USB, 15038.6, 21815-USB DX PROGRAMS UPDATE: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html DXERS CALLING CANCELS AUDIO STREAMING Dear supporters, it is a with a heavy heart I have to tell you that I've decided to take all my audio off air at live365.com, due to royalties that will be implemented in 30 days time. I have been relaying and providing audio for 2 years now for no cost and being charged nothing as a founding live365 account holder, so this is a difficult decision to make. I will be looking at alternatives to making audio available via other means, but for now will be taking a break; all my webpages will continue. I will keep you informed of other arrangements, Thanking you Tim Gaynor, DXers Calling Australia http://nrin.hypermart.net http://www.geocities.com/nri3 http://www.angelfire.com/myband/tjg (via W9WZE site via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) Included WOR but music hardly an element there (gh, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. USA/AFGHANISTAN: US BROADCASTING PROJECTS UNDER WAY Text of remarks by Marc Nathanson, chairman of the US Broadcasting Board of Governors, at the National Press Club in Washington on 26 June, carried on Broadcasting Board of Governors web site Thank you all very much for coming today to hear about the new developments in the War on Terrorism by US international broadcasting entities after 11 September. First, I want to welcome my fellow governor, Norm Pattiz, who is here with me today. Norm is chairman of our Middle East subcommittee and the father of MERN [Middle East Radio Network]. Also joining me are Bob Reilly, the director of the Voice of America, and Tom Dine, the president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is based in Prague. The Broadcasting Board of Governors - the BBG - is responsible for all US non-military broadcasting including radio, TV, satellite and Internet delivery. Created as an independent agency nearly three years ago, the BBG supervises VOA, RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, Worldnet Television and Radio/TV Marti. Altogether, we broadcast to over 100 million people each day in 65 languages to 90 countries. Today, I want to focus on one country - Afghanistan - and tell you about our international broadcasting initiatives that are helping to rebuild that country, and, hopefully, promote peace and democracy. Other countries have pledged a lot of media assistance to the Afghans since the Taleban were expelled, but we've been told by Afghan officials that we're really delivering on our promises. Here are the BBG projects that are under way in Afghanistan: 1. We signed an initial agreement with the Afghan government in May 2002 to install two mediumwave transmitters that will have nationwide reach. VOA and RFE/RL will use one transmitter; the other will be used by Radio Afghanistan, operated by the Afghan government. Millions of people with AM radios will be able to hear programmes in Dari and Pashto as a result of this project. Both transmitters are 400 kilowatts, meaning they'll reach millions of people listening to AM radio. The 10.2m-dollar project, which will include constructing, transporting and installing the equipment, is expected to take about six months. Under the agreement, the United States will also help the Afghans to return to operation a mediumwave transmitter that is currently inoperable. 2. We've also shipped two FM transmitters to Kabul, and they began operating last month. These transmitters provide service to listeners in and around Kabul. One transmitter carries Radio Afghanistan on 105.2 FM. The other transmitter, 100.5 FM, carries RFE/RL and VOA programming in Dari and Pashto 24 hours a day. There is a tremendous influx of cheap FM radios coming into the country from Pakistan. This infrastructure is important because existing broadcasting equipment in Afghanistan is obsolete. Some 75 per cent of Afghanistan's mediumwave transmitters were either destroyed or were inoperable. Each of the country's six shortwave transmitters were also ruined. We hope new equipment will help the Karzai government spread a message of reconciliation and democratic transformation to Afghanistan's citizens. 3. To give the people of Afghanistan more objective and accurate news and information, the BBG has increased broadcasting in Dari and Pashto via shortwave radio and FM since 11 September 2001. VOA now broadcasts and rebroadcasts in about four hours each of Dari and Pashto. We've more than doubled programmes into Afghanistan, and, with funding from Congress, we've added hours in Farsi, Turkish, Urdu and Uzbek. It's important to note that prior to the War on Terrorism, VOA had a huge shortwave listening audience of about 80 per cent of the male population. The Taleban forbade measuring female listenership. And it's not only VOA that's active in Afghanistan. Congress allocated 19.2m dollars for RFE/RL to create Radio Free Afghanistan, which launched in January. To date, RFE/RL is broadcasting a total of 10.5 hours daily in Dari and Pashto, 8.5 of them live. The VOA-RFE/RL Dari and Pashto streams are coordinated and integrated to assure maximum coverage of news both inside and outside of Afghanistan. US international broadcasting is already having an impact. VOA and RFE/RL provided complete coverage of the presidential election, and broadcast the speeches of leaders from Afghanistan's many regions during the Grand Council of Afghan leaders [Loya Jerga]. Both services carried events live, mixing in commentary, analysis and music. RFE/RL and VOA journalists interviewed dignitaries, delegates, and passers-by. Ad hoc roundtables were convened with hand-held microphones. Special call-in shows allowed ordinary Afghans to present their views on the future of the country. RFE/RL placed a particular emphasis on women, organizing women's roundtables and going out of the way to interview women. And RFE/RL received international attention when First Lady Laura Bush came to the studios in Prague last month to record a speech for the people of Afghanistan. 4. VOA and RFE/RL have increased staff in and around Afghanistan. More than 30 correspondents and stringers work for the services, covering national, local, health, education and humanitarian events. Training is another important component. With a 436,753-dollar grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), VOA is training more than two dozen freelance reporters and broadcasters in and around Afghanistan. RFE/RL is also training Afghan journalists on fundamental journalism techniques. Already about 20 people have undergone a one-week course learning how to conduct interviews, distinguish between news and commentary and use basic equipment. The services have translated the "Guide to Radio Journalism" into Dari and Pashto. The RFE/RL's Kabul bureau is already a major hub of journalistic activity and training for local journalists. The bureau has a Local Area Network with desktop computers and transmitters. Stringers have been taught basic recording, editing and production training. Reaction to our work from our most important constituency - the Afghan people themselves - has been overwhelmingly positive. Hardly a day goes by without some statement of popular gratitude for these broadcasts - from the taxi driver in Kabul to the refugee camps in Pakistan. Mohammad Rahim Aliyar, governor of the remote, ethnic Hazar province of Bamyan, expressed appreciation best to one of our reporters. "The only contact my people have with the outside world," he said, "is due to international broadcasters such as yourselves." Our journalists along with other international reporters are doing the job of reporting the news to the Afghan people under very hazardous conditions. They do this because they know it is vital to the future of freedom and democracy in Afghanistan. Contact: Joan Mower; Email: jmower@ibb.gov; Phone: 202.260.0167 Source: Broadcasting Board of Governors web site, Washington, in English 26 Jun 02 (via BBCM via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 18940, R. Afghanistan via Kvitsøy: I checked at 1230 and 1330 on 28/6 & 29/6, but no sign of them. I wonder if it has moved since? Should propagate into here on this channel, as the other Scandinavian stuff on this band generally well heard at present (Craig Seager, July ADXN via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Heard what I thought was Radio Free Afghanistan via 18980 at 1430, Arabic sounding language (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? Not on RFA schedule ** ALGERIA. Where is Algeria??? Have they gone off air? Have not heard those folks for years (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ask him? ** ALGERIA. NEW NATIONAL RADIO DIRECTOR-GENERAL APPOINTED | Text of report by Algerian radio on 30 June Minister of Communications and Culture and Spokeswoman of the Government Khalida Toumi today at the National Radio Company appointed Mr Zouaoui Benamadi as director-general of the National Radio, succeeding Mr Hamza Tedjini, who has been called to other responsibilities after having led the institution for two years. The ceremony took place in the presence of the managers of the National Radio Company. The new director-general is a professional journalist who had worked for Algerie Press Service [APS]. He managed several national newspapers. He was also the director of the UN radio in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. Source: Algerian radio, Algiers, in Arabic 1700 gmt 30 Jun 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 10015-LSB, LR9 R. América, B.A. 1830, programa: "Entretiempo" con entrevista sobre la situación argentina actual, al Presidente de Asociación de Funcionarios Postales. SINPO 35534. //MW1190. No estaba allí a las 1900 (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Jun 30, radioescutas via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. ARGENTINA INVESTIGA A LA IGLESIA UNIVERSAL DE DIOS POR SU ENTRADA EN RADIOS Y TV (Foto de Edir Macedo, líder de la iglesia) El Gobierno argentino ha iniciado una investigación sobre las actividades de la Iglesia Universal de Dios en el país. Originario de Brasil, este grupo religioso desembarcó en Argentina en 1990. Desde entonces no ha dejado de expandirse, sobre todo en medios de comunicación, contraviniendo una ley que prohíbe la tenencia por un culto extranjero de estos medios. En Argentina, la Iglesia Universal de Dios se ha valido de testaferros locales para adquirir emisoras y estaciones de televisión. En septiembre de 1999 compraron el paquete mayoritario de Radio Buenos Aires, por el cual pagaron 15 millones de dólares (cifra casi igual al traducirse a euros). Oficialmente la radio pertenece a Ricardo Cis, un argentino que vivio durante años en Brasil. Como mínimo, resulta extraño que Ricardo Cis haya pagado 15 millones de dólares para adquirir esa radio cuando su patrimonio en ese año, según la Hacienda argentina, era de unos 28.000 dólares. El Gobierno argentino comenzó a investigar a este poderoso grupo, que cuenta con más de 80 templos en Buenos Aires, ante la inusitada vorágine de adquisición de espacios radiofónicos, tanto en OM como en FM, y televisivos. Esta iglesia tiene programas en las emisoras Rivadavia, Splendid, Libertad y El Mundo, y en gran número de emisoras de FM, por los que el grupo religioso paga 700.000 dólares al mes. Cuenta el empresario Carlos Ávila que el grupo le hizo una oferta para comprarle el canal de cable Cablevisión Noticias y una parte del paquete accionarial del Canal 2 de televisión hertziana. Se sabe que el grupo se interesó por adquirir Radio Rivadavia, la tercera emisora en audiencia del país, perteneciente al empresario argentino Luis Cetra. Artículo de http://www.religiondigital.com (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, June 30, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Using a Beverage for R Baluarte/R Maranatha 6215, here's what I could get, which was marginal at best: heard on 22 June 2203- 2221 in Portuguese airing songs, rated at 23432, QRM being from adjacent pirate station Laser Hot Hits 6220 kHz plus something I wasn't expecting, i.e. a cost-ship USB QSO between 2 Brazilian stations on approx. 6218, so neither the CAm Bev nor the too shortened and the partly damaged SAm Bev were of much help (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** ARMENIA. 11685: Today I finally tried 11685 Armenia. They went on around 1553 with a modest signal and not so good modulation. At 1557 CRI sign on with a stronger signal and a RCI sign off. At 1600 CRI went to Turkish as scheduled. The CRI freq was somewhat low, so most likely this is Xi'an as listed. Armenia was spot on frequency, but with a low freq variation (buzz). At 1610 Armenia had the usual FS sign on procedure. The program was in Armenian throughout, but the style was different, information type program before 1610 and cultural (radio theater) after 1610. All in all it seemed to be a home service relay with a FS ID inserted at 1610. The station went off some time before 1655. This could well be from the Arinj site, which has a 300 degrees antenna. At best, the signal here was in level with CRI, i.e. using the SE antenna. The mystery is, who do they hope will stay tuned to this service? Arinj is the "name" I have given to the old site, this being the closest town. The new site nowadays is called Gavar, formerly Kamo, due to a change of name of the nearby town. Arinj is the first town north of Yerevan, but actually it is not physically separated from Yerevan. If you search for Arinj on the Internet you will get a substantial number of hits (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 25/26 via DXLD) 11685: It seems that I am getting the best signal here from Armenia here in the UK - it's usually way over all else. And reception has improved since Jordan 11690 went off. Yes, the transmission does seem to suffer some "noise", which is probably as described by Olle. I note the change in program at 1610 - this is obviously what Olle describes. I'm not totally familiar with this language, but I thought there were some Russian sounding words at times. Is Arinj the "old" Yerevan site which you referred to in connection with the recent map - Olle? - or the one usually referred to as Kamo. I didn`t realise that two sites were available. Who can guess how many Armenian nationals/speakers there are within the general European area. They must be the theoretical audience. I was surprised to learn that there are 5000+ Koreans resident in a part of London - and they all appeared to be watching yesterday`s football game! (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 26 via DXLD) Today I followed 11685 until s-off, which was at 1642, in mid program. It seems that they start a news program just after 1600, preceded by a home service ID. Again the program after 1610 was a cultural style service. The odd s/on and s/off times also seem to indicate that this transmission originates from the Arinj (old Yerevan) site rather than Gavar. I checked the 4810 transmitter today at 1940, when the English program opened. I found the frequency to be somewhat low, so this channel may also originate from the Arinj site (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 27 via DXLD) All very interesting, and the s-off time is similar to what I heard. It seems to be an extract of their HS, then, but with a FS ID included at 1610! It's a regularly strong signal here whenever I tune it. But 4810 is also very low here. I wonder if this is a 50 or 100 kW unit (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Jun 28 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. VNG: The 8638 kHz frequency is 10 kW nominal according to http://www.nsc.gov.au/PDF_WORD/Info/L15.pdf which I found with a VNG Frequency search in Google. They almost certainly have the transmitters throttled back however. I don't recall having noted the lower frequencies in a long time but neither have I looked for them. The 2500 kHz at 1.5 kW would make a nice catch! VNG coming through at a good steady level on 12984 with the old familiar time pips. ID in slow morse at 0944:15 for about 6 repeats over the pips. 24 June 2002. Poised to disappear as Australia falls behind the times (Tony Ward, Ont., VE3NO, DXplorer June 26 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN MARITIME RADIO - END OF AN ERA At 2359 June 30 maritime radio services came to the end of an era. The network of coastal radio stations operated by Australia's virtual monopoly telecommunications giant, Telstra was closed as the contract was not renewed. The Australian Maritime Safety Association has contracted for services to shipping around the country to a new operator and new transmitters. Two sites have been established about as far away from the coasts of Australia as possible. They are VMC at Charleville in Western Queensland and VMW at Wiluna in a remote part of Western Australia. I listened to Perth Radio closing its weather forecast and traffic net at 2348 on 8176 kHz with "that is all for now - and for ever from Perth Radio". The new service began at 0000Z on eight frequencies in the 4, 8, 12 and 16 MHz bands. Signals on all but the 4 MHz band from both sites were very strong at my location at the southernmost point of the mainland coast, some 170 km southeast from Melbourne. The information now being broadcast seems to be far more comprehensive than the limited amount given out by each of the old coastal stations VIM VIS VIT VID VIP VIA etc. Details of the new services are given on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology web site at http://www.bom.gov.au/marine The Acrobat file MWS_brochure2.pdf gives the essential information. As broadcasts begin at hh00 round the clock, the frequencies will provide a good reference for propagation conditions for many listeners around the world. Frequencies to check are VMC 4426 8176 and 12365 (24 hrs) plus 16546 (daytime) and 2201 and 6507 (nighttime); VMW 4149 and 8113 (24hrs) plus 16528 (daytime) and 2056 and 6230 (nighttime). Daytime is 2100- 0800 for VMC and two hours later for VMW. An additional 12 MHz frequency for VMW will be added shortly as the originally planned one was found to cause interference with a New Zealand service (Morrison Hoyle, Victoria, July 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA: RA preview, Friday, July 5 at 2305 - LINGUA FRANCA - about language. "Why Censor Chekhov?". Jeanne Heifetz on battling the New York State Education Department's Sensitivity Guidelines. To graduate from high school, New York public school students must pass compulsory tests set by the New York State Board of Regents. As part of the English Language Arts exam, students are set an essay topic accompanied by excerpts from literary works. When her step-daughter brought home last year's exam paper, Jeanne Heifetz found that the excerpt from Isaac Bashevis Singer's memoir, In My Father's Court, and another, from Chekhov's short story, The Upheaval, had been bowdlerised, cleaned up, censored. After further research, she discovered the State Education Department's 'Sensitivity Guidelines'. In following them (since 1980), the examiners have been overriding the First Amendment to the US Constitution and breaching authors' copyright. So began Jeanne Heifetz's campaign to stop censorship of literature in the State Education Department's examinations. [Transcript available] Repeated 0530 UT Sat (via John Figliozzi, ODXA via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. BIG RADIO ANNIVERSARY IN AUSTRALIA; THE FORMATION OF THE ABC It was just 70 years ago that a dozen mediumwave stations located in 10 cities in 6 states throughout the Commonwealth of Australia were formulated into a national network of government radio stations. That event occurred on July 1, 1932 and today they are celebrating their fabulous 70th anniversary with a whole host of special programs. This is how it all began. The first permanent radio station in Australia made its inaugural broadcast in Sydney on November 13, 1923 under the callsign 2SB. At the time, station 2SB was owned and operated by a small commercial company, ``Broadcasters Sydney Limited``. Their original callsign, 2SB, was derived from the initial letters of their ownership, Sydney Broadcasters, with the digit 2 indicating the state of New South Wales. In anticipation of the inauguration of this new commercial radio station, test broadcasts were conducted from the station location on the rooftop of a newspaper company, ``Smith`s Weekly`` and ``Daily Guardian`` in Philip Street, Sydney. The first test broadcasts were made from an amateur radio transmitter running just 10 watts under the callsign 2HP. A few days later, when the commercial transmitter was ready for action, low powered test broadcasts were conducted from this unit. This first new radio station in Australia commenced a regular broadcast service with a flourish, and the inaugural live broadcast included local Sydney musical talent, both vocal and instrumental. One month later, an official inaugural ceremony was broadcast and this included a speech by the Postmaster General of Australia, under whose jurisdiction were all matters associated with wireless broadcasting. Some three months after the initial commencement of programming over station 2SB, the callsign was changed to 2BL and this new callsign was also taken from their ownership name, Broadcasters Limited. This new callsign was taken in order to avoid confusion on the part of listeners because of the similarity in sound between 2SB and another mediumwave station now on the air, 2FC. Radio station 2FC was inaugurated as Australia`s second wireless station about three weeks after the inauguration of the first station 2SB. Likewise, temporary accommodation was secured for this station on the top of another large building in downtown Sydney, the departmental store of Farmer & Company. Soon afterwards, a large transmitter facility with tall antennas was installed at Willoughby, overlooking the beautiful Sydney Harbour. This location was in use for only three years, before an even more suitable location was secured, at the AWA transmitting facility at Pennant Hills, an outer suburb of Sydney. As time went by, the interests of both stations, 2BL & 2FC, became intertwined, until they were amalgamated into one large broadcasting company with studios and offices in Market Street, Sydney. At first, the ownership was under the New South Wales Broadcasting Company, and then the Australian Broadcasting Company. Finally, the Commonwealth Government took over and these two ``A`` class radio stations became the headquarters operation for the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Station 2BL is still 2BL, though in 1971, the callsign of station 2FC was changed to 2RN, standing for ``Radio National``. Both of these pioneer radio broadcasting stations in Australia were involved also in shortwave broadcasting. The very first shortwave broadcasts in eastern Australia were made from station 2BL in February 1926, using the amateur transmitter 2YG, owned by Roy Allsop, the station engineer. These shortwave relays originating from station 2BL were on the air spasmodically for a period of three years and they were then transferred to the sister station, 2FC. At this stage, the regular mediumwave transmitter at Pennant Hills was re-tuned at night to a shortwave channel for this special shortwave programming. As time went by, further changes took place and these shortwave broadcasts were taken over by AWA under the callsign VK2ME. At the commencement of the European Conflict in 1939, this shortwave service from Pennant Hills was taken over by the ABC as ``Australia Calling``, the forerunner for Radio Australia, and the experimental callsign VK2ME was regularized into VLQ. Both 2BL and 2FC issued QSL cards in the early days and today these items are quite historic. One of these early QSL cards shows also the shortwave channel for 2FC, as 28.5 metres, corresponding to 10675 kHz. These two original commercial stations in Sydney became the headquarter stations for the Australian Broadcasting Commission on July 1, 1932, which is the big anniversary that the ABC in Australia is currently celebrating. At the time of the formation of the ABC, 12 mediumwave stations were incorporated into the new government radio network. These stations were located in all six state capitals, though Darwin in the Northern Territory had no radio station of its own at the time. In addition to the capital city stations, a further four relay stations in country areas were also absorbed into the ABC network, and these were :- 2NC Newcastle, New South Wales, 2CO Corowa, in the border area between NSW & Victoria, 4RK Rockhampton, Queensland; and 5CK Crystal Brook in South Australia. In addition to the 12 mediumwave stations, the PMG department also operated an experimental shortwave station at Lyndhurst under the callsign, VK3LR. This transmitter took its programming as a relay from the two ``A`` class mediumwave stations in Melbourne, 3LO & 3AR. The callsign 3LR was a combination of the callsigns of the two mediumwave stations. The experimental callsign VK3LR was regularized just prior to the commencement of the war, as the more familiar VLR, though this station was closed a decade or two back. A few days ago, I phoned the ABC in Australia for additional information regarding their 70th anniversary celebrations, and the receptionist girl at the switchboard gave the identification simply as, ``702``. This of course, is the frequency for their mediumwave station 2BL. Today, the ABC operates a nationwide network numbering more than 500 AM, FM and shortwave stations throughout Australia. One of the major 70th anniversary events is a historic broadcast with program input from the twelve original mediumwave stations in the ten cities in the six states. Another significant event that will occur on July 1 is the launching of the ABC`s seventh radio network. This new network will be an Internet only radio service featuring contemporary Australian music for the age bracket ranging from 30 - 50 years. We here at Adventist World Radio, and our DX program ``Wavescan``, honor the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on its auspicious 70th anniversary (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan June 30 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2325, 1241-, ABC Northern Territory Jun 30 Good strong signal, with a program about religion (what do we do when we pray). Parallel 2485 was a bit weaker, and 2310 only poor (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See UNIDENTIFIED at bottom for DXpedition remarx ** AZERBAIJAN. I checked R. Dada Gorgud, the Voice of Azerbaijan again and heard the following on 6110 kHz \\ 1296 MW: 1200-1230 German, 1230-1300 French, 1600-1700 Arabic, 1700-1730 English, 1730-1800 Russian. In English ``6125 kHz`` is still announced and this broadcast is heavily interfered by TRT Ankara on 6115, apparently a move from 6120 (Maarten van Delft, Report from Georgia, July BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.45, 1058-, R. Pio Doce Jun 29 Fair reception with talk by male in Spanish. Lots of splatter. ?ID by YL at top of hour. Too weak to be sure of content (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6155.07, 0246-, R. Fides Jun 29 Decent signal best on LSB to avoid a lot of splatter from upper side. Latin music without any announcements. Brief ID at 0301, but otherwise continuous music (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA [and non]. Para quienes amamos la escucha de emisoras andinas, creo que puede ser de mucha utilidad para comprender mejor las transmisiones en aymara visitar la página http://www.aymara.org/ Allí, encontrarán la historia de este idioma, reglas de pronunciación, consejos para conjugar verbos, un glosario de expresiones y palabras más empleadas, etc, etc. Para quienes estén interesados en conocer más sobre esta lengua aborigen y no puedan acceder a la red de redes, yo les haré llegar por correo electrónico toda la información que pueda bajar de esta excelente página (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. ABC-TV screened part of Sean Dorney's excellent series on Papua New Guinea, 'Paradise Imperfect' on Sunday 30 June. Dorney was the ABC's correspondent in PNG for many years. It focused on the Bougainville conflict and provided an excellent overview of the history of events on Bougainville during the 90s. For DXers, one item stood out - his visit to Paru Paru and interview with a guy, Michael Nike, who put together a home-made hydro power station using an assortment of bits and pieces salvaged from the Panguna copper mine. Dorney reported that this helped to power for a short time Radio Free Bouganville. A video excerpt is available on the ABC's web site at http://www.abc.net.au/png25/episode/epis_2.htm#part2 (Matt Francis? ARDXC June 30 via DXLD) See also PAPUA NEW GUINEA for a B. log This was the ABC story/program I watched presented by long-time ABC Pacific regional correspondent Sean Dorney. And yes was hydro powered (here's me listening to Johnno and agreeing that it was coconut powered ...:-)..oopps. Here's the specific Real Audio audio/video link referencing Radio Free Bougainville for those of us with 56k, else use the main link provided by Matt. http://www.abc.net.au/png25/episode/hydro_56.ram (Ian, ARDXC via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4914.96, 0320-, R. Difusora Jun 29 Nice jingle ID as Radio Difusora. Fair + signal in Portuguese (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 11815, 0258-0300*, R. Brasil Central Jun 29 Beautiful full ID at sign-off in Portuguese. Interesting propagation as 11815 best using SW Beverage, while stronger 4985 best using W Beverage (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. NEW ZEALAND 9500, 1430-, Democratic Voice of Burma Jun 29 Excellent reception. Open carrier until 1430, when signed on in presumed Burmese, with many mentions of kHz. Best using LSB to avoid a bit of adjacent splatter (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Re new Montreal 1610 kHz station: As was the case on Friday night, at some point last night the music stopped and they went to the open carrier again. In fact, it seems to happen right after I report hearing them on with music. :-) I'm sure you'll have little problem bagging them once they go to a regular schedule (and begin operating legally!). I wish these kinds of services would stay on FM subcarrier and not pollute the AM band. Grrrr... (Barry McLarnon, Canada, June 30, NRC-AM via DXLD) For those of you who would like to learn more about this new station, here is the link to the CRTC decision on the station. It dates back to November 2001. You will see that they have applied for a lot of special conditions regarding the content of the station. http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2001/db2001-678.htm I know that people in the DXing community may not be happy about this decision, but much like the plight of the secondary TIS users of the frequency, we as DXers are the secondary beneficiaries of the radio frequencies. Like it or not, we're not going to have much to say in matters like this. Here in Montreal, the population who will most likely use this station is very, very large and is very poorly served at this point in time. Sub-carrier stations are fine, but to reach the masses, they just don't do the trick. A few that already exist in Montreal barely exist and usually are supplying pretty crappy radios to the community to listen to them on. It's a tough break for the DXer, but we are much smaller minority than the people who will use a service like this (Sheldon Harvey, June 30, NRC-AM via DXLD) LATEST ON 1610 KHZ I just got off the phone (1:05 PM Eastern, Monday July 1) with Maitre Jean Ernest Pierre, the owner of the new station currently testing on 1610 kHz in Montreal. He confirmed that it is in fact his station doing preliminary on-air tests on 1610 kHz. He was really appreciative to hear from someone who had heard the signal and was very pleased to hear about DXers in other locations having heard the signal. Here is the vital information, at least some of it, as passed along by Mr. Pierre. The call letters for the station are CJWI-AM. They are using 1000 watts, but the modulation is currently suppressed awaiting some additional equipment. They will continue testing today, but will step up the procedure tomorrow in conjunction with inspectors Industry Canada and the CRTC. I asked about the exact location of the antenna, but he seemed somewhat reluctant to give me a precise location at this point; perhaps not surprising considering that he didn't really know who I was and what exactly my interests in this information were. Also, given the friction in the Haitian community in Montreal at present, it may have been even more understandable. I asked him about the insertion of legal station IDs and information on contacting the station. He told me that they would be inserting IDs, most likely beginning tomorrow. I suggested that there will be DXers looking to send in reception reports, and that it would be a very good idea to have a mailing address and e-mail address included in the on-air announcements. He said he would do his best to make this happen. I spoke with him in French, so I do not know the level at which he would speak or understand English, but given that he is a lawyer, practicing here in Montreal, I would think that there is a very good chance that he would be bilingual, or at least have staff working with him who could assist him if not. So that's the latest from here on Canada's 135th birthday. Our 10th annual Canada Day block party kicks off in about 3 hours! (Sheldon Harvey, QC, July 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. I used to love shortwave radio, but in the last sesquidecade I have been inactive. It is sad the state of the broadcast bands now – -- almost dead and very quiet. I grew up in the age of jamming transmitters when things were lively. I now hear a station playing non-stop Chinese instrumental music rom 1500 UT using at times 7540, 9355, 11945, 11955, 13625, 15510, 15680 and 17640. I presume this is jamming of R. Free Asia`s Mandarin programmes (L. J. Illingworth, Redruth, Cornwall, July BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) We remember him from long ago as an active DXer, perhaps regular contributor to Sweden Calling DXers when it actually covered SW. See also CUBA below (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Answering my query as to the address where reports can be sent, Russ M. Stendal says that his personal email address is fine: Russell Martin Stendal rms05001@neutel.com.co In his email letter he goes to say that the pmail address is [BUT see below] Carrera 44 # 13- 69, Bogotá, Colombia, and that they are presently working on some material to send out to DX ers for QSL. Their short wave license will be an extension of our AM station which has a distinctive of HKI-81 on 1530 kHz. ``It remains to be seen if we will be given a separate distinctive for the short wave``. Over the next couple weeks they will be making adjustments to the antenna and transmitter hoping thereby to improve clarity and modulation. As earlier reported by Rafael Rodríguez, the street address mentioned goes to Librería Colombia para Cristo, and so this name should preferably also be mentioned on the envelope. A partial list of books on sale can be found at http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/libros/catalogo/catalogo.htm These books and others such as "Rescue the Captors", "Guerillas Have Taken Our Son" and "Guerilla Hostage" are available in English from Ranson Press International, P O Box 400, Moorehaven, FL 33471 or GStendal@aol.com (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] The address given to me by Russ Stendal seemed a bit strange as it does not go to a neighborhood known for any significant business activity, and so I asked my friend Rafael Rodríguez to doublecheck the info. Sure enough, the address info is wrong and should be changed to Calle 44 No. 13-69 Barrio Palermo, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. There is a website where one can contact the station at http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/emisora/contactenos/contactenos.htm (Henrik Klemetz, July 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NEW COLOMBIAN SW STATION Escuchada desde comienzos de junio, en 6064.5 kHz, en fase de prueba, la nueva emisora colombiana, identificada por el nombre de "La Voz de tu Conciencia", manifiesta deseos de recibir informes de recepción. En respuesta a mi pregunta, Russell M Stendal, director de la radio, me dice que los informes de recepción relativos a "La Voz de tu Conciencia", 6064.5 podrán ser enviados a la emisora a/c de la Libería Colombia para Cristo, cuya dirección es como sigue: Carrera 44 No. 13- 69, Bogotá, D. C., Colombia. Están preparando ahora el material que pretenden enviar a los que les envíen informes de recepción. Mientras tanto, continúan en fase de prueba, y tratándose de un antiguo transmisor de 5 kW de Colmundo Radio, se supone que llegará lejos (ya se captó en Europa). Sin embargo, en el Cono Sur, pienso que la frecuencia de 6060, en donde próximamente piensan transmitir, será un poco complicada. Entre los libros que se venden en la mencionada librería – y que parece ser que también podrán ser bajados por internet – se encuentra "Secuestro y reconciliación", un relato del secuestro por parte de la guerrilla colombiana que le tocó vivir a Stendal. Ver: http://www.fuerzadepaz.com/webcristo/libros/catalogo/catalogo.htm (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, July 2, radioescutas via DXLD) We have very good news from Colombia. Russell has the sound studio fully operational and is producing all the programming for the station out in Bonaire. He is able to cut CDs, both messages and music to use on the FM station that has been running 24 hours a day for several years now. The feedback has been excellent from the listeners to this station. For many, who live out in the area controlled by the Marxist guerrillas, this station is their only link with Christianity. The churches have been closed and house meetings are forbidden. These people live on scattered farms and small towns out in the remote areas of eastern Colombia. Russell is also producing CDs made up of "shorts", messages of only a few minutes. These shorts are being received and aired on over 50 radio stations in other parts of Colombia. (Almost all of the radio stations in Colombia are in the cities and the population centers.) Right now he is producing a series of shorts made up of Scripture portions. Several months ago Russell was granted permission to operate an AM station out at Lomalinda/Bonaire. He is going ahead with setting up the AM station before the permission expires. He has ordered the transmitter and still owes $6,500. This station will have far greater coverage than the present FM. The AM will be great for reaching many more people at long distances, but the FM will still keep broadcasting as the quality of music is much better, and it will still be the station of choice for all within its range. He will use the present tower but eventually will have to set up a separate tower. Below, you will see the four different covers of the New Spanish Bible.... These Bibles are being very well received by all the different groups. The actual printing costs are about $5.00 apiece for each Bible, however Russell feels that behind each Bible lies at least double that amount of developing costs. These Spanish Bibles will soon be available in the United States on a freewill offering basis. Russell hopes that you will keep in mind these hidden costs and that your generous offerings will enable us to meet the printing bill as well as the other financial demands of this ministry. We do not want to be a "begging ministry" but pray that the Lord will raise up "cheerful givers" to enable us to keep moving forward on "all fronts" as the Lord keeps opening up opportunities. A heartfelt thanks to each one of you who has given so sacrificially to meet the needs so far. Both the Christian printer and the supplier of the radio transmitters are giving us 90 days to meet these bills. We need prevailing prayer for the prison radio station. It is all set to go on the air, but the prison department wants a more powerful station than first planned so as to reach all three prisons in Bogotá. Of course it will then reach the rest of the city as well. On the basis of this, Russell sold the transmitter he had ready and ordered a larger one. The papers are now in the hands of the government agencies. Only two frequencies are available, and there are many requests. Pray that the Lord will cut through the red tape and give all the required approvals. Chad and I have been traveling in the eastern United States and Canada this last month. On May 30 we will return to Colombia. We request prayer for our safety and that of all our family and coworkers in Colombia at this difficult time. Keep praying for the Christian Kogis, and we will give you an update on them soon. (from http://gloriastendal.tripod.com/stendalnews/id3.html dated May 2002, via DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. GABON/CONGO 9770, Following recent DX news, I observed [Congo via] Moyabi 9770 kHz, viz. at 1735-1832, and this cannot be but another confirmation that this is actually Kinshasa's R. TV Congolaise; heard in French airing African light songs, TS, news 1800, independence day celebration announcements and scheduled events, weather 1825 followed by more music; rated 43442 with adjacent QRM de VOR in English 9775 and CRI 9765 in Russian and then co-channel QRM de VOA 9770 via the PHL at 1800 (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 26 via DXLD) What you hear between 1600 and 1900 on 9770 is definitely RTNC Kinshasa relay, presumably via Moyabi-Gabon. I've heard them yesterday from *16h00 till after 18h00. Every time I checked they were in