DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-119, July 5, 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 CONTINENT OF MEDIA 03-04 new edition: RFPI: Sat 2130, Sun 0330, 0930, 1530, Thu 2000, Fri 0200, 0830, 1430 on 7445 and/or 15039 {Download} http://www.dxing.com/com/com0304.rm (Stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0304.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0304.html Also via http://www.worldofradio.com NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1189: RFPI: Sat 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, 1830, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Tue 1900, Wed 0100, 0730, 1330 on 7445 and/or 15039 WINB: Sun 0030 12160 WWCR: Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0445 7415 WRN: rest of world Sat 0800, Europe Sun 0430, North America Sun 1400 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1189.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1189.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1189h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1189h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1189.html UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Me alegro mucho que hayas comenzado usar mis grabaciones en WOR. Lo hace el programa más ``Vivo``. 73s de (Björn Malm, Ecuador) ** AFGHANISTAN [and non]. OPPOSING VIEWS ON FOREIGN BROADCASTS TO AFGHANISTAN Two opposing views were broadcast by Iranian Mashhad radio on 4 July on the role of foreign radio stations in Afghanistan. An Afghan intellectual has asked the government to ban foreign radio stations from broadcasting in Afghanistan. The editor-in-chief of the Hindokosh news agency said that foreign culture might "upset" his country's national unity. Whereas, the editor-in-chief of Erada daily, Mr Zahoor Afghan, said that foreign radio stations were broadcasting nothing going against Afghanistan's national interests. The following is an excerpt from the report, with subheads inserted editorially: [Presenter] An Afghan intellectual has said that programmes broadcast by foreign radio stations in Afghanistan contravene [Islamic] law and that this is the betrayal of the country's national interests. In a letter to the country's government, the Afghan intellectual asked the government to prevent foreign radio stations from broadcasting in Afghanistan. In his letter, a copy of which was also sent to Afghan publications, he said that even in colonial countries, the authorities do not allow such radios to operate. He asked: Will America and Europe, which have set up radio stations in Afghanistan and which promote freedom, allow an Islamic country to set up a radio station in their countries and to broadcast programmes for their people? The writer asked the Afghan government to completely ban the foreign radio stations from broadcasting in Afghanistan, and said that this was needed to preserve the values of Islam and protect national interests. In interviews with two Afghan journalists and media experts, we have assessed the issue. Foreign media The editor-in-chief of Erada daily, Mr Zahoor Afghan [phonetic], said that programmes broadcast by foreign radios in Afghanistan were not a problem bearing in mind Afghanistan's media law. He said that critics had the right to express their opposing views on those programmes. Mr Zahoor Afghan said: [Zahoor Afghan] We have two kinds of radio stations in our country. First, those radio stations whose broadcasts are strengthened inside the country, such as BBC, Voice of America or Radio Azadi [Liberty]. Nobody can stop them from broadcasting. They broadcast so that people can listen to them. Second, there are radio stations that have got official permission from the Ministry of Information and Culture in accordance with the media law and operate inside Afghanistan. I don't think these radio stations broadcast anything going against Afghanistan's national interest, because we listen to these radios. There could be a category of people whose ideas and thoughts are against those programmes. They may not tolerate entertainment programmes, such as music that are broadcast by FM radios. Otherwise, I do not think those radio stations which have been given official permission by the Afghan government in accordance with the media law to broadcast programmes broadcast anything that undermines the national interests of Afghanistan. Those intellectuals who feel responsibility for their country, for their people, for the freedom of speech and for the implementation of democracy are allowed to express their opposition to the matter. [Passage omitted: repeat] External financial support for Afghan media [Presenter] Meanwhile, sharing the sentiment of opposition to foreign media in Afghanistan, the editor-in-chief of Hindokosh news agency, Sayed Najibollah Hashemi, said that alien cultures had influenced his country and that this matter would also upset Afghanistan's national unity. The editor-in-chief of Hindokosh asked the government to pay more attention to foreign assistance coming to Afghanistan's news sources so that there are opportunities to create a good competitive environment. Let us listen to what Sayed Najibollah Hashemi had to say: [Sayed Najibollah Hashemi] Afghanistan's new media law guarantees some freedom for the Afghan people in the sphere of media. It is a good opportunity to develop talents in the country. Unfortunately, since financial support for Afghanistan's independent media is weaker, all Afghan independent news sources turn to external sources. They [Afghan news sources] are being given moral and financial support. And the feeding of Afghanistan's independent media has resulted in some disorder in the country's media affairs. [Passage to end omitted: repeat] Source: Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Dari 1330 gmt 4 Jul 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** AFRICA. AFRICA ON THE TROPICAL BANDS JULY 2003 kHz kW ITU Station, location, schedule, comments 3200 35 SWZ TWR Swaziland 0300-0330 Ndebele 3200 25 SWZ TWR Swaziland 0400-0500 German/English 3200 50 SWZ TWR Swaziland 1700-2045 Tswana/Pedi/Sotho/English 3215 50 MDG AWR via Talata-Volondry 0230-0300 French, 0300-0330 Malagasy, 1530-1600 French, 1600-1630 Malagasy 3215 50 MDG R. Feon'ny Filazantsara via Talata-V. 1630-1655 (Malagasy?). Started 3 July 03 3215 100 AFS AWR via Meyerton 0500-0530, 1800-1830 English 3215 100 AFS SARL via Meyerton 1900-2000mo English 3230 100 AFS R Veritas via Meyerton 1600-1900 English 3230 100 AFS Family R via Meyerton 1900-2100 English 3255 100 AFS BBC WS via Meyerton 0300-0500, 1700-2200 English 3288v 100 MDG R Madagascar, Antananarivo 0300-0500, 1500-1900, 1900- 2100sa/su Malagasy/French 3316v 10 SRL Sierra Leone BC, Freetown inactive 3320 100 AFS R Sonder Grense via Meyerton 1600-0530 Afrikaans 3326 50 NIG R Nigeria-Lagos 0425-2305 English 3345 100 AFS Channel Africa, Meyerton 0430-0455, 1630-1655 Portuguese 3345 100 AFS AWR via Meyerton 0500-0530, 1800-1830 English 3366 35 GHA GBC R2, Accra 0525-0915, 1705-0000 English also radiating strong spurious signals 3375v 15 ANG R Nacional de Angola, Luanda reportedly inactive here 3380 50 MWI Malawi BC, Blantyre Inactive 3390 100 AFS BBC WS via Meyerton 0430-0500 Portuguese, 1730-1745 BBC English, 2030-2100 Portuguese 4760 1 LBR ELWA, Monrovia 0600-0830, 1730-2200 English/local langs 4760 50 SWZ TWR Swaziland 1600-1700 Tshwa/Shangaan/Port./Ndau 4765 100 COG R Congo, Brazzaville 0430-0700, 1800-2130 French/local languages (alternative to 5985) 4770v 50 NIG R Nigeria-Kaduna 0430-2305 English/local languages 4775 50 SWZ TWR Swaziland 0340-0355 Lomwe, 0400-0630 Germ/Eng 4777 100 GAB RTV Gabonaise Reported back here in March/April 2003; schedule unconfirmed 4783v 100 MLI RTM, Bamako 0555-0800, 1800-0000 French/local lang 4800 100 LSO LNBS - R Lesotho, Maseru 0245-2200 SeSotho/English 4815 100 BFA R Burkina, Ouagadougou Alternative to 5030 4820 50 BOT R Botswana, Gaborone 24h SeTswana/English 4835v 100 MLI RTM, Bamako 0555-0800, 1800-0000 French/local langs 4845 100 MTN R Mauritania, Nouakchott 0625-0800(ex Fr), 1800-0100 Arabic/French/local languages 4880 100 AFS SW Radio Africa via Meyerton 1600-1900 English to Zimbabwe 4890 250 GAB R France Int via Moyabi 0400-0500 French 4910 100 ZMB ZNBC - R Zambia, Lusaka 0245-0500, 1430-2205 Radio 1 in local languages/English 4915 35 GHA GBC R1, Accra 0525-0915, 0915-1200sa/su, 1200-0000 local languages/English 4915 10 KEN Kenya BC, Nairobi 0300-0700mo-fr, 1300-1905mo-fr with Eastern Service in local languages 4950v 15 ANG R Nacional de Angola, Luanda 24h Portuguese 4950 100 STP VOA via São Tomé 1900-2030 English, 2030-2100m-f Hausa, 2030-2100sa/su English 4960 100 STP VOA via São Tomé 0400-0500 English, 0500-0530 Hausa, 0530-0630mo-fr French 4965 100 ZMB Christian Voice International 1500-0300 English 4976 10 UGA R Uganda, Kampala 0300(0345sa/su)-0600, 1300(1430sa/su)- 2100; Red Channel in English/local langs 5003v 50 GNE R Nacional, Bata 0500-2200 Spanish/local lang; irregular 5010 100 MDG R Madagascar, Antananarivo 0300-0500, 1500-1900, 1900- 2100sa/su Malagasy/French 5025v 10 BEN ORTB - R Parakou 0500-0900mo-fr, 0700-2300sa/su, 1100- 1400mo-fr, 1700-2200mo-fr French/local languages 5026 10 UGA R Uganda, Kampala 0300(0345sa/su)-0600, 1300(1430sa/su)- 2100; Blue Channel in English/local langs 5030 100 BFA R Burkina, Ouagadougou 0530-0800, 1700-0000 French/local lang; alternative freq 4815 5047 50 TGO R Lomé, Rdiff Togolaise 0455-0905, 1605-0005 French/local lang; schedule subject to confirmation 5050v 10 TZA R Tanzania, Dar-es-Salaam 0200-0645, 1315-2100 Swahili 5066.32 1 CNG R Candip, Bunia 0400-0500v, 1330-1800v French/local languages; reportedly not on air as of 1 July 2003. 5100 7.5 LBR R Liberia Int, Monrovia 1800-0000 English/local langs 5470 10 LBR R Veritas, Monrovia 0600-0000 English/local languages 5500 10 ETH V of Tigray Revolution, Mekele inactive here (active though on 6350) (British DX Club - Update 4 July 2003 via DXLD) For further updates see: (by country): http://www.users.waitrose.com/~bdxc/africa.rtf (by frequency): http://www.users/waitrose.com/~bdxc/africafreq.rtf ** ANTARCTICA. Here I am sending some information and related comments about the only broadcasting station of the world that transmits on short wave from the Antarctic Territory: 15476, LRA36 R Nacional Arcangel San Gabriel, currently is broadcasting from Mondays to Fridays at 1800-2100. Its programs consist of three blocks of one hour each. The programs of LRA36 begin with the National Anthem, ID, EFEMERIDES, presentation of the staff, address, e-mail and phone number of the station. After the presentation they pass to the national news and they give some Antarctic topics; during the second block they begin with the international and provincial news, fear on the Antarctic, scientific, ecological all that are as much as possible related to the Antarctic territory; also they have literature and tourism info of interest to the Argentinian. On Thursday, since one of the speakers is a pediatrician, she gives topics referred to health; on Fridays they have a space dedicated to the outstanding women of history and contemporary. In the third block they begin with sport news, and continue with the same topics and they try to make some report to people of the base and also to people in the continent. Currently the station is operating with a power between 2.5 and 4 KW; the transmitter has 10 KW, operating with a rhombic antenna (Gabriel Iván Barrera, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. He recibido este correo de los amigos de Radio Austria Internacional y lo comparto con todos ustedes. Atte: José Elías Queridos amigos de ROI: Con gran emoción he leído vuestras cartas de apoyo y simpatía publicadas en este modesto medio, que puede seguir siendo un medio de comunicación mutua, mientras exista como tal. Como ya os hemos anticipado en el último Buzón, habrá noticias en español a partir del 1 de enero de 2004. Haré todo lo posible para que sean más minutos. Os agradezco, en nombre de todos mis compañeros, la atención y cariño que nos habéis profesado en las últimas semanas, meses, años y hasta décadas. La lista de oyentes seguirá en nuestro archivo, y os haré llegar el cómo y cuándo de un resurgimiento. También a los Clubes DX les haré llegar noticias nuestras, posiblemente con novedades también sobre Austria. Gracias por estas cartas y los emilios que recibimos tan copiosamente. Os echaremos de menos! Un abrazo! Manuel Aletrino Radio Austria Internacional - Wien/Viena http://roi.orf.at/ (via JEDG, Venezuela, DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. DX TARGET: RADIO AFRIKA INTERNATIONAL A BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS AFRICA AND EUROPE By Richard A. D'Angelo Radio Afrika International ("RAI") was founded to bring peace, democracy, development and information exchange to the African continent. Its efforts to promote better relations between the people of Africa and Europe is a founding principle of the station. The continent suffers from a restricted flow of information and, in addition, the station believes there is a distortion of news and media bias concerning the reporting of events in Africa. Consequently, RAI hopes to provide essential news and information to help the continent develop and build "a bridge that connects Africa and Europe." This DX Target will take a quick look at the African continent and the growth and development of Radio Afrika International. The Continent of Africa [snip -- basic geographical facts everyone should already know] The Station Radio Afrika International was founded in March 1997. It was designed to be a bridge connecting Africa and Europe through the exchange of news and information. The station is a journalist project with the role of fighting against prejudices and African stereotypes on the Africa continent that the station believes are often maintained in European media. RAI's core task is to promote better relations between the African nations, Austria (home of the project), as well as the remainder of the European continent. Its themes are peace, democracy, and development and information exchange. The station sees itself stimulating the flow of African information because such information still does not circulate well on the continent. There isn't one African media outlet capable of serving as an information conduit for the entire continent. Radio Afrika International believes that the western media monopolizes the information flow, consequently, coverage of African events is either deferred or minimized. Radio Afrika International believes the distortion of information between Europe and Africa is because of the Western media. The station believes coverage of African events is insufficient and the European and African media miss the mark in covering events on the continent. Europeans dominate broadcasting in Africa because the local infrastructure and access to technology is limited. The African press is a victim of a lack of credible information sources and political, economic and cultural constraints. It is hoped that through Radio Afrika International, western journalists will be able to contribute to the eradication of this problem that corrodes the press and the development of the African continent. Only time will tell if this formula produces results. Radio Afrika International's programming is developed in Vienna, Austria. RAI uses the shortwave transmission facilities of the Austrian government. The station develops programs for its African and European listeners with limited financial resources compared to other international broadcasters in reaching the African continent and Europe. African radio stations, organizations and associations recognized by their countries, present projects that Radio Afrika International broadcast. The program's aim at the promotion of the culture of peace, democracy, the rights of men and development of health, education, environment, the economy, science and technology. The individual program producers are responsible for the contents of the transmissions made on Radio Afrika International mindful of legislation and media laws in force in Austria. Radio Afrika International broadcasts from Austria utilizing the facilities of Radio Austria International ("ROI") from the Broadcast Centre at Moosbrunn. This 800,000 square metro site is about 25 kilometers south of Vienna in the province of Lower Austria. There are two 100 kilowatt and one 300/500-kilowatt transmitters and rotary and directional antennas at the Broadcast Centre. Radio Afrika International is able to lease time from the 100-kilowatt facility for its programs. Currently, the station operates on 17,895 kHz from 1500 to 1600 UT daily. The station broadcasts in German, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. Programs consist of news, cultural features, political analysis, economic news and other features such as Focus on Africa, Politics and Economy, Sports, Exchange and Correspondence. On Sunday a special magazine feature called Radio Afrika Weekend is carried. Shortwave listeners around the world have confused this station with U.S.A.-based Radio Africa International operated by the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM). There is no relationship between the two stations. The GBGM launched its Radio Africa International in the late 1990's and is heard every daily with English and French programs targeting youth and young adults with news, interviews, spiritual messages, and music. They hear faith stories and news concerning the African continent, interviews with prominent Africans, and popular music from around the world. On Sundays, they hear sermons and uplifting spiritual music. There is a strong emphasis on spiritual and health issues where as Radio Afrika International has a strong focus on news and information to better life in Africa. The various radio stations in Africa participating in the project must take a part of the expenses associated with the transmissions. However, Radio Afrika International and its partner radio stations look for subsidies to reduce the loads of the stations with low incomes. Although the station does have serious financial constraints, it does respond to electronic reception reports sent to: radio.afrikas@sil.at Préfet Mat Mathurin Butusolua, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, responded to my report in about a month. He is the moderator of the program "Correspondence and Exchange" where he reads reception reports and dedicates songs to listeners. On 4 January 2003, he dedicated a song to my family by Oumou Sangare from Mali, entitled Dugu Kamelemba. Although less reliable due to the station's current financial condition, postal reception reports with return postage can be sent to the station at: Radio Afrika International, A-1160 Wien, Heigerleinstrasse 7, Austria As always, remember to send those Radio Afrika International logs to Edwin Southwell for the Shortwave Logbook and those interesting QSL verifications to Mark Hattam for inclusion in the QSL Report column. Good luck with this DX Target (Richard A. D`Angelo, PA, July World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** BOUGAINVILLE. CLANDESTINE. 3850, R Independent Mekamui, Bougainville, 1020-1101*, Jun 09, Tok Pisin and, international and string band music, 1055 interval signal, closing ann and a short piece of music. The announcer was the same as I heard some months ago. During announcements the modulation was low. S 6-7 with strong static noise (Roland Schulze, Philippines July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** BURUNDI. Hi Glenn, Had a phone call from Chris Hambly in Melbourne who says he heard Radio Burundi on 6140 this morning. Bells at 2030 followed by ID "This is Burundi" and English news, through to close with bells again at 2056. Best in USB to avoid QRM. Cheers, (Paul Ormandy, ZL4TFX, July 4, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WRTH 2003 shows RTB with some English newscasts but not at this hour (gh, DXLD) ** CANADA. For the next little while, don't discount 790 CFAN, Newcastle (Miramichi) NB. They are far stronger than traditionally, with their omni pattern and full power around the clock. They are supposed to be U4, but one of their two towers is disconnected right now, and they are not able to switch from day pattern. Under these conditions, and during the January DX test, they were heard in California. Curtis McMinniman taped the reception and sent it to the CE, who confirmed the reception. Sometime soon they will be off AM, but their plans are delayed by technical problems with the FM signal, so there is no firm date for release of the AM signal. Some Northeast and Central Canada DXers last winter considered it a bit of a pest as I recall, so reception further west should be considered as possible! (Brent Taylor, Doaktown, NB (ex CFAN), NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. LA BELLE PROVINCE MAKES (RADIO) WAVES News release via Canada NewsWire OTTAWA-GATINEAU, July 2 /CNW/ - Residents of the Montréal, Sherbrooke and Trois-Rivières regions will soon be able to enjoy new radio services. The Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) released decisions today approving eight new radio stations in Quebec. At the same time, the Commission denied an application to transfer Astral Media's Québec AM stations and CFOM-FM Quebec City to a corporation to be controlled by TVA Group. New stations ---- The CRTC is authorizing four new radio stations for Montréal, three new stations in the Sherbrooke area, including a community radio station at Lac Brome, and one new station in Trois-Rivières. The Commission evaluated the applications submitted to it in light of the criteria first set out in the introductory statement to Decisions CRTC 99-480 to 482, namely the quality of the application, diversity of news voices in the market, market impact and the competitive state of the market. Montréal: --- - Radio-Nord Communications et la Société Spectra Scène (91.9 FM) - This French-language specialty radio station will offer mainly jazz and blues music, and is aimed at adults between the ages of 35 and 64. - Gilles Lajoie and Colette Chabot (1570 AM) - This French-language station from Laval will operate on the basis of a nostalgia radio format geared to listeners 50 and up. It will broadcast music from the 40s through the 70s, and 126 hours of local programming per week. - Canadian Hellenic Cable Radio (105.1 FM) - This station will provide ethnic programming intended principally for the Greek community, but also for the Armenian, Croatian, Serbian, Russian and Filipino communities. It will broadcast world beat and international music. - Aboriginal Voices Radio (AVR) (FM) - This is a new Aboriginal FM station that will be part of the AVR network. Programming will be principally in French and English but will include segments in various Aboriginal languages, Spanish, as well as other languages. Sherbrooke: ----- Cogeco Radio-Télévision (93.7 FM) - This French-language station will be part of the Rythme FM network. It will broadcast adult contemporary music, comprised of hits from the 70s to today aimed principally at a 25-to-54-year-old listenership. - Andre Gagné (Groupe Generation Rock - 104.5 FM) - This French- language station will broadcast classic, soft and new rock, geared to the 18-to-44-year-old demographic. - Radio Communautaire Missisquoi (FM) - This is a new community station. The principal language of broadcast will be English, but the station will offer 15 percent French and 5 percent German programming. The station, to be located at Lac Brome, will broadcast at least 84 hours of local programming per week in the first year, increasing to 105 hours beginning in the second year. Trois-Rivières: ----- - Cogeco Radio-Television (100.1 FM) - Like the new station in Sherbrooke, this French language station will be added to the Rythme FM network, an d will broadcast adult popular contemporary music. Saguenay: --- After conducting a full review of the economic environment and radio market in the Saguenay region, the CRTC has concluded that for the time being, the region cannot absorb a new commercial radio station. Astral Media ---- The Commission has denied applications presented by Astral Media, on behalf of a corporation to be controlled by TVA Group, holding a 60% voting interest, and Radio Nord Communications, with a 40% voting interest, (TVA/RNC), for TVA/RNC to acquire eight AM stations, two digital radio stations, three radio networks and CFOM-FM Quebec City. These applications raised concerns with regard to concentration of media ownership and media cross-ownership in Québec. The CRTC was not persuaded that the potential benefits that would flow from TVA/RNC's strategy for renewing AM radio in Québec and from the application would offset the serious concerns regarding concentration of media ownership and media cross-ownership that the application gave rise to. In its decision, the CRTC reiterated that Astral Media remains under the obligation to divest itself of CFOM-FM to a third party not associated with Astral Media, as required in Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2002-90. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission is an independent public authority that regulates and supervises broadcasting and telecommunications in Canada. Reference documents: ------- Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2003-33, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/whatsnew.htm Broadcasting Decisions CRTC 2003-192 to 2003-206, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/whatsnew.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 99-480, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/1999/DB99-480.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 99-481, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/1999/DB99-481.htm Broadcasting Decision CRTC 99-482, http://www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/eng/Decisions/1999/DB99-482.htm (From Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada) ** CANADA. Special Event News The Canadian licensing authority, Industry Canada, has authorised the use of special event prefixes between the 1st of July and 31st of August to celebrate the 100th anniversary of military communications in Canada; see http://www.commelec.2003.ca/ The prefixes will be XM for all VE; XL for all VA; XN for all VO; and XO for all VY stations (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News for July 6, 2003 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. 6030, R Okapi, Kinshasa, 2215, Jun 29, was the probable source of lively non-stop Congolese style pop music after SWRf had signed off. Reception best using USB and signal strength good. (Noel Green, UK July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) Also heard at 1855, but strong QRM from SWRf. Nothing on 9550 (Finn Krone, Denmark, ibid.) 11690, R Okapi, Kinshasa, 1825-1900, Jun 20, Vernacular news into 1827 Italian song `Italia d`Amore` (or close) 1830 male and female anternatively with more news or commentary - especially about Ethiopia, but also mentioning Dr Richard Klein and Dr. Kim White. Fair to strong until 1900 when QRM: ``This is Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty Prague``. (Finn Krone, Denmark July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** CUBA. Screams from Zecchino: Well, it does after all stand to reason. The notorious R. Progreso 640 spur at 652.5 is alive and well from this location on Manasota Key, FL. Bearing exactly that of 640, namely 180 degrees from the beach and three hundred miles south. Another discovery this morning. Yes, a mirror image spur, if you will at 627.5 kHz, medium level audio with the typical screech as you tune its periphery, and bearings identical with 640 and 652.5 kHz. And we think we have the technological edge in this country. Maybe this is some strain of SCA system for piping in music to the Isla de Juventud Prison, the better to mask the screams of counterrevolucionarios as their feet are gently hammered off? Just a thought (Paul V. Zecchino, Englewood FL, NRC IDXD July 4 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. Hola Amigo Glenn! Espero recordar bien pero creo que hayas mencionado en WOR que la estación escuché en 6010 kHz ``HJCB con holandés`` no es HCJB sino Netherlands. Hoy me envió Christer Brunstrom de Suecia información que dice: es HCJB con alemán y ``plattysk`` (sueco, no puedo traducir). Entonces no es holandés. Son transmisiones para Sudamérica (Björn Malm, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EGYPT. 12050, R Cairo is no longer on air at 0600, but is heard to open at v0957 during a Qur`an recitation and then carry the usual General Programme. The HFCC list shows two registrations: ABS (= Abis) 250 kW 325 deg 0200-1100 and ABZ (=Abu Zaabal) 500 kW 315 deg 1100- 2400. So, maybe ABS is not active any more? (Noel Green, UK July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. 12120, Tigrean International Solidarity for Justice and Democracy, via Samara, *1700-1800*, Jun 29, time signal, flute and Tigrinyan announcement heard as: ``Yeh Lediopyan (Magoney Gimtsalau)`` (Lediopyan = Ethiopia). After a short musical interlude a woman gave ID twice: ``Yeh....... Radio Fathí`` (= Justice) and frequency ann. Then very long talks where the only words understood during that hour were ``Democracy`` and ``America``. Occasional Horn of Africa music. Signed off without any ann or ID. Scheduled Sundays only via TDP. Ex 15275 via DTK. 45444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 13855, AFRTS Keflavik, off at the end of June (Noel Green and Anker Petersen July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3231.9, RRI Bukittinggi, 1130-1205, Jun 07, active again and now regular, but with Program ``Satu`` in Bahasa Indonesia. 1200 ``Warta Berita`` relayed from RRI Jakarta with a few seconds delay // 9680 and 11860. Weak (Roland Schulze, Philippines July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Surfin`: You Are in Good Company By Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, Contributing Editor, July 4, 2003 Your next ham radio contact may be with a celebrity. Find out whom at the Web site we are visiting this week. When I was a kid, my mother warned me about the company I kept. ``Stop hanging around with those Yankees fans!`` The problem was that everybody in my Waterbury, Connecticut neighborhood was a New York Yankees fan. Now that I am an adult, my wife complains about the company I keep: ``You`re always on the ham radio talking with that Eddie!`` (Don`t anybody tell my mother that Eddie is a Yankees fan.) ``But, honey, there are a lot of famous and important people who are hams, and I might talk to them someday.`` ``Like who?`` ``Uh... Barry Goldwater.`` ``Didn`t he die?`` ``Uh, how about Andy Devine?`` ``He`s dead, too.`` Being happily married and wanting to stay that way, I did not mention potential radio encounters with Priscilla Presley or Patty Loveless, so I came up on the short end of that debate. I want to be prepared the next time the subject comes up, so I Googled the net, looking for celebrated ham radio operators. Almost instantaneously, Google turned up the Famous Hams and Ex-Hams Web site of Gerry Jurrens, N2GJ [at] http://users.tellurian.com/gjurrens/famous_hams.html What an impressive list of notable ham radio operators! Gerry has been maintaining this list since the 1980s and it is very comprehensive. It includes actors, ambassadors, astronauts, athletes, attorneys, authors, aviators, clerics, comedians, composers, cosmonauts, educators, entertainers, inventors, journalists, judges, meteorologists, military, musicians, Nobel prize winners, politicians, rock `n` rollers, royalty, scientists, singers, statesmen and even one UFO abductee. There are also a few infamous hams on the list, but you don`t want to mention them when you are trying to win friends and influence people. By the way, so many astronauts and cosmonauts are hams that they warrant their own Web page [at] http://users.tellurian.com/gjurrens/astrohams.html Gerry also has a Rumors page for famous folks who are reputed to be hams, but really aren`t [at] http://users.tellurian.com/gjurrens/famous_hams_rumors.html For instance, there is VE3SUN, who is named Peter Jennings, but he is not the ``Peter Jennings`` who does the nightly news on ABC. Gerry received a great deal of help building and maintaining the lists from his old college friend, Steven Glazer, W2SG. As stated in the intro to their site, Steve and Gerry ``believe that a worthwhile goal for the Web site is not only to highlight those folks with Amateur Radio licenses who have found some interesting thing that distinguishes them from the pack, but also to try to verify each entry, adding links that support the inclusion of that person, along with links to pictures, QSL cards, memorable stories, etc.`` Gerry`s is a very interesting site that will provide hours of interesting exploring, not to mention great ammunition for my next ``who are you talking to on the radio?`` debate. Until next time, keep on surfin`. Editor`s note: Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, resides in downtown Wolcott, Connecticut, and has been a QST writer for over 25 years. Since getting his ticket in 1969, Stan has sampled nearly every entrée in the Amateur Radio menu (including a stint as Connecticut Section Manager), but he keeps coming back to his favorite preoccupations: VHF and packet radio. As a result, he runs a 2-meter APRS digipeater and weather station (WA1LOU-15) from his mountaintop location in central Connecticut. Stan, a long time advocate of using computers with Amateur Radio, wrote programs to dupe contests and calculate antenna bearings way back in 1978. Today, he is on the board of directors of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) and uses his Mac to surf the Internet searching for that perfect ham radio Web page. To contact Stan, send e-mail to wa1lou@arrl.net Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN [and non]. There have been big demonstrations in Tehran against the Islamic regime of Iran and 4000 demonstrators have been arrested according to official Iranian sources. I heard their shouting of protests on clandestine Radio Voice of Iran the other day and immediately after that, Iranian jamming started. Official Iranian sources accused the demonstrators for being inspired by western media and the recent developments in the two neighbour countries: Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 1981 the big clandestine station, Voice of Mojahed, has used up to 16 SW transmitters simultaneously to broadcast the political messages of the National Liberation Army of Iran (Mojahedin e-Khalq). It was jammed from Iran, but wellknown for its jumping around the main frequencies in steps of 5 kHz in order to avoid jamming, shortly after followed by the jammer using the ``cat-after-mouse`` principle. This station was backed by Iraq and at least some of its transmissions were presumed to be broadcast from the Iraqi-Iran border Mojahedin camps in Iraq. This appeared very likely since all the broadcasts of the Voice of Mojahed ceased at the end of March this year. But mid June the station --- and its jammers returned on the air from unknown locations. Besides postal addresses in Washington, London, Cologne and Baghdad, the Voice of Mojahed for many years has had an address at Mojahedines du People d'Iran, 17 rue des Gords, F-95430 Auvers-sur Oise, some 40 kilometres north of Paris, France. A week ago the French police has arrested several leaders at this address which is the Headquarter’s of the biggest Iranian opposition group, the Mudjahedins of the Iranian People, accusing them for involvement in terrorism (Anker Petersen, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) 4691.0, Voice of Mojahed from unknown site, *0127-0135, Jun 29, Opened with martial music by orchestra and was jammed, 0128 jumped to 4670.2 and the jammer followed 0129, 0130 Drums, short announcement in Farsi, fanfare and ID: ``Seda-ye Mojahed, seda-ye Mojahedine Khalq Iran``. Talk about Iran and short orchestral interludes. 43443. The jammer was also heard on 5350, 5640 with talk jumping to 5660, 6460, 6750, 7000, 7050, 8240, 8350 and 8600. Mojahed 2 on 7070 seems to be off the air (Anker Petersen July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) 17525, R Voice of Iran, via Issoudun, France, *1530-1730*, Jun 20 and 21. Carrier was on already at 1520. Farsi ID: ``Radio Seda-ye Iran``, phone-in conversation and songs. Both days demonstrators in Tehran were heard shouting for more than one minute; jammed, 33433. This has replaced 17510 (Finn Krone and Anker Petersen, Denmarks, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. American newsmagazine Time (Jun 30) reports about radio in Baghdad after the war. According to their correspondent about 20 stations are nowadays on the air in the city supported by Iraqi Media Network, a group set up by the US`s reconstruction office. Among those radios ``Baghdad Radio`` is working on 1026 MW 12 hours a day. The transmitter has only 1 kW power and was found in a room of a children park where it was stored for emergency during the war. Other transmitters were seemingly looted or damaged (Luigi Cobisi, Italy July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** IRAQ [non]. Hi Glenn, well, managed on my weekend to get Iraq Media Network (IMN) on tp B3 at 11106 GHz H, SR 2790 - FEC 3/4 VPID 308 and added more pictures of that network on the homepage: http://www.geocities.com/su1tz2003 All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. Because of fault of one of Rai`s transmitters or their complex, it produces very strong interferences (with rippling sounds) to RUI on 12040 and other stations around this frequency. This effect is observed through the night up to 0335 (then transmitter on 12030 is switched off). But sometimes it is observed from 0345 to 0425 (perhaps produced by transmitter on 11800 kHz). Best regards, (Alexander Yegorov, Kiev, Ukraine, BC-DX July 4 via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 3970, NHK Sapporo 1, 1205-1220, Jun 06, still active here, but in USB only. Local program until 1215 when NHK Home Service was heard // 3259 (USB), 3607.5 (USB), 9750 and 11815 -- all strong. ID just as: ``NHK``. 9535, NHK Tokyo 1, *0300, Jun 07, Japanese // 9550 -- both in USB (Roland Schulze, Philippines, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 2850, KCBS, Pyongyang, 1615-1756*, Jun 08 and 10, Korean programs, closing with national anthem, heard relayed by Hamhung 3220 (very weak), Pyongsong 3350, Kanggye 3959.7 (very, very weak), Wonsan 3970.5, Kanggye 6100 and Kanggye also on 11679.8. Also noted at 1300 on Jun 06 with a common programe on 2850 and 3960.1. 3025.5, Frontline Soldiers R (presumed), 1615-1700, Jun 10, Korean program. 3320, PBS, Pyongyang, 1650- after 1800, Jun 08 and 10, other Korean programm, heard relayed by Pyongyang on 3249.6 and 6250.2 (teletype QRM) and Kanggye on 6398.8 (which signed off at 1800), and also on MW 1080. On Jun 06, 6399 was also heard at 1300 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** KOREA SOUTH. NEW ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RADIO STATIONS PLANNED FOR KOREA The Korea Herald reports that an English language FM radio station is scheduled to start broadcasting on Jeju [=Cheju?] island on 25 August, providing 24-hour tourist information and entertainment. The station is part of the government's plan to promote a positive image of Korea abroad. Programming will be produced by Korea's only English-language TV station, Arirang TV. An official from the Culture Ministry's Broadcasting and Advertising Policy Division told the newspaper that the station is being set up after foreign visitors to last year's World Cup pointed out communication problems. "We expect the radio station to fix such problems considerably and enhance tourism as well," he said. The Korea Herald also says that the government is also planning another English channel through digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), a new broadcasting system scheduled to take off next year. DMB is considered as one of the most advanced communications technologies, providing cost-efficient transmissions of image, text and audio data to multiple receivers such as cars, radios, television sets and handheld receivers. The service, which will initially be limited to Seoul and its outlying areas, will be expanded nationwide by 2006 (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 3 July 2003 via DXLD) ** LEBANON [non]. 11645, Voice of Free Lebanon via Samara, *1600- 1658*, Jun 20, Arabic ann, song similar to La Marseillaise, ID mentioning Lebanon, orchestral music, Arab songs. New frequency ex 11520. 45444 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** LIBYA. 11890, LBJ, Tripoli, (Cf UNID in DX-Window no. 222), 1800- 1900, Jun 14 and 17. Rather new broadcast in Arabic to Iraq ex 11660. Also heard on // 7245. They are easy ID-able at signing on with specific brave music and ``Iraqi`` mentioning (Mauno Ritola, Finland; Vlad Titarev, Ukraine; and Tarek Zeidan, Egypt, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** MALI. 4782.4, R Mali, Kati, 2332-2347, Jun 28, Vernacular programme with modern local songs. 53432 plagued with the usual utility QRM, yet not so strong this time. 53432. 4835, R Mali, Kati, 0729-0759*, Jun 17, Vernacular talks, IS 0757. 25342. 7285v, R Mali, Kati, *0800, it`s nothing but a whisper allowing frequency zero beating, nothing else. I suspect both their 41 & 25 m outlets plus the 4783v one are beamed to other regions. This has been a matter I also asked them in a still unreplied e-mail dated Feb 25 last. 9635, R Mali, Kati, 1305, Jun 30, French with newscast which usually lasts almost half an hour and includes the weather forecast ``Le Temps Sur les Ondes - La Météo est avec vous``. 34443 (adjcent QRM only!) (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** MALTA [non]. -Voce del Mediterraneo - Malta - Informazioni e notizie dal radioascolto internazionale Italian Web edition : http://www.arpnet.it/air A cura di Alfredo Gallerati Agostino Coriolano : regia Richard Muscat: Direttore Elsa Romei e John Suda: redazione Johanna Scicluna : Segretaria di redazione Redazione italiana ``Onde Radio``- P O Box 21- 70051 Barletta (Ba) Tutte le domeniche - Ore 07.0 [sic?] UT su 9605 kHz Onde Radio on line http://www.vomradio.com Reception Report : Voce del Mediterraneo, P. O. Box 143, Valletta (Malta) Reception Report -via Internet- : http://www.vomradio.com LA SCHEDA Mese Data Interventi Luglio 6 Gian Maria Canaparo (Torino) 13 Roberto Giannatelli (Roma) 20 Gian Maria Canaparo (Torino) 27 Giovanni Furlan (Treviso) Agosto 3 Paolo Morandotti (Milano) 10 Fiorenzo Repetto (Savona) 17 Paolo Morandotti (Milano) 24 Massimo Ossidi (Falconara) 31 Romeo Perrotta (Siena) LA LOCANDINA Le prossime trasmissioni del programma ``Onde Radio`` accompagneranno i nostri amici ascoltatori anche durante le loro vacanze. In proposito vorrei ringraziare quanti ci ascoltano, in Italia e all`estero e non hanno l`abitudine di scrivere un rapporto di ascolto. L`indirizzo per i vostri rapporti di ascolto è: VOM – Voce del Mediterraneo, Redazione Italiana, P. O. Box 143, Valletta – MALTA Nel trascorso mese di giugno abbiamo parlato del sondaggio su ``Mostre e Fiere italiane della radio`` lanciato dal portale ``Amateur Radio Directory`` con Gian Maria Canaparo, radioamatore di Torino. Nella puntata del 6 luglio, Gian Maria Canaparo, riferirà sui risultati ottenuti da questo sondaggio italiano. Con lo spazio ``Abbiamo ascoltato per voi…`` continua la presentazione della serie di ascolti che proponiamo ogni settimana. Questa settimana è la volta della peruviana ``Radio Libertad``. Presso l`Università Salesiana di Roma è attiva, dai primi anni `90, la Facoltà della Comunicazione Sociale. Questa Facoltà dal 1992 ha creato, sul modello americano, la Summer School, una Scuola estiva sulla comunicazione sociale con una didattica basata sui laboratori. Da quest`anno la Summer School che si volge a Corvara (Bolzano) ha introdotto il laboratorio della radio. Il 13 luglio, don Roberto Giannatelli sarà ospite di ``Onde Radio`` per presentare la ``Summer School`` . Si torna a parlare del sondaggio su Fiere e Mostre della radio, lanciato in giugno 2003 da ``Amateur Radio Directory``; il 20 luglio Gian Maria Canaparo (Torino) sarà ospite di Onde Radio per completare la sua relazione sul sondaggio. Da ormai molti anni, l`A.R.T. –Associazione Radiantistica Trevigiana- è una delle associazioni più attive nell`organizzazione di iniziative legate al mondo della radio. Il 27 luglio avremo ospite Giovanni Furlan che ci parlerà della manifestazione sulla ``radio dei ghiacci``. Gli appassionati di ascolto delle trasmissioni internazionali in lingua italiana, trovano in rete una risorsa interessante. Si tratta di un sito web ricco di aggiornatissime informazioni su queste trasmissioni. Il sito è raggiungibile al seguente indirizzo web: http://www.mclink.it/personal/MC4868 E` curato e gestito dall`amico Marcello Casali (Roma). Su questo sito si può visitare l`unica galleria storica delle QSL di emittenti in lingua italiana. Contattare Marcello Casali per eventuali aggiornamenti all`indirizzo: mc4868@mclink.it oppure Andrea Camporese all`indirizzo : - Vi ricordo che tutti i programmi di ``Voce del Mediterraneo`` sono disponibili anche in rete all`indirizzo: http://www.vomradio.com indirizzo consigliato a coloro i quali non dispongono di ricevitori in onde corte oppure hanno problemi nella ricezione. Dal 15 al 17 agosto, è in programma a Konigstein (Germania), la 37 edizione della Conferenza Europea del DX (EDXC) l`organizzazione che raccoglie quasi tutti i DX Club europei del radioascolto. A seguire con noi l`evento, ci sarà il 3 agosto Paolo Morandotti (Milano). In questa trasmissione parleremo di radiotelegrafia e corsi per la preparazione agli esami. Il nostro amico Oscar Portoghese (I7OHP) che ha maturato cinquant`anni di attività in radiotelegrafia, ha reso disponibile il suo corso, di facile apprendimento per tutti, per gli ascoltatori del programma ``Onde Radio``. L`ascolto in ``Onde Medie`` rappresenta sempre un segmento particolare del radioascolto, ricco anche di spunti culturali, di tecnica e passione particolari. L`argomento è particolarmente interessante perchè i radioascoltatori delle ``Onde Medie`` stanno riscoprendo il fascino di questa fetta del radioascolto. Il 10 agosto ce ne parla da Savona, Fiorenzo Repetto un appassionato delle ``Onde Medie``. Dal 25 al 26 ottobre 2003 è in programma a Malta il Forum europeo ``Multilinguismo nella radiodiffusione internazionale``. L`evento è organizzato dalla Conferenza Europea del DX (EDXC) con il patrocinio della ``VOM- Voce del Mediterraneo`` e di ``ITALRADIO`` per un confronto sulle risorse e le problematiche legate alla diffusione del multilinguismo attraverso i programmi radiofonici internazionali. Il 17 agosto Paolo Morandotti - vice segretario generale dell`EDXC- ne parlerà ad ``Onde Radio``. Le Fiere e Mostre radiantistiche continuano a richiamare l`interesse di appassionati radioamatori, radioascoltatori ecc. Abbiamo colto le impressioni ``a caldo`` di un visitatore abituale di questi eventi. Si tratta di Massimo Ossidi (Falconara) che il 24 agosto ce ne parla ad ``Onde Radio``. La prima radio universitaria sperimentale italiana è ``Radio Facoltà di Frequenza``.Un`emittente nata presso l`Università degli Studi di Siena e poi affermatasi non solo in ambiente accademico ma anche nel gran panorama della radiofonia italiana. Il 31 agosto, Romeo Perrotta sarà ospite di Onde Radio per parlarci di Radio Facoltà di Frequenza. Visitando il nuovo portale della VOM, avrete la possibilità di inviare rapporti di ascolto in tempo reale via internet. Al programma ``Onde Radio`` possono partecipare appassionati del radioascolto, esperti scientifici di mediaeducation, emittenti radiofoniche, tecnici, organizzatori di Mostre e Fiere radiantistiche. Gli interessati saranno graditi ospiti della nostra trasmissione. Basta inviare una semplice segnalazione all`indirizzo: VoM -- Redazione ``Onde Radio``, P.O. Box 21, 70051 Barletta (Bari), Italia, oppure al nostro indirizzo e-mail ATLI@infopubblica.com Cordiali saluti a tutti gli amici che da 75 Paesi del mondo collaborano alla distribuzione di questa Newsletter per portare le notizie agli appassionati del radioascolto, ai radioamatori ed ai Dx`ers. Questa Newsletter è disponibile in forma cartacea sulla rivista Radiorama richiedibile gratuitamente all`indirizzo A.I.R., Casella Postale 1, 10080 Valprato Soana (TO). La Newsletter è reperibile all`indirizzo web seguente http://www.arpnet.it/air ed è disponibile su: Forum Radioamatori grazie ad Ercole D`Ercole omforum@yahoogroups.com BCL -Ita, grazie ad Andrea Gili bcl-ita@yahoogroups.com Radiogiornale grazie a Paolo Mattioli paolo.mattioli@tin.it Forum Radio, grazie a Giovanni Urso forumradio@yahoo.it Pianeta Radio, grazie a Piergiorgio Siciliano http://www.pianetaradio.it VOM ringrazia gli amici che hanno collaborato alla realizzazione delle trasmissioni di maggio e giugno 2003 : Tim Ayris (WRN), Angelo Brunero, Marco Lisi, Andrea Gili, Elio Antonucci, Ercole D`Ercole, Elio Fior, Marcello Casali, Gian Maria Canaparo, Roberto Giannatelli, Giovanni Furlan, Paolo Morandotti, Fiorenzo Repetto,Massimo Ossidi, Romeo Perrotta, Giovanni Urso, Antonio Di Maio, Bruno Pecolatto, Paolo Mattioli,Giorgio Pastorutti, Oscar Portoghese. Saluti dalla redazione italiana di ``Onde Radio``. A risentirci per settembre 2003.Alfredo Gallerati (IK7JGI) (Johanna Scicluna -- Servizio ascoltatori di VOM via DXLD) ** MONGOLIA. MONGOLIAN PARLIAMENT TO DISCUSS ADOPTION OF LATIN SCRIPT BBC Monitoring International Reports January 7, 2003 According to Unuudur, it was decided to discuss a draft law on the native language and a draft resolution on the adoption of a national programme for the use of the Latin script in the course of the 2003 spring session of the State Ih Hural parliament. The matter has been thoroughly discussed at the level of the government and the national programme of Latin script has been prepared for submission to the legislature. The Standing Committee on Social Policy will discuss the issue first. The chairperson of the Standing Committee T. Gandi has made the following clarification in the newspaper: Latin is the common key to the civilization of mankind. The need to use the Latin script has arisen in the era of modern technology and information. The legislators should adopt the foundation for the implementation of the state policy for the preparations to get under way for the shift to the Latin script in stages. The first step towards the shift to the Latin script should be made in the period of full power of the SIH State Ih Hural and the government. After the submission of the matter to the parliament, a working group is to be set up, and much work needs to be done, the training of teachers, publication of text-books, adaptation of phonetics to the Latin script, etc. As to the native language, a special law is also needed. The native tongue should be the nucleus of the national culture and civilization. At present, a need to protect the native language by law has emerged. Source: E-mail Daily News, Ulaanbaatar, in English 0655 gmt 7 Jan 03 (via http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/LPRU/newsarchive/Art1848.txt via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. All SW and MW frequencies have been silent for a couple of weeks. Not sure whether this is permanent or not; will try to find out more (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** NIGERIA [non]. ITALY, 5780, R. Abeokuta via IRRS, Milano, (Cf. DX- Window no. 222), *2000-2031*, Fri Jun 20, Conversation in English with a U.S. Professor about American Psychology. This was probably the wrong broadcast, but at 2005 another man introduced in English the broadcasts of R Abeokuta to Nigerians also mentioning their website http://www.abeokuta.org and e-mail address: abeokuta@abeokuta.org Then followed a nice program in Vernacular with ethnic songs. By the way, their website has direct links to streaming audio and CD`s with such music. There was some strong CWQRM from a higher frequency, so listening in LSB was needed and heard with 44444. I noticed some breaks of a few seconds duration in the link to the transmitter (via internet or satellite ?) (Anker Petersen, Denmark July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. The following stations were heard in the Philippines around 1130 on Jun 09: 3205, 3235, 3245 (pres.), 3260, 3275, 3290, 3305, 3315, 3335, 3355, 3375 and 4890. There was a lot of static noise and most signals were weak. 4890, NBC Port Moresby, heard during daytime 0710-0835*, Jun 07, heard despite it is 4500 kilometres away! Solar flux was 126, A-index 12 and K-index 4. Newsbrief in English, then Tok Pisin IDs as ``Voice of Hope`` and ``Voice of the Nation`` and jingle with gospel song from Fiji islands (Roland Schulze, Philippines, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Glen[[n], In DIGEST 3-118 under Papua New Guinea you questioned wantok. Wantok means friend, buddy in pidgin. (I think as you said one talk --- each person speaks the same language). Generally a wantok would be from the same village (Wayne Bastow, Australia, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. POLISH AM WAITING FOR BUSINESS By Bernd Trutenau (Radio World) Warsaw, Poland: The tendency of European broadcasters to abandon the long-, short- and medium wave bands in favour of FM or satellite has reached Central and Eastern Europe. In the end, many network operators have only two options: find new customers - especially among foreign broadcasters - or phase out the AM network altogether. In Poland, TP EmiTel, the terrestrial transmitter network branch of Polish telecom operator Telekomunikacja Polska SA (TPSA) has accepted this challenge and has opened its AM transmitters to new customers from Poland and abroad. In 1990, TPSA took over the large network of long and medium wave transmitters from the Ministry of Communications, ranging from a few watts up to 2 MegaWatt. Initially, Polskie Radio (PR) was the only customer. But in 1997 PR decided to discontinue renting mediumwave transmitters and left this band completely on 31 January 1998. Most of the mediumwave transmitters came from the USSR and Czechoslovakia in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Seeing no future in mediumwave broadcasting, TPSA started to scrap the old equipment; buildings were demolished and the land sold. However, TPSA want to maintain only three large AM centres: the longwave station in Raszyn and the shortwave transmitting centre in Leszczynka, both a few kilometres south of Warsaw, as well as the high-power medium wave transmitting centre in Koszecin, near Czestochowa in southern Poland. The Raszyn station is the oldest existing transmitting site in Poland. Built in the 1930s, it reopened in 1946 after suffering damage during World War II, and it served as the main domestic transmitting centre on longwave for several decades. Since the inauguration of the new one MegaWatt longwave transmitter that PR built in Solec Kujawski in 1999, the future of the Raszyn station has become more and more uncertain. PR currently uses it for live coverage of the Sejm, the Polish parliament, on 198 kHz. Ironically, a possible closure of the longwave transmitter in Raszyn may secure the future of the station: as the location for the new main FM/TV tower for Warsaw. At present, the landmark Palac Kultury I Nauki palace, a gift from Stalin in the very heart of Warsaw, and once the highest building in town, is the site of the local FM and TV transmitters. The location in downtown Warsaw implies restrictions for the radiated power and TP EmiTel has been seeking an alternative site for a long time. Leszczynka is the shortwave transmitting centre for Poland. It was built in 1950 to broadcast PR foreign-language programmes (now Radio Polonia) to listeners across Europe. Eight 100 kW shortwave transmitters were installed in the 1950s and 1960s, KRV-100 and KRV- 120 systems manufactured by Tesla in Czechoslovakia. The site includes a large number of shortwave antennas aimed in all major directions. The transmitting centre in Koszecin was built in the late 1970s to provide quality reception of PR domestic programmes to listeners in southern Poland, the centre of the mining and steel industry, a mountainous region that was difficult to cover with many low-power AM relays and some FM transmitters. Tesla in Czechoslovakia delivered two 750 kW medium-wave transmitters coupled to provide 1.5 MW of power. The station was inaugurated on 1 August 1978. The impact of the high radiation levels on the surrounding area, however, resulted in a reduction of the emitted power. The transmitter was run at 750 kW as of 1979 and finally at 350 kW from 1992 after a protest campaign by local farmers. In 1997, Trans World Radio Europe of Monte Carlo was renting a 300 kW transmitter on 1503 kHz in Tychowo in northern Poland for its programmes to Scandinavia, but this transmitter was shut down a few years later. In 2001 and 2002, Radyjo Racyja, a Belarusian-language Polish station was using 1080 kHz from Koszecin to reach its listeners in neighbouring Belarus. The present 350 kW installation provides good coverage of large parts of Central Europe during the hours of darkness, especially as 1080 kHz is practically a clear channel in Europe. Radyjo Racyja also transmitted several hours daily through the shortwave facilities at Leszczynka for listeners in Belarus from 1999 to 2002.The shortwave centre in Leszczynka, in particular, is in need of comprehensive modernisation. To reduce operational costs, the oldest transmitters have already been taken out of service and the antenna park has been downsized. At present, PR Radio Polonia is the exclusive user of the Leszcyzynka transmitters. TP EmTel is ready to begin upgrading the equipment provided that Radio Polonia provides guarantees for further usage of the facilities for at least three years. Radio Polonia is currently transmitting shortwave programming for European listeners in 10 languages. Mark Traczyk, the newly appointed director of the station, is considering these services as a part of Polish foreign policy and is confident an agreement can be reached with TPSA. In 2002, Radio Polonia considered renting airtime on foreign relay stations, but turned back to Polish soil. This step will most certainly contribute in preventing the final closure of the Leszczynka station (Radio World June, via BDXC-UK Communication July via DXLD) ** PUERTO RICO. [7507?] AFRTS did in fact air their ID and stated that they are in Isabela, Puerto Rico. Very near to Isabela is another Municipality (Aguadilla) where former Ramey Air Force Base (USA) used to be. As far as I know, they are airing their radio program from a station at the opposite side of our country from the municipality of Ceiba at the east coast on a relay basis (Hector (Luigi) Perez-Diaz, Puerto Rico, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) Oh ** RUSSIA. 7436.63v, R Krishna-Loka, 0200-0300, Jun 17 and 20, Beatles` ``Let It Be`` (words seemingly a bit changed, but sounded quite `natural` like the Beatles (karaoke?.... hi). Russian ID: ``Radio Krishnaloka`` 0215, talks and hymns. A lot of static over modest signal. 44343 deterorating to 24222 during sunrise. Transmitter is seemingly in Oryol between Moscow and Kursk (Anker Petersen, Denmark and Vlad Titarev, Ukraine, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) a.s.a. Orel ** RUSSIA. YET AGAIN, MEDIA FREEDOM IN RUSSIA APPEARS UNDER THREAT By Jeremy Bransten Russia's Media Ministry has shut down the country's last remaining independent national television channel while legislators have approved a bill that would let the authorities temporarily close news organizations found to be "biased" in their coverage of election campaigns. Is Russian press freedom once again under threat? Viewers of Russia's independent TVS channel got an unwelcome late- night surprise on the weekend of 21-22 June. Citing ongoing financial and management problems, the Media Ministry shut the network down. Almost seamlessly, a new 24-hour sports channel took up the frequency. With the push of a button, TVS's political-satire shows poking fun at government policies, its investigations into official corruption, its commentaries by leading television journalist Yevgenii Kiselev all became history. In their place, was a soccer match. Although few deny that TVS faced genuine financial problems, many journalists and activists are expressing alarm at the manner in which the shutdown was carried out and even greater concern at the fact that with TVS's demise, Russia has lost its last independent, national television news broadcaster. "Personally, I was very alarmed and very depressed by the manner in which the television network was closed," said Olga Karabanova, director of the Moscow-based Press Development Institute. "Those of us in the business knew about TVS's financial, organizational, and structural difficulties for a long time. But to see a station once again shut down at night, in this way, with the frequency transferred to a new sports network, without any legal due process -- that is really upsetting." One of the reasons for Karabanova's alarm is that TVS's closure followed an all-too-familiar pattern. Most of the editorial team at TVS -- led by Kiselev -- originally broadcast on NTV television. They left the station when the state-controlled Gazprom concern seized the private network in a hostile takeover in 2001. Kiselev's team then found a home at Moscow's TV6, until that too was shut down in January 2002. That is when TVS offered them jobs, which they had until the latest weekend shutdown. Ostensibly, all three takeovers and closures resulted from business disagreements. But many commentators note that in all three cases, the independent broadcasters in question were known for their hard-hitting investigations and satirical programs that caused the Kremlin more than a few headaches. With legislative elections looming in December and a presidential poll in March 2004, many in Russia say the closure of TVS comes at a convenient time for the government. With this in mind, they point to the State Duma's recent approval of a series of amendments to the country's mass-media law that would give the authorities the right to shut down any media outlet found to be covering election campaigns in a biased manner, for the duration of the campaign. Proponents of the amendments -- which must still be signed by President Vladimir Putin before becoming law -- say the provisions are needed to put an end to the blatant yellow-journalism publications that crop up during election campaigns in Russia. Rival candidates use such publications, or sometimes directly bribe reporters at regular newspapers, to smear their opponents or to present false information - - all under the guise of independent journalism. Aleksei Pankin, editor in chief of "Sreda," a magazine for Russian media professionals, shares this view. "Elections here are a feeding trough that allow people to make money in the basest way possible," Pankin said. "So, people who genuinely make their money from the free market, who service the consumer market, are happy [about this law] because they believe some sources of dishonest financing will be blocked. Their market position, by contrast, will be strengthened. I think the bill is not strong enough. I personally would ban election coverage for half a year because, I repeat, the way most of the Russian press covers elections is a desecration of the democratic process." But Karabanova, at the Press Development Institute, says the Duma bill is yet more evidence of the authorities' attempt to muzzle the media ahead of elections. She notes that the bill's vague language, which would leave it up to electoral commissions to decide whether a newspaper has violated ethical standards in reporting, will facilitate the closure of newspapers whose coverage is deemed unfavorable by the government. For most newspapers, she adds, a forced shutdown for a period of several weeks spells certain bankruptcy. "We know very well that newspapers don't solely depend, 100 percent, on electoral campaigns," Karabanova says. "And the absence of a paper for a week or two or three -- or, in the case of repeat elections, it could be two to three months -- an absence for such a period will lead to bankruptcy." Pankin acknowledges the potential for abuse, but ultimately, he says, Russia's media have only themselves to blame. "There is of course a risk, naturally. But again, it is the media's own fault because they have put themselves in a position where they are treated like prostitutes that can be bought and treated in any manner. So, of course, there is always a risk and there is a risk that this law will hurt some worthy media. But this is the almost inescapable result of what the Russian media has become as a whole or in its majority," he said. If you are going to hold the media to higher standards, Karabanova asks, what about the candidates and those behind them that start the whole cycle of payment-for-articles? "It is a fact that electoral campaigns in Russia aren't always the most transparent, let's say. The media wait for this period as a time to make a lot of money; money that won't be taxed, that will be hidden. But, unfortunately, the whole electoral process in Russia lacks transparency and you cannot say that the financing of all candidates or parties is always transparent. So, yes, money gets exchanged under the table. But we are only fighting one participant in this process," Karabanova said. Ultimately, Karabanova takes some consolation from the fact that many of TVS's talented reporters will likely find their way to other stations, perhaps doing their part to raise the general level of television journalism in Russia. But the disappearance of the last national network not controlled either by the state or a state-owned company, she says, and the lack of any outcry from the public about the Duma's attempt to control the way journalists do their jobs at election time send a worrying signal for the future. Jeremy Bransten is an RFE/RL correspondent based in Prague (RFE/RL Media Matters June 30 via DXLD) ** RUSSIA [non?]. COVERT COMMS by Chris Smolinski This month`s featured station doesn`t transmit numbers, or letters. Or even Morse code. It sends tones. Remember the end of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind? Well, this station sounds a lot like that. It`s been nicknamed the polytone staiton, and has ENIGMA ID XP. It is believed that the station is run by the Russians. Some accounts of Russian spies mention a device that would decode tones into digits, for agents who could not learn Morse code. This sounds a lot like XP. Propagation and signal strength reports also point to a European location. Reception in the US is also reported, although not all schedules make it over, due to frequency choice. One schedule audible in the US is on Tue/Fri: 0600 11157, 0620 12457, 0640 13857 Notice how the last two digits of the frequency are the same? And how the MHz part of the frequency increases for each transmission? This is common to many of the Russian operated numbers stations, and will be explored in future columns. This is believed to be the tone/meaning relationship: Tone Hz Use A 305 Space B 321 End C 337 0 D 353 1 E 369 2 F 385 3 G 401 4 H 417 5 I 433 6 J 449 7 K 465 8 L 481 9 M 497 Beginning N 513 Repetition The Repetition tone is sent should two identical digits have to be sent. Presumably this helps the receiving equipment by making sure that there is a tone transition every time period. The call-up appears to be four tones repeated (three digit ID plus a space), followed by two tones (group count?), then into tone groups. For example: 343 343 343 1 343 343 343 1 343 343 343 1 . . . The 1 indicates one message will be sent (null callups are possible); the 343 follows the S7/V7 system of identifying the frequencies used for all three transmissions. For example: 11 362 kHz at 0700 12 462 kHz at 0720 13 362 kHz at 0740 (this is just an example, not an active sked) The call-up tones are 1 second long each. There is then 2.5 seconds of a warbling tone, indicating that the message is about to begin. This is followed by 10 MN pairs, which appears to be for timing purposes, to get the receiving equipment synchronized with the data about to be sent. Then the data is sent; each tone is 133 milliseconds, followed by 10 MN pairs. The carrier generally appears on the frequency about five minutes before the start of the transmission. Each transmission lasts bout three minutes; the short length makes the station rather elusive. The schedule seems to be monthly, so once the station has been reported, you can try again later that month [sic] to catch it yourself. The frequency system and repeated transmissions make it easier to find the second two transmissions once the first is found. Be sure to join the Spooks list, to keep up to date on all the latest spy numbers activity. Visit http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/spooks for details. Also be sure to visit http://www.spynumbers.com/ 73, (Chris Smolinski, The Monthly A*C*E, July via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. 9675, BSKSA, Riyadh, 0525-0900v*, Jun 18, 22 and 28, Arabic, BSKSA IDs noted at 0700, 0710 and 0810, news 0700, interview, poetry, 0900 news and Qur`an // 11855. This must be the Second Program Service, which broadcasts folkloric, dramatic, recreational, literary and scientific programs, acc. to their website http://www.saudinf.com. It was not heard // with the General Programme on 21505 and 21705, or with the Holy Qur`an Programme on 9715 and 15380. Probably the strong signals on 9675, 15380, 21505 and 21705 are via 500 kW transmitters at Riyadh, but the weaker 9715 and 11855 come from 50 kW transmitters at Jeddah (Noel Green, UK and Anker Petersen, Denmark, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** SERBIA & MONTENEGRO. Radio Yugoslavia no longer calling itself as such? Today`s German programme was still broadcast with this ID. Yet another case of left hand not knowing what the right one is doing? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA [non]. 15670, R Xoriyo, Somalia, via DTK Julich, Germany, *1629-1659*, Jun 17 and 20, presumably Somali with IDs 1640 after 1630-1640 news into talk about Ethiopia. Horn of Africa music, IDs with definite ``Xoriyo`` a couple of times, into a minute of Arabic- style singing . Weak to fair (Jerry Berg and Finn Krone, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) E-mail report with RealAudio attachment sent to ogaden@yahoo.com and staff@ogaden.com brought same day E-mail from ``International Ogaden Website`` ogaden@yahoo.com : ``We thank you for your interest about Radio Xoriyo. The information you provided is correct. Regards, Ogaden Online staff.`` (Jerry Berg, MA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. 7999.33, Voice of Sudan (NDA), Eritrea, 1535-1550, Jun 28, Arabic with really good signal, talks about Sudan, lots of local music (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) NDA = National Democratic Alliance (DSWCI Ed) ** SYRIA [non]. 12120, The Arabic R, via Samara, Russia, *1500-1530*, Jun 21, strong open carrier already at 1456, but the first minute the programme had low modulation. From 1501 it improved very much. Arabic ann URL and two broadcasts, ID`s: ``Al-idha`at-ul Arabiyyah``, talks all the time about Syria, radioplay about Syria, Arab songs. No jamming. Ex 7470. 45344, heard // badly modulated 12085 (35343). (Anker Petersen, Denmark, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. 11430 Star Star (New Star?) Broadcasting Station, 1520- 1526*, Jun 28, numbers and s/off ann. Fair and // to 9725 which was weaker (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Radio Taipei Internacional anunció que a partir del 1 de julio de 2003 cambia su nombre por el de Radio Taiwán Internacional. Un día antes, hoy lunes 30 de junio, la emisora abrió su programación en español identificándose ya como Radio Taiwán Internacional. Sin embargo, los locutores mencionaron el viejo nombre al iniciar sus respectivos espacios, por ejemplo Adolfo Aguilar a cargo de "El Mirador de Taipei" y Elena Chen con "La Hora del Te". Al entrevistar a la Directora de la Sección Española, Patricia Lin, con respecto al cambio de nombre, ella me dijo: "Desde que se reestructuró nuestra emisora el 1 de enero de 1998, hemos estado transmitiendo los programas bajo el nombre de CBS-Radio Taipei Internacional, una voz proveniente de Taiwán; sin embargo, a través de las cartas de los oyentes, hemos dado cuenta de que muchos no pueden asociar el Taipei con el Taiwán, la isla donde vivimos, y algunos hasta nos confunden con la emisora de Peking. Después de una ardua evaluación, hemos decidido pasar el actual nombre a Radio Taiwán Internacional a partir del 1 de julio del 2003, y esperamos seguir en contacto con el eterno apoyo de nuestros oyentes". Agradezco su difusión. Saludos cordiales! (Rubén Guillermo Margenet, Rosario, ARGENTINA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. 6765, Meteo Bangkok, 1015, Jun 14, Music box interval signal, English ID, Weather forecast for shipping in USB. This utility station is probably the unID ``Laotian`` listed in DBS-5 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** TIBET. 9490, Xizang PBS, Lhasa, Tibet, 0700-0730, Jun 15, English program, but without news! ID: ``This is China`s Tibet Peoples Broadcasting Company``. . . ``Holy Tibet`` . . . ``Holy Tibet is the Window into life of Tibet``!!! Letterbox on Saturdays. Reception reports will be verified, if two IRCs are enclosed. Heard // weaker 9580. English also heard repeated at 1100-1130 on daily Jun 08-15 // 4905, 4920, 6200 and 7385, whereas 5240 and 9580 were not heard (Roland Schulze, Philippines, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** U K. THE RSGB IS CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY DURING JULY The Radio Society of Great Britain's 90th anniversary is being celebrated during the month of July. The 'Special (Special)' Event callsign GB90RSGB will be on the air from RSGB headquarters in Potters Bar from next Saturday, the 12th of July, for 28 days. Activity will mainly be at weekends - but also around lunch-time during the week - on all HF bands, CW and SSB. The 90th anniversary is being celebrated over the weekend of the 26th and 27th of July with a series of 'Parties in the Park' throughout the country; see http://www.rsgb.org/rsgb90/index.htm Each of the RSGB's 57 Districts has been invited to organise an event open to the general public. During that weekend, each District also has the opportunity to operate the 'Special (Special)' callsign GB90RSGB using their District number as a suffix, for example GB90RSGB/11. A complete list of the Districts and District numbers can be found on page 14 of the June 2003 RadCom. A special 90th anniversary award certificate will be available for those making contact with, or SWLs hearing, the GB90RSGB stations (Radio Society of Great Britain http://www.rsgb.org GB2RS News for July 6, 2003 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, and Mike Terry, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. GB2RS on 5 MHZ Causes Welcome "Pile-Up" Last Sunday's inaugural GB2RS news-reading on 5 MHz was followed by a massive pile-up of some 50 stations, from all over the UK, offering reception reports in the SINPO code. This was extremely welcome and reports have since been coming in via e-mail and fax to G3LEQ. Each Sunday at 12.30 pm local time, the national news and the latest propagation data will be read on 5405 kHz using USB. This Sunday, Steve, G4HPE, will be reading from Royston, Hertfordshire, and taking reception reports as well as QTH locators at about 12.55 pm. The outcome during the coming months will be closely examined as part of the RSGB 5MHz Working Group's activities (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News for July 6, 2003 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I get the impression that their bulletins are read "live" over the air instead of being a on a tape playback, like W1AW, K1MAN and WA0RCR here in the states; perhaps an UK DXLD reader could confirm if this is so (John Norfolk, ibid.) ** U K. We Say Goodbye to 73 kHz Midnight on Monday, the 30th of June, saw the end of the lowest amateur band, 73 kHz. 73 kHz was a temporary allocation, originally granted for use in 1996 whilst time-consuming negotiations were going on for the Europe-wide 136 kHz band. Operators had to obtain a Notice of Variation, and several hundred of these were issued, though only a few tens made it on the air. Because of the ongoing experimental work, the band twice had a stay of execution, and finally had a life of seven years. During that time, the use of extremely slow CW was pioneered, culminating in the Atlantic being crossed in November 2001. Several regular LF operators ensured there was much activity over the final weekend, and contacts continued right up to the very last second. Mike Dennison, G3XDV, is writing an article on the history of 73kHz, and would like to hear from anyone who has tried the band at any time. His address is 10 Corn Mead, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 7QR, or e-mail g3xdv@thersgb.net (Radio Society of Great Britain GB2RS News for July 6, 2003 via John Norfolk, OKCOK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. LONG TERM RESTRICTED SERVICE LICENCES There are three types of long-term RSL (LRSL), each using a different transmission system: Induction loop (IL) licences. Available throughout the UK allowing for limited coverage within specific buildings. At the end of 2002, 23 IL licences were operating - four fewer than the previous year (several stations have switched to freely radiating LPFM or LPAM services and let their induction loop licence lapse when it comes up for renewal). Low Powered FM (LPFM) licences are available in pre-defined sparsely populated areas of England, Scotland, and Wales and allow for freely- radiating power at a maximum of 50mW. At the end of 2002, 16 LPFM licences were operating. Low Powered AM (LPAM) licences are available throughout the UK, except within the area enclosed by the M25 London orbital motorway. These allow for freely-radiated transmissions up to 1 Watt. At the end of 2002 there were 69 licences issued as follows: Universities (23), hospitals (22), colleges (5), schools (4), army barracks (15). During the year 14 applications were received and processed for Long Term RSLs with 16 new licences being issued. This is a one-third decrease from the number of applications received in 2001 (21 applications). The report concludes by saying that since LPAMs were introduced four years ago many stations have ``upgraded`` from induction loop to LPAM, while the number of licences held by stations service forces establishments has increased greatly. The number of new applications for Long Term RSLs continues to fall ``and we expect the demand to level off over the next year or two``. (from the Radio Authority`s ``Restricted Service Licences Annual Report`` (2002)) What about the prison radio stations? No mention is made anywhere in the report of the LPAM and LPFM stations operating at prisons. Two are known to be on the air and neither of them are listed on the Radio Authority web site either: BCRL at Bullingdon Prison, Bicester on 1287 kHz; and ConAir at Channings Wood Prison, Newton Abbot on 87.7. I queried this omission with the Radio Authority which replied that ``Neither of the prison radio stations are listed on our website or in the report as prisons are not required to hold a licence; rather, they have permission to broadcast.`` Which begs the question as to who regulates these services? (Dave Kenny, BDXC-UK Communication July via DXLD) ** U S A. WWRB UPDATE 1. Studio Four is operational; all electronics installed and fully functional. 2. Transmitter Global-4 is fully operational. WWRB is in negotiations with various broadcasters concerning a full lease of this unit under separate call letters. If the lease discussions do not produce fruit the transmitter will go on open market with the airtime parted out. 3. WWRB is eliminating simulcasting; we need transmitter capacity. In addition, as more broadcasters become aware of the FCC requirements that all U.S. shortwave stations are required to use a directional antenna, broadcasters that want to go to the Middle East know a station with an antenna pointing southwest to Mexico is not able to fulfill the broadcaster`s mission. 3. WWRB is making many programming changes. WWRB is now 96 percent Religious programming. Existing Political / Commercial / Networks are welcome to stay with WWRB for as long as they want but when they leave WWRB will backfill with solid Christian programming. Our goal is 100 percent Middle of the road with 'HCJB' Quality Christian broadcasters. 4. WWRB is in the initial stages of conversion to a 501C3 Non Profit Religious organization. We now provide aircraft VHF / HF communications support; in addition, we are assembling an FAA approved Avionics repair station to provide very reasonable Sale, repairs and certifications of Avionics (aircraft electronics) such as : Communications, Navigation, Pulse equipment (DME and Transponders) Airborne weather radar, Flight guidance (autopilot). This Avionics facility will be used to support missionary aircraft such as Missionary Aviation Fellowship, Baptist Aviation Fellowship etc. (Dave Frantz, WWRB, July 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 'NEW LORE, FROM OTHER SIDE OF GLASS By DAVID HINCKLEY DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Tuesday, July 1st, 2003 New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com When Pete Johnson started at WNEW on Dec. 12, 1958, those letters meant Gene Klavan, William B. Williams and American standards. By the time Johnson retired last month, things were a little different. WNEW- AM station was a decade gone, along with dozens of formats, and WNEW- FM had become "Blink," playing top 40 and chatting about celebrities. But formats were never Pete Johnson's concern. His job was to make sure that whatever someone said into the microphone got transmitted to WNEW listeners. He was the engineer, one of those guys on the other side of the glass, and not surprisingly, parts of his work were as different after 45 years on the job as Opie and Anthony were from "The Make-Believe Ballroom." "Whenever a reporter went into the field then," recalls Johnson, "an engineer had to go with him carrying a big remote transmission box. It wasn't the lightweight microphones you have now." WNEW also broadcast sports, including Giants football, so an engineer also attended all the games - which might sound like a nice perk to some folks, but didn't do much for Johnson. "I wasn't that big a sports fan," he says. "And when you went on location, you had to focus on the equipment anyhow." He was more impressed with the instudio guests, particularly since he liked WNEW's brand of music. "I was more a Pat Boone fan than an Elvis fan," he says. "So one of the great things about working at WNEW was that you'd look up and there was Sinatra walking in the door." People used to ask him if he got autographs. He didn't. "It was great to meet those guys, but you felt funny asking them to sign something. You wanted to act professional." There also wasn't a lot of time to hang around and shmooze. WNEW kept dozens of engineers busy. "We built a lot of the equipment ourselves," he says. "You'd know what you needed, but it wasn't the kind of thing you could walk into a store and order. So guys became specialists in particular areas. You needed a certain kind of board, one guy would put it together." Johnson, who grew up fascinated with electronics and how things work, got a summer job at WNEW in 1958. In December he was hired full-time. "At first I was like an apprentice," he says. "I think they liked me because I was eager to learn and I was very persistent. I'd stick with a job. A lot of the things you did, you learned as you went along." He was there when WNEW added an FM and gave it separate programming. He was there the night of the 1965 blackout. "The FM went off, but we kept the AM," he says. "We were one of the few stations that stayed on the air." One of his favorite hosts was long-time morning man Gene Klavan. "He was a great talent," says Johnson. "And as nice a guy off the air as he was on. "He created a character he called Trevor Traffic. I'd put a filter on his mic to disguise his voice. One morning he did a bit where he pretended to get upset and threaten to fire Trevor Traffic. We started getting calls asking us please not to." Now looking ahead to some retirement travel with his wife, Johnson says radio was a good career - interesting work, despite the crazy hours. One of his few parting laments is that owners and managers don't always appreciate radio history. "Some people don't look to the past as having anything of value," he says. "They need space, so they just clear everything out. We had tapes of all the William B. Williams interviews. They were packed up and sent to a warehouse, where someone will probably throw them out. "Some are preserved, but so many aren't. When you have the kind of history WNEW had in its library, it's terrible." But Pete Johnson did his part. "From Klavan and [Dee] Finch to [Chris] Booker and [Linda] Lopez, Pete is the guy who was there for all of it," says former WNEW and current WFUV host Dennis Elsas. "He was always willing to help, really good at what he did and just a very decent guy. He really may be the last of a breed." (via Brock Whaley, July 1, 2003, DXLD) ** U S A. As the Director of engineering overseeing the operations of WSAI I am interested in any and all feed back regarding IBOC operation of WSAI. To that end I have set up a special email address for you to file your comments to. I encourage you to give your feed back. Being as detailed as possible stating your name address and location, and please be as detailed as possible in the information you give. I am specifically looking for the effect this operation is having on the other adjacent channel stations. Feel free to circulate this message and email address. The email address is iboc@wsai.com Thank You (Paul Jellison, Regional engineering services manager, Clear Channel Radio, Cincinnati, Ohio, NRC-AM via DXLD) I hope those of you in the midwest and east can give Paul some good information. This could be one of our best opportunities to let others know about the level of IBOC interference, and for that information to get passed along to places where it might have some effect. I'd guess reports about interference to 1520 stations like those in Toledo, Michigan, Missouri, etc. would be of special interest (Chuck Hutton, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** ZAMBIA. 4910 is the reactivated night time frequency and 5915 continues to be used troughout the daylight hours. 6165 is in use from 0250 to 2200 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** ZANZIBAR. Hi Glenn, Tried today for the 1800 English bulletin from Radio Tanzania Zanzibar. No luck at 1800 as there was only a het on the frequency. At 1835 re-check there was usable audio, in presumed Swahili. At 1859 there was the drumbeat interval signal, followed by 5 low pips one high, then ID by man as Sauti Tanzania Zanzibar. July 4, 2003. Steve Lare, Holland, MI. ** ZIMBABWE. 5975, ZBC, Gweru, (mainly R 2) seems to be the only active SW frequency now, normally heard from 0300 - 2200v. Sometimes signs off some hours before 2200 (Vashek Korinek, RSA, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. 4880, SW Radio Africa, London, via Meyerton, 1750- 1859*, Jun 24 and 27, Vernacular (Shona and/or Ndebele) interview about Law and order in Zimbabwe, programme ``We call you back`` with phone-in`s, a lot of words and sentences were in English. Afropop songs. ID: ``This is SW Radio Africa``. Hymn in English at close. At best 45444 (Masato Ishii, Japan and Anker Petersen, Denmark, July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) This frequency has now permanently replaced 6145. Heard here 1600- 1855v* with very good signals, although a bit weaker than 6145 used to be. But probably the best choice for reception in Zimbabwe (Vaclav Korinek, RSA July 2 DSWCI DX Window, July 4 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MUSEA +++++ RADIO MUSEUMS & VINTAGE RADIO IN THE UK has been updated in June: http://www.users.waitrose.com/~bdxc/museums.html (British DX Club http://www.bdxc.org.uk via DXLD) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ QSLS BY POST FOR EMAILED REPORTS I am compiling a list of shortwave stations that will post QSLs on receipt of an email, an email back is not so good. I have had one reply so far from Sanjaya on rec.radio.shortwave: "A good place to start is Celt Chic's radio page. http://monster-masher.home.att.net/radio.htm About half way down is a set of links titled "Broadcasters that ask for reception reports online, and send QSL's!"" Anyone know more good sources of info? (Mike Terry, UK, swl @ qth.net via DXLD) Re: [NRC-am] Joining NRC and hobby costs On the subject of hobby costs, I'm reminded of something I saw in a recent issue of "Sky & Telescope" magazine. The comment was made in reference to astronomy, but it also applies to DXing: "You'll probably spend a lot of money before you understand you don't need to spend a lot of money to enjoy astronomy." (And as someone who spends most of my time observing with a Meade ETX-90 and 11x80 binoculars while my 10" Dobsonian collects dust, I agree!) Compared to a lot of hobbies today, DXing is relatively cheap --- check out the price of quality musical instruments or cameras, for example. And with a little patient looking, you can find a world-class receiver, like a used Drake R8 from a decade ago, for a fraction of its original cost. Even with more modest equipment, DXing remains a hobby of opportunities. The ionosphere and its quirks is a great equalizer; if you're listening when conditions are good, you'll hear more with a simple receiver than someone with a top of the line receiver who's not DXing when the band is open! (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, NRC-AM via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ WORLD ADMINISTRATIVE RADIO CONFERENCE 2003 This was due to end in Geneva, earlier, this afternoon. http://www.rsgb.org.uk reports that agreement has been reached to re- align the 40/41 Metre Band. 7.000 to 7.200 Mhz for use by Radio Amateurs and 7.200 to 7.450Mhz for Broadcasting, I THINK this is on a World Wide Basis. This is to take effect on 29th March 2009 It seems that consideration of proposals regarding, seeking Additional Frequencies for Broadcasting between 4 and 10 Mhz have been deferred to the next WARC Conference in 2007. (This I think is a wise decision, rather than just a 'put off', as we will have a MUCH better idea, by then, of the effects of Digital Radio Mondiale, on the Short Wave Spectrum) There are other changes, including the giving of freedom to individual administrations (i.e. Countries) to discontinue the requirement for Radio Amateurs to pass a Morse Test, before being granted a Licence to transmit on HF(Short Wave). The RA have recently indicated that they are consulting with interested organisations about this, and that if the WARC was agreeable, it was likely that this requirement would be 'dropped', in the United Kingdom, after these discussions, Many Thanks to the Radio Society of Great Britain for this information. There is a MOST USEFUL article in the WRTVH 2003, (pp.40-42) entitled The Politics of Broadcasting by John Nelson. This to my mind, is a MOST UNFORTUNATE Title for a VERY INTERESTING Article, relevant to this, I recommed this for some Bedtime Reading!!!!, only 3 Pages, containing much of interest, in the context if this posting. I am sorry this is so long, but I think it is important (Ken Fletcher, UK, 2225 UT = 2325 UT+1 4th July 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MORSE CODE REQUIREMENT LIFTED The mandatory international Morse requirement for access to the HF bands is to cease. Colin Thomas, G3PSM, an advisor to the UK delegation to the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference, reported on Monday the 30th of June that the mandatory Morse code requirement for HF access would disappear at the end of the conference. However, if any administration feels that it needs to keep the requirement, it has the right to do so. Here in the UK, the Radiocommunications Agency has already stated that it will bring in code-free HF licences as soon as practical to do so. An announcement will be made on GB2RS and on the RSGB website when Full and Intermediate Class B amateurs can start using the HF bands (from http://www.rsgb.org/news/gb2rs.htm Sunday 06 July, 2003 (actually today) via Mike Terry, July 4, DXLD) MORSE CODE REQUIREMENT OFFICIALLY REMOVED: from By Michael Owen, VK3KI WRC-03 IARU Observer Team Member Website: http://www.iaru.org/rel030703att3.html on July 4, 2003 The old regulation that Morse was a requirement for the operators of amateur stations below 30 MHz was found in a provision that read as follows: Any person seeking a licence to operate the apparatus of an amateur station shall prove that he is able to send correctly by hand and to receive correctly by ear texts in Morse code signals. The administrations concerned may, however, waive this requirement in the case of stations making use exclusively of frequencies above 30 MHz. That was replaced with a provision giving each administration the right to decide whether or not Morse is a required qualification as follows: 25.5 Administrations shall determine whether or not a person seeking a licence to operate an amateur station shall demonstrate the ability to send and receive texts in Morse code signals. The alternative of simply deleting the old provision was rejected because a number of administrations thought that the matter was so important that a positive decision not to require Morse . . .(from http://www.eham.net/articles/5884 via Mike Terry, DXLD) (Another sign of changing times in the radio world; I believe the original Morse code was used by Samuel Morse from the 1840's !! - Mike) And it`s not the same as the current ``Continental`` Code (gh) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TRANS-ATLANTIC FM DX News of some extraordinary VHF propagation. Last Thursday, the 26th of June, at 1900 UT, VHF-FM DXer Paul Logan in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, recorded a station identification from WHCF in Bangor, Maine, on 88.5 MHz. On the same day, David Hamilton in Ayrshire, Scotland, made a recording of CBTB-FM from Baie Verte, Newfoundland, at 1950 - 2010 UT, on 97.1 MHz. The propagation mode was multi-hop Sporadic E. Mark Hattam has started a webpage http://www.dxradio.co.uk/transatlanticfm.html covering trans-Atlantic FM reception and the site includes audio clips of the two recordings made last Thursday (From http://www.rsgb.org/news/gb2rs.htm via Mike Terry, DXLD) (There is am amazing list of cross Atlantic DX on Mark's site). (Terry, DXLD) ###