DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-010, January 17, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted afterwards at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldta03.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html For restrixions and searchable 2002 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid2.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn WORLD OF RADIO 1165: WRN : Rest of world Sat 0900, Eu only Sun 0530, NAm Sun 1500 WWCR: Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI; Sat 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 15039 and/or 7445 WBCQ: Mon 0545 7415 WRN ONDEMAND: [see INTERNATIONAL VACUUM below] [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1165.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1165.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1165h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1165h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1165.html WORLD OF RADIO on RADIO STUDIO X Hello Glenn, how are you ? First of all, our best wishes for the 2003 from all our staff. I'm writing to inform you that following a re- organization of our schedules since January 2003, we were forced to move WORLD OF RADIO to the following times: On Saturdays from 12:30 am to 1:00 am (local time). On Sundays from 9:30 pm to 09:00 pm (local time) Please, take note of these changes so as to inform your listeners in one of the next editions of WOR. Regards, (Massimiliano Marchi RADIO STUDIO X 1584 KhZ AM STEREO) So in UT: Sat 0000, Sun 2000 MUNDO RADIAL Emisión de enero y febrero en el aire a partir del 17 de enero en WWCR, 9475, los miércoles a las 2200, viernes a las 2215v, y además: Parte I Corriente: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0301a.ram Parte I Bajable: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0301a.rm Parte I Texto: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0301a.html Parte II Corriente: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0301b.ram Parte II Bajable: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0301b.rm Parte II Texto: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0301b.html Y dentro de un importante RADIO ENLACE en Radio Nederland: Corriente: http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/rnw/spaans/programa/radioenlace/radioenlace.rm Guión: http://www.rnw.nl/sp/toolbar/radioenlace.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Thanks for WOR. It's kinda geeky, but in a cool sort of way :-) (Bradley A. Bellaver, contributor via PayPal) ** AFGHANISTAN. FRANCE STARTS BROADCASTING RADIO PROGRAMMES TO AFGHANISTAN - Iran radio | Text of report by Iranian radio from Mashhad on 17 January The French government started broadcasting radio programmes to Kabul, the Afghan capital, on Thursday [16 January] with duration of 75 minutes a day. The programmes which are in the Persian, Dari and Pashto languages are broadcast at two times 35 and 40 minutes every day through a large transmitter of the Afghan government. Mrs Sella [phonetic], a radio staff member, told journalists that the radio called Radio Aaina [Radio Mirror] would broadcast every day a 35-minute round table programme where experts express their opinions. She added that the radio would also broadcast another 40-minute programme entitled ''What is going on in the provinces?'' which assesses the social, political, economic and cultural affairs of different Afghan provinces. She also said that programmes of Radio Aaina would also be broadcast through local transmitters of 15 provinces of Afghanistan. Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 0330 gmt 17 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) Large? WTFK?? ** ALASKA: The new 100 kW transmitter for KNLS in Alaska is expected to arrive on site in March. The on air date for programming to Asia in Chinese and to Siberia in Russian from this second transmitter is expected to be October 1 (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** ALASKA. HAARP POSES GLOBAL THREAT --- THE USE OF THE NEW GEOPHYSICAL WEAPON MIGHT LEAD TO THE GLOBAL CATASTROPHE. 18:08 2003- 01-15 http://english.pravda.ru/main/2003/01/15/42068.html (via Jilly Dybka, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 17895, R Afrika International verified an e-mail report in 28 days from v/s Préfet Mat Mathurin Butusolua. Although my report was send to the station's e-mail address in Passport, the reply came from his personal e-mail address mathurin54@hotmail.com Quoting from the e-mail: "I CHECKED THE REPORT. You have really listened to our Station. But I apologize, because of our financial crises, you have to wait still the QSL will be ready. For all informations, have a look at our homepage http://www.radioafrika.net I hope you will stay our truly listener and motivate other Americans to listen to Radio Afrika International. I am Préfet Mat Mathurin Butusolua from the Dem. Rep of Kongo and one of the staff of RAI. I am a moderator and every Sunday I have a programme called "correspondance and exchange". On this broadcast, I used to read all receptions reports and dedicate songs. To you i dedicate today, Dugu Kamelemba, a song by Oumou Sangare from Mali." Naturally, I was out of the house when the dedication took place, hi! (Rich D`Angelo, PA, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. VOICE OF RUSSIA RADIO REJECTS BELARUS'S EXPLANATION FOR CUTTING ITS BROADCASTS | Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR- TASS Moscow, 17 January: The state radio and broadcasting company Voice of Russia has denied that its broadcasts to Belarus` have been stopped owing to "a lack of funds in the republican budget to finance retransmission of the Russian radio programmes". ITAR-TASS was told at the radio station today that between 2000 and the end of 2002 it had paid for retransmission on time "from its own budget and in strict accordance with the obligations agreed with the Belarus` Republic's Ministry for Communications and Information Technology. In addition to Voice of Russia, retransmission on Belarus` VHF of programmes by the Russian radio stations Mayak and Yunost was also stopped at the beginning of the year "for economic reasons". The stations have not yet commented on this. According to Belteleradiokompaniya [Belarus` television and radio company], the receivers which retransmitted Russian radio programmes have been given to the Belarus` radio station Stolitsa and to regional radio broadcasting. Several months ago, Belarus` also significantly cut the volume of retransmissions to the republic of Russian television channels - Channel One, Russia, Culture and NTV. A new national channel - Naslediye - will soon appear on the frequencies used by the Russia and Culture channels, according to Belarus` Minister for Information Mikhail Padhayny. The minister said "these issues have already been agreed with the heads of the Russian channels". But the All-Russia State Television and Radio Company, which incorporates the Russia and Culture channels, says there has been no such agreement with Belarus. Source: ITAR-TASS news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1609 gmt 17 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 5256.0 USB, Minsk Utility transmitter, 0600-0615, Jan 11, Belarusian, IDs of ``Radio Stalica`` (pronounced Stalitsa), U.S. pop songs, 0615 weather forecasts with low temperatures, 0618 Belarusian pop songs, not // Minsk 6115. 34444. No other known Minsk Utility frequencies were heard in the 2-6 MHz range (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** BIAFRA [non]. The pictures of the first returned ppc's from V of Biafra International can be seen on : http://www.schoechi.de/pic-cla.html#Nigeria (Martin Schoech - PF 1136 - 06201 Merseburg - Deutschland, DXLD) ** CAMBODIA. MINISTER DEFENDS BAN ON VOA, RFA REBROADCASTS Phnom Penh Television (TVK), Cambodia's government-run television station, in its 1200 GMT newscast on 6 November 2002, carried an interview with Secretary of State for Information, Khiev Kanharit, regarding the ministry-imposed ban on Sambok Khmum's FM-105 relay of US-based Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). Kanharit said, "The reason is this. In principle, in each country, if a local radio station wants to sell broadcasting hours to a foreign station, it has to go through the government". The ministry had previously closed down Roat Theani Radio, after it entered into an agreement with Australian radio for live rebroadcasts without first seeking permission from the authorities. "If we think this is infringing upon the freedom of disseminating information", continued Kanharit, "this is entirely false". Kanharit went on to say that if a multitude of foreign stations bought air time without going through official procedures this would lead to "chaos in the administration and dissemination of information". Furthermore, he maintains that if the radio station happened to belong to the government, it would "cause a clash between governments". Kanharit continues, "French radio, the BBC radio, and so on, before they set up stations here, went through the Foreign Affairs Ministry. In other words, there was an agreement between governments, in principle, and then it was down to the Information Ministry. Sambok Khmum radio station used to be only one kilowatt strong. It can be heard only in Phnom Penh. Even if we ban it, people throughout Cambodia can still listen to VOA and RFA. So those making this accusation do not understand the law and possibly have some political motives in accusing the Information Ministry for banning Samkok Khmum radio from relaying the broadcasts of VOA and RFA. This is the procedure and the principle in running a state." Source: Television Kampuchea, Phnom Penh, in Cambodian 1200 gmt 16 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CANADA. INUIT RADIO NETWORK WANTS TO GO IT ALONE Non-profit Canadian broadcaster Taqramiut Nipingat Inc. (TNI), based in Nunavik, plans to launch its own regional radio network this summer. Since the early 1980s, TNI has broadcast its Innuttitut language programs via the CBC Northern Quebec service. These are on the air for three hours a day Monday-Friday. It is now negotiating a grant of $124,000 with the Quebec ministry of Culture and Communication to run its own radio network, which will allow it to double its daily programming from 15 to at least 30 hours a week. TNI wants to use the extra airtime for fundraising to help eliminate its deficit. CBC guidelines do not allow on-air fundraising or advertising. TNI has been using the CBC radio network because it has transmitters in each of Nunavik's 14 communities. TNI plans to use the Quebec government's grant to install temporary transmitters of its own in each community, and open a radio station in Kuujjuaq (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 January 2003 via DXLD) ** CANADA. LEBANESE AMBASSADOR SAYS MEDIA IN CANADA CONTROLLED BY ZIONISTS --- WebPosted Thu Jan 16 08:50:17 2003 The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE at http://cbc.ca/news OTTAWA-- Hussein Hoballah never guessed his small Montreal newspaper would end up sparking a major diplomatic incident. At issue, an interview with Lebanon's ambassador to Canada. The subject of the discussion was Canada's recent decision to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, a move the Lebanese government opposed. Hezbollah is considered a legitimate political party and liberating force in Lebanon. Ambassador Raymond Baaklini in a small Montreal newspaper Ambassador Raymond Baaklini blamed Ottawa's ban on what he called a "Zionist group in Canada." "As you know, this group is controlling 90 per cent of Canadian media, and it receives instructions and assistance from Zionist societies, whether in Canada or abroad," he said. Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham called the comments unacceptable. But that didn't stop the Lebanese ambassador. In a second interview, also in Arabic, given to Radio Canada International, Baaklini repeated his claim of "Zionist media control in Canada." But he revised his figure to 40 per cent. The ambassador singled out the Asper family, owners of The National Post and the Southam chain of newspapers, for making unconditional support of Israeli editorial policy. When asked if he considered the CBC to be an instrument of Zionism, the ambassador replied, "I can't precisely say yes or no." On Thursday the foreign affairs minister will meet with ambassador Baaklini to express his concern. But government sources say expelling the diplomat is unlikely. It only happens in highly exceptional circumstances and this isn't one of them. Copyright © 2002 CBC All Rights Reserved (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** CHINA. Hi Glenn, The Ying Lian mystery is finally clarified. Best regards (George J. Poppin, Audibility Monitor, San Francisco, Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Dear Mr. Poppin, My name is Shang Chunyan and I'm in charge of letters from Americas. But as you know, our collective name is Ying Lian to make our work more convenient. Thank you for your long time cooperation. This report is especially of help for us, for we'll adjust our programs accordingly. Sincerely yours. (Ying Lian, English Service, crieng@cri.com.cn Jan 15 via Poppin, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. R@dionet has reduced the number of stations from 10 IN 1997 to just 4 today. They are: 590 Medellín, 700 Cali, 850 Santafé de Bogotá, 1270 Bucaramanga - all transmit 24 hours. Héctor Arboleda 1613.1 HJ.. R Ideal, Umbita heard here, nom 1600 kHz. Address: Calle 16A N 3-58, Umbita, Boyaca. Rafael Rodríguez Radiodifusora Nacional in Colombia will return to the air in 5 departments; Boyacá, Casanare, Guajira, Meta and Santander. The AM frequencies will be 610 for Guajira and 960 for stations in Boyacá, Casanare and Santander (Rafael Rodríguez, ARC LA Newsdesk via Tore Larsson, DXLD) ** CONGO DR [non]. Congo Dem. Rep (Kinshasa), 9770, 1730 Jan 13, OM with long French talk about Zimbabwean opposition party pressuring Mugabe to step down, then YL with call for aid to the starving in Zimbabwe, singing by French YL. Fair to good with co-frequency QRM (Joe Talbot, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, swl via DXLD) That`s via GABON ** COSTA RICA. TIRWR is on the air. Dave Gauvin, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada reports hearing TIRWR owned by the evangelist Dr. Gene Scott (University Network) on 6150 and 9725 kHz. Dr. Scott's website identifies it only as ``Secret 12.`` Dr. Gene Scott's website, http://www.drgenescott.com/swave.htm reports the following schedule. 7380 [sic - 7375] Nighttime, 11870 Daytime, Transmitter 1 To all of Costa Rica 9725 24 hours a day Transmitter 2 South to Brazil and all South America 13750 Daytime Transmitter 3 North to Cuba, USA and Canada 5030 Nighttime Transmitter 4 East to The Caribbean, Europe and Africa 6150 Nighttime Transmitter 5 To North & South America I'm hearing the station on 9725 at 2200-2315 UT (Dan Sampson, WI, Prime Time Shortwave, http://www.triwest.net/~dsampson/shortwave/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, I'm looking for some contact information on TIRWR, Dr. Gene Scott's station in Cahuita, Costa Rica. I'd like to QSL them, but a brief mention of it in your DXLD is the only mention I've been able to find of it other than Dr. Scott's own website, which has no information beyond times and frequencies. Do you know anything more about it? 73s, (Dave Gauvin, Moncton, N.B., CANADA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Dave, I don`t know of any local verie-signer, or address, if that`s what you`re looking for. I expect QSLs if any would emanate from Box 1. Cahuita is just a transmitter site and they wouldn`t have program logs, anyway. I don`t quite understand the excitement evidenced above. Has been on the air for years doing nothing but duplicating what the windbag has on several other transmitters. 73, (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** CUBA. Glenn, Was tuning the 19 meter band just before 2100 today (Jan 16th) and splatter crap aplently all over the lower end of the band. Guess what (should only take one ??), it's good old Cuba on 15120 (in Spanish) producing this. The 15120 signal itself is full of buzz and hum as well.....huffda !!!! After 2200 the splatter was not quite as bad but still nasty indeed !!! Regards, (Dave Zantow, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. 27500, Radio Habana Cuba; 2002-2016+, 14-Jan; M&W alternating items re Cuba in Portuguese. M commentary after 2014. 2 x harmonic weak/messy w/fair peaks. Fundamental 13750, SIO=4+34 (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) Yes, rng 27140-27690 cd be fruitful 4 2nd hx de 13 MHz bcers, if one cn overcome alla CB/freebander infestation, e.g.: (gh, DXLD) PIRATES: 27555/AM The Int'l Silly Calling Channel; 2020-2115+, 14-Jan; Continuous entertainment; check-ins included The Old Fudge Packer; assorted sound effects, incredibly poor singing and a lot of pent-up anger. Most Good (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. NEW QSL CARDS: The new series of QSL cards from Radio Prague International, eight in number and reproduced in beautiful color, show World Heritage Sites, buildings, thoughout Czechia (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. CHINESE TEAM INSTALLING TWO NEW SHORTWAVE TRANSMITTERS A group of 17 Chinese engineers and technicians in charge of the rehabilitation of Radio Bata, on the mainland of Equatorial Guinea, on 14 January held a meeting with the authorities of the regional directorate of information, tourism and culture "to present the specifications of the new radio station and a request for cooperation in keeping with the provisions of the agreement signed between the two countries for the execution of the project", Equatorial Guinea radio reported. The meeting was attended on the Equatorial Guinea side by the director-general of information for radio and television, Frederico Abaga Ondo; the general manager of Radio Bata, Sebastien Aloh Aseko; the deputy general manager, Honourate Evita; and the station's technical director, Simeon Ndong Mozui. The head of the Chinese group called on the Equatorial Guinean side to provide them with the logistics and transport stipulated in the agreement. He also called for the urgent preparation of the building and the clearing of the entire transmission field of Radio Bata within the next two months, "given that after this period, it will be virtually impossible to carry out the work, as the station will already be testing". Two 50-kW shortwave transmitters are being installed at the station, along with two antennas, one domestic and the other external. However, the Chinese technicians pointed out that the existing aerials are still in good shape and will not be removed, but shall be painted and raised to a higher capacity. The project also envisages the installation at the central studios of Radio Bata of a 300-watt FM transmitter, replacing one of 50 watts. Source: Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, in Spanish 0600 gmt 15 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) Wonder if new SW transmitters will wind up broadcasting American gospelhuxters, as R. Africa? (gh, DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. 5925, Voice of Democratic Eritrea, via Jülich (100 kW), 1542-1559*, Sat Jan 11, talk rather in Sudanese Arabic than in Tigrinya about Ethiopia, Eritrea, Medina and Dictator; Horn of Africa music, 1658 ann in Tigrinya and ID in Arabic: ``Idha`at Sawt Eritrea al-Demokratya, Sawt (eyu haiteri?) Eritrea...`` Sat only, not heard Wed Jan 08 or Sun Jan 12. Scheduled 1500-1530 in Tigre and 1530-1600 in Arabic. It is noted that this broadcast directed to Eritreans in Western Europe is one hour earlier during summer, whereas the other broadcast for East Africa on 15670 is at 1700-1800 all the year around. Heard on 5925 extremely strong (S9 + 35-40 dB!) in Denmark. 54554 nearly completely covering Voice of Russia in Farsi 5925 which on other days and after 1600 is heard with QSA 4 // 5935 (Bueschel and Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) 7530, Voice of Democratic Eritrea, via Kvitsøy, Norway (?), *1700- 1727*, Sun Dec 15 and Jan 12, was also here on Sundays only (cf. 9990). Tigrinya ID as on 15670, talks, Horn of Africa music and folksongs. In the opening ann were mentioned two broadcasts each with one frequency. Eritrea was mentioned at least ten times. 55555 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) 15670, Voice of Democratic Eritrea, via Juelich (100 kW), *1700-1759*, Mo Jan 13, Tigrinya: ID 1701: "Demtsi Democrasiyawit Eritrea" and at 1730 when the Arabic programme started: "Idha`at Sawt Eritrea al- Demokratya". SINPO 35434 deteriorating to 25343. Cf. 5925 & 7530. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) 9990, Voice of Eritrean People, via Kvitsoy, Norway, *1630-1657*, Sun Jan 12, here on Sundays only, ex Kvitsoy 15735. The audio first came on 1646 with Tigrinya program already in progress mentioning Eritrea and Mogadishu. Good reception except for a guest speaker fed in with of very extreme exceeded audio. 44444 with QRM from timesignal station on 10000 kHz. The carrier went off 1657 in mid sentence, but came back for a few seconds at 1704. At that time NRK was heard on 13800 and 18950 from Sveio, but not on the usual 7490 and 9980 from Kvitsoy! The 9980 transmitter was used here and the 7490 transmitter for R International. Merlin tests were heard on Jan 08, 09 and 10 *1700v- 1715* with ``Afghan music`` interval signal (Bueschel, Ivanov and Petersen). The only broadcast on 9990 may have been on Jan 12 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. The SWR broadcasts on Dec 25 and Jan 04 were heard best in Denmark around midday on 25 meters, but never on 49 meters, or at other times on 25 meters. At 1200-1300 on Jan 04 there was an animated, live report in Finnish from an Iglu outdoor with minus 23-25 Centigrade! DJ Madman later confirmed to me that they also had some "handmade" technical equipment there to make a hole in the ice of the Lake, etc... Here we call such people ``Vikings`` ! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** GUAM [and non]. * Narrator: THE ATTACK OF TYPHOON PONGSONA One of the most devastating typhoons ever to hit the island of Guam in the western Pacific unleashed its fury for a period of around ten hours on Sunday evening December 8. All of the wind speed indicators were destroyed by the high winds, though it is estimated that wind gusts reached as high as 190 miles per hour. This sustained and aggressive storm destroyed and damaged a huge number of houses and other buildings, and it completely interrupted the normal flow of business and other activities throughout the island. Schools were closed, radio stations left the air, highway traffic was completely suspended, and ships could not enter the harbor. At the beginning of the stormy events an explosion started a fire at the oil storage tanks near the harbor, a fire which burned for six days before it could be extinguished. The Adventist clinic at Agaña was damaged and they were without power for several days. Their emergency generator malfunctioned and they imported a similar though larger unit from the nearby island of Saipan. The large and ornate Adventist church in Agaña was badly damaged, and water intrusion destroyed both the organ and piano. Four classrooms at the Adventist school were destroyed. The roof was torn off the Micronesia Mall; long rows of concrete electrical poles were snapped at the base and overlaid the roadways; the island-wide telephone service was inoperative; at one stage radio station KGUM was on the air for an hour or two using battery power; the rain was so heavy that it was described as a white out; heavy furniture was sucked out of houses; motor vehicles were flipped; and so the story goes on. The outside windows of a ninth floor unit of an apartment building were sucked out by the high winds, and the family could not open the doors to get out of the apartment due to the strength of the wind. All flights to the island were cancelled or diverted. Due to the fire at the oil storage tanks, gasoline was rationed, and at one stage, only government vehicles were permitted to buy gasoline. People near the fire area experienced for several days what they called ``black rain``. The sustained high winds caused considerable damage at both of the shortwave stations located on the island of Guam. Later in this program, we will tell you the story of what happened at our own AWR station KSDA, and next week in Wavescan, we will tell you the story of what happened at the other shortwave station, Trans World Radio`s KTWR. There are three more shortwave stations in the area, located on the islands of Tinian and Saipan. However, the strength of Super Typhoon Pongsona missed both of these islands, and they experienced no more than occasional gusting of strong winds, though some damage was sustained on both islands. No significant damage has been reported at KFBS, the shortwave station operated by the Far East Broadcasting Company near the northern end of Saipan, nor at the IBB station located at the southern end. The Voice of America reports that they were on the air at half power for a while at their large station on Tinian to reduce the possibility of arcing in the antenna systems during the heavy downpour of rain. We continue in our saga about Super Typhoon Pongsona with the story of what happened at our AWR shortwave station, KSDA, on the island of Guam. Much of this information comes from reports prepared by Brook Powers, who is the station manager for AWR Guam. We are pleased to mention too, that AWR Guam returned to the air on Friday evening January 3 and it is now back to its regular broadcast schedule of transmissions to the areas of Asia and the Western Pacific. Originally, the weather service had forecast that Typhoon Pongsona would veer away from Guam, but instead, the full force went straight across the island. Soon after 4:00 pm on Sunday afternoon December 8, the full force of the wind storm was felt at the AWR stations, with winds gusting up to 190 miles per hour. High winds were experienced for nearly ten hours. The shortwave station with its four transmitters at 100 kW and its four tall curtain antennas was closed down in advance of the storm as a precautionary measure. Late Sunday night when the fury of Super Typhoon Pongsona had abated, an inspection was made of the antenna system. Because of the damage they had sustained, it was considered unwise to attempt to return to the air at that time. During the next couple of days, repair work was performed on the four antennas, with some transmissions returning to the air using the emergency generator as the power source. However, on the Thursday morning, the emergency generator failed and it was declared as unrepairable. Thus AWR Guam was without electrical power, for a total of 22 days. During the interim period when no electricity was available, an additional emergency schedule was implemented, using leased transmitters in the United Arab Emirates and Taiwan. Power was restored to the station by the local electrical authority on Friday evening January 3 and transmissions began almost immediately on three transmitters. The fourth unit was re-activated some hours later. The interim emergency schedule of fill-in broadcasts to Asia was terminated on Sunday January 15 (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) Narrator: SUPER TYPHOON PONGSONA & TRANS WORLD RADIO KTWR As you will remember, here in ``Wavescan`` last week, we presented the story of Super Typhoon Pongsona, with its impact on the island of Guam, the damage that it caused to our AWR station KSDA on Guam, and the valiant recovery efforts that put KSDA back on the air once again. At the end of our program last week, we promised that we would tell you the story this week, of the impact of Super Typhoon Pongsona on the other shortwave station on the island of Guam, Trans World Radio, KTWR. This is what happened. The shortwave station KTWR is located almost against the hillside in a very picturesque location right towards the south end of the island of Guam. They on the air with five transmitters at 100 kW and five curtain antennas. This station was launched in 1977 for shortwave coverage into Asia. The Super Typhoon with the Korean name Pongsona also wreaked severe damage at the TWR shortwave station, completely destroying three of their curtain antennas and severely damaging the other two. The transmitter building also sustained a certain amount of damage with salt water damage to two of their transmitters, KTWR2 and KTWR4. Among the immediate results of the super strong typhoon winds was that the south roadway was covered with debris and impassable, there was no water at the transmitter site, and no electricity. A local pastor reported that in his new home, the winds sucked out doors and windows, and even the countertops in the kitchen. The cost estimate for the damage sustained at the international airport on Guam is $100 million. The cost to the TWR shortwave station for all of their damage is at least $100,000 which is the deductive figure for their insurance policy. Shortwave station KTWR was off the air for three days while antennas and feed lines were repaired. The first transmitter to be re-activated was KTWR5 feeding into curtain antenna 5. Towards the end of the same week, KTWR2 was re-activated feeding into antenna 4. The transmitters KTWR1 & KTWR3 were ready to go back on air, but it would take several weeks before new antenna parts arrive from the United States and the antennas are re-built. For the initial return to the air, the Trans World transmitters were energised with power from their emergency generators. During the interim period before all five transmitters are on the air again through all five curtain antennas, station KTWR is broadcasting a modified schedule of composite programming, with major segments chosen from each of their language streams. Incidentally, Trans World Radio established and operated for many years a mediumwave station on the island of Guam This mediumwave unit was KTWG, with 10 kW on 801 kHz. However, the American monthly magazine, ``Monitoring Times``, stated recently that this station was sold towards the end of last year to a Christian businessman. Over the years, many mediumwave DXers in Australia and New Zealand have received QSL cards from station KTWG under the ownership of Trans World Radio. These cards are now accorded a real historic value (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 19 via DXLD) First to let you all know that according to KGUM 570 kHz, the island`s power is up to 73% now. There is a little war memorial park near the Naval station called Apaca point and I sometimes go to the viewing area to listen with my Sony 7600g receiver. The other night as I was listening to AIR on 10330. I was watching the night lights of AWR in the distance. Its a great sight after 40 days without lights. This park many come to do nighttime spear fishing. Went over to KTWR and looked around and it looked like some progress going on. The antennas looked like one was being worked on but the other was still a mess. Took the picture of the beached sailboat and my old navy driver mentioned it was nicknamed Lucky. 73's from (Larry Fields, n6hpx/du1 on Gilligans island aka Guam, Jan 15, swl via DXLD) If you have been reading the posts and news about Guam`s last Super Typhoon you might have asked what next. Well at 1500 local time here on Guam, the NOAA weather report issued a Tropical Storm warning. Located about 755 nautical miles to the south and headed towards Guam. The weather service put Guam in Tropical storm condition 3 and Saipan, Rota and Tinian at storm warning 4. You can view this storm 1W TD on http://www.osei.noaa.gov So it looks like the weather will get a little more wet and windy for the island. The winds of this storm are over 40 km [sic] and are being reported as intensifying. I felt some winds this morning. As a result of this, the ships are being given 12 to 24 hour warnings. On the shortwave side, Radio Barragata [sic] is still in same condition as was seen during the first few days after the last super typhoon. It looks like no attempts are being done to repair it. I will attempt to email more later (Larry Fields, n6hpx/du1, Guam Island, Jan 16, swl via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. UK: The World Radio Network promised to switch to a new web-site today, Jan. 16 but it seems that things didn't work out for them. For a while, the visitors to WRN.org could choose between the old and new designs. Yesterday the link to a "new" site didn't work. And today even the link itself disappeared. Only the old site is accessible right now (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes, I had the same problem getting to new site, tho I had looked at prototype some weeks earlier. Among the changes, as you may have noticed, there is no longer a 3-month archive of World of Radio, just the latest one. I haven`t been able to find out if this be a temporary transitional problem, or a permanent change. However, they do talk about most programs being ondemand for a `full week` (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: The WRN's site has finally switched to a new design. The good thing is that the site doesn't have links to non-existent broadcasts anymore. The unfortunate thing is that WRN started using stations' IDs in various languages which only complicates the search. The World of Radio program isn't even mentioned anywhere. Instead, WRN is using your name to identify your broadcast. Of course, your first name is misspelled - only one "n" there. Surprisingly, the "Glen Hauser" program is found not under H or G but under W! (Sergei Sosedkin, IL, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is now our page: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 To find the audio go to the Archive section and click on the little T or other symbol under the right or wrong day of the week. As of 0435 UT Sat, the icon on the right led to last week`s 1164, and the one on the left to this week`s 1165, which I found out by clicking on a player selection on the next pop-up page. Why make it all so complicated, inexplicit and non-intuitive? (gh) ** IRAN [non]. Dear Mr Hauser, I was hearing a station in a Middle Eastern language at 1630-1700 UT on 9375 kHz since 8.1.03 and on 9, 15 and 16. Now I think this is the promised Voice of South Azerbaijan (Hans Dieter Schultz, Berlin, Germany, Jan 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Schedule matches if Sat & Sun. Did you try this on weekdays too? (gh) ** IRAN [non]. Re The Voice of the Iranian Kurdistan (radio of the Democratic Party of the Iranian Kurdistan, Bernard Chenal`s report in DXLD 3-001: Since December the station has replaced 4195 with 3975 also for the mentioned morning broadcasts. It was heard e.g. Jan 13, *0257-0459* in Kurdish with ID’s ``Aira dangi Kurdistan Irana``. Language could not be determined while it was covered by R Budapest *0357-0458* (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** IRAN [non]. 11575, Voice of Iran, via Kichinev, Moldova (?), *1629- 1640, Jan 01, light instrumental tune, fanfare, hymn and Farsi ann and ID: ``Radio Seda-ye Iran``, political talk about Iran and ex-President Rafsanjani. Weak jammer. 44544 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 9715, Information R via Commando Solo Aircraft, 1945- 1957*, Jan 12, mainly songs by the younger singers in Egypt..modern style music like R. Sawa type, with ID ``Idhaat Radio Alma`lomat`` which is very strange ID as ``Idhaat`` means Radio. So it would be ``Radio,Radio information``. I don`t get it. I got a recording from http://www.dxing.info done by Mr. R. Mauno with a different ID ``Mahatat radio alma`lomat `` that makes some sense, because ``Mahatat`` in Arabic means Station. So it would be ``Information Radio Station``! ..but the ID of Jan 12 was really a bit strange. Around 1957 ID followed by best wishes by both OM and YL wishing all the listeners a good night and till we meet tomorrow!!! In conclusion, it seems they sometimes use both IDs ``Idhaat Radio Alma`lomat`` and ``Mahatat Radio Alma`lomat`` (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. More on this radio and royalties fight in Israel. AND THE BEAT GOES ON By Michal Palti The anchors on the radio stations Army Radio and Galgalatz were forced to start talking yesterday. A restraining order issued by the Supreme Court about 10 days ago at the request of Acum (Hebrew acronym of the Association of Composers and Lyricists) took effect Sunday at midnight and barred them from playing any music under copyright protection because of the plaintiff's argument that they did not pay royalties as required by law. Therefore, throughout the night, Army Radio broadcast talk shows only and Galgalatz went off the air. According to the court order, even the opening themes of some of them programs were off limits because they were taken from works that have copyright protection.... http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=252059 (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH [non]. USA/KOREA (NORTH): RADIO FREE ASIA TO DOUBLE OUTPUT OF KOREAN SERVICE Radio Free Asia (RFA) will on 16 January double the output of its Korean service, in response to the current tensions between Washington and North Korea. The station said on the 15th that it was acting to satisfy the "hunger for news" inside the communist state. North Korean listeners had shown "extraordinary ingenuity to secretly hear our broadcasts," said RFA President Richard Richter. "We are pleased that we can now provide them with more programmes to help satisfy their hunger for news from outside their closed society." Shortwave broadcasts will expand from two to four hours daily from 1400-1700 and 2200-2300 gmt, and are also available on the station's web site http://www.rfa.org RFA's Korean service began broadcasting in March 1997. Source: BBC Monitoring research 16 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) U.S. STATION DOUBLING BROADCASTING TO N.KOREA From: http://www.forbes.com/markets/newswire/2003/01/15/rtr848843.html WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Radio Free Asia, a short-wave radio station financed by the U.S. government, said Wednesday it will double its broadcasting to North Korea to four hours a day because of the tension between Pyongyang and Washington. "The expanded broadcasts were authorized this month by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, in response to rising tensions related to Pyongyang's decision to openly resume its nuclear program," the radio station said in a statement. The increased hours were to begin Thursday. The president of the station, Richard Richter, said listeners in North Korea has shown "extraordinary ingenuity" to pick up the broadcasts in secret. "We are pleased that we can now provide them with more programs to help satisfy their hunger for news from outside their closed society," he added. He did not say how he knew what North Koreans are listening to. Under the new schedule, Korean-language broadcasts will run from 1400 to 1700 GMT and from 2200 to 2300 GMT. It did not give the previous broadcasting times (via Artie Bigley; Ulis Fleming, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 7560, Voice of Komala, via Kvitsøy (ex Samara), *1700-1757*, Su Dec 15 and Jan 12, Su only: Kurdish and Farsi Komala- ID, political talks about ``Regimie Islamie Iran``. Sign off with martial song. 54444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4050, unID via transmitter in Krasnaya Rechka, Bishkek, *0226-0310, Jan 11, Central Asian pop music. 0240-0310 covered by Utility QRM, but after that talk in Farsi (?) about Iran. It was not heard // to clandestines 3975 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan or 4025/4415 Voice of the People of Kurdistan. 0327 orchestral music and fade out 0330 due to local sunrise. 23222 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** LEBANON (non). The pro-General Aoun, Lebanese opposition V of Free Lebanon, V of Liberty (sawt al-huriah) which tested (via TDP brokered facilities in Samara?) on 11515 from 22 Nov 2002 (until Dec 22) daily 1600-1700 is to resume broadcasts for 2 hours a day according to this item on the Free Patriotic Movement website from Lebanon's Daily Star: from: http://www.tayyar.org/files/radionews/daily030215_fpmradio.htm FREE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT TO START RADIO BROADCASTS 16 Jan 03 Daily Star Maha Al-Azar The Free Patriotic Movement is preparing to officially start broadcasting the "viewpoint of the opposition" from its fledgling off- shore Radio Liberty, which concluded its one-month trial last month. "We are preparing news programs and improving the technical quality of the transmission so we can be ready to resume broadcasting within a few weeks," said an FPM representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The FPM started broadcasting on a trial basis for one hour on Nov. 22 on the shortwave 11,515 ­ from Belgium [sic] "to avoid any type of transmission interference from pro-regime forces who wish to silence us." The spokesman also said that transmission would probably be restricted to two hours per day, but "we will be calling a spade a spade." "For instance, we will call Syrian occupation 'occupation,' not presence. Corruption will be called 'theft,' not squandering; and the regime will be described as a 'vassal' of Syria, not one that cooperates with it," said the spokesman. It is most likely that the two hours will be split into a morning and an evening broadcast. With a two-hour broadcast costing about $300, the FPM will be counting on its supporters in Lebanon and abroad to back it financially, "so we can stay independent." A team of mostly French-based FPM activists with journalistic experience will be feeding the station with "objective reports and analyses, not propaganda." The trial broadcasts, which had consisted of a address by FPM leader, exiled former army commander Michel Aoun, followed by patriotic songs, were meant "to test the quality of transmission as well as people's interest in such a venture." The spokesman said the FPM web site http://www.tayyar.org had received at least 300 e-mails with comments and feedback about the broadcasts and many people also bought radios with short wave transmission (via Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK Caversham UK, and via Martin Gallas, IL, and via Artie Bigley, DXLD) How many of those were from DXers with no real stake in Lebanese politics? No date on this item, but I assume quite recent. It was supposed to have resumed on Jan. 6 after the break (gh, DXLD) A radio station identifying itself as "Voice of Freedom" was heard broadcasting in Arabic on 11515 kHz from 1600-1700 gmt from 22 November 2002. The Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star on 20 November reported that the station broadcast on behalf of the France-based Rally for Lebanon, part of the Free Patriotic Movement of former Army Commander Michel Awn. Gen Awn has been in exile in France for the past 11 years. However, the Free Patriotic Movement web site refers to the station (in English) as "Voice of Liberty" (BBCM via DXLD) FREE PATRIOTIC MOVEMENT WALKS LONELY AND RISKY ROAD THROUGH NATION’S POLITICS --- FPM activists and supporters face violence, arrest and isolation Reporting about the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) is difficult business in Lebanon, due to the reticence of a rank-and-file that has regularly faced harassment from the country’s security forces over the last decade... http://www.dailystar.com.lb/15_01_03/art6.asp (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** LESOTHO. Lesotho, 4800, Radio Lesotho, 2307 Jan 13, a program of Afro harmony group mx, winning against co-frequency Chinese station. Fair-Good. Heard twice during DXpedition. In 1983 I visited the Radio Lesotho studios in town, meeting the staff and read the reception reports the QSL secretary, handed me asking me if I knew any of these DXers, I remember several reports from eastern Canadian DXers. I made the long walk up Lancer's Gap to the transmitter site, a very curved paved road blasted thru a mountain, forming a "Gap" for the road to pass. The on duty engineer called the CE and it was decided that I would stay in the dorm and meet with the CE in the morning. In Africa it is considered very disrespectful to turn down a place to sleep or something to eat (Joe Talbot, Alberta, at Don Moman`s, swl via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. R. Veritas, 5469.97, Jan 11 0740-0805+, Af hi-life music, English announcements with happy-birthday greetings. IDs at 0758 and 0800; good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. V. of Africa, new 11635, Jan 5 [Sun], English news and ID for two minutes at 1822, 1923,2121. Good and strong, weak on \\ 15435. French news follows the English (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA [non]/USA. PRESIDENT, MPS URGE USA TO KEEP FUNDING FOR RADIO FREE EUROPE | Text of report by Lithuanian LNK television on 15 January President Valdas Adamkus and almost one-third of the Seimas [parliament] MPs have appealed to the US administration and Congress with a request not to suspend funding for the Lithuanian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The draft 2004 budget being drawn up in the White House does not include any funding for this radio service. The letter to US officials emphasizes that this radio station has not only played a significant role in re-establishing Lithuania's independence, but still remains an important source of comprehensive and unbiased information. Source: LNK television, Vilnius, in Lithuanian 1645 gmt 15 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) LITHUANIA URGES US TO CONTINUE RADIO FREE EUROPE Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus and 40 members of parliament have sent a letter to the the Bush administration and the US Congress urging the US not to cease financing the Lithuanian broadcasts of Radio Free Europe (RFE). "We are distressed to learn that Congress is considering a budget that will eliminate funding for the Lithuanian service of Radio Free Europe," said the letter, which went on to say that RFE "played an important role in helping Lithuania reestablish its independence and continues to play a crucial role in our transition to a democratic society and free market". Former prime minister Andrius Kubilius, one of the signatories, told the AFP news agency it was too early to shut down the service. "This is an unbiased source of information, and Lithuania needs it because some media here could easily be influenced by money and lose their independence," he said (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 16 January 2003 via DXLD) LITHUANIA URGES US TO CONTINUE RADIO FREE EUROPE http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s764574.htm (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** MEXICO. On a radio oriented to favor N/S signals, found Spanish dominating 1300, Jan 16 at 0600, quick ID in passing as XEP. That would be Ciudad Juárez, Chih., listed 50 kW day and 500 watts night; again on top when checked around 0635 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOLDOVA. Radio Moldova. Very interesting 3 pages letter signed by Valentina Roshu (sub chief of the Russian service of Radio Moldova Int`l) and Yuriy Moraru (director of the RMI Department). Also, 3 view cards, calendar and 2 stickers. 112 days for 1 IRC. My ppc not used. Actually, I sent my report to the local Radio Moldova address (like in WRTH); they gave it to the RMI which doesn`t broadcast on any wavelength except the Web http://www.trm.md/radio they’ve got the on- line service in Russian on weekdays at 20 UT, also 5 days archive is available). (Igor Zhurkin, Pravdinskiy, Moscow region, Russia, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA MARKS INTRODUCTION OF INTERNET SERVICES | Text of report in English by Mongolian E-mail Daily News service on 17 January 17 January marks the 7th anniversary of Internet in Mongolia. On a bitter cold day in January, seven years ago, engineers from around the world focused their efforts on bringing up the first Internet connection to Mongolia. A combined effort of dedicated individuals in Ulaanbaatar, Beijing, California, and Virginia worked around the clock to configure and bring the Internet connection into service at Datacom Company. Using PanAmSat, and Sprint Internet in Stockton, California, Datacom engineers first "pinged" the Sprint router at Stockton, then sent an email message to Sprint's office in Beijing announcing Mongolia's entry to the worldwide Internet of data networks. It was quickly sent around the world, generating congratulations and a warm welcome from the global Internet community. Over the past seven years Internet has grown to influence nearly every resident of Mongolia's cities and soums. Very few people know of, or would recall the commitment and sacrifices of those engineers who started with that first connection, subsequently growing to seven major Internet providers, nearly 100 Internet cafes, all Mongolian universities, and more than 50,000 dedicated users. Today you cannot walk 200 metres without passing an Internet cafe, computer store, or technical school teaching the next generation of Mongolians the skills they need to compete and lead Mongolia into the global economy and marketplace. MagicNet, MiCOM, BodiCom, Erdemnet, Mobinet, MCSCom, and Railcom can proudly reflect on the contributions they've made to Mongolia, and the fact that Mongolia will never be the same. Source: E-mail Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, in English 17 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. This is what's currently on the Media Newsdesk page. The story is still developing, so please check the Web site for latest updates. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/medianews.html RN JOURNALISTS DISMAYED AT PROPOSED JOB LOSSES --- 16 January 2003 Journalists at Radio Netherlands have reacted with dismay to the publication yesterday of the new plan for the organisation. It envisages that 60 current posts will go, while 15 will be created as a result of planned new projects. The biggest losses will be in the Dutch language department, as it's proposed to cut the current daily transmission for Dutch expatriates in Europe from 10 hours to 3 hours, except in the summer months when Dutch holidaymakers swell the potential audience. The Employees' Council has requested an urgent meeting with Radio Netherlands management. A representative of the Dutch journalists' union, the NVJ, will address a meeting of Radio Netherlands staff at 1430 UTC today (Thursday). (via Andy Sennitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) RN DIRECTOR-GENERAL TO ADDRESS STAFF ON STRATEGIC PLAN 16 JANUARY 2003 Radio Netherlands Director-General Lodewijk Bouwens has agreed to a request from staff representatives to address a mass meeting on Monday afternoon. Many staff reacted with dismay to the publication on Wednesday of the new strategic plan for the organisation. It envisages that 60 current posts will go, while 15 will be created as a result of planned new projects. The biggest losses will be in the Dutch language department, as the plan proposes cutting the current daily transmission for Dutch expatriates in Europe from 10 hours to 3 hours, except in the summer months when Dutch holidaymakers swell the potential audience. On Thursday afternoon, a meeting of more than 100 RN employees was addressed by a representative of the Dutch journalists' union, the NVJ. Following the meeting, the NVJ and the CNV (the National Federation of Christian Trade Unions in the Netherlands) issued a joint statement in which they described the plan in its present form as 'unacceptable.' The unions say there is a big contrast between the vagueness of the new plan and the 'concreteness' of the job losses. They feel the plan gives insufficient guarantees of the journalistic independence of Radio Netherlands, especially in projects where external partners are involved. The short time frame for the implementation of the plan is deemed "unacceptable." Mr Bouwens will have the opportunity to clarify the management's position on these and other issues on Monday (Radio Netherlands Media Network via Daniel Say, DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. Ayer miércoles 15 de enero del 2003 los directivos de Radio Nederland dieron a conocer los planes de una reorganización. Te adelanto algunos puntos: La sección brasileña (que forma parte de nuestro Depto. Latinoamericano) desaparece. Las emisiones en onda corta en holandés e inglés (actualmente unas 18 y 12 horas al día respectivamente) quedarán reducidas a unas 8 horas en cada idioma. Las emisiones en español no escapan a los recortes. Actualmente transmitimos un total de 14 horas y media al día (de las cuales 6 horas y media se difunden por onda corta). A partir del 24 de octubre de este año, pasarán a ser 15 horas al día vía satélite (un aumento de 30 minutos). Pero en cambio la onda corta quedará reducida a lo mínimo, como sigue: Dos emisiones de La Matinal para las Américas de media hora cada una, a las 1030 y 1100 UTC. Y una ÚNICA emisión de dos horas para todo el continente americano de 2000 a 2200 UTC. A primera vista un horario muy conveniente para Europa. Pero no olvidemos que la emisión va destinada a las Américas. De los 400 empleados que trabajamos en Radio Nederland, se teme que entre 60 a 100 (o más) serán despedidos. Como te puedes suponer estamos abiertos a recibir los comentarios y protestas de los oyentes (tal y como se desprende de la entrevista que le hicimos a José Zepeda). Recibe un fuerte abrazo (Jaime Báguena, RN Jan 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) From: http://www.rnw.nl/sp/toolbar/radioenlace.html José Zepeda Vara, Director del Departamento Latinoamericano de Radio Nederland [caption] El pasado miércoles 15 de enero, la dirección de nuestra emisora ha comunicado una serie de profundos cambios que afectarán sensiblemente nuestra habitual manera de informar y divertir a nuestros oyentes. Algunos ejemplos de las medidas que se implementarán a partir de octubre de este año: la eliminación de la sección portuguesa. La reducción en onda corta de las casi 18 horas de emisión en inglés y holandés respectivamente a tan sólo 8 al día en cada idioma. Todo eso conlleva también a una reducción en la plantilla. En la actualidad Radio Nederland cuenta con 400 empleados. Se calcula en entre unos 60 y 100 el número de despidos. En lo que a nuestras emisiones respecta éstas también quedan afectadas. En la actualidad, de las 14 horas y media de emisión por satélite, 6 y media se transmiten por onda corta. A partir de octubre serán 15 horas en satélite (un aumento en treinta minutos), pero en onda corta se reduce a tan sólo 3 horas al día. A saber: dos emisiones de media hora (el programa informativo La Matinal) a las 10.30 y 11 TU. Y una ÚNICA emisión hacia todo el continente americano de dos horas, entre las 20 y 22 TU. Sobre estos devastadores recortes conversamos con nuestro invitado, José Zepeda, director del departamento latinoamericano de Radio Nederland. Escuche la entrevista en real Audio: http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/rnw/spaans/programa/radioenlace/radioenlace.rm And later in the program is our new DX report. The head of the LA department is not at all happy about this. It looks like we are in for a rather public conflict from inside the halls of Hilversum, Keeping Spanish to America, but moving it to the local afternoons instead of primetime is particularly asinine. Is the Wereldomroep trying to eliminate locally overnight shiftwork, regardless of the consequences? Perhaps the same fate is in store for English to North America (via gh, DXLD) RN HEADS OF DEPARTMENT CRITICISE 'BIG BANG' APPROACH TO REORGANISATION The heads of department at Radio Netherlands have issued a formal reaction to the strategic plan published by management on Wednesday. While they are in broad agreement with the objectives outlined in the new mission statement, they question the need for a 'Big Bang' approach. The plan envisages that 60 current posts will go, while 15 will be created as a result of new projects, and all by October 2003. In their joint statement, the heads of department say they disagree with the complete dismantling of the Portuguese section. The last reorganisation [in 1994] taught them that it was important to keep some expertise in house. They also disagree with the ending of special broadcasts for the Netherlands Antilles and Surinam, with which The Netherlands has special ties, as well as the TV programme Studio NL. They say they are already in discussion with management about ways of reaching an acceptable solution. On Thursday afternoon, a meeting of more than 100 RN employees was addressed by a representative of the Dutch journalists' union, the NVJ. Following that meeting, the NVJ and the CNV (the National Federation of Christian Trade Unions in the Netherlands) issued a joint statement in which they described the plan in its present form as 'unacceptable.' The unions say there is a big contrast between the vagueness of the new plan and the 'concreteness' of the job losses. RN management said today that it believes 15 full time employees, at the most, will become redundant. The others are expected to be successful in transferring to other jobs within Radio Netherlands or elsewhere in public broadcasting. The NVJ and the CNV feel the plan in its present form gives insufficient guarantees of the journalistic independence of Radio Netherlands, especially in projects where external partners are involved. Concern on this issue was also expressed by the heads of department, who said that journalistic independence must not be put at risk under any circumstances. RN Director-General Lodewijk Bouwens has agreed to a request from staff representatives to address a mass meeting on Monday afternoon. Mr Bouwens has been on business in Geneva this week (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 17 January 2003 via DXLD) ** NORWAY. A noticeable reduction in signal strength was heard already Jan 14 at 1800 ! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma's Public Radio welcomes "The Weather Notebook" to its weekday program schedule. "The Weather Notebook" is two minutes of light-hearted weather wisdom produced by New Hampshire's Mount Washington Observatory, home to some of the world's worst weather. Host Bryan Yeaton explores the human side of weather through compelling stories written by staff and correspondents from distant places including Nepal and New Zealand as well as from across the United States. The goal of The Weather Notebook is to teach the science of weather but in its production the art of a good story is combined with the science, resulting in a light-hearted look at weather fact and folklore, which is both informative and fun. The Weather Notebook begins Monday, January 20, at 9:00 a.m. -- All Times - Central Time [1500 UT – or really 1459?] (KOSU Weekly via DXLD) ** PERU. 5384.3, R Huarmaca, Huarmaca. The SW outlet is currently on the air at 1200-1600 and 2100-0100 from Mo to Fr and 1200-0100 on Sa and Su. The SW outlet uses a 0.3 kW transmitter, made by Alberto Lozano Puitiza. The station also transmits on a nominal frequency of 1000 kHz with a transmitter of 0.5 kW, built by Alberto Lozano Puitiza. The MW outlet broadcasts at 1200-0100 daily. Address: Jirón 9 de Octubre No. 110 frente al Parque Leoncio Prado, Huarmaca, Provincia de Huancabamba, Departamento de Piura, Perú. (TIN) 6479.7, R. Altura, Huarmaca. The SW outlet is currently on the air at 1030-1500 and 1900-0200 daily. The SW outlet uses a 1 kW transmitter which was made by Milciades Echeverria Puitiza. The station also transmits on a nominal frequency of 1110 kHz with a transmitter of 1 kW, built by Alberto Lozano Puitiza. The medium wave outlet broadcasts at 1000-0200 daily. New address: Prolongación San Martín s/n, Huarmaca, Provincia de Huancabamba, Departamento de Piura, Perú. (TIN) 6782.6, R. Ondas del Pacífico, Ayabaca; broadcasts at the following schedule: 2100-0300 from Mo to Fr and 1900-0300 on Sa and Su. The morning transmissions were suspended due to expensive electricity in Jun 2002. The station was established by Herminio Velasco Cruz on Nov 09, 1999. R. Ondas del Pacífico uses an old Collins brand transmitter, which was remodeled by Enrique Becerra Rojas. Its effective power is 0.6 kW. Address: Calle Cusco s/n, Manzana H Lote 5, Barrio San José Obrero, Ayabaca, Provincia de Ayabaca, Departamento de Piura, Perú. (TIN) 6956.8, R. La Voz del Campesino, Huarmaca. The SW outlet is currently on the air at 2100-0100 from Mo to Fr, 1900-0100 on Sa and 1000-0100 on Su. The SW outlet runs with an output of 1 kW. The station also transmits on a nominal frequency of 1050 kHz with 1 kW and broadcasts at 1000-0100 daily, however, it was tunable on 1045.5 kHz according to my monitor in Huarmaca. Address: Avenida San Francisco de Asis s/n, Huarmaca, Provincia de Huancabamba, Departamento de Piura, Perú. (TIN) 7141.6, R. Real, Huarmaca; had ceased its shortwave transmissions about two years ago and its transmitter was transferred to Lonya Grande in the Department of Amazonas according to Nelson Hamilton Aldeán Tineo, ex-announcer of Radio Ayabaca. It was in late Dec 1999 that R Real was established by José Requjo Lozano and his son José Heli Requejo Aldeán, ex-founders of R Ayabaca. The station nominally operated on 7150 kHz with a transmitter of 0.25 kW which was manufactured by Milciades Echeverría Puitiza (all: Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, visiting Peru, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 and Relámpago DX Jan 14 at hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radiogazeta Slovo, Sankt Peterburg, 684. Full data colorful QSL # 3 and my ppc signed by it’s founder and chief redactor Suvorov V.P. It`s the unique station in modern Russia, Radio for antiglobalism and Russian people’s patriotic radiostation, different in many things from several other opposition stations. PPC and SAE in 115 days. Before that, Mr Suvorov sent me the e-mail saying that soon I`ll get the letter. Might be, some of yours could be interested to know the sked 06-09 and 21-22 UT, 684 kHz, 10 kW, tx`er TPR 3 near the Volodarskiy bridge, 75 meters of sloped wire aerial (Igor Zhurkin, Pravdinskiy, Moscow region, Russia, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. For a moment I thought the WS of VOICE OF RUSSIA had changed its name. Heard before Finnish px 18 UTC 1494 kHz ID: "This is the World Service of RADIO MOSCOW". Obviously there`s somebody yearning Soviet communist era or was it just a slip?! Next ID was back to normal: the World Service of the Voice of Russia. Maybe it was just a funny coincidence. 73 (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku FINLAND, Jan 17, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Is all the same location: Station location is really Tbilisskaya. But different sources call it Armavir [nearest city], or Krasnodar oblast [state]. ITU = Armavir. Russian FCC Mr. Titov and Deutsche Welle call it Krasnodar. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. 9925, Voice of Reform, via Kvitsøy, Norway, 2120-2127*, Jan 13, Arabic political talks heavily jammed from Saudi Arabia. 32433. Now on the air here *1830-2127*, ex 9930 and 7590. Jamming until – 2137* (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. The BBCWS continues to defame the medium which made it great, shortwave: (gh) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2664293.stm [illustrated] Thursday, 16 January, 2003, 11:16 GMT TAMIL TIGER RADIO GOES LEGAL Tamils have had to make do with shortwave until now Frances Harrison, BBC correspondent in Colombo Tamil Tiger rebels have started broadcasting on FM radio in northern Sri Lanka. The shift from crackly shortwave was made possible after a controversial decision by the government to allow the rebels to import the necessary equipment. I don't think you should deprive the parties to the negotiations of the opportunity of expressing their point of view GL Peiris government spokesman [caption] The idea is the programmes will help support the current peace process aimed at resolving 20 years of civil war. But critics of the move say the government has handed the rebels a powerful propaganda tool. For years, Voice of Tigers, as the rebel station is known, was illegal. But the government recently allowed the Tigers to import more than $100,000 worth of sophisticated broadcast equipment, including two FM transmitters and enough machines to outfit a modern radio station. Freedom of speech Questions were asked about the security implications of the move, with critics arguing it is too early in the peace process to issue the rebels a licence to broadcast legally. But government spokesman GL Peiris says it is healthy to allow all sides in the peace process to put their views across. "Now the parties are talking to each other and they're trying to arrive at a political resolution of the conflict," he told the BBC. "Under those circumstances it is not sensible to gag one party. I think both parties must have the capability to express their views. "Let the public decide whether their views are right or wrong, convincing or not convincing." Changed times The Tigers have expanded their output to eight-and-a-half hours a day of programming in two different languages. They say their aim is to inform people in the conflict areas about the peace process. But it is likely to be a one-sided view of events. Voice of Tigers has been the official propaganda organ of the movement. Over the years it has specialised in broadcasting battle reviews, biographies of famous suicide fighters, as well as educational programmes and local news. But it is a remarkable sign of how much things have changed in Sri Lanka that the clandestine radio station the Air Force repeatedly claimed it had knocked out in bombing raids is now a legitimate broadcaster on FM (BBC News South Asia Jan 16 via Ivan Grishin, Artie Bigley, DXLD) LANKA-LD RADIO LTTE RADIO ENDS CLANDESTINE OPERATIONS, EXPANDS COVERAGE http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?gid=30&id=112353 COLOMBO, JAN 16 (PTI). Ending their decade-long clandestine transmissions, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels opened a new radio station today with a broadcast on the peace talks, officials said. The new station in Jaffna Peninsula, broadcasting on the superior Frequency Modulation (FM) band, will extend the coverage of the Voice of Tigers radio service substantially and will also carry programmes in the language of the majority Sinhalese community for the first time, they said. The timing of the broadcast has gone up to four hours from one, the officials said. The LTTE was allowed to import a five kilowatt transmitter last October as part of the cease-fire agreement it signed with the government. They recently obtained a license for the new station. Government spokesman G L Peiris said the Tigers obtaining a licence and legitimising their clandestine operation was a "good sign". "We cannot have a peace process with one party gagged," Peiris said. "They will be able to put across their point of view to the people who will eventually decide if they agree or not." The first broadcast today gave news and commentaries on efforts to resettle the Tamils displaced during the 19-year-old civil war. Earlier, it was known for its battlefield news (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) BBC Monitoring has noted that Voice of the Tigers broadcasts on 98 MHz (BBCM via DXLD) LTTE`S UPGRADED RADIO TO START TODAY Jaffna, Jan. 15: Sri Lanka`s Tamil Tiger rebels will upgrade their radio broadcasts, reaching a wider area with more programmes, to educate Tamils about ongoing peace talks, officials said on Wednesday. The Voice of Tigers will expand its services using a newly opened broadcast station in Jaffna, home to Tamil minority. The radio can be heard on FM at 98 megahertz starting on Thursday. The station uses new equipment which the rebels were allowed to import as part of the government’s peace efforts aimed at ending the civil war. It was not immediately clear if the new services will reach Tamil Nadu. Residents in Colombo could hear the programmes during a trial run that started last week. The decision to allow the import of the new radio equipment has been criticised by Lankan media, but the rebels’ political leader, S P Thamilselvan, said the new services would help keep the Tamil people informed about the peace process. http://deccan.com/neighbours/default.shtml#LTTE’s upgraded radio to start today Via Deccan Chronicle, Hyderabad 73 (via Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ATOJ, DXLD) [not clear where the above URL ends...] VOICE OF TIGERS BEGINS FM BROADCAST, By V.S. Sambandan COLOMBO. Jan. 16. The Voice of Tigers (VoT), the radio of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) today started its controversial FM transmission in northern Sri Lanka amid mixed political reactions and continued apprehensions that the broadcasts would reach pockets in southern India. The twice-a-day broadcasts — 6.30 a.m. to 8.00 a.m. and 7.pm to 10 pm — were heard by residents in the northern Jaffna peninsula. Rebel-held northern Sri Lanka follows the IST, rather that the Sri Lankan time which is 30 minutes ahead of IST. For its daily broadcasts, the VoT has lined up a variety of programmes, including a Sinhala slot. On all days, both the transmissions start with a two-minute `invocation to martyrs' (maaveeravanakkam). In addition to listeners' choice, regional issues, programmes for farmers, sports events and dramas, slots have been provided for programmes such as songs of the motherland (thaayaga paadalgal) and "lessons from history'' (varalaaru sollum paadam). Three news bulletins have also been scheduled daily. According to sources in Jaffna, the transmissions, still on an exploratory basis, are expected to go "Eelam-wide'' in a few days.Though the VoT has been on air since November 20, 1990, the broadcasts from today are with a stamp of legality, following the grant of a license by the Government late last year. In line with a recent trend of marking the deaths of senior cadres and leaders with an Indian involvement, today's commencement of FM broadcasts was timed to commemorate the death anniversary of Kittu, who blasted himself in 1993. Before the VoT was started as a clandestine operation in the 1990s, the Tigers ran an experimental TV, Nitharsanam, between 1985 and 1987. (via d. prabakaran, tamilnadu, Jan 17, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 10000, Voice of Sudan (tentative), *1926-2040 (fade out), Jan 13, Arabic talks and music. The timesignal station had faded out, so the SINPO was varying between 15111 and 15221! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) Not the Jordanian spur? Several others have heard this (gh, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. [Alex:] 11980, An extremely weak signal (the signal strength bar was not even visible on my AOR AR7030!) was audible Sat Jan 11 at 1145-1158 after which CRI from Kunming covered the frequency with its English broadcast. I heard a man and a woman talking and some music and folksong. The weak signal made it impossible to identify the language, but it was not parallel to R Rossii 11990. SINPO 14121 with slight CWQRM. On Sun Jan 12 a similar talk programme was heard 1100- 1135 fade out. At 1000-1100 11980 was covered by a weak (S2) spurious signal from the Voice of Russia in German on 12010 (S + plus 10-25 dB). A similar spurious signal was also noted on 12010 + 30 = 12040 from the Bolshakovo transmitter in Kaliningrad. I am confident, however, that these spurious emissions have now been removed (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Jan 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. Washington, D.C., Jan. 15, 2003 -- The Voice of America today doubled its Kurdish language broadcasts from one to two hours daily to Iraq and the surrounding countries. The new 60-minute radio broadcast, airing from 9:00-10:00 p.m. local time (1:00-2:00 p.m. EST), [1800-1900 UT] includes the latest U.S., world and regional news, along with correspondent reports on local developments in Iraq, and features on science, technology, and American culture. The increased programming will include on-scene dispatches from VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reporters in Iraq. The new broadcast will supplement an existing hour-long news and information program from 7:00-8:00 p.m. local time (11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. EST). [1600-1700 UT] "This extra hour of Kurdish language programming enables VOA to be an even more effective broadcaster to an important audience at a critical time," said Homer Dizeyee, chief of VOA's Kurdish Service. To further increase its impact, VOA plans to double its Kurdish broadcasts again at the end of January, increasing its transmissions from two to four hours daily via shortwave and the Internet at http://www.voanews.com/Kurdish Other U.S. international broadcasts to the region include Radio Sawa, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Arabic-language radio network, and Radio Farda, a 24-hour Persian language station jointly operated by Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Radio Farda complements VOA’s Persian radio and television programs to Iran, which include Roundtable With You, a weekly 90-minute radio/TV simulcast call-in show, and Next Chapter, a popular 60-minute weekly TV show aimed at Iranian youth (VOA Press release Jan 15 via DXLD) ** U S A. Taking another look at the material in 3-003 about the VOA Museum coming up at Bethany, I am surprised at the heavy emphasis that the station was so essential for the Cold War. This gives the mistaken impression that it actually broadcast to Europe and the Soviet Union. It may have in earlier days, but once Greenville, not to mention expanding overseas relays, were online, Bethany concentrated on Latin America and Africa, which it was obviously better suited to do for geographical and propagational reasons (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Tuning around 75m I happened upon a strong AM signal, and then a weaker one on 3879.8 with a voice I immediately recognized, Tim of WBCQ, Jan 17 at 0650. He talked for about 20 minutes and finally IDed as WA1HLR. Before getting into a discussion about antennas, take- off angles, etc., he was talking about WBCQ program changes, which is useful since the http://wbcq.us website has been down for repairs, it must be two weeks now. Said R. Caroline is gone, as I recall had been on Thu-Fri-Sat? at 2100? --- the time sold to a paying customer. A new show Thursdays at 2230-2330 UT is, get this, the `Doom & Gloom Hour`, and there`s another new show on Sunday evenings, no time given, Attorney-Busters, I think he called, it or something like that. Had some choice remarks about Brother Scare , ``a lecherous old bastard`` and other `Bible-beaters`, ``a big waste of airtime`` (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. FCC NTIA WARC-03 HFBC PROPOSAL Glenn, The US will now propose that WARC-03 allocate no additional HF Broadcast spectrum between 4 and 10 MHz (Donald Wilson, Jan 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) viz.: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-91A1.pdf DA 03-91 January 15, 2003 THE FCC'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 2003 WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE APPROVES DRAFT PROPOSALS Comments should refer to specific proposals by document number. The deadline for comments on the draft proposals and NTIA letters is January 31, 2003. Page 28 to 31: DRAFT PROPOSAL FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE Doc. WAC/168(08.01.03) (This is an NTIA revision of a draft proposal from Informal Working Group 6 that appeared in Public Notice DA 02-1779, Released July 25, 2002.) Agenda Item 1.36: to examine the adequacy of the frequency allocations for HF broadcasting from about 4 MHz to 10 MHz, taking into account the seasonal planning procedures adopted by WRC-97; All of these bands identified by ITU-R Working Party 6E to accommodate new broadcasting allocations are currently allocated to the fixed and/or mobile services and are extensively used. Sharing between the fixed, mobile and broadcasting services is not practical. Therefore, no additional allocations can be made to broadcasting service in the 4 to 10 MHz bands. Reasons: The requirements of existing services preclude the allocation of additional spectrum to the broadcasting service (via Wilson, DXLD) ** U S A. WCNY-FM Classic FM, Syracuse NY, station manager Paul Dunn laments that their webstream is so popular and consumes so much bandwidth, that its present provider must start charging for it. Listeners are urged to contribute, take a survey and listen via http://www.wcny.org/classicfm/tunerlaunch.asp (Marie Lamb, WCNY/WAER, DXing with Cumbre Jan 17, notes by gh for DXLD) Seems the webcast with an annoying embedded player lacking the usual features, is often down. WCNY`s most distinctive show is one of our favorites, Orgelwerke, UT Mon 0100-0200. Per online schedule, Jan edition of which was 9 days late, they also run Syracuse Symphony and some other locally performed music (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A recent issue of the American journal, ``Radio World``, states that Mt. Wilson in California is considered to be the location with the highest concentration of transmitting antennas in the United States. Mt. Wilson is 25 miles north east of Los Angeles, it is 5,710 feet high, and 45 FM and TV antennas are erected on its summit (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. What is believed to be the first radio broadcasting station in the United States to operate entirely on wind generated electricity was launched a few months ago on a mountain top in northern Nevada. This station, KBSJ-FM, is a 3.7 kW FM facility located on top of Ellen D. Mountain with wind speeds sometimes as high as 175 miles per hour. No other form of electricity is available in this isolated area (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. Just recently, there were two FM stations on the air in Augusta Georgia using the slogan, KISS FM. This is a very popular station identification throughout the United States even though the actual callsign may be very different. These two stations were WAEV 94 FM and WSIS 104 FM. In a court ruling, station WAEV was granted the usage of the KISS slogan in Augusta due to the fact that the parent company owned the copyright to this usage (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** U S A [non]: A recent brochure from Trans World Radio states that they are on the air world wide in 165 languages for 1,500 program hours per week and they are heard regionally over more than 1,000 local radio stations. Their annual mail count reaches 1.5 million from 160 countries. They own and operate major transmitting stations in seven different countries (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Jan 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. e-BILLBOARDS TAILOR MESSAGES TO MOTORISTS http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/TechTV/techtv_advertising (via Tom McNiff, Burke, Virginia, DXLD) ** U S A. Did a bit of domestic MW DXing UT Jan 16: 1570 at 0603 UT, ESPN news, dominating frequency, no XERF audible at first, then Mexican anthem fading up. Local weather had a low of zero degrees, and ID as ``ESPN 1570, The Ticket``. From NRC AM Log, and the temp, this must be KVTK, Vermillion SD, 500 watts day, and doing a helluva job for 71 watts at night. Or must we assume all stations cheat unless proven otherwise? 1330 at 0635 UT, ID amid music as KLBO -- that would be Monahans, TX (Glenn Hauser, Enid OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 2060 (1030 x 2), WUFL Sterling Heights, MI 1645 Jan 10, Religious program SIO=333 1700, Sterling Heights Info Radio, Sterling Heights, MI 1640 Jan 10, Public information 1700, Westland City Info Radio, Westland, MI 1430 Jan 11, Public info; heard en route to Detroit Metro Airport (Joe Miller, Helen of Troy MI, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A. Don Kaskey reports that KHPY-1670 Moreno Valley, CA has (finally) signed on (1/16/03) with regular programming which seems to be an oldie format. This one, if you remember, is U4 10000/9000 throwing most of their signal toward Hawaii (215-216 degrees from their site). GooDX, (Bill DDXD-West Hale, TX, Jan 17, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. WSM HISTORICAL QUESTION Following my visit to the WSM transmitter site a couple years ago I asked if anyone knew what the large, antique looking beacon with a red lens located on the roof of the transmitter building was about. I think I've found the answer to that question. I recently acquired a very nice copy of the 1939 FCC "Standards of Good Engineering Practice Concerning Standard Broadcast Stations." Under the section titled Standard Lamps and Paints (for towers) is the following passage: Under particularly hazardous conditions and in areas of heavy traffic, it may be necessary to add a 24-inch 500- or 1,000-watt red rotating beacon equipped with an automatic lamp changer, to mark the installation. The beacon may be installed on the roof of the transmitter building, provided the point will provide proper visibility, otherwise it may be necessary to install the beacon on a separate tower of proper height or the radio tower itself. The recommended setting of this rotating beacon is such that the center line of the light beam shall be approximately 3 above horizontal (Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. SPECIAL MARCONI 100TH ANNIVERSARY STATION On the evening (UT Sunday morning) of January 18, 2003, KM1CC will re-transmit the 1903 message from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII. followed by the message from President George W. Bush. 3.539 CW 7.039 CW 14.039 CW 0000 UT (7:00 PM EST) 3.885 AM 7.260 LSB 14.260 USB 0030 UT (7:30 PM EST) The CW and Phone messages will be repeated hourly for the next two hours. That is 0100/0130 UT (8:00 PM EST) and 0200/0230 UT (9:00 PM EST). All message transmit frequencies are + - 10 KHz A certificate will be available to all who correctly copy the CW Presidential messages. Please send your CW copy with a large 9" x 12" self addressed stamped envelope (80 cents) and $ 5.00 (USA) and $ 7.00 (DX) to R. J. Doherty, PO Box 1193, Lakeville, MA. 02347 Further info: http://www.qsl.net/w1aa/w1aa_1001.htm (Jarmo Patala, Finland, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** U S A. CNET SCRAPPING RADIO VERSION Radio World Newsbytes Date posted: 2003-01-16 San Francisco-based CNet Networks Inc. is ending its techie radio program as of Jan. 31. According to the San Jose Business Journal, the two-year effort could not gain enough ad revenue to justify expenses. A spokeswoman told the Journal "several" employees will lose their jobs and CNet is canceling its agreement with Clear Channel station KNEW(AM) in Oakland, Calif., where the show is produced. CNet is shifting its focus back to its Web site and also plans to begin a twice-daily technology program to be delivered digitally to registered subscribers. Company officials believe those who follow technology news are looking to the Internet for that information. After the cuts, total employment for the technology information company is reportedly 1,500 people (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. FIRST NON-EXPERIMENTAL AM DIGITAL RADIO STATION ON AIR | Text of press release from US transmitter manufacturer Broadcast Electronics on 12 January Quincy, Illinois, 12 January: The first non-experimental AM HD Radio system went on the air just before the New Year at WJLD-AM in Birmingham, Alabama. using Broadcast Electronics' ASi 10 signal generator and a BE AM-1A transmitter. "This installation marks the passage of HD Radio technology into a fully commercial licensed product that significantly improves AM radio," said Glynn Walden, vice president, broadcast engineering for iBiquity Digital Corporation in Columbia, Maryland. WJLD station owner and engineer Gary Richardson reported full 15 kHz fidelity and stereo separation comparable to FM during listening tests of the station's rhythm & blues programming through an HD Radio- capable receiver. "Switching between analogue and digital was like switching from AM to FM," he commented. WJLD broadcast hybrid digital AM and analogue AM signals on its licensed frequency of 1400 kHz. No additional spectrum was required. HD Radio signals are generated by BE's new ASi 10 and injected into WJLD's existing BE transmitter for broadcast through the station's antenna system... Total equipment cost to upgrade the station to an HD Radio system came to less than 25,000 dollars, excluding processing units. "This is the future of AM radio, so this is definitely money well spent," said Richardson. The station adopted HD Radio technology in time to take advantage of a perpetual licence waiver offered through December by iBiquity Digital Corporation. The waiver will save WJLD an estimated 11,000 dollars in licensing fees to iBiquity. "The opportunities that HD Radio technology brings to the AM broadcaster allow for new programme formats and improved sound quality - a change that hasn't occurred in nearly half a century. We look to supporting our longtime partner, Broadcast Electronics, in their endeavours to successfully implement HD Radio systems in stations across the US," said iBiquity's Walden... Source: Broadcast Electronics press release in English 12 Jan 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U S A. I am taking the liberty of forwarding this from the broadcast mail-list as there was some debate here about the quality of the HD recordings on the WOR site 73, (Bob Foxworth, NRC-AM, via DXLD) IBOC Audio Hi, gang! We have a faulty IBOC reference receiver. Heard WOR-HD on a Visteon radio today....in stereo. Sounds fine....no artifacts, no "funky" stereo effect. I will have a new reference receiver early next week and will be able to post accurate IBOC AM audio. Thomas R. Ray, III, CSRE Corporate Director of Engineering, Buckley Broadcasting/WOR Radio New York 212-642-4462 fax: 212-921-4751 (Tom Ray, WOR, Jan 15, broadcast.net via DXLD) BTW, have you guys caught onto the fact that the tests are very controlled? On the analog side, the recordings were made on a Belar Mod Monitor. If you normally listen to radio off a mod monitor, please raise your hand. The only time you listen off a mod monitor is if you're testing something (ie: your station). It's really not a practical test. And on the digital receiver side, again, who has the receiver and how is it being recorded? Maybe someone can get Tom to let them borrow the magic box and do a real comparison. In fact, do we really know if the recording even existed on RF? (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) I'm speaking as an average guy, who loves music, but doesn't have the ears or the equipment to really notice "digital artifacts" or minor differences in quality. I can easily listen to 32k mp-3's or internet radio without being driven up the wall. In other words, I'm a lot like the average radio listener. I listened to a few of the samples, and to be perfectly honest, the digital samples had a little more fullness to them. If there were digital artifacts, I didn't notice. I suspect that if you stuck a few "average" radio listeners in front of the speakers, and played the samples, they'd probably tell you the digital ones sounded better. That certainly doesn't mean that the digital samples were technically more or less accurate representations of the original source material, it just means that to the average non-audiophile, they sound more pleasing (though not nearly enough to make me plunk down any serious money for new radios). So I have a feeling that this whole IBOC thing is not going to be decided on the true merits, but on the "digital is better" concept, backed up by canned samples such as Tom's. It's a lot like jpeg photos - they're not truly accurate representations of the original image, but they're close enough that the average person will never notice the difference. Indeed, the only real advantage of IBOC is that by being digital, they can theoretically provide a static-free signal. Of course we all know that the range of that static-free signal is going to be REALLY small. Especially when the IBOC stations start interfering with each other. My own prediction: Ibiquity's only chance at making any money is if they can get enough stations on the air in the shortest amount of time. Because once they go on the air, then it will be obvious to all that the Emperor really has no clothes. No one is going to buy the radios, and the whole thing will collapse under its own weight. At least I hope so... (Brian Leyton, Valley Village, CA, ibid.) It does seem as if Tom presents an inordinate number of 'equipment problems' when he's under heavy fire, doesn't it ? With the pressure of the whole program focused on WOR, one has to wonder how accurate whatever files he puts out there will be..... (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) WCHB-1200 in suburban Detroit will be testing during the night over the next few days, measuring field strength and sideband emissions. What we could use is some good reports of signals from 1200, 1190, and 1210 when they are running IBOC and not running IBOC. Recordings would be *super*, as long as you document what is on the tape. The best way is to speak briefly and say something like "20:14 Eastern, 1200 kHz, 1000 foot longwire, Sony 2010." and then record what you're hearing. Can be sent to me cassette, reel, CD, or E-mailed as an MP3 (at least 256 bit rate) or WAV. Reports should indicate the usual data (time, location, equipment, antenna), but it would help knowing if you are hearing the IBOC hiss. I think this could be a great learning experience if we all monitor and then share our reports. It would help to gain better knowledge of the impact on analog services since it will be turned on and off. (Fred Vobbe, Jan 16, ibid.) Last night WCHB had the IBOC off all night, and I assume were always on night pattern/power as I didn't hear a peep out of them. Tonight. starting around 10PM, Ken Wallace, CE of WCHB, will be running some additional tests of unknown facilities. IBOC may be on and off through the evening. Again, keep your ears open and report the results here. Recordings welcomed (Fred Vobbe, Jan 17, ibid.) The interesting thing to me is that after many people commented on lists that the audio was not so good, all of a sudden a faulty receiver was found. And this isn't the first "faulty" equipment found so far; "faulty" is a misnomer used during the development stage that really means "unstable platform" or "software / hardware problem of undetermined origin" or "we haven't seen it do that before!" or "it doesn't work as well as we thought it would". They're having their late-development-phase bugs, it seems to me. Somewhere in iBiquity some engineers are scrambling and working late to get a new software load for WOR next week that won't embarass them. "Embarass them" means minimal artifacts as Tom Ray's "no artifacts" is likely to be a pipe dream with the PAC coder and the bit rates used. But most importantly, the fact that Tom would post unacceptable audio from a "faulty" radio doesn't speak well for his audio judgement. All of us (and a lot of the rest of the world) seems to have picked up on the fact that IBOC has not been tested well. Given the fact that it has been around for a while, you can only decide that this is a question of structuring the "tests" to put a spin on things. Having said that, Tom's mod monitor file isn't without precedent. When doing subjective testing of audio quality, the industry standard methodology is to give the listener the pure, unadulterated, perfect file and tell them so and that it gets a score of 5.0. Tom's mod monitor was down the chain from the original so isn't a perfect reference, but it is a reference of sorts and I assume that was his intention (Chuck Hutton, ibid.) Yeah, I guess it was kinda funny that the files he put up were these gigantic .wav files (so as not to introduce any additional distortion), except that both versions were "processed" to some degree. Anyone have CD's of the clips he used that can be posted as .wav files for comparison? (Brian Leyton, Valley Village, CA, ibid.) I've worked with and for a lot of Chief Engineers and not all of them had decent "ears" when it came to the audio quality of their stations. Most notable was the late Alan Roycroft who used to call me up at 3:AM and ask "how does it sound now?" more than once. He was deafer than the average rock! How does it sound off the air has always been my criteria for audio quality. The super duper speakers and sound system in the Account Manger's office means nothing if the source comes off the chain somewhere. It's how it sounds "out there" that really counts. Well -- - it used to! I think I'm glad I'm retired! (Chuck Boehnke, Keaau, Hawaii, ibid.) ** ZANZIBAR. RTZ, 11734.1, Jan 4 2025-2100* talk by woman in listed Swahili. Local ME style music. Sign-off with short 40-second NA. Weak- fair. Best in ECSS-LSB to avoid unID SWBC station on 11735 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RECEVER NEWS ++++++++++++ SONY ICF-2010 R.I.P. That's sad news but not unexpected. It was discontinued outside the US several years ago. IIRC, my 2010 is almost all plated through technology, parts with metal leads that are inserted into holes in printed circuit boards then soldered, and there are little if any surface mount components. Surface mount components are tiny compared to plated through components, cheaper, easier to install on boards and result in a much smaller radio. My Sony 7600GR is almost all SMT parts and is tiny compared to the 2010. Just the packaging of a receiver the size of the 2010 is expensive compared to the 7600GR. The 2010 is nearing 20 years old and I would imagine some of the molds and test fixtures are beginning to show their age. I wish Sony had made a case for the 2010, my only complaint about the radio. I know from building QRP (low power) ham radio gear, traditional plated through components particularly some integrated circuits, are becoming more difficult to obtain. There are still plenty of traditional type parts like capacitors and resistors, but the more specialized integrated circuits are beginning to be offered only in surface mount packages. Look through a Maxxim catalog to see how few of their new ICs are available in plated through packages. Now lets hope Sony will offer a replacement receiver with a tuning knob, synchronous AM, SSB/CW, 10Hz readout, wide and narrow filters, maybe even DSP in a package half the size of the 2010. It could happen (Rick Robinson, KF4AR, Hendersonville, NC, NRC-AM via DXLD) Not only do Sony not produce the 2010 anymore, but apparently they have also discontinued the production of certain spare parts, which means you may have trouble getting your 2010 repaired if it happens to malfunction (Richard Lam, Singapore, Jan 17, EDXP via DXLD) END OF THE LINE FOR THE SONY ICF-2010 Sony has finally discontinued production of the ICF-2010, probably the most successful shortwave portable receiver ever made. It first saw the light of day in 1985, and was so popular that two previous attempts discontinue the product were abandoned due to consumer demand. Now, with less than 6 months to go until the start of regular digital shortwave broadcasts, Sony has finally decided to stop the production line. Once remaining stocks are cleared from dealers' shelves, there will be no more. Those wishing to get their hands on a classic shortwave receiver need to act fast, or wait until used examples start appearing at inflated prices on the Internet auction sites (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 16 January 2003 via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Some smallish flares on Jan 9 are about all to report for this period. Coronal hole effects diminished during Jan 11, and at this time the sun was quite noisy probably due to sunspot activity. Conditions were mildly depressed at this time with some intense sporadic E over southern latitudes. The Sporadic E and depressions continued over the next 3 days gradually drifting to equatorial latitudes. Propagation conditions are expected to be only fair Jan 19-20 due to morning period depressions then good. Degraded HF propagation is also expected to poor Jan 22-24 with the magnetic field reaching active levels these dates. This is due to an encroaching coronal hole expected to mildly elevate solar wind speeds. Prepared using data from http://www.ips.gov.au (Richard Jary, Australia, Jan 17, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ###