DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-141, September 9, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1146: BROADCAST ON WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 BROADCASTS ON RFPI: Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445, 15038.7; ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1146.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1146.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WJIE 7490: another unexpected time for WORLD OF RADIO, not necessarily repeatable, as the schedule seems to be flexible: UT Sun Sept 8 starting at 0518. But it was still last week`s 1145, not 1146. Reception at this hour is quite good, but modulation subject to some clipping. Apparently this has happened before. Again Monday Sept 9 at 1200 with last week`s (gh, DXLD) 7490 1.9 0530 WJIE Shortwave, Upton, KY hördes åter. Nu med World of Radio med Glenn Hauser. Har dessförinnan inte hörts sedan den 28.8. [Overall merit:] 2-3 (Christer Brunström, Sweden, SW Bulletin via DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ. It so happens that both our WBCQ times now conflict with the rather limited usage of 7415 by VOA Botswana, per current sked: 7415 0430 0500 VOA F PORT BOT 04 010 [WOR UT Mon 0415-0445] 7415 1800 1900 VOA B ENGL BOT 01 350 7415 1900 2200 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 7415 2200 2230 VOA B ENGL BOT 04 010 12345 [M-F] [WOR Wed 2200-2230] MONITORING REMINDERS CALENDAR: you may find some worthwhile listening around 9/11 by consulting http://www.worldofradio.com/calendar.html ** ANGOLA. Ao que tudo indica, a vida começa a se normalizar em Angola. Nesta semana, o Presidente José Eduardo dos Santos intermediou, em Luanda, a assinatura de um tratado de paz entre a República Democrática do Congo e Uganda. Algo não imaginado a pouco tempo atrás! Enquanto isso, a Rádio Nacional foi sintonizada, em Porto Alegre(RS), em 05 de setembro, às 0240, em 4950 kHz, transmitindo um jogo de basquete entre a equipe angola e a de Porto Rico. Se o esporte está presente na programação da emissora, é mais um sinal de que Angola está retornando a normalidade. (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) ** ANGOLA [non]. Hi Glen[n], Just to let you know that Radio Ecclesia's frequency is 7205 kHz. They were on 6100 kHz, but changed frequency on 1 September. Regards (Kathy Otto, Sentech, 9 September, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Media Network story had them on 6205, as previously queried -- a typo, I guess. BBCM also then quoted the wrong frequency (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [non]. INDONESIAN BROADCAST LAW THREATENS RADIO AUSTRALIA RELAYS Radio Australia's "Feedback" programme examined the implications of Indonesia's new Broadcasting Bill for international broadcasters. The bill, to be tabled on 29 September, "limits the replay of regular foreign programmes on local television and radio, with the exception of certain sports and some international events", reporter (?Claudette Werden) pointed out. For Radio Australia, the law would mean the cancellation of relays to 24 local affiliates in Indonesia. The chair of the committee drafting the law, Prof (?Widyatyana Murati), asked how the law would affect the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said: "You can still have your listeners, because your radio we can catch here in Indonesia very clearly. You don't have to worry about you're going to lose your listeners, because in my opinion your broadcasting emission in Indonesia is quite clear, you don't need to use our broadcasters to relay your emission. Radio Australia head Jean-Gabriel Manguy responded: "It's a bit hard to believe. What is showing through audience surveys that we have access to is that a majority of Indonesians still get their information, their entertainment and so on through local outlets, and the majority of that programming is produced locally. Obviously there is programming coming from outside, but I don't think it can be considered as a threat, certainly." Source: Radio Australia, Melbourne, in English 0300 gmt 8 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Hi from Trollhättan, Sweden, where the receiver was steamed up for the first time in months. 1170, Sep 7 2035, Radio Minsk had a DX-program in German at this time, Sat night. Said they had a fine special QSL-card for this. (I thought I had gone more bananas than usual when I stumbled on this program, hearing old IDs of Radio Schweden and Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk here plus one Colombian, Caracol I think.) But frankly speaking, R. Minsk itself seemed to be a bit of a DX station as it was only S7 on the K9AY direction east, so I really doubt they are using a megawatt transmitter. Other stations on the frequency were heard better, such as Radio Capodistria and a UK one, serving "...Staffordshire and Cheshire" so most probably Big AM, Stoke-on-Trent. The latter one has 200 watts. 73 (Johan Berglund, AOR AR7030, K9AY, Sweden, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. Algumas emissoras de ondas curtas surpreendem, de forma positiva, com sua programação. É o caso da Rádio Pio Doce, de Siglo Veinte, que emite em 5952 kHz. Foi ouvida, em Porto Alegre, em 7 de setembro, entre 1008 e 1020, com bom sinal. Se não bastasse o excelente jornalismo, voltado para a região e comunidade indígena, o programa apresentou, ainda, um correspondente, no Brasil, falando sobre o Dia da Independência. Em resumo: excelentes textos, boa locução e vinhetas, mostrando que o rádio boliviano não deixa a desejar (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Confirmando seu compromisso com bons programas sobre a história, a Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), também está comemorando os 80 anos de rádio no Brasil. A emissora leva ao ar, durante o mês de setembro, o programa 80 Anos de Rádio no Brasil. Vai ao ar, de segunda a sexta-feira, às 1230, 1830 e 2300. Aos sábados, é apresentado às 1050, 1550 e 2300. Nos domingos, é apresentado às 1300, 1830 e 2300. A Rádio Cultura AM, de São Paulo (SP), emite em 9615 e 17815 kHz. Confira! (Célio Romais, Brasil, @tividade DX Sept 8 via DXLD) 10 minutos?? (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. DAWSON SAVES ITS CBC AM TRANSMITTER WebPosted Sep 6 2002 08:02 AM CDT Whitehorse, Yukon - Outraged residents of Dawson city have forced the CBC to back off plans to turn off the AM radio transmitter in the community. The Corporation announced yesterday it was rethinking its decision to pull the plug on the transmitter. The CBC has been transmitting an AM signal in Dawson since 1958. Technicians say the aging tower the transmitter is on could collapse at some point in the future. An FM transmitter has been sending out the same CBC signal in Dawson since the mid-90's. However, when residents heard the transmitter was due to be shut down Thursday, more than 500 people signed a petition opposing the move. Petition Organizer Bernie Walters says the FM signal doesn't go out far enough into the bush surrounding Dawson to help people who really need it. "For emergencies you know, when there is fire when there is flood, accidents, fuel spills, all sorts of news, the RCMP have to put out road conditions, temperatures," he says. "Then all the good programs you people have, the news, As It Happens, and the whole works it's very important that it stays for the 300 to 400 people living outside of town." CBC Regional Manager Mike Linder says the corporation is listening to residents concerns and rethinking its options. "Given what we are hearing from the public it seems there is far more use of the AM signal than we were expecting," he says. "We will therefore not make any transition until we are satisfied that Yukoners will not lose coverage and won't be left without a signal." CBC transmission manager Dave Newbury says the AM transmitter will stay on the air until a decision is made. He says one option would be for the community to apply for a licence for the AM transmitter to carry the CBC signal. Another would be to de-commission the FM transmitter and leave the AM signal on the air. Copyright © 2002 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Fred Waterer, DXLD) WTFK?? CBC makes it incredibly difficult to find out this basic information. Even reaching CBC North from the main CBC page is impossible. This has a map which only indicates FM 104.9 for CBC Radio One, Dawson: http://north.cbc.ca/north/frequency.html# Finally we find a table, tho it is aimed at travellers, not residents, and it too does not show any AM frequency for Dawson; are they really listening to one based at another town? And guess what, this list is compiled and maintained by a DXer whose name we know, Andy Reid, it apparently being too difficult for CBC itself to do this! http://www.cbc.ca/channelguide/tables/northwest.htm To the rescue, the comprehensive 2001 NRC AM Log, which shows 40 watt LPRT in Dawson, CBDD on 560, relaying CFWH 570. Why wasn`t this still on the CBC webpage?? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. You can visit http://www.cbc.ca/tv50th to check out a full schedule of CBC 50th programs and events (from http://www.freep.com/entertainment/tvandradio/duf9_20020909.htm via Mike Duffy, Free Press TV Critic, Sept 9 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. [Rfpi-announce] SPECIAL BROADCAST: PATRIOTS FOR PEACE AND GLOBAL JUSTICE Dear Friends, RFPI is pleased to announce that we will be relaying the following special programming from Pacifica Radio. Join us at 1100 UT Wednesday until its conclusion at 0000 Thursday. If you are not able to join us for the original airing, we will rebroadcast the first 8 hours of the program including a special 3- hour edition of Democracy Now! from 0000 to 0800 UT Thursday. Frequencies: 15040 (AM) from 1100 to 0500 UT, 7445 (AM) from 0000 to 0800 and streaming live on the internet at http://www.rfpi.org during the entire broadcast. More information available at the Pacifica Radio website: http://www.pacifica.org [not yet, 9/8 -gh] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- News Release September 5, 2002 For immediate release Contact: Verna Avery-Brown (202) 588-0999 x349 verna@pacifica.org Pacifica Radio features "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice," a day-long, national broadcast to commemorate the one year anniversary of September 11th. WASHINGTON, DC (September 5) The Pacifica Radio Network will broadcast a special, thirteen hour program on September 11, 2002, entitled "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice." The program will run from 7 AM to 8 PM (EDT), and is a collaborative venture between the five Pacifica stations and its affiliates around the country. It is available for broadcast in whole or in part by any noncommercial or community radio station. In the aftermath of last September's terrorist attacks, the image in much of the mainstream media was a nation in lockstep behind the President and supportive of a military response. But amidst the flag- waving and patriotic chanting, there existed another sort of patriotism. Around the nation, thousands of people began to question government actions, take part in peace vigils and state emphatically that their grief was not a cry for war. This broadcast will take a look at these "Patriots for Peace and Global Justice." It will start out at Pacifica's national headquarters in Washington, DC and then move to Ground Zero in New York, where it will be co- hosted by Amy Goodman, Democracy Now! and station WBAI. Throughout the rest of the day, programming from Berkeley (KPFA), Houston (KPFT) and Los Angeles (KPFA) will feature discussion of the events of 9/11 from the perspectives of Arabs, Palestinians, African Americans and family members of victims of the attacks. Scheduled guests include author Noam Chomsky, environmental activist Vandana Shiva, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, Harvard professor Cornell West, comedian/ activist Dick Gregory and former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, as well as grassroots activists around the country working for change. Also featured will be Muslim-Americans whose civil liberties have been violated in the aftermath of September 11th and women who have traveled from Ground Zero in New York to Afghanistan's "Ground Zero" site of U.S.-led bombing. Pacifica is the nation's oldest listener-supported, non-commercial radio network. Founded in 1949 in Berkeley, California, Pacifica is devoted to the exercise of free speech, creative expression and the showcase of dissenting viewpoints (via Radio For Peace International, DXLD) ** CUBA. Hello Everyone, Has any one else noticed the absence of Radio HC on 6000, 9820 and 11705 usb for the last few nights? I haven't heard of any hurricanes like the last "Michelle" that took them off the air for a number of days (Chris Campbell, location unknown, Sept 8, swl via DXLD) No Radio HC heard here in the Pacific Northwest on 9820 09/08/02 04:00 utc SIO 322 (Mike Grisham, ibid.) See also DX PROGRAM RECORDINGS below ** ECUADOR. I finally listened to HCJB`s Portuguese DX program, inconveniently scheduled at the same hour as DXPL, UT Sun 0100-0130; either 11920 or 12020 was a lot better than the other; I forget which. A lot of falaça Sept 8, but they finally got around to a DX report from Célio Romais by phone about 0124. Unfortunately it was only about two minutes and he couldn`t get much detail in (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. UNMEE Radio. Sep 06, 2002 (UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- The following is a near-verbatim transcript of the press briefing chaired in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa by UNMEE Spokeswoman, and Acting Chief of UNMEE Public Information, Gail Bindley-Taylor Sainte, via a videoconference linking Asmara and Addis Ababa. Also in attendance were Diane Bailey, Chief Radio Producer, Lt. Col Ahmad Kamal, Military Information Officer and Michael Munywoki, UNMEE Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS. [snip -- excerpts deleted] UNMEE RADIO UNMEE Radio continues to be an important voice of the Peacekeeping Mission. Back on air for four and half months, it highlights events unfolding in the Mission area, the people behind them and other issues of interest to the general public. On September 17 and 20 UNMEE Radio is to broadcast a special programme featuring Michael Munywoki the newly appointed UNMEE Policy Advisor on HIV/AIDS and local HIV /AIDS activist Elizabeth Tefera, among others. The UNMEE Radio special is part of the momentum in activities aimed at combating the spread of HIV /AIDS in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This week in Addis Ababa, participants from 14 countries of Central and Eastern Africa are taking part in an action forum aimed at establishing a regional information network to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS. Radio UNMEE can be heard every Friday on short wave at 13735 in these languages at the following times: Amharic 10:00 - 10:15pm, Oromiffa 10:15 - 10:30pm, Tigrigna 10:30 - 10:45pm, English 10:45 - 11:00pm. Radio UNMEE can also be heard every Tuesday at 15215 short wave in these languages at the following times: Tigrigna 7:30 - 7:45am, Tigre 7:45-8:00am, Arabic 8-00 - 8:15am, English 8:15 - 8:30 am. [Presumably Ethiopia time, which is UTC plus 3] (via Kim Elliott, DC, Sept 9, DXLD) Ethiopia has a `unique` way of telling time, which is not easily convertible, per a previous item. Site reportedly Abu Dhabi (gh, DXLD) ** FINLAND. Additional tidbits about the YLE R. Finland situation: cutting English, French and German means 7 of the 35 jobs are being lost; some have already left. The decision was made by the Administrative Council, made up largely of parliamentarians. Not only will the broadcasts be terminated, but YLE`s webpages in those languages will also disappear. There are other online sources of news in English and German from Finland; not much in French, however. English will definitely be off by the end of the current broadcasting season, Oct 27, possibly a bit earlier (Juhani Niinisto, YLE R. Finland chief, interviewed by Roger Broadbent on RA Feedback Sept 8, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Here is the picture report from [a visit to] Lampertheim: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/lam.htm By the way, just this Friday also a special shortwave broadcast from some station in Nordrhein-Westfalen was on air. It's of course all over now, just in case reports about something unidentified, speaking German on 5910 appears... This was via Jülich, 1800-2000 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 15150, V. of Indonesia, 2000 25 Aug with IS and Gamelan, IS, news etc. in English: a commentary on Malaysia and Philippines, testimonial from European people on Indonesia, program on living together, song from Ita Purnamasari. Very good signal at 44423 (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also AUSTRALIA; PAPUA NEW GUINEA ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. RADIO CAROLINE GOES LIVE ON WORLDSPACE FROM 0500 UT 10TH SEPTEMBER 2002 Hi Glenn, I've just posted this item on the Radio Caroline fans' mailing list, you might like to report it in your programme and newsletter: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi everyone. In just over twelve hours we go live on WorldSpace. The daytime for tomorrow, Tuesday 10th Sept (UK time) [UT +1]: 0600 - 0900: Nigel Harris 0900 - 1200: Tony Christian 1200 - 1400: Rob Leighton 1400 - 1800: Johnnie Lewis This may be subject to change. Evening and night time schedules remain as before. There'll be a change to the daytime schedule on Wednesday 11th Sept, as we've received a Radio Authority directive to broadcast particular type of programme from 1200 to 0300. This is in connection with last year's World Trade Centre tragedy in which so many innocent civilians were maimed and killed, which occurred at 1346 and 1406 UK time. We hope you enjoy hearing Radio Caroline 'free to air' on your portable radios - don't forget you can take them to the office or to the beach! If you haven't arranged your subscription yet, then WorldSpace can be contacted on 0207 49 48 222. Quote reference RC1964 for your Early Bird discount. Radio Caroline - continues! Rob Leighton ---------------------------------------------------------------------- OK Glenn, thanks for producing all these super bulletins - and I've just learned I can hear YOU on WorldSpace too! Hope to hear you on Saturday. Best wishes (Rob Leighton, UK, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. 15290, R. Jordan 1030 with Arabic songs, ID ``idaatu Urduniya ke hashemiya``. Good signal. Also 29.8 on 11690, 1340 with phone in competitions. Program closing with Greek song then with Spanish, French, English and another, then 1400 with news (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 23-29 of August) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. Radio DAT 9775: Today Sept 8 I heave heard a signal on 9775, man with talks in Russian at 1506 over a Chinese signal. Is about maximum S6 with a 2 x 12 m dipole but difficult to listen to. 1529 heard a reference to internet, Dat and Kazakhstan but seems to pass 1530 with better signal than the Chinese station with clear ID at 1545 in Russian and references to Washington Post (Zacharias Liangas, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA SOUTH. RKI transmitting facilities in Kimjae, in the southern part of Korea, was severely damaged by the recent typhoon Rusa. As a result, reception conditions on the frequencies 15575 (2300~0400 UT) and 13670 (0700~1100 UT) are not sounding their best.... However they are trying to repair it. Regards, (Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. CAPITAL'S FM RADIO PROGRAMMES ON INTERNET | Text of report in English by Mongolian E-mail Daily News service on 9 September An Ulaanbaatar-based FM radio station, InforRadio 105.5, and ISP Micom have combined their efforts to transmit the programmes of this radio via the Internet. News in Mongolia and music around the clock are available by visiting: http://www.inforadio.mn Source: E-mail Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, in English 9 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) But does the station actually broadcast anything in English?? Nice flash opening with lightning and landscape, but primary language seems to be Russian, not Mongolian, or English! Finally reached an audio link, but it was Not Found: http://202.179.0.194/encoder/info.ram (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEPAL. R. Nepal has a website with lots of info about the station (not including their new frequency 6100): http://www.catmando.com/radionepal/ (via Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA/INDONESIA. Here`s how to tell apart these two on 3905: they are (were) 0.0002 kHz apart! (gh, DXLD) 3904.9996 13.8 2010 RRI Merauke, px-annonsering m.m. Inget spår av R. New Ireland. 3 SA 3904.9998 4.9 1930 Radio New Ireland, Kavieng med sign-on, div annonsering och modern musik. 2 SA (Stig Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Sept 8 via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser. Greetings from Paraguay! To advise that we have improved the technical facilities of the frequencies 7300 and 7370 KHZ, both of which now transmit with a power of 800 Watts. The frequency 1610 KHZ is also on-air, using a power of 60 Watts, and feeding a tower 125 Metres tall. The frequency 7300 KHZ is beamed southwards, and the frequency 7370 KHZ is beamed northwards, from Paraguay. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, towards the south, is approximately 250,000 Watts [sic]. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, towards the north, is approximately 6,400 Watts. The theoretical Effective Radiated Power, on 1610 KHZ, is approximately 500 Watts. Your reception reports will be most welcome! With best regards. (Adán Mur, Technical Advisor, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay ramerica@rieder.net.py Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Are you still transmitting at night only on weekends? (gh, DXLD) ** POLAND/LITHUANIA. The broadcasting company Racja Sp. z o.o. (studios in Bialystok and Warsaw) is bankrupt, the legal procedure is going to start at a Warsaw court in the very next time. Some people behind Radio Racja are considering to move their operations to Lithuania and to broadcast to Belarus via the facilities of Radio Baltic Waves: Vilnius 612 kHz 100kW and Sitkunai SW 100 kW (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 7420, Radio Gardarika/Studio, 2110 25 Aug with Russian disco hit songs and with hi-fi type audio. At 2120 with a continuous reel of IS/ID for more than 10 minutes with `Nyeske v`lna iz perterburga` and email address studioe@metrograf.ru [or??] studio@w.metrograf.ru (I am unsure if I copied it correctly). Signal 44434 (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SYRIA [non]. 12085//12115, V. of Homeland? Heard on 23 Aug at start of their program with a reference ``Syria ke fatrah`` over an Arabic song/hymn, a recitation of Allah Wattani al sawt, then with recitations. On 25 Aug with mainly a music program and short references to Lebanon. Today 8 September there was a signal since 1445 on 12115 that stopped at 1450 and again started at 1458, with signals on both 12085 and 12115. Time difference is about 3 seconds for now with mainly music program. Signal S9 to +10 on dipole 2 x 12m (Zacharias Liangas, Lygia Lefkada (Ionian islands), Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN. NEW RTI MAILBOX FOR LISTENERS IN SOUTH ASIA Good news for listeners in South Asia: RTI is opening a new mailbox in India! Beginning September 20, CBS listeners in South Asia can write to the following address: CBS RTI, Post Box - 4914, P.O: Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi - 110029, India (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Sept 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Glenn, More on the Bob Reilly resignation (perhaps we haven't heard the end of it) here: http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20020905-030618-5352r.htm 73 (Kim Elliott, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: UPI'S CAPITAL COMMENT for Sept. 6, 2002 WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International. Take a letter -- The recent sacking of Voice of America Director Bob Reilly by the mostly Clinton-era-holdovers who make up the federal Broadcasting Board of Governors is not being well received on Capitol Hill. Several House Republicans are already at work on a letter to the members of the BBG demanding to know why Reilly, a presidential appointee, was made to resign under pressure. The letter reportedly threatens additional cuts in funding for VOA of up to 25 percent of the total budget unless the oversight committee is given a satisfactory explanation as to why the board, most of whom were originally appointed to the BBG by the Clinton administration and whose terms have expired, thought they should interfere with Reilly's effort to carry out the administration's priorities for the agency in the war against terrorism. This issue, sources say, is not likely to go away quietly. Congressional watchdogs are said to be cross-checking the membership of the BBG against the list of donors to the Clinton and Gore presidential campaigns -- with special focus on billionaire media tycoon Norm Pattiz, who racked up a lot of bonus miles in the Air Force One frequent flyer program during the Clinton years. -0- (via Washington Times [Moony], Sept 6, via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** USA/IRAN. VOA LAUNCHES TV BROADCAST AIMED AT IRANIAN YOUTH | Excerpt from press release by Voice of America on 6 September Washington, DC, 6 September: The Voice of America's Farsi Service will launch Next Chapter, a satellite broadcast television programme aimed at the youth of Iran, on 10 September 2002. The first Farsi-language international television broadcast to target young audiences in the country, Next Chapter will offer fresh, informative and entertaining reporting on news, current events, and life in the United States. Next Chapter bolsters VOA's existing Farsi broadcasting of six hours of daily radio programming and a weekly 90 minute news and discussion television program entitled Roundtable With You. The premiere of the new show will offer a forward-looking and global view of topics impacting the lives of Iranian youth. Parviz Sayyad, the legendary Iranian writer, actor, and director, will host the first program and launch a discussion about the potential role of Iran in the world community. The next day, as the world marks the anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks on the United States, a special supplement to Next Chapter will broadcast. That show will feature an interview with Shahram Hashemi, an Iranian student who was hailed as a hero after helping rescue people from the rubble of the World Trade Center collapse. The programme will end with images from a candlelight vigil hosted by students in Iran in the wake of the attacks. Future programmes will be hosted by different popular figures well- known to Iranian youth. Each week, the one-hour program will include coverage of international news, entertainment, music, sports, environmental issues, college life, and technology. The programme is written and produced by a team of young journalists of Iranian descent, and originates from VOA's world headquarters in Washington, DC. Next Chapter will air on Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m. local time in Iran [1800 gmt] , via satellite broadcast on Asiasat 2, HotBird 3 and New Sky. Creator and executive producer Ahmad Baharloo believes that the programme has the potential to reach as many as 40 million people under age 30 in Iran. "However", he added, "anybody who can think young is invited to join us"... For additional information, please contact Joe O'Connell at (202) 619-2538 or at pubaff@ibb.gov Source: Voice of America press release, Washington, in English 6 Sep 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** USA/MIDDLE EAST. WRITER SAYS US RADIO SAWA "'DANGEROUS PHENOMENON" | Text of report by Jordanian newspaper Al-Ra'y on 8 September Any person who tunes in to the foreign radio that broadcasts in Arabic and that calls itself Sawa will realize in half an hour that this radio is American and that it was established for purposes that are not in harmony with Arab heritage, the Arab personality, pan-Arab positions, and Arab hopes, ambitions and aspirations. This radio agrees with the interests of the United States and with the means to promote its policy and plans in the region. In its long broadcasting hours, this radio concentrates on the minds of youngsters and their culture and affiliation to their nation. It seeks to brainwash them and instil American ideas in the minds of the rising generation. This radio broadcasts light foreign and Arabic songs, in a combination that seeks to make the radio attractive. The radio also tries to make these songs replace serious culture and Arab creativity in all its kinds. A lengthy report published in The Los Angeles Times said that Radio Sawa started its transmission in March 2002, and this is a new method in the US way of treating the peoples of the Islamic world. The report also said that "it is very important and necessary to have access to Arab youth, who make up more than 60 per cent of the population, since they are targeted by Islamic fundamentalists." This is nothing but an excuse because an objective investigation into this radio and its trends shows that it does not seek to foil the targeting of youth by Islamic fundamentalists. Rather, it seeks to turn Arab culture into American culture and spread and generalize this culture in order to swallow US positions and pave the way for attachment to the United States. The Arab public climate would thus be prepared to market US interests, firmly establish its policy and win over the views that are in favour of fighting any Arab policy, which is averse to the US attachment to its interests. I have listened to several newscasts carried on this suspicious radio and found out that its line or plan is a political line or plan first and foremost, and that it contributes to promoting the US position, which supports the Zionist entity, accepting the massacres committed by the enemy against the Palestinian people, and considering Palestinian struggle as simply acts of terror. Also, the line or plan of the radio plays a role in convincing the listeners that striking Iraq is a pressing issue and subject to objective justifications! This means that the younger generation of listeners to this radio is required to remain in a state of musical attraction until they reach a stage whereby they would listen to the newscast and not reject the attitude expressed in it or even accept it. Egypt has blocked the reception of Radio Sawa, and we should do the same thing so as to preserve our Arab identity and pan-Arab affiliations. I asked a young man about his opinion of Radio Sawa. He laughed and said: It is a flower in my imagination [zahrah fi khayali]. I told him that he is repeating the name of an old song by [the late Egyptian singer] Farid al-Atrash, which is called Ya Zahrah fi Khayali. He said: I do not know this song and I do not listen to Farid al-Atrash or other singers from old times. I only listen to Radio Sawa and I find in it what meets my hobby, desire and artistic bent. This means, as I imagine, that six months of broadcasting Radio Sawa has achieved some of its purposes and that it will achieve much more as time goes by. This is a dangerous phenomenon, and we should stop it as soon as possible. Source: Al-Ra'y, Amman, in Arabic 8 Sep 02 p 21 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn, came across WBCQ v17494.83 kHz on Sept 5th, around 1420-1445 UT, when checked DVBurma program on co-channel 17495 Madagascar relay. English gospel (religious) program was in progress, SINPO 34433, and remarkable daytime signal into Europe could be noted. Well ahead of MDG, which is only a 'whisper' underneath in Western Europe. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WHAZUP - September 2002 EDITORIAL "TWO OUTRAGES FOR THE LISTENER" Frederick R. Vobbe, Publisher DX Audio Service Perhaps it's that I'm matured after 48 years, or perhaps I'm becoming less tolerant of people taking things away from me that I've been very comfortable with. In any case, two things have really gotten me worked up. Like many DXers, I'm listening with interest to the IBOC tests being done between WLW-700 and WOR-710. Little known are the tests between WCHB-1200 and WWJ-950 in Detroit. I really have mixed emotions on IBOC and have to ask if IBOC is right for right now. On the positive side, some, and I stress "some" digital technologies have made life better for us. Although cranky with the change in the early 90s, I have to say that I prefer desktop audio editing over reel to reel tape players and editing with a razor blade and tape. IBOC, however, does not fall into the positive area mainly due to the fact that it ruins what is already there. Unlike color TV in the late 50s and early 60s where a color signal did not degrade the black and white signal, the introduction of IBOC harms both the carrier that it is on, plus those to the side. Being curious about IBOC, when I was alerted to the unannounced tests of WCHB, I packed up my test gear and headed north. Being familiar with the area between Detroit and Toledo I was able to find a quiet location to set up and monitor transmissions. My system consisted of a 2-foot loop, Sony 2010, GE SuperRadio III, Tektronix 2710 spectrum, and a Link CSM1000 RF monitor. The first observation was made on the 1200-kilohertz carrier of WCHB. When the IBOC was turned on, (and I could tell it without the test instrumentation), there was interference at both 1212 and 1188. IBOC emits a buzz like sound on adjacent channels. The Sony 2010 was the best in bringing out the bad in IBOC. The synchronizer feature which is used to lock in weak carriers would make the buzz very predominant. Had my batteries lasted in my Sony mini-disc I would have let you hear it, but trust me, the buzz is far worse than any over-modulation you might hear. The carrier on 1188 was strong enough to cause some discomfort to WOWO-1190's signal. Using the lower sideband of the sync feature would enable the buzz to be heard clearly. Using the top sideband would produce a mix of buzz plus splatter from WCHB. In the N.R.C.`s E-mail list, and in private E-mails to people I trust as being professional in their observations, the IBOC transmissions, that is the digital information, was heard farther than the analog component. For example, when WLW was running their tests of IBOC, some DXers on the West Coast could not hear WLW's analog transmission, but the buzz was traceable and copyable. The only plus to this is that someone can have satisfaction in knowing that WLW could be heard digitally on the west coast. Yes, it is a positive, but at what cost? What about interference to stations on 690 and 710? There was severe interference to stations, and like my experiences with interference on WOWO, it is not acceptable. In my opinion, in band, on channel digital operation is not wise and should be abandoned. I'm all for advancing technology, but not at the expense of interference to analog stations that the public already uses. My personal recommendation is to take the digital platform to another band of frequencies where it can coexist without causing harm to others. As a side note on this issue, if you hear the IBOC buzz on a station, be sure to write a letter to the station`s public file, and send a copy of the letter to the F.C.C. Since the folks pushing forward IBOC are claiming there is no interference, despite evidence to the contrary, we need to protect what we have now. So much for IBOC. Yeah, I said there were two things bugging me; the second is the antics of Opie and Anthony, a pair of boobs behind a mic that outraged a lot of people. Let me read the news story of what happened. This is from Associated Press, August 22nd, and is titled "FCC to investigate alleged sex in cathedral" ""The nation's top communications regulator ordered an investigation Thursday into complaints that a pair of New York radio shock jocks allegedly broadcast a live, eyewitness account of a couple having sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. A Virginia couple was arrested Aug. 15 after allegedly having sex in a vestibule just a few feet from worshippers in the landmark Manhattan church. The encounter was described as it happened during the "Opie and Anthony" show, WNEW-FM's popular afternoon drive-time program. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell directed the agency's enforcement bureau to begin an investigation immediately, spokesman David Fiske said. If the FCC finds that a station violated federal indecency laws, the penalty is typically a fine ranging from $5,000 to $30,000, Fiske said. The amount can be higher depending on the case, he said. The broadcast was part of a regular feature on the program where couples can win prizes for having sex in risky places. The couple's attorney has said they were just simulating sex. FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has said he received hundreds of outraged phone calls and e-mails about the broadcast. He said the agency should consider revoking the station's license."" For those of you that want to hear the broadcast, you can go to a web site called theSmokingGun.com It has MP3 and RealAudio clips of the stunt. The direct url is http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/opieanthony1.html It's interesting to follow on the various lists the support or condemnation of Opie and Anthony. On one side you have many people outraged that a radio station stunt promoted people having sex in a church in order to get points to win a contest. On the other side you have people saying, "aw, it's not that bad. Stern has done worse, and besides it's freedom of speech." I think that the difference is that a sponsor, a station, and the hosts of the program promoted and then broadcast with great glee the act occurring in the church. This does not have anything to do with speech, and I think you could obviously argue that some lines had been crossed. Suppose I was popular radio host and I said to my listeners, "you get twenty points toward a contest if you defecate on someone's carpet in their home." Now, suppose you came home and discovered that your home was the target. Again, this has nothing to do with speech. It's no surprise that Opie and Anthony have huge ratings. Same applies to Howard Stern, Greaseman, and numerous others. And the sad fact is, the ratings translates to money, and a company like Infinity, while being publicly critical, is laughing all the way to the bank. Although the pair was fired, and their show cancelled, I doubt they will be off the air long. Sex and depraved acts on the radio sell, and when one businessman cancels, there is someone else right behind him to take his place in sponsorship. While more and more stations cut news and public affairs, (yet crow about how they are the leaders in community service), incidents like this are becoming more frequent. Add to that technical violations, and it's getting harder and harder to believe that anyone in broadcasting has any morals, ethics, or commitment to public service. A while back I was told by a politician that the reason government does not do anything about these broadcasters is because nobody cares. I guess that might be right as names that I know in E-mail lists that carp about events concerning radio never appear in any searches in public records. In other words, nobody was concerned enough to write the right people and complain. People only do wrong things when they have no fear of getting caught or punished. So, I guess that not only will we see more outrageous stunts, but we will also have the knowledge that we allowed them to do the stunts due to lack of action. Think about it next time you hear something which is morally, ethically, or illegal on the radio. --0-- © Frederick R. Vobbe & National Radio Club September 2002 (DX Audio Service via DXLD) ** U S A. PBS DRAWS IRE OVER 9/11 SHOW CHANNEL 13 ON THE SPOT OVER A DOCUMENTARY’S WEB SITE BY IRA STOLL The city`s largest public television station is marking September 11 with a documentary whose Web site is being lambasted by Israelis and American Jewish groups for offering an inaccurate and one-sided history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Web site includes a map portraying all of Israel as ``Palestine,`` a time line that blames Ariel Sharon for provoking the recent wave of violence by Palestinian Arabs, and links to Web sites of Arab American organizations that have defended groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which the American government considers terrorist organizations.... http://nysun.com/sunarticle.asp?artID=169 (via EEJH yahoogroup via Joel Rubin, DXLD) ** U S A. A ARRL anuncia em seu Boletim Semanal, que das 4h UT do dia 11 até as 4h UT do dia 12, estará no ar K4P, que operará desde o Pentágono, lembrando o ataque terrorista ocorrido no ano passado. A Estação operará também de outros locais de Washington, Distrito Federal. As emissões serão dos 80 aos 10 metros, em SSB e CW. QSLs com SASE, para K7DID, Deanna Lutz, P. O. Box 70071, Washington, DC, 20024 (PP5RLB - Moita, radioescutas via DXLD) ** U S A. STATIONS CAREFULLY PLAN DAY'S AIR PLAY, By Brad Kava Bay Area radio station managers have been debating how to handle the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: Should they treat it as a day for memorial or continue with business as usual? Most have worked out a compromise and are doing some of both. For example, San José's news station KLIV-AM (1590) and country music KRTY-FM (95.3) will be running commercials but will donate that day's proceeds to the Todd M. Beamer Foundation, which helps children who suffered because of the attacks. Empire Broadcasting president Robert Kieve explained his stance in one of his ubiquitous and passionate broadcast editorials. ``I believe that outlawing commercials on that anniversary is in itself very inappropriate,'' said the former speechwriter for President Eisenhower. ``If it's our way of life that we are defending, then we must recognize that our way of life is based largely on commerce. And commercials are an expression of commerce. ``So stations that are considering themselves pure and appropriate by excluding commercials are really falling neatly into the laps of our enemies.'' Gary Schoenwetter, operations manager for rocker KSJO-FM (92.3) and classic rock KUFX-FM (98.5), said the local Clear Channel stations left it up to advertisers whether they wanted their spots to run. ``Some have decided they didn't want to advertise. Others understand that life and business go on,'' he said. Enhanced taste KSJO, which usually features Wednesday morning programming centered around whether women in cars will expose themselves, will tone down its programming on Sept. 11. Hosts Lamont Hollywood and Paul Tonelli will broadcast from New York City, interviewing firefighters, rescue workers and survivors of the attacks. Neither of his stations will air contests or promotions on Wednesday, said Schoenwetter. KUFX's Greg Kihn will do his morning show and then headlines San Jose's official memorial event at Plaza de Cesar Chavez at 5 p.m. He'll be joined by city officials and Santana lead singer Tony Lindsay, who will sing the national anthem. Kihn's free concert will include his reworking of the David Bowie song, ``Heroes.'' The Bay Area's most-listened to stations, talk stations, KGO-AM (810) and KSFO-AM (560), have special events planned. KGO will have an ``All-Star Broadcast,'' featuring its top talk hosts in a two-hour live discussion at 11 a.m. Pete Wilson, Ronn Owens, Gene Burns, Bernie Ward and Ray Taliafero will talk about the state of the world pre- and post-Sept. 11, while Ed Baxter moderates. Fans can attend the discussion at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on Howard Street. There is no admission charge, and the show will be broadcast without commercials. KSFO will sponsor the unfurling of the world's largest American flag at the Alameda Naval Air Station, from noon to 1 p.m. It takes 1,000 people to hold up the 255-by-505-foot flag. Those who wish to participate are asked to arrive before 10:30 a.m. to get instructions. The flag, which is rarely displayed, floats like a giant sail and is supposed to be a spectacular sight. Patriotism with dissent KQED-FM (88.5) has been doing a weeklong series exploring post-Sept. 11 America, along with public radio stations across the country. It finishes the series at 11 p.m. with a show called ``A Need to Belong: Citizenship in a Post 9/11 America,'' which will explore patriotism and the place of both loyalty and dissent in a changed world. Listeners will visit a military town and its evangelical Christian church, hear the post-Sept. 11 ordeal of an Iraqi family, hear the plight of three immigrant Filipino baggage handlers and follow the impact of their story back to family and friends in the Philippines. _________________________________________________________________ © 2001 mercurynews and wire service sources Sept 9. All Rights Reserved. http://www.bayarea.com (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Hey, Brad, ``patriotism with dissent``??? How about KPFA and Pacifica`s coverage??? You forgot to mention that; see COSTA RICA in this issue (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. If anyone cares what will be happening in Miami, see this, mostly about Clear Channel and WLRN/NPR: LOCAL STATIONS REMEMBERING SEPT. 11 ON THE RADIO The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/4036732.htm (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. PILING ON THE 9/11 PROGRAMMING IS AN ODD WAY TO PAY RESPECT Monday, September 9, 2002 Photo By JOHN LEVESQUE, SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER TELEVISION CRITIC It seems every network, every cable channel, every UHF station broadcasting from somebody's basement will spend all of Wednesday reflecting on the Sept. 11 anniversary. But it's simply not true. There's plenty of counterprogramming on the schedule. The WB will be showing the movie "My Dog Skip." UPN will rebroadcast the series premiere of "Enterprise." The Travel Channel has the top 10 tourist attractions in Australia. How could anyone suggest we're being inundated with excessive and unnecessary attempts at closure? And