DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-117, July 1, 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/dxldtd3g.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 1188: RFPI: Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 7445, 15039 WWCR: Wed 1030 9475 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/wor1188.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1188h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1188.html FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1189: Wed 2200 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2030 on WWCR 15825 Fri 1930 on RFPI 15039, 7445 Sun 0030 on WINB 12160 WORLD OF RADIO BY TELEPHONE Dear Glenn, it is just past 2200 on Wednesday, and I began to listen to WOR on WBCQ, but reception is not good enough to warrant my continuing, considering the other opportunities I have to hear the program. Still, I heard you ask about the 206 phone number on which WOR can be heard. Here is your answer. I had, in fact, planned to write to you about this, but had decided to wait until this week's edition aired. This is a system called Laser Voice. You can get a free Laser Box number by calling: 206-376-5000 This is basically a mailbox. You have to listen to a brief commercial when retrieving your messages. Otherwise the system is free. It is my understanding that the outgoing message can be up to 45 minutes long, while incoming messages are limited to 1 minute or so, and you can have up to 20 of them. I have a Laser Box: 206-376-8456 I do not know how the system is funded, or why it exists. I know the person who has put up WOR at this number: 206-333-5096 He is a blind guy who used to live in Miami, and who now lives in Minneapolis. His name is Joybubbles. That is not merely a handle, he has legally changed his name to Joybubbles. Obviously, he used to have another name, but he does not reveal it to those who did not know him before. I do not know the explanation of why he changed his name. Joy Bubbles (written as one, pronounced as two) is a good guy, a fan of shortwave and a fan of World of Radio. He has done this in order to further the knowledge of shortwave and of your program. If you wish to leave him a message, dial the afore-mentioned number, press pound, and leave a message. Joybubbles is taking his feed from something called the Mobile Broadcast Network, out of Nashville. You can check them out on their web site, or I can give you phone numbers for them. MBN is, I guess, a service intended to deliver radio programs to people's cell phones. It is free, but difficult to locate any specific program unless you go to their web site and look at their schedule, which I cannot do. In fact, I have thought of offering to tape WOR off of shortwave, at a time when I get a good signal, and help Joybubbles by feeding it to his Laser Box, but I will not make this offer if you request me not to. There is another type of shortwave bulletin board which I want to tell you about. This is run by a guy named Jim Hunt, from Pennsylvania (also blind, lots of phone freaks in the blind community). The non- toll-free, but otherwise without cost number is: 717-214-9199 Upon getting his message, immediately press 2. You will then get his menu of programs. Tim Hendel's shortwave corner is number 2. I have now done 4 programs, and I try to update it each week. These are the programs I have done so far. 1. profile of Radio for Peace International 2. Discussion of HCJB, to coincide with May 31. 3. Discussion of Glenn Hauser and World of Radio, with schedule of easiest heard broadcasts. 4. (the current one) a discussion of GMT/UTC etc. I invite you to check this out, and, publicize it if you want to. I do not know how many people are checking this, or, for that matter, how many people are checking out Joybubbles' phone site. I envision my shortwave corner on the Jim Hunt board is being for those with little or no experience with shortwave (Tim Hendel, AL, June 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NETS TO YOU July 1 edition: http://www.worldofradio.com/nets2you.html ** AFRICA. Africalist is now updated: http://africa.coolfreepage.com/africalist/ 20 kb zipped .xls-file with (almost) all subsaharan SW activities sorted by frequency and by country (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ANGOLA. 4950, Rádio Nacional da Angola bommed [boomed? bombed?] all night June 30 till 0230 on all5s, commercial format, many mentions of Luanda, Radio Nacional, 0200 Jornal (Radio Informações) (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, VL8A 1840-2100 UT June 27 with country music, long interview dedicated on the influence of video and TV on children, then country music again. IDs heard ``ABC-News``, ``ABC-Weather update``, ``Country radio``, one jingle was with didgeridoo. Audibility was poor at the start of the reception (2/3 332 2/3), but became much much better at the end (5/4 545 5/4 at 2055)!!! This is my first time, when I heard Australia on 120 mb. // 2325 // 2485 but worse. 2325 appeared at 1925 and was heard till 2125 and 2485 started to appear at some 1945 and with a worse quality of all of them. June 28: 2485 Australia, VL8K, OM/YL weak 24322 at 1835 till 2105. Just trace // 2325 at 1855. Nothing heard on 2310! (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA [and non]. It appears that the very last ROI programme (in order of first transmission, i.e. replays not considered) was "Kompass" from 1804 to 1815. Recording of the closing announcement, in fact ROI's farewell: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/roi_ende.mp3 It is quite an irony that this happens exactly ten years after the former DT64 [GERMANY] (at this time already renamed into MDR Sputnik) left MW 1044 and herewith the airwaves completely, only to go to the dogs afterwards, and so I personally consider the mediumwave switch- off as the actual death of DT64. The last six minutes: http://www.radioeins.de/meta//sendungen/apparat/030628_A3.ram [Later:] Very last ROI ID from 2157 til 2200, slowly faded out and over to Ö1 Mitternachtsjournal, finally 6155 was cut off abruptly after Mitternachtsjournal closing announcement at 2208. Abrupt carrier cut, just like it was the case on another frequency ten years ago... (Kai Ludwig, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ---Ursprüngliche Nachricht--- From: "Wolf Harranth" Subject: Adieu - der letzte Tag bei ROI (lang) 08:30 - Noch etwas müde (wir sind gestern erst am späten Abend von der Ham Radio in Friedrichshafen zurückgekommen) im Funkhaus eingetroffen. 10:30 - Nach zwei Stunden sind der Kastenwagen und der Kombi entladen. Auf dem Flur stapeln sich die Schachteln und Boxen. Wir haben schätzungsweise 200.000 Karten aus knapp 60 Konvoluten übernommen. Heute ist der heißeste Tag des Jahres. Das Thermometer zeigt 36 Grad im Schatten an. Alle sind am Packen. Der letzte Büroraum muss noch diese Woche besenrein übergeben werden. Das Problem: Einige haben an ihrem neuen Arbeitsplatz noch keine Bleibe. Marianne Veit, zum Beispiel, unsere Produzentin. Sie räumt die Schränke leer. Da steigen mit jedem Ordner, mit jeder Mappe, mit jedem Bild Erinnerungen auf. Aufheben? Aber wo? Wegwerfen? Unmöglich. Die letzte Gelegenheit, aus dem System Dateien zu speichern. "Hotline" schaffen wir komplett, Aufatmen: Alle Sendungen auf CD konserviert. Bei "Intermedia" schaffen wir nur das Jahr 2002. Daumen halten, dass der Server nicht schon morgen abgewürgt sein wird. Zwischendurch kommen die letzten verbliebenen Mitarbeiter(innen) und fragen: Wie war's? Wir erzählen vom Hörertreffen, von den schmerzlichen Abschieden am Stand. Robert Theiler berichtet, dass pro Tag 200 Mails empörter Hörer eintreffen, die nun ihren Seewetterbericht nicht mehr bekommen. Wir lesen Mails. Ein Hörer: Als wir begonnen hatten, war er gerade drei Jahre alt. Ein anderer: Als junger Mensch 1960 zu uns gestoßen, wir sind "ein Teil seines Tages und Lebens" geworden. Ein österreichischer Missionar aus Brasilien, für den wir der einzige Kontakt zur Heimat waren... Die APA hat eine Adieu-Meldung gebracht, zwei Tageszeitungen übernehmen sie: Wir sind kein Thema mehr. 12:00 Mittagspause. Johannes Stuhlpfarrer hat nur wenig Zeit. Er muss noch die aktuellen Nachrichten ins Netz stellen. Unsere Website ist bereits gewaltig abgemagert, aber wir haben uns vorgenommen, bis zum bitteren Ende ordentliche Arbeit zu liefern. Johannes ist ab morgen arbeitslos - einer der "freien" Mitarbeiter, die auf der Strecke bleiben. - Gerhard Hoyer (der für unseren Internetauftritt sorgt) wurde überraschend aufgefordert, ein Projekt zu beginnen, das mehrere Tage in Anspruch nehmen würde. Aber: in fünf Stunden fährt er zum letzten Mal den Rechner herunter; auch er ist ab morgen arbeitslos. - Sabrina Adlbrecht, hören wir, hat doch noch eine Aufgabe im ORF erhalten. Auch sie war eines der Opfer. Jetzt darf sie als Karenzaushilfe noch ein paar Monate bleiben... 12:45 Zurück in die Redaktion, den Maurern und Malern ausweichend: Schon werden unsere Studios und Redaktionsräume für die künftige Verwendung adaptiert. 17:00 Ich stehe da, den Karton mit den QSLs von OE1M in den Händen. Die Hörerbetreuung macht dicht, übergibt die "Erbmassse" Wohin damit? Die Aufkleber für die Abschieds-Bestätigung sind noch nicht eingetroffen. Ich kann die Schachtel quer über den Flur in die Räume der QSL COLLECTION bringen. Aber ab morgen ist ROI für die Poststelle nicht mehr existent. Na ja, zum Glück gibt's ja Postämter. Und für die vielen treuen Hörer, die aufs Rückporto "vergessen" haben oder die deutsche Briefmarken beilgelegt haben, werden wir eben aus unserem Taschengeld das Porto beisteuern. 18:30 Christiane Eichberger, die das Sekretriat betreut, geht stumm, nur mit einem Kopfnicken, an uns vorbei. Ein einziges Wort würde sie aus der mühsam gewahrten Balance bringen. Kollegin Tosegi packt den Wasserkocher ein. Den haben wir immer gemeinsam benutzt, daher blieb er uns auch nach Einstellung der Esperanto-Sendungen erhalten. Gerhard Hoyer bedankt sich bei mir für die gute Zusammenarbeit; er habe eine Menge gelernt. Er, der so viele unbezahlte und unbedankte Stunden in unseren Intermedia- und Hotline-Auftritt investiert hat, bedankt sich bei _mir!_ Der Kerl spinnt. Ich schulde _ihm_ Dank. Da kommen wir eben darauf zu sprechen, wie wir all die Zeit miteinander umgegangen sind: Wie selbstverständlich wir uns die Arbeit geteilt haben, all die Jahre ohne ein einziges lautes Wort! Jetzt hängt Marianne die letzten Bilder ab; da druckst es auch sie. Kein Brief, kein E-Mail von der Generaldirektion, von der Hörfunkdirektion. Unser Chefredakteur auf Dienstreise in seiner neuen Funktion. Niemand da, der Adieu sagt. Wir lassen nicht die Gläser kreisen, denn wir wollen uns am Wochenende noch einmal treffen, alle, die dazu gehört haben, privat natürlich. Es ist ein Abend, wie jeder anderer: Der letzte dreht das Licht aus und sperrt zu. Und in ein paar Stunden wird die Automatik (hoffentlich) Ö1 zuschalten, wenn bisher eines unserer Programme kam. Abschiedsworte oder irgendwas dergleichen sind nicht geplant. Ich habe in Friedrichshafen Baldur Drobnica DJ6SI interviewt. Das war meine letzte Aktion für ROI. Ich speichere zum letzten Mal eine Datei ab, fahre zum letzten Mal die Software runter. - Im Unterschied zu den anderen werde ich, der Pensionist, morgen wieder ins Funkhaus kommen, nun aber definitiv auf die andere Seite des Flures, dorthin, wo die QSL COLLECTION residiert. Ich weiss noch nicht, wie die Infrastruktur funktionieren wird (von der Eintragung im Telefonbuch bis zum Leeren der Papierkörbe...), aber das wird sich weisen. Jedenfalls ist dies, wenngleich nur ein halber Abschied, doch einer. Ich rechne ein bisschen nach: Februar 1946 bis Juni 2003, das macht knapp 57 Jahre. Davon fast 33, mehr als mein halbes Leben, beim Auslandsdienst. Und jetzt steh ich halt so da und hab den Schlüssel in der Hand und mach den Laden dicht. Denn ich bin der Letzte. Und der Letzte macht das Licht aus. Danke, Euch allen, von uns allen. 73 de Wolf Einmal noch, eh ich's lösche: -------- Wolf Harranth ORF-Radio Österreich International Redaktion Computer und Medien A-1040 Wien, Argentinierstr. 30A Fon +43-1-501 01-160 71 Fax +43-1-501 01-160 56 Mailbox +43-1-501 01-160 70 wolf.harranth@orf.at http://roi.orf.at (A-DX via Kai Ludwig and Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, with sadness - after (personal) 46 years of "Radio Oesterreich" listening, part of my life ... 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRIA. RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES NEW ENGLISH SCHEDULE Radio Austria International has published the new schedule of its English service that takes effect tomorrow, 1 July. The 15-minute report from Austria will be broadcast Mon-Fri in target area as follows (all times UTC): 1215-1230 to Asia and Australia on 21780 kHz 1245-1300 to Europe on 6155 and 13730 kHz and Asia/Australia on 21780 kHz 1510-1525 and 1540-1555 to W No. America on 15515 kHz via Sackville 2315-2330 and 2345-2400 to Latin America on 9870 and 13730 kHz 0115-0130 and 0145-0200 to E No. America on 9870 kHz Insight Central Europe is broadcast on Sat/Sun in the target area as follows (all times UTC): 0505 (repeated 0535) Sun only to the Middle East on 17870 kHz 1205 (repeated 1235) to Europe on 6155 and 13730 kHz and Asia/Australia on 21780 kHz 1505 (repeated 1535) to W No. America on 15515 kHz via Sackville 2305 (repeated 2335) to Latin America on 9870 and 13730 kHz 0105 (repeated 0135) to E No. America on 9870 kHz (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 30 June 2003 via DXLD) English confirmed on 15515 Sackville July 1: after German, at 1509 usual IS, 1510 three minutes of news, 1513 Report from Austria on human trafficking. And the same thing started over at 1540. Wouldn`t it be more useful to spread out the repeats more? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ROI website says that Report from Austria is now for Asia and Australia is at 1215 and 1245 on 21780 Monday to Friday. For America- West via Sackville at 1510 and 1540 on 15515. For Latin America at 2315 and 2345 on 9870 and 13730 Tuesday to Saturday. For America East at 0115 and 0145 on 9870. On the weekend Insight Central Europe goes on to Latin America Sundays and Mondays at 2305, repeated 2335 on 9870 and 13730. For listeners in America East Sundays and Mondays at 0105, repeated at 0135 on 9870. For listeners in Europe Saturdays and Sundays at 1205 and 1235 on 6155 and 13730. The same broadcast times apply to Asia and Australia. Listeners in America West can hear the programme Saturday and Sunday at 1505 and again at 1535 on 15515. For listeners in the Middle East it is broadcast Saturday and Sunday 0505 and 0535 on 17870. The Monday to Friday Report from Austria is broadcast to Europe only once at 1245 on 6155 and 13730. The My Music programme on Sundays broadcast its last edition on June 29th (Mike Barraclough, UK, July World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. ¿Radio_Austria_Internacional_vuelve_en_enero_de_2004? Estimados amigos: El 29 de junio Radio Austria Internacional emitió por última vez el "Buzón de la Despedida" (su nombre habitual era "Buzón Internacional") con la conducción de Jaime Carbonell y Manuel Aletrino quienes fueron los primeros en inaugurarlo hace 28 años. La emisión consistió en un repaso histórico con registros sonoros de la década de los años '70 con programas tales como Austrología, Divertimento, Carrusel de Melodías, Buzón Internacional, Mundo DX... haciendo referencia a todos los locutores y técnicos que pasaron por la sección española de ORF. Al responder las últimas cartas, Manuel Aletrino dijo: "...Y se habla de que a partir del 1 de enero del año que viene, 2004, habrá un programa diario en español de pocos minutos, de momento estamos en cinco minutos, pero a partir del 1 de enero, hasta el momento... todo puede cambiar a lo mejor antes, o sea que no se olviden de nuestras direcciones ni de nuestras frecuencias...". Jaime Carbonell se despidió diciendo: "Hasta siempre estimados amigos y sino, hasta el primero de enero del año dos mil cuatro". De modo amigos que un cierre con esperanzas no es tan doloroso. Es cuestión de no perder la capacidad de asombro, en realidad en eso consiste nuestra afición por la radio a distancia. Sigamos luchando por la permanencia del español por onda corta!. Hoy 30 de junio: ULTIMO PROGRAMA DE RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNACIONAL. Que tengan buena sintonía y no olviden de grabarlo. Saludos cordiales. (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario, A R G E N T I N A, DX LISTENING DIGEST) El anunciado programa final del Servicio en Español de ORF Radio Austria Internacional para el 30 de junio no ha sido emitido; en su lugar a las 2330 UT en 13730 se transmitió un programa en idioma alemán con música de concierto pero a las 0030 UT en 9870 ya no había señales de ORF en ningún idioma. De manera que debe tomarse el día 29 de junio de 2003 como fecha del cierre de la emisora austríaca en idioma español. Como ya informé anteriormente, en dicha oportunidad los conductores Jaime Carbonell y Manuel Aletrino se despidieron con el programa especial "Buzón de la Despedida". (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Voici le message qui est apparu quelques jours sur le site web de Radio Autriche Internationale,avant la fermeture du service français: "A partir du 1er juillet 2003 le service français de Radio Autriche Internationale n'existera plus. Le conseil de surveillance de l'ORF a été obligé de fermer les services en langues étrangères de Radio Autriche Internationale, puisque le gouvernement a cessé le paiement des services en langues étrangères. Le service français n'est pas le seul concerné, le service espagnol disparaît complètement et le service arabe a été fermé il y a quelque temps. Pour le rédacteur en chef Michael Kerbler, il est impossible de faire des pronostics en ce qui concerne le retour du français sur les ondes. Il faudrait pour cela d'une part que le gouvernement décide de financer à nouveau des programmes en langues étrangères et que la situation financière de l'ORF s'améliore de telle façon qu'une reprise des programme soit facile. Ces deux facteurs n'étant pour l'instant pas réunis il est trés difficile de prédire la date d'un retour du français sur les ondes. Mais l'ORF maintiendra les fréquences, et diffusera dans un premier temps des programmes culturels, Ö1 le service intérieur de l'ORF, qui comporte également un flash d'informations en français. Michael Kerbler est formel : Nous voulons assurer qu'au moins en Europe les autrichiens qui parlent l'allemand puissent recevoir les programmes en provenance d'Autriche." Le programme qui était diffusé sur WRN sera remplacé (NDR : probablement jusqu'à la nouvelle saison) par un programme de la SRC, Société Radio-Canada (WRN - 30 juin 2003) (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** AZERBAIJAN. NEW LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR TV, RADIO BROADCASTING Azerbaijan's National Council for Television and Radio adopted on 25 June regulations on the use of the state language (Azerbaijani) in television and radio broadcasts, Turan reported. The council ruled that a minimum of 75 percent of all programs, announcements, and advertisements on both state-controlled and privately owned television and radio stations must be in Azerbaijani. It also stipulated that announcers and moderators must speak fluent and well-articulated Azerbaijani. The council further ruled that all television and radio stations must cover news developments of "national and special state importance." ("RFE/RL Newsline," 26 June via RFE/RL Media Matters June 30 via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 4983, Belorussia with a Belorussian station (Stalica?) in SSB at 1420 June 29, interview - Belorussian language from studio, answers in Russian from a central park of Minsk, 44544 (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4760, Radio Guanay June 29 at 2330-0200, weak 24322, news or political comment at 0120 (mentioned Presidente, La Paz), 0130 Jingle-like shots, but ID wasn't heard, 0150 clear ID ``GU--A--NAY`` QRM: Radio Liberty in Farsi, Guanay audio worsened because of it at 0130 (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. Rádio Brasil Central (Goiânia); 6-29-03; 4985 kHz; 0725- 0815 UT; Portuguese; light traditional-sounding format; ID "Rádio Brasil Central" at 0805; SINPO 44131; Icom R71A with dipole for 60 meters; (John Sandin; Merriam, KS. DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Em mais um trabalho voluntário em prol do dexismo brasileiro, o biólogo Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM), dispensou algum tempo para entrar em contato com a direção da Rádio Nacional, de Tabatinga (AM). Apurou que a emissora não mais reativará a freqüência de 4815 kHz. O diretor Francisco informou que a emissora já foi oficialmente repassada pela Radiobrás para a Prefeitura daquele Município. Os únicos planos da estação são a mudança de freqüência em OM e aumento de potência. BRASIL - Uma boa dica para quem deseja ouvir a Rádio Bandeirantes, de São Paulo (SP), é visitar, antes, o sítio da emissora, na Internet. Clicando no ícone "programação completa", ficará sabendo os nomes dos programas que irão ao ar, em seguida. E mais: quais os assuntos que serão abordados. Então, basta acessar: http://www.radiobandeirantes.com.br BRASIL - Depois de algum tempo fora do ar, Mascarenhas de Moraes voltou a animar as manhãs da Rádio Senado, pela freqüência de 5990 kHz. O programa do veterano apresentador agora se chama O Senado é mais Brasil. Traz informações sobre as principais ações dos senadores, além de prestar serviços às populações sertanejas e ribeirinhas do Brasil, conforme dica de Ramon Aragão, de Barreiras (BA). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 29 via DXLD) ** BULGARIA. Radio Bulgaria English DX programme is heard during the transmissions Fridays 2100 on 5800 7500, Sundays 0630 on 11600 13600 and 1130 on 11700 15700 (Allen Dean, UK, July World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** CANADA. It`s all about the AM-to-FM moves. In Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the FM transmitter is in place and on the air at CJLS, which will run its old 1340 and its new 95.5 in parallel for a few weeks before turning off the widely-heard AM signal for good. CJLS keeps its existing rebroadcasters on 93.5 and 96.5 in Digby and Shelburne to supplement the new FM signal. At the other end of the island, CJFX in Antigonish turns off its AM 580 signal today after several months of simulcasting on the newly higher-powered FM 98.9. (CJFX had been operating 98.9 as a low-power relay for several years before gaining CRTC permission to boost the FM to 75 kW and shut down its AM signal.) We hear CJFX held a contest with its listeners to determine exactly what time to shut off AM 580; we guess "5:80" isn't a valid choice, is it? And that's it for another week. A happy Canada Day to our readers up north and a happy and safe Independence Day to those of you on this side of the border --- and we'll see you after the festivities are all over! (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch June 30 via DXLD) ! Nova Scotia has apparently broken off from the Canadian mainland!! No, Antigonish is not on Cape Breton (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA. 15285 and 21660 both BBC Mandarin, I guess, new jamming type --- YES new terrible JAMMING, heard now the second day. Hi Glenn, 15285 yesterday June 30, 1240-1255 UT, I came across an unknown mode of Chinese language program, sounds like - a combination of - five fast echo signals of same program content repeated, - but DELAYED, by 5 times in a second. Listen to the attached recording. Parallel 11945 was NOT audible here in EUR, but 21660 had a similar Chinese word talking program. 15285 1100-1530 BBC Singapore 100 13 MANDARIN FE HR 4/2/0.75 21660 1100-1300 BBC Nakhon Sawan 250 25 MANDARIN CHN HR 4/4/0.5 July 1st: Heard the same type of five echos, seemingly produced on the server PC, today July 1st in BBC Mandarin program 1230-1300 UT on both 21660 and 15285 kHz. So I think, this is a new type of CHINESE Mainland jamming. At present in 1300-1400 UT time span, I note the same JAMMING on various VoA Mandarin and Cantonese channels, like: 9780, 11665, 11785, 11805, 11865, 11875, 11900, 11925, 11965, 11990, 12040, and 13735 kHz. 73 de wolfy (Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 6030, Congo-Kinshasa, Radio Okapi, June 29 2335-0130 with music nonstop and song-like IDs ``Okapi, Okapi, Okapi``, 54455, later a bit worse, because of Radio Martí + Cuban jammer appeared (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CONGO DR. RADIO CANDIP IN BUNIA CURRENTLY UNHEARD ON SHORTWAVE Radio Candip, broadcasting from the town of Bunia in northeastern DRCongo, has not been heard on its usual shortwave frequency (5066.3 kHz) since 27 June. It is not known whether the station continues to broadcast on its FM channel. Bunia is currently under the control of a French-led peacekeeping force. It was reported on 26 July that the leader of the peacekeeping force, Gen Jean-Paul Thonier, was considering a request from the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia group to be allowed to retain control of Radio Candip. Sources: BBC Monitoring research 27 Jun - 1 Jul 03; RTNC radio, Goma, in French 0500 gmt 26 Jun 03 (Chris Greenway, Kenya, BBCM via DXLD) ** CROATIA. Voice of Croatia in English on 1134 kHz 2215 UT in parallel with 1125 kHz. Later Spanish heard (Jouko Huuskonen, 30 Jun 2003, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Jouko's logging brought to my mind one thing. As many of you remember, there's been a mixing product of Hrvatski Radio, Croatia on 5040 for a long time. That is 6165-1125=5040. The program on 5040 used to be the same as on 6165. Recently I have noticed that 5040 carries a different program. It seems this 5040 mixing product has always been the 1125 audio. Now that 1125 has a different program, including English and Spanish, those can be heard also on 5040. Am I right? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) ** CUBA [non]. I`ve been catching up on missed messages, due to some unknown problem. Assuming I have found them all, I don`t see much discussion beyond the initial report, of R. Martí on 1020. A bit of additional info from my sources: Oscar de Céspedes in Miami heard R. Martí announce 1020, but hadn`t heard it himself. At another time they also mentioned new AM transmissions via the Cayman Islands, but it`s not certain if these two items are connected. I hypothesized that 1020 could be the Turks & Caicos facility, which came back on for tests a few weeks back. Another idea is that it could be the Commando Solo aircraft, which tested May 20-21, but it`s hard to see how MW from aircraft (except maybe over downtown Habana) would surpass a terrestrial site close to Cuba. Surely someone in FL can get at least a rough fix on which direxion it`s coming from. Is it still being heard? As of June 30, no mention yet of 1020 at http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt -- but then 1180 isn`t listed either! Tho the OCB SW frequencies are. A few days ago I got to the R. Marti website, and it looked normal, except I couldn`t find anything about frequency usage, but June 30 at http://www.martinoticias.com/ I get this: ``Estamos renovando nuestra página... Regresamos el 20 de Mayo`` 73, (Glenn Hauser, OK, NRC-AM via DXLD) I seem to remember a NRC directional nighttime pattern book from long, long ago (early '80s?) Which I thought showed more or less a figure- eight pattern (N/S) coming out of Marathon-1180, which surprised me at the time given its mission. Am I remembering wrong, or did they actually change pattern at some point in the last 20-25 years? Regardless, I do have them in my Chicago, IL AM logbook (November 24, 1980 at 1850 UT), having received them there once or twice. It was a quite rare visitor, suffering from co-channel Venezuela, Cuba, and Dominican Republic (and, obviously, WHAM). So it is (was?) at least POSSIBLE to receive them substantially inland (Earl Higgins, now living in St. Louis MO, June 29, IRCA via DXLD) 1850 UT? Quite a daytime catch, or did you mean local time? (gh, DXLD) Earl and IRCA Crew, Nawsir, Martí 1180 is unidirectional toward Cuba. That's a fact. Logic tells one so, too. If it were a figure-eight pattern, which is bidirectional, they be putting a strong signal out north-northwest. They are not. IBB wants all that signal into Cuba, not jamming WHAM and the other cochannels. Best I know, Martí gets heard in Cuba and so do the SWs. Just the same, Cuba spends much money trying to jam the Martí frequencies. By the way, folks, Martí`s studios are in Hialeah, Miami. Martí operates all night except Sunday 2300 to Monday 0500 ELT. Its times are announced as Cuba time. Martí is held at arm`s length by the other IBB subagencies (VOA, Radio Free Asia, RFE/RL, etc.) as it`s close to being a rogue agency. It`s effectively under the control of the Cuban-American community in Miami/Dade. They mostly do as they please. Which places it more or less somewhat to the right of me politically, but not too far. Cubans are a world apart politically from most "hispanics." Started as a subagency of VOA, and some carts still announce them as a service to Cuba of the VOA. But VOA to Cuba isn't jammed, and that speaks more or less to effectivity as far as the government of Cuba is concerned. I have listened 'most a zillion hours to Martí while an IBB employee. Liked the programming. Best I know, only Greenville, Delano and Marathon Transmitting Stations carry Martí programming. Getting a Marti site in a country in the Caribbean could be difficult as those countries want to keep a cozier relationship with the Bearded Terrorist Daddy. That's why I'm following the 1020 thing. For all I know, Cubans in the US are pirating 1020. More than you wanted to know. 73 de (Charlie Taylor, NC, IRCA via DXLD) My 2001 NRC pattern book shows it all [1180] going to the south. What's weird is that the FCC web site shows 1180 in Marathon, Florida is "new", with the status "granted" on 1-1-78. http://www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=121408 (Dennis Gibson, CA, ibid.) Checking 1020 -- no Martí for the past 2 nights -- and 1530 with Mexico behind WSAI and São Tomé eludes me still... (Robert Foxworth, Tampa FL, June 30, NRC-AM via DXLD) Here near Chicago I had this under KDKA a few nights ago when it was reported here and it was looping SE. ID suspect Turks from the direction rather than Caymans but cannot be sure. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL, June 30, ibid.) ** CZECH REPUBLIC. Re: 3-116, sudden cuts at R. Prague, editor`s note: NDR : que penser ce cette information? S'il est exact que le site de WRMI ne mentionne plus les émissions de Radio Prague, doit-on comprendre que les émissions depuis Prague vont être réduites ?? Aucune information ne semble avoir filtré dans les émissions en français. Certes, le mois de juin a été le théâtre de nombreuses manifestations de protestations contre les plans d'austérité du gouvernement tchèc, mais quand même. . . (les informations sont issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) Well, the schedule at http://www.radio.cz/en/frequencies#en looks the same as always, including WRMI relays. I wonder if more English broadcasts via its own transmitters have really been canceled, as Jeff implied? Also: Radio Prague re-designs website on Roma issues [01-07-2003] Dita Asiedu On Monday, Radio Prague introduced its newly designed and expanded website concentrating on Roma issues. At www.romove.cz, visitors find up-to-date information on the situation of the Roma minority in the Czech Republic, contacts for Roma organisations, a list of upcoming or ongoing events on Roma issues such as exhibitions, concerts, and seminars, as well as explanations of Roma history, culture, and tradition.... all of this in five languages. I spoke to the head of Radio Prague's Internet department, Jitka Podzimkova to find out more: http://www.radio.cz/en/article/42492 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ECUADOR. Re HCJB: The continuation of German broadcasts to Europe beyond September 28 for another year is definite. The single hour of still available airtime will be used for a half hour each of standard German and Low German; plan so far is to keep the morning slot because in the evening reception in Europe tends to be unreliable, but this could be reconsidered if listeners object. The service will be in European responsibility, no longer a matter of "Quito" itself due to the decision to "refocus a little bit" as Curt Cole put it on the air (and "refocus" is official speech of course). The whole interview with Horst Rosiak of HCJB's German section is available indefinitely at http://www.radioeins.de/meta//sendungen/apparat/030621_A1.ram For the schedule, just see http://www.hcjb.org/Sections+index-req-viewarticle-artid-6-page-1.html which appears to reflect the current situation (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. FRANÇA - O sítio da Rádio França Internacional promove, periódicamente, o sortéio de um receptor de sinais de satélite, o conhecido WorldSpace. Para participar basta acessar: http://www.rfi.fr/Fichiers/Concours/concours.asp (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX June 29 via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 4930, Radio Ebenézer June 28 at 2335-0145 with a lot of clear IDs as ``Radio Ebenézer Costeña``, ``Radio Internacional``, simply ``Internacional`` and ``... La Tercera...``; at 0025 IDs in Spanish and English, 24322 (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. The 4789.95 RRI station I reported 27 June is RRI Fak- Fak. Jarmo Patala of Finland (in DXing.info) told he heard the ID on 28 June after Jakarta news at 2106. Thank you, Jarmo (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. UPDATE RRI STATIONS IN DE ZOMER Hiermee een update van RRI stations die volgens allerlei informatie in de lucht zijn. In onze zomer is de beste tijd : 2100-2200 UT. De meeste stations komen om 2100 of 2200 UT in de lucht met hun IS. Wie luistert er mee? Als iets niet klopt: graag een e-mailtje! 73 Max Regelmatig in de lucht: 3266,4 RRI Gorontalo 3325 RRI Palangkaraya 3344,8 RRI Ternate 3905 RRI Merauke 4000,1 RRI Kendari 4753,3 RRI Makassar 4789.95 RRI Fak Fak (is onlangs gehoord door diverse Dxers) 4925 RRI Jambi Af en toe in de lucht: 3976,1 RRI Pontianak 4606,4 RRI Serui 4869,96 RRI Wamena 4874,6 RRI Sorong Waarschijnlijk niet actief of soms actief: 3239,1 RRI Bukittinggi 4789,1 RRI Fak Fak 4845,2 RRI Ambon 5040 RRI Pekanbaru (Max van Arnhem, Netherlands, June 30, BDXC via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. SATELLITE RADIO ALLOWS YOU TO CHOOSE WHAT TO LISTEN TO --- Carol Power Wired on Friday: Americans spend a great deal of time in their cars, often with the radio turned on. Advertisers long ago realised this was a captive audience with the result, it seems, that all you hear are commercials as you scan the dial on your car radio. Wouldn't it be nice to listen to your favourite music or chat shows commercial-free and with a lot less inane chatter from DJs? Some AM/FM radio stations in the US broadcast up to 25 minutes of commercials in one hour. That's a lot of advertisements to listen to, over and over, again. . . http://www.radiowaves.fm/newspapers/IrishTimes_27June03.shtml (via Mike Terry, DXLD) See also FRANCE above ** IRAQ. TELEVISION BACK ON THE AIR. A revamped Republic of Iraq Television channel, renamed Iraqi Media Network TV by coalition forces, was back on the air on 20 June after roughly three months off the air as a result of coalition bombing, the BBC reported the same day. Carrying a caption reading, "Iraqi Media Network welcomes you in its test transmission," the channel carried entertainment programs such as songs from the Egyptian Dream TV network as it tried, unsuccessfully, to cover the Dream TV logo, BBC reported. It also carried a news bulletin read by two announcers. The headlines included the shooting of two demonstrators in Baghdad on 19 June, a report on the lack of security in Baghdad, a report on Iraqis demonstrating for jobs and the formation of a national government, and a report on the port activities underway at Umm Qasr. The Iraqi Media Network radio has been operating since April using a number of frequencies used by the former regime's Republic of Iraq Main Service, the BBC noted. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 24 June via RFE/RL Media Matters June 30 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. 6295 UK?Eire? Reflections Europe with clear ID at 2210 June 29, then program called ``The crash of cash``, all 5s here // 3910 (23322), strong splatter from BBC on 3915 here (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. IBA FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERVICES DEAD? (WITH POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF REKA) The on-demand Real Audio file from 0400 on the WRN is actually yesterday's 1630 file. English and French RA streams from bet.iba.org.il are dead air. The live stream from israelradio.org is dead air. On the other hand, the live stream of Reshet Bet works fine (Joel Rubin, NY, July 1, swprograms via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. KBS WORLD TO LAUNCH WORLDWIDE SERVICES ON 1 JULY KBS World, the international satellite channel of KBS, is scheduled to launch services throughout the world on 1 July, the June 2003 edition of the "What's New on KBS" newsletter reports. The 24-hour programming of KBS World will deliver KBS News in real time in addition to assorted programmes from KBS TV1, TV2 and KBS Korea. The programmes are to be transmitted to Europe, North Africa, North America, Japan and Oceania via international satellites. KBS plans to expand the international service throughout the world by 2005. The KBS 2002 Annual Report will be published in July [2003] to offer the audience a full account of KBS major activities and services over the year. The 2002 Annual Report will be available in Korean, English and Japanese at the KBS International Relations Dept. or online at http://www.kbs.co.kr. Source: BBC Monitoring research 30 Jun 03 (via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. I tuned 4760 on Sunday June 29 and found an American English religious programme on air at 2155 past 2200. Signal strength fair but audibility difficult due to static level. I suggest this was ELWA. Noise levels on 5100 and 5470 were high, but no broadcasts were audible at 2145. And nothing yet heard on 11515. 73s (Noel R. Green [Blackpool, UK], Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4760, Radio Liberia (as IDed !!!) at 2127 June 29 with pathetic speech mentioned ``... Government... Liberia... Freedom... Power... free, free, free (triple)... the fight down... Liberty... People of the World... living free... demonstration... liberation... militias... whole people... Taylor...``. Closed down with Liberian Anthem (checked the sound in a database !!!) at 2203. Transmitter was shut off at 2205* (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** LUXEMBOURG. RTL to start DRM tests from 1 July Hello, on July 1st, RTL will start broadcasting daily DRM test transmissions from it's short- and long-wave site Junglinster in eastern Luxembourg. Broadcasts will start at 0800 UT and end at 1600 (except on weekends where no special schedule has been fixed). As usual, the antenna will be non-directional and the average DRM power about 35kW. The programme of the test transmissions consits of a variety of music and short announcements in different languages compiled by the most important european RTL radio stations. Feedback was very valuable for us in the past, so please keep on sending us your reports to mailto:drm@r... [truncated] or use the online form on our DRM page at http://www.bce.lu/drm Here you can find all kind of information about our transmitter sites in Luxembourg. As the pages are still under construction, certain links may be inactive. Best regards, Michel (From M Asorne on DRM- L@yahoogroups.com via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) WTFK? 6095? Above site is flash only. See also DRM below (gh) ** MEXICO. 6045, R. Universidad 1226-1241 6/30. March music 1226-1228, then YL ancr, possibly their s/on routine. YL mentioned onda corta, but canned ID at 1229 mentioned only MW: "XEXQ Radio Universidad, 1460 kHz, 250 wats de potencia..." followed by the address, which sounded like that reported by Bojorge; at 1230, a program of kids' chorus music; almost unreadable by 1240, although there were occasional brief fadeups (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW. Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. FAREWELL TO HARRY This afternoon Jonathan Marks and I attended the funeral of Harry van Gelder. It was a beautiful service, with alternating five minute addresses and music - exactly like an edition of DX Jukebox! And that's no coincidence. Harry's son Chris told the congregation that Harry himself had insisted on making all the arrangements for his own funeral, selecting his favourite music - the choir of King's College Chapel in Cambridge never sounded sweeter - and even, when he knew the end was close, changing into the clothes he wanted to wear, and telling his family "I want to die with my teeth in." How typical of dear Harry, a man with a great sense of humour, even managing to raise some smiles at his own funeral! No wonder he was so loved by his family and those he worked with. I never met Harry when he was alive, but today I understood better than ever before just what an exceptional man he was - and the closest thing The Netherlands will ever have to a true English gentleman, both in his demeanour and his appearance. He even made the family speak English at home! I asked one of Harry's sons how he imagined Harry would have embraced new technology such as the Internet if it had been around in his day, and received the answer I expected: "He'd have loved it." BTW I found time after the funeral service for a chat with Tom Meyer, former presenter of Happy Station. Tom will be 65 next birthday, and looks great! He says he has been busier than ever since leaving Radio Netherlands, doing all sorts of things, including charity work (Andy Sennitt, Media Network blog June 30 via DXLD) Tribute to Harry van Gelder, udpated June 30: http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/hvg030626.html (Media Network via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. 3927, Radio Korak (pirate), song by Joy? At 2200 June 28, long talkies in Dutch, IDs, 4334 4/3 (Artiom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in countryside some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Queridos amigos, sigo reportando desde principios de este mes de Junio la señal de LVS tu radio Digital, emisora peruana que transmite en los 4825 kHz; esto fué lo escuchado en la mañana de hoy. LVS Tu Radio Digital, de Perú, captada en los 4825 kHz desde las 1015 hasta las 1100 UT. El locutor muy dinámico anuncia que están llegando a medio mundo través de los 4825 kHz. Estaban presentando el programa: Levanta Gallo [``Get Up, Rooster``]. El locutor con bastante alegría estaba haciendo comentarios sobre un concierto musical en homenaje a un nuevo aniversario de las fiestas patronales de San Pedro Pescador. También se hizo mención sobre la juramentación del nuevo Gabinete Ministerial y del triunfo del equipo de fútbol Spórting Cristal. El locutor dijo: ``Seguimos con Levanta Gallo aquí en LVS Digital, somos LVS Digital, somos más radio. Son las 5:20 de la mañana; a partir de las 6 AM el informativo Contacto Directo``, mención comercial de motores Jonhson fuera de borda. ``Levanta Gallo, la mejor manera de levantarse, somos LVS, más radio.`` Se colocó un tema tema musical, una tecnocumbia de nombre ``La Pastorcita`` y al fondo de la canción se oye cantando a un gallo, que viene a ser el sonido que identifica al programa: Levanta Gallo. Promoción musical de la radio: ``Desde hace un año llevando la alegría... LVS tu radio digital... ya viene el informativo Contacto Directo, 5:52 AM, nos vamos, amigos, hasta mañana, no muevan el dial de su receptor, ya viene Contacto Directo. El archivo sonoro bastante amplio en esta oportunidad, está a la orden de los colegas diexistas que lo soliciten. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Cumnbre DX via DXLD) ¿Dónde se ubica? En http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/sw.htm se alista alrededor de 4825: 4824.43 PERU * LVd la Selva, Iquitos [*0900-1217/2257-0416*](.3-.43) Jun 03 P 0100* (r)FM93.9 4826.5 PERU * R Sicuani, Sicuani [0905-1148/2235-0305*](25.8-26.7) Jun 03 C Quechua *0908 Entonces, ``LVS`` significará La Voz de la Selva --, pero ¿de qué manera `digital`? ¡Seguramente parece seguir transmitiendo analógicamente! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Estimado Amigo Dxista José Elias Díaz! No escuché el texto de la canción la primera vez pero claro es una promoción musical. No puedo captar más que tú. También para mi parece que diga ``L.V.S. tu radio digital`` pero en la parte que según tu opinión dice ``Latin Radio`` no se lo que dice la cantante. Esta mañana escuché La Voz de la Selva y Radio Sicuani, también hice grabaciones de las dos emisoras. Las adjunto y espero que te ayude. LVS tiene mala calidad de sonido, peor que Sicuani. La Voz de la Selva está en 4824.42 kHz y me parece que no se mueva mucho. Radio Sicuani se ``porta`` un poco extraño. En las noches está en 4826.42 kHz +-3Hz. Pero en las mañanas se puede escucharla en 4826.30 kHz +-3Hz. Me hizo creer que hubiera sido una tercera emisora peruana en 4825. Se identifica como ``Radio Sicuani`` o ``La Voz de la Provincia Cachis``. Aquí no hay más señales en 4825 pero voy a contunar escuchar. 73s de Quito y (Bjorn Malm, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Amigo José Elías, al mencionarse las siglas LVS se trata efectivamente de La Voz de la Selva, de Iquitos, que viene utilizando computadores en el estudio, equipos digitalizados enfín. Puedes leer lo que escribe su directora, Julia Jáuregui, en una página de comunicación vasca http://www.ongdseuskadi.org/images/documentos/revista_Ahotsa_24.pdf Cordialmente, (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, ibid.) ** POLAND [non]. Received full data QSL letter from Radio Maryja, Poland, in 36 days for their broadcast on 12010 kHz via Rusiia. V/s Malgorzata Zaniewska (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO. SERBIA & MONTENEGRO'S EXTERNAL SERVICE CHANGES NAME The station formerly known as Radio Yugoslavia has dropped that name and now identifies as RSCG - the international radio of Serbia and Montenegro. RSCG is an abbreviation of the station's Serbian name: Radio Srbija i Crna Gora. A new logo has also been unveiled on the station's Web site. The old URL http://www.radioyu.org is still in use, and there is no change to the schedule (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 1 July 2003 via DXLD) ** SPAIN. ESPAÑA: Desde el pasado sábado 28 de junio, en el programa de REE Radio Exterior de España "Amigos de la Onda Corta" conducido por Manuel Ángel Fernández, se ha incorporado la locutora Paula Dátolo para realizar tiempo de práctica. Ha sido asignada para la lectura de la correspondencia recibida en dicho programa en un espacio mucho más amplio. Al escuchar su voz me pareció oriunda de Argentina (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TIBET. China Tibet PBS Tibetan channel is scheduled 0650-1535 on 594 4905 4920 5240 6110 6130 6200, 1750-0100 4905 4920 5240 6130 6200 7385 9490, 0650-1000 7125 7385, 1000-1535 9490 9585, 1750-0135 6110. English programme is 1630-1700 on 7385 (Sergey Kolesov, Ukraine, July World DX Club Contact via Mike Barraclough, DXLD) Only time and frequency for English? Used to be two or three times, and multiple frequencies (gh) ** U K. BBC vs Blair -- From the Christian Science Monitor, July 1 http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/sept11/dailyUpdate.html BBC, DOWNING STREET SPAR OVER IRAQ DOSSIER REPORT The conflict in Iraq has produced a number of fierce skirmishes. One of the more interesting (and non-lethal) ones is happening in the UK. Tony Blair's Labor government, a strong US partner in the war in Iraq, is having quite a dust-up with that nation's main broadcaster, the BBC. The Observer reports that the attack on the BBC is being led by Alastair Campbell, Mr. Blair's communications director. Campbell is the man who allegedly "sexed up" the first Iraq dossier which claimed that Iraq could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes. In a hearing last week on pre-war statements about WMD, Mr. Campbell claimed that the BBC made up the report that the government had exaggerated the WMD claim. The BBC, a public broadcaster funded by the government, angrily denied the charge and stood by its story, originally filed by reporter Andrew Gilligan. Things got so heated, the Guardian reports that Mr. Gilligan actually threatened to sue Campbell over his charges. It is unprecedented for a member of the BBC's staff to threaten legal action against the government. Perhaps sensing that a cooling period was needed, Campbell called for a truce late last week. But the BBC, spurred on by a statement of support from one of its fiercest critics – former Conservative chairman Lord Tebbit – said Sunday it would produce new evidence in the next few days to prove that its original report was correct. On Monday, the Blair government seemed to reverse course again, and a spokesman said the government was not "backing down one inch" and accused the BBC of a "deafening silence" over the central point in the dispute. The Daily Telegraph reported Monday that the issue grew more complicated when a Labor member of the committee investigating the matter said the committee was ready to clear Campbell of all charges. But opposition Conservative members of the committee protested over what they fear is a Labor ploy designed to protect Campbell and Blair against charges that they misled Parliament. The stakes in the battle are enormous for both sides. Greg Dyke, the BBC's director-general (who was appointed by Labor), has "staked his reputation" (and that of his organization) on the confrontation. But if the BBC's charges hold, Blair's government will face an unprecedented political crisis (via Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DXLD) ** U S A. Hi. Any of you who are able to copy CW at all may want to try for some of these "historic" transmissions tomorrow. If you don't copy CW but have a suitable decoder installed on your computer you may want to try that. 73 de Phil, KO6BB, Atchley DX begins at the noise floor! Merced, California, 37.18N 120.29W CM97sh, swl @ qth.net June 30 via DXLD) -----Original Message----- NDB List Information Page: http://www.beaconworld.org.uk/info.htm FYI --- FROM MOBILE ALABAMA RADIO / WLO WLO will be transmitting on 12660.0. We will listen for ships on the 12 MHz calling frequencies after our transmission to NMC which will occur at 2pm CDT [1900 UT]. 73 Rene, WLO RADIO, Mobile, Alabama KFS KPH INFORMATION [as previously published] ------------NMC INFORMATION BELOW NMC UPDATE,,,,,, 1900Z 1 JULY 2003 -- Current advisement on the event: On July 1st, Coast Guard Communications Area Master Station Pacific (CAMSPAC), Pt Reyes will retire the historic "Sparks" from the Telecommunications Specialist Enlisted Rating Badge, as the Coast Guard restructures its work force replacing that specialty with two others, the Operations Specialist and the information Technology Specialist. The ceremony will honor the Sparks and those that have worn them with speeches, vignettes of significant events in the Coast Guard's rich communications history. To commemorate the day CAMSPAC will be open for public tours starting at 9 am and running throughout the day until 3 pm. A commemorative message will be sent at 12 noon [PDT = 1900 UT] lasting approximately 20 minutes and is expected to be acknowledge by radio stations KFS, KPH, WLO, and KLB who will be on-air as well. CAMSPAC will be send a preliminary call on 500 kHz followed by the commemorative message on 448 and 8574. Simplex Radioteletype will be available on 9373Khz and a voice broadcast will be made on the following NMC voice broadcast frequencies: 4426, 8764, 13089, 17314 kHz (USB) Following the commemorative message there will be a cake cutting ceremony acknowledging the passing of the Telecommunications Rating and along with it the symbol used to describe Coast Guard communicators for 78 years "Sparks". During and after the cake cutting ceremony other sentiments may be sent by those in attendance. Anyone desiring to send their own commemorative message are requested to provide a printed copy of the message if possible to include in our station history book as memorabilia of the day`s event. QSLs may be sent real-time via email directly to our Telecommunication Specialist In Charge, TCCS Bill Heckler at: WHeckler@D11.USCG.MIL Your Email QSLs will be posted real time so that members in attendance will have an opportunity to see who is listening and read their comments during the event. Those sending QSLs will receive a commemorative QSL card response along with a copy of the commemorative message. Requests for QSL cards may be mailed to: c/o (TCIC) COMMANDING OFFICER USCG CAMSPAC PT REYES 17000 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE BLVD. P.O. BOX 560 POINT REYES STATION, CA 94956-0560 When requesting QSLs responses either via email or snail mail please include your return postal address along with other pertinent information you may want to include. P.S. (1900 UTC is 12 Noon out here) -30- _______________________________________________ Ndblist mailing list Ndblist@beaconworld.org.uk http://beaconworld.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/ndblist_beaconworld.org.uk (via Phil Atchley, swl via DXLD) ** U S A. ANDRES ILVES NAMED RADIO FARDA DIRECTOR Washington, D.C., June 30, 2003 -- Andres Ilves, a veteran broadcast journalist, has been named director of Radio Farda http://www.radiofarda.com a Persian-language service aimed at young listeners in Iran, the Broadcasting Board of Governors http://www.bbg.gov announced. Ilves, whose appointment is effective immediately, is currently the director of Radio Free Afghanistan, which broadcasts in Dari and Pashto. A graduate of Princeton University, Ilves started working for U.S. international broadcasting in the 1980s. "Andres' strong commitment to broadcasting will help provide the people of Iran with the information they need about their country and the outside world," said Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, chairman of the BBG, which supervises all U.S. nonmilitary international broadcasting including the Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio/TV Marti, Radio Sawa and Radio Farda. Launched in December 2002, Radio Farda broadcasts news, information, public affairs and entertainment to Iran 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Based in Washington and Prague, Radio Farda is a collaboration between RFE/RL and VOA. The radio's target audience is listeners under 30 who make up about 70 percent of Iran's population. Since pro-democracy protests got under way in Iran in early June, Radio Farda, broadcast on AM, shortwave, digital audio satellite and by Internet, has played an important role in providing information to people inside the country. As director of Radio Free Afghanistan, which is run by RFE/RL, Ilves has helped coordinate a 24-hour stream of news and information to Afghanistan, which includes 12 hours of programming from VOA in Dari and Pashto. Ilves will continue to serve as director for the Prague- based Radio Free Afghanistan until a replacement is found (BBG press release June 30 via DXLD) Well, what happened to the previous director of R. Farda, and who was that? (gh, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]: A-03 of VOA (with the exception of English). Updated on June 25, 2003 ALBANIAN 0500-0530 1215 11805 11825 13615 1600-1630 9575 15115 17725 1830-1900 1458 9840 15280 15150 AMHARIC 1800-1830 11690 13670 13835 1830-1900 11690 13670 13835 Sat/Sun ARABIC 0000-0300 990 1260 1548 7185 7205 9695 11785 0300-0400 990 1260 1548 7175 11680 15380 0400-0500 990 1260 1548 6180 7175 11680 11910 15380 0500-0600 990 1260 1548 6180 7175 9855 11680 11910 15380 0600-0700 990 1260 1548 6180 9855 11910 15725 17845 0700-0800 990 1260 1548 15725 17565 17845 0800-1000 990 1548 15725 17565 17845 1000-1400 990 1548 15725 17565 1400-1500 990 1548 13870 15725 1500-1700 990 1260 1548 13870 1700-1800 990 1260 1548 6040 7105 12040 1800-2100 990 1260 1548 6040 7105 9505 11745 11785 12040 2100-2300 990 1260 1548 7195 9505 11745 11785 12010 12040 2300-2400 990 1260 1548 7195 7205 11815 12010 12040 ARMENIAN 1500-1530 11680 13720 17810 AZERI 1730-1800 9740 11665 15135 BANGLA 0130-0200 11735 15210 17805 1600-1700 1575 7280 9740 11965 BOSNIAN 1500-1530 1197 Mon-Fri 2130-2200 792 1197 Mon-Fri BURMESE 1130-1200 1575 9720 11850 15225 1430-1500 1575 5955 7155 9720 2330-2400 6185 9505 11840 15220 CANTONESE 1300-1400 9575 11865 11975 15500 1400-1500 1143 9575 11865 15500 CREOLE 1130-1200 9525 11890 15265 Mon-Fri 1630-1700 15385 17565 21555 2100-2130 11895 13725 21555 CROATIAN 0430-0500 756 792 1197 1395 6130 7210 11855 1830-1900 1197 7175 9670 15170 DARI 0130-0230 801 1296 12140 15730 17670 0530-0630 1296 17710 21550 1130-1200 1296 17685 19010 21680 1200-1230 1143 1296 17685 19010 21680 1530-1630 801 1296 7235 12140 15690 1930-2030 1296 2130-2230 1296 FRENCH 0530-0600 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 13695 Mon-Fri 0600-0630 6045 6095 9885 13695 Mon-Fri 1830-2000 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 2000-2030 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 21485 2030-2100 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 21485 Sat/Sun 2100-2130 9815 9830 11720 12035 12080 17750 Mon-Fri GEORGIAN 1430-1500 11780 15190 17810 HAUSA 0500-0530 1530 4960 6045 6095 9885 1500-1530 9710 11990 2030-2100 4950 9815 9830 11720 12080 15730 Mon-Fri HINDI 0030-0100 7155 9680 11820 1600-1700 11705 12115 15290 INDONESIAN 1130-1230 7260 9700 9890 12010 15320 1430-1500 9510 9585 15105 Fri 2200-2330 7225 9535 9620 11805 15205 KHMER 1330-1430 1575 6160 7155 9710 9720 1430-1500 1575 6160 9710 2200-2230 1575 6060 7130 7260 13725 KINYARWANDA 0330-0400 7340 6095 13725 0400-0430 6120 7340 6095 13725 KOREAN 1200-1300 7215 7235 1300-1400 648 7215 7235 9545 2100-2130 6060 7125 2130-2200 6060 7125 15470 KURDISH 0400-0500 9705 12040 15130 1300-1400 1593 9695 9825 15170 1600-1700 1593 15470 15545 17765 1800-1900 11905 15545 LAOTIAN 1230-1300 1575 6030 7225 11930 MACEDONIAN 1930-2000 1197 Mon-Fri MANDARIN 0000-0100 7190 9545 11830 11925 15150 15195 17765 0100-0200 9545 11830 11925 15150 15195 17765 0200-0300 9545 11830 11925 15195 17765 0700-0800 12010 13610 13720 13740 15160 15250 17855 21540 21705 0800-0900 12010 13720 13740 15160 15250 17855 21540 21705 0900-1000 11825 11895 12010 13720 13740 15160 15250 15665 17855 1000-1100 11825 11895 12010 13610 13740 15160 15250 15260 15665 17855 1100-1200 1143 6110 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1200-1230 6110 9545 11785 11825 11965 11990 12040 15250 1230-1300 6110 9545 11785 11805 11825 11990 11965 12040 15250 1300-1400 6110 9845 11785 11805 11825 11965 11990 12040 1400-1500 6110 9585 9845 11805 11965 11990 12040 2200-2300 7150 7190 7200 9510 9545 11925 13775 OROMO 1845-1900 11690 13670 13835 Mon-Fri PASHTO 0030-0130 801 972 1296 12140 15730 17670 0430-0530 1296 1030-1130 1296 17685 19010 21680 1430-1530 801 1296 7235 12140 15690 1830-1930 801 1296 2030-2130 1296 PERSIAN 0300-0400 9835 11985 17855 1700-1800 1593 7280 9680 17585 1800-1900 972 1593 7280 9680 17585 1900-2000 1593 9780 11815 12030 PORTUGUESE 0430-0500 1530 6095 6145 7340 9885 13725 1700-1730 1530 9830 12080 1730-1800 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 1800-1830 1530 9815 9830 12080 15730 17785 Mon-Fri RUSSIAN 1300-1400 11725 11885 15130 15205 15215 17730 1700-1800 6105 7220 9520 9615 11770 15370 1800-1900 6105 7220 9520 9615 11770 11885 SERBIAN 0530-0600 1197 1458 11805 11825 13615 1700-1730 792 1188 1197 11665 13700 15245 1930-2000 792 9705 11910 15280 2100-2130 756 1188 1197 7210 11670 11910 SHONA 1700-1730 909 11975 17895 Mon-Fri SPANISH 0100-0200 9560 9735 9885 11815 13760 1130-1200 9535 11925 13790 1200-1230 7370 11890 13770 15360 15390 17875 2300-2400 9515 9670 13715 15350 17890 SWAHILI 1630-1700 9815 13670 15730 17785 1700-1730 9815 13670 15730 17785 Mon-Fri TIBETAN 0000-0100 7200 7255 11690 0400-0600 15265 15490 17770 1400-1500 6030 11705 15680 TIGRINA 1830-1845 11690 13670 13835 Mon-Fri TURKISH 0330-0400 792 7205 9740 11955 1800-1900 792 9595 11925 15235 UKRAINIAN 0400-0500 7115 11805 11895 2000-2030 3975 7190 11910 URDU 0100-0200 7155 9835 11805 1330-1430 9510 12025 15190 1700-1800 11905 13715 15545 UZBEK 1230-1300 1143 12140 15120 17655 18990 1500-1530 7135 13795 17655 17685 VIETNAMESE 1300-1330 1143 1575 6160 9505 9860 1500-1600 5955 6120 7195 9780 2230-2330 6060 7130 7260 13725 73 from Ivo and Angel! (Observer, Bulgaria, July 1 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Dear friends, 7507.0, AFRTS, Roosevelt Roads, Isabela (USB), 0115-0350, Jul 01, Carol Evans gave advertisements, Jeff Cole talked about business and investments, new frequency replacing 6458.5 being scheduled 24 hours a day according to updated AFRTS website: http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/shortwave Heard strong here: 44434. 5446.5, AFRTS, Boca-Chica, Key West, Florida (USB), 0120-0350, Jul 01, English press report about unmanned aerial vehicles in the Pacific. 24333 weaker than // Puerto Rico on 7507. New frequency replacing 12689 during nighttime. 12135 is scheduled daytime. No other AFRTS SW- frequencies were audible. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Re: 15650 PAB? Who is this? (Hans Johnson-USA) 15650 1445-1500 39,40 110 100 1 1506-261003 JUL 100 PAB 1445-1500 UT portion not in service yet? - at least today. (wb) 15650 1500-1515 39,40 102 115 1 0106-261003 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1530-1545 39,40 208 100 1 2206-261003 JUL 100 PAB 15650 1545-1600 39,40 110 100 1 0106-261003 JUL 100 PAB Apparently, I neglected to mention this before but when Ralf sent out the latest schedules for Jülich, I also noted the "PAB" in the schedule. In the past, Ralf always included a "key" to define the three letter abbreviations but that has not been the case recently. I followed up with an e-mail to Ralf. In his reply he indicated PAB Pan American Broadcasters. I looked them up on the Internet and they a religious program broker from Cupertino, CA. I think this may be the same outfit that rented time over R Africa in Equatorial Guinea some time ago (do they still do that?). (Rich D`Angelo-USA, BC-DX June 30 via DXLD) URL: http://www.radiopanam.com/ http://www.radiopanam.com/Outreaches/index.html Pan American Broadcasting, 20410 Town Center Lane # 200, Cupertino, CA 95014, U.S.A. e-mail info@panambc.com From PAB website: Pan American represents more than 100 radio stations in over 30 countries worldwide, providing inspiration in distant lands where freedom of religion is often greatly restricted or controlled. We can help you to help others who are in spiritual need. We can find an international radio station that will help you fulfill The Great Commission. For the past 60 years, we at Pan American Broadcasting have been helping ministries like yours get your message where it is needed most. We represent more than 100 radio stations in over 30 countries worldwide. West Africa w R Africa Our most popular station! Strategically located in the west central African country of Equatorial Guinea, this 50,000 watt SW stn reaches over 300 million people including 140 million En speaking people in Nigeria, Ghana and Liberia. Rates are $69 and $129 for your 15 and 30 min weekly programs. (Prime time add $10/bc). "Radio Africa - Reaching The People of Africa" is a 22 min video available for loan or purchase. Southern Africa w R Africa #2 Radio Africa #2, following in the footsteps of its highly successful sister station, R Africa, broadcasts 50,000 watts of SW power reaching over 80 million people in southern and South Africa. With literacy as low as 25%, radio is absolutely necessary in this part of the world. Rates are $69 and $129 for your 15 and 30 min weekly programs. East Africa w R East Africa The English speaking countries of East Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi are home to over 75 million souls. This area of the vast African continent has not been well served by radio. R East Africa's 50,000 watts of power insures that the Good News will be heard. Rates are $69 and $129 for your 15 and 30 min weekly programs. (Sunday add $10/bc) BUT new Juelich Sunday outlet to the Middle East not mentioned yet on their website (wb, June 30, BC-DX via DXLD) Altho you may not hear much about it, PAB brokers a lot of time on other religious broadcasters, such as WWCR (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. R. Free San Diego as in 3-115: here are the URLs referred to at the bottom of article: Find out if you can hear 96.9 FM -- click here http://www.pirate969.org/coverage.asp to view a coverage map. Click here to visit the 96.9 FM Web site http://www.pirate969.org/ http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=03/06/29/1082614 (via Andy Sennitt, DXLD) Lots more interesting stuff on their website, including a page about the FCC, illustrated: http://www.pirate969.org/fcc.asp Three Points: 1) There has yet to be an interference complaint about our station, and if there was we would power down the second we even thought there was a problem, and put the whole rig through a spectrum analyzer to figure out what was going on. 2) We use dual low pass filter (9 elements in each) to kill off all of our harmonics, except for the base harmonic, which is 96.9MHz. 3) If 96.9FM was such a horrible frequency here in San Diego, odd that the FCC allowed the Super Bowl to use it http://www.bext.com/_CGC/2003/cgc560.htm in February of 2003. But they will always fly the rhetoric flag of interference, and we can promise if we're ever aired on corporate media, the anchor will have some grave face and say "the FCC remarks that stations such as these can cause interference to planes, ambulances, and fire fighters." (via gh, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO/TV TOWERS LOST IN AZ FIRE There is a lengthy discussion on the Phoenix board at http://www.radio-info.com. Click on Phoenix and look for the thread (David Gleason, June 22, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Someone posted an article elsewhere. But it said KTWO/Casper and KKTU/Cheyenne will change affiliations to ABC. Both contracts with NBC expire shortly. KKTU will switch this year. KTWO will become independent (ceding the NBC affiliation to the current PAX station) until the ABC affiliate's contract with the network expires (KFNB?). I'm not sure what happens to them after that. http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/06/29/news/casper/08cb1dee6eca65b28d16c0ee0917aa38.txt (Rob Zerwekh, KS, amfmtvdx via DXLD) http://kcradio.tripod.com http://zerwekh.hypermart.net ** U S A. KNX OFF THE AIR FOR 36 MINUTES Some early-morning Los Angeles commuters were deprived of their news fix Tuesday when a transmitter problem knocked KNX-AM (1070) off the air for 36 minutes. A faulty chip on the station's main transmitter in Torrance shut down its power at 6:03 a.m., said KNX transmitter supervisor Larry Wichman. Normally, anyone at the station's Hollywood studio can press a button to switch to the backup transmitter, but that button also failed, he said. Executive news producer Ronnie Bradford called Wichman at home, and Wichman was able to talk him through another, more involved procedure to start the backup transmitter. The station was on the air again at 6:39 a.m. KNX general manager George Nicholaw said it was the longest time the station had been off the air that he could remember. (By Steve Carney - Los Angeles Times Via Shoptalk Magazine via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) Funny you should mention this. I noticed the other day that they didn't seem to be getting out as well as usual. They're usually rock- solid here in the Valley - hardly any static or anything, but they just seemed a little weaker than I'm used to. Wonder if that was a precursor of today's event. I wonder what kind of backup they have - is it also 50kw? If not, maybe some of you will have some DX opportunities that are usually not available (at least those of you farther from the transmitter than I am)... (Brian Leyton, CA, June 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) I'm not positive, but I believe they have a 10 kW aux; supposedly there is an old 50 there, but it may not be working. I just don't know right now. They also have or had the last time I was in Torrance (literally years ago) a small aux tower. This would be used when there is tower work or an ATU type failure. Of course, the radiation efficiency is not as good. Since aux antennas are not listed on the FCC search, I am not positive on this. According to the report, the 50 just died. Transmitters big and small do this; some of the LA FMs have as many as three transmitters, and some have two sites and multiple antennas. Usually, an automated system picks the next best alternative to stay on the air, and the transition is pretty seamless. Anyway, the automatic cycling to the aux did not happen, and it took them a half hour to talk the studio person through a manual switch and start. (David Gleason, CA, ibid.) It seems to me that distant AM stations, more than 150 miles, are weaker during the day and during the summer months than at other times of the year. Then too, there's usually more atmospheric noise during the summer. Wonder if this is my imagination or is it a known fact? (Tom Dimeo, ibid.) Both -- there's more noise in the summer, AND signals are weaker. I believe the weak daytime signal thing is caused by the fact that, in the winter, there's actually a lot of residual SKYWAVE propagation during the midday--thus, daytime D-layer absorption is defeated somewhat --- whereas in the 14-hour days of summer, daylight D-layer absorption is intensified (Randy Stewart, Springfield MO, ibid.) What Randy said. And the fact that the D-layer absorption is intensified in the summer is the very reason why I've taken to doing all my daytime bandscans (like one done two weeks ago from Lincoln, NE) during the summertime. To me, you get a truer indication of how far low-power (re: 1 kw or lower) signals within, say, 200 miles of one's listening QTH can really get out (my ICF-2010 still manages to pull in KLOE-730 with a decent daytime signal in June, although it is, of course, noticeably stronger in the dead of winter). Also, you don't have the added enhancement of snow cover and/or subfreezing temps that would allow something like KOMA to come in at an almost even level with KSIB-1520, which it does quite often in the middle of the day in January (Rick Dau, Omaha, NE, ibid.) Some 400 miles at 1520? I think that`s skywave (gh, OK, DXLD) Another factor is the ground conductivity tends to be less in summer. Also how wet or dry the summer is makes a big difference too. WBAJ 890 here in Columbia had the 50,000 watt upgrade squeeeeeeeked in by doing it in the heat and dryness of last summer. This year we are +6 inches over normal not -20 as it's been the last 5 years. So it would never measure in this year if the work had been delayed (Powell E. Way III, ibid.) ** U S A. PUBLIC TV EYES PAC TO GAIN ACCESS TO POLS Originally published in Current, June 30, 2003 By Dan Odenwald Public TV advocates have begun research on creating a political action committee to aid allies in Congress. The PAC would be established independently of the stations and national organizations but would raise money from board members, station employees and friends of public TV, says APTS President John Lawson, who is helping to explore the idea. . . http://www.current.org/funding/funding0312pac.html (Current via DXLD) ** U S A. Re: 100000watts.com going pay: Pity --- it was the best source of info on station formats and slogans, thanks to the frequent updating and search capabilities. There are still some pretty good free online alternatives for info on AM stations, however. I noticed that Lee Freshwater has recently updated his BCB Logbook site http://geocities.com/amlogbook/main1.htm and the the radio-locator site http://www.radio-locator.com also has useful info. As a portal to AM info (NA only), I modestly suggest my site at http://hydra.carleton.ca/ambc/aminfo.html By just entering a callsign, you can get: - all of the info from Lee's site on that station (location, power(s), antenna type, format, etc.) - distance and bearing to the station, as well as an estimate of the skywave elevation angle (if you enter your location lat/long) - a link to the sunrise/sunset times for that station (from the FCC site), which will come up in a popup window - a link to the radio-locator page for the station, which will also appear in the popup window In addition, you can do format searches and "sound-alike" callsign searches for a given frequency. Click on the 'help' link at the bottom of the page for details. Comments and suggestions for improvements are welcome (Barry McLarnon, June 25, NRC-AM via DXLD) Now that I go poking around the site again, I did come up with some anomalies (you did say that you wanted feedback) :-) First of all, the top part of the page gets cut off at the bottom if I scale the window down to anything less than a full screen, and I don't get any scroll bar that would allow me to adjust it (I'm using IE5.5). Makes it kinda hard to get at the callsign field & "Search" button. Second, the sunrise/sunset & Radio Locator links aren't working (I tried this on another machine running IE6.0, and got the same thing). I get Javascript errors. Lastly, I've noticed some strange things in the database. Some are just updates to the format information, which I'll try to let you know about from now on, when I come across them. One strange one though is that if you punch in my pet station KSPN under the station search, then the info comes up correctly at 710. If you go to the unidentified station search & punch in KSPN at 710, it doesn't find it. If you use 710 & put the call letters in as "K???", it finds KDIS at 710 (and KSPN at 1110). Those 2 stations swapped places back on 1/1/03. I guess I never sent in updates, because I wasn't sure how actively you were maintaining the site. I'll try to be better about that in the future (Brian Leyton, CA, ibid.) OK, that should be fixed now. Ugly, but you should get a scroll bar now. | Second, the sunrise/sunset & Radio Locator links aren't working Hmm... not sure about that one. I haven't tested with IE, since I don't use it (I run Linux, and use the Opera browser). I'll try and do some testing from a Windoze box in the next few days, and see if I can track this one down. | Lastly, I've noticed some strange things in the database. Until very recently, I hadn't done any maintenance on it for a long while. The backbone of the site is Lee Freshwater's data, and I had the impression that he wasn't updating his data anymore... but I guess he found some time recently, and did some catching up. Format updates and the like should really go to Lee rather than me. Feel free to bring other glitches and anomalies to my attention, though (Barry McLarnon, ibid.) ** U S A. === TIP OF THE WEEK === FCC CALL SIGN CHANGES http://www.fcc.gov/Document_Indexes/Media/2003_index_MB_Callsign_Changes.html (NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. HISTORY OF MUTUAL BROADCASTING SYSTEM: http://members.aol.com/jeff1070/mutual.html (Art Blair, Folsom, CA, June 30, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. WFUV (90.7) has lost its latest bid for a new permanent tower site: the Daily News reports that negotiations have fallen through that would have moved the Fordham University station from its half-finished tower near the New York Botanical Garden to an industrial park elsewhere in the Bronx Rochester's weekly "alternative" rag, City Newspaper, deigned to mention radio this week, devoting its cover to a report that public broadcaster WXXI will soon be partnering with the University of Rochester to improve the programming on WRUR-FM (88.5), which has fallen on somewhat hard times in recent years. (It hasn't been uncommon to hear WRUR sign off for several hours in the middle of the day because there's nobody around to take the next shift - and this on a station with one of the best noncommercial signals in town, 3000 watts from the Hyatt Hotel downtown.) In any case, City confirms what we've been hearing behind the scenes for a few months: WXXI will upgrade WRUR's aging studios and supply the station with NPR news and talk programming in exchange for being able to carry Morning Edition and All Things Considered on WRUR's FM facility, which reaches east and west to suburban areas that WXXI's AM 1370 signal has difficulty reaching when it's on night pattern. WXXI will also supply additional programming to fill timeslots on WRUR that have gone unfilled. Congratulations to WFRM (600) up in Coudersport PA, one of the better small-market operations out there: the station celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this month, holding an open house and a daylong celebration to mark the occasion. You can see many more great pictures at WFRM's Web site, http://www.wfrm.net (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch June 30 via DXLD) ** U S A. HAM RADIO FANS CONNECT THE OLD WAY http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,758010,00.html (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. VOICES AND CODE DASH ACROSS THE AIRWAVES Competition Tests Skill, Tenacity --- By Rosalind S. Helderman. Washington Post Staff Writer. Monday, June 30, 2003; Page B01 From several miles south of the tiny town of Lovettsville, down more than a mile of unpaved roads, inside a barn and alongside a battered canoe and a tractor, Gary Quinn called out to the world. Turning a dial slowly, he hit a button on a laptop computer and sent out his Morse code call sign -- K4LRG -- again and again, beckoning to any other ham radio operator who would listen. Then, his speaker crackled and spit out the dot-dash beeping of a fellow enthusiast. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48982-2003Jun29.html (via Matt Francis, DC, and -.. . Kraig Krist, KG4LAC, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 6010, Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Montevideo, 1650+, June 29. Spanish. Ann.: "los invitamos a reencontrarnos el próximo domingo, a las 10, en Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, la radio del Carnaval". Local ads. Complete ID as: "En su receptor CX42 Emisora Ciudad de Montevideo, Uruguay, transmitiendo en 1370 kHz, La frecuencia que se sintoniza con mayor frecuencia". S/off at 1700. 44444. 6045.18, Radio Sport, Montevideo, reactivated on SW!!!!!!, 1922-1930, June 29. Spanish. Football transmission: Peñarol-Miramar Misiones, from "Centenario" Stadium. ID: "Aquí, como siempre, en la Sport", 34433. 6045.18, Radio Sport, Montevideo, 1335-1400, June 29. Spanish. Cycle competence from Paysandú. ID: "Escucha Ciclismo, Escucha Sport" and "Radio Sport...". Ads.: "Automóvil Club del Uruguay, le brinda servicio en todas las rutas nacionales", "Para la compra de cueros... Barraca Cabrera, Ruta 48 Km. 18", "Metalúrgica Daniel, en la era del Mercosur", "Agropecuaria Hernández, semillas y fertilizantes... Ruta 25... Las Piedras". Other ID as: "Lo escuchamos por Sport". SINPO: 34433 (Arnaldo Slaen, Argentina, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) 6045, Radio Sarandí Sport, en efecto, ha comenzado trasmisiones de prueba, reactivando esta vieja frecuencia. Esto es lo que confirmó hoy tras comunicarme por teléfono con la emisora, el Sr. Alejandro Silva, Encargado Técnico. El trasmisor tiene algo menos de 10 kW. En efecto, la emisora piensa reactivarla a pleno, retrasmitiendo la Onda Media de CX18, en 890, y en un futuro próximo durante 24h. El Sr. Silva es receptivo a informes de recepción de monitores distantes. Los reportes de escucha deben enviarse a asilva@c... [truncated]. El teléfono es +208 26 12 y pedir con "Técnica" a su nombre (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, jun 30, Conexión Digital vai DXLD) ** VIETNAM. Re VOV 4/1/2: This is not a mystery. VOV broadcasts 6 channels; details can be found in WRTH2003 on pg. 398 and on the VOV website: http://www.vov.org.vn/docs1/english/index.html The language segments on 6020 kHz are relays of VOV 4, 1 and 2 (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Of course ** ZAMBIA. 4910, Zambia BC (tent), 0415 with the same flute song interspersed with announcements until 0445. Then local music. No English heard. Was fair to poor but severely degraded by 05. Did hear a tone at 05. (No other southern Africans heard, just Nigeria on 4770) (David Norcross, CA, US. ICF7600G and RS DX-402 on eave hung short wire, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 6265 was dropped couple of months ago. Radio 1 was moved to 5915. Apparently also that frequency is now silent, as they are now on 4910. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Finland, July 1, dxing.info via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ 7-MHZ REALIGNMENT REMAINS UP IN THE AIR AS WRC-03 ENTERS FINAL WEEK NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 30, 2003 --- Compromise on a realigned 7 MHz Amateur Radio allocation so far has eluded delegates to World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) who are dealing with that issue. The ITU-sponsored conference, now in its final week in Geneva, has reached no final conclusions on key Amateur Radio-related issues, and it might not be known until week's end how efforts to secure a worldwide 300-kHz 40-meter allocation will turn out. "Things are very much up in the air at this time," Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, said on behalf of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) observer delegation to WRC-03 headed by IARU President Larry Price, W4RA. Sumner notes that there is strong pressure for the conference to reach its decisions by consensus. "Votes are not taken except as an absolute last resort," he said. Sumner reported on http://www.iaru.org/rel030630.html that as the third week of WRC-03 drew to a close, Conference Chair Dr Veena Rawat of Canada brought together several delegates and regional coordinators in an attempt to reach agreement on several outstanding issues, including 7 MHz. The outcome regarding 40 meters was a proposed compromise, but Committee 4--the panel charged with handling the issue (Agenda item 1.2.3)--ran out of time to consider it, despite a meeting that ran late into last Friday evening. That compromise proposal calls for a single-stage implementation of another 100 kHz for the Amateur Service--7100 to 7200 kHz--in Regions 1 and 3, made available by shifting broadcasting up to 7350 to 7450 kHz. "In Region 2 the only change would be an additional 50 kHz for broadcasting, 7350-7400 kHz, with no change below 7300 kHz," Sumner explained in his report. "Thus, amateurs in Region 2 would be relieved of the incompatibility with broadcasting in half of the band, but the incompatibility would continue in the other half." The plan, if ultimately approved -- and that's anything but certain at this stage -- might not go into effect for another four to six years, but Regions 1 and 3 could be permitted to authorize amateurs to use 7100-7200 kHz on a secondary basis and with limited power as of the effective date of the Final Acts of the Conference--probably January 1, 2005. The next WRC may consider additional adjustment in the allocations above 7200 kHz, but not 7000 to 7200 kHz. Still, Sumner said, talk in the hallways at Geneva suggested that several Region 3 administrations were not happy with the compromise and wanted to at least have country "footnotes" permitting them to allocate 7100 to 7200 kHz on a national basis to Fixed and Mobile services, shared with amateurs. Formal and informal discussions on the topic are ongoing. "Of course, the arm twisting in the corridors is continuing unabated," Sumner observed. Meanwhile, a resolution inviting the next WRC to consider additional spectrum requirements for broadcasting between 4 and 10 MHz awaits final action until the 7 MHz issue has been resolved. Regarding other Amateur Radio-related items, Committee 4 delegates agreed to a complete text for changes to Article 25 of the Radio Regulations, which define the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite services. "Some of the wording is the result of delicate compromises," Sumner said. It will be brought to the Plenary this week. All items that become part of the Final Acts of WRC-03 must survive two readings in the Plenary. A 432 to 438 MHz secondary allocation for satellite-borne synthetic aperture radars (SARs) already has cleared the Plenary on first reading. So have changes to Article 19 of the Radio Regulations to provide more flexibility for administrations to assign amateur call signs. The second reading of all conference decisions in the Plenary is set to be wrapped up by July 3 at noon. The ceremonial signing of the Final Acts of the Conference is set for the afternoon of July 4. A draft agenda for the next conference--being referred to as "WRC-07," although the year is not yet firm--is taking shape. Future conference agenda items will be among the last items of business, because the agenda remains contingent on still-pending WRC-03 decisions. Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST NRC LABOR DAY WEEKEND CONVENTION IN DALLAS Don't forget that information about the 2003 NRC Convention is on the web page: http://www.dxas.org Scroll down to convention and click on it. Make sure you look at the little video presentation Fred Vobbe put together with the "faces" of the NRC. There are plans to take lots of pictures and video when we get together August 29 through 31 in Dallas-Fort Worth. Hope to see you in 2 months! (Wally Wawro, WFAA- TV, Dallas, TX, NRC 2003 Big D, NRC-AM via DXLD) RECEIVER NEWS +++++++++++++ RDS Glenn, I saw the letter at the bottom of this mail on the DX listening digest that appeared on UniversalRadio.com on 24 June [3-xxxxxxxxx]. There may be a little confusion here. Scrolling text is a feature of RDS called RadioText, and there are very few radios that can receive it. Among Portables, in the UK, there is the Grundig Ocean Boy 510, (the first portable to have it, despite some manufacturers claims to the contrary. The Grundig is also available throughout Europe, and the Middle East, it is not available in America, for several reasons, the main one being that it only tunes the AM band in 9 kHz steps). Others are the Roberts R9929 and the Morphy Richards 27005. You have to activate the RadioText feature by pressing the appropriate button, as the radio’s default to the 8 character PS name like most other RDS radios. The confusion may have arisen as Brian has been in Germany! There, like Turkey, Greece and Albania, maybe others, it is common for broadcasters to use what is called ``dynamic PS name`` which means changing the 8 character PS name every few seconds. It’s possible to make the text scroll by doing this. It is, however, against the rules of RDS as laid down by the governing body. See http://www.rds.org.uk/rds98/nonstandarddps.htm and see also http://www.rds.org.uk/rds98/forum15.htm using the find function of your browser to look for text ``Non-Standard Use of RDS - Dynamic PS:`` It`s most unlike the Germans, who usually set standards, not break them! (Ian Waugh `grundigradioboy`, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ NASWA COMMENTS TO FCC NOI 03-104 NASWA has submitted an 18 page document to the FCC regarding their current inquiry on Broadband Power Line (BPL) communications. The report documents testing that has been done by others to show that implementation of the technology would be a disaster for shortwave listeners. NASWA explains to the FCC why they don't want to have frequency sharing in the HF range and instead proposes the 30-47 MHz range be used for these data signals. The document is available in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format from the FCC web site using the following link: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi Search for document number 6514282987 The easiest way to pull up the NASWA comments is to put 03-104 in the box at the top left of the form, box 1, called "Proceeding". In box 4 called document type select the CO option. Then type in box 5 North American Shortwave Association. That will bring up an index box. In the lower left corner of that box, click on COMMENT to download the pdf version of the document. If you leave the box 5 empty, you will get the last 100 comments filed and can then select any of the comments by scrolling through the index boxes. The number I referred to will appear at the end of the URL that calls up the filing. That URL is: http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_d ocument=6514282987 If you would like to see what the other 1335 people, who have submitted comments, have said, follow the same link but instead fill in the form as follows: Where the form says "Proceeding" enter 03-104 Where the form says "Document Type" select CO Scroll down to the bottom of the form and click on "Retrieve Document List" button. You will get the most recent 100 submissions. If you desire to see earlier submissions, scroll down to the bottom of the page and select which set of 100 you want to look at. My review of the last 300 submissions shows the NASWA comments to be way more detailed and direct to the specific questions asked by the FCC than 99% of the submissions. It will be hard for the FCC to ignore the points we make. But that doesn't insure success. They managed to ignore 750,000 negative votes on their most recent screw up to liberalize broadcast ownership rules. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, June 30, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ Certainly an impressive filing. Kudos to NASWA for taking on the task of defending shortwave listening against this menace! (gh, DXLD) DRM +++ From Anorak Nation: Saturday, 28 June 2003 11:01 http://www.anoraknation.com/threads/166.html Just to inform you all radio enthusiasts that DRM could be the "anorak solution" to old AM transmissions. Right now I'm listening to Deutsche Welle on SW from Sines on 15440 kHz, with the new DRM technology. Quite amazing! It sounds like an ordinary FM transmission, i.e. no limited frequency response, no static noise, just the audio and in some transmissions, a multimedia content. Besides the audio there are some text messages sent, such as: DW-RADIO live program from relay station Sines/Portugal operated by Deutsche Welle We would be very pleased about your DRM reception report to tb@dw-world.de! QSL card guaranteed! On July 1st RTL will reactivate their 6095 kHz transmitter, with relays from 6 different RTL stations, each lasting one hour. On June 25th I listened to RTL Berlin on the above SW-QRG. BBC is using 1296 kHz for DRM between 0900-1500 UT M-F... [see LUXEMBOURG above] I'm using an ordinary SW-AM radio. But you have to be able to access it's IF (455 kHz) in order to concert that to a 12 kHz IF. The 12 kHz IF is fed to the sound card of the PC. In the PC you need a special DRM program in order to be able to listen. For more info: http://www.drmrx.org/ I'm not quite sure if there are portable receivers yet. Do remember that DRM was officially launched on June 16, 2003! I know that there are receivers on the market, such as WinRadio. But that needs a PC as well... It works on MW. As a matter of fact, BBC is active on 1296 kHz with DRM M-F 09:00-15:00 UTC. Two stations are active in Germany 24h on 531 and 855 kHz. As for an "offshore station", it doesn't have to be offshore - it could broadcast quite legally on SW or MW from a "friendly country" and still be heard with FM quality in its target area. As for portable sets, they are coming. Design of a DRM chip-set is on it's way, this will reduce the cost of DRM receivers considerably. But that is something that was said of DAB receivers as well and... (more discussion on the web site) (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ###