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, "thanks 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 5 MHz 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 (1 to 50 kW) 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 has 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) ###