DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-145, August 12, 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/dxldtd3h.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 03-05 is available from August 9: (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/com0305.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/com0305.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/com0305.html [now] Also via DXing.com: (Download) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0305.rm (Stream) http://www.dxing.com/com/com0305.ram Nominal schedule on RFPI, 7445: Thu 2000, Sat 2130 plus repeats 6, 12+ and 18+ hours later NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1194: RFPI: Wed 0800+, 1400+ on 7445 [confirmed at 0200 UT Wed instead of 0100] WWCR: Wed 0930 9475 [see USA] WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html [Low] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194.ram [High] (Download) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194h.rm (Stream) http://www.k4cc.net/wor1194h.ram (Summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1194.html FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1195: Wed 2200 WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2030 WWCR 15825, Sat 1030 5070, Sun 0230 5070 Sat 0130+, 0800+, 2330 RFPI 7445 Sat 1800+ WRMI 15725 Sun 0031 WINB 12160 SOLICITED TESTIMONIAL I heard WOR 1193 on RFPI August 6 at 0038. Thanks for your kind support of RFPI in its battle with the University for Peace. I was saddened by the demise of RÖI in May, even though my German language understanding is poor. I share your hope that we do not lose RFPI as well. Best wishes (Allan J. Mui, Seminole OK, Aug 6) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. APA RADIO TRANSMISSION --- Please tune in to APA Radio Amani from 21:30 to 22:30 pm Kabul local time. APA radio will discuss issues such as peace, democracy building, human rights and security along with cultural and traditional topics. Please tune in to the transmissions at 15615 MHkz on short wave (APA mailing list, 9 August 2003 via Bernd Trutenau, DXLD) APA is the (US-based) Afghanistan Peace Association http://www.afghanistanpeace.com The programs are on 15615 kHz, Fridays 1630-1730 UT; both Dari and Pashto segments can be expected (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALGERIA [non]. NEW AL-SALAM RADIO TAKES ANTI-GOVERNMENT LINE An Arabic-language radio station calling itself Al-Salam (Peace) Radio (Arabic: idha'at al-salam) was observed at 1615 gmt on 11 August on a Hotbird satellite at 13 degrees east. The radio was heard in progress broadcasting a phone-in discussion on Algeria's problems and political situation. Programming is critical of the Algerian government. The radio carried news at 1800 gmt, including reports on the Middle East situation, Iraq and Algerian and Arab developments. The radio also played religious Islamic songs in French and Arabic. The transponder frequency is 12.597 GHz vertical polarization, digital; symbol rate: 27500; FEC: 3/4. The station has an internet site, http://www.assalam.info The site announces the following: "With God's help, Al-Salam Radio has started its transmission on the Hotbird satellite at 13 degrees east. It can be received on a digital receiver. See the "How to listen" section for technical parameters. "Monday, 11 August 2003. `Events and discussion'. Our guest is Shaykh Abdallah Jaballah, president of the Reform Movement, live from Algeria at 2030 Algiers and London time. You can talk to us on the PalTalk [PalTalk is a private company providing Internet-based text, voice and video conferencing, chat rooms and file transfer] chat programme: 'Social issues' - Radio Assalam; or via telephone No 00447005802460. "The channel's detailed programme will shortly be published on this site." The radio is also observed on the internet site but not in parallel with the satellite. It announces: "Idha'at al-Salam greets you and meets you every day on the Hotbird digital satellite." A talk in Algerian dialect is heard. The site also gives the following contact details: ASSALAM PO Box 4059 5604 EB Eindhoven Netherlands Phone (Edition) +44 7005 802 897 "Fax +44 870 130 11 84 E-Mail info@assalam.info The site has a French section which carries the above announcement, and an English section, which is still under construction. Source: BBC Monitoring research 11-12 Aug 03 (via DXLD) ** ANGUILLA. Caribbean Beacon (a.k.a. University Network, a.k.a. Dr. Gene Scott, a.k.a. ``Moonface``, 24\7), is still unheard on its daytime frequency 11775, tho sometimes on the nighttime 6090. They must be having trouble in the frequency-changing equipment, stuck on the lower frequency, which is of no use in the daytime. Researching the schedule changeover times, I was astounded to find in the WRTH 2003, page 474, 0600 and 1800 UT! As with the Tibet debacle, sometimes it is necessary to apply common sense. This, too, must be in local time of UT -4, not UT, and indeed PWBR 2003 shows the times as 1000 and 2200. We were sitting on 6090 before and after 2200 Aug 12, could not hear it coming on at that hour, if it really did; did not check again until 2447, when it was inbooming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. Glenn --- From the ABC Backyard site for the Top End, where the lead story was a minor controversy in the Darwin Beer Can Regatta off Mindil Beach (the winners were fined for not wearing lifejackets). Humpty Doo, by the way, is a northern suburb of Darwin, AUSTRALIA. Item re: new ARDS service, the ABC local news Web site: NEW RADIO INFORMATION SERVICE LAUNCHED IN NT - Thursday, 7 August 2003 An Aboriginal-run organisation says a new short-wave radio service for people living in north-east Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory will allow them to easily access important information. The service started this week, giving the 7,000 Yolgnu people living in the region the chance to gain information on issues, such as health, in their own language. Richard Trudgen from Aboriginal Resource and Development Services says listeners can also ring the studio and ask for information they want to be broadcast. Mr Trudgen says it is an easy and quick way to get information across (via Chuck Albertson, Seattle, WA) ** AUSTRIA: Although "Report from Austria" isn't currently carried by any of the WRN networks, the 15-minute weekday program is still available on demand from the WRN web site, updated Mon-Fri 1215 UT, see http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=95 Best, (Kevin Kelly, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Karel Honzik`s 3-143 of R. Bandeirantes off-frequency set off a discussion among Brazilians, some of them taking offense at it: Realmente, em 31m há um deslocamento sensível, e já faz um bom tempo (Sarmento F Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Prezado Sarmento e demais amigos. Falar em 9645,00 ou em 9645,86 chega a ser tão importante assim? Estamos tratando de um desvio de menos que 0,01 %, o que para nossos ouvidos pode até fazer uma mísera diferença na recepção, mas sabemos que em qualquer área técnica do mundo (inclusive nos Estados Unidos e na Rep. Checa) existem desvios de tolerancia em tantas áreas técnicas que por vezes chega a 1 ou 2 %, dependendo do caso. Será que não seria o caso das transmissões mesmo com este 'desvio' estarem dentro das tolerancias possiveis, e estarmos perdendo tempo com um tema desta natureza? Infelizmente não disponho de informações oficiais, mas acho que os órgãos 'fiscalizadores' brasileiros e internacionais controlam as tolerancias possiveis no âmbito da radiodifusão. Se medissemos tantas outras centenas de emissões encontrariamos talvez desvios muito maiores. Para concluir, se estivermos realmente preocupados com o que estes menos que 0,01 % nos trazem, será que com este desvio também não estamos tendo chance de ouvir melhor o que se encontra nos reais 9645, ou no desvio inverso --> 9644.5, por exemplo? Um forte 73, (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, SP, radioescutas via DXLD) Amigos, relendo a nota que enviei há pouco, deixo claro que quando refiro-me a tolerâncias técnicas de 1 a 2 % falo de áreas técnicas gerais conhecidas (projetos de construção, esforços físicos, velocidades, medições, etc.). Na questão da Radio Bandeirantes, ou de outra emissora qualquer, julgo ser um tema que mereça destaque se verificassemos um desvio acima de 2 a 3 kHz (Lembram da Radio Relógio 4905 que era ouvida por um bom tempo em 4920??? Ai sim, quem reclamasse teria total razão). Mas, realmente, se estamos dentro da margem de 1 kHz, é o que de fato ocorre com a maioria das emissoras de ondas curtas de qualquer parte do mundo. Não há a manutenção da exatidão com dois zeros depois da vírgula. É impossivel. Esqueçamos. Não creio que este tema da Bandeirantes seja tão importante assim que mereça um destaque internacional. Mesmo que tenha sido escrita com motivos comuns, esta informação parece-me mais ser um tema onde se procura mostrar falhas no que alguns outros paises chamam de terceiro mundo. Também não somos mais terceiro mundo. Há muito tempo. Quem não conhece o Brasil, não tem condições de falar sobre o Brasil. Mas quero estar seguro que esta nota tenha sido uma mera informação técnica apresentada no dial de um receptor, que também pode estar descalibrado. Vai saber!!!! Um abraço e boas escutas (Rudolf Grimm, São Bernardo, ibid.) Olá Rudolf, Um ponto relevante aliás, que deixei de mencionar : Há algum tempo alguém na lista (nao me recordo quem) havia levantado a questão de que haveria um desvio de quase 1 kHz na transmissão em 31m da Bandeirantes. E realmente, havia um bom deslocamento. O Icom R75 que utilizo, apresenta resolução de 1 Hertz, e após 1 hora de operação a precisão declarada é de +-10 Hertz, e quando sintonizo a WWV tanto em 10 MHz como em 15 como referencia, normalmente a diferença é mínima entre a transmissão que é presumivelmente precisa, e o display do R75. O interessante, é que tive a oportunidade de conversar com o diretor técnico da Bandeirantes nas minhas férias recentes, e entre outros assuntos, levantei esta questão. Além de toda a atenção e simpatia dispensada, ele forneceu alguns detalhes técnicos a respeito dos transmissores, sistemas irradiantes e etc, e informou que iria analisar estes deslocamentos. E de fato, me parece que a diferença está bem menor agora. Aliás, o mais interessante ainda, é citar que apesar das transmissões em ondas curtas atualmente "não serem económicamente viáveis", é ainda um fator estratégico para a Bandeirantes a correta operação e manutenção dos transmissores, em função da orientação da alta direção da empresa. E de fato, é o que pude observar, excelente atenção aos ouvintes e esmero na manutenção dos sistemas. Era isso que faltava na msg, que ficou realmente "sem pé nem cabeça", ok ? Abraços (Sarmento F Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil http://radioescuta.aminharadio.com ibid.) Rudolf, Todas as suas colocações a este respeito estão certas. Nenhum dos canais mencionados na nota indicam desvio de canal maior que 500 Hertz, o limite aceito para caracterizar falha de calibragem na aferição de frequência. É simples. Cada 1 kHz, equivalem a 1000 Hertz, portanto, o que o receptor lê como 1000,00 kHz, nada mais é do que a indicação da Rádio record no seu canal natural, aqui em SP, por exemplo. Se o sinal estah nos 1000 kHz, seus picos não devem ultrapassar 1000 kHz + 500 Hertz para cima, ou para baixo. É este o fator que se usa mundialmente para definir "canal". Tudo o que estiver fora isso, estah dentro das normas regualres de transmissão. No caso da Bandeirantes, 6,089.97 kHz por exemplo, é característico de erro de 30 Hertz abaixo do centro do canal, pois 970 Hertz + 30 Hertz = 1 kHz, portanto, teríamos os 6,090 kHz. A colocação sobre o receptor usado para este tipo de aferição é correta porque o receptor tem que possuir leitura de 1 Hertz para poder medir passo a passo cada canal de transmissão, que mesmo nas ondas curtas já usam 5 kHz de afastamento entre cada emissora justamente para evitar conflito de canais. Que eu tenha visto, só receptores como JRC 301, ou o TenTec 340 e similares possuem esta aferição de frequência, lendo estas emissoras como 6,090.000 kHz. E mais, este tipo de informação não complementa em nada o dexismo, pois mesmo a WWV emitindo em 15 MHz por diversas vezes emitiu em 14996 ou 15003 kHz, ninguém se tocou disso porque não influenciou em nada. Sinais de que realmente o primeiro mundo insiste em encher lingiça com os países em desenvolvimento, ou está faltando noticias no mundo do radio. Heheh. Abraço, (Denis Zoqbi, ibid.) Si se me permite la opinión, yo particularmente no pienso que la observación hecha por el checo Karel Honzik y posteriormente publicada por Glenn Hauser haya sido hecha con ningún otro motivo distinto que el de facilitar al oyente la identificación de la emisora. Es ya muy usual ver la indicación de la frecuencia con décimos, lo cual en en caso de la onda media resulta supremamente útil, pues en Europa es ahora muy raro ver a alguien que utilice la modalidad de AM a la hora de buscar DX. La técnica que se usa es la técnica que se venido llamando ECSS (Exalted carrier selectable sideband). Es una técnica incorporada en muchos receptores comunes de hoy en dia, el Sony ICF2001D, 2010, 7600GR etc. así como en los principales receptores de mesa. En Inglaterra también hay alguno que otro que estudia las ondas portadoras aun no perceptibles al oído, sacando representaciones gráficas de las emisoras que se oyen por ejemplo en los alrededores de las frecuencias de 1470 o 1390 que son tan interesantes para los DXistas europeos. Pero para volver al campo más familiar de la onda corta, siempre es útil para los DXistas que 'uma dica' indicase el décimo, si es por encima o por debajo de la frecuencia. Así en el caso de 6115 se podía, años atrás, con mucha fialibildad, establecerse si era Radio Unión o La Voz del Llano que uno escuchaba, y en 6105 si era Radio Panamericana, Radio Filadelfia, Radio Canção Nova o alguna otra. En la banda de los 60 y 90 metros el tema de indicar la frecuencia en uno o dos décimas también se ha vuelto imperativo en muchos casos. Si la emisora es de América del Norte o de América del Sur no tiene importancia alguna. Puedo contarles a quienes así lo deseen, como la indicación de 'un deslocamento' de frecuencia ha sido bien útil a la hora de reportar la emisora y conseguir su QSL. También puedo contar casos cuando la indicación de una frecuencia corrida ha sido recibida con sorpresa y dudas. Cuando me inicié al DX, décadas atrás, no había el tipo de receptores que usamos ahora, y entonces las emisoras que se encontraban un poco fuera del canal solían indicarse con una A o una z detras de la frecuencia, así 6115A en el caso de La Voz de Llano. Claro, con este método, no se sabía si estaba por debajo o por encima del canal, pero eso entonces no importaba tanto. Cordial saludo, (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, ibid.) Pessoal, Quando enviei a msg sobre um trecho reproduzido pelo Glenn, não foi para fazer apologia a dxistas estrangeiros e nem abordar tema irrelavante. Como a minha redação foi omissa pode gerar polémica, e isso não me parece produtivo, e eu em particular não gostaria de realimentar esta questão. Eu só queria destacar o esmero técnico e atenção da Bandeirantes. Só isso. 73s a todos (Sarmento F. Campos, ibid.) ** CANADA. CKBD, Vancouver BC, 600, has returned to broadcasting in AM stereo (Northwest Broadcasters via Domestic DX Digest, NRC DX News Aug 11 via DXLD) C-QUAM presumably ** CANADA [and non]. One of CANADA's largest broadcasters is taking an interest in the radio scene across the border. Standard Radio, which owns Toronto's CFRB, Montreal's CJAD, CJFM and CHOM and Ottawa's CKQB, among others, bought a 25% interest (the maximum allowable to a foreign owner) in Martz Communications last week, giving it a piece of a broadcaster that's been giving it headaches in Montreal. Tim Martz has long specialized in border broadcasting, buying and selling stations everywhere from Calais, Maine to northern Minnesota with an eye towards sending his signals across the border into Canada. At the moment, his station group includes nine stations in northern New York: top 40 WYUL (94.7 Chateaugay), oldies WICY (1490 Malone), country WVNV (96.5 Malone), top 40 "Yes FM" WYSX (98.7 Ogdensburg)/WYSI (96.7 Canton), AC WVLF (96.1 Norwood), oldies WMSA (1340 Massena), rock WRCD (101.5 Canton) and country WNCQ-FM (102.9 Morristown) - and of those, the one that's the biggest concern to Standard is WYUL, which puts a signal into much of Montreal, yet is unbound by the Canadian regulations on hit music content, language (unlike the Montreal stations, it can give traffic reports in French and English) and Canadian music content. With Standard's money in the picture, will WYUL ease up on its attacks on Standard's CJFM ("Mix 96"), including the taunting Web site URL of http://www.nixthemix.com? Or will Standard put its hit-music energy into the cross-border signal and refocus CJFM in another direction? It should be interesting to watch...especially for Standard's Montreal competitors (Scot Fybush, NE Radio Watch Aug 11 via DXLD) ** CANADA [non]. SOUTH OF THE BORDER, DOWN MALONE WAY By JAMES ADAMS, Saturday, August 9, 2003 - Page R3 From the Globe and Mail, Excerpt of article; for rest of the story: http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030809/DIARY09/TPColumnists/ Oh those pesky Americans! For roughly the last year rock radio station WYUL 94.7 FM in beautiful Malone, N.Y., has been beaming its 50,000- watt signal into western Montreal 24 hours a day, and driven some of that city's stations crazy as a result. This is because 94.7 Hits FM, as a U.S.-based operation, doesn't fall under the purview of the CRTC; as a result, it's able to sign up Quebec advertisers, do bi-lingual traffic reports and events notices, and run long stretches of commercial-free, non-Canadian music without kowtowing to the regulations that govern the Montreal-based outlets. Of course, it's nothing new for signals from U.S. stations close to the border to slop over into Canada. But sometimes the slop-over is more intentional than accidental, as is the case with WTOR 770 AM, a multicultural/multiracial outlet in Youngstown near Niagara Falls, N.Y., that seems aimed primarily at the southern Asian population of southwestern Ontario. More often than not, while these stations steal audience share and dollars, they're largely distractions to city-based Canadian stations with "full-market signals" powered by 100,000 or 300,000 watts. But WYUL, which bills itself as "Montreal and the Seaway Valley's 20-in-a-Row Hit Music Channel," seems to be doing more serious damage, if one believes the bleats uttered recently by Montreal stations Energie 94.3 FM and CKOI 96.9 FM [both in French only? -- gh]. However, there's nothing much that can be done: The CRTC can't regulate an American station while the U.S. Federal Communications Commission says it can't mess with WYUL's content unless it does something obscene, hate-filled or sacrilegious, or completely ignores the territory it's serving. Drew Scott, WYUL's station manager, likes to call himself "the little guy on the block." He knows some Montreal stations "aren't real happy with what I'm doing but, hey, it's all about winning." He chuckled about his chutzpah in changing the station's former call letters YESS- FM to its current formula to piggyback onto the YUL identification code of Montreal's Dorval airport. Now he's working on upgrading the signals of two other Martz stations, WVLF and WRCD, both FM broadcasters in Massena, N.Y., taking them up to 50,000 watts from their current 15,000-25,000-watt spread and taking on the Ottawa market. "It's gonna be so much fun." (Via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** CANADA. BITOVE JR. BIDS TO RIDE A NEW WAVE IN RADIO --- Deal will launch satellite broadcasts here Canadian content could be an issue M. COREY GOLDMAN SPECIAL TO THE STAR Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com Aug. 11, 2003. 06:53 AM MONTREAL -- Former Toronto Raptors owner and Olympic bid leader John Bitove Jr. is getting into the satellite radio business with plans to launch a Canadian joint venture with U.S.-based XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., @Biz has learned. XM will announce this week that it is teaming with a group led by Bitove to bring a version of its U.S.-based satellite radio service to Canadian consumers, according to Stewart Lyons, one of the partners working with Bitove. The new company, called Canadian Satellite Radio Inc. (CSR) is completing its application for a broadcast license to the Canadian Radio-Telecommunications Commission, which it plans to file this fall. Existing Canadian broadcasters have for some time been adding digital beams that offer clearer signals for their local programming. However, as yet few consumers have the receiving equipment needed to make those signals work. Satellite radio, broadcast from space on a subscription basis to another kind of digital receiver, would have the effect of creating a new parallel line of radio stations that can be received beyond the range of traditional broadcasters. As already operating in the United States, satellite radio content consists of a mix of new and familiar media. Some content is rebroadcast from sources such as ABC News, National Public Radio and BBC World Service. But other programming is original, targeting fans of jazz or rock music or other specialized categories. "It is a very significant development that satellite radio is coming to Canada," said CRTC spokesperson Denis Carmel. "Consumers will be getting a greater choice of what they want to listen to, which will have an impact on the entire broadcasting market." Bitove is one of Canada's largest restaurateurs, with operations that include Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. He was instrumental in bringing the National Basketball Association to Canada and led Toronto's latest bid to host the summer Olympics. Satellite radio's appeal is that it can be beamed across the country with CD-like quality, along with data like song titles and artists' names. Traditional radio spectrum can only stretch so far and can't carry additional information. In the United States, satellite radio has struggled, but is starting to catch on as XM and its only competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., sign up car makers, stereo manufacturers and other equipment producers to produce and install the technology consumers need to receive the radio signals. XM and its Canadian partner expect a regulatory hearing from the CRTC early next year, and plan to begin offering services to Canadian subscribers shortly after. Additional details are expected to be made public this week when XM files its usual quarterly financial update, called a 10-Q, to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Under the Broadcasting Act, a non-Canadian company interested in offering radio broadcast services in Canada must either establish a Canadian-based subsidiary or partner with a Canadian-owned and controlled company — 80 per cent owned at the operating level and more than two-thirds at the holding level. XM chose the latter, forging an alliance with Bitove's CSR, which will have controlling interest. "Since we already have a satellite footprint that extends deep into Canada, this provides a great opportunity to expand our business," said XM spokesperson Chance Patterson. "As we move though the process with the CRTC they'll give us guidance as to the conditions of the license and other details." Other rules under the Broadcasting Act as well as regulations imposed by Heritage Canada dictate that a broadcaster must satisfy Canadian content rules that require a certain percentage of programming to be "made in Canada." However in CSM's case how such rules will apply is less clear, since the CRTC does not yet have official guidelines for content broadcast via satellite. "It doesn't really fit their guidelines for this particular kind of service," CSR's Lyons said. "When it comes to content, there are guidelines in place for a lot of other existing formats, but we are really breaking new ground here." XM offers some 100 channels ranging from hip-hop to opera to bluegrass — channels that will likely also be available to Canadians. At the same time, CSR is working on forging relationships with existing Canadian broadcasters, which means the satellite system may end up, as in the United States, carrying already-familiar programming. The company has been in talks with CBC Radio and its French-language sister SRC. Despite being awash in red ink, analysts note that XM has a lot going for it in terms building its subscriber base and forging relationships with the likes of General Motors, Hughes Electronics, Honda and radio station owner ClearChannel Communications. Adding Canada to the listening mix will only help boost sales, they say. "XM has already proven that people will pay for radio," said Steve Mather, an analyst with brokerage Sanders Morris Harris in Los Angeles. "It's not unheard of to pay for stuff that you used to get for free, particularly if you're getting something better." XM has about $346 million in cash in its coffers, much of which will be needed to maintain its two satellites, launch a third next year and pay other costs. While financial terms of XM's joint venture with Bitove weren't disclosed, XM's Patterson said the costs would be relatively low since XM already has satellites in orbit that beam signals well beyond the U.S. border. It also already has a studio in Washington D.C. that can program and send content to Canadian subscribers, and its third satellite will be able to handle additional Canadian channels that could be available to subscribers in the United States too. Sirius has stated that it is also interested in offering its service in Canada, though hasn't yet moved forward with any plans, according to company spokesman Thomas Meyer. One concern with XM's foray into Canada is local programming, which some fear will fall by the wayside if local stations can't compete with coast-to-coast satellite radio in hundreds of formats. "People have been interested in this for a number of years, and many people have approached us and spoken to us about establishing a presence in Canada," said Fernand Leger, director of spectrum policy with Industry Canada. "I don't think it is something they would have pursued if they did not think there was an opportunity there." But it is still a question whether Canadians will fork out the dough for satellite radio when they can get radio entertainment and information, including high-quality commercial-free CBC , through conventional AM, FM and digital receivers when finally widespread. Mather didn't think that satellite radio will make ordinary radio stations and their localized programming irrelevant. "People will still listen to Bob and Cathy in the morning in their local market; that is not going away," he said. "There will be AM, there will be FM and there will be satellite as a third subscriber- based option, just like pay-per-view is available on cable channels now." (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** CHINA. Dear Mr. Say, It's nice to hear from you again. The English Service of CRI launched two hours program to South Pacific and part of Africa from Aug. 5. But unfortunately, the two hours' programs are not available to your area. But maybe you can hear it through frequencies broadcast to the South Pacific. Sincerely Yours, (Yinglian, (Pen-name for) the English Service, CRI via Dan Say, BC, Aug 12, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. 11TH AUGUST MEETING BETWEEN RFPI AND THE UNIVERSITY FOR PEACE: As you may know, RFPI and the University for Peace met for talks today on the 11th August. It has been agreed that the two organizations will enter into conversations for the next 76 days, ending on 31st October. Neither side will release a public communication until agreement is reached or the agreed conversation period ends. We truly appreciate your crucial and ongoing support and continuing faith in RFPI from listeners around the world. We are still here today because of you!!! We will bring you more information as soon as we are able to do so (RFPI website Aug 12 via DXLD) The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say. Sounds like Maurice Strong has censored RFPI. What really happened? Will you be able to stay in the building we built? Who is this guy to be able to come in and take over the university for peace and silence my favorite radio station, take the news away from me (Lisa, Save RFPI board Aug 12 via DXLD) I'm not getting it either. Since when is secrecy a vital ingredient in conflict resolution? Seems like whenever someone in a position of power wants time and silence in this kind of situation, they're waiting for the public to lose interest so they can stomp on the other party. I don't like the smell of this arrangement and I sure hope James & Co. know what they are doing (Charlie Wilkins, Save RFPI board Aug 12 via DXLD) Billy here. Haven`t figured out your sign in system so I will just carry on. I have been a listener for years and am visiting my dad in San José. I drove out to the station today and the chain is still on the gate. I then drove up to the so called University for Peace and they also had a locked gate, but they had a guard who told me I could not pass. This is strange as last time I was in Costa Rica (five years) I just drove right in and parked. What a beautiful place that is. Great surroundings and wonderful art all over. Too bad the public can't get in anymore. Made me wonder what they have inside I was not supposed to see or do. Anyway, then I drove back to the radio station. They were indeed still broadcasting as I heard them on my portable shortwave on 7445, but the gate was still locked. I was thinking of hopping the fence but the guard on the hill had already told me I could not pass and it was beginning to rain. Maybe tomorrow I will try driving out again. Might be time to bring them food if they are indeed homesteading the building. I have heard talk that U Paz wants to build a whole hotel and condo complex on theire grounds. They say it is so when the new rich and elite come to visit, they have a first class place to stay. I wonder if they will let me visit when that time comes (Anon., Aug 12, Save RFPI board via DXLD) Yes, I have heard the same thing about the plans to build a plush complex on the University for Peace grounds for Maurice Strong's favored elite, may be a tax haven as it's on international ground. May be that's another reason they want to get rid of the radio station, they don't have a lot more room to develop the land unless they move them (Another Anon., ibid.) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. See ALGERIA; CANADA ** ISRAEL. After only a few weeks the `Roadmap to Peace` in the Middle East appears to have become a road to nowhere. Violence continues on a daily basis with both sides engaging in offensive operations. The Israeli Defence Force has a sophisticated armoury available to it and the Palestinian side mostly relies on suicide bombers or alternately on small unit operations that generally are fatal to those who are foolish enough to engage in them. The IDF certainly is a powerful and highly motivated machine. Despite al this sophistication many of their communications are in the clear. They have recently been heard in the UK on the following frequencies: 30000 32150 32200 32950 33300 33350 33400 33650 34050 34200 34750 35250 40750 41900 Transmissions are NBFM and although usually conducted in Hebrew, occasionally English is heard. It`s worth a listen as the situation in the region can only be described as `hotting up` (Dave Roberts, Scanning Scene, Aug Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) ** ITALY. ITALIAN FM LINKS Hi Glenn, about 50-60 MHz Italian FM Links, they are not real legal but they are still working, also because on this frequency there are only two TV channels used bay RAI 1st programme and some private TV with a lot of free frequencies not use by others like civil or air services. So nobody protests and nobody cares. If the transmitters work well they have no spurious signals. Then they work with not so high powers (sometimes also with RDS, I found some PI codes). I hope this can help you to understand this strange Italian broadcasting custom. Ciao (Giampiero Bernardini, Avvenire, Milano, Italy, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KOREA NORTH. RADIO THREAT TO N KOREA'S GRIP ON NEWS From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3141331.stm The North Korean government's monopoly on news inside the Stalinist state is being challenged by South Korean activists, who plan to float radios across the border carried by helium balloons. South Korean aid groups said they could launch 600 radios from near the Korean border as part of a campaign to highlight the North's human rights record. But listening to foreign broadcasts is illegal in North Korea, putting anyone who finds a balloon-delivered radio at risk of going to jail. The activists hope that giving people more access to foreign news will undermine the claims of Kim Jong-il's government and encourage more defectors. They also want to pressure the international community to include human rights issues during upcoming talks about North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Talks are expected to take place later this month or early in September including the United States, Japan, Russia, China and North and South Korea. The balloon campaign was unveiled by Norbert Vollersten, a German doctor expelled by North Korea in 2001 for criticising human rights abuses. Mr Vollersten, whose publicity-conscious campaigning has been criticised by some, said the move was aimed at opening up the North "by the power of information". The activists said they planned to fly more than 20 balloons, each six metres high and carrying about 30 small radios, into North Korea within the next two weeks, from either China or South Korea (BBC News Aug 11 via Ulis R. Fleming, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. SOUTH KOREA TO HEAR NORTH'S RADIO "WITHOUT FILTRATION" FOR ANNIVERSARY | Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA; all times local Pyongyang, 12 August: The Pyongyang mission of the National Democratic Front of South Korea (NDFSK) will begin relaying the Korean central radio to South Korea from 15 August, the country's liberation day according to the new measure taken by the central committee of the NDFSK. Jo Il-min, chief of the Pyongyang mission of the NDFSK, clarified this at a press conference given today before mediapersons at home and abroad. There he informed them of the fact that the CC [central committee], the NDFSK has assigned the NDFSK mission in Pyongyang the task of directly relaying the Korean central radio to the South Koreans from all walks of life to meet their desire. The relay time per day is 12 hours in all, i.e., six hours from 7.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. And another six hours from 5.00 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Now the South Koreans' reverence and worship of leader Kim Jong-il as well as their attention to North Korea making dynamic progress under his leadership are growing stronger in the 15 June era that was arranged and is advancing thanks to the distinguished greatness of Kim Jong-il and his songun [military-first] policy. The measure is, therefore, an extremely positive one taken to meet the requirements of the situation, he said. He recalled that the most efficient way to help South Koreans grasp the greatness of Kim Jong-il and reality of the North and get broader, more detailed and ready news of North Korea is to let them listen to the radio of the North without filtration. Source: KCNA news agency, Pyongyang, in English 1111 gmt 12 Aug 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? Surely Pyongyang broadcasts could always be heard in the South. Or does `without filtration` mean no jamming? I don`t think they were jammed, in contrast to the defunct clandestines (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. ZAPATISTAS FIRE-UP THEIR TRANSMITTER? Last night I picked up a station at 0317 UT on 5800. The reception was poor with lots of tropical noise but I could make out what sounded like a woman in Spanish repeating what sounded like the frequency numbers in SS "...ocho cero cero..." and some kind of other ongoing message. This continued until about 0340 then went dead. Zapatistas? Control the Airwaves And you control the morons... 73's (Gary Crites, Eureka, California, 8-11-03, hard-core-dx via DXLD) They played some of the broadcast on NPR today -- they were playing some American blues music (Jilly Dybka, TN, Aug 11, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Guess you mean during a newscast? Nothing found in Aug 11 Morning Edition or ATC archives (gh, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. VOICE OF RUSSIA KHABAROVSK BRANCH TO BE CLOSED According to the letter from the Japanese language stuffs of VOR Khabarovsk branch, the branch will be closed in the near future. All the staffs are against the close and seek support from the listeners. They hope listeners should send messages against the close to VOR Moscow by E-mail vostok@vor.ru fax (+7-095-230-2828), or telephone (+7-095-950-6722). VOR Khabarovsk branch has been producing the programs mainly on Russian Far East since 1946 in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. According to another source, the decision is from headquarters in Moscow due to the financial and political reason. The close date is expected in October. (Takahito Akabayashi, Tokyo, Japan, via BC-DX Aug 12 via DXLD) - - - RADIO VOICE OF RUSSIA Address : 25, Piatnitskaya Str., Moscow, Russia, 115326 fax: (095) 230-28-28 phone: 7 (095) 950-63-31 Web-site: http://www.vor.ru E-mail letters@vor.ru Chinese (Peking dialect) (from Khabarovsk) 1000-1100 15470, 12000(1), 9470(2), 5940, 5905, 1251, 801, 585 Japanese (from Khabarovsk) 1200-1300 9555, 7315, 5905, 720, 630 Korean (from Khabarovsk) 1000-1100 13640, 12055, 11935, 7305, 648 Irkutsk 5905 1000-1400 100 7315 1500-1800 250 9555 1200-1400 250 9800 1200-1800 100 11935 1000-1400 250 (12000*) 21790 0500-0700 250 Chita 9745 1200-1900 500 11870 1530-1900 500 12055 1200-1300 500 12055 1400-1500 500 Vladivostok 5940 1000-1300 100 7315 1200-1400 250 7340 1200-1300 500 7390 1200-1400 250 7390 1400-1600 500 17660 0100-0500 500 Khabarovsk 7490 1000-1100 080 9480 1200-1400 100 12000 1000-1400 100 (9470*) Komsomolsk-na-Amure 7305 1000-1300 250 17565 0100-0500 250 (15455*) 17635 0500-0900 250 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy 12000 0100-0500 200 12055 1000-1100 200 13640 1000-1100 100 17595 0100-0300 250 17620 0100-0300 100 (21755*) 17650 0200-0500 250 17690 0100-0500 100 * From 07/09/2003 (Nikolay Rudnev, Belgorodskaya obl., RUS DX May 18 via Wolfgang Bueschel, DXLD) ** SUDAN [non]. V. of Sudan [sic - did they really ID that way?? --gh] 17630: 12 August at 1610, YL with news in unID language. At end she referred to edp.org 1614, time for today`s news in English. Machako Agreement. At 1617 in Sudan (as referred from the English program) with same news (Machako Agreement). Red Cross, EU. 1620 with news in Arab. ID in all languages with Sudan Radio Service and frequent talks in unID language; ID in all languages as previous (carousel). 1633 a song program, 1637 ID, carousel, tribal a cappella play; 1643 traditional play. Also tested on 17660 with signal level S9+ 20, nearly same SINPO. In their first English reference, there was an address srs@edc.org They are asking for any programming help to the station. Some signal problems have been encountered at 1622 and then nearly stable signal; S9+30, SINPO 45544 on R75/16m (Zacharias Liangas, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. Merlin - Special transmission -- Perseids Sondersendungen zu den Perseiden --- Gefunden unter [found under] http://solarsystem.estec.esa.nl/METEORS/radiometeor/Perseids_2003.html Perseids 2003 NEW (posted 5th Aug, 2003): new transmission schedule! Frequency: 17640 kHz, Transmission from UK (same as previous tests) Tuesday 12 AUG: 0300-0400 UT (1 hour) Tuesday 12 AUG: 2000-2400 UT (4 hours) Wednesday 13 AUG: 0000-0500 UT (5 hours) Thursday 14 AUG: 0300-0400 UT (1 hour) From 12th to 14th August 2003, a team of ESA scientists will listen to the sound of Perseids meteor shower as sweeping across the night sky. The annual Perseids meteor shower is expected to reach its peak at 03:30 UT on 13th August. The group from ESA's Research and Scientific Support Department at ESTEC in the Netherlands will be glued to a radio receiver and their computer screens. "For our experiment during night time, we have come to an arrangement with Merlin Communication, the service provider for the BBC, to continue their transmissions at 17.64 MHz." said J-Pierre Lebreton. "They will switch on one of their transmitters the scheduled nights. We will then use the short-lived meteor ionisation trails as mirrors to reflect the radio signals. In this way, we hope to be able to listen to the meteor echoes." The radio transmission schedule has been optimised for the expected peaks. One frequency will be listened, the 17640, and will carry a BBC programme. The schedule to tune in is: 12th Aug 17640 kHz, 0300-0400 UT Peak: 12th-13th Aug 17640 KHz 2000-0500 UTC 14th Aug 17640 KHz 0300-0400 UTC Note that end of transmission may fall on the next day. Total of 11 hours (via Andreas Erbe via Wolfgang Büschel, Aug 11, DXLD) 17640, Merlin Communications, 2150-2200 Aug 12, Special Meteor Test; loop tape of soft instrumental music and ID announcements by M in English about once a minute as "You are listening to a test transmission by V.T. Merlin Communications, a leading provider of international broadcast services. If you would like to find out more about us, please visit http://www.vtplc.com/merlin ". Decent signal with quick strength variations, but not fast enough to be meteors!!! (Dave Valko, PA, Aug 12, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. 'Marketplace' on NPR had this interesting item on Tuesday night about the BBC. Audio of the segment can be downloaded from their website at http://www.marketplace.org/shows/2003/08/12_mpp.html 'The BBC, one of the world's oldest broadcasting organizations, is state-owned and publicly funded. But the BBC's image and main source of revenue belie the corporation's tough commercial instincts. Annual revenue from the worldwide export of its documentaries, dramas and other shows has just topped one billion dollars -- and the BBC is casting a predatory eye on the richest hunting ground of all: the U.S. TV market. The "BBC America" cable channel is now in 35 million American homes and is the BBC's biggest stateside marketing weapon. Its dramas, and its show formats and concepts, are being sold to other channels. But this is making a lot of Britons uncomfortable because it's a publicly funded enterprise. Regardless, the BBC is winning over fans in the U.S. Reporter: Stephen Beard' (via Matt Francis, DC, DXLD) ** U K [non]. BBC WORLD TV NEWS GETS INTO U.S. VIA LONG ISLAND STATION By James T. Madore, Newsday Many Americans wanting a different perspective on the war with Iraq found it on public television, thanks to WLIW/21. The New York station distributes BBC World News in the United States, and hundreds of thousands tuned in as bombs fell on Baghdad, Iraq. More than 200 public TV stations are carrying the live BBC news shows via WLIW, which also found underwriters to pay for the costs of the service. Each weekday night on average, the program reaches 897,000 households, according to Nielsen Media Research. The 30-minute shows, called bulletins by the British Broadcasting Corp., also have a smaller audience through BBC America, a digital cable and satellite TV channel distributed by Discovery Networks Inc. "We provide international news from a non-U.S. perspective, and that's of massive interest to a group of Americans," said Jeff Hazell, who is the director of sales and distribution at BBC World. "We've got a lot of good recognition and positive press for the way we covered the war in Iraq," he added. The BBC approached WLIW in 1998 about airing the newscasts; the station was carrying International Television News at the time. "WLIW was a bit of a trendsetter, because it was the only one carrying an international news program," Hazell said from London. Public TV stations have the option of airing up to three BBC World News reports per day, but most choose the one anchored by Mishal Husain, which coincides with the nightly newscasts of ABC, CBS and NBC. "People are incredibly passionate about the show," said Daren Winckel, director of annual giving at WGBY in Springfield, Mass. "It does really well in this market." (via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. While PWBR does not show it being on at this UT, I consistently hear the VOA Asian service co-channel on 15190 kHz and interfering with the BBC's poor lone Americas SW morning frequency. I find the fact that the VOA thus impinges upon us North American listeners particularly offensive; there are many other frequencies they could use for this service in that target area that wouldn't screw up our only option for the BBC on SW at that time. When this first happened after the BBC went thru the widely-publicized cutback of NA SW service, and I realized that the VOA was producing this interference to the only remaining frequency, I wrote Kim Elliott directly, hoping that he could use his position within the VOA to influence them to change this frequency usage just enough to remove that interference. Nothing happened; I don't know if he tried or not. I really wish that the major broadcasters would try to avoid each others' frequencies instead of relying upon different target areas to achieve coordination and reduced interference; we all know that propagation varies so much that any signal, no matter to where it is directed, can be received anywhere else at times and is thus likely to cause interference if on the same frequency as someone else's broadcast. If SW usage is decreasing the way some are reporting, surely there are now enough open frequencies to support this approach. It's especially important to avoid interfering with a broadcast that has no alternate frequencies but is on one channel only. The VOA's frequency managers should be particularly aware of such interference to broadcasts directed to or relied upon by US listeners! We pay their salaries, after all (Will Martin, MO, Aug 11, swprograms via DXLD) Keep in mind how the mechanics of interference are managed: You need to complain to the station you're trying to listen to, not the station that's doing the interfering. The logic breaks down in this case, since you're not the "target" for the BBC on 15190 anyway. It seems the way things are done in shortwave broadcasting is that the station *being interfered with* is the one that takes action --- either by contacting the interfering station or by changing their frequency. To be honest, one should go to the target area and do a spectrum analysis as well as a propagation analysis to figure out which frequency would be best. It might be that 15190 is relatively open -- from the perspective of South Asia, and from the perspective of the transmitting location being used by the BBC -- and that's why it was chosen (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, ibid.) The system is flawed. There are many other examples of VOA/IBB services interfering with broadcasts audible in or even directed to North America. IBB ought to take a pro-active stance and put high priority on keeping its frequencies away from `ours`, especially when there are few or no alternatives (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. THE US GOVERNMENT`S INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING BUREAU SELECTS BANTU TO ENABLE EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS AND INSTANT COLLABORATION --- Bantu Enterprise Instant Messaging to Help Global Engineers Ensure 24x7 Reliability of Government-Funded Broadcasts http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=56263 WASHINGTON, DC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 08/11/2003 -- Bantu Inc., the premier provider of secure enterprise instant messaging (EIM) solutions, announced today that the International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB), which provides the engineering support for U.S. government- funded non-military international broadcast services, is rolling out Bantu EIM to its worldwide group of broadcast engineers. The Bantu Platform’s secure IM, Alerts and Presence capabilities will enable IBB engineers to instantly collaborate on emergency developments and resolve issues that could compromise broadcast reliability. Because people around the world depend on IBB for ‘round-the-clock news, IBB needs to ensure its programs are continually available. A comprehensive IM system can help make this possible by enabling IBB broadcast engineers to immediately communicate about critical events, while providing the security, reliability and easy access needed for 24x7 collaboration. The Bantu Platform gives IBB engineers an emergency path for collaboration from any personal computer. IBB chose to deploy Bantu as an application service hosted and provided by Bantu. This subscription service is a highly secure, reliable and low-overhead deployment option that appeals to government agencies that want the benefits of EIM without having to apply resources to managing it. IBB broadcasts, including Voice of America, Worldnet Television and Film Service, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio and Television Marti, Radio Sawa and Radio Farda, are translated into 53 languages and relayed around the world. To help ensure broadcasts reach all intended audiences, engineers responsible for ensuring transmission of the programs will use Bantu Alert (instant notifications) and Presence (see who is online by viewing names or job functions) to immediately become aware of and respond to problems, thereby enabling the highest levels of broadcast reliability. For example, an engineer at a Middle East relay station that isn`t receiving a key broadcast may click on the Master Control/Washington, D.C. contact, who is responsible for transmitting broadcasts from their origination point to all relay stations around the world. The Master Control engineer can then initiate a private, secure conference room with all people necessary to quickly troubleshoot the problem. Bantu’s web-based architecture enables users to access the EIM and participate in collaborative sessions any time, anywhere -- a critical benefit for IBB. Equally important in emergency situations where people make rapid decisions, engineers can refer back to their conference room transcripts saved through Bantu’s message logging capabilities, to confirm action items and responsibilities. ``Bantu EIM provides tremendous operational benefits to organizations like IBB, which must resolve system issues as fast as possible,`` said Larry Schlang, president and CEO of Bantu. ``By providing maximum security and reliability, the Bantu Platform ensures IBB broadcast engineers can always access the real-time collaboration tools needed to maintain the high service levels upon which IBB audiences depend.`` IBB joins Bantu`s growing list of U.S. government customers including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of Commerce and Federal Emergency Management Agency. About Bantu, Inc.: Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Bantu is a pioneer in Enterprise Instant Messaging and leading provider of EIM solutions to the government and commercial markets. The Bantu IM, Presence & Alerting Platform enhances real-time communication and collaboration, resulting in greater productivity and operational effectiveness. Bantu is highly secure and scalable, platform-independent, interoperable, and easily integrates into any application or service. Bantu's customers and partners include the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Sprint, Strong Financial, The George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Lockheed Martin, SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Citrix and Blackboard. http://www.bantu.com (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) Silly me: when I saw the headline I first thought it had something to do with a major African language family ** U S A. Dear Glenn, I have only one thing to pass along to you this week, but it's a good one! The FCC gave us permission to move from 5.100 MHz to 5.105 MHz effective immediately. Tom Barna has already made the adjustments, and tonight we should be "diddly diddly" utility free. (We shall see). I know that many people had complained about the interference [around 5097], and that (hopefully) this should fix things. Reception reports can be sent to wbcq@gwi.net I hope that things are well with you, (and as always), thanks very much for your support of WBCQ. Take care, (Michael Ketter, WBCQ, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) OK here at 0437 UT check Aug 13 (gh, Enid, DXLD) ** U S A. Once again it becomes obvious that WWCR`s schedules through P-mail are more up-to-date than on the website http://www.wwcr.com There, the transmitter schedules are dated June 6, but as of August 1 in hard copy we see the new `step-up` frequency of 9485, for transmitter three, at 1200-1300 UT only, between 5070 before it and 12160 after it. Some weeks ago, we reported WWCR planned to insert this for propagational reasons, but also that 9475 would be unsuitable at this hour due to Radio Australia. This concerns only the following programs, the first of which was the likely complainant with the old arrangement: M-F: The Free American Sat: News, Golden Age of Radio Sun: News, Rock the Universe The online text version of WWCR`s program schedule as of Aug 12 is still dated 1 July, and *still* has incorrect UT, at 6 hours difference from CT, which is the case only in winter when DST is not in effect. The PDF version on the web, is also old, from 1 July, at http://www.wwcr.com/wwcr_program/wwcr_pgmguide_pdf.pdf and does have correct time conversions, but not the latest changes such as 9485, and the deletion of Spectrum, and the columns are split in the wrong place, so single entries of some WWCR-3 listings of CDT and title are on one page, and sponsor/host and UT on another! PDF version is color-coded with changes showing in red, which in the hard copy appear as slightly lighter gray print than the rest, if you look closely. The WWCR Specialty Programs page has supposedly been updated to 31 July or 1 August and actually has correct 5 hour difference between UT and CDT, but we see a number of contradictions, incomplete or outdated listings, compared to the printed August schedule, so we go with the latter in manually extracting some of those programs: World of Radio: Thu 2030 15825, Sat 1030 5070, Sun 0230 5070, Sun 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 (30 min) Mundo Radial: Tue 2130, Wed 2100, Fri 2115 15825 (15 min) Ask WWCR: Fri 2030 15825, Sat 0845 5070, Sat 1300 15825, Sat 2345 9475, Sun 1015 15825, Sun 1730 12160, Wed 0815 3210, Wed (1, 4, 5) 1715 15825, Fri 0945 9475 (15 min) DX Partyline: Sat 1430 12160, Sun 0200 5070, Tue 0930 9475, Wed 0830 3210, Thu 2000 15825 [on at least one occasion, this was the first, not final airing] (30 min) Cyberline: Sun 0305, 0405 5070; Mon 0205, 0305, 0405 3210 (55 min) Rock the Universe: Sat 1105 5070, Sun 0805 3210, Sun 1205 9485 (55 min) This Week in Americana [folk music]: Sun 0605 5070 (55 min) Into the Blue: Sun 0705 5070 (55 min) Sing For Joy: Sun 1400 12160, Wed 0300 3210 (30 min) Latin Catholic Mass: Sun 1600 15825 (30 min) Ken`s Country Classics: Sun 0030 9475 (30 min) Old Record Shop: Mon 0930 9475 (30 min) World Wide Country Radio: M-F 1000 15825, 1300 15825, 1600 15825, 1700 12160, Sat 1500 12160, Sun 0800 5070, Sun 2000 12160, Mon 0100 3210 (60 min) America`s Greatest Heroes: Tue 0305 3210, Sun 1505 12160 (55 min) Golden Age of Radio: Fri & Sat 0405, Sat 1205 9485 (55 min) A View from Europe: Sat 1110 15825, Sun 1010 5070, Sun 1710 12160 (5 min) Presidential Radio Address, Democratic Response: Sat 1900 15825 (15 min) Travel Channel Radio: Sun 2200 12160 (60 min) (WWCR via Glenn Hauser, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Don`t you believe Gerry Dexter in the Aug Bandscan America, Short Wave Magazine, that Fundamental Broadcasting Network, WBOH and WTJC ``is also behind the V. of Liberty in Lebanon --- which has been testing on 11.515 --- and should be fully active by now. The organisation is also readying a short wave facility in the Marshall Islands and another one in Uganda.`` !! In fact, V. of Liberty is (was) in Liberia, not Lebanon, is a project of High Adventure/KVOH now combined with WJIE, as are the Uganda and Marshall projects, nothing to do with FBN. How did he get everything so mixed up? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. SAM Callsign Changes In recent months I have become aware of a change in the callsigns used by various US Air Force VIP flights. Up until the start of this year (at least) the flights were using the `SAM` callsign with their aircraft tail-number as part of the callsign. In the past few months the numeric part of the callsign has changed to be a sequential four- digit number. These appear to have started at about `5600` and have been increasing steadily since then. The visit of President Bush to Europe and the Middle East in early June saw flights in the `SAM 6000` range. One advantage of this change (for the Air Force, that is) is that it is now much harder to work out what kind of aircraft is operating any given flight. With the previous system it was a relatively easy task to compare the numeric part of the callsign (which was the tail-number of the aircraft) with a list of aircraft tail-numbers (easily available via the Internet or in various books and magazines), and you could easily determine the exact aircraft type. The new series of callsigns is much more secure, as you cannot easily tell which aircraft is operating a particular flight. However, all is not lost, especially if you hear the flights talking with HF civil aeronautical agencies. The flight will often give their selcall code to the ATC agency, and from this it is possible to work out the aircraft type. Most of the publicly available lists of SAM aircraft also include their selcall codes. Does anyone know exactly when this callsign change occurred, or does anyone know why it happened? (Graham Tanner, SSB utilities, Aug Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) ** U S A. RIFT REMAINS BETWEEN PUBLIC RADIO STATION OWNERS, VOLUNTEERS --- Listeners withhold pledges to protest changes at WYSO By Jim DeBrosse http://www.daytondailynews.com/localnews/content/localnews/daily/0810wyso.html YELLOW SPRINGS | It`s been more than a year since WYSO-FM, the Miami Valley's most listened-to public radio station, dropped most of its on-air volunteers and much of its local music programming in favor of national network fare — a move that station managers said was needed to grow the Yellow Springs station and ensure its survival. But after touching off ’60s-style demonstrations and a donation boycott by some listeners and volunteers who oppose what they call "cookie-cutter broadcasting," the changes at WYSO have reaped mixed results. Audience numbers are up — with 8,000 new weekly listeners, according to Arbitron ratings released last week — but so are expenses and the station's deficit, expected to hit $100,000 in the fiscal year that ended June 30. Because of the squeeze, station managers say, WYSO has left unfilled its local news director position, vacated last November, and has curtailed community outreach, such as sponsoring concerts and bike rallies. "So what's the radio station's connection to the Miami Valley community?" said Dave Barber, a longtime station volunteer and former jazz DJ who was among those who lost their shows. "That's the core issue for many of us." The often passionate debate about the direction and future of WYSO appears to be at a stalemate. Station managers, backed by WYSO's Antioch University owners, say there's no turning back to volunteer- based shows that were unpredictable and often unpolished. Meanwhile, members of Keep WYSO Local, the listener group opposed to the changes, say they have raised $45,000 in pledges that won't go to the station until their voices are heard. The demands are almost as varied as the group's membership. Some want a return of jazz offerings. Others want the Women in Music program, canceled after 25 years, back on the air. Still others want the station again to be a training ground for Antioch students, a function it has not served for years. Steve Schwerner, a retired Antioch professor and a longtime jazz host at WYSO until his show was eliminated, said the station no longer knows what its core audience is. "WYSO was a precious thing. People would come from out of town and listen and say, 'Hey, what's this?` -- Schwerner said. "Now you can travel across the country and hear everything that's on WYSO -- with the exception of Vick Mickunas' Book Nook." Regional implications What may seem to outsiders like one more Yellow Springs counter- culture feud has implications for the entire region, many believe. WYSO (91.3) has come a long way from the tiny student-run station of the 1960s. With a 37,000-megawatt signal and a budget of $935,000, it's now the leading public radio station in the Miami Valley, with an audience of 57,000 tuning in each week. Beyond that, WYSO traditionally has lent the Dayton area the kind of hip, alternative cachet that consultants say helps recruit younger, sophisticated professionals for driving the Information Age economy. Station managers say that's the audience they want to reach — well- educated, relatively affluent and influential, and likely to listen to National Public Radio as they drive to and from work. The gospel in public radio these days, delivered by consultants and supported by market data, is that stations must lure more listeners for longer periods of time to create the kind of loyalty that opens wallets and leads to donations. That's particularly important at WYSO, which unlike most public stations receives no funding from its university owners. About half of WYSO's budget is dependent upon listener contributions — a fickle source of support, indeed. Across the industry, only about one in 10 public radio listeners feels devoted enough to a local station to send a check. Studies show that listeners "are less and less forgiving of programming that doesn't sound as good or as polished as anything put out by regional producers," said WYSO station manager Steve Spencer. If they don't hear that predictable quality, he said, "they hit another button." Spencer said WYSO's strategy is to hook listeners with national fare and keep them tuned in for local programming. The trick, though, is maintaining the station's creative edge on a budget squeezed by cuts in state support and corporate underwriting, both of which were down $127,000 this past fiscal year, Antioch officials said. "If even 15 percent of our listeners gave us money, we would be swimming in it," Spencer said. As WYSO's managers predicted, more people are tuning in to hear the consistent, quality programming provided by NPR and Public Radio International. Not only has WYSO's listenership grown, average membership pledges this spring were up as well, from $97 to $104. Less encouraging is that the average weekly time spent listening to the station dropped from 7.4 hours to 4.6, according to last spring's Arbitron ratings. Station managers weren't sure why, but Watts suggested it was a fluke based on listeners tuning in for Iraqi war news but not staying for music programs. Critics counter that one reason could be that WYSO replaced much of its evening local fare with the syndicated World Cafe show, which features a mix of interviews and adult alternative music. Station managers say their feedback indicates listener loyalty has deepened. During the last pledge drive, "it's amazing how many listeners told us they like not just a particular program, but the whole (station) package," said said Glenn Watts, Antioch's vice chancellor and chief financial officer of WYSO. Besides cutbacks in state and corporate support, the cost of airing expensive national programs (Car Talk alone costs $10,000) and paying for services once done free by volunteers are two reasons WYSO is facing a $100,000 deficit this year. That's more than 12 times the $7,000 debt the station incurred the year before when volunteers hosted an eclectic mix of musical offerings. Managers at other public radio stations in southwest Ohio say they expect their budgets to break even this year. For fiscal year 2003-04, Spencer's budget is counting on a 26 percent increase in listener contributions and underwriting from businesses, a leap of $233,000, without additional staffing to raise the money. The proposed budget includes $220,000 for national programming. Station managers won't say how much they now pay for fund-raising services — such as mailings, phone answering, donor tracking — much of which used to be done by volunteers. As a way to cut costs and boost giving, station managers say they are looking into sharing technical resources and underwriting efforts with WDPR-FM, the classical-music public station in Dayton. But Keep WYSO Local members think the best way to build listener loyalty and financial support is to involve the community, focus on covering local issues and make the station a meaningful alternative to the mainstream. That message is echoed across the country by community radio stations who say they are doing just fine without the help of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting or National Public Radio. Carol Pierson, president of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters and an Antioch graduate, said the group's 160 member stations are faring well in a tight economy "by being a focal point for community issues and concerns. Just because programming is of a local nature doesn't mean it has to be poor quality. You have to put the necessary resources behind it." Valuable resource lost WYSO lost a valuable local resource in November with the departure of news director Aileen LeBlanc, who was twice named Ohio's best public radio reporter and was a frequent contributor to NPR. LeBlanc cited both career reasons and her inability to get along with Spencer as reasons for leaving. Spencer has filled the gap in local coverage with WYSO Weekend, a two- hour mix of national, state and local news hosted and produced by morning-show announcer Ryan Warner. The program includes 40 minutes of local material and was cited by the public radio industry magazine Current as an example of "creativity on a shoestring." Still, some listeners say they miss LeBlanc's in-depth and on-scene local coverage. "There are some on-air personalities we miss right now," Watts said. LeBlanc "did some wonderful work for us." Watts said he wants to start rebuilding bridges to the station’s volunteer base and to move beyond the stalemate. But the biggest obstacle may be Spencer, whose brusque management style and apparent uneasiness with volunteers has been noted even by his supporters. "I don't think the rift can ever be resolved until Steve Spencer is gone," said Char Miller, a former member of WYSO's resource board. Miller quit in March because station managers wouldn't share budget figures with the 11-member advisory panel. Two other board members left for similar reasons. Station managers point out that Antioch's board of trustees, not the resource board, are the true legal owners and financial overseers of the station. Miller said she received a letter from staff members at WYSO in July 2002 complaining about "Steve losing his temper and screaming at people and shouting." She brought the letter to the attention of Watts, who told her that he wouldn't investigate unless staffers came to him directly with their complaints. Spencer has gotten anger management and general management training at the request of his Antioch superiors, Miller said. Spencer "just doesn't know how to work with the community and use them as resources," Miller said. "There was already a huge a volunteer base. But instead of using them, he turned them away." Spencer defended his management of the station. "How can anyone say I'm standing in the way of this station's progress?" Spencer said. "There have only been three years in WYSO's 43-year history that it ended the year in the black — and they were all after I came here as general manager" in 1998. Watts confirmed that the station ran surpluses the first three years of Spencer's tenure. In 1997, WYSO was on a list of 30 stations at risk of losing funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which was about to introduce performance standards for member stations that included fund-raising ability and listener loyalty. Both were in short supply at WYSO at the time consultant Tom Livingston visited the station in February 1997. The station was facing a $176,000 payment on a bank loan to help finance a recent broadcast-power increase. Fund raising was down and listener loyalty was low, just 24 percent. Livingston's advice? The station needed a more professional sound. Tom Thomas, a consultant with the Strategy Resource Group, a Maryland- based alliance of public radio stations, said stations like WYSO aren't abandoning their local commitment but rather sharpening their quality by mixing national, state and local programming. "Today, public radio reaches twice as many people as it did 10 years ago," he said, adding that while commercial radio audiences have steadily slipped, public radio now reaches nearly 30 million Americans weekly. Thomas insists that the proliferation of nationally syndicated programs in public radio has not led to the homogenization now rampant in the commercial industry, where giant companies such as Clear Channel Communications and Radio One own multiple stations in most markets. "There's a difference between sharing and homogenization," he said. "If it's not being duplicated by another station, then it's not homogenization." Keep WYSO local, however, points out that many of the national offerings from WYSO are also broadcast on other public radio stations in the Miami Valley, including WMUB in Oxford and WGUC in Cincinnati. Tom McCourt, a Fordham University communications professor and author of Conflicting Communication Interests in America, said national consultants tell station managers what they want to hear. "It's a lot easier to make decisions when you're using syndicated programs," he said. "You don't have to deal with volunteers or staff, and the program scheduling is almost automatic." McCourt said public radio's current obsession with audience numbers is defeating its purpose. "Public radio is supposed to be something other than commercial radio. It's supposed to be serving an overlooked audience." Spencer's background At the time of Livingston's visit to WYSO in 1997, the station was five months into a search for a new general manager after the previous manager, Norm Beeker, had been forced to quit for making some unpopular programming changes, including the elimination of the leftist Pacifica News. Spencer, a New York native, was chosen from 35 applicants. Watts touted him as someone who had turned around a troubled community radio station in Columbia, Mo. — KOPN. Former board members and volunteers at KOPN have since begged to differ, claiming Spencer left the station $100,000 in debt and bereft of its volunteers. Debbie Johnson, a volunteer programmer at KOPN at the time, said the station was "pretty much hopping with volunteers" before Spencer's arrival as general manager in 1996. Several months after, "you could go up there and there would be virtually no one except Steve and the woman running the office," she said. Spencer embarked on a course of paid staff and expensive national programming that "little more than a year later, left us more than $100,000 in the hole," said Mark Haim, a board member at the time. "He's a good operations guy — he's good at keeping your radio signal on the air. But as far as some of his community relations skills, that seems to be his downfall." Former KOPN board member Paul Sturtz said the station is now back on its feet. "We actually have money in the bank and a great volunteer spirit again," he said. "We're very proud of what we've done." Spencer declined comment on his time at KOPN. Watts said there's no way that WYSO will return to its old format, but that he would like to reach out to the volunteers and make use of their talents. Instead of an hours-long jazz program, for instance, it might take the form of five-minute spots on the history of jazz or important jazz musicians, he said. One former WYSO volunteer said the rift would be simple to fix. "Put the Women in Music show back on Sunday, put the blues show back on Monday, add a night of jazz and be done with it. It would be easy. But everybody's heels are so dug in right now it will never happen." Something or someone needs to give or the Miami Valley stands to lose one of its primary attractions for thinking people who want an alternative to commercial radio fare, said Fred Bartenstein, a Yellow Springs-based planning consultant and the new host of WYSO's weekend bluegrass show. "It's like a game of chicken — each side wants its own view of the world to prevail," Bartenstein said. "But the basic story is the survival of WYSO." (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. WMHT-FM *89.1 Schenectady NY defends its decision to save classical music programming by firing four long-time staff announcers. Some station supporters have gone so far as to ask for refunds of their donations. Those let go were union members Laurence Boylan, Mary Fairchild, Eric Willette and Larry Nuckolls. This leaves the only live, local program in the hands of management employee Bill Wynans -- - who`s on at 6 to 10 am. However, if donations improve, ``we would revisit this decision [to let the four announces go]. I hope our listeners will have faith in us,`` said Deborah Onslow, station general manager. And it is going ahead with plans to buy an office building in the Rensselaer Technology Park for $1.66 million. Those plans were first announced about four years ago, and have no bearing on the staff cuts. Money for the purchase came form funds set aside, but the move could cost $20 million with renovations and new equipment needed. Onslow said the planning, renovation and expansion could be done in a sesquiyear, allowing the stations to be in by late 2004 or early 2005y (Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. KOPB-FM *91.5 Portland OR and other stations of Oregon Public Broadcasting --- the union representing one third of its employees picketed the studios. OPB wanted the union to accept wage freezes and cuts. Instead, 40 picketers were protesting an attempt ``to make union employees bear a disproportionate share`` of the agency`s budget shortfall. An arbitrator had ruled OPB violated its agreement with the union when it laid off 10 employees, then rehired seven of them, but as temporary employees without benefits. Earlier, OPB learned that it would not receive a previously-announced $3.45 million from the state for 2003-05 because of the state`s budget shortfall. Then it announced it won`t be able to provide 24 hours a day emergency broadcast service, hinting that broadcast hours would be cut (Bruce F. Elving, Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. Here`s the FCC`s schedule for the next step in the FM translator process, and the petition to deny stage (courtesy M Street). The singletons (unopposed FM translator applications) that made the list have until August 29 to file Form 349, which should make for a busy summer for some consulting engineers. Once each application has been deemed grantable by the FCC staff engineers and is published, there`s a window of just 15 days for petitions to deny, and we expect to see quite a few of those, especially from broadcasters discovering translator applications nestled on second-adjacent frequencies within their own 60 dBu contours. Yes, that`s legal --- but the translator`s 100 dBu contour has to fall over an ``unpopulated`` area, and there`s already plenty of debate in engineering circles about just what that term should mean. For example, how about highways and shopping centres, where nobody lives but plenty of people pass through? Those Form 349 applications can include minor changes from the facilities specified in the initial `` short form`` applications --- changing frequencies (up or down the dial three channels, or up or down 10.6 or 10.8 MHz), changing primary stations. And speaking of the $600 fee: it doesn`t apply to noncommercial translator applications. But whether or not an application is commercial is determined by the primary station specified in the initial ``short form`` expression of interest. Bogus translator applications about to trigger a class action lawsuit? That`s what one observer said might happen. The FCC ``shouldn`t reward those who file bogus applications`` which cause current station licensees to shell out thousands of dollars in legal and engineering expenses to fight an FM translator that might be too close on the dial to a regular station (Bruce F. Elving, Aug FMedia! via DXLD) ** U S A. KBFR CAUGHT IN RADIO SKIRMISH --- Though FCC pulled the plug on low-power radio, local station still on air By Ryan Morgan, Camera Staff Writer, August 10, 2003 http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/city_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2422_2172285,00.html Monk didn't want to be a pirate. But when Congress nixed his radio license, he ran up the black flag. Monk runs 95.3 FM KBFR, an illegal, low-power radio station that broadcasts music, talk and political debate across Boulder. Monk, who would not give his real name, said that in an ideal world, KBFR would be perfectly legal, a local alternative to the increasingly homogenous offerings on the rest of the dial. Its DJs play diverse music without annoying commercials. The station gives local musicians air time and gives nonprofessionals a chance to get behind the microphone, he said. "We're taking back a valuable public resource," he said. But KBFR — Boulder Free Radio — is unlicensed. So Monk has to evade the Federal Communications Commission while offering his public resource. Monk's broadcasting ambitions began in 2000, when the FCC made new rules creating low-power FM radio stations, which broadcast at fewer than 200 watts and have a range of less than 10 miles. Monk ordered $5,000 worth of broadcasting equipment and got ready to get on the air. "Like every other human male on the planet, I thought, 'Whoo! I'll be a DJ,'" Monk said. But right after his equipment arrived, the National Association of Broadcasters and National Public Radio launched a campaign against low-power FM, claiming it would clog the spectrum with interference. Congress scuttled the new signals. "I had already ordered the equipment, so I had a choice," Monk said. "I could put it up on eBay and eat (his loss). Or I could say, 'Screw it,' and put up an antennae." He put up the antennae, and now spends 10 to 20 hours a week keeping the station on the air. Monk and his team of two dozen have kept a step ahead of the feds by constantly moving. Several Boulder residents offer KBFR electricity and an antennae, which the crew hooks up to from a broadcasting van that changes locations several times a week. FCC officials did not return calls seeking comment. Monk is also adamant about maintaining anonymity. He is careful not to reveal any clues about his identity, and he gave this interview in what he called an empty "safe house" in central Boulder. "The only reason we're still around is because we're paranoid," he said. KBFR broadcasts every day, although there are occasional silent periods when the station is being relocated or the station's engineer — a man Monk would identify only as "Sparky" — tries to fix technical problems. Monk said the broadcasts have widespread listenership across Boulder. The best indicators, he said, are that the station's request line (an untraceable pre-paid cell phone), gets calls every hour, and e-mails sometimes number dozens in a day. Monk, who appears to be in his late 40s and has short, graying hair, offers a somewhat mixed message about KBFR's mission. On one hand is the outlaw aspect — hiding from the feds and breaking FCC rules. There's off-color material that includes words the FCC doesn't want to hear spoken on the air. "We're quite obscene when we want to be," Monk said, noting that they try to limit the most profane material to nighttime broadcasts. And the station offers a platform for people far outside the political mainstream — mostly the hard left, but some voices on the right. "We have some hard-core Libertarians," Monk said. "We had to come up with a new rule: no guns in the van." That's one of three rules. "No guns, no drugs and no one under 18 in the van," Monk said. He paused, then elaborated: "Alcohol does not count as a drug." But Monk said despite being an "underground," "pirate" station, he works hard to be a good radio citizen. He said the station's channel is very clean — meaning it doesn't "bleed" across the spectrum and interfere with other stations. "We try to be very careful not to step on anyone around us," he said. Some day soon, Monk may have a chance to consider becoming a legal member of the broadcasting community. After much prodding by low-power FM advocates, the FCC last month released a study conducted by the Mitre Corporation confirming what people like Monk have been saying for years — that carefully tuned low-power FM stations don't interfere with the bigger broadcasters on the dial. That raises the possibility that the FCC might once again make stations like KBFR legal. Monk said that's a bridge he and the rest of KBFR will cross when, and if, they come to it. "I would probably put it to the group," he said, and ask the rest of KBFR's staff to take a vote. While the FCC's blessing was once appealing, Monk has grown comfortable with his pirate persona — and the complete freedom he and his unpaid staff have behind the microphone. "I just don't know," he said. If the station became legal, he said, "we would lose the ability to be as diverse as we are now." (Boulder Daily Camera Aug 20 via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. In Brooklyn [NY], the Rev. Yvon Louis is in trouble with the FCC after agents made repeated visits to his Calvary Tabernacle on Nostrand Ave. to check on pirate stations that operated from there on 88.1, 90.1 and 93.7 MHz, in some cases with more than 3,000 times the legal unlicensed power. Rev. Louis tells the FCC that none of the transmitters they saw on their visits were operable - but the FCC says he owes them $10,000 for repeated, willful violations. With thanks to Joseph Gallant: after literally decades of Rochester network affiliates on Ottawa cable, Rogers is switching its Ottawa system to network feeds from Detroit when its channel shuffles take place September 9. Rochester's WHEC, in particular, has long mentioned Ottawa weather in its local newscasts, and it's not unusual to see Ottawa phone numbers in the occasional local commercial here, either. NERW wonders if the microwave system that has delivered Rochester signals to Ottawa from a receive site on the north side of Lake Ontario was getting too expensive to maintain. Ottawa will still get PBS from Watertown's WPBS, at least...) (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Aug 11 via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO HALL OF FAME NAMES CLASS OF 2003 http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030811/cgm040_1.html CHICAGO, Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Singing cowboy Gene Autry, network talk show host Jim Bohannon, Los Angeles talk radio icon Michael Jackson, legendary broadcast executive Mel Karmazin and veteran farm broadcaster Orion Samuelson of WGN/Chicago make up the Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2003, announced today by Bruce DuMont, Radio Hall of Fame President The induction ceremony will be nationally broadcast live at 9:00 PM (CT) on Saturday, November 8th, from the Radio Hall of Fame in the landmark Chicago Cultural Center. The one-hour special will be hosted by Radio Hall of Fame inductee Larry King of CNN and the Westwood One Radio Network, which will produce the broadcast. Following is additional information on this year's inductees: Gene Autry (deceased). Originally a yodeling cowboy on KVOO/Tulsa in 1930, Autry moved to the WLS National Barn Dance in the early '30s and reached radio stardom in 1940 as the host of Melody Ranch on CBS Radio and eventually show biz icon status. Jim Bohannon, veteran Westwood One talk show host, whose strong interviewing skills have made him a favorite of radio listeners for more than 20 years. He also hosts America in the Morning. Michael Jackson, the highly-respected Los Angeles talk show host for more than 30 years, formerly heard on KABC and KRLA, is known for his articulate and incisive commentary and strong interviewing skills. Mel Karmazin, the President and Chief Operating Officer of Viacom, Inc. Karmazin built his reputation as the dynamic leader of Infinity Broadcasting and has demonstrated a boundless belief in the future of the medium. Orion Samuelson, WGN/Chicago's "voice of agriculture" since 1960. Samuelson is one of the country's most prolific broadcasters, whose coverage and concern for the American farm community is unparalleled. Individual tickets to the November 8th black-tie induction gala are available for $500.00 each; and tables are available for $5,000.00, $10,000.00 and $15,000.00. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800/860-9559. Inductees were selected through a national balloting process that included participation by radio executives, broadcast historians and members of The Radio Hall of Fame from coast to coast. Ballots were tabulated and certified by the firm of Altschuler, Melvoin and Glasser LLP/American Express Tax and Business Services. Travel and promotional considerations are being provided by American Airlines, the official airline of The Radio Hall of Fame. The Radio Hall of Fame at the Chicago Cultural Center (Michigan Avenue at Washington Street) recognizes and showcases contemporary talent from today's diverse programming formats, as well as the pioneers who shaped the medium during its infancy. The Radio Hall of Fame web site is http://radiohof.org (via Jill Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A. Re: Mr. Howard's question on tower height Glenn, Here are the URLs for 47CFR73.190 Figures 7 and 8 which depict the minimum heights allowed for omni-directional medium wave antennas in the US, pursuant to the requirements of 47CFR73.189. http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/scanned/73190fig7/2.gif http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/decdoc/scanned/73190fig8/2.gif The minimum antenna height rules (which also include rules for the minimum RMS horizontal plane efficiency of medium wave directional antennas) are designed as a tradeoff between practicality and spectrum re-use maximization. The class A station rule is designed to minimize the "fade zone" area of skywave/groundwave interference in areas with reasonably good conductivity. A similar rule was contained in the old NARBA agreement, but there is no such rule in the current RJ-81 Region II Agreement, and I believe that Canada therefore no longer enforces a minimum efficiency requirement. The 47CFR73.189 rule requires a minimum efficiency of 362 mV/m/km/kW for class A stations, 282 mV/m/km/kw for class B, class D, and Alaskan Class A stations, and 241 mV/m/km/kw for class C stations. (Alaska class A stations have the lower requirement because in general the ground conductivity is lower in Alaska than elsewhere, so taller towers don't necessarily optimize the fade zone region.) Use of the graphs noted above allows these requirements to be easily translated into heights at each frequency. There is also an FCC utility which will calculate the horizontal plane efficiency for a given tower height and ground system configuration, within limits: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/bickel/figure8.html (Benj. F. Dawson III, PE, Hatfield & Dawson Consulting Engineers, LLC 9500 Greenwood Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103 USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) US MW STATIONS - FCC TOWER HEIGHT RULES In DXLD 3-144 Richard Howard inquired why so called clear channel stations often used longer antennas than the 1/4 wavelength antennas used by most smaller stations. Does the FCC mandate tower height limits? The FCC does not mandate MW tower height. They do mandate that new stations protect the coverage area of existing stations up to a limit. At one time clear channel radio stations were just that. Mexico, Canada and the USA were all assigned certain MW frequencies which were their own private playground. My 1936 White's Radio Log shows WMAQ 670, WLW 700, WGN 720, WJR 750, WHAS 820, WLS/WENR 870, KDKA 980, WBZ/WBZA 990, WHAM 1150, and WCAU 1170, as the sole stations in the continental USA on these frequencies. These stations served rural markets after sunset and so they were given special protection from interference. As radio progressed, the need for such wide ranging stations became less important so the protection range was gradually lowered to 1500 miles and then to 750 miles for these stations. Stations were limited to 50 kW (except WLW in 1936 ran 500 kW). In order to put out the best signal possible, these stations used longer antennas. At 5/8 wavelength the ground wave is maximized. Above this length, the pattern begins to show significant lobes at high angles which waste power heating the ionosphere. An antenna called the "Franklin" was invented to work around this problem but they were difficult to feed so not many were used. As the protected range of these clear channel stations was reduced, other stations were squeezed into the clear channels as long as they protected the "clear channel" station's reduced protected coverage area. So these new stations were limited on ERP in order to not interfere with existing users of a frequency. The trade-off between antenna gain along the ground and transmitter power was an engineering decision of the broadcaster as long as the FCC was able to be convinced that existing stations were protected. So the original clear channel stations often have antennas up to 5/8 wavelength in height. Those that came later usually opted for shorter towers and more transmitter power to achieve the allowable signal strength at the edge of the prior user's coverage area. There are exceptions. Night time coverage areas are greater than daytime coverage areas which led to the introduction of daytime-only stations. For example in 1936 WJJD Chicago went off at sunset to protect KSL Salt Lake City. A few years later directional antennas were perfected and engineers could now design patterns with nulls in the direction of stations being protected thereby allowing more ERP in other directions. The same philosophy was applied to non clear-channel stations. Existing users of a frequency were protected out to the FCC specified signal strength contour of existing stations. One more trade-off I have not mentioned. As the tower gets longer, the length of the radial field should be increased to minimize losses. The cost of the longer antenna must also include the cost of the surrounding real estate to accommodate the longer radials and also to satisfy zoning regulations that usually require that if a tower collapses, it falls on your land and not some adjacent farmer's cow barn. These considerations drove the engineering decision in the direction of shorter towers as population density and liability insurance rates increased. By the way, on the back of my 1936 White's Radio Log there is an advertisement for the National Radio Institute's correspondence course on radio repair. In bold headline type there is an interesting statement, "I thought radio was a plaything but now my eyes are opened, and I'm making over $40 a week." The same ad ran on the back cover of my 1933 edition except then the guy pictured was making over $75 per week. Such was life in the deflationary economy of the 1930's depression. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ ** U S A. Re 3-143: Glenn, re item about monitoring the spectrum of KFI 640, you might be interested in an article on the subject which is called Mediumwave Spectrum Scanning located at http://www.dxing.info/articles/ This covers the subject of transmitter spectral signatures. Rgds (Steve Whitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NRC discussion of this continued in a very long thread; don`t know when/if I will get all the redundant quotations sorted out and fixed up for DXLD (gh, DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Hi Glenn: I need some help with identifying a QSL in my collection. Please see http://mywpages.comcast.net/billqsl/pirate/w_mission_radio.html If you can help me, please let me know. Do you know who might know? (Bill Harms, MD, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Bill, I expect European DXers would be more likely to recognize that. However, I happen to have a dusty 1990 copy of Passport handy on the book shelf, the frequency pages changing color like litmus, and find this: 6215 INTERNATIONAL WATERS World Mission R. via Radio Caroline, 24h in English, German, Spanish to Europe, alt. freq. to 6280.2. I`d say that is a likely prospect as you suggest! 73, (Glenn to Bill, via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7639 USB: Interesting signal received in early June around this frequency by monitors in the USA and Wales. It consisted of two males engaging in a conversation that led all who heard it to believe that they were listening to some baddies discussing some sort of crime which was thought to be involving the illegal drugs trade. There were, I am told, several references to `deliveries` and the guys were swearing a lot. The guy from Wales told me that their cussin` even rivalled that of the Scottish east coast fishermen. If that is the case, then these blokes must have spent many years perfecting their technique. Apparently they sounded like the baddies on a TV show called `The Sopranos`. I have never seen this programme and thought that this meant that they had high pitched voices. This is not the case. I believe that the frequency I have quoted is correct, but I`m not totally sure as my main computer has suffered a Three Mile Island style meltdown and I`m using a chisel and slate to write this (Dave Roberts, Scanning Scene, Aug Short Wave Magazine [UK] via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Re Al Asr Radio: I checked that site you mentioned, and there is no sign at all of what is it all about --- just words about the challenges of a new media with the freedom of speech right! They don't announce that they are following any political party or religious group. But I must give it a try first and listen to them. They transmit on the hot Bird satellite 13 E frequency 11938 Horizontal with the Russian RTVI channels. You can check that out on http://www.lyngsat.com/hotbird.shtml Will try to tune in and let you know --- TBC :) (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Aug 12, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NTBCW ALGERIA [non] ###