DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-025, February 15, 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: 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 WORLD OF RADIO 1169: WBCQ: Mon 0545 7415 WWCR: Sun 0330 5070, 0730, 3210, Wed 1030 9475 RFPI: [maybe] Sun 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900 Wed 0100, 0700, 1300 on 15039 and/or 7445 WJIE: M-F 1300 7490... WRN: Rest of world Sat 0900, Europe only Sun 0530, N America Sun 1500 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1169.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1169.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1169h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1169h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1168.html MUNDO RADIAL febrero-marzo 2003: CORRIENTE: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0302.ram BAJABLE: http://www.k4cc.net/mr0302.rm TEXTO: http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0302.html En el aire: WWCR 9475, miércoles 2200, viernes 2215 En segmentos por Radio-Enlace, R. Nederland, los viernes y domingos UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL As I`ve been thoroughly enjoying and using WOR and DXLD, I felt a `contribution to the cause` was deserved and overdue. With the demise of Communications World and the shortening of DX Partyline, WOR/DXLD has become a staple to the dedicated SWL (Ben Loveless, WB4FJO (ex- WPE9JLQ), MI, Feb 10, with a moneyorder) ** ANGOLA: RELIGIOUS RADIO STATION ACCUSED OF PRACTISING "RADIO TERRORISM" | Text of report by Angolan Radio Ecclesia web site on 14 February The bishop of Uije, D Francisco da Mata Mourisca, today said that the incidents provoked by Media Minister Hendrick Vaal Neto's comments "does not mean a lack of good relations with the church". In his opinion, Vaal Neto's comments "were unfortunate" and showed that we are a still a "small democracy". He said it must be borne in mind that in a democratic country the media have the freedom to speak as long as they speak the truth. Regarding the radio, he hoped that it would be valued for its true purpose because it provides the nation with a good service. This was D. Francisco's reaction to the controversy following Neto's comments that accused Radio Ecclesia of practising a "form of radio terrorism" that is "used as a vehicle to defame and issue false and harmful propaganda against individuals and institutions in the country"... Source: Radio Ecclesia web site, Luanda, in Portuguese 14 Feb 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ANTARCTICA. The WABA (Worked Antarctic Bases Award) Directory 2003 is now available for free downloading as pdf file at http://www.ddxc.net Includes a 12-page revised base listing (with correxions, integrations and a new column for IOTA reference numbers) as well as a new 6-page section for historical notes (OPDX 593 via Vernon Ikeda, Ham Radio Report, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. Dear Glenn: I have changed my web site address. The new URL is the following: http://www.geocities.com/radioestaciones It`s entirely dedicated to the Argentinian radio stations, and I`m trying to update once a week. Please, if you have suggestions or comments please send it. (in English or Spanish). Regards (Luciano Gentile, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RA has dumped Feedback from one of its four scheduled broadcast times, the most convenient one here, UT Sat 0005, as we quickly found checking the webcast Feb 15, hearing instead some insipid music in what is now listed on the posted schedule (in AEDT of course at ``1100``) as Australian Express. At least the schedule must be up to date; but as with all other programs it neglects to consider the length of newscasts on the hour and, if any, on the half-hour. Why is this so difficult to do, not only at RA but many other stations? They have to know the exact time to run the program, so why round off and refuse to publish info with such minimal accuracy?? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. HCJB AUSTRALIA SERVICES TO INDIA DELAYED In a last minute decision, HCA decided to postpone its start-up of regular evening broadcasts to India and Asia. Technical problems concerning the transmitter and antenna have still to be resolved at Kununurra. Actual commencement date has not yet been determined. In the meantime, the direct morning transmission to India from Quito will continue on 12040, 0200-0400 (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, EDXP Newsplus Feb 15 via DXLD) The service on 11770 at 0700-1200 to Australia and the S. Pacific is giving satisfactory reception across Australia during the full five-hour span. Radio Nigeria appears to have discontinued its use of 11770 in this time period, but if it re-emerges on that channel, this will seriously affect HCA (Bob Padula, EDXC Convenor, Melbourne, Australia, Feb 15, via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. The new Australian & New Zealand MW guide is now out via the Australian Radio DX Club. For those in Australia & NZ it is AUS$10-00. For those overseas it is US $10-00 for Airmail. This includes the updater sheet in 8 months. Contact: John Wright. dxer@fl.net.au 15 Olive Cres, Peakhurst, NSW, 2210, Australia or phone +61 2 9533 6261 ********************************************************************** Australian MW Group - For Australian & International Dxers http://home.iprimus.com.au/onleydw/mwoz/ To subscribe send blank email to: mwoz-subscribe@topica.com (John Wright, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. The Austrian government ceased financing "Radio Austria International" (ROI) at the end of 2001 and left it up to the discretion of the Austrian public broadcaster, the ORF, to provide an international service at its own expense. The ORF does not regard such a service as part of its core obligations and points to its own financial constraints. European listeners' associations are making an appeal to the ORF's executive body, the "Stiftungsrat" or board of trustees, to ensure the continuation of ROI. At the same time the members of the Stiftungsrat were asked to make their decision public. Letters were sent to every member of the board; you can read the text as well as the result of the poll on radio-portal (links have been established on the English and German start pages). Answers are expected to arrive not before next week, though. Editors who want to report about this initiative are invited to let me know - thanks beforehand! Regards, (Willi Passmann, Germany, Feb 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. 6110.8, Voice of Azerbaijan (tentative), 1452-1456, Feb 2, presumed Azeri heterodyning VOA Tinang, audible until 1456 when Brother Stair appeared on 6110. Heard quite regularly lately, but modulation too low to be sure of ID. Can anyone confirm? 22331 (Martien Groot, The Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** BENIN. 5025, ORTB, R Regionale, Parakou, 0600-0610, Feb 01, Afropop with slight CWQRM, 34333. 7210.3, ORTB, R Benin, Cotonou, 0610-0620, Feb 01, Afropop, French, 25333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** BERMUDA. 1280, VSB2, Hamilton, FEB 5 at 2200 - Vocal, choral, and pipe organ Christian music, "This is the Bible Broadcasting Network. Thanks for listening to... WYFG... South Carolina." Listed as an affiliate under United Kingdom on the Bible Broadcasting Network web site. Scott Fybush of NorthEast Radio Watch at fybush.com says WYFG is a hub for the satellite network (Bruce Conti, Nashua NH; Drake R8B, MWDX-5, 15/23/15-m east/west Double-Ewe antenna, NRC IDXD via DXLD) On many shore outings, I've heard the Bermuda station running BBN material. I think that a US FM call does sometimes get mentioned (Mark Connelly WA1ION, Billerica MA, ibid.) ** BOLIVIA. STATUS OF RADIO ILLIMANI A news article tells of riots in downtown La Paz. Several large government buildings in the center of La Paz have been abandoned to rioters. The government broadcaster, Radio Illimani, was located in one of those buildings when I visited them in 1985, and they were still there a few years ago... probably still are. The article is at http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=589&e=5&u=/ap/20030213/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/bolivia_police_mutiny If that direct link is broken and does not work, try this index link http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index2&cid=734 Such violence is not new to central La Paz. I remember that a block away from Radio Illimani and in front of the presidential palace was a 1940s style lamppost that merited a 24 hour military guard. In 1947, rioters drug the country's then dictator out of the presidential palace and lynched him from that lamppost. From what I've read, he probably deserved what he got, but the Bolivian army didn't take it too well, so the lamppost became a shrine. The presidential palace is called the "Palacio Quemado", or "Burnt Palace" for what should be obvious reasons. During the successful 1952 revolution, Radio Illimani was quickly captured and became the rebels' communications center as fighting continued just two blocks away for three more days. For more on the often violent history of Bolivian radio, see my article "Bolivia: Radio Under the Gun" at http://donmoore.tripod.com/south/bolivia/miners.html ===== Don Moore --- donmooredxer@yahoo.com NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS Radio & Latin American website: http://donmoore.tripod.com Other Highly Recommended: http://www.commondreams.org/ http://www.tompaine.com/ (Don Moore, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Radio Illimani moved several years ago to the main street of La Paz, also known as El Prado, and for those hard-core users who wish to dip into the present turmoil, listening to shots from firearms and excited people talking in Spanish and Aymara, there is a working real audio link at http://illimani.comunica.gov:8000 You have to paste the address into the Open Location area of your Real Player in order to receive their audio (Henrik Klemetz, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lamentables los hechos que ocurren en Bolivia, con saldo de aproximadamnete 17 muertos y mas de treinta heridos al enfrentarse la policía con el ejercito. La siguiente dirección está muy interesante para conocer un poco mas del tema: http://www.boliviahoy.com/modules/news/ (José Elías, Venezuela, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 9624.83, Radio Fides, La Paz, 1115-1135, February 15. Spanish transmission. Headlines about the social and politics situation in Bolivia. Interview with the policeman force`s lawyer. TC: "Son las 7 con 25 minutos y 20 segundos". Interview with Evo Morales, Socialist Movement Chief. Local ads: "Productos La Estrella... calidad que alimenta a lo grande". Governmental announcement. Announcement in Aymara. SINPO: 43433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentine, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 9624.9, R Fides, daily head from Salta at 1000- (impossible to hear during sunlight hours) and 2115-0200 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4877.77v, R La Cruz del Sur is off the air on weekends. I can´t hear the station from Salta and from Patagonia on Saturdays or Sundays, but hear the station with good signal from Mondays to Fridays (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 6054.3, R Juan XXIII, San Ignacio de Velasco, often heard 2230-2300, but QRM and blocked at 2300 (Jean-Pierre Penaud, France, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) Cf. ID in DX-Window no. 213 (``La Voz Católica``), but in DBS-4: Programme: ``La Voz Evangélica de Velasco``. Here, in America, the Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church are different as in Europe. But, in the Spanish language, the word "Evangelical" is used by all churches meaning teaching the Gospel. R. Juan XXIII is 100% Catholic!! I read many articles about this station on "Radio Catholic Update" (by Michael Dorner) and he says R. Juan XXIII transmitting from Obispado de San Ignacio de Velasco. I visited the station in 1990 too. Unfortunately, is very difficulty hear R Juan XXIII from Buenos Aires. I heard it only on one opportunity in 2002 from Itati, in Corrientes Province and now, from Salta (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. The DXCB (DX Clube do Brasil) is proud to announce the release of the most detailed list of Brazilian Medium Wave stations ever issued. It took a year to put together information coming from the whole country, thanks to the help of dozens of radio listeners and friends. The list will be updated periodically. The DXCB thanks in advance whoever may provide news and corrections for future releases. The entire file (in Pdf) can be freely downloaded at http://www.ondascurtas.com/listasemissorasmw.php (Rocco Cotroneo, DXCB, NRC-AM via DXLD) DXCB with its Brazilian Medium Wave list is another magnificent example of the spirit of cooperation and sharing that keeps our hobby going. Chances of hearing any of the Brazilian stations here in Texas in the 21st century are slim, but as one who has been interested in station lists since I began in the hobby in 1947, and as one who has hand-typed three editions of the NRC Log in its early days, I appreciate the tremendous effort it takes to put together such a list. Such items as the PAL Log from Bruce Portzer, John Bryant's comprehensive and complete listing of Japanese radio stations, IRCA's Mexican Log, 100000watts.com, and John Zondlo's Mexican FM listing, Lee Freshwater's compilations and several available lists from Europe that I have not yet explored make me believe that regardless of the increasing problems DX'ers face, this hobby will never die. There are too many people for whom DX'ing is a labor of love for us to let the hobby wither and die. Thank you, Rocco Cotroneo, for sharing the efforts of DXCB with us on the NRC list! (John Callarman, Krum TX, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. 3255, R. Educadora 6 de Agosto, Xapurí-AC, 0000-0015, Jan 29, Portuguese ad: "Mercadinho do Povo", ID: "Rádio Educadora 6 de Agosto de Xapurí, [no accent is required since in Portuguese, unlike Spanish, a final I is automatically stressed --- gh] ondas médias 820 kHz, ondas tropicais 3255 kHz, emissora do departamento de divulgação da Prefeitura Municipal de Xapuri, administração Xapurí para todos", 0010 pop music, 0015 music by Brian Adams. New name, ex R Difusora! 25332 (Samuel Cássio, Brazil, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) Heard 2314-2326, messages programme interspersed with folk songs; ID and frequency were also given. 24331. Xapurí is clearly a Brazilian Indian name (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4975, R. Iguatemi, Osasco, São Paulo (SP), 0930, Jan 27, old style music, ID by locutora: "Iguatemi FM!", 44333 (Romais in @tividade DX). R. Iguatemi is now the station on 4975. This is a problem. CBS network from São Paulo has many stations, including R Mundial AM (on SW on 3325), R. Iguatemi (studios in Osasco), R. Mundial FM (ex-4975) and others as : R. News in 1150 São Paulo, 1520 Mogi das Cruzes, 660 Santos and others on FM. The station relayed on 4975 is now R Iguatemi, but it can change again; the CBS network is strange as it switches the stations among the assigned frequencies. (Samuel Cássio, Brazil, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 9665, R. Nacional da Amazônia, Brasília DF, still audible mornings, e.g. 0820-0900, Feb 3, phone-ins, songs, weather, infos and newscast 0900. 33432, adjacent QRM till 0900, then blocked by China. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window via DXLD) Radio Marumby, Florianópolis is still using this frequency with religious programmes at the same time as RNA, Brasilia is broadcasting! (Samuel Cássio, Brazil, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** CANADA. CJWI, 1610, new address and website: 3733, Jarry Est, 2e Étage Montréal (Québec) H1Z 2G1 http://www.cpam-radiounion.com Hope it helps (Greg Myers, Clearwater, FL, Feb 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** CANADA. CANADIAN TV FLESHES OUT SCHEDULE By DON TOWNSON VANCOUVER (Variety) - "Naked News" and "Barely Cooking," featuring nude presenters and chefs, respectively, will bow Feb. 15 on Canadian broadcaster Chum's Citytv Vancouver and Citytv Toronto. "Naked News" is a weekly half-hour show on which male and female news readers strip while presenting world news, entertainment and sports. "Barely Cooking" is a weekly half-hour featuring naked chefs. The two shows will air late in the evening. They also will be shown on Canuck digital channel Sextv. "Naked News" was developed from the Toronto-based Naked News Web site, which claims to reach 6 million visitors a month. "Barely Cooking" will be hosted on alternate weeks by Murray Bancroft and Dena Ashbaugh and by Gennaro Iorio and Eva de Viveiros. The show explores the relationship between food and sex with topics such as "Sinful Desserts" and "Breakfast in Bed for Two or More." (Reuters/Variety via AOL Canada news via Fred Waterer, DXLD) ** CANADA. CBC Radio One is going to be doing a whole week of features on the Democratic Republic of Congo. They kick off during the last hour of The Sunday Edition on 16 February, with various features slotted into different shows. There is a homepage for it, but it seems not to have been activated at the moment. Perhaps they're waiting for Sunday. http://cbc.ca/webone/congo/ 73- (Bill Westenhaver, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And: http://www3.cbc.ca/sections/newsitem_redux.asp?ID=2701 WHY IS THE WORLD IGNORING THE WAR IN THE CONGO? CURSED BY RICHES: THE CONGO STRUGGLES TO SURVIVE A CBC RADIO SPECIAL [er --- put a dash between `SURVIVE` and `A`] As the world prepares for a potential war in Iraq, a forgotten war rages in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Living in a country rich in natural resources, more than 2.5 million people have died during four years of civil war. CBC Radio and Radio-Canada sent a bilingual team of journalists, David McLauchlin and Sylvain Desjardins, along with producer Bruce Edwards, to investigate. CURSED BY RICHES: THE CONGO STRUGGLES TO SURVIVE is a special series of reports and documentaries that will examine the complexity of the region, tracing the catastrophic effect the war has had on the lives of the people, and identifying Canada's connections to the conflict. Beginning Sunday, February 16, The Sunday Edition at 9 a.m. (9:30 NT) on CBC Radio One will present the feature documentary, How Can a Country So Rich Be So Poor? On Monday, February 17, The Current at 8:30 a.m. (9 NT) on CBC Radio One will broadcast Cholera in the Diamond Fields, about the epidemic killing people on a daily basis. Later that day, The World at Six, 6 p.m. (6:30 NT) on CBC Radio One and Two, presents Blues on the Water, a story about Congolese musicians in exile and at home. Further broadcasts will include Radio Okapi, about the important role of radio as peacekeeper, on The Current on Tuesday, February 18. Dispatches, on Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30 p.m. (8 NT) on CBC Radio One, will present The Kinshasa Nuclear Reactor, about a nightmare waiting to happen. On Sunday, February 22, CBC News: Sunday, seen on CBC Newsworld at 7:30 p.m. (8 NT), will broadcast a documentary as part of the special. A Web site will be launched on Sunday, February 16 - http://www.cbc.ca/webone/congo It is the first bilingual media feature on cbc.ca. It will include audio from all of the documentaries in both the English series and the broadcasts in French on Radio-Canada. It will also feature an extensive gallery of photos taken by the journalists. CURSED BY RICHES: THE CONGO STRUGGLES TO SURVIVE showcases the CBC/ Radio-Canada tradition of going where other broadcasters don't go, uncovering unheard stories that enlighten, reflect and connect Canadians (via Ricky Leong, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. La Voz de tu Conciencia, 6009.84, Feb 9 0850-0930+, Spanish talk, ID, Spanish religious music. Fair-good strength, but slight QRM from R. Mil on 6010. Must use ECSS-LSB to avoid Mil. Both stations wiped out by HCJB sign-on at 0930 on 6010 in German (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA. CLANDESTINE from/to COLOMBIA, 6240, Voz de Resistencia, not even a carrier while checking many times in the 1250-1305 time frame (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. On July 18, 1985, I visited Radio Melodia, located at Carrera 5a, No. 14-80 in downtown Bogotá. Radio Melodia occupies the third floor of the building: discoteca, theater, news room, recording room, studios. Discoteca has various discs of Salsa, Cumbia, Vallenato (Tropical music of coastal region), 'I'ango, instrumental, ballad, etc. Technical Information: HJCU 730 kHz: 7 "Telefunkenl- 5OkW transmitter + 1/4 wave 105m high tower antenna. HJQE 6045 kHz [previous frequency]: SW transmitter (5 kW) was constructed by Colombian engineers in Bogotá. Antenna is a 1/4 wave dipole. SW outlet has not been used for years due to problem of deteriorated vacuum tubes (Takayuki Inoue Nozaki, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi et al.: See CANADA ** COSTA RICA. Faro del Caribe irregular on both 5054v and 9644v, off for the moment (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Checked at 0000 UT Feb 16, RFPI 7445 was carrying Pacifica coverage of the peace demonstrations, pre-empting WOR. And early UT Feb 15 at 0130, they were still running 2.5 week old WOR 1167 instead of 1169... (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Dear friends, HCJB made a last minute decision to continue the transmissions on 12040 kHz at 0200-0400 UT for another couple of weeks to ensure that transmitter and antenna in Kununurra have sufficiently shaken out their bugs and not yet agreed on a final broadcast date for the India release from Ecuador. 73s (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see UKRAINE ** ERITREA [non]. V. of Democratic Eritrea, Sat 1500-1530 Tigre or Tigrigna, 1530-1600 Arabic, ID in Sudanese Arabic: 'Idaatu Sawt Demokratiya Eritrea' has been from Juelich on 5925, but now MNO is testing this frequency via Kvitsøy, Norway (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. On Sunday, February 16, 2003, the maiden broadcast of Voice of Ethiopia will be aired on shortwave at 2000-2100 UT on 7560 kHz. The broadcasts in English are prepared by Democracy Frontiers and are directed towards the Europe, North America and Northern Africa (TDP Mailing List, Belgium, February 15, via DXLD) ** EUROPE. Belatedly checked V. of Peace website in last issue, and was greeted by automatic audio jingle ID killing the audio I was already listening to. I hate websites that do that, totally without consideration for the user. This is the way to drum up support? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle has issued two new QSL Cards, one for the 50th anniversary of DW and the other one is a new card of Sines Relaisstation. The new postal stamp featuring DW's 50th anniversary is expected by May 2003. 73s (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) They ought to issue a special QSL, if not a stamp, commemorating the last day of broadcasts to North America --- but they want as little attention to that as possible (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HONDURAS. 630, HRLD R. América, La Ceiba, Feb 14 at 1055-1101 - News with several mentions of "Radio América." "Noticias de Radio América" at 1101. Strong and alone. 650, R. Católica Olancho, Olanchito, Feb 14 at 1046-1054 - Christian song then ID or promo by man and children with "Radio Católica" mention by child and more music, before losing out to WSB (Greg Myers, Clearwater FL; Sony ICF-2010, NRC IDXD via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 5010, HRMI: I have heard them once while here in south Texas over the last four months. Inactive station (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 14, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** INDIA. Der zuverlässige Empfang macht All India Radio besonders auch für Programmhörer interessant. Die Sendungen bringen stündlich Nachrichten und Kommentare aus der Perspektive einer Führungsmacht der Dritten Welt. Manche Maßnahme westlicher Regierungen wird hier kritisch betrachtet, und immer wieder stehen die Kommentare der Meinung der Stimme russlands näher als den deutschen Medien. Unglücklicherweise ist das indische Englisch etwas gewöhnungsbedürftig. Einen besonderen Reiz haben auch die vielen Musiksendungen, die bewusst die regionalen Unterschiede auf dem Subkontinent berücksichtigen. Das Spektrum des Angebots reicht von indischer Klassik über Volksmusik bis hin zur Filmmusik (ntt aktuell via 12/02 Radio Journal via DXLD) ** INDIA. 5040, AIR Jeypore, 1746 Feb 9, extended coverage of world cup cricket, switching seamlessly between E and V \\ 11620 (David Norrie, Auckland NZ, AOR 7030, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. VOI, 15149.82, Feb 8 2000-2103* English news, commentary, lite instrumental music, local pops, ID. 2058 news. Fair, no parallels heard. Was on 11785 in Dec but now back on 15, heard since Feb 1 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Denmark's Nyhedsradioen 24/7 is now carrying WRN's European service during the overnight hours. This means that this WRN service, not otherwise carried online, can now be heard via the NR 24/7 webcast. WRN hours are at least 2100-0500 UT Mon-Fri, 1700-0500 Sat-Sun, and the service might run later on weekend mornings. See http://www.nyhedsradioen24-7.dk/ for three Windows Media streams including a 96k feed http://www.nordicwebradio.com/asx/nyhedsradioen3.asx which is of much better quality than WRN's own streams. While most WRN Europe programs are also streamed elsewhere, a half- hour program from NHK Radio Japan, which has not been streamed live until now, can be heard via NR 24/7, Mon-Fri 2330-0000 (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Massachusetts, USA http://www.publicradiofan.com/ Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non] This week we are very pleased to announce a new rebroadcasting partner. If you live in Denmark you now have the opportunity of listening to WRN from 10 pm each night with Nyhedsradioen 24-7, the Danish news and talk radio station based in Copenhagen. The station started to broadcast WRN on Monday 10th February Many of WRN`s programme partners are now being heard by Danish listeners including Germany’s Deutsche Welle, Radio Sweden, Radio Prague, Radio Polonia and Radio Budapest and stations from further afield including China Radio International, Radio Australia, Radio New Zealand International, Radio Canada International as well as National Public Radio and Public Radio International from America. Nyhedsradioen 24-7 is Denmark`s first countrywide news and talk station, broadcasting international, national and local news plus current affairs, 24 hours each day. The station`s main editorial offices are in the Stock Exchange building in central Copenhagen. In the fourth quarter of 2002, the station had a weekly audience of 107,000 and was Denmark`s fastest-growing broadcaster. Nyhedsradioen 24-7 is available on FM in Copenhagen (90.4 MHz), Roskilde (106.6 MHz), Nordsjælland (96.1 MHz), Dragør FM (105.6 MHz) and Østjylland (106.2 MHz). Furthermore, it can be picked up via the ON Cable service from Tele Danmarks, the Thor II satellite and the Internet at http://www.nyhedsradioen24-7.dk If you are living in Denmark and have a chance to tune in, let us know how the WRN service is sounding! We`d be happy to hear from you whenever you have questions, suggestions or critical remarks. Please send us an email to email@wrn.org or a letter or postcard to World Radio Network, PO Box 1212, London SW8 2ZF, UK. You can also reach us via fax at +44 207 896 9007 or via telephone at +44 20 7896 9010. Happy Reading and Happy Listening! (The World Radio Network Team, WRN Newsletter Feb 14 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. 1584 MW, New Clandestine: R Tikrit, 1800-2030, regular programmes since Feb 7. Triple IDs every Top of the Hour and half- hours (Man-Woman-Man), regular news in Arabic and Arab songs/music. Mostly poor here in Ukraine, because of Iran co-channel from nearly the same direction. Still uncertain: who and from where (USA from Southeastern Turkey?) (Vlad Titarev, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) The translated ID says: ``wait for the program of Radio Tikrit on 192 meters, 1575 kHz from 10.00 till midnight everyday ...hope you enjoy our programmes`` which means they announce 1575 kHz and broadcast on 1584!! One more hint I got here .. that OM with the ID is the same guy from Information Radio.. so I reckon this is another Commando Solo project!! Just guessing! (Tarek Zeidan via BCDX, via DSWCI DX Window via DXLD). Tikrit is the birthplace of Saddam Hussein! On the Iraqi Day of Revolution, Feb 8, there was a large Military Parade with screaming soldiers in that city shown nationwide on state controlled TV. (Ed Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD)) ** IRAQ [non]. 9750, Voice of Iraqi People/Voice of the Iraqi Republic, via Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1822-2305, Jan 21, Feb 05, 06, 08, 09 and 10. New frequency ex 9570 to avoid interference, searching for a better reception in Iraq. The Saudi Government seems to have done this to play a better role in removing Saddam's Regime. Arabic programmes against Saddam regime. Clear ID e.g. at 1900 and 1907 before and after news: ``Idha`at al-Jumhurayah min Baghdad, Sawt al- Sha`b al-Iraqi``. 2305 Message to Iraqi Soldiers to refuse Saddam`s orders. Good signal on 9750, slight QRN. SINPO varies 33433 to 45444. Covered by VOIRI in Spanish 2030-2130. Heard // 9563 and 11710. It is noted that the usual half frequency spurious on 4785 also has moved to 4875 where it now only is heard with a faint signal in LSB (QSA 1). This indicates that the 50 kW transmitter has had an overhaul in connection with its change of frequency (Chaabane, Liangas, Petersen and Titarev, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) Who said what? ** IRAQ [non]. IRAQI INFORMATION MINISTRY CONDEMNS US DECISION TO EXPEL AGENCY CORRESPONDENT | Text of report by Iraqi TV on 14 February An Information Ministry source has stated the following to INA [Iraqi news agency] The US administration of evil has committed a new stupidity that adds to the series of its previous stupid and arbitrary acts, which it has been carrying out continuously. The US administration of evil has decided to expel Muhammad Hasan Allawi, INA correspondent in New York, and his family. This measure shows a blatant contradiction between its claims of respecting the freedom of the press and its practices on the ground, which reveal its pale and ugly face towards the freedom of the press. By contrast, Iraq is hosting hundreds of foreign journalists, including a number of American journalists and correspondents. The decision of expulsion came in a letter sent by representative of the US mission to the United Nations to the INA corespondent in New York. He informed him of the US government's decision to expel him, giving him a period of 15 days to leave the US territories. The source added: This US act shows the arrogance and haughtiness of the US administration of evil, which boasts about democracy. However, its practices reflect its fear of every media source reporting facts as they are to the world public opinion. The vast majority of the world public opinion is now against all the arbitrary policies and threats launched by the US administration of evil, not only against Iraq but also against all the peoples seeking to establish their political and economic independence. This has made the US administration lose its mind, leading it to a state of confusion and making it take measures against the freedom of the press in the world. This calls for a firm condemnation from all forces and organizations defending freedoms, first of which is the United Nations. It also calls for speaking loudly against these arbitrary practices carried out by the US administration of evil. Source: Republic of Iraq TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 1800 gmt 14 Feb 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** IRELAND. RTÉ WILL LAUNCH LONGWAVE SERVICE From Radiowaves: http://www.radiowaves.fm/news/index.shtml Friday 14th February 2003 RTÉ will shortly launch a long wave service on 252 kHz, according to a report in today's Irish Independent. The service will cover the whole of Ireland and much of Britain and is expected to comprise of compilation programming from RTÉ Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM & Raidio na Gaeltachta. The frequency previously carried Atlantic 252, of which RTÉ had a stake. TeamTalk 252 took over the frequency but closed shortly afterwards, selling out to ukbetting.com. RTÉ have recently paid 600,000 [pounds?] for the transmission site which is based in Co Meath (via Paul David and Mike Terry, DXLD) ** IRELAND. NEWS ABOUT 549 KHZ AM All independent Irish re-broadcasts of UCB and Cross Rhythms are to end --- possibly within months. Irish Christian Broadcasters (ICB) who are responsible for retransmitting various UK Christian radio stations such as UCB and Cross Rhythms in Ireland, have decided to permanently cease such re- broadcasts. They are now in the process of building their own high- tech studios and hope to be able to put their own programmes on air 24 hours a day as soon as possible (it is possible however that ICB may purchase some programming from UK broadcasters once licenced). The new station will be similar to the UCB network in its format (but still independent) though based in Ireland and purely for and about Ireland. Two radio stations are planned: The first one will be a family Christian radio station similar to the old UCB Europe, consisting of Adult Contemporary Christian Music/Christian Inspirational music especially that originating from Irish artists, coverage of Irish Christian events and activities, plus Christian news, information, encouragement and teaching with a particular focus on that from the Irish churches. The second station will be Ireland's own answer to Cross Rhythms in the UK. ICB know the potential legal problems that these relays cause for the Christian radio stations in the UK that they re-broadcast and they are committed to replacing these re-broadcasts with their own programming as soon as it is financially and practically possible to do so. It is also now clear that they would need to do this in order to have any hope of obtaining any sort of terrestrial licence in Ireland. For more information about these broadcasts click this link to this BRAND NEW official website --- as you will see it is NOT UCB who run it nor will UCB, Cross Rhythms or Transworld Radio continue to be re- broadcast via these frequencies for any longer than the short term: http://www.gracefellowship.ie/icb.htm The 50 kW 549 kHz AM transmitter is situated in Northern Co. Monaghan, Ireland. When on full power, the daytime signal can reach the whole of Ireland and the western half of Britain with reasonable reception also across most of the English Midlands as far east as Leicester (A friend of Christian radio in Ireland, Christopher McCallion, Feb 12, hard- core-dx via DXLD) They *purchase* religious programming??? There are scads of gospel- huxters who would be glad to give it to them rather than pay for the time. Or does ``Christian`` here only mean R. Catholic? (gh, DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Winter B-02 schedule of Kol Israel: ARABIC 0300-2210 5915 12150 BUKHARIAN 1300-1315 15640 17545 ENGLISH 0500-0515 9435 6280 till Feb. 28 11605 from March 1 17600 1115-1130 15640 17545 1730-1745 11605 17545 2000-2025 6280 till Feb. 28 9435 11605 from March 1 13720 15640 FARSI 1500-1625 9985 Sun - Thu 11605 17545 1500-1600 9985 Fri & Sat 11605 17545 FRENCH 0515-0530 6280 till Feb. 28 9435 11605 from March 1 1100-1115 15640 17545 1630-1645 11605 15640 17545 2030-2045 6280 till Feb. 28 9435 11605 from March 1 13720 15640 GEORGIAN 1315-1330 15640 17545 HEBREW 0430-0600 11590 0500-1900 15760 0600-1900 17535 1700-0430 11585 1900-1945 15640 1900-2300 9390 1900-0500 5790 1900-0500 9345 2100-2215 15640 2300-0600 7545 HUNGARIAN 1745-1800 9435 15640 LADINO 1125-1145 15655 MOGHRABI 1715-1725 17545 |||| not active/cancelled? ROMANIAN 1725-1745 9435 15640 RUSSIAN 1830-2000 9435 11605 SPANISH 1600-1625 15640 Sat only 17525 17545 1645-1655 11605 15640 17545 2045-2100 6280 till Feb. 28 9435 11605 from March 1 13720 15640 YIDDISH 1100-1125 15655 1700-1725 9435 15640 (Observer, Bulgaria, Feb 14 via DXLD) ** ITALY. Are you familiar with this Italian shortwave station? Apparently, it's rebroadcasting Pacifica radio programs. I'm curious to find out more. Can you tell me anything further about it? Thanks, (Scott Gurian, Producer, Pacifica Radio to gh) ===== Forwarded message from Thomas Drescher, Roesrath, Germany Dear Friends, Since a couple of weeks the Shortwave Radiostation IRRS in Milan, Italy http://www.nexus.org radiates several programs, which obviously originate from Public Broadcasters in the USA. On Monday January 27, 2003 I noted your program in English over here in the vicinity of Cologne in Germany via IRRS on a new frequency of 6215 kHz, by now they have changed to 5780 kHz. It was great to receive the station over here again with acceptable results, although there were quite some disturbances caused by a severe jamming noise on 6220 kHz and recently on 5780 kHz. So I am sending you the upcoming reception-report, and I should be pleased to receive a verification of reception (QSL) from you, if possible. Thank you so much for dealing with my mail. Obviously IRRS in Milan, Italy is operating on a testbasis at the moment. Sincerely Yours, Thomas Drescher Reception-Report Receiver: Sangean ATS 818 with telescopic antenna Date: 27-JAN-2003 Time(UTC): 2015-2048 (9.15 pm local) Frequency: 6215 kHz Signal Strength: 4 (good) Interference: 5 (no after 2022 UTC) Noise: 3 (fair) Propagation Disturbance/Fading: 2 (strong) Overall Rating: 3 (fair) until 2022 UTC there was severe interference caused by a jamming tone on 6220 kHz Program: reminder of 13th Hour Campaign with background info for congressmen, major deregulation of broadcast industry - statement about radio for Americans contrary to TV in USA - questions to the panel dealing with diversity and variety in radio - standards for certain amount of diversity - HHI-index for diversity - increasing advertising revenue without effects on content of programs - natural market forces restrained - live from Columbia University in New York City debate on diversity on ownership, diversity on information - Robert from Berkeley, CA: panel on news and scenic discourse - lunch break - analysis of morning session and also bringing afternoon session on Media Concentration and ownership - regulations relaxed - in afternoon panel participating a.o. entertainment industry, union - 2038 UTC web-address asking for sponsoring by listeners - 2039 UTC back in New York with proceedings at the panel - introduction of panel - 2048 UTC break and continuing with classical music Date: 06-FEB-2003 Time(UTC): 2015-2100 (9.15 pm local) Frequency: 5780 kHz Signal Strength: 4 (good) Interference: 2(severe) Noise: 4 (slight) Propagation Disturbance/Fading: 2 (strong) Overall Rating: 2 (poor) after around 2045 UTC the signal was deteriorating, since the buzzing noise got stronger Program: talk between two males and one female about story happening last year in India, several categories...we're not hearing of impact of economic sanctions on Iraq...USA around the world...West Bank: democratic elected Palestinian Administration...violation on national law...wars in Afghanistan, possibly in Iraq, problems in East Timor...money going in weapons...high rate of bankruptcy in USA - talking with on infostate http://www.infostate.org - actually I might not have heard it correct, since this website does not exist. More reports from Pacific Peace Ground (?) - coalition against Bush Administration's plan to start war in Iraq, it seems they are looking for excuse to go to war, although inspections work - only a few negative e-mails - spoken words in today's edition of New York Post - local artists offer ??? for peace - in Los Angeles ups and downs... family life of Iraqi family in Los Angeles - society in Iraq is different - recent visit to family in Iraq - at 2053 UTC another program for President Mushaf (not known) - how can we stop slaughter of innocent, the plunder of another people's treasures - Prof. Francis A. Boyle on impeachment campaign against President Bush - sudden off at 2100 UTC for another program of IRRS ===== End forwarded message ===== (via Scott Gurian, Pacifica, DXLD) 5780 is news to me, so I checked IRRS website; inserted below some of the info from linked pages (gh) NEXUS-IBA's schedules Check IRN-Internet Radio NEXUS for excerpts from our broadcasts or visit NEXUS-IBA's bookstore for discounted books on media and communication! Small program producers: get RealAudio + free Web services & more with the IRRS Shortwave+Internet promotion IRRS-Shortwave on Shortwave Our own transmission schedule has been changed as follows: Mon-Fri 0630-0730 UTC on 13,840 kHz to Europe, N Africa, Middle East Sat & Sun 0900-1300 UTC on 13,840 kHz to Europe, N Africa, Middle East And now also: daily 2000-2130 UTC on 5,780 kHz to Europe During these hours you may hear a selection of NEXUS-IBA members' programs, also available 24 hrs via our streaming audio service. Other broadcasts with 50, 100, and 250 kW to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas are scheduled on behalf of our members. For these special broadcasts please enquiry directly contacting the addresses that you hear on the air or send us a reception report by email to: reports@nexus.org • IRRS-Shortwave frequency schedule for Winter 2002 (B02) frequency schedule (Oct. 27, 2002 - March 30, 2003) • IRRS-Shortwave frequency schedule for Summer 2003 (A03) frequency schedule March 30, 2003-Oct. 26, 2003) Viz.: 13,840 kHz 0530-0630 0730-0830 Mon-Fri 18-19,27-29, 37-39 20 kW A3 non directional English 13,840 kHz 0800-1300 1000-1500 Sat & Sun 18-19, 27-30, 37-39 20 kW A3 non directional English, German 5,780 kHz (*) 1900-2030 2100-2230 Sat & Sun 18-19, 27-30, 37-39 20 kW A3 non directional English, German, Italian (*)Alternate: 6290 [sic] • IRRS-Shortwave current program schedule (updated regularly) [Day of week links all lead to Sunday; you must change the day manually; mostly gospel huxters and UN news; what a waste --- gh] • IRRS-Shortwave test transmissions on 6,295 kHz [sic] (effective Jan 19, 2003) We are testing on 5,780 kHz at 20:00-21:35 UTC daily. These transmissions are in addition to our regular broadcasts on 13,840, according to the current schedule. • Get the latest IRRS-Shortwave program schedules by ftp Check our signal at your location with IRRS-Shortwave propagation maps: • IRRS-Shortwave propagation maps [outdated 75 and 41m only] • ITU map of broadcasting zones Affiliated stations and general frequency information: • IPAR, International Public Access Radio • Radio 510 International • Radio Rasant (from http://www.nexus.org via gh, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. 6290, IRRS, 2120-2131*, Feb 02, Russian talk followed by another man with English ID ("This is I double R S"), gave address and Fax number. Fair (Rich D`Angelo/FCDX, PA, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) Location no doubt at Trezzo Dadda east of Milano (Ed. Anker Petersen, ibid.) ** ITALY. RAI has signed a new agreement with the Italian Government under the existing public radio-TV laws. FM broadcasts are assumed as the most important for the full coverage of national territory. RAI is allowed to concentrate the AM network on a reduced number of transmitters also repeating a selection of the three national networks. As a matter of fact some AM transmitters are already off following so-called "electrosmog" quarrels (f.i.: Rome 846 kHz) or due to (postponed) maintenance (f.i.: Florence 1035 kHz). Although research and development of new technologies are also agreed, DAB has not found a specific mention in the final text. DAB coverage is nowadays limited to densely populated north-western area of the country, i.e. Piedmont, Aosta Valley and Lombardy (Luigi Cobisi, Italy, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD)) ** JAPAN. 3607.5U, NHK Tokyo, 1242 Feb 13, female vocal music, then female talk. Weak but fully readable, in the clear. 1245 back to singing, no instruments. Sounds like a play. Started to fade 1254, 1 minute past sunrise. 1255 play over, now male talk. 1258 woman speaks. All in Japanese. Time pips at 1300, then off as listed. Listed as a 900 watt feeder. Other NHKs at 3925 and 6055 very good today, but 9595 not heard (Dan Ziolkowski, WI, Cumbre DX via DXLD) You mean NSB on the other frequencies, not NHK (gh, DXLD) ** JAPAN. NHK per Don's [sic] report of 3607.5. Always worth checking other NHK outlets of 3373.5 and 3259 if 3607.5 is coming in (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** KASHMIR [non]. CLANDESTINE from ? to SOUTH ASIA, 9890, Sedaye Kashmir missing tonight, nothing heard 0205 to 0231. Checked again at 0247, still nothing Feb 14. And untraced for a second night Feb 15 (Hans Johnson, TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. A small country with a powerhouse voice on SW. Ministry of Info site is not up to date so try http://radiokuwait.org/frqtable.htm instead. Real audio streams at http://www.mandoubco.com/radio.asp Programming primarily in Arabic except for a single English segment to North America [sic] (Dr John Barnard, Signals Unlimited, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** KYRGYZSTAN. 4062.6, UNID, probably ``Hit Shortwave`` drifting from 4050, 0218-0315, Feb 9, Central Asian songs and in between a man speaking through a loudspeaker in what could be Dari or Farsi. Distorted audio. 24333 with utility QRM. 4050 Bishkek was off the air, but 4010 was heard. This early programme indicates that its target area is one timezone east of the usual Clandestine stations` target area of Iran/Iraq. (Cf. e.g.4027.3). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD)) ** LATIN AMERICA. Just a couple of minutes ago I uploaded the new version (3:rd) of Eldorado for LA DX-ers. During the years since I began running this site (1995), it has become bigger and bigger and also more difficult to handle. With this new layout I hope it will be more userfriendly, and that you'll find the information you want. At this moment there are 1248 veriesigners, 908 email-addresses and 956 anniversaries, all from radiostations in Latinamerica. Please take a look at http://members01.chello.se/mwm/eldorado/index.html Hopefully I'll be able to update the site more often in the future. One main reason for not doing it so often in the past, is the fact that I'm also working as a webmaster for to other sites. Therefore it sometimes isn't that fun to do the same thing in my spare time as I'm doing at work. If you want me to update more regularly, please show it to me by visiting and supporting my sponsors! By doing this, you'll help me to keep this site alive! Comments, contributions and so on, are as always welcome to mwm@chello.se Best regards and 73 Nisse (Nils Jakobsson, Feb 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** LESOTHO. 4800, LNBS, Lancers Gap, Feb 4 and 6, seems to be off the air or very poorly modulated now. A carrier (S4) was noted at 0245- 0400 (fade out) and very weak music and talk could be perceived occasionally. Too weak to identify (Køie [whilst in South Africa for HFCC??] and Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) Lesotho is indeed silent on 4800. I have checked for it several times Feb 7-9 and there is no trace of it, not even a carrier. As you know it was off the air for most of 2002 due to some broken parts and I have first noted it back on air on Jan 1, 2003 with excellent signal. Looks like the new parts did not last very long (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** MALI. Re items in DXLD 3-024, and Chris Greenway`s excellent African reports: The third transmitter IS using 9 MHz during the day - but is operating close to 9633.35, where it has now been for some weeks. I monitored a strong signal today [Feb14] around 0820 and could hear just enough from a weak v7285 to tell it was in parallel. For some reason, 11960 is not making it to my location. The frequency is available after Jordan goes off c0810 but if anything is heard it is usually CNR-1 - which is what I hear today. (Noel Green, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Could be the 9 MHz frequencies from nearby countries were skipping over him in Ghana? (gh, DXLD) 9635 is still 100% regular to appear in my receiver at 0800. If I don`t hear it, it's because I didn`t get up in time or already left the house... (Thorsten Hallmann, Muenster, axis of evil, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. 2390, R. Huayacocotla 1200 sign on is variable. Lately they have been coming on about 5 minutes early, but have been heard signing on as late as 1228 (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MIDDLE EAST. Military Communications: frequencies especially active now, all in USB. 4725 US Military Global (night) 6739 US Military Global (night) 8992 US Military Global (primary) 11175 US Military Global (primary) 13200 US Military Global (backup) 15016 US Military Global (backup) 5696 US Coastguard, Virginia, California, others 11300 Aeradio, commercial, covering Tripoli, Cairo, Khartoum, Djibouti, etc. 11232 CANFORCE Canadian military traffic, phone patches enroute, weather (Robert Ellis, Worldwide Utility Column, Feb CIDX Messenger via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. Hi Glenn, A separatist radiostation, R. Pridnestrovye, Tiraspol was heard yesterday (Wednesday) on 5960 kHz closing down their English programme 1730 UT. Reception SIO 433. Heavy splashes from RN Flevoland on 5955 kHz. On the air only once a week? 73´s (Jouko Huuskonen, Turku, FINLAND, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes ** MYANMAR. Glad to see Myanmar 4725 getting to areas as far as the Americas. Regular here to 1230* or 1300*. 5040.6 continues and so does 6570 1330-1630 (Victor Goonetilleke, Sri Lanka, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. 5770U, R. Miskut seems to be irregular. Not that good of a signal here in south Texas; other Central American stations put in a much better signal just prior to 0000 then this one does (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** NIGER. Re DXLD 3-024: There is a station operating on variable 9704 or 9705, best audible after REE Madrid goes off 9710 c0800. But not daily. I heard it on about 9704 on Feb 13 but not today Feb 14. No ID has yet been heard at this time, but vernacular language and music suggests Niger rather than Ethiopia (Noel Green, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9704.01, RTV. du Niger, Feb. 8 2156-2210, 34333, French. Pop music. ID heard after a time signal at 2200. And telephone talk program (TOKUSA Hiroshi, Kanagawa, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) 9705.1, Rdiff. TV Niger, Feb 10 2155-2202*, 44444, French, Talk. Kor`an. ID. National anthem. 2202 s/off (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) Altho Chris did not hear this last week in Ghana (gh, DXLD) NIGER? Heard the following on Feb 14th, 2130-2245+ UTC: 9707 approx. Vn -2200, French with accent 2200+, live phone-in (bad phone lines)+ lively music (presumed African), talk about Mali, Bangui(?), musique africaine..., popping up occasionally between local interference, a huge het, strong + overmodulated signal on approx. 9702, Arab/north African, strong but undermodulated signal on 9715 (Russian). Some nice peaks and relatively good audio. No ID. Heard with my 1958 Blaupunkt Sultan receiver... (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, very old Europe, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. From VON website, program grid, the 2200 hour usually heard now on 15120, 7255; most of the program titles are hotlinx: 2200: Sun Nigerian Popular Music Mon Celebrations Tue National Assembly Wed Midweek Sports Thu Music Makers Fri Nigerian Composers Sat Who are the Nigerians Last Day of the Month: Month In Retrospect, 2200 2215 Mon Listeners' Letters Tue Development Initiative Wed Musical Heritage 2230 Sun Giant Strides Mon African Integration Tue Beyond Poverty Line Wed Investment Profile Thu Global Peace Fri Our Environment Sat African Monarchy (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Strange the above does not mention the closing newscast at 2245 or 2250. BTW, at times I`ve noticed the audio/modulation level of VON fluxuating wildly from one speaker/segment to the next. They REALLY need an Optimod, or a competent boardop to ride the levels. But hey, who cares? It`s only a shortwave station, heard all over the world (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA [non]. CIS, 9495, Jakada Radio listed as 1900-1930 Mon-Fri, anyone hearing it? (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. RADIO BOUGAINVILLE PLEADS FOR MORE MONEY Radio Bougainville may shut up shop soon due to severe funding problems. Serious funding problems have forced the Director of Radio Bougainville to plead with national and provincial authorities to inject more money to the station. Aloysius Rumina is warning that coverage of this years planned autonomous government elections, the reconciliation process and other issues may suffer without adequate funding. He says it's a miracle the station is till operating.... Presenter/Interviewer: Caroline Tiriman Speakers: Radio Bougainville Director, Aloysius Rumina http://abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/s784789.htm (via E. Baxendale, UK, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) which in turn leads to wm audio link lasting 2:57 : http://abc.net.au/ra/pacbeat/stories/m542572.asx BTW, he pronounces it BOO-gan-vil, not BOH-gan-vil. Perhaps a good compromise would be to pronounce it in pure French, which was my original inclination (gh, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. El Mundo Broadcasting Corp in Puerto Rico, has gotten into an agreement to sell WKAQ to HBC (Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation) the largest Hispanic radio corporation in the USA. By doing so, Puerto Rico will lose the first and oldest commercial radio station in this country to foreign hands. El Mundo Broadcasting Corp is composed of Radio Reloj 580 AM,WUKQ 1420 Ponce and WUKQ 99 FM in Mayagüez . This transaction must now awaits for FCC`s approval. Details were displayed at yesterday's 14 Feb 2003 newspaper "El Nuevo Dia" (Luigi Pérez, PR, Feb 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. Radio Center was at the recent NRB convention in Nashville. They were giving out QSL cards from their first day on the air March 1, 1992. Is anyone familiar with this card? (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. B-02 BSKSA schedule --- Hi, here is an update of the BSKSA schedule. The remaining service via Riyadh 500 kW units is heard very strong and stable here in Germany. 73 de wolfgang B-02 FOR BROADCASTING SERVICE OF KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA/ BSKSA Checked the ARS schedule in past weeks. But missed the 50 kW Jeddah station at 68 / 315 degrees on 11710, 11785, 11950, 15435, 17585, 17620, 17760 kHz, marked with '?' see below. MAIN PX in Arabic 0600-0900 17760? 21505 21705 0900-1200 21505 21705 1200-1500 17585? 21505 21705 [17585 BBC Skelton Arabic co-channel instead] 1700-1800 15315 15435 1800-2300 9555 9870 SECOND PX in Arabic (irr. on air) 0300-0600 9578.9 0600-1700 11854.9 1700-2200 9578.9 CALL OF ISLAM in Arabic 1500-1700 15315 15435 HOLY KORAN in Arabic 0300-0600 9715(x11820) 15170 15435? 21495 0600-0800 15380 17620? 17895 0800-0900 15380 17620? [17615 starts from about 0850 UT] 0900-1200 11935 17615 21495 1200-1300 15380 17760 17895 21600 1300-1400 15380 17745 17760? 17895 21600 1400-1500 17745 17760? 17895 1500-1600 11785? 13710 17745 17760? 1600-1800 11710? 11785? 13710 15205 17560 1800-2100 11820 11915 11950? 15230 [11950 UAE Dubai co-channel only] 2100-2300 11820 11915 15230 FOREIGN SERVICES Bambara 1700-1800 17775 Persian 1400-1600 11745 Bengali 1600-1700 15345 Somali 0400-0500 17760 French 0800-1000 21600 Swahili 0500-0600 17760 1400-1600 21600 Turkish 0400-0600 15275 Indonesian 1000-1200 21670 Turkmen 1400-1600 9730 Pashto 1600-1700 9810 Urdu 1200-1400 15345 (R BUL Observer, Ivo Ivanov and Angel Datzinov, via BC-DX Dec 18, 2002) (update by Wolfgang Bueschel, BC-DX Feb 12, 2003 via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. On Jan 28, the Sa`udi clandestine radio station Sawt-Al Islah, Voice of Reform, said that it will move to the old frequency 7590 from Jan 29. They said that they received many reports that show that 9925 is not good. But, on Jan 29, the station was still broadcasting on 9925. And the most surprising thing is that Mr. Saâd Al Fagih still announced that "We are now broadcasting on 7590 kHz in the place of 9925 kHz"!!! On Jan 29, the Jammer continued jamming the station on 9925 for 2 hours after the end of Voice of Reform's program!! (A. Chaabane, Tunisia, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD)) ** SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO. 7115, "The International Radio of Serbia and Montenegro"; 0129, 7 Feb 03, Music, into IS followed by pleasant chime and ID for internal service in Serbian. SIO-444. [Note the Yugoslavia is no more, though they continue use the ID "Radio Yugoslavia" along with the very terse "The International Radio of Serbia and Montenegro"]. (Pat Rady, Ann Arbor, MARE via DXLD) ** SPAIN [non]. Re 5845.05, Radio Nacional de España, unknown QTH: 11815 minus 5970 - Cariari de Pococí, Costa Rica (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAN ISLAND [and non]. For those who remember Radio Swan / Radio Americas, here is a link to an interesting story about the AM transmitter used on Swan Island. THE SAGA OF THE COLD WAR'S MB50 --- A "Cold War Warrior" rests in a watery grave beneath the serene Caribbean, with nothing to mark its final resting place. by David L. Hollyer During the Cold War, Radio Free Europe, with transmitters in Germany and Portugal, concentrated its broadcasts on the populations of Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania. Radio Liberty broadcast to the Soviet Union in Russian and its many languages.... http://www.radioworld.com/reference-room/special-report/01_rwf_mb50.shtml (via Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND [and non]. According my records SRI is between 2200 and 2400 on 9885 from Sottens and on 11660 from Montsinéry. As well-known there is only a single shortwave transmitter at Sottens, so another site would have to substitute for Montsinéry if necessary. A few years ago TDF made substitute arrangements for SRI at Issoudun when a fire knocked off Montsinéry. Perhaps you will like to look for this story in your files since it was a quite interesting one; they had to reshuffle sites because Jülich could not transmit on certain frequencies (above 9900 if I remember correctly) while the Issoudun transmitters needed a software update to accept this or another OOB frequency. Back then also the Centre E sub-site at Issoudun --- see http://perso.wanadoo.fr/tvignaud/am/rfi/centre-e.htm --- today extensively used by Libya, was reactivated after being silent in favour of the new ALLISS units for some time (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) And otherwise Juelich still maintains backup for Sottens if needed, as shown in the `DTK` schedules (gh, DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. ARAB RADIO, 7470 Sawt al wattani / V. of Homeland or Suria Hurra Arabia. Open carrier of S9+20 from aboutt 1550 Feb 13 over low level (less than S5) Chinese opera and probably RFA. At 1459 canned ID with young boy giving ID as ``huna Suria Hurra Arabia`` followed by hymn ``Yahabibi watani`` and Arabic song. Woman giving frequencies and email arabic@??radio.org (I missed something here). Man into talks and continuous references to Syria . At 1616 with old songs then man with ``ida`atu Arabia muqaden …`` with another political subject followed. Program closed with classical music part than Arabic and back to young boy`s canned ID with immediate Sign-off. 7470 comes with S9+20 dB with steady signal but 12085 comes with co channel QRM and several seconds delay (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki THS, Greece; Antenna used: 16 m vertical random, ICOM R75, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Received my first Radio Ukraine International QSL card today in the postal mail. Full data, no signer, "Greetings from Kyiv" photo card. Nice to have as I have many R. Kiev cards and pennants. To QSL RUI must send at least 3 reports. Email address vsru@nrcu.gov.ua Website http://www.nrcu.gov.ua Also, Alexander, of RUI, mentioned RUI will change to 12040 kHz in March. I'm trying to get additional info. 73, (Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, VA, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) HCJB better be gone by then, q.v. ** U K. BBC INVITES PUBLIC TO PEN NEW NATIONAL ANTHEM Jason Deans, Thursday, February 13, 2003, The Guardian The BBC is launching a nationwide search for an alternative national anthem that reflects modern Britain. The aim is for the winning entry to be sung everywhere from schools and churches to football terraces. BBC bosses hope it will become as popular as Jerusalem, the hymn that many people consider a more rousing anthem for the nation than God Save the Queen. The competition will be launched in tomorrow's BBC2 programme Essential Poems (to Fall in Love With). Presenter Daisy Goodwin said: "We are looking for a poem for our times - one that might be set to music and sung at weddings, on football terraces or in school assemblies. "It must be no more than 16 lines long and have the intensity and resonance of William Blake's short poem that was turned into the hymn Jerusalem. "The winning entry will grab the collective consciousness in the way of Rudyard Kipling's If, The Soldier by Rupert Brooke or Daffodils by William Wordsworth." A panel of judges, including eminent poets, will select their favourite entries over the summer. The shortlisted poems will be screened in a programme on National Poetry Day on October 9 and a winner chosen. Entrants must be over 18 and the competition closes on May 31. Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U K [non]. Hi, enclosed a record I just made off 5945. As you will hear the signal was again quite poor, almost buried under the local noise floor and only audible when tuning to the high side to escape the slope of much stronger Russia (registered as Moscow area site) on 5940. More importantly you will hear the powerhouse Moosbrunn signal coming up, overlapping the BFBS carrier. So we can indeed safely rule out Moosbrunn as origin of the BFBS transmission (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 13, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BFBS 5945: After a short trailer Feb 13 before 1500, YL says ``it is ….. time`` with ID and news with a short speech. Woman with a ``valentine program for lovers`` playing nice pop songs with first title ``I love you always ever``. This is until 1510. New tune in at 1755 still with BFBS in clear with some QRM from 5950. References to BBC 4 and BFBS and ID on both. Clear until ROI starts at 1759 with S9 + 30. Signal levels S9 at 1500 ending to S9+10 at 1800. General SINPO 34333 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki THS, Greece; Antenna used: 16 m vertical random, ICOM R75, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Concerning The Archers - ditto me too, but contrary to what Andy says, this soap used to be billed as a "diary of country folk", but is now more like a diary of who has been sleeping with whom. Just the sort of material the younger generation [which constitutes the majority in the British forces] seem to enjoy hearing [and watching] these days. Best 73s and keep up the good work (Noel Green, UK, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UK (non?). BFBS assumed on Thursday February 13 on 13720 at 0200 preceded by test tones. Reception very weak. Pop music only just audible and faded out completely by about 0235. Heard again on Friday Feb. 14 at 0200 but no test tones heard. Again barely audible at first but pop music by 0310 a little clearer than on Thursday and the spoken word more distinct but still too weak to make out the words (Bernie O'Shea, Ottawa, Ontario, DX LISTENING DIGEST) SITE? 13720, BFBS (presumed) 0231 Feb 14, pops of which I recognized many songs with male announcer. He was just a bit too weak though so I didn't get an ID. News at 0300 and then back to pops (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) BFBS 0200 transmission has been audible on 13720 kHz for the past few evenings; just barely on 12 & 13 Feb but better, readablility 3, on 14 Feb. Interrupted test tone noted before 0200, then ID, news, and pop music. Signal exhibits very heavy fading of high rate, but not quite polar flutter, and seems stonger at 0300 (John Cobb, Roswell, GA, Icom R75, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello again from New Zealand. I have been hearing BFBS here in New Zealand on both frequencies. 5945 at around 1500 and 13720 at 0300 both at very good level at those times. E-mail address is marina.haward@bfbs.com I don't have a postal address. Does anyone know their transmitter site. My guess is Moosbrunn?? Regards, (Ian Cattermole, Feb 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 5945 BFBS, 1530, with Norah Jones (currently in Auckland) and "Don't know why" and then at 1545 "The Archers" and BFBS ID, no idea where signal coming from, Feb 12 (David Norrie, Auckland, NZ, AOR 7030, Feb 14, hard-core-dx via DXLD) CIS. 13720, BFBS (presumed) tuned in at 0149 Feb 15 to what I believe were 700 Hz tones. Six seconds on, six seconds off until 0158, then open carrier. Opened at 0200 but too weak. Anyone have any idea what site this might be? (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 5945, BFBS (presumed), Feb 13. Same format as Anker Petersen reported yesterday: test tones heard at 1457 tune-in, on for about a minute, then at1500 straight into EG talk, unable to hear what was said but sounded EG, some pop mx. Never got up to a level that I could make out what was said but on a better day might be possible (Ron Howard, Monterey, CA, DXplorer Feb 13 via Bueschel) Hi Glenn, via Pacific path into California. My GEOCLOCK shows Bahrein to Los Angeles/Baja California in dark path !!!! at 1457 UT today. Does anybody know the tone opening procedure on MNO Merlin sites ?? 73 de (Wolfgang Bueschel, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello all, I finally remembered to check 5945 before 1500 today. The transmitter went on some time before 1450 with a bang and a continuous tone for a minute or so. Then from about 1450 CIS tones. Turning up the volume, I noted Radio Rossii in the background. Comparison with other Radio Rossii channels showed a perfect synchronism with 5905. Searching for spurious products, I found these, as could now be expected, on 5865 and 5985, both carrying a mix of BFBS2 and Radio Rossii. Since the shortwave broadcast activities from Kaliningrad (Bolshakovo) according to previous information have been discontinued, 5905 in all likelihood now originates from St. Petersburg (Popovka) using a 147 degree beam. The intermodulation spurs are also typical of Popovka. The signal strengths of 5905 and 5945 were about equal. I also listened to 13720 this morning - weak but listenable at 0215, only a trace of a fluttery carrier at 0500 s/off (Olle Alm, Sweden, 14 Feb 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I had the chance here near Copenhagen to monitor 5945 today as well. I switched on at 1452 and heard the same 6 seconds tones + 6 seconds pauses until 1500. The station was heard strongly with S 9 + 20 dB. The sun was still above the horizon here and the signal was too strong for a Mediterranean or a Middle East transmitter. At 1500 the BFBS Radio Two signed on and was heard slightly weaker with S 8 - S 9 + 05 dB. At 1500 on 5905 R Rossii was heard from Popovka with S 9 with QRM from stronger Democratic Voice of Burma (S 9 + 10). Today at 1758 BFBS was heard just before abrupt closing with S 9 + 20, but followed at 1759 by ORF abrupt signing on with the end of a DX-programme in German heard with S 9 + 35 dB. So I must admit that it seems that the BFBS is not relayed from Moosbrunn. I can hear the 13720 carrier, but it is too weak here to get any audio. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Today the signal level of 5945 was the w o r s t ever quality since service started on Feb 9th. Only S=2 level. All other European stations, even thiny DLR Britz 6190 with 17 kW were much stronger, also all CZE, SVK, and AUT 49 mb outlets were very strong. Also 5940 neighbour from Moscow 250 kW was strong like S=9 +60 dB powerhouse. BFBS program lasted til 17.59:29. No opening procedure of ORF, then a crash start of ORF at 17.59:30 with much improved signal level of S=9+10 dB. Service is registered as 100 kW non-dir. The direction towards Ciraf zones 39 & 40 would be 115 degrees instead. At 1801 UT I checked the Armavir-RUS 5895 kHz channel and the signal was similar poor, compared to BFBS 5945. So, I guess, if that service isn't coming from an original MNO-Merlin site like Zyyi-Cyprus at 70 degrees, the Armavir-RUS site in front of the Caucasus is in use - because of your noting of opening pips operation yesterday. And the power of the back lobe will make it to Northern Sweden too. I read somewhere in dxpress, that DW gave away 5945 Irkutsk recently, in favour to Merlin MNO operation (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I wonder why location is being kept 'secret' - surely if the transmitters were going to be attacked the BBC's Arabic services are a more important target? The British government institutions seem to thrive on keeping as much information secret as they can (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Feb 12 via DXLD) Why would the location of these transmissions be particularly sensitive? BFBS is a legitimate, public broadcaster, and there are no secrets about the location of British troops (Jerry Berg, USA, DXplorer Feb 12 via Bueschel via DXLD) That would explain the propagation path from Popovka via the Pole towards California. Just around 1450 UT Grey Line is shown on my GEOCLOCK map, cross St. Petersburg then. From my recording at 1758 UT Feb 14 on 5945 kHz: Starts with a piece of powerhouse VoR Moscow 5940 in French. 17.58:10 end of BFBS program. Russian chimes interval signal occurs suddenly. Then 2-3 seconds pause, ORF came on air, crash start into DX Telegram, ORF (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UTC history on 5945 kHz: 14.48:40 transmitter switch on, whistle tone, continuing for approx. 15 seconds. 14.49:00 still open carrier, no audio tone. 14.52:06 til 14.58:10 series of tones, six seconds tone, six seconds pause, each. still open carrier, no audio tone. 14.59:20 40 seconds before the hour, a different single pip occurs every 10 seconds, started at 14.59:20 the second 30/40/50, then /55th second/56/57/58/59 ... 15.00:00 15.00:00 Crash start midst into BFBS program. Signal strength at AOR 7030 set: 5945 kHz 3 segments shown, at s-meter liquid crystal character display. 5875 kHz 9 segments shown, at s-meter liquid crystal character display. 73 de (Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello, perhaps you noted on my record that also yesterday the VoR interval signal was audible on 5945 immediately before the signal got wiped out by the much stronger Moosbrunn carrier. Now the next question would be about the reasons for selecting this site, since one would assume that this is a Merlin operation. And what about the not CIS-like audio processing, does it already SSVC itself (apparently a mere dynamics compression, hence the murky sound)? And for 13720 the spectrum of possible sites is of course also much broader than it appeared to be first; could be Popovka, too, could be some other site instead. I would like to question if really all shortwave transmissions from Bolshakovo were transferred to other sites. Just yesterday I tuned into 12010 for VoR German 1000-1100, and it was the same signal behaviour as well as the same somewhat unclean modulation as always, suggesting that this one originates still from Bolshakovo (Kai Ludwig, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello all, Saturday morning's observations regarding 13720: At 0215 no signal on 13720 or on 13670 (Urumqi) and a S-2 signal in Arabic on 13650 (listed BBC via Cyprus). At 0430 still no signals on 13670/13720. At 0450 I heard both these at a S-2 to S-3 level, while 13645 from 0500 (listed BBC via Cyprus) was poor. Friday morning at 0215 I had unusually good reception of Urumqi 13670 and at the same time 13720 was a fair signal. Obviously 13720 is coming from Central Asia, most likely Tashkent, and not from Cyprus 73 (Olle Alm, Sweden, Feb 15, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13720 kHz outlet at 0200 UT: GEOCLOCK shows Greyline from Novosibirsk, to New Delhi, Goa, Maldives, Diego Garcia. But Irkutsk is bright in the sun from around 0120-0130 UT already. 73 de (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please can anybody help me ID an English station that broadcasts on 15530 kHz? The content at the time of reception (1650 15/Feb/03) was a cross between pop music and UK sport results (mainly league football). ID = something like ?? FS? Radio 1, but was difficult to hear properly due to music being played at the same time and station fading. Radio France International, transmit Portuguese on 15530 kHz from 1700 utc, so after this time RFI was all I could hear. Any suggestions gratefully welcomed. Thanks, (Robin - robinban@dxing.zzn.com Guernsey, Chan. Isles. (UK), SWBC Feb 15 via DXLD) Another BFBS outlet? Try parallel 5945? Which has been running at 1500-1800, presumably from CIS site. HFCC B-02 has this tentative listing, beamed SE from Juelich, Germany; maybe such usage was foreseen months ago? 15530 1600 1700 38,47,48 JUL 100 145 1234567 271002 300303 D D DTK DTK 7544 Tentat (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) The description fits BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting Service) which has recently appeared on Shortwave. You are the first person I've heard to mention 15530 kHz; maybe this is a new transmission. I heard them today at 1600 with pop muisc and football scores on 5945 (Graham Powell, Wales, SWBC via DXLD) ** U K [non]. LATVIA/UNITED KINGDOM. 5935, European Music R, via Ulbroka, *1500-1725, Sun Feb 09, First transmission using the Laser Radio facilities for transmission from Latvia. Heard thanks to a message from Tom Taylor at EMR@blueyonder.co.uk received on Feb 02 answering a question from me, that the IRRS no longer was used. Despite that the Voice of Russia was using the same frequency for the Middle East in Farsi and Arabic and heard with QSA 3-4 at 1500 and after 1800, EMR was heard in Denmark with 55555! Pop music programme in English with frequent ID and canned announcement in no less than nine European languages! Said the Ulbroka transmitter used 100 kW of power. Reception reports requested to Laser Radio or to the e-mail address mentioned above to get their new look QSL-card. DJ Julian had not heard from IRRS about any future relays. He also said that they would broadcast to North America from 2100 via WBCQ on 9335. Try again the coming Sundays! (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD) ** U S A. Glenn -- I'm back from [South] Africa. Horrible Internet connections there, unfortunately. I did see one of your DXLD's asking about frequencies for the new VOA show to Zimbabwe, "Studio 7," which is indeed 1730-1800 UTC. While in Jo'burg, I asked Arto Mujunen of IBB about this, and he said it's on three frequencies: 909 MW from Botswana, 13600 (he thought from São Tome) and 17895 (he thought possibly from Morocco). I could hear all three in Johannesburg, but 17895 came in best (Jeff White, FL, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 13600 listed as Botswana ** U S A. I have a question to the new program on Radio Sawa. At what time and on which frequencies will the programme "The Free Zone" be broadcasted? Thank you in advance (Ydun M. Ritz, http://www.ydunritz.com Denmark, Feb 1 to R. Sawa) Hi Glenn, Just received this information re. DXLD 3-017. RE: Radio Sawa - The Free Zone: I'm not sure we have a set time -- we run it several times. but it is generally on Fridays. Best, (Joan Mower, jmower@ibb.gov Feb 13 via Ydun Ritz, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Once again Feb 13, Planet World News was missing from WBCQ. Tuned in 7415 at 2052 and nothing there; then to 9335-CUSB which did not come on with musical prélude until 2056, ID and directly into some other apocalyptic program at 2100. Seems to be a tossup whether the news will appear or not. Furthermore, Planet World News Roundup failed to appear on 7415 at 2200 Thu Feb 13, contrary to yesterday`s publicity, but instead Pan-Global Wireless noted at 2206 with an editorial advocating English-only. Then a weird piece on how hillbillies immigrated to US from Europe, instructions on slitting wrists, in rather poor taste --- just kidding. Offered show`s own QSL several times; some portions attributed to National Lampoon from the 70s. The Last Roundup, Freedom News and Commentary with Al Parker, did appear at 2231, including a commentary about the guy in Wisconsin who wanted to set up a radio station for the blind and had his land stolen. Whatever became of Doom & Gloom Show? Next day, Fri Feb 14, tuned in early enough to find PW News starting earlier than scheduled at 2048:30 on both 7415 and, much better here, 9335-CUSB. Some ``financial survival`` show started at 2100, but 2101 switched to R. Caroline, music. Feb 15, PWN News OK at 2050 on 7415 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WINB, always slightly off nominal 9320, on 9319.91, Feb 9 0225 English religious preaching, 0230 ID; fair (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I`ve been listening to The Connection lately, and this leads me to try to remember the name of the previous ousted host, and his website, whether he is still doing any programs. Can you remind me? (gh, to Kevin Kelly, via DXLD) It was Christopher Lydon http://www.christopherlydon.org/ For the past two years he's dabbled in webcasts and short guest stints in faraway places (Ghana, Jamaica, Singapore). But he's just finished a 7-hour series of interviews called "The Whole Wide World" that will be distributed by PRI starting in March. There's no indication yet of station carriage yet, and he may have trouble getting play in his home market (would WBUR carry it?!). But you can already hear the first hour at Transom: http://www.transom.org/shows/2003/200301.lydon.www.html 73, (Kevin Kelly, Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, PublicRadioFan.com Feb 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 720, WGN, Chicago IL, 0558 Jan 19, Computer show hosted by David Lawrence. Host taking calls. WGN ID at 0600. Later checks show this is "Online Tonight" http://onlinetonight.net which airs Sat. 10 pm-1 am ET [Sun 0300-0600 UT] competing with cross-town 890 WLS which airs Kim Komando Komputer show at same time. David seems to spend more time with callers. Kim the "digital goddess" tends to treat callers like hot-potatoes to be disposed of in order to get to commercials (Larry Russell, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A. Take a look at the new issue of QST. There is a feature article on IBOC at WOR with mentions of WWL's testing, too. It paints a fairly rosey picture of the technology and it even shows the +/- 30 kHz bandwidth signal on a spectrum analyzer display. Something is wrong with this picture when the BW of the signal is clearly much wider but little is mentioned about adjacent channel interference and skywave propogation other than they are still studying this at this time. Expect to see IBOC radios at your local retailer late summer to early fall of this year. ks (Kevin Scott, Panasonic Atlanta, Feb 14, amfmtvdx via DXLD) ** U S A. Is there a list somewhere of the stations that are currently running or testing IBOC? (Rick Kenneally, NRC-AM via DXLD) Not that I know of. You can find out from the FCC website which stations have been granted an STA to run IBOC, but that doesn't tell you if they're on the air yet. BTW, the latest batch of AM stations to get IBOC STAs includes some real heavyweights: WBZ, WWJ, KNX and KCBS. Fasten your seatbelts! (Barry McLarnon, Ont., ibid.) ** U S A. As a former resident of Iowa City, and someone who was quite familiar with WSUI's programming, I can readily add to what Scott and Paul have already confirmed: It's WSUI that you heard. They are, and for many years have been, the only NPR affiliate on 910 in the U.S. Their PD, Dennis Reese, is DXer-friendly, and he even took the time to run an excellent DX test on the station in 1995. Paul, it's not surprising that WSUI is such a pest for you, since it is throwing virtually all of its power in your direction at night. While travelling through my old stomping grounds late last August on the way to Lima, Ernie W. and I stopped at WSUI's new 3-tower site about 9 miles south of Iowa City. Their site is just 3 miles south of the studios and transmitter of KCJJ-1620, so, as you can imagine, DXing 720 or anything 500 khz to either side of 910 or 1630 in that area is futile. P.S.: *SHAMELESS PLUG* For those interested who are within earshot of its nighttime signal, WSUI still carries Glenn Hauser's "World Of Radio" Sunday evenings at 2230 Central Time (Rick Dau, Omaha, Nebraska, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Hand-written letter in response to a CD-R audio report to KVTK Vermillion SD 1570. V/s Randy - or Danny - Hammer, Op. Mgr. Supposedly running 71 watts at night (Bjarne Mjelde, Berlevag, Arctic Norway, Feb 15, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Yeah, sure; I reported them too recently with an unreasonably strong signal for that power (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 1710 kHz, Lubavitcher Radio (presumed) 0204 Jan 19 music similar to opera. 0229 music that is more upbeat. Man speaking gave address at yahoo. Mention of Israel, talk about creation of the world (Larry Russell, DXPedition, MI, MARE via DXLD) Not in English, was it? I have been uncertain how to pronounce this word, but heard someone say it in another context, ``Lubávitcher`` (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. IT`S WAR AT CLEAR CHANNEL! I pass along the following gem of a link from InternalMemos.com without comment: http://www.internalmemos.com/memos/memodetails.php?memo_id=1329 (Harry Helms AK6C Ridegcrest, CA DM15 NRC AM via DXLD) Ricky Leong also forwards this and points out a paragraph within: ...Ross, if possible, can we have a short wave radio wired up in the newsroom so that we can capture audio. Obtain a copy of the latest edition of Monitoring Times magazine, which lists all of the International English language broadcast stations. If we don't have one in the family I would recommend pricing the Sony ICF-2010 (or its equivalent) for a good, moderately priced, portable short-wave radio with an antenna on the roof... (via Leong, DXLD) Apparently the memo writer's first involvement with a military operation. He's a bit over the top, but I'm sure KFBK will make every effort to contribute to confusion once they get rolling, too, just like the rest of them...working with too little information to justify dropping everything else. They'll fill the time with talking heads who know less of what's going on than the board operators. Shame they can't really be on the scene. I love that "We are AT WAR." Don't recall any of those names on the memo involved in the operations I had the pleasure to experience. Must have been in a different unit, likely. Or that "we" is rather fine. God bless those about to rock over there (Gerry Bishop Nicetobehomeforthisoneville, FL, NRC-AM via DXLD) You mean CC has board ops?? There`s more on CC:: (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. CITY OF PITTSBURGH GETS FIRST AUTOMATIC PUBLIC TOILET Tuesday February 11, 6:02 am ET PITTSBURGH, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Pittsburgh and Clear Channel Adshel today unveiled Clear Channel Adshel's state-of-the-art automatic public toilet (APT) in the City's South Side at 18th Street and East Carson Street. The new APT is part of Pittsburgh's coordinated street furniture program... http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030211/nytu031_1.html (via Yahoo Financial News via Patrick Griffith, CBT, Westminster, CO, USA, NRC-AM via DXLD, who adds:) I had no idea they were such a diverse company. ** U S A. FCC SUED OVER BIRDS KILLED BY TOWERS Environmentalists say communications towers kill millions of migratory birds a year, but the agency won't take action. By CRAIG PITTMAN, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published February 14, 2003 http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/14/State/FCC_sued_over_birds_k.shtml Concerned that thousands of new communications towers being built across the gulf coast are killing migratory birds, a trio of environmental organizations sued the Federal Communications Commission Thursday. They want the FCC to stop new towers in a 100-mile-wide belt, from the southern tip of Texas to Tampa Bay, until the impact on the migratory bird population has been assessed and an effort made to halt or make up for the deaths. Every fall, 100-million birds from across the eastern United States migrate across the Gulf of Mexico in search of warmer weather in South America. Every spring they return, making a second arduous journey across the water. On both trips, they collide with nearly 6,000 communications towers that line the gulf coast. Attracted by a tower's flashing lights, the disoriented birds fly in circles until they smack into the tower, its guy wires or the ground. One tower near Tallahassee has killed more than 44,000 birds. "It's a wonder they get through at all," said Gavin Shire of the American Bird Conservancy, which filed the lawsuit in Washington with Friends of the Earth and the Forest Conservation Council. Nationwide, federal wildlife officials blame towers for killing at least 5-million birds a year, perhaps as many as 50-million. Studies have suggested that changing the lights' color or pattern of flashing might make the towers less likely to confuse birds, but no federal agency has mandated such a change. The towers are built with permission of the FCC. Federal agencies are supposed to comply with the law requiring environmental impact statements. But the FCC says virtually all towers "have no significant" environmental effect (via Terry L. Krueger, FL, DXLD, who signs:) Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html ** VIETNAM [non]. CLANDESTINE from USA to VIETNAM, 9930, Que Huong reduced sked to 1330-1400 Mon-Sat; Chinese religious program now heard at 1300 to 1330 (via KWHR). This one has gone back and forth between hour and half hour broadcasts over the years (Hans Johnson, Rio Hondo TX, Feb 13, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Los programas de la emisora Voice of the People, La Voz del Pueblo de Zimbabue, se pueden escuchar desde hace algunos días a través de Radio Nederland. El 29 de agosto del año pasado, la emisora, que tiene su sede en Harare, capital de Zimbabwe, fue blanco de un atentado de bomba que destruyó completamente sus instalaciones. El gobierno de ese país acusa a la Voice of the People de transmitir propaganda contra el régimen y de agudizar las diferencias políticas en el país. En vista de la Voice of the People no ha obtenido licencia de transmitir, los progamas son grabados en Harare y enviados vía internet a Holanda. Aquí entra en escena Radio Nederland, que presta su apoyo y retransmite dicha programación vía onda corta a Zimbabwe. La emisora había sido silenciada largo tiempo tras el atentado de bomba, pero ahora ha podido reanudar sus transmisiones, aunque en muy pequeña escala, desde Holanda. Las emisiones de la Voice of the People están dirigidas principalmente a la población campesina de ese país africano, cuya única otra fuente informativa siguen siendo las emisoras gubernamentales. El apoyo de Radio Nederland a la Óbice of the People fue razón para que el gobierno de Harare negara el visado de entrada a los periodistas holandeses, durante las elecciones presidenciales de Zimbabwe en marzo del año pasado. La emisión se difunde diariamente de 1700 a 1755 UT por los 7120 kHz (41 metros) desde la estación repetidora de Radio Nederland en la isla de Madagascar. A partir del 31 de marzo se utilizará la frecuencia de 7190 kHz (Radio Enlace website Feb 14 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ WINTER SWL FESTIVAL A schedule of forums for the upcoming Winter SWL Festival (March 7 and 8 in Kulpsville, PA) is now available at the http://www.swlfest.com site. Some interesting forums include: DXing from Western Australia, the future of the SWL hobby and can it survive the technology boom, Zenith Trans-Oceanics, an IBB monitoring forum, a forum on the EDXC conference and shortwave broadcasting in Europe, presented by Risto Vahakainu, and other interesting topics. For the first time, two forum topics will be held on the Friday evening of the Fest. The speaker for the Saturday night banquet (March 8) is yet to be announced. (Joe Hanlon in Philadelphia, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NEXT MEXICAN DX-MEETING The DSWCI just received an invitation to all its members to attend the 9th annual Mexican DX Meeting which will be held in Tizayuca, located one hour by bus north of Mexico City, during the weekend July 31 – August 03, 2003. As usual, it is held in Spanish. For further details write to the organizer, Martin Herrera Jiménez, by e-mail to mnhajz@prodigy.net.mx or to the postal address: Zempazuchitl 69, Fraccionamiento Nuevo Tizayuca, Tizayuca, Hidalgo 43800, México (Anker Petersen, DSWCI DX Window Feb 12 via DXLD)) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ HIGH-DEFINITION AM AND FM RADIO COMING SOON From http://www.ctnow.com/entertainment/tv/hc-hdradio.artfeb13,0,241751.story?coll=hc%2Dheadlines%2Dtv February 13, 2003 --- By JONATHAN TAKIFF Now hear this: You've heard about HDTV - high-definition digital television. Now radio broadcasters hope you'll get excited about digital HD Radio, coming soon to car and home radios. This year, radio broadcast groups and stations in 40 large, midsize and small markets (not including Hartford) will begin broadcasting using iBiquity's HD Radio technology. The promise with digital HD will be much improved sound on FM and AM bands, and new features crafted to your needs. How it works: Formerly called IBOC (for in-band/on-channel), HD Radio is both sophisticated and simple, promising an easier transition for broadcasters and consumers than the shift from black-and-white to color TV. Unlike the 100-channel, satellite-fed XM and Sirius pay radio services, created with new frequencies and billions of dollars of infrastructure, HD Radio signals will "piggyback" on a broadcaster's existing frequency and antenna. A station would spend as little as $50,000 to implement a digital feed, and the consumer would need only new gear (and pay no monthly fees) to receive it. The Federal Communications Commission approved HD Radio for the FM band in October, after determining that the new, digital broadcast streams wouldn't interfere with other forms of wireless communication. HD radios are actually dual-format tuners, designed to shift seamlessly from digital to analog transmission in fringe reception areas. What will we hear? The core promise of digital radio is a signal free of hiss and distortion and with significantly higher fidelity. The 90 plus-kilobit-per-second HD FM data stream should deliver "CD-quality sound," say format backers. HD AM, with a 30 plus-kilobit-per-second data stream, could attain "FM quality sound." Back in 60 seconds: HD radio will still rely on hyperbolic commercials to pay the freight. So there will still be a place for those premium- quality, commercial-free digital pay radio services from Sirius and XM for people who don't want to give up 22 minutes an hour to advertising barrages and who are looking for a pure, focused approach to music (and talk channel) programming. Gearing up: Kenwood already has HD Radio-ready car stereo units on sale and will introduce a companion HD tuner module by summer, selling for about $300. Yamaha, Kenwood and Harman Kardon home HD tuners and receivers are expected by fall (via Mike Terry, DXLD) SHORTWAVE: DON`T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT ...A recent poll of 250 travel executives by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives on wartime contingency planning seems to support his claims. Of those polled, 99 percent said their companies have a plan in place to either evacuate or locate stranded travelers in the event of a war or terrorist act. Sixty-three percent did not have a plan prior to Sept. 11, 2001. Asked what other items ought to be part of disaster readiness, most said first-aid kits, compact shortwave radios, contact numbers, and local Internet access... http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/045/business/Firms_develop_review_disaster_plans+.shtml (via Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) THIS DAY`S LANGUAGE DISCUSSION: FARSI & DARI ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hello Glenn, Well, responding to what you said on WOR, I can say that, to me, one who does not understand them, Farsi and Dari do sound a lot alike. In particular, I note the sound of the "a" vowel, in words such as "Iran." It almost has the vowel sound in the English word "dog." I wonder how similar the written forms of Farsi and Dari are, if they even use the same alphabet [yes, I think --- gh]. I suspect that what we are calling "Farsi" and "Dari" are each divided into many variations and dialects. This is the expected situation when you have a language which has been spoken in the same area for a long time, as these two languages. Also, they are each spoken in areas which are very isolated from other areas. So, even if official Farsi and official Dari are somewhat different, I'd bet they each have dialects which kind of blend into each other (Tim Hendel, AL, Feb 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ The week started off with slightly disrupted propagation conditions due to the coronal hole effects mentioned last week. Feb 12 saw isolated regions of active levels in the geomagnetic field. One M class flare noted on Feb 14. A coronal hole is expected to impact us from Feb 15-19, which will lead to disturbed conditions in the period up to Feb 21. Conditions should be good Feb 24-28 (Richard Jary, Australia, Feb 15, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ###