DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-168, September 19, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser 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/dxldtd3i.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 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 NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1199: RFPI: Sat 0130, 0800, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Wed 0100, 0730 on 7445 [nominal times may be delayed] WWCR: Sat 1030, Sun 0230 5070, 0630 3210, Wed 0930 9475 WRMI: Sat & Sun 1800+ 15725 on IBC Radio WBCQ: Mon 0415 7415, maybe 5105 WINB: Thu 0130 9320 [this week Extra 44 cut off by 0150!] WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800; Eu Sun 0430; NAm Sun 1400 WORLD OF RADIO 1199 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1199h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1199h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1199.html WORLD OF RADIO 1199 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1199.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1199.rm MUNDO RADIAL, para setiembre-octubre en WWCR 15825: todos los viernes 2115, martes 2130, miércoles 2100. Además: (corriente) http://www.w4uvh.net/mr0309.ram (bajable) http://www.w3uvh.net/mr0309.rm (texto) http://www.worldofradio.com/mr0309.html ** ALGERIA. Radio Algérienne has improved its FM-network with many 10 kW transmitters covering former MW areas. Some MW-stations have been closed: Ain-El-Hammam 693, Djelfa 702, Ain-Amenas 738, Alger 756, Tlemcen 1089, Ain-Salah 1161 and Constantine 1305 kHz (Radio Algérienne's webpage via Bengt Ericson, ARC MV-Eko Information Desk 15 Sept via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ARDS: See TANZANIA ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. Hi, Glenn! Was just looking at DXLD 3-167 and noted the Apache radio article. Their comments on translation and inserting regular English words in the midst of the native-language speech reminded me of the way we hear Pidgin on RA and other Pacific broadcasts. A long string of rapid syllables with every now and then "democracy", "Prime Minister", and other terms appearing like icebergs in a sea of "blong blong" and similar sounds. Then that reminds me of something else -- the differences in English speakers' speech speeds. I'm finding it harder to understand Australian speech these days; it seems to me that many Australians, including some RA announcers, rattle off the words far faster than the typical British or American speaks English. Do you notice this or am I wrong in that impression? Of course, many South Asian speakers of English just spew out words as rapidly as a tabla drum sounds. I wonder if they learn such rapid speech as infants as part of the various languages they learn, and it shapes their vocal skills. You hear Indian musicians doing vocal tricks, like imitating instruments, that are completely impossible for the average Westerner to perform (I believe). They can rattle off sounds so fast that it amazes me. I'd love to be able to produce such sounds, but I think you have to learn the technique in infancy or early childhood to be able to do it at all. It's like rolling "Rs" in Scottish or the like, also something I cannot do (Will Martin, MO, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA [non?]. Received confirmation from Voice Intl - Freq Mgt that Voice Hindi service has added 9880 kHz for the time slot 1400- 1700. (Not 1100-1700 UT). The scheduled hours (UT) for Hindi are now: 0100-0400 11850, 0500-1100 13630, 1100-1400 13635, 1400-1700 9880 (ex 13635) Regds, (Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Why don`t you ask them about the transmitter sites? Moreover, why don`t they specify them without investigation? 13635 was indeed Darwin at 1100-1700 per DXLD 3-104 June 12, but had just been canceled and replaced by Tashkent at other times (gh) ** AUSTRIA. AWR Wavescan: See USA [non] ** BENIN. Radiodiffusion Nationale, 7210.27, Sept 12 2130-2302* French talk, variety of Afro pops, French pops. Phone talk, ID, sign-off announcements and national anthem; fair-good (Brian Alexander, Mechanicsburg PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. V. of Biafra International, 7380, Sept 6 2135-2159* tune in to English talk about Nigeria; some vernacular talk. Many IDs. Mentioned coming from Washington DC; fair. Some co-channel QRM. Saturday only; see POLAND (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. Sept., 17, 2003, 5952, Radio Pio XII with program ``Reporteros populares`` in Quechua, mama Justina and tata (daddy in Quechua) Martin near the mike, phone-ins, great audio 54455! Hello everyone here in Cumbre once again. That's me, (Artyom Prokhorov from Moscow with my latest catches made on Sony ICF7600G and its telescopic antenna in a countryside just in some 70 km South of Moscow, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.47, (presumed), Emisora Pio XII, Sep 15, 0918, dramatic presentation in presumed Aymara, announcement mentioning "Save The Children", into announcer, nice strong signal (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg. "VT-DX": http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOLIVIA. UNID, 4902.6 --- There is a Spanish-speaking station here as as I type this up at 0145 Sept 19. I'm just a bit too far and it is a bit weak for me to get too much out of it, any help would be appreciated (Hans Johnson, Cody, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) I've got them here, Hans, with S7 signal level, SINPO 34333. Will keep listening for possible ID. They started to sign off at 0200 UT, with YL in Spanish with mention of Ecuador, and ID that I couldn't copy. NA at 0202, off at 0204 UT (George Maroti, NY, ibid.) See Valko`s previous report Sept 13. of R. San Miguel on 4903v (Bob Wilkner, ibid.) Thanks Bob. Now that I've re-listened to my tape, the ID on 4902.6 does sound like Radio San Miguel. It came it pretty strong for a Bolivian (George Maroti, NY, ibid.) They have been on four different frequencies in the last month or so. The signal is very strong and clear; a pleasure to listen (Bob Wilkner, FL, ibid.) Is Radio San Miguel, Riberalta, Bolivia, one day on near of 4905v and other drifting from 4902.3. 73's (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, ibid.) ** BULGARIA. R. Bulgaria, 5800, Sept 6 *2100-2200* English ID, sked, news, local folk music. Very weak; much better on \\ 7500 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BURUNDI. RADIO CRACKDOWN IN BURUNDI The authorities in Burundi have ordered the closure of a second private radio station after journalists violated a ban on interviewing rebel officials. The closure was ordered by Information Minister Albert Mbonerane against African Public Radio [RPA] on Tuesday following a phone-in programme with a rebel spokesperson for the National Liberation Forces (FNL), who have refused to hold talks with the transitional government. He was discussing the failure of the peace talks to end the country's decade-long civil war. Mr Mbonerane said that RPA had "incited the population to violence" by broadcasting the rebel spokesmen's reaction. Blackout "Radio Publique Africaine has acted in bad faith thus their banning by interviewing the spokesman of Agathon Rwasa's Palipehutu-FNL, a man who is against Burundi and who until now has refused to negotiate with the government," the statement said. The ban comes only days after the government closed another station, Radio Isanganiro, after it broadcast interviews with rebel officials. Following the closure of Isanganiro, on Saturday, RPA and another private station, Bonesha FM imposed a news blackout to express their solidarity. And instead of broadcasting the usual news bulletin at 1600 and 1630 GMT, they aired special reports on the closure and initiated interactive programmes to gauge people's views on the ban. Correspondents say many Burundians are puzzled by Mr Mbonerane's action, because as a rebel in Germany before the transition period, his interviews were broadcast by private radio stations. Burundi has about seven private local radio stations. The ban, however, has not been extended to international radios broadcasting to Burundi, such as the BBC. Alexis Sinduhije, the RPA manager has called on journalists to defend their own freedom and appealed to the public for support. "The people themselves who are the beneficiaries of this unbiased information must help the journalists in this fight for freedom and true democracy," he said. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3116538.stm (via Robert Wilkner, FL, DXLD) ** CANADA. CFDR-780 Nova Scotia --- I have a couple of observations. I believe they are running their 50 kW day rig well into the evening and quite possibly 24/7 as they have been VERY strong here lately. If you need this station, you should give it a try. Unless of course you live in Chicago, Reno, or Nome, hi! Secondly, they have been interrupting their usual Country & Western music programming around 2020 EDT nightly in order to carry a Christian program called "Prophecy For Today." After about 2050 EDT they go back to the C&W music with slogan "Kicks Country." Interestingly, on the Prophecy For Today website, they are listed under Nova Scotia as "KIXX-780." Yikes! (Marc DeLorenzo, Marstons Mills, Mass., 18 Sept., NRC-AM via DXLD) ** CANADA. TORONTO ONE TV --- By John McKay TORONTO (CP) - It's a TV station with new car smell. The blue-and- white paint motif is fresh. The lights, cameras, consoles, all brand- spanking new. Many of the 150 employees hustle through the halls and studios on dry runs for Friday night's big launch. Toronto 1 is set to go to air with a state-of-the-art system packed into a refurbished east-end industrial-age factory building. "I'm at the point now where it's like `OK, let's just do it, we're ready, enough of this sitting around.' " says a pumped Barbara Williams, who joined the Craig Media team eight months ago as Toronto 1's vice- president and general manager. But the independent station is launching into a market already heavy with broadcast options. There is also a history of sometimes-bitter rivalry between the broadcast family from Alberta and the Toronto- based TV clique that seemed comfortable with the status quo. Craig spent a lot of money and stepped on a few toes to win the last available over-the-air frequency in the viewer-rich southern Ontario TV market. On-air news personalities were lured from competing networks, including CBC's Ben Chin and CTV's Wei Chen. Global had been trumped in bids to establish a foothold in Alberta, losing to Craig's A Channels in 1996. CHUM was furious when Craig undermined its exclusive partnership with MTV in the U.S. and began to import shows for its MTV Canada digital licence, to MuchMusic's loss. Alliance Atlantis wanted to set up GTTV, or Greater Toronto Television, an all-news service. One of the biggest surprises, though, has been the conversion of the former front-runner in the licence competition, the Toronto Star, which argued it had a better application for its Hometown Television and its 85 per cent Canadian content. The Star even challenged the CRTC decision, delaying Toronto 1's launch for a year. "But all of the applicants for the licence just wanted to win," Williams says. "The fact that the Craigs won, people focused on the fact they were the western ones and that became a bit of an issue. But honestly I think that's long gone." So much so that the Star has now agreed to join Toronto 1 in what is called a "strategic media alliance," with Star reporters on camera in the newsroom and collaboration on coverage of the upcoming municipal election. At the end of the day, Williams says, cooler heads prevailed. The Star, it seems, decided if you can't lick 'em, join 'em. "Torstar was obviously interested in having a television partner and they smartly had to look at the landscape. . .where the opportunities were." Toronto 1 launches on the UHF band [WTFK???] (as well as basic cable) but will also be carried nationally on the Bell ExpressVu satellite service (Ch. 224). Officially, the channel's call letters are CKXT. On the web: http://www.toronto1.ca (Via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada) ** CUBA? 2140.00, (presumed harmonic 2 x 1070), Sep 17/18, 0850-1004, 0049-0300*, consistently fair to good signal here, lots of LA music which sounds Cuban or Afro-Cuban to me, interspersed with earnest talk, no ads, no hype, 0900 announcer speaks over "Guantanamera" in the background, +10dB over peaks around 0915. WRTH lists R. Guamá and Cadena CMKS on AM 1070. Needs more work (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, NRD 535D, V-Beam 140m @180 deg. VT-DX: http://www.sover.net/~hackmohr/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. EAST EUROPE DISSIDENTS TO SUPPORT CUBAN OPPOSITION Friday, September 19, 2003 Posted: 0201 GMT (10:01 AM HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/americas/09/18/dissidents.cuba.reut/ PRAGUE, Czech Republic (Reuters) -- A group of former east European dissidents launched on Thursday an initiative to help root out Cuba's communist government, a system they fought to dismantle in their own countries. Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, Poland's Lech Walesa and Arpad Goencz of Hungary, all anti-communist dissidents who rose to presidency in the 1990s, published a statement in regional newspapers saying the time has come to support the Cuban opposition. "Today it is the responsibility of the democratic world to support representatives of the Cuban opposition irrespective of how long the Cuban Stalinists still manage to cling to power," the joint statement said. "The Cuban opposition must experience the same international support as the representatives of political dissent did in the up to recently divided Europe." Havel, who was jailed for almost four years in Communist Czechoslovakia, and others also set up the International Committee for Democracy in Cuba. The committee said in a statement on Thursday its foundation was timed to mark the six-month anniversary of Fidel Castro's latest crackdown on opposition on the Carribean island. The Cuban government arrested and sentenced for up to 28 years 75 dissidents in March, the most severe strike in decades. The wave of repression was aimed against the 2002 Varela Project, a petition for peaceful reforms. The Prague-based committee also includes former United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was born in the former Czechoslovakia, and statesmen and dissidents from across Eastern Europe. The committee said it wanted to support political prisoners, journalists and various civil society groups and also plans to launch Cuban newscasts over short-wave radios through stations in the Czech Republic, Spain and the Netherlands. The Czech government and civil groups have been supporting Cuban opposition for several years. Castro's government arrested former finance minister Ivan Pilip and a colleague for a month in 2001 after they met dissidents in Cuba (Reuters via CNN.com via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) !! Quite a surprising set of transmitter sites mentioned, Czech Republic, Netherlands and Spain, which have not been associated with anti-Castro broadcasts before. The more the merrier, but Cuba is already bombarded with R. Martí and various WRMI shows (gh, DXLD) ** CURACAO [and non]. 1010/1500: Radio Hoyer broadcasts on 4 frequencies. It makes the station the largest on the Netherlands Antilles. Both Radio Hoyer 1 and Radio Hoyer 2 use an FM and an AM frequency. In 1984, history was made when the FM transmitters were installed on top of the Tafelberg. They were the first in the world to fully operate on solar energy and were designed by the technical adviser of Radio Hoyer, Fred Chumaceiro. When Parliament or the Island Council are in session, the debates are broadcast via Radio Hoyer 2 AM. Local sports are broadcast on the AM frequencies. Radio Hoyer is the leader in local, international and sports news in Curaçao. Music also plays an important role in the programming on the FM frequencies. Radio Hoyer can also be heard in Bonaire and via AM in Aruba (from http://www.radiohoyer.com/history.htm via Steve Whitt, MWC via Tore Larsson, Arctic via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [non]. New schedule for HCJB's DXPL via WWCR and WINB: Thu 2000-2030 on 15825 WWCR first airing Sun 0200-0230 on 5070 WWCR Sat 1430-1500 on 12160 WWCR Tue 0900-0930 on 9475 WWCR Sat 1730-1800 on 13570 WINB Wed 0830-0900 on 3210 WWCR (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) Only once did I catch the first airing Thu at 2000, I suspect a mistake; unknown this week, as reception was too poor (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. La Voz de la Revolución del Tigray, fortísima, en 5500 kHz, a las 0322 UT, con SINPO 3-3. 17-09. 73's y buen DX (Adán González, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EUROPE. Here is the plan for POWER 41 to Europe and Northamerica on Saturday, 20th of September 2003: 1700-1930 UT 6245 kHz +/- QRM to Europe, AM, 1 kW 2300-0030 UT 6245 kHz or 6305 kHz to Northamerica, AM, 1 kW You can contact us via the shows via telephone : (0049)(0)1789186052 eMail: power41dx@a... [truncated by yahoogrops] P-mail: Östra Porten 29, 44254 Ytterby, Sweden Have a great reception and enjoy the weekend! 73s from Alex Warner (OP) POWER 41 (via Radio Strike, Sept 19, BCLNews.it via DXLD) ** GERMANY [and non]. Digital Radio Mondiale [MW] Transmitters currently active: 531 Burg, 729 Putbus, 855 Berlin-Britz, 1296 Orfordness [UK] 1600-1915, 2115-2400 (?), 1485 Berlin (3 transmitters). 855 has an irregular schedule. The current schedule of 531 and 729 is unconfirmed, but they seem to be active every night and could be 24h. 1485 seems to be 24h. What you will hear when you receive one of these signals in the AM mode is a jammer-like noise or hiss similar to white noise. Special DRM software is needed to decode the digital signal (Summary by Olle Alm, ARC MV-Eko Information Desk 15 Sept via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4698.7, Yes, Radio Amistad was back on the air briefly as the result of a team of volunteers from Chattanooga, TN (actually, a couple of "hams") who repaired the storm damaged antenna and replaced some defective rectifiers in the transmitter`s power supply. However, shortly afterwards another power line "surge" wiped out the power supply again. Those same volunteers are on their way back down to Lake Atitlán even as I type and should have the little rig back up and running before too long. This time they are going to install a regulated UPS at the transmitter shack to help prevent another wipeout! (Larry Baysinger in Kentucky,Cumbre DX, Sep 19 via DXLD) ** GUINEA. RTV Guinéenne, 7125, 2205-2400* Sept 12. Vernacular, French talk, Afro pops, sign-off announcements with ID and national anthem; fair-good (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** HUNGARY. NEW QSL CARDS FOR RADIO BUDAPEST --- Radio Budapest is now issuing new QSL cards, as part of a series showing pictures from the Magyar Radio Archives (Radio-Kurier via EDXP World Broadcast Magazine http://edxp.org used by permission via DXLD) ** ICELAND. 15775, Rikisutvarpid; 1844-1901:45*, 15-Sep; W in Nordic language with news remotes in various languages including English. Mentioned Reykjavik at 1857. Possible sked by M 1859-1900; Woman in language continued and mentioned Island couple of times. "Island" pronounced with short "I" & strong "s" SIO=3+54- (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** INDIA. SAHARA TO BEAM NEWS FROM WORLDSPACE [sic] Nivedita Mookerji New Delhi: News is not allowed on private FM radio stations, but there’s no such bar on satellite radio. So, while only All India Radio (AIR) stations are legally permitted to beam news in the FM band, Indian companies joining WorldSpace (the only satellite radio platform available in India) can broadcast news freely. WorldSpace radio`s India beam (AsiaStar) is received all over the country. The reason for permitting news on satellite radio: WorldSpace channels are not uplinked from India, and therefore don’t fall under any Indian guidelines. Taking advantage of the free-regime for satellite platform, Sahara is planning to start a news channel on WorldSpace by the end of this year. It will be the first private Indian player giving news on radio. A WorldSpace official confirmed that a channel on this satellite platform can beam live news from India through a leased line, without any time delay. However, WorldSpace channels on AsiaStar are uplinked from Singapore. With its uplinking happening from outside India, there are no government guidelines for satellite radio. News will be one of the four channels that Sahara is planning, according to group CEO (media and entertainment) Sushanto Roy. The other three will focus on Hindi entertainment, rural development and internal communication, and music for Mumbai Railways. Interestingly, even as AIR has been in talks with the Railways for offering its channel through WorldSpace on Rajdhani and Shatabdi, with no results, Sahara has already got an in-principle nod to offer its satellite radio service to Mumbai Western and Mumbai Central Railways. Extending this service to trains such as Rajdhani and Shatabdi would be the next logical step, Mr Roy pointed out. Also, the company doesn’t rule out entering terrestrial radio when government begins second phase of FM privatisation. As for radio on FM band, recommendations are being firmed up by a high-level committee headed by Ficci secretary general Amit Mitra. The committee is not looking at satellite radio, as a panel member told eFE. The government has asked the expert committee on FM radio to submit its report by September 30. Among other things, the panel is looking at the option of allowing news and foreign direct investment (FDI) in private FM. Currently, only up to 20 per cent foreign institutional investment (FII) is allowed in a private FM radio venture. Once the report is submitted to the information and broadcasting ministry, it will be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval (From : financialexpress.com) (via Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi, India, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 3231.86, RRI-Bukittinggi Sep 13 1400-1535 34333-34343 Indonesian, Music. ID at 1511 and 1528. 3266.42, RRI-Gorontalo Sep 16 1056-1106 33333-34333 Indonesian, Music. 1100 IS and ID. Local news. 3344.85, RRI-Ternate Sep 13 1322-1355 34433 Indonesian, Music. ID at 1329 and 1335. 3976, RRI-Pontianak Sep 13 1258-1320 43443 Indonesian, Talk and news. ID at 1259 and 1315. 4606.42, RRI-Serui Sep 14 1338-1400* 34333 Indonesian, Music. ID at 1357 and 1359. 1400 s/off. 4753.35, RRI-Makassar Sep 10 1056-1118 33443 Indonesian, Music. 1059 ID and IS. 2000 ID. Local news. 4790, RRI-Fak Fak Sep 11 1156-1206 33333 Indonesian, Music. ID at 1158. 1200 Jakarta news relay. 4869.98, RRI-Wamena Sep 12 1229-1240 33443 Indonesian, ID at 1230. Music. 4870.93, RRI-Sorong Sep 11 1058-1106 34343 Indonesian, ID at 1059. 1100 Local news. 4919.96, RRI-Biak (Presumed) Sep 16 0909-0942 1019-1042 34343-33343 Indonesian, Music. 1028 with IS. 1030 Local news? (Kouji Hashimoto, Yamanashi, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) Jakarta ID heard on new 4920 at 2000 (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Presumably via Biak as above (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Don't know if you heard but Loral Space Communications lost Telstar 4 this Friday morning at about 9 AM [1300 UT?]. It was primary for ABC TV and backup for CBS TV. This satellite was to be sold off as part of a bankruptcy sale (Lou KF4EON Johnson, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also INDIA ** IRELAND. For at least the past 24 hours the main RTE 2FM mediumwave transmitter has been off-channel --- approximately 611.78 kHz, causing a severe heterodyne here on 612 kHz. I emailed RTE earlier today about it, but have not had a reply yet. I believe this is quite an old transmitter and RTE have reportedly been considering switching it off to save money, maybe this will happen sooner rather than later. 73s (Dave Kenny, UK, Sept 19, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** LAOS [non]. Re the brief appearance of Hmong Lao Radio on 15555 via Taiwan --- hardly surprising that did not last, as HCJB Australia took over that frequency during same time period 0100+ (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. See USA --- WJIE/WJCR ** LIBYA [non]. LIBYA/FRANCE: New schedule for LJB service in Arabic to Iraq: 1202-1302 NF 11890 LSB*, ex 17600 USB \\ 11660 USB 1800-1900 NF 7425 LSB#, ex 7245 USB \\ 11660 USB * co-ch VOA in Spanish till 1230 and R.Japan NHK in Hindi from 1230, both in AM # Sep. 14 on 11890 LSB co-ch Radio Taiwan International also in Arabic but in AM (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 4810, X E R T A, La Voz Comercial de México, 1050-1110, per Charles Bolland tip, "X E R T A, La Voz Comercial de México de onda corta en la banda internacional de 60 metros... X E R T A [music] Radio...? ...onda corta de 60 metros en el corazón de México" [over music]. (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, R-75, on the ground long wire antenna, Sept 17, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 4810, XERTA, Thanks Bolland Cumbre DX tip. Heard at 1245 with music. There was a very strong open carrier yesterday at 1300 that had me stumped, now I know what it was, same transmitter buzzing on both days (Hans Johnson, Cody WY, Sep 16-17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4810, XERTA (presumed), per other loggings, heard the big carrier this morning but didn't know it was them at the time. Was going to record but decided against it. Couldn't detect any audio (Dave Valko, PA, 18 Sept., Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4810, XERTA, Radio Transcontinental de América. Hoy 17 de septiembre del 2003, se ha sintonizado a las 2130 UT con un SINPO de 55555, por la colonia Florida de la ciudad de México, con música e identificación. A las 2138 la ID " XERTA... transmitiendo desde la Plaza de San Juan 5...", dan su dirección completa y de su página "Web" en: http://www.xertaradio.com Hasta en el radio menos sensible se capta con excelente señal y usando solamente la antena telescópica, mucho mejor que las demás emisoras de la Ciudad de México. Saludos (Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Sept 17, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Amigos diexistas: sugieron busquen en 4810 kHz a XERTA "Radio Transcontinental de América". Transmitiendo desde la Ciudad de México con un nuevo transmisor y antena, del los cuales aún no sabemos sus características. Al parecer el anterior director-gerente: Roberto Nájera ha vendido la emisora a un grupo con perspectivas religiosas. Inició sus pruebas el pasado 16 de septiembre y lo que hemos podido corroborar localmente, es que, definitivamente la calidad es muy superior a lo que se escuchó de esta emisora hasta hace unos dos años. 73's (Desde México, Julián Santiago, DF, Noticias DX via DXLD) 4810, XERTA, Mexico City: been sitting on a strong carrier, no audio from 1000 to 1250. 6045, XEXQ R Unversidad, San Luis Potosí, 1203-1250 with YL, then into extended program of classical music, fading (Robert Wilkner, Pompano Beach, Florida, Sept 19, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. ANIVERSARIO DEL INICIO DE TRANSMISIONES DE LA XEW jueves 18 de septiembre, 12:07 PM Un día como hoy de 1930, la XEW inició sus transmisiones. Pero antes de relatar este hecho, es importante destacar algunos datos históricos sobre la historia de la radio en nuestro país. Durante la primera mitad del siglo pasado, en México, el interés por la radio, comenzó a despertar, surgiendo así como un reflejo de lo que ocurría en otros países, especialmente en Estados Unidos. El ingeniero Constantino de Tárnava, reconocido como el iniciador de la radio en México, en 1919 instaló en la ciudad de Monterrey, Nuevo León, la primera estación experimental en nuestro país. Lo que podría considerarse como el primer programa radiofónico, se transmitió en la ciudad de México el 27 de septiembre de 1921. El aparato emisor fue instalado en el desaparecido Teatro Ideal. La hazaña fue lograda por el técnico Enrique Gómez. Posteriormente, el 18 de septiembre de 1930, la XEW inició sus transmisiones con la frase "La voz de la América Latina desde México". Este suceso marcó una nueva etapa el la industria por su programación, alcance y potencia. Esta estación la fundó don Emilio Azcárraga Vidaurreta y fue instalada por el ingeniero José Ruiz de la Herrán Ipao, convirtiéndose en toda una tradición dentro de la radio del país. Programas radiofónicos fueron y vinieron, así como estaciones; sin embargo, hoy en día contamos con distintas opciones para todo tipo de gustos y preferencias (via Héctor García Bojorge, DF, Sept 18, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** MEXICO [non]. Radio Cascades Sept 13 03 15045 http://jill.jazzkeyboard.com/radio/cascades.mp3 (Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO Sangean 909, G5RV, Kingston Springs TN, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 3-minute clip in Spanish. A shorter one is on Mundo Radial for September; see top (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [non]. Re : R Free Cascadia Int not included in CRW ? In his latest DXLD Glenn Hauser has been raising the following questions : = Other media news sources which have ignored R. Free = Cascadia International: BBC Monitoring, Media Network, Free = Radio Network, and perhaps most incredibly of all: Clandestine = Radio Watch. On a number of other lists, I was the only one = posting an item about it, no follow-ups. Are people just not = paying attention, or are some hidden political agendas at work? = (gh, DXLD) At first I'd like to say that CRW should never be 'the judge' if a station is a clandestine radio station or not. Every editor and DXer should have his own opinion. We at CRW know how much DXLD does for the DXers, you can see it every issue of CRW, how useful it is for us. But in the case of R Free Cascadia Int we simply had a different opinion about the status of the station. We see it as a political pirate, not as a clandestine. I will explain that in 3 points : Point 1 : Before we started CRW in 1998 I was very interested in pirate radio broadcasting. In 1994 I started to edit an pirate radio address list 'Piraten.WdB' http://www.schoechi.de/pwdb.html For this list I collected a lot of information about current pirate radio stations (on SW and MW, esp. from Europe and the Americas. When I saw the report about 'R Free Cascadia Int' I knew, I know this name from the pirate radio scene .. and this is what my address list shows : Cascadia Free R on SW from America North from the USA operation planned in 97 Source : FRN-Web http://www.frn.net Address : Box 703 Eugene, OR 97440 USA This means I saw plans for this one in 97 but I never saw a report that this was active. So this station was a pirate for me, not a clandestine. Somewhere in the current news about it there have been reports about this one active as a pirate on FM, that 'helped' my decision not to report about it. Point 2 : Even from the content I do not think this is a clandestine. In Germany we have a category of stations called 'Veranstaltungsrundfunk' ('Radio for a special event'). That's what it is in my opinion. A pirate radio OP has been setting up a station for a political event. Point 3 : In early November 2002 we had the large G8 (?)-meeting in Genoa/Genova-Italy. At that time there was a 'Amisnet News Agency' that did a broadcast via IRRS in support to anti-globalization- protesters. Nobody called that program a clandestine. I think, RFCI is the same category as they were. A final remark once more (we mentioned this several times before) : Of course the editors of CRW have their own political opinions. (And they are contrary - but we see that fact as an advantage). But CRW itself has no political aims, we simply follow the motto (taken from the RFE/RL newsletters) "Freedom of information is ... the touchstone of all the freedoms." (UN Freedom of Information Conference, 1948). If either Nick Grace or I write articles with political opinions these are clearly labelled as a personal opinion, not as the opinion of CRW. The next issue of DXLD will also contain a joined official statement of CRW and RNMN reg. RFCI. This statement, written by N. Grace, will deal more with the content and the background of the station (Martin Schoech-D Sep 18, 2003 for CRW) Viz.: Clandestine Radio Watch and Radio Netherlands Media Network flatly reject the assertion that we ignored Radio Free Cascadia International (RFCI) and withheld information from our readers for reasons based on ignorance and/or "hidden political agendas." A balanced and objective analysis of the station, its programs and objectives clearly shows that RFCI was not a clandestine broadcasting station, as it claimed, but an interesting political pirate, which is beyond the scope of our reportage. The station occasionally criticized the Mexican government, yes, but its broadcasts did not officially represent an opposition political party. It broadcast speeches made by Zapatista leaders but it did not broadcast on behalf of and for the Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional - an indigenous Mexican separatist movement. The station's own Web site states clearly that its organizers' objectives were to oppose capitalism and globalization, as well as to challenge the World Trade Organization (WTO) by supporting the protesters that descended upon Cancun to disrupt ongoing WTO meetings. Interestingly, the Web site even describes their role as one where "We modulate the air as freely as we breathe it, as a challenge to those who would claim ownership and control of the natural elements, peoples, plants and creatures of the Earth." If the definition of clandestine radio is, as Chris Greenway described BBCM's official definition in DXLD 0-119 on Oct 6, 2000, stations "which do not specify their location, which specify an imprecise location... or which falsely claim to emanate from a particular location," then it can be argued that RFCI, allegedly originating from an organic farm somewhere in Mexico, is clandestine. But that's like renting a "blue film" and expecting it to be shot entirely with blue filters while ignoring all the action. BBCM, itself, regularly deviated from their own definition by categorizing the various Kurdish and 1990's Afghan anti-Taliban opposition stations as "clandestine" when, in fact, these stations operated overtly with salaried employees from fixed locations in Northern Iraq and Northern Afghanistan. Such a simplistic classification does not accommodate the fundamental nature of clandestine radio: politics and power. A clandestine station serves to support the strategic interests and tactical operations of an opposition party, secessionist movement, foreign government and/or (foreign and domestic) intelligence service by undermining the popular support and credibility of a target government, region or specific political group through psychological war and covert and overt propaganda. RFCI, therefore, did not pass our "litmus test" and, hence, was not covered in the reports of either organization. There are other venues with broader mandates for such news, including DXLD (Nick Grace, Martin Schoech for CRW and Andy Sennitt for RNMN, Sept 18 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. FARMERS TAKE 'WAR OF IDEAS' TO CANCUN John Vidal | Cancun 12 September 2003 12:45 http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=20409 Up to 10 000 of the poorest Mexican farmers and trade unionists marched on the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) opening meeting this week, demanding that small farmers be protected from international big business and that trade rules should not determine issues of food and health. Police used tear gas to repel flag-burning demonstrators from a security fence at kilometre zero, where more than 1 000 heavily armed police and army were waiting with riot shields behind 2m-high fences. American flags were set alight and hurled at the riot police along with other missiles. One man was seriously injured and 20m of the barrier was broken down by a mixture of militants and protesters. "We come peacefully. This is a war of ideas, and not weapons,'' said Juan, a Mexican peasant. The march, led by Mexicans from the Yucatan peninsula near Cancun, and joined by groups from more than 30 countries, "would have been 10 times the size if local people had been able to afford to come'', said a spokesman for Via Campesino, an umbrella body representing millions of farmers worldwide. Protesters were buoyed by messages of support from the clandestine but influential Zapatista group, which runs one-third of neighbouring Chiapas state. Messages from three of their leaders were broadcast on a pirate radio station set up for the conference. Sub comandante Marcos, one of the Zapatista leaders, said that he hoped that the WTO's "train of globalisation'' would be derailed in Cancun. "This is a world war of the powerful who want to turn the planet into a private club. We are the immense majority. The globalisation of those above us is a global machine that feeds off blood.'' Sub comandantes Marcos, Esther and David urged people to reject the development models being offered by the WTO, to disobey governments, and make protest as global as financial capital. The three speeches were considered significant because the Zapatistas lead the international protests against the "neo-liberal" policies of rich countries, and have considerable political and intellectual stature around the world. "They have not spoken for four years to an international audience. It will play very well with the grassroots, the students and intellectuals,'' said commentator Luis Navarro. - © Guardian Newspapers 2003 (via Jill Dybka, MSIS, DXLD) ** MOROCCO. Radio Télévision Marocaine (RTM) seems to have made big changes regarding [MW] networks, locations, frequencies and powers. See their webpage: http://www.rtm.ma/radio/frequences (Bengt Ericson, ARC MV-Eko Information Desk 15 Sept via Olle Alm, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. 4725, Home Service, no sign of this one for quite some time, checking during the 1200 and 1300 hours. 6570, Defense Forces Station no sign of them when checking many times at their *1330 (Hans Johnson, WY, Sep, Cumbre DX Sept 18 via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. NBC is on shortwave using their daytime frequencies 24 hours a day- 6175 and 6060. The station had been off for a few months but recently obtained new tubes for the transmitters. They have been breaking in these tubes for the last month. NBC plans to also start using their night frequencies as soon as they receive an official go- ahead from the African language service of NBC. These frequencies will be 3270 and 3290, which will be used from 6 PM to 7 AM local (Namibia is UTC +1 or +2 depending on the time of year.) About 2/3's of the country is covered by FM. Farmers remain the big audience for shortwave even though they don't really respond when NBC ask for feedback as to who is listening to the shortwave service. All this per NBC (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX Sep 20 via DXLD) Made a few logs this afternoon using the Javaradio in Australia: NAMIBIA, 6060, NBC (Presumed), 1920 Sept 19. American smooth jazz and R&B music. 1937 taking phone calls, speaking in English, happening spots for a Friday night. Request for a 50 Cent song (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non]. R. Netherlands previews, from Sunday Sept 21: Aural Tapestry --- DAVID SWATLING weaves the threads of art, culture and history and in the process, casts a spell to create his Aural Tapestry! "Douglas Lilburn - Man Alone" Douglas Lilburn was one of New Zealand's most 20th century distinguished composers. In the months following his death in June 2001, producers Roger Smith and Gareth Watkins interviewed a number of his close family, friends and colleagues in an attempt to gain a more personal understanding of this shy and complex man through the eyes of those who knew him. Broadcast times (UTC): Sun 11.00 (Pacific/Asia/Far East/Europe/Eastern USA), 15.30 (Asia/West Coast USA), 19.00 (Africa), 21.30 (Europe), Mon 00.30 (North America); Thu 10.00 (Pacific/Asia/Far East), 11.30 (Europe/East Coast USA), 12.30 (USA WRN), 13.30 (Europe WRN),15.00 (Asia/West Coast USA), 18.00 & 19.30 (Africa), 21.00 (Europe), Fri 00.00 (North America), 04.00 (USA WRN) & 05.00 (North America) (RN weekly previews via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. In light of events reported in last issue, KCSC has been awfully slow to remove the following from its website --- http://www.kcscfm.com/garrison_keillor.asp and linked from its opening page: GARRISON KEILLOR BRINGS ``A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION: THE RHUBARB TOUR`` TO OKLAHOMA CITY`S ZOO AMPHITHEATER Hosted by KCSC/KBCW Classical Radio Garrison Keillor will present a live performance of his signature monologue, ``The News From Lake Wobegon,`` the heart of his weekly radio broadcast show, at 8 p.m., Aug. 30 at the Oklahoma Zoo Amphitheater. Presented at select cities across the country, the Oklahoma City presentation of ``A Prairie Home Companion: The Rhubarb Tour`` is hosted by 90.1 KCSC classical radio station. Each special performance on the tour will be presented solely for each live audience and will have all the elements of Keillor`s broadcast show which listeners can hear on KCSC at 5 p.m. each Saturday and at noon each Sunday. This rare opportunity will give Oklahoma audiences a chance to view Keillor`s variety-show format which features comedy sketches, an acting ensemble, and the Guy`s All Star Shoe Band. ``I am thrilled to have Garrison stop by Oklahoma City again, his third stop in many years,`` KCSC Station Manager Brad Ferguson said. A master storyteller, Keillor weaves tales throughout his monologue about the Chatterbox Café, Ralph`s Pretty Good Grocery, the Sidetrack Tap, the Lake Wobegon Whippets, and all the people who live, love, work and play in the mythical town of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. The August tour will feature the same actors listeners hear each weekend including Sue Scott, Tim Russell and Fred Newman. More than 4 million listeners on over 550 public-radio stations in the United States hear ``A Prairie Home Companion each week. Keillor is into his 29th season of writing, producing and hosting the popular weekly show. Tickets go on sale June 16 and can be purchased through Homeland grocery stores, tickets.com or by calling 1-800-955-5566. (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PAKISTAN. 7571.01, 2013-2117 Sept 17, Radio Pakistan, Islamabad, with relay of internal service? "Night programme", Urdu male announcer, listeners phoning in, Ad mentioning BBC, Radio Pakistan, tel. 0900 11112, some music; typical "Typewriter" music, TS and ID at 2100 (TS is 8 seconds late), SINPO 43543 up to 54544 (Günter Lorenz, Freising, Germany, Drake R8B, EKD300, EKD500 Grahn GS3-SE+ML-1-S, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. 7145, R. Pakistan (presumed) Sep 13 1250-1330* 23332 Urdu? Female talk and local music. On Sep 13 signed off at 1330 with Pakistan's National anthen. ID(?) heard " ... R. Pakistan ... " by OM. But it is not scheduled for this frequency at R. Pakistan's Web site. (TOKUSA Hiroshi, Kanagawa, JAPAN, Japan Premium via DXLD) Some recent news from Pakistan states ``A Kashmiri service previously was being radiated from Pindi 10 kW transmitter from 1230 to 1330 GMT has been shifted to API-2 on 7145 kHz.`` [source??] This would seem to be what TOKUSA via Iwata Japan Premium heard. The Balti news 1350-1400 and Sheena News 1420-1428 is also reported to be using 7145 via the same Islamabad 100kW transmitter. 73s (Noel R. Green [Blackpool, UK], Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PAKISTAN. Frequency change for Radio Pakistan in Dari: 1515-1545 NF 5865v, ex 5860 to avoid RL in Kyrghyz \\ 7375.0 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** PALAU. See USA --- WJIE/WJCR ** PERU? 4965, Radio San Miguel. Cusco, 1019-1035 Sept 10 [sic - means Sept 19]. Noted Huaynos music until 1021. At that time a man comments in Spanish briefly. This followed with promos, TC and ID. Again at 1028 a woman and man recite something that sounds religious. Signal was good at initial tune in, but fade to fair by 1035. It was noted that this station is not listed in the 2003 PWBR on this frequency. Hopefully, it will be in 2004? (Bolland, Chuck, Clewiston Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This raises a lot of questions. There is no Peruvian or Bolivian on 4965 in PWBR 2003, so we must refer to more comprehensive listings. It`s probably too late to get this in the 2004. WRTH 2003 does have on 4964.71v a Radio San Miguel in Cusco, which strangely enough is on exactly the same frequency to two decimal places as R. La Merced in La Merced! Shortwave Guide 2003 on 4965 shows instead R. Santa Mónica in Cusco at 0900-0300. Mark Mohrmann`s LA-DX current log has three different Radio San Miguels in Peru, on 5500, 6536 and 6895. And: Radio San Miguel in Bolivia has been jumping around lately, on 4734, 4905 and 4930. In the LA-DX archive of inactive stations is this: 4964.71 PERU * R San Miguel, Cuzco [*0948-0100*](.7-.97) Feb 99 (d)see(th)9929.4 So it`s been off the air for three sesquiyears and was also heard on second harmonic. The question is whether this station has been reactivated, or whether the R. San Miguel in Bolivia has jumped to yet another frequency. Did Chuck get a definite ID not only for R. San Miguel but the one in Cusco? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Glenn, I did not hear a definite ID for 4965 this morning. However, I hit 4902 earlier, and Radio San Miguel was there from Bolivia. And that was seconds before I tuned to 4965. At this moment I am listening to the tape. I'll let you know if I hear something (Chuck Bolland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Please cancel my logging of Peru, San Miguel on 4965 for Sept 19, 2003. Needs more work. Thanks (Chuck Bolland, FL, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Maybe R Santa Mónica? 73, (Mauno Ritola, Finland, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. FEBC FREQUENCY CHANGES Effective September 7, FEBC changes were: NEW 9855 2300-2345 (replacing 9860) NEW 12060 2300-0100 (replacing 11590) NEW 15035 0900-1530 (replacing 15095) NEW 15175 0900-1100 (EDXP World Broadcast Magazine http://edxp.org used by permission via DXLD) 15035! Canadian military won`t like that; inaudible here the morning of Sept 18, but then conditions were still sub-normal, with only a trace of India 15050 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND [non]. R. Maryja, 7380, Sept 12 2135-2200* tune-in to Polish religious programming; IDs. Sign-off with English announcements and schedule, but pulled plug mid-way thru the sked announcement. This frequency covered by V. of Biafra [q.v.] on Sats (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) via RUSSIA ** RUSSIA. La Voz de Rusia parece que piensa incursionar en el mundo de la publicidad. ¿Tan dura está la situación financiera de la emisora? Según un anuncio al aire, se ofrece el número de un fax y la dirección electrónica de la emisora, para que los dueños de bienes y servicios puedan aprovechar el gran alcance de la estación. No mencionan para nada las posibles tarifas (Adán González, Venezuela, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOMALIA. This evening, Sep 17th, I listened at 1730 on 7335v kHz and found a station which I think (hope!) is Radio Galkayo, the Puntland Somali radio! Unfortunately the reception wasn't too good with splash from BBC, but I could record some talk and two songs that I knew the titles of. A tentative report has been sent to Sam Voron and the station, so hopefully they can confirm if it was --- or if it wasn't --- their station I heard. If not: What was it then? The strength improved until BBC time signal started at 17.58.30 and when BBC started with an interval song it was wiped out. Maybe it also closed half a minute before the hour??? Thrilling thoughts for me anyway! 