how could my editors let me use the word "closure"? OK, the fact that ESPN plans another presentation of a documentary on the rebuilding of the New York Fire Department's football club is a bit much. But as CBS president Leslie Moonves said in July: "It is far better to err on the side of giving too much coverage than not paying enough respect to what happened. This probably is the most significant event since Pearl Harbor in our lifetimes, and to not give it the appropriate respect, I think, would be a mistake." Darn tootin', Les. Big anniversaries deserve big coverage because, well, because people will think we're small, sanctimonious SOBs if we try to achieve closure with an inadequate fastener. It's like having a too-small Zip-Loc bag when putting away leftovers from the Labor Day barbecue. But are "coverage" and "respect" the same thing, Les? For instance, if I send a bigger bouquet to the funeral home, am I according the deceased more respect than the person who sends a smaller one? Or am I merely calling attention to myself by making such a splash? Wouldn't it be more respectful -- and less redundant -- if all the network news divisions and cable news channels took a fraction of the money they're spending on 9/11 anniversary coverage and used it to feed the hungry? True, it's been a lousy year for media companies, this one included. But what better way to show respect for human life than to work to eliminate one of the conditions that create disenfranchised, disgruntled desperados in the first place? Besides, how much real news will emerge from this week's coverage? Among the many offerings in prime time on Wednesday, NBC will air the concert for America taking place tonight at the Kennedy Center, ABC will feature a Barbara Walters special on grief counseling and CBS is rerunning the documentary "9/11" by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. All may be eminently worth watching. Indeed, the Naudet film, which originally aired March 10, is splendid. Yet even if we have the ability to tape one or two shows while watching another, the utter silliness of cramming all this stuff into one or two days for fear of being deemed disrespectful is so apparent you'd think a network executive somewhere along the way would have had the guts to say, "Stop the stupidity!" And it's not just the broadcast networks. Cable's Discovery Networks, which include Discovery Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, Discovery Health and Discovery Civilization, will have special "Faces of 9.11" programming throughout the day Wednesday and all the Discovery channels -- even Animal Planet -- will be commercial free. Talk about your big bouquets . . . Fox also is forgoing commercials in its two-hour prime-time window, which will be filled by programming from Fox News Channel. The Scripps family of cable networks, including HGTV and Food Network, will go dark for two hours Wednesday morning. In place of programming the channels will run "a series of images, words and music intended to inspire quiet reflection." Granted, most of the media companies have New York headquarters and big operations in the nation's capital. A dignified show of sympathy is not only understandable, it's appropriate. What doesn't make sense is the way the broadcast networks assume Americans want to watch upwards of 16 hours of programming related to 9/11 in one day. ABC, CBS and NBC will all air expanded versions of their morning shows, then offer special coverage in the afternoon and evening. Even if we are interested, the decision to lump it all together speaks volumes about the networks' real motivation here. For if they want to be noticed for something other than their bouquets, wouldn't you expect them to respect their viewers as much as they purport to respect the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks? If they truly have hours and hours of quality programming that can soothe, inspire and illuminate, wouldn't it be sensible, even laudable, to spread it out over weeks and months so more people have opportunities to see it? (And is it really sensitive to air it all in one day anyway?) Editors always go overboard on the anniversaries of big events because, like Les Moonves, they're afraid not to. They're afraid that if they limit their coverage to one or two thoughtful, reflective stories they'll be accused of lacking intellectual depth or breadth or girth. They forget that an anniversary is an artificial reminder, and that if something is important enough to remember, there are 364 other days on which to encourage reflection and show respect. ___________________________________ John Levesque is the P-I's television critic. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WHY I WON'T WATCH THESE 9/11 SHOWS -- By LINDA STASI September 9, 2002 -- I am sitting here with videos, press kits and information for 60 - count 'em 60 - shows about Sept. 11. And that's just for this week. I didn't bother to count the ones that began last week, nor the ones which will be on into next week. And guess what? I won't watch any of them. Not one. I know, I know, I'm the TV critic and all that. But I can't, and I won't. I lived through Sept. 11 - I don't need to see the whole nightmare treated like some disaster movie by every media outlet on earth. I realize that we in the media are caught in a quandary. Don't do anything and we're unpatriotic. Do something and we're exploiting horror for our own ends. But I make my choice simply not to participate. It makes me feel like an interloper on tragedy. A carpetbagger with a remote control. And I'll bet I'm not alone. I don't think we need reminders. It's not your mother's birthday and if you forget you'll get in trouble. There's no way any of us will ever forget. We don't need to be hit over the head with it in some morbid attempt to keep us occupied. I don't want to watch the live memorials and I don't want to watch the concerts. I saw it happen. I worked it and I lived it. So did you. If you choose to watch, however, the choices of tragic entertainment are limitless. There's a show, "Frontline's Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero," about how regular people and clergy question the role of God in our lives after the disaster to an "Investigative Reports" on the final 102 minutes of the World Trade Center. "Report From Ground Zero" is about the first responders to the attack. "America Rebuilds" is the story of the recovery efforts of engineers, contractors, and fire and police officials at Ground Zero. There are stories about animals who were there and people who might have been but weren't. There's a "60 Minutes" interview with the President who recounts what happened to him that day. There's one about the Canadian families who took in stranded Americans who were grounded. You name it, it's a show. Even "American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson will sing. Stop! I can't take it anymore. Was there a concert for Hiroshima? A rock out for Nagasaki? A Pearl Harbor interpretive dance number? Band-Aid for Bhopal? Why does everything have to turn into something to keep us busy every second? Can't we each just reflect quietly about what we've gone through? I don't need a show to remind me. The show in my head will never leave me. That's enough for now. And maybe forever. Copyright 2001 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Monday, September 9, 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited The Canadian Press American film director Michael Moore responds to questions during a news conference at the Banff Television Festival in June. Moore's latest work, Bowling for Columbine, is backed by Halifax's Salter Street Productions, and was shown to a North American audience for the first time Saturday at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film will open the Atlantic Film Festival on Friday. [caption] [we thought it was shown previously to a North American audience at the Telluride film festival in August ---- gh] DON'T TRY THAT AT HOME, MIKE DIRECTOR WALKED INTO TORONTO HOMES TO PROVE POINT ABOUT GUN ATTITUDES By Angela Pacienza / The Canadian Press Toronto - When America's leading rabble-rouser, Michael Moore, was filming a documentary about gun culture in the United States, he had a hard time believing Canadians don't lock their doors. So one night last spring, armed with a camera crew, he set out to test the urban myth in downtown Toronto, only to find 70 per cent of the doors open. "I thought, 'I cannot show this to an American public. They'll think you're all crazy up here that you don't lock your doors,'" he said at a news conference at the Toronto International Film Festival. Moore's latest film, Bowling for Columbine, was shown to a North American audience for the first time Saturday. Clad in his traditional uniform of saggy jeans and a baseball cap, the filmmaker admitted that despite his fearless demeanour, he was apprehensive about testing the theory. "I was afraid. The concept of just opening up somebody's door. First of all it's illegal ... so I waited until the last minute," said the director of films including Roger and Me, The Big One and Canadian Bacon. "Those people had no notice I was coming. I randomly ran up and opened those doors and hoped that I wasn't going to get shot 'cuz I'm thinking in an American frame of mind." Bowling for Columbine, which won a Cannes jury prize in May, is a scathing look at gun culture in the United States. After an opening sequence which sees Moore open an account at a Michigan bank in order to receive the free gift of a gun, the filmmaker crosses the United States and parts of Ontario in search of an answer for America's obsession with guns. He asks why Americans are more likely to kill one another with guns when seven million registered weapons are inside Canada's 10 million homes. "That's a boatload of guns. You have to be willing to accept that you are different, culturally, socially, and ethically," he said after a reporter suggested Moore might have simplified gun statistics of the two countries. "Don't leave my movie as Canadians saying the reason is because you don't have Uzis and handguns ... even with a rifle and shotgun in the house when you get into an argument with a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, neighbour, or a co-worker, for some reason, you don't reach for the gun and I think that's a legitimate question to ask. "Why do you get to have all these guns lying around and you don't kill each other and we do? That's not right. You're no better than us." The title of the film, bankrolled by Halifax's Salter Street Productions, is a play on the whereabouts of the two young gunmen in Colorado's 1999 Columbine high school shooting - the pair went bowling before they opened fire at school, killing 13 people and then themselves. On a deeper level, the film explores America's psyche. "Guns and Columbine are just my entry point into the much larger discussion that I wish would take place. I'm much more concerned about the fact that we've just gone nuts as opposed to whether we've got too many gun nuts in America," said the author of the current best-seller Stupid White Men. Moore ventures outside the Columbine tragedy, looking at the Oklahoma City bombing (during a visit to James Nichols, a one-time buddy of Timothy McVeigh), U.S. government policy overseas, the shooting death of a six-year-old girl by a six-year-old boy in his home town of Flint, Mich., and the sensitive topic of Sept. 11. He also challenges Charlton Heston, the president of the National Rifle Association, about the high number of gun-related deaths in the U.S. After saying that America's gun problem might be due to its multicultural makeup, the star of The Ten Commandments walks away from Moore during an interview at his Beverly Hills mansion. "I was surprised when Charlton Heston made that comment in the film," Moore said. "I didn't ask him about race even though race is a big part of the film. "To be honest when I heard him say it I felt bad for him. I felt he was having his Jimmy the Greek moment." Moore said he regrets not having challenged Heston's remarks. "I was too shocked," said Moore, who once purchased a lifetime membership to the NRA in the hopes of beating Heston at the organization's presidential elections. And despite Heston's recent announcement that he has Alzheimer-like symptoms, Moore said he had no qualms about the clip in his film. "You can see in the film he's quite lucid. He's able to hold his own and says what he wants to say." The movie opens Oct. 11. But Moore said American audiences might have a difficult time viewing the film because the country's largest theatre chain told him they won't carry it. That's likely because the film will be "a bitter pill for some Americans to swallow," Moore said. "It's always hard to take a look at yourself and question what's been going on. If we were able to get rid of all the guns in America and have strong gun control laws, we would still have the central problem of being afraid of the other." Copyright © 2002 The Halifax Herald Limited (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Took a brief trip to visit friends in Boca Raton Friday morning (Sept. 6), returning late eve Sunday, the 8th. No time was dedicated to FM pirate scans, or much other radio for that matter. Since I wasn't doing the driving while a guest of my friends, I didn't have control of the car radios. So, just a few thin items below. Never had a chance to tune to pirate KQV on 1610 in the evenings. No trace of him on my mid-morning arrival. 530, SW Florida Int'l Airport KNNI706, Ft. Myers; noted in passing with usual man and woman loop on parking, baggage restrictions, etc. while on I-75 in the vicinity. 1510, DOT WPUR527, Peace River Bridge, Charlotte County; dedicated loop for northbound I-75 traffic, generic calls used here and on 1640. See 1640 entry for more. 1640, DOT WPUR527, Peace River Bridge, Charlotte County; dedicated loop for southbound I-75 traffic, generic calls used here and on 1510 (northbound dedicated info frequency). Long loop with man & woman regarding bridge reconstruction, delays, make sure your gas isn't empty and tires aren't flat, etc. A series of transmitters are in the median (I think I counted at least five for each direction). Lots of blue/white and bulb signs alerting to tune to the respective channels. Apparently they added 1640 and split the traffic direction info recently, as previous reports were for 1510 only. 1640, DOT Florida Turnpike, Broward/Palm Beach Counties; too numerous to even try to pin down. Noted brief peaks while on the Sawgrass Expressway northbound entrance from I-75 (the Turnpike-proper being just east of the Sawgrass), also another brief spike around the Atlantic Blvd. exit on the Sawgrass. Huge one at the Sawgrass junction with the Turnpike in north Broward, also a big one at the West Palm Beach service plaza. All the same message, with traffic updates and Turnpike info. Noted a brief break into NOAA Weather Radio on the Sawgrass/Turnpike one, presumably while the latest update was being loaded. 1650, City of Boca Raton; fair signal in the Boca area, though not great on some fringes of city limits. Loops of road construction updates, employment opportunities, etc. 90.9 MHz, unidentified; huge signal, stereo, all hardcore rap, lots of "nigga" in the lyrics, no announcements noted. This was heard upon first tuning in on the FL Turnpike north of Glades Road, north to SR- 706 (signal pretty poor by then). The unidentified West Palm Beach entry, "909" (Ft. Lauderdale), or something new? 91.9 MHz, unidentified; pretty much a clone signal and format of the above 90.9 (and heard in the same locale). "Flavor 91.9," or something new? Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Low Power FM activists plan to drive around Seattle this week with pirate radio transmitters. They call it "swarm-casting", since they compare their microstations to mosquitoes. They claim the goal of ``microBLAST 2002`` is to shut down the stations owned by the likes of Clear Channel and Infinity (Radio Ink 09/09/2002 via Steven Wiseblood, TX, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. PRESS STATEMENT BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (VOP) The board of trustees of Radio Voice of the People (VOP) would like to correct certain misleading and inflammatory statements quoting some government officials about the legal status and operations of the station, which was completely destroyed in a bomb blast in the early hours of Thursday 29 August 2002. The government knows of the existence of VOP and in fact on July 4 2002 the police, accompanied by officials from the Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe searched our offices and confiscated files and tapes, which they only returned three weeks ago. The description of VOP by the Minister of State for Information and Publicity Professor Jonathan Moyo as an illegal radio station churning out anti-Zimbabwe propaganda and further linking it to terrorist activities is incorrect and most unfortunate. VOP is legally registered in Zimbabwe as a communications trust whose main objectives, among others include: - Ø Promoting effective communication between policy-makers and disadvantaged communities. Ø Promoting the participation by all Zimbabweans in sharing ideas or information for the furtherance of the Trust’s objectives and the general development of Zimbabwe socially, economically, culturally, recreationally and politically. The radio station project is one of the vehicles that we have been using to promote the objectives of the trust. Cognisant of Zimbabwe’s current restrictive broadcasting legislation, VOP does not own transmitters or a broadcast frequency in the country since the airwaves have not yet been freed almost two years after the enactment of the so-called Broadcasting Services Act. This is why the station is leasing a short-wave transmitter from outside the country. VOP is providing an alternative voice to Zimbabweans under an environment monopolized by the state broadcaster. It is not linked to any political party or controlled by foreign interests. Its editorial policy clearly states that stories and programmes should be balanced and covered in depth, providing clarity and full information. That is exactly what the station has been doing since its inception more that two years ago on June 12, 2000 on the eve of Zimbabwe’s last Parliamentary elections. VOP has always been operating inside Zimbabwe and has never been secretive or clandestine about its operations and business premises. Its past and present personnel are law abiding, well-trained and experienced journalists, professional and support staff who have never disguised themselves in any way during their tour of duty. VOP brochures, T-shirts and caps have been distributed freely and well received throughout the country. Its programmes touch on issues pertaining to gender, youth, women, the environment, and health- especially the HIV/AIDS pandemic and topical socio-political events. The station has always sought comments from government, ruling party, opposition and civic organisation officials on matters of public interest. It also largely seeks the views of the general populace of Zimbabwe on matters affecting them using a random interviewing technique called voxpop-hence its well known slogan "Vanhu vari kutaura/ Abantu bayakhuluma/The people are talking." In conclusion the board would like to express its disgust at the unwarranted attack on VOP offices and sincerely hope that the law enforcement agents would bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act to book in a fair and transparent manner. We also hope that it will not be a long wait before the airwaves are freed in order for aspiring broadcasters not to go the long route outside our borders in order to freely and openly debate national issues. We also thank all those people and organizations that have issued solidarity messages in support of our worthy cause of promoting free speech and divergent viewpoints in our nation. Issued by RADIO VOICE OF THE PEOPLE BOARD OF TRUSTEES Harare September 3, 2002 (via Andy Sennitt, Sept 9, DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DX PROGRAM RECORDINGS +++++++++++++++++++++ Hello Glenn, I thought I`d pass on that my new site contain Windows Media recording of my favorite DX programs. This is the first time I have allowed the public to listen to my weekly recordings. I started doing this a year ago to help a couple old hams who are now shutins. They miss most of the shows because of timing or propagation conditions. They only have YB400s; the nursing home is full of noise. My site also boasts live streaming in Windows Media of whatever I am listening to at the time. My main HF interest is pirate radio and ship communications. http://members.rogers.com/alexsradio/ Thank you and 73 (Alex Draper, Orillia Ontario Canada, Sept 9, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tnx, Alex, that should come in handy for others; currently on his menu are two DXings with Cumbres, two WORs (one via RFPI, another via WWCR), and 3 editions of DXers Unlimited – the latter not otherwise available ondemand on the web, AFAIK. (I`ve never been able to get RHC`s live streaming to connect.) His pirate audio and QSL collexion is quite extensive (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ Re: Oldest Radio in Britain, 2-140: Clearly this journo hasn't bothered doing much homework, nor has he read the BDXC website list of radio museums. Do you think we should tell him! (MARK Savage, BDXC-UK via DXLD) DRM DRM Debuts Consumer Receiver, Software Radio at IBC DRM To Introduce 2 Major Advances in Special Live Preview at IBC, Saturday, September 14th Mon, 9 Sep 2002 12:16:25 +0100 For Radio Amateurs and DXers, a Peek at DRM`s First Publicly Available Software Radio and an Invitation to Its Testing Project Plus, a Glimpse into the Future with DRM`s First Consumer Receiver Amsterdam – The DRM Consortium will unveil a production-ready world- band consumer receiver, made by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, and a preview version of its first publicly-available receiver, the DRM Software Radio made by Fraunhofer IIS-A, in a special preview with live transmissions at IBC 2002. At the same time, DRM will open the doors to radio enthusiasts who want to be the first non-members to access its transmissions when the DRM Software Radio Project, managed by VT Merlin Communications, begins this December. Qualified radio amateurs and DXers who plan to purchase the software (price: 60?) may register their interest during IBC. The special live preview, featuring DRM Chairman (and Executive Director of Marketing, Distribution & Technology at Deutsche Welle) Peter Senger, will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 14th at the DRM Booth in the Radio Hall (Hall 8), Stand 485. DRM is made up of 75 broadcasters, network operators, manufacturers and researchers who have created a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM is the world`s only non- proprietary, digital AM system for short-wave, medium-wave and long- wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With near-FM quality sound offering a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands in markets worldwide. ``This is an exceptionally fast-moving time in DRM`s development,`` says Senger. ``As we close in on our 2003 launch with test transmissions across the globe, we invite radio enthusiasts to listen to DRM for themselves and report their findings in our Software Radio Project. Furthermore, we are delighted to present the first DRM consumer receiver, which offers equipment manufacturers a low-cost track toward mass production of DRM receivers.`` DRM Software Radio Project The DRM Software Radio, designed for private use, is a downscaled version of an existing, professional Fraunhofer receiver. Its features include: audio MPEG-4 AAC +SBR decoding, multimedia reception, selection of service and the possibility to log the reception quality (which can later be sent back to DRM). Its audio decoding library has been provided by Coding Technologies. Radio enthusiasts may register their interest in the Software Radio Project at the DRM Booth during IBC 2002, or at the DRM Web site at http://www.drm.org When the project launches in December, the web site will be set up to support and distribute the software for a 2-year period, and to analyse received DRM transmissions. It will also contain a discussion forum, worked examples of receiver modifications, an analysis section, and general information about the project. Participants must meet the following technical criteria: Operating system: Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 98. An AT-compatible PC with 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor (or equivalent), 64 MB RAM, 50 MB free disk space, 16-bit SoundBlaster (or compatible) soundcard that supports full duplex at 48 kHz sampling rate for input and output; the input must be without AGC (Automatic Gain Control); for example: Creative SoundBlaster Live! or ``USB One`` USB audio interface. Notebook soundcards are not always compatible, and a compatibility list will be published. A front-end receiver is also required, an AOR7030 or another receiver which can be modified. The modification is the addition of an extra circuit board to produce an extra Intermediate Frequency (IF) of 12 kHz. Several companies already sell these conversion boards. Participants will need a receiver with a 12 kHz IF, because this frequency is within the range of PC soundcards. Many radio receivers have an IF of 455 kHz, so the extra circuit board mixes this down to the soundcard range. The PC soundcard is used to analyse the DRM signal. DRM Consumer Receiver The world-band consumer receiver, developed by Coding Technologies together with the BBC and German device manufacturer AFG, is based on a modular system design made up around standard components. It is a production-ready OEM receiver sample integrated in an enclosure of a commercially available multi-band radio receiver. The DRM system also uses aacPlus by Coding Technologies as the standard audio coding format. aacPlus is a combination of MPEG AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) with Coding Technologies` groundbreaking SBR (Spectral Band Replication) bandwidth extension algorithm. About DRM The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium was founded in 1998. DRM`s membership is rich in its diversity, with members from 29 countries as varied as Ecuador, Tunisia, Germany, China, the U.S.A., Nigeria, Finland, India, the U.K., Japan, Spain and Australia. Moving fast toward universal standardization, the DRM system has been endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), which published its DRM Publicly Available Specification (PAS 62272-1). The IEC approval, together with DRM`s existing certifications by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), puts DRM a step closer to its 2003 launch. DRM audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org About Coding Technologies Coding Technologies, the Swedish-German technology leader in audio coding, develops and implements unique audio compression technologies for the broadcasting, Internet and telecommunication markets. Coding Technologies` SBR (Spectral Band Replication) technology is used in the MP3 successor mp3PRO as well as in the highly efficient coding method aacPlus. It is part of open standards like Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) and is reference model in MPEG-4. The company`s customers include system designers, chip/device manufacturers and content providers. Coding Technologies, a privately held company with offices in Stockholm, Sweden, and Nuremberg, Germany, combines the exceptional skills of a Swedish company specialized in audio compression technologies and a spin-off from the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, the inventor of MP3. For more information, visit http://www.codingtechnologies.com. About Fraunhofer IIS-A The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft founded in 1949 is the leading organization of applied research in Europe. It operates 56 research establishments. The headquarters are located in Munich, Germany. Most of the 11,000 staff members are qualified scientists and engineers. Founded in 1985, the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen ranks first in terms of staff count and industrial revenues among other Fraunhofer-Institutes. The spectrum of services ranges from consulting, concept development, hardware and software design to system development and prototype implementation. Research topics are: Audio coding including significant contributions to international standards (MP3, MPEG-4 Audio), video coding at very low bit rates, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), RF-circuitries, complex digital systems on silicon, vision systems for automated quality assurance, ultra fine focus X-ray computer tomography, high speed camera systems and analog and digital ICs. 13,500 square meters of office and laboratory space are available for 450 staff members to carry out contract research. The budget of 49 million Euros is mainly financed by projects from private industries and public sectors. Less than 20% of the budget is subsidized by federal and state funds. About VT Merlin Communications VT Merlin Communications, part of the VT Group, is a leading provider of critical communications services to customers in the space communications, defence and broadcast industries. Its range of critical communications services includes technical support services, facilities management, as well as project and programme management. VT Merlin has extensive experience in the design, build, operation, maintenance and support of facilities worldwide. Customers include The European Space Agency (ESA), BBC World Service, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and QinetiQ. Operating the world`s leading short wave network, VT Merlin transmits over 1,000 hours of both short and medium wave broadcasts every day. VT Merlin`s global network provides broadcasters with exceptional coverage of the world`s most populous regions, and offers capacity to deliver your programmes globally. Currently VT Merlin broadcasts for major international broadcasters including BBC World Service, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, NHK (Radio Japan), Radio Canada International, Radio Netherlands and Voice of America. DRM Members DRM members are FARB (Australia); Nautel Ltd., Radio Canada International/CBC (Canada); Academy of Broadcasting Science of China (China); Riz Transmitters (Croatia); HFCC (Czech Republic); ESPOL, HCJB World Radio (Ecuador); Egyptian Radio and TV Union (Egypt); Digita Oy, Kymenlaakso Polytechnic (Finland); Atmel ES 2, CCETT, Radio France, Radio France Internationale, TéléDiffusion de France, Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (France); APR, Coding Technologies GmbH, Deutsche Welle, DeutschlandRadio, DLM, Sender Europa 1, Fraunhofer IIS-A, Innovationszentrum Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT, IRT, Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt, Micronas GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, SWR Südwestrundfunk, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, T-Systems MediaBroadcast, University of Applied Sciences - FH Merseburg, University of Hannover, University of Ulm, VPRT (Germany); Antenna Hungaria, Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary); All India Radio (India); RAI (Italy); Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., JVC Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., NHK (Japan); Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting (Libya); Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg); Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia); Nozema, Radio Netherlands (Netherlands); Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand); Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria); Telenor/Norkring (Norway); Main Centre for Control of Broadcasting Networks/Voice of Russia (Russia); Universidad del Pais Vasco, (Spain); Factum Electronics AB, Radio Sweden International, Teracom SE (Sweden); EBU, International Committee of the Red Cross, ITU (Switzerland); Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia); BBC, Christian Vision, VT Merlin Communications, QinetiQ, RadioScape Ltd., Roke Manor Research Ltd. (U.K.); Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, IDT Continental Electronics, Harris Corporation, IBB/VOA, National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, Sangean America, Inc.,TCI, a Dielectric Company (U.S.A.); and Radio Vaticana (Vatican City). Contacts: Siriol Evans, DRM, pressoffice@drm.org, +44 1481 268246, mobile +44 7781 127019 Laura Jelf, VT Merlin Communications, laura.jelf@merlincommunications.com +44 20 7344 5777, mobile + 44 7788 741724 Olaf Korte or Gerd Kilian, Fraunhofer IIS-A, bc-info@iis.fraunhofer.de +49 9131 776 6301 Gerald Moser, Coding Technologies GmbH, press@codingtechnologies.com +49 911 928 910 PROPAGATION +++++++++++ KN4LF 7 Day Medium Frequency Radio Propagation Outlook #2002-23 Published 1:00 PM EDT 02/09/08 For 02/09/09-02/09/15. Though this outlook is aimed primarily at medium frequencies, virtually all the following propagation data is applicable to HF frequencies. This 7 day medium frequency (300-3000 kc) propagation outlook and other solar, space weather and propagation data can be found on my website at http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm Due to the international scope of the Amateur Radio/SWL radio community I have adopted the date format of yy/mm/dd. REVIEW- The week of 02/09/02-02/09/08 was relatively quiet considering that we are approaching the Fall/Spring Equinox. ENERGETIC PROTON FLUX- During the previous seven day period one >10 MeV (10+0) energetic proton event occurred. It began at 0455 UTC on 02/09/07 and ended at 0230 UTC on 02/09/08. At its peak it reached approximately 210 pfu. (10+2). Originally I thought that the source of this elevated energetic proton event was old sunspot group #10069 (now renumbered as 10105) which actually arrived around the Sun's eastern limb early this morning. However it may have been associated with the a filament eruption just east of sunspot region #10102 at 16:24 UTC triggered a long duration C5.2 solar from solar region #10102 peaking. During the previous outlook period I had forecasted the probability of an elevated energetic proton flux event >10 MeV (10+0). During the new outlook period the probability of an elevated energetic proton flux event >10 MeV (10+0) is placed at 60%. An elevated energetic proton flux level >10 MeV (10+0) creates noticeably increased winter time day and year round night time D layer absorption of medium wave frequencies, especially on high latitude propagation paths but it can also negatively impact mid latitudes, depending on the intensity of the event. Elevated energetic proton events too small to be categorized as a Polar Cap Absorption event (PCA) can still impact high and mid level medium frequency propagation paths in the form of excessive D layer absorption. This fact is still stubbornly opposed by some otherwise very knowledgeable space weather physicists over dependent on threshold Riometer readings. ((((Note, high latitude medium frequency radio propagation paths can still be disturbed for days and up to weeks, following the end of an official >10 MeV (10+0) proton event.)))) SOLAR FLUX- During the previous 7 day period the daily solar flux values ranged between 186 and 171. During the new outlook period the daily solar flux values should range between approximately 230 and 180. NOTICE!!! During the latter part of the outlook period F-1/2 layer propagation openings on 6 meters are possible. Occasional auroral propagation is probable, with Sporadic E (Es) and Trans Equatorial Scatter (TEQ) openings also probable. During the previous 7 day period the background X-ray flux levels ranged between C1.3 and B6.4. Elevated background X-ray flux levels can impact propagation of medium frequency signals in a negative manner. Background X-ray flux levels of C2 or greater creates increased D-layer absorption of 160 and 120 meter signals and C1 or greater creates increased D-layer absorption of AM broadcast band signals. High solar flux values are generally considered to be detrimental to propagation of medium frequency signals both domestic and Trans Atlantic (TA) & Trans Pacific (TP), as more absorption can be present via the transmitted signals' two trips through the D layer at the takeoff and arrival points. Most "strong" longer haul medium frequency DX signals in excess of 3000 miles is via the E Valley-F layer ducting and/or Chordal Hop propagation modes. Therefore high solar flux values can aid in long haul medium frequency propagation paths in excess of 3000 miles, as a high solar flux value ensures a strong F layer part of the E Valley-F layer duct or Chordal Hop propagation mechanism. However high solar activity in the form of increased ionization created by Ultraviolet and X-Ray radiation can fill in the E Valley region and interfere with the E Valley-F layer ducting mechanism. In a sense the E Valley-F layer duct is closed on one or both ends of a propagation path and the transmitted MF RF signal only propagates between the E layer and land/ocean surface, with a higher angle and more loss. SUNSPOT REGIONS/SOLAR FLARES- During the previous 7 day period the visible sunspot groups were less active with only two M class solar flares occurring. An M1.1 solar flare occurred at 0049 UTC on 02/09/03. and an M1.5 class solar flare occurred at 0139 UTC on 02/09/08. Recently numbered sunspot region #10105 at S06 E77 emerged around the Sun's eastern limb early today. This is actually previous sunspot group #10069 which wreaked havoc on last month's space weather conditions. #10105 has emerged with a beta-delta class magnetic signature, which harbors energy for medium sized M class solar flares and also huge X class solar flares in future days. Fortunately sunspot group #10105 will not be in Earth facing (geo- effective) position for a while yet. That means nil chances of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME'S) and Geomagnetic Storms from this group. However it can still produce planet impacting elevated energetic proton events. During the outlook period I place the chance of a C class solar flare at 100%, an M class at 70% and an X class at 50%. An earthward facing C4 or higher class solar flare "can" elevate the proton flux above 10 MeV (10+0) and initiate large scale high and mid latitude propagation path absorption on the AM broadcast band, 160 and 120 meters, both stateside and DX, as a transfer of increased density and RF signal absorption from the day side D layer to night side of the ionosphere occurs through high level winds. Unfortunately even smaller C3 solar flares can create hour to hour and night to night variations in signal strength on medium frequencies. High and mid latitude Trans Atlantic (TA) and Trans Pacific (TP) propagation paths tend to open up after a significant period of time passes without an elevated energetic proton event of >10 MeV (10+0). This fact is still stubbornly opposed by some otherwise very knowledgeable space weather physicists over dependent on threshold Riometer readings. Openings also occur when the solar background x-ray level falls back to or below C1 for 160 and 120 meters and B9 for the AM broadcast band. CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS/IONOSPHERIC STORMS/VISIBLE AURORA- During the previous 7 day period at least one Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's) was partially geo-effective (earth facing). The full halo CME was associated with a filament eruption just east of solar region #10102 and also a long duration C5.2 solar flare event from solar region #10102, on 02/09/05. However, when the shock from this CME struck the IMF yesterday, it's polarity turned negative, an ionospheric storm with a Kp of 7 (G3) commenced and visible mid latitude Aurora did occur. During the previous 7 day period our planet did encounter a solar wind stream flowing from a geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal hole. The solar stream arrived on 02/09/04 triggering a moderate (Kp-6)(g2) ionospheric storm. A solar wind stream from a new geo-effective (Earth facing) coronal hole could buffet Earth's Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) as early as 02/09/10, triggering a minor (Kp-5)(G1) to moderate (KP- 6)(G2)ionospheric storm. During the outlook period the probability of an Earth directed Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is placed at 50%. During the outlook period the probability of unsettled (Kp-3) to active (Kp-4) geomagnetic conditions is placed at 80%. During the outlook period the probability of at least a moderate ionospheric storm (Kp-5)(G1) is placed at 60%. During the outlook period the probability of a visible mid latitude Aurora display is placed at 60%. The Wang-Sheeley Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) Model which predicts Earth's IMF polarity, forecasts a positive polarity from 02/09/05-02/09/09. When the polarity of the IMF is negative a visible mid latitude Aurora display is likely when a CME strikes the Earth's magnetic field. When the polarity of the IMF is positive a visible mid latitude Aurora display is unlikely as a CME strikes the Earth's magnetic field. A Coronal Mass Ejection is the name given to an ejection of a large amount of matter from the Sun's outer atmosphere or corona. These ejections typically comprise millions of tons of material in the form of charged particles, and can be seen because the material reflects sunlight. When one of these ejections is directed towards the Earth (or conversely, directly away from the Earth), it looks like a roughly circular "halo" surrounding the Sun. The "Halo CME's" then are those CME's which are more likely to impact the Earth than those which are shot out at right angles to the Earth- Sun line. Energetic protons emitted during CME's play a major role in increased day time and night-time D-layer absorption of mediumwave frequencies. Coronal Mass Ejections were once thought to be completely initiated by solar flares. However it is now known that many (CME's) are not associated with Solar Flares. If a (CME) collides with the Earth, it can excite a Geomagnetic Storm if the polarity of the IMF has a negative sign. We must be vigilant in watching for geoeffective (CME's), in order to not be caught by surprise with a seemingly sudden and unexpected Geomagnetic Storm. As the Kp index reaches 3-4, the aurora oval begins expanding equatorward in magnetic latitude and generally begins having a negative impact on high latitude medium frequency propagation paths. A Kp index of 5 or higher begins to have a negative impact on high latitude high frequency shortwave propagation paths. However at times skewed path propagation conditions can compensate for high latitude propagation path auroral absorption. STRATOSPHERIC WARMING- During the outlook period increased winter like day and year round night time D layer absorption of medium frequency signals tied to stratospheric warming should not occur. Stratospheric warming is a major temperature change of the winter time polar and middle atmosphere from the tropopause (where the troposphere transitions into the stratosphere) to the base (D-layer) of the ionosphere, lasting for many days at a time and characterized by a warming of the stratospheric temperature by some tens of degrees (temperature inversion). As the stratosphere lies below the ionosphere, which is at mesosphere and thermosphere height, you would not expect to see stratospheric warming effect medium frequency propagation in any way BUT medium frequency signals do refract off of temperature inversions and moisture discontinuities and a temperature inversion is involved with stratospheric warming. So it's possible that a medium frequency signal could do any number of things when refracting off of a temperature inversion, at any height. Also stratospheric warming (STRATWARM) has a negative effect on medium frequency propagation, due to increasing medium frequency radio wave absorption by the D layer, via upward propagating Internal Gravity Waves (IGW). Also I have observed that stratospheric warming usually coincides with major jetstream circulation pattern changes and movement of Arctic air masses from Siberian Russia across the pole to Canada and the U.S. This phenomenon also occurs in southern hemisphere winter but seems to be less pronounced. 7 DAY FORECAST OUTLOOK- As we approach the fall/spring equinox propagation conditions will become more balanced in both hemispheres. Also as is the norm geomagnetic activity will increase. Expect good domestic propagation conditions in the northern hemisphere out to approximately 1050 miles. Expect very good domestic propagation conditions in the southern hemisphere out to approximately 1050 miles. "High latitude" northern hemispheric (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be fair. "High latitude" southern hemispheric (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be good. "Mid latitude" northern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be fair to good. "Mid latitude" southern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific and cross equatorial propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good to very good. "Low latitude" northern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good. "Low latitude" southern hemisphere (TA) Trans Atlantic, (TP) Trans Pacific propagation conditions in excess of approximately 3000 miles should be very good. There will be "moderate to high" lightning induced QRN levels in mid and low latitude areas of the northern hemisphere tied to warm season thunderstorms and tropical systems during the forecast period. Occasional lightning induced QRN will occur across the mid and low latitude areas of the southern hemisphere, with an endless series of winter time approaching cold fronts and surface extra-tropical low pressure systems. High to moderate lightning induced QRN will continue in the vicinity of the tropical ITCZ and across equatorial regions. 73, Thomas Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL KN4LF 160 Meter Amateur Radio Resources: http://www.kn4lf.com KN4LF Daily Solar Space Weather Geomagnetic Data Plus MF Propagation Outlook: http://www.kn4lf.com/kn4lf5.htm FL Meteorological & Climatic Institute: http://www.kn4lf.com/sub/fmci.htm (Thomas Giella, KN4LF kn4lf@arrl.net Sept 8, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ###