DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-140, September 7, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCASTS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415 BROADCASTS ON WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030?, 0630? on 7445, 15038.7; webcasts also Sun 1200, 1830?, Mon 1230? BROADCASTS ON WRN: Rest of World Sat 0800; North America Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE 7490: Appears irregularly in the 0000 UT hour; UT Sat Sept 7 ending at 0048 was last week`s #1145; only open carrier after 1200 UT Sat. More under USA. ** ANGOLA [and non]. New article by Eric Beauchemin, who visited there earlier this year, includes audio clips; a bit from the second page: RADIO ECCLESIA: GIVING ANGOLANS A VOICE Rádio Ecclésia, Angola's only independent radio station, broadcasts 15-and-a-half hours a day in Luanda on 97.5 FM. It is also on the air daily for one hour on 6205 kHz via a 250 kilowatt transmitter in Meyerton, South Africa. Rádio Ecclésia began broadcasting on shortwave in July 2000 to provide coverage of a major peace conference. The station hired two hours of airtime daily from Radio Netherlands to broadcast via our relay station in Madagascar. But the transmissions stopped after only two weeks because of technical problems. They resumed 10 months later using the facilities of Deutsche Telekom and a 100 kW transmitter in Jülich in eastern Germany. In May 2002, Rádio Ecclésia switched to a shortwave transmitter in South Africa. The station puts together a special one-hour broadcast, eliminating references to local events in Luanda, which it feeds to Merlin Communications in London via the Internet. Because of insufficient bandwidth in Angola, it takes four hours to feed the programme. It automatically goes into a play-out system and is sent to South Africa for broadcast by satellite. Few Listeners Despite the huge costs in providing a shortwave signal, says Rene Roemersma of the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa, NiZA, few people actually listen to the broadcasts. "Because of the war and the sheer size of Angola, it has been difficult to let people know about Rádio Ecclésia. Most people simply don't know the station's frequency... http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/ecclesia1020906.html (Media Network Sept 6 via DXLD) 6205?? André duToit`s SENTECH schedule shows 6100, tho last updated 30 June: Ecclesia 19:00 20:00 6100 250 328 1234567 Angola (gh, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Not very likely that they will do so [move down to 7 MHz as someone suggested]. I have corresponded with the station over the years, and even provided tapes to illustrate their reception problems in North America. The programming people I dealt with seemed to understand and would certainly like their programs to be heard better. However, from what I know from industry sources, RAE has occupied its present frequencies since the time of the Perón regime, and the Powers That Be in Argentina are reluctant to switch from what they see as "their" frequencies. It's a shame, since they do have some interesting programs...if one can hear them (Marie Lamb, Sept 6, ODXA via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 136 kHz: Roberto U. Beviglia, LU4BR, President of Radio Club Argentino, http://www.lu4aa.org reports that a portion of the 136 kHz band (135.7 - 135.8 kHz) has been allocated to amateur service on a secondary basis in Argentina. It will be coordinated by the Radio Club Argentino until it is finally assigned on a primary basis, within one year (425 DX News #592, via Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Previews, Sept 6-8: RA FEEDBACK* - listener letters, features and news about RA. This week: "Indonesia and Censorship; Radio Finland". Radio Australia's Indonesian service, flushed with success and having just celebrated its 60th anniversary, is again facing a major challenge. The Indonesian government plans to prevent the rebroadcast of foreign programmes on local media. If, as seems likely, this legislation gets through parliament all 24 of our relays in Indonesia will cease. Critics of the legislation say that it is turning the clocks back nearly 40 years. And the rationalisation of international broadcasting continue with news that Radio Finland is about to drop a number of its language services including English. [T;% (selected programs)] (John Figliozzi` previews, swprograms via DXLD) In case this not be a `selected program` to be available ondemand, of which there are only a few over the last several months on the list, the remaining airing is UT Sun 0305 (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSTRALIAN RADIO ANNIVERSARY -THE ORIGINAL SHORTWAVE STATION -- THE ALMOST FORGOTTEN ANNIVERSARY! - SEPTEMBER 5, 1927 It was just 75 years ago that the first international shortwave station in Australia went on the air with its first radio broadcast. The date was Monday September 5, the station was VK2ME in Sydney Australia, and the program was the 1st ``Empire Broadcast``. Back there in those days, Australia was really ``down under`` and quite isolated. The only communication with the outside world was by boat, or by Morse Code sent over a long and tenuous underwater cable system, or by Morse Code sent by variable wireless via several intermediate relay stations. Then it was that Sir Ernest Fisk, managing Director of AWA, Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (OS-tral-Asia), devised the concept of broadcasting radio programs from Australia to other parts of the world. For this purpose, AWA utilized its new 20 kW communication transmitter in the main hall at their new facility at Pennant Hills in an isolated area some 14 miles from downtown Sydney. This new state of the art transmitter was so large that it was contained in several wire cages with access only through safe-guarded gate-ways. The antenna was a long-wire that was attached to the main radio tower in use for the broadcast service of the mediumwave station 2FC. The first ``Empire Broadcast`` went on the air in the early morning of Monday September 5, 1927 so that it could be heard in England during the Sunday evening. The programming originated in the studios of the mediumwave station 2FC in Farmers Departmental Store in Sydney. This live program in this first historic shortwave broadcast from Australia consisted of speeches from prominent political leaders and instrumental and vocal music from Australia`s leading musicians. This innovative program from Australia was heard clearly in London by local listeners using their own shortwave receivers. The BBC station in London, the famous 2LO, also picked up the program and relayed it to millions of listeners throughout England. This 1st ``Empire Broadcast`` was also heard quite clearly in Scotland and India. Six weeks later, the 2nd ``Empire Broadcast `` went on the air, this time over VK2ME shortwave for overseas listeners and on 2FC mediumwave for local listeners. The programming in the 2nd ``Empire Broadcast`` was similar in content to the 1st broadcast. Two weeks later again, the 3rd ``Empire Broadcast`` went on the air and this time it was heard in North America, in addition to several countries in Europe. In the United States, the programming from Australia was picked up by the General Electric station WGY in Schenectady, New York and relayed on mediumwave nationwide and on shortwave worldwide. Over in England, the well known Gerald Marcuse picked up the programming and relayed it on shortwave back to Australia over his famous amateur station G2NM. Program number 4 went on the air in early November; and program number 5 was a special broadcast for Christmas 1927. A little less than a year later, another 20 kW shortwave transmitter was installed at Pennant Hills for the broadcast of special programming during an international Catholic Convention in Sydney. On this occasion, the 5 kW mediumwave transmitter for 2FC was re-tuned also to a shortwave channel for a parallel relay. The new 20 kW transmitter was subsequently designated with the callsign VLK. During its 13 year broadcast history, experimental station VK2ME was on the air over at least four different shortwave transmitters:- 1. The original 20 kW VK2ME. 2. The 5 kW mediumwave transmitter was retuned to a shortwave channel. 3. Another 20 kW transmitter under the callsign VLK. 4. Another 20 kW shortwave transmitter again, under the callsign VLM. In addition, for a while during the mid and late 1920s, the programming from VK2ME was also heard on an experimental FM outlet on 7 MHz, station VK2MA. Two of the AWA transmitters were taken into service in December 1939 for the original service from Radio Australia. The transmitters VLK and VLM were redesignated as VLQ and VLQ2, though these calls were later changed to VLI, the original broadcast station with this callsign. Several colorful QSL cards were issued by AWA for transmissions from their stations and these include two different versions of an early map card and the more famous Kookaburra card in yellow. One of these early cards shows the original callsign, A2ME. AWA Pennant Hills is now gone, along with all of the pioneers who kept it on the air, and its colorful history is now stored in boxes in the Mitchell Library in Sydney. Nevertheless, we honor Australia`s pioneer shortwave station on the occasion of what would be the 75th anniversary of its inauguration (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Sept 8 via DXLD) WTFK?? From AMP`s extensive reference notes, we extract some frequencies used at various times:: The initial frequency used in 1927y was 10525 kHz. Others used at various times until 1936, some under different callsigns than VK2ME: 7940, 7945, 7950, 7960, 7980, 8095, 8333 kHz to 8572, 9330, 9590, 9760, 9780, 10510, 10520, 10527, 10950, 13340, 13800, 14710, 16320, 16330, 17630, 19300, 19355, 20400. Note how few of them are within what are considered broadcasting bands today (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Wednesday September 11th SPECIAL CBC PROGRAMMING - LOSS & LEGACY: REFLECTIONS OF SEPTEMBER 11TH: The Roundup is pre-empted for a nine-and-a-half-hour special hosted by Michael Enright, Shelagh Rogers and Bill Richardson. From 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, you`ll hear live coverage of commemorative events from New York. Also woven throughout the special will be new works by Canadian writers and musicians. Visit http://cbc.ca/september11 for additional information (CBC Roundup for Sadgoaters via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) Above site has links to lots of audio, video, and schedule info: http://cbc.ca/september11/radio_guide_02-11.html until the 11th and http://cbc.ca/september11/radio_guide_11.html for the day itself, including lots of regional programming. LOSS & LEGACY is referred to in ET, so is 1230-2200 UT, but is it time-shifted like everything normally is across Canada? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHAD. OFFICIAL SAYS STATE-OWNED RADIO STARTS NORMAL BROADCAST | Text of report by Chadian radio on 5 September The RNT [Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, state-owned] has resumed broadcasts in the interior of the country. Despite a few technical difficulties experienced by the station, the RNT is now heard both in the regions and abroad. The RNT technical director, Raphael Mbaye Sane, who is interviewed by Daniel Ndomba, sheds light on the situation. [Sane] We use shortwave transmitters to cover the entire country. These broke down, thus our programmes could not reach our people. [Ndomba] For the past week, however, our listeners in the regions have been telling us that they are now able to pick up Radio Chad. What kind of technical explanation do you have for this? [Sane] The explanation is simply technical. The transmitters were out of order because we were short of parts to fix them. We were waiting for these parts. Fortunately, in early July, we received the necessary parts for one of the transmitters, so we were able to resume broadcasting with their arrival. This explains why listeners can now hear us on shortwave. [Ndomba] We thank you, Mr Director, for this joyful note. [Sane] Thank you. But, I am the one who is happy because it is good for people to listen to our broadcasts. Unfortunately, we cannot broadcast as we should. However if people are listening to us, it is a good thing, and this gives us great joy. Source: Radiodiffusion Nationale Tchadienne, Ndjamena, in French 1300 gmt 5 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK?? Like 4904.5? (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. GOOGLE MIRROR BEATS GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA 15:55 06 September 02 NewScientist.com news service China's widely criticised blocking of the web's most popular search engine Google can be defeated by viewing a strange Google mirror site through a mirror, New Scientist has discovered. The mirror site, called elgooG, is a parody of the English language version of Google in which all the text on the web pages has been reversed. The text terms used for searches are also entered in reverse. The site, which returns all the same hits as Google, can be accessed from behind China's" great firewall". Viewing the page using a mirror makes it somewhat easier to read, and would allow someone to find a website. Web site "mirroring" normally involves copying the contents of a site and hosting on a different server. This can be useful if one server is particularly busy. New Scientist ascertained that elgooG is accessible from China using a system that remotely tests China's internet restrictions. The system was created by two researchers at the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School in the US. Routine block Google has been blocked inside China since at least 1 September. It emerged on Friday that a second search engine Altavista is also restricted. The action has come under criticism from western human rights groups and journalist's organisations. China's government routinely blocks access to news sites that host content they consider unacceptable, such as the BBC's news site. Webproxies including anonymizer.com and safeweb.com, which can be used to view pages on one site through another, are also blocked. The reason for the latest restrictions is not clear but observers have speculated that government elections [sic] in November could have prompted a crack down on access to information via the internet. Content cache Google could have been targeted because it provides a cache of content from other web sites that are already under government blackout. However, Altavista does not. The country's 45 million internet users can only access the web through government-run ISPs. This means that any site can be blocked easily. The company behind Google has released programming information that provides remote access to its search capabilities. This means mirror sites can be created without having to duplicate Google's colossal database, though to date New Scientist has only identified elgooG. Will Knight (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. James Latham`s ``Interactive Radio Show`` on RFPI is in produxion again, UT Tue-Sat 0345-0400 on 7445, 15039, often with an element of levity as a warmup for the serious ``Democracy Now`` which follows at 0400. Unlike other RFPI shows, this is the only airtime; it is not recorded and repeated. RFPI will carry some special Pacifica programming for Sept. 11, live from Ground Zero and around the country, a 13-hour broadcast from 1100 UT, when RFPI will have 15040 turned on and streaming entire broadcast until 2400, and the block then repeated, at least 8 hours of it overnight when 7445 will also be on [to 0800, then UT Sept 12], preëmpting all other programming. Mountain range to the south not only blocks signals in the direxion of South America, but causes the takeoff angle northward to be higher than otherwise, so the signal disperses. Have had offers to move to new more favorable sites, but lacking capital investment to do so. Financial situation is very difficult at RFPI, but keeps struggling; needs listener support. Contribute or become a member for $40, to P O Box 1094, Eugene OR 97440; or see http://www.rfpi.org for a quick PayPal transfer with Visa or Mastercard (James Latham and Joe Bernard, RFPI Mailbag first airing Sept 7, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 10050, R. Rebelde (2 x 5025), 1000 Sept 7, Weak 2nd harmonic noted this morning from Cuba. Fundamental raspy. Spanish language SSB traffic on top of harmonic (David Hodgson, Nashville, TN, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** CUBA. Hola Glenn, espero que estés muy bien. Acá te envío algunas noticias DX. El pasado 06/09, se pudo escuchar la retransmisión de Radio Reloj, La Habana, Cuba, en las frecuencias de 9550, 9600 y 9650 kHz. El mejor SINPO fue el de 9600 kHz con un registro de 5/5. La emisión fue escuchada entre las 0708 y las 0800 UT. Desde esa fecha no se ha oído más en onda corta. ¿Sería una prueba de los técnicos de Radio Cuba? (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probable mezclas entre transmisores de RHC en 9550, y Rebelde en 9600; durante esa hora después de finalizarse RHC a las 07, transmiten R. Reloj, talvez como prueba en varias frecuencias (gh, DXLD) ** CUBA. RADIO HAVANA CUBA - ENGLISH PROGRAMME GUIDE ---------------------------------------------------------------------- EUROPE: 2030-2130 on 13660-usb and 13750 kHz 2030 Mon-Sat International News 2110 Mon/Thu Caribbean Outlook 2040 Mon-Sat National News 2110 Wed Mailbag Show 2045 Mon-Sat RHC's Viewpoint 2110 Fri Weekly Review 2100 Mon-Sat News Bulletin 2105 Mon-Sat Time Out (sports) 2030 Sun Weekly Review 2110 Tue/Sat DXers Unlimited 2100 Sun Mailbag Show CARIBBEAN: 2230-2330 on 9550 kHz 2230 Mon-Sat International News 2310 Mon/Thu Caribbean Outlook 2240 Mon-Sat National News 2310 Wed Mailbag Show 2245 Mon-Sat RHC's Viewpoint 2310 Fri Weekly Review 2300 Mon-Sat News Bulletin 2305 Mon-Sat Time Out (sports) 2230 Sun Weekly Review 2310 Tue/Sat DXers Unlimited 2300 Sun Mailbag Show NORTH AMERICA 0100-0500 on 6000 9820 and 11705-usb kHz 0500-0700 on 9550 9820 and 9830-usb kHz 0100 Tue-Sun International News 0410 Tue-Sat Spotlight on the Americas 0110 Tue-Sun National News 0415 Sun The World of Stamps 0115 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0430 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0130 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0500 Tue-Sun International News 0135 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) 0510 Tue-Sun National News 0140 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited 0515 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0140 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook 0530 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0140 Thu Mailbag Show 0535 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) 0140 Sat Weekly Review 0540 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited 0200 Tue-Sun International News 0540 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook 0210 Tue-Sat Spotlight Americas 0540 Thu Mailbag Show 0210 Sun World of Stamps 0540 Sat Weekly Review 0230 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0600 Tue-Sun International News 0300 Tue-Sun International News 0610 Tue/Sat Spotlight on the Americas 0310 Tue-Sun National News 0615 Sun The World of Stamps 0315 Tue-Sun RHC's Viewpoint 0630 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0330 Tue-Sun News Bulletin 0335 Tue-Sat Time Out (sports) Unsure of Monday UT programmes in English 0340 Wed/Sun DXers Unlimited to North America (local Sunday in N America) 0340 Tue/Fri Caribbean Outlook as the RHC website seems to show wrong times. 0340 Thu Mailbag Show However these programmes include Weekly 0340 Sat Weekly Review Review, Mailbag Show, Top Tens, Jazz Place, 0400 Tue-Sun International News, Breakthrough, and From Havana. All times/days UTC. Compiled by TR from Radio Havana Cuba website: http://wwwradiohc.org The info was taken at face value from the RHC website without any monitoring checks, so hope it's correct (via Tony Rogers, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ESTONIA. Bob Padula`s brief comments on non-SW here are in current issue 589, later archived at http://www.wwdxc.de/topnews.htm – not ETHIOPIA, as previously referenced in 2-138 --- couldn`t read my own scribbling (gh, DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9561.7, R. Ethiopia Sep 2 *1600-1607 32332 English, 1600 s/on with IS. ID. Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Japan, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** GUYANA. 3291.27, V. of Guyana, 0925 Sept 3-7. The last few days I've been checking Guyana on 90 meters. Modulation is excellent now, having been earlier this year essentially unlistenable, due to undermodulated signal. On Sept. 3rd I heard birthday greetings on what I assume was "The Early Bird Show", KFC ad, then Subcontinental music. Good signal strength with strong audio. I look forward to quiet fall and winter conditions to enjoy this gem of a station (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3290 [sic], Voice of Guyana 9/3 0912-0923 in English/Spanish. Talk at tune-in of ``Overnight BBC program``. ID at 0915 with local timecheck and mention of ``Early Bird program, sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken and PizzaHut``. The announcer then read menu items and price lists! Lively Spanish music was played during the program. Weak but readable with very little noise (Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** INDIA. Dear Glenn, Re 2-139: About the enquiry on AIR, yes AIR stations do broadcast on 4910, 4920 and 4760 at the times mentioned. Sincerely, (Jose Jacob, India, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. Excellent interview on KRWG`s Images, Sept 7 at 2330-2355 UT, with Dr. Nader Pourhassan, author of The Corruption of Moslem Minds; see http://www.barbed-wire.net/purple/Corruption.html And the show should be available ondemand eventually, but they are two months behind: http://www.krwgfm.org/archive.htm (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN. RADIO ICON PULLS PLUG ON SHOW AFTER WORLD-RECORD 45 YEARS Sunday, September 8, 2002, From The Japan Times By KAORUKO AITA, Staff writer Her achievement is nothing special, she says. But the thing that has kept Chieko Akiyama going throughout her unprecedented career is the human energy radiating from the people she meets. Stopwatch in her hand, critic Chieko Akiyama prepares for a show at Tokyo Broadcasting System Inc.'s radio studio in Tokyo's Minato Ward. "Akiyama Chieko no Danwa Shitsu" ("Chieko Akiyama's Lounge"), the monologue radio program hosted for the last 45 years by the 85-year- old critic, will end with the Oct. 4 show. She will have spoken 12,512 times on the world's longest-running radio program, which has aired on weekdays since 1957. "People say these records are great," said Akiyama quietly. "But what I've done is nothing glorious nor ostentatious. I have mostly talked about the lives of ordinary people from their viewpoints, which I believe is most important for the media in reporting. "I have gotten so much power and stimulation from the people I have met in Japan and abroad for the program," said Akiyama. She has covered such diverse issues as politics, books, local community happenings and the daily lives of people in various occupations. For each show, Akiyama does almost everything on her own -- from selecting a topic and gathering information on it to writing a script and talking about it for six minutes and 10 seconds. She was the first media personality in Japan to do all this in a serial radio or TV program. Akiyama, who hails from Miyagi Prefecture, first taught at a school for the deaf after graduating from the predecessor of Ochanomizu University in Tokyo. She joined the world of broadcasting, while still working at the school, by reading aloud children's stories she had written. She quit her jobs, however, after getting married in 1940. "I was an ordinary woman. I wanted to be a good wife and mother," said Akiyama, who has three children. What turned her into an extraordinary person was the war. It devastated the nation but also brought about drastic changes in Japanese society, particularly for women. She resumed her broadcasting career in 1948 when she was asked to do a program for the General Headquarters' Civil Information and Education Section, which supervised education and the media in Japan. The GHQ program, titled "Kaigi no Susumekata" ("How to Organize a Meeting"), was launched to help the Japanese public understand how to conduct meetings. Akiyama says she informed readers on the proper methods of selecting a chairman, giving participants the chance to voice their opinions and changing the subject of discussions. "The program was intended to educate Japanese women, who gained the right to vote in 1945," Akiyama explained. In 1949, Akiyama began traveling around the country to report on what she saw and heard. She also began appearing in TV programs about half a century ago, when commercial TV stations in Japan were first set up. Among the topics she discussed, peace-building was high on the list. "I have planted a number of tiny seeds in an effort to prevent war. One of the seeds has grown to be big," Akiyama said, referring to the story "Kawaiso na Zo" ("The Pitiful Elephant"). The nonfiction piece, written by Yukio Tsuchiya, is the story of an elephant that starved to death at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo during World War II. Akiyama first introduced the story in her program 35 years ago, provoking major reactions. That prompted her to retell the story every Aug. 15, the anniversary of Japan's defeat in the war. The book, which was out of print then, is back in print and has sold more than 1 million copies. "I know war. We must do everything to prevent another. We must do every possible thing not to allow another," she emphasized. Asked why she has decided to draw the curtain on her radio program, Akiyama said, "All things have their end. I want to put an end to the program while I am healthy and sound enough to control myself." The program's conclusion, however, does not mean she will remain quietly at home. "I am fortunate in that I have a large network of people -- the fruits of my long career -- that keeps me busy doing a variety of things, including volunteer social activities." The Japan Times: Sept. 8, 2002 (C) All rights reserved (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Oh, yeah? ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9775 CLANDESTINE, Radio DAT, *0101-0201* Sep 1, opening music followed by multiple IDs as part of opening. After segment of music, a series of long political talks followed. Program ran for 30 minutes and was repeated. Good with channel clear with no VOA on weekends (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 7 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. RADIO KOREA ANTENNAS WERE DAMAGED BY THE TYPHOON Hi, Takahito sandte mir die untenstehende Mail ueber die Taifun- Schaeden vom 1. September. Die originale 22 mb Antenne fuer Europa (13670 07-11 UT) ist also ausser Betrieb, wie die A15 Ausbreitung der Rundstrahlantenne fuer Europa ist, muesste man checken. Jetzt ist es 11.25 UT, kann ich erst morgen tun. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: ----- Original Message ----- From: "Takahito Akabayashi, JPN Sent: September 6, 2002 Subject: Radio Korea TX were damaged by the typhoon According to Mr. Tohru Yamashita of Asian Broadcasting Institute, Kimje transmitter site of Radio Korea was seriously damaged by the Typhoon Rusa on Sept.1. 10 of the 17 antennas were damaged. 8 antennas were recovered by the site members until Sept.6, but remaining 2 (A9 and A14 antennas) need 120 megawon to repair. A9 is for Europe at 0700-1100 on 13670 and for relay of RCI to China; A14 is for North America at 2300-0400 on 15575 kHz. During the repair A9 is replaced by A15, and A14 by A13, both non-directional. It is curious that it needed 5 days in this hi-tech nation until the headquarters in Seoul knew the fact! (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan via WWDXC BC-DX, Sep 6 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. IRAN/IRAQ/KURDISTAN. Observations made by Rumen Pankov during August of stations broadcasting to Kurdish areas: 3880 4370 *1625-1744* P V. of the Communist Party of Iran 3903 *1600-1700* K R. Freedom 3903 5892 *1725-1850* A V. of Iraqi People (Communist) 3930 4610 6810 *1625 P/K V. of Komala 3985 1635* P V. of Iranian Kurdistan 4050 6995 *0203 and 1955* A/K V. of the People of Kurdistan 4085 7090 *0345 A/K V. of Kurdistan 4085 2003* A/K V. of Kurdistan 4130 1703* and *1843 A/K R. Kurdistan 4235 *0155 and 1725* A/K V. of Toilers of Kurdistan 4275 1704* P/K V. of -?- Kurdistan [abbreviations: A-Arabic, K-Kurdish, P-Persian] From Iraq to Iran: Voice of Mojahed in Persian 1st Programme: *0125-0531* and *1325-1731* on varying 5350, 5650, 6450, 6750, 7000, 8250, 8300, 8650, 8850, 9350, 10450 and 13450 kHz and MW/FM 2nd Programme: *1600-1845v on 7070 kHz (sometimes relays 1st Prog). (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, Sept BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [and non]. Extra RNW Frequencies on 11 September 2002: In connection with special programming in Dutch on 11 September, the following additional frequencies will be in use at 1457-1700 UT: 15120 kHz (Bonaire 250 kW/144 degrees) to the Caribbean/Surinam 17890 kHz (Bonaire 250 kW/350 degrees) to eastern North America 21540 kHz (Wertachtal 500 kW/120 degrees) to the Middle East (Media Network Sept 6 via DXLD) I wonder why? The English Service of Radio Netherlands will be broadcasting its normal schedule, but I want to draw your attention to a very special edition of Aural Tapestry on Thursday 12 September. It's a repeat of a programme created by David Swatling, a native New Yorker, in the aftermath of the attacks. We'll also be re-publishing the Web feature that accompanied the programme, and if you can't tune in on the 12th you can listen to the programme online. Here are some details: "Tragedy in Five Movements" In the mid-19th century, the poet Walt Whitman lived in New York City when the American Civil War began with the bombing of Fort Sumter. He reflected his love of the city and his experiences of war in some of his most moving poetry. In the mid-20th century, the composer Dmitri Shostakovich lived in Leningrad when the city was bombarded during the Second World War. His Eighth Symphony, written in 1943, contemplates the horrors of war and yearns for peace, not victory. At the beginning of the 21st century, a new age of terror dawned. Witnesses to the disasters in New York and Washington e-mailed their experiences and words of comfort or hope to friends near and far. In a programme originally broadcast two weeks after Sept 11th last year, David Swatling combines poetry, music and first-person accounts in "Tragedy in Five Movements" on Aural Tapestry. That's Thursday 12 September on Radio Netherlands. (Andy Sennitt, Media Network Newsletter Sept 6 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. R. New Ireland, 3905, coming in beautifully Sept 6 at 1130-1200*, including sign-off by woman. Some co-channel from Indonesia could be heard underneath. Almost as good Sept 7, when the ham net closed at 1125, leaving the frequency clear. Haven`t heard this one since I was in FL in the 80s (Ron Trotto, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. Está de nuevo reactivada Radio Nacional del Paraguay en su nueva frecuencia (3 kHz más abajo de la anteriormente monitoreada 9739.1 kHz) de 9736.1 kHz. Fue escuchada el pasado viernes 06/09, a las 2308 UT, transmitiendo un partido de fútbol entre el Deportivo Luqueño y Cerro Porteño, en el marco del programa "Nacional Deportivo". En paralelo con 920 kHz en onda media. Escuchada hasta la 0134 UT, hora en que terminó el espacio deportivo y se comenzó a emitir música tradicional paraguaya (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. FATHER DELBAERE, BUILDER OF RADIO STATIONS & ENGINEER WHO REVITALIZED RADIO VERITAS ASIA, DIES Manila, Aug 14 (RVA) Father Hugo DelBaere, CICM, died on August 14 at the age of 68, DZN Radio Veritas Asia announced on its website. Father Delbaere was the technical consultant for Radio Veritas Asia from 1973 to his death, and he also was responsible for the building of Catholic radio stations across the Philippines, Asia`s only Catholic nation. ``The Management and staff of Radio Veritas Asia expresses their deep gratitude for all those who prayed for the soul of Rev. Fr. Hugo Delbaere,`` the announcement said, calling him ``the man responsible for breathing life back to this shortwave station in 1974 after intensive rehabilitation work.`` RVA had come on the air in 1969 chiefly for benefit of Catholic Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon and those who expatriated or were living in refugee camps. After several years the station declined, and the Bishops Conference of the Philippines intervened to assume management and operation of the station. Father Delbaere played a key role. ``Through his dedication and commitment, RVA is what it is today because of a well-grounded technical foundation, enabling its 17 language services to proclaim God’s message of love to the peoples of Asia via shortwave broadcast,`` the station management declared (Catholic Radio Update Sept 9 via DXLD) ** POLAND [and non]. ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER MOVES TO LIMIT CLOUT OF RADIO MARYJA... Cardinal Jozef Glemp, the primate of the Roman Catholic Church in Poland, has issued a decree banning as of 1 October the operation of Radio Maryja bureaus at parishes in the Warsaw Archdiocese (which is directly headed by Glemp), "Rzeczpospolita" and other Polish media reported last week. At the same time, Glemp called on the clergy and believers in his diocese to support another Roman Catholic radio station, Radio Jozef. "The priest on the territory of his parish may not, without permission of the diocese authority, accept offers from other church institutions in the sphere of religious instruction or allow any fund raising. Otherwise, he runs counter to canonical law and undermines the unity of the church," "Gazeta Wyborcza" quoted from Glemp's decree ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September) ...IN EFFORT TO LIMIT ITS EXTREMIST VIEWS... Radio Maryja was started as a local radio station by Father Tadeusz Rydzyk in Torun in 1990; in 1993, the station received a concession for broadcasting nationwide. Today, Radio Maryja claims a regular listenership of 14 percent of adult Poles (some 4 million people) and touts itself as the most influential Catholic media outlet in Poland. Radio Maryja is notorious for its "Roman Catholic fundamentalism," nationalism, and opposition to Poland's membership in the European Union. It also actively participates in political campaigns in the country. Thanks primarily to support from Father Rydzyk's station, the far-right, ultra-Catholic League of Polish Families was able to win 38 seats in the Sejm in the parliamentary election on 23 September 2001. Glemp's decree suggests that the message aired by Radio Maryja does not necessarily concur with what the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy in Poland wanted to hear ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September) ...BUT WILL OTHER CHURCH LEADERS FOLLOW? It is not clear at present whether other Polish bishops will follow Glemp's example and try to squeeze out Radio Maryja bureaus from their dioceses. Radio Maryja's parochial bureaus were set up all over the country spontaneously by believers, following an on-air appeal from Father Rydzyk. Their operation is regulated by accords concluded between the Radio Maryja management and individual dioceses. The bureaus are involved in raising funds for the operation of Radio Maryja, as well as for other purposes advertised by the station ("RFE/RL Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine Report," 3 September via RFE/RL Media Matters Sept 6 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Nueva frecuencia de La Voz de Rusia: 9890 kHz. Oída a partir del 3/09. Se oye muchísimo mejor que 9830 y 9865. SINPO 5/5. Saludos (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. NEW FM STATION SAID LAUNCHED IN PUNTLAND HEADQUARTERS | Text of report by Somali newspaper Xog-Ogaal web site on 7 September According to our reporter in Garoowe [Puntland's regional headquarters, northeastern Somalia], a new FM radio, that is on trial, has been heard in the town over the last two days. According to reports, the FM station, owned by a businessman allied to [Puntland leader] Col Abdullahi Yusuf, is planning to air programmes produced by either Radio Gaalkacyo or Radio Midnimo in Boosaaso. It is not yet known between the two, which ones it will air. Source: Xog-Ogaal web site, Mogadishu, in Somali 7 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA [non]. 11570, Clandestine, IBC Tamil via Novosibirsk, Russia 9/3 2352-0029 in Tamil. Test tones heard at tune-in until *0000. Musical bridges and brief talks until 0002 when 3 IDs; alternating between male, female and male again; were heard as ``IBC Tamil``. Music and brief talks until 0011 when news was heard with several mentions of ``India and Pakistan`` were heard and a field report mentioning ``Korea``. Still going strong at 0029 when I ceased reception. Fair with brief periods of unID QRM chatter (Barbour, NH, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Sout Al Watan, 9950, *0328-0401* Sep 1, open carrier followed by middle east instrumental music at 0329 and opening ID at 0330. Program of political talks and a few vocals selections. Fair. Early reports that Sout Al Watan is operated by the Syrian Human Rights Committee (``SHRC``) appear to be incorrect. The following was received from Saleem el-Hasan, President of SHRC, in response to an e- mail reception report: ``Thank you very much for this piece of information. I am really amazed that SHRC has any connection with this new broadcast! We are absolutely unaware of this broadcast. We have never heard of it, or anybody seeked any permission to speak on our behalf. Your story have stimulated my curiosity to follow up this matter. Thank you very much for your letter and a lovely card will follow to your address, however we have nothing to do with the station. It is a sign of friendship with all philanthropists.`` I wonder what the ``lovely card`` will say? Also, I sent a separate e- mail to the SHRC Webmaster who replied: ``We are absolutely unaware of what you have mentioned. Regards SHRC.`` So, it would appear that SHRC is not associated with Sout Al Watan (Rich D'Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet Sept 7 via DXLD) ** U K. From The RSGB: Nearly at the other end of the spectrum, Peter, G3MLO, and Jack, MW0AQD, were taking part in the 'Fivemegs Experiment' and were in contact on 5398.5 kHz at 0550 UT on the 30th of August. Afterwards, Peter received a reception report from Jim Robertson, ZL2JR, saying that their signals had been copied in New Zealand. MW0AQD was received at '4 and 4' while G3MLO was copied at '5 and 4'. While the 'Fivemegs Experiment' is intended to investigate NVIS propagation within the UK, the contact was made shortly after sunrise in Britain and around sunset in New Zealand, which is the time that long-distance 'greyline' propagation can be expected to occur (via Mike Terry, DXLD) See also USA ** U S A. Hi all, Maybe this is new for some of you: I got a QSL card from Grace in Action Ministries, P O Box 11569, Honolulu, Hawaii 96828, USA, where they in detail certify that I heard WWRB, Manchester, TN, USA on 6890 kHz. V/s was illegible. 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. I tuned in to WJIE on 7490 at 0050 on Sat. Sep 7 UT and heard a rather interesting program. I think it's titled WJIE This Week, devoted to station's news and developments. Among other things the host mentioned that "we are looking into acquiring a couple more short-wave stations". He asked for help from listeners who know of struggling ministries with SW outlets. He also made a direct appeal to those ministries. The host gave the brief history of WJIE and invited new ministries to buy air time through the scheme that was described in DXLD some time ago. WJIE is a commercial station but they still can accept donations from listeners through their not-for-profit branch. WJIE is looking for reception reports from all over the world. They especially want to hear from those who used to listen to WJCR and can compare reception on 7490 back then and now. The program was over at 0105 UT, then ID and a Christian broadcast for female listeners. At my place the signal was quite strong with a very poor (shallow) modulation --- Reminds me of Radio Romania International (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See top for WOR observations; this show followed it, as often happens; they understand the value of lead-ins... (gh, DXLD) Hi Glenn, I heard your program on WJIE last night on 7489.95 at and around 0020 UT (7th of September). I heard WJIE at 2330 first, but they were really interfered and sometimes covered by utility/radio amateurs. Better at 0000 and sometimes with SIO 333, when you were there with World of Radio. 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. WWCR has posted a new program schedule dated Sept 1, and we also refer to a printed copy to find a few specialty programs now scheduled: THE OLD RECORD SHOP: Sat 2330 5070, Sun 1330 15825, Mon 0930 9475 KEN`S COUNTRY CLASSICS: Sun 0430 3210, Sun 0530 5070 ROCK THE UNIVERSE: Sat 1105 5070, Sun 0805 3210, Sun 1205 12160 For more, see The Specialty program guide, which has also been updated: http://www.wwcr.com/cr_specialty_pgms.html There`s also a TECHNOLOGY HOUR, UT Sat 0200-0300 on 3210; not sure if it really be secular (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LITTLE KNOWN KJES IN VADO, NEW MEXICO, IS FIRST U.S. CATHOLIC SHORTWAVE STATION by Dr. Hansjeorg Biener. From his Medien Aktuell: Kirche im Rundfunk, February 2002. © Copyright 2002 and reprinted with permission. Vado, New Mexico (Medien Aktuell) -- At the end of 1989 and beginning of 1990, North American shortwave fans notice the first test transmissions of station KJES Missionary Radio Evangelism originating from a ranch operated by a Catholic priest for rehabilitating youth. In an interview he spoke of having two 50,000-watt shortwave transmitters, but that did not happen. On the contrary, the transmissions from the used transmitters were sporadic and did not happen regularly until 1992. The programs are essentially prayers, hymns, and readings. KJES maintains an unvarying programming and frequency schedule, summer season and winter season, year after year. All times are UT, world time, same as London, which is six hours ahead of New York time (five in summer daylight saving time). [make that 5 and 4, respectively, but how is New York relevant in this??? -- gh] 0200-0300 7555 kHz English to western Canada 0300-0330 7555 kHz English to central Canada 1400-1500 11715 kHz English to eastern Canada 1500-1600 11715 kHz English to western Canada 1600-1700 11715 kHz Spanish to Mexico 1900-2000 15385 kHz English to Australia 2000-2100 15385 kHz Spanish to Puerto Rico Database: Las Cruces: KJES shortwave. Service to North America and Australia and the Pacific in English; Mexico, South America, and Puerto Rico in Spanish. (One 50,000-watt transmitter). Format: Recited psalms and prayers. Owner: Our Lord's Ranch, 230 High Valley Rd., Vado NM 88072. (505) 233-2090, fax 233-3019. Michael Reuter, g.m. Fr. Rick Thomas SJ, pres. See also El Paso, Tex. Founded about 1992. (In the Diocese of Las Cruces) (Catholic Radio Update Sept 9 via DXLD) KJES is run primarily for the benefit, it seems to me, of the young people recovering from tough times in life, and serves Canada and Australia in English and Mexico and Puerto Rico in Spanish a few hours a day (Michael Dorner, CRU via DXLD) Do they really say PR is the target? Why be so specific when, e.g., Florida, Cuba and D.R. are in the same direxion? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Not stupid ballgames, just talk about stupid ballgames: ABC/Disney has used their LMA option, and purchased WEVD-AM New York 1050 50 kw directional for thier ESPN network. The cost.... $78 million (Brock Whaley, Atlanta, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WILL WBEZ DULL WLUW'S 'EDGE'? [Chicago public radio station poised to take over alternative outlet] http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D0209060007sep06 (Chicago Tribune Sept 6 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FOR HISPANIC RADIO, FEUD BOILS OVER IN A MARKET ON FIRE By EDUARDO PORTER, The Associated Press, 9/6/02 10:00 AM and ANNA WILDE MATHEWS, The Wall Street Journal This spring, the two top Spanish-language radio companies in the U.S. were talking about a merger that would produce a Hispanic broadcasting giant and end one of the industry's nastiest feuds.... http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?f0044_BC_WSJ--HispanicRadioFeu&&news&newsflash-financial (Wall Street Journal via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. F.C.C. WEIGHS A SHARP EASING OF SIZE LIMITS ON BIG MEDIA By STEPHEN LABATON, NY Times, September 7, 2002 The Federal Communications Commission is preparing to consider sharply relaxing the rules that limit the nation's largest media conglomerates from becoming any bigger. In response to a series of court opinions that questioned the justifications for the existing rules, the agency will formally begin a rule-making process next week that is widely expected to lead to the most significant regulatory overhaul since the telecommunications laws were rewritten nearly six years ago. "This is a very significant act by the commission," said Richard E. Wiley, a former F.C.C chairman whose law firm, Wiley, Rein & Fielding, now represents many broadcasting and newspaper organizations that are seeking to have some of the rules repealed or loosened. "At long last, these rules are getting a total scrubbing." The ownership rules that the commission will reconsider restrict a newspaper from owning a TV station in the same city. They prevent a media conglomerate from owning two television networks. They prohibit a network from owning stations that broadcast to more than 35 percent of the nation's homes. They restrict a broadcaster from owning two television stations in the same market unless there are at least eight other competitors. And they restrict a company from owning more than eight radio stations in the same market. Industry executives and lawyers said that some of the rules, like the 35 percent limit, may not be scuttled entirely because they are supported by powerful corporate interests. The stations affiliated with the networks and one of the industry's well-placed trade groups, the National Association of Broadcasters, have mounted a strong campaign against the effort of the networks to repeal the rule. That fight is now expected to take on new vigor at the commission and in Congress. "There is a strong sense in Congress that you need more owners, not fewer owners," said Alan Frank, the chairman of the Network Affiliated Stations Alliance and the president of Post-Newsweek Stations, the unit of the Washington Post Company that owns five network-affiliated stations and one unaffiliated station. Other regulations, like the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule, have no similar kinds of industrial support. But they are supported by some members of Congress, like Senator Ernest F. Hollings, the South Carolina Democrat who is chairman of the Commerce Committee, who has repeatedly made clear to the F.C.C. that he would oppose efforts to modify the ownership rules. The rules were written to encourage diversity of voices on the airwaves and competition among media outlets, and to prevent the biggest companies from becoming too powerful in controlling news and entertainment. The original basis for some of them grew out of fears of the experience before World War II when totalitarian governments in Europe and Asia controlled all media outlets. But some conglomerates, like Viacom and the News Corporation, have already bumped up against the limits of the rules. In a series of rulings over the last two years in cases brought by different companies, the federal appeals court here has repeatedly criticized the F.C.C. for failing to justify adequately the rules in an era in which consumers have access to cable and satellite television systems that offer hundreds of channels, as well as the unlimited offerings of the Internet. Next Thursday, the agency is expected to approve an order that starts the rule-making process. While it does not specify the direction the agency intends to take as it reconsiders the rules, experts say that they have no doubt that the proceedings are all but certain to conclude next year with most of the regulations either abandoned or broadly loosened. "This will ultimately allow efficiencies through consolidation that Wall Street will applaud," said Blair Levin, a former top official at the commission who is now an analyst at Legg Mason. "The critical question is what does it do to diversity of voice. It's unlikely that it will increase it. But the question is does it damage it." The move begins to fulfill the long-held vision of Michael K. Powell, the agency's chairman. As an F.C.C. commissioner during the 1990's and as chairman under President Bush, Mr. Powell has consistently voiced deep skepticism about the ownership rules, saying that they were based more on a hunch and intuition than on strong empirical evidence that they actually promote diversity and competition. At least two other members of the five-person commission are also known to be critical of the old rules. "Powell has had a very clear point of view throughout his term at the commission, which is that a lot of these rules need to be looked at right away and most of them are no longer valid," Mr. Levin said. "He believes the media world has changed dramatically and needs a strong look." Still, Mr. Powell has moved slowly in taking on the rules, embarking on a strategy that he hopes will pass muster in the courts and not provoke new fights with some lawmakers on Capitol Hill who support many of the rules. Rather than announcing their wholesale abandonment, Mr. Powell has set up a special task force and commissioned a set of studies that many lawyers and experts expect will conclude that they are no longer necessary to promote diversity and competition. The studies are expected to be completed next month (via Dennis Gibson, IRCA via DXLD) Okay, fine. Let them make all the money they can haul away. But let's see some promotion of conditions that allow the little guy to thrive and present his alternate point of view over the airwaves. Or will these new regs do away with viable public service requirements, too? And I'm not talking about running a few taped programs or church services early Sunday morning, as we most stations did until a few years ago to meet public service requirements - I'm talking about REAL, ongoing public service - including REAL local news and weather announcements. How many of you have noticed threatening weather approaching, tuned to your local "media conglomerate" station because it had a strong signal, and waited for the weather warning that never came? Also, how many of you who regularly complain on this listserv about Clear Channel and others actually have visited your local CC station and asked to see the station's public comment file? (Paul Swearingen, Topeka, ibid.) ** U S A. Local-only internet audio: Here's an amazing new technology that eliminates the global reach of Internet radio. It's perhaps another good reason to keep your shortwave radio... http://www.decisionmark.com/news_wral_airtoweb_9-4-2002.html (Kim Elliott, swprograms via DXLD) viz.: DECISIONMARK CORP. AND WRAL-FM TO PILOT FIRST "AIR-TO-WEB BROADCAST REPLICATION" TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE BROADCAST INDUSTRY --Patented Technology Allows Local Internet Broadcast Without Copyright Infringement-- --Broadcast Stations Broaden Listenership, Avoid Costly Licensing Agreements-- CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - September 4, 2002 - Decisionmark Corp., a leading provider of Internet-based broadcast industry solutions, announced today it will work with WRAL-FM radio in Raleigh, North Carolina, to pilot its patented Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) technology, allowing the radio station to transmit its content via the Internet while replicating its over-the-air signal reach. The significance of this new technology is it permits any radio station to broadcast their local signal over the Internet without infringing upon copyright laws by extending the signal beyond legal geographic boundaries. Because the web listenership would duplicate that of the listeners already able to receive the signal with an antenna, it would lessen the fears of content being streamed to an unlimited audience, hence eliminating the need for additional copyright fees. The first of its kind, this pilot program will initially extend to a targeted listener audience who will be able to begin enjoying WRAL-FM from their computer beginning September 5, 2002. During this time, listeners will be asked to provide feedback to the station relating to ease-of-use, sound quality and other observations to help further enhance the listening experience. "We are excited to work with Decisionmark in proving its new patented 'Air-to-Web' technology," said James F. Goodmon, president and CEO, Capitol Broadcasting, owners and operators of WRAL-FM in Raleigh, North Carolina. "This technology is the solution to a problem that has been plaguing the broadcast industry for quite some time now. This sets the stage for us to take advantage of the Internet and keep the ears of our valued local listeners from car to desktop," Mr. Goodmon added. "Capitol Broadcasting is one of the most technically advanced and innovative broadcast companies in the U.S.," said Jack Perry, president and CEO of Decisionmark Corp. "Through WRAL-TV, they were the first station to offer a digital signal and the local newscast in HDTV. Our Air-to-Web technology is a significant step for the broadcast industry and we are excited to be testing it with such a cutting-edge partner and look forward to bringing the remaining 13,000 radio stations in the nation back to the web," Mr. Perry concluded. The Problem: Broadcast is Local; Internet is Global Traditionally, the Internet has been a global entity, providing content to all regardless of location. What is needed is a way to provide broadcast, via the Internet, that replicates what consumers receive with an antenna. Radio streamed on the PC has come under fire from organizations such as the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) that expect webcasters to pay royalties based on the global nature of the Internet and not the local reach of a traditional broadcast signal. In 1998 the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was passed with provisions calling for performance royalties specifically for the recording artists and music labels. The performance rates were recently set at 0.07 cents per song, per listener and retroactive three and a half years. With tens of thousands of dedicated listeners, this amount would virtually bankrupt webcasters. The fees proposed by the DMCA exceed those typically paid to songwriters and publishers. Broadcasters currently pay under an agreement among Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and the Society of European State Authors and Composers (SESAC). The fees typically average $250 annually or a small percentage of gross revenues. The DMCA also mandated that webcast royalties be set under a so-called marketplace- based deal reflecting what copyright owners would accept for licensing and what fees webcasters would be willing to pay. In addition to those fees demanded by BMI and ASCAP, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a union that represents actors who voice radio commercials, is seeking 300 percent of their regular broadcast fee if radio stations retransmit their ads. These issues have been raised and extra money is being sought because the Internet has no geographic boundaries. The Solution: Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) Air-to-Web Broadcast Replication (AWBR) is Decisionmark's patented solution (patent number US 6,252,547, issued on June 26, 2001) to the problem of delivering radio content via the Internet. The goal of AWBR is to provide the technology and data that will allow audio content to be delivered over the Internet with the same copyright protections currently enjoyed by broadcast delivery. Decisionmark has proven this technology by assisting satellite carriers and broadcasters with the Satellite Home Viewer Improvement Act by providing an online eligibility-screening tool. This same patented technology can be used to limit transmission of a streamed radio signal to an FCC-approved signal area. Decisionmark's solution is made possible due to its signal area prediction technology and the AWBR verification process. Decisionmark also ensures that the underlying signal area data is accurate. Local broadcasters communicate signal area coverage changes via a Decisionmark software tool so that off-air and web broadcasts are ALWAYS identical. Rather than going around the broadcasters, the solution is designed to work with the broadcaster to make streaming local broadcasts on the PC a reality. About Capitol Broadcasting Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL-Digital, WRAL-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, DTV Plus, and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WWWB-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC; and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC. About Decisionmark Decisionmark is the foremost online software and information provider delivering to broadcasters, the most accurate and complete, real time information anywhere regarding signal coverage, reception, programming and viewers; and to consumers, the only real-time household-level online programming guide. Decisionmark is a profitable, privately held company. (via DXLD) Ha!!! But how will it replicate erratic episodes of DX skip and skywave propagation? Will it cover greater areas during the nighttime hours than the daytime hours? What if by some fluke, the radio signal is inaudible in a particular locale but the Internet audio is there because the predictive technology erred? Would there still be a copyright infringement? If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Is the Pope Catholic? Do bears sh--....... Oh, never mind! (John Figliozzi, NY, swprograms via DXLD) The point of this is to avoid the imposition of fees that have been handed down to apply to music played on internet-streamed radio stations. Is there any assurance that this scheme will in fact be immune from these fees? In the stuff I have read on this issue, I've seen no mention that the copyright holders would be willing to waive webcasting fees in the event of a geographical limitation. I wonder how virtual private networks would figure into this? You could conceivably use a VPN to have an effective IP address located at a distance (perhaps a considerable distance) from your physical location. Hmmm (Kyle Barger, ibid.) I was being facetious for the most part, but I think your points are well drawn. It seems to me that copyright holders will still see webcasts as "value-added" commodities that entitle them to further payment beyond what the law says they are entitled to on radio. This technology may limit the number of additional listeners (and therefore the amount of additional payment), but that's all it would do. The cost of owning and installing the software might be a significant factor as well. The subtext in all this seems to be to kill the internet as having any chance of developing into a viable alternative to more traditional media. The NAB certainly has a big stake in that outcome and it is one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington. It's shortsighted thinking, IMHO; but there's no shortage of that in Washington or in corporate board rooms (John Figliozzi, ibid.) Technology, schmecnology. The concept is clever -- as a workaround to copyrights laws, thus allowing stations to webcast to their target audience. Left unsaid is *how* a person's location would be verified. I am guessing a user would need to register with some type of verifiable location -- e.g. a credit card billing address -- much like the "AdultCheck" system pornography sites use to allegedly filter out minors. Only a user with a valid physical address deemed within a signal's footprint would be allowed access to the streamed audio. Kyle's comments regarding VPNs or other leased line approaches to workplace web access are entirely relevant. For a while I worked for a Swedish company in their US headquarters. We had a frame relay connection to Sweden for our server-based e-mail and files, and then reached the outside world via this connection. Whenever I'd go to yahoo.com the Swedish page would show up. This service might use IP address location as a first-pass criterion, but would (hopefully) allow users to self-register in a manner that authenticates their location. I'll contact the company (unless, Kim, you already have) to find out more -- primarily because I think the concept is clever (though misguided). (Richard Cuff, Allentown, PA, USA, ibid.) ** U S A. WEBSITES TAKE AFICIONADOS BACK TO THRILLING GOLDEN AGE OF THE SOUND BOX --- Hartford Courant September 5, 2002 http://www.ctnow.com/technology/hc-oldtimeradio.artsep05.story Radio Days Of Yesteryear By E. MICHAEL RUDMAN, Special to The Courant Although newfangled gadgets and gizmos often make people wistful for the simpler, good old days, current technology - with a few keystrokes and mouse clicks - can actually transport us, aurally, back to those good old days by way of OTR, the acronym enthusiasts use to denote "Old Time Radio." Thirty-odd years after being relegated to the back shelves, the Golden Age of Radio has found new life and a comfortable niche on the Internet. Myriad websites assemble information on old shows, biographies on old stars and links to radio stations that still broadcast original OTR, playable directly over the Net via your computer using Windows Media player or the RealOne player. The plot lines sound familiar: "A family comedy where mishaps abound!" or "Sharp-witted detectives investigate and solve the case!" But instead of "Malcolm in the Middle" or "C.S.I.," think "Dagwood and Blondie" and "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" - examples of the hundreds of radio comedies, mysteries and dramas that held the country's attention each evening from the 1930s until the early 1960s, when a fairly new medium called television gave radio a final push out of the picture. A great place to start your OTR journey is the Radio Days website, at http://www.otr.com, with OTR history and information, as well as links to other pertinent OTR sites. Webmaster Jim Widner started the site in 1995. "`Radio Days' was the second old-time-radio-related site up and running on the Internet," Widner says, "but the first to have a true `OTR'-related domain name." Radio Days averages 320,000 hits a month, and has close to 30 million visitor hits since its inception. Curiously, Widner says most visitors to his site are not necessarily hardcore OTR fans. "The philosophy of my site is one of education," he says. "I try to focus on the new person who has some interest in what radio was prior to 1962, especially the 1940s and earlier. The site has helped satisfy my urge to educate as well as provide an outlet for my own creative interests." Another venerable OTR site, http://www.old-time.com, has been on the Internet continuously since 1994. This Old Time Radio site, run by Lou Genco, is also full of documentation and links informative to both recent discoverers and veteran fans of OTR. At http://www.old- time.com/werus.html is Genco's "Continuing History of the Original Old Time Radio WWW Pages and Old Time Radio on the WWW," a mouthful-to-say but fascinating-to-browse timeline tracing the growth of OTR on the Internet. Genco's site also provides links useful to newbies in the OTR world; there's a page of hints http://www.old-time.com/newbie1.html on how to become an OTR collector, which means purchasing, trading or otherwise acquiring OTR shows on tape, vinyl LP or the newest form, MP3. For MP3 files, visit the several newsgroups devoted to OTR: alt.binaries.sound.radio.oldtime, alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime (note the ending `s' on `sounds') and alt.binaries.sounds.radio.oldtime.highspeed. Many OTR devotees trade shows frequently in those groups, though one has to be skilled in the artistry of downloading and decoding these files into playable MP3s to be able to collect and enjoy them. Thousands of hours of various OTR programs are available in these groups on a rotating basis. Because audio quality is not critical in converting OTR radio shows from cassette/LP/8-track/reel-to-reel to MP3, a 30-minute OTR radio show, for example, can be compressed into an MP3 file of between 6 and 7 megabytes. With a CD burner and 700-megabye blank CD, it's possible to burn about 100 MP3s to the CD, which gives you the ability to carry nearly 50 hours of OTR listening in your portable CD-R MP3 player. For those who shun the MP3 format, another option is listening to OTR material via radio stations that broadcast directly over the Internet. A link on the home page of the "Radio Days" site brings up a list of stations and their broadcast schedules. Widner notes the similarities between the old and the new technology: "Radio, in its early days, was a sort of free-for-all with hobbyists broadcasting their own material, etc. Eventually, regulation and commercialism intervened, changing radio forever. All of this is essentially the same with the Internet, with its early `Wild West' approach." So it's not that difficult and complex, after all, to sit down with the latest technology, put it in reverse, and - to quote "The Lone Ranger" program - "return to those thrilling days of yesteryear." When you find yourself complaining that there's nothing new on the air anymore, revisit the days of old, via OTR (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. TV`S BIRTH RELATIVE TO MESA MAN BY ED TAYLOR, TRIBUNE Some 30 years ago, Joe Farnsworth read a story in a third-grade class at Mesa Edison School about how a man named Philo T. Farnsworth had invented electronic television. That set him to wondering if there was any family relationship. Joe went home and asked his father, Mesa businessman Ross Farnsworth, if there was any connection. Indeed, there was. Ross' father, who also was named Joe, was a first cousin of Philo. "I was shocked," Joe said. "I had not heard anything of it from my family up to that point. . . . I was young, but I understood that it was a great accomplishment." Today is the 75th anniversary of Philo's invention of television, an event that is likely to be little noticed on television or anywhere else. Joe's experience in the third grade sparked his interest in Philo. In later years he read books about the inventor and talked in more detail with his dad, who met Philo in the early 1950s when Philo came to Mesa seeking financial help from family members for another of his many inventions. In recent years Philo has been getting more recognition. The Public Broadcasting Service has produced a documentary on Philo's work, and Time magazine named him one of the 100 greatest scientists and thinkers of the 20th century. Still, Philo Farnsworth is very little known considering he was the originator of one of the most powerful technologies of modern life. The man responsible for bringing us everything from "Masterpiece Theater" to "WWF Smackdown" was born in 1906 near Beaver City, Utah, a Mormon community settled by his grandfather, who was a follower of Brigham Young. When Philo was 12, his family moved to an Idaho ranch, and he developed the idea for electronic television at the age of 14 while plowing furrows in the farm fields. Even at that young age, the boy genius realized that an image could be scanned onto a picture tube row by row. Philo brought his idea to life in his modest San Francisco lab on Sept. 7, 1927, when he succeeded in transmitting the image of a horizontal line to a receiver in the next room. It wasn't actually the first television technology. Earlier mechanical televisions had been developed that used a spinning disc to "scan" the image. But with no moving parts, the electronic technology developed by Philo was a vast improvement. Yet Philo received little recognition for his work, largely because the giant RCA company and its influential leader, David Sarnoff, insisted that television was developed by RCA and its chief engineer, Vladimir Zworykin. RCA did in fact spend millions of dollars developing television technology, and Sarnoff was not interested in paying royalties to Philo for the right to manufacture TV sets. For that reason, RCA fought Philo's patent for years in legal courts and in the court of public opinion -- insisting in corporate propaganda that RCA invented television. In 1934 the U.S. Patent Office ruled in favor of Philo's patents, a decision upheld on appeal. Eventually RCA was forced to pay Philo $1 million. But Philo never fully benefited financially from his invention. World War II came along, and no one was buying television sets. Shortly after the war ended, Philo's patents expired. When the technology finally took off in the 1950s, other companies entered the business to reap most of the rewards. Philo's only appearance on national television came in 1957 when he was a guest on a CBS game show and stumped celebrity panelists who were unable to guess that he had invented electronic television. He took home an $80 prize. For much of his life Philo was a severe critic of television programming, thinking that it was wasting people's time. Joe thinks an even more important untold story is the fact that Philo obtained hundreds of patents on other inventions. Much of Philo's work was with industrial machinery and tools, and he also did important development work on radar and nuclear fusion. But Philo was never able to make much money on his other inventions either. "He was not an astute businessman," Joe said. "He would get some money, but he would use it to buy a new Cadillac or something like that. "He was a genius, but his mind was not on business. It was on his inventions." Philo came to Mesa in the early 1950s to try to persuade the elder Joe Farnsworth and Ross Farnsworth -- then a man in his early 20s -- to invest in his ventures, the younger Joe said. Philo was always trying to raise money to advance his schemes, but he had trouble because his ideas were so complex that many people had trouble understanding them, Joe said. The Mesa Farnsworths did loan him some money, but they never received any return on their investment, Joe said. Later, in the 1980s, Philo's brother Lincoln Farnsworth moved to Mesa and bought a home in Sunland Village, a retirement community developed by Ross' company. Lincoln died a few years ago. Philo died in 1971. Although he never met Philo, Joe is convinced from reading books and talking to his father, who was unavailable for an interview, that Philo's genius was as much a curse as a blessing. "His mind was so far ahead of everything else that he couldn't relate very well to other people," Joe said. "He was constantly dealing with his own genius and couldn't turn it off." (© 2001-2002 East Valley Tribune via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Found on the king.org website, info about a `ROLLING REQUIEM`, attempts to perform (and broad/webcast?) Mozart`s Requiem starting at 8:46 am local in every timezone on September 11. We fail to see the point of this, as 1246 UT, when the attack really started, is the only significant time. But, details are at: http://www.rollingrequiem.org The first performance would be from the UT+13 timezone, UT Tue 1946, FWIW (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE WAR TO SAVE OUR BANDS: A NEW ATTACK ON 222 - 225 MHZ From ARNewsline 1308 - Sept 6 2002 Some are calling it Deja Vous [sic!]. This as big business once again sets its eyes on grabbing a ham band and converting it into a money making machine. And once again its the old 220 MHz band. David Black, KB4KCH, is here with the details: -- Once again, amateur radio frequencies may be under siege. Large corporations wanting to become even bigger want hams off the 222 to 225 MHz band, so they can make money. This time, the challenge comes from Data Commlink Incorporated and its twenty electrical cooperatives. Data Commlink filed comments in W T Docket 02-224. That's an FCC proposal that began innocently enough. The proposal sought to gather comments on requests for waivers to provide band management services in the 220 to 222 MHz band. That's the piece of spectrum that used to belong to Amateur Radio but which hams say was stolen by greedy businesses over a decade ago. But page 10 of DataComlink's filing holds comments that strike straight at amateur radio. The company says quote -- the spectrum at 222 to 225 MHz that is currently held by the Amateur Radio Service is being underutilized. In the early days of 220 MHz commercial regulations, amateur Service licensees argued that their spectrum was necessary and important in order to provide communications in the event of disaster or emergency. Although we take no issue with this claim, we do not feel that the 222 to 225 MHz band has been utilized as well as Amateur Radio claimed it would by so-called no-code hams in their efforts to keep a foothold in the 220 MHz arena. The filing then presents a direct challenge to ham radio. Without citing any evidence, Data Comlink asserts that in nearly all densely populated areas, the 222 to 225 MHz band is largely quiet. The company claims that only what it terms as handful of individuals in the Amateur Radio Service even use the spectrum. Data Comlink then says hundreds of thousands of potential commercial users wait with no alternatives. Data Comlink tells the FCC that -- with considerable commercial interest already in the 222 to 225 MHz band because of waiver requests -- it feels that the frequencies amateur radio holds would be much better utilized for commercial use. The company says existing users of the spectrum -- ham radio operators -- are so few in number that the economic impact on those affected would be minimal. As for where the thousands of US hams who actually do use 220 to 225 would wind up, Data Comlink says nothing. Another issue is left unaddressed. If the FCC were to actually give the Data Comlink proposal any serious consideration, who would reimburse repeater owners the hundreds of thousands of dollars invested in their systems? DataComlink is silent on that one. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH. -- What credence will the FCC give the Data Comlink idea? That's hard to say. Since it comes in the context of comments on another matter the Commission could simply rule that anything dealing with 222 to 225 MHz is not germane to the issue. On the other hand, the FCC could use the Data Comlink commentary as the basis for a Notice of Inquiry aimed at reallocating the 222 to 225 MHz band to commercial use. Which way they will go will not be known for a few months at the latest. In the meantime ham radio had better keep a close eye on the situation so that nothing is covertly slipped by. The complete Data Comlink filing is on the web at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6513289200 (From comments filed to FCC by Data Comlink) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. NTIA HEAVES POTENTIAL MONKEY WRENCH INTO 5-MHZ BAND PROPOSAL NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 5, 2002--The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has recommended that the FCC not grant an ARRL petition for a domestic-only, secondary Amateur Radio allocation at 5 MHz. The NTIA regulates radio spectrum allocated to the federal government. The agency's last-minute recommendation followed hundreds of largely favorable comments and reply comments from organizations -- including the ARRL -- and from individuals. "HF bands are currently used extensively by federal agencies for emergency services, including communications support for the Department of Defense, Coast Guard operations, Department of Justice law enforcement and back-up or emergency uses by twelve other federal agencies," the NTIA's Fredrick R. Wentland, said in an August 21 letter. Wentland is NTIA's acting associate administrator for spectrum management. "NTIA believes the Commission's current proposal does not adequately provide for protection from harmful interference to these critical government operations primary in the band." In its recent comments, the ARRL called the 5 MHz allocation "an urgent priority of the Amateur Service" and asked that the proceeding to grant it be expedited. Wentland said that without a more complete understanding of the interference potential to federal operations, the NTIA believes the secondary amateur allocation would be "premature." But, he said that NTIA would work with the federal agencies, the FCC and the amateur community to determine whether "some future accommodation" for amateurs at 5 MHz would be possible. That could include limitations on power or emission types, a reduction in the size of the proposed band, the use of discrete frequencies or geographical restrictions, he suggested. Wentland's letter arrived at the FCC beyond the cut-off date for reply comments in the proceeding, ET Docket 02-98. The FCC stamped the letter "ex parte or late-filed," indicating that it might take the NTIA's comments under consideration in the proceeding. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, said that while he and the ARRL Board of Directors have been long aware of the concerns registered by the US Coast Guard and the US Department of Justice with the NTIA's Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), he was surprised by the tone of the NTIA letter. "This is a lot worse than we were told to expect," he said, noting that the FCC had cancelled a meeting to discuss issues expressed by the NTIA several months ago and went forward with its proposal despite the NTIA's concerns. "We don't know how seriously the FCC will take NTIA's comments," Imlay added. "We're in the process of expediting coordination arrangements and other means to identify and satisfy NTIA's legitimate concerns." On May 2, the FCC proposed granting the ARRL's requests for new amateur allocations at 5250 to 5400 kHz and 136 kHz and to elevate the Amateur Radio allocation at 2400 to 2402 MHz to primary and to create a primary Amateur-Satellite allocation there. Imlay said the 5250 to 5400 kHz segment was proposed because it appeared to have the fewest US government assignments. "We used the best information available to us," he said. ARRL Comments Note Wide Support Ironically, the ARRL's own timely filed comments and reply comments in late July and mid-August noted that the eagerly anticipated 5-MHz allocation request was "essentially uncontested" and enjoyed "extensive support" within the amateur community." The FCC went along with ARRL's proposal to permit amateurs to operate at full legal limit on a new 5-MHz allocation, but it left open for further discussion whether to restrict band access to certain license classes or to break the band down into mode-specific subbands. The ARRL said in its comments that the band should be open to General and Extra class licensees and that band planning was sufficient to maintain order among modes. Two non-amateur organizations commented negatively. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance (HPPA), while not opposing the allocation, suggested that its Part 15 home wiring telecommunication devices operating in the 5 MHz range be presumed to not cause interference to amateur operations and not have to cease operation if interference is alleged. "This is an absurd request," ARRL said in its reply comments. "HPPA is not entitled, by virtue of its choice of operating frequencies for its unlicensed devices, to dictate spectrum allocation policy for its licensed services. That is the tail wagging the dog." The Power Line Communications Association (PLCA) said the FCC should not grant the 5-MHz band request because amateurs could interfere with its planned deployment of Part 15 broadband devices operating in the same region. ARRL said that notion turns the spectrum allocation procedure on its ear. "No Part 15 device manufacturer is entitled to oppose an allocation to a licensed radio service based on future deployment of an unlicensed device, period," the League said in its reply comments. Many more negative comments were received regarding the proposed 136- kHz low-frequency allocation, most of them from utilities that employ unlicensed Part 15 power line communications (PLC) systems. The ARRL reiterated its request for 200 W PEP power-output limitation but in no case greater than 2 W Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) on 136 kHz. The League also asked the FCC to reconsider granting an amateur allocation at 160 to 190 kHz as it had requested in its initial petition. In its reply comments, the ARRL debunked "homeland security" claims for protecting utility PLC systems expressed by the United Telecom Council. "If PLC systems are as subject to disruption as UTC claims and, at the same time, as critical to the power delivery infrastructure, why would they be operated on an unlicensed, unprotected basis?" ARRL asked. The ARRL said its studies have shown that interference from amateurs is "simply not going to occur in the real world" at the distances typically involved. "The Amateur Service will receive interference from PLC systems at far longer ranges than PLC systems would be able to receive amateur signals," the ARRL noted. The League also took a dim view of a suggestion by the IEEE Local and Metropolitan Area Network Standards Committee that Part 15 devices operating in the 2.4 GHz region enjoy a "safe harbor" of operation in which such devices would not be deemed to cause interference to licensed services and that the alleged "secondary status" of Part 15 devices relative to the Amateur Service be modified. "Part 15 devices are not 'secondary' to the Amateur Service," the ARRL said. "Those devices have no allocation status at all." Implement Now In its comments and reply comments, the ARRL called up on the FCC to immediately implement the three allocation proposals. "The Commission cannot make allocation decisions based on non-technical assertions of Part 15 users or user groups or manufacturers of such devices," the ARRL said. "ARRL contends that compatibility between amateur uses in the subject bands and those of incumbents is not a substantial concern in any of the three cases." A copy of the ARRL's comments and a copy of ARRL's reply comments in ET Docket 02-98 are available on the ARRL Web site. Wentland's letter from the NTIA is available on the FCC Web site (ARRL Sept 6 via Bill Smith, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [non]. Radio Free Vietnam: According to our local DX newsletter mentioning a report from a Japanese DX site the station will soon introduce additional transmissions via Merlin. The 1400-1430 UT broadcast will extend to 1500 on 15235 kHz. It quotes an email from Hans Johnson saying more broadcasts will come from Tajikistan. The broadcasts are generally heard 44444 here in Suva (Martin Rokovada, Fiji, Sept 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RADIO SHACK Glenn: To clarify the item in 2-139: Radio Shack has never made its own receivers to my knowledge. They have had agreements to rebadge others' radios with their in-house brand, the most recent and quite longstanding of these being an agreement of this type with Sangean. But RS has changed its marketing philosophy and is retiring all its own brands, in favor of emphasizing a broader range of other quality (from its perspective) brands. The first of these was with RCA about two years ago and others have followed. As far as shortwave is concerned, they have dropped Sangean radios entirely from their product line and replaced them with Grundigs. RS Canada has been carrying the Grundig line there successfully for some time now (John Figliozzi, NY, Sept 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROBABLY THE OLDEST WORKING RADIO IN BRITAIN From The Nottingham Evening Post - 07 September 2002 - by James Kay Picture at http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=66056&command=displayContent&sourceNode=65583&contentPK=2538898 It might look like a cross between an ear trumpet and a safe, but this is, in fact, probably the oldest working radio in Britain. Phil Rosen found the 1922 device - called a Smoker's Cabinet, worth between £1,500 and £2,000 - wrapped in brown paper in a dingy corner of a council warehouse about ten years ago. Phil, 73, couldn't believe how many neglected treasures lay there gathering dust. "I thought, here are rare radios, presumably given to the council in good faith, and they are gathering dust because there is nowhere to display them," he said. The retired chartered engineer took matters into his own hands - and founded a museum dedicated to the history of the wireless. Today Nottingham's Radio Times Museum remains one of only two in the country. Armed only with enthusiasm, he persuaded the council to let him plunder the warehouse in Crocus Street, Nottingham, in 1993. He selected about 60 models - including standard, crystal and valve radios, gramophones and other equipment - and put them on display in a former kitchen at Wollaton Hall. But Phil, of Repton Road, West Bridgford, fears the collection could be heading back to the warehouse because of council plans for reform of the museum service. Bosses want the room which houses the radios back. Phil said: "All the radios could be sent back to storage. It makes me feel sick to think of it." The museum opens to the public on the last Sunday of every month from 10 am to 5 pm and thousands of people have visited, including school parties and engineering societies. With the help of two other radio enthusiasts - Eric Woodroffe and Richard White - Phil has been restoring and adding to the collection for the last nine years. He said: "It is a working museum and we encourage children to sample home entertainment as it would have been in grandad's day." The industrial museum and the Costume and Textile Museum are also on the casualty list if the council implements its five-year blueprint. The authority says no decision has been taken on the Radio Times Museum's future and, even if it did close, the radios would be displayed elsewhere. Brian Ashley, assistant director of leisure and community services at the city council, said the radios would not go into storage. He said: "Items from the industrial collection (including the radio sets) will be available for the public to see one way or another - but not at Wollaton Hall." Gerry Wells, curator of the Vintage Radio Museum in London, said: "There are a lot of wireless enthusiasts in the industrial north of England because so many sets were made there. Phil's museum is very important point for them." (via Mike Terry, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ AURORA WARNING: A solar wind shock wave swept past Earth on Sept. 7th at approximately 1630 UT (12:30 EDT). The interplanetary magnetic field turned sharply south when the wave arrived, which means a geomagnetic storm is likely. Sky watchers -- especially those in northern Europe, New Zealand and southern Australia -- should be alert for auroras after local nightfall on Saturday Geophysical Alert Message Solar-terrestrial indices for 06 September follow. Solar flux 178 and mid-latitude A-index 8. The mid-latitude K-index at 1800 UTC on 07 September was 6 (178 nT). Space weather for the next 24 hours is expected to be moderate. Geomagnetic storms reaching the G2 level are expected. Solar radiation storms reaching the S1 level are expected. Radio blackouts reaching the R1 level are expected (via Steven Wiseblood, Sept 7, IRCA via DXLD) The RSGB propagation news is also available in a Saturday update, http://www.keele.ac.uk/depts/por/update.htm posted every Saturday evening and for more on propagation generally, see http://www.rsgb.org/society/psc.htm (Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###