DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-165, October 25, 2002 edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd02.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1153: WWCR: Sat 0600, Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: [may be delayed] Sat 0130, 0730, Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 on 7445 and/or 15038 WBCQ: Mon 0515 after time change, 7415 WRN: Sat 0800 rest of world; Sun 0530 Europe; Sun 1500 North America ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html (DOWNLOAD) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1153.rm (STREAM) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1153.ram (SUMMARY) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1153.html WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 27, 2002 It always pays to check all RFPI frequencies beyond their scheduled hours. Schedule shown is nominal, but it is not unusual for one transmitter to be down, and for programming to run up to an hour late. Due to a temporary internet outage, the latest show may not be available. WJIE schedule is flexible; WOR may also appear during the 0100, and 1700 UT hours, and may not be the latest show. Plans to add 13595 soon. For latest updates see our Anomaly Alert page: http://www.worldofradio.com/anomaly.html Days and times here are strictly UT Wed 2300 WOR WBCQ 7415 17495 [first airing of each edition] Thu 0400 WOR WJIE 7490 Thu 1300 WOR WJIE 7490 Thu 2130 WOR WWCR 15825 [9475 in Dec, Jan, Feb] Fri 0400 WOR WJIE 7490 Fri 1300 WOR WJIE 7490 Fri 2215 MR WWCR 9475 [or as early as 2210] Fri 2330 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 1566 87.35 96.55 105.55 Sat 0100 COM RFPI 15039 7445 Sat 0130 WOR RFPI 15039 7445 Sat 0400 WOR WJIE 7490 Sat 0700 WOR WWCR 5070 Sat 0700 COM RFPI 7445 Sat 0730 WOR RFPI 7445 Sat 0900 WOR WRN1 to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar, Telstar 12 SAm Sat 0955 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300 Sat 1928 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5 [week delay] Sat 2330 COM RFPI 15039 Sun 0000 WOR RFPI 15039 7445 Sun 0330 WOR WWCR 5070 Sun 0515 WOR WJIE 7490 Sun 0530 WOR WRN to Europe only Sun 0530 COM RFPI 7445 Sun 0600 WOR RFPI 7445 Sun 0730 WOR WWCR 3210 Sun 1500 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP Sun 2030 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 1566 87.35 96.55 105.55 Mon 0030 WOR RFPI 15039 7445 Mon 0430 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [week delay] Mon 0515 WOR WBCQ 7415 Mon 0630 WOR RFPI 7445 Mon 1300 WOR WJIE 7490 Tue 0400 WOR WJIE 7490 Tue 1300 WOR WJIE 7490 Wed 0100 WOR RFPI 15039 7445 Wed 0200 COM RFPI 15039 7445 Wed 0400 WOR WJIE 7490 Wed 0700 WOR RFPI 7445 Wed 1030 WOR WWCR 9475 Wed 1300 WOR WJIE 7490 Wed 2200 MR WWCR 9475 Latest edition of this schedule version is at: http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html An expanded schedule also showing local times: http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html Internet on demand: see Our Current Audio page for availability: http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html Webcasts at times shown are available from all stations except WWCR, WNQM, WJIE, Studio X. WRN: http://www.wrn.org/live.html RFPI via SW feed: http://www.boinklabs.com/ifpi.html RFPI direct webcast: http://195.210.0.134:8004/listen.pls WPKN: http://www.wpkn.org WSUI: http://wsui.uiowa.edu UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL see IRELAND ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. Re Music on 19 meters: A frequência exata desta transmissão é 15485 kHz. A música continua lá todos os dias até às 0330 UTC. Alguém identifica??? Grato (Claudir Ghiggi, Nova Prata, RS, Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Já: DXLD 2-164 Grato, Glenn, A frequência de 15485 confere, sim! Vou fazer o teste nas outras frequências amanhã. Muito interesante. 73 (Claudir Ghiggi, ibid.) ** ANTARCTICA. 'Fram' Farrington (Filed: 19/10/2002) 'Fram' Farrington, who has died aged 94, was the senior radio operator with the 14-man secret wartime Operation Tabarin in the Antarctic... http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/10/19/db1901.xml A rather obscure but not uninteresting obituary. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA/UK. BBC WS SPANISH SERVICE EXPANDS PRESENCE IN BUENOS AIRES | Text of press release by BBC World Service on 25 October BBC Spanish Service has entered into a landmark contract with Radio Universidad de Belgrano, one of Buenos Aires' newest radio stations, to rebroadcast BBC radio programmes in Spanish as from Thursday 31 October. Following a signing ceremony at the University of Belgrano by Dr Avelino Porto and BBC Spanish Service's Business Development Manager, Carlos Villalobos, Radio Universidad de Belgrano will air 12 hours a day of BBC Spanish Service's programming, on 90.9 FM in Buenos Aires. Commenting on BBC's expansion in Argentina, James Painter, Head of BBC Spanish Service, said that the BBC World Service values its relationship with Radio Universidad de Belgrano: "With this new deal, we will be able to deliver to the audience in Buenos Aires our news and current affairs as well as music, science and sports programmes, including BBC Internacional, Enfoque, BBC Ciencia, Clases de Ingles, Via Libre, Onda Londres, Nuevas Grabaciones, Musica Sin Fronteras and many others. We look at this agreement as a long-term relationship." Dr Avelino J. Porto, President of the University of Belgrano, added: "We are delighted and honoured to launch our radio operations in Buenos Aires with the BBC World Service. We hope that this venture will expand into other academic areas." The BBC's presence in Buenos Aires and Greater Buenos Aires is to be extended via a further satellite rebroadcasting deal with Radio de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires 92.7 FM and 1110 AM. The agreement will be signed on 30 October in a ceremony presided by Dr Anibal Ibarra, the Governor of City of Buenos Aires. Source: BBC World Service press release, London, in English 25 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. B-02 schedule for Voice International via Darwin 250 kW: Chinese 2200-0100 15165 / 340 deg 0900-1400 17635 / 340 deg 1400-1700 15150 / 340 deg English 0900-1300 13685 / 340 deg 1300-1630 13690 / 303 deg 1630-1900 11685 / 303 deg Indonesian 0600-0900 17820 / 290 deg 0900-1300 15365 / 290 deg 1300-1800 13660 / 317 deg Hindi 1100-1400 13635 / 303 deg 1400-1700 11750 / 303 deg (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. Wolf Harranth, editor of some hobby programs on ORF Vienna like Intermedia and DX-Telegramm, and ham radio operator OE1WHC, will retire from ORF/ROI main duties on Oct 27. But he will still continue the popular, monthly Computer Magazine "Hotline" on ROI in German language. (Bueschel). The DSWCI hereby sends our sincere greetings to Wolf thanking him for his dedicated work for the hobby of DX-ing through a generation including the thousands of excellent, weekly DX- programmes on ORF in German and English, and for creating the tremendous, public International Foundation QSL COLLECTION having more than three million QSL-cards at the Research and Documentation Center for the History of Radio Communications and Electronic Media in Vienna. More details on http://www.qsl.at (Ed Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. Frans Vossen recovering After the serious accident in Tallinn, Frans Vossen is now recovering from the Brussels operation in his knee. Risto Vähäkainu wrote me on Oct 09: "Frans is getting better all the time and can now walk with one crutch and short distances even without. He still has six weeks to stay home and that is boring him a bit." We wish Frans continued improvements and look forward to have him back in full action at RVI. (Ed Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM. CHANGEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE IN BELGIUM Dear Glenn, The National Belgium French service RTBF on MW and FM from january 2003 is going to change very much, Radio Capital and Radio Lene and Fréquence Wallonie are going to be absorbed by Radio 21. The following WEB in FRENCH only (sorry) is very useful to follow the situation. http://www.operation21.be.tf/ This information thanks my good friend Philippe Bury living in Belgium (Dario Monferini, Italyl, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BULGARIA. It was mentioned in recent German broadcasts of Radio Bulgaria that the management intends to turn the station's format to CNN-like "world news". The editorial staff already expressed on air that they are all but not happy about both this decision of the decision-makers (har-har) as well as the airtime reduction. Regarding the even channels: Certainly these nice-looking figures are basically for marketing. Back in the mid-nineties Radio Bulgaria used frequencies like 6035, 6085, 7335, 9850, 11720 etc., so the transmitters are no doubt fully frequency-agile. It appears to be an educated guess that most if not all transmitters were obtained from the USSR. Regards, (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURMA [non]. Re indigenous languages on Democratic Voice of Burma: These languages are given 15 minute slots in each transmission. (Gilbert via EDXP), i.e. 0015-0030 and 1515-1530 (Ed Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. The Cambodian government has ordered a local station to stop broadcasting programs from VOA and Radio Free Asia. Deputy Information Minister Khieu Kanarith told Beehive FM 105 that it was breaching broadcasting rules and must stop leasing its airwaves to relay VOA and RFA programs or have its license revoked. Kanarith was quoted by AFP as saying that Beehive's relay of VOA and RFA programs "cause anarchy in news broadcasting." Cambodian laws require a government permit for radio stations to carry VOA and RFA programs. Beehive Radio manager Mam Sonando said his station has done nothing wrong and that he will respond to the government order when he received the notification in writing (AP, AFP via DXLD) CAMBODIAN LOCAL RADIO ORDERED TO STOP VOA REBROADCASTS - CHINESE REPORT | Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Phnom Penh, 24 October: Cambodian Information Ministry has ordered a local radio station to stop broadcasting the programmes of the Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA), the Rasmei Kampuchea Daily reported Thursday [24 October]. Khieu Kanharith, spokesman for the Information Ministry, said that Beehive (Sambok Kmonm in Khmer) FM 105 has not got the ministry's permission to broadcast news reports from VOA and RFA, so it must cease the broadcast immediately, or it will face enforcement action by the government. Kanharith noted that the radio's programmes threatened to "cause anarchy in media fields, and it also breached broadcasting rules". It was said that the two radios had applied for operation licences but were rejected by the Information Ministry. Beehive started to relay the Cambodian-language services of the two US-based radio news programmes in late September. Some senior officials were quoted by the newspaper as saying that the US programmes were often biased in favour of the opposition parties. Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1121 gmt 24 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio Canada International is conducting DRM test transmissions from Sackville at 1500-1900 UTC Mon-Fri on 9590 kHz. The transmissions are beamed 277 degrees towards RCI's headquarters in Montreal, and continue through 15 Nov 2002. These are mainly intended as "in house" demonstrations to familiarise non-technical staff at RCI with the benefits of the DRM system (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter Oct 25 via DXLD) ** CANADA [and non]. 'CANADA!' SALUTES THE CBC AT 50 By Jim Holt, Special to The Times, October 21 2002 While "blame Canada" remains the rant of many film workers opposed to production going north, the Museum of Television & Radio is choosing instead to salute Canada for a half century of production... http://www.calendarlive.com/templates/misc/printstory.jsp?slug=cl%2Det%2Dholt21oct21 (Los Angeles Times via Mike Cooper, DXLD) See also USA [and non] ** CHINA. The CNR services to Taiwan, CNR-5 and CNR-6, have been operating irregularly at least on Thursday and Friday. On Thursday the operating hours of most transmitters were much reduced and on Friday at least 11000, 11100 and 15880 did not go on the air at all. Maybe these transmitters are now in turn for modernization. They are part of the major domestic (including Taiwan) service site near Bejing with 16 x 50 kW. These transmitters are used for CNR-2, CNR-5, CNR-6 and CNR- 8. (Olle Alm, Sweden, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. CHINESE NOT AS CLUELESS AS THEIR GOVERNMENT WISHES Byline: Dan Southerland Date: 10/24/2002 (WASHINGTON) In mid-September, a 31-year-old man in a township near China's eastern city of Nanjing killed dozens of people and sickened hundreds more by adding rat poison to food sold at a rival's snack shop. The numbers of those affected are only estimates; no one is ever likely to know the full scope of this crime because the Chinese government imposed a news blackout. "The media are being coerced into giving the same official story," said a Chinese journalist who tried to cover the story. Said another, "We couldn't file the food poisoning story from our reporters, and we're not allowed to give it to foreign media. If we do, we take a risk." Why the chokehold? Numerous interviews by a Mandarin-speaking investigative reporter at Radio Free Asia (RFA) point to the strong possibility that officials were trying to conceal negligence by the local government. If authorities had alerted the public more quickly once the first poisoning was discovered, many victims might have been spared. Such incidents are more common in China than many people realize, but you'd never know it from the Chinese media. A long list of taboo topics includes China's widespread worker and farmer protests, discrimination against minorities, coercive family planning, jailing and torture of dissidents and Falun Gong members, the government's failure to curb a burgeoning AIDS crisis, Taiwanese attitudes toward the mainland, and criticism of government leaders. International broadcasters such as RFA, Voice of America (VOA), and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) partially fill the void, picking up stories where Chinese media leave off, interviewing a variety of sources, and transmitting news through shortwave radio and over the Internet. Covering the news in China is challenging, but getting it out can be even more so. For all the hoopla over China's rebirth as a forward- looking, market-oriented behemoth in the post-cold-war world, it still practices what Thomas Jefferson once called "tyranny over the minds of men." Engineers who monitor shortwave transmissions say Chinese authorities have substantially increased jamming of RFA, VOA, and BBC programming - sometimes using European- and US-made equipment - since Congress voted to accord China permanent normal trade status in 2000. In Lhasa, Tibet, it is almost impossible to receive a good signal for VOA or RFA's Tibetan-language transmissions, even though the broadcasts are on several frequencies. Ironically, jamming became even more severe after China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and committed itself to a more transparent economy under the rule of law. The US complained that the jamming violates international radio agreements. China claims it does not willfully cause interference. The Federal Communications Commission calls Chinese responses "duplicitous at best." Chinese sources say the stepped-up jamming follows directives from Chinese leaders, including President Jiang Zemin. In the end, top- level pressure from the US may be the only way to halt it. When people don't have access to news and views from the outside world, with honest debate and freedom to draw their own conclusions, misunderstandings arise. Neither the US nor China can afford to leave 1.3 billion people in the dark about what's going on in the world or their own backyards. A version of a banned, unpublished story about the September poisonings from a Chinese newspaper, Southern Weekend, leaked to overseas websites. Website managers in China deleted it from domestic sites and removed accounts posted by witnesses who said that the official death toll of 38 was too low. Southern Weekend had concluded that at least 60 died and 800 were poisoned. The chance of misunderstanding grows larger when it comes to international events. When a Chinese fighter jet collided with a US reconnaissance plane last year off China's coast, RFA was flooded with calls from Chinese listeners asking for details and offering thanks for the full story. Chinese listeners tell RFA every day that they know their own media withhold news and that international broadcasting gives them a more complete picture. Many knew they weren't getting the whole story about the collision. And they were impressed that congressionally funded RFA would broadcast their criticisms of the US. International broadcasters offer breadth and balance that many Chinese know they're missing in their own media - and to which their own Constitution entitles them. Mr. Jiang has clearly favored his predecessors' strict control over the information flow. China's new generation of leaders, set to take center stage in coming months, should move quickly to reverse that policy and help transform China into a truly great power of the 21st century. * Dan Southerland, a former Monitor and Washington Post correspondent in Asia, is vice president of programming and executive editor at Radio Free Asia in Washington, D.C. Click here to email this story to a friend: http://www.csmonitor.com/cgi-bin/send-story?2002/1024/p09s02-coop.txt Click here to read this story online: http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1024/p09s02-coop.html (c) Copyright 2002 The Christian Science Monitor. All rights reserved (via Jim Moats, Artie Bigley, DXLD) see also CAMBODIA Glenn: Radio Free Asia vice president Dan Southerland comments about information and media in China in a Christian Science Monitor op-ed. He writes that Chinese jamming efforts are "sometimes using European- and US-made equipment." His sources are no doubt better than mine, but I would have thought China would be using its new Continental transmitters for actual broadcasting, thus freeing up its older transmitters for the less audio- and frequency-sensitive task of jamming. http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1024/p09s02-coop.html (Kim Elliott, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM ** COLOMBIA. Religious station La Voz de Tu Conciencia is on 6011 kHz. Power reported earlier as 5 kW. Quite good signal this morning (24 Oct), except 0400-0445 UTC (BBC QRM from 6110 kHz). Free channel later on until 0800 fade out... Surprisingly good reception here in the middle of Europe! Or was the good reception from southwest caused by geomagnetic storm which was in progress since early morning? (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia) AOR AR-7030 30 m Long Wire, hard- core-dx via DXLD) yes ** COSTA RICA. 5953, Radio Casino remains off the air; it has been off several months now. Had been *1030v (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo, Texas, Oct, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA [and non]. REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS IS PUBLISHING THE FIRST WORLDWIDE PRESS FREEDOM INDEX The first worldwide index of press freedom has some surprises for Western democracies. The United States ranks below Costa Rica and Italy scores lower than Benin. The five countries with least press freedom are North Korea, China, Burma, Turkmenistan and Bhutan... http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=4116 (via DXLD) ** CUBA. Radio Havana, Cuba, the organising committee of the 16th world congress on sexology, the Gran Caribe Hotel Chain and the Taca group invite you to participate in a contest on the occasion of the 16th world congress on sexology, scheduled for Havana in March 2003. Please answer the following question: What are three sexual rights that should be respected by a society? A trip to Cuba for one week along with the participation in the congress will be offered as a first prize. Besides there will be 10 consolation prizes consisting of souvenirs provided by the sponsors. The deadline for contest entries is February 28th, 2003. Send your answers to: Radio Havana Cuba, P. O. Box - 6240, Havana, CUBA Email: radiohc@enet.cu Fax: (53-7) 870-5810 Good luck (via Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Oct 25, DXLD) ** CUBA [and non]. WILL 'FIDEL' FILM COME TO MIAMI? Is Miami ready for a documentary about Fidel Castro that presents the Cuban leader as ''a socialist survivor in a capitalist world''? As ''a symbol of resistance and social justice?'' As a selfless champion of his people, noble humanitarian and all-around good guy?... http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/columnists/rene_rodriguez/4352478.htm http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/columnists/rene_rodriguez/4350686.htm (René Rodríguez, Miami Herald Oct 24 via David Crawford, DXLD) ** CUBA [non]. INSIDE RADIO MARTÍ: see USA ** CYPRUS TURKISH [non]. Hola, estimados colegas de la lista, el viernes pasado dia 18, puse en esta lista una nota errónea sobre BAYRAK RADIO en los 6150 khz. Yo he estado toda la semana intentando identificar con seguridad si en los 6150 khz a las 1500 UT la emisora que se escuchaba a malas penas era BAYRAK RADIO, pero el QRM, la baja modulación de la emisora y la mala propagación me lo impedía. Pero el martes le mande un E-mail personal al colega Dario Monferini y me abrió un poco el camino; el colega Dario me dijo que BAYRAK RADIO probablemente no emitía en inglés y que el formato FM no lo utilizaba en sus emisiones y que el sabia casi seguro que no era BAYRAK RADIO. Desde aquí le doy las gracias a Dario, por indicarme más o menos el camino adecuado; Dario me dijo que posiblemente fuese RADIO SINGAPORE, yo me puse tras la pista afine los oídos y gracias a doña propa ayer sonó la flauta como decimos por aquí por mi tierra y ¿qué es lo que escuché? Pues fue nada menos que por fin la identificación de esta emisora que me lleva ya una semana de cabeza. Esta emisora se identifica cómo MEDIACORP RADIO Y TAMBIEN COMO PERFECT 10, EN EL 98.7 FM, Y DA UN PO BOX EN SINGAPUR. Es decir Dario me abrió la puerta correcta ya que esta emisora es de Singapur y emite por los 6150 khz y empieza a escucharse en el Sudeste de España a partir de las 1500 horas UT finalizando su emisión a las 1600 UT. Esta emisora finaliza identificándose como anteriormente dije y habla que esté en el 98.7 de la FM; también esta emisora se entremezcla de 1556 horas UT a 1600 h UT con RADIO COREA en Español, que por cierto RADIO COREA tiene un SINPO en España de 12222; es decir tienes que afinar mucho el oído para escuchar su programación vespertina en España. Bueno, estimados colegas después de todo este rollo creo que ya tenemos identificada esa frecuencia y corrijo desde aquí lo que dije y lo que dije fue que esta emisora era probable que fuese BAYRAK RADIO. La identificación de esta emisora me llevó un poco de cabeza esta semana y el fin de semana pasado. ¡Resuelto el misterio!. Bueno, ahí va una pregunta a ver si alguien me la puede contestar, ¿esta emisión es una emisión de RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL o es una emisora que utiliza los transmisores de RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNACIONAL y la misma frecuencia que la emisora internacional de Singapur?. Ahí queda eso. Ya sin nada mas se despide de vosotros vuestro colega que habita en la Mediterránea y tres veces milenaria ciudad de Cartagena (EN TIEMPOS DE LOS ROMANOS CARTHAGO NOVA) en el Sudeste de España, UN SALUDO DE VUESTRO COLEGA, (JOSE HERNANDEZ MADRID, 73´s y Buenos DX´S y Buen fin de semana, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Hi Glen[n], HCJB during tonight's HAM RADIO TODAY program announced that they are expanding to 1/2 hour but are moving from Wednesday to Saturday (some UT Sunday). The problem is that the times given coincide with DX PARTYLINE. There was no mention of what will happen to PARTYLINE. I suppose they will be combining??? (Wm. "Bill" Brady, Harwood MD 38 51'30"N 76 41'00"W - Its in the darkest hour that the most stars come out, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. The last German programme from YLE was nothing particular: Some news items and an interview with a representative of the foreign ministry which was already broadcast on the two hour call-in show. Stefan Tschirpke said good-bye to all listeners, the music bed was faded out and I waited for the final carrier cut, not aware of the French program which was to follow on 15530, too. So I turned the radio off and left for lunch. I regret that I did not bother to take the old Sangean with recorder (ATS 818 if I remember correctly; here in Germany these sets were sold under Siemens brand as "RK 670" then) into the office; the Pori powerhouse penetrated our building better than I expected. So the show is over, and I cannot do without asking: Who will be the next? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Reception has been below par the last few days for English to North America at 1230 on 15400, 17670. By Fri Oct 25, 15400 was making it thru but with very heavy flutter. The penultimate English was on the theme of summer, songs about it, and how Finns look forward to and enjoy it. Once again, chopped off at 1258 sharp before the program was over. Apparently not available ondemand online either from YLE or WRN (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 3300, Radio Cultural: this channel has been off for a number of days; 5955 still seems to be on the air, though, at least in the evening. It wasn't on at 1000 Oct 24, but they do forget about it sometimes according to the station (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo, Texas, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** HONG KONG. 3940 kHz (USB) R. TV Hong Kong. Oct. 17 at 2133-0944. SINPO 34333. Started with music, then ID in English was heard as "This is Radio Television Hong Kong with the special weather forecast for the Hong Kong to Hainan Yacht Race 2002". Weather forecast followed. Weather forecast in local evening was also heard on 3940 kHz at 0933 on Oct. 18, but the signal was weak (NAGATANI Iwao, Kobe, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) 3940U, R. TV Hong Kong Oct 19 *2133-2143* 33443 English, 2133 with music. ID. Weather report by man. ID as "This is Radio Television Hong Kong. Special weather forecast for the Hong Kong Hainan Yacht race 2002". (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) According to http://www.rhkyc.org.hk/chinacoastraceweek.htm 32 boats from Hong Kong took part in the Hainan Yacht Race Oct 16-19 (DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Dear friends, October 23, 2002 During the past two weeks radio and TV broadcasts have been filled with reports from new disgusting terror acts at various places in the world. Particularly the barbarous wholesale murder on Bali intended to frighten non- Muslims away from Indonesia. We know from the former Taleban regime that fundamentalist Islamists do not have discothèques - women are not supposed to be heard or seen in public, and music is forbidden. Therefore that popular discothèque for western tourists on Bali became an obvious target. For many reasons, DX-ers find broadcasting from Indonesia interesting and these days Indonesia is particularly in focus. Therefore we present here the current status on both the External Service from the Voice of Indonesia, and an extract from the updated DBS-4 on those domestic stations which have been reported active during the first ten months of 2002. The following Indonesian domestic SW stations have been reported to the Domestic Broadcasting Survey as active in 2002. Codes: A = Regular, B = Sporadic, C = Likely inactive. LOG = Latest month logged by a DX-er. Code kHz kW Station Schedule (UTC), remarks Log A 2899 0,5 RPDT2 Ngada, Bajawa, LE 0900-1400 (n 2904), relays RRI Jakarta nx 1200 Bahasa Indonesia, ex 2889.1. Off Aug - Dec 2001. S/off varies 1250* - 1405* AUG02 A 2960 0,3 RPDT2 Manggarai, Ruteng, 2145-2300 0900-1345v Bahasa Indonesia. Nx relay: RRI Kupang Flores, LE 1100, RRI Jakarta 1200 AUG02 B 3117,3 0,5 RSPDT2 Halmaherah Tengah, 2300-0300 0830-1300v, Bahasa Indonesia, Nx relay: RRI Ternate Soasio, MM 1200, RRI Jakarta 1300; ex 3100v. Bad modulation JUL02 C 3214,8 10 RRI Manado, CN 2130(Ramadan 1800)-0200 & 0800-1300v Bahasa Indonesia, 1200 1400 local nx. Modulation problems. Off since Mar 2002 MAR02 B 3231,9 10 RRI Bukittinggi, SW Px. Dua: 2100-0300, 1200-1705 Bahasa Indonesia. Reactivated Jun02 AUG02 A 3266,4 10 RRI Gorontalo, CN 2100(Ramadan 1830)-0015, 0800-1300v Bahasa Indonesia; ex 3264,7 SEP02 A 3325 10 RRI Palangkaraya, KC 2200(Ramadan 1855)-0100, 1100v-1400v Bahasa Indonesia OCT02 A 3344,8 10 RRI Ternate, MM 2000v(Ramadan 1800)-0100(Su 2330), 0800-1400 Bahasa Indonesia JUL02 B 3355,4 0,3 RRI Jambi, SJ 0100-0900 1100-2200 Bahasa Indonesia // 4925 JAN02 B 3905 10 RRI Merauke, IJ 0700-1400v, 2000-2200 Bahasa Indonesia. Ramadan extended schedule. Transmitter problems. SEP02 A 3960,2 10 RRI Palu, CC 2030(Ramadan 1900)-2400, 0900-1600v Bahasa Indonesia, (=7234), d – 3960,8 JUL02 B 3976,1 10 RRI Pontianak, KW 2200-0100, 1100v-1600v Bahasa Indonesia. Regional nx 1400. Ramadan and Wayang Kulit extended schedule. Sometimes transmitter problems. OCT02 B 3987,1 1 RRI Manokwari, IJ 2000-2400, 0225-0625, 1000v-1530 Bahasa Indonesia. Off Dec 1999-Aug 2000. Since then off most days. Poor modulation FEB02 B 4000,1 5 RRI Kendari, CE 2100-0015 0750-1530v Bahasa Indonesia JUL02 B 4003,2 10 RRI Padang, SW 2200-0300, 0900-1230v Bahasa Indonesia, E nx 1430-1445. Ramadan: All night. Alt. fq 4000 APR02 B 4606,4 0,5 RRI Serui, IJ 1958-2315, 0845-1330v Bahasa Indonesia. RRI Jakarta nx 1200. Ramadan extended schedule, (= 7171). Off Sep 2001-June 2002 OCT02 B 4753,4 20 RRI Makassar (ex Ujung Pandang), HS 1: 2100v-2400, 0815- 1600 Bahasa Indonesia // 9552,3. Ramadan CS extended schedule. Sometimes off. OCT02 B 4789,1 1 RRI Fak-Fak, IJ 2000-0100 0930-1400v Bahasa Indonesia. Ramadan extended schedule. Transmitter problems. Ck 7231. Off since 07 May MAY02 B 4874,6 10 RRI Sorong, IJ Programa Satu: 2130v-2300 1030-1200v (Fr/Sa -1100) Bahasa Indonesia, E Su 1130-1200. During Ramadan 1100- 1400 only. Often off the air. (= 9741,8) JUN02 B 4925 10 RRI Jambi, SJ 2200(Ramadan 1900)-0200 (Su -0700), 0800-1600v Bahasa Indonesia APR02 A 6071,2 20 RRI Jayapura, IJ 2000-0100 0700-1100 (Fr 1145) Bahasa Indonesia exc. Su 2115-2130 E, n 6070. All night programme during Ramadan. Transmitter problems MAY02 B 6153,7 0,75 RRI Biak, IJ 2000-0030 0730-1500 Bahasa Indonesia. Ramadan extended schedule MAR02 B 7171,3 0,5 RRI Serui 2315-0845v Bahasa Indonesia, (=4606) MAR02 A 9552,3 7,5 RRI Makassar, CS 2300v-0815v Bahasa Indonesia // 4753,4. Poor modulation MAR02 C 9680 250 RRI Jakarta, Cimanggis Programa Lima (= 5):2200-0200 0900-1300 Bahasa Indonesia, Px "Kang Guru Radio English Show": Su 1100 JAN02 B 9741,8 10 RRI Sorong, IJ 0200-0800 Bahasa Indonesia, (= 4874,6) AUG02 A 15125 250 RRI Jakarta, Cimanggis Programa Nasional Tiga (= 3): 24h Bahasa Indonesia, r –1300* JUL02 The complete, updated Domestic Broadcasting Survey is still available from the DSWCI (Cf. http://www.dswci.org ) (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. ENFORCEMENT: INDONESIA PIRATE UPDATE An update now to our recent story on the problems being caused by pirate stations in Indonesia. Not only are they making life difficult for hams around the world. The pirates are also playing havoc with domestic Indonesian ham radio communications as well. With more, heres Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB: -- Many reports covering Indonesian non amateurs using our frequencies in the 40, 20 and 10 metre bands are making their way to the IARUMS. There seems absolutely no control over their working and existence by the local Government. It is very difficult for licensed Indonesian amateurs to find a clear frequency in the lower edges of 40mb for their authorised communications. Generally the licensed Indonesians are around 7050,7055 and 7060 kHz for their traffic. 7050 kHz frequency, carries CW lessons for the intending future amateurs. Otherwise, the licensed ones, operate in their own nets and you can clearly identify their call signs in between, as per standard practice, though the entire conversations are in Indonesian. Another frequency regularly used by a SE Asian group for two-way non amateur communications is 14044 J3Eu mode around 0100 UTC every day. IARUMS need the services of those knowing SE Asian languages to identify them, they may be from XV, 3W or XU area. – If you are a resident of South-East Asia and heating this newscast, you are requested to watch 14.044 MHz and help identify the unlicensed users. Please send that information to your nations Intruder Watch Coordinator as fast as you can (Q-News via Amateur Radio Newsline Oct 25 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. CHINA PLANNING ANTI-JAMMING TV SATELLITE TO THWART FALUN GONG From ABC News Thursday, October 24, 2002. Posted: 21:33:43 (AEDT) China is to launch a powerful anti-jamming television satellite to prevent a repetition of hijackings of the nation's airwaves by the banned Falun Gong spiritual group. The French made APSTAR VI satellite, to be launched at the end of 2004, will be fitted with special technology to prevent "malicious interruptions" to broadcasts. The "technical reinforcement" was decided on after Falun Gong followers, based in Taiwan, hijacked a series of mainland television broadcasts, instead beaming propaganda by the group into people's homes. China complained angrily last month that its SINOSAT system had been regularly cut into over previous weeks by television signals coming from Taiwan. The island's Government swiftly pledged to crack down on the interruptions. China outlawed Falun Gong as an "evil cult" in 1999 and followers of the group have subsequently faced often brutal repression, with an unknown number dying in custody. After initially staging highly public protests against the ban, the group has recently tried to get its message across directly to people in China via a technically sophisticated propaganda blitz. Followers have cut into cable television networks as well as satellite broadcasts, while also sending streams of voice messages and faxes to individual homes and businesses around the country. © 2002 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (via Mike Terry, DXLD) CHINA TO SEND ANTI-JAMMING SATELLITE (Chinese press version) Xinhuanet 2002-10-24 09:37:10 BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- China will launch a communications satellite capable of preventing malicious interruptions to radio and TV signals, China Daily reported Thursday. The anti-jamming satellite, made by French-based Alcatel Space for APT Satellite Co Ltd in Hong Kong, is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2004, according to an agreement between the providerand the launcher, the China Great Wall Industry Corp. Liu Zhixiong, vice-president of the Chinese corporation, said the satellite will be reinforced by the state-of-the-art technology to make acts of sabotage technically impossible. The satellite, named APSTAR VI, can carry signals to the whole of China, some Pacific regions and parts of the United States, thepaper said. The satellite, with 38 C-band and 12 Ku-band transponders, will have an expected mission life of 13 years. Sources said the Sino Satellite Communications Corp. (SINOSAT) has also considered applying high-technology to a new, domestically made satellite to prevent airwave hi-jackings. The transmissions of a satellite of SINOSAT was illegally interrupted by Falun Gong cult followers in Taiwan last month. Enditem (via Mike Terry, DXLD) Ox gored; how, exactly does it do this? ** IRAN [non]. DENMARK/NORWAY/CLANDESTINE. Re: Merlin now has rented 1730-1815 in B-02 for a transmission to Iran on 7490 ... Identity of the new service Iran to be determined! (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Usually Radio Sedoye Payem e Doost in Persian (Bahaii sect) Bayem-e Doost, Radio Iran Tomorrow is scheduled via Grigoriopol`-Maiac- Moldova. 1800-1830 Wed, Fri to Mon 7480 MDA 7480 1800-1830 to zones 38-41 KCH 500 kW 115 degrees MDA MNO. Radio Barabari, Persian via Sitkunai, Lithuania in similar time span: 1645-1730 Persian 7480 SIT Radio Barabari Radio Equality, active since May 4, 2001 E-mail: info@barabari.org website: http://www.barabari.org monitored *1700-1730* on 7480 kHz (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. IRAQ ASKS CNN CORRESPONDENTS TO LEAVE | Text of report in English by Egyptian news agency MENA Baghdad, 25 October: Iraq on Friday [25 October] said it has asked Jane Arraf, head of the US cable news network's office here and five of her non-Iraqi co-workers to leave the country. It said that in the future the government would take stricter measures on granting entry visas to foreign correspondents. Arraf is the only foreign correspondent who has been permanently living in Baghdad. The CNN office in Baghdad has been operating for 12 years now. Iraqi officials have also rejected the presence of a CNN team in the northern Iraqi Kurdish region, over which Baghdad has no control. Source: MENA news agency, Cairo, in English 1557 gmt 25 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Re 711, V. of Rebellious Iraq: only the frequency is new but I haven't seen it logged for a few years anywhere. I don't know if they are active on SW at all. They are mentioned on http://www.clandestineradio.com among Iraq stations. 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The history shows this station has changed frequency many times, so it is not so surprising to hear it now 711 kHz. 73, (Mauno Ritola, RealDX Oct 22 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. to Glen[n] Hauser, Greatly enjoy your programs - always packed with useful information. Three years ago the Republic of Ireland authorities started jamming the whole Shortwave spectrum here. Many areas of Ireland are now affected, and the jamming system is being extended to cover the whole of Southern Ireland. The telephone wires are being used to radiate the harmful interference. The jamming is typically around S-9 to 10db over S-9, blocking all but the strongest signals. All attempts to raise the matter with the authorities have been stone-walled. The jamming is also sure to propagate and affect listeners in other countries. Even the Soviet Union never jammed the Amateur bands (name withheld by request, Ireland, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ?? anything to this? Comments on the record from anyone? (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. ISRAELI CABLE COMPANIES TO CONTINUE CNN BROADCASTS | Text of report in English by Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post web site on 24 October The Council for Cable and Satellite TV and CNN reached an agreement Wednesday [23 October] which will allow CNN to continue to broadcast here. According to local reports, CNN agreed to lower the fee it charges cable companies but in a press release the parties said: "There is no factual basis to the various figures quoted recently in the media in connection with the agreement. The details of the agreement are a commercial matter which the parties do not intend to reveal to the public." "I am glad that the parties were able to settle their differences and enable the continued broadcasting of the channel to cable subscribers," Ram Balinkov, the CEO-designate of the merged cable company, said. The cable and satellite companies have said that CNN's anti-Israeli news coverage warranted it being blacked out locally and replaced by Fox News, which is perceived as providing more even-handed coverage. Eason Jordan, CNN's chief news executive and news gathering president, visited Israel in an attempt to prevent the blackout. Source: The Jerusalem Post web site, in English 24 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. MAKING WAVES, By Anat Balint Army Radio executives have launched a campaign to improve the image of the military radio station, or Galei Zahal in Hebrew, as it is reflected in the national-religious press. Head of Army Radio's news department, Zvika Goldberg, says he is "tired of how the right-wing press regularly bad-mouths Army Radio, and we have decided not to keep silent any longer." ... http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=222515 (Ha`aretz Oct 23 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** KAZAKHSTAN [non]. 9775 R DAT: Postal report to their supposed parent organization, Société Pour la Democracie en Asie, Rue Jourdan 95, Brussels 1060, Belgium (cf. DX-Window no. 203), returned marked "Moved." (Jerry Berg, MA, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) TAJIKISTAN. The Europe-based oppositional Kazakh station DAT-Radio is now apparently relayed via the 100 kW ND transmitter in Dushanbe on 1251 kHz (for listeners in KAZ) Mon-Fri at 2330-0015 and 1315-1330 UTC. The programmes might be one hour later from 27 October when Kazakhstan moves back to winter time. Quote from http://www.datradio.com: "Starting from October 21st for 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday, DAT Radio will start programs on AM 1251 (middle waves) at 06:30 - 07:15 and 20:15 - 20:30 Almaty local time. We are covering the whole area of Kazakhstan. " (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Following item already appeared in DXLD 2-158, but in Spanish: 12115, Voice of Mesopotamia, Oct 08 & 09 (Tue and Wed), *1700-1800*, new test on a new frequency at a new time. 1700-1705 Test announcements with IDs above a singing woman with beat music in the following five languages: 1700 Two Kurdish dialects (Kurmanji, Zazaki and Sorani scheduled in the 1200-1600 broadcast on 11530), 1701 English : ``Dear listeners! You are listening to the test broadcast of the Voice of Mesopotamia and the Mesopotamian Television in (incomprehensible, two syllable word). You can be with us on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and on Fridays between 8 and 9 a.m. (sic! 8-9 a.m. corresponds to Alaska time, whereas 8-9 p.m. corresponds to Iraqi time!) in 12.115 MHz on this shortwave frequency.``, 1702 Arabic and 1703 Farsi. In the Farsi announcement was mentioned Iran and Dushanbe, but it probably refers to time zones rather than a transmitter site or studio. At 1706-1756 non-stop Kurdish folkmusic except for ID in English at 1730 and Arabic 1742. At 1757 Closing announcement and ID in Sorani Kurdish with the singing woman in the background. SINPO 44444. There were test tones from the transmitter from *1652, so it might well be Samara in Russia which was heard Tue Oct 08 at *1600- 1630* on 12115 with the Voice of the Homeland broadcast towards Syria (44444). This transmitter is occupied 1730-1800 on Mon & Thu with Voice of Oromiyaa in Oromo, and at 1700-1800 on Sat with Dejen R in Tigrinya, and on Sun with Netsanet Le-Ethiopia in Amharic, all towards Ethiopia (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. IRAQ: "MESOPOTAMIA RADIO" HEARD BROADCASTING FROM ARBIL A radio station identifying itself as "Mesopotamia Radio and Television from Arbil" was monitored signing on at 1700 gmt on 23 October on 12115 kHz. The radio carried identification announcements in Kurdish, Persian, English and Arabic. The Arabic announcement stated: "Dear listeners, you are listening to the experimental transmission of Mesopotamia Radio and Television in Arbil. We broadcast on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2000 to 2100 [1700-1800 gmt]. Our programmes come to you on 12115 kHz." The radio broadcast mostly Kurdish songs and music. No other announcements or talks in any language were heard. From 1600-1630 gmt daily on the same frequency of 12115 kHz, a clandestine station calling itself the "Arab Radio" which broadcasts programming critical of the current regime in Syria has been heard broadcasting since September 2002. [q.v.] Other radio stations in Arbil Several Kurdish radio stations have their main studios in Arbil. They include Ashti Radio, affiliated to the Kurdistan People's Democratic Movement; Assyrian Radio, affiliated to the Assyrian Democratic Movement; Bayt Nahrayn Radio, affiliated to the Bayt Nahrayn Democratic Party; Gulan Radio and KDP Branch Two Radio, both affiliated to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP); Nishtiman Radio, affiliated to the Kurdistan Independent Action Party; Peshkawtin Radio, affiliated to the Kurdistan Democratic Youth Union; Turkoman Brotherhood Radio, affiliated to the Turkoman Brotherhood Party; Turkomaneli Radio, affiliated to the Turkomaneli Party; and Yekgirtu Radio, affiliated to the Kurdistan Islamic Union. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Oct 02 (via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Ayer escuché por primera vez la radio de la United Lao Movement for Democracy (ULMD) via Merlin, por los 17540 khz, entre las 0100-0116, que irradia sus programas en laosiano sólo los viernes UT. Llegaba con señal aceptable, pero la misma se iba perdiendo con el correr de los minutos. Recomiendo su escucha ya que también pasa muy linda música laosiana. Más detalles de la escucha en la sección de Clandestinas y Abordaje del Dial preparada por Gabriel Iván Barrera en el próximo Conexión Digital 182. ¿Alguien tiene el QTH adonde se le puede escribir? Desde ya gracias (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Oct 25, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Supposed to be on 12070 from next week, UT Friday 0100- (gh, DXLD ** LATVIA. According to my temporary e-mail QSL after their first test in July, they considered to continue tests from Ulbroka (Cf. DX-Window no. 200). Obviously they have decided to do so, and your reception reports will be appreciated at http://www.laserradio.net (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 2390, Radio Huayacocotla heard at *1300 Oct 22-23. 6010, Radio Mil, 0932 Oct 24, just fair and only in LSB. Colombian on 6011 is much stronger. Hung in there throughout the day and was much easier to listen once the Colombian faded out. Fair signal but still quite a bit of QRN on the band (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo, Texas, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Medi #1 heard back on air with a very strong signal at tune in 0700 with International news in Arabic on new 9595. This was followed by the usual mix of Arabic and French announcements and music (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, NW England, Cumbre via DXLD) Medi 1 was recently missed on 9575. Now they were reported to move to 9595 for the B02 season. I just checked, and yes, they are already on 9595, // RealAudio stream (I could also have used a satellite dish to verify the identity if only I could operate one), actually in the clear but disturbed by splash from apparently overmodulated Urumqi on 9585 (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Afternoon listeners in CNAm to RN are again faced with a seasonal anomaly, as RN deletes 21590 from its English schedule for the B-season from Oct 27. During the A-season it had been 1830-2025 with 250 kW, 90 degrees from Bonaire to west and central Africa, but putting a very good signal in here. Now in the winter, only the parallel frequency 17605 remains on this transmission, beamed 80 degrees, and not as reliable. 21590 is still on the air from Bonaire, but in Dutch and for one hour only at 1830-1925. No other Bonaire usage than 17605 is shown at 1930, and we wonder why Dutch is required during the winter only, and even so, why not maintain English at least during the second hour on 21590. The full RN B-02 schedule, including relays of other stations is here: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/scheduleb02.html (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NICARAGUA. AUTHORITIES CLOSE RADIO STATION IN MANAGUA | Text of report by El Salvador-based organization Periodistas Frente a la Corrupcion (PFC - Journalists Against Corruption) dated 23 October La Poderosa radio station, which broadcasts from Managua on the 560 AM dial, was shut down on 11 October 2002 by authorities from the Nicaraguan Telecommunications Institute (Instituto Nicaragüense de Telecomunicaciones, Telcor) and the Customs Office (Dirección General de Aduanas), with the national police's assistance. Telcor stated that the Archdiocese Social Work Commission (Comisión de Promoción Social Arquidiocesana, Coprosa), which operates the frequency, lacked proper legal recognition. Moreover, the radio station's operating firm, Comunicaciones Independientes SA (Coinsa), had not paid import taxes on broadcast equipment. In a letter to Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos, PFC said: "If legal obligations have not been complied with, we believe that the correct response must be to launch an administrative or judicial procedure against those responsible, rather than against the entire media outlet. La Poderosa's closure has affected the freedom of information and opinion of Nicaraguans who listen to or express themselves on the station." La Poderosa was very critical of the government and there are reports that, on numerous occasions, its programmes did not meet professional journalistic standards in terms of impartiality, equanimity and reliability of information. In addition, some announcers who worked for La Poderosa showed allegiance to former president and current MP Arnoldo Alemán, who is being tried on corruption charges. Nevertheless, PFC warned that it would be very serious "if the decision to shut down La Poderosa was politically motivated and in some way endeavoured to silence the radio station's criticism... [ellipsis as published] It would be unacceptable that, in the name of the fight against corruption, dissenting voices of government plans are silenced. The move to shut down radio stations or other media outlets discredits the legitimate aim of seeking to punish those who have acquired public funds illegally." PFC joined others such as former president Violeta Chamorro, the Human Rights ombudsman and local media in condemning La Poderosa's closure. PFC called on President Bolanos to reopen La Poderosa as soon as possible. The organization asked that his civil servants respect the media and freedom of _expression and avoid abuses, particularly in the regulation of radio frequencies and the granting of state advertising. If La Poderosa has failed to comply with proper legal procedures, regarding the ownership of La Poderosa's frequency or the importing of broadcasting equipment, PFC asked that legal action be taken against those individuals responsible, in accordance with Nicaraguan law and international conventions on human rights and freedom of _expression. For further information, contact Linda Hemby, Journalists Against Corruption, e-mail: contacto@portal-pfc.org Internet: http://www.portal-pfc.org or Jaime Lopez, Probidad, e-mail: contacto@probidad.org Internet: http://www.probidad.org Col. Antiguo Cuscatlan, Res. Quetzalcoatl 1-B, Depto. La Libertad, El Salvador, Tel/fax: +503 243 1951. Source: PFC press release, San Salvador, in English 22 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** OMAN. Looks like the BBC has moved over completely to the new site at A'Seela. According to the B02 full use is being made of this facility and nothing is coming from the old Masirah Island site. Evidently the new site is using 800 kW on MW and 250 kW on SW. Coordinates for the new station are 59E27 and 21N57. A'Seela is located near the town of Ashkirah in the South East of Oman. The statement I made was based on looking at the info supplied by the BBC so could well be open to discussion :). It's about time this relay was opened, it's been in the pipeline for long enough! This is the current state of BBC operations in Oman: The Masirah Island site has stopped all HF feeds and are now being dealt by the Oman Relay. Masirah Island are still transmitting MF feeds; however that is due to cease by the end of the year, and Oman will then transmit those as well. 73 (Sean G4UCJ, Oct 25, hard-core-dx via DXLD) We already had a report that Mashirah closed Oct. 7; didn`t you see it? Mashirah is part of Oman, so it is not correct to make a distinxion between it and Oman (gh, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. I have a typo error in the log of Radiodifusión América, the correct log is as follows: 7737.2, Radiodifusión América, Villeta, 0458-0503, Oct 23, Spanish, Music and religious program, bad modulation (better in USB), 14331 (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU, 6193.48, R. Cusco, 0938-09 [sic] 23 Oct, LA Pop music with woman vocalist at tunein, 0941 M with timecheck, ID, and short talk, then OA campo music at very weak level. 0945 M announcer again with mention of "radio", then what sounded like deadair at 0946. M returned at 0949 with mention of Cusco, and Perú. Deadair again at 0951, but the M returned once again at 0953. I'm wondering if the deadair is due to a faulty cart machine. The signal was't very strong. Also has QRM slopover from Educación 6185. Another station on 6195 that signs on around 0955 wipes them out completely. Been following this for a couple weeks but haven't been able to ID until today (Dave Valko, PA, Oct 24, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PERU. 13565.43, Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca, 0118-0133, October 25, Spanish transmission. I head a music program with Andean music, tropical Andean music, Christian Andean music, etc. A female conducted the program. Announcement: "seguimos con saludos musicales para... un programa similar se irradiará mañana a las 7 de la noche..."- Greetings. 44333 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 2nd harmonic ** RUSSIA. WINTER B-02 SCHEDULE FOR VOICE OF RUSSIA WORLD SERVICE IN RUSSIAN: 0200-0300 17595 17565 15595 12010 7440 7260 7240 7125 1215 648 0300-0400 17595 17565 15595 12010 7440 7350 7260 7240 7125 1215 1300-1400 17570** 15460* 15510 9490 9450 7365 7315** 7105* 6185 6145 1386 1323 1215 1143 1170 999 603 1400-1500 17570** 15460* 15510 9920** 9875** 9490 9450 7315* 7155 6205 5930 1386 1323 1251 1215 603 1600-1700 12055 9875** 7315* 1314 1170# 612# 1800-1900 7360 6145 2000-2100 7445 7360 7310 7170 6190 6145 6045* 5895** 1215 1143 1089 936 612 603 2100-2200 9480 7445 1089 * till March 1, 2003; ** from March 2, 2003; # Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Trying to hear some news on the Moscow theater hostage situation, I was surprised that the Voice Of Russia didn't mention it all in their 0200 newscast, heard here on 17595 KHz. Just their normal newscast of non-news items ("Vladimir Putin addresses Russian parliament on European integration") followed by Moscow Mailbag. Shades of the old Radio Moscow. One doesn't expect VOR to be CNN when it comes to breaking news, but this isn't exactly a breaking story any more- it's about eight hours old. (According to CNN, the gunmen stormed the theater at about 1700 UTC.) Of course, some sw stations are covering it. I've heard stories on BBC, R. Netherlands, Deutche Welle and R. Australia this evening. I'm sure VOA and CBC/RCI are covering it too. But so much for the "hear live news events as they happen around the world" (to quote the box my radio came in) angle from VOR. One wonder if "relevancy" is in the vocabulary of the folks at VOR. Or half the stations we hear on shortwave (Jim Tedford, Bothell, Washington, Oct 23, swprograms via DXLD) Listening to the news on VoR at 0400 and, again, no mention of the hostage situation. This either means what you think it means, James... or it could mean that the news is taped far in advance. I think it's more likely they've chosen not to report it until it's over because it's viewed officially as a security matter. Shades of Radio Moscow, indeed. PS: I don't know which is preferable...our media's penchant for wall to wall coverage when it is clearly unwarranted and unhelpful or the VoR's approach (John Figliozzi, Oct 23, swprograms via DXLD) I heard an update inserted into their regular programming at 0345. They are reporting it, just not within the news, which appears to be prerecorded (Ralph Brandi, NJ, ibid.) Yes. Just heard it reported briefly at 0430.... (John Figliozzi, ibid.) I expect it is seen as a "security matter" and as such we'll get a sanitized, approved version in a few days on VOR. It won't be reported as such domestically in Russia, at least not everywhere. Though it hasn't been easy, Russia is developing a real journalistic tradition. Which hasn't made it to the VOR. Why? National leadership not wanting to air dirty laundry overseas? Too late, thanks to global TV and the internet. (Jim Tedford, Bothell, Washington, ibid.) ** RUSSIA. RUSSIAN MEDIA INSTRUCTED NOT TO QUOTE HOSTAGE-TAKERS IN MOSCOW SIEGE | Text of report in English by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 25 October: The Russian press ministry issued a recommendation to the mass media on Friday [25 October] to refrain from reporting statements by the Chechen terrorists who have been holding 700 or so hostages in a Moscow theatre since Wednesday. The ministry warned the media that it was inadmissible to spread information that might justify terrorism or extremism. It also issued a reminder that reports fanning national or religious strife or disclosing the tactics of a possible antiterrorist operation ran counter to Russian laws. The mass media is accountable to law-enforcement agencies and to society, the ministry said, indicating that it had the power to revoke licences for printed and electronic media in case of gross violations of the law. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in English 1111 gmt 25 Oct 02 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. See CYPRUS TURKISH [non] ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Hey Glen[n], no Solomon's on 5020 for a week (Johno Wright, Australia, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Meaning it has not been on, or disagreeing with previous report that it was off? (gh, DXLD) Hi, all, for the past week on 5020 nothing....no SIBS... Glen....nil nought.....not even a carrier.... Regards (johno wright, ARDXC via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 7460, The Voice of Tigers, Sri Lanka has not used shortwave for a while, but is on FM 98 MHz only! (Goonetilleke, Oct 22, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) See also UKRAINE ** SYRIA [non]. Listen to 'Hob al-Watan' in WEDNESDAY file from http://www.arabicsyradio.org/ and you can read what you are listening to here : http://www.shrc.org/arabic/communications/news/2002/news08142002.htm http://www.shrc.org/arabic/communications/news/2002/news06082002.htm http://www.shrc.org/arabic/communications/news/2002/news04222002.htm http://www.shrc.org/arabic/communications/press/2002/press07312002.htm amazing (Mahmud Fathi, Germany, via Hans Johnson, Cumbredx mailing list Oct 23 via DXLD) No, I can`t --- it`s in Arabic (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA. MORE DETAILS OF CLANDESTINE "ARAB RADIO" OPPOSED TO SYRIAN REGIME The clandestine radio calling itself the "Arab Radio" (Arabic: al- idha'ah al-arabiyah) which broadcasts programming critical of the current regime in Syria was heard again on 23 and 24 October on 12115 kHz at 1600-1630 gmt. The station has a web site, http://www.arabicsyradio.org where it identifies itself in English as "The Arabic Radio". On 24 October the opening announcement said: "The Arab Radio comes to you in all the beautiful regions of the greater Arab homeland. On the proud Syrian Arab territory, we shout with pride: Syria is free and Arab. Syria is not sectarian, Ba'thist or subservient. "Syria is free and Arab and will surely return to its original position and to its free patriotic leaders. This will take place soon, God willing. The sun of freedom will rise above the horizon of Syria, free and Arab Syria." The announcement was followed by the station's signature tune, which is taken from an Egyptian pan-Arab nationalist song of the 1960s. This was followed by a 16-minute programme described as "weekly" and entitled "People's Talk". The talk on 24 October featured an article by Dr Abd al-Razzaq Id, "a Syrian writer from Aleppo," criticizing the Syrian regime for sentencing opposition figure Arif Dalilah to 10 years in jail, "which means a death sentence because Dalilah is over 60 years old". The article compared the Syrian regime with the rule of the French and the Ottoman Empire in Syria. It criticized the Syrian regime's "hypocritical" treatment of intellectuals. The article said that the people were optimistic when President Bashar al-Asad received Dalilah in his office but the "clique" did not like this and arranged for the prison sentence. The station then carried a seven-minute programme entitled "Between You and Me With Love". This featured a talk on Syria's agricultural wealth, its progress in all fields and the democracy that prevailed before the arrival of the "tyrant, fascist clique of the Ba'th Party". At the conclusion of its programmes, the radio repeated its opening announcement and signed off with the signature tune taken from the pan-Arab nationalist song. As well as the daily broadcast on 12115 kHz from 1600-1630 gmt, the station also broadcasts daily from 0430 to 0500 gmt on 9950 kHz and from 1500 to 1530 gmt on 12085 kHz. On 23 October, also on the frequency of 12115 kHz, an Iraqi opposition station called Mesopotamia Radio was monitored. The station said it was broadcasting from Arbil in northern Iraq. Radio Mesopotamia said it was carrying its "experimental transmission" at 1700-1800 gmt on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays [see KURDISTAN]. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23-24 Oct 02 (via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 7129.91, CBS Radio Taibei, 1100-1300 Oct 25. From 1100 to 1200 broadcast in Japanese, and from 1100 to 1200 broadcast in English. Signal improved after 1200 from a poor to a fair. Noted the signal was off frequency slightly (Chuck Bolland, http://www.orchidcitysoftware.com/ Clewiston Florida, LongWire, Monster Dipole, Datong Active Antennas (2), RF Dxone NRD545, NRD535, NRD525, and various gadgets from MFJ (I like to be in control), DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. See CHINA ** U A E. 11695, Gospel for Asia Oct 17 *1600-1610 35333, 1600 s/on with opening music. Opening announce. Talk. 15590, Gospel for Asia Oct 18 *1230-1240 33333, 1230 s/on with opening music. Opening announce. Talk (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, The following items are from Alexander Yegorov of RUI. from October 23 the Ukrainian Home radio channel #1 (UR-1) is relayed in Internet Real Audio via site of NRCU http://www.nrcu.gov.ua instead of frequent off the air of transmitter on 207 kHz (Brovary site near Kyiv). Language of the all transmissions is Ukrainian [also sent upcoming and future SW schedules as already published] (Kraig Krist, VA, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE [and non]. A couple of weeks back I was around the Krasne site outside Lviv with Walter Salmaniw. What I think now - I'd wish you were there with us. Quite impressive - mist in twilight (we got to the place right before sunset on rainy day), practically no wires visible just towers like monsteurs. It was psychological feeling too. (I knew that Krasne was not even on schedule in A02 with its two 1000 kW transmitters, except 936 kHz for Voice of Russia). So it was like touring through cemetery (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) Hi Walter, Thanks for the great report and I am sure you enjoyed the visit to Vlad Titarev. Indeed a great guy and a fine friend who I had the opportunity to meet three times. I won't forget the time two of us, after a few beers lost our way in Vienna. I told Vlad, it`s this way, around midnight and after 45 minutes realized I was wrong and we traced back and took the other way!! For me those are the great moments of DXing, meeting Vlad, Jens Frost, Andy Sennitt, Anker Petersen, Larry Magne, George Jacobs, Dan Ferguson, George Maroti & John Sgrulletta in Kulpsville, Bill Whitacre, Jonathan Marks, Kim Elliott and many more. Starting from my first foreign visitor here in Sri Lanka the late Alan Roth many many years ago, and so many other fine people that a Third World DXer like me, tucked away in an obscure little island like Sri Lanka would only dream of, yet all made possible through DXing. I will remember these fine moments to the end... over events like logging, QSLing the FBIS, Fiji, 100 watt Latins and many clandestines and such achievements that any DXer can be proud of. After all people we cherish and keep in your heart. QSLs, awards and such you file away in albums!! The value of one's life is the relationships that one has enjoyed. Hope one day I could meet more such people and you guys (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window Oct 23 via DXLD) ** U K. Hi Glenn, for those interested here the WEB picturing the move of the studios of Somerset Sound : http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/radiobristol/content/somsmove.shtml regards (Dario Monferini, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BBC Somerset Sound moved to 1566 kHz today (22 October 2002) vacating their long time channel of 1323 kHz. Power 630 Watts (same as previously) (Mark Hattam, MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** U K. NEW PERMITS FOR THE UK 5 MHZ EXPERIMENT GOING ON HOLD What happens when a propagation experiment gets a bit to popular? If you are a telecommunications regulator in the United Kingdom you might be inclined to temporarily suspended issuing further permits for hams to take part. And that's what's about to happen in regard to the United Kingdom's 5 Megs experiment. From Nottingham England, here's Jeramy Boot, G4NJH: -- The Radiocommunications Agency says that applications for 5-MHz band experimental Notices of Variation or NoV's have far exceeded their expectations. The R.A. now considers that the risk of congestion on the five spot frequencies allocated may be detrimental to the overall success of the experiment. Accordingly, the RA has decided not to issue any further NoV's for applications received after the 31st of October. The position will be kept under review and occupancy monitoring of the frequencies will be carried out. It is hoped that following this exercise - more NoV's could be issued, or a numerical limit to the number of NoVs can be set based on usage and congestion. It is likely that an announcement can be made later this year for action early in the new year. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH. – (Amateur Radio Newsline Oct 25 via DXLD) The United Kingdom 5 MHz experimental band was made available to that nations individual Full Class A hams by means of a Notice of Variation issued last July. The five 3kHz-wide frequency allocations are permitted for the purposes of antenna and propagation experiments. The Radio Society of Great Britain is in charge of the overall management of the project. (RSGB via Amateur Radio Newsline Oct 25 via DXLD) ** U S A. This is a shocking, sad, (and long) story: INSIDE RADIO MARTÍ, By Pedro L. González* and María R. Morales Radio Martí Observer, La Nueva Cuba Octubre 18, 2002 The Cuban government has been able to set up an intelligence operation inside Radio Martí, the official radio station of the United States of America, that broadcasts 24 hours a day to the Caribbean Island with a yearly budget of 25 million dollars, according to well informed sources that did not want to be identified. The operation is being carried out by sympathizers of the Havana government who operate within the Cuban-American community in Miami, using a group of employees from the American radio station who in the last few months have made public their unhappiness with the Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, (OCB), the exiled 74 year-old Cuban lawyer and radio commentator, Salvador Lew.... http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-02-10-1811.htm [Spanish version:] http://www.lanuevacuba.com/nuevacuba/notic-02-10-1811esp.htm (via Oscar, DXLD) ** U S A. Here are some more items about Stephen Schwartz. The first is an interview he did on (Pat Robertson's) CBN. It begins with a brief discussion of his dismissal from VOA. Schwartz went to the Office of Policy before leaving IBB/VOA. 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://cbn.org/CBNNews/News/020819d.asp http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=1610 http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=3408 http://www.naqshbandi.org/events/articles/conversion_schwartz.htm ** U S A [and non]. Michael Moore has a lot to say about current events, from sniping to war with Iraq, and his new film Bowling with Columbine. Check out http://www.michaelmoore.com (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. From globeandmail.com, Thursday, October 24, 2002 DON'T TUNE OUT DIVERSITY We stand to lose much if public-service broadcasters fade to black, says VisionTV president BILL ROBERTS It wasn't a news story that garnered much attention here in Canada. But perhaps it ought to have. Last month, The New York Times reported that right-wing evangelical Christian broadcasters are attempting to shove National Public Radio (NPR) stations off the dial in many U.S. markets. They have already succeeded in parts of Louisiana, Indiana and Oregon. There is nothing illegal about it. These partisan religious stations are simply exploiting existing provisions in federal law to silence NPR, which they deem to be unacceptably liberal and secular in its outlook. The result? A broadcast service that stands for pluralism, tolerance and the free-ranging exploration of ideas is giving way to others that promote a socially reactive agenda. This may seem a matter of negligible interest to Canadians. But such a development is troubling, for a couple of reasons. First of all, it facilitates the encroachment of extremist religious views on the mainstream media. The dangers inherent in this should be obvious: Just witness the violent outrage that flared recently, after the conservative preacher Rev. Jerry Falwell told 60 Minutes that the Prophet Mohammed "was a terrorist." Second, the end run on NPR attests to the vulnerability of public and public-service broadcasters throughout North America. Let me hasten to add that I do not foresee a replay of the NPR situation in Canada. Evangelicals in this country harbour no similar aspiration to seize public broadcast turf. But there are other challenges confronting TV and radio broadcasters dedicated to promoting pluralism in the public interest. The members of this threatened category are a diverse bunch. On the television side, they include the CBC and the provincial educational networks, as well as specialty channels with a "public-service" mandate, such as VisionTV and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). But all have one thing in common: a deepening anxiety about their prospects for survival. In recent months, private broadcasters and their supporters on the newspaper op-ed pages have renewed the crusade against the CBC, arguing that the network is unwatched, irrelevant and undeserving of taxpayer support. At the same time, the growing concentration of ownership in the broadcast industry has tilted the competitive balance against the independent (and often not-for-profit) players that populate the public-service category. Technological change spells added uncertainty. The advent of the digital era will bring changes in the way TV channels are distributed -- and this bodes ill for public-service networks, most of which lack the clout to negotiate favourable terms of carriage with cable and satellite companies. (Even in the current system, these broadcasters are disadvantaged. VisionTV was unceremoniously bumped from channel 24 to 60 in the Toronto market several years ago. And APTN has been seeking without success to escape its perch on the upper reaches of the zapper.) Some would argue that public-service broadcasters cannot insulate themselves from the realities of the marketplace. Survival of the biggest and strongest is, after all, the law of the communications jungle. Still, I wonder: Do Canadians truly appreciate what they stand to lose if these channels should fade to black? Private broadcasters are good at many things; the facilitation of meaningful public debate is not foremost among them. The much- publicized new political "reality" show The American Candidate -- in which the viewers of Rupert Murdoch's cable channel FX will choose a contender for the U.S. presidency -- is sadly typical of the contribution most commercial networks make to our civic life. In the place of television that speaks to us as citizens, we get politics as prime-time entertainment. Viewers who crave something more substantial generally tune in to public-service channels. Because they do not concern themselves with serving a corporate agenda, these networks are able to devote airtime to content that profit-driven broadcasters deem to be "uncommercial." They investigate complex moral, ethical, political and spiritual questions, entertain alternative views on issues such as Sept. 11 and the war on terrorism, and give voice to marginalized communities, including aboriginal Canadians. Broadcasters such as CBC, TVOntario, VisionTV and APTN make a small but invaluable contribution to fostering tolerance. By their very nature, they work to open minds and tear down the walls of misunderstanding. And this is why it troubles me to see a counterpart in the United States under attack. My quarrel is not with Christian broadcasters -- and especially not with our Canadian friends, who practise what they preach with regard to dialogue and justice (indeed, my own network, VisionTV, provides a welcoming platform to some evangelical groups, though always within a broader, multifaith context). Rather, my concern is that the multiplicity of voices and ideas represented by NPR is being supplanted in areas of the United States by a single (and often intolerant) point of view -- and, worse still, that policymakers seem to have no problem with this. Anyone here in Canada who cares about the state of our own broadcasting system should be alarmed by this precedent. The genius of Western democracies has been to find unity in diversity. We have built societies in which people of different faiths and cultures manage to live together -- not perfectly, by any means, but without the violent upheavals still common in many parts of the world. And public-service broadcasters play their modest part in maintaining this delicate social balance. It wouldn't take much effort to safeguard these channels. Establishing a special "foundation tier" for them within the broadcast system ought to solve the problem, at negligible cost to viewers. It seems little enough to ask. At a time like this, dare we risk sacrificing voices of openness, understanding and tolerance? Bill Roberts is president and CEO of VisionTV (via G. Pollard, DXLD) ** U S A. HIGH COURT LETS RULING ON GRID RADIO STAND by: Anthony Glassman, Gay People's Chronicle Washington, D.C.-The United States Supreme Court on October 7 refused to hear the appeals of Grid owner Jerry Szoka in the closure of his low-power radio station by the Federal Communications Commission, and of a Kansas transsexual whose stepson was granted sole inheritance of his father's $2.5 million estate. The two denials came at the beginning of the Supreme Court's new term. "I'm totally disappointed with the court," Szoka said. "They don't realize what they have in front of them, or maybe they do and they're afraid because it would have major repercussions." Szoka started Grid Radio in 1995, broadcasting on a vacant frequency at 96.9 FM. The station, audible in Cleveland and its inner suburbs, played music from the Grid nightclub's dance floor as well as entertainment and news programs. It filled a niche that the club owner said was not being served by commercial radio. The FCC ordered Szoka to cease broadcasting, but he fought the order. In early 2000, U.S. District Judge Kathleen O'Malley issued a court order for him to shut down the station, a few months after the FCC released new guidelines for licensing similar low-powered stations. The new regulations, however, banned the granting of licenses to stations that had broadcast illegally after being ordered to stop by the FCC. Szoka's appeal of the FCC regulations contended that the ban on low- power stations originally in place was in violation of First Amendment guarantees of free speech, leaving the mass media's access to the American public in the hands of a few large corporations. "The media's controlled by so few corporations now that it's easy for them to squash a story that would make waves," he noted. "Strike it up to another one of our rights being taken away." Szoka also pointed to the large number of low-power applications being accepted from religious broadcasters as a reason for concern, "which is what we didn't want to happen," he said. "So I guess it's back to the back of the bus for me," he concluded. "By the time America wakes up, it will be too late." [10/14/02] (via Out in Akron via Artie Bigley, DXLD) I heard the birth of this station when I was in Cleveland, Ohio... I called George Zeller and he told me it was a wireless mike (Artie Bigley, OH, Oct 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BYU-I STUDENTS CREATE RADIO STATION by Emily Toy Scroll Staff http://www.byui.edu/scroll/101502/news6.html A new radio station, 95.5 KFLO, was created Oct. 8 when five BYU-Idaho students started broadcasting out of a Rexburg apartment. ``It only took about three minutes to get on the air once we got all the equipment, but it took about a month to get everything together,`` Jeremy Garmon, a junior from Cedartown, Ga., and part-owner of the operation, said. ``We broadcast most of the day and night and play every type of music,`` Garmon said. ``We are just trying to get some cool music on the air that people can listen to as they are driving around town,`` he said. ``We aren’t trying to make a stand, and we don’t make any money.`` The problem lies in the fact that 95.5 KFLO is unlicensed. ``Unlicensed operation is prohibited,`` a spokesman from the Federal Communications Commission said. ``Be aware that unlicensed operation of radio broadcast stations is prohibited, even as low powers such one watt or less.`` KFLO is a low-power station that covers an approximate six mile radius; the students are checking to be sure everything is in line with FCC regulations and getting an LPFM liscense, Garmon said. ``Presently the maximum penalty for operating an unlicensed or `pirate` broadcast station is set at $10,000 for a single day of operation, up to a total maximum amount of $75,000,`` the FCC spokesman said. ``Equipment may also be confiscated and there are also criminal penalties.`` The spokesman said the FCC received approximately 30,000 inquiries from persons seeking to start radio stations last year. Because of the high demand for frequencies, there is no guarantee applicants will receive permits (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Story on LPFM in Pennsylvania and vicinity: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1282&dept_id=182115&newsid=5820295&PAG=461&rfi=9 (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. Heard my mystery 96.5 station in my driveway in South York again Tuesday afternoon about 5 pm -- same time as last Wednesday. Was off when I checked later around 10 pm. Again, soft piano covers of pop oldies with occasional pop or country hits thrown in. Sounds like bad Muzak -- but I can't figure out what it could be besides a pirate. Will have to get busy DFing this one if it continues. 73 and good DX, (Bruce WB3HVV, York, PA, Oct 23, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Finally, my 96.5 pirate in York, PA gave an ID at 5:30 pm (EDT) yesterday --- "This is Lily of the Valley, and you're listening to a low powered FM station --- this is 96.5 WJFN broadcasting from the Codorus Valley." Sounded like a very cheap (cassette recorder-type) microphone. Based on listening while driving yesterday and the ID, I'm guessing that it's near Glen Rock, PA, a small town south of York. I'm also guessing it's over 100 milliwatts and not a licensed low power FM. Coverage is too good for 100 milliwatts unless they have an 8-bay antenna about 300 feet up! Does anyone know of a web listing of all the LPFM allocations to date? (Bruce Collier, PA, Oct 24, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Bruce, Yes it is in stereo --- no processing though --- levels are not consistent. Sounds like a CD changer sitting there shuffling with an occasional ID thrown in maybe every 1/2 hour. Although where you would find music that bad on CD I'm not sure.....;^) (Bruce WB3HVV Collier, Oct 25, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. Regarding Joe Fela's comments regarding the digital 650 AM in Frederick --- that's a darn good question --- how did 630 WMAL's lawyers allow that to happen? With 4,000 watts only 40 miles from DC, it's gotta be a factor! There is no &^%$# way you'd ever get a commercial allocation for even 250 watts squeezed in there! Wasn't aware of this one, I'll check it out today and report back. 73 and good DX, (Bruce, WB3HVV, Collier, York, PA, Oct 24, amfmtvdx via DXLD) Regarding the digital 650 AN in Frederick -- I heard it yesterday in Baltimore, so about 40 miles away. It sounded fine, and I didn't notice any hash on the sides on 640 or 660. WFAN in New York and the NJ Disney station on 640 were both audible. To add insult to injury, not only is it 2nd adjacent to DC's 630 WMAL, but they were rebroadcasting WTOP, WMAL's arch news rival, right in the middle of the sniper arrest story! They went off about noon, came back on w/tones in the afternoon. From York, heard them running about an 8 kHz tone, and didn't notice any trash off to the sides---thought for sure there would be with that high frequency tone. Maybe they've cleaned this one up for display near the nation's capital? Let's hope for our hobby's sake this is how it will be..... Not time for much but car DX the last couple weeks--been painting the new house --- but soon, there's 300 feet of yard just begging for longwires, EWE's, and rotatable loops! 73 and good DX, (Bruce WB3HVV Collier, Oct 25, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. The truck driver who spotted the license plate of the sniper's car last night told Fox News that he was listening to WLW, 700 kHz, the Truckin Bozo show, when they passed the license information. Good thing WOR had their IBOC digital stream off the air or the splatter might have prevented the driver from hearing the announcement and the sniper would still be running amok. WLW has a long history of radio firsts. Long live clear channels (Joe Buch, DE, Oct 24, swprograms via DXLD) This would be outrageously good press for the idea behind clear- channel broadcasting and we anti-iBoc protaganists! I can see a talented journalist twisting this story in all sorts of interesting ways! ;-) bw (Bill Whitacre, DC, ibid.) RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO HELPS NAB THE DC SNIPER SUSPECTS A ham radio operator may have played a role in the apprehension of two men wanted in connection with the sniper shootings in the Washington DC area. ABC News interviewed the trucker who called the police to report he had spotted the two suspects. When asked how he heard about the description of the vehicle, his response was that he heard it while listening to Bozo on WLW radio Now, Chip Margelli, K7JA tell amateur Radio Newsline that Bozo in real life is Dale Sommers; callsign WB6OM. Sommers hosts a very popular late night trucker's show on the 700 Kilohertz clear channel station. His show is mainly music and information of interest to long-haul truck drivers. The description of the wanted men was just that. As a result the pair are in custody thanks to a trucker who was paying attention to what WB6OM had to say as "Truckin Bozo" over WLW in Cincinnati (K7JA, Amateur Radio Newsline Oct 25 via DXLD) ** U S A. 26450/FM, KGMH-TV [sic] Denver CO (presumed); 2005-2050+, 21-Oct; ABC program promos. One Life to Live soap. 2026-30 Colorado PSAs/political ads; ad/Mark Steiner atty. With 303 area phone #. Fair with lotsa crackle and occasional data bursts till 2043 when covered by sudden rise in noise (QRM?). Still there but never made it back up (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) It`s KMGH-TV, as in McGraw-Hill (gh) ** U S A. Harold Frodge sends this information about US 3-Letter Call Stations Still Operating KHz, Call, Location, Day/Night Power KW. 550 WGR Buffalo NY 5/5 (Easy but always mixing w/WKRC) 560 KLZ Denver CO 5/5 560 KPQ Wenatchee WA 5/5 570 KVI Seattle WA 5/5 580 KMJ Fresno CA 5/5 (has applied for 50/50) 580 WHP Harrisburg PA 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 590 KID Idaho Falls ID 5/1 600 WMT Cedar Rapids IA 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 610 WIP Philadelphia PA 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 640 KFI Los Angeles CA 50/50 (Hrd in MI) 640 WOI Ames IA 5/1 (Hrd in MI) 700 WLW Cincinnati OH 50/50 (Very easy) 710 WOR New York NY 50/50 (Easy) 720 WGN Chicago IL 50/50 (Very easy) 750 WSB Atlanta GA 50/50 (Very easy) 750 KXL Portland OR 50/20 760 KGU Honolulu HI 10/10 (In your dreams) 760 WJR Detroit MI 50/50 (I think you can hear them) 770 WEW St. Louis MO 1 790 WMC Memphis TN 5/5 810 WGY Schenectady NY 50/50 (Very easy) 850 KOA Denver CO 50/50 (Hrd in MI) 870 WWL New Orleans LA 50/50 (Very easy) 890 WLS Chicago IL 50/50 (Very easy) 930 KHJ Los Angeles CA 5/5 930 WKY Oklahoma City OK 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 950 WWJ Detroit MI 50/50 (I think you can get them too) 950 KJR Seattle WA 50/50 960 KMA Shenandoah IA 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 1030 WBZ Boston MA 50/50 (Very easy) 1040 WHO Des Moines IA 50/50 (Very easy) 1050 WDZ Decatur IL 1 1060 KYW Philadelphia PA 50/50 (Very easy) 1070 KNX Los Angeles CA 50/50 1110 WBT Charlotte NC 50/50 (Very easy) 1160 KSL Salt Lake City UT 50/50 (Hrd in MI) 1190 KEX Portland OR 50/50 1220 WHK Cleveland OH 50/50 (Very easy) 1230 KOY Phoenix AZ 1/1 1230 KXO El Centro CA 1/1 1230 KWG Stockton CA 1/1 1240 KGY Olympia WA 1/1 1250 WGL Fort Wayne IN 2.3/1.5 (Hrd often) 1280 KIT Yakima WA 5/1 1330 KFH Wichita KS 5/5 (Hrd in MI) 1410 KQV Pittsburgh PA 5/5 1420 KUJ Walla Walla WA 5/5 1430 KLO Ogden UT 10/5 1450 WOL Washington DC 1/1 1510 KGA Spokane WA 50/50 (MARE Tipsheet Oct 24 via DXLD) ** U S A. While trying to pull an ID on that second Spanish station under KFI, I just heard Art Bell announce that he is retiring after December 31 of this year because of health problems (Harry Helms, AK6C, Ridgecrest, CA DM15, Oct 24, NRC-AM via DXLD) Yep... wonder how long he'll be "retired" this time? Coast to Coast AM will be in safe hands after Art Bell "retires", Coast to Coast AM`s regular fill-in host George Noory will be his successor. However Art Bell will be serving as an occasional fill-in host for George in the future. Read all about it at http://coasttocoastam.com (Bob Carter, ibid.) GEORGE NOORY TO REPLACE ART BELL KTRS 9PM-12M host George Noory to replace Art Bell on Coast To Coast begining in 2003. Art Bell announced his retirement October 23, and named George Noory his replacement. George will continue his program on KTRS until the end of the year. George Noory began his broadcasting career in Detroit, in 1969. Since then, he's worked as a radio and TV News Director and was responsible for the production of the highest-rated television newscast in the United States! With all his wit, wisdom, warmth and wonderful weirdness George holds forth for you on The Big 550 KTRS! From The St Louis Post-Dispatch Sunday, December 17, 2000 THE NIGHTHAWK WANTS TO RULE THE AIR, By Jeff Daniel George Noory, the host of KTRS' overnight show, hopes his mixture of serious discussion, humor and eccentricity will enlarge his local audience and take him nationwide... http://www.ktrs.com/pages/noorypage.htm (via Artie Bigley, OH, DXLD) ** U S A. NEW RADIO STATION TARGETS FEMALES 10/21/2002 By TOM MAURSTAD / The Dallas Morning News When talk turns to talk radio, two words are used again and again - "crowded" and "competitive." There are also two words that are almost never used - "women listeners." A new radio station debuting Monday in Dallas is trying to attract the latter two to counteract the former. KCAF-AM (990) "The Cafe" is talk radio with a twist - it is targeting women. It's an approach that turns talk-radio tradition on its head. "Everybody told me that there were no holes in the Dallas market," says Scott Savage, CEO of Renaissance Radio, the company behind the KCAF concept. "But when I plotted all the AM talk stations on an audience graph, every station was on the male side. The female side was completely blank." The plan is for the Cafe 990 to be to radio what networks such as Lifetime, Oxygen and A&E are to cable television - a source of female-friendly programming. As Mr. Savage lists the topics the new station covers - relationships, family, shopping, food, health - the Cafe 990 sounds as if it could be summed up as the "Anything but Sports and Politics" station. "That's pretty much right since ... our target listener is a 39-year- old woman - she's married, she has kids, she has a job. She's got a lot of demands on her time, and we are going to be there to provide her with hip, informative programming that relates to her life." Bringing a new radio format into the market and making it work is something Mr. Savage knows about. He was the program director overseeing the introduction of the highly successful young country format at KYNG-FM from the station's debut in 1992 until 1996, when he moved to Los Angeles to work on ABC's development of Radio Disney and the premiere of the Fox Sports Radio Network. But can the Cafe 990 attract women to talk radio, especially on the AM side of the dial, where sports, politics and the men who yammer about them reign supreme? "It's tough to research something that doesn't exist or predict the outcome of something that hasn't happened," says Tom Taylor, radio analyst and editor of the Inside Radio newsletter. "Content drives success in radio, so this approach could end up bringing in a lot of new listeners to talk radio. Then again, radio is like a shopping mall ... if nobody ever comes down to your end of the mall, your store won't make it." To get women to come down to the Cafe's location on the AM end of the radio mall, 60 billboards are going up around the area with women-targeting tag lines such as "The seat is always down" and "Broad topics." It is the first stage in what Mr. Savage promises will be a multimedia campaign. ©2002 Belo Interactive (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) Dallas Radio Station Silent. The new 990 AM which went on the air Monday --- all women's programming --- went silent Thursday when financing deal feel through. No apparent plans to try again. 73 (Bill Smith, W5USM, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Subject: Cafe 990 Off-The-Air From Today's "Radio & Records" NEW DALLAS TALKER HERE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW That's basically the story of the just launched KCAF/Farmersville, TX (Dallas) which signed on just this past Monday morning with a new female targeted Talk format. Seems that station owner and local Dallas businessman Dave Schum ran into financial difficulties and asked Executive VP/COO, Scott Savage to "find a buyer" just as the station launched on 10/21. Savage tells R&R he managed to actually find a buyer but that offer was turned down by Schum last night (Weds 10/23). "The funding I was told was there is apparently not there," said Savage. "So all agreements with me and the staff have effectively been breached. I am packing up my office and I don't expect anyone to be returning to the station." Adding that his only real concern was to try to help all those impacted to find another job Savage continued, "I'm really not sure what the future of this station will be right now. It has been a devastating experience." (via Wally Wawro, WFAA-TV Dallas, TX NRC-AM via DXLD) They are not "Off the Air". Heard Ollie North on the way home from work today (10/24), so maybe they just ditched the intended Women's Talk format (Bill Hale in Fort Worth, Oct 24, ibid.) BQ Radio America Network programming is being aired today, but so far an ID has escaped me....dead air where an ID would logically go (Bill Smith, TX, W5USM, Oct 25, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. B-02 schedule for World Harvest Radio: WHRI Angel # 1 0000-1000 7315 1000-1300 9495 1300-1800 15105 1800-2400 9495 WHRI Angel # 2 1000-1600 9840 ||||| ex 6040 for B-01 1600-2000 13760 2000-1000 5745 KWHR Angel # 3 2200-0400 17510 0400-1000 17780 1000-1630 9930 KWHR Angel # 4 0700-1045 11565 Mon-Fri 0700-1400 11565 Sat/Sun WHRA Angel # 5 2300-1000 7580 1300-1600 17560 ||||| additional transmission 1600-2300 17650 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Oct 25 via DXLD) Note two new frequencies, unusual for WHR (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Hi Glenn - I have followed the discussion regarding AFRTS, and during a websearch last month, I found the following link to be very useful. It contains both the frequencies for AFRTS and its programming schedule. After monitoring it for about a month, the programming guide is dead on! http://www.npr.org/worldwide/shortwave.html (Fred Newlin, NY, Oct 24, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. UNKNOWNIGUAY: 6165, 2244-2300+, 22-Oct; Wide variety of vocal & instrumental Spanish music; camp'o, baladas, Pérez Prado, Nat King Cole in Spanish. No announcer. Tones at 2300; either went off or dropped way down -- I think they were still there mixing with Chinese. SIO=333-/best in USB (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ From Universal Radio's catalog page, an announcement of a new radio from Grundig to be available in January. http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/portable/0550.html (John Figliozzi, Oct 24, swprograms via DXLD) DRM +++ ITU RECOMMENDS DRM FOR ALL 3 BROADCASTING BANDS BELOW 30 MHZ -- SHORT- WAVE, MEDIUM-WAVE/AM AND LONG-WAVE The on-air system Digital Radio Mondiale ((DRM() has received endorsement by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for all three broadcasting bands below 30 MHz -- short-wave, medium- wave/AM and long-wave. In October, administrations of the ITU’s member countries approved a revised version of Recommendation BS1514, now called Recommendation BS1514-1 (Digital Sound Broadcasting Below 30 MHz). It states that DRM is an ITU-R Recommendation for all the broadcasting bands spanning 150 kHz to 30 MHz. No other digital system has received such broad recommendation (including short-wave, as well as medium-wave/AM and long-wave) by the ITU. The ITU, which has 190 member countries, had approved its original recommendation of the DRM system within BS 1514 in April 2001. 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 that offers a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 MHz in markets worldwide. This development marks another milestone in DRM’s progress toward universal standardization. DRM has been endorsed by the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC), which published its DRM Publicly Available Specification (PAS 62272-1) earlier this year. Additionally, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) published a Technical Specification of the DRM system in September 2001. The document is called ETSI TS 101 980 V1.1.1 (2001-09), Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM); System Specification. Free downloadable copies are available at the ETSI Web site at http://www.etsi.org (Oct DRM newsletter via DXLD) ###