DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-160, October 17, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1152: AIRINGS ON WWCR: Sat 0600, Sun 0230 5070; Sun 0630 3210; Wed 0930 9475 AIRIMGS ON RFPI: Sat 0130, 0630, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630 on 7445, 15038 AIRINGS ON WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 AIRINGS ON WORLD RADIO NETWORK: Rest of world Sat 0800; NAm Sun 1400 ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html [from Fri] (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1152.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1152.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1152.html [from UT Fri] MUNDO RADIAL on WWCR: New Oct-Nov edition from Oct 18, Fri 2115v and Wed 2100v on 15825; from Oct 30: Wed 2200 and Fri 2215v on 9475. (DOWNLOAD) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0210.rm (STREAM) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0210.ram (SCRIPT) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0210.html DX PROGRAMS: new edition by Bill Brady posted Oct. 17: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ALASKA. Saturday, October 26, 2002 - KNOM-780, Nome, AK will conduct a DX test from 12:00 to 1:00 am Alaska Local Time (i.e. 4-5 am EDT). From Les Brown, who arranged the test: "We are currently planning to go from nighttime power (14 kW) up to 25 kW within a minute or two after midnight on 10/26, a Saturday. Morse ID's will be frequent." KNOM will stay at 25 kW until 6 am Alaska Time. Reception reports (with return postage) may be sent to: Les Brown KNOM-AM EMAIL: rfn@nook.net P.O. Box 988 WEB: http://www.knom.org Nome, AK 99762 (Arranged by Les Brown for the benefit of all DXers) (via IRCA Soft DX Monitor via WORLD OF RADIO 1152, DXLD) UT: 0800-0900, onward to 1400 ** ARMENIA. Photos of the antenna of the 234 kHz Armenia LW station at L. Sevan ("Gavar" formerly "Kamo"?) By Ben Dawson: http://www.ydunritz.com/photoarm.htm (Ydun Ritz` MW News via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [and non]. TWR - Chuck Roswell (...) "Actually I retire at Midnight, 31 December 2002 and start the new year "retired!" We expect to travel to the USA on 2 January." (... and) "We are retiring from TWR but will still be available for special projects if they need us such as monitoring trips, HFCC meetings, etc. We will be volunteering as Associate Missionaries with Source of Light Ministries in Madison, GA. SOLM published, distributes and grades Bible correspondence courses. (TWR uses these at several of their locations for the listeners.) Needless to say, I will be setting up a listening post and my amateur radio station (K2MGL) after I get settled in Madison, GA." I trust that the bcs will be a blessing to all who tune in to TWR. 73, Chuck Roswell, Frequency Coordination & Monitoring, TRANS WORLD RADIO - Europe, Postfach 141, A-1235 Vienna, Austria (Chuck Roswell, TWR Europe, formerly at TWR Bonaire; via WWDXC Germany Oct 14 via BC-DX, DXLD) ["Charles K Roswell" ] Many thanks Chuck for the valued service over past decades, remembers on the days of editing typewriter news of World Wide DX Club 'DX Magazine' since 1970. (wb) (Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Dear Glenn, if you think is useful detail the e-mail is : bab@terra.com.br --- Ciao from Italy (Dario Monferini, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That is, for R. Educadora Limeira, 2380, truncated in previous item (gh) ** BRAZIL. Among a long list of Brazilians logged: On 9684.9 at 0252, Paul heard Radio Gazeta São Paulo. He believes they have done something to clean up their signal. On 11924.9 at 0316, Paul heard Radio Bandeirantes, which has sometime drifted up toward 11925.6 (Paul Ormandy, NZ, HCJB DX Partyline Oct 23, notes by Marie Lamb for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. 4934.99, Radio Capixaba, 9 Oct, 0020, Portuguese pop vocal, announcer with ID. Very good signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Radio Canção Nova- 9675- 0450-0458-10/16. Long talk featuring what sounded like prayers, each followed by 'Amen". Ballad heard until ID at 0458, then signal obliterated by DW IS via 9670, Antigua relay. Too bad as reception was rather nice (Scott R. Barbour Jr., NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Hi All, might interest you to know that the Democratic Voice of Burma not only broadcasts in Burmese but a number of other local dialects: Sunday: Mon language (morning and evening) Monday: Arakan language (morning and evening) Tuesday: Chin language (morning and evening) Wednesday: Shan language (morning and evening) Thursday: Karen language (morning and evening ) Friday: Karenni language (morning) Kayan language (evening) Saturday: Kachin language (morning and evening) These languages are given 15 min slots in each transmission. 73 (Sean, G4UCJ, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS. LAS PALMAS = 6715 USB KOREAN STATION location??? I got reply from Yoido church and a religious organization called AG. They said they didn't know the existence of 6715 U. But afterwards I investigated many full gospel churches and listened to Mr. Hodgson's recording many times. I find the church relayed by 6715 USB transmission is "Full Gospel Laspalmas Church" The pastor of FGLC is Mr. Jung Byung Sung. I send him e-mail and waiting for his reply. Do you know where Laspalmas is? In a gospel church article, Mr. Jung said many Korean people can't go to his church because many Korean are fishermen. Maybe 6715 USB is meant for Korean fishermen who can't go to FGLC. LASPALMAS IS LOCATED IN ISLANDS??????? I don't know Laspalmas at all FGLC belongs to Yoido full gospel church and Mr. Jung is sent by Yoido full gospel church (Sung Chul Cho, Korea South, Oct 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) After a quick search I found that the "Full Gospel Laspalmas Church is located in Spain. One can even find a picture of it at: http://www.soljiwon.com/archi/archi-b00.html 73, (David Hodgson, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Actually, La Palmas is one of the main towns in the Canary Islands, part of Spain (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Well, that would be consistent with qualities of reception both here and in Europe. I think it is quite likely that this is a transmission for intended fisherman as has been speculated (David Hodgson, DXLD) Via Cumbre DX, contact info: Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, Plaza de Augustin del Castillo 3, Las Palmas de G.C. Spain; email fglc@jet.es fax 928-20-0139, telephone 928-20-4245. Pastor's name is spelled as Chung Byung Sung (Hans Johnson, Oct 16, Cumbredx via DXLD) I have found very very very critical information about Laspalmas church. Because you don't read and understand Korean language, you will not figure out the following Korean language web page http://mission.fgtv.com/column_page.asp?num=33_12 The above Korean only web page contains Mr. Jung's letter sent to Yoido Full Gospel Church. I extract one decisive context from the above web. (S.S.B.) For those who can't understand Korean language, I translate the above Korean language text in English like this. "Every Sunday and Wednesday, Church service is relayed via S.S.B. for Korean fishermen." Please carefully see the word (S.S.B.)!!!!!!!!!!!!! What does it mean? Transmission site = Laspalmas transmission Operator = Laspalmas Church listeners = Korean fishermen (Sungchul Cho from Korea Republic, Oct 16, WORLD OF RADIO 1152, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I think SSB implies 6715USB. I sent Mr. Jung an e-mail but failed to get reply from him. Telephone number of Laspalmas gospel Korean church = 34-928-20-9757 or 34-928-20-7410 Fax = 34-928-20-0139 (I am not certain whether these numbers are accurate or not) Postal address = F/G Las Palmas Church, Plaza De Agustin Del Castillo 3, Las Palmas De G.C. Spain. The following is my conclusion. Transmitter site = Laspalmas, Spain Relayed church by 6715 USB Transmission = Laspalmas Korean Church Listeners = Korean fishermen Without Mr. Hodgson's precious recordings and Mr. Savolainen's useful info on 6715 U, I could not reveal anything about 6715 U (Sungchul Cho from Korea Republic, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi, may be a little information, but I hope to be useful : Plaza Agustín Castillo, 3, 35011 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: So you have the correct postal code missing (Dario Monferini, Cumbre DX via DXLD) This item has been floating around the forums, hope Africa is a good home for it (wish we don't have to move it over International Waters.) --- All the credit and congratulations to Sung Chul Cho of the Republic of Korea for investigating and solving this 6715U mystery. As I was in close e-mail contact with Cho these days sharing some thoughts, may I put the findings in brief for those who might not be familiar with the "6715U unid". In February 2002, David Hodgson, TN, USA, first logged unid religious station on 6715U. Soon it was found out that the language was Korean and the programs were aired on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays during UT evenings. As heard only in Europe and USA suggested the station was somewhere in Europe or Africa. The broadcast schedule switched to DST in the end of March. Direction finding in Europe shows 224/044 degrees (WB). David sent a recording of the program to Sung Chul Cho. Cho finds out the program was related to Full Gospel Church of Korea. Cho finds out from the tape they mention "Full Gospel Las Palmas Church" Cho finds a letter from FG Las Palmas Church to Yoido (FG Church in Korea) in Koream at the Yoido web site, mentioning they relay the church service via SSB for Korean fishermen. An FG churchmember in Las Palmas confirms after listening to an audiofile of 6715 that the program is theirs (Cho). And finally, I myself just got an e-mail from the church itself (to my report and mp3 file) confirming this all (see below). Well, the transmitter might be located at Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Speculating - the programs may be relayed from the church via for example VHF radio to a fishing vessel and re-transmitted from there. Ahh, forget it (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ------- On 17 Oct 2002 fglc@jet.es wrote: ------- Thank you for your mail from Finland. 6715 kHz SSB that you heard is from our church, Full Gospel Las Palmas Church, as you expected. This radio is used for the Korean crew who are working in the Western Part of the Africa to hear the live worship. As you might have predicted, our church is belong to the Yoido Full Gospel Church, and we, as one of the missionaries are working in Las Palmas as Rev. David Cho's disciple. Thank you for being concerned about our church and its radio. Please don't hesitate to ask more questions. Yours Sincerely, Pastor Chung from Full Gospel Las Palmas Church. /ps/ why do you want to know? : ) (via Jari Savolainen, Finland, dxing.info via DXLD) 6715 USB completely identified!!! I get reply from one Korean Christian who goes to Laspalmas church. His reply can be seen below. [translated] "I heard reception file you sent. This is our church's broadcast. Our church operates this broadcast for many Korean fishermen who are sailing and can't attend at church service. Any questions will be welcomed." 73! (Cho from Korea republic, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. 5075, Voice of Pujiang, 1305 Oct 16 now heard here as well, // 4950 and 3280 (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. 5010, CNR 2 (presumed) 2214-2218 Oct 15. It looks like English language lessons are on again at this time. What sounded like a taped presentation by a YL in American accented English, then presumed translation/explanation by OM in Chinese. QRM on LSB, SINPO 32443. (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. Enjoying musical program on 15665 around 0000; not sure if CNR-1 or 2 (Chris Hambly, Australia, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Probably jammer against RFA See also HONG KONG ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia, Bogotá (?) 6011 khz, 0445-0457, 17 Okt., religious program, clear ID "...en onda corta...la voz de tu conciencia...", moderate signal, SIO 243 (Daniele Canonica, Switzerland RX: JRC 535 D ANT: T2FD 25 meters, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 4259.97, Radio Rebelde (harmonic 6 x 710), 13 Oct, 0908-1026, weak ballad // 5025 (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. I can confirm the problems with R. Havana. Only 6000 works lately and it sounds crappy. I recognized Arnie Coro (of DXers Unlimited) on the Hurricane Net after the first hurricane went through (the one before Lily), and he was talking about antenna damage there. Perhaps that's why the other frequencies are dead. The audio quality problem seems to be lack of a decent recording/playback system, his live programs are always better than the repeats (Bill Brady, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. US JAILS WOMAN WHO SPIED FOR CUBA Wednesday, 16 October, 2002, 17:01 GMT 18:01 UK An American woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for spying for Cuba. Ana Belen Montes, who worked for US military intelligence, said she had wanted to defend the island against US injustice. [...] Prosecutors said she communicated with her Cuban handlers through short wave radio and coded pager messages.... Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2334507.stm (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: By Rob Watson, BBC Washington corespondent An American woman has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for spying for Cuba. Ana Belen Montes, who worked for US military intelligence, said she had wanted to defend the island against US injustice. Montes, who is 45 and of Puerto Rican descent, worked as an analyst at the Defence Intelligence Agency near Washington. From 1985, until her arrest in 2001, she was also a Cuban spy. She admitted to revealing the identities of four undercover agents to the Cubans and passing on secrets prosecutors said were so sensitive they could not be revealed in court. Dramatic defence Prosecutors said she communicated with her Cuban handlers through short wave radio and coded pager messages. Before being sentenced, Montes defended her actions in dramatic style. She said the US Government's policy towards Cuba was cruel, unfair and profoundly unneighbourly. She said she felt morally obliged to help the island defend itself from what she called US efforts to impose its values and political system. But the judge, Ricardo Urbina was unimpressed. He said if you can't love your country, then at the very least you should do it no wrong (BBC News via Sosedkin, DXLD) To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37827-2002Oct16.html SPY FOR CUBA SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS --- By Neely Tucker Ana Belen Montes, the daughter of an Army psychologist who grew up to be the most adept Cuban spy to infiltrate the U.S. military, was sentenced to 25 years in prison yesterday, a somber end to a stealthy career of espionage in the nation's capital. Montes, 45, the former senior analyst for Cuban affairs for the Defense Intelligence Agency, told U.S. District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina that she was motivated by a love of Cuba and a loathing of U.S. policy toward the impoverished island nation. She was never paid anything but her expense money, according to prosecutors. "I obeyed my conscience rather than the law," Montes said at the courtroom podium, wearing a striped, black-and-white prison uniform. "I believe our government's policy toward Cuba is cruel and unfair, profoundly unneighborly, and I felt morally obligated to help the island defend itself from our efforts to impose our values and our political system upon it." Urbina was unmoved by the five-minute speech from an unapologetic spy who used shortwave radios and encrypted transmissions to relay sensitive U.S. secrets to the Cuban government. "Today is a very sad day, for you, for your family and loved ones, and for every American who suffers the betrayal of their country," Urbina said. "If you can't love your country, you should at least do it no harm." He then imposed the 25-year term that prosecutors and Montes's defense attorneys had agreed upon for her guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit espionage. That is a capital offense, but prosecutors agreed in March not to oppose a 25-year sentence if Montes spent at least six months telling them everything she knew. The trade-off apparently worked. U.S. Attorney Roscoe C. Howard Jr. said yesterday that Montes had cooperated with federal investigators from several agencies. He declined to say what she had revealed. But in papers filed to the court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Walutes Jr. assailed Montes's actions and her personal morality, dubbing her "the ultimate hypocrite. . . . Ana Belen Montes consciously and deliberately chose to join forces with those who would compromise the national security of this country. She secretly and without remorse systematically compromised classified information relating to the national defense of the entire country." Luís M. Fernández, spokesman for the Cuban diplomatic mission in Washington, did not return a phone call seeking comment. Montes, of Puerto Rican descent, was born on a U.S. military base in Germany. She is studious, frugal and single, and she appeared to friends and family to be a conscientious worker for the government. She and her family moved to the Baltimore suburbs in the late 1960s. She graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1975, noting next to her yearbook photo that her favorite things were "summer, beaches, soccer, Stevie W., P.R., chocolate chip cookies, having a good time with fun people." She received a foreign affairs undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and then a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Montes worked for the Justice Department in the early 1980s before moving to the DIA in 1985. The 40-year-old agency, with more than 7,000 military and civilian employees throughout the world, produces military intelligence about foreign countries. Montes worked her way up to become the agency's top official on Cuban affairs by 1992, working closely with the CIA and the State Department. The job gave her access to top secret files, the most sensitive information in the U.S. government, and she passed it along to Cuban intelligence officers from 1992 until her arrest last year. Montes used her apartment in the 3000 block of Macomb Street NW as her base of operations, but sometimes she ventured out to use pay phones at the National Zoo and in Chevy Chase and Bethesda to contact her handlers, prosecutors said. She told Cuban officers the names of at least four U.S. covert officers working in Cuba, gave them classified U.S. photographs and documents and let them know that the United States was monitoring several Cuban military installations. FBI agents had been trailing Montes for months or perhaps years. Her indictment lists a series of phone calls she made as far back as 1997. She was arrested in her office at Bolling Air Force Base last year, a week after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. Her disclosures did not result in the deaths of any U.S. agents, Howard said. But he said she was "as dangerous as anybody" when compared with other recent spies, including Robert P. Hanssen. That FBI agent was sentenced in May to life in prison for giving secrets to Russia. "Her sentence was less than Hanssen's, and while I don't approve of 25-year terms, I suppose this is progress," said Plato Cacheris, the defense attorney for both defendants. At least one member of Montes's family was in the courtroom yesterday but declined to comment. A phone call to her brother's home in Miami was not returned (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) see UK for BBCR4 programmmmes on Cuban missile crisis ** CYPRUS TURKISH. Yesterday evening I heard an English speaking station with quite poor reception on 6150 kHz 2110-2130 UT. My guess is, this was BAYRAK RADIO INTERNATIONAL from the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus". Programme was consisted of old pop songs from the 60`s and the 70`s. S/ON of CRI in Hungarian via France on same frequency 2130 UT destroyed reception. 73`s (Jouko Huuskonen, Oct 16, Turku, FINLAND, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. La Voz del Napo, 3279.55, Oct 12 0820-0935+; tune-in to Spanish religious programming; NA at 0900 then back to local religious programming with choral music. IDs at 0909 and into Andean music. Good. A regular lately. Interesting they would play NA at 0900 even tho they were not signing on or off (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT [and non]. Found a very interesting website with news about Middle East, audio links, when I tried http://www.radiocairo.com (George Thurman, IL, Oct 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. PROTEST BY WORKERS AT NATIONAL FINNISH BROADCASTER SHUTS DOWN RADIO PROGRAMMING -- Wed Oct 16, 7:29 AM ET HELSINKI, Finland - Hundreds of workers at the state-owned Finnish Broadcasting Co., YLE, walked out Wednesday to protest planned layoffs, disrupting normal programming on several radio channels across the country. The protest, over plans to cut 45 jobs, started at 12:15 p.m. (0915 GMT) and was scheduled to end at 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) Thursday, YLE said. The strike disrupted normal programming on YLE radio, which has several nationwide and local channels. It would not affect emergency broadcasts, government bulletins or marine weather reports used by ships in the Baltic Sea, the company said. The walkout also was not aimed at YLE's television programs. Some YLE radio channels played music nonstop or jingles. YLE is 99-percent government owned with 4,000 employees. The company is mostly funded by television license fees. The Nordic nation of 5.2 million also has several commercial radio stations broadcasting throughout the country as well as two independent commercial nationwide TV stations, MTV3 and Channel 4, and several cable TV networks. From: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021016/ap_wo_en_po/finland_radio_strike_1 (via Sosedkin) I wonder if this has anything to do with drastic cuts in YLE's External service. According to a report in Radio Finland's Russian news bulletin, the station carried the programs of Radio Peili during the 18-hour strike. R. Peili is "a digital channel of the news and factual programmes including YLE in Parliament; jazz at night." I wonder if anyone caught it on the SW (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE [non?]