French. I believe that the transmitter is in Gabon as has been reported, but I would expect a better signal here from Gabon. Yesterday it could not be described better than "fair" at the best of times. I've heard this stn in January 2002, but have not been monitoring this freq to say whether it has been on air regularly (Vashek Korinek, RSA, BC-DX July 1 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Radio For Peace International's Weekly Program Update for the week of 30 June - 6 July 2002 ================================================================= Frequency Schedule: BAND FREQUENCY/MODE UTC/GMT TIME (frequencies/hours subject to change without notice) 40 meters: 7.445 MHz (USB): 2200 - 0800 19 meters: 15.040 MHz (AM): 2200 - 0800 13 meters: 21.815 MHz (USB): 1200 - 0200 (currently off the air for maintenance) And streaming live on the Internet in MP3 at http://www.rfpi.org (RFPI via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** CUBA. A few items I am trying to obtain if anyone could help me: a photostat of the R. Salas, Habana 9030 kHz QSL showing the Habana racecourse; a copy of the R. Progreso, Habana, 9362 kHz QSL letter [pre-revolutionary]; the list of Cuban SW stations in the 1958 WRTH. Both R. Salas and R. Progreso had outlets in the 16m band, tho whether they were ever used I do not know. I am also interested in Circuito CMC [CMQ??] on 9670. Please write to L. J. Illingworth, c/o Chris Thomas, 2a Cross Street, Redruth TR15 2BU, UK (July BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. RADIO FREE EUROPE TO STOP CZECH BROADCASTS, SAYS CZECH RADIO | Excerpt from report by Czech radio on 2 July Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has decided to stop in three weeks' time its broadcasts in Czech. At present Radio Free Europe [RFE] broadcasts in Czech in cooperation with Czech Radio, using the CRo 6 frequencies... Source: Czech Radio1 - Radiozurnal, Prague, in Czech 1600 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ECUADOR, 4919, 0855-, R. Quito Jun 29 Fair reception with frequent IDs in Spanish. Talk by man and woman (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GEORGIA. During a recent visit to R. Georgia, I got this schedule from the Director of the Foreign Service Department. However, the Dusheti transmitters are often silent due to the ongoing energy crisis in the country: To Oslo: 0500-0530 Russian, 0530-0600 English, 0600-0630 German on 11805. 1830-1900 English, 1900-1930 German, 1930-2000 Russian on 11760. To Munich: 0700-0730 French, 0730-0800 English, 1700-1730 German, 1730-1800 English on 11910. To Tel Aviv: 0830-0900 English, 0900-0930 Georgian on 11910; 1530-1600 English, 1600-1630 Georgian on 6180. To Iran: 0400-0500 Tue & Thu Georgian; 1630-1800 Sat & Sun Georgian on 6080. To Armenia: 1415-1445 Armenian on 6080. To Azerbaijan: 1500-1530 Azerbaijani on 4540. R. Khara, 4540 and 4875, not to be confused with above broadcast on 4540; [mailing address confirmed as 52 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi – Dave Kenny] The grave economic situation, and the continuing energy crisis, also affect broadcasting. The LW transmitter on 189 kHz is too expensive to operate daily and it is now only used on special occasions requiring nationwide coverage such as every Monday at 0600 for the weekly address to the nation by president Edward Shevardnadze. On MW, Georgian Radio (``Sakartvelos Radio`` in Georgian) now only uses 1215 kHz regularly. This is a relatively low-power transmitter at Dusheti, just 40 km north of Tbilisi. Even in the capital it suffers from co-channel QRM from Sari, Iran in hours of darkness. However, this outlet is frequently off during power cuts, and this also applies to other transmitters. Therefore the relays of Voice of Hope and AWR were only short-lived. The Tbilisi transmitter, listed for GR2 on 1044 kHz, is now used by R. Iveria which belongs to the Georgian Orthodox Church (Iveria is an ancient name for Georgia). The station is on the air 24 hours a day and mainly broadcasts religious, cultural and educational programmes. Address: King Erekle Str. 1, 380005 Tbilisi (Maarten van Delft, Report from Georgia, July BDXC-UK Communication, retyped by gh for DXLD) ** GERMANY. Recent DW website changes have dramatically improved the accessibility of on-demand audio programming. The more user-friendly URL of http://kleist.dwelle.de/english/dpradio/audio.html brings you to a list of programs; the most recent edition of each can be obtained with one click. Even better, this page was just two clicks from the main DW website. Much, much improved. However, program scripts and archives aren't available as they were previously, nor is the dynamic list of programs and airtimes. I'm guessing this might still be a work-in-progress, but the reorganized audio availability is certainly a plus, IMHO (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** GERMANY. See http://www.swr.de/frequenzen/mittelwelle.html In the beginning only 576, 666, 1017 and 1485 will carry the new SWR Cont.Ra, 711 is to follow not earlier than mid-July. This should be the result of a STL problem: There are no longer feed circuits to the three 711 transmitters, instead they use Ballempfang from the next FM site for SWR 1 programming and the Astra satellite system for the Native Language Broadcasts (that's the official name of the broadcasts for foreign workers) with timers for the switches. Now they have to establish an alternative feed, which should be in practice the same one than for the Eureka-147 transmitters. Interesting that Freiburg 828 will stay with SWR 4 Radio Breisgau, provided that the table is correct. So far this frequency table is still the only mention of SWR Cont.Ra I could find on the SWR webpages. By the way, if anybody wonders about the 1485 outlet not listed in the Germany section of WRTH 2002: It is missing there by error and was in fact always on air (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Indeed Südwestrundfunk started its new SWR Cont.Ra program this morning at 0400. For the time being this program goes out on mediumwave only, the Astra satellite transmission will follow on September 1. Regarding Eureka-147 it is said that transmissions are to start not earlier than by the end of this year, and even then this will probably remain a poor L-band service with only local coverage. Why bother, there are the proven mediumwave outlets... Meanwhile SWR has a press release out: http://www.swr.de/presse/archiv/2002/07/01/2117/index.html Between 1700 and 2000 SWR Cont.Ra still includes the ARD broadcasts for foreign workers. As announced the SFB program infoRADIO is now relayed from 2000, tonight after a rather rough switch with a 1 kHz tone burst, followed by a loud crack. Evidently also the audio levels needs to be adjusted. I include a record (made on 1017) of the switch- over from the foreign workers stuff to infoRADIO, identifying itself as "Inforadio dreiundneunzig-eins" acc. it's 93.1 Berlin outlet, then news announcer Siegfried Fiedler welcomes the Südwestrundfunk listeners. The audio on 576/666/1017 is about a half second behind Calau 93.4. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Re DXLD 2-105: Hi Glenn, There can be various reasons for audio delays, but at high power SW stations the most likely explanation is to even out modulation peaks between different transmitters, which makes for a smoother and more efficient use of power. A reduction in power surges can prolong the life of expensive components such as tubes. I know we do this at Bonaire, and I imagine they also do it at Wertachtal. To my recollection, this has been mentioned a number of times before in DXLD and other publications (Andy Sennitt, RN, Netherlands, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDIA. AIR External Service has started Kannada language transmissions from July 1, 2002, beamed to the Middle east at 0215 to 0300 on 11985 and 15075, both via Bangalore 500 kW (Thanks to Alok Das Gupta also for the info) Kannada is the mother tongue of the people of the South Indian state of Karnataka and the state capital is Bangalore. The new programs originate at AIR Bangalore itself according to the announcements that I heard. The AIR National Channel programs on 9425 at 1320 to 0041 UT are tests and the transmitter is of 500 kW from Bangalore. There are plans for a new day time SW Service also for Home Service, probably relaying the FM II Service from Delhi (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- This group specialises exclusively on Broadcasting in India! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Important Dates for Broadcasting by AIR : ---------------------- 1927 - July 23 - 2002 : Platinum Jubilee of AIR ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ** IRAN [non]. DAILY SAYS FOREIGN RADIO STATIONS PLAN TO CREATE TURMOIL IN IRAN | Text of report by Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site on 2 July In the past few days, foreign radio [stations] have launched an extensive propaganda campaign to create turmoil on the anniversary of the Tehran University campus on 18 Tir [9 July]. The monarchists living in America plan to hold gatherings in the streets of Tehran in support of the elements who staged a riot in Tehran between 19 and 22 Tir 1378 [10 and 13 July 1999]. At the same time, using the media at their disposal and foreign radio [stations], they are also planning to organize riots in Tehran. These campaigns are mainly oriented towards the youths and university students. Therefore, the youths and university students should deal with such provocation with awareness in order to foil this plot. The street riots of 19-22 Tir 1378 [10-13 July 1999] were organized by American agents and on those days the heads of America and Israel openly declared that the lifetime of the Islamic Republic system had ended! That plot for toppling [the government] was foiled with an epic demonstration by the united people on 23 Tir [14 July]. Source: Jomhuri-ye Eslami web site, Tehran, in Persian 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. IRAQ SAYS CZECHS HELP ITS ENEMIES BY ALLOWING RADIO FREE EUROPE BROADCASTS | Excerpt from report in English by Czech news agency CTK Prague, 2 July: The Iraqi government views Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL) broadcasts from the Czech Republic as an act of enemy, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri Ahmad al-Hadithi says in the daily Hospodarske noviny today. He stresses that the Radio Free Europe broadcasts from Prague to Iraq have had a very negative impact on bilateral elections. "The Czech Republic has trampled down the long-lasting good relations which were between our countries," the paper quotes Sabri as saying. Sabri says, however, that the broadcasts from Prague do not influence the situation in Iraq in any way and mean nothing for Iraq. "We are standing up to American and British bombs and missiles," he says. However, Baghdad resents the fact that the Czech Republic provides "space to our (Iraq's) enemies and allows the CIA (the US intelligence service) to spread anti-Iraq propaganda", he says... Once expanded relations between the communist Czechoslovakia and the Baghdad authoritative regime deteriorated after the fall of the Iron Curtain in Europe and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. The relations further cooled in the autumn of 1998 when RFE started broadcasts to Iraq from Prague. Iraq officially protested against the broadcasts but later said that it would not hamper the RFE signal as it is not bothered by it... Source: CTK news agency, Prague, in English 0559 gmt 2 Jul 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** JORDAN. Glenn, Here is some news. I have not noticed Radio Jordan on their regular 11690 frequency during their regular hours. Have they changed frequencies? (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST, WORLD OF RADIO 1138) R. Jordan, 15290, June 6 at 1124 in English, ``HRW worries over Loya Jurga``, SIO 444 (David Gascoyne, Kent, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Not supposed to be in English here; presume wrong programme fed to transmitter (Tony Rogers, BDXC-UK ed., via WOR 1138, DXLD) However, R. Jordan was still reported on 11690 in English the same date at 1559 with time signal, news of Syria dam casualties, SIO 444, also by David Gascoyne; and on June 15 at 1600 with news on Israel and Palestine, SIO 444 (Clare Pinder, Cumbria, BDXC-UK Communication via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. This morning at 0015 I noted two stations synchronized on 4790, obviously AIR and Azad Kashmir. There was also a signal spot on freq until about 1710, so it seems that the technicians at Rawat finally fixed the long standing frequency offset. The nasty het from AIR at 0000 must have prompted them to do something (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 25 via WOR 1138, DXLD) This morning I was able to pick up 4790 again at the 2340 sign on. Indeed this was the usual very buzzy transmitter, so they have corrected the frequency offset of the existing rig. The frequency synchronisation with AIR is next to perfect. Clearly, they are using a crystal drive for this channel (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Jun 26 via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. Pyongyang heard on 13760, also 15245 --- thanx to your tips. 1900 UT (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 4662.28, 1208-, R. Houa Phan Jun 29 Weak talk, but equal to parallel 6130. This morning, 1123 30/6 weak, but in the clear on 4662.24. A tentative logging. Difficult for me to tell this from a Vietnamese station. I'll check again at 1200 for //6130. Confirmed with Big Ben type gongs just before 1200 (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LAOS. 7145, 1325-, R. LAOS Jun 29 Relatively strong signal in French until just before 1330, then dead air until 1331 and ID as Lao National Radio, in English. Modulation must have diminished, because little heard after this. Lots of adjacent splatter. Following morming at 1311 tune in, 30/6 French monotone by YL. About same strength as yesterday (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. RBWI test for RFE/RL via Sitkunai, Litauen-1386. Very detailed QSL-letter from v/s: Rimantas Pleikys, who also sent his booklet "Radio Censorship" in Russian (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Heard Radio Nord, 9980, started 2001. Signal plagued by QRM, little disappointed (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9980, Radio Nord, 1955 June 30, fair with mostly talk in Swedish between two men, canned "Radio Nord" slogan. More IDs including jingle at 2000 (Paul Ormandy, Host of The South Pacific DX Report http://radiodx.com DX KUSTEBUBG, or rather LISTENING DIGEST) ** MAURITANIA [and non]. I don't know what might have happened to R. Mauritanie's MF outlet of 783 kHz as reception vanished for quite some time. Meanwhile, I logged Nouakchott again on a Sunday, viz. 23 Jun 1506 at 24443 airing Vernacular program for some talk and chantings. Neighbouring MALI 7285 was also tried, but nothing was heard. The last time I managed to pick up MTN on 41 mb was also a Sunday afternoon, viz. on 5th May last. To some extent, I doubt they're using 100 kW on 41 mb (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 24 via DXLD) Further to my previous report, I did manage to get a successful try on 25 Jun 2120, when they were heard at 22431 \\ to 4845 airing a Vn program with some talk and chantings; co-channel QRM de En+POR despite using a K9AY. Another observation today 30 Jun 1501 airing Vn program on 7245 rated at 15341 also thanks to the K9AY loop only (Carlos Goncalves, Portugal, BC-DX Jun 25 via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. 12015, 1021-, VOICE OF MONGOLIA Jun 29 Good to very good signal with English program of Mongolian music with the same woman who's been presenting for years! Nice to hear them so well again! (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. USA, 14370, VOA, (2 x 7185), 0457 July 1, Noted this strong second harmonic just above the 20 meter ham band a couple of minutes before their 0500 sign off (David Hodgson, TN, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) Site is Morocco, per current online sked, 7185 used only at 0430-0500 in Croatian (gh, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 5985.80, 1427-, R. Myanmar Jun 29 Burmese vocals at fair level. More or less obliterated by splatter by 1430 when English scheduled (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Very nice 90 meter reception from PNG this morning July 1. Near greyline propagation and relatively quiet band conditions allowed for the best DX from PNG at this location in quite a while. Here are some of the stronger stations: 3205, R. Sanduan, 1020, July 1, Phone in show. ID by YL at 1036. 3235, R. West New Britain, 1025, July 1, Man in Pidgin, S9 peaks on base loaded vertical. ID by announcer at 1030. Beautiful traditional choral music at 1034. Nice solid copy. 3355, R. Simbu, 0909, July 1, English news and announcements till 0930. ID in passing. Poor EQ on announcer`s mic, all bass. Very muddy. Into national type news in English at 1000. 3385, R East New Britain (presumed), 1045. Nice signal also S9 here. Regional pop, time check "9 minutes to 9:00". Didn't stick around for ID (David Hodgson, Nashville TN, July 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 1737 kHz, 1250-, NDB aerobeacon KUT Jun 29 Fair reception with continuous slow CW K-U-T (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 2410, 0845-, R. Enga Jun 29-30 Noted with poor, but building strength on the 29th. I neglected to check on the 30th. 3204.98, 0855-, R. Sandaun Jun 29-30 Radio West Sepik (Sandaun) good reception with Tok Pisin. Following morning, measured on 3204.96. Did not break for national news at 1000. Non-stop island music, the a Johnny Cash piece, and a gospel medley. Tok Pisin at 1021, but no definite IDs noted. Time check for 20 past 8:00. 3220, 0845-, R. Morobe Jun 29-30 Very good reception with IDs in Tok Pisin. Following day, monitored them from before 1000 with 'Let me be there in the morning', then into the national news, but not until 1001:45. Encountered a major problem with echos, which resolved after the relay ended. 3235, 0925-, R. West New Britain Jun 29 I'm thrilled to see that many of the PNG stations have returned. Now's the time to monitor them again, as I suspect this is a temporary reversal of the general decline of SW broadcasting in PNG, owing to national elections. Tok Pisin, with many mentions of provincial elections, ballot boxes, provincial administrator William ?, and West New Britain heard numerous times. Good reception. Following morning heard after 0930 with religious hymn, 'Ballad of St John'. Full ID noted after the ballad. 3245, 0845-, R. Gulf Jun 29-30 Fair to good reception with Tok Pisin about the 4th of July. Following day noted after 0930 with much music and talk, but no definite ID. Best reception on LSB to avoid QRM. 3260, 0930-, R. Madang Jun 30 No mention of this station on the 29th in my log, and specifically noted not on the air on the 30th after 0930. 3275, 0940-, R. Southern Highlands Jun 29-30 Fair reception with election talk, into local music. Poor to fair on the 30th. 3290, 0942-, R. Central Jun 29-30 Poor signal due to heavy utility interference, but heard with Tok Pisin, into local music. Fair reception the following day after 0930 with the hets eliminated by the notch filter. 3290, 0907-, R. Central Jun 29 Nice steady S7 to S9 signal with local guitar and vocals. Lower modulation woman in Tok Pisin at 0909. Other PNGs audible at this time: 2410 (poor), 3204.96 (Radio West Sepik good/vgd 1-12). 3305, 0945-, R. Western Jun 29-30 Poor reception with Tok Pisin on the 29th. The following day, heard at same time with country and western music at fair to good levels. 3315, 1049-, R. Manus Jun 29-30 Not on the 29th, but back on the 30th. National news at 0900, and also heard at 1049 at good to very good level with C&W music, Tok Pisin with mentions of transparency, and accountability. Interviewed Vanuatu's PM, Mr Edward ?. LSB found to be best to avoid QRM. At 1053 there was a conch shell call, followed by information about an Australian website concerning the colonial legacy. Local time check, and into western music. 3325, 2129- [sic; means 0929?], R. North Solomons (Radio Bougainville) Jun 29-30 Not heard on the 29th, but logged after 0930 with fair reception with some cochannel interference. 3335, 0930-, R. East Sepik Jun 29-30 Not on the air on the 29th, nor the 30th. 3345, 0900-, R. Northern Jun 29-30 NOT heard either day. My notes have no reference to this station, so not sure if the transmitter still exists or not. 3355, 0950-, R. Simbu Jun 29-30 Strong signal but with muddy audio with talk, and into western music after open carrier for some time. Following morning, again very strong with religious talk re Sarah and Abraham, and mentions of Christian radio, thank you, Mondai, Number 1 asking in Tok Pisin. 3365, 0945-, R. Milne Bay Jun 29-30 Not heard on the 29th, and only came across a weak het on the 30th, so I'm not sure about this one. 3375, 0950-, R. Western Highlands Jun 29-30 Good reception 29/6. Same time on the 30th with Tok Pisin, mentioning private enterprise, education, white man, Great Britain number one. ID at 1043. National news at 0901:40 on the 30th, with switch to local program at 0914. Fair to good. 3385, 1009-, R. East New Britain Jun 29-30 Heard on both days. After the national news relay, reverted to local programming at 1011 answering a call from the field from a correspondent. 'Hello. We have you loud and clear. Count number 12 ballot box....' The language did not sound Tok Pisin, but rather more likely one of the many indigenous languages. Reception was very good, but utterly boring with the counts of each ballot box. Apparently (thanks for the information from Don Nelson), there has been major concern re ballot rigging, due to past fraudulent results, and so major care was undertaken to prevent this, this time around. Continued with this same format past 1311, long after the other stations had signed off (or faded out). This same count by the box continued the following day with some utility interference. 3395, 0900-, R. Eastern Highlands Jun 30 No mentions in my logbook for the 29th, and definitely not on the air on the 30th. 3905, 1000-, R. New Ireland Jun 29-30 Very nice to see this station back. Beautiful signal with full ID and time check for 8:00 in Tok Pisin. Following day heard at 0930 with just minor ham QRN. Local ID, and then a public service announcement for AIDS: 'Use condoms all the time'. A Scottish piece followed. 4890, 0930-, NBC Port Moresby Jun 29-30 Usual superb reception on both mornings. Heard well past 1200 (All: Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) An announcement today July 1st 2002 by NBC Karai National News indicates that a majority of the PNG provinces have extended their election polling date deadline to July 6th. So for us DXers this may (?) translate into the continued possibilities of extended transmission hours by many of the provincial NBC Kundu service SW stations to this date (Ian Baxter, ARDXC June 30 via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) Some stations were running all-night, UT July 1: 3205 and 3385. Good, because reception here is much better in the morning (Chris Hambly, Victoria, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Estuve chequeando en las últimas dos semanas la frecuencia anunciada a través de la cual Radio América, del Paraguay, emitirá en onda corta: 7300 khz. Y nada. No pude captar nada desde Buenos Aires y tampoco desde Lobos, donde las condiciones de recepción son sensiblemente mejores que desde esta megalópolis. Acabo de entrar a la página en Internet de la emisora http://www.radiodifusionamerica.com.py/ y encontré estos datos que reproduzco: ZP20 Radio América 9 de Agosto c/Acceso Sur, Ñemby, Paraguay. Cartas a: Casilla de Correo N 2220 Asunción Paraguay Teléfonos: (595-21) 960 228 / 964 100 Fax: (595-21) 963 149 E-mail: ramerica@r... [truncado por yahoogroups] Director General Pastor José A. Holowaty Nada se dice en la pagina web de la salida en onda corta de la emisora. No es facil encontrar sitios en Internet de emisoras paraguayas. No sólo para intentar su escucha sino también para recabar datos sobre las mismas. En http://www.yagua.com/ hay acceso a las siguientes estaciones... [incluyendo a América]: (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, June 30, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Yo "cada rato" chequeo la frecuencia y nunca se escucha nada. Estoy más o menos a 200 km del QTH de la planta y tendría que entrar como "cañón" aquí. Creo que todavía "no pasa nada". Deben tener problemas de algún índole.... En esta semana estaré en contacto con el Sr. Mur. No le he querido molestar tanto, porque sé que quiere poner la radio lo más pronto posible y cuando se complican las cosas no da gusto ser "molestado" ;) Hace algunas semanas pasé por cerca de las nuevas instalaciones y pude observar la nueva antena para AM y también parte da la antena para la onda corta. Saludos (Levi Iverson, Paraguay, ibid.) ** PERU. 4746.85, 1027-, R. Huanta 2000 Jun 30 Spanish programming at weak levels, presumed to be this one. EZL and Andean music, and talk. 4826.45, 1033-, R. Sicuani Jun 30 Weak audio in Spanish. Again a presumed logging, with two men talking (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 11840, 0850-, Radio Sakhalin Jun 30 Local ID in Russian, then into American C&W song, Lone Star. Very good. Presume this hour has local programming (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. Regarding rumours about a relay of a European classic rock station via Bolshakovo, a well informed source in Russia has confirmed that a nighttime project is under preparation for 1386 kHz, but no further details are available yet. The start could take place in about 2 or 3 months (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX list via Dave Kenny, July BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. NEW INTERNATIONAL ARAB TV STATION PLANNED A member of the Saudi Royal Family has revealed plans to launch an international satellite TV station from London to help clear up misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims. Prince Mansur bin Nasser bin Abdul Aziz told the Al-Watan daily that the station would be on the air "after finalising some necessary procedures," but declined to give a launch date. The Prince says that capital funding has been secured through charities and international bank loans. Operating revenue will come through sponsorships and advertisements for Arab and Islamic products. The station will initially broadcast in English to the United States, Canada and Europe. Later, programmes in German, French, Spanish and Italian will be added. As well as seeking to present the Arab and Islamic world in a more positive light, another aim of the station will be to highlight investment opportunities and tourism in the region (© Radio Netherlands Media Network July 2 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [and non]. Allen Graham interviewed two representatives of the Far East Broadcasting Association: Mike Proctor works from Cyprus, and Theodora Hanidis works from their U.K. headquarters. Both of them are affiliated with FEBA's "Spotlight" broadcasts in Specialized English, which is derived from the Voice of America's Special English slow-speed English broadcasts, although FEBA Radio has no connection with VOA. Specialized English uses slowly-spoken English with a limited vocabulary, for listeners who have a limited knowledge of English. These broadcasts began in 1999. Mike and Theodora recently visited HCJB and Ecuador to meet the station staff and to meet "Spotlight" listeners. This program is being carried on FEBA, HCJB, TWR Swaziland, and FEBC Manila. The schedule is available at http://specialized.english.net/bxplans.htm Mike and Theodora also talked about FEBA in general. Most of its transmissions are from Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, where FEBA owns three 100-kW transmitters. Their antenna array includes 6 curtains and 7 masts, arranged in an arc. They cover Sri Lanka, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and southern Africa on shortwave. They also own or co-own a number of local FM stations in Africa. More information is on their website at: http://www.feba.org.uk/schedule FEBA Radio may have to move its transmitter site due to a government land reclamation project; tests are being done to determine if FEBA can still get out its shortwave transmissions without harm to the people who will live on the reclaimed land. Updates on this are available from time to time at http://www.feba.org.uk QSLs are available for FEBA transmissions, but reports must be sent to the Seychelles transmitter site, to avoid delays that happen when the reports are sent to the U.K. headquarters and have to be forwarded. The postal address: FEBA ** P.O. Box 234 ** Seychelles ** Indian Ocean (HCJB DX Partyline June 29, notes contributed By: Marie Lamb, Syracuse, New York, USA, W9WZE site via DXLD) ** SIERRA LEONE. 6137.5, 29.6 2210, UNAMSIL was heard with really bad strength with mostly nonstop, boring music, making a report was not possible. Unfortunately. 2. OVE (Ove Fransson, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) 6137.7, 28.6 2340, UNAMSIL with a program very hard to report about the British and Camerunian soldiers in Freetown. DO (Dan Olsson, ibid.) ** SOMALIA. DETAILS OF RADIO DMC AND RADIO MIDNIMO Radio DMC Radio DMC (Democratic Media Concern) is based in Baydhabo (alternative spelling: Baidoa), the capital of Bay region in south-central Somalia. It broadcasts on 88.8 MHz FM in the Somali and Rahanwein languages (the latter is sometimes referred to as Maay). The radio claims to be independent and not affiliated to any of the political factions in Somalia. Baydhabo is currently controlled by the Rahanwein Resistance Army (RRA), the faction which controls the Bay and Bakool regions and which is opposed to the Transitional National Government in Mogadishu. Radio DMC is reportedly owned by local Somali businessmen and some in the diaspora. Radio DMC is a separate station from the RRA-controlled Radio Baydhabo. This latter station used to be heard on shortwave (6810 kHz) but has been untraced on that channel for a while. Radio DMC's daily programming includes news in Rahanwein at 1400 gmt and in Somali at 1700 gmt. The station closes down at 2000 gmt. Radio Midnimo Radio Midnimo (the Somali for Unity) broadcasts on FM from Boosaaso, the main port and commercial capital of the self-declared state of Puntland in northeast Somalia. Boosaaso was captured by forces loyal to Col Abdullahi Yusuf in May 2002. It had previously been held by those loyal to Jama Ali Jama. Subsequently, Yusuf's authorities closed down another radio station in the town, Somali Broadcasting Corporation (SBC). Radio Midnimo broadcasts news in Somali at 1030, 1300 and 1700 gmt. Close-down is at 1900 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research Jul 02 (via DXLD) ** SOUTH AFRICA. Radio Veritas, 3280. E-mail, long personal letter from v/s: Emil Blaser OP, eblaser@iafrica.com Address: P O Box 134, 2110 Mondeor, South Afrika. Claims that they have got reception reports from Bologna (I think I know from whom?) and Australia too (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. 7235, 0400-, ADVENTIST WORLD R. Jun 29 Incredibly strong signal in African accented English and into religious music (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA. Thanx for updating the news about Stair. As far as I know he is still there in his cell (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I today received a handwritten letter from Brother Stair. It is two pages long (one sheet of paper but written on both sides of). Also, the outside of the envelope has the following rubber stamped onto it. "The Colleton County Detention Center has neither censored nor inspected this item. Therefore this facility does not assume responsibility for its contents." I had sent him two blank sheets of paper, but only one of them came back. Same envelope with the excessive postage in case he wrote back after June 30. Here's one paragraph: "Brother, I am in Maximum Security locked down for 23 hrs in a single cell with a bunk & toilet and water and they bring 3 meals a day." A little later: "No Radio - TV - [begin underline here] a phone yes to all here local." He also says he's in maximum security because one of the other prisoners got saved and was joyous all night. "He Just shouted and sang and rejoiced all nite and through the next day." (all sic from his handwriting). So they declared Brother Stair to be too "carmatic" (charismatic) and put him in maximum security. He also says, "No Hot drinks or meals no hard pen or any thing that can be used as a weapon. " Also: "Yes they open the mail and I am sure they read it. So your letter may even be copied. I don't know." He refuses to answer my question about his own guilt. But he writes: "Some men here are guilty and others have been charged with that that seem so unfair. Only God Knows." (all sic) He ends: "Hope to Be Out Soon on Bond or charge Dropped God Willing." The word Bond is underlined and the words God Willing double underlined. Signed "Brother Stair." He answers less questions than he answers, but I got more than I expected. On the outside of the envelope he wrote for the return address not the jail's but the Overcomer P. O. Box (Robert Arthur, June 28, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Check out http://rickross.com/groups/rgstair.html Has links to several articles, plus some lovely pics. ;-) 73/ (Liz Cameron, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Including two clumsily edited audio files apparently from unattributed ``network`` TV coverage, but really local: http://www.thenetteam.net/newspt1.ram and http://www.thenetteam.net/newspt2.ram ...and this story we have not seen before: FATHER CLAIMS SON'S DEATH WAS FOUL PLAY Father of a young man who recently died at a Canady's religious community, the Overcomer Ministry, says he suspects foul play. The Press and Standard/June 14, 2002 By Libby Roerig An autopsy revealed Stanley Crawford Bean, 27, died of cerebral herniation on Tuesday, May 28, according to Chief Deputy Coroner Willard Long. Bean, who had been living at the Overcomer Ministry in Canady's for about one year and a half, had a history of seizure-like symptoms. "The man wanted to go," Teresa Stair said in an earlier interview. "He really wanted to be with the Lord. He said, Sister Stair, I am so happy if I am going to be with the Lord." Teresa Stair is the wife of the Overcomer Ministry's leader Ralph Stair, 69, who is currently being held without bond at the Colleton County Detention Center on two counts of criminal sexual conduct and two counts of breach of trust. In the weeks proceeding Bean's death, fellow community members say Bean had been complaining of a variety of medical problems including losing his vision, Long said. "Brother Stan and I prayed for him two days before he died," said Teresa Stair. "The Lord sent me to him, and I prayed for him. I just believed he going to live." Considering his age and medical history, Stan Bean's father George believes his son's death was deliberate. "I believe foul play is involved, He walks in there healthy and comes out on a stretcher," George Bean said. "I really have the feeling myself that something was done to Stan to make him have a hemorrhage of the brain." "I think its bad, they could have saved him. He was sick for two days, and they didn't do anything. They just watched him die. I don't trust those people." Though Stan Bean died shortly before 11 PM, his father says he wasn't notified until about 8:45 AM the next day. The Colleton County Coroner's office wasn't notified until 9:30 AM, according to Long. "The cell phone rang," he said. "I forgot who it was, but they said, `Your son Stan passed away peacefully in his sleep.'" Though the ministry has offered to pay for a portion of the burial costs, George Bean says that gesture isn't enough. "I'm sort of bitter anyway. There's nothing that can be done now, because my son is dead and buried," said George Bean. Stan was always a pillar of great health, his father says. "When Stan left home, he was well," George Bean said. Active in many sports such as baseball, basketball and football, Stan Bean also excelled academically and was voted most popular by his high school class, his father said. "He was a normal everyday kid,"he said. After finishing high school, Stan Bean's behavior changed, as he became reckless and wild. George Bean says the death of his wife in 1998 instigated his son's desire for salvation. Stan Bean, who worked in construction, began attending service at the Seventh Day Adventist church, and shortly thereafter began following Stair. "I wish I knew how he got involved with that cult," George Bean said. "I don't know how they do it, but they brainwash those people. "I really would like a way that no other young people could be brought into that place, ever, ever." Stan Bean and several other men moved to Nickels, Ga. They would work during the week and attend church services on the weekend. "They were giving all their money to that cult," he said. "He gave them everything he had." After Stan Bean moved to Canady's, George Bean says he made two visits to the farm. "I wanted to see where my son was," he said. "I wanted to meet Stair, but they said he didn't meet people." Another thing that bothered George Bean was the fact that he never could be alone with his son. "Every time he came out of the Overcomers, he had this guy named Samuel with him. It was like they didn't want him alone," he said. George Bean recently made another visit to the farm to collect his son's belongings. "It looked like someone had been through his stuff," he said. Since his younger son's death, George Bean says he thinks of him all the time. Stan bean's older brother committed suicide in 1990. "It's been a shocker. I'm still numb," he said. (via Rick Ross cult site as above, via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** TANZANIA. 5050.1, 0356-, R. Tanzania Jun 29 Poor to fair reception of this African, with local music, and talk in local language. Generally a lot of noise tonight (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. 4905, 1231-, Tibet Peoples BS Jun 29 Good reception of Lhasa in either Chinese or Tibetan presumably. Parallels noted 4920, 5240, and 6200 (all weaker). Rechecked at 1255 with even better signal, to hear Cuban music! Short talk by male, then more traditional Chinese music. Just before top of hour announcement by YL and into rather martial sounding NA. Followed by further talk by YL and OM (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, China-6130. 3 pages handwritten letter in English from v/s: Tse Ring Deky, who says: "Your letter brightened my day"! 73 from (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TUNISIA [non]. Millennium Voice via Woofferton, 21550, June 8 at 1340 news and talks in Arabic, various canned IDs in English, such as ``On 21550 kHz shortwave, broadcasting to Tunisia, Algeria and Central Africa, this is Millennium Voice.`` 1430*, SIO 242 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, July BDXC-UK Communication via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) I haven`t tried yet, but with Chile curtailed on 21550 to 1300-1400 only, MV should be in the clear for us at last, after 1400 (Glenn Hauser, OK, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. From: ``Donald Field`` g3xtt@lineone.net To: kb8nw@barf80.nshore.org Subject: GB50_-_Wrap_Up? Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 10:08:32 +0100 GB50 (Great Britain Fifty) at Windsor Castle ended operations at 1900 UTC on 9th June. GB50 was probably the highest-profile special event station ever to be activated from the UK. For those of us fortunate enough to be involved, it was quite something to participate in the Queen`s Golden Jubilee in this way, surrounded by the pageantry and history of Windsor Castle. As well as achieving 24,727 QSOs in 145 DXCC entities, several hundred visitors to Windsor Castle each day took time out to watch the operation and to tour the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain) Amateur Radio Experience exhibition. They were also given the opportunity to exchange greetings via the ham bands. Many visiting amateurs from around Europe and also from JA, W, etc. took the opportunity to operate the station. GB50 was also visited by His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, Patron of the RSGB. A full write-up and photographs will appear in the RSGB magazine RadCom and also on the GB50 Website http://www.gb50.com Some statistics: QSOs by band: 80 461 40 4124 30 1463 20 4167 17 3921 15 6790 12 1408 10 1174 6 849 2 370 QSOs by mode: CW 12,221 SSB 12,214 FM 126 RTTY 113 PSK 53 And a reminder from previous News Releases: Operating Awards: See previous announcements, GB50 Web site and K1BV Web site. See also RSGB Web site for details of additional awards related both to GB50 and to the special GQ/MQ/2Q prefixes being used during June by UK stations. QSL Route: Owen Cross, G4DFI, (bureau, or direct to: 28 Garden Avenue, Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4LF, England). Web Sites: GB50: http;//www.gb50.com RSGB: http://www.rsgb.org Golden Jubilee: http://www.goldenjubilee.gov.uk Info - Don Field G3XTT, Publicity Officer g3xtt@lineone.net Once again, many thanks to Icom UK, who provided the equipment for GB50. Regards, Don G3XTT (KB8NW/OPDX July 1/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Dear Glenn: Heard Radio Ezra's last broadcast of the current series at 0500 to 0530 on 30 June. Reception was terrible and didn't understand much beyond the initial ID. The signal was pretty much buried in the noise. Hill's website says he hopes to have a 4th series of broadcasts on starting in October. Cheers, Bill Wilkins, Springfield, MO, July 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RUSSIA 17735, 0458-, R. EZRA Jun 30 Final broadcast in the present series, with usual transmitter tones, and into programming at TOH. 0504 time check, ID, and mention of program to WCNA. Good with mild fades. Latter, reception becoming more difficult with only a S3 to S5 signal. At the end of transmission, mentions he'd like to come back and broadcast perhaps to Africa. Unfortunately the late hour for the west coast causes reception to be highly variable, from excellent to poor. I found the 2330 transmission much more dependable. Thanks John for your efforts (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. This received from SRSnews: We are pleased to advise Laser Radio will be running our first test broadcast this coming Sunday 7 th July, on 5935 kHz shortwave. We shall be transmitting with 100,000 watts from 1400 until 2200 UT. Reception reports to : Laser Radio BCM Aquarius London WC1N 3XX England Our website has also been updated - http://laserradio.net (via SRSnews, also via David Hodgson, TN, WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) Anyone know where this transmission is from - Latvia on 5935 (as used by Caroline) springs to mind? Although they don't mention it above, the Laser website says they are printing "only" a quantity of 2002 QSL cards and request a donation of £4 or 6 Euros or $5 if you want a card (!) - (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK via WORLD OF RADIO 1138, DXLD) ** U S A. STATE OUT OF STEP, By WILLIAM SAFIRE, WASHINGTON http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/01/opinion/01SAFI.html?ex=1026514390&ei=1&en=d8380c3c6d489474 [also at http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/01/opinion/01SAFI.html --- Kim Elliott] In a column soon after 9/11 titled "Equal Time for Hitler?," I noted that our taxpayer-supported, government-sponsored Voice of America was "balancing" reports of the terrorist outrage by broadcasting interviews with Muslim supporters of terror. The anti-U.S. propagandist given air time by V.O.A. that especially stirred my ire was Yasir al Serri of the Gama'a Islamiyya, warning that Americans must make no accusations against Islamists "before knowing the full truth." V.O.A. failed to identify the group of which al Serri was spokesman as one that had in 1997 killed 58 foreign tourists and 4 Egyptians. The same V.O.A. news department ignored our State Department's protest and provided a world broadcast platform to Muhammad Omar, the Taliban leader harboring Osama bin Laden. Listeners the world over were informed by Omar on our network that "America has created the evil that is attacking it" and should stop "imposing its empire" on Islam. After a blast by Senator Jesse Helms and my provocative headline, an interim V.O.A. chief issued a soothing guideline that "we will not give a platform to terrorists or extremist groups." The new Bush- appointed V.O.A. boss, Robert Reilly, had conservative backing and tries to resist giving equal time to murderers on U.S. government facilities. In the old days of 2001, moral clarity was in fashion at Foggy Bottom. But last week, in the posh reception room of the State Department, at a ceremony blessed by the attendance of an approving Secretary Colin Powell, the same news director who approved the previous policy of equal time for terror emerged triumphant. Andre de Nesnera was given an award by the American Foreign Service Association for "constructive dissent" in refusing to follow the suggestion from State last September to deny terrorists U.S. airtime. Champagne corks popped, Secretary Powell's presence was taken to be an official apology, and de Nesnera was hailed by foreign service officers for "the courage to challenge the system from within." Within hours of having been lionized by the accommodationist diplomatic establishment for having etched his profile in courage, the triumphant news director fired a member of his staff named Stephen Schwartz. An excuse may be leaked, but I think the real reason is ironic: the former San Francisco Chronicle reporter is an outspoken dissenter from the news director's views. Schwartz, a contributor to the conservative Weekly Standard, is critical of Saudi and Syrian support of terror: in September, Doubleday will publish his likely best seller, "The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Saud From Tradition to Terror." The abrasive reporter, 53, who covered the war in Bosnia and Kosovo firsthand, was unpopular with deskbound colleagues. Nor did he join the 100 V.O.A. employees who signed a petition last year supporting the news director's defense of its offer of a platform to al Serri and Mullah Omar. The U.S. government's newsroom tilts pro-Arafat and anti-Sharon. Four times in one week, director Reilly had to pull stories that featured Arab justifications of suicide bombing. Last week, he was too late to catch a broadcast interview about reaction to President Bush's Middle East speech that called terrorists "freedom fighters" engaged in a "resistance movement." In analyzing Bush's presentation of the U.S. position, a Hamas leader's diatribe was supposedly balanced by an Arabist former U.S. diplomat. Belatedly, that story was yanked from the V.O.A. Web site. Why can't the White House, State, Congress and the moribund Broadcasting Board get a handle on a unified public expression to the world of America's resolve? When V.O.A.'s new Middle East Radio Network took control of medium-wave transmitters located in Kuwait, that unplugged our AM broadcasts in Farsi to Iran and Radio Free Iraq's Arabic broadcasts to Iraq. Now a half-hour of music is followed by four minutes of news and not one pro-U.S. editorial. Why? Because V.O.A. bureaucrats have been spending months asking focus groups what Arabs want to hear. We are getting our act together on homeland security, and may even work out a rapprochement between the C.I.A. and F.B.I. But when it comes to knocking heads together to get our wartime message out — to persuade Islamic people that freedom is in their political interest, and that the path of democracy offers their best hope for a good life — our Voice is faint and our public diplomacy a flop. Forum: Join a Discussion on William Safire's Columns (Moderated) (NY Times Op-Ed July 1 via Tom McNiff, VA, Harry Helms, CA, DXLD) Information about Andre de Nesnera's creative dissent award is at... http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=B5EDCCE9-C15F-4FD2-9517F0556A866010&title=VOA%20Receives%20Ethics%20Award%20for%20Mullah%20Omar%20Interview By the way, any news releases about Radio Sawa/MERN, and about BBG, can be found at the BBG website -- http://www.bbg.gov/bbg_news.htm -- rather than at voanews.com 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) VERY SAD, VERY SAD indeed. Maybe the best idea would be to suspend the shortwave, medium wave, FM, internet et al. and just a present a service Members of Congress and Mr. Safire, feel comfortable with. No sane listener will be fooled by a propaganda service. Too many international broadcasters like Swiss Radio International, Radio Austria International, and DW have decided the people of the Foreign Ministry are the most important audience, the rest of audience be dammed, 'all they want is a QSL card anyway.' AND YOU KNOW SOMETHING, they are right, the programs are so boring, only someone who needs a QSL card would bother to listen anyway. I hope the VOA will maintain a higher standard! It should useful for soemthing other than obtaining QSL Cards (Larry Nebron, CA, swprograms via DXLD) ** U S A. U.S. RADIO CHARM BLITZ HITS CRACKED NOTE FOR ARABS By Joseph Logan BEIRUT, Lebanon (Reuters) - Hoping to soothe Arab anger at its policies, Washington is spinning frothy pop tunes and the United States take on Middle East news across the region, but the signs are that even those who like to dance cannot stand the message. As many Arabs seethe over a Middle East policy speech by President Bush demanding that Palestinians reject their leadership to achieve a state, the United States faces a tall order in persuading the region it is an honest broker of peace rather than Israel's mouthpiece and cash cow. U.S. officials believe Radio Sawa -- an Arabic language service mixing music with news reflecting Washington's view of the region -- is making inroads toward easing the resentment America was forced to confront in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. Arab listeners, however, say they'll take Sawa's heavy dose of Arabic and English-language pop but have no use for the world view of Washington, which they deem the power that keeps Israel afloat and gives it the green light to oppress Palestinians. "I like the music, I hate America," said one listener, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman studying at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Part of a public diplomacy campaign launched after the attacks of Sept. 11, Sawa hopes to boost U.S. stock in the region through the tactics of American mass marketing, using government funds through the Middle East Radio Network. It hit the airwaves in late March, and is heard clearly in Amman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait on FM, and with less success in Egypt and Lebanon via AM transmissions. It has also received permission to begin transmitting from Cyprus. Most of the programming is dedicated to music, but Sawa -- which means "together" in Arabic -- has short news bulletins, a sample of which quoted only Western leaders such as Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. U.S. Undersecretary of State Charlotte Beers, an advertising industry pioneer whose job now is to pitch America abroad, says consumers need to know the product as it is, arguing that ignorance, not U.S. policy, is the source of resentment in the Middle East. CHALLENGE TO COMMUNICATE, ARAB AWARENESS "We have ... a challenge to communicate our policies and values to the world more effectively," she told the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, explaining that Sawa was making inroads on that front. Some Middle East listeners, however, said Sawa's task would be much tougher, and that its real problem was that Arab audiences know America all too well. "Merely broadcasting in Arabic will not change Arab hatred of America because of its bias toward (for) the Zionist enemy," said Jamil Abu- Bakr, acting head of Jordan's largest political party and mainstream opposition group the Islamic Action Front. "Arab awareness about their cause and America's position towards it is much deeper than to be influenced by this media campaign to improve America's image." Other listeners seemed willing to be wooed by the music, but resented the political mission. "It's really nice. It has good English and Arabic songs and no programs, so I don't have to keep switching stations," said Dara Robehmed, a 29-year-old Jordanian who works in advertising in Dubai, who was surprised to learn what Sawa's mission was. "I had no idea that it was launched to improve America's image," she said. "I think using our (Arabic) music to try to improve relations with us is a slap in the face." On the other side of the broadcast battle for Arab sympathies, the head of al-Manar, the television station run by Lebanon's Hizbollah guerrilla movement, said that the moment Sawa's values bled into its content it would lose its audience. Nayef Krayem, whose station covers the Palestinian uprising as an armed struggle against the terrorism of Israel and its U.S. patrons, said Arab listeners would hear advocacy for Israel in between Sawa's songs, and reject it. "In the view of Arabs, the U.S. and the Israel positions are one, or rather, the U.S. position is the cause of the Israeli position because of its unlimited support for Israel," he said. "If the station is pushing these positions, then it's going to fall on deaf ears and won't resonate. Arabs will recognize it as indirect marketing of Israel's policies." YOUR MARTYRS ARE MILITANTS Some listeners said Sawa's political bent was there for all to see in descriptions of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that has carried out suicide attacks on Israelis by bombers described as martyrs by the Arab media. "I noticed something was wrong when they described Hamas as an extremist militant group," said Mariam al-Dabbagh, a 20-year-old studying at the University of Sharjah. "The news glorifies the United States and in a way undermines the Arab role in the peace process." In Lebanon, where few can hear Sawa and several stations offer the same fare of Western and Arab pop music, there seemed to be little room for either the station's content or its views. "Radio What?," said Rosy, a 21-year-old student at the Lebanese American University. "I guess I would listen if I like the music, but I already have stations that play what I like. And the idea of the U.S. news in Arabic, it sounds silly." "It doesn't matter what language they say it in, no one agrees with what they say." Sawa's signal is also weak in Cairo, where some people suggested the station's political mission and the sense that it was just another mouthpiece for America's pro-Israeli bias would turn off listeners even if they could hear it. "I wouldn't want to listen to it because I'm sick of all things that are American. I boycott their food, clothes and their media," said Naglaa Mohamed, a 35-year-old housewife. "As long as the American will is controlled by Israel, then nothing the United States does will improve its image in the Arab world." Additional reporting by Ghaida Ghantous in Dubai, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, and Heba Kandil in Cairo) (REUTERS via Mike Cooper, July 2, DXLD) ** U S A. Rumor has it that WJIE has approached KVOH about the possibility of using their SW transmitter, either in California, or to replace the one in Kentucky (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. *** LATEST NEWS *** WUOT has been declared an "essential service" by the University of Tennessee and WILL remain on the air in the event of a partial state government shutdown. UT officials will use the station as a primary communications tool to inform the public about UT activities during this most unusual time. WUOT will maintain normal broadcast operations, but will pre-empt regularly scheduled programming if events warrant. The status of a state appropriation for WUOT in FY '03 is still unknown at this time (Denise Carpenter, WUOT Knoxville June 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. IS THIS THE END OF INTERNET RADIO FROM THE USA? From radiolondon.co.uk The fight for Internet Radio has been struck a blow, with the decision of the US Library of Congress to charge companies a crippling fee for all the music they play. John Schneider http://www.radiopoly.com updates us: Bad news folks. The Librarian Of Congress cut the performance royalty rate for webcasters in half yesterday. That sounds good when you say it, until you learn that the formula is still per song / per listener, instead of a rate based on a percentage of revenue like the long existing ASCAP & BMI fees. The result? For traditional stations (terrestrials) that simulcast online, no change. For internet only stations (like Radiopoly WILL be), the fee will be half of what was originally proposed, or 0.07 cents per listener, per song. Doesn't sound like a lot, I know, but it adds up very fast. The difference for the vast majority of webcasters (you know, all the people that AREN'T Yahoo, MSN, AOL, etc) is a rate that represents only about 100% of revenue instead of about 200%. Oh joy. Just when you think someone in Washington has the nerve to be fair to a fledgling industry, they get sucked in by the massive vacuum inside the beltway. If you feel so inclined to write to your representatives, tell them the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) MUST be amended NOW, to COMPLETELY ELIMINATE a performance royalty fee for webcasters. While you're at it, ask them this: "How could it possibly make sense that webcasters, who are executing the same business model (and actually improving on it) as terrestrial broadcasters are subject to a per performance royalty that does not exist (and never has) for terrestrial broadcasts?" Kick ass and take names. John (via Mike Terry, UK, June 30, DXLD) Monkey Love. God save Pirate Cat Radio. Least you could do, after forsaking the webcasters. BY DAN REINES So the librarian of Congress screwed pretty much everyone last week, in case you missed it. James H. Billington, who runs the government agency that oversees the Copyright Office, ruled on June 20 that Internet broadcasters will pay back royalties to performers in the sum of seven cents per listener per song -- half what arbitrators proposed back in February, but still not the revenue-based flat fee that small-time webcasters claim they need in order to survive. In other words, everyone involved is pissed. So what's it all mean to you? Well, it means your listening menu just got slimmer. Again. Not that it wasn't already waiflike. Ever since the Telecommunications Act of 1996, media leviathans like Infinity Broadcasting and Clear Channel have been buying up the commercial radio dial, turning hundreds of stations into homoplastic clones of one another. Which means that instead of dozens of DJs and program directors picking music based entirely on personal taste (and maybe some hookers and coke, compliments of the labels), now the playlists are determined by one or two regional PDs based on nationwide phone-tree focus groups (and a barely legal system of de facto payola, but apparently no more hookers). It's why commercial FM radio comes in three colors nowadays: black, white and country. It's also why all three colors suck. It's worth noting that despite the crap we've given KCRW -- and yeah, morning does become narcoleptic with all that techno-infused AOR they play – at least they're unique. Maybe you like Nic Harcourt's taste in music, maybe you don't, but at least he has taste, rather than just a ream of market research. Anyway, there's good news. Pirate Cat Radio is back. Maybe you remember DJ Monkey Man -- Daniel Roberts to his real-life friends. Roberts ran a pirate radio feed at 87.9 FM out of his Hollywood apartment until March, when he packed up and headed for Santa Cruz. But Roberts came back in early May, and now he's running for mayor of Hollywood (assuming Hollywood secession goes through), and more importantly, he's back on the air. Not that we're blowing his cover or anything. "It took the FCC three days to find me," he says. "They know my m.o. – they know what's going on." The FCC may know all about him, but so far they haven't done a whole lot other than bury him in form letters. And for the moment, at least, Roberts is still broadcasting because of what he says is a loophole in the law, something he found in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, title 47, section 73.3542: If you're in the process of applying for a license, apparently, "authority [to broadcast] may be granted, on a temporary basis, in extraordinary circumstances." Conveniently enough, those circumstances include a state of war. It was one of those "holy shit!" discoveries for a guy who's been running pirate radio stations and dodging the government since the mid-'90s. "I'm like, "Oh God, it can't be that easy,'" says Roberts. Of course, it's not that easy, or at least not according to the FCC. "There are no such loopholes," says an informed (and really, really stern) source over at the agency's enforcement bureau. "There. Just. Are. No. Such. Loopholes. If he's operating on the air, he will be found, and he will be stopped. And severe penalties follow." The source didn't say anything about tire irons or missing thumbs, but his point was pretty clear. No. Loopholes. Whatever, it's not your concern. Your concern is finding a radio station you can stomach. And while Pirate Cat Radio may be ridiculously small (the light under which you're reading this story puts out more wattage), it is available within about 20 miles of Roberts' apartment, and thank God. Roberts broadcasts all day, every day, with the help of a couple of PCs and about 260 gigabytes of MP3s, which is a whole fucking lot of music. Which means that if you tune in on your way to work one morning, you may hear Blondie's "Dreaming," or the Waitress's "I Know What Boys Like," or what the hell, maybe some obscure spoken-word stuff. It's, you know, kind of a crapshoot. But whatever you hear today, you won't be hearing tomorrow. "Lately the playlist has been nothing but punk, ska, new wave, some Brit pops and, I don't know, some weird Belle and Sebastian or the Who or whatever," says Roberts, laughing. "I don't know. Donovan. It's getting really weird lately." And that, really, is kind of the point, ain't it? After all, with KROQ you know exactly what you're going to hear on your way to work because it's the same thing you heard while you were brushing your teeth. It's Papa Roach. Dear Lord, save us all. Or at least watch over the Monkey Man. Least you could do after forsaking the webcasters. newtimesla.com | originally published: June 27, 2002 (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY RESCINDED (Jul 1, 2002) -- At the request of Arizona Section Manager Clifford Hauser, KD6XH, effective today at 3 PM Eastern Daylight Time (1900 UTC), the Federal Communications Commission's declared communications emergency will terminate. The declared communications emergency was in support of relief efforts in Arizona. Amateurs can resume using the frequencies 7265 kHz and 3990 kHz plus or minus 3 kHz. The Federal Communications Commission wishes to thank everyone for their cooperation and dedicated service. W1AW will resume its 3990 kHz phone bulletin, transmitted daily at 0145Z, Monday evening. (ARRL via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DXLD) ** U S A. Concerned about the rash of AM stations running daytime facilities at night, when they are supposed to be lower powered, direxional, or even off the air? We understand that reports of such violations in DXLD do eventually come to the attention of the FCC. Other violations of interest: EAS incapability; towers over 200 feet must have their registration number attached, or at least on the gate to the property. This is often not the case. Altho it may take a while, stations are likely to face fines and cease-and-desist orders. Lack of legal IDs, however, is not a concern (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Family Radio [via Merlin, frequencies now available:] Details Time (UT) Tx Site Freq Coverage Area Program Language 1400-1700 Abu Dhabi (UAE) 17800 IND En & Hindi 1900-2000 Woofferton (UK) 9590 ME Ar 1700-1900 Woofferton (UK) 15290 WeRUS Ru 1700-1800 Asc Isl 21680 CeAF En 2000-2100 Asc Isl 15195 Ce&WeAF En 1900-2100 Meyerton (SoAF) 3230 SoAF En. For further information about this press release, please contact: Laura Jelf, Marketing Manager Merlin Communications International Ltd Tel: +44 (0)20 7969 0000 Fax: +44 (0)20 7396 6223 e-mail: laura.jelf@merlincommunications.com http://www.merlincommunications.com (Merlin Comm, WWDXC Jun 25 via BC- DX via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. RFA A-02 updated schedule of July 1st. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 13680T 15660 17525 17835S 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11975H 11695UAE 15225T 15695 17730 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405S 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1300 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855H-(from 1200) 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 11520 13765I 15525T 1300-1400 BURMESE 9385 11765T 11540 13745T 1300-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855H 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9445S 11955S 13625T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 11790T 13720T 15625 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 9905P 11765T 11945S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 927N 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7460 9370 9555UAE 9675UAE 13625T 1600-1700 MANDARIN 9455S-(fr 1630) 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 927N(1630-) 1700-1800 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 927N(-1730) 1800-1900 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 11520 11740T 11945S 11955T 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945S 11955T 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 9355S 9455S 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680 2100-2200 CANTONESE 9355S 11785T 13675T 2100-2200 MANDARIN 9455S 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455T 11670S 11935S 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9930P 11570 15175I 15485T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 9910P 11785T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 7290 11960 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 9365 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 13720S 15560P (various sources, updated on July 1st, 2002, BC-DX via DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6155, 28.6 2320, R. Sarandí del Yí was a surprise this night. Was heard really well with short notices about tourism in Uruguay followed by a notice about a music fiesta in Treinta y Tres with orchestras from Brazil and Dom Rep. Q 4 DO (Dan Olsson, SW Bulletin June 30, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. 17775, 1340-, R. TASHKENT Jun 29 Good reception from Radio Tashkent in English about economic matters. Other parallels not heard today. Long lists of contact addresses, email, phone numbers! I suspect these are business contacts, rather than for Radio Tashkent (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM. 5925, Xuan Mai's outlet of R. V. of Vietnam hrd again on 23 Jun 2206-2226 at a fair level of 35433, airing Vietn pxing w/, presumably, news and later with songs (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC- DX Jun 24 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MADAGASCAR. 7310, 0330-, VOICE OF PEOPLE Jun 30 Fine signal tonight despite WHRI being back on the air. Crash start at 0330 with African music program. Must be a weekly Saturday night (UT Sunday morning) program. About the best I've heard them except when 7315 off the air (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. QSL Report: SW Radio Africa, Zimbabwian clandestine via South Africa-6165. E-mail from v/s: Richard, webmaster: richard@swradioafrica.com web: http://www.swradioafrica.com (Björn Fransson, the island of Gotland, Sweden, July 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED? 5080, 1358-, Russian 'names' station Jun 29 First time I've heard anything like this. Rather than numbers, ongoing lists of Russian names are read. Seems to originate from Russian Far East, as strongest on NW Beverage. Anyone else hear anything like this? Ended at 1405:45. A very enjoyable weekend, as always in Grayland, WA DX site using 3 700+' Beverage antennas aimed NW, W, and SW terminated on the Pacific Ocean. Receiver this time was my AOR 7030+ using ERGO 3 computer control software. Unlike other DXpeditions, conditions did not seem to favour any one area, as you can see by my loggings below. Thanks to John Bryant and Don Nelson for erecting the antennas before the arrival on Friday of myself and Nick Hall-Patch. Happy listening, and happy Canada Day to all Canadians, and an early Happy 4th of July to the Americans (Walt Salmaniw, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 10197.128, 1628 July 1, 11 x 927, Very weak (Tim Bucknall, UK, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Vietnamese sounding station heard on 11640, 1925 hours, did not say it was Voice of Vietnam (Christopher Lewis, UK, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But, why not? (gh, DXLD) ### END OF PART 3
