DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-021, February 7, 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/dxldtd3b.html [note change] HTML version of all January issues are now at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3a.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 NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1168: RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 15039 and/or 7445 WWCR: Sat 0700, Sun 0330 on 5070; 0730 on 3210; Wed 1030 on 9475 WBCQ; Mon 0545 on 7415 WJIE: M-F 1300 7490... WRN: Rest of world Sat 0900; Eu only Sun 0530; NAm Sun 1500 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1167.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1167.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1167h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1167h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1167.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Thanks, Glenn for DX Listening Digest. I read every number, but not all of it, e.g. International Vacuum and some of the items regarding US domestic, which is of no interest of mine. The rest of the stuff is often interesting (Lennart Weirell, Västerås, Sweden, Feb 6) ** AUSTRALIA. 11770, HCJB, 0915 4 Feb, Religious program, English, male voice, at 10 hours, identification: "HCJB Australia". Strong interference from Voice of Nigeria, on the same frequency. SINPO 22222 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, Cumbre DX via DXLD) HCJB Australia commenced using its new frequency of 11770 on Feb-02, 0700-1200, intended for Australia and the South Pacific. The move was made from 11755 to avoid Radio Finland there. 11770 was carefully chosen, with the assistance of the IBB's remote monitoring facilities sited in Melbourne (Kilsyth - HCJB Australia), at Darwin (Voice International), and at Wellington (NZ). The new channel was authorised by the Australian Communications Authority, and registered with the ITU in Geneva via the HFCC and the ABU's High Frequency Committee. Unfortunately, the Voice of Nigeria has now put on line what appears to be a new, additional, 250 kW transmitter for its external service, using its traditional frequency of 11770, for broadcasts in the 0500- 1400 period. This channel was used many years ago, and has been "dormant" ever since, until this week! As monitored here in Melbourne, the Nigerian signal is very strong in the period 0500 until past 1000, via long-path propagation, causing severe disturbance to HCJB Australia. 11770 is also used by the Xinjiang Peoples' Broadcasting Station for its Mandarin service 0300-1200 with 50 kW at Urumqi, azimuth 230 degrees, antenna designator 145. I would appreciate it if you could look at 11770 in the period 0700- 1200 and let me know the extent of interference from the Nigerian and Chinese transmitters. I would then link your findings to HCJB- Australia's frequency manager, with whom I am in close contact. If you are able to look at 11770 just before HCA starts up prior to 0700, this would be useful, to assess the signal strength of the Nigerian signal. Thank you for your coöperation! (Bob Padula, Mont Albert, Vic, mainly to EDXP members in Austrlia, Feb 6, cc to DXLD) see also NIGERIA Hello Glenn, Received on 4th Feb a QSL from HCJB Kununurra, Australia on 11755 kHz for an e-mail report for the test transmission on 5th Jan 0956-1020 UT. The Verification Certificate was attached to an e-mail from english@hcjb.org.au signed Paulos and shows a scanned image of HCJB Australia QSL card with picture of diversion dam at Kununurra in the far northwest of Australia adjacent to which HCJB Australia's property is situated (Lennart Weirell, Västerås, Sweden, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. KUNUNURRA CALLING HCJB World Radio-Australia goes on the air, by Andy Sennitt, 7 February 2003 The small town of Kununurra (population 5000) in Western Australia has suddenly found itself on the world map. Sunday 2 February 2003 saw the start of regular programming to Asia by the world's newest shortwave broadcasting station - HCJB World Radio-Australia - from a 200 acre site near the town... [illustrated] http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/hcjb030207.html (RN Media Network Feb 7 via DXLD) HCJB Australia. I have just heard them in passing at 0830 UT on the new frequency of 11770. Not very strong, but clear of interference. They are still calling themselves "The Voice of the Great South Land". What pretentious rubbish that slogan that is! I would have thought that something like "The Voice Of Australian Christian Fundamentalism Bigotry" would be more appropriate! (Barry Hartley, NZ, BC-DX Feb 3 via DXLD) Evangelic Fundamentalism on every corner, like from USA/CAN to Gospel and Bible Voice Network etc. (ed Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX Feb 7 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. 17895, 1555-1600*, R. Africa International, Feb 3. Male announcer in English with news items, thick accent. S5 level. Difficult copy with rapid fades. VOA sign on at 1558 before R. Africa signed off. Possible R. Africa ID heard at 1559. VOA in English from Botswana continues about space shuttle accident (French Creek Dxpedition, Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BELARUS. Parameters of one of the SW transmitters in Hrodna: Freq: 7265 kHz Prg: Kanal Kultura (ex BR2) Time: 0500-2200 Power: 2.5 kW Azimuth: omni Location: Hrodna (Sergei Alekseichik, Hrodna, Belarus, Signal Feb 6 via DXLD)) Freqs of Belarussian transmitters audible here in Kyiv on 19 Jan at about 1000: BR1 6010, 6070, 6080, 6115, 6190, 7110, 7235, 11960; in the morning BR1 is well heard on 7170; BR2 7265 (Alexander Yegorov, Kyiv, Ukraine, Signal Feb 6 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4876.5, 2307-0100*, La Cruz del Sur Feb 3. Female announcer in Spanish with intro to some nice music. Male announcer at 2308 but in a different language with short comments. Female back at 2309. S 6 level with fades. Excellent audio. 4876.8, 1040-, La Cruz del Sur Feb 3. Male announcer hrd in SS with long talks under nasty QRM. ID is presumed due to difficult copy (French Creek DXpedition, Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Hi, received a QSL email from Canção Nova right now. Maybe of some interest for shortwave listeners! From: "Dado" web.english@cancaonova.com Dear Friend Eike Bierwirth It is a pleasure to confirm your radio report that makes us very happy about the possibility also Germany get our programming. We are studying the possibility to start a few program in English. Your report tells about Madrugada Amiga, a musical program. About our Radio Station, we are a Catholic Radio Station supported by Canção Nova - a Brazilian Community with no profit ends which work just for evangelization around the world. I would like to invite you visit our portal http://www.cancaonova.com and also the channel http://200.210.112.17/cnova/ing/pejonas/index.php where you could find some notes about us. We have a program especific for DX'ers every Saturday 2100 GMT (we are on daylight saving time until February 16); after that we will have our clocks back in a hour, then it will start at 2200 GMT. During this program we have a live chat. We have sent a QSL and a small souvenir for you. I hope you enjoy it. Best Regards Eduardo de Moura Além Fronteiras Program Rádio Canção Nova. (via Eike Bierwirth hard-core-dx via WORLD OF RADIO 1168, DXLD) ** BRAZIL. A Radio Caiari de Porto Velho, é uma emissora da Arquidiócese da mesma cidade; ela transmite em ondas tropicais na freqüência de 4785 kHz. Dois programas bons da emissora são: "Alvorado do Sertão" às 0900 UT com músicas sertanejas; o apresentador é Jonas Felizardo. O outro programa é ``Entardecer Sertanejo``, com músicas sertanejas também; seu condutor é o mesmo. Seu apresentador contesta as cartas dos ouvintes no ar. Endereço da emissora é: Rua das Crianças, Bairro Areal da Floresta - Porto Velho-RO 78.900.000. Em breve mais informações (De Porto Velho - RO, Saulo Gomes de Sousa, Feb 5, radioescutas via DXLD) ** BULGARIA [and non]. An interesting one in the BDXC bulletin this month: on 5796khz Radio Horizont, Bulgaria 7 x 828 khz logged in the Netherlands; might be difficult to ID as there is also Voice of Russia on 5796 (7290-1494). Good luck all, regards (Tim Bucknall, UK, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS. 6715 USB, Full Gospel Las Palmas 2115 Feb 5 [Wed] Program in Korean, religious songs, comments and prays, male voice. Mentioned "amén" and "aleluya". SINPO 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Spain, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA. What counts as MANCHURIA? q.v. ** CHINA. 4830, 2234-, China Huayi Broadcasting Corp. Feb 2. Male and female announcer with both English and Chinese with English lessons. S5 signal level with rapid fades. Noted // 4850 with better signal level. English lessons on yuppies, which was kind of funny. Not sure why they picked that to teach English (French Creek DXpedition, Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Hasta ayer estaba en completo silencio la frecuencia de 6140 kHz. No hay rastros de Melodía AM (La radio líder) desde hace unos días. Ojalá los colegas de la Hermana República puedan averiguar algo al respecto. 73's y excelente DX... (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So far I have missed catching it, on several random chex. One of Joe Valdés` recordings of it is on WOR 1168 now running (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. I haven't heard Cuba at 2030-2130 [English] on 11670, 13660 or 13750 for several weeks (Harold Sellers, Newmarket, Ontario, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Chris Hambly and I noticed 11670 missing a few days ago (gh) ** CUBA. NEW RADIO AND TV TRANSMITTERS IN MATANZAS PROVINCE | Text of report by Cuban Rebelde radio on 6 February Radio Cuba workers are making important investments in Matanzas Province. They plan to install two modern mediumwave transmitters for Radio Rebelde and [Radio] Reloj in Colón Municipality by the first trimester of this year. Ernesto Becerra, director of (?Cuba aquí) radio division, stated that in 2003, two FM transmitters will be installed for Radio and Ciudad (?Bandera) stations of Cárdenas Municipality and Radio Llanura of Colón Municipality, in the eastern part of the Matanzas Province. The provincial station Radio 26 will also significantly benefit from the installation of a modern five-kilowatt transmitter in Jovellanos Municipality, where the [words indistinct], on FM as well as mediumwave. Television in Matanzas will be better this year thanks to a modernization program, which includes the replacement of the broadcasting system of Tele Rebelde and Cubavisión, as well as the installation of a modern transmitter for the Education Channel in a mountain in Jacay, at an altitude of some 300 metres, which will provide the signal to more than half a million Matanzas citizens who live outside the cities of Los Fuentes and Los Rios. Source: Radio Rebelde, Havana, in Spanish 0000 gmt 6 Feb 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? ** CYPRUS TURKISH. Cyprus (TRNC) 6150, R. Bayrak Int,. 1701-1738 Feb 5. Today with rather strong signal, but somehow distorted audio. Splatters from 6155 and at times a Chinese speaking station audible on 6150. Bayrak had English program with lady DJ, pop music and news at 1730 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Is there a new Latin American station on 600 this year? For the last 4-5 nights, I've been getting a Spanish music station, lots of rhythmic guitar, with an ID that's something like "Radio Capital, Caracol Santo Domingo", mixing in with WICC and Cuba (Rebelde). I didn't see anything like that in WRTH for the Dominican Republic, might be some kind of relay (Bob Rodríguez, Kingston, NY, Feb 6, amfmtvdx via DXLD) See DXLD 3-007 ** ECUADOR. HCJB Ecuador's final release to India will be Saturday Feb 8 0200-0400 UT (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Feb 6, WORLD OF RADIO 1168, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So has overlapped more than planned the new service via Australia. 12040?? Has been useful in NAm (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. R. Cairo, 9700.45 at 2316 Jan 21, presumably in Arabic but so distorted, difficult to tell! SIO 242 (Alan Pennington, Caversham, Berks., Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. V. of the Tigray Revolution, 6350, Feb 1 *0355-0405+, sign-on with IS, 0359 into programming with local music and talk in language. Good, strong. No parallels heard, neither 7515 nor 5500 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Laser Hot Hits was heard daily Nov 18 to Dec 21 on 3970, such as at 1617 with oldies \\ 7465 in Chris Williams Show (Stuart Dobson, David Gascoyne, Tom Read, UK, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) From Dec 22 to Jan 19 heard daily on 4010, such as at 0818 with pop, I80s [?], laserhot hits@hotmail.com (Alan Pennington, Stuart Dobson, Tom Read, ibid.) ** EUROPE. IRAQ CRISIS INSPIRES A NEW VOICE OF PEACE A group of volunteer broadcasters plans to re-create the Voice of Peace, the famous offshore station of the 1970's owned by Nobel Peace Prize winner Abe Nathan. Plans are for the new station to broadcast on shortwave from somewhere in Europe. Dutchman Jan van Jager, one of the four people behind the project, told Media Network that the station will not broadcast propaganda, just peace messages and music. "All we are saying to everyone is join together and make the governments listen to the people of each country about their concerns. Personally, I'm sick and tired of hearing the same claptrap about Saddam, Bush and Blair. I am taking this opportunity to do something I think is useful, not just to me but to everyone else around the world." The format of the station will be top 40, with other music from the 1960's to late 80's, 1960'/1970's album tracks, and easy listening music. This will be intermixed with peace and loving awareness jingles. The organisers are hoping to raise sufficient money to hire airtime on a European shortwave station. More supporters are needed to make the project work. There's more information on the following two Web sites: http://vop.uk.tripod.com and http://radio-rainbow.tripod.com The E-mail address is vop@easy.com (© Radio Netherlands Media Network7 February 2003 via DXLD) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio, 5990, Dec 25 at 1340, pop music, English and Finnish, SIO 222 ((Robert Petraitis, Lithuania, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** FRANCE. unID station (presumably French or some African station like Algeria, also Ivory Coast was mentioned) was heard on Jan 1 & 2 on 25775 kHz with a constantly repeated 52-min program of an advertisement content talks in French and English intermitted with music numbers performed by such wellknown groups like Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. The signal strength varied from 0 to 2/3 (in average 25332) slowly like during Es-propagation. Modulation was good, like of professional type (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, WWDXC BC-DX Feb 4 via DXLD) TDF testing from Rennes, France, per DXLD last Oct 2 (BC-DX via DXLD) ** GERMANY. VOR relay on MW? See RUSSIA {non] ** GERMANY. There are a few mistakes in the DTK broadcasts given by Observer. Bible Voice Broadcasting Network /BVBN/ effective Jan. 27: 0030-0100 9740 NAU 250 kW / 095 deg Mon-Sat to S As Hindi ex 7315 Language includes Bengali. The further changes given in this column are not for BVBN but apply to High Adventure Ministries: 0800-0845 5975 JUL 100 kW / 290 deg M-F to W Eu English ex 0700-0745 1900-1945 6010 JUL 100 kW / 060 deg Mon-Fri to E Eu En/Ru/En ex 5910 (Silvain Domen, Belgium, Feb 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4780, R. Coatán is back on, heard at 1230 Feb 5 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Home Service is now noted again on 9470 with relay of AIR FM II programs at the following times. 0130-0530, 0930-1230 Recently tests were conducted from the new 250 kW transmitter at those times and on this frequency. This is in parallel to 9425 via Bangalore with 500 kW. Note: 9425 and 9470 are also used as National Channel at 1320 to 0043 UT (Jose Jacob, dx_india Feb 4 via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Shillong, 4970, early sign-on 2300 for India v NZ cricket commentary Jan 3 i8n English, \\ at least six other 5 MHz channels, Sio 443 (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. Hola Glenn... Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Definitivamente, al parecer el único día seguro para conseguir a La Voz de Indonesia en 15150, es el domingo. Pude oírla el pasado 2/02, a las 1745 en español y con música "dangdut", hasta la despedida a las 1757. SINPO 3/3, el cual va mejorando (paulatinamente) hasta la emisión en inglés a las 2000, con un respetable 4/4, 4/3 (Adán González, Feb 6, DX LITENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Radio Iraq International. QSL-folder for my report sent to P. O. Box 8145, Baghdad, Iraq. Report has been written in English. 116 days. Besides QSL-folder, enclosed were two mint stamps with Saddam's face (MIDXB No.303 - Igor Yaremenko, Novosibirsk, Russia, Signal Feb 6 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. [1584 info previously filed under UNIDENTIFIED] Hi out there, especially Nordic DX-ers, Tonight (Feb 3rd) I heard an Arabic station on 1584 kHz between 1845 and 2030 UT, playing "oriental" music and identifying in Arabic. It sounded like a test programme with many announcements about "kHz" and like that. ID sounded like: "Radio Ciklin" or similar. Stress on last "i". Please help! 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, Feb 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Sounds like R Tigris to me. Maybe another programme via Kuwait? 73, (Mauno Ritola Feb 5, RealDX via DXLD) Never be too sure! The Arabic speaking station on 1584 kHz, heard after Country Radio, Praha close down around 1800 is Radio Tigris, no doubt. Anybody out there who knows more about this new (?) station? Programming is very alike the VOA stations Farda and Sawa, so maybe they try to match the audience down there? I have a great recording of their identification. 73 from (Björn Fransson, on the island of Gotland, Sweden, ibid.) Wasn't this frequency of the VOA in Bahrain during/after the Gulf War I? Maybe that transmitter has been reactivated? (Risto Kotalampi, CA, ibid.) But didn't that particular transmitter go to Kuwait where it was adjusted to 1548? It would be interesting to know whether Al Mustaqbal 1575 and Twin Rivers Radio (Idha'at Rafidain) 1566 are on air in the same time with R. Tigris. Perhaps somebody is trying to crowd the whole end of AM band with various Arabic clandestines. And why not. There is yet the whole X-band vacant in Middle East. Who is listening, after all, except Nordic DXers, that's not their problem... ;-) (Jari Lehtinen, ibid.) 1584, unID Arabic-speaking with modern popular Arabic music seems to be addressing itself to Iraq, as this word is in the "slogans" of the IDs, before name of the station, which sounds like Radio Tacheen, stress on the long e-sound. At 1911 Feb 5, double ID by both female and male announcer. Just slogans, IDs and music here, no Radio Sawa- like news stories heard so far. But it is most likely a part of the US information and music offensive in the Gulf area. Any transmitter site will of course not be given away in the programs; perhaps some email address might pop up. Good for those who do understand Arabic; I am at loss here, I am afraid. Candidate countries for origin of signal? Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE... 73 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, AOR AR7030 K9AY, ibid.) I write this for HCDX, because I know that you all read this fabulous list. Two of my Arabic students listened to my cassette recording and got quite excited and said: "It's Radio Tikrit!". In the ID they say something like: "Huna Radio Tikrit ("This is Radio Tikrit") - for all Iraqians". They also told me that the songs were from Egyptian singers. Tikrit is a town, situated north west of Baghdad, and is birthplace of Saddam Hussein! My students were quite sure that it was a station in opposition to Saddam Hussein. So my first presumed ID: "Radio Secret" (stress on last -e-) and the one from yesterday: "Radio Tigris" has now become "Radio Tikrit"! Not at all a bad mixing product of several DX-ers presumptions! So, what's next: Transmitter site, organisation, address, aims etc? 73 from a quite excited (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, ibid.) Just had to check this station :) On 6 Feb at 1900 UT sign-on. Multi ID's which sure sound like R Tikrit. Arabic pops and some slogans with frequency announcement. Signal is super, much stronger than 1593 Farda and 1566 clandestine. Beats also Sawa 1548 as this 1584 has no other strong stations. Program style is "western" with echo-IDs etc. Just standing by for any web etc. announcements. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) Hi Mauno. Heh, I referred to 1566 signal just prior to 1900 UT. Yep, seems to be off now, India audible nicely. So 1584 could be the same transmitter as 1566. Thanks. 73 (Jari, ibid.) Saddam's home town on 1584 AM ... Hi, thanks a lot Björn Fransson and Mauno Ritola for the work done on pinning down the name of the station. Tikrit surely fits my recording from Feb 5, at 1911. The name of the town struck me as very familiar, and of course, it's Saddam Hussein's birthplace. And it has been in the news as a storage area for weapons of mass-destruction. Historically wellknown in many fields. I can only speculate about the real motives for the choice of name for this station. Another psychological tidbit in the war for minds ? Now we can probably only wait for what the BBCMS and other broadcast intelligence sources have to say about it. CRW? A Google search for Tikrit made me end up reading the Israeli weekly web-mag Debka. Quite a lot to consume. No wonder I get some huge phone bills from time to time. 73 (Johan Berglund, Trollhättan, Sweden, AOR AR7030, K9AY, hard-core-dx via DXLD) RADIO TIKRIT BROADCASTING TO IRAQ ON 1584 KHZ A new clandestine station broadcasting to Iraq has been observed on 1584 kHz. The station broadcasts in Arabic and identifies as Radio Tikrit, in reference to the town of Tikrit (located some 170 km north of Baghdad), where Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was born and where a large part of the ruling elite hails from. The power of the transmitter is not known, but it dominates the frequency even in parts of Europe in the evening, signing on at 1900 UTC. Radio Tikrit broadcasts popular Arabic music and brief announcements, and is obviously part of the US propaganda campaign against Iraq. The station was presumably first logged by Björn Fransson in Sweden on February 3. A sample station identification http://www.dxing.info/audio/clandestine/1584_Tikrit.rm (DXing.info, February 6, 2003 via DXLD) The ID says Radio Tikrit broadcasts on 192M - 1557 KHz !?? from 10.00 till midnight (that's Baghdad time of course), hope you enjoy our programmes. The other notice I have is that OM with the ID is the same man from Information radio --- just guessing. Is that another Commando solo project?? All the best (Tarek Zeidan, greetings from Egypt SU Land!, Feb 7, dxing.info via DXLD) Tarek's description is correct, they call themselves as R Tikrit and say often "...kullima-al-Iraq" = for all Iraq. When Twin Rivers Radio signs off at 1900, this starts on 1584 kHz, so probably via the Kuwaiti transmitter (Mauno Ritola, Finland, BC-DX Feb 7) Harris 100 kW unit?, (Wolfgang Bueschel, BCDX via DXLD) NEW IRAQI OPPOSITION BROADCAST "RADIO TIKRIT" OBSERVED What appears to be a new Iraqi opposition radio station has been observed by BBC Monitoring broadcasting on 1584 kHz mediumwave from 1900 to 2100 gmt. It identifies itself as "Radio Tikrit". Tikrit is the name of a town about 170 km north-west of the Iraqi capital Baghdad and is the birthplace of the Iraqi president, Saddam Husayn. On 6 February the radio was observed signing on at 1900 gmt with Arab music and the following announcement: "Huna Radio Tikrit" (English: This is Radio Tikrit). This announcement was repeated several times throughout the broadcast, by a man and a woman. The woman had a Lebanese accent. The announcement continued: "This is Radio Tikrit for the whole of Iraq and all the Iraqis, Radio Tikrit." This was followed by Egyptian and other Arab songs and the following announcement: "Dear listeners, Radio Tikrit greets you and broadcasts its programmes daily from 2200 to 0000 [Iraqi time, 1900 to 2100 gmt] on the following mediumwave frequency, 192 m 1557 kHz. We wish you the best of times." After Iraqi, Lebanese and other Arab songs, one of the announcers then said: "Expect our programmes from Radio Tikrit, daily from 2200 to 0000 [1900 to 2100 gmt] on the following mediumwave frequency: 192 metres, 1557 kHz; Radio Tikrit." This is followed by a Lebanese song and the announcement: "Very soon we will present to you news, reports and objective analysis from Radio Tikrit, the radio of all Iraqis." A modern Egyptian song follows. The remainder of the broadcast consisted of Iraqi, Lebanese and other Arab songs and repeats of the above-mentioned announcements. The broadcast ended at 2100 gmt. Source: BBC Monitoring research 6 Feb 03 (via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. 700, RJR Hague, FEB 6 0420 - fair to good at times in WLW null with what sounded like Caribbean-flavored house or techno music, occasional "RJR" mentions, and man in accented English saying they'd be "rocking the house 'til midnight." Rapid sub-audible het flutter on frequency, not sure who was beating against whom (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO; barefoot Sony ICF-7600G portable, NRC-AM via DXLD 580, RJR, Baileys Vale, 2/6 0600 UT, fair. Reggae sounding music and announcer with accented English; clearly parallel to 720, but much better on 580. Spanish underneath, but unsure who. Also thought I heard "WIBW," but not enough for a logging. Auroral conditions. New (Dave Hochfelder, New Brunswick, NJ, Sony ICF-2010 with Quantum QX Pro, ibid.) ** KASHMIR [non]. Azad Kashmir R., 5990, presumably via Islamabad, Dec 16 0243 tune-in to talk in presumed Urdu with mentions of Islamabad and Pakistan; fair/clear until R. Ethiopia *0257, SIO 333 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to SOUTH ASIA: 9890, Sadaye Kashmir: I have listened to the sign on sequence twice more and it sure doesn't seem like it is from a CIS site to me. Transmitter has come on at 0203 [Feb 6] and 0208 [Feb 7] and it might go off once or twice. After about 5 or 7 minutes one hears a het that is caused by spurs on 9889 and 9891. I don't hear the tones that one hears during a CIS transmitter warm up that go off and on. Programming starts at 0230. Noel Green, would Pakistan have an open transmitter to put this on? Can anyone in understand Urdu and tell us what they are saying? (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I had already thought about Pakistan transmitters at Islamabad: BUT, API-1 & 3 are in use for external services to Asia [on 11655 & 15625 around 0200]. API-2 is on air via 5915 until 0215. API-4 is on air from 0200 via 7105 and API-5 & 6 are on air until 0215 via 15485 & 17895. The use of Regional transmitters seems unlikely. I don't have a current schedule, but Quetta is/was on air via 5025[7] until 0404 [0345 Fridays]. Rawalpindi [10 kW at 68 deg] from 0230 on 4790 while Peshawar is/was in use only 1100-1400 on 7320. API-8 [Azad Kashmir via Islamabad] is on air until 0215 via 4790 [then on 5985 at 0230-0400 to carry V of Jammu & Kashmir Freedom Movements according to reports ?]. This is the current information I have, and I don't know of any changes to it, or the use of SW transmitters from elsewhere. However, API-4 has/had a fault which caused it to emit side-spurs, as heard when using 5080 between 1300 and 1800. I suggest you try 7105 to check if that is actually in use. 73s (Noel R. Green, Blackpool, NW England, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. Iraq Turkmen Sesi Radyosu (via V of People of Kurdistan, 4415.75 at 1711, Turkmen progrm, IDs ``Burse Iraq Turkmen Sesi Radyosu``. Later VoPK program \\ 4025; SIO 343 Jan 5. On Jan 8, 4125.83 at 1700, V. of People of Kurdistan, rhetoric including Taleban and Kurdistan \\ 4025.2, SIO 232 (Alan Pennington, Caversham, Berkshire, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN (?). Hit Music on Shortwave, 4940, Jan 11 1625 ID in English with Russian accent, closedown, NOT \\ 4050 (Rumen Pankov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) A few days ago, Mauno Ritola sent me an MP3 recording from 4050 (Hit Shortwave) at 1804 onwards on 25.1.03 asking me if someone from our students knows Dari. As there is a Farsi student, I transferred Mauno`s MP3 recording into tape and gave together with my walkman. The guy together with his Kalash friend have responded as follows: Language is 100% Farsi, what I suspected listening to it. It is NOT Dari (I insisted for it). Programming was religious sponsored by an organisation in Philadelphia USA. Surely Protestant. No ID has been found from the 25 min recording, neither the name of the organisation Hope that this can demystify the programming (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So maybe we should not have put this recently under AFGHANISTAN non ** LATVIA. The Latvian Radio and TV Council is planning to announce licensing commercial radio stations on medium wave. One of the interested parties is Radio Gold which wants to start regular broadcasts on 945 kHz. Radio Gold also plans to broadcast Tourist Radio in foreign languages (Raimonds, TESUG, SCDX/MediaScan Feb 5 via DXLD) As R. Gold 945 announced their phone number (371 922 4105), I called and they gave me an E-mail address, desug@barks.lv for reception reports and also said hello to me on the air. They told me QSL cards would be sent out by May next year [meaning 2003 now?] as the station commences full-time operation, in connection with the Eurovision Soing Contest being held in Latvia (Ronny Forslund, via Steve Whitt, MWC via Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Desug?? I guess that means a well-known British radio entrepreneur is involved in this (gh, DXLD) ** LIBERIA. R. Liberia, 6100 noted with pop music at 0638 tune-in on Feb 5, then news in English, many mentions of Liberia, including "This is Liberia", and mention of 6.10 MHz. Only fair strength but all alone on the frequency. R. Veritas 5469.96 noted with news in English at 0647 tune-in, weaker than 6100, but several ID's noted before the top of the hour when I heard four pips. Heavy QRM defeated by using LSB. (Jim Renfrew, NY; Drake R-8, longwires, WORLD OF RADIO 1168, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Veritas, 5469.97, Feb 1 0635-0715+, tune-in to vernacular talk, 0644 into English with ID, 0645 local English news, 0700 VOA news, 0706 VOA News Now program. Fair-good. R. Liberia International, 6100, Feb a 0635-0720+, tune-in to vernacular talk, African folk music, 0659 into English, 0701 news, station promos, 0717 local community announcements. IDs as International Service of Liberia Communications Network, R. Liberia International, and ``R.L.I.``. Good-strong (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LUXEMBOURG. [tentative] 6090: There was a carrier and continuous tone on 6090 Feb 3 at 0752 tune in, peaking to 9+30dB. Maybe a test from LUX? It went on past 0800, but was off when retuned c0845 (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX via DXLD) It was Tuesday when I heard the carrier on 6090. Nothing today. As Kai remarks, they would need to power up from time to time just to keep the thing in operational condition. It would have been nice to have heard audio - even if it had to be Mega Radio! (Noel R. Green-UK, BC- DX Feb 5 via DXLD) Interesting, maybe Monday is their maintenance day?? wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX Feb 7 via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. Using the form at http://www.cyberlobby.com/vomradiofp/qsl/reception_report.htm you may send a report to the Voice of Mediterranean, Malta (Dmitry Puzanov, Kustanay, Kazakhstan, Signal Feb 6 via DXLD) ** MANCHURIA [non]. China, People's Republic of (Manchuria), 5860, Voice of Jinling Broadcasting Station, full data "Three Headed General" card, no v/s, in 1 month, for English report and tape, rp, received schedule in Chinese and personal English letter (Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, N: 52-16-18 W: 113-48-46, Rx: Rockwell Collins HF-2050; Antennas: 7 Slinky Antenna-28m, 14'(4.26m)x29'(8.83m) Flag Antenna, T2FD Centered On 90m, MFJ 1026 With Vertical 19.5m Tower, Feb 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Joe, This is in Nanjing [a.k.a. Nanking], which is not in (ex) Manchuria. Or do you have info to the contrary? I`m going by WRTH, PWBR listings and my atlas, not NASWA. 73, (Glenn to Joe) Hi Glenn: What's with "Glenn Yaozuh"? Yes, the Manchuria thing, the QSL from Manchuria? There is a great deal of confusing information on this "Nanjing"/"Jinling" topic on the I Net and then there is the NASWA Country List. Funny, George Maroti and I were just on the topic of Dhabbya UAE. Not slamming the NASWA Country List Committee; they have done a fine job, consider their "Policy", a very fair arrangement. At time there are countries and interpretations that need to be clarified. In the past I had seen the V. of Jinling accepted as Manchuria. Searching the net, the best I can come up with is this: "Nanjing" is/not the Provincial Capital of Jiangsu Province. And that "Jinling is/not in Shandong Province. Glenn what I am going to do is turn this over to an expert! A Canadian woman, Ruth Lor Malloy who has traveled China on "a shoestring" and written a travel guide. I will ask her: 1) Where is Jinling? Is it a city? 2) What province is Jinling in? 3) What is Nanjing, a provincial capital? 4) What is Jinling Nanjing? 5) What past/present provinces make up what was/is "Manchuria"? (Joe Talbot, DXLD) Dear Joe, According to my Chinese atlas, there is a Jinlingsi in Liaoning province, and a Jinlingzhen in Sichuan province, neither of which is a provincial capital. Are you thinking about Jilin? This is a city in Jilin province of which Changchun is the capital and is in the area formerly known as Manchuria. Other provinces in Manchuria are Heilongjiang and Liaoning. Manchuria was so named because that was the area where the Manchu people originally lived, and these people became rulers of China as the Qing dynasty. I hope this helps. Regards, Ruth. Ruth Lor Malloy, author, China Guide, 570 Windermere Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3L8, Canada (via Talbot) Hi Glenn: I am not sure where I picked up the idea that the Voice of Jinling (Nanjing) was considered part of Manchuria; it was on my hit list. You are correct Glenn, Nanjing Province is/was not considered part of Manchuria. Mrs. Ruth Lor Malloy, Chinese travel guide author, confirms the NASWA Country List and your statements that 3 provinces make up Manchuria, Heilongjiang, Jinlin and Liaoning. By the looks of things, you are the only one who noticed. I am going to have to listen for the 2 PBS that are in Heilongjiang Province, then no question. Sorry for any confusion Glenn, 73's (Joe Talbot, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Maori leaders angry at mainstream media coverage of past protests during New Zealand's national day have banned all non-indigenous media from covering this year's official celebrations. The Maori Ngapuhi tribe owns Waitangi, where the nation's founding document between Maori and Britain was signed, and can control who is allowed in. Maori elder Bruce Gregory said that tribal leaders felt the image of Maoris had been damaged by "adverse reporting" of protests at annual February 6 Waitangi Day commemorations. The event is often besieged by militant protesters, airing Maori grievances over the loss of their lands and destruction of their language and culture. Maori custom allows grievances, known as "taki" to be raised at such events. Gregory, a former legislator, said any non-Maori media representatives who approached people or took cameras inside Waitangi would be escorted out by Maori wardens. "There is nothing to stop people coming on (to the grounds), but once they start clicking their cameras, they will get the short shrift," he said. Reporters and photographers from Maori media would face no such restrictions, he added. Commonwealth Press Union chairman and New Zealand Herald editor-in- chief Gavin Ellis called the ban a "direct and obvious threat to media freedom". Prime Minister Helen Clark said the ban set an "unfortunate precedent". Gregory said elders could not help it if they had upset news organizations: "They've been upsetting us for years", he said. Maori Television Service chairman Derek Fox accused mainstream, white- dominated media of being "derogatory" and "disrespectful" toward Maori language and culture (AP via SCDX/MediaScan Feb 5 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. V of Nigeria was found on 11770 at c0820 in Hausa, and it continued at 0900 in English - I hear HCJB-KNX in the background at 0925. Yes, powerful here in Stuttgart at Feb 4 at 0700-0800 UT too, is prime time on this path, I had never problems to hear Gabon, Ivory Coast in the past, and Nigeria in our mornings (Wolfgang Bueschel, BC- DX via DXLD) Hi Glenn: The Voice of Nigeria seems to be evaluating 11770 vs 15120 at 2200-2300. On Feb 5th I heard 15120 with good signals, but today, Feb 6th, they were on 11770 with a poor to fair signal. Nothing was heard on other frequencies on either date (Harold Sellers, Newmarket, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also AUSTRALIA 9690: Voice of Nigeria, Lagos 0502-0532 Feb 7. Female announcer, in English, with news headlines, report on national ID card, investigation of Lagos bomb blast. Economic and sporting nx. ID, GMT at 0530. Program, "(Moving?) On" with drop in audio. Heard this while bandscanning, 02/07. Unsure if its a new frequency or an anomaly. Whatever the case may be, it was a strong, steady signal. Quality similar to signals beamed to the Americas. Tried to check //'s but 7255 was a mess of QRM; 15120 was silent and 11770 had a rough R. Mexico Int'l (Scott R. Barbour Jr., Intervale, NH, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1 kit, RS longwire w/ RDA balun, hard-core-dx via DXLD) That explains why I was not hearing them either on the other three frequencies when checked around that time. Now that you mention it, I vaguely recall VON may have used 9690 in the dim, distant past sesquidecades ago (gh, DXLD) V. of Nigeria seems to have reverted to 15120 kHz (cf post Feb 4: "V of Nigeria on new 11770 kHz"). Heard at 1005 today (7 Feb) on 15120 in English with scheduled programmes ("On the Bookshelf" to 1015 etc). Fair strength and clear on 15120. No parallel (7255?) audible at this time. (as a result, HCJB Australia weak but clear on 11770 at 1000) (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham UK, AOR 7030+/ longwire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But what about tomorrow? ** NIGERIA. AFRICA INDEPENDENT TELEVISION LAUNCHES IN AMERICA VIA GLOBECAST The Nigerian satellite network Africa Independent Television (AIT) has launched its broadcast service in America via the GlobeCast WorldTV Direct-to-Home platform on Telstar 5. Africa Independent Television (AIT) is the first independent global satellite television service from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, broadcasting 24/7 live from Lagos. Established in 1996, AIT is a thematic channel whose purpose is to promote African values and traditions globally, while encouraging development to and within Africa. AIT`s multi-dimensional repertoire of programs includes news, sports, soap operas, cultural entertainment shows, musicals and documentaries. The network broadcasts in English, with selected programming presented in African languages Hausa, Igbo, Swahili and Yoruba (Feb AIB Newsletter via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. The SPORTS ANIMAL network of OKLAHOMA simulcasts based at WWLS-A/OKLAHOMA CITY adds another station in MUSKOGEE: KBIX-A flips from Oldies to the SPORTS ANIMAL programming, reports 100000WATTS.COM (Brock Whaley, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA [non]. See USA, John Callarman`s article on moving stations into the DFW market ** PAKISTAN. See KASHMIR [non] ** PERU. R. Unión, 6114.95, Feb 1 0840-0910+ Spanish announcements, ads, jingles, IDs. A lot of DJ chatter; Spanish pops, ballads (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 4775, 1119-, R. Tarma, Feb 3. Male announcer in Spanish with S5 signal level at tune in. Some QRM from sweeper but audio was fairly clear. Lots of fancy canned jingles and promos. One after another. Appears to be getting the adverts out of the way for some long music. Tentative ID at 1128 (French Creek DXpedition, Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. Updated Winter B-02 schedule for RDP Internacional-Radio Portugal: Monday to Friday EUROPE 0600-0857 9 755 LIS 300 45œ 0600-1300 9 815 LIS 100 52œ 0745-0900 11 660 SIN 250 55œ 0900-1057 11 875 LIS 300 45œ retimed, ex 0900-1300 1100-1300 15 140 LIS 300 45œ ex 11875 1700-2000 11 740 LIS 100 52œ ex 11 800 1700-2000 11 960 LIS 300 45œ ex 13 585 2000-2400 9 880 LIS 300 45œ ex 11 860 (special broadcasts only) MIDDLE EAST/INDIA 1400-1600 21 810 LIS 100 82œ AFRICA 1100-1300 21 830 LIS 100 142œ 1700-2000 17 680 LIS 300 144œ may extend till 2400 NORTH AMERICA/CANADA 0600-0800 11 675 LIS 100 310œ 1300-2400 15 540 LIS 100 294œ special broadcasts only VENEZUELA 1800-1957 17 745 LIS 100 261œ 2000-2400 13 770 LIS 100 261œ special broadcasts only BRASIL/CABO VERDE/GUINEA 1100-1300 21 655 LIS 100 215œ 21 725 LIS 100 215œ 1700-2000 21 655 LIS 100 215œ may extend till 2400 but on NF 11905 21 800 LIS 100 215œ Tuesday to Saturday NORTH AMERICA/CANADA 0000-0300 9 715 LIS 100 294œ 11 655 LIS 100 310œ VENEZUELA 0000-0300 13 700 LIS 100 261œ special broadcasts only BRASIL 0000-0300 11 980 LIS 100 215œ 13 770 LIS 300 226œ Saturday and Sunday EUROPE 0800-1457 11 875 LIS 300 45œ 15 575 LIS 100 52œ 0930-1100 11 995 SIN 250 55œ 1500-1757 11 775 LIS 100 52œ ex 13 660 1500-1757 11 960 LIS 300 45œ ex 13 790 1800-2000 9 880 LIS 300 45œ ex 13 660 (may extend till 2400) 1800-2100 9 655 LIS 100 52œ ex 13 790 2000-2400 11 800 LIS 100 52œ special broadcasts only AFRICA 0800-1757 21 830 LIS 100 142œ 1800-2100 17 680 LIS 300 144œ may extend till 2400 NORTH AMERICA/CANADA 1300-2100 15 540 LIS 100 294œ may extend till 2400 VENEZUELA 1300-2100 17 745 LIS 100 261œ 2000-2400 13 770 LIS 100 261œ special broadcasts only BRASIL/CABO VERDE/GUINEA 0800-1957 21 655 LIS 100 215œ 2000-2100 11 905 LIS 100 215œ ex 21 655 (may extend till 2400) LIS=San Gabriel, Portugal SIN=Sines, Portugal (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. POST OFFICES GET WIRED. There are currently some 6,600 public-access Internet outlets in post offices across Russia, Prime- TASS reported on 28 January, citing Ilya Genkin of the postal-services department of the Communications Ministry. According to Genkin, this number represents a more than sixfold increase from the beginning of 2002, when there were just over 1,000 such outlets. Under a project launched in August 2001, Internet access is to be set up at all of Russia's 40,000 post offices, the agency reported. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 29 January via RFE/RL Media Matters Feb 3 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non]. VOR has been running an item on its news broadcasts that an agreement has been signed with Germany for MW broadcasts (for a period of 5 years) in several European languages for 18 hours a day, for reception in Europe. I presume this means the use of one (or more) former `domestic` transmitters. My hunch is that, at lest the 1593 kHz Langenberg (near Cologne) transmitter (400/800 kW) will be re- activated for this purpose. This will also make quite a useful propagation beacon if it is brought back into regular service (Ken Fletcher, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) Not 1593 as that was owned by US government and moved to Kuwait for R. Farda (Dave Kenny, ibid.) Well, WDR Langenberg used to be on 1593, e.g. in 1991 WRTH, before Holzkirchen got the frequency. And before that, I think it was on 1586, when it was my most reliable European MW in Thailand, in 1969-70 (Glenn Hauser, ex-Nakhorn Ratchasima, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. I heard this week for several times an Arabic station on 9715 kHz before 0600 UT with Kor`an praying and at 0600 with the ID like "Mamlakai Arabia as sa`udia". So this must be the B.S. of the Kingdom of Sa`udi Arabia. The question is if this broadcast on this unlisted frequency is via its own transmitters or it is via Commando Solo which uses this frequency in the afternoon and evening hours for its "Radiyo al-Ma'ulumat" broadcast. The reception of this last one is also possible under QRM. However the modulation of these two programs sounds different (Erich Bergmann, Germany, BC-DX Feb 1 via DXLD) Erich Bergmann asked me about an Arabic station he noted on 9715 at 0500-0600 UT, not strong, but readable. Today [Feb 4th] I was up very early. Is 100% Djeddah only 50 kW unit (replaced either registered 11820 or 15435 kHz). \\ noted 15170 and 21495 superpower of 500 kW from Riyadh couldn't missed. On 9710 is IBRA Radio in Arabic from T-systems Juelich Germany with typical groundwave fluttering on my place. 115 degrees skips over my head. At 0530-0600 additional comes Pori Finland in Finnish to N Am accompanied to ARS co-channel. In the Michiel Schaay List of 1996 I can see 9715 as Iraq Mother of the Battles R and R Baghdad morning frequency too, but these have gone, due to bombardment of the installations or even lack of main power? (Wolfgang Bueschel, Feb 4, BC-DX via DXLD) This morning [Feb 5] around 0525 UT heard again ARS on 21495, 15170, and 9715 kHz, but no trace on 11820 or 15435 kHz. On latter heard an English program, but didn't recognize the station, UAE Radio Dubai in English scheduled from 0530 UT, and Arabic til 0530 UT (Wolfgang Bueschel, Feb 5, BC-DX via DXLD) This 9715 ARS is very likely substitute for 11820. I do monitoring 11825 VOA/English, so never noted ARS since the start of B-02. 9715 Djeddah ARS outlet. 0500-0600+ 9715 ARS with non-stop HQ'ing, nx at 0600, SIO 322, co-channel ?FIN in Finnish BTW, I don't see their 9580v BSKSA-2 recent days. Every evening "Commando Solo" in Arabic is there (9715), co-channel DW in Russian (heard at 1500-2000 UT). (Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, BC-DX Feb 5 via DXLD) Possibly 9715 is used at 0300-0600, but could go until 0800 or longer, instead of either 11820 [or 15435]. I note that their HFCC registrations say 15435 is JED 50 kW 0300-0600 at 68deg and 11820 is also JED 50 kW at 315 deg. There's no registration for 9715. Yes ... I have a note that UAE Dubai has En 0530 on 15435, so probably that is the one you heard Wolfie. I suppose ARS could be "buried" underneath that and not audible sending at 68 deg? [has been heard underneath Dubai in previous years too, wb] What I did note this morning [Feb 5] was that there were no audible outlets on air on 17 MHz after 0800. The listed 17760 [registered JED 50 kW 315 deg] for Main Arabic 0600-0900 was not audible - only Ukraine on there - and nothing on 17745 either. From memory, I believe I have recently heard 17895 for Holy Koran until 0800, but there is no trace of 17620. Only 15380 was audible after 0800 today. 17620 is registered JED 50 kW 68 deg while 17895 is RIY 500 kW at 40 deg 0600- 0800 (Noel R. Green, UK, BC-DX Feb 5 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. Upon a tip from a participant at the present HFCC Conference in S Africa, I am now on Feb 5 listening at 2005-2035- (2130* ?) to the Clandestine, Anti-Sa`udi V of Reform on 7590 which has replaced 9925. They broadcast the usual talks and phone-in programs in Arabic mentioning George W. Bush and Palestine, and are jammed by Saudi Arabia. I suppose this is still via Kvitsøy, Norway. 33443-34444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, BC-DX Feb 5 via DXLD) 7590, 2110-, Voice of Reform, Feb 3. Jammer not totally covering over station in Arabic. By 2118, station dropped down. Mostly that of a male announcer with long talks. ID not possible due to conditions and jammer. Sign off 2127 and jammers continued. It is possible this broadcast is out of Norway to Sa`udi Arabia (French Creek DXpedition, Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA, Feb 7, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** SERBIA-MONTENEGRO. SERBIA-MONTENEGRO GOVERNMENT TO FUND STATE AGENCY, RADIO YUGOSLAVIA | Text of report in English by Yugoslav state news agency Tanjug Belgrade, 5 February: Federal Information Secretary Slobodan Orlich said on Wednesday [5 February] that the future Council of Ministers of the state union of Serbia and Montenegro will partly finance Tanjug, as a state news agency. Orlich, who was a guest in a BK Television programme, said that in that respect a special working group will be formed on the initiative of the Democratic Party of Socialists. He added that Tanjug will undergo "some transformation", and that the news agency should remain national. Orlich said that the Council of Ministers (government) of the new state union would finance in full the short-wave information radio programme (Radio Yugoslavia), and funding from the budget will be secured to preserve the rich archives of Filmske Novosti. Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1520 gmt 5 Feb 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SPAIN. COLD WAR RELIC 'BULL RING' IS BEING DISMANTLED AT ROTA By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes European edition, Wednesday, February 5, 2003 NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain --- A Cold War relic that has been a base landmark for more than three decades will soon be history. A team of Defense Department workers began dismantling the naval station’s 90-foot-tall circular antenna array last week. The antenna - -- known as ``The Bull Ring`` by base personnel and Rota residents --- has been a part of the installation’s landscape since 1964. Part of the military`s high-frequency direction finding system, the antenna once helped Navy code breakers track radio signals from aircraft and ships and intercept voice and message traffic from short- wave channels. The military has turned to more modern technology, making the double fence of interconnecting copper cables obsolete. ``Technology has gone past it in leaps and bounds,`` said Senior Chief Petty Officer Paul Zimmerman, assigned to Naval Security Group Activity Rota. The antenna was an important intelligence-gathering piece during the Cold War and is one of only two of its kind remaining in the U.S. Navy. The military will soon demolish the other in San Diego. The Defense Department has torn down most of the antennas because they are outdated and could become a hazard if not maintained. Rota`s antenna has not been used since the early 1990s. When it was operational, the Navy had a four-person crew to keep it ship shape. ``They were always busy,`` said Petty Officer 1st Class Jeff Black, also of the security group. The antenna has a diameter of 850 feet --- nearly three football fields [what`s that got to do with it??? --- gh] --- and can be seen clearly from a road that travels around the perimeter of the naval station. It surrounds a small compound where hundreds of Navy cryptologists once worked. During the early 1980s, the command had more than 1,500 personnel. Today, the command has between 150 and 200 people and primarily serves Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Two, an EP-3 unit based in Rota. At one time, the Navy had about a dozen similar circular antennas scattered around the world in places, such as Japan, Iceland and Guam. They are often nicknamed ``elephant cages`` or ``dinosaur cages`` because the interconnecting wires look like some sort of fence out of Jurassic Park. Residents dubbed the antenna in Rota ``Plaza de Toros,`` or ``The Bull Ring.`` The secrecy of the work performed by the command led to widespread speculation in town that the ring was a high-tech security fence. Its purpose is still a mystery to most people. What the antenna has accomplished and how exactly it works remain carefully guarded secrets. Although the technology is old, cryptologists fear that going into detail would compromise some of the techniques used today to spy on adversaries. ``It did help win the Cold War,`` Chief Petty Officer Glynn Rodgers said. Workers estimate that it will take three weeks to take apart the antenna and haul it away, using cranes, trucks and metal crunching equipment. The team will tear down 81, 90-foot tall wooden poles and 120 shorter poles. They also will have to remove 20 miles of copper wire. The team removed 1,750 tie rods --- used to keep tension on the wires --- Friday. Workers expect to use as many as 80 truckloads to haul the wire, wood and other parts away from the site located on the northern boundary of the base. Most of the material will be recycled and sold as scrap. It cost $9 million to build the antenna, but the price tag to tear it down is much less --- between $800,000 and $1 million. Workers plan to complete the project in three weeks. The command is thinking about possibly cutting up pieces of the wooden poles that make up the antenna and saving them as keepsakes [illustrated:] http://www.stripes.osd.mil/article.asp?section=104&article=12908 © 2002 [sic] Stars and Stripes. All Rights Reserved (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "Nordic Lights" Nordic film, alcohol taxes in Finland, and a smoking ban in Norway Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: "Sweden Today" Sunday: In "Sounds Nordic" Dungen's music and how do Swedes like to be kissed? (SCDX/MediaScan Feb 5 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. Frequency change for Voice of Turkey in Arabic: 1500-1655 NF 6110*, ex 6120 to avoid Radio Finland in Finnish \\ 15195 *co-ch Brother Stair in En; VOA in En; Voice of Azerbaijan in Azeri on 6110.8 -- 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 7 via DXLD) ** TURKMENISTAN. Turkmen R., 4930, New Year, Dec 31, 1853 speech from their leader, Pres. Nyazov, 1900 bells, etc. \\ 5015, national anthem, SIO 444 (Rumen Paknov, Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U K. GBR RUGBY TO CLOSE? On http://tx.mb21.co.uk/rugby/index.asp you will find interesting nformation about GBR Rugby. But is the station to close? I quote: "Apparently, the BT Rugby station is due to close. In fact, I understand that it should have closed by now but is being kept open by OFTEL of all people - don't know why. I assume the NPL time signal will be kept on. Rugby is still home of the Navy VLF submarine service but has now lost all of its telephone, telex, marine and air HF services and I hear that there are only 3 people left on site." More pictures of this facility are on http://tx.mb21.co.uk/rugby/photos.asp The history of the station is described on http://www.alan.melia.btinternet.co.uk/rugbyrs.htm (Mike Terry, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Mike, and others. In fact, we covered the possible closure of the Rugby station on the list some time ago. I sought some "official" clarification from my brother, who works at the NPL main site in Teddington, regarding the MSF facility. There are certainly no plans to axe this invaluable service. BT are pulling out of the current site for purely financial reasons --- they can make more by selling it for brownfield housing --- but apparently there are plans to re-erect some facilities at a nearby site anyway (subject, I guess, to planning permission). There is a licence connected with this site, which remains in force till 2007 at least. Hope that reassures anyone who makes use of it! (MARK SAVAGE, Eastbourne, BDXC-UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [non]. NATIONAL TALKING EXPRESS ON SHORT-WAVE There will be a test transmission by MediaSound on Sunday 16th February on 5935 Short Wave from 4 to 5 pm. [1600-1700 UT, following European Music Radio, before Laser Radio] This broadcast is a fully licensed operation using a 100 kW transmitter in Latvia. When conditions are good on the band the signal can be heard on a portable radio all over Europe. We have invited NTE to take part in this test transmission and I can confirm that an interview was recorded today with Phil Troll. We will give full details of NTE's involvement with Mediasound together with contact details and an appeal for funds. Please tune in if you can, Alan Maylin MediaSound Have you heard MEDIASOUND yet? http://www.mediasound.net (PAUL DAVID Chair, Brent Visually-Handicapped Group Registered Charity No.; 272955 Vice-Chair, National Talking Express Registered Charity No.: 801993 Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K [and non]. SOUTHERN EUROPEAN REPORT with Stefano Valianti WHY DOESN`T BBCWS USE THE 75 METRE BAND? For the second consecutive year, the BBC World Service has not reintroduced the frequency of 3955 kHz in the 75 metre band at the start of the winter season (B02 schedule) – and I have met difficulties with reception on the lowest used frequency of 6195 kHz as early as 1930 GMT. For instance, while this part of SER is being jotted down at 1945 on the 6th of January the only frequency I can listen to the Charlie Gillett Show on is 648 kHz medium wave (with reception quality varying from fair to good). Apart from the fact that I don‘t understand why the BBC left the excellent 75 m.b. frequency, one other thing is not clear to me. In the evening the Deutsche Welle broadcasts to Europe both on 6075 (in German) and on 3995 kHz (in various languages including English at 1800 and 1900 and German from 2200 on). They are both good to excellent. As 6075 is broadcast from Germany, I should think this should have more skip problems (from an Italian listening site) that 6195 from Britain. It‘s not so, most December and January evenings I`ve completely lost 6195 around 1945, while 6075 is always good at this time and usually remains strong and steady for many hours to come, and usually throughout the night (Feb BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U K. BBC online schedule, including Americas stream, for Feb 5 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/schedules/internet/usa_today.shtml did not show coverage of SOS Powell at the UN, when checked early UT 5th --- fortunately, they changed their mind and did carry it, e.g. on 15190 Antigua, and by then the posted schedule had been updated to include it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K / U S A. BBC AND NPR STAGE A GLOBAL PHONE-IN PROGRAMME ON IRAQ BBC World Service and NPR have teamed up to provide a global forum for exchange of public opinion on the Iraq issue. Iraq - the World Speaks, a co-production between BBC World's Service's Talking Point programme and NPR News, will allow people from all over the world to give their opinions live on the phone, by email and SMS messages in a special two-hour phone-in at 1800-2000 GMT (1300-1500 ET) on Saturday, 15 February. Presented by the BBC's Robin Lustig and NPR's Neal Conan, the programme will seek answers to the questions which are of paramount importance today. Can war with Iraq still be averted? What role will the United Nations play in the diplomatic jigsaw and will the coalition of the US President Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair be able to convince a public still largely opposed to war? What will be the implications of any military attack on Iraq, in the region and in the rest of the world? Questions can be emailed in advance to talkingpoint@bbc.co.uk (From BBCWS press office via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** UNITED NATIONS. UN Media - job opportunity The United Nations is seeking a high-level person to fill the post of Chief, Television and Radio within the Department of Public Information. Applications are invited from senior broadcast executives/producers who could develop and implement a strategy to enhance coverage in the broadcast media worldwide of UN goals and activities. Candidates should have: An accomplished track record in the news area; Extensive knowledge of international broadcasting; Strong leadership and managerial skills; Intimate knowledge of new broadcast technology; At least 18 years high-level experience; University degree in communications or a related field. Full information is available at: https://jobs.un.org/ Closing date for applications is 23 March 2003. (Feb AIB Newsletter via DXLD) ** U S A. VOA zip codes, old and new: The State Department mail room says it will no longer forward to VOA letters with the 20547 zip code. Those letters will be returned to the sender. In 1998, when the U.S. Information Agency was absorbed into the State Department, and the Broadcasting Board of Governors was created, State kept 20547, with VOA/IBB/BBG assigned the new zip code 20237. Oh oh, the 2003 World Radio TV Handbook still gives 20547 as VOA's zip code. Passport to World Band Radio has the correct 20237 zip code for VOA and IBB. 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, VOA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Glenn, An illustrated article on how radio hams are helping set up a museum at the former VOA Bethany site is at: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/02/05/1/?nc=1 (Andy Sennitt, Artie Bigley, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 10 EASTERN EUROPE BROADCASTS TO END By Olga Kryzhanovska THE WASHINGTON TIMES [Moony] The Voice of America will end its foreign-language service to 10 Eastern European countries under its 2004 budget, officials said this week.... http://washingtontimes.com/world/20030207-22290603.htm (via Ulis Fleming, DXLD) ** U S A. I figured WBCQ`s Planet World News is already scheduled too early for decent propagation here on 7415, 2050 UT. First chance I had to check it was Feb 6, and barely detectable tho conditions may have been subnormal. Fortunately, it was also on 9335-CUSB, tho this has not been publicized, and more or less readable there in USB; some other program was on 17495. Sounded straight and professionally done, concluding with a couple of minutes of worldwide high and low temps, but all in F. Newscaster was Michael --, I assume the WBCQ program director at Complex Variable Studios in PA. Surely WBCQ will work the newscasts into better propagational timings later in the evening, tho this may have been the latest 10-minute slot initially available across the board 6 days a week. Oh, oh, next afternoon, Fri Feb 7 tuned in late at 2055, but on 7415 just open carrier, then music, better reception than yesterday anyway, and nothing on 9335. So much for a reliable newscast... (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KXTR Kansas City KS 1660: v/s John Verlin, Sales, jverlin@entercom.com KXTR plan to start broadcasting in digital AM some time this year (Bjarne Mjelde, Berlevag, Arctic Norway, Feb 6, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Classical with non-streaming website lacking in detail ** U S A. CHARLES JACO JOINS KTVI By Gail Pennington and Jerry Berger, St Louis Post-Dispatch tv.spy.com Charles Jaco will join KTVI on Feb. 18 as a full-time reporter. Jaco, 52, was fired by KMOX radio in November. Feb. 18 is the first day he can legally work again in St. Louis media, after a no-compete clause in his contract with KMOX expires. The clause was reduced to three months from six after Jaco challenged his dismissal by the radio station. Before joining KMOX seven years ago, Jaco worked for CNN, reporting on the Persian Gulf War in 1990-91 from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait City. If another war with Iraq breaks out, Jaco will offer analysis and commentary for KTVI, news director Brad Remington said Tuesday. He will also cover state and local issues and provide several in-depth packages a week, primarily for the 9 p.m. newscast. Terms of his new contract weren't disclosed, but Jaco said he was "most happy with the whole package." He has been working for KIRO talk radio in Seattle, but said he never signed on formally with that station because he was reluctant to leave St. Louis. He grew up in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Jaco has also signed with KFTK-FM (97.1) as host of the morning show, 6-9 a.m. Monday-Friday. "There is no better time to bring Charles Jaco to our listeners than when we are on the brink of war in the Middle East," said John Beck, senior vice president of Emmis Communications. (Editor's Note: The GM at KMOX radio who fired Charles Jaco was dismissed by Viacom (i.e."left to pursue other business opportunities.") (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. URBAN RADIO RAGE: WHEN CLEAR CHANNEL BOUGHT KMEL, IT DESTROYED THE SO-CALLED PEOPLE'S STATION. NOW THE PEOPLE WANT IT BACK By Jeff Chang THERE AREN'T MANY visitors to Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s South of Market fortress these days, other than ad buyers, talent managers, and contest winners. The first floor looks like a tiny security bunker with silent music videos flickering on small wall- mounted TVs. So on Jan. 6, when a group of hip-hop activists showed up – a bunch of teens and twentysomethings, battle-hardened, some of them anyway, by campaigns against globalization and Proposition 21 – the gatekeeper alerted management before allowing them up to the fourth- floor waiting room.... http://www.sfbg.com/37/18/cover_kmel.html (San Francisco Bay Guardian via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. MEMBER OF FCC PUSHES OWNERSHIP DEBATE --- COMMISSIONER PLANS ADDITIONAL HEARINGS ON LAWS GOVERNING MEDIA CONSOLIDATION By Frank Ahrens, Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, February 6, 2003; Page E04 A member of the Federal Communications Commission said yesterday that he will hold additional public hearings on possible changes to the agency's rules on media ownership, saying that "most Americans are not even aware that this is teed up for debate." Commissioner Michael J. Copps also called on the FCC to establish a procedure to accept anonymous testimony from media and entertainment industry employees fearful of losing their jobs if they testify against media consolidation. The FCC already has scheduled a public hearing about the media rules for Feb. 27 in Richmond. Yesterday, Copps announced that additional, unofficial hearings would be held in early March at the University of Washington in Seattle and later in the month at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The FCC is reexamining its rules on media ownership as part of a regular, congressionally mandated review. Among other things, current laws place a cap on the number of affiliate stations a television network can own. "It has been a revelation to me that there are media professionals with strong feelings about the downsides of consolidation for the American people who are afraid to speak for fear of retribution," Copps said in an address yesterday at Fordham University in New York. "If this is true then we need to find a way for them to be heard without fear of retribution." The FCC has provisions for accepting anonymous testimony from witnesses who fear reprisals, but the specifics of Copps's proposal must be examined by the agency's lawyers, an agency spokesman said. Copps favors multiple public hearings to tap into expertise on media ownership in individual markets. FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell and others back the hearings in theory but say they believe input can more efficiently be compiled via e-mail, without using the agency's limited budget to ferry commissioners and staff around the country. The issue of the hearings has produced something of a Cold War between Powell and Copps. Powell, who hopes to have a vote on any rule changes before summer, said yesterday in a statement that the FCC has received 13,000 comments from the public on media ownership. "This record clearly demonstrates that in the digital age, you don't need a 19th-century whistle-stop tour to hear from America," he said. Copps responded: "To imagine that we can sit around and count on the Internet or new tools or technology without lifting a finger ourselves is to not live up to the outreach responsibility that I think we have." Media corporations are lobbying for the ownership rules to be lifted, saying that money-losing networks could benefit from buying additional television stations, for instance. On the other side are consumer groups, entertainment industry guilds and unaligned members of the public pressing to keep the ownership rules intact. They fear that lifting them would aid additional corporate consolidation that would diminish economic and creative opportunities for artists and create a sameness among media outlets. (c) 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. FCC BUSTS OHIO AM FOR EXCEEDING OPERATING LIMITS During inspections on Jan. 16 and 17, 2002, FCC field inspectors determined that WCIN-AM/Cincinnati was operating at 828% of its authorized daytime power of 250 watts and 13,800% of its nighttime power of 15 watts. The station was operating under special temporary authority while station owner J4 Broadcasting searched for a new transmitter site. The FCC proposed a $5,000 fine against the station for exceeding the limits approved in the STA, and while J4 didn't deny that the violations occurred it asked the FCC to cancel the fine due to financial hardship. After reviewing J4's tax returns from 1999, 2000 and 2001, the FCC ruled J4 could afford the fine and upheld the penalty. http://www.radioandrecords.com/Subscribers/TodaysNews/homepage.htm (1480 kHz. I think they are running non-DA while they look for a new tower site. They were 5 kW day/0.5 kW night when they had a directional array. Different patterns day and night. Via Brock Whaley Feb. 7, 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. HAMMOND, IN. Mayor DUANE DEDELOW JR. has filed a letter with the FCC and is meeting with the area's Congressional representatives in an attempt to block the sale of WJOB-A/HAMMOND to Catholic station operator STARBOARD BROADCASTING, reports the NORTHWEST INDIANA TIMES. Station owner ST. GEORGE BROADCASTING went into receivership, and the station was sold to STARBOARD for $3.25 million; DEDELOW, also a Catholic, buys time on a bi-weekly basis from WJOB for a call-in show and is protesting the pending loss of local programming on the station. The TIMES syas ST. GEORGE owner GEORGE W. STEVENS has threatened in a memo to fire any staffer making negative comments about the proposed sale, supporting those fighting the sale, or even giving out the FCC's phone number. http://www2.allaccess.com/ (1230 kHz right next door to 1240 Chicago. Brock Whaley Feb. 6.2003. DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Memo to all radio listeners: why don`t we save time and pass a law requiring that all AM stations be news/talk. Let`s rid the airwaves of those few music stations which may be threatening national security. We`ve done a good job of wiping out public radio on the band; now let`s finish the job so that we may rest assured that if it`s AM it`s going to be good old right wing rant. Call your representative today! (Dave McDonald, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KRUMUDGEON COLUMN ON RIMSHOT RADIO IN THE DFW AREA by John Callarman, published in the Krum Star January 2: Krum now has a newspaper, obviously. Can a radio station be far away? Well, actually, that's not such a silly question as it seems. The Federal Communications Commission has granted a construction permit to an Oklahoma broadcaster to move one of its stations from its city of license, Healdton, Okla., to its new city of license, Krum, Texas. When the transmitter and antenna of this station and a few others with construction permits to move closer to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, plus one new station, there will be 49 FM and 31 AM stations vying for listenership in the fifth largest radio market in America. Broadcast industry observers who write about the media refer to the phenomenon as "rimshot" radio, where stations on the fringes of metropolitan areas broadcast for the larger market. Those writers, for the most part, attribute the trend to deregulation, which allows corporations to own a virtually unlimited number of radio stations and does away with most public service programming requirements. The Healdton station, KICM on 93.7, now serves the Ardmore market, along with its sister station, KNOR, on 97.7, which was moved recently from Pauls Valley. The 97.7 signal will continue to serve Ardmore/ Healdton when the 93.7 signal moves to Krum. Well, not exactly to Krum. Though Krum is the official city of license, the transmitter and antenna for its station will be in the very southwest corner of Cooke County, about halfway between Slidell and Forestburg. The tower dominates the skyline as one drives northwest on FM 455, and some people in the know about broadcasting tower sites nationwide say it is the tallest broadcasting tower in America. KICM will not be the only station with an antenna on the tower and a transmitter at its base. Already broadcasting from that tower are KMEO on 96.7, KKDL on 106.7, and KZMP on 101.7, each with a different city of license. KMEO is licensed to Flower Mound, KKDL to Muenster and KZMP to Azle. KMEO and KZMP, by the way, are move-ins, rimshotters, that used to program for the Sherman-Denison area. Dick Witkovski, the Dallas-based broadcaster who owns KICM, told the Krumudgeon on Tuesday that his station in Bridgeport, KBOC on 98.3, would also be moving to that tower. Pilot Point and Sanger also are cities of license for FM stations, but about the only time you'll hear those cities mentioned is at the top of the hour, when the legal identification consisting of call letters and city of license must be given. Pilot Point's station, KTCY on 104.9, carries Spanish language programming, with its antenna on a tall tower located three miles west of Collinsville. Sharing that tower are KSOC on 94.5, still licensed to Gainesville; KWRD on 100.7, now licensed to Highland Village after starting out at Bowie; and KESN on 103.3, now licensed to Allen after its owners bought the station in Commerce and moved it to the Collinsville transmitter site. The stations licensed to Sanger are KTPW on 89.7, a Christian rock station, and KTDK on 104.1, which relays The Ticket, KTCK, the Dallas sports station on 1310 on the AM dial. There's also a station licensed to Howe, KHYI on 95.3, which carries Texas-style country music for Dallas-Fort Worth. Stations are required to have a studio in the city of license, Witkovski says, and there will be a studio in Krum when the station makes the move sometime in August. Target date is Aug. 1, but it may be a few days later. Witkovski said he used to own the commercial station licensed to Sanger, and there is a studio in Sanger's Radio Shack store that still can link to the transmitter. Denton at one time was well-served by a locally programmed station, KDNT on 1440, and on FM at 106.1, not to mention the University of North Texas' station, KNTU, on 88.1. KDNT has become KTNO, a Spanish- language religious broadcaster, and has a construction permit to move its transmitter (and its city of license) to University Park to put a better signal into Dallas/Fort Worth. KDNT-FM eventually became KHKS (Kiss-FM), one of more than 1,200 stations owned by Clear Channel, the largest broadcasting chain, and its transmitter was moved some years ago to a forest of towers atop Cedar Hill, south of Dallas. The city of license is still Denton, but the transmitter is more than 40 miles from the county courthouse. Most of the FM and TV stations licensed to Dallas or Fort Worth have transmitters and towers on Cedar Hill. The other commercial FM station whose city of license is Denton is KHCK on 99.1, (Kick-FM), which airs Tex-Mex music from a tower 10 miles north of Decatur. Even KNTU changed its city of license, in a cooperative move that enabled some other stations to move. Though the transmitter and tower site did not move from its location near the UNT observatory north of town, its city of license somehow became McKinney. There once were two area stations on 107.9, one at Corsicana, the other at Gainesville. They combined, moved a single transmitter to a tall tower just south of Lake Ray Roberts, and changed the city of license to Lewisville. On the AM band, two medium-market Texas cities have lost stations to Dallas-Fort Worth. KMKI on 620, now licensed to Plano, and KCAF on 990, now licensed to Farmersville, used to be local or regional stations at Wichita Falls. The oldest station in Waco, which used to be WACO on 1460, has a construction permit to move to Burleson and serve the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Also, the Spanish station on 1600, KRVA, now licensed to Cockrell Hill, used to be McKinney's local station. There's an Oklahoma station that has been authorized to move into the northern part of the Metroplex. KJON, now on 850 at Anadarko, will build a three-tower directional array between Celina and Prosper, and its city of license will be Carrollton. An application for a new AM station on 700 has been filed with the FCC with Wylie as its city of license. So Krum will have a lot in common with these other cities of license. Cities whose names will be mentioned around the top of every hour on a radio station programming for the Metroplex. Local radio it is, but in name only. By the way, anyone interested in tower sites and broadcasting in the Metroplex can find pictures and narrative on the Internet at Fybush.com. Click onto the "Site of the Week Archives" and scroll down to Dallas/Fort Worth to find the four parts of a trip Scott Fybush of Rochester, N.Y., took to our area in October 2002. The Krum/Flower Mound/Muenster/Azle tower is pictured in Part IV (John Callarman, Krum TX, via DXLD) ** U S A. From an HDTV Discussion List Jay Leno originates in Burbank. I understand that recently they moved commercial integration and recording to New York. The home viewer in L.A., then, should see the show after the following. 1. Originate in 1080I 2. Encode for transmission to N.Y. 3. Decode to 1080I 4. Record (compress) 5. Play back @ 1080I 6. Encode for transmission to affiliates 7. Decode to 1080I at affiliates for local inserts 8. Encode to 19.39Mb/s for transmission 9. Decode in the home Are we perhaps approaching the practical limits of how and how many times we can manipulate the material? You've barely scratched the surface. CBS shoots a football game in 1080i. ABC asks to use the footage, so it's converted from 1080i to 720p. ABC distributes the show to its affiliates, one of which is WFAA-DT in Dallas, a Belo station. All Belo stations are 1080i, so ABC's 720p is converted to 1080i. Comcast is the local cable system. Back when it was AT&T, they said they would not carry 1080i because its harder to compress than 720p. The FCC doesn't say HD needs to be carried in its native format. So, hypothetically (and this is the only hypothetical), they convert WFAA- DT to 720p. A viewer watches using a Pioneer DTV receiver, which has only a 1080i HD output, so the consumer device converts 720p to 1080i. Then the user connects the same box to the same company's HD plasma panel, which can display only 720p. That's five format conversions, not counting any compression stages. Wheeeee! TTFN, Mark (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Ecos del Torbes, San Cristóbal, 4980, Dec 29 at 0240 OM & YL chat in Spanish, SIO 243 (Ron Easey, Wrentham, Suffolk, Feb BDXC- UK Communication via DXLD) Must have been one of their increasingly rare activations, perhaps prompted by holidays; or was there a definite ID? (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. GOVERNMENT TO BROADEN LEGAL ACTION AGAINST MEDIA | Text of report by Robert Rudnicki in English by Venezuelan pro- government VENews web site on 5 February According to Infrastructure (Minfra) minister Diosdado Cabello, the government will broaden its clampdown on TV and radio stations some time this week, as it launches fresh legal actions like those already taken against Globovisión, RCTV, Televén and a local TV station in Táchira State. "We are working on a large number of cases and they could be commenced later this week, eventually against TV and radio stations." Although the minister didn't name which stations figured high on his list, he did say that particular attention would be given to regional TV and radio stations, "but they will be notified accordingly". Among the measures that could be taken are fines and other economic sanctions, suspension of broadcasting licenses or the complete revocation of concessions. Venezuela's privately-owned media has angered the government by broadcasting only opposition advertisements, showing violent scenes during times when children are likely to be watching. Source: VENews web site in English 5 Feb 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) COMENZÓ CIERRE DE RADIOS EN VENEZUELA Anuncio de Diosdado Cabello. Gobierno prevé cierre de algunos medios de comunicación al retirar concesiones. El titular del ministerio de Infraestructura, Diosdado Cabello, anunció durante la celebración del décimo primer aniversario de la intentona golpista del 4 de febrero que no se descarta la revocatoria de algunas concesiones contra estaciones televisivas y radiales que a juicio del este público hayan incurrido en violaciones a las normativas jurídicas. De acuerdo a los señalamientos de Cabello, Minfra actualmente trabaja sobre el asunto y considera que es muy probable que para esta misma semana se determinen las posibles sanciones. El ministro fue enfático al advertir que la concesión es del Estado y que en todo caso no se les pretende quitar los canales, pero de determinarse la revocatoria no podrán seguir haciendo uso de dichas señales. Descartó cualquier posibilidad de que pueda haber un acuerdo entre los dueños de los medios de comunicación social y el Gobierno nacional. El ministro explicó que los procesos administrativos se deben a la transmisión de imágenes de violencia dentro del horario infantil y la acusación hacia personas sin existir fundamentos legales. En tal sentido explicó que una de esas acusaciones fue la presunta presencia de João De Gouveia en las inmediaciones de La Campiña alrededor del alcalde Freddy Bernal la jornada previa a los asesinatos que se produjeron en Altamira el pasado 6 de abril. Sostiene además que existe falta de coherencia en el mensaje mediático pues señalan que durante los últimos cuatro años se ha visto amenazada la libertad de expresión y hasta ahora no se ha cerrado ningún medio. Reconoce que los dueños de los diferentes medios que tienen procedimientos administrativos abiertos, como RCTV, Globovisión y Televén podrán acudir a los organismos internacionales que consideren convenientes, pero en todo caso sostiene Cabello que el Gobierno no viola ningún acuerdo internacional. Explicó que las normas jurídicas prevé 15 días para que los representantes de los medios se puedan defender y en tal sentido advierte que lo hagan bien, porque luego de ello el Ministerio de Infraestructura tendrá 120 días para emitir su opinión. Por último aclaró que no se trata de una retaliación del Gobierno por haberse plegado al paro. ALLANADA LA EMISORA 105.7 FM DE CARACAS En horas de la tarde de ayer Martes, fué allanada y confizcado parte de sus equipos la emisora 105.7 FM, por orden del Ministerio de Infraestructura y aplicada por funcionarios de Conatel. La razón se debió a una posible entrevista "que se le realizaría al Dr. Levi Benshimol, Presidente del Colegio Nacional de Periodistas", considerado por el gobierno como "golpista". Los funcionarios tomaron los estudios de la emisora y sin una orden de un juez, al mejor estilo de las dictaduras de vieja data pasaron a tumbar la señal de la estación y posteriormente apropiarse de algunos de los equipos necesesarios para su transmisión (Diario El Globo. 05/02/2003 via Jorge García, Venezuela, Conexión Digital via WORLD OF RADIO 1168, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. Hola Glenn... Saludos desde Catia La Mar... El excelente programa del Presidente Constitucional de Venezuela, Aló Presidente de Hugo Chávez, ahora sale los domingos por 11705 y 15230 (vía Radio Habana Cuba). 15570 no ha sido vuelta escuchar en las últimas dos semanas. El horario de comienzo, como siempre, varia de 1400 a 1500 UT. 73's y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINE: There has been a bit of monitoring of the Chan Troi Moi service as of late so I thought I would reprint what I previously wrote about this one: CLANDESTINE from GERMANY to VIETNAM: New Horizon 15750 or Chan Troi Moi in Vietnamese. Started listening on Monday, Aug 27. This is High Adventure`s Voice of Hope program in Vietnamese. It has been on since 1992, initially with a half hour a day and now an hour at 1330-1430 on 15750 [the Bulgarian Observer report of Aug 28 had a typo of this being the time/freq for VOH in Chinese.] I had Richard Lam, a fluent Chinese speaker, take a listen and he confirms that the language is indeed Vietnamese. So what is the big deal about Chan Tro Moi anyway? VietInsight Magazine in 1994 said that, "Chan Troi Moi, which broadcast news of democratic developments around the world, and more often, activities from overseas Vietnamese in support of Vietnam's democracy, as "reactionary, hostile" forces conducting the much-feared "peaceful evolution" against the communist regime." The program has also interviewed dissidents over the years and been involved in publicizing the blight of persecuted Buddhists in Vietnam. You'll also find its schedule published on Vietnamese dissident websites such as the National United Front for the Liberation of Vietnam and the Free Vietnam Alliance. Given the above description and links, perhaps this one should be classified as a clandestine. I don't see much difference between what it is carrying and what Vietnamese-exile programs such as Que Huong and Radio Free Vietnam carry. New Horizon is heard in Wyoming with open carrier a few minutes before *1330. 1330 instrumental, what sounds like ID as above by woman, then female vocal, and another ID by woman. Rest of program has been man and woman talking in Vietnamese. A variety of topics with many mentions of Microsoft today [Aug 29]. I have also heard actualities in English, but they were too short to give much additional information. The sign off pattern is similar to the sign on, same female vocal, same female with presumed ID. No sign of any jamming here. The address I find on the web for reception reports is P.O. Box 48 Nishi Yodogawa, Osaka 555- 8691, Japan (Hans Johnson Aug 27-29, 2001 via Johnson, Feb 7, 2003, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. MOROCCO, 17895, Studio 7 [for Zimbabwe] worth a listen as it is all in English. Good news and coverage of various aspects of Indonesia at 1735 Feb 5. Gave email address as studio7@voanews.com (did I mis-hear it, should be .gov, no?) Off at 1800 (Hans Johnson Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Should be, but is really voanews.com (gh) I received an e-mail from the NGO Alliance Network Project in Zimbabwe. It announces the return of VOP Voice of the People on 7120 at 1900-2000 hours Zimbabwe time (1700-1800 UT) Daily. Snail Mail address is Radio Voice of the People, P. O. Box 5750 Harare, Zimbabwe (Scott A. Morgan, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The few `surrogate` services for Zimbabwe really ought to coördinate scheduling to avoid clashes. This has also been filed under USA (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1584: see IRAQ [non] UNIDENTIFIED. 3870.5, drum and string music at 1622 29 Nov, YL singing, VV, off at 1630*, SIO 322 (David Gascoyne, Staplehurst, Kent, BDXC-UK communication via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 4875, chirping bird (like Rai IS) at 0529 Jan 11, 0530 YL sign-on with announcements, possibly news, too weak to ID language; don`t suspect receiver spur (Nick Rank, Buxton, Derbyshire, ICF2001D/ALA1530, Feb BDXC-UK Communication) I thought it might be a semiharmonic of 9750, perhaps even Rai, but nothing listed there fits. Was it definitely not Rai, merely like it? Could be difference product between two other higher frequencies, as has recently happened with another Rai pair (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 7160, Dec 22 at 1019, documentary about space exploration in English until 1110, then ``Ten from 1961`` followed by ``Ten from 1970``; before the 10 [songs?] were completed a brief ``Big L signing off`` recording at 1200, then off; CRI in Russian in background throughout. Unlicenced transmitter? SIO 433 (Tony Rogers, Birmingham, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) This station appearing from time to time with strong signal on 7160 is apparently Radio Coast FM. This has usually put out continuous music, although occasional IDs fo Laser Hot Hits have been noted --- I presume these must be tapes (Robertas Petraitis, Axel Rose, Dr Tim, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 10595, Nov 29 at 1708, YL re Kosovo, Mombasa, Al Qaeda. Off at 1727, VV, SIO 544 (David Gascoyne, Kent, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) VV I suppose meaning vernacular/unknown rather than Vietnamese UNIDENTIFIED. 12503, frequency-hopper station, 1700 Dec 3, jammed by hopping jammer, YL with talk on Al Qaeda, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. VV. Between here and 12527.5 until 1713; SIO 3J3 (David Gascoyne, Staplehurst, BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ditto ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ ATTRIBUTION Hi Glenn, The difficulty with non-attributed reports is not only the issue of fairness with respect to the originator, but in helping those who get the report at the end of the "chain" know from where AND when it came from. The examples you gave in the recent DXLD would have been helped immensely by some mention of the timeframe, and this is all the more important with publications that have long lead times from composition to publication. It's simple: give the name of the original reporter, the source of the publication or distribution, and the date! Of course, one of my other peeves is e-mail alerts that give no mention of the reporter's location or the actual time. "R. Neptune is coming in right now", for example. You'd be surprised how many e-mail messages take many days to actually reach me! There are many occasions, also, when I get "It's coming in here, too" before I even get the first message! (Jim Renfrew, Byron NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glen[n], You say "The very minimum in competence for any SW station or program is the ability to announce its own frequencies correctly (gh, DXLD)" I wholly agree but in this day & age I'd add "the ability to effectively use a website to inform listeners how to tune in and hear the station" Quite a few stations have web sites which are more like tabloid newspapers and give no help in tuning in their programme. An example in the UK is Talk Radio http://www.talkradio.net which fails to advise listeners what frequency to listen to in which town and which claims to be on satellite but then gives no further details. There are many more culprits. 73 (Steve Whitt, UK, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ GLOBAL BROADCASTING GUIDE The Association for International Broadcasting has published the latest edition of its twice-yearly Global Broadcasting Guide. Primarily aimed at consumers, the Guide is the definitive directory of international television and radio broadcasting in English, with extensive data on how to tune to broadcasts from around the world. Many professionals use the Guide to monitor the activities of competing broadcasters and to update their contact information as the Guide carries a wealth of detail about broadcasters worldwide. Copies are available at GBP3.75 including postage worldwide - to order, send your name and mailing address, along with your credit card details (number and expiry date) to Guide Orders, PO Box 990, London SE3 9XL, UK, or e-mail to register@aib.org.uk (Feb AIB Newsletter via DXLD) MEASURE THAT DX - HOW FAR IS IT? Here is a very useful web site that will calculate air miles between any two points in the world just by typing in the names of the cities. It's at: http://www.indo.com/distance/ It also provides Lat/Long, elevation, etc. It even gives beam headings so that you can point those loops or beverages right at them. Very nice! (Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ 'INTERNATIONAL' RADIO CONTROLLED CLOCK On the topic of WWVB clocks -- Seiko has released a single radio controlled clock that not only receives WWVB, but also the Japanese and German time standards. I happened to see it on the Magellans website Seiko AC 102 $49 http://www.magellans.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?ruleID=4&iMainCat=0&iProductID=2876&itemType=PRODUCT&iSubCat=0&sSearch=clock&itemID=2876 I'm still waiting for a portable GPS clock, which can be truly used worldwide. Using a plain - always on - GPS uses too much battery power. If the unit checked once or twice a day... that would be good. Since GPS prices have really come down - I would think it should be doable at a reasonable price (Daniel Rosenzweig, Feb 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Previous discussion about WWVB clocks was under U S A CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES ++++++++++++++++++++++++= EUROPEAN DX COUNCIL MEETING IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY, AUGUST 2003 The next EDXC Conference as been announced for 15-17 August in Frankfurt, Germany. EDXC member club Rhein Main Radio Club has confirmed the location, at the Kommunikations und Trainingszentrum der Dresdner Bank in Knigstein/Ts, about 15 km north of Frankfurt, in central Germany. Please visit http://www.ktckoenigstein.de for details of the location. Participation has already been confirmed by Frans Vossen from Radio Vlaanderen International (finally fully recovered), Tropical Band DXing with Willy Passmann (Germany) and Anker Petersen (Denmark- DSWCI), and FM DX with Udo Deutscher and Michael Hornsteiner, DRM and many others. Harald Gabler, the organiser of the Conference, is planning site visits to AFN, Hessischer Rundfunk or IBB stations, all very near to the Conference centre. He would be please to send out further details on request to DrGabler@t-online.de The year 2003 is very important for Germany as Deutsche Welle will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Waldemar Kr mer from DW's Technical Department will be also at the Conference. My Radio Free Asia collleague, Andrew Janitschek, from Washington, has also signalled his intention to be there. The Frankfurt area has been chosen to help people from all over the world to come. Air and train links and the motorway net are the most extended in Europe and in Summer Hessen is really a nice place to go, so EDXC guru Luigi Cobini (Italy) tells me. The development of the Conference arrangements, and enrolment forms, are available at http://www.edxc.org Your crazy EDXP Convenor plans to be there - this will be a very tight timetable for me as I will be in New Zealand from July 1 until August 10, for some cross-country winter-skiing and related activities with colleague and EDXPer Mick Ogrizek, at Lake Wanaka and the Franz Joseph Glacier region! Regards (Bob Padula, Melbourne, EDXP, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###