DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-057, April 4, 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 later at http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3d.html HTML version of late March issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3c.html HTML version of early February issues: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldtd3b.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1176: RFPI: Sat 0130, 0730, 1330, 1800, Sun 0000, 0600, 1200, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230 on 7445 [subject to pre-emption] WWCR: Sat 0700, Sun 0330 5070, 0730 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0445 on 7415 WJIE: Mon & Tue 0600, M-F 1200 on 7490 WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, Europe Sun 0430, N. America Sun 1400 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/wor1176.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1176h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1176.html WORLD OF RADIO etc. SCHEDULES UPDATED FOR THE WEEK OF CONFUSION http://www.worldofradio.com/radioskd.html [above now also has upcoming schedule effective April 6] http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS, A-03 revision as of April 3: http://www.worldofrdio.com/dxpgms.html NEW APRIL EDITION OF NETS TO YOU: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html HFCC A-03 NOW AVAILABLE Klick http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html Download A03allx2.zip file. 73 wb (Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) The public version of the A03 HFCC schedule can be downloaded from http://www.hfcc.org/data/index.html On the download page it says: Note: Data of BFM and ABU-HFC have been removed on their request. No idea what BFM is, and since it has been removed I guess I'll have to remain in ignorance :-) (Andy Sennitt, April 3, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ABU being the Asian Broadcasting Union --- wonder if current hostilities led to this? (gh, DXLD) The A-03 HFCC and GJA schedules are now available on their respective web sites: http://www.hfcc.org/data/a03/a03allx2.zip http://www.gjainc.com/A03BYFREQ.htm http://www.gjainc.com/A03BYSTN.htm At time of writing, the A-03 FCC private SW sked is missing from the FCC web site. Also note that the GJA sked is considerably smaller than before, since WSHB-Herald Broadcasting now uses VT-Merlin Communications for frequency management services. 73. (Jim Moats, April 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DX LISTENING DIGEST) EIBI`S SHORTWAVE SCHEDULES Dear friends, the university has closed down my account on the http://wwwstud.uni-leipzig.de server. Therefore my website is now on a different server. Nevertheless, it continues to be available via http://www.eibi.de.vu/ If in your bookmarks or on your internet links' page any use of wwwstud.uni-leipzig.de/~pge98crf/ is made, be sure to replace it by http://www.eibi.de.vu/ This is a link to the server where the site is actually located. To avoid confusion in similar cases in the future, only use http://www.eibi.de.vu/ The shortwave schedule is updated to the new A03 season to a large extent already, however, work is not yet completed. I think that's OK for the first week of the season... :-) 73, -- (Eike Bierwirth 04317 Leipzig, DL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Direct link: http://139.18.51.71/~pge98crf/bc-a03.txt UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Have enjoyed your column in Monitoring Times (which I just subscribed to) and try to read your Digest. Sometimes I listen in RA via computer as reception is iffy on the various stations you're on, and intelligibility is important to be able to really appreciate the details in your show (Steve Waldee - retired radio consultant/CE, San José, CA, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA. Voice of Armenia noted March 30th with the Sunday English broadcast 0810-0830 on 15270, the evening English broadcast heard 1940-2000 on 4810 and 9960 March 31st, good reception on all channels (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ASIA [non]. RFA schedule in A-03, valid til Oct 26th, 2003. RFA currently broadcasts from 1100 to 0700; there are no transmissions between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming includes Mandarin for 12 hours, Cantonese for two, Uighur for two, and Tibetan for eight hours. RFA uses IBB transmitters in HOL=Holzkirchen Germany, IRA=Iranawila Sri Lanka, SAI=Saipan & TIN=Tinian NoMariana Isls. And Merlin relays TWN=Taiwan and UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE, as well as Irkutsk-RUS and Ussuriysk-RUS relays. Additional transmitter sites have been researched but deleted from this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications? [gh] RFA A-03 updated schedule of April 2nd, 2003. 0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T 0030-0130 BURMESE 13680T 13820I 15660 17525 17835S 0100-0200 UIGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE 15405T 0100-0300 TIBETAN 9365 11695UAE 11975H 15225T 15695 17730 0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T 0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15150T 15665T 17495 17525 17615S 17880S 0600-0700 TIBETAN 17485 17510 17720 21500T 21690UAE break 1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I 15635 1100-1400 TIBETAN 7470 11590 13570 13625T 15510UAE 15695 17855H-(from 1200) 1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 13645T 15525I 15545 15625 1300-1400 BURMESE 11515 11540 11635 11765T 13745T 15680 1400-1500 CANTONESE 9775T 11715T 13625T 13790T 1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 9455S 9635T 9930W 11510 11520 11535 11605N 11765T 13775P 15705 1400-1500 KOREAN 7380 9695T 11790T 13625T 15625 1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470 11510 11590 11705T 11780UAE 13835 1500-1600 MANDARIN 7540 9905P 11765T 11945T 12025S 13625T 13690T 15510T 15680 1500-1600 KOREAN 648uss 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 KOREAN 7210irk 9385S 13625T 1600-1700 UIGHUR 7465 9350I 9370 9555UAE 11780T 13715I 1600-1700 MANDARIN 7540 9455S 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 12025S 13690T 15510T 15680 1700-1800 MANDARIN 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T 9905P 11750T 11795T 11945T 11995S 13690T 15510T 15680 17640T 1800-1900 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T 11520 11740T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13680T 15510T 15680 17640T 1900-2000 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9605T 9905P 11520 11740T 11785T 11945T 11955T 11995S 13625T 13680T 15510T 15680 2000-2100 MANDARIN 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9850T 9905P 11520 11700T 11740T 11785T 11935T 11995S 13625T 13670T 15515T 15680 2100-2200 MANDARIN 7540 9455S 9850T 9910P 11700T 11740T 11935T 11995S 13625T 15515T 15680 2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T 2200-2300 KOREAN 7460 9455S 9850T 11670S 12080T 2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 7455 9490I 9930P 11570 13735T 2300-2359 MANDARIN 7315N 7540 9910P 11785T 11935N 11995N 13640T 13800S 15430T 15550T 15680 2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470 9365 9805UAE 9875H 15695 2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 9975 11540 11560 11580 11605N 11670T 12010I 13735S 15560P (various sources, updated on April 2nd, 2003, by Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. What`s going on with RA streaming? Caught last part of Feedback, in English until 2130 UT Fri April 4, in which I believe Roger Broadbent said there were no significant A-03 frequency changes, but at 2130 RA went into Indonesian! What if you only want to listen in English? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. NEW RADAR LIVE AFTER 40 YEARS Staff writers APRIL 02, 2003 THE Australian Defence Force's $1.23 billion Jindalee over-the- horizon radar network has made its official debut after 40 years of development. Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill announced the Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) would survey the nation's coastline to the north and north-west, providing 24 hour, all weather monitoring of activity in the air and at sea. JORN will be able to detect aircraft and boats at up to 2000 kilometres from the Australian coastline, outperforming conventional radar, which can only operate in line-of-sight conditions. Australia's northern coastline will be under constant wide-area surveillance for sea and air approaches with a new over-the-horizon high frequency radar network. "This cost-effective surveillance will be carried out along a 15 million square kilometre stretch from Geraldton in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland," Senator Hill said. The Jindalee project had its genesis in the 1960s, when the idea of an over-the-horizon radar was first proposed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation. Its development began in earnest in the early 1990s with the arrival of the Jindalee prototype facility in Alice Springs. The facility in Alice Springs will become part of the JORN network and continue its research and testing role. JORN, which will use radars stationed at Longreach in Queensland and Laverton in Western Australia, will also be used by Coastwatch and the Australian Customs Service to monitor illegal entry, smuggling and territorial fishing violations. JORN radars will be controlled from RAAF Edinburgh in South Australia. Each JORN radar has its own frequency management system. The network will be supported by 17 radar installation around the north of Australia and on Christmas Island. Instead of sweeping through an arc like conventional microwave-based radar, JORN concentrates on separate sectors located between Cairns in Queensland and Geraldton in Western Australia. JORN transmits high frequency radar to the earth's ionosphere, where it is refracted back to earth. Ships or aircraft in the area then relect some of the radio energy back along its original path, allowing them to be detected and tracked. However, JORN does not provide information with the same precision as conventional radar and cannot be redeployed. JORN was built by RLM, a joint venture between Austrlian defence contractor Tenix and the US-based Lockheed Martin group. A Defence spokeswoman said the project cost of $1.23 billion was in line with its original budget. The contract with RLM will include 46 months of support and maintenance (Australian IT http://tinyurl.com/8tuu via Jilly Dybka, TN) I wonder if this will cause QRM for the folks down there (Jilly Dybka, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. Radio Austria International English to Europe heard 0530- 0555 on 6155, 1130-1200 and 1330-1400 on 6155 13730, 1830-1900 and 2130-2200 on 5945 6155, 1900-1930 on 1476. Sackville relay to North America heard 1500-1600 on 15515 April 2nd but all in German parallel to 6155 and 13730, no English at 1530 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15515 used to be DW German? ** AUSTRIA. Radio Afrika International (Austria) 17875 n/d card, letter in 3 weeks for an e-mail report. V/s Juma Hauser (Greg Myers, St. Petersburg, FL, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. The IS mentioned by Jilly Dybka in DXLD 3-055 is definitely Radio Minsk. They typically put in a decent signal here most nights, but their modulation is very poor. As a result, I can usually make out the IS, which is interspersed by IDs in a couple of languages, I can make out the music, but as for the spoken content, it is usually mostly unintelligible. I just wrote them a letter with a plea to do something about the low mudulation level (Dan Srebnick, NJ, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Jill, that was most definitely Belarus` underneath (Mark J. Fine / mark.fine@fineware-swl.com Remington, Virginia, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Every year on DST change day, CBK Saskatchewan has an hour to fill since the province stays on CST yearound. A preview of the 25th-hour-special was on Sounds Like Canada, April 4 at 1432-1440 via RCI 13655, 17710 (and should be retrievable ondemand). Sounds like great fun, sort of a never-never land, 0900-1000 UT April 6 on 540 and webcast via http://sask.cbc.ca I guess they take it all back in October (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. 5960, Radio Japan relay (presumed) 0237 3/30, weird digital product on 5945 QRMing 5950 WYFR. Sounded like ute bursts pulsing off/on. Tuned around a bit, found it coincided with Bird Tweeting in a song on 5960. Transmitter limiters broken/misadjusted? (Larry Russell, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** CHINA [and non]. What has become of the CRI relay via Cuba at 1400-1600 on 17720? Nothing there April 4, tho audible direct on 7405 at 1410 check. With Cuba you never know if there has been a permanent schedule change, or the transmitter is just down for some reason (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRI English 55 minutes at 0100 on 9580 [Cuba], 9790 [Canada]; 0300 on 9690 [Spain]; 0400 on 9755 [via French Guiana, ex-9730??] (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. Last evening around 1720 - 1930 it was very nice opening towards Africa, among the nicest catches were: 7435, R. Lubumbashi, Congo D.R. All logged with AOR7030 and Wellbrook ALA-1530. 73 (Jarmo Patala, Finland, Apr 2, dxing.info via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) This one is very rarely reported; how about some program details? (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. We plan to organize a Spanish program block very soon. It will start in the morning time here in Costa Rica and we will begin with one day in the week; this might be Friday. So we keep you informed on the latest news. Are there many DX clubs in Spain, as far as you know? Best wishes, (Sonja, RFPI, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. SALVADOR LEW RESIGNS FROM RADIO MARTÍ POST http://www.radioandrecords.com/Subscribers/TodaysNews/homepage.htm Lew was tapped by President Bush to head both Radio and TV Martí, and the Miami Herald reports that he's resigned for health reasons. However, Lew's resignation as Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting comes amid allegations of sexual harassment and favoritism since taking the post in 2001. Lew told the newspaper that he had open heart surgery two years ago and that "working there is extremely hard." Lew says the White House has offered him another position and is mulling over the offer. Lew's Chief of Staff, Fernando Rojas, will serve as the office's interim director until Bush appoints Lew's successor. April 2,2003 (via Brock Whaley for WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) President BUSH has nominated attorney/lobbyist PEDRO ROIG to take over as Director of RADIO MARTI and TV MARTI, the AMERICAN government stations aimed at CUBA. The nomination fllows the resignation MONDAY (3/31) of incumbent SALVADOR LEW and reports that the OFFICE OF CUBA BROADCASTING may have used illegal hiring practices. Chief of Staff FERNANDO ROJAS is running the show while approval of ROIG's nomination is pending. http://www2.allaccess.com/ (April 2, 2003, Brock Whaley for WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) MIAMI LAWYER PICKED TO HEAD RADIO, TV MARTÍ From The Miami Herald: Posted on Wed, Apr. 02, 2003 BY ELAINE DE VALLE AND JACQUELINE CHARLES President Bush on Tuesday nominated a Miami attorney and lobbyist to head Radio and TV Martí, replacing Salvador Lew, whose tenure was dogged by internal strife and criticism. Bush will ask the board that oversees the Office of Cuba Broadcasting to approve Pedro Roig as director of the Voice of America program created to be an alternative to Cuban-run media. ''His years of experience will serve him well in his new position,'' a White House spokesman said Tuesday night. ''I feel very honored by this appointment, and also conscious there is a mission to fulfill,'' Roig, 62, said Tuesday night. ``I think there is tremendous potential and good people within Radio Martí.'' Married and the father of four, Roig is working on a book on Cuban history in English. He came to Miami in 1960 from Santiago de Cuba and later became a member of the brigade that was part of the Bay of Pigs invasion. He is a graduate of St. Thomas University Law School, where he enrolled at the age of 45. Both he and the late Cuban American National Foundation Chairman Jorge Mas Canosa went to training camp together and were very close, Roig said. A former member of CANF, Roig said he left the foundation ''on very good terms'' and while Mas Canosa was still alive Roig's first job in Miami after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, he said, was driving a taxi for five years. In 1999, he was part of a group of then-Mayor Joe Carollo foes calling themselves Citizens for an Accountable Government, which bought airtime on Spanish-language Miami radio stations to push an amendment that would abolish the city-manager position and force Carollo into another election 20 months before his term was up. If there is a clue as to what he plans to bring to the radio, Roig said, it's his personal philosophy in fighting on behalf of someone's right to say what they want. ``I strongly believe in the right of people to dissent from the mainstream without fear of reprisal. I do have opinions but I am very respectful. I do believe the Cuba of the future has to be one where people can live free and express their opinions without the fear of reprisal from the governments, and the majority. I do believe in this.'' Two South Florida Republican members of Congress, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Lincoln Díaz-Balart, hailed Roig's selection. ''His expertise and experience as well as his knowledge of Cuban affairs will greatly serve the president in his continuing efforts to upgrade the operations of Radio and TV Martí, and bring unbiased news and information to the oppressed people of Cuba,'' the lawmakers said in a joint statement. Lew's resignation comes on the heels of a scathing report from the inspector general that said the Office of Cuba Broadcasting used hiring practices that smacked of cronyism and may have violated federal regulations. It also said programming lacked quality control. Lew, a veteran Cuban radio man appointed to the job by President Bush, cited health reasons for stepping down but conceded that the controversies embroiling the organization contributed to his decision. ''Working there is extremely hard,'' said Lew, 74, who submitted his resignation Monday, ``and I don't know if you know that less than two years ago I had open heart surgery.'' He said that, in light of the war in Iraq, he couldn't continue in a position that was causing the Bush administration any problems. ''This is a moment that we cannot create problems,'' he said. ``We have to stay united to obtain victory.'' He said the White House had offered him another position, though he would not elaborate. ``I am considering if I will take it or not.'' Roig will have to undergo an FBI background check, which could take several weeks. In the meantime, Fernando Rojas, Lew's chief of staff, will take over as interim director, said Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors, the group that oversees the Voice of America programming. Last May 20, Bush delivered a major policy speech on Cuba. Among the measures he outlined to promote democracy in Cuba was a personal pledge to ''modernize'' Radio and TV Martí. Aides indicated that meant aggressive efforts to overcome Cuban jamming. But since then, little has been done on the jamming issue (via Mike Terry, WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) It is required that OCB honchos have names of questionable Spanish pronunciation. Roig looks like a Catalan name, which I think comes out something like ``Roach``? But look at this: VOA spells his name differently: which is it?? (gh, DXLD) BUSH NOMINATES PEDRO ROIGA TO HEAD RADIO, TV MARTI VOA News 02 Apr 2003, 17:00 UTC U.S. President George W. Bush has nominated Pedro Roiga to head Radio and TV Marti, the U.S. government-funded broadcasting stations beamed to Cuba. http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=12DF0CD0-92B7-445E-99DA90CF10DF16F8 (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. CZECHIA Radio Prague listeners' competition 2003 Radio Prague has launched another listeners' competition! Your task is simple - just answer the following question: WHO IS THE MOST INTERESTING FIGURE IN CZECH HISTORY? Send us a few lines about a Czech - past or contemporary - who you feel has made an impact on the world, and tell us what made that man or woman special. The main prize will be a trip to the Czech Republic for two, sponsored by the Podebrady Spa and Czech Airlines - at home in the skies! There will also be a number of attractive runner up prizes. Send your answer by June 15, 2003 to: Radio Prague Vinohradska 12 120 99 Prague 2 Czech Republic ...or e-mail it to: cr@radio.cz Good luck! (from http://www.radio.cz/en via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DXLD) ** DENMARK (?). Browsing through the latest HFCC file, I found 5 entries for World Music Radio (WMR) from Denmark, all days 1234567 except the first which is days 1 and 7 only: 5790 0700 1400 17-19,27-29 SP1 10 0 300303 260903 D DNK WMR 5790 1400 2300 17-19,27-29,37-39 SP1 10 0 300303 260903 D DNK WMR 6290 0000 2400 17-19,27-29,37-39 SP1 10 0 300303 260903 D DNK WMR 7700 0000 2400 17-19,27-29,37-39 SP1 10 0 010603 260903 D WMR-DRM 15810 0000 2400 5,8,9,11,17,27-30,36-41 SP1 10 0 300303 260903 WMR Haven't seen or heard announcements for this new transmission. More details from anyone? 73's, (Michiel Schaay, Holland, April 4, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 5790 and 6290 look like IRRS Italy(?); 24h DRM on 7700! ** ECUADOR. 3810, HD2IOA, 0557 3 April, LSB, 1 kW. Ecuadorian time signal station heard for first time at poor levels seemingly only in LSB mode with Spanish voice starting from about :45 seconds past the minute, each minute. Nothing extra at TOH. Better reception after 0630. I carefully listened and sure enough, there is a canned ID starting at 0659:40. Much lower modulation than the time check at approximately :53 seconds (not the :45 noted above). Reception at times was quite good, but with deep fades (Walt Salmaniw, Victoria, BC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. Hi Glenn, I came across this June 2002 article about Radio Cairo's African services, which also mentions a general E-mail address of radiocairo@hotmail.com that I don't see listed in either WRTH or Passport. http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2002/588/fe2.htm (Andy Sennitt, Holland, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Lately R. Cairo in English, better modulation and signal at 0200 on 9475 than the earlier 2300 on 9900 with poor mod and big splash from 9895 R. Nederland in Spanish (Bob Thomas, CT, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But 0200 now changed to 11780, NG ** EL SALVADOR. Heard Radio Imperial 17835.16 yesterday with a full id at 0300z, then they rebroadcast a Family Radio program till just past 0400, then threw the switch with no closing announcement. Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, NZ, ZL4TFX, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA (presumed). 7100, Voice of the Broad Masses, 0334-0358, 04/02. Male, in presumed Tigray, with fast-paced talks, signal battling for dominance with ute QRM. Several mention's of "America" and "Congo-Kinhasa", also Pakistan. Afropop style music with male and female announcers at 0339. Different male between music at 0341, ending with 2 mentions "North Carolina"!?!? 2 males, with much improved audio level, and interview. Definite Horn of Africa music from 0350-0356. More announcers talk and music, crushed by ute QRM, unusable by 0358. Presumed log, though the language and music stylings sound very much like Horn of Africa. PWBR lists 10 kW, WRTH lists 100 kW. I suspect the latter. Curious as to the mention of North Carolina (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., NH, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FINLAND. Scandinavian Weekend Radio offers "Great Music for The Great Audience" during this starting first weekend of April 2003. Rock`n`Roll Radio from 21 to 23 hours UT includes Garage International Inc., Pandora`s Box and Anything Goes Show, Radio Demo 03-05 and 18-20 hours UT presents latest Finnish (Hard) Music-demos. We have also Progressive Rock (06-07), Hot Hits (09-10), Mama and Papa (12-13) plays good pop songs and older rock. And much more. Check http://www.swradio.net/fin/tietoja.htm On serie "Radiomonopolit historiaan, parts 2 to 4" Harri Kujala has this time countries UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy etc. with. That and much more on our frequencies 11690 or 11720 and 5980, 5990 or 6170 kHz 24 hours starting today Friday 4th April. Complete program and frequency schedule can be found from our web-pages: http://www.swradio.net/fin/tietoja.htm Check also our new technical pages: http://www.swradio.net/tech/index.htm "Stay tuned –SWR is on the air" (Alpo Heinonen, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. Radio France International English: 0400-0430 9550(Moyabi) 13610(to 6th September) 11700 11910(Moyabi)(from 7th September) 0500-0530 Africa 11685(Moyabi)(to 6th September) 15155(Moyabi)(from 7th September) 17800 0600-0630 Africa 11665(Ascension) 17800 21620 0700-0800 Africa 15605(Moyabi) 1200-1230 Africa 17815(Ascension) 25820 1400-1500 Middle East, South West Asia 11610(Xi`an) 17515 1600-1700 Africa 9730(Moyabi) 11615 15255(Moyabi) 15605 17850 1700-1730 Africa 15605 (Website via Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. DW morning service in German to North America may be a pastthing, but still an adequate signal from somewhere at 1430 April 4 on 13780, which used to be Sackville (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Last hurrah of DW English to NAm, UT Mar 30: 0100 on 9765, best on 6040; 0300 on 6020. Next night English at 0000 on 7130 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. A solution has been found so that Deutschlandfunk can continue on 6190 --- after all, The station continues to provide excellent reception here in Denmark during daytime (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY. Mega Radio was finally closed down Friday April 4th at 1100 UT --- leaving a number of MW channels in the clear in Central Europe (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE [non]. Yanni was a shortwave listener. "My idols were Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, Bach -- and the world music I'd heard on my shortwave radio at night." http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=121841&categor y=ARTS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=4/3/2003 73 (Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** GUAM. Two new transmitters are now on the air at the AWR shortwave station on the island of Guam. Transmitter KSDA3 was originally installed at Langefontein in South Africa as unit no 2, and it was inaugurated at AWR Guam on September 26 last year. The stored unit at Langefontein has now been installed at Guam as KSDA2 and it was inaugurated on March 1. It is anticipated that some time in May, Langefontein 5 will be inaugurated as KSDA1. The transmitter base at Langefontein in South Africa was a new station that was constructed for coverage throughout Africa but it was never placed into regular service (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan April 6 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO The new transmission schedule for Adventist World Radio became effective last Sunday, March 30 at the beginning of the new A03 season and it shows two areas of interest to the international radio monitor. AWR is now on the air from a new transmitter location, Wooferton in England, for coverage into East Africa, Central Africa and West Africa. This large international shortwave station contains 10 Marconi transmitters rated at 250 & 300 kW and AWR is on the air from two of these units. The new schedule for AWR via Wooferton, including a frequency change on April 1 to avoid interference, is as follows:- 1900 - 2000 UTC 15270 kHz Fulfuldi & Hausa 1930 - 2000 17660 Ibo 2000 - 2100 15385 English 2000 - 2100 15130 French & Yoruba In this new scheduling, AWR is making use of additional channels in the tropical shortwave bands. This new usage, including both the current relay sites and the new channels, is as follows:- 3215 kHz 100 kW Sen1 Meyerton English 0500 - 0530 3215 50 RN4 Talata Malagasy 0230 - 0330 3215 50 RN4 Talata Malagasy 1530 - 1630 3215 100 Sen1 Meyerton English 1800 - 1830 3345 100 Sen3 Meyerton English 0500 - 0530 3935 1 ZLXA Levin Wavescan 0900 - 0930 Mon 3935 1 ZLXA Levin Wavescan 2100 - 2130 Tue Dr Adrian M. Peterson, DX Editor, AWR, DX LISTENING DIGEST) New AWR schedule, by target zone and language: http://www.awr.org/listener-services-program-schedule%20summer%202003.html Adrian Peterson sent a comprehensive schedule in frequency order, but it requires so much reformatting it`s not ready for DXLD (gh) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. DIRECTV --- An attempt by U.S. telephone company SBC Communications Inc to buy satellite TV provider DirecTV from General Motors Corp has broken down, leaving Rupert Murdoch's News Corp as the lone serious bidder. SBC, based in San Antonio, Texas, had been in talks with GM about buying all or part of Hughes Electronics Corp, the parent company of DirecTV, since early this year. But those negotiations fell apart this week when the two sides "fell out of alignment" on the structure of the deal, one source said on April 1. It remained unclear whether SBC might re-enter the bidding process. The No. 2 U.S. telephone company had wanted to acquire DirecTV to help accelerate its high-speed Internet plans, but was not interested in all of Hughes, a source said. The alternative is likely to be Murdoch, who has been pursuing an acquisition of Hughes since it was first put on the block by GM two years ago. He was initially outbid by EchoStar Communications Corp, which struck a deal to acquire the unit in August 2001 but called off the merger late last year when regulators threatened to block it. (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Apr 2 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. WAR IN IRAQ SATELLITE --- Multi-satellite enthusaists wanting to tune in to live news feeds from Iraq can find a regularly updated page of frequencies at DXMonitoring's Web site. Click here to find the latest news feeds, which also includes live coverage the main US networks NBC, ABC and CBS: http://www.dxmonitoring.com/satellite/iraq/feedlist.htm ("What Satellite TV") On Intelsat 704 (66 degrees East) Iraq Satellite Channel has started on 4.055 Ghz/R. ("LyngSat Weekly Updates") (MediaScan/SCDX Apr 2 via DXLD) ** IRAN. IRANIAN BASED ARABIC AL-ALAM TV WINS VIEWERS IN BAGHDAD An Iranian-based Arabic television news station which started broadcasting last month is gaining viewers in Baghdad. The Iranian channel Al-Alam, which means The World, is the latest 24-hour news channel in the Middle East. It broadcasts on terrestrial air waves to TV-starved Iraq, as well as via satellite. Dishes are banned in Iraq. Based in Tehran and run by IRIB, the Iranian state radio and TV service, it has carried extensive and close-up video of dead and wounded in Iraq. Its rolling coverage is aired under the slogan "War for Control". The Iran-based Al-Alam satellite TV channel in Arabic and English is a 24-hour news channel transmitted on four satellites (Arabsat, Asiasat, Telstar and Hot Bird satellites) and can be received in Europe, Middle East, Asia-Pacific and America. The Arabic channel began test broadcasts in February 2003 and full programming started in March. English output is at the moment limited to horizontal news subtitles or news tickers updating news on the war on Iraq from international news agency reports. The station is also available on the Internet: http://www.alalamnews.com and notably with roof-top aerials, not dishes, in parts of Iraq and Iran. The reports of reception of Al- Alam in Iraq suggests that the transmissions are broadcast from a TV relay station on high ground in Iran overlooking parts of Iraq. Apart from news bulletins every hour, round the clock, Al-Alam has regular live reports from Iraq and studio round table discussions with researchers, commentators and experts including Iraqi dissidents and exiles opposed to Saddam Husayn. Al-Alam's format is similar to that of the Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV. It has "An Exclusive Al-Alam" caption coming up when the station shows its own reports, their logo, Al-Alam written in fancy letters in Arabic, is burnt on the right-hand side of the picture. Al-Alam web site described the station as "an international Islamic news network". The managing director of Al-Alam, Hasan Beheshtipur, has said that the Al-Alam TV channel intends to introduce the viewpoints of the Islamic world and counter the monopolization of news channels by Western countries. Beheshtipur said that the objective of launching the network was to interconnect the Islamic world and to disseminate news among them. He said: This network plans to fill the existing vacuum in news dissemination in today's world. Beheshtipur was recently quoted by the Iranian newspaper Mardom Salari as saying: "We must see whether the focus of our foreign policy is the interests of Islam or our national interests. It is true that in many areas the national interests are compatible with the interests of the Islamic world, but in some respects there may be clear contradictions between the two. Our duty is to find clear answers to these contradictions." The manager of the Al-Alam satellite network continued: "Our dialogue and interaction with the Islamic countries has not yet been defined, and still there has been no clear decision regarding the framework of our relations." Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 2 Apr 03 (via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) ** IRAN [non] 7525 kHz - Radio Yaran Was looking after this for a while, first heard here on 29/3 1830 - 2100 in Farsi. Today 100% ID: the station is NOT Radio Seday-e Iran but Radio YARAN (yaran means friends). The station is on internet and satellite for quite a while; details from their homepage http://www.afnl.com at the end of this mail. Programs are phone-in and lots of talk on Iranian community, New Year and of course War in Iraq. People calling in from Europe, Middle East and also one from Iran some minutes ago. General political talk is pro-USA and not conform with present Tehran Government. Reception on 7525 kHz is now at 1900 UT exceptionally strong; that means 90 dB/1uV or 100 mV, if I am not mistaken. =Quote= AFN Farsi Netlink American Farsi Netlink was founded in 1993. It is the first Iranian satellite radio and TV. AFN Farsi Netlink broadcasts radio and television via satellite all over in United States and for the past three years has transmitted to other areas such as Europe, Iran, and Canada so Iranians around the globe can benefit from the service. We work with several top broadcasting companies around the world to bring an exceptional quality of service. In addition AFN Farsi Netlink company also has run two radio stations since 1993 which Iranian companies can use to advertise their service. We have a competent staff and quality of service is always our top priority. With the new numerical receptor from AFN Farsi Netlink, you can enjoy five international channels and also two radio stations (AFN Farsi Netlink) that operate 24 hours. =Unquote= Unfortunately the webbroadcast did not work here... Address given is: American Farsi Netlink P.O. Box 1601 Simi Valley CA 93062 U.S.A. Phone (818)348-2766 (818)348-3399 Fax (818)348-3627 Email info@afnl.com amir@afnl.com HARRIS RF-550 / RF-551Preselctor, JRC NRD-535D and longwires wolfgang.vonpoellnitz@fiege.pl 73 (Wolfgang von Poellnitz, Warsaw, Poland, hard-core-dx via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) Here on 2 Apr at 2000 on 7525, nice signal. Heard an ID "Radio Yaran - AFN". http://www.bamey.com/voice1.html has the same audio but with couple of seconds delay. 73 (Jari Savolainen Kuusankoski Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Today 1630-1730 UT the Persian station Radio International again on powerhouse 13800 kHz. Looks like Kvitsoe Norway transmission, (Apr 1/2). 55555 S=9 +60 dB 7525 kHz at 2100 UT, Heard same Persian station, I guess with extended coverage during Iraq war time. (Mar 30/31). Also noted like this schedule since March 30: 0230-0330 7460, 1630-1730 13800, 1800-2100 7525, 1800-1900 7480. 73 (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, April 2, WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [non]. Radio International, 28/3 until 1815* on 7490, signal soo strong, could 'bend' my s-meter, at the end of scale on the NRD 535. Seday-e Iran 27/3 +1930 - 2130 (s/off) on 11575, with a lot of excitement on the phone-in show as people were calling in why your are still on he air, announcer asked for more support of the station also donations, some commercial jingles for dentists and other physicians in Beverly Hills Area ...; also strong recommendations to stay away from the state organised demonstrations to take place on 28/3 in Tehran... Seday-e Iran (?) 29/3 1830-2100 on 7525, program as above, couldn't get the ID as I was tuning in and out over the time span but 99% sure, will check today again. Was also reported by Anker Petersen in the meantime with ?; signal on 29/3 was 54554. V. of Communist Party of Iran Heard on various occasions, last 31/3 on 4380.7 - 4380.4 in // 3870.8 variable (alternate 3880.6) signing off at 1730 with Internationale; signal on both channels at SINPO 43433 / 44444. Usually the 3870 is better heard. V. of Southern Ayerbaijan 27/3 +1734-1755* on 9375,6 with SINPO 34333, awful modulation, will require more monitoring; should be listed under Iran as clearly against Tehran Government and seeking reunification of Azeri dominated provinces in Iran with today's Azerbaijan. I am not yet so sure about their schedule on the homepage is 5 days a week, please check the picture: [missing link] Radio Mojahed Nothing heard about this recently... Mar 25-31. (all: Wolfgang von Poellnitz, Warsaw, Poland, Harris RF-550 / RF-551 preselector, JRC NRD-535 DG, longwires, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** IRAQ. It seems that Iraqi Iraq, not only Kurdistan, has gone on DST of UT +4 judging from the Baghdad clock on CNN April 4. I assume this is one issue the US and Sadaam agree upon! Look for any official or clandestine broadcasts to be one hour earlier than before (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Information Radio 11292: I am still looking for positive ID, as now at best, I could pick up some waves of music or speech; for sure the carrier is there even long before 1500; I have not much clue why this frequency was chosen; possibly the American specialists have gained knowledge that standard Iraqi transistors radios have good coverage of 11 MHz aeronautical band... Mar 31 9715, 31/3 1500-2000, I cannot confirm any sign on before 1500 as I just arrived there sharp 1500 with the first communiqués to Fedaijin soldiers, exceptionally strong signal up to SINPO 44333, however R Tashkent signing on co-channel at 1520 4500, 31/3 +1508-2000, at the beginning under Urumqi co-channel, then equal and clear after 1800 (why this frequency?). The signal fades in here similar to 4085 as-Sulaimaniya, however slightly weaker. According to my listening 4500 carries a different program than 9715, more music orientated. Now whether this is really an airborne operation or not we will find out the coming days or weeks. My pretty speculative theory is: there used to be always a second output of V. of the People of Kurdistan, heard until late January on 4400 or finally 4415 kHz. I am guessing that exactly this transmitter is used as Americans are known to be in the area and the V. of the People of Kurdistan has to share anyway 4025 with the Americans ... The ID of 4500 info Radio sounded a bit patched yesterday, as when Radio Maulumat slogan started a second speaker set in and it got a bit mixed, will check this again. Mar 31 V. of the Democratic Assyrian Movement, Ashur Radio 9155.0 or 9154.9 kHz heard 30/30 +0935-1105* and restarting around 1550 with easy listening music to restart at 1600 (-1800*), in morning hours just 20-30dB / 1 uV, in the afternoon good signal up to SINPO 44444 1/4 +1108-1201*, most likely summer schedule started or extended one hour. V. of Iraqi Liberation 28/3 +1930-2000* on 4020.5, rather unusual as 5 kHz off and earlier s/off, requires daily monitoring of the freq. also after hours ... V. of Iraqi People 28/3 -2104* on 3900, then I stayed on the frequency and the station restarted at 2109 with news in Arabic, will need more monitoring, not much reported on this one. 31/3 on 3900 signing off at 2018* (all: Wolfgang von Poellnitz, Warsaw, Poland, Harris RF-550 / RF-551 preselector, JRC NRD-535 DG, longwires, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** IRAN/IRAQ [non]. Re Hans Johnson`s questions: V. of Iranian Communist Party and V. of Revolution now 1 h earlier 1630-1730, 1430- 1530, 0230-0330, 0430-0530 on 3880, 4380. V. of Komala 1 hour earlier 0200-0330, 1600-1730 on 3930, 4615. Increased broadcast times for: V. of People of Iraq 1725-1950 on 3900, 5892; V. of Iraqi Toilers presumed, 1330-1800 on 4245. Only V. of Mojahed and V. of Iranian Kurdistan and R. Kurdistan left the air. (Mar 30) 73, (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, April 3 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service Republic of Iraq Radio Main Service was received between 0615 to 1600 gmt on 909 kHz, believed to be a transmitter near Baghdad, and on 603 kHz between 0500 to 1400 gmt, believed to be a transmitter near Mosul. The radio continued to carry patriotic songs and brief commentaries praising Iraqi people and urging the Iraqis to fight the Americans and British (BBCM 1630 gmt April 2 via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DXLD) ** IRAQ. April 2 at 2235, 11787, R. Iraq International heard briefly in English. Not sure if this was the end of an English program or just a brief English segment. Back into Arabic around 2237. So far has only been off the air one night (John Santosuosso, Lakeland, FL, via Terry Krueger, DXLD) ** IRAQ. The Iraqi satellite channel just showed a report showing the Iraqi president walking in the street of Baghdad and shacking hands with the people. He also was visiting the destroyed buildings in Baghdad. Shaking hands with the soldiers!! While watching that and listening to Twin River Radio they were broadcasting a message saying SADDAM DIED! strange world..... (TAREK ZEIDAN, Cairo, Egypt, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As some detractor on CNN quickly pointed out, the real Saddam would not put himself into such a position even in peacetime --- exposing himself to common germs by direct bodily contact, not to mention security risk of mingling with a crowd! (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. On 3 April around 1800 no signal from Information Radio on 4500. The usual ones 4025.3v and 4085 from that area are present, so not a propagation thing. Scanned thru the 4 MHz band but not found. Temporarily off or a frequency change? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi DXers, Impossible to confirm jamming noticed yesterday by Tarek Zeidan on 4025 kHz, V. of Iraq Liberation, but from 1930 to 0130 UT this morning I have noticed a strong blank carrier on this frequency. I was waiting for any modulation or voice but nothing Heard. Since 2 days, nothing heard from Information Radio on all frequencies known. 4500 was the best frequency here. Tnx for any info about that... Regards (Pascal Perriot Tours, France, Apr 4, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Hello my friends, today around 1600 UT I noticed that Information Radio is back again on 4500 kHz after a couple of days off this frequency! All the best, P E A C E !! (TAREK ZEIDAN, Cairo Egypt, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ [non]. Checked with R75, 16 m horizontal antenna, 8 m extension inside the house and checking parallels with the C300 KCHIBO (more about this on my web page http://www.geocities.com//zliangas/kchibo.pdf ) Radio Maklumat [sic – Information Radio] heard yesterday 2.4 on 9715 at 2130 with western songs and talks against Saddam by woman till 2133 when songs continued. Sharp audio. Co-channel with R. Liberty interfering only on AM mode. However in SSB mode the USB part was clear from QRM from RL against Info R. So that I suspect they use ISB and same transmitter!! (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAQ. BRITISH TROOPS LAUNCH LEAFLET CAMPAIGN AND RADIO STATION The British forces say they have launched a campaign to win over the hearts and minds of the people of Basra. Capturing the southern city, which has been under siege for almost two weeks, is a key component in the Allies' plan to topple Saddam Hussein's regime. Troops have been handing out leaflets, reassuring residents that the British are on the side of ordinary Iraqis and are interested only in defeating the ruling Ba'ath Party. The leaflet acknowledges that the last time the city sought the help of the coalition - during the 1991 Gulf war - the promised support never materialised. Headed "This time we won't abandon you", the leaflet declares "Be patient, together we will win" and features a drawing of a smiling squaddie shaking hands with an Iraqi. The British have set up a local radio station called Radio Nahrain, which broadcasts news about the war and offers of jobs on an FM frequency. Meanwhile, troops are also working to highlight the fact the Army will help the region get back on its feet after the pounding it has received from coalition forces. Members of 32 Royal Engineers, attached to 7 Armed Brigade, are helping Iraqi oil workers try to put out an oil pipe fire 15km south of Basra, using a combat tractor to pour tons of sand on the burning oil. This has allowed workers to get close enough to use hoses to spray foam on the oil and give them access to cut off the valve and stop its flow. Story filed: 16:08 Wednesday 2nd April 2003 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_766765.html (Ananova via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** IRAQ. YOU`RE TUNED TO BASRA FM by Carol Midgley The army broadcasts pop music and advice on how to surrender. But is it just propaganda? The Army has set up a 24-hour radio station featuring DJs and a bizarre mix of music with the aim of hammering home the message that its soldiers come as friends, not enemies LIEUTENANT-COLONEL COLIN MASON must have cut an unlikely figure as he strode along the Edgware Road in London last month. As he popped in and out of the dozens of ethnic stores which line the road by the flyover, his arms full of Arabic pop music CDs, few people would have realised that this was a man preparing for war. Indeed, Mason was on a shopping expedition for Basra. Those CDs and records are now stacked in a 12ft x 12ft tent pitched in the desert in southern Iraq. Their purpose is to provide the backbone of what the British Army hopes will be an effective tool in winning the battle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. The Army has set up a 24-hour radio station featuring DJs and a bizarre mix of music with the aim of hammering home the message that its soldiers come as friends, not enemies — and to bring a little light relief to a nation exhausted by war. Radio Nahrain, which means Two Rivers, a reference to the Euphrates and the Tigris, operates on 100.4FM and 94.6FM frequencies, and although some might say that it broadcasts propaganda, the Army insists it is conveying vital information. So far the playlist has included a mixture of Arab music and Western pop — an early sign, critics might say, of the future westernisation of Iraq. After treating listeners to `How Deep Is Your Love?` by the Bee Gees earlier this week, the announcer said in Arabic: ``We are here to help the population of Iraq. We are always beside you, against the regime of Saddam Hussein. We are not against you.`` Radio Nahrain is not a station for the coalition forces, it is exclusively for the Iraqi people. The British Forces Broadcasting Service operates a separate radio station from Kuwait, a morale- boosting venture of the type immortalised by Robin Williams in the film `Good Morning Vietnam`. Mason, who is a territorial with the Royal Regiment of Wales, says that the messages, broadcast by a team of three male Arabic presenters who work in shifts, inform citizens of when military action is taking place and which areas they should avoid. The broadcasters also advise Iraqi soldiers what to do if they want to surrender and tell them where they can find humanitarian aid. But is it chiefly a propaganda weapon? TV antennae in Basra have been knocked out, cutting the supply of propaganda from Baghdad. Radio, on the other hand, is still a source of Iraqi misinformation and has been moved up the Allies` list of targets. Mason, who is also the deputy chairman of Choice FM in London, says: ``There is a fine line between public relations and propaganda. This is not propaganda; it is conveying vital information. These can be life-and-death messages.`` Is Saddam ever mentioned? ``He is part of the situation. It is inevitable that you will mention his name. Some of the messages do point out what the coalition would call the short-term nature of the regime.`` It is not known how many people are tuning in, but the Allies can probably be confident of a good-sized audience. Few other stations are broadcasting in Iraq at present. Radio Nahrain has been on air for a week and is manned continually. All the high-tech equipment was dismantled and shipped across the desert in a series of flight cases. The transmitter itself sits in a separate, adjacent tent to keep it cool and protect it from dust and sand. Two of the main broadcasters are from Kuwait, while the other is from an unspecified country in the Middle East. The radio station is run by an army unit known as the 15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group. A similar station was set up in Kabul during the war in Afghanistan. Much research was done into Iraqi musical tastes before setting up. Thus there has been serious investment in the work of Fairuz, a revered Lebanese singer and composer who is highly popular among Arabs. ``There is a real mix of stuff,`` says Mason. ``Pan-Arabic pop is similar to Western pop music. Some of it sounds almost the same.`` Radio Nahrain is not quite in BBC Radio 1 territory yet, though. For the moment, the most important thing is that the people find out what is going on, say army chiefs. But it has been designed in an ``easy-listen`` format and it is hoped that within a few weeks its personality will develop into ``The People`s Friend``. It is not impossible that, before long, depending on the time it takes to topple Saddam`s regime, a phone-in programme will be organised in which locals can call to express their views. That, adds Mason, would be the ultimate in establishing a dialogue between the coalition and the people. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-633316,00.html (via Bill Westenhaver, April 4, DXLD) Hey! The Two Rivers name is already spoken for! (gh, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. Swedish Radio's Kent Berggren has sent some interesting war-related web links. pc-radio.com reports the Iraqi government site falls prey to hackers: http://www.pc-radio.com/uruklink-0wned.html The latest round of bombs appears to have finally cut off Iraqi access to the Internet: http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/03/31/iraq_offline/index.html Babilonline (Saddam's homepage?): http://www.babilonline.net/ (Kent Berggren, SR, SCDX, MediaScan Apr 2 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. Hello from Hilversum, The war in Iraq is of course the main item on the agenda this week. I have not watched any "normal" TV programmes for more than two weeks now. But neither have the inhabitants of Iraq, and that's the subject of this week's main feature. THE WAR ACCORDING TO IRAQI TV Patriotic songs, press conferences, exhortations, and threats to the enemy are the mainstay of Iraq's satellite TV service, which keeps defying coalition attempts to silence it. Hanke Drop is an Arabist who works in the Planning Department at Radio Netherlands. She has been watching the Iraq Satellite Channel - which is currently available nationwide in The Netherlands via DSL - and describes what a typical day's viewing is likely to feature. The station did not go off the air during last night's power outage in Baghdad, and we believe it's operating from a secret location. http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/tv030403.html For ongoing coverage of the media war in Iraq, don't forget to check the page in our dossier with latest news and developments at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/iraq030319.html plus our Weblog at http://radio.weblogs.com/0121781/ The server that hosts the Weblog seems to have been very slow in the last 24 hours. Hopefully that's just a temporary glitch (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter April 4 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. TAIBEH PIRATE RADIO STATION SHUTDOWN From Arutz Sheva News: 23:40 Apr-01-03, 28 Adar 5763 (IsraelNN.com) Police and Communications Ministry inspectors today raided and shutdown an illegal radio station operating in the Israeli Arab municipality of Taibeh. Officials explained the illegal broadcasts interfered with the emergency 'silent' radio station operating during the war against Iraq (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** JAPAN. Radio Japan in English from 31 March 2003; General Service Southeast Asia 0000-0015 on 13650 & 17810 0100-0200 on 17810 & 11860 (Singapore) 0500-0600 on 17810 0600-0700 on 11740 (Singapore) 1000-1200 on 9695 1400-1600 on 7200 Asian Continent 0100-0200 on 17845 0500-0700 on 15195 1000-1200 on 15590 1500-1600 on 9750 Far East Russia 0500-0600 on 11715 & 11760 Southwest Asia 0100-0200 on 15325 1400-1600 on 11730 Oceania 0300-0400 on 21610 0500-0700 on 21755 1000-1100 on 21755 1400-1500 on 11840 (Sri Lanka) 2100-2200 on 6035 (Singapore) North America 0000-0100 on 6145 East (Canada) 0500-0600 on 6110 West (Canada) & 9835 0600-0700 on 13630 1100-1200 on 6120 East (Canada) 1400-1500 on 9505 1500-1600 on 6120 East (Canada) & 11705 East (Canada) 1700-1800 on 9505 Hawaii 2100-2200 on 21670 Central America 0300-0400 on 17825 South America 0100-0200 on 17835 Europe 0500-0600 on 5975 (UK) 0500-0700 on 7230 (UK) 1000-1100 on 17585 (UAE) 1700-1800 on 11970 2100-2200 on 6055 (UK) & 6180 (UK) Middle East & North Africa 0100-0200 on 17560, 11880 (Sri Lanka) & 15240 (Sri Lanka) 1400-1500 on 17755 (Sri Lanka) Africa 1700-1800 on 15355 South (Gabon) 2100-2200 on 11855 Central (Ascension Island) Regional Service: Oceania 0100-0200 on 17685 North America 2100-2200 on 17825 Hawaii 0600-0700 on 17870 (Radio Japan Programme schedule via Michael Murray, UK, World DX Club via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. Radio Kurdistan / V. of the KSDP: 25/3 +1950-2058* on 4140,4 -,7 kHz fair signal but frequency varying 28/3 +1635-1700* of first evening transmission, fair, same frequency 31/3 +1605 on 4135.56 and later again at around 2020 UT, with some QRM V. of Iraqi Kurdistan Overall best heard station in the 4 MHz range, heard for a couple of days until 2200 UT on 4085, 31/3 however closing at 2000 V, of Komala 31/3 *1558-1730* on 3928.05 and parallel 4615 (jammed); strangely 4615 continues after 1730, but the time before was 100% in //. 3938 [sic – so this one is a typo?] is SINPO 34433 in USB. Heard the 3928 output on 27/3 also IDing as Radio Payam ('Radio News'); the 3928 output is carrier plus USB while the 4615 is a full double-sided AM signal... will need more monitoring on 4615; however, the jammer is really awful. V. of Kurdistan Toilers 31/3 +1744-1802* on 4245.0 - .6, difficult to track the frequency (but the Harris has AFC...) Kurdish + Arabic program, at 1800 100% ID as in CR Intel report, recording available; SINPO 34333 V. of Mesopotamia / Dengi Mesopotamia 31/3 +1245 on 11530 already on the air, no traces on 15675; so I looked again today 1/4 at 0900 and the station is already on the air on 11530 kHz, SINPO 45554/5 V. of the People of Kurdistan 25/3 heard until 2108 on 4025.2; very strange as this was already after the s/off of V. of Iraqi Liberation on same transmitter; will require daily monitoring ... (all: Wolfgang von Poellnitz, Warsaw, Poland, Harris RF-550 / RF-551 preselector, JRC NRD-535 DG, longwires, Clandestine Radio Watch via DXLD) ** KUWAIT. R. Kuwait, 11990, still in Arabic at 1800 (Bob Thomas, CT, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LEBANON [non]. Lebanon's V. of Freedom (backed by Aoun) For yesterday, 11515 opening at 1600 with S9 or 44444, talks by woman in Arabic. Check at 1640 with patriotic songs and signed off 1600 [sic – means 1700 or is it 1500-1600?? --gh]. For today found on 11620 at 1635 with patriotic songs mentioning Lubnen (Lebanon), a short declaration by OM, and signed off on 1650 with presumed national anthem before sign off. This is a small part while I`m listening in the bed these days for my recovery (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBYA. Voice of Africa -- Rumen Pankov recently reported that Voice of Africa from Libya would have changed from 1251 to 648. This must have been a temporary measure or a switching error. On two consecutive nights earlier this week I heard the program as usual on 1251 in parallel with 711 and nothing on 648 around 0000-0100 (Olle Alm, Sweden, 3 April, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Three transmissions of the Overcomer Ministry in English have been added today on 3 April; the new relay schedules for the A03 season are now as follows: Vilnius 612 kHz (100 kW ND) 0300-0500 Radio Liberty in Belarusian, 0500-0600 Overcomer Ministry in English; 1300-2100 Radio Liberty in Belarusian, 2100-2130 Radio Polonia in Belarusian. Also Sat 0500-0600 Fundamental Broadcasting Network in English. Sitkunai 1386 kHz (500 kW ND) 1900-2000 Overcomer Ministry in English 2200-2215 Missionswerk Freundesdienst in German. Sitkunai 1557 kHz (150 kW ND) 1700-1800 Overcomer Ministry in English 1800-2200 China Radio International in Russian, Chinese, Polish, English (from April 16). (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX, via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. The below enclosed posting from a German forum reports DRM tests done by BCE today on 6095, including a 20 kHz wide signal and herewith disturbing at least Munich on 6085. The 20 kHz signal had a bitrate of 42.2 kbit/s, a later test with a 10 kHz signal was run at 34.7 kbit/s, a significant higher bitrate than found on other 10 kHz bandwidth DRM trials. Certainly impressive engineering work, but there is a serious drop of bitterness: BCE cares not about existing broadcasting outlets. And BCE belongs to a commercial media group rather than a state-owned foreign service. See what I mean when I say that DRM could be a deathly kiss for the broadcasters dominating the shortwave bands today? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Autor: Carsten Knütter Datum: 03.04.2003 18:46 Also, RTL hat heute wieder fleißig DRM getestet. Heute haben sie verschiedene Bitraten getestet. Teilweise haben sie mit einem 20 kHz breiten Signal getestet. 42.2 kbps in stereo. Leider kann nur Dream 20 kHz verarbeiten und DReam kann kein SBR. So konnte ich dann zwar stereo hören aber vom Hocker hat es mich nicht gerissen. Danach haben sie probiert, was man so aus einem 10 kHz breiten Signal rausholen kann, was ja auf Kurzwelle wahrscheinlich Standart wird. Bisher gab es da immer 20.9 kbps mono, was mit mono UKW vergleichbar ist. Heute gab es 34.7 kbps in stereo. Das war der Wahnsinn! Keinerlei Dropouts bei so einer hohen Bitrate. 64-75 kbps gelten bei diesem audio codec übrigens als CD Qualität, was ja mit 20 kHz Signalen auch mit DRM erreichbar ist. Interessant war, dass RTL Klassik gesendet hat. Vielleicht ein neues RTL Programm? Heute wurde sowieso so viel DRM gesendet, wie noch nie. Wohl auch wegen der EDRC in München. Naja und der Regelbetrieb beginnt ja auch schon in zwei Monaten (via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** MEXICO. 6185, R. Educación, 0822-0844 3/26 Played the wonderful Mexican marching band versions of 7 Beatles songs, complete with tuba. This is funny! 2nd time I've heard it (Larry Russell, MI, MARE Tipsheet Apr 4 via DXLD) ** MOLDOVA. The weekly Wednesday English broadcast from Radio DMR, Tiraspol`, confirmed today 2 April, one hour earlier than in the winter at 1600-1630 UTC on 5960 kHz. Fair reception here but with a splatter from Radio Netherlands on 5955 kHz. Signed on at 1600 with an anthem followed by this very long winded announcement: "This is the 40th edition of the English version of the informational analytic programme Pridnestrovye prepared by the editorial staff of the information political programme of the Radio DMR for listeners in Europe and the CIS." I have seen DMR (Dnestr Moldavian Republic) given as "PMR" in some reports, although their web site confirms the name is Radio DMR - see http://www.olvia.idknet.com/newweben.htm Postal address is: Radio DMR, Rose Luxembourg Street 10, 3300 Tiraspol`, Republic of Moldova. At 1629 sign-off they still announced the broadcast time as "5pm Greenwich time". 73s (Dave Kenny, Caversham UK, AOR7030+, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. 15170, *1901-1929*, 04/02, Hausa (presumed). Singing ID at sing-on, "Jakada International" (twice), "Jakada Radio" (once) and "Jakada International" again (twice). Female with announcements and several IDs. Native music with male announcer talk over. Announcer with political talks regarding Nigeria, PDP and NCP parties with quick ID, mention of "Hausa" at 1915. Singing ID and native music followed by more talk of Nigeria and, again, native music and singing ID at sign-off. Very good signal, strong and clear. Much better than old frequency of 12125. Definitely NOT in English as listed per Observer (Scott R Barbour Jr, NH, April 2, Sangean ATS 818, RF Systems MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RDA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Observer also says this is via South Africa now ** POLAND. A-03 Schedule: Poland - R. Polonia BROADCASTING SCHEDULE EXTERNAL SERVICE FROM MARCH 30 TO OCTOBER 25 2003, ALL TIMES IN UT SAT - In addition to short and medium waves, some broadcasts also available on the EUTELSAT II F-6 Hot Bird satellite 13 EAST. Frequency 11.474 GHz, polarization H, sound subcarrier 7.38 MHz. An 80 cm dish is recommended throughout Europe. On the outer limits of the footprint (North Africa, Middle East, parts of Kazakhstan a dish of a least 1.8 m. is required.) POLISH 0200-0255 225 0500-0559 SAT 0700-0759 SAT 1030-1059 7285 SAT 1530-1629 5965 SAT 2100-2159 6050 SAT 2200-2259 SAT RUSSIAN 0630-0659 SAT 1100-1125 9540 6095 SAT 1300-1329 9540 6095 SAT 1430-1455 7180 1500-1529 SAT 1800-1829 6035 SAT 1900-1955 6095 7180 2300-2359 SAT UKRAINIAN 0300-0329 SAT 0800-0829 SAT 1430-1459 6000 SAT 1830-1859 7180 6035 SAT BELARUSSIAN 0430-0459 SAT 1330-1429 7180 5995 SAT 1630-1659 5995 SAT 2030-2059 SAT ESPERANTO 0330-0329 SAT 0800-0829 SAT 1430-1459 6000 SAT 1830-1859 7180 6035 SAT ENGLISH 0330-0429 SAT 0900-0959 SAT 1200-1259 11820 9525 SAT 1700-1759 5995 7285 SAT 1930-2029 SAT Additionally, some programs in English can be heard on the WORLD RADIO NETWORK Europe 0500-0530, 1900-2000 CET SKY digital package, Astra 28 E, WRN English, HotBird 13 E, cable, terrestrial relays; North America 1300-1330, 2300-2330 EST [sic] WRN 1, Telstar 5, 97 W, 12.177 GHz, V, terrestrial relays, Sirius car radio Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America WRN1 0500-0630, 1700-1730 UT, 00.30-01.00 (Sun) Africa Afristar channel 627, Multichoice WRN 1 Panamsat 68.5 E, Intelsat 1 W 3.9115 GHz, R-HC Asia, Australia Asiastar WRN 1, AsiaSat 100.5 E, 4.000 GHz, H GERMAN 0600-0629 SAT 1130-1159 9525 6095 SAT 1530-1555 7270 1930-1955 7285 6210 1330-1400, 1600-1630 (M-F) 2100-2130 GMT, Astra 1B, 11.612, Horizontal Polarization Audio 7.38 MHz (Website via Alan Roe, Teddington, UK, DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. Well known local Radio and TV Announcer and Music Collector Mr. Gilbert Mamery died a few days ago in his hometown Mayagüez, Puerto Rico as a result of hart failure. At the time of his death, Mr. Mamery was 77 years old. He will be remembered for his huge contribution to radio in Puerto Rico, for airing his program La Discoteca del Recuerdo, a program devoted to popular music where he kept alive music for the worlds best known singers both male female. His program had a record for being on the air for more than 40 years. Mamery was also known for having maybe one of the largest collection (if not the largest) in Puerto Rico of audio clips, records,videos etc of world known singers like Libertad Lamarque, Pedro Vargas, Rafael Hernandez, Bobby Capo, Argentina's Carlos Gardel just to mention a few. For more information and a complete detailed report, please click the attached web site. My deepest respect for the memory of this Giant of radio and popular music in Puerto Rico Mr. Gilbert Mamery http://espanol.entertainment.yahoo.com/030331/20/idsz.html (via Luigi Pérez, NP4FW, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** ROMANIA. RRI fair and clear in English from *1359 April 4 on 17805, but audio somewhat muffled. This is to Western Europe, but here we are a bit further on (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. From last Sunday the last of the shortwave transmitters at Noginsk, east of Moscow, is no longer heard. It was carrying Radio Rossii on 5910/7250 during B02 and used to switch to 5905/7440 for the summer period, but now it is untraced on these and all other lower band frequencies. Judging from the curtain antennas at the site, it is a very old site, probably dating from WWII. It is known to have housed at least one of the famous 120 kW transmitters. This one was switched off around 1992. Further transmitters that left at that time can also be assumed to have been of the same model. These were airing both domestic and external services. After 1992 Noginsk continued on three channels, all carrying Radio Rossii. Two of these went off in 1994 or 1995, when most of Russia's domestic shortwave relays were closed due to rapidly increasing operational costs. The last transmitter was listed by Radio Rossii as using 100 kW, and since it had strong 2x harmonics it can be assumed to have been of the 1950s early Sneg model. A possible original set-up at Noginsk could be 4x120 kW + 4x100 kW. Most curtains at the site are rather low with center beams of 115, 220 and 232 degrees. A 4/4/1 array of a later model is much larger and has 2x120 m masts for the low frequency curtain. The center beam here is 259 degrees. The site also has a variety of rhombic antennas, primarily for domestic services. There are two more subsites in the same general area, one using 198 kHz LW and 846 kW MW and the other one, known as Elektrostal, using 873 kHz MW. Elektrostal was also the home of a megawatt transmitter on 171 kHz LW. Noginsk is not the first shortwave site in the Moscow area to be closed. Chkalovska, also east of the city, northwest from Noginsk, was gradually closed over several years and finally went dark when the Radio Rossii relay on 9720 was transferred to Kurovskaya a couple of years ago. This site, located within a military camp, also housed mediumwave transmitters, which have been closed as well. The number of shortwave transmitters was three or four, all 100 kW (Olle Alm, Sweden, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Sad news of course. Five years ago Noginsk helped me to a good recording of Radio-1. If I remember correct Radio-1 was then carried from Noginsk on a 7.5 MHz frequency I unfortunately cannot recall in detail. There was a distinctive multi-frequency hum (not just harmonics of 50 Hz) in the audio; probably this was one of the ancient 120 kW units? And regarding Chkalovskaya: There also was a 150 kW mediumwave transmitter on 1233 which could be heard here in eastern Germany quite easily when no Czech transmitters operated on this frequency (this was sometime around the mid-nineties). I understand that Chkalovskaya is now off mediumwave, too, right? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAIPAN. MPLA RECOMMENDS 15-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION FOR FAR EAST BROADCASTING --- By Gemma Q. Casas, Variety News Staff THE Marianas Public Lands Authority has recommended a 15-year lease extension for Far East Broadcasting Co. which currently occupies 5 hectares of public land in Marpi, according to acting MPLA Commissioner Frank Eliptico. FEBC operates and maintains studios, transmitters and antennas for broadcasting on medium and shortwave radio bands that reach various countries in Asia. FEBC is the only private station in the CNMI with this capability. The Tinian-based International Broadcasting Bureau, which broadcasts the Voice of America, is federally owned. Eliptico said the original 25-year term of the FEBC lease started on Feb. 4, 1981 and is set to expire on Feb. 3, 2006. He said the MPLA board voted unanimously to support the extension of FEBC`s lease so that it could continue ``broadcasting fundamental principles of human and religious rights to undeveloped and developing countries.`` In a communication sent to the Legislature, Henry Hofschneider, MPLA commissioner, described FEBC as a ``good lessee`` that pays on time. He said the company has nine missionaries and four staffers working on its leased premises. He said MPLA has conducted an on-site inspection on FEBC`s premises and found no violations of the lease agreement. FEBC pays MPLA $20,945.26 annually and this amount will increase by 15 percent every five years during the extension period, if approved by the Legislature, Hofschneider said (Marianas Variety via E. Baxendale, UK, April 4, DXLD) ** SAO TOME & PRINCIPE. Hello Glenn, just received this from Ben Dawson: SÃO TOMÉ --- Our intrepid field engineer, Graham Powell, reported this morning (evening local time) that IBB 1530 Pinheira, São Tomé, was back to normal full power directional operation subsequent to the replacement of both towers and readjustment of the antenna feed system. Best 73s (Ydun Ritz, Denmark, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. AL ISLAH noted for at least a week in 12025 . Signal yesterday 3 April, 1935 UT was S9+30 444444 with its usual audio gaps // with the satellite feed on 11096 MHz on Hotbird 13 E. Usual times, satellite feed however had not the gaps occurred in the radio transmission, and I really wonder why they did not use a TV/ARO system to relay it. I`m very curious why I have not seen any log for this week (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, April 4, http://www.geocities.com/zliangas/kchibo.pdf DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO. R. ``Yugoslavia`` still announcing old winter sked and frequencies. I`ve found English half hour to NAm at 0100 on 9580; too bad! Clashes with CRI [via Cuba] in English to NAm. Old RY frequency 7115 has VOA English now (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) But Yugo will soon shift to 0000 (gh, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. FEBA: The schedules I have seen of FEBA show 15580 as Chita at 0015-0200. However today no FEBA programs were broadcast. Instead the theme music as used by Dhabbaya station, UAE during their interruptions were only heard. It suggests that 15580 at 0015-0200 is from Dhabbaya, UAE. 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ATOJ, dx_india via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Radio Slovakia International announced the following English schedule April 2nd: 0100-0130 North America 5930 6190 9400 0700-0730 Australia 9440 15460 17550 1630-1700 Europe 5920 6055 7345 1830-1900 Europe 5920 6055 7345 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 0100-0130 on 5930, but Scott/WWCR is on 5935; 6190 and 9440 (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) said on April 1 it was not renewing its international news service contract with 24-hour news channel CNN, a unit of AOL Time Warner. SABC, one of Africa's biggest broadcasters, said it wanted to vary its late-night schedule to meet viewers' changing tastes. Jimi Matthews, head of television news at SABC, said "We have access to Reuters, to the BBC, to al Jazeera. So we can continue to provide the public with the broadest range of opinion available." (Reuters) This might be a response to CNN's apparent attempt to compete with Fox News' unabashedly one-sided approach to covering the world that we noted last time, by lurching to more American flag-waving than during its golden days during the first Gulf War (SCDX/MediaScan April 2 via DXLD) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. See LITHUANIA ** SPAIN. BBG DENIES PLANS TO USE FORMER SHORTWAVE SITE IN SPAIN The Broadcasting Board of Governors has issued the following statement: "There are no plans to request broadcasting rights for the US government from the transmitting station at Playa de Pals. The ability of newer and different media and the availability of other transmitting locations have enabled the US to fulfill its broadcasting mission through other avenues. "It was determined in May 2001 that while the transmitting station at Playa de Pals had a long and distinguished history, its continued broadcast operations could no longer be operationally or financially justified. On July 31, 2002, the International Broadcasting Bureau, on behalf of the US government, formally concluded the transfer of the transmitting station at Playa de Pals to Radio Nacional de España." (BBG Press release 31 March 2003 via RNMN 2 April 2003 via Radio Enlace, DXLD) ** SPAIN. 15385, REE heard at 0000 UT in English. This is their summer frequency, but was only SINPO 33222 on April 2. Was inaudible on April 1. With increasing daylight, this should propagate a bit better as time goes on (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe here`s why: Found REE at 0000 on 9690; kept dropping out within 2-3 minutes, in English; 6055 only in Spanish (Bob Thomas, CT, April 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 9690 must have been a one-night mistake (gh, DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. SLBC is now heard closing down one hour earlier than usually. On April 1st and again on April 4th the station was heard closing down at 1530 UTC. Reception was very good on April 4th on 11930 and 15745 kHz with a sign off announcement at 1530 incl. frequency announcement. The transmitters were switched off at 1534 UTC. On April 3rd SLBC was heard signing on at 1230 - so it seems the schedule is 1230-1530 (Stig Hartvig Nielsen, Denmark, April 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Contradictory information on exact schedule recently appeared (gh) ** SRI LANKA. Here is the latest schedule of the External Services of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation: English 0030-0430 6005 11905 15745 (S. Asia) 1230-1530 6005 11930 15745 ,, Hindi 0050-0400 7115 9770 (S. Asia) 1330-1530 7115 9770 ,, Kannada 0800-0830 7115 9770 (S. Asia) Malayalam 1000-1130 7115 9770 (S. Asia) Sinhala /Tamil 1615-1900 11775 (Middle East) Tamil 1130-1330 7115 9770 (S. Asia) Telegu 0830-1000 7115 9770 (S. Asia) English 1900-2000 6010 Skelton 300 kW (Europe) (Sat only) (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ATOJ, dx_india via WORLD OF RADIO 1176, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SRI LANKA. The Sri Lankan wonder: Dear Friends, From March 30, 2003, Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corp. uses 7115 at 0020-0400 in Hindi to S. Asia with 10 kW or so. At the same time VOA also from Sri Lanka uses the same frequency in English to the same target area with 250 kW. VOA of course dominates the frequency then. What a wonder! What a co-ordination! 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, ATOJ, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, April 4, dx_india via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. R. Sweden back from the 18 MHz band to 17840, a frequency it used years ago for the morning broadcasts to North America, now scheduled in English at 1130, 1230 and 1330. On April 3 I tuned in at 1450 in Swedish, and found the signal so loud and steady, whilst other European signals on the band were poor to missing, that I suspected an unannounced relay by RCI, similar signal to 17710. But April 4 before and after 1400, tho the 17840 signal was quite strong, it had heavy auroral flutter unlike 17710, and similar to that on the weaker YLE signal on 17660. BTW, at 1413 check April 4, nothing at all heard on the 18900-19030 band; has its novelty worn off? Except Brother Stair on 18950, probably receiver-overload from WWCR 9475 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "Nordic Lights" food and religion in Iceland, Finnish archaeology in Iraq, and a Norwegian docusoap Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: Repeat feature Sunday: Thank you Mr. Blix", looking for a long-lost friend, and feedback on snus in "In Touch With Stockholm" (SCDX/MediaScan Apr 2 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. 9830, Voice of Turkey heard with very strong signal at 2200-2245 UT April 2. Unfortunately, modulation was muddy and so quite difficult to understand. SINPO 54333 (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) At 0300 I hear VOT/TRT Ankara in English on 7270 for As/Af; pretty good when a co-channel signs off at 0327; some 7265 splash. 11655 to North America poor; don`t hear 9650 (Bob Thomas, CT, March 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U A E. RTD-Radio & Television of Dubai A'03 --------------------------------------- 0000-0200 12005, 13675, 15400 Language not known 0200-0330 12005, 13675, 15400, 17890 Arabic To North America 0330-0400 12005, 13675, 15400, 17890 English To North America 0400-0530 13675, 15435, 17830, 21700 Arabic To S.E.Asia, Far East, Australia 0530-0600 13675, 15435, 17830, 21700 English-To S.E.Asia, Far East, Australia 0600-1030 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 Arabic To Europe 1000-1200 15370 Language not known 1030-1100 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 English To Europe, N.Africa 1100-1330 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 Arabic 1200-1330 13630 Arabic 1330-1400 13630, 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 English 1400-1600 13630, 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 Arabic 1600-1635 13630, 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 English 1635-1700 13630, 13675, 15395, 17865, 21605 Arabic 1700-2400 11795, 11950, 13630, 13675, 15395 Arabic Loc : DBA -Dubai (UAE) 25N14 055E16 Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Are they ever really using 5 frequencies at once?? If so, is one non-Dubai? (gh, DXLD) ** U K. Here is an article from the Washington Post March 27 discussing the role of the BBC in reporting the war. By trying to be impartial, they are getting criticism from both those opposed to and those who support the war. THE 'BEEB' IN THEIR BONNET --- By Howard Kurtz A cover-all-sides style, even as British troops are under fire, has brought the BBC a steady fusillade of criticism. To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34033-2003Mar26.html (via ??, DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBCWS on new 17760, fairly good until 1400* April 4. This turns out to be Thailand as per DXLD 3-047: 17760 1000 1400 smtwtfs Nakhon Sawan 250 25 ENGLISH (ASE) FE The 25-degree beam also carrying on to NAm. At least for the time being the Asia stream paralleled the NAm. Hey, they ought to keep a single stream for all the world (except occasional opt-outs; Africa) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGST) ** U S A. I asked Sam Barto, QSL Editor at NASWA, the same question regarding my reports to VOA, R.Marti and RFE/RL getting no reply. Sam said he spoke with Dan Robinson who works for an arm of VOA and he said VOA is having "budget problems". Guess where the first cuts may be. It comes down to money. Some QSLs are getting through but they are e-mail replies. RFE/RL is QSLing foreign reports, nothing form the US. Good Luck! QSLing a 20+ year old report seems like an awful long time. Too each his own. I enjoy QSLing having sent 412 reports since I began in November 2001, receiving 208 replies. 50% return rate looks pretty good! 17 more countries to 100! (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., NH, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Isn`t John Vodenik at Delano still QSLing in his spare time? Send reports directly to him? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. The host of VOA`s Talk to America, who has a rather patrician accent, (what became of Carol Pearson?), mentioned at the outset Friday April 4 that from next week the show would be one hour later because of DST in the US!! I think she is confused, since VOA normally does NOT make such timeshifts in programming, but stays on same UT schedule. Moving it a real hour later to 1805 would put it at 2:05 p.m. EDT instead of the present noon:05 EST. If it really stays at 1705 UT, by the local clock in Washington it will seem to be an hour later at 1:05, but not really! Such provincialism is unbecoming to our international broadcaster (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOA Border Crossings - A03 The A03 VOA English schedule included in DXLD 3-056 omits what the VOA website calls "English - Alternate programming" which I think is their live music request show "Border Crossings". Schedule on the http://www.voanews.com/newsnow/ site is: English-Alternate Programming: 1900-2000 UTC (Monday-Friday) 9550-PHT 9840-UDO 11780-PHT 11970-BIB 12015-UDO 15235-LAM (sites added from the http://monitor.ibb.gov/ site: PHT = Philippines; UDO = Thailand; BIB = Biblis, LAM = Lampertheim (both Germany)) I tried this schedule last night and tonight (2 April) at 1900, but could only hear (strong) signals with "Border Crossings" on 9840 and 12015, with no VOA audible on the other frequencies above. (This program wasn't being carried on the other VOA frequencies to Europe at 1900 e.g. 6160 9760 9770.) (Alan Pennington, BDXC-UK, Caversham UK, AOR 7030+ / longwire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. U.S. radio wooing Arabs --- GOVERNMENT-FUNDED STATION COVERS MIDEAST TO SHOW AMERICAN VIEWPOINT By Jim Puzzanghera, Mercury News Washington Bureau Posted on Fri, Apr. 04, 2003 WASHINGTON - In a weathered suite of offices near Capitol Hill, the staff of Radio Sawa scrambles 24 hours a day to give the Arab world a view of the war in Iraq that includes something often missing on Middle Eastern media outlets: the American government's perspective. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/5556689.htm (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) About R. Sawa, and proposal for TV too ** U S A. R. Sawa heard today 3.4 at 13xx as follows: 15445 S9, SINPO 42443, QRM by a digital mode on 15440 15045 S9, 42443 QRM 15050 Egypt 17875 S2 24232 echoed. All are in synchro // to the #3 SAWA satellite channel (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15045??? ** U S A. 5835.0 KIMF PIÑÓN, NEW MÉXICO 2245-1800 SNA 50.0 135 11865.0 KIMF PINON, NEW MEXICO 1800-2245 SNA 50.0 135 (GJA Inc. site via Jim Moats, WORLD OF RADIO 11767, DXLD) Still no sign of coming on air. Note the quite low frequency for most of the daytime as well as night, obviously aimed only at nearby Mexico then. BTW, I strongly suggest that other editors copying DXLD quit eliminating my explicatory remarks like this (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KVOH Spurs: I tuned to 17775 kHz today April 2 at about 1755 UT. KVOH was not on. At 1759 they came on with music, I tuned to 17628 kHz, a spur was present with something under it. I then went to 17921 kHz and found a spur there. At 1800 the 17921 kHz spur went off. I returned to 17775 KVOH which was still on; they ran a sign on announcement at 1801. The spurs were still gone. At 1805, I found Radio France International on 17630 kHz, in Spanish, clear from interference, except for slight slop over from a Chinese jammer on 17640. RFI turned off at 1830. All of the frequencies on which I had noted spurious signals yesterday (17483, 17628, 17921, and 18067) were clear. Either KVOH has fixed the problem, or it has simply gone away (again). (Donald Wilson, CA, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. WJIE`s 24-hour usage[? This shows a gap at 0000- 0400!] of 7490 encounters the following clashes for A-03 according to HFCC; note that WJIE`s antenna heading is 55 degrees, slightly south of NE. 7490 0400 2200 9 JIE 50 55 USA JIE FCC 7490 2200 2400 9,27 JIE 50 55 USA JIE FCC 7490 1000 1100 35 KHB 100 65 RUS RRS GFC 7490 0300 0400 28E,29,39N,40W KVI 500 95 NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT 7490 0400 0500 28E,29,39N,40W KVI 500 110 NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT 7490 1800 1900 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT 7490 1900 2000 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT 7490 2000 2100 27,28,37N SVE 500 180 NORW/DAN NOR RNI NPT Summarizing: the only DVR usage --- 65 degrees from Khabarovsk is more or less toward us --- is one hour at 1000, so WOR at 1200 weekdays should be in the clear this summer. As would the alleged Sat airing at 1000 once it changes next week to 0900. Norway is there 0300-0500 (don`t be surprised if you hear them actually relaying BBCWS in English during the first half of the hours!) so WOR at 0300 once it changes to 0200 next week (if really on), will be clear; and Norway also on at 1800-2100 when even WJIE is at maximum daytime absorption anyway (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 5920, WBOH Newport NC; 0530 with religion // 9370. Why-oh- why do these folks think it's necessary to have two stations from the same place with the same Baptist Top 40 hits? You'd think there would be two different sets of programs (Liz Cameron the Commentator, MI, 30 Mar, MARE Tipsheet via DXLD) I think that is in their plans; adding Spanish; however WTJC and WBOH have different alleged target areas (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. 7415, WBCQ, Monticello ME; 2350 3/22 Presumed Jay Smilkstein talking about his favorite subject - the one featured by pirate WHYP. So Jay has a regular slot on WBCQ? I crossed WBCQ twice more Sat. night. Sat. must be porno night on WBCQ (Larry Russell, MI, MARE Tipsheet Apr 4 via DXLD) ** U S A. MESSAGES RADIOED TO MIDDLE EAST Shortwave station carries voice mails Wed, Apr 2, 2003 Truth Staff SOUTH BEND -- People who want to send a voice message to the U.S. troops can do so over the telephone. LeSea Broadcasting is accepting phone messages and delivering 12 of them a day to the Middle East via shortwave radio. LeSea's "Soldiers Salute" accepts one-minute messages at a South Bend number then broadcasts them over its WHRA radio station, which airs in Africa and the Middle East on three frequencies. The religious-oriented broadcast company has already received hundreds of calls from all across the United States. Messages are monitored and played with a standard introduction. People can leave messages for specific servicemen and women or for the troops overall. LeSea also offers coverage from the Middle East, via satellite videophone, on it's METV, or Middle East TV station. For more information, visit http://www.harvest-tv.com Here's the Number: To leave a one-minute message to be broadcast via short-wave radio in the Middle East, call (574) 299-4059. http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/277393435908248.bsp (Elkhart IN Truth [Pravda?] via Kim Elliott, Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. SHORTWAVE RADIO STILL CRACKLING AWAY http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2003-04-01-shortwave_x.htm (via Andy Sennitt, Artie Bigley, DXLD) Beware of outdated schedule info sidebar ** U S A. STOPPING ANTI-WAR COMMERCIALS Groups opposed to the U.S.-led campaign against Baghdad complain they have been blocked from airing anti-war advertisements on broadcast media increasingly dominated by giant corporations. The online advocacy group TrueMajority.org said it had no problem placing ads in newspapers such as "The New York Times" and "The Wall Street Journal", but TV was different. CNN, Fox, the teen music network MTV, and even cable television's Comedy Central, turned down spots featuring celebrities like Susan Sarandon talking with "experts" about war issues. News Corp.'s Fox network has a long-standing policy of not accepting so-called advocacy ads, a network spokeswoman said. AOL Time Warner's CNN does not take advocacy ads about regions in conflict, a spokesman said in an e-mail. The anti-war group Not In Our Name said MTV refused to air its spots by acclaimed documentary maker Barbara Kopple, in which young Americans in New York's Times Square talk of their opposition to war (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Apr 2 via DXLD) ** U S A. 99.7 MHz (LPR) unidentified, Naples; per FCC File No. EB- 02-TP-276, NAL/Acct. No. 200232700017 (March 24, 2003), one Homere Hyppolite of 4843 Devon Circle, Naples, FL 34112 was visited on May 14, 2002 by Tampa Office field agents and delivered a warning letter. He apparently voluntarily surrendered his transmitting equipment at this time, which also appears to have been the first FCC visit. On July 15th, an NAL was issued with a fine of $10,000. Due to claimed financial hardship, the fine was reduced to $2,000. Hyppolite stated he was only testing the equipment, and never intended to operate a radio station at his residence. "However, when the FCC agents interviewed him on May 14, 2002, he told them that he was operating the station as a service to the community." Though not confirmed, I presume the format was Haitian kreyol language, based on the name of the person fined. Visit my "Florida Low Power Radio Stations" at: http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1510, Sun N Krash reactivated for the annual slaughter at the local airport (John Santosuosso, Lakeland, FL, via Terry Krueger, DXLD) The 1510 kHz is in reference to WPEP788 "Sun-N-Fun Radio", Lakeland Linder Regional Airport TIS, which activates for the Sun-N- Fun Fly-In (and other special events), more archival details of course at my page http://home.earthlink.net/~tocobagadx/flortis.html (Terry Krueger, April 2, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 690, WNZK Dearborn Heights MI; 1315 3/18 Playing classical music. Have classical music listeners achieved ethnic minority status? (Larry Russell, MI, MARE April 4 via DXLD) Astounding! ** U S A. Arts & Culture: KCRW's local commentaries (The Loh Life, Art Talk, City Observed, Jay's Journal, and Film Reviews) are moving to 6:55 PM on weekdays, beginning Monday (4/07). On the next Politics of Culture, the effect of new media on war coverage, Tuesday (4/08) at 2:30 PM (KCRW newsletter Apr 4 via DXLD) For one of the top webcasters, KCRW remains provincial in using nothing but local time. So the 5-minute features will then be at 0155 UT Tue-Sat, changes already effectuated in next upload of MONITORING REMINDERS; Politics of Culture Tue 2130-2200 (gh) ** UZBEKISTAN. Radio Tashkent heard in English 2nd April 2030-2100 and 2130-2200 on 5025 9545 and 11905. The 1200-1230 and 1330-1400 English broadcasts heard on 15295 and 17775 (Mike Barraclough, Letchworth, UK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn: Noting Radio Tashkent back on their summer schedule on 15295 and 17775 from 1200 to 1230 gmt with news, features and music. Good clear signal on 17775 on 4/4/03 this morning. 15295 heard, but some interference.(Tom Sliva, NYC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. VOICE OF KHMER KAMPUCHEA KROM, 15660 with good audio and signal, SINPO=43333. OM & YL long talking mentioning 'kampuchea krom' several times, also 'islam', 'mindanao', 'moro' with music background. Only hearing one song at 1425 April 1 during one hour broadcast scheduled at 1400-1459 (Lim Kwet Hian, Jakarta, Indonesia, Cumbre DX via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. I am curious about what was on 6095 after 0630 on 4.3.03 (I don't expect you to answer every one of my questions! Just letting you know.) It was very weak and hard to discern and consisted of French spoken by a woman. I am not able to find anything in the latest ILG database that indicates what this might have been. I listened for about 15' while researching my resources. I suspected that AWR had changed its schedule and was on the air at that time, but not according to their website, which I just checked. Nor was it WSHB, according to their website. I see no other scheduled French programs on that freq. REE has one French program in ILG but not at that time; I cannot find an indication via the Google cache of their PDF file of REE scheds that they were on at 6095 in French. Maybe I'm caught up by the time changes happening inconsistently now (Steve Waldee - San Jose, CA, April 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Don`t find anything in HFCC, but IBB shows VOA in French weekdays 0530-0630* (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Can you hear 8272.0v USB? I hear a fellow in Spanish accent in English (some Spanish comments) read news, sports, weather to mariners. Starts 8 pm local = 0100 UT (Bob Thomas, CT, Mar 31, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So soon 0000? Check both; sounds like another Herb UNIDENTIFIED. UNKNOWNISTAN: 13715 2339 unstable, distorted transmitter. Sounded like Dr. Gene. Costa Rica spur? Dr. Gene noted on 13750, 13815. Dr. Gene was talking about pyramids again. 3/22 (Larry Russell, MI, MARE Tipsheet Apr 4 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A-03 CLASHES ++++++++++++ Glenn, Another A03 clash is the BBCWS on 11835 (ex-6135) to CAm. It comes in quite well here this week, but after about 0415 is buried by the VOA African service co-frequency (Chuck Albertson, Seattle, Wash., Apr 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Checked this around 0435 April 4, and BBC was way on top here in Alto México, but VOA an annoyance (gh, OK, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ Solar activity has generally been low, however effects from a coronal hole kept the solar wind at high velocity until around April 1. The geomagnetic field was disturbed during this time occasionally reaching minor storm levels. Despite these disturbances MUFs were generally enhanced. Conditions are slowly returning to normal and from today should remain fairly calm until around April 9. Prepared thanks to data from http://www.ips.gov.au (Richard Jary, SA, Apr 4, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) THE HEAT IS ON Satellite data indicate that the sun is experiencing a warming trend. by Kelly Kizer Whitt The new findings show that the trend in solar luminosity may mean that each new solar cycle is stronger than the last. http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/269pnkxj.asp (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) Re: RETRO-4-RADIO Glenn, I'm surprised you let this go without comment: "¼ of 1505 kHz (299 metres)" 1505 kHz is of course 199 metres, not 299 metres. The frequency equivalent to 299 metres is just over 1000 kHz :-) 73, (Andy Sennitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I perceived something was not quite right there, but hurried on (gh, DXLD) ###