DX LISTENING DIGEST 2-183, November 23, 2002
edited by Glenn Hauser, wghauser@hotmail.com
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WORLD OF RADIO 1157:
WBCQ: Mon 0515 on 7415
WWCR: Sun 0330 5070, Sun 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475
RFPI: Sun 0000, 0600, Mon 0030, 0630, Wed 0100, 0700 7445 and/or 15039
WJIE: M-F 1300, daily 0400; Sun 0630, Mon 0700, Tue 0630 or 0700, 7490
WRN: Rest of world Sat 0900; Europe only Sun 0530; N America Sun 1500
ONDEMAND http://www.wrn.org/ondemand/worldofradio.html
[High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1157h.rm
(Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1157h.ram
[Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1157.rm
(Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1157.ram
(Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1157.html
WORLD OF RADIO STREAMING
You asked for comments. Far and away the best method for here, is the
LOW Speed Stream. The High Speed trips out and your original Audio
Stream used to cut you off in the middle of the Propagation Report.
The only snag with the Low Speed is the Signature Tune (which, sorry,
I do`nt like anyway!!!!!!) is a bit wobbley, but as you can gather
this does not matter 'a jot'. I hope you will keep the Low Speed
Stream, which is by far the most accurate here (probably because I run
with a Processor Speed of only 200 MHz!!) Many Thanks (Ken Fletcher,
UK, 22nd November 2002)
UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL
Keep up the awesome work you do with the World Of Radio show and all
the info you provide on your web site (Petro Giannakopoulos, GA)
** AUSTRIA [and non]. In all the discussion about the oncoming demise
of RAI, we may have neglected to mention the current schedule for
English broadcasts to North America: 1630-1700 on 17865 via Sackville,
excellent here, as I am listening on Sat; and 0230-0300 on 7325
direct. Then I checked Prime Time Shortwave, and find some previously
unknown English(?) broadcasts at 0000, 1704... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
0000-0030 LA 9870, 13730
0230-0300 NA 7325
0630-0700 Eu, ME, Af 6155, 13730, 17870
1230-1300 Eu, ME, Af 6155, 13730
1330-1400 As, Au 17855
1430-1500 Eu, ME, Af 6155, 13730
1630-1700 NA 17865ca
1704-1800 NA, Su 17865ca
1930-2000 Eu, ME, Af 6155, 5945
2200-2230 Eu, Af, Sat 6155, 5945
2230-2300 Eu, Af, exSa 6155, 5945
(Primetime Shortwave Nov 23 via DXLD)
** CANADA. Jerry Coatsworth had an interesting exchange with Radio
Canada International about program relays-
``I thought it would make for easier DXing if I knew what was original
and what was being relayed via RCI. I think it`s kind of unusual that
RCI can't give out info concerning stations they are relaying. Anyway,
I asked for a relay schedule and below is the reply I got.``
`` We regret that we are unable to provide you with this information.
The frequency and content information is the exclusive domain of the
originating broadcasters. Furthermore, in specific cases, CBC
Transmissions, the organisation that coordinates the Sackville
facility, has been requested to not release this information. You may,
however, request frequency information directly from the originating
broadcasters. Once again, we apologize for not being able to provide
you this information. Best Regards`` (Steve Lemay, Manager,
Presentation Radio Canada International (MARE via DXLD)
That reminds me of the item in DXLD 2-147 of Sept. 20, which needs now
to be confirmed:
NIGERIA [non]. U.K. (non): B-02 schedule for Salama Radio in
Hausa/Ndebele/French/Arabic:
1900-2000 15365 SAC 250 kW / 105 deg till March 1, 2003 Sackville!!
15365 RMP 500 kW / 169 deg from March 2, 2003 Rampisham
(Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 20)
Well, I checked 15365 at 1945 UT Sat Nov 23 and heard nothing. Let`s
see, is this daily? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CANADA. This arrived in my mailbox by grace of my membership in the
CMG. I thought it was interesting enough to pass on to the list:
(Richy Leong, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
November 21, 2002
CBC SELLING ITSELF OFF -- AN EDITORIAL BY CMG PRESIDENT LISE LAREAU
Little by little, away from public glare and scrutiny, the CBC is
selling off or unloading vital assets, which could ultimately result
in the layoff of hundreds of employees. The news has been released
bit by bit, in short neutral-sounding announcements from CBC
president Robert Rabinovitch. But these latest moves will have an
impact on all of us, and the trend is worth examining.
The carving-up actually started five years ago, with the contracting-
out of many internal services, from mailroom duties, shipping and
stores to duplication and cleaning and security. Then the internal
audit department was contracted-out. It turns out that was just the
beginning.
Now the CBC is looking seriously at whether it would be feasible to
contract out many ñ even all ñ of the jobs in Human Resources,
Information Technology, Finance and Corporate Payroll. The Corporation
is also interested in unloading the people and infrastructure
connected to transmitter operations, and is considering a takeover
offer made by the very person who's in charge of it now! The CBC is
also looking at outside contractors to administer the CBC's pension
plan. This despite the fact that the plan's administrative costs are
among the lowest in the country; in fact, other organizations try to
emulate our plan's efficiency.
This is much of the administrative infrastructure of the CBC. We
think this is blatantly unwise; do you want your paycheque or pension
coming from "an alternate service provider" who is not accountable to
the CBC Board or to CBC corporate policies? It's also immoral; the
lowest bidder will likely be lower because it pays its employees
less. Perhaps most importantly, the supposed cost savings just aren't
there.
Contracting out services often appears to be good for the bottom
line, at least for the first year or so. That's when most of the
savings are realized from the layoffs and the leasing or selling of
office space and equipment. Afterwards, though, after the CBC
employees and their expertise are gone, the savings dwindle.
Contracts are renegotiated, and suddenly they become much more
expensive. And the executives that stick-handled the whole thing,
claiming it was to turn "bricks and mortar into programming dollars"
are gone. And you don't know what you had --- until it's gone.
What's truly shocking is the short timeline this is on. If all goes
according to the CBC's plan, a decision whether to contract out HR,
IT or Finance may be made as early as January, the selection of the
contractor in March, and a final contract announced in June.
Employees could be going out the door as early as September. In the
midst of all this rushing around, one has to wonder how much analysis
is being done.
In fact, it appears all this is being motivated not by sound analysis
but by appearances. In its priorities for 2003-04, CBC's senior
management lists as priority number one: "to demonstrate that CBC is
a well-managed company and generate cash flow into programming". This
is all about showing the folks in the federal Heritage department, in
the Prime Minister's Office, and at the Treasury Board how lean and
mean the CBC can appear to be, whether it makes practical sense or
not.
At the same time, the CBC is also selling off or leasing its real
estate assets across the country. We all know that it's the employees
ñ the people who actually make the programs or support those who do ñ
who are on the losing end of this particular initiative.
If we could be sure that any savings were being funneled back into
programming, as the Corporation keeps telling us, the CBC's
contracting-out initiatives might be defensible. Well, savings may be
turned into programming money (though I'd like to see proof), but
they're not always being turned into CBC programming. CBC management
made it clear to union leaders in October that it has written off
in-house dramatic television production of any type. And it's buying
more and more outside radio and television information programming,
something that has always been at the core of the CBC's business.
Stranded, the radio show purchased from Jane Hawtin's production
company, is one of the latest additions.
So, in a panic to appear to be well-managed, the CBC is cannibalizing
itself. You have to wonder who will be left to manage, and what will
be left of Canada's national public broadcaster, when all the
privatizing is done.
The Canadian Media Guild is not taking any of this contracting-out
lightly. We are in the early stages of trying to convince the CBC not
to walk down this road. We will take whatever actions are necessary
to protect Guild members, as well as the interests of public
broadcasting in Canada. Visit the CMG website often for the latest
developments (via CAJ list via Ricky Leong via swprograms via DXLD)
We've all been waiting for the "other shoe", as it were, to drop and
this looks like the beginnings of that. What is especially upsetting
to me personally is that this turn of events for the CBC (and RCI, as
well as for a range of other public institutions and progressive
public policies) has been and continues to be shepherded by supposed
Liberals (Democrats, if you prefer, in my country). One expected and
expects Conservatives (or Republicans) to pursue this sort of agenda,
but to have those that have traditionally expressed --- and in many
ways continue to profess to have --- a more enlightened approach to
these matters be the agent of such "change" is a particularly brutal
form of treachery, in my view.
The only response that can hope to be successful is for those who
oppose this turn toward privatization to combat it, early and
forcefully, with facts, some of which are mentioned in Ms. Lareau's
communication. These include the very temporary and illusory nature of
any savings and the eventual cost increases and declines in service
that have to result from the very fact that privatization demands that
significant and growing profits be realized from such operations. This
response would have to be loud, persistent and equally as aggressive
in tone to that of the ideologues who will be advancing privatization
as the "cure" for real and supposed inefficiencies.
Make no mistake. The subtext here (as it is, IMHO, for most such
privatization arguments) is to reward supporters in the business
community with public funds via "spoils system" and wound and
Eventually dismantle as many public institutions as possible ---
especially those like the CBC (or, here in the US, social security)
that have been, in the main, successful examples of public stewardship
that belie the ideological biases of its opponents (John Figliozzi,
NY, swprograms via DXLD)
On the other hand, the concepts of Business Process Outsourcing have
been successfully applied in public and for-profit enterprises, too.
The key is to manage expectations for the work to be privatized.
For example, I know that various International and domestic
broadcasters operate with work rules that have individuals performing
a broader range of tasks than those performed in RCI. If managed
properly (I know, a key condition) this could yield more $$ spent on
program development and research.
I am saddened by knee-jerk reactions to mentions of privatization and
outsourcing. Yes, I agree -- there are plenty of opportunities for bad
outcomes. However, there are opportunities for good outcomes, too. My
view is biased -- I consult to companies whose business it is to
provide outsourced services, and I have several friends who work for
the companies that do the outsourcing.
The challenge is to maintain -- or elevate -- expectations of
performance as reflected in the output of the CBC. How one should
evaluate that output is an entirely different discussion (Richard Cuff
/ Allentown, PA, ibid.)
Perhaps I should have added a few qualifiers to my statement. Of
course, few matters are as starkly black and white as they are often
expressed and there are certainly examples and circumstances where
privatization has been both advisable and successful.
My argument is with those that would apply this "solution" as an
ideological imperative, rather than as a measured, practical response
to a clearly identified and quantified problem. Having said that, I do
believe that the case of the CBC has been and continues to be largely
an example of the former (John Figliozzi, ibid.)
** CANADA. CANADA'S OLDEST PUBLIC BROADCASTER, ALTA'S CKUA RADIO,
CELEBRATES 75TH YEAR From Cnews, November 21, 2002,
EDMONTON (CP) --- Canada's oldest public broadcaster celebrated its
75th anniversary Thursday.
CKUA Radio began life in a single room in a corner of the University
of Alberta. The station's on-air date of Nov. 21, 1927, predates the
CBC's first transmission by nearly nine years.
The station is marking its anniversary by expanding to a full 24 hours
of progamming.
CKUA was established as a provincially owned educational radio station
affiliated with the university. It has since evolved into a unique
source of music that broadcasts an eclectic mixture of jazz, Celtic,
folk, classical, world beat, pop and otherwise unclassifiable music
across Alberta and on the Internet. CKUA has one of the largest
recording libraries in Canada and broadcasts on both the AM and FM
bands.
The music nearly died in 1997 when the provincial Conservative
government turned the station over to the private sector. The newly
formed board promptly ran CKUA into debt.
Music lovers refused to let the station die, however, and a widespread
public campaign prompted the government to help it recover. CKUA has
since survived on a mix of ad sales and periodic public fundraising
campaigns.
The station actively supports local music and Alberta musicians have
long been able to count on CKUA for air time. The station claims to be
among the first to play the music of successful Canadian performers
such as Joni Mitchell, Jann Arden, k.d. lang and P.J. Perry.
Station alumni include Hollywood director Arthur Hiller, Broadway
crooner Robert Goulet and jazz bandleader and Senator Tommy Banks
(via Mike Terry, DXLD)
** CONGO DR. Rep. Democratique du Congo
RADIO MALKIA WA AMANI, THE VOICE OF THE VOICELESS IN BUKAVU, HAS LARGE
AUDIENCE
Bukavu, Nov 16 (Misna & InfoCatholique) --- Radio Malkia wa Amani in
Bukavu (Radio Mary, Queen of Peace) broadcasts its programs daily from
5:30 in the morning until 10 o`clock at night. Heavily listened to in
the eastern region of the Republique Democratique of Congo after its
foundation, the station is now a year old and has the ambition of
becoming more and more ``the voice of those without a voice`` in a
difficult region. The station was born thanks to the generosity of a
group of Christians of the Diocese of Faenza in Italy, inspired to
support the project by Padre Luigi Lo Stocco, a Xaverian religious.
These same friends of Faenza continue to furnish technical aid . The
team of Radio Malia wa Amani is composed of 16 laymen, journalists,
technicians, program hosts, as well as a security guard on hand during
the night to avoid sabotage. ``We operate in a zone of war and risk,``
remarked Père Lo Stocco.
The station has come to acquire a tower 110 meters (about 350 ft)
high, built on the hills that surround Bukavu, with the technical
assistance of the Christians of Faenza. One of the problems that has
to be resolved is that of financing the professional formation of the
workers at the station, if they want to follow the courses at the
Audio-visual Institute of Bukavu and Kinshasha. For more information:
luigilostocco@libero.it (Nov 25 Catholic Radio Update, Nov 23 via
DXLD) WTFK? FM, I suppose
** CUBA. SEÑALES DE HUMO PARECE SER LA SOLUCION
Héctor Maseda, Grupo Decoro
LA HABANA, noviembre (http://www.cubanet.org) - "Reconocer los
esfuerzos y premiar las soluciones" es una expresión que califica en
su justa extensión las gestiones realizadas en el país por la Empresa
de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA) desde su fundación hasta
la fecha, si medimos el alcance de los servicios telefónicos públicos
que ofrece a la ciudadanía.
Marisela S., residente en el municipio Centro Habana, refiere su
experiencia cuando tuvo necesidad de localizar a través del teléfono
público un medicamento que no estaba en venta en la farmacia que le
corresponde.
"Caminé alrededor de dos kilómetros para encontrar un teléfono
público. La búsqueda me llevó una hora. Traté entonces de comunicarme
con el almacén municipal de fármacos. Nada. Observé diecisiete
aparatos en mi recorrido. Los que operan con moneda nacional -seis-
estaban fuera de servicio o sólo atendían llamadas de urgencia. Siete
funcionaban mediante tarjetas magnéticas que se compran con pesos,
pero que ETECSA no vende desde agosto. El resto de los equipos
trabajan con tarjetas prepagadas en dólares, fuera de mis
posibilidades. Regresé a mi hogar deprimida y en el mismo punto".
Otra historia la refiere Marta Beatriz. Ella compró hace algún tiempo,
en la oficina de correos de Infanta y San Lázaro, dos tarjetas
magnéticas por valor de 5 pesos cada una.
"Caminé desde Belascoaín y Reina hasta San Lázaro, alrededor de un
kilómetro. Traté de emplear ambas tarjetas en varios teléfonos
públicos que normalmente operan con ellas. Cuál no sería mi sorpresa
al ver que mis intentos por comunicarme eran rechazados reiteradamente
por todos los aparatos utilizados. Seguí por San Lázaro hasta la calle
Infanta (unos 800 metros). Volví a probar las tarjetas en cinco
equipos. Se repitió la historia. Ya no tenía dudas: ``¡Me han
timado!,`` pensé. Regresé a la tienda donde había comprado las
tarjetas y conté lo sucedido. Reclamé otras tarjetas magnéticas o la
devolución de mi dinero. Un empleado me las pidió como si él fuera un
instrumento verificador de saldos. Al fin me las devolvió y dijo:
'Señora, seguramente usted no las utilizó de acuerdo a las
instrucciones. Todo está en orden. Su reclamación no tiene lugar'. Me
saludó amablemente. Dio media vuelta y salió a atender a otro
cliente".
Pero no sólo de fallas técnicas y tarjetas magnéticas "mal empleadas"
por el usuario o inadecuamente procesadas por ETECSA padece el
servicio telefónico en Cuba. El vandalismo y las conexiones ilícitas
constituyen sus principales enemigos.
Nelson Mayorino López, gerente de la filial de telefonía pública
declaró al periódico Granma: "los actos delictivos de elementos
antisociales que rompen alcancías, utilizan partes de las estaciones
públicas o se conectan fraudulentamente a los cables son los
depredadores que más daño le hacen a los teléfonos públicos. De no ser
por eso --- el servicio gozaría de mejor salud --- las fallas
tecnológicas siempre son solubles".
Prueba de ello puede encontrarse en el vandalismo sufrido por los tres
equipos instalados en el supermercado "El Mirador", de Alamar, en
Habana del Este, circunstancia que obligó a la empresa a retirar el
servicio del lugar, según informó Granma en su reportaje, del 23 de
octubre pasado.
Pero tampoco ETECSA queda exenta de señalamientos críticos. Máximo la
Fuente, director de la Unidad de Negocios de Telefonía Pública de
ETECSA, dijo a Granma que muchos de los teléfonos públicos se
mantienen fuera de servicio durante varios días sin que el personal
técnico de la entidad los repare, a pesar de ser "equipos de gran
calidad y estar operados a través de una red de gestión. Las
computadoras realizan un chequeo constante de la técnica, hacen
análisis de tráfico y detectan en tiempo real interrupciones y
fallas".
Lo cierto es que el personal de servicio de esta empresa resulta
insuficiente para atender la totalidad de las interrupciones que
presentan los teléfonos públicos. De acuerdo con las declaraciones de
funcionarios de esa entidad "no siempre son suficientes los recursos
humanos y el transporte. Por ahora la prioridad está en los
hospitales, funerarias, terminales de ómnibus".
Y el resto de la ciudadanía --- ¿qué debe hacer ante la declaración
de impotencia de ETECSA para prestar un verdadero servicio a la
población?
Esperar tiempos mejores parece ser la "solución" que propone la
entidad comercial.
Esta información ha sido transmitida por teléfono, ya que el gobierno
de Cuba no permite al ciudadano cubano acceso privado a Internet.
CubaNet no reclama exclusividad de sus colaboradores, y autoriza la
reproducción de este material, siempre que se le reconozca como fuente
(via Óscar, Miami, DXLD)
** CUBA [and non]. Hi Glenn, When I tuned in Radio Martí this morning
(11/23/02), 1345 UT on 9565 to see if they had any interesting music.
R. Martí had prominent jamming from Cuban `bubble jammers` as usual
However, in addition, there was a noticeable SSB signal on the same
frequency That signal was in USB but I could not resolve it on my
Grundig Satellit 800 to hear what was being said. The signal was on
exactly 9565.0 kHz. The USB signal receded with the jamming about
1355. The USB signal ended about 1358 and had not returned by 1410.
Someone broadcasting in USB on that frequency does not seem likely (at
least in this part of the world) since between R. Martí and the
jammers there is a blowtorch signal on that frequency, and it came up
and receded exactly with the Cuban jamming signal. I wonder if this
was part of the Cuban jamming signal. One of the accidents that occur
periodically for the Cubans (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, Nov 23, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** CUBA [non]. Mientras escuchaba en la mañana de hoy 22 de Noviembre
2002 la Programación de Radio Martí en la frecuencia de 13820 kHz, se
produjo entre las 1500 y 1515 UT un hecho inusual en las frecuencias
que operaba Radio Martí: 11815, 11930, 13820, 21675 kHz, emisiones
en idioma chino.
En esos quince minutos aproximadamente se emitió noticias y música
hasta que bruscamente a las 1515 UT se escuchó programación en
idioma en español correspondiente al programa "El Cubano y su fe" 73's
(Oscar, Miami, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A program feed line mixup, I
suppose, if the Chinese were from IBB; or maybe deliberately for
Chinese `advisors` in Cuba?? (gh, DXLD)
** ETHIOPIA. 9704.20 R. ETHIOPIA, Gedja, 0340-0400 Nov 22, local music
and OM in Amharic (?), Good, the // 5990.00 was stopped at 0400 by the
sign-on of Bucharest's Russian service (Giampaolo Galassi, Italy, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Hi Glenn, not very new for me, [see NEW ZEALAND below and
in 2-182] next to my home here in Stuttgart some 15.000 US citizens of
Europe Command Organization on Coleman Barracks planning the new Iraq
war ... like the IRQ-KWT one, ten years ago ... And Germany is well
covered by the US logistic installations, as various HF and satellite
spy stations like at Bad Aibling. The main hospital for US army in
Europe and NE/ME is still located at Wiesbaden-Frankfurt, many
airbases like Frankfurt, Ramstein, Spangdalem, and the radar 707
investigation planes at Geilenkrichen are still our contribution to
the coming war. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Nov 23, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0211/S00486.htm
** HAWAII. HPD TO SWITCH OFF NEW RADIOS DURING REPAIRS
Posted on: Thursday, November 21, 2002
By Scott Ishikawa, Advertiser Staff Writer
The Honolulu Police Department is suspending most use of its problem-
plagued, $60 million digital radio system until a software problem is
fixed. Until then, most officers will use the old analog system. The
switch back to analog will take place Dec. 2, but no one knows when
the digital system will be put back in service.
The switch was announced in a department-wide memo dated Nov. 15,
eight days after a faulty software upgrade shut down portions of the
city's digital communications system for nearly nine hours.
It was the latest in a series of problems, including communication
disruptions and gaps in radio coverage, that police have experienced
since switching to the digital system in 1998. Officers say switching
back to analog is a reasonable precaution to take until they are
confident the upgraded digital system is reliable.
In the Nov. 15 memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Advertiser,
Maj. Kenneth Simmons, commander of the department's communication
division, wrote: "The switch is necessary until the digital software
becomes acceptable for our operations."
Honolulu police spokeswoman Michelle Yu could not say yesterday how
long patrol officers would use the analog radio channels. Officers
will use the same equipment, but on different channels.
The department's specialized units, including those that do undercover
work, will remain on digital radio channels for security reasons.
HPD Detective Alex Garcia, former chairman of the O'ahu chapter of the
State of Hawai'i Organization of Police Officers and a critic of the
digital system, called the latest move "a step backward for us after
pouring $60 million into this system."
Garcia said, "Our patrol is our front line and the radio is our
lifeline, so we need a quality radio system first and foremost." In
calling for an independent audit of the communication system, he said
the entire system should be thrown out.
"The police chief and HPD administration are doing the best they can
with this system and nobody in the department wants to see public or
officer safety jeopardized," Garcia said. "But this product is simply
a bad lemon. The department may as well pay $20 a month for a cellular
phone plan."
SHOPO president Tenari Ma'afala said the digital system was purchased
to create secure radio lines for police officers, and he hopes
officers will not have to use the analog radio channels for long.
The city adopted the digital radio system to create better reception
and more channels and to thwart eavesdropping by outsiders. "Under
analog, drug dealers could buy a cheap radio scanner and check up on
us, so it becomes an officer safety issue as well," Ma'afala said.
"Also, if analog is our backup plan, what happens when the backup goes
down?"
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said technicians are upgrading the
software of the city digital communications system. The work is what
appears to have caused the glitch Nov. 7 from about 3 p.m. to 11:45
p.m. Because of the problem, radio communications for HPD District 1
(Central Honolulu), District 3 (Pearl City) and District 7 (East
Honolulu) were switched to the backup analog radio channels.
Costa said the Nov. 7 glitch occurred because upgraded radio software
was not reset properly. It did not affect officer safety or hamper
police response time to emergencies, officials said.
"We support HPD on how they operate by going back to analog while we
complete the digital software upgrade," Costa said of the planned HPD
switchover. Costa said she could not say how long the software upgrade
work will continue.
Lengthy glitches of the police radio system have also occurred in
January, April and June, as well as in previous years. In April, the
department converted its communications system to all digital. Police
had sought a complete digital switchover when the city acquired the
system in 1998, but gaps in the radio coverage, along with time
required for hardware and software changes, forced postponement.
The Honolulu Fire Department continues to communicate on analog, said
department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada. The Fire Department has
previously expressed concern about the reliability of the digital
system.
Improving radio service among public safety agencies has become more
urgent since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But some experts estimate
that it could cost $25 billion or more to connect every agency in the
United States that wants or needs the capability.
"Almost everyone has some problems. It's just a matter of to what
degree," says Harlin McEwen, a retired police chief who handles
telecommunications issues for the International Association of Chiefs
of Police.
Kimo Smith, chairman of SHOPO's O'ahu chapter, said he is glad the
city and police administration are taking action on the radios. "It's
always been a public safety and officer safety issue for us," Smith
said. "To be fair, the system has been improved over the years, but
it's taken a lot longer than we expected to resolve some of the
problems."
Smith said he received numerous calls from officers working the shift
when the radios went down this month. "They were concerned and they
have a right to be," Smith said. "We hope this upgrade resolves
everything."
Smith said police have a backup plan in place in which officers can
communicate with dispatchers and other officers through analog radio
channels, computers in the police vehicles, and cellular phones (via
Brock Whaley, DXLD)
RADIO GLITCH NOT A DANGER TO OFFICERS, HPD CONTENDS
By Scott Ishikawa, Advertiser Staff Writer, Posted on: Friday,
November 22, 2002
The Honolulu police radio system poses no risk to officers or the
public, and a planned Dec. 2 switch from the newer digital channels is
to try to fix a background noise problem, an assistant chief said
yesterday. "Had this been an officer safety issue, which it is not, we
would have switched over immediately," said Assistant Chief Karl
Godsey, head of the Honolulu Police Department's support services
bureau. "We want to make sure when we talk we can be heard, and when
we ask for help, others can hear. ... This system is never going to be
perfect, but we will strive to make it the best we can."
Godsey said the temporary switch to analog frequencies will not affect
officer safety or police response to emergencies. And if the problem
is fixed before that, the Dec. 2 switch will not be necessary, he
said. The city fully switched police communications from analog to
digital in April to create better reception and more channels, and to
thwart eavesdropping by outsiders. But the system has been
sporadically plagued by communication disruptions and gaps in radio
coverage.
The latest incident was on Nov. 7, when a faulty software upgrade shut
down portions of the city's digital communications system for nearly
nine hours. Maj. Kenneth Simmons, commander of HPD's communications
division, issued a departmentwide memo on Nov. 15 that patrol officers
would switch to analog channels on Dec. 2 "until the digital software
becomes acceptable for our operations." Yesterday, police held a news
conference to explain the issues more fully. Godsey said the tentative
Dec. 2 switch for patrol officers to analog channels on the radio
communications system is necessary while technicians work on the
digital side of the city's $42 million radio system.
Technicians said the background noise problem is between patrol
officers and police dispatchers. Godsey said the department decided to
temporarily change over the patrol radio communications to analog so
"officers didn't have to switch back and forth on channels" during the
troubleshooting work on the digital system. Officers would make the
scheduled switch from digital to analog "with the flip of a switch on
their radios," he said. "But we are not switching to an old analog
system as reported (in The Advertiser). We have digital and analog
channels on the same communications system." The department's
specialized units and those conducting covert operations will continue
to use digital radio channels, which are considered more difficult to
eavesdrop on, Godsey said.
Technicians so far have linked the background noise problem to faulty
"digital voice interface unit" cards in the city's main communications
system. Godsey said the faulty digital voice cards haven't caused long
interruptions or glitches, but have recently affected the quality of
police radio transmissions and reception. "We had some difficulty with
the voice cards, something that has been ongoing for several months
now," Godsey said. "Putting in these new cards will hopefully deal
with the problem. "If it works fine next week, we won't have to
switch. If it doesn't, we'll make the (radio channel) switch until we
find a card that works properly."
Consultant Jack Chamberlin, hired by the city to provide technical
support for the radio system, believes the faulty digital voice cards
are the culprit behind background noise in the radio transmissions,
sometimes creating a sound similar to "a waterfall." "Other times it
makes this high-pitched sound, and we can clear the noise for awhile,
but then it seems to gradually come back," Chamberlin said. The
digital voice cards could arrive today and be installed next week
before the scheduled Dec. 2 radio channel changeover, Godsey said.
Godsey said the Nov. 7 glitch in which three O'ahu police districts
had to switch to other radio channels was not linked to the digital
voice card problem. That glitch was caused by a software upgrade that
was improperly configured for the system; it has been corrected.
Gerald Hamada of the city Department of Design and Construction said
technicians are trying to troubleshoot the background noise problem.
"We're going to try the replacement digital voice cards first, and see
if that fixes the problem," Hamada said. "If not, we'll have to take a
look at the rest of the system." Godsey said replacing previous
digital voice cards and other software has caused glitches, and in
hindsight, perhaps the department should have earlier switched patrol
officers to another radio channel during the technical work. "We would
like to take something right out of the box and have it work ... but
there are going to be glitches, just like computers," Godsey said.
"This is one of the things we got to do: tune it up and tune it up
frequently." (via Brock Whaley, DXLD)
** INDIA. Friends, From yesterday 21 November 2002, AIR National
Channel (Hindi/English) has started regular transmissions on SW at
1320-0043 UT as follows:
9425 Bangalore 500 kW (Regular Transmission)
9470 Khampur (Delhi) (Experimental Transmission)
Back in August & September this year, tests were conducted from
Bangalore on 9425 and 9450 at these timings.
The National Channel programs are broadcast at 1320-0043 UT (6.50 pm
to 6.13 am Indian Standard Time) on the frequencies of
1566 kHz Nagpur 1000 kw
1215 kHz Delhi
107.2 MHz Kasauli
1134 kHz Chinsurah 1000 kw (1730-0043 UT)
(Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, dx_india Nov 22 via DXLD)
** LEBANON [non]. Checking for the new clandestine as publicized,
Friday Nov 22 at 1600 on 11515, nothing at all could be heard here; a
few minutes later, only a trace of a carrier. Meanwhile, Jordan was
coming in nicely on 11690. No trace of 11515 either on Sat Nov 23
(Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Sawt Lubnan Al-Hourya (Voice Of Lebanon) on 11515 (via a CIS
transmitter?) audible with carrier at 1556 Nov 22. At 1600 Lebanese
anthem and ID, followed by speech. The rest of this first program was
filled with popular Arab music and announcer giving out an email
address. SINPO 45333.
As earlier announced: "The France-based RPL, part of the Free
Patriotic Movement has announced the start of radio broadcasts on Nov.
22." The TDP website gives this info:
Sawt Lubnan Al-Houriya 1600-1700 11515 mtwtfss Arabic
So this is "The Voice Of Lebanon" re-vamped? No transmitter details,
as expected... (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
That would be V. of *Free* Lebanon, no? I would not assume without
further evidence that it is the same as the old VOL, a pretty obvious
new name choice (gh, DXLD)
Scheduled Lebanese Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) station signed on
today (22 Nov) at 1600 UT on 11515.40 kHz in Arabic with anthem.
(see posting BDXC News 20 Nov)
Speech (by General Aoun?) followed, patriotic song at 1607, Arabic
announcer including e-mail address, more songs as I write (broadcast
continues - scheduled to 1700). Strong clear signal here, slight
fading. No clue as to transmitter site (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK,
Caversham UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, Nov 22 via DXLD)
I got this e-mail after having heard the new FPM Radio Station on
11515.4 kHz on the 22nd of November at 1600. I heard it thanks to very
good information from different DX sources! Best wishes from (Björn
Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, Nov 23, DX LISTENING
DIGEST) Viz.:
"Dear sir, Thanks a lot for your interesting report. We are surprised
how u knew our broadcasting program, and the most surprising is how
you knew our emails (maybe the first one from the station; but the
second????) As my part, I'm a radio amateur also.
These days, I only have my CB (11m band). And I'm the one receiving
the emails of the FPM Radio Station. It would be nice to keep in
touch, and to hear from you soon. We'll be broadcasting in the coming
few days the same program (as a test). After that some programs will
be prepared including news, political commentary on the situation in
Lebanon,... Best Regards (via Fransson, DXLD)
``Next few days`` -- so I guess not Fridays only. They have not been
explicit about their dayage (gh, DXLD)
QSL LEBANON non: 11515, FPM Radio, the voice of the Free Patriotic
Movement of Lebanon, political movement linked to general Aoun,
confirmed my e-mail report in a couple of hours with a full data
message. They wrote that they would like to receive my full time
recording of their broadcast and "we would like to know if the signal
fades in different weather conditions". I heard them heard from 1618
to 1659 UT, 22 November, in Arabic. It was reported as their first
broadcast (test). E-mail: radio@tayyar.org http://www.tayyar.org
(Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire Milano, Italy, Nov 22, hard-core-dx
via DXLD)
** MEXICO. Have been trying to confirm XERMX on 5985; Nov 23 I
monitored 5985 off and on, 0100-0140+ and found only one weak Spanish
speaking station there, and not \\ 9705. 11770 was so squeezed by
11765 and 11775 that I could not be sure XERMX was on at this hour.
5985 is presumably WYFR, beamed south. Website pdf program sked no
longer shows frequencies down the sides, but the nonupdated homepage
still mentions only 9705 and 11770, 10 kW each (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** MOLDOVA/PRIDNESTROVYA. Indeed Radio Pridnestrovya had a Russian
broadcast today at 1800 on 999.After the switch-over from VoR first
Radio Mayak audio was carried, I guess this was in fact the Radio
Pridnestrovya feed. Probably all Mayak transmissions from Grigoriopol`
are technical-wise merely Radio Pridnestrovya, putting Mayak on the
output circuit when no own programming is on air? (Kai Ludwig,
Germany, Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Superb recording, Kai. I checked the 999 kHz channel in past week,
especially on Wed 17-18 UT. But heard always a program in undoubtedly
Romanian language at that hour. Here in SW Germany signal strength is
'one third' of the much stronger co-channel COPE Madrid 50 kW station.
Moved my ICF-2010 around by 90 degrees apart of Spain direction, to
get the minimum signal of the Spanish station (Wolfgang Bueschel,
Stuttgart, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
I am not absolutely happy with the record because it reminds me to the
ones I never made: I missed to tape the German broadcasts from
Tiraspol` on 6205; I also missed to tape both the tiny sound of the
Hoyerswerda-Zeißig transmitter during daytime and the evening mess of
Zeißig with Grigoriopol` and the jammer on 999.
Yes, the VoR program which goes out on 999 between 1700 and 1800 is in
Romanian, // 7320 and 7380 according their website. Would be a task
to compile a complete schedule for 999... Today prior to 1900 a
children`s radioplay in Russian or probably Ukrainian instead was
carried until an abrupt switch to Deutsche Welle exactly at 1900. This
frequency offers a real conglomeration! The slot used by Radio
Pridnestrovya on Fridays (1800-1830) is otherwise, probably with the
exception of Saturdays and Sundays, vacant and 999 either off or they
burn electricity by transmitting a silent carrier (Kai Ludwig,
Germany, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
[Longer version of item in 2-182:]
** NEW ZEALAND. HIGH FREQUENCY EQUIPMENT TO BE INSTALLED IN NZ
Thursday, 21 November 2002, 1:31 pm
Press Release: New Zealand Government
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0211/S00486.htm
Minister of Defence Mark Burton has today announced Cabinet approval
for the installation of an unclassified United States Air Force (USAF)
High Frequency (HF) radio transmitter and receiver at a New Zealand
Defence Force communications site. The most likely location is
Whenuapai, Waiouru, or Christchurch.
The project, known as the Rightsizing Initiative, will provide a
voice-only, unclassified and unencrypted link between aircrews and
support personnel on the ground, relating to routine aircraft
operations and safety only.
Mark Burton says that the decision to install the equipment will
"enhance HF communication coverage for transport aircraft in the South
Pacific and Antarctic regions, thus improving their in-flight safety.
"The service will operate on a publicly registered aeronautical
frequency, and radio enthusiasts can easily listen in on the
transmissions. All they'll need is a simple HF radio-which costs as
little as $30-and they can listen to all the air to ground
communications."
Installation of the HF facility is part of a programme that will help
streamline the USAF's High Frequency (HF) networks, and it will
benefit both the NZDF and the USAF. There will be no cost to New
Zealand in accessing the HF networks.
Mark Burton says the project also offers benefits to the NZDF.
"Participating in the Rightsizing initiative will give the NZDF access
to global HF services in the Northern Hemisphere. This will eliminate
the need to deploy an NZDF HF attachment to Singapore in order to
communicate with our air detachments outside the Asia Pacific region."
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What does the Rightsizing Initiative entail? The US has embarked on a
project that will see a number of high frequency (HF) radio
installations close. Previously the US maintained a considerable
number of HF radio installations within the respective arms of the
Department of Defense.
The aim of the Rightsizing initiative is to consolidate the HF
requirements, which are currently duplicated within the respective
arms of US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. As a result, some short
falls in radio coverage have been identified, one of which is air-
ground-air coverage in the South Pacific and Antarctic regions.
Why is New Zealand being asked to participate?
The main requirement for a reliable HF service is to keep the radio
path length to a minimum. Typically, the aim is to keep the radio path
to within 1500 km (a single HF "hop"). However, where this is not
practical, the objective is to achieve the shortest distance possible.
New Zealand is better placed than the closest US installation in
Hawaii to provide coverage for aircraft on route to Antarctica and the
Pacific Islands.
Under what agreement has New Zealand's participation in the
Rightsizing initiative been sought?
New Zealand's participation in the initiative has been sought under
the auspices of the Combined Communications Electronic Board (CCEB).
The CCEB is tasked with overseeing the standardisation of
communications systems between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the
United Kingdom and the United States.
Who else is participating?
In May 2001, the UK and the US concluded a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) that established arrangements for the provision of HF
communications support and related services. In April, a joint US/UK
communications team visited Australia and New Zealand to provide
further information on the initiative and to invite our participation.
Is Australia participating?
Geographically, New Zealand is better placed than Australia to provide
HF coverage for aircraft transiting the South Pacific and Antarctic
regions. [so that means, ``no`` ?? --gh]
What is the Rightsizing initiative's purpose?
The Initiative's purpose is to provide an HF link between aircrews and
support personnel on the ground. Enhancing the coverage of HF
communications in the South Pacific and Antarctic regions would
improve in-flight safety for transport aircraft transiting this area.
How would this improve in-flight safety?
The Initiative would provide a back-up ground-air-ground
communications link between aircrews and support personnel.
Could the initiative be used for intelligence purposes?
No. The US is rationalising its unclassified HF networks. The service
would operate on a publicly registered aeronautical frequency, and
communications between aircrews and support personnel would be voice
only and unencrypted.
Anyone with access to a HF radio (costing as little as $30.00) could
monitor these communications, thereby confirming that they relate only
to routine aircraft operations and safety.
What would New Zealand's participation involve?
New Zealand's participation would involve the installation of an
unclassified HF radio transmitter and receiver one of the following
locations: Whenuapai, Irirangi (Waiouru) or Weedons (Christchurch).
Under the proposal, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) would have
full access to the facility.
Does HF radio admit harmful radiation?
No. Commercial aircraft use HF radio.
What advantages are there for New Zealand?
Under the Initiative, the NZDF would gain access to global HF services
operated by the US and the UK. This would eliminate the need to deploy
a NZDF HF attachment to Singapore to communicate with our aircrews
operating in missions outside the Asia Pacific region (i.e. the
Balkans, Afghanistan, Africa and the Middle East).
Direct in-flight communications from RNZAF aircrews could be received
more effectively and cheaply in New Zealand through US and UK stations
operating in the Northern Pacific, the Atlantic and/or the
Mediterranean.
What are the financial implications for New Zealand?
The US would provide and install all equipment, and cover its
maintenance and support under local commercial arrangements. The
proposal involves no cost to New Zealand other than the provision of
existing Defence real estate.
When will the equipment be installed?
Within the next 12 months. Copyright (c) Scoop Media (via Wolfgang
Bueschel, Nov 23, DXLD) See also his comments under GERMANY
** NICARAGUA. 5770-USB, Radio Miskut, 11/18 2300 past 2350, varied
reception to a varied program. Heard Kenny Rogers' "Coward of the
County" when I tuned in, to a traditional folk song, then ID at 2308
"Transmitido Radio Miskut, 5770 kilohertz banda 49 metros... 104(?
somewhat garbled) megahertz FM" over a choral folk music bed. Mostly
folk/indigenous music for the next 40 minutes, exception was Pink's
"Get This Party Started" at 2319, and what seemed to be a promo for a
music program at 2322, details in English, but not clear at all.
(Gerry Bishop, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** NIGERIA [non]. see CANADA
** NORWAY. LA1LGN and LM1LGN http://www.ciphersource.net/la1b/Forum/
are special event stations located at the operating site of the Bergen
Radio coastal station LGN in Norway. The operation commemorates 90
years of service for ships at sea. LA1LGN is on the air until the 17th
of November and again after the 30th of November. Between the 18th and
30th of November the call LM1LGN will be used. On the 23rd and 24th of
November, LGN will be open for traffic with radio amateurs. LGN will
call radio amateurs on its working frequency on 3631 kHz upper
sideband, and listen for calls between 3650 and 3700 kHz. Radio
amateur stations may call using CW or upper sideband - note, not lower
sideband - and LGN will answer all calls on USB (RSGB via Mike Terry,
Nov 23, DXLD)
** PAKISTAN: Winter B-02 schedule for Radio Pakistan with some
frequency changes:
ENGLISH(ASSAMI) 0045-0115 11655 15455
URDU 0045-0215 15485 17895
BANGLA 0115-0200 11655 15455
HINDI 0215-0300 11655 15455 || retimed ex 0200-0245
TAMIL 0315-0345 15455 17540 || retimed ex 0245-0315
GUJARATI 0400-0430 15485 17825 || retimed ex 0330-0400
URDU 0500-0700 15100 17835 21460
URDU/ENGLISH 0800-1105 17835 21465
INDONESIAN 0900-0930 C A N C E L L E D !!!
TAMIL 0945-1015 15625 17680 || retimed ex 1000-1030
SINHALA 1015-1045 15625 17680 || retimed ex 1145-1215
HINDI 1100-1145 11555 15625 || retimed ex 1030-1115
CHINESE 1200-1230 11570 15105
BANGLA 1200-1245 15625 17680 || retimed ex 1115-1145
NEPALI 1245-1315 15625 17680 || retimed ex 1215-1245
TURKI 1330-1400 5860 7375 || retimed ex 1345-1415
URDU 1330-1530 11570 15070* || * ex 15105
RUSSIAN 1415-1500 7375 9385
DARI 1515-1545 5860 7375
ENGLISH 1600-1615 11570 15070* 15530 17725 || * ex 15105
TURKISH 1630-1700 9385 11565* || * ex 11655
URDU 1700-1900 9400* 11895 || * ex 9290 [no English??]
PERSIAN 1715-1800 7555* 9375* || retimed ex 1700-1745 * ex
7540/9385
URDU(ISLAMABAD) 1800-1900 7555* || * ex 7540
ARABIC 1815-1900 9385 11565 || retimed ex 1745-1800
(Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 22 via DXLD)
** PALAU. Glenn, Read the recent log and comments regarding Palau 9965
and lack of call-sign. It is very probable that what I assumed was the
call T8BZ may have been maildrop info as per Mr. Lam's log indicates.
When I checked PWBR for an address to QSL (which I enjoy doing) the
station is now named "Radio Station T8BZ", formerly KHBN. I assumed
that was the "ID" I heard. I will be more careful with my IDs in the
future. Checked 9965, 1000+ UT, but reception of the 31m band is bad
to worse this AM. 73 (Scott R. Barbour Jr-NH, Nov 23, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
Scott, Tnx for the clarification. I certainly wasn`t questioning your
hearing T8BZ ID. The station really has a split personality. Now that
you mention it, it would be interesting to find out if they ever
actually use that on the air. 73, (Glenn to Scott, via DXLD)
** PARAGUAY. Dear Mr Glenn Hauser: Greetings from Paraguay! I would
like to advise that Radiodifusión América continues with experimental
transmissions. To date, we have received many, useful reports. This is
especially the case for the frequency 7737 KHZ. A few have also been
received for 9983 KHZ. No reports have arrived for 2300 KHZ. Reports
for 1480 KHZ have come from our own region. We have been able to
improve the modulation quality, and have a transmission power increase
programmed. Many of the components required for this increase are
presently in-hand. Your reception reports will be most welcome!
With best regards (Adán Mur, Radiodifusión América, Asunción,
Paraguay, ramerica@rieder.net.py Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** PHILIPPINES. B-02 for Radio Veritas Asia with corrections effective
Nov. 17:
BENGALI 0030-0055 15215 PUG 250 kW / 300œ
1400-1425 9590 PUG 250 kW / 300œ || ex 9540
BURMESE 2330-2355 11725 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1130-1155 9615 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
CANTONESE 2300-2325 12010 PUG 250 kW / 331œ || ex 11705
FILIPINO 2230-2255 7265 PUG 250 kW / 030œ
1500-1525 15360 PUG 250 kW / 300œ || Wed,Fri,Sun
1525-1555 15360 PUG 250 kW / 300œ || Mon,Tue,Thu,Sat
HINDI 0030-0055 15570 PUG 250 kW / 300œ
1330-1355 9590 PUG 250 kW / 300œ
HMONG 1000-1025 9555 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
INDONESIAN 2300-2325 11820 PUG 250 kW / 222œ
2300-2325 9505 PUG 250 kW / 222œ
1200-1225 9505 PUG 250 kW / 222œ
KACHIN 2330-2355 11705 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1230-1255 9615 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
KAREN 0000-0025 11725 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1200-1225 9615 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
MANDARIN 2100-2255 6190 PUG 250 kW / 350œ
1000-1155 9520 PUG 250 kW / 355œ
RUSSIAN 0130-0225 17830 PUG 250 kW / 015œ
1500-1555 11795 PUG 250 kW / 330œ
SINHALA 0000-0025 11820 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1330-1355 9520 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
TAMIL 0030-0055 15520 PUG 250 kW / 280œ || ex 15240
1400-1425 9520 PUG 250 kW / 270œ
TELUGU 0100-0125 15530 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1430-1455 9535 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
URDU 0100-0125 15335 PUG 250 kW / 300œ
0100-0125 17860 PUG 250 kW / 300œ || ex 17845
1430-1455 9670 PUG 250 kW / 300œ
VIETNAMESE 2330-2355 9670 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
0130-0225 15530 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1030-1125 11850 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
1300-1325 7265 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
ZOMI-CHIN 0000-0025 11705 PUG 250 kW / 280œ
73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Nov 22 via DXLD)
** RUSSIA. Re Yakutsk: There has been wrong power data circulating in
recent years. According to official info from Radio Rossii in 2001y,
the power used at that time was 250 kW on 7200, 100 kW on 7345, but
only 5 kW on 4825 and 7140 kHz (which in the DX press was claimed
having 50kW although official info listed them with only 5 kW already
in the mid-1990s). 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Nov 23, DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. VOR German service now posted the current transmitter site
list; one position is quite interesting:
Bolshakovo: 6235 (!), 12010
Moscow sites: 5940, 6145, 7290, 7340, 7390, 11655
Tbilisskaya: 7300, 15540
Samara: 7215
Yekaterin`burg: 7125/11930, 7380
(Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** RUSSIA. Seemingly Tbilisskaya is the official location name of the
tx site there at the Moscow radiohouse, despite IBB and DWL use
Krasnodar instead. GFC uses 'ARM' Armavir on their HFCC registration
table (Wolfgang Bueschel, Stuttgart, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Tbilisskaya: That's indeed the actual name of the large transmitter
plant north of the Caucasus mountains which is frequently called
either Armavir or Krasnodar. I have not seen really good maps of this
region so far but the site (called after the small village
Tbilisskoye) should be some 120 km away from Krasnodar and some 80 km
away from Armavir. Like considering Elsterwerda as "Berlin"... yes, I
know, we speak about Russia... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Nov 23, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) See also MOLDOVA, SYRIA
** SYRIA [non]. Re: ``Just heard Arabic Radio starting at 1600 on 7470
// 12085 although not running exact at the same time. Via Russia-
Samara?"``
Perhaps rather Tbilisskaya [more: see RUSSIA above], considering the
quite limited operation of the Samara site these days (as I recall
problems with the main power supply were mentioned as reason when RVI
and Radio Maryja transmissions were moved to Tbilisskaya), but anyway
most likely via Russia, and using 25 metres in summer but 41 metres in
winter is typical Russian frequency selection. But the actual mystery
is still the pseudo-// 12085 which apparently originates neither from
the CIS nor from another one of the usual suspects. Kind regards, (Kai
Ludwig, Germany, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** UKRAINE. There could be no greater proof that superpower is no
match for avoiding the auroral zone. If RUI is really running 1000 kW
on 9810, it`s unusable here, 0100 UT Nov 23 -- certainly a signal, but
weak and heavy flutter (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U K. UNSILENCED VOICE OF THE 'BEEB'
Austin Bay, November 22, 2002
Late autumn, 2001. U.S. forces were at a delicate point in the Afghan
war when I had the chance to meet a "field grade special operations
officer" recently returned from the combat zone. Recent events hung
heavy in his eyes. He had been in the Himalayas — and no, I couldn't
ask and didn't ask for longitude and latitude.
Our conversation, however, did have one laugh line. "These tribesmen,
sir," the officer told me, "they all listen to the BBC." He was
pleased, but also a little astonished. He shook his head, and the grin
broke out. "They don't believe anything put out by the Taliban
[government]. They're talking to us about what they hear on BBC. The
tribes know what's going on."
I replied, kidding him, "Are we surprised?" I really wasn't that
blase. I was impressed, once again, by the power of "the Beeb."
The United Kingdom provides fighter-bombers and ground troops to fight
al Qaeda and Saddam, but in many ways the BBC is Britain's most potent
contribution to not only the current war effort but the world as a
whole, which is why we should collectively complain when myopic Brit
budgeteers propose cutting World Service operations. That's a pence
rich, pound poor bad idea if there ever was one.
Call BBC World Service Western civilization's WMI — Weapon of Mass
Instruction — but the reason it works is credibility, not megawatts or
megabucks.
World Service broadcasts in 43 languages. Even Earth's hard corners
have portable radios galore. Address people in their own language and
provide a program that examines local and regional issues, and for a
while you'll draw an audience — but it takes credibility to keep it.
Credence and credibility, however, are earned, not invented. Earning
those spurs means telling the truth as best a human organization can,
when truth hurts as well as when it helps. It means addressing with
dedicated accuracy local issues, from the Congo Basin to Kabul, and
doing so hour by hour, update by update.
Tell the Big Lie, Adolf Hitler's propagandist Joseph Goebbels advised,
and tell it often. But the good news is, on a planet where individual,
choice-producing communication technology proliferates, the small,
steady truth-with-a-little-t ultimately overwhelms the big spin jobs,
conspiracy theories and prevarications. Eventually, the man with crops
withering from drought no longer listens to the government that
assures him it's raining.
In the long haul, truth penetrates. It happened in Eastern Europe
during the Cold War, where the BBC and Radio Free Europe — aided by
rock 'n' roll — proved more powerful than communist state agitprop. In
Afghanistan's isolated valleys, villages and mountains hiding herdsmen
and guerrilla armies, the bone-tired officer said tribesmen he had
just met "know what's going on."
That's information penetration as a positive, both for tribes seeking
to control their own destiny and American commandos making contact.
Information, cultural and technological-penetration issues, however,
also lie at the roots of Osama bin Laden's terror. Islamists abhor the
cultural and political effects of the BBC, rock music and Hollywood.
Autocrats everywhere hate criticism.
Are Hollywood "values" anathema to traditional societies? Sure,
lasciviousness and pulp are anathema to American society. However,
many people — in the Middle East, in Africa — will tell you in a
whisper they prefer Hollywood to government-written soap operas.
Choice has political appeal.
For people living in an oppressed or corrupt society, the truth can
whet demand for change. When demands go unrealized, people tantalized
feel denied. Local autocrats play on that frustration, and attempt to
shift blame for lack of local change from themselves to the United
States and the West. Sometimes they succeed, though BBC World Service
covers that political judo trick, as well.
Himalayan trust in the BBC's factual reporting, however, is bad news
for anti-Western multiculturalists, particularly the Marx-drenched
dolts in American academia who argue that "cultures erect their own
unique truth" and that the BBC is "colonizing the minds" of "other
peoples." What garbage. People know what's what. Drought-wracked
farmers know it ain't raining. Unfortunately, too many people on this
planet still live in hellholes where speaking freely gets them killed.
Truth alone does not make a people free, but even in Afghanistan, it's
a big leg up when building a better nation.
Austin Bay is a nationally syndicated columnist (Washington Times
[Moony], via Kim Elliott, Artie Bigley, DXLD)
** U S A. TIP LEADS TO ARREST OF FUGITIVE FROM KENTUCKY
SUSPECT ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AT SHERIFF'S DEPUTY IN BELL COUNTY
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/11/23/ke112302s318493.htm
By Alan Maimon, The Courier-Journal Nov 23
A tip received by ''America's Most Wanted'' and forwarded to federal
officials led to the arrest of Kentucky fugitive Steve Anderson in
rural Cherokee County, N.C., yesterday, authorities said.
Anderson, a white supremacist who operated an illegal radio station
from his Pulaski County home, had been at large since allegedly
shooting at a Bell County sheriff's deputy on Oct. 14, 2001. He was
arrested in the mountains of southwestern North Carolina by the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the North Carolina State Bureau
of Investigation.
''It's a relief he's been taken into custody, especially without
incident,'' said Don York of the ATF's Louisville office. York said
the ATF captured Anderson entering a residence, but he declined to
elaborate.
Anderson was being held last night in Asheville, N.C., pending his
transfer to Kentucky, authorities said.
York said the television program received a tip about Anderson's
whereabouts after airing its second segment on him about a month ago.
The tip was forwarded to the ATF, which worked the case with North
Carolina authorities.
Anderson is accused of shooting an automatic weapon at Scott Elder,
who had pulled Anderson's truck over north of Middlesboro for a
traffic violation. Elder was unharmed after Anderson allegedly opened
fire, although his cruiser was struck about 25 times.
Police said Anderson then drove into the mountains, and a search of
his property turned up explosives and guns. Anderson had attracted
attention in Pulaski County several years ago by playing host to a
small Ku Klux Klan rally during which a cross was burned. He also
operated a shortwave radio station out of his home, where his
commentary against blacks, Jews, immigrants and the federal government
drew the attention of the Federal Communications Commission.
The Anti-Defamation League complained to the FCC about Anderson's
broadcasts, and the agency eventually rescinded his license. Anderson
continued to broadcast despite the FCC action.
Anderson was a member of the Kentucky State Militia, a civilian
paramilitary group, until April 2001. The militia said it dismissed
Anderson because he refused to shut down his radio operation.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, Anderson also has ties to the
Christian Identity Movement, a loosely defined group that claims Jews
are the offspring of the devil. Anderson also allegedly threatened an
Eastern Kentucky newspaper editor who included him in a series on
hate.
The ADL's director of fact-finding, Mark Pitcavage of Columbus, Ohio,
said he was glad that Anderson had been caught, ''because he was a
dangerous man who had already shot at a police officer and threatened
more violence in his radio show. For public safety, it's a good
thing.''
Pitcavage said the capture also was gratifying because ''people in
militia and extremist groups admired he wasn't caught.'' Bell County
Sheriff Harold Harbin said: ''It's good news. I knew eventually we'd
catch him. It sends a message you can't get away forever.''
(Louisville Courier-Journal via Artie Bigley, DXLD)
For the newcomer, this was the guy who operated United Patriot Radio
and before that Kentucky State Militia Radio (gh, DXLD)
FORMER MILITIA MEMBER ARRESTED IN NORTH CAROLINA
AUTHORITIES SAY MAN, ON THE LAM FOR A YEAR, FIRED SHOTS AT DEPUTY
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - A former member of the Kentucky State Militia on the
run for more than a year was arrested in western North Carolina
yesterday. Steve Anderson fled into the Eastern Kentucky mountains on
Oct. 14, 2001, after allegedly shooting at a Bell County deputy during
a traffic stop.
Deputy Scott Elder was not injured, but his cruiser was hit more than
20 times by rifle fire, authorities said. Anderson's truck was found
the next day with a pipe bomb and ammunition inside. A search of his
residence turned up more weapons and explosives.
Anderson was a member of Kentucky's militia until April 2001. He also
has ties to the Christian Identity Movement, a group that considers
white Christians superior to non-whites and Jews.
The militia said it dismissed Anderson because he made inflammatory
comments about the U.S. government, blacks, Jews and immigrants over
an unlicensed radio station he operated from his Pulaski County home.
Anderson also threatened an Eastern Kentucky newspaper editor who
included him in a series on hate.
Agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested Anderson in a rural
location in Cherokee County, N.C. He was taken into custody without
incident and was being held in Asheville, N.C., pending his transfer
back to Eastern Kentucky, said Don York, a spokesman for the ATF in
Louisville.
York said Anderson was arrested Friday morning, but had no other
details of the capture. "We were very relieved he was arrested without
getting violent," York said.
The television show "America's Most Wanted" profiled Anderson recently
and York said a tipster's call to the show led to Anderson's capture.
"We had followed a lot of tips to dead ends before this," York said.
York said Anderson will likely face an extradition hearing next week
in North Carolina (Lexington KY Herald-Leader Nov 23 via gh, DXLD)
** U S A. CHARLOTTE SENDS REGRETS
U.S. Propaganda czar Charlotte Beers today canceled her luncheon
speaking engagement at the National Press Club. It was the third time
that the former J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy CEO canceled an
appearance before the Washington press corps.
The NPC did not provide a reason why Beers dropped the event from her
schedule. A State Dept. staffer told this website that Beers doesn't
like appearing before the press.
Beers has been maintaining a low-profile of late. Her last public
utterances were to the first annual Conference of Central Asian
Teachers of English in Samarqand, Uzbekistan. Beers addressed the
group via video from D.C. During that address, she expressed the
importance for public diplomacy officials to get the word out. "Our
charter is to both inform and influence. Public speaking is a big, big
part of that," she said.
Lost big opportunity
Through today's "no show" at the NPC, Beers lost a major platform in
which she could have taken on the latest criticism of America's
propaganda efforts.
That was fired by Kim Andrew Elliott, an analyst in the Office of
Research at the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau. Writing in the
Nov. 16 New York Times, Elliott questioned the merits of Beers' plan
to "air mini-documentaries about the lives of Muslim Americans" in
places like Indonesia.
The 25-year international broadcasting veteran said he is not aware
"of any persons huddled by their radios to hear about the achievements
and values of the U.S. or any other country."
People overseas aren't looking for propaganda that puts U.S. policies
in their best light. They get enough propaganda from their own
governments. Elliott also said that no amount of public diplomacy spin
will "make a dent in the public opinion in the Arab world, that
largely opposes American policies toward Israel and Palestine and to
any possible American invasion of Iraq."
Rather than propaganda, Elliott believes the U.S. should promote
independent broadcasting to provide Arabs with the good and bad of
American democracy. "Arabs may wind up understanding America a bit
more and dislike it a bit less," wrote Elliott. (O`Dwyer`s PR Daily
Nov 18 via DXLD) http://www.odwyerpr.com/members/1118beers.htm
Canceling a high-profile speaking engagement about creating a "good
public image" three times. Who was the ad wizard who came up with that
one? Oh, Charlotte Beers. Face it, Beers is a New York City socialite
who raked in huge sales commissions for ad firms because of her
personal contacts. She knows nothing about branding, nothing about
foreign affairs and nothing about Muslims in the Middle East. Surely
Colin Powell knows somebody out there who is more qualified to deal
with this issue than Beers. This whole project is a misguided
embarrassment (Angry PR Dude (11/18, ibid.)
** U S A. 7415, WBCQ Wed. 6:30 p.m. [2330 UT] after World of Radio
stay tuned for "Goddess Irena Won sings for you on WBCQ". Think of the
Universal Life lady singing popular standards, and you'll get the idea
of this show. She gives a webTV address. 11/20 (Larry Russell, MI,
MARE Tipsheet via DXLD)
** U S A. WWCR 9475, 16 Nov at 1441 with Bro Stair. Some guy wrote to
him and said he saw a cloud in the shape of a gun. It was very
detailed and was pointing west. Bro Stair's conclusion? Destruction is
coming to the west (Liz Cameron, MI, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) Obviously
** U S A. WHRA, 17650, 15 Nov at 2243 with religious pop tunes. Sacred
Name tune done to the YMCA theme. "His name is YHWH", with the W said
as dub-ya. The best was an anti-evolution tune- "Hey hey we're not
monkeys." The band is called Apologetix and they want to convert the
world thru' parodies. I have the sneaking suspicion that I am
possessed by a demon named sarcasm (Liz Cameron, MI, MARE Tipsheet via
DXLD)
** U S A. 1670, KHPY CA, Moreno Valley heard from 1930 (tune in) to
2020 EST 11/22 with non-stop 80s type rock/AC tearing up Redding at
times. Finally at 2015, then buried by Redding an anouncer "This is...
AM Stereo... KHPY Moreno Valley... 1670". During the test the signal
would suddenly pop in stronger then weaker. Adjusting power and or
directional pattern. They are listed at 10/9 KW U4. At about 2020 they
signal dropped off to nothing. I presume end of test (Drake R8, EWE
antennam Patrick Martin Seaside OR, multiple posts via DXLD) 9 kW at
night authorised? How could that be (gh, DXLD)
** U S A. Hi Glenn, 1200, WCHB, Taylor MI, 11/15 7 a.m. [1200 UT]
noted loud wide-band hash noise on 1190, 1210. Later checked on 1185-
1215 kHz and slightly beyond. It nulls in same direction as WCHB null.
I think we have a station testing the hated new In-Band-On-Channel
digital service that will kill MW radio. Yep IBOC. See DX LISTENING
DIGEST 2-141 Sept. 9. This does interfere with 1190, 1210 at night
too. grrrr (Larry Russell, MI, Nov 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) --
javascript is for jerks [Larry`s tagline]
** U S A. RE: EX-CNN'R JACO FIRED [BY KMOX-1120]
11/20/2002 2:48:37 PM Posted By: Jim Romenesko
From CHARLES JACO: There's not much I can say about this in public,
since the entire mess is now in the hands of AFL-CIO and AFTRA
attorneys and the National Labor Relations Board. Suffice it to say
there was no "gross misconduct." Period. "Gross misconduct", as all of
us in this business know, is the artful phrase that can let an
employer fire an employee without paying any severance. I'll advise
one and all when I can say more.
http://www.poynter.org/forum/?id=medianews (via Brock Whaley, DXLD)
** U S A. DASCHLE TIES THREATS TO FERVOR CREATED BY RADIO PROGRAMS
November 21, 2002 By DAVID FIRESTONE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 - Senator Tom Daschle, the Democratic leader, said
today that the criticism leveled against him this year on the Rush
Limbaugh radio show had increased the number of threats against him
and his family. In a news conference in which he summed up the
Congressional session, Mr. Daschle said that conservative shows like
Mr. Limbaugh's had transformed politics into entertainment, to the
detriment of the Democrats. Then he went a step further. "What happens
when Rush Limbaugh attacks those of us in public life is that people
aren't satisfied just to listen," Mr. Daschle said. "They want to act
because they get emotionally invested. And so, you know, the threats
to those of us in public life go up dramatically and - on our families
and on us in a way that's very disconcerting." "If entertainment
becomes so much a part of politics," he said, "and if that
entertainment drives an emotional movement in this country among some
people who don't know the difference between entertainment and
politics and who are then so energized to go out and hurt somebody,
that troubles me about where politics in America is going."
On his show today, Mr. Limbaugh said the accusation was part of a
pattern by Democrats to blame him and talk radio for their Election
Day losses, and said the Democrats were trying to counter his
influence. "It's not just against me," he said, "but it's against you
folks, the entire audience. You all now are being characterized as
unsophisticated barbarians. You don't know the difference between
politics and entertainment."
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/21/politics/21DASC.html?ex=1038899789&ei=1&en=974d91ec12e287d3
(via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD)
NOW MCCAIN BASHES LIMBAUGH: Arizona talk radio station KFYI 550 AM,
morning host Barry Young asked Senator John McCain (R-AZ) about the
flap created by Sen Tom Daschle's (D-SD) comments criticizing
talkradio host Limbaugh. The Snowy-Haired Senior Senator from Arizona
replied that he thinks of Limbaugh as a 'circus clown' and is
'entertaining' in much the same way as a clown... (via Brock Whaley,
DXLD)
** U S A. WLS RADIO HANGING UP ON CALLERS WHO 'SOUND OLD'
November 21, 2002 BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
If you happen to sound like you're older than 54 --- regardless of
what your actual age may be --- don't even bother calling in to any of
the talk shows on WLS-AM (890). You're not welcome anymore. Like it or
not, that's the official word from the new program chief of the ABC-
owned news/talk station. In a confidential memo to staffers this week,
WLS operations director Michael Packer ordered them to screen out "any
old sounding callers" no matter what they have to say. The directive
offers a rare glimpse into how far one radio station will go to zero
in on its target demographic --- in this case, those advertiser-
coveted listeners between the ages of 25 and 54."We do not want to air
any callers who sound over 54," Packer wrote. "We NEVER air anything
(content or callers) that sounds older than our very broad target,
which is 25 [to] 54. On occasion, when it makes sense, we will air
content or callers aimed at younger demos, but not older demos."
A second memo from Packer this week reminded his hosts and producers
to "make sure the content of your promo, the content of your show and
every caller screened for airing is laser focused on the WLS target--
the 40-year-old." Packer, who joined WLS in September after six years
as a radio consultant in Detroit, acknowledged that he wrote the
memos, but said they were intended simply as internal guidelines. "I
can tell you that we do put on some callers who are older than 54
years old," he said. "It is whether they are 'old sounding' that is
the key --- not their chronological age. "You can have a person that
is 80 years old that doesn't sound old. I would say that Mike Wallace
and Barbara Walters don't sound old to me. Then again, you can have a
depressed 35-year-old that does sound old. In any talk station, there
is a screening process that takes place."So how should Packer's hosts
and producers determine whether a caller sounds too old?"It is a
subjective process that they go through," he said. "They're trained to
listen to people and to their pace. Obviously, they're looking for
good communicators--people that are articulate and have something to
say and can get right to the point."
In general, talk radio formats tend to appeal to older listeners, who
also make up the majority of callers. In the latest Arbitron quarterly
survey, WLS ranked eighth overall with a 3.7 percent audience share --
- down from second place with a 5.0 share in spring. Among listeners
in the 25-to-54 category, the station was 14th, with a 3.1 share ---
down from 10th with a 3.6 share in spring (via Brock Whaley, Bill
Westenhaver, DXLD)
Whether they say it on the air or not, nearly all talk stations have a
policy to severely limit the older demo[graphic] calls they get and
put on the air. One station, WFLA, repositioned itself as younger in
the early 90's under PD Gabe Hobbs. Hosts were instructed to say
things like, "Oh, another blue haired old bat" during chats with old
women and, "I guess none of the old guys had strokes tonight, 'cause
they are calling me!" to old men. The idea was to sound hipper to the
younger demos and drive away the 55+ or 60+ crowd that mostly wanted
to talk about SSI benefits. It worked, magnificently. WFLA is now one
of the biggest and youngest major market talkers (David Gleason, CA,
NRC-AM via DXLD)
** U S A. Detroit Viacom update:
CBS O&O channel 62 no news (CBS)
CBS O&O channel 50 to run a newscast at 10 PM ELT produced by Scipps-
Howard owned WXYZ channel 7 (ABC, former ABC O&O)
Channel 50 is UPN (Brock Whaley, GA, Nov 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. I was recently back in Minneapolis in June while visiting my
parents. WCCO's single tower is located just off of hwy US 10 in Coon
Rapids; NW of Minneapolis. It is completely surrounded by residential
homes on three sides [sic].
I remember back in the late 80's reading an article in the Mpls. Star-
Tribune that if the tower ever fell (sic), they would not be allowed
to rebuild on the same site. Therefore, WCCO was trying to get
historical status of some sort. I do not know if this ever evolved to
fruition on their part.
When I moved to Seattle in 1989, WCCO was heard occasionally; fighting
it out with KIKI in Honolulu. Then, KNCO in Grass Valley, CA and CKKY
in Wainwright, AB showed up on frequency; thereby pretty much
eliminating WCCO.
Here in Helena, MT, WCCO only rarely makes an appearance; CKKY
dominating most of the time. KSTP-1500 is heard daily here with quite
listenable signals.
When I was camping in NW MN in June during severe thunderstorms, I
would always tune in to WCCO @ 18 minutes past the hour when they give
their weather reports. Even though I was in Clearwater, MN, about 40
miles NW of WCCO, their signal was atrocious! Day or night! WCCO NEEDS
a new transmitter site and tower; I think I will inquire. C-C-O, 8-3-
Oh needs help; it's an institution.
By the way, I have an extra WCCO-830 coffee mug; black with gold
letters. Free to the first person that shows me the earliest QSL card
from them. If you're overseas, you pay shipping! I have one from 1980,
so I probably won't count (Terry Palmersheim, KC7LDP, Helena, MT, Nov
22 DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Haven`t heard from Terry about how he will adjudicate this offer, but
same has already appeared e.g. on hard-core-dx (gh, DXLD)
** U S A. JONATHAN ADELSTEIN SWORN IN AS FCC COMMISSIONER
FCC nominee Jonathan Adelstein was sworn in this week to fill the
Commission's remaining open slot. The nomination of Adelstein, a
Democrat and a protégé of South Dakota Sen Tom Daschle, had been held
hostage for most of this year because of political wrangling over
several judicial nominations. Adelstein will finish out the term of
former Commissioner Gloria Tristani, which ends in June. The only
other Democrat on the FCC, Michael J. Copps, called it "a happy day"
for himself and the FCC. Copps said Adelstein will make "an
exceptionally fine new colleague" whose addition will bring the FCC up
and running at full complement.
Okayed last summer by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee, Adelstein was confirmed by the Senate November 14 in a
procedural floor vote. Earlier this year, Adelstein's FCC nomination
appeared dead for the year as Senate Republicans and Democrats
squabbled over judicial nominations, and some Republicans, placed
anonymous holds on Adelstein's nomination. The election and the change
in Senate control obviated the issues involved, however. The White
House nominated Adelstein last February (ARRL Letter Nov 22 via DXLD)
** U S A. FCC'S COPPS TO CONDUCT HEARINGS
Fri Nov 22, 2:03 AM ET By Brooks Boliek
WASHINGTON (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Frustrated with the Republican
majority's foot dragging, Democratic FCC commissioner Michael Copps is
planning to conduct field hearings on his own to examine the effect of
media consolidation. Copps has been pushing FCC chairman Michael
Powell for the hearings but has been rebuffed by the chairman and the
agency's Mass Media Bureau. Copps told reporters Thursday that he
planned to conduct the hearings despite the opposition from the
chairman and FCC staff. "This is not an inside-the-Beltway issue,"
Copps said. "It goes to the fundamentals of Democracy."
The FCC is reviewing a slew of media regulations that tell companies
who can own what and how many media properties they can own. It is
expected to take a vote on modifications to the regulations, including
the rule that effectively limits the number of TV stations one company
can own, the federal ban that prevents a newspaper from owning a TV
station in a single market and the limits on media properties
companies can own in a region. "Suppose we make a mistake. What do we
do then?" he said. "How do we put that genie back into the bottle?"
Copps described Powell's response to his call for hearings as
"unenthusiastic" at best and that the Mass Media Bureau was "digging
in its heels."
A spokesman from the chairman's office said Powell was not standing in
Copps' way. "The chairman not only welcomes public participation in
the process, he encourages it," the spokesman said. "He has every
confidence that the public understands how to participate, as
evidenced by the fact that nearly half the comments filed to date --
halfway through the comment period -- in the media-ownership
proceeding are from individuals. If commissioner Copps thinks
something more can be gained from having hearings, he should feel free
to do so."
By having hearings on his own, Copps can make it embarrassing for
Powell, who could end up being painted as anti-consumer in the debate
over an issue that may be beginning to resonate nationwide. "I'm
detecting as I travel around the country a growing interest and
concern," Copps said. An aide to Powell said the chairman was
unconcerned about the political fallout. His main concern is getting
the evidence to back up the commission's decision that will stand up
in court.
The federal court has thrown out several media-ownership rulings,
contending that they have not been backed up by empirical evidence.
Powell's major thrust is to develop economic data that will allow the
court to uphold the commission's decision. "What the head of the PTA
in Kansas City has to say about the issue isn't going to add anything
that's not already in the record," the aide said. "You spend an awful
lot of resources on a hearing that could be better spent elsewhere.
... Sustainability is the key."
Although Powell sees no need for hearings, at least one Republican
member of the commission, Kevin Martin, said he wouldn't mind having
hearings as long as they didn't interfere with the commission's
timetable. The move was applauded by representatives of the creative
community, who have been pushing the commission to retain media-
ownership controls. "We think it makes sense to have hearings in Los
Angeles and other major production centers where the creative
community can be heard, not just in Washington where the lobbyists for
the major conglomerates march the halls blaring their big trumpets,"
said Chuck Fries, president of the Caucus for Television Producers,
Writers and Directors. "We've been urging hearings for the creative
community ever since we sent a letter to the FCC in June."
That sentiment was echoed by Greg Hessinger, AFTRA national executive
director. "Colossal changes in ownership consolidation through the
last decade has seriously reduced the diversity of voices in the
marketplace, marginalizing the interests of local communities and
restricting access to distribution outlets for creative talent," he
said. "Regardless of what position one takes, it is imperative that
the public -- whose interest the FCC is bound to serve -- is provided
with adequate information to understand these issues."
Copps and representatives from AFTRA and the caucus have scheduled
private meetings with Copps on Sunday, when they plan to discuss their
concerns. While Copps said he had no empirical proof, he linked the
coarsening of television with the increasingly fewer number of media
companies that control larger and larger chunks of the industry. "Why
is it we seem to be in the midst of a race to the bottom at the same
time the industry is in a race to consolidate? Has consolidation led
to an increase in the amount of indecent programming?" Copps asked.
"We must answer these questions before the commission votes on whether
to eliminate our media-concentration protections this spring."
Copps' comments come after CBS aired "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show"
on Wednesday -- the show in which supermodels pranced down the runway
in what used to be called unmentionables. Copps showed reporters
samples of the 250-300 e-mails he received Thursday morning
complaining about the show. Copps called for a change in the FCC's
indecency regulations, saying the agency receives "too many indecency
complaints from consumers, and too many truly indecent broadcasts are
falling through the cracks." Violent programming should also be
included in the FCC's indecency definition, he said. "You can't tell
me this is what the pioneers of the great broadcast industry had in
mind when they brought radio and TV to us," he said (via Brock Whaley,
DXLD)
I had one eye on that show, which was delayed an hour at the last
minute by the network; IMHO it wasn`t indecent enough, and I get so
tired of the same prance, the same pouty expressions by all of them
(gh, DXLD)
** U S A. I have heard of DXers that really bug stations by calling
them to complain about being on high power, overmod, etc. I am sure
station CEs love to get that kind of stuff. :) I feel that way, too.
All stations have monitors inside. I worked at a TV station (KOZK-TV
21) that would occasionally have a fritz go through the video. Turned
out to be the local taxi transmitter causing it. It took four
engineers and an electronically-savvy control room operator to figure
it out. We did NOT need a viewer "expert" putting in his two cents!
(Richard Dale, MO, NRC-AM via DXLD)
There is something missing here. It sounds as if you believe that 100%
of viewers are Not experts. What kind of experience have you had with
viewers in this area? Does this mean that, if a viewer called with a
technical complaint or comment, you automatically assign it to the
two-cents category? If you call (at 10 pm) your local AM station and
complain that they are at 1 kW instead of their licensed 16 watts, it
is in the two-cents category and therefore subject to disbelief and
ridicule? An outside viewer can be a ham with 40 years experience, own
a spectrum analyzer, you name it. Does the TV station automatically
disregard his input solely because he is just a viewer. Certainly 98
or 99% of viewers are just that. But I refuse to accept that it is
100%. It took FIVE people to resolve this ?? There is a story here, as
well. This may be part of the reason that so many stations are
cheating at night. They assume the listener is just Joe Schmuck. Every
listener is Joe Schmuck. Unable to notice. Well it is dangerous to
assume that every listener is in the two cents category. I have seen
this attitude in calling help desks for technical issue resolution. It
is discouraging to find out that you know more than the fellow at the
help desk. How do stations react to listener comments? (Bob Foxworth,
FL, ibid.)
I know of DXers that bug stations with complaints often. Most
technical ones go to the CE. If it is a valid complaint then the CE
may not be upset. But I have heard of DXers that do nothing but
complain to a station about everything. You splatter a bit too much so
you must be over modulating or your signal is strong tonight so you
didn't drop power did you. This goes on and on. I am not taking about
the technical DXer or Ham. I called KGUY 1010 Portland one time as
they were not dropping power at LSS. They have a PSAA and a PSRA I
believe. But they were staying on AN with 4500 watts. The CE checked
and the timer had a problem. He appreciated that I caught that before
the FCC. I think a CE appreciate "help" but not to be bugged by people
that have no idea about skip and propagation, etc. 73s, (Patrick
Martin Seaside OR, ibid.)
** U S A. Glenn, Received the December schedule for WGTE TV Channel
30, Toledo, OH today. Empire of the Air will be shown on "Ken Burns
American Stories" Monday December 9 at 9:00 pm EST so it appears to be
on PBS nationwide (Charlie Hinkle, Pioneer, OH, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. EWTN EXPANDS CATHOLIC MUSIC PROGRAMS
Hello Mike, I too am delighted you’ve passed the 200th issue
milestone. May it never be a millstone! We are moving ahead with new
episodes of our EWTN-produced music shows. ``Catholic Jukebox`` is a
program of music by contemporary Catholic singers and songwriters.
``The Message in Music`` features devotional songs, chant and more
serious and contemplative music. By the way, we have revised our
Catholic Jukebox website, http://www.ewtn.com/radio/jukebox.htm
Listeners can hear a continuous play of music, search for a particular
artist, or get contact information about the artists we feature. If
anyone would like to submit music for consideration for either
program, they should send CDs to:
Thom Price, EWTN Radio, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210-2164.
God bless! Most sincerely in Christ, Thom Price, Director of
Programming, EWTN Global Catholic Radio, TPrice@ewtn.com (Nov 25
Catholic Radio Update, Nov 22 via DXLD)
** WALES [non]. Glenn, This is a correction to the Wales Radio
International schedule information in DXLD 2-178. Wales Radio
International is indeed on 9735 at 0300 Saturday. The schedule on the
Wales Radio Int'l website appears to be correct. Geoffrey had Wales
Radio Int'l and the BBC mixed up in the earlier e-mail (Dan Sampson,
Prime Time Shortwave, Nov 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.:
Geoffrey, Did I misunderstand your previous message? I had the
impression you were hearing Wales Radio International on 9825 with QRM
from R. Havana Cuba on 9820 (Daniel Sampson)
Subject: So Sorry! Hello, Daniel, I think that this Welsh business if
beginning to get to several of us. Yes, I made a major error about
Wales and Cuba in my e-mail to you. It is the BBC, on 9825 kHz which
is suffering QRM from Cuba on 9820 kHz, and not that other British
station, Wales Radio International. When I contacted Merlin
Communications I mentioned both WRI and the BBC and their respective
transmission problems. When I communicated with you I mixed up the two
stations in my own originally-correct message to Merlin. Wales Radio
International does suffer general QRM on its new frequency of 9735
kHz.
I have just received an e-mail from another employee of Merlin
Communications questioning Canada being in North America and thus
whether Canada is being targeted by Wales Radio International's
transmissions to North America - a term which I suppose in some
minds is an alternative for the USA. This being the case, she
suggests, I cannot expect to receive WRI without QRM!
[!! Actually, the primary country in North America is Canada... And
Merlin obviously know nothing about propagation either, below... gh]
As if that were not enough, the Merlin employee quotes 7325 kHz rather
than 6010 kHz for the European transmission at 2130-2200 GMT. I have
asked her to list the Welsh station's current broadcast schedule. She
also declares that I will not be able to hear the WRI transmissions
for Europe anywhere in the UK. My betting is that I will, though not
presumably on the 7325 kHz which she quotes.
I had the computer copy this directly from WRI website: Celtic Notes:
============================================
Winter Transmissions start October 27 2002
Country Season Frequency Time Day
To N. America Winter 9.735 MHz 0300-0330 UT Saturday
(Rampisham) Summer 9.795 MHz 0200-0230 UT Saturday
To Europe Winter 6.010 MHz 2130-2200 UT Friday
(Skelton) Summer 7.325 MHz 2030-2100 UT Friday
To Australasia Winter 17.625 MHz 1130-1200 UT Saturday
(Rampisham) Summer 17.845 MHz 1230-1300 UT Saturday
WINTER FREQUENCIES APPLY FROM SUNDAY OCTOBER 27 2001 [sic]
Information courtesy of Merlin Communications
(via Geoffrey R., via Dan Sampson, DXLD)
WALES RADIO INTERNATIONAL - OFFICIAL TRANSMISSION INFORMATION
Glenn, We have some further information from Wales Radio International
from Geoffrey. They indicate that they use 7325 to Europe at 2130
Friday. We may need confirmation on that broadcast if it is indeed
7325 not 6010 (Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Hello, Daniel, I have just received the following information from
Marta at Merlin Communications. I trust that it removes any
misunderstanding all round. I note the European frequency of 7325 kHz
is listed rather than 6010 kHz. In fact, PWBR "2003" lists both
frequencies thus: 6010/7325. I note that the WRI website, Celtic
Notes, is only listing 6010 kHz for the winter season (R. Geoffrey
Rose, via Sampson, DXLD)
Dear Mr. Rose, Thank you very much for your prompt response. From the
27th of October WRI has the following services:
7325 kHz from 2130 to 2200 GMT targeting Europe (mainly the area of
Italy). [7325 is displayed as a `summer` frequency above]
9735 kHz from 0300 to 0330 GMT targeting the North part of the United
States and part of Canada.
17625 kHz from 1130 to 1200 GMT targeting Oceania.
Lorne looks after all the BBC transmissions into America with me as
his assistant but I am the account manager for the service we provide
to Wales Radio International. Once again I would like to thank you for
the useful information you have provide us with. Best regards (Marta
Moran-Alija, Merlin, via Rose via Sampson, DXLD)
Anyhow, WRI confirmed on 9735, UT Sat Nov 23 at 0300+; good signal,
but heavy flutter. No QRM here, but there could be if Paraguay be
active on 9737v (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
Glenn, I just got another e-mail from Geoffrey. He hears Wales Radio
Int'l to Europe on 7325 at 2130 UT Friday (Daniel Sampson, Arcadia,
WI, Nov 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
UNIDENTIFIED. 5903.70, 0440 Nov 22, Arabic OM talk, poor modulation,
Good signal (Giampaolo Galassi, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
PROPAGATION
+++++++++++
TRANSATLANTIC VHF CONTACT A NO-GO
Groups of amateurs from Germany, Canada and Ireland had no luck in
their attempt to make the first two-way transatlantic VHF contact in
conjunction with this week's Leonid meteor shower. The effort was, in
part, a quest for the Brendan Trophies http://www.irts.ie/brendan.htm
offered by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society http://www.irts.ie/
One group was on the Irish coast, while the other operated from
Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA) http://www.sonra.ca/
club station VO1AA, located at Signal Hill National Historic Site of
Canada. That's the spot where Marconi received the first transatlantic
signal almost 101 years ago. "It's been quite an adventure," said Paul
Piercey, VO1HE, who was at the Newfoundland end. "We never made the
contact because the meteor shower didn't seem as big as predicted, he
said." The Brendan Trophies will go to each of the operators of the
two Amateur Radio stations that first establish two-way communication
between Europe and North or South America on 2 meters. The teams in
Ireland and Newfoundland attempted to use the ionized meteor trails to
reflect FSK441 signals across the Atlantic. A 1999 effort to complete
a transatlantic 2-meter contact between Newfoundland and Scotland on
CW also was unsuccessful. The group conceded that bridging the more
than 1920-mile gap between Newfoundland and Ireland via meteor scatter
probably would require "an unusual kind of propagation." (Paul
Piercey, VO1HE, ARRL Letter Nov 22 via DXLD) ###