. About unID 25765: As the TDF guys didn't bother to reply to my questions about 25765 BBC loop tests, I e-mailed the DRM Project Office in Switzerland requesting some info. Anne Fechner there kindly forwarded my e-mail to Hans Linkels, the Chairman of DRM System Evaluation WG. His reply can be seen below. However, the programming I heard on 24 Sep on 25765 was different (football loop and BBC promo loop) from what he describes. I sent him an e-mail, asking if Merlin has similar tests on 25 MHz, but no reply received. (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ------- On 13 Oct 2002 J.L.H.W. Linkels wrote: ------- Fwd: 26 MHz simulcast tests Dear Mr. Savolainen, The transmissions on Sept. 24 must have been from Rennes as well. DRM had a meeting there of one of the working groups and these transmissions were set up as a demo. The reason that you heard a BBC transmission in an endless loop is that this specific material was coded off-line, and we had only one minute or so of programme material. (The subject is about the Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn murdered on May 6) Kind regards, Hans Linkels, Chairman DRM System Evaluation WG Contact information: Radio Netherlands International Bonaire e: jlinkels@rnbtech.com t: +599 717 5472 f: +599 717 5427 m: + 599 787 0738 (UTC-4) gsm: +316 5363 8569 (from 021014 until 021021) (via Jari Savolainen, DXLD) ** GERMANY. Luigi Cobisi of the European DX Council mentioned that he recently got to visit the IBB transmitter facilities in Lampertheim, Germany with a local FM/TV DX group. IBB facilities are still quite important in reaching Europe and Central Asia. Cobisi also got to meet members of Germany's ADDX radio club, including Hans Werner Lang, who contributes to HCJB's German-language DX program. Also, although every German state has its regional radio network, only the city of Cologne has both regional and national radio services. Westdeutscher Rundfunk, or WDR, is the regional radio service (also noted for its excellent big band: Marie). Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio are national networks. Deutsche Welle, the Voice of Germany, is the country's international radio service; Luigi Cobisi used to be a correspondent for DW's Italian service, which was discontinued in 1997. Next year, Deutsche Welle will celebrate its 50th anniversary, and it will move its headquarters from Cologne to Bonn. DW will move into the buildings formerly occupied by the West German government before the reunification of Germany in 1990. Germany will also host the next EDXC conference in August 2003, and more about that will be mentioned in November. For more information about EDXC, you may go to: http://www.edxc.org Letters may be sent to: EDXC ** P.O. Box 18120 ** 50129 Firenze ** Italy (HCJB DX Partyline Oct 23, notes by Marie Lamb for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DRM: NO CAR RADIOS IN SIGHT Below I enclose a statement from the marketing section of the German car radio manufacturer Blaupunkt, posted in reply to a posting where statements allegedly received at the recent IBC fair were cited. Summary: At present no car radio manufacturer considers to produce a DRM set because less than 5% of all listeners still use the AM bands, not enough to justify the required investment of some 1.5 millions EUR for developing of such a set. The additional DRM wirings would cost roughly as much as the ones for DAB (Eureka-147), also for sets with DAB capability (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz: Da kann man nur staunen. Tatsache ist vielmehr, das derzeitig kein Hersteller ernstlich an die Produktion eines DRM-Autoradio denkt, da die Zielgruppe AM-Hörer kleiner 5% des Marktes beträgt und die daraus resultierenden Stückzahlen die hohen Entwicklungskosten von rund 1,5 Mio Euro nicht decken. Abgesehen davon wird der Aufpreis von DRM sich in ähnlicher Höhe wie DAB bewegen. Dies gilt auch für ein DAB/DRM- Gerät. Ergänzend der Hinweis, das ich als Sprecher auf der IBC glaube die zukünftigen Pläne von Blaupunkt klar dargelegt zu haben. DRM stand nicht zur Diskussion und wird auch in den nächsten 2 Jahren nicht zur Diskussion stehen. Volker Lauke, Marketing, Blaupunkt GmbH http://forum.myphorum.de/read.php?f=8773&i=5658&t=5658 (via Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Later:] It's certainly much more convenient to write in English here... Meanwhile I received another comment, speculating that this statement is a bluff aiming at the competitors while Blaupunkt in fact already works on DRM sets. All I can say is that Blaupunkt evidently still believes in DAB, probably because their new "Woodstock" set is quite popular amongst radio freaks. Of course it is interesting for freaks to listen to the local 1.5 GHz bouquet from Karlsruhe on a hill near Wiesbaden, not less than 130 km away. This bouquet still contains a channel labelled Welle. This Karlsruhe-based station closed months ago; a new station called Hitradio RTL immediately took over the FM outlets (if you are interested: http://www.radioszene.de/audio/welle3.mp3 - Welle saying good-bye, http://www.radioszene.de/audio/welle4.mp3 - screwed-up switch from Welle to Hitradio RTL feed) but on DAB the Welle corpse (now a silent channel of course) remains till today. One has really to wonder if anybody cares about what goes out via Dead And Buried! This statement was posted in a bulletin board (I enclosed the URL of this thread), so it is definitely a public one, and of course a comment from the DRM crowd would be of interest. Best regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Tja, da kann man in der Tat nur staunen und den Ignoranten ein baldiges verdientes Ende gemeinsam mit DAB wünschen, dessen Ende innerhalb der ARD-Technik nicht mehr ernstlich diskutiert (=in Zweifel gezogen) wird. Bestehen Einwände, das Blaupunkt-Statement an den DRM- Vorsitzenden weiterleiten zu dürfen? Mit besten Grüßen (Andreas Augner, via Ludwig, DXLD) ** GREECE [and non]. ERT S.A. THE VOICE OF GREECE B02 SHORT WAVE TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE Effective from 27/10/02 to 29/03/03 (0000) UTC EUROPE 0000-0400 49 5865 41 7475 Gr 0400-0550 49 5865 41 7475 Gr 0600-0700 31 9420 19 15630 Gr , Eng 0700-0800 31 9420 19 15630 Gr , Eng 0800-1000 31 9420 19 15630 Gr , Eng 1000-1100 [break] 1100-1200 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1200-1300 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1300-1400 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1400-1500 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1500-1700 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1700-1800 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1800-1850 31 9420 19 15630 Gr 1900-2000 31 9420 49 5865 Gr 2000-2100 31 9420 49 5865 41 7475 Gr 2100-2200 49 5865 Gr 2200-2300 49 5865 Gr 2300-2400 49 5865 41 7475 Gr Foreign Language Transmissions 1300-1430 19 15725 Gr, Ar 1430-1700 19 15725 D, Rus, E, R, Tr 1700-1800 19 15725 Sc, Bg 1800-1900 41 7475 Al, F 1900-2000 41 7475 Pl, Eng MW 0900-1800 792 Gr, Ar, D, Rus, E, R, Tr 1830-1900 792 Gr 2100-2230 792 Gr 2300-2400 792 Gr TASKEND 1300-1400 19 15725 Gr MIDDLE EAST & INDIAN OCEAN 0000-0350 19 15630 Gr 0400-0600 13 21530 16 17520 Gr 0600-0700 13 21530 16 17520 Gr 0700-0800 13 21530 16 17520 Gr 1300-1430 19 15725 Gr, Ar MW 1000-1500 1260 Gr, Ar, D ATLANTIC OCEAN 0000-0400 41 7475 31 9420 49 5865 Gr 0400-0600 41 7475 41 7475 49 5865 Gr 0600-0800 19 15630 31 9420 Gr 0800-1000 19 15630 Gr 1100-1850 19 15630 Gr 1900-2300 49 5865 Gr 2300-2400 41 7475 49 5865 Gr AFRICA 0000-0357 31 9420 Gr 1700-1850 [sic in this order] 1400-1500 [means on 9420 throughout?] 1900-2000 2000-2050 2300-2400 31 9420 Gr JAPAN, PACIFIC OCEAN 0600-0800 25 11900 Gr AUSTRALIA 0000-0358 19 15630 Gr 0400-0800 16 17520 13 21530 Gr 0600-0800 25 11900 Gr [Delano] 1200-1430 Gr. Ar 2100-2300 19 15650 31 9420 Gr 2300-2400 19 15650 Gr NORTH AMERICA 0000-0550 41 7475 49 5865 Gr 1200-1500 31 9825 Gr [Delano] 1600-2200 16 17705 Gr [Delano] SOUTH AMERICA, PANAMA ZONE & SW AFRICA 0000-0358 31 9420 Gr 2000-2200 16 17565 Gr [Greenville] 2300-2400 31 9420 Gr Gr=Greek, Eng= English, Al= Albanian, Ar=Arabian,Bg= Bulgarian, F=French, E= Spanish, I=Italian, Pl=Polish, P=Portuguese, R=Romanian, Rus= Russian, S= Swedish, Sc= Servocroatian, Tr=Turkish LIVE AUDIO URL http//www.ert.gr Reports via e-mail era5@ert.gr Technical information bcharalabopoulos@ert.gr ERT S.A. MACEDONIA STATION EUROPE 1100-1650 31 9935 Gr EUROPE 1700-2250 41 7430 Gr Macedonia Radio Station Angelaki Str 2, 54621 Tel+30310 244979, Fax+30310 236370 ERA 5 'THE VOICE OF GREECE' essogion 432,15342, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis, Tel +3010 6066308,6066297, Fax +3010 6066309 General Direction of E.RA (Engineering Div.), Messogeion 432, 15342, Ag. Paraskevi Attikis Tel + 3010 606 6257 Fax +3010 606 6243 (via Chris Rigas, IL, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREENLAND. Glenn, I heard your call for DX'ers to try to catch the short wave transmissions from KNR - now that conditions should allow the transmissions to propagate a bit further. So I rang my source and he was in touch with the people running the short wave transmitter earlier today. Now it turns out that the frequency is 3815 kHz (USB) - and not 3812 kHz as previously reported. The transmissions are no longer unofficial since KNR has started paying for the transmissions!! Broadcasting hours are 1200-1300 and 1800-1900 local time - which is 1400-1500 and 2000-2100 UT (when local DST is observed). One hour later UT [1500-1600, 2100-2200] when Greenland return to normal time from October 27th. I believe the transmissions consist of news in Greenlandic, followed by some PSAs of some sort and then finally news in Danish. The transmitter is located in Tasiilaq on the East Coast of Greenland and is running around 100-200 W. There's a general election coming up on December 3rd in Greenland, but there are no plans to let the short wave transmitter run for any longer on that date - but of course plans may be changed before the actual date (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HAWAII. [Cumbre DX] VOLCANO AND KWHR The below volcano is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. This is also where KWHR is, in the South Point region. Worth keeping an eye on this story and an ear on this station (Hans Johnson, Oct 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Viz.: Mauna Loa is stirring after 18 years of inactivity, and an eruption could devastate the neighborhoods built on the volcano's slopes in the intervening years, scientists said Monday. Lava could reach Hilo on the eastern side of the island and the Gold Coast resorts of Kona in the west, and inundate neighborhoods in the southwest rift zone above South Point - possibly without much warning, said Peter Cervelli, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Service's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (via Yahoo via Johnson, Cumbre via DXLD) Sked per their website- 2200-0400 17510, 0400-1000 17780, 1000-1630 9930 Angel 3; 0700-1045 Mon/Fri, until 1300 Sat/Sun 11565 Angel 4. Just checked at 2219 Oct 16 and 17510 was on as usual (Hans Johnson, WY? Cumbre DX via DXLD) HI, more details about the volcano visiting: http://wwwhvo.wr.usgs.gov/maunaloa/ 73's Dario Monferini, Cumbre DX via DXLD) But I see nothing recent yet (gh, DXLD) ** HONG KONG. CHINA 3940 Radio TV Hongkong not audible nor was there even a carrier discerned at 0930-0950 Oct 16 here on the West Coast of North America (Don Nelson, OR, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Frequency previously varied upwards a bit (gh) No joy when checking at 0937 today (Hans Johnson, Wyoming? Oct 16, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I could receive the special weather forecasts of Radio Television Hongkong for boats in the Hainan race. These forecasts will be broadcasted until October 23rd at around 2133 UT on 3940 USB. Reception from the Far East is possible in Europe at this time. Here now the logging: 3940 USB Radio TV Hongkong, October 16th, 2135-2143, English, weather forecast (showers, wind south east, visibility 4000m); no clear ID, however the coast of China was mentioned. SINPO 22322 (Michael Schnitzer - michael_schnitzer@web.de Location: Hassfurt, Germany, dxing.info via DXLD) Better reception today: 3940 USB, Radio Television Hong Kong, October 17th, 2133-2143, English, after a brief melody the following announcement could be heard: "This is Radio Television Hong Kong with a special weather forecast for the Hong Kong - Hainan yacht race 2002." SINPO 23322. I prepared a small mp-3 sound file of the ID. Please let me know, if you have interest (Michael Schnitzer, Germany, Oct 17, dxing.info via DXLD) Was audible here, too. Made an unattended recording, the station is audible, but it'll be a very tough job to dig out details. Antenna was just a Wellbrook loop on the balcony. SINPO 14331. Greetings, (Martin Elbe, Wolfsburg, Germany, Oct 17, ibid.) And was received also in Espoo, Finland with a very weak signal --- Hopefully the reception gets better in the coming days! Was using NRD535 & an L of 50 mts. (Hannu Tikkanen, ibid.) The station was also heard in my QTH at *2133-2143* with very weak signal on 3940 USB. No ID, but certain weather report phrases were heard (Jari Korhonen, FIN-82500 Kitee, Oct. 17, ibid.) Dear Glenn, I did not expect to hear this 2 kW transmission here in Denmark, but it was there this night. 3940, R TV Hong Kong (USB), Oct 17, *2133-2143*, Flute interval signal at 2129 and 2133, Deep male voice giving ID in English and then reading weather reports for the Hainan Yacht Race including wind, visibility and sea state at various locations. Hong Kong was heard mentioned twice. Disappeared when the last report was read. Weak signal in much atmospheric noise. SINPO 25131. Best 73 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 3940USB, Radio TV Hongkong, Oct 17, 2135 tune in to 2143 off, man with weather information read slowly, showers, wind direction, visibility, mention of Hong Kong Time, ended "And that ends this... forecast....", poor on clear channel just above the noise level on peaks and could copy about 50 per cent (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Also heard here in Finland tonight Oct. 17th with a clear ID at 2135: "This is Radio Television Hong Kong". (Mauno Ritola, Heinävaara, Finland, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I am currently hearing RTHK on 3940, very week but just readable at sign on with int sig 2133, clear RTHK ID at 2134 in English plus weather reports, gone 2145 (Stuart Austin, Blackpool, England, Drake R8b, Wellbrook mag Loop, MLB Mrk 1, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yesterday evening (16 Oct.) from sign on at 2133 to s/off at 2143 I heard a very very faint signal in USB; opening with an I/S whose first bars seemed the well known Popeye theme (only in the beginning). Then into male voice reading something too weak to be readable in a language that I could not identify. A tentative log for RTV Hong Kong, consistent with their schedule but too weak for an ID. (Fabrizio Magrone, Forlì, Italy (JRC NRD-535, ICOM IC-R71, W41PC, 30m lw, hard- core-dx via DXLD) Last night 3940 was heard at 0933 with a short ditty then into weather forecasts, not good reception due local interference and a relatively weak signal., Will be checking every night for a decent log. Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, Oamaru, New Zealand, Oct 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 4925, RRI Jambi heard October 11th, 1540 Continuous Michael Jackson and similar music, 1555 announcements by lady, 1556 Kor`an like chanting over stringed instrument, 1558 Love Ambon and announcements to 1600 off. Fair on clear channel (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3325, RRI Palangkaraya, 2157-2201 Oct 16. Soft vocals, then "Radio Republik Indonesia" ID by OM. Song of the Coconut Islands at ToH. SINPO 23232, pretty good considering this was during a nor'easter. 4753.36, RRI Makassar, 2145-2201 Oct 15. Indo pops at tune-in followed by YL talk. Local IS at ToH, then dead air, until OM spoke; very low modulation. SINPO 34333 (George Maroti, NY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS. RADIO CAROLINE SHIPS'S "GHOST" From Ivan caroline@carolinecentral.com ...Here is the story of the ghost on board the MV Ross Revenge, from an archive edition of the spiritualist psychic magazine Two Worlds. As found at a car boot sale by my totally far out soul mate. Title. The Spirit Of Radio Caroline By Kevin Carlyon. Forwood [sic]. If you have ever wanted to spend a night on board a haunted ship, here's your chance! Below, healer and psychic researcher Kevin Carlyon tells how he and his wife Sandie visited the haunted Radio Caroline, hearing how DJs have encountered an apparitional visitor who seems to be all at sea... ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Although outlawed in 1967, Radio Caroline has survived in one way or another to broadcast up to the present day. Its days of piracy on the high seas did not finish until 1991 when laws were changed in the UK and Europe meaning that the pop pirate could be blown out of the water if it continued to broadcast from international waters! The first ship, the "Mi Amigo", sank in a force nine gale in 1980 when it drifted on to a sandbank in the Knock Deep area of the North Sea, fifteen miles off the coast of Essex. No one expected it to return, but in 1983 a new vessel, the "Ross Revenge", was secretly fitted out in Spain and sailed to its position via the English Channel, closely scrutinised by Royal Navy vessels, who had no idea what the ship or the three-hundred foot mast, the tallest on any sea-going vessel at the time, was for. Up until the time that the "Ross Revenge" was refitted and converted into a radio ship no paranormal goings-on were ever observed. But only a few days after broadcasting commenced the first sighting was made on the vessel. A figure in a souwester appeared at the front of the ship and seemingly walked through the newly erected mast. Although initial panic set in, it was soon put down to imagination and may be a few beers. Being anchored fifteen miles out in the North Sea and the crew being classed as "pirates", they could not really go anywhere else but a different part of the vessel. Perhaps the history of the ship before it became a broadcasting station could explain from where the haunting originated. The MV "Ross Revenge" was built as an Icelandic trawler at Bremerhaven in 1960. Although originally named "Freyr" after the Norse Goddess, she was bought by Ross Trawlers Ltd and renamed in 1963. The biggest side trawler built at that time, she was involved in the Cod Wars between Iceland and Britain in the early seventies. In 1982, the boat briefly became a salvage ship, but then found a new lease of life as a replacement for the earlier Radio Caroline vessel, the "Mi Amigo", which sank in 1980. While serving as a trawler there were two fatalities on board, the first being a crew member who was pulled overboard by the ship's nets. The second fatality followed a fire in the forepeak where the apparition has been seen several times. The current ship's engineer will not go down there alone. The ship remained at sea from 1983-1991 when it was forced to cease broadcasting due to new legislation, but during the time several DJs, including Nigel Harris, Stewart Russell, Tom Hardy, and Caroline Martin, claim to have seen the figure in various parts of the boat, including the galley and even the toilet. When Caroline was forced off the air in 1991 after running aground on the Goodwin Sands having lost her anchor, she was refloated by the Dover Harbour Board and towed into the port of Dover, being one of only two ships to have survived the Goodwin Sands, which have claimed many vessels and lives throughout the centuries. A support group was set up for Caroline and the £20,000 salvage fee paid. On Easter Sunday 1992 the station went back on the air legally, broadcasting from Dover on a one-month Restricted Service Licence (RSL). For the duration of the time that Caroline was not broadcasting there were no reports of any psychic activity, but the very day transmissions recommenced the apparition was seen by crew members and a member of the public. To support the station and obtain the money for further RSLs, Caroline allows people on board to look around the ship, asking a £5 donation towards the tender that has to ferry people back and forth to the mainland. Now the ghost attracts as many people as the radio ship. Since 1992 Caroline has broadcast twice a year from various locations... and each time she resumes broadcasting the ghost seems to start haunting. My theory is that the electricity generated from the ship and the transmitters actually gives the apparition "life". Electro-paranormal power is the main cause of hauntings: infamous scenarios of thunder and lighting in horror films when a ghost appears aren't far from the truth (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRELAND [non]. Glenn, Here's the answer to your query. IMIB = Isle of Man International Broadcasting Plc. Regards (Mike Terry, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. Glenn, I just looked at the WoR website --- and you thought the schedule a few days ago was a mess... look at my email! I didn't see how it would look, until I received it along with the rest of the mailing list. People always complain about receiving HTML in email - so I sent it plain text... Anyhow, using the links from my earlier posting, you can access properly formatted schedules where you'll see what @ and @@ stand for... @ - This frequency is valid from 15 Dec 2002 to 28 Feb 2003 @@ - Available upon request Thanks Doni (Daniel Rosenzweig, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Kol Israel Winter schedule - now available The IBA website now also has English news in text. Go to http://bet.iba.org.il/ and click on the "Text" icon inside of the "English News" icon, on the left hand side of the page. ---New Winter Kol Israel Schedule---- Valid October 27, 2002 - March 30, 2003 In HTML format from israelradio.org http://www.israelradio.org/winter02.htm Also available from the Chief Engineer at Bezeq from: PDF (Adobe Acrobat) http://www.bezeq.co.il/Download/short_wav.pdf PPT (MS Power Point) http://www.bezeq.co.il/Download/short_wav.ppt Below is the English schedule, taken from the israelradio.org page. 0500-0515 UTC (For reference, this is Midnight EST) Europe + N. America 9435 6280~ 11605# Australasia and S.America 17600 1115-1130 UTC Europe + N. America 15640 17545 1730-1745 UTC Europe + N. America 11605 17545 2000-2025 UTC Europe + N. America 11605# 6280~ 15640 13720 Africa 15640 ~ In use December 15 -- February 28 # In use October 27 -- December 14, and March 1-30 --------- (via Daniel Rosenzweig, Oct 15, DXLD) Hebrew to Eu/NAm includes 5790 from 1900 to 0500, I`ll bet this gets reported as an unID (gh, DXLD) ** ITALY [non?]. IRRS, 13840, Oct 12 0800-0831+ English UN programming. Environmental news at 0820 about Greenpeace operations. Pop music. IRRS ID and address at 0831. Fair; reduced carrier USB (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JAPAN / INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. JAPAN. Worldspace JPN Co. Ltd., a Japanese bureau of Worldspace Corporation in U.S., will close its office in Tokyo on Oct 21. The office opened in 1997 for corresponding to develop the Worldspace satellite receiver by the 4 Japanese radio manufacturers - Panasonic, Sanyo, JVC, and Hitachi. They succeeded in develop the low-cost satellite rxs for worldwide use, such as Sanyo DSB-WS1000, Hitachi KH-WS1, which are reviewed in WRTH 2002. But in Japan L-band (1467-1492 MHz) is not distributed to broadcasting use, but to the mobile telephones and other special radiotelephone services. Therefore the reception of Worldspace is generally unstable in Japanese urban areas due to the interference from mobile telephone signals; moreover the receiver availability is very limited. The spread of Worldspace satellite receivers in Japan is presumed to be only less than a thousand, though they are not expensive. In their north-east Asian beam, there is only one Japanese speaking broadcster. Worldspace decided to concentrate their effort to spreading the system in 3rd world countries rather than in Japan. Their HP in Japanese http://www.wolrdspace.gr.jp will also be closed on Oct 18. Even after the withdrawal, the north-east Asian beam will continuously be on air. The satellite receivers will also be available from SatRadio Japan http://www.Satradiojapan.com in Hamamatsu and Hamers Co. http://www.hamers.co.jp in Yokohama (Takahito Akabayashi, Japan, BC-DX, Oct 14, via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. KOREA DPR. 1614 kHz, Frontline Soldiers Radio (presumed) Oct. 10 1415-1615 33222 in Korean. Korean music and talk. I make reference to Passport to World Band Radio Edition 2002 (ISHIZAKI Kyoshiro, Mie, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN [tent.] The unID music station on 4050 kHz has identified yesterday at 1555 as "Hit(s) shortwave" (?) and "Hit music on shortwave" in accented English, heard by Mauno Ritola, Finland. The technical director of Kyrgyz State Radio meanwhile denied that his station is still using 4050 kHz (formerly Kyrgyz Radio 2), so the mystery about the program producer remains. There is little doubt however that it is the transmitter in Bishkek which is being heard (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Cumbredx mailing list Oct 17 via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. Our file of stories in Spanish about La Poderosa, 560 being closed by the government, protests by the Sandinistas, etc., continues to grow, and would knock out a lot of other stories in this DXLD; so held over again (gh) ** NIGERIA. 6050, FRCN Ibadan, heard October 11th, 1745 Religious programme in English, Lagos address given at end of programme, fair on clear channel till 1758 when swamped by BBC interval signal (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK) ** NIGERIA. Even tho it comes from Nigeria, and landed in my junk mail folder, so I almost didn`t open it, this looks legitimate; reply at your own risk. It is a form letter with nothing really personal in it, though pretending not to be. What a shame the country has been so tarnished by spam scammers! [sic:] (gh, DXLD) INTERNATIONAL DX CLUB (I D C) Promoting global cooperation through radio interest. POSTAL ADDRESS P. O. BOX 1633, SOKOTO, SOKOTO STATE, NIGERIA, WEST AFRICA idclubnigeria@yahoo.com Dear sir, I am resending this mail to you. I encountened some problems with previous idc email account, so never go to see our reply. Looking forward to your unfallingly reply. I cannot remember exactly, where I saw your address for the first time, but must have being through one that short wave publications or in the Internet. I must have written it down after seeing it. I expect this letter to reach you as a surprise considering the fact that Africa is noted for her Short wave and Dxing exploits, (but if You have taken keen interest about short wave listeners in Africa then I wouldn't be a shocker to you, as am regular name on most Radio stations). Well, a few others and I are changing that notion now. In fact as you would see from the attached statement we are taking it very seriously. With what started accidentally as a mere interest in listening to musical requests and news on radio in my primarily school days, I have now within the last 10 years transformed into a full blown dxer, if you would permit that expression. Anyway, today I have the privilege of coordinating IDC which primarily exist to encourage Dxing in the world especially here in Africa, where not much is known about it. Do not get me wrong, a lot of people do listen to radio here, but it is mostly to get there favorite programs may be local news, or international station that broadcast in their native language. Example, top stations like BBC, VOA, DW, etc broadcast in Hausa language which is the common lingua in these parts of the world. But very few bother about monitoring the technical side of broadcasting, e.g qsl cards, transmitters, reception quality, staying all night to hear a far station, things like that. That is what we hope to change. So, we tend to catch them young, the youth are mostly our target. Membership into the club and all its materials are voluntarily and FREE. It is part of my principle to its continuous existence, to make it free, to encourage people to join. I completely cater for all its finances, I must confess it is not easy especially when you consider that I am a student. But the joy of knowing that you are contributing positive to keeping my fellow youth constructively occupied is what keeps me going. Like Herbert Spencer said, don’t be perfectly happy, till all are happy. Of course it has not been the easiest of an assignment, but I am not giving up just yet. One step at a time. Together we (with your help) can all can make these world a better place. We do not have an office, so I do all my monitoring and correspondences at home. My plans for an office and to create a website for the organization have been handicapped due largely because of absence of funding. So I make photocopies of program guides and other information to members, or encourage them to write the stations directly. Space will not permit me to discuss in details all our numerous programs. I listen to and contact many radio stations, but I will try to summaries some here. As you would expect we maintain regular contacts with the top radio stations, including BBC, RFI, DW, RADIO CHINA, RADIO JAPAN, VOA, WHR, RADIO NETHERLAND, RCI to name but a few. Also we maintain steady contact with not so strong ones like SWISS RADIO, RADIO PRAGUE, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE SW BROADCAST, VATICAN RADIO, RADIO ROMANIA, RADIO SWEDEN INT, RADIO AUSTRIA INT, RADIO VLAANDEREN INT, RADIO TAIPEI INT, and many many more, that I listen to. I also have huge collections of qsl cards paste in my wall corner at home. I catch transmissions that are actually aimed to other regions, particularly Europe, occasionally at night, evening or early morning, the wonders of radio signals. I just received a reply from radio VOICE OF VIETNAM and RADIO SANTEC. The increase in international postage have also affected our correspondence with numerous other stations and Dxers. Internet is relatively new here, their is only one cafe in the entire town and very expensive. It is very expensive to type mails online, since the Charges increase as you spend more time online here, and am not fast at it. but what choice do we have? Sometimes, I sacrifice my lunch to use the net. Funny isn't it? It is the truth. I visit the Internet to get more dx and sw news and information, when I can afford it. My favorite is the cumbredx website. As the founder, I have been single handed being in charge of all IDC correspondences. I have also being funding all the work, including all the printed materials, ranging for writing materials, postage costs, IDC id cards, forms, etc. Had it not been for the huge Postal cost for international mails, I would have sent you some of our other materials. May be next time. I am interested in making contacts with other sw dxers, am keen on any information concerning radio broadcast. Secondly, we are soliciting for any help we can get from concerned dxers. Presently, I use my Dad's PANASONIC RX - CT990 (DOMESTIC TYPE) RECEIVER with an EXTERNAL ANTENNA. I manage modest reception with it, considering its range, age and present condition, not too good, I must confess. So anyone with any second hand digital Radio can send it to me. It will be appreciated and very helpful. The present economic condition make purchasing those tops portable receivers advert completely a mere dream. I am into collecting stations materials, guides, stickers, pins, and very important after using any of your 2002 Radio broadcast books, like PASSPORT TO WORLD BAND RADIO, WORLD RADIO HANDBOOK e.t.c, send it over. Even if you couldn't help us, it would still be nice to hear from you. Your friend and co-dxer (EMMANUEL EZEANI, Coordinator, IDC, Oct 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NORWAY. UPDATED B-02 SCHEDULE FOR RADIO NORWAY/RADIO DENMARK from Oct. 27, 2002: powers all 500 kW; S=Sveio, K=Kvitsoy ********************************************************************** 0000-0055 North America (east), Caribbean 7470 S 280œ South East Asia 7490 K 080œ ********************************************************************** 0100-0155 North America (east), Caribbean 7470 S 280œ South Asia (India) 7490 K 095œ North America (east + central), Greenland 9945 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 0200-0255 North America (east), Caribbean 7470 S 280œ South Asia (India) 7490 K 095œ North America (east + central), Greenland 9590 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 0300-0355 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315œ Middle East (east) 7490 K 110œ Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145œ ********************************************************************** 0400-0455 North America (west), Greenland 7470 S 315œ Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 095œ Europe (south east), Africa (east), Middle East (west) 9945 K 145œ ********************************************************************** 0500-0555 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (north east) 7465 K 140œ Russia, Middle East (east) 7490 K 095œ ********************************************************************** 0600-0655 Europe 5945 K 165œ Europe, Canary Islands 7180 S 195œ Europe (south west), Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 S 220œ Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165œ ********************************************************************** 0700-0755 Europe 7180 K 165œ Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 9590 K 195œ ********************************************************************** 0800-0855 Australia, Europe (south west), (South America) 13800 S 235œ Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 040œ ********************************************************************** 0900-0955 Australia, Europe (south west), South America 13800 S 235œ Far East, New Zealand 15705 K 040œ Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 18950 K 095œ ********************************************************************** 1000-1055 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180œ South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235œ ********************************************************************** 1100-1155 Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180œ South America, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 21765 S 235œ ********************************************************************** 1200-1255 Far East 12070 K 035œ Europe, Mediterranean, Canary Islands 13800 S 180œ South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 080œ North America (east), Caribbean 18950 S 280œ ********************************************************************** 1300-1330 Europe 9590 S 180œ Far East 13800 K 035œ South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 080œ North America (east + central), Greenland 18950 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 1330-1355 Europe 9590 S 180œ South East Asia, Australia (west), Russia 15735 K 080œ North America (east + central), Greenland 18950 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 1400-1455 Russia, Europe (south east), Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 13800 K 095œ North America (east + central), Greenland 17555 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 1500-1555 Middle East (west) 15735 K 120œ North America (west), Greenland 17525 S 315œ ********************************************************************** 1600-1630 Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145œ North America (west), Greenland 18950 S 315œ ********************************************************************** 1630-1655 Russia, Europe (south east), Middle East (east), South Asia (India) 7490 K 095œ Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145œ North America (west), Greenland 18950 S 315œ ********************************************************************** 1700-1755 Europe 7490 S 180œ Russia 9980 K 095œ Europe (south east), Middle East (west), Africa (east) 13800 K 145œ North America (east), Caribbean 18950 S 280œ ********************************************************************** 1800-1855 Europe 7490 S 180œ New Zealand 9980 K 035œ Africa, Europe (south) 13800 K 165œ North America (east + central), Greenland 15705 S 300œ ********************************************************************** 1900-1955 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180œ Africa, Europe (south) 9980 K 165œ North America (west), Greenland 13800 S 315œ ********************************************************************** 2000-2055 Europe, Canary Islands 7490 S 180œ Australia 9980 K 065œ ********************************************************************** 2100-2155 Europe, Canary Islands, Africa (west) 7490 K 195œ Australia 9510 K 065œ ********************************************************************** 2200-2255 Far East 7470 K 040œ South America, Canary Islands 7530 S 235œ ********************************************************************** 2300-2355 North America (east), Caribbean 7470 S 280œ South East Asia, Australia (west) 7490 K 080œ South America 7530 S 235œ Far East 9920 K 040œ ********************************************************************** xx.00-xx.30 Radio Norway in Norwegian xx.30-xx.55 Radio Denmark in Danish ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1330-1627 RADIO FREE AFGHANISTAN PASHTO/DARI TO ME 18940 K 400 kW 095œ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 17 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4388.91, Radio Imperio, 13 Oct, 0912-1002, nice to hear them with Andean music and no religious harangues. Canned IDs between songs. Swiper QRM, back to usual preaching by 0935. Fair signal. PERU. 4421.35, Radio Bambamarca, 7 Oct, 0925, Andean vocals, announcer with IDs, TC's and talk. Fair to good signal. PERU. 5384.28, Radio Huarmaca, 13 Oct, 1014-1030, Andean vocals, announcer between songs with live IDs, occasional utility QRM. Fair to good signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg., DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. A little preview of next month's LN column: RUSSIA Radio Rossii B02 schedule Until March 1, 2003: (sort by frequency) 5895 1630-2200 100 Krasnodar 5905 1400-2100 200 St. Petersburg 5910 0200-0500 100 Moscow 5910 1530-2200 100 Moscow 5920 0200-0600 100 Moscow 6060 1530-2200 100 Moscow 6115 0200-0500 250 Moscow 6125 0200-0500 100 Samara 6125 1430-2200 100 Samara 7140 1830-2200 250 Moscow 7220 2200-1800 200 Yekaterin`burg 7250 0530-1500 100 Moscow 7295 2000-2300 100 Irkutsk 7350 1730-2200 250 Moscow 7365 0200-0500 100 Krasnodar 7380 0200-0500 250 Moscow 7440 0730-1600 100 Irkutsk 9450 0300-0700 160 Kaliningrad 9700 2330-0700 100 Irkutsk 9720 0630-1500 100 Moscow 9860 0530-0800 250 Moscow 11630 1530-1800 250 Moscow 11990 0530-1400 100 Samara 12005 0930-1600 100 Krasnodar 12060 0530-0800 250 Moscow 12065 0530-0900 100 Krasnodar 13705 0830-1700 250 Moscow 15355 0730-1400 160 Kaliningrad 17600 0830-1500 250 Moscow (sort by hour) 0000-0200 7220Y 9700I 0200-0300 5910M 5920M 6115M 6125S 7220Y 7365Kr 7380M 9700I 0300-0500 5910M 5920M 6115M 6125S 7220Y 7365Kr 7380M 9450Ka 9700I 0500-0530 5920M 7220Y 9450Ka 9700I 0530-0600 5920M 7220Y 7250M 9450Ka 9700I 9860M 11990S 12060M 12065Kr 0600-0630 7220Y 7250M 9450Ka 9700I 9860M 11990S 12060M 12065Kr 0630-0700 7220Y 7250M 9450Ka 9700I 9720M 9860M 11990S 12060M 12065Kr 0700-0730 7220Y 7250M 9720M 9860M 11990S 12060M 12065Kr 0730-0800 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 9860M 11990S 12060M 12065Kr 15355Ka 0800-0830 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 11990S 12065Kr 15355Ka 0830-0900 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 11990S 12065Kr 13705M 15355Ka 17600M 0900-0930 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 11990S 13705M 15355Ka 17600M 0930-1000 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 11990S 12005Kr 13705M 15355Ka 17600M 1000-1400 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 11990S 12005Kr 13705M 15355Ka 17600M 1400-1430 5905St 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 12005Kr 13705M 17600M 1430-1500 5905St 6125S 7220Y 7250M 7440I 9720M 12005Kr 13705M 17600M 1500-1530 5905St 6125S 7220Y 7440I 12005Kr 13705M 1530-1600 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7220Y 7440I 11630M 12005Kr 13705M 1600-1630 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7220Y 11630M 13705M 1630-1700 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7220Y 11630M 13705M 1700-1730 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7220Y 11630M 1730-1800 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7220Y 7350M 11630M 1800-1830 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7350M 1830-2000 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7140M 7350M 2000-2100 5895Kr 5905St 5910M 6060M 6125S 7140M 7295I 7350M 2100-2200 5895Kr 5910M 6060M 6125S 7140M 7295I 7350M 2200-2300 7220Y 7295I 2300-2330 7220Y 2330-2400 7220Y 9700I I=Irkutsk Ka = Kaliningrad Kr = Krasnodar M=Moscow S=Samara St=St. Petersburg Y=Yekaterinburg (Nikolai Rudnev, RUSSIA, Nov NASWA LN via Al Quaglieri, DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. Radio Hargeisa is no longer listed as a client on the TDP website. Not sure they ever were and it is worth noting that the site continues to list folks who have been off a while such as Jakada Radio and Netsanet (Hans Johnson, WY, Oct 1, 2002 in CDX-ML via CRW via DXLD) Dear Hans, Feel free to be as critical about TDP as you want on a public forum, but do not lose the confidence of your readers, by making wild guesses or going for a crusade. You want us to provide every little detail about everything we do and when we ask you about any political stations that you bring on the air (re: Dejen Radio), then the only thing you can say is "no comment". Come on. (Ludo Maes, Belgium, Oct 1, 2002 in CDX-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 15745, SLBC All Asia Service heard October 15th, 1524 Pop music, closing announcements by lady, religious chanting, anthem and off 1533. Ex 15425. Equal to and sometimes dominant over WEWN. Parallel to 9770 which was weak on clear channel (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, WORLD OF RADIO 1152, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I tried to send Radio Sri Lanka my comments on their frequency change, using the e-mail address in WRTH, i.e. brzcast@sri.lanka.net but it was returned "user unknown." Do you have a good address for them? The All Asia Service and "Early Bird Show" will be useless here as long as they stay on 15745 under WEWN. 73, (John Cobb, GA, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SUDAN [non]. MADAGASCAR. BBCM also reports that "Radio Voice of Hope," a station based in the Netherlands and sponsored by the New Sudan Council of Churches, is increasing its output. Its target area is southern Sudan. Since Sept 7th, they've been broadcasting on SW at 0430-0500 on Sats, Suns, Mons and Tues. This is an increase from a single weekly hour-long broadcast. The frequencies are 12060 and 15320. The station began broadcasting to Sudan in Dec 2000 in Arabic and English. These are via the R Netherlands relay station in Madagascar. Their website is at http:\\www.radiovoiceofhope Their aim is to promote peace and reconciliation among the various rival groups in southern Sudan (HCJB DXPL via Marie Lamb, Cumbre Oct 10 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** THAILAND. RADIO THAILAND, WORLD SERVICE BROADCAST SCHEDULE ------------------------------------------------ For listeners in all parts of the world, on short-wave, relayed over transmitters in Ban Dung, Udon Thani, Northeastern Thailand, on frequencies shared with the Voice of America, as stated below: (effective October 27, 2002 as per B-02 seasonal change) GMT BKK Time Language Direction Frequency 0000-0030 0700-0730 English Europe-Africa 9680 0030-0100 0730-0800 English US-East 13695 0100-0200 0800-0900 Thai US-East 13695 0300-0330 1000-1030 English US-West 15460 0330-0430 1030-1130 Thai US-West 15460 0530-0600 1230-1300 English Europe 13780 1000-1100 1700-1800 Thai Asia-Pacific 7285 1100-1115 1800-1815 Vietnamese Asia-Pacific 7285 1115-1130 1815-1830 Khmer Asia-Pacific 7285 1130-1145 1830-1845 Lao Asia-Pacific 6040 1145-1200 1845-1900 Burmese Asia-Pacific 6040 1200-1215 1900-1915 Malaysian Asia-Pacific 11805 1215-1230 1915-1930 Indonesian Asia-Pacific 11805 1230-1300 1930-2000 English Asia-Pacific 9810 1300-1315 2000-2015 Japanese Asia-Pacific 7145 1315-1330 2015-2030 Mandarin Asia-Pacific 7145 1330-1400 2030-2100 Thai Asia-Pacific 7145 1400-1430 2100-2130 English Asia-Pacific 9530 1800-1900 0100-0200 Thai Asia-Pacific 11855 1900-2000 0200-0300 English Europe 9535 2000-2015 0300-0315 German Europe 9535 2015-2030 0315-0330 French Europe 9535 2030-2045 0330-0345 English Europe 9535 2045-2115 0345-0415 Thai Europe 9535 Radio Thailand, World Service, Public Relations Department, Royal Thai Government, 236 Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Din Daeng, Bangkok 10400 tel(662)277-1814, 277-6139 (fax), 274-9098-9 website http://www.prd.go.th email address: amporns@mozart.inet.co.th (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Oct 16, GRDXC et al., via WORLD OF RADIO 1152; also via Giorgio Romanin via Mike Barraclough, World DX Club via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** U A E. ISLAMIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TV TO LAUNCH A channel claiming to be the world's first English language Islamic television station, Almajd [Glory] Channel 2, will start broadcasting at the start of Ramadan [5 November], from studios in Dubai. The new channel, which aims to become "the dream of every modern Muslim family that strives to live its life according to the principles of Islam," is owned by Almajd Satellite Broadcasting Ltd, which also owns the Arabic language Almajd Channel 1. The company is chaired by Fahad A. Al Shimeimri with Abdulwahed A. Al Obaid as director general and is a Dubai based subsidiary of the Saudi owned company Al Majd Trading. According to Daud Musa Pidcock, Almajd 2's marketing director, test transmissions will be on Nilesat which will enable viewers in the Middle East and northern Europe to view its programmes. The company intends to expand its activities to give the station a wider coverage area including the Far East and North America. The new channel, which already has offices in Cairo, Jordan and Mecca, is set to open others in Malaysia and South Africa. Pidcock admitted that the station has had "teething troubles" but says that starting with former CNN anchor Riz Khan's series on the Haj, the channel will have "several interesting programmes lined up for the weeks and months ahead." He went on, "We will not be a news channel, but will offer high calibre material in the form of introspective, informative and serious content, with, of course, a dose of edutainment," [According to the Lyngsat satellite and information web site test transmissions for Al Majd TV are being observed on Nilesat 101 at 7 degrees west, frequency 11900 GHz vertical polarization and Arabsat 3A at 26 degrees east, frequency 11785 Ghz vertical polarization] Source: Gulf News web site, Dubai, in English 12 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U K. I have just been listening to this fascinating Documentary on Radio 4 (BBC), regarding the Cuban Missile Crises in 1962. This includes the famous Broadcast made by the then Radio Moscow, of the text of the message from Khrushchev announcing the 'standdown' of Russian Intentions, thus averting the nearest we have come, to outright Nuclear War between East and West. This is being repeated on Saturday Next 19th October at 2115 to 2245 UT (=2215 to 2345UTC+1) also on BBC Radio 4. I presume this will be 'streamed' by the BBC Radio 4 Web Site, so some of Glenn Hauser's DXLD'ers, in other parts of the world, may also be interested. (Ken Fletcher, 2144 UT, 16th October 2002, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I caught the first hour of it before I had to stop and record WORLD OF RADIO. Mix of real people and actor`s voices was a bit disconcerting, perhaps less so if it had been obvious on TV. The actor portraying Kennedy did an exaggerated accent, also distracting, often the case with Kennedy portrayals; why is it so difficult? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, agreed. That bit was a bit artificial. I thought nonetheless it would be of interest. If you have time (!!!!!!!!) perhaps you might find it useful to browse on the BBC Radio 4 Web-site, as there are more programmes coming up in the next week or so, regarding the 40th Anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 I know you sometimes like this sort of thing for DXLD though I realise that it co-incides with preparations for the B-02 Frequency Season, which is unfortunate. Many Thanks for your E-Mail anyhow. Ken Fletcher [Later:] Apparently what you now need to do to get more on the Cuban Missile Crises is to being up the Radio 4 Web-Site and then in the Search Box put Cuban missile crises. this will bring you up the List of Programmes about it (By Clicking the first item on the list offered) (Ken Fletcher, UK, Oct 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE WILL BE 70 YEARS OLD At the end of this year, BBC World Service will be 70 years old. We are planning a whole season of special programmes to celebrate our birthday - you will receive an email about this nearer the time. But you now have the opportunity to be part of this celebration by featuring in our 'Listeners' Tales' programmes. We want you to tell us about your most memorable experiences of tuning in over the last 70 years. How has listening to the BBC affected your life? Maybe you can remember hearing about a big news event on BBC radio? Or perhaps you were listening at an important time in your own life? Has the BBC help you to gain new insights into the world - perhaps to learn English, or to expand your horizons in some other way? Can you recall any funny or dramatic moments connected to your listening? Whatever your story, we want to hear from you now! We will invite a number of listeners to tell their story in this series of short programmes to mark our anniversary. So, if you have a funny, quirky or touching story to tell, email the producers now at truelives@bbc.co.uk or write to: 'Listeners' Tales', Room 610SE, Bush House, London WC2B 4PH, UK. Thank you! The BBC On Air Networks Team (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Wouldn`t the 75th anniversary be a more fitting one to celebrate? (gh) ** U S A. WWRB in a quick check at 0135 UT Oct 16 found duplicated on 5050 and 5085, sandwiching WWCR 5070 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WWRB, 5050, 2356-0005 10/16. Religious program with mention of Baptists and China Grove, NC address. Straight into another preacher at TOH until 0003 when station manager, Dave Frantz, gave an ID and mention of test broadcast and frequency. Absolutely brutal signal with Spanish QRM and het that made reception unbearable (not to mention the huckster from NC asking for $) (Scott R Barbour Jr, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) What Spanish QRM? 5050, WWRB, 0200 Oct 17, heard station announce that this will be "their new frequency" and that it will be "fulltime November 1st with new programs." (Hans Johnson, WY?, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. AFRTS definitely active, good signal and not too much QRM on 6458.5-USB, at 0235 check Oct 16, Best of Our Knowledge. At 1225, nothing but digital-mode QRM there, and 12689.5 was audible with AFRTS weakly (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [non]. 13362 kHz remains off the air. Despite what Glenn Hauser says about this station, AFN from Guam 13362 kHz remains off, and has been on only intermittently. Location is east of China (Charlie, MSG USNS SUMNER, Oct 16, via B. Grove, MT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I have no idea what he refers to; some report from months ago in MT? (gh) ** U S A. Received the following email from R Sawa. Dear Radio Sawa Listener, We have a special gift for our listeners -- a Radio Sawa screensaver for Windows. We would be happy to send it to you if you wish. Just reply to this email and ask for our screensaver. We are also proud to announce that Radio Sawa now has a very powerful medium wave transmission 24 hours a day to Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and the entire Eastern Mediterranean. If you are in that area, you can tune in at 981 medium wave. Your friends at Radio Sawa (via Swopan Chakroborty Kolkata, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) outside target (gh) Interesting promotional item received from Radio Sawa a few minutes ago was a screensaver! No this isn't a virus! They sent an email asking if I would like a Radio Sawa screen saver, I replied and 10 minuted later they emailed me a self extracting exe file which contains a screensave with the Radio Sawa logo bouncing all over the screens(s). Unusually this one works with a dual monitor set up. If you want one, either send an email to comments@radiosawa.com or I can forward it (Sean Gilbert, UK, EDXP via DXLD) Another outside target St. Petersburg (Florida) story about Radio Sawa, with Andy Sennitt comment: http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/17/Worldandnation/US_aims_pop_music_at_.shtml (via Artie Bigley and Kim Elliott, DXLD) Nevada Appeal op-ed re Radio Sawa: http://www.nevadaappeal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Site=NA&Date=20021016&Category=OPINION&ArtNo=210160203&Ref=AR 73 (via Kim Elliott, DC, Oct 17, DXLD) ** U S A. Chicago Tribune: Street cred 101 CNN SHOULD LEARN TO WALK THE WALK BEFORE IT CRAWLS By Steve Johnson Tribune television critic October 13, 2002 CNN Headline News writers are being instructed, according to a memo leaked recently, to include hip-hop terminology in their screen crawls and headlines in order to better reach the youth demographic. But extensive study of the CNN culture indicates there is reason to be concerned about the Atlanta news organization's ability to accurately understand and use these terms... http://www.chicagotribune.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=chi%2D0210120408oct13 (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. ALL THINGS INCONSIDERATE, by Michael Janssen IT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE A CASE: NATIONAL PUBLIC Radio vs. The World's Most Downloaded Woman. The woman in question is Danni Ashe, the Web porn entrepreneur whose image has been downloaded a billion-plus times from her Web site, earning her a nod from the Guinness Book of World Records. Fame may open many doors, but it won't win special treatment from NPR. Ashe and her staff at her Marina del Rey offices are big NPR fans. Until recently, if you called Ashe to declare your undying love and got put on hold, you'd be listening to KCRW-FM 89.9, the Santa Monica NPR affiliate. But no more. After a scribe for the online mag Slate reported this fact, NPR's legal eagles wrote Ashe asking her to strip -- uh, remove -- KCRW from her phones. In response, she fired off an indignant press release. "I'm amazed that anyone at NPR thinks I'm a threat to their network," she said. "If they're surprised that pinup models listen to All Things Considered and Left, Right and Center between photo shoots, or that the people who call my office can appreciate intellectual stimulation, then perhaps they're not doing their job of keeping an open mind." "We are not singling out Danni Ashe's organization," responds NPR spokeswoman Jenny Lawhorn. "This is routine stuff." Ashe, perhaps correctly, argues that "thousands of companies" play NPR for bored callers, but the network says its contracts with content providers don't cover on-hold broadcasts (though NPR stations get a waiver). So if the Slates of the world let the word out, NPR seemingly has no choice but to swoop. Though miffed, Ashe complied with the order, and a recent caller to her office shunted to hold met with not the dulcet tones of NPR but Star-FM 98.7 in the middle of a tedious block of ads. If you've been ogling Ashe and want to move the relationship to the next level, maybe e-mail is best (LA Weekly Oct 11-17 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. SOME REAL FUN While most of us on the list were reliving our worst fears about IBOC, a handful of NRC'ers had some fun Friday and Saturday in the Dallas- Fort Worth area. The occasion was the visit by master tower hunters Scott Fybush of Rochester and Garrett Wollman of Boston, and I learned how much fun tower hunting could be. Fellow 2003 NRC Convention host Wally Wawro loaded his van with ice chests full of soft liquid refreshment and Scott and Garrett added mucho camera and tape equipment to the load. I took off from Krum about 7 a.m. Friday to make connections with the trio and to go along for the ride. I didn't get back to Krum until just before midnight. For the AM-FM-TV DX'er who enjoys seeing the sites from where the signals come, the Dallas-Fort Worth area seems to be Nirvana! On Cedar Hill southwest of Dallas stands what Scott and Garrett believe to be the most spectacular collection of tall towers ever to be assembled in the United States. Wally pulled some strings to get us through the electronically controlled gate at the barbed-wire surrounded KDFW- WFAA-TV. Clambering along the ice ramp under the WFAA tower, thanks to our host, Don Guemmer, maintenance technician for the Spirit of Texas, we took many still and video shots of a veritable forest of steel. Some of Scott's photos, we know, will enrich his 2003 tower calendar. But Cedar Hill isn't the only unique antenna site in the area. KEOM in Mesquite, Texas, on Dallas' east side, has its million-dollar-plus tower on the south end of a modern high school football field that would be the pride of many small colleges across the country. On the tower at two levels are buildings housing various kinds of communications equipment. We did not ride the elevator up the tower, though. For the taxpayers of the Mesquite Independent School District, Dr. James C. Griffin, the district's director of radio told us that lease payments from tower users more than carry the cost of the tower. KEOM, at 61 kw on 88.7, is almost certainly the most powerful high school station in America. The studio site was worth the visit, too. Another studio site worth the visit was KPYK-1570, located in the northwest corner of a small strip mall in the east Dallas suburb of Terrell. KPYK is truly a Mom and Pop operation, but when the four of us walked through the door a little after 5:30 p.m. on Friday afternoon, Pop was gone and silver-haired, diminutive Mom, left alone to operate the station, seemed a bit intimidated. But she did allow us to take some pictures and almost missed the 6 p.m. TOH station break, which she rushed back into the control room to give, live. One of the most spectacular tower sites in America is KFXR-1190's night-time facility where neighbors have slowly encroached on the ten towers, lined up in two straight rows of five towers each. Unlike some of the sites we visited, the KFXR sight was well-manicured and Scott and Garrett were happy to note that all ten tower identification numbers were posted on the gate to the facility, as required by the FCC. None of the neighbors contested us as we drove into a couple of cul-de-sacs looking for the perfect picture. Some of the AM tower sites presented some problems vis-à-vis getting close enough to get a good picture but far enough away to get the entire tower and whatever building there might have been below. It's surprising how many wilderness areas remain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The KAAM-770 three-tower site does not qualify as a wilderness area, though it might have been when the towers were first put up a dozen or so years ago. Now, homes have crept ever closer to the tower site and a large church has been built on an adjacent property. Wally, Scott and Garrett pondered how much QRM the church's sound system might suffer from the proximity to a 10 kw transmitter during Sunday morning services. Hopefully, our sunset pictures from the east side of the KAAM tower site will pan out. A major highlight of the Friday afternoon session came when we met with 100000watts.com founder Chip Kelly, of Plano, Texas, at the KRLD transmitter site. It was the first head-to-head meeting for Chip and Scott, his successor running the website, though of course there's been a lot of e-mail and phone confabs between the two. Chip has not lost interest in the radio scene, and will continue to work with Scott on maintaining what I consider to be the most informative free internet site covering broadcast facilities that's currently available. Chip joined us at for the evening meal at a steakhouse somewhere in an eastern suburb of Dallas. Wally knows where we were, but I certainly couldn't find it again without a map and detailed directions. There was a lot of driving and a lot of conversation during the driving, but Wally and I also supplied some reading and viewing material. Wally had a 1938, hardbound, broadcast industry publication yearbook, similar to what the old Radio Daily Magazine published in the '40s and early '50s ... an item that Clarke Ingram probably would have bid even more for than he did for the 1950 Broadcasting Magazine yearbook if Wally would ever put it up at auction. (Don't salivate; he won't.) I brought an album of photos from this year's WTFDA and NRC conventions ... and a mint copy of the first NRC Log, published in 1968, compiled and typed by yours truly, and mailed to me this fall by Alan Merriman, who had protected it all these years. (Alan, I owe you big time.) It was fun to hear Garrett quiz Scott about the 50 kw, 10 kw, 5 kw, 1 kw., 500-watt, 250-watt and even lower-powered stations on the air in 1938, long before those two whippersnappers were born. I thought I did pretty well years ago when I knew the call letters of nearly all the radio stations in the country; well, these guys knew the addresses, and remarked upon the stations that are still located today where they were in 1968. Saturday morning, Scott and Garrett were left to their own devices to find Fort Worth area AM tower sites but, after lunch at Joe T. García's, the legendary Mexican restaurant near the Fort Worth Stockyards, they met up with me at Denton for a little rural tower hunting. For the Saturday show-and-tell, I brought along a three-ring binder full of foreign veries from the '50s and '60s and my copy of the 50th anniversary NRC book, which also were of interest to our intrepid radio historians. We had only three hours left before separate dinner commitments, but we did see the three-tower site for Denton-1440, unkempt, unpainted and still with a KDNT sign along the fence-line. (No sense painting it if they're going to move the transmitter to University City, moving my closest local to an easily nullible location.) We drove north of Denton to the KNTU-88.1 site, saw the new tall tower for the 107.9 FM'er just south of Ray Roberts Lake, moved west to the 104.1 transmitter site north of Krum and ended my weekend tower-hunting activities in the very southwest corner of Cooke County. This massive antenna there is visible during the daytime from more than six miles away ... at least that's where Scott made his first video ... and is a mere 19 miles from my DX den. The tower sticks up more than a third of a mile, and has a three-legged candelabra configuration at the very top. There are two antennas at the the top, leaving room for one more, and there's another antenna on the side of the tower, but lower than the candelabra. The HAATs of KKDL-106.7 and KZMP-101.7 are listed at 2,034 feet; the HAAT of KMEO-96.7 is listed at 2,037 feet; and the HAAT of the CP for KICM-93.7 is listed at 1,950 feet. (That makes me fear that KKDL and KZMP might be diplexed on one tower, and that KICM is closer to completing its move from Healdton, Oklahoma to city of license -- gasp -- Krum, Texas, than we had thought. And that there's room for one more at the very top of what Scott and Garrett say may well be the tallest FM tower in America.) Oh, what electro-magnetic riches we have in the Dallas-Fort Worth market! Somebody needs to set up a get-together where we can view John Malicky's convention and travel albums, Ernie Weselowski's convention videos and Scott's and Garrett's tower pictures. Hey, even if IBOC destroys DX'ing, we have a lot of DX artifacts to peruse, protect and preserve. Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (John Callarman -301 W. McCart St. - Krum TX 76249-5503 Family Genealogist - Ham Radio Operator KA9SPA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. DIGITAL RADIO TO TAKE AWHILE [sic] TO HIT NASHVILLE By RICHARD LAWSON, Staff Writer Nashville could be in for a long wait before consumers have the chance to use digital radios to capture signals originating here... http://www.tennessean.com/business/archives/02/10/23800801.shtml?Element_ID=23800801 (Tennessean via Charles Gossett, Jr., DXLD) ** YUGOSLAVIA [non]. BOSNIA/SERBIA. R. Yugoslavia, 9580 reactivated, Oct 12 0000-0027 English news, report on business developments in Bosnia/Serbia. Lite instrumental music, local rock music, ID, very good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED: 4050: See KYRGYZSTAN UNIDENTIFIED: 6715-USB: See CANARY ISLANDS! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ COMMENTS FROM MOTOROLA RE ANALOGUE RADIO BREAKTHROUGH A response from Motorola to my email requesting more details and querying the "breakthrough": ----- Original Message ----- From: Hansen John-ra6595 To: 'Mike Terry' ; Aurit Starlyn-ra3342 Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 11:25 PM Subject: RE: Motorola claims analogue radio breakthrough Mr. Terry, The breakthrough is in the quality of sound delivered, the stations that you can receive that were "blank spots" on your analog radio dial before, the tuning out of adjacent channel interference, the customization and upgrade capability that comes from being a software radio and the audio processing that comes with the Symphony Digital Radio chipset. And it does all of this for about the same cost as existing analog radios and for the existing broadcasts for the 44,000 AM/FM stations around the world. I would be interested to see press coverage that indicated it was "not as spectacular". The response I have been hearing from the press, broadcast engineers, station managers, radio manufacturers, consumers and third part software vendors has been very positive. John Hansen (via Mike Terry, DXLD) DRM in Car Radios: See GERMANY PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES phil bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary September 30 2002 through October 13 2002 Tabulated from email status daily Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 9/30 140 24 4 moderate minor 4 10/ 1 140 34 6 strong minor 10 2 136 35 6 strong minor 10 3 146 27 7 moderate minor 8 4 158 40 3 strong moderate 7 5 155 21 3 moderate minor 7 6 162 16 3 minor minor 7 7 164 31 3 moderate minor 10 8 165 28 2 moderate minor 6 9 167 19 3 minor minor 7 10 172 16 2 minor minor 7 11 179 8 1 no storms minor 6 12 180 9 1 no storms minor 5 10/13 179 7 1 no storms minor 6 ********************************************************************** (IRCA Soft DX Monitor Oct 19 via DXLD) The geomagnetic field remained southward early in the week leading to depressed MUFs in some regions. Solar activity was low early but increased to moderate levels with an M2.2 flare on Oct 13 which led to the geomagnetic field being disturbed from Oct 14 up to minor storm levels. Conditions may remain depressed for the next couple of days but should slowly return to normal (Prepared by Richard Jary using data from http://www.ips.gov.au -- Cumbre DX Oct 17 via DXLD) Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 16 October - 11 November 2002 Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. Moderate activity is possible from Region 149 if further polarity mixing develops. Midway through the forecast period Region 139 is due to return and may have M-class potential. There is a slight chance of a greater than 10 MeV proton event during the forecast period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geo-synchronous orbit may reach event threshold on 28-29 October and again on 05-06 November due to coronal hole effects. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled with isolated periods of active conditions. Active conditions are possible on 16-17 October due to the M2.2 event mentioned above. Active conditions are also possible on 27 October and 03-04 November due to recurring coronal holes. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2002 Oct 15 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2002 Oct 15 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2002 Oct 16 175 15 3 2002 Oct 17 165 20 4 2002 Oct 18 160 20 4 2002 Oct 19 160 12 3 2002 Oct 20 155 12 3 2002 Oct 21 155 12 3 2002 Oct 22 150 12 3 2002 Oct 23 150 5 2 2002 Oct 24 150 5 2 2002 Oct 25 150 5 2 2002 Oct 26 140 8 3 2002 Oct 27 140 15 3 2002 Oct 28 140 12 3 2002 Oct 29 140 10 3 2002 Oct 30 145 10 3 2002 Oct 31 155 8 3 2002 Nov 01 155 8 3 2002 Nov 02 160 8 3 2002 Nov 03 165 20 4 2002 Nov 04 165 15 3 2002 Nov 05 170 15 3 2002 Nov 06 170 15 3 2002 Nov 07 175 10 3 2002 Nov 08 180 10 3 2002 Nov 09 180 8 3 2002 Nov 10 180 10 3 2002 Nov 11 180 10 3 (from http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio Oct 16 via WORLD OF RADIO 1152, DXLD) ###