DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-056, April 1, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser, ghauser@hotmail.com [CONTINUED FROM 3-055!] ** NETHERLANDS. How convenient --- unless you lack selectivity. The only two stations with any significant output in Dutch are 5 kHz apart --- noted at 0336 Mar 31, RVI via Bonaire on 15565, with a noticeably different accent than its neighbour, RN via Madagascar on 15560 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIGERIA. Voice of Nigeria heard on 15120 March 30th 0815 with Listeners Letters programme in English. reading out reception reports and reporters addresses in full. Fair with some audio hum. I have previously noted Hausa at this time (Mike Barraclough, UK, World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. SOUTH AFRICA: Jakada Radio International in English again on air effective March 27: 1900-1930 Mon-Fri on NF 15170 (45544) via MEY 250 kW / 335 deg to WAf (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. WKY, 930, OKC, has dropped their talk format and is temporarily carrying CNN News (1000000000milli-watts.com via Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News March 31 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Radio Pakistan published schedules show 11650 at 0045- 0200 in Assami and Bangla but is heard on 11640 (Jose Jacob, dx_india Mar 31 via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation. Personal letter dated 10/01/2003, from Iftikher Hussine Malik (senior Broadcast Engineer); included too were sticker, program guide and of course QSL showing Narau, situated in the high mountain range in Kaphan villey. It was for my report of 21/12/2002, on the frequency 15485 (Emmanuel Ezeani Sokoto, Nigeria, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. Radio Veritas Asia A'03 Shortwave Transmission Schedule 30 March to 26 October 2003 UTC FREQUENCY POWER AZIMUTH Bengali 0030-0055 15215 250 KW 300 1400-1425 9590 250 KW 300 Cantonese 2300-2355 11855 250 KW 331 Hindi 0030-0055 15570 250 KW 300 1330-1355 9590 250 KW 300 Hmong 1000-1025 9555 250 KW 280 Indonesian 2300-2325 9505 250 KW 222 2300-2325 11820 250 KW 222 1200-1225 9505 250 KW 222 Kachin 2330-2355 11705 250 KW 280 1230-1255 9615 250 KW 280 Karen 0000-0025 11725 250 KW 280 1200-1225 9615 250 KW 280 Burmese 2330-2355 11725 250 KW 280 1130-1155 9615 250 KW 280 Mandarin 2100-2255 6190 250 KW 350 1000-1155 9520 250 KW 355 Filipino (EAs) 2230-2255 7265 250 KW 030 Filipino (ME) 1500-1525 15360 250 KW 300 1525-1555 15360 250 KW 300 (Wed, Fri, Sun) Russian 0130-0225 17830 250 KW 015 1500-1555 11795 250 KW 331 Sinhala 0000-0025 11820 250 KW 280 1330-1355 9520 250 KW 280 Tamil 0030-0055 15520 250 KW 280 1400-1425 9520 250 KW 270 Telugu 0100-0125 15530 250 KW 280 1430-1455 9535 250 KW 280 Urdu 0100-0125 15335 250 KW 300 0100-0125 17860 250 KW 300 1430-1455 9670 250 KW 300 Vietnamese 2330-2355 9670 250 KW 280 0130-0225 15530 250 KW 280 1030-1125 11850 250 KW 280 1300-1325 7265 250 KW 280 Zomi-chin 0000-0025 11705 250 KW 280 (From : RVA Website via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOICE OF RUSSIA BROADCAST SCHEDULE FROM MARCH 30 TILL OCTOBER 25, 2003 [ENGLISH] 0100-0200 17595, 12000, 11825, 9725, 9665*, 7180** North America 0200-0300 17595, 12000, 9725, 9665*, 7180** North America 0300-0500 17690, 17660, 17650, 17565*, 15455**, 12000, 11750, 11720, 9665*, 7180** North America 0300-0500 1548, 603 Europe 0500-0600 21790, 17635 Australia, New Zealand 0500-0900 1323, 603 Europe 0600-0700 21790, 17635, 15490 Australia, New Zealand 0700-0900 1251 Asia 0700-0900 17635, 17525, 17495, 15490 Australia, New Zealand 1400-1500 1386, 1323, 1215 Europe 1400-1500 17645, 12055, 9745, 7340 Asia 1500-1700 1494 Europe 1500-1600 11500, 7340, 7315, 972 Asia 1500-1600 11985, 7325*, 6005**, 4975, 4965, 4940, 972 Middle East 1600-1700 12055, 11720, 7350, 7315 Asia 1600-1700 15540, 12055, 11985, 7350, 648 Middle East 1700-1800 11985, 11510 Africa 1700-1800 1251 Middle East 1700-1800 7315, 1269, 1251 Asia 1700-1800 11675****, 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 9480****, 7360**, 7310**, 1494**** Europe 1800-1900 11870, 11510 Africa 1800-1900 11675*, 11630*, 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 9480, 7360**, 7310**, 1494*** Europe 1900-2000 12070*, 11675*, 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 7440, 7360**, 7350**, 7330**, 7310**, 1386 Europe 2000-2100 15455*, 12070*, 11980**, 11675*, 9820**, 9775, 7360**, 7350**, 7330**, 1494, 1386, 1323 Europe 2000-2200 15735 Latin America * - from 30.03 till 06.09 ** - from 07.09 till 25.10 *** - from 28.04 till 08.08 **** - Sat, Sun (Voice of Russia website, via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave) [Or if you prefer, a simplified version, riddance of some asterisks:] English to Europe 0300-0500 1548, 603 0500-0900 1323, 603 1400-1500 1386, 1323, 1215 1500-1700 1494 1700-1800 11675 (Sat, Sun), 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 9480 (Sat, Sun), 7360 **, 7310**, 1494 (Sat, Sun) 1800-1900 11675*, 11630*, 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 9480, 7360**, 7310**, 1494 (till 8th August) 1900-2000 12070*, 11675*, 9890*, 9820**, 9775, 7440, 7360**, 7350**, 7330**, 7310**, 1386 2000-2100 15455*, 12070*, 11980**, 11675*, 9820**, 9775, 7360**, 7350**, 7330**, 1494, 1386, 1323 English to North America 0100-0200 17595, 12000, 11825, 9725, 9665*, 7180** 0200-0300 17595, 12000, 9725, 9665*, 7180** 0300-0500 17690, 17660, 17650, 17565*, 15455**, 12000, 11750, 11720, 9665*, 7180** English to Africa 1700-1800 11985, 11510 1800-1900 11870, 11510 English to Middle East 1500-1600 11985, 7325*, 6005**, 4975, 4965, 4940, 972 1600-1700 15540, 12055, 11985, 7350, 648 1700-1800 1251 English to Australia, New Zealand 0500-0600 21790, 17635 0600-0700 21790, 17635, 15490 0700-0900 17635, 17525, 17495, 15490 English to Asia 0700-0900 1251 1400-1500 17645, 12055, 9745, 7340 1500-1600 11500, 7340, 7315, 972 1600-1700 12055, 11720, 7350, 7315 1700-1800 7315, 1269, 1251 * from 30.03 till 06.09 ** from 07.09 till 25.10 (Website via Mike Barraclough, DXLD ** RUSSIA. Updated A-03 schedule for Voice of Russia WS in Russian: 0100-0200 648 936 972 1170 1503 17660 17690 plus 17565 till Sep. 6 / 15455 from Sep. 7 17620 till Sep. 6 / 21755 from Sep. 7 0200-0300 936 9480 11750 12060 17650 17660 17690 plus 12070 till Sep. 6 / 7300 from Sep. 7 17565 till Sep. 6 / 15455 from Sep. 7 17620 till Sep. 6 / 21755 from Sep. 7 1200-1300 603 936 972 999 1143 1170* 1323 1386 1431 1548 7340 9485 9745 9920 11640 15470 plus 9735 from Sep. 7 1300-1400 603 1215 1251 1323 1386 7315 7340 9745 11640 15470 15560 17645 1500-1600 612* 1170* 1314 7350 12055 plus 17580 till Sep. 27/ 7130 from Sep. 28 1700-1800 1089 5950 plus 11630 till Sep. 6 / 9480 from Sep. 7 1900-2000 234 603 612 936 1143 1215 1314 5950 12055 15350 plus 9820 till Sep. 6 / 9450 from Sep. 7 11630 till Sep. 6 / 9480 from Sep. 7 11745 till Sep. 6 / 12020 from Sep. 7 2000-2100 234 603 999 1143 1215 1314 5950 7390 12030 12055 plus 9450 till Sep. 6 / 7310 from Sep. 7 9890 till Sep. 6 / 9470 from Sep. 7 * Mon/Tue/Thu/Sun (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** SAHARA SPANISH. QSL AFTER 28 YEARS After a Google search for the former director of Radio Sahara from 1975, I found him still at Radio Nacional de España. His personal e- mail address is pablodalmases@hotmail.com and he is retiring soon. He still writes passionately about Spanish Sahara and describes it as a sad epoch in the history of Spain. If you've been sitting on a reception report for 28 years like me, I suggest you send Pablo an e- mail soon. PS: I'm now going to dig out my 24 year old Cape Verde report! (Paul Ormandy, NZ, ZL4TFX, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi all, I looked at my QSL of january 1975; the complete name of Pablo is: Pablo Ignacio de Dalmases (Max van Arnhem, The Netherlands, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Heh, Pablo surely recalls the program details of a certain day 28 years ago. Where's the limit? I've seen some QSL's reported for decades old reports. I am also a DX-country hunter and the good old days heard countries like Sahara, Swan, Reunion etc. They are now impossible or hard to hear. I regret I then for reason or another didn't report certain stations, but I haven't thought to start chasing QSL's from them for such old loggings. Even if I could get a verification from someone related to the station, I myself couldn't consider it as a "great QSL". Well, I admit, in some rare cases I've sent a "follow-up" after a year or so, but that's where I put the limit. Maybe I'm just old-fashioned. And everyone does his hobby of QSL hunting his own way. Nothing personal, I just felt I had to write this. Or was that posting just April 1st joke :). Best 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAIPAN. KFBS SAIPAN A'03 Frequency Schedule Effective date: March 2003 Time(UTC) MHz Language and day - SuMTuWThFSa 0855-1059 11.650 Russian 1100-1129 11.650 Mongolian (Chi, Halh) 1130-1359 11.650 Russian 1400-1459 9.465 Russian 1500-1529 9.465 Russian 1530-1544 9.465 Udmurt (Su,Tu), Tatar(M), Mari(W), Uzbek(Th), Kirghiz(F), Chuvash(Sa), 1545-1559 9.465 Udmurt(Su), Tatar(M,Tu), German(W), Ossetic (Th), Kazakh(F,Sa), 1600-1629 9.465 Russian(Su-F), Ukrainian(Sa) 1630-1829 9.465 Russian 1830-1845 9.465 Russian (Su,Tu,Th,Sa), Ukrainian (M,W,F) 1845-1900 9.465 Russian (Su,Th,Sa), Ukrainian (M,Tu,W,), German (F) 0955-1600 11.580 Mandarin (Chinese) 0800-0829 15.380 Banjarese 0830-0859 15.380 Gorontalo 0900-0929 15.380 Makassarese 0925-0959 15.380 Bugisnese 1000-1029 15.380 Sundanese 1030-1059 15.380 Javanese 1100-1229 15.380 Indonesian 1300-1359 12.120 Vietnamese 1400-1430 12.120 Vietnamese(M,Tu,Th,T.Sa) Koho (Su), Hmong (W) 2230-2330 12.095 Vietnamese [listen for QRM to BBC!! --- gh] Note: Saipan local time is 10 hours ahead of Universal Time Co-ordinate (UTC). *************************************************** Robert Springer, Director Phone: (670) 322-3841 Far East Broadcasting Co. Fax: (670) 322-3060 P.O. Box 500209 E-mail: saipan@febc.org Saipan, MP 96950 USA http://www.febc.org *************************************************** Regds, (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, April 1, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES. FEBA RADIO SHUTS DOWN, TO DISMANTLE MASTS, AERIALS SOON --- DIRECTOR URGES BOAT OWNERS TO TAKE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS The Far East Broadcasting Association's (FEBA) Radio broadcast its programmes up to 11.00 p.m. on Saturday March 29, after which the transmitters which have been sending signals far and wide for 30 years were shut down permanently. Dismantling of FEBA's masts and aerials which are spread out over a section of sea at Anse Etoile will start at the beginning of April, a process which the association's director, Mr Bernard Morgan, said would take about three months. For reasons of safety, Mr Morgan is asking fishermen to keep strictly to the defined "shipping lanes, some of which have been dredged out." "We especially want to prevent any accidents caused by temporarily submerged obstacles which will be in the process of being removed," Mr Morgan said, adding that it would be dangerous to go close to the structures during their demolition, especially as some would be submerged. "It will," he said, "be necessary to leave some incomplete work overnight in some cases, and it is during these hours that we ask local boat owners to help us by being aware of these hazards." He strongly recommended that boats be kept close to the reclamation, and crossed through a determined pass between two masts, marked "H8" and "H9" in red, where the feeder wires were at their highest near a small building. "We will keep the public informed of any alterations to these plans through television, radio and the Nation," Mr Morgan said, thanking all boat owners in advance for their expected cooperation. http://www.seychelles-online.com.sc/archives/60310303.html (Seychelles Nation Online Apr 2 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. RUSSIA: FEBA Radio via Russian transmitters noted on March 30/31: 0345-0400 in Arabic NF 15530 MSK 250 kW / 169 deg, ex 15400 1100-1300 in Arabic NF 15530 ARM 250 kW / 188 deg, ex 15400 1200-1500 in Nepali NF 15605 SAM 250 kW / 129 deg, ex 15400 (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. FEBA RADIO - BROADCAST SCHEDULE 30 March to 26 October 2003 (A03) Tx Site Codes ARM Armavir Russia ASC Ascension Island IRK Irkutsk Russia DHA Dhabayya [UAE] MSK Moskva Russia KIG Kigali Rwanda NVS Novosibirsk Russia MEY Meyerton South Africa SAM Samara Russia MOS Moosbrunn Austria TCH [T]chita Russia NORTH INDIA, NEPAL, TIBET Days Frequency Metre Site Time UTC 1234567 Languages kHz band code ------------------------------------------------------------------- 0015-0030 s...... NEPALI 12045 25 SAM 0015-0030 .mt..... CHATTISGARHI 12045 25 SAM 0015-0030 ...w... MARWARI 12045 25 SAM 0015-0030 ....t.. HINDI 12045 25 SAM 0015-0030 .....f. URDU 12045 25 SAM 0015-0030 ......s PUNJABI India 12045 25 SAM 0030-0045 .mtwt.. BANGLA 12045 25 SAM 0030-0115 s....fs HINDI 12045 25 SAM 0045-0115 .mtwt.. HINDI 12045 25 SAM 0115-0130 smtwt.. MARATHI 12045 25 SAM 0115-0130 .....f. BHILI 12045 25 SAM 0115-0130 ......s BHOJPURI 12045 25 SAM 1200-1230 smtwtfs TIBETAN 15605 19 SAM 1230-1245 s...... BHILI 15605 19 SAM 1230-1245 .mt.... MUNDARI 15605 19 SAM 1230-1245 ...w... MARWARI 15605 19 SAM 1230-1245 ....tfs BHOJPURI 15605 19 SAM 1245-1315 ......s KUMAUNI 15605 19 SAM 1245-1300 s...... KANGRI 15605 19 SAM 1245-1300 .mtwtf. PUNJABI India 15605 19 SAM 1300-1315 sm.wt.. ORIYA 15605 19 SAM 13OO-1330 ..t..f. GUJARATI 15605 19 SAM 1315-1330 sm.wt.s GUJARATI 15605 19 SAM 1330-1345 ..twtf.. CHATTISGARHI 15605 19 SAM 1330-1345 sm..... NEPALI 15605 19 SAM 1330-1345 ......s MAGHI 15605 19 SAM 1345-1400 smtwtfs BANGLA 15605 19 SAM 1400-1415 smtwt.. URDU India 15605 19 SAM 1400-1500 .....fs HINDI 15605 19 SAM 1415-1500 smtwt.. HINDI 15605 19 SAM SOUTH INDIA, MALDIVES, SRI LANKA Days Frequency Metre Site Time UTC 1234567 Languages kHz band code ------------------------------------------------------------------- 0015-0045 s...t.. KANNADA 15580 19 TCH 0015-0030 .m.w.fs KANNADA 15580 19 TCH 0015-0030 ..t.... TULU 15580 19 TCH 0030-0045 .....fs BADAGA 15580 19 TCH 0030-0130 .mtw... TAMIL 15580 19 TCH 0045-0130 s...tfs TAMIL 15580 19 TCH 0130-0200 smtwtfs TELUGU 15580 19 TCH 1400-1430 .mtw... MALAYALAM 7460 49 IRK 1400-1445 s...tfs MALAYALAM 7460 49 IRK 1445-1500 s...tfs TELUGU 7460 49 IRK 1430-1500 .mtw... TELUGU 7460 49 IRK 1500-1515 smtwtfs ENGLISH Slow ***** 7460 49 IRK 1515-1600 smtwtfs ENGLISH ***** 7460 49 IRK 1600-1615 smt.... SINHALA 7460 49 IRK 1600-1615 ....tfs DHIVEHI 7460 49 IRK 1600-1615 ...w... MALAY 7460 49 IRK PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, IRAN Days Frequency Metre Site Time UTC 1234567 Languages kHz band code ------------------------------------------------------------------- 0030-0045 smtwtfs ENGLISH Slow 9465 31 MOS 0045-0115 s...... PUNJABI Pakistan 9465 31 MOS 0045-0100 .mtwtfs HINDKO 9465 31 MOS 0100-0115 .mt..fs PUNJABI Pakistan 9465 31 MOS 0115-0130 s.t..fs URDU Pakistan 9465 31 MOS 0100-0130 ...wt.. URDU Pakistan 9465 31 MOS 0115-0130 .m..... POTHWARI 9465 31 MOS 0130-0145 s....fs SINDHI 9465 31 MOS 0130-0145 .mtwt.. SIRAIKI 9465 31 MOS 0145-0200 s..wtfs BALUCHI 9465 31 MOS 0145-0200 .mt.... BRAHUI 9465 31 MOS 0200-0215 smtwtfs PASHTO 11995 25 DHA 0215-0245 smtwtfs DARI 11995 25 DHA 0245-0300 smtwtfs HAZARAGI 11995 25 DHA 0530-0700 .....f. PERSIAN 9660 31 DHA 1530-1630 smtwtfs PERSIAN 9495 31 ARM 1300-1400 s...tfs URDU Pakistan 9495 31 NVS 1300-1415 .m.w... URDU Pakistan 9495 31 NVS 1300-1345 ..t.... URDU Pakistan 9495 31 NVS 1400-1415 s...tfs BALTI 9495 31 NVS 1345-1415 ..t.... PUNJABI Pakistan 9495 31 NVS 1530-1600 smtwtfs PASHTO 9415 31 ARM 1600-1630 smtwtfs DARI 9415 31 ARM 1630-1645 smtwtfs HAZARAGI 9415 31 ARM 1645-1700 ..twt.. TURKMEN 9415 31 ARM 1645-1700 sm...fs UZBEK Southern 9415 31 ARM MIDDLE EAST Days Frequency Metre Site Time UTC 1234567 Languages kHz band code ------------------------------------------------------------------- 0345-0430 smtwtfs ARABIC 15530 19 MSK 0500-0530 .....f. SINHALA 6125 49 DHA 0530-0630 .....f. MALAYALAM 6125 49 DHA 1100-1245 smtwtfs ARABIC 15530 19 ARM 1245-1300 smtwtfs ENGLISH Slow 15530 19 ARM AFRICA, ETHIOPIA, SUDAN Days Frequency Metre Site Time UTC 1234567 Languages kHz band code ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1515-1530 smtwtfs NUER 11885 25 MEY 1530-1545 smtwtfs DINKA 11885 25 MEY 1545-1600 smtwtfs MAKONDE 11885 25 MEY 1600-1630 s...tfs AMHARIC 11885 25 MEY 1600-1630 .mtw... GURAGENA 11885 25 MEY 1630-1700 smtwtfs AMHARIC 11885 25 MEY 1700-1730 s....fs OROMO 9590 31 DHA 1700-1730 smtwtfs SOMALI 11690 25 KIG 1730-1800 smtwtfs TIGRINYA 11690 25 KIG 1830-1900 smtwtfs FRENCH (West+Cent Af) 15130 19 ASC ------------------------------------------------------------------- Schedule Engineer, FEBA Radio, Ivy Arch Road, WORTHING BN14 8BX, UK. WEBSITE: www.feba.org.uk/schedule A03bs01 dated 19.03.03 rww (From FEBA website via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Efectivamente, Radio Eslovaquia Internacional ha sido captada en español a las 0230 UT, en los 11990 kHz. Señal pésima, muy débil y con severa interferencia de canales aledaños. Escuchada el 31/03 (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. The Overcomer Ministry. A personal letter from Brother Stair, confirming my letter and reception report. No QSL was issued. I tend to keep the letter as a non data QSL. Any comments? (Emmanuel Ezeani, Sokoto, Nigeria, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Radio Exterior de España se ha corrido de la habitual 9540 kHz, 5 kHz más abajo, para estar en 9535 kHz (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. Horario del programa ``Amigos de la Onda Corta`` de Radio Exterior de España, Período : 30 de marzo - 25 de octubre de 2003 Hacia África Sábado 1800 17755 Hacia América Domingo 0100 Norte : 6055, 9535 Centro: 9535, 15160 Sur: 11680, 6020, 15160, 9620 Hacia Japón Sábado 1100 9660 kHz Hacia Europa Sábado 1100 15585 y 13720 Hacia Oriente Medio Domingo 1600 21610 (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, April 1, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Al contrario, desde las :05 --- no importan las noticias? (gh, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. 7115, SLBC Hindi Service blocked by VOA English (also from Sri Lanka?) from 0100. SLBC heard in Hindi on 9770 and in English on 11905 today at 0100. They swapped channels? (Jose Jacob, dx_india Mar 31 via DXLD) [Later:] Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. has swapped frequencies from today. The English Service is now on 11930 (ex 9770) at 0030-0430 and 1230-1630 The Hindi/Tamil/Kannada/Telegu/Malayalam Service to India is now on 9770 (ex 11905) at 0030-0400 and 0800-1530. Today around 1000 heard their tests on 11930 with Sinhala FM 93.2 programs for some time (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ATOJ, dx_india Mar 31 via DXLD) Dear Jose, Heard SLBC English (All Asia Service) today morning between 0120-0235 on 11905. They had frequent announcements for this new English frequency 11905 and asking for reception reports. Nothing was heard on 11930. Frequencies announced on air as follow: (For English) Morning, 0030-0430, 15445, 6005, 11905 (Announced as new frequency); Evening, 1230-1630, 15745, 6005, 11930. Hindi noted on 9770 at 0235 UT. Regds (Alokesh Gupta, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWAZILAND [non non]. SWAZI RADIO'S "WAR CORRESPONDENT" HAS COVER BLOWN MBABANE, March 31 (Reuters) - Listeners to Swaziland's state-run radio station thought it had its own correspondent in Baghdad covering the war -- until legislators spotted him in parliament at the weekend. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L31403209.htm (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) SWAZI MAN IN BAGHDAD --- REUTERS 6:43 a.m., March 31, 2003 MBABANE, Swaziland – Listeners to Swaziland's state-run radio station thought it had its own correspondent in Baghdad covering the war – until legislators spotted him in parliament at the weekend. "Why are they lying to the nation that the man is in Iraq, when he is here in Swaziland, broadcasting out of a broom closet?" Member of Parliament Jojo Dlamini demanded of Information Minister Mntomzima Dlamini in the House of Assembly Monday. The minister said he would investigate the matter. Announcer Phesheya Dube gave "live reports" purportedly from Baghdad last week. Program host Moses Matsebula frequently expressed concerns about Dube's well-being and once advised him to "find a cave somewhere to be safe from missiles." The station declined to comment and referred questions to the ministry (Reuters via Kim Elliott, DXLD) "LIVE" SWAZI WAR REPORTS CAME FROM BROOM CUPBOARD A senior radio reporter in Swaziland who pretended to be reporting live from the war front in Iraq has been exposed as a fraud. Phesheya Dube who works for the state broadcaster, Radio Swaziland, was spotted in parliament by eagle-eyed MPs, BBC News Online reported, citing Reuters news agency. Since the start of the war on Iraq, Mr Dube had been reporting on the English-language "The Morning Show". The programme's presenter helped in the charade, by wishing Mr Dube well and telling him to "find a cave somewhere to be safe from the missiles" after he filed his pieces. But it appears he had just followed reports on the war from international radio and television networks, and then rewritten them as his own eyewitness material. In parliament, MP Jojo Dlamini asked the Swazi information minister: "Why are they lying to the nation that the man is in Iraq when he is here in Swaziland, broadcasting from a broom cupboard?" Swazi journalist Thulane Mthethwa in Mbabane told BBC News Online that the deception had now stopped, although the reporter could still be heard on air reporting other news. He added that, surprisingly, there had been no reaction from the public to the radio station's underhand practice. Usually letters would be expected to the editor of the Times Of Swaziland newspaper, in which the story appeared last week, or outrage would be expected on the station's own phone-in programmes. "The only thing about the war that the ordinary people are concerned about is its effect on the price of fuel which might lead to an increase in prices of goods," the Swazi correspondent said (via BBCM 1 Apr via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. Glenn, I think SRI's English web broadcasts have been a victim of Daylight Shifting Time. Starting on Sunday instead of English news they have been playing recorded music. What's really sad about this is NOBODY noticed. There are only two conclusions you can draw: listeners sent in e-mail and they ignored it, and/or no listeners e-mailed and OF COURSE the station staff did not check their own web casts! (Larry Nebron, California, USA, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAIWAN [non]. RTI English to Europe at 2200-2300 via WYFR now on 15600; the only frequency? (Glenn Hauser, OK, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKEY. TRT, The Voice of Turkey have distributed an A4 double- side questionnaire of 17 questions in box-chart format. Basically it`s easy to complete by ticking or placing a mark as an answer in an appropriate box. Some questions might be considered as being nosey and perhaps are better ignored. This is an exercise that could have had a small incentive on offer for well-completed forms to encourage a substantial return but TRT chose not to, at least I don't see it. The initial thought was "Why now!". Have they got a cut back program on hold and are testing the water to see who is listening before deciding what type of programmes or frequencies to drop. If you have received a questionnaire and are one of TRT's shortwave listeners who has decided to complete it, express your thoughts by marking the relative boxes clearly. VOT highlights its Tuesday night live programme which includes phone- in segments when possible - you may hear a colleague or even yourself. (more on Turkey - see under Edwin Southwell) Voice Of Turkey Programme Schedule Daily News-Press Review Mon Last Week Hues & Colours of Anatolia Music From Past to Present Tue Live from Turkey Wed Review of the Foreign Media Letterbox Music Off The Beaten Track Thu Big Powers & the Armenian Problem Music Culture Parade Fri Archaeological Settlements in Turkey Music The Travel Itinerary of Anatolia Sat Outlook The Stream of Love/DX Corner [alternating fortnightly] Music Turkish Arts Sun Tunes Spanning Centuries Turks in the Mirror of Centuries (CHRISTOPHER J WILLIAMS, April World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** TURKEY. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar... La Voz de Turquía ha vuelto a su frequencia de 19 metros: 15150 kHz, con su servicio en español de 1630-1700 UT (desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Adán González, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. Glenn, Additional RUI checking. March 31, 2003 0000 UT 12040 kHz RUI S2 to S7, no QRM. 0015 same as 0000. 0030 S1/2 to S4. 0045 and 0058 same as 0030. 0300 12040 kHz RUI ident signal barely heard. DW on 12045 causing severe QRM. Hearing another UnID station in Spanish? on 12040. 73, (-.. . Kraig, KG4LAC, Krist, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBCWS SCHEDULE UPDATE FOR WEEK OF 31 MARCH AND BEYOND A corrected version of the weekday schedule previously posted, valid for 31 March - 4 April: 0000-0832: News coverage 0832: Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu - Assignment, Fri - Sports International 0855-0900: Sports news 0900-0932: News coverage 0932-0955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu - One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1000-1132: News coverage 1132-1200: Outlook 1200-1532: News coverage 1532-1600: Talking Point 1600-1732: News coverage 1732-1800: Outlook 1800-1932: News coverage 1932-1955: Mon - Health Matters, Tue - Go Digital, Wed - Discovery, Thu - One Planet, Fri - Science in Action 1955-2000: SMS messages 2000-2132: News coverage 2132-2155: Mon - Documentary 1, Tue - Masterpiece, Wed -Documentary 2, Thu - Assignment, Fri - Sports International 2155: Sports news 2200-2400: News coverage Second, the plan is to return to the "more-or-less normal" schedule next week -- with the exact date / time to be determined later. The new normal schedule differs from the prior Americas schedule in one key area: the repeat cycle for once-weekly programs will be 24 hours, starting with the 1405 release. For example, Health Matters will air Mondays at 1505 and 2105 UT, and Tuesday 0105 UT. Repeats used to be more scattered around the schedule. Regards, (Richard Cuff, Apr 1, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. Noted a change (for the better if you`re in Scandinavia): the 9410 stream is now 1700-2200 at 327 degrees. The winter stream was 17-20 at 328 degrees and 20-22 at 295 degrees. Was very weak from 20. Now it's S9+30 and SIO 455-555. 73 de (Kjell-Ingvar Karlsson, Apr 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. ``Even the usual BBCWS RealAudio feed is cut to 11 kbps`` --- At least some of the domestic BBC networks were once available as 64 kbit/s streams. Then BBC downgraded to 44 kbit/s, and that's still the nominal bitrate, but for some time now there is an obvious server overload; during peak times the streams use to switch to lower bitrates, often indeed a mere 11 kbit/s which is of course useless for listening to Radio 1. Word is that the situation noticeably deteriorated after the launch of the new networks. (These notes reflect the experiences here in Germany of course.) (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. HUNDREDS PROTEST BBC'S COVERAGE OF IRAQ WAR By Wan A. Hulaimi March 30, 2003 22:58PM LONDON, March 30 (Bernama) -- Hundreds of anti-war demonstrators gathered at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) broadcasting complex, 4.8km west of their traditional protest ground in Hyde Park, to voice dissatisfaction against the BBC's biased reports on the war in Iraq. http://www.bernama.com.my/B2002/news.shtml?general/ge3003_28 (Malaysian News via Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [Unfortunately file unfound at 0430 UT check April 1, nor upon searching the title and the author] ** U K. TWO VIEWS OF BBCWS FROM THE FRONT AFP: [U.S. Marines] badmouth the BBC news which they receive off shortwave radio, their main source of information. They call it negative, liberal "horseshit". http://iafrica.com/news/us_terror/iraq/224536.htm On the other hand: Pointing out the belt of Orion, Sgt. 1st Class David Ball kept an ear to a shortwave radio broadcasting BBC war reports. News of the first American soldiers and marines killed in action came in over the airwaves. .... "Can you pick up any basketball on that radio?" asked Maj. Joe Samek, an engineer attached to the V Corps TAC. "I'm missing March Madness again. Then again, I guess we're having our own March Madness out here." http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962686503.html (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U K. BRITISH TV OFFERS BROADER PICTURE OF WAR NOEL HOLSTON March 31, 2003 On WABC radio's "Curtis & Kuby" morning show last week, a listener phoned in to say he had been staying up to watch "BBC World News" coverage of the Iraq war and that he was seeing things he wasn't seeing on our American networks, particularly footage of casualties on both sides. He was promptly informed that the BBC depicts more carnage because it opposes the U.S.-led coalition's campaign to oust Saddam Hussein and seeks to undermine the pro-war position of Prime Minister Tony Blair. God forbid that the Brits or any of us Yanks should be allowed to form our opinions about a war we're paying for based on journalism that's thorough enough to include who's getting killed, maimed or shell-shocked. Next thing you know, some un-American saboteur will be expecting reporters to look into whether corporations we've invested money in are being run by honest folks. Even so, I must respectfully differ with the notion that the BBC coverage is something to avoid. Biased or not - and I'm inclined to say it's not nearly as skeptical of the war as Fox News Channel is jazzed by it - the "BBC World News" summaries at 7 and 11 p.m. on WLIW/21 are a gift to clarity-seeking viewers just by virtue of being largely free of the visual clutter and self- serving hype that afflict all our other TV sources of news to one degree or another. . http://tinyurl.com/8iiv (Newsday via Andy Sennitt via Richard Cuff, swprograms via DXLD) ** U K. BFBS Radio 1 & 2 in English noted on March 30/31: 1700-2000 on NF 13760 (55555) via Rampisham or Skelton? (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** U K. New A03 BFBS schedule from: http://www.ssvc.com/bfbs/radioaboutframe.htm BFBS Radio is on air in all the major British Forces locations in Kuwait and Qatar. Depending upon location BFBS is transmitting between 102 and 107 FM. In addition, we're broadcasting to British Forces in Iraq on the following Short Wave timetable:- Frequencies in KHZ - GMT Times 7260 and 15795 0300 - 0400 11975 and 15795 0400 - 0600 15425 and 15795 0600 - 0700 17895 and 13860 1400 - 1600 15245 and 13860 1600 - 1700 15150 and 13860 1700 - 1800 13760 and 6105 1800 - 2000 Valid from and (including) 30th March 2003 (via Alan Pennington, Mar 31, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K [and non]. BFBS A-03 New 17895 I guess via Rampisham again, 1400-1600, heard with Radioplay till 1600 UT, strong and clear audio, 45433. Then from 1600-1700 UT on 15245 kHz 42332, very bad, Channel Africa also co-channel on equal level. Azimuth at 007 degrees towards Rwanda would also cover Iraq ... Another example of excellent frequency selection.... CHAF 1600-1700 15245 250 kW 7 degrs 1234567 Congo, Rwanda Swah/French and (later) Heard BFBS on much clearer 15150 kHz now at 17-18, and also additional via powerhouse 13860 (SEE BELOW), the latter which seems from Russian site, due to muffled audio... (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, BC-DX via DXLD) Noel Green from England told me about another outlet (seemingly via Russian and Tashkent-UZB facilities): Via a blind listener I know - who says he is connected with Wireless for the Blind in the UK, and arranged for an e-mail to go to BFBS - they replied with their latest SW sched which is......... Merlin RUS/UZB 0300-0400 7260 15795 0400-0600 11975 15795 0600-0700 15425 15795 1400-1600 17895 13860 1600-1700 15245 13860 1700-1800 15150 13860 1800-2000 13760 6105 [13760: what about WHRI?] I heard both frequencies start at 1400 with BFBS R.2, but 17895 is under Sa`udi Arabia. 13860 is clear and a fair signal, considering the dreadful conditions. I suggest this one may be via RUS ex 5945. Frequency 6105 is a "strange" choice - I wonder if RUS or UK/CYP. VOA Holzkirchen is of course using it for Russian! Previously also RL Lampertheim mentioned .... (Noel R. Green-UK, BC-DX Mar 31 via DXLD) ** U S A. Radio Sawa is an American broadcaster trying to win over the hearts and minds of the Arab world but is failing in this goal because there are Arabic stations that play much better music and the pro-U.S coverage isn't being received well. Salem Mojadidi is a producer at CBC Radio who has been monitoring Radio Sawa. Listen to The Current: Part 1 [audio link at:] http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2003/200303/20030331.html It starts about 16 minutes into the 23-minute segment (The Current, Mar 31, CBC Radio One via Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Summer A-03 schedule for VOA / Radio SAWA: 0000-0300 990 1260 1548 7185 7205 9575 11785 11985 0300-0400 990 1260 1548 7175 11680 15380 0400-0500 990 1260 1548 6180 7175 11680 11910 15380 0500-0600 990 1260 1548 6180 7175 9855 11680 11910 15380 0600-0700 990 1260 1548 6180 9855 11910 15445 17845 0700-0800 990 1260 1548 12045 15445 17845 17875 0800-1000 990 1548 12045 15445 17845 17875 1000-1400 990 1548 12045 15445 17875 1400-1500 990 1548 11840 12045 13690 15445 1500-1600 990 1260 1548 11840 12045 13690 1600-1700 990 1260 1548 11840 13690 1700-1800 990 1260 1548 6040 7105 11825 1800-2100 990 1260 1548 6040 7105 9505 11745 11785 11825 2100-2300 990 1260 1548 7195 9505 11745 11785 11825 12010 2300-2400 990 1260 1548 7195 7205 11815 11825 12010 12025 73 from (Ivo and Angel! Observer, Bulgaria, April 1 via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA SCHEDULE EFFECTIVE THROUGH 25 OCTOBER 2003 (begins 30 March 2003) English to Europe, Middle East, and North Africa 0400-0430 792 9530 11965 15205 0430-0500 9530 11965 15205 0500-0530 792 1197 9530 11965 15205 0530-0600 792 9530 11965 15205 0600-0700 792 1197 9530 9760 11805 11965 15205 0700-1400 1197 1400-1500 1197 15255 1500-1530 9700 15205 15255 1530-1600 1197 9700 15205 15255 1600-1700 9700 15205 15255 1700-1730 9700 9760 15255 1730-1800 1197 9700 9760 15255 1800-1830 1197 9760 9770 1830-1900 9760 9770 1900-2000 6160 9760 9770 2000-2100 1197 6095 9760 9770 2100-2200 6040 6095 9530 9760 English to Africa 0300-0330 909 1530 6080 7105 7290 7340 9575 9885 11835 12080 17895 0330-0400 909 1530 6080 7105 7290 9575 9885 11835 12080 17895 0400-0430 909 1530 4960 6080 7290 9575 9885 11835 12080 17895 0430-0500 909 4960 6080 7290 9575 11835 12080 17895 0500-0600 909 6035 6080 7290 11835 12080 0500-0600* 7195 0600-0630 909 1530 6035 6080 11835 11995 12080 0600-0630* 7195 7290 0630-0700$ 909 1530 6035 6080 7195 11835 11995 12080 1600-1700 909 1530 9850 13695 15225 15410 15580 1700-1730 909 9850 15410 15580 17895 1730-1800 9850 15410 15580 1800-1900 909 9850 11975 15410 15580 17895 1900-2000 909 4950 9850 11975 13670 15410 15445 15580 17895 2000-2030 909 1530 4950 9850 11855 11975 13670 15410 15445 15580 17745 17895 2030-2100 909 1530 9850 11975 13670 15410 15445 15580 17745 17895 2030-2100$ 4950 2100-2200 909 1530 9850 11975 13670 15410 15445 15580 17895 2200-2230* 909 1530 9850 11975 13670 15580 English to Zimbabwe 1730-1800* 909 15730 17895 English to Caribbean and Latin America 0000-0100# 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 11695 13790 0100-0130# 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 13790 0130-0200# 5995 6130 9455 1000-1100 5745 7370 9590 English to Far East Asia, South Asia, and Oceania 0000-0030 1575 7215 9770 11760 15185 15290 17740 17820 0100-0300 7115 9635 11705 11725 11820 13650 17740 17820 0700-0800 13760 0800-1000 11930 13620 13760 15150 1000-1100 9770 13620 15240 15425 1100-1130$ 1575 1100-1200 6160 9645 9760 9770 13610 15160 15240 15425 1200-1230 1143 6160 9645 9760 13610 15160 15240 15425 1230-1300 6160 9645 9760 13610 15160 15240 15425 1300-1400 6160 9645 9760 15160 15425 1400-1500 6160 7125 9760 15160 15425 1500-1600 7125 1600-1700 1143 6160 7125 9760 1700-1800 6160 7125 7170 9645 1700-1800* 1143 1575 5990 6045 7215 9770 9785 1900-2000 9525 11770 15180 2100-2200 9705 11870 15185 17740 17820 2200-2400 7215 9705 9770 11760 15185 15290 15305 17740 17820 2230-2400> 1575 English-Special 0030-0100 1575 7215 9770 11760 15185 15290 17740 17820 0130-0200# 7405 9775 13740 1500-1530 6160 9590 9760 9845 12040 15550 1500-1530$ 1575 1530-1600 1575 6160 9590 9760 9845 12040 15550 1600-1700 12080 13600 17895 1900-1930 1197 7260 9680 13635 1930-2000 7260 9680 13635 2300-2330 7190 7200 9545 11925 13775 2330-2400 7190 7200 7225 7260 9545 11805 11925 13725 13775 15205 Notes: All times and dates are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), same as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Frequencies are in kiloHertz (kHz). Abbreviations: All programs/frequencies are on daily unless noted otherwise. & - Monday only * - Monday through Friday = - Monday through Saturday < - Tuesday through Friday / - Tuesday and Friday only # - Tuesday through Saturday % - Tuesday through Sunday ~ - Thursday only > - Friday and Saturday @ - Saturday only $ - Saturday and Sunday " - Sunday only + - Sunday and Monday ^ - Sunday through Thursday ! - Sunday through Friday (VOA website, via Dan Sampson, Prime Time Shortwave, and Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Voice of America Schedule effective through 25 October 2003 (begins 30 March 2003) --------------------------------------------------------------------- Afan Oromo 1845-1900* 11690 13670 13835 Albanian 0500-0530 1215 11805 11825 13615 1600-1630 9575 15115 17725 1830-1900 1458 9840 15150 15280 Amharic 1800-1830 11690 13670 13835 1830-1900$ 11690 13670 13835 Arabic to the Middle East (Radio Sawa) 0000-0300 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 7185 9575 11785 0300-0600 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 7175 11680 15380 0600-0700 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 17845 0700-0800 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 17845 17875 0800-1030 97.5 98.1 990 1548 17845 17875 1030-1400 97.5 98.1 990 1548 17875 1400-1500 97.5 98.1 990 1548 13690 1500-1700 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 13690 1700-2100 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 6040 7105 11825 2100-2400 97.5 98.1 990 1260 1548 7195 11825 12010 Arabic to North Africa (Radio Sawa) 0000-0300 990 7205 11985 0300-0400 990 0400-0500 990 6180 11910 0500-0600 990 6180 9855 11910 0600-0700 990 6180 9855 11910 15445 0700-1400 990 12045 15445 1400-1500 990 11840 12045 15445 1500-1600 990 11840 12045 1600-1700 990 11840 1700-1800 990 1800-2300 990 9505 11745 11785 2300-2400 990 7205 11815 12025 Armenian 1500-1530 11680 13720 17810 Azerbaijani 1730-1800 9435 11665 15135 Bangla 0130-0200 11735 15210 17805 1600-1700 1575 7280 9740 Bosnian 1500-1530* 1197 2130-2200* 792 1197 Burmese 1130-1200 1575 9720 11850 15225 1430-1500 1575 5955 7155 9720 2330-2400 6185 9505 11840 15220 Cantonese 1300-1330 9575 11865 15500 1330-1500 1143 9575 11865 15500 Chinese (Mandarin) 0000-0100 7190 9545 11830 11925 15150 15195 17765 0100-0200 9545 11830 11925 15150 15195 17765 0200-0300 9545 11830 11925 15195 17765 0700-0900 12010 13610 13720 13740 15160 15250 17855 21540 21705 0900-1000 11825 11895 12010 13610 13720 13740 15160 15250 15665 17855 1000-1100 9575 11825 11895 12010 13610 13740 15160 15230 15250 15665 17855 1100-1200 1143 6110 9575 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1200-1230 6110 9545 9575 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1230-1300 6110 9545 9575 11785 11805 11825 11965 12040 15250 1300-1330 6110 9845 11785 11805 11965 11990 12040 1330-1400 6110 9845 11785 11805 11825 11965 11990 12040 1400-1500 6110 9750 9845 11805 11965 11990 12040 2200-2300 7150 7190 7200 9510 9545 11925 13775 Creole 1130-1200* 9525 11890 15265 1630-1700 15385 17565 21555 2100-2130 11895 13725 21555 Croatian 0430-0500 756 792 1197 1395 6130 7210 11855 1830-1900 1197 7175 9670 15170 Dari 0130-0230 801 12140 15730 17670 1130-1200 17685 19010 21680 1200-1230 1143 17685 19010 21680 1530-1630 801 7235 12140 15690 English : see above French to Africa 0530-0600* 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 13695 0600-0630* 4960 6045 6095 9885 13695 1830-2000 1530 9815 12080 13695 15730 17785 2000-2030 9815 11720 12080 13695 15730 2030-2100$ 9815 11720 12080 13695 15730 2100-2130* 9815 11720 12080 13695 15730 17750 Georgian 1430-1500 11780 15190 17810 Hausa 0500-0530 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 1500-1530 9710 11990 13695 2030-2100* 4950 9815 11720 12080 13695 15730 Hindi 0030-0100 7155 9680 11820 1600-1700 11705 12115 15290 Indonesian 1130-1230 7260 9700 9890 12010 15320 1430-1500 9510 9585 15105 2200-2330 7225 9535 9620 11805 15205 Khmer 1330-1430 1575 5955 7155 9720 2200-2230 1575 6060 7130 7260 13725 Kinyarwanda/Kirundi 0330-0400 6095 7340 13725 0400-0430 6095 6120 7340 13725 Korean 1200-1300 7215 7235 1300-1400 648 7235 9545 12010 2100-2200 6060 7125 15470 Kurdish 0400-0500 9705 11690 15130 1300-1400 9825 15170 15355 1600-1700 15235 15545 17765 1800-1900 11905 15545 Laotian 1230-1300 1575 6030 7225 11930 Macedonian 1930-2000* 1197 Ndebele 1700-1730* 909 15730 17895 Pashto 0030-0130 801 972 12140 15730 17670 1030-1130 17685 19010 21680 1430-1530 801 7235 12140 15690 1830-1930 801 Persian 0300-0400 9835 11985 17855 1700-1800 7280 9680 17585 1800-1900 972 7280 9680 17585 1900-2000 9780 11815 Persian (Radio Farda) 0000-0030 1539 1593 0030-0200 1539 1593 9615 9795 9805 0200-0400 1539 1593 9775 9795 9805 0400-0600 1539 1593 9510 9795 15185 15290 0600-0800 1539 1593 9510 15290 17835 0800-0830 1539 1593 9510 13680 15290 17835 21650 0830-1400 1539 1593 13680 21650 1400-1600 1539 1593 9435 13680 17750 1600-1700 1539 1593 9435 13680 17670 1700-1900 1539 1593 11705 11845 1900-2000 1539 1593 5860 6140 11670 11985 2000-2100 1539 1593 5860 9960 11960 11985 2100-2130 1539 1593 9960 11960 11985 2130-2400 1539 1593 Portuguese to Africa 0430-0500 1530 6095 6145 7340 9885 13725 1700-1730 1530 11975 12080 13695 1730-1800 1530 9815 11975 12080 13695 17785 1800-1830* 1530 9815 12080 13695 15730 17785 Russian 1300-1400 11725 11775 11885 15130 15215 17730 1700-1800 6105 7220 9520 9615 11770 15370 1800-1900 6105 7220 9520 9615 11770 11885 Serbian 0530-0600 1188 1197 1458 11805 11825 13615 1700-1730 792 1188 1197 11665 13700 15245 1930-2000 792 9705 11910 15280 2100-2130 756 1188 1197 7210 11670 11910 Shona 1700-1730* 909 15730 17895 Spanish 0100-0200 9560 9735 9885 11815 13760 1130-1200 9535 11925 13790 1200-1230 7370 11890 11925 13770 15360 15390 17875 Swahili 1630-1700 9815 13670 15730 17785 1700-1730* 9815 13670 15730 17785 Tibetan 0000-0100 7200 7255 11690 0400-0600 15265 15490 17770 1400-1500 6030 11705 11975 15680 Tigrigna 1830-1845* 11690 13670 13835 Turkish 1800-1900 792 9595 11925 15235 Ukrainian 0400-0500 7115 11805 11895 2000-2030 3975 7190 11910 Urdu 0100-0200 7155 9835 11805 1330-1430 9510 12025 15190 1700-1800 11905 13715 15545 Uzbek 1230-1300 1143 12140 15120 17655 18990 1500-1530 7260 17655 17665 17685 Vietnamese 1300-1330 1143 1575 5955 7215 9505 1500-1600 5955 6120 7195 9780 2230-2330 6060 7130 7260 13725 (Website via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** U S A [non]. VOLUNTEERS JOIN TOWERS FOR JESUS CREWS REMOVING STRUCTURES FOR CHRISTIAN RADIO By IDA CHIPMAN South Bend Tribune Correspondent PLYMOUTH -- Seventy-eight radio towers now stretched over 594 acres in Greenville, N.C., will soon be broadcasting the word of God to people all over the world, according to missionary Jim Hulse. . . http://www.southbendtribune.com/stories/2003/03/27/local.20030327-sbt-MARS-D1-Volunteers_join.sto (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) This is one of the original three VOA sites triangled around Greenville which was closed some years ago, the receiving rather than transmitting site, I believe. Project is under auspices of the so- called ``World Radio Network`` -- Not the one in London, but the one run by the World Radio Missionary Fellowship, i.e. HCJB, which has a transmitter plant/engineering centre in nearby Elkhart IN, and which operates e.g. a string of FM stations in the Rio Grande Valley. Nothing in this story about exactly where the towers will go, but perhaps not for SW at all. Or was it Santa Elena? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WBOH is back, noted on 5920 Mar 31 at 2304, finally with programming \\ WTJC 9370, Bible quotation and IRS ad, then music, instead of test loop. At this hour much better on 9370 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KVOH Spurs: I live in North Hollywood, CA only 28 km from the KVOH site, which is over 500 meters higher than my location. KVOH on 17,775 kHz has a very strong signal, with no apparent fading or other ionospherhic effects. The spurs mentioned in DXLD 3-50 and 3-52 are apparently intermittent; I had not heard them until today (April 1). At 1820 UT April 1, I noted a strong signal on 17,629 kHz with distorted audio matching KVOH on 17,775 kHz. I then tuned to the other spur frequencies, I heard 17,921 kHz, 17,483 kHz, and 18,067 kHz. I did not hear any others. The spurs at 17,629 and 17,921 appear to be 20 to 30 dB below KVOH 17,775 kHz and are about as strong as WEWN at 17,595 kHz. The spurs at 17,483 and 18,067 were about as strong as WBCQ at 17,495 kHz. The spurs seem to cut out during high modulation peaks, during low modulation they resemble carriers. When I last checked the KVOH signal at 2016 UT April 1 the spurs were still there. The KVOH transmitter is an RCA BHF-100A Ampliphase unit formerly used at HCJB. http://www.transmitter.be/rca-bhf100a.html I often note some distortion on music and speech on KVOH, I have seen other, milder, apparent spurious signals. I always switch in attenuation on my antenna and receiver when I see something odd on this station to ensure that it is not a receiver generated effect (Donald Wilson, CA, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR SPECIALTY PROGRAMS EFFECTIVE APRIL 6 – mostly the same as before but one UT hour earlier: WORLD OF RADIO: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 0600-0630 5070, Sun 0230-0300 5070, Sun 0630-0700 3210, Wed 0930-1000 9475 MUNDO RADIAL: Fri 2115-2130, Wed 2100-2115 15825 ASK WWCR: Fri 2030-2045 15825, Sat 0845-0900 5070, Sat 2345-2400 9475, Sun 0215-0230 5070, Sun 1015-1030 15825, Sun 1730-1745 12160, Wed 1715-1730 weeks 1, 4, 5 TECHNOLOGY HOUR: Sat 0200-0300 3210, Sun 0500-0600 5070, Mon 0000- 0100 3210 SPECTRUM: Sun 0300-0400 5070, Wed 0800-0900 3210 CYBERLINE: Sun 0405-0500 5070, Mon 0405-0500 3210 WORLD WIDE COUNTRY RADIO: M-F 1000-1100 15825, M-F 1300-1400 15825, M-F 1600-1700 15825, Tu-Sa 0400-0500 3210, Sun 0800-0900 5070, Sun 0900-1000 9475 KEN`S COUNTRY CLASSICS: Sun 1930-2000 12160 OLD RECORD SHOP: Sun 1330-1400 15825, Sun 2200-2230 9475, Mon 0930- 1000 9475 ROCK THE UNIVERSE: Sat 1105-1200 5070, Sun 0805-0900 3210, Sun 1205- 1300 12160 THIS WEEK IN AMERICANA: Sun 0605-0700 5070 INTO THE BLUE: Sun 0705-0800 5070 LATIN CATHOLIC MASS: Sun 1600-1630 15825 MUSICA Y DANZAS: Mon 2100-2130, Wed 2130-2145 15825 GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO: Tu-Sa 0305-0400 3210 A VIEW FROM EUROPE: Sat 1110-1115 15825, Sun 1010-1015 5070, Sun 1710-1715 12160 ACTING PRESIDENTIAL RADIO ADDRESS/DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE: Sat 2030-2045 15825 (extracted by gh from printed schedule, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Famed Lubavitcher pirate station, 1710, Brooklyn, NY, March 8 at 2007 EST, in English with lots of Hebrew words, quoting the Torah. Runs an open carrier Friday sundown to after Saturday sundown. Just missed their sign-on after Sabbath absence. Back a couple hours after local sunset. Shouldn`t they pull the plug completely on the Sabbath? (Saul Chernos, Ont., Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News Mar 31 via DXLD) God must understand open carriers. As subsequently reported, an Israeli network has been doing the same, to modulate only during an emergency; see ISRAEL for latest (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. For many years, the US government has repeatedly busted unlicensed pirate radio operators in the USA. The press releases for these broadcasts have repeatedly indicated that pirate radio broadcasting is harmful and dangerous since they are not coordinated with any central authority. The behavior of the USA government during the current unilateral invasion of Iraq makes it quite clear that the government never had any technical objections to pirate broadcasting. Instead, the government`s policy has been to maintain a monopoly on broadcasting for corporations that they have given broadcasting licenses to. Further, the government has permitted consolidation of licensed broadcasters within an ever-smaller network of large corporations. This set of policies has done tremendous damage to the content of radio broadcasting in the United States. It prevents many political viewpoints from obtaining access to the broadcasting airwaves in this country. It further precludes a variety of radio programming styles from the electromagnetic airwaves in the United States. The situation is getting even worse, given recent moves by most of the countries in President Bush`s ``coalition of the willing`` to prohibit a variety of content from internet web sites and internet radio broadcasters. Absolutely none of this is in the public interest in a free country, but we have allowed out country to deteriorate to such an extent, that all of these things are currently being done. The powers that be should be ashamed of themselves, but they are not. Thus, the people of the United States should be ashamed of themselves for allowing all of this to happen (George Zeller, OH, One Final Shot, Clandestine Profile, April A*C*E via DXLD) As George resigns his A*C*E column, feeling that there is not much interest in clandestine radio among the pirate-oriented ACE membership; he will continue his Monitoring Times column. More from him under IRAQ (gh) ** U S A. KUND, 1370, Grand Forks ND: Local programming is set to resume on KUND and sister station KFJM 90.7. The University of North Dakota stopped the Northern Lights Public Radio format on the stations last year due to budget problems, and the stations have been carrying ND Public Radio since then. UND and NDPR were able to reach an agreement for NDPR to program KFJM, with a similar lineup as before, but without the Northern Lights name. KFJM`s initial schedule will include Morning Edition at 6-8 AM [CT], World Café at 10 am-noon and 6-8 pm, and local Adult Alternative and Jazz shows (Upper Midwest Broadcasting 3/13 via Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News Mar 31 via DXLD) NDPR is one of the few state holdouts not webcasting (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. ON MINOT, N.D., RADIO, A SINGLE CORPORATE VOICE By JENNIFER 8. LEE MINOT, N.D., March 29 — Across the sparsely populated prairie, radio signals connect people in far-flung communities to one another and the world outside. They carry valuable updates on weather, commodity prices and tornados as well as recipes and birth announcements. And for those who spend a lot of time outdoors doing things with their hands, radio is a medium that is taken very seriously. Even as the radio industry has consolidated, station owners say that it remains one of the least concentrated media sectors. The nationwide leader, Clear Channel Communications, owns about 1,200 of the 11,000 radio stations in the country. But here in North Dakota, where there are about 80 commercial stations, Clear Channel owns 23 of them. And through a quirk in the rules governing radio concentration, it owns all six commercial stations in Minot, the state's fourth-largest city, with a population nearing 37,000. (There is a public radio station, and a Christian station in the city as well.) As the Federal Communications Commissions reconsiders media ownership rules for television and newspapers, many are examining the effects of the radio industry's consolidation, speeded by the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Opponents may try to drive the debate over media consolidation to the edges. Minot is one of those edges. Clear Channel's stronghold in Minot has become a political lightning rod. In January 2002, a train derailment at 1 a.m. spilled a vast white cloud of suffocating anhydrous ammonia fertilizer over Minot. One person died. The police were unable to reach anyone by phone at the local radio station, KCJB, that is the designated emergency broadcaster. Station employees had to be roused from their homes, causing a big delay…. http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/31/business/media/31MINO.html?ex=1050203602&ei=1&en=5c200ec7905c3e57 (via Don Thornton, via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) same: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/31/business/media/31MINO.html?ex=1050150754&ei=1&en=41cb87bcffab3ca5 (via dthow, DXLD)(also via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WAR PUTS RADIO GIANT ON THE DEFENSIVE March 31, 2003 By JOHN SCHWARTZ and GERALDINE FABRIKANT Critics of Clear Channel Communications accuse the radio broadcaster of drumming up support for the war while muzzling musicians who oppose it. . . http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/31/business/media/31RADI.html?ex=1050121140&ei=1&en=7bbca0b1cfcd6faa [registration not required] (via Jim Moats, DXLD) Same: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/31/business/media/31RADI.html?ex=1050202774&ei=1&en=ca7911f7d92de11a (via Don Thornton, via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD)(also via Mike Cooper) ** U S A. Radio news has come a long way in the past 40 years. In 1963, I was the daytime "outside" newsman for KFJZ in Fort Worth, the Top 40 killer. We had a news director and four desk men, who prepared the five-minute hourly newscasts. My job was to cover police, fire, courts, city council, county board, one of the big stories involved the hearings on the D-FW airport, which seemed to be pie in the sky because it was thought that Dallas would never go along with the proposed site. The desk men monitored police and fire radios, made phone calls to news sources, sometimes directed me or the nighttime "outside" newsman to the scene of something or another, and we competed intensely with the other Top 40 news station in Fort Worth, KXOL-1360. In addition, KFJZ had Texas news legend Porter Randall, an old style news reader, who did three 15-minute newscasts a day. WBAP covered news extensively also and even KJIM-870, 250-watt daytimer, had one man who did locally prepared news (mostly rewrites of others' work.) I don't recall that the stations on 970 or 1540 had much of a news presence. Back then, Fort Worth and Dallas were considered separate markets, so we did not go head-to-head against KLIF and KBOX, the Top 40 outlets in Dallas, who also put major emphasis on being first with the news. KRLD was the staid old news operation. WRR, the city-owned station, was on 1310 then, and I honestly can't recall how much news they did. 660 and 1040 had no news presence. FM had no impact. In 1966, in Houston, McLendon's KILT-610, where I worked before joining Pete Taylor and Bart Cronin in Boston, operated similarly to KFJZ in Fort Worth. I again was "outside" newsman, and had fun cooperating and competing with KXYZ-1320, the 790 station (I forget its call letters then but Frank Borman was the outside newsman, the Pasadena station on 650 was a daytimer but they tried to compete with KILT, KTRH-740 and KPRC-950 had really big newsrooms, but KILT did a pretty good job of stiffing them. KPRC was aloof from the "cooperating and competing," having reporters on several beats. We "outside newsmen" covered all the beats, and shared stories when we were unable to be everywhere. I contributed my share to the informal pool, but held off one or two good stories a day that turned out to be KILT exclusives (until the other outside newsmen went after them). Houston was fun to cover, with flamboyant attorney Percy Foreman starring in several interesting trials. One of the highlights of my news career was covering the great "dirty book" trial, which the porn publishers won despite the feds trying it in the Bible Belt. Yes, radio news has come a long, long way in the past 40 years. Down . down . down . down . Qal R. Mann, Krumudgeon (John Callarman, Krum TX, NRC-AM via DXLD) The TV station I worked for had problems with another broadcast station that would show up the same time we were rolling into a story, or broadcast info that only someone would know if they were at the site when none of their people were there. It didn't take me more than a day to figure out that they were monitoring our 2-way radio channels and links. I told the Chief Engineer of the other station and said that I didn't appreciate what was happening, plus technically it was illegal to monitor these transmission. He denied that anyone was doing it. Later in the month I set up a couple cameras at the end of a dead-end street, and called our news department on the phone and said to ignore anything they hear on the 2-way/links. I then got on the radio and said, "35-09 is on the scene of the triple fatal at 1200 Boyer Street", and one of the techs responded on the radio by saying "OK, 35-09, it will be a few moments till I can get the news van there." Moments later I recorded the other station's crew speeding down the street, (at least 45 in a 10 mph), and they bailed out of their car with their ENG stuff. As they came over to us they wondered why we were shooting them, and why a fellow was pointing a camera in their car, as one of the techs on the radio would say "KPH-703 Test", (recording what was coming out of the radio in the console tuned to our channel). A polite letter was sent to the CE, ND, and GM of the station next day, along with a copy of the tape, explaining that if they monitor us again it will get ugly, including a promo that will mention, "When _(station)__ needs news, they turn to the TV-35 News Team to get their news.", and threatened to show the video to the public. Usually you just ignore those folks, but these guys were just so blatant some effort had to be made (Fred Vobbe, WLIO-TV, Lima OH, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Thread on field MW field strength vs coverage: It's smaller based on the belief that a 2 mv/m analog signal is useful. When in the real world, where 15 mv/m is minimum to override noise in LA, the digital signal may actually outperform he analog (David Gleason, CA, Mar 18, NRC-AM via DXLD) Calling LA the "real world" is definitely arguable. :-) Maybe you need 15 mV/m in LA, but I'll bet there's still lots of AMs around the country that have useful coverage out to 0.5 mV/m or less. Another thing to consider is AM IBOC's dirty little secret: it has two modes. When iBiquity quotes digital coverage out to 2 mV/m or whatever, that applies to "core mode" only. Core mode uses the primary digital sidebands (at 10-15 kHz from the carrier), which is where nearly all of the digital power is. With core mode, you get no stereo, just mono audio at a mere 20 kbps. Also, no RDS-type low bit rate data stream. To get stereo audio and the ancillary data, you need "enhanced mode", which gets additional data through on the secondary and tertiary digital sidebands (at 0-10 kHz from the carrier). The problem is, enhanced mode is a lot less robust than core mode. One example of this: in the lab tests with first adjacent interference, core mode functioned up to the point where the interfering signal was 15 dB above the desired signal. Enhanced mode, on the other hand, pooped out when the interfering signal reached just 8 dB *below* the desired signal, a difference of 23 dB. Similar differences apply for 2nd adjacent interference, and they're even more dramatic when there is interference on both sides. For a "real world" example, check the field test results for KABL, where enhanced mode operation generally required signal levels of 10 mV/m or more. So, you might have "digital coverage" out to 2 mV/m, but a good part of that coverage area may be getting only low bit rate mono audio and no RDS-type features. And don't forget that Clear Channel & co. want to lower the digital power by 6 dB, which will shrink the "digital coverage" even more (Barry McLarnon, Ont., Mar 19, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. The Final Straw If IBOC doesn't kill the BCB DXing hobby, this surely will... First we had the Denver station on 1650 IDing as "KNUS-1", although everyone knows that the KNUS calls are on 710. Then came the San Mateo, CA outlet on 1050, which apparently now IDs as "KNBR 1050", even though the KNBR calls have been on 680 for quite some time (yes I know that, in both cases, sister stations are involved, but it's still inexcusable). Now comes the kicker. WRIK 750 in Brookport, IL has dropped the WRIK calls, switched to a news/talk format and changed its CLs officially to WSBX, but is Iding as...sit down for this..."NEWSTALK 750 WSB"!!! Yes, folks, this is where AM radio is headed. The FCC hasn't cared for a long time about how much power stations are putting out (and if they have, they certainly haven't enforced it), and now the commission appears to be giving stations free rein as to how they want to identify themselves. Ernie Wesolowski thinks that call letters on the AM band will someday be completely done away with, only slogans will be used, and nobody will be required to give a legal ID anymore. But I would go even one step further by saying that there will come a day where everyone on the AM band is non- directional, and if there are a dozen or so stations on every frequency using IBOC, look out. I'll get off my soapbox now, but will conclude by saying that this is what the combined forces of the big conglomerates (Clear Channel, Cumulus, and other offenders) and the FCC have done to the AM band, and the damage is irreversible. The hourglass is running out, and it's only a matter of time before the AM band is ruined beyond repair. I'll see some of you in the pages of UHF-VHF Digest. *throws up hands in disgust, shakes head sadly, and walks away from the BCB DXing hobby* (Rick (finally fed up with it all) Dau, Omaha, NE, March 29, NRC-AM via DXLD) Overseas DXers have been living with this for - well, I suppose for as long as there have been DXers. Few countries besides the USA assign callsigns to their broadcast stations, and even fewer require them to announce those callsigns on the air. In my humble opinion, the legal ID rules are indeed obsolete. Except for DXers, what is the purpose of an ID? When the FCC inspectors come to Nashville, they know darned well which station on 810 is operating at night that shouldn't be. They don't need the station to announce "WMGC Murfreesboro" to know it's WMGC. Listeners don't care that the station on 1160 is called "WAMB" - they just care that when they tune to 1160, they hear programs they enjoy. If we *have* to have stations transmitting their callsigns, it can be done "in the background". FM and TV already have data broadcast capabilities that can be used for this - many RDS-equipped FM stations already do, as do most digital TV stations. There is no pre-packaged scheme for AM, but transmitting four bytes of data every hour (or even every second!) is not a difficult engineering task. As for what WSBX is up to, I find it rather ingenious. They probably couldn't sell much local advertising at night anyway (even if they operated U1 with enough power to overcome skywave interference in their market area) so why not allow the Atlanta station to provide the night time service at no expense to the Illinois operators? Meanwhile, the Illinois listeners get a fulltime service - from Brookport during the day, and from Atlanta at night. I just wonder what the Atlanta station thinks. Will they have grounds for a trademark-infringement suit? Good question. (incidentially, WSBX's signal stinks. Other area stations like WDDD-810 and WKYX-570 and even WCBL-1290 are regulars here, often even during the day. I've only heard WSBX once.) I seem to remember an incident a few years back where a station obtained calls similar to another station in the same market. The station that had them first tried to force them to change back but failed - so they got a local injunction preventing the second station from using the call letters for anything except the hourly ID. I also seem to recall the news release about the sale of WSM-FM indicating Cumulus had purchased from Gaylord the right to use the trademark "WSM-FM"... But does a station automatically have trademark protection in their call letters? Or do they have to register them with the Trademark Office? How far does that protection cover? If I register "WLAC" as a trademark for a Nashville station, is it infringing if a station in Seattle starts calling itself WLAC? Is WSBX infringing on WSB's trademark? Would they still be infringing if they were on a different frequency? (Doug Smith, NRC-AM via DXLD) Certainly I can share the despair at the lack of diversity on radio these days. My recent trip to the West Coast revealed that that part of the country still has a lot more diversity than we enjoy here in the East. In a single evening, I was able to listen to programming as diverse as jazz, old time radio, oldies, Navaho chants and songs, an actual live late night local talk show, and more. In the east, we're limited to dozens of channels carring "Coast to Coast", ESPN or Sporting News Radio, Radio Disney, and perhaps an Oldies station. "The Raging Cajun" is the closest thing to interesting program on the air here at nights. But I do seem glimmers of hope here and there. More stations are trying music on AM again these days, and lately, there is a lot of talk about the rash of conservative voices on talk radio...so you hope that even the "Suits" begin to figure out that folks want more to listen to. Given the multiple choices for 24 hour news, weather, etc...I have to think that the programming will start to swing back to the only thing left that radio (especially AM radio) can do...local coverage. IBOC is doomed to failure, and once it does, the last glimmer of a "digital utopia" for broadcasters will die with it. Certainly many stations will be forced to leave the air...and the mega-corps like Clear Channel will sell off marginal stations and cut their losses. Who will that leave? A lot of small, shoestring stations, a few corporate chain outlets running the same canned programming, and perhaps a few bold stations that will attempt radical new programming to attract listeners. I cannot believe that broadcasters really think they can overcome the installed user base of literally millions of analog radios with some government mandated digital "improvement" that offers still no "killer app". It's a pipe dream of a desperate industry. Instead they should look to their own recent success stories. Just a few years ago, when Rush changed the face of talk radio...and actually brought listeners back to AM radio, they thought it was already dead. While I'm no big fan of talk radio, there is no denying that it saved many stations. Programming that is "outside the box" is what is needed now. Personally, I think that stations could do very well running a "Top 40" oldies station in nearly every major market. Simply bring those old DJ's out of mothballs, and recurit new young talent to play the style of radio we grew up with. It would be huge with the 40+ crowd and attract ad dollars like crazy. Or maybe something like "Fox News" only packaged for radio. Innovative use of sound recordings in the style of NPR, only packaged as "hard news" round the clock. Not the nonsense of piping TV audio from CNN out. But real "radio" news. If you combined that with a strong local news component, it might work very well. In general, I wish broadcasting executives would stop looking for the answers inside some technical work and find them where they have always been...CONTENT (Les Rayburn, N1LF, NNN0HSI Navy MARS/SHARES, Helena, AL, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. AKRON'S LAST TELEGRAPH OPERATOR HAD WORLD AT HIS FINGERTIPS FOR ALMOST 46 YEARS --- By Mark J. Price Beacon Journal staff writer Posted on Mon, Mar. 31, 2003 http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/5522817.htm (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) ** VIETNAM [and non]. In a break with tradition, Voice of Vietnam is now operating on new 11630 1100-1130, 1300-1400, 1600-2130. This is from the Son Tay site, parallel with 13740. This is a terrible frequency choice, clashing with co-channel China, also using 11630 1800-2000 to W. Europe, (with Russian 1800-1900) and 2000-1730 domestic service to China. This is a change from 11640, used for previous summer seasons. There have been other adjustments to 11 MHz channels, including rearrangements for 12020 timings. Overseas relays are now Sackville 6175 0000-0500, Moosbrunn 9725 1700-1900, and Skelton 9725 1900-2030 (Bob Padula, Melbourne, Mar 31, EDXP via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-03 FREQUENCY CLASHES ++++++++++++++++++++++ 11895 at 2200-2230: VOA Delano in Creole, NHK (Guiana?) in Japanese, the latter continuing in the clear until 2300, and a couple hops of satellite delay behind \\ 17825 which also puts in a good signal. ON 11895 they were about equal level, with NHK slightly stronger (Glenn Hauser, OK, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EGYPT/GUAM --- Radio Cairo's new A03 channel of 11750 for the Arabic service to Australia 2000-2200 is a shocker. Co-channel with AWR-KSDA English 2000-2100 and only usable 2100-2200. KSDA also targeted to Asia! (Bob Padula, Mont Albert,Vic, Australia, Mar 31, EDXP via DXLD) See also EGYPT way above itself PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ BRUCE ELVING PUBLICATIONS Hi, the May, 2003, issue of Popular Communications will have an article on tuning in FM subcarrier broadcasts. It includes a picture of a vintage radio I modified in the late '70s when my daughters, Kristine, Karin and Kimberly, were very young. There are excerpts from that article on the Pop Comm web page. http://www.popular-communications.com/Submarines.html [sic] The preceding page on their website alludes to that and other articles. Pop Comm is usually on sale at bookstores like Barnes & Noble. The "FM Atlas" 2003 is about to be printed by Patterson Printing, Benton Harbor MI. We just called and told them they have the contract for that printing job. Wife Carol, Don Johnson, chief theoretician from Cloquet MN, and the anonymous Eastern Seaboard reporter who has done much of the book's proofreading have all been a big help. We are working with American Express, and hope to offer a promotion for the new book for people who call in with their American Express numbers. We still take Visa and MasterCard orders at 1-800-605-2219. FMedia! newsletter is being delayed. It will be a combined February- March-April issue, with 21 pages keyboarded so far. Some material may be held back, making it an 18 or a 20 pager. I plan to have both publications to their respective printers the same day, most likely Monday, March 31, unless there is an equipment breakdown, or major late-breaking news. Visit our website any time. Just type in "FM Atlas" in any search engine, and it will come up. The problem is that the website is based on AOL's outdated PP3 program, and I can't update the site for now. Good reading and listening, (Bruce Elving, MN, Mar 28, NRC FM-TV via DXLD) INTERNATIONAL LISTENER The April edition of "Shortwave News" has been uploaded to the International Listener web site at http://www.internationallistener.com [redirect no work -- gh] or at http://home.houston.rr.com/edmayberry News stories center around the Iraq war: the BBC World Service and Voice of America coverage, plus web sites with war news and an item about psyop broadcasts. There are also stories on Radio Austria International's transition later this summer to largely relaying a domestic network, cutbacks in power and hours at Radio New Zealand International, Radio Australia's separation from ABC Radio, the folding of Poptronics and meetings of the High Frequency Coordinating Committee, the Association of International Broadcasters and the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters (Ed Mayberry, swl via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ FIRST STAND ALONE STREAMING INTERNET RADIO WITH ETHERNET AND WI-FI Monday March 31, 5:56 pm ET AUSTIN, Texas -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- March 31, 2003 --- Rochelle Communications Inc. announced today the industry's first stand alone Internet Radio with integrated Ethernet and optional Wi-Fi (802.11b) access. The Model 2600 is a consumer electronics device that enables users to listen to one of several thousand radio stations that are now streaming their contents over the Internet. The Model 2600 allows the user to pre-select up to 6 stations and can scan hundreds of radio stations based on location, program type, and language. The Model 2600 features a stereo headset and audio line out jacks. The President and CEO of Rochelle Communications Inc., Gilbert Amine, declared that "The Rochelle Internet Radio brings one of the fastest growing Internet technologies, audio streaming, to the reach of the masses, PC and non-PC users alike. My mom can now listen to her favorite international broadcasts from the comfort of her living room or kitchen. The real premise of the Internet is to make its technology accessible to the public at large. Our customers do not need more technology, but simpler and more accessible technology." The Model 2600 is the first of a family of Internet-connected devices that cater to the communications and entertainment needs of the consumers and traveling business users. Future products will include support for Internet Telephony and Video Streaming. Rochelle is seeking partnerships with companies that have complementary services and channels. The Model 2600 is in testing stage and will be commercially available in the second quarter. The single unit pricing will start at $129. Rochelle Communications is a privately-held telecommunications and test equipment manufacturer based in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1989 and sells its products around the world through a network of distributors. For more information, please contact Rochelle Communications Inc. at 512/339-8188, by fax at 512/339-1299, or e-mail at info@rochelle.com Rochelle's Web site is located at http://www.rochellecti.com Contact: Rochelle Communications Inc., Austin Gilbert Amine, 512/339-8188 (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) DIGITAL RADIO NEEDED I urgently need a digital radio; a fairly used one will be okay. The first and last time I did something like that (request for radio) on the public, everyone though I was one of those fraudsters from Nigeria, scam mail. This more serious now, the receiver I use belong to my daddy and it is very old and have a lots of frequency range missing from it. So I will need a digital radio, to greatly assist me in DXing. Please I don`t know how else to acquire one, especially considering the fact that I don`t have the money to buy myself. I hope you would help me greatly (EMMANUEL EZEANI, P.O Box 1633, Sokoto Sokoto state, Nigeria, emmanuel336@yahoo.com Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Perhaps a reader will have a spare unused SW radio with digital readout and can help Emma (gh) TOP SECRET BOMB TARGETS ENEMY ELECTRONICS Pulse: This 'weapon of electrical mass destruction' would have to be needed badly to risk revealing its existence. http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-te.ebomb31mar31,0,1067258.story?coll=bal-home-headlines (via Jill Dybka, MSIS, DXLD) TUESDAY EDITION: WEATHER ALERT RADIOS MARRY TV By Al Tompkins Posted March 31, 2003 This idea gained more urgency after Sept. 11, 2001, since the NOAA Weather Radio system broadcasts not only weather news but also information on national emergencies, technological hazards such as chemical spills or power plant emergencies, and natural hazards such as earthquakes or forest fires. The AJ-C [Atlanta Journal Constitution, http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/metro/0303/31twister.html ] has a story about a Thompson Electronics plan to marry the weather alert radio with the TV. Forecasters have warned Americans for years that every house, school, business needs a weather alert radio, but too many don't have them. Practically everyone has a TV, though. TVs are great when they are turned to a news channel during a storm, but what if you are not watching a local station at the time? Thompson's weather radio television, which will be sold as RCA Alert Guard models, will be able to warn of local or national emergencies even when the television is tuned to a cable or satellite channel, is playing a tape or DVD, is being used to play a video game, or is turned off (but still plugged in). It has LED lights to show when an alert is at the advisory stage (yellow), watch stage (orange) or warning stage (red). The television can be set to sound a chime or siren in increasing volume when a warning is broadcast. One button on the remote control lets the owner hear the voice of the weather radio, and another lets the owner see the text of the warning on the screen. Another button will instantly turn the television to any of four pre-set news or weather stations. The owner can also program the television to limit alerts to only one county, or up to four nearby counties (PoynterOnline via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) SONY AN-LP1 ANTENNA: REPLACEMENT IN THE WORKS? I recently received my Universal Radio Catalog and noted that the Sony AN-LP1 active loop antenna is not among the many antennas published there; it's not showing on their website, either. I had heard some rumors at last month's SWL Fest that Sony might be planning to replace the AN-LP1 with something new, maybe a loop antenna similar to the 'LP1 but with continuous attenuation (like the AN-LP2 which unfortunately comes with the Sony ICF-SW07 portable). So, I wrote Universal Radio, and this is their reply which I received on April 1 (Joe Hanlon, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) : We do not have any first-hand information from Sony to support that they are planning a new active loop antenna or that the AN-LP1 has been discontinued. At this point, we are as much in the dark as everyone else regarding this. Thank you (Universal Radio via Hanlon, DXLD) DRM / CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++ News Release For Immediate Release: March 31, 2003 Contact: Siriol Jane Evans, pressoffice@drm.org 7 EXPERTS TO OUTLINE DRM`S PROGRESS AT EUROPEAN DIGITAL RADIO CONFERENCE (EDRC) IN MUNICH Munich, Germany – Broadcasting industry experts from Germany, France and Croatia representing Digital Radio Mondiale ( (DRM() will outline the on-air system`s progress, and its future, at the 5th European Digital Radio Conference (EDRC) at the Park Hilton Hotel in Munich on April 3 and 4, 2003. Conference attendees will be able to hear live DRM transmissions from T-Systems MediaBroadcast`s station in Juelich, Germany on DRM-capable receivers at the DRM booth. DRM is the world`s only non-proprietary, digital system for short- wave, medium-wave/AM and long-wave with the ability to use existing frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With near-FM quality sound that offers a dramatic improvement over analogue AM, DRM will revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 MHz in markets worldwide. DRM`s inaugural broadcasts will take place this June during the ITU`s WRC 2003 in Geneva. ``DRM`s presence this year at EDRC will be bigger than ever, reflecting the growing numbers of industry leaders who are involved with DRM`s activities in Germany,`` said Michael Pilath of T-Systems MediaBroadcast. Mr. Pilath leads DRM`s German Coordination Committee and is Vice Chairman of DRM`s Commercial Committee. The DRM consortium has 80 members from 30 countries, with a significant number of members -- 22 of them -- from Germany. They are broadcasters, broadcast equipment manufacturers, network operators, research institutions, broadcasting unions, regulatory agencies and NGOs. Since its inception in 1998, DRM has been led by Peter Senger, Executive Director of Marketing, Distribution and Technology at Deutsche Welle. The DRM sessions at EDRC will be: April 3, 2003 10:00 -- The Success of DRM in Europe, presented by Michel Penneroux, Head of AM Systems at TéléDiffusion de France and Chairman of DRM`s Commercial Committee. 11:40 -- DRM Broadcasting Technology, presented by Olaf Korte, Group Leader at Fraunhofer IIS. April 4, 2003 13:30 -- DRM Roll-out in Germany, presented by Michael Pilath of T-Systems MediaBroadcast. 13:50 -- DRM Standardisation Process, presented by Thomas Waechter of T-Systems MediaBroadcast and Chairman, IDR/DRM Group. 14:20 -- Recent DRM Field Tests, presented by Dr. Gerd Zimmermann of T-Systems Nova. 15:10 -- DRM Receiver Technologies, presented by Stefan Meltzer, Vice President, Business Development at Coding Technologies GmbH. 15:30 -- Implementation of DRM Technology in High Power Short-wave Broadcast Transmitters, presented by Robert Tomljanovic, Design Engineer at RIZ Transmitters, Croatia. About DRM DRM`s founding members joined forces in 1998 to create a digital system (also called DRM) for the broadcasting bands below 30 MHz. DRM information and audio samples are available online at http://www.drm.org (English) and http://www.drm-national.de (German). DRM has secured two major successes already this year. On the universal standardization front, the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) gave the DRM on-air system its highest stamp of approval - International Standard - in January. And on the regulatory side, a recent change in Rules of Procedure by the International Telecommunications Union`s (ITU) Radio Regulations Board (RRB) cleared the regulatory path for broadcasters who want to use the DRM system for the medium-wave/AM and long-wave frequency bands in Regions 1 and 3. (Regions 1 and 3 include Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia/New Zealand.) DRM Members Commercial Radio Australia (Australia); Nautel Ltd., Radio Canada International/CBC (Canada); Academy of Broadcasting Science of China (China); RIZ Transmitters (Croatia); HFCC (Czech Republic); ESPOL, HCJB World Radio (Ecuador); Digita Oy, Kymenlaakso Polytechnic (Finland); Atmel ES 2, CCETT, Radio France, Radio France Internationale, TéléDiffusion de France, Thales Broadcast & Multimedia (France); ADDX, APR, Coding Technologies GmbH, Deutsche Welle, DeutschlandRadio, DLM, Sender Europa 1, Fraunhofer IIS, Georg- Simon-Ohm – University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg, Innovationszentrum Telekommunikationstechnik GmbH IZT, IRT, Medienanstalt Sachsen-Anhalt/Digitaler Rundfunk Sachsen-Anhalt, Micronas GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Sony International Europe, SWR Südwestrundfunk, TELEFUNKEN SenderSysteme Berlin AG, T-Systems MediaBroadcast, University of Applied Sciences - FH Merseburg, University of Hannover, University of Ulm, VPRT (Germany); Antenna Hungaria, Communications Authority Hungary (Hungary); All India Radio (India); Basamad College, Tehran (Iran); Hitachi Kokusai Electric Ltd., JVC Victor Company of Japan, Ltd., NHK (Japan); Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting (Libya); Broadcasting Centre Europe (Luxembourg); Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union (Malaysia); Nozema, Radio Netherlands (Netherlands); Radio New Zealand International (New Zealand); Voice of Nigeria (Nigeria); Telenor/Norkring (Norway); Radiodifusão Portuguesa (Portugal); RTRN/The Voice of Russia (Russia); Arab States Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia); Universidad del Pais Vasco, (Spain); Radio Sweden International (Sweden); EBU, International Committee of the Red Cross, ITU (Switzerland); Arab States Broadcasting Union (Tunisia); BBC, Christian Vision, VT Merlin Communications, QinetiQ, RadioScape Ltd., Roke Manor Research Ltd. (U.K.); Dolby Laboratories Incorporated, Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation, Harris Corporation, IBB/VOA, IDT Continental Electronics, Kintronic Laboratories, Inc., National Association of Short-wave Broadcasters, Sangean America, Inc., TCI, a Dielectric Company, Via Licensing Corporation (U.S.A.); and Radio Vaticana (Vatican City). (Siriol Jane Evans, DRM, DXLD) PROPAGATION ++++++++++ ``BACKSCATTER`` Re: "(17595 beamed 90 degrees to Asia with 500 kW. Backscatter radiation would "beam" a signal toward extreme northern South America and the Caribbean, in reasonable proximity to the east coast of NA.) (17595 also readable on Sony SW-07 with whip, with SINPO 35533.) [what you refer to isn`t really backscatter -- gh]" What would it be then? It's definitely not a direct beam (John Figliozzi, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) John, the way I understand it, backscatter happens when, to give an example, a very small fragment of a signal beamed eastward is heard back near the transmitter, preferably within the skip zone to uncover it, because the ionosphere at the first control point to the east, actually reflects some of the signal back. This is most obvious on the higher SW frequencies. ``Scatter`` implies the signal coming off something other than the original antenna, e.g. a meteor, or even lightning (on VHF). What we normally observe is direct radiation off the back of the antenna, which is really not uni-directional; some designs are more subject to this than others. There is a minor (sometimes not so minor) lobe in the opposite direction of the main lobe (and side lobes too, especially with rhombics, but we need not get into that.) Another common misconception is that such signals beamed away from us, if heard, arrive by long path. That can happen, but far more often it`s the short path off-the-back. One way to be sure you have long-path is to be getting the short path at the same time, with a pronounced echo at the appropriate delay, which can easily be calculated knowing the distances and the speed of light. I once reported a very long long-path catch, WHRA (or whatever it was at the moment) on 17 MHz, by this method. 73, (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Forecast of Solar and Geomagnetic Activity 02 - 28 April 2003 Solar activity is expected to range from very low to low levels. There's a slight chance of a low M-class flare during most of the forecast period. Isolated M-class activity is possible from Region 318, 321, and 323 before they exit the disk (4-6 Apr) and after they return around 18 April. Isolated M-class activity is also possible from the return of old Region 306 and Region 314 on 02 and 03 April respectively. No greater than 10 MeV proton events are expected during the forecast period. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux may reach high levels on 04 – 06 April, 13 – 15 April and again on 27 – 28 April due to returning coronal holes. The geomagnetic field is expected to range from unsettled to major storm conditions during the period. Coronal hole high speed stream effects are expected to produce unsettled to active condition through 04 April. Returning coronal holes are expected to produce unsettled to isolated minor storm levels on 10 – 14 April and unsettled to isolated major storm levels on 23 – 27 April. :Product: 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table 27DO.txt :Issued: 2003 Apr 01 2211 UTC # Prepared by the US Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center # Product description and SEC contact on the Web # http://www.sec.noaa.gov/wwire.html # # 27-day Space Weather Outlook Table # Issued 2003 Apr 01 # # UTC Radio Flux Planetary Largest # Date 10.7 cm A Index Kp Index 2003 Apr 02 155 15 3 2003 Apr 03 150 12 3 2003 Apr 04 145 10 3 2003 Apr 05 145 10 3 2003 Apr 06 140 12 3 2003 Apr 07 140 10 3 2003 Apr 08 140 12 3 2003 Apr 09 135 15 3 2003 Apr 10 135 20 4 2003 Apr 11 135 20 4 2003 Apr 12 135 20 4 2003 Apr 13 130 20 4 2003 Apr 14 130 25 5 2003 Apr 15 120 15 3 2003 Apr 16 115 20 4 2003 Apr 17 110 20 4 2003 Apr 18 110 10 3 2003 Apr 19 110 20 4 2003 Apr 20 110 10 3 2003 Apr 21 110 10 3 2003 Apr 22 120 10 3 2003 Apr 23 135 25 5 2003 Apr 24 145 25 5 2003 Apr 25 155 25 5 2003 Apr 26 155 25 5 2003 Apr 27 160 25 5 2003 Apr 28 160 20 4 (http://www.sec.noaa.gov/radio via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) RETRO-4-RADIO --- By Peter Madison, EI0IQ Most electronic communications scientists and RF engineers will tell you that, as space is infinite, radio signals go on and on, out through the Ionosphere into outer space and therefore into infinity. This basic theory is fine - but how many radio signals have been sent out over the years and been monitored by ALL the intended listeners? The answer is none. All the radio waves ever since Marconi are out there as sure as an X File truth. Recent experiments by French radio astronomers in association with amateurs here in the West of Ireland have proved an astounding new theory. Radio signals that were originally transmitted within the last 40 years, at over 400 watts, are striking asteroids and bouncing back to Earth. The "Loupe Inverte Radio Frequencie Asteroides" (LIRFA loop) is a magnetised belt above the Clarke Belt. The broadcasts are reaching the loop as a positive (+) force and are repelled as negative (-) signals, back to their area of origin at ¼ of their original wavelength or frequency. (NegaHertz.) When our early pioneer radio engineers invented the ¼ wave dipole they were unwittingly creating the ideal antenna for reception of signals from the past. The French side of the team has erected 26 different dipoles of varying lengths and coded them with the phonetic letters of the alphabet. At the Irish end we have had excellent results on much simpler aerials and on very strong signals even the telescopic whip of a portable short wave receiver is working very well. The only difficulty is in researching the exact time of day that the programmes were transmitted but it is a simple matter to divide the original frequency by four. Being an unashamedly vain ex broadcaster I shall be tuning for shows that I know I have produced in the past and recording them of course! For example, as 'Mac Peters' on offshore Radio City I know the times of my few pitiful efforts and the wavelength. Unfortunately ¼ of 1505 kHz (299 metres) is right in the middle of the DX portion of the 80 metre amateur band. This phenomenon is coincidentally best experienced in the fourth month of the year and will be at its best on the first day. So get out your B/C log books for old stations from radio's golden years and do the sums for the BBC Home Service, or better still, Radio London/Radio Caroline. (I'll be looking for Sunshine Radio and Radio Nova.) Divide the frequency by four and, at the right time remember the great fun we used to have all those years ago. I will be back here on the 4th of the month with this year`s list of Retro-4-Radio logs. Peter Madison, "The Teenage Pensioner" Copyright petermadison@eircom.ie (via Mike Barraclough, April World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) # # #