73 from (Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: Hi all, Today I am even more excited! I got a very nice and rapid e- mail from Sam Voron and I want you all to share my happiness and joy. Please try to listen tonight, and if you hear his message, please tell me! Best wishes from Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden Copy: Hello Bjorn, CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE RECEIVED RADIO GALKAYO. QSL-QSL-QSL. All your details in the letter below are correct! In fact I was the DJ from 1730 to 1759 UT. I will be reading your letter on air today and will also sing the national anthem near the beginning because I know you have poor reception near our sign off. There is no postal service here so will keep in touch via the shortwave broadcast to you. You will see a new Somalia amateur radio access point with lots of info about what I am doing here on http://www.radiogalkayo.com Great to meet a fellow radio lover! Regards, Sam Voron (via Björn Fransson, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi HCDX-ers, Reception of Radio Galkayo yesterday night was very bad. I got a new letter from Sam Voron (copied), so I hope you all try to listen again tonight around 1730-1800 on 7335 kHz. Good luck! 73 from Björn Fransson on the island of Gotland, Sweden "Hello Bjorn, I am from Sydney, Australia. All my details are on the Somalia call sign list under 6O0A on http://www.radiogalkayo.com I will be in Galkayo, North Somalia till 26 Sept and then I will drop power from the current 800 Watts down to 100 Watts while I will be away from Galkayo for all of October when I will run a one month amateur radio training school in Kismayo, South Somalia before returning to Galkayo on 1 Nov 2003 when I will raise radio Galkayo power back to 800 Watts AM. I read your letter last night on air and tonight I will read your new letter below on the air at 1730 UT. Yours is our first report from Sweden that I can recall. Yes, let the Somali community know what is happening, I believe there are thousands of Somalis in Sweden" (via Björn Fransson, Sept 19, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Radio Galkayo (Presumed) heard on drifting new 7335-7333, alternate female and male chat at around 1725. Audible at scanty S3 peaks, legible a bit if I engage 545-DSP; otherwise signals in general not usable. Monitor location Hurghada, Egypt (Mahmud Fathi, Sep. 17, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Radio Galkayo (presumed) locked carrier on 7334 and few audible peaks, 1719 folk song by male voice, 1728 female chat and what sound like Qur`an narration at 1730 Sept 18 (Mahmud Fathi, Hurghada, Egypt, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Radio Galkayo heard on 7335, no drifting today, almost sure identification now as they air narration of Holy Qur`an 1728-1731 the way they read it in Puntland. Signals are generally very poor, S3~4 at peaks (Fathi Sep. 19, ibid.) One page from the R. Galkayo site referenced above: WHY SO MANY ONLINE RADIO STATIONS IN SOMALI? by Syed, Ahmed Gashan. Email: ajgashan@hotmail.com It is all very tragic once you think of it really. Millions of patrons frustrated with the manner in which the BBC Somali service along with its illegitimate-online sister news magazine IRIN-East Africa (Integrated Regional Information Networks) have been working in tandem in endorsing the Arta-conceived ersatz Transitional National Government of Somalia as a legitimate authority, marginalizing newsworthy issues that interest their clientele, and bombarding their listeners and readers with ludicrous, disingenuous fabrications with regards to the conduct of the Transitional National Government of Somali, as they put it, that has been striving relentlessly towards restoring the Somali statehood to the international community whilst reinstating concord, serenity and stability back into the Somali community, when evidence, thus the activities of those in higher posts point the opposite. The object here is to notify patrons of this old institution and those who must be made privy to the judgement employed by those in charge of daily decision-making process of such preposterous, dishonourable acts that listeners and readers alike will not suffer in silence, rather will employ whatever instrument at their disposal to strike fat cat bosses who remain oblivious to their grievances even though the end result is bound to be catastrophic. . . http://www.radiogalkayo.com/repeating/Why_so.php (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) Also has audio files page, none audible ** SUDAN [non]. U.K.(non): Good reception in Bulgaria for new Sudan Radio Service in several langsuages*: 1600-1700 Mon-Fri on 17630 (54554) over AWR in Marathi/English 1700-1800 Mon-Fri on 17660 (55555) *English/Arabic/Sudanese Arabic/Shona/Nuer/Dinka (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** SWITZERLAND. swissinfo/Swiss Radio International is looking at losing all its government funding by 2006. It would then be left to the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation to guarantee future financing of the news organisation. http://nzz.ch/2003/09/18/english/page-synd4246961.html (via Jilly Dybka) Only mention of SRI in the story SWISS RADIO INTERNATIONAL B03 TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE: Near East-Africa: 0600-French/0630-German/0700-Italian/0730-English on: 9885-Julich/Germany-160 deg 13790-Julich/Germany-200 deg 17665-Sottens/Switzerland-165 deg 0830-English/0900-Italian/0930-German/1000-French on: 21770-Sottens/Switzerland-165 deg 1630-Italian/1700-Arabic/1730-English/1800-French on: 9755-Julich/Germany-115 deg 11810-Julich/Germany-115 deg 15555-Sottens/Switzerland-140 deg 1830-Italian/1900-Arabic/1930-English/2030-German/2100-French on: 9820-Julich/Germany-200 deg 11920-Sottens/Switzerland-165 deg 13660-Julich/Germany-145 deg 17660-Montsinery/F.Guiana-115 deg South America: 2200-French/2230-German/2300-Italian/2330-English on: 9885-Sottens/Switzerland-230 deg 11660-Montsinery/F.Guiana-175 deg (via Roberto Scaglione http://www.bclnews.it Sept 19, DXLD) ** TANZANIA. 5050, R. Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) Partial-data yellow and blue African map card in 1 month after a f/up report was sent for a January 19, 1993 reception! I also enclosed $1.00, and mailed my report to the v/s N. Nyamwocha. I've been trying for this one for over 10 years; my 51st African country verified and 216th country QSL'd. My thanks to George Maroti in NY who reported receiving a QSL from them in July which prompted me to try the f/up again (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Using the Javaradio in Australia: 5050, R. Tanzania (Presumed). Trying to get ARDS Australia at 1900. This service was the strongest on the channel with excited talk in presumed Swahili and many mentions of Mohammad, perhaps an Islamic program/talk? I could hear some occasional audio from what have been ARDS but it was very weak (Hans Johnson, WY, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** UGANDA. See USA --- WJIE/WJCR below ** UKRAINE. Frequency change for Radio Ukraine Inter in English and Ukrainian from Sep. 1 2300-0400 NF 9810 SMF 1000 kW / 303 deg to ENAm, ex 12040 Frequency change for Radio Ukraine Inter in Ukrainian from Sep. 10: 0000-0400 NF 7420 KHR 100 kW / 055 deg to RUS, ex 9620 1300-1700 NF 7420 KHR 100 kW / 055 deg to RUS, ex 9620 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) SMF = Simferopol`; KHR = Khar`kiv (gh) ** U K. BBC Radio 4 has a special broadcast entitled "The Archive Hour: Listening To The War: The Birth of BBC Monitoring". Program details: "During WWII, the BBC recruited linguistically able German Jews to act as monitors of Radio Moscow and Radio Berlin. Thus the BBC's powerful Monitoring Service was born, which listens in to almost every radio and TV station on the planet. This gripping documentary will appeal to anyone who loves Robert Harris' 'Enigma'." Program airs September 20 at 1600-1700 UT and should be available online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/radio4.shtml (Al Quaglieri, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Al, It`s 1900-2000 UT as in DXLD 3-167 and at http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/search/daylist.cgi?service_id=49700&day=Saturday or rather now, http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-perl/whatson/search/daylist.cgi?service_id=49700&DAY=Today (where the times are in BST). Guess you`d better distribute a correxion to your mailing list... 73, (Glenn to Al, via DXLD) ** U K. BBC STAFFER ADMITS ERRORS, APOLOGIZES False Statements Not Corrected, Inquiry Told --- By Glenn Franke, Washington Post Foreign Service, Thursday, September 18; Page A16 LONDON, Sept. 17 -- The BBC radio journalist who reported that Prime Minister Tony Blair's aides had used dubious intelligence data to exaggerate the case for war with Iraq today conceded he made several mistakes in his original broadcasts, including misidentifying his source as a member of Britain's intelligence services. Andrew Gilligan, testifying before a public inquiry, also acknowledged that he had failed to correct several false statements made by the BBC in defense of his reports. And Gilligan apologized for sending an e- mail message to two members of Parliament that identified the confidential source of another BBC journalist's report on Iraq's access to weapons of mass destruction. . . http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24536-2003Sep17.html (via Kraig Krist, DXLD) ** U K. STRONGER MEASURES AGAINST UK RADIO PIRATES Stronger measures against illegal broadcasters came into force in the UK today. Police, working with investigators from the Radiocommunications Agency, can now arrest a pirate broadcaster or anybody suspected of supporting or facilitating illegal broadcasting. Previously police could only detain someone if they suspected them of giving a false name and address or another criminal act, such as a breach of the peace or assault. The new powers of arrest will also extend to acts of deliberate interference with radio communications and hoax calls, especially false distress calls. The strengthened police powers come as the number of illegal broadcasters in the UK is already falling, and rates of prosecution increasing. On 2002 there were 49 prosecutions. In 2003, up to the end of August there have been 607 operations against 149 pirate broadcasters, of whom 55 have been prosecuted. Convicted pirates face an unlimited fine or up to two years in jail, plus forfeiture of any equipment used to commit the offence (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 18 September 2003 via DXLD) ** U S A. 20000, WWV, Fort Collins CO; 1909-12+, 15-Sep; No pips or announcements; only a rumble in AM, wavering trill in USB and nothing in LSB; 10 & 15 MHz running normally. Same next day. John Wilkins in Wheat Ridge CO tells me they're still on 20 MHz (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. WJIE is returning to shortwave in a few days, perhaps as early as today. They are very interested in reception reports and will issue a special QSL card. They have changed a few things: The 7490 transmitter will be using the 155 degree antenna now. It may have Spanish on at night. The 13595 transmitter will be on using the 55 degree antenna and will carry "Christian-patriot" programming. Reports can be sent to morgan@wjie.org or dougrumsey@worldprayercenter.org The QSL's may have the old WJCR call and the station may be IDing as such. The paperwork to switch the call to WJIE had never been completed so they are plan on using the old call until then. In other news --- The shortwave is Liberia is off due to lack of fuel although they have gotten enough fuel to run the FM. The shortwave project in Uganda is probably about a year away from being on. They are sending one of the old FEBA transmitters they purchased to Palau. The plan is to program it for English. The remaining FEBA transmitter will be sent to Kentucky where it will be refurbished (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX Sep 19 via DXLD) Still nothing about this on the website http://www.wjiesw.com where the `latest news` is months old about whether US should get involved in Liberia. No 13595 or 7490 at 0013 check Sept 20 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WJIE has decided to beam Spanish language programming to SAm on 7490 from 2200 to 1000 UT and continue English language programming (mostly GCN provided program feeds) and a few evangelists on 13595 kHz to North America from 1000 to 2200 UT [i.e., one transmitter – gh]. They are planning some sort of listener survey, with a special QSL and maybe a prize or two to the most distant listener report (Larry Baysinger in Kentucky, Cumbre DX Sep 19 via DXLD) ** U S A [non?]. The jamming of WHRI 9495 in the early morning 1100 to 1300 is caused by digital RTTY according to Joe Brashier of WHRI. Sure sounds like jamming to me! (Lou KF4EON Johnson, Sept 19, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [non]. Additional transmissions for AWR's Wavescan via MOS [AUSTRIA], instead of AWR in Arabic: 0430-0500 Sunday on 15470; 0530-0600 Sunday on 15470 1730-1800 Sunday on 17735; 1830-1900 Sunday on 15535 (Observer, Bulgaria, Sept 19 via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. La nueva emisión diaria de la VOA "Ventana a Cuba", es interferida con jamming. Al menos así pude captarlo el 17 de septiembre pasado. A la 0110 UT, 9885, 9560 y 9735 kHz, estaban todas bloqueadas. Por el contrario, frecuencias de Radio Martí con 15330 kHz, a la misma hora estaban libres de "jamming". Desde luego, con o sin "jamming", Radio Martí me parece un TOTAL DESPERDICIO (Adán González, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Now why would the Cuban commies move the jamming from Martí to VOA? Needs further investigation. I hear Martí still jammed! -- (gh) ** U S A. Checking out scheduled Greenville frequencies (there aren`t many during the daytime, anyway), as H. Isabel moved into eastern NC, Sept 18 at 1630+ the Creole service on 17565 and 15385 was on as usual, as were the R. Martí frequencies 13820, 13630, 11930 and 11845, tho all buried in commie jamming as usual; recheck 1815, the first three still running as scheduled. I can`t be certain that Delano wasn`t backing up Greenville, except that the DL signals would likely be stronger over jamming here between it and Cuba. And the only? afternoon English frequency, 15445 was also on as usual after 1900, with VOA music show, songs about wind! (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WTJC --- This station is right in the path of the hurricane that is hitting the East Coast of the United States now. They are off the air as the power has failed, but the station has not suffered any damage so far. Worth keeping an ear to as they may returned to the air on greatly reduced power. I have a QSL from them when they were operating at just 50 watts on 9370 during a winter storm a few years ago (Hans Johnson, WY USA, Cumbre DX Sep 18 via DXLD) That reminds me, well before Isabel, as I tuned around, never pausing more than a sesquisecond on 9370 (or WBOH 5920) I am hearing a lot more preaching and a lot less gospel music, which used to be their staple. They sure know how to drive listeners away (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS READY FOR HURRICANE ISABEL http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/09/17/101/?nc=1 This close-up view of the eye of Hurricane Isabel was taken this week by the Expedition 7 crew aboard the International Space Station. [NASA Photo] The position and projected path of Hurricane Isabel as of 5 PM EDT September 17. [NOAA Graphic] Chart showing the probability that Hurricane Isabel will pass within 75 statute miles during the next 72 hours. [NOAA Graphic] The MODIS instrument onboard NASA`s Terra satellite captured this bird`s-eye view of Hurricane Isabel at 1415 UTC on September 11, 2003. At the time Isabel was located 530 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands and was packing maximum sustained winds near 150 MPH. [Image courtesy NASA MODIS Land Rapid Response Team] {see above URL for images, graphics and links} NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 17, 2003 -- The National Hurricane Center says large Hurricane Isabel is expected to make landfall in Eastern North Carolina sometime during the day on September 18. Amateur Radio reports indicated today that it`s already raining on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The Hurricane Watch Net has activated on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level weather data for relay to the National Hurricane Center via its WX4NHC Amateur Radio station. With states of emergency declared by the governors of North Carolina and Virginia, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams already are active. NC4EB, the ARES station at North Carolina Emergency Management`s Eastern Branch headquarters in Kinston is up and running fulltime. ``The Eastern Branch operation and several coastal counties have asked for ARES operator assistance immediately,`` said ARRL North Carolina Public Information Coordinator Gary Pearce, KN4AQ. ``Amateurs with ARES training who can travel to Eastern North Carolina before Thursday morning are asked to contact North Carolina Section Emergency Coordinator Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK.`` A hurricane warning remains in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albermarle sounds and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. ``All preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane area,`` the National Hurricane Center said today. Pearce says NCEM`s Eastern Branch office will take the lead in providing support and logistics to counties needing assistance during and after the storm, and NC4EB will be the contact point for traffic to and from affected counties. Starting at 6 PM EDT September 17, hams will staff NC4EO at the emergency operation center in the state capital of Raleigh, where North Carolina Emergency Management will take a backup role, he said. The state EOC ARES operation will share the wide-coverage 146.88 MHz repeater in Raleigh with Central Carolina SKYWARN as the edge of the hurricane crosses the repeater`s eastern coverage area. Isabel carries the threat of isolated tornadoes in Eastern North Carolina as early as Wednesday evening. The Tarheel Emergency Net will shift into continuous operation if needed. Nobles has asked North Carolina amateurs to monitor 3923 kHz. Amateurs elsewhere may listen on EchoLink to monitor repeater activity in northeastern North Carolina via the WX_Talk conference. Bill Morine, N2COP, in Wilmington reports that ARES has been activated in coastal New Hanover County. ``Inland counties have begun making preparations to open shelters,`` Pearce said. ``No ARES communications requests have been received for the shelters yet, as widespread power and communications outages inland are not expected, but that situation could change quickly.`` More information on North Carolina Amateur Radio preparations for Hurricane Isabel is available via the North Carolina Hurricane Isabel Information Web site. As of 5 PM EDT today, Isabel was some 315 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, moving north-northwesterly at almost 14 MPH. Maximum sustained winds are near 105 MPH with higher gusts, making Isabel a category 2 storm. Hurricane force winds extend outward some 115 miles from the center, and tropical storm winds extend outward up to 315 miles. The National Hurricane Center was predicting storm surge flooding of 7 to 10 feet above normal tide levels with large and dangerous battering waves. Rainfall of up to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts, also are likely in association with Hurricane Isabel, the NHC said. Virginia In Virginia, the Virginia Beach Hamfest set for this weekend already has fallen victim to the storm. The hamfest had been set for September 20 and 21 at Virginia Wesleyan College. ``There is no backup plan,`` said Ken Pierpont, KF4OW, who relayed the announcement to ARRL. ``Hope to CU next year.`` Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, is urging ARES members in The Old Dominion to make sure their radios are working, batteries charged, bags packed, portable antennas ready and EOC stations ready. ``As we prepare for the approach of this intense hurricane, everyone needs to check their readiness,`` Gregory said. ``Remember: If you are called out to provide radio support, take care of your family first, then report as needed.`` Gregory said the latest ARES news and information would be posted on the Virginia ARES Web site. ``If necessary the SM or SEC will activate the Old Dominion Emergency Net (ODEN)--also known as Virginia Emergency Net Alpha,`` Gregory said. The net operates on 3947 kHz (or 7243/7240 kHz alternate). He requested that participants pay close attention to the directions of the net control station. He anticipated that Virginia Emergency Net Alpha would most likely be activated sometime Thursday morning, September 18. ``The net is designed primarily to pass traffic between the state EOC and local EOCs, as well as traffic between the local EOCs,`` he pointed out. WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator John McHugy, KU4GY, says the station will monitor IRLP Stream2 and EchoLink. ``For non-IRLP listeners, we will have `listen live` set to Reflector 9210, so anyone may listen to WX4NHC traffic worldwide in the next few days,`` he said. McHugh said no health-and-welfare traffic would be handled at this time. Maryland-DC Section Further north, ARRL Maryland-DC Section Manager Tom Abernethy, W3TOM, reports that all preparations for Amateur Radio activations in his section have been completed, and most areas are planning a full activation between 6 AM and 9 AM Thursday, September 18. ``The hurricane storm activity for our Washington, DC, area will most likely run from late Thursday afternoon to early Friday morning,`` Abernethy predicted. ``The highest intensity of storm activity is expected about 0200 on Friday morning,`` he said. ``With luck the storm will have blown through by about noontime on Friday and we will see the sun shining by late Friday afternoon.`` Most Maryland/DC section-wide Amateur Radio activity will occur on the Maryland Emergency Phone Net on 3920 kHz and on the Central Region Net on the Davidsonville 147.105 MHz repeater. Local ARES/RACES teams will activate additional repeaters and simplex frequencies as their local emergency plans dictate, he said. Abernethy said he`s got plenty of fresh fuel on hand for his 10 kW emergency generator as well as full fuel tanks on all vehicles ``and chainsaws at the ready.`` He plans to be on the air for the duration of the storm and its aftermath. ``It should be a wild ride,`` he said. Chuck Hodell, N8AND, in Stevensville, Maryland, says those wishing to follow the hurricane as it enters the Kent Island and DC areas can check the APRS weather link to his station. ``The links also now have the area radar, which should clearly show the path the storm is taking,`` he said. West Virginia In West Virginia, Section Manager Hal Turley, KC8FS, reports the state Office of Emergency Service plans to activate the emergency operations center September 18 at approximately 9 AM EDT. State EOC station K8BS will be on the air at least for the next 24 hours. Turley said there is concern that Isabel will cause flooding in West Virginia`s Eastern Panhandle as it passes by Friday, September 19. ``State officials have identified 27 West Virginia counties that may be affected by the effects of Isabel,`` he said. ``Emergency coordinators for those counties are requested to make arrangements to participate in the nets and pass any pertinent information to the state EOC.`` Frequencies are 7235 kHz days and 3865 MHz nights. New Jersey Southern New Jersey SEC Gary Wilson, K2GW, says he`s heard so far from Emergency Coordinators in Burlington, Mercer and Ocean counties. Ocean County EC Bob Murdock, WX2NJ, says ARES is on alert, monitoring ARES net repeaters and National Weather Service broadcasts. He anticipates some gale-force winds and probably flooding, but said there are no plans for evacuations in Ocean County. The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) at the Atlantic County EOC will activate Thursday at noon. ``All Atlantic County ARES Members are invited to participate,`` said Atlantic County EC Mike Price, N2JVM. Price said the county`s SKYWARN net was standing by on the Atlantic County 146.745 SCARA repeater. SKYWARN groups will activate in New Jersey on a county by county basis and pass information to the NWS. In Northern New Jersey, SEC Steve Ostrove, K2SO, reports liaison has been established with the Red Cross, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN). SATERN earlier announced plans to activate on 14.265 MHz on September 18 at 1400 UTC (10 AM EDT). SATERN National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E, says the net`s primary objective will be to handle necessary emergency and health-and-welfare traffic. National Traffic System Eastern Area National Traffic System Eastern Area Chair Marcia Forde, KW1U, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, asked NTS participants to monitor news of the storm. ``As we face the onslaught of a major hurricane on the east coast, I hope all of you will not only be monitoring the news of the hurricane, but be prepared to be called upon to provide public service should it be required,`` she said. ``Due to the intensity of the storm there could be a large number of health-and-welfare messages into and out of the affected areas.`` She said SECs may contact net managers to activate extra nets as needed. ``In the event of activation, net members should be monitoring net frequencies.`` NASA Keeping Watch NASA reports it`s keeping a close watch on Hurricane Isabel as it churns in the Atlantic. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station--ISS Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, and Commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, also are capturing video images of the storm. Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. HAMS CONFRONTING HURRICANE ISABEL http://www2.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/09/18/2/?nc=1 The position and projected path of Hurricane Isabel as of 11 AM EDT September 18. [NOAA Graphic] Chart showing the probability that Hurricane Isabel will pass within 75 statute miles during the next 72 hours. [NOAA Graphic] {see above URL for graphics and links} NEWINGTON, CT, Sep 18, 2003 -- Amateur Radio volunteers wearing various Hats -- as well as foul-weather gear in some cases -- are dealing with the effects of Hurricane Isabel, which made landfall about 1 PM EDT along the North Carolina coast today. The Hurricane Watch Net remains activate on 14.325 MHz to gather ground-level weather data for relay to the National Hurricane Center via its WX4NHC Amateur Radio station. Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and SKYWARN teams have been at the ready since yesterday. ARES station NC4EB is on the air from North Carolina Emergency Management`s Eastern Branch headquarters in Kinston, the primary emergency operation center for that state. States of emergency have been declared in North Carolina and Virginia. The storm already is taking a toll in North Carolina. ``Power has been lost in some parts of eastern North Carolina,`` North Carolina Section Manager John Covington, W4CC, reported this afternoon. ``In particular I have received a report that some flooding has occurred in Craven County.`` Bruce Arnold, N8UTY, has activated the county EOC in New Bern. ``People have been asked to evacuate, and some are staying at shelters.`` Unofficial Amateur Radio reports indicated some flooding in eastern North Carolina and as far north as Delaware. Covington says the Tarheel Emergency Net is active on 3923 kHz to facilitate communications among the state EOC in the capital of Raleigh, the Eastern Branch office in Kinston and any active county EOCs. The state EOC ARES operation has been sharing wide-coverage 146.88 MHz repeater in Raleigh to gather local damage reports and information. As of 3 PM, Hurricane Isabel was 50 miles east-southeast of Greenville, North Carolina, after making landfall near Drum Inlet, between Cape Lookout and Ocracoke Island. A hurricane warning remains in effect from Cape Fear, North Carolina, to Chincoteague, Virginia -- including Pamlico and Albermarle sounds--and the Chesapeake Bay south of Smith Point. Maximum sustained winds are near 100 MPH with higher gusts, although the storm is weakening as it moves inland. ``Hams are still doing a good job of submitting surface reports to the National Hurricane Center,`` said Assistant Amateur Radio Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4JR, at the NHC`s WX4NHC. An Amateur Radio report told of a wind gust of 105 MPH at Ocracoke Island on North Carolina`s Outer Banks, with sustained winds to 80 miles an hour. Amateur Radio reports indicate sustained winds of 79 MPH at Cape Hatteras and gusts to 98 MPH. In addition, unofficial Amateur Radio reports indicate periods of rain--heavy at times. More information on North Carolina Amateur Radio preparations for Hurricane Isabel is available via the North Carolina Hurricane Isabel Information Web site. Ham radio operators also reported a storm surge of five to six feet at New Bern, North Carolina, on the Neuse River. Storm rainfalls of up to 10 inches, with locally higher amounts, are likely in association with Hurricane Isabel. A threat of isolated tornadoes remains over eastern North Carolina, Eastern Virginia and Southeastern Maryland today. Delaware SM Randall Carlson, WB0JJX, reports from the Delaware state EOC that Amateur Radio operators are set up at other EOCs around the state in anticipation of what Hurricane Isabel might do. In Virginia, the Old Dominion Emergency Net/Virginia Emergency Net Alpha has been activated on 3947 kHz (7240 kHz is the alternate frequency). More information on the response of Amateur Radio operators in Virginia is on the Virginia ARES Web site. The Virginia Beach Hamfest set for this weekend already has fallen victim to the storm. Sponsors cancelled the annual event yesterday. Amateurs also are preparing to support or are already supporting hurricane relief and shelter efforts of the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army as the storm moves northward. Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (ARRL via John Norfolk, DXLD) If you are having difficulty finding a live streaming source of news from the affected area of Hurricane Isabel, one of the most reliable sources is from Triangle Radio News.com, at http://www.triangleradionews.com Simply click on the "Listen Live" logo. This will give you access to Newstalk Radio 680 WPTF in Raleigh, North Carolina. This station is broadcasting a special stormwatch broadcast live. I hope this information is of interest to you (Sheldon Harvey, QC, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. BOSTON AM'S IN EUROPE --- Glen[n], When I was in college in Cambridge in the late 50's-early 60's (and working in local radio on FM there), the Boston DJ Arnie "Woo Woo" Ginsberg was playing what then passed for hard rock first on WBOS 1600 and later on WMEX 1510, on evening shifts when the teenage audience was high. Both had nice simple but pretty efficient 2 tower directional arrays oriented east, each with 5 kW, and Ginsberg got lots of mail from Eire and the UK - just regular listeners and not DXers, but that, of course, was during the days before local/commercial radio in both countries, and so Ginsberg was an exotic alternative to the offshore pirates (Ben Dawson, WA, Sept 18, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Coast to Coast AM Press Release LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17 2003 - Art Bell, the radio personality known for his spontaneous and compelling conversations about all things unexplained, will replace Barbara Simpson as weekend host of Coast to Coast AM - the program he made famous. He will broadcast live on Saturdays and Sundays from his home studio in Pahrump, Nev., beginning Sept. 20. Bell stated, "For me, a return to radio is both mysterious and reassuring." (via Art Blair, Folsom, CA, Sept 17, IRCA via DXLD) ART BELL RETURNS TO WEEKENDS ON OVERNIGHT RADIO SHOW FROM NEVADA Less than a year after retiring, Art Bell is returning as weekend host of the overnight radio talk show he founded about UFO sightings, arcane mysteries and conspiracy theories. . . http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2003/sep/19/091910418.html (via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) ** U S A. DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES By Brooke Shelby Biggs, The Nation, September 18, 2003 Clear Channel is destroying radio. At least, that's the popular mantra these days. Radio consolidation - which shifted into high gear with the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and has been fostered by a pro-big- media majority at the Federal Communications Commission - has resulted in the Wal-Martification of radio. Across the nation, stations are being gobbled up by huge chains like Clear Channel, which then monocrop their playlists. It's the same fifty mindless cookie-cutter songs played in an endless, soul-numbing loop, the same conservative talk shows, even the same deejays doing the same shows for simultaneous broadcast in a half- dozen markets nationwide. Jockeys are losing their jobs as the big chains consolidate and centralize their work forces. There, in the distance, is the faint swan song of independent radio. Abandon all hope, ye who flip thy radio dial... Long article at http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16804 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** U S A. W1AW TO SHIFT 160-METER TRANSMISSION FREQUENCY ZCZC AG60 --- QST de W1AW ARRL Bulletin 60 ARLB060 From ARRL Headquarters Newington CT September 19, 2003 To all radio amateurs Starting Monday, September 29, W1AW will shift its 160-meter code practice and bulletin transmission frequency from 1818 kHz to 1817.5 kHz, starting with the 4 PM EDT (2000 UTC) code practice run. The frequency shift not only brings W1AW's Top Band frequency in line with those the station uses on other bands, it also should help to eliminate possible interference from broadcast station harmonics and birdies -- something that's more likely on an integer (i.e., whole number) frequency. W1AW has been conducting code practice and bulletin transmissions on 1818 kHz since 1982. Prior to that, W1AW transmitted both CW and phone bulletins on 1835 kHz. NNNN /EX (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** UZBEKISTAN. R. Tashkent, 11905, *2030-2057* Sept 6, English news, commentary, local pops, folk music. Address, ``Radio Tashkent`` IDs. Poor in noise; English also heard at 2130-2158 (Brian Alexander, PA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Has anyone seen a *program* schedule from R. Tashkent? Ages since I saw one on paper; the two English broadcasts at 1200 and 1330 had different feature content on the same day. Is that also the case with 2030 and 2130? Do they still have a DX program? I promptly found the answers at http://ino.uzpak.uz/eng/other_eng/radio_prog_eng.html The 1200 and 2030 programs are the same; the 1330 and 2130 are the same; and the 0100 has a third lineup. PROGRAM BASED ON LISTENERS` LETTERS, after the news Sat 1200 and 2030; FRIENDSHIP BRIDGES (Radio contest) on the Thu 1330, 2130; and alternating? with the following one on the same broadcasts Sat PROGRAM FOR SHORT-WAVE LISTENERS, alternating? with the above one Sat 1330, 2130, and Fri 0100 0100-0130 9715 7190 1200-1230 17775 15295 9715 7285 1330-1400 17775 15295 9715 7285 2030-2100 11905 9545 5025 2130-2200 11905 9545 5025 The website also has nine mp3 music files, some folksy, some popsy (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. He escuchado unas extrañas emisiones en días pasados y desearía que alguien pudiese identificarlas: 1) 17-09, a las 0226 UT, 4162.63, SINPO 2-2. Música árabe. 2) 17-09, 4375.66 kHz, 0231 UT, SINPO 4-3, locutor en lengua muy parecida al árabe. 3) 17-09, 4615 kHz, SINPO 3-2, 0242 UT. Música árabe. (Adán González, Venezuela, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn, I heard an unidentified station on the 15th of Sept, on 6.985 MHz when I tuned in at 0325 heard tribal African chant music. Signed on at 0330 with Big Ben clock chimes, then national anthem. OM with talk in a unidentified language. Signal was good until fade out at 0355 (Ron Trotto, Waggoner IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Ron, We`ve had numerous reports of V. of New Sudan on 6985 in DXLD, as I confirmed by Google search: 6985 site:worldofradio.com 73, Glenn ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NRC AM LOG 24TH EDITION, 2003-2004 http://www.nrcdxas.org/catalog/amlog (NRC-AM via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ LOSS OF REAL-TIME PROP DATA I'm relaying this from the European VHF Reflector. I have also sent a message of support to the following address: SEC.Webmaster@noaa.gov I suspect the more people that voice support the better. It only takes a moment! (Steve / VE7SL McDonald, NRC-AM via DXLD) ....................................................... Hi fellow hams, From SEC, Bolder Colorado, I received this note: ``Thank you for your kind words and for your efforts on SEC's behalf. Every note about how you use SEC data and what it would be like to lose our service will help us in convincing others that we have vital work to do. Thank you so much for your support.`` I just want to make sure that all of us realize which services are getting lost. The consequences not only affect the scientific community - amateur radio is seriously affected too. In Aurora dx communication, for example, we will have no more solar wind data, no more IMF data, no more DX analyses referring to actual scientific information, no more Aurora alarming services etc. etc. - good-bye Aurora amateur propagation studies, good-bye to the following webpages: SEC Portal: http://sec.noaa.gov/ Today's Space Weather: http://sec.noaa.gov/today.html Space Weather Now: http://solar.sec.noaa.gov/SWN/index.html ACE Solar Wind data: http://sec.noaa.gov/ace/ACErtsw_home.html Auroral Activity Report: http://solar.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/index.html Planetary K Index: http://sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/kp_3d.html and many more scientific information accessed by thousands of radio amateurs .... Is this what you want to have? If not, read the above message from Boulder again ... 73, Volker (DF5AI) (via Steve McDonald, NRC-AM via DXLD) Steve, allow me to pass on some suggestions. For those of you on the list that are SERIOUS DXers, please take these suggestions to heart. The research and reports are important to all of us. The investment is very minimal (Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) ___________________ Frederick, Enclosed below is some directions I wrote to someone from California who was interested in lobbying. They should apply to your state, too. Let me know if I can help further. Brad Here's a quick update on the SEC funding: 1) In July the House of Representatives passed the annual Commerce, Justice and State ("CJS") appropriations bill. This bill continued the approximately 40% cut enacted last year for SEC. 2) In early September the Senate CJS subcommitttee passed its version of the CJS appropriations bill. The committee report contained harsh language saying that that the term "Atmospheric" in "NOAA" does not extend to the "Astral" and that no funding was to be provided for such work. This means SEC would get no funding out of the Senate bill. There are several steps left before funding for next year is finalized: 1) The full Senate Appropriations Committee must pass a bill (later this month, most likely) 2) The full Senate must pass a bill (late September or into October) 3) "Conferees" representing the House and Senate must be appointed by each chamber and these individuals must meet to hammer our a compromise. (Probably October to November) 4) Each chamber must approve the compromise. Given these steps, here are the best leverage points: 1) Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, before the full committee votes on the bill, and 2) The Conferees before they make an agreement Conferees are usually the appropriate subcommittee chairman and ranking minority member. In the case of the CJS subcommittees, this means in the House Frank Wolf (R) of Virginia and José Serrano of NY (D). In the case of the Senate it would be Judd Gregg of NH (R) and Ernest Hollings of SC (D). Here's how to pursue leverage point 1, above: Your [if you are Californian] Senator Feinstein is on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the CJS Appropriations Subcommittee. This makes her a great contact. I would also urge you to look at the complete Appropriations and CJS Subcommittee member lists to see if your company does business in any of the states with members. For example, if your company does business in Colorado then it is also appropriate to contact Colorado's Senator Campbell who is also on the CJS subcommittee. Any Congress member where your company does business is fair game. I would urge you to contact the Senator's office by phone and talk to the staffer involved with Department of Commerce Appropriations. You should tell this staffer why SEC is important to your firm. You should also follow-up with a letter, addressed to the Senator but with an "Attention" header for the staffer. A second call to make sure that the letter was received and noted is also appropriate. (Senators get lots of mail so making some noise above just sending a letter is necessary to get attention.) This should be done first. Here's How to Pursue leverage Point 2: Ideally, you'd have business in either the Subcommitee Chairman or Ranking Minority Member's state. If not, look again at both the Senate and House CJS Membership lists. Look for Senators or Congresspeople who represent your state or states in which you do business. Contact these people by phone and letter and ask them to contact the Conferees with the request to restore SEC funding. Find the staffer who does Commerce Appropriations. It is also appropriate to contact your local Congressperson and ask him or her to contact the Conferees with the request to restore the SEC funding. The House and Senate Appropriations committee websites are easily found with Google to get the membership lists. See (watch for carriage returns below) http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=AboutTheCommittee.Subcommittees and http://www.senate.gov/~appropriations/subcommittees/commjust/topics.cfm?code=commerce If you have other questions, please let me know. Finally, the first contact point in all cases is the Commerce Appropriations staffer. But the Chief of Staff is also fair game. If you can find out who this person is, and ask for them by name, you'll be ahead of the pack. I'd do this after talking to the Commerce Appropriations staffer. The COS is the main gatekeeper for the Senator or Congressperson and their opinion is critical (Brad --- via Fred Vobbe, NRC-AM via DXLD) QST DE W1AW: PROPAGATION FORECAST BULLETIN 38 ARLP038 From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA September 19, 2003 To all radio amateurs Last week`s bulletin called for stable geomagnetic conditions over the weekend, which we got. Planetary A indices, a measure of geomagnetic stability for the day, were 11, 11, 7 and 6 for last Friday through Monday, September 12-15. There was a strong solar wind, but a north-pointing interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) kept any destabilizing effects to a minimum. The IMF continued to point north through Sunday, September 14, but then pointed south. This led to the geomagnetic storm and high planetary A index of 37 and 61 on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 16 and 17. The IMF continues to point south, and currently we are entering a stronger solar wind stream. The predicted planetary A index for Friday, September 19 through Monday, September 22 is 35, 25, 20 and 15. For a review of interplanetary magnetic fields, check http://spaceweather.com/glossary/imf.html Solar flux this week was down and average daily sunspot numbers were up slightly. The sun has appeared nearly blank this week, with any sunspots toward the edge of the disk, not pointing radiation at Earth as spots in the center do. See the solar disk for September 16 to observe a nearly blank sun at http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather/images2003/16sep03/midi512_blank.gif You can substitute the date in the URL to see what the sun was like on other days. Solar flux was lowest in the past couple of weeks at 94.4 on Friday, September 12. Recent daily sunspot numbers were lowest on September 10 at 42. As the solar cycle declines over the next couple of years, we will eventually see long periods with sunspot counts of zero. The last really long period where this was observed was at or near the bottom of the last sunspot cycle. For 38 days, from September 13 until October 20, 1996 there were no visible sunspots. The daily sunspot number was zero for that entire time. During that period, the daily solar flux was below 70 nearly the entire time. The lowest was 66.4 on October 11, 1996. Now this week and the week prior we`ve observed nine consecutive days when the daily solar flux was below 100. There is nothing particularly significant about 100, but we humans notice nice even numbers like this, kind of like waiting and watching for that car odometer to turn over from 99,999 to 100,000 miles. But this nine-day period seems significant, because the last time we had this many days in a row with a solar flux value below 100 was back in 1998, from May 19-31, with 13 continuous days. This was way over on the other side of the peak of cycle 23. Recently this bulletin looked at a prediction for the minimum of the current sunspot cycle. Read about prediction methods used to determine long-term trends in solar cycles at http://science.msfc.nasa.gov/ssl/pad/solar/predict.htm Note that the fall equinox is in a few days, and this is a good time for worldwide DX on the HF bands, even with the low solar activity. Solar flux is currently rising as we progress toward the equinox around September 23, next Tuesday. The current solar flux forecast for the short term shows flux values of 110 for September 19-21, and 115 for September 22-23. Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, advises that the Space Environment Center (SEC) in Boulder, Colorado, recently introduced a new operational product to assess the impact of geomagnetic field activity on the F region. It`s called the STORM Time Empirical Ionospheric Model. It provides--in real-time--an F region critical frequency (foF2) scaling factor due to geomagnetic field activity that can be applied to the quiet time foF2 value. The scaling factors are expressed as percentages above or below the quiet time values, and thus can be applied to the MUF output of your favorite propagation software. The model uses the previous 33 hours of geomagnetic field activity as its driver, indicating that the F region doesn`t necessarily respond immediately to elevated K indices. Check out http://sec.noaa.gov/storm for the current plot, historical plots of significant geomagnetic storms, and a discussion of how the model was developed and validated. For more information on propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site, http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Sunspot numbers for September 11 through 17 were 55, 58, 57, 58, 68, 89 and 83, with a mean of 66.9. 10.7 cm flux was 96.7, 94.4, 96.1, 94.7, 97.3, 99.3 and 105.9, with a mean of 97.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 15, 11, 11, 7, 6, 37 and 61, with a mean of 21.1. Copyright - 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ###