DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-174, October 2, 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/dxldtd3j.html For restrixions and searchable 2003 contents archive see http://www.worldofradio.com/dxldmid.html NOTE: If you are a regular reader of DXLD, and a source of DX news but have not been sending it directly to us, please consider yourself obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1201: RFPI: Sat 0130, 0800, 2330, Sun 0530, 1130, Mon 0030, 0630, 1230, Wed 0100, 0730 on 7445; maybe testing on 15115-USB WWCR: Sat 1030, Sun 0230 on 5070; 0630 on 3210; Wed 0930 on 9475 WRMI: Sat & Sun 1800+ via IBC Radio on 15725 WBCQ: Mon 0415 on 7415 and NEW 5105 -- see USA WRN: Rest of world Sat 0800, Europe Sun 0430, N America Sun 1400 WRN ONDEMAND [from Friday]: 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 WORLD OF RADIO 1201 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1201h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1201h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1201.html WORLD OF RADIO 1201 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1201.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1201.rm WORLD OF RADIO ON WINB: For two weeks in a row, now, we have managed to get the latest edition on WINB quickly, UT Thursdays 0130+ on 9320, and will attempt to continue this, so that will be the second airing each week after WBCQ Wed at 2200. WORLD OF RADIO on OZONE RADIO: see UK ** AFGHANISTAN. RADIO STATION BRINGS TRUTH TO AFGHANISTAN By Pfc. Kelly Hunt, October 1, 2003 BAGRAM, Afghanistan (Army News Service, Oct. 1, 2003) -- One group of soldiers in Afghanistan has started reaching out to the Afghan people via radio waves. Troops from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group, Fort Bragg, N.C., and Co. B., 17th Bn., 7th PSYOPS Group, Aurora, Ill., took over broadcasting of Peace radio when they arrived in country. The program hit the airwaves after the downfall of the Taliban throughout the country in early 2002. ``Our function is to broadcast information to the local people of this nation, letting them know exactly what`s happening in their country,`` said Staff Sgt. Thomas Pina, non-commissioned officer in charge of the programming, Co. B., 3rd Bn., 4th PSYOPS. The unit`s Product Development Detachment gathers information from several different sources to include civil affairs teams, public affairs offices and governmental offices. It is then filtered through the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force. Task Force 180 personnel sort through the information that is later translated into either the Dari or Pashtu language depending on where the information is used. Though the team currently broadcasts out of Bagram, Pina said they`re ``looking to expand their reach. Our goal would be to get all of Afghanistan.`` ``The people themselves, I imagine, are hungry for information,`` he said. ``They`re hungry for a better way of life so we`re trying to do that in our own way.`` The programming is aired 18 hours a day, seven days a week. A tough task for the small crew, but one they say will greatly affect the progress of the nation. ``Our job is to win the minds and hearts of the Afghan population,`` said Pina who added that it`s not always easy due to the remaining influence of the Taliban and al Qaeda. ``Old habits are hard to break (and,) if you`ve been under a certain warlord or a certain forceful element, it`s hard to break away from that just because there`s these guys, knights in shining armor, that come along and say they`re the saviors.`` It`s hard for the Afghan people to grasp the idea that with the wave of our magic wand, all of a sudden we can fix everything, he said. ``It`s a long-term situation, a long-term goal,`` said Pina. The impact ``Peace`` actually has on the people is hard to track, Pina said. Though troops know that people hear them, determining who and when is difficult. ``People are sometimes unwilling to come free with information,`` said Pina. ``Even though they know we`re the good guys, they`re still trying to feel their way through `what can I say to this person.``` The broadcast team is related to the Peace newsletter whose goal is the same; to distribute the truth throughout the country. ``We`re trying to mirror the two sides,`` said Pina. ``Whatever we`re speaking about on the radio side is what they`re printing on the print side.`` Joining forces helps double the chances the messages are heard, increasing the possibility for peace and prosperity in the country. Though keeping the radio station up and running is hard work, Pina says it does have its advantages. ``Looking at it from an American standpoint and looking at these people living in this country, the gap between us and them is tremendously large,`` said Pina. ``It`s somewhat humbling (doing this job) because you`re making an affect on people`s lives.`` (Editor`s note: Spc. Kelly Hunt is a journalist with the 4th Public Affairs Detachment in Afghanistan.) (Army News Service via Jilly Dybka, DXLD) WTFK??? Presumably refers to what has been called Information Radio, allegedly on 9000 kHz, plus AM and/or FM? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. ALSTON FAREWELLS COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO Australia`s longest serving Communications Minister Richard Alston is saying goodbye to his portfolio and will soon say farewell too to the red leather benches of the Senate. . . http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s956182.htm Of course, Senator Alston was best known outside Australia for wanting to kill Radio Australia a few years ago. 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, Oct 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. To the listeners of HCJB Australia: On last weekend September 27, I received DX Partyline on the air from HCJB Australia at 1430 UTC on 15390 kHz, but what I heard was the program "September 20 edition" introduced on the program's website http://www.hcjb.org/dxplaudiophp and the segment of Japan Short Wave Club was not included in it. When I received HCJB Australia again at 0830 UT on 11750 kHz on yesterday September 30, it was the "September 27 edition" of DX Partyline and I confirmed "Asian DX News" produced by JSWC in the program. So if you missed to receive yesterday's broadcast, I suggest that you receive the program of next weekend on October 4 at 1430 on 15390. By the way, currently it seems to be impossible to receive the broadcast from Quito, Ecuador on 15115 here in Japan, are there anyone who received DX Partyline from Quito on last weekend? I'd like to know if "September 27 edition" was really broadcast on this day. Finally, please try to listen to the next Sunday edition of "Wavescan" of Adventist World Radio. You may confirm the DX report of JSWC which is scheduled to be on the air during the first Sunday edition of this program every month. 73 from (Nobuya Kato, Member of JSWC / October 1, 2003 via Michael Bethge, WWDXC via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Welcome to the world of slippery scheduling. DXPL is adding more and more outside-produced features, now also Rich McVicar with allegedly humorous items, easing Allen Graham`s own workload. BTW, Oct 2 Thu at 2000 on WWCR 15825 --- reception was excellent here this week a megameter from Nashville in the `iffy` zone ---, it was last week`s program, not the next one (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELARUS` [non non]. Hi Glenn, Re 3-171: Radio Minsk cancelled all transmissions via Ukrainian facilities at least five years ago, saying that the rents for STL lines and transmitters were raised one time after another while the reception quality remained poor (from my recollection the latter one statement is true). Since then they use a 250 kW, at present on 7105, and a bunch of 5 kW transmitters (former jammers) combined to a single 75 kW on 7210, indeed both at the Kalodziscy site. By the way, as far as I know there also used to be Radio Minsk transmissions on Bolshakovo-1215 prior to my time (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BOTSWANA. Radio Botswana. The below is per a nice chat I had with their Chief Engineer this morning: Their shortwave transmitters are very old and they are no longer buying spare parts. One transmitter (used to switch between 90 and 31 mb) has been off about 10 months and it sounds like it will remain off. 4820 is operated 24 hours a day, but at 25 kW (nominal power is 50 kW); 7255 is on 0300-1700 at 25 kW as well. They switch it off at this time "because the frequency is Nigeria's at this time." While Botswana is sparsely populated, the concentrations of population are served via FM and AM (MW) now. The audience for the shortwave is in the Kalahari Desert, where there are people but no real concentrations. These include wildlife researchers and the government anti-poaching teams (Hans Johnson, Cody WY, Cumbre DX Oct 2 via DXLD) Hi Hans. During last couple of weeks, when rather regularly scanning the 60mb (UT evenings) I've noted no signal of Botswana on 4820. They used to be a regular one here with 50 kW, so I guess 25kW should also do it OK here. But nada. Is it me or are they off the air? Any loggings lately? (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. The 2nd edition of the Brazilian Medium Wave list compiled by the DXCB (Dx Clube do Brasil) is ready. Lots of updates and infos. Free download in PDF format at http://www.ondascurtas.com link: Brasil em ondas medias (Rocco Cotroneo, Rio, Oct 1, WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hi Glenn, You can find a schedule of the CBC NQS, in PDF format, at the following URL: http://north.cbc.ca/north/content/nordquebec.pdf The previous link was for the satellite channel. Here's the one for 9625 kHz, which has more English programming in it than does the satellite channel: http://north.cbc.ca/north/content/shortwave.pdf 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hi! the WEB link http://playdx.altervista.org/html/travel.htm will permit to read the report "on the road" revised and up to date with all the links of the medias seen in the travel of august 2003 in to the Canadian preries. Written by me and my partner in the travel Roberto Pavanello (the Italian text), all the reported informations are true and really experienced in our 25 days travel. Good amusing... if you have the right spirit... if not sorry (Dario Monferini & Roberto Pavanello PLAYDX ITALIA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Halifax was hit hard [by Hurricane Juan], but you would never know it by listening to the radio. This morning at 6 am, CHNS, CJCH and CFDR all were on the air with regular programming. One of the three had news but unless you already knew there was a problem in the city, you would never know. Probably a function of automation, which will be death of the relevancy of radio in Canada (Brent Taylor, Doaktown NB, Sept 29, NRC-AM via DXLD) See also NEWFOUNDLAND ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC [and non]. Ndeke Luka, 15545: NDR: le 29 septembre, la station a été entendue dans le centre de la France avec un signal moyen et devenant de plus en plus faible au fur et à mesure de la diffusion. Radio Minurca (Mission des Nations-Unies en République Centrafricaine) avait cessé ses émissions le 1er février 2000. Elle fut la première station de l'ONU à émettre 24h/24 et 7 jours sur 7. Radio Minurca a joué son rôle dans la restauration de la paix en Centrafrique et dans l'organisation des élections présidentielles. Elle diffusait en français et en langue sango, informant l'auditoire sur les élections, les droits de l'homme et des progrès sur le chemin de la paix. Des débats animés ont été diffusés en direct, dans un pays qui connut de violents affrontements en 1996 et 1997. "Ces débats ont aidé à délier les langues", déclarait David Smith, le directeur canadien de la station (cf information du 1er février 2000 dans la section archives) (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** CHINA. NEW DESIGNED QSL PACKAGE OF CHBC RECEIVED Hello, I am QSL manager of China Huayi Broadcasting Company; today I received 30 new designed blank QSL folder of CHBC. I would send out QSL to those right reception report, IRCs or 1 dollar would be appreciated. Current schedule as follows: 2200-2100 UT 23 hours everyday on 6185 KHz. My address is : Qiao Xiaoli Feng Jing Xin Cun 3-4-304 Changshu, Jiangsu 215500 P.R. China Email: 2883752@163.com My email address is: dxswl@21cn.com (Qiao Xiaoli, DX LISTENING DIGEST) So $ are OK in China? Last time I was there, they made sure we used scrip, but that was a while ago (gh) ** CHINA. NATIONAL RADIO TO CHANGE INTERNET URL 1 OCT Beijing China National Radio 1 in Mandarin, during its regularly scheduled "News and Press Review" programme at 2230 gmt on 29 September, announces that China National Radio plans to change its URL from www.cnradio.com to http://www.cnr.cn with effect from 1 October. Source: China National Radio, Beijing, in Standard Chinese 0109 gmt 30 Sep 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. 3749.77 (Tentative), HIBC, La Voz del Progreso, San Francisco de Macorís (harmonic 3 x 1250), Oct 2, 0947-1015, soft religious songs in Spanish, 1000 into upbeat vocals with announcer preaching between songs, 1004 mention of "...San Francisco de Macorís...", steady fair signal, weakening by 1015 with sunrise. Usual Ham QRM was absent this morning (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ESTONIA. ESTLANDSE RADIOPIRAAT ACTIEF Piratenzender Radio Natalie uit Estland is van 3 tot en met 7 oktober op de kortegolf te horen. Daarmee viert het station zijn 5-jarig bestaan. De exacte uitzendtijden zijn niet bekend. De vermoedelijke frequenties zijn 7473 kHz (overdag) en 3916 kHz (`s avonds). De jubileum-uitzendingen worden in de ether gebracht door de Zweedse collega-piraat Power41, dat zijn 1000 Watt sterke Collins zender in Ytterby beschikbaar stelt. De eigen programma`s van Power41 zijn elke zondag in de lucht op 6240 kHz. (kortegolf info woensdag 01 oktober 2003 13:21 via DXLD) We thought this was in Russia previously as Estonia was not mentioned. A further posting from Dario Monferini puts it in Estonia. QSL illustrated: http://www.kortegolf.info/kg/content/view/full/424/ (gh) ** FRANCE. Le jeudi 25 septembre, Jean-Jacques AILLAGON - Ministre de la Culture et de la communication - présentait le budget octroyé par l'Etat à son ministère pour l'année prochaine. RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE, RFI, qui dispose encore d'un statut particulier puisqu'elle est soumise à une double tutelle, bénéficiera d'une ressource en provenance de la redevance en hausse de 2% qui complètera la dotation budgétaire du ministère des affaires étrangères, en hausse de 1,5%. La dotation publique de RFI augmente pour lui permettre de financer son activité et dans l'attente de la signature d'un contrat d'objectifs et de moyens actuellement à l'étude. La rationalisation du dispositif de diffusion et de production et la poursuite de la modernisation interne de la société constitueront pour RFI les principaux objectifs de l'année 2004. Au total, RFI bénéficie ainsi de 2,09 millions d'euros supplémentaires (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD) ** INDIA. Shortwave is the medium From: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?msid=212032 PRASAR BHARATI PLANS 24-HR RADIO NEWS STATION TIMES NEWS NETWORK [ THURSDAY, OCTOBER 02, 2003 05:17:26 AM ] NEW DELHI: Change is in the AIR. On the heels of the revival of a 24- hour news channel on DD, Prasar Bharati now plans a 24-hour news radio station — not on FM, as one may imagine, but on shortwave. For FM it has other ideas --- classical music channels to start with in Bangalore and Lucknow and to be extended across the country later. Also in the pipeline is a new year gift of the information age: a 4- digit phone number for news updates round-the-clock. This was revealed at a press conference to launch a voice modulation training course for wannabe radio jockeys. Speaking to reporters after the launch of the certificate course VANI and the release of a handbook on the subject, KS Sarma, CEO, Prasar Bharati said that spare transmitters would be put to use to launch the niche classical music radio stations. For the shortwave news station being planned, transmitters from the external services wing, which were not being utilised optimally would be ``diverted.`` For instance, broadcast in Burmese language which was on for 50 years has been discontinued recently — with good reason, since no one has complained! ``We are resorting to SW for the simple reason that it covers the whole country,`` Mr Sarma said. AIR, which produces more than 300 bulletins daily, will also cash in on phone bulletins. The service which is on in Patna, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Delhi at different numbers, will be launched across the country with a four-digit common number. Mr Sarma said the DD news channel would be launched on November 3 and would have business, Bollywood, rural components in addition to political, current affairs and other news. The news channel would fall back on sponsored programmes and not commissioned productions. Initial rates on offer are Rs 10,000 for prime time half hour slot and Rs 5,000 for non prime-time, with free commercial time of 210 seconds. He said that with Prasar Bharati committing to garner revenues to the tune of Rs 2 crore (in first five months), Rs 25 crore for the first year after that and Rs 27 crore for the next year, the finance ministry had also come halfway and promised to ``fill any gaps`` if the targets were not achieved for reasons beyond the autonomous organisation`s control. Taking pride in beginning the telecast of sports news on DD Sports, Mr Sarma also claimed credit for acquiring rights to telecast the Asian Cup Hockey with just one hour’s notice a day before the event. DD earned Rs 35 lakh worth airtime, he added. He also revealed that DD would be telecasting the Olympics and is in negotiations through the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union to acquire rights (via Ulis R. Fleming, Cumbredx mailing list Oct 2 via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. On Sep 30 at 1525 heard an Indonesian station with lagu2 and phone-ins on 3231.8. I presume this was RRI Bukittinggi. The audio was a bit muddy during voice portions, music came in well. They closed at 1559 after a short islamic (p) talk and "Love Ambon". I guess they are irregular nowadays on this frequency (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. Ramadan 2003 [sic; it`s not 2003 in Ramadanic terms] Der islamische Fastenmonat Ramadan beginnt wahrscheinlich am 27.10.2003 Das Ramadanfest zum Abschluss findet dann am 25.11. statt. Das genaue Datum variiert plus minus 1 bis 2 Tage, da sich der islamische Kalender nicht an Daten, sondern am Mondkalender orientiert und der Beginn des Fastenmonats von den geistlichen Autoritäten ausgerufen wird. Der Fastenmonat ist eine der ``fünf Säulen`` des Islam, neben dem Bekenntnis zu Allah als dem einen Gott und zu Mohammed als seinem Gesandten, der Abgabe zugunsten der Armen, dem regelmäßigen Gebet und der Wallfahrt nach Mekka. In der Zeit des Ramadan sollen die Gläubigen vom Morgen bis Abend fasten, ausgenommen Kinder, Schwangere, Schwerarbeitende und Reisende. In dieser Zeit verlagert sich das gesellschaftliche und familiäre Leben auf den Abend und verlängern viele Stationen der muslimischen Welt ihre Programme, so dass sich neue Möglichkeiten für den Rundfunkfernempfang ergeben (Dr. Hj. Biener, ntt aktuell Sept 29 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL WATERS [non]. WX4NHC Amateur Radio team active in Hurricane Juan: WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami established communications with Amateur Radio operators in Nova Scotia during Hurricane Juan`s landfall September 29 at high tide. A category 1 storm with sustained winds of 80 MPH with higher gusts, Juan was one of the strongest hurricanes to make direct landfall on Nova Scotia since Hurricane Hortense in 1996, said WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY. Landfall was early Monday morning just east of Halifax. ``Hundreds of people are reported to have been evacuated from low-lying areas as a precaution,`` McHugh said, adding that Halifax Airport recorded a wind gust of 88 MPH. McHugh said communication was established using EchoLink. ``This allows WX4NHC to connect to local repeaters in the affected area and talk with hams using their VHF/UHF radios to that local repeaters,`` he pointed out. McHugh said WX4NHC was able to obtain surface-level reports from Nelson Burgoyne, VE1GO, who lives in near Sydney Harbor about 200 feet from the shoreline, Bob Roper, VE1CRR, and Jim Milner, VE1VIA. Roper reported that the Halifax area had lost many large trees and suffered downed power lines and roof damage. Milner checked in about 10 PM to report that power was out in Halifax and the two main bridges had been closed. For more information, visit the WX4NHC Web site http://www.wx4nhc.org/. WX4NHC, formerly W4EHW, has operated with volunteers at the National Hurricane Center for 23 years (ARRL October 2 via John Norfolk, DXLD) See also CANADA ** IRAN [non]. CLANDESTINE from AZERBAIJAN to IRAN. 9375. Voice of Southern Azerbaijan. 1529 Oct 1, very short tone, then sign on with man mentioning Azerbaijan a number of times. 1533 what sounded like news read by woman, mentioning the CIA, Iran. 1537 end of news and talk by man. Short talks by a couple of different men, short fanfares. 1554 return of same woman who read the news. 1600 another fanfare with man, and off. No sign of any jamming so I guess this one doesn't bother the Iranian government. Via Javaradio Europe. Oct 2, 1525 tune in to open carrier, no test tones were heard. 1530 sign on with ID, fanfare, and talk by man. 1533 what sounded like news read by woman. Program continued to repeated yesterday's format. Once again, no sign of any jamming. Via Javaradio Europe (Hans Johnson, Cody WY, Cumbre DX Oct 2 via DXLD) ** IRAQ. Media update 2 October 2003 [excerpts] NEW RADIO BROADCASTS IN IRAQ SINCE 26 AUGUST 2003 A new radio station called the Voice of Iraq was launched in Baghdad on 27 August, the Iraqi newspaper Al-Zaman reported. Voice of Iraq is supervised by the International Agency for Free Media, a media institution run by Iraqis that was active abroad during the Saddam Husayn regime and covered Iraqi news and domestic developments via the Internet. The station broadcasts on 1179 kHz. It covers Baghdad and nearby towns including Mahawil, Ba'qubah and Fallujah. American Forces Network (AFN) "Z Rock" service has been monitored on 100.1 MHz. According to their web site http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil this is one of seven music streams distributed by AFN. It is not in parallel with their service on 107.8 MHz. Polish Radio The 4 September edition of Radio Polonia's "Multimedia" programme included information on relays of Polish Radio in Iraq. Polish Radio Programme 1 is received in Iraq by satellite and rebroadcast in the canteen on one of the four Polish bases; further loudspeaker relays will be added at the other bases. A studio has been set up to insert local programming and contribute to Polish Radio Programme 1, and there are plans to establish FM radio stations in the Polish controlled sector in Iraq to carry the programmes. Funding has also been provided for all Polish troops to be given radio receivers so they can listen to the broadcasts. POST-WAR BROADCAST MEDIA --- RADIO FM BAND IN BAGHDAD (MHz) 89.0 - BBC World Service in Arabic 89.9 - Iranian Payam network in Persian 90.1 - Iranian Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic 92.3 - Continuous US pop music - no identification announcements 93.0 - Iranian Javan (Youth) network in Persian 93.5 - Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East 95.0 - Radio Freedom from Baghdad in Arabic (operated by the PUK) 97.1 - Continuous US pop music (as 92.3) 97.4 - Continuous US pop music (as 92.3) 97.7 - Continuous US pop music (as 92.3) 98.1 - BBC World Service in English 98.3 - Baghdad FM Radio 100.1 - American Forces Network "Z Rock" in English 100.4 - US Radio Sawa in Arabic 101.6 - Iranian Javan (Youth) network in Persian 102.4 - Radio Free Iraq (RFE/RL) 104.1 - IQ4 Radio Iraq in English 107.8 - American Forces Network in English AM/MEDIUMWAVE (kHz) 531 - (Iranian) IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 540 - Radio Kuwait Main Programme in Arabic 558 - IRIB Radio Farhang network in Persian 576 - IRIB Arabic Service 585 - (Saudi) BSKSA General Programme in Arabic 612 - IRIB Arabic Service 630 - Radio Kuwait Koran Programme in Arabic 639 - IRIB World Service in Kurdish 657 - New Iraq Radio in Arabic and Kurdish 666 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 693 - US Information Radio in Arabic 711 - IRIB Ahwaz regional in Arabic 720 - Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic 756 - Information Radio in Arabic 783 - BSKSA 2nd Programme in Arabic 819 - Syrian Arab Republic Radio Main Programme in Arabic 855 - BSKSA Koran Programme in Arabic 864 - Radio Nejat in Persian 873 - BSKSA Koran Programme in Arabic 900 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 909 - Radio Nahrain 936 - BSKSA Koran Programme in Arabic 954 - Radio Qatar in Arabic 972 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 1000 - Voice of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq 1026 - Iraqi Media Network - Radio Baghdad in Arabic 1053 - Republic of Iraq Radio, Voice of the Iraqi People in Arabic 1089 - BSKSA 2nd Programme in Arabic 1134 - Radio Kuwait Main Programme in Arabic 1161 - IRIB Arabic Service 1170 - (US-run) Radio Farda in Persian 1179 - Voice of Iraq 1188 - IRIB Radio Payam network in Persian 1224 - IRIB Arabic Service 1242 - Radio Sultanate of Oman 1251 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 1269 - Radio Kuwait Modern Arabic Music Service 1278 - IRIB Kermanshah regional in Persian 1296 - Voice of Azerbaijan in Azeri - Radio Liberty relay 1305 - IRIB Bushehr regional in Persian 1314 - (US-run) Radio Free Iraq via Abu Dhabi 1332 - IRIB Tehran regional in Persian 1341 - Radio Kuwait 2nd Programme in Arabic 1395 - Voice of Armenia in Armenian 1422 - BSKSA Foreign Language Programme in French 1440 - BSKSA General Programme in Arabic 1449 - IRIB World Service in Russian 1467 - BSKSA General Programme in Arabic 1476 - Emirates Radio, UAE, in Arabic 1485 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 1503 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 1521 - IRIB Radio Farhang network in Persian 1530 - IRIB Radio Sarasarye network in Persian 1539 - (US-run) Radio Farda in Persian 1548 - (US-run) Radio Sawa in Arabic 1566 - Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers in Arabic 1575 - Radio Al-Mustaqbal 1575 - Radio Asia, UAE, in Urdu 1593 - VoA English/Kurdish/Persian + Radio Free Iraq Source: BBC Monitoring research 2 Oct 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ. ANALYSIS: IRAQIS PLAN INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC BROADCASTER; BBC TRAINING ON HOLD | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 1 October In an initiative to launch a domestic broadcasting service independent of Coalition influence, the Iraqi Broadcasting Corporation (IBC) was set up in September 2003 by a number of Iraqi businessmen and media figures with an initial investment of 10m US dollars to produce TV and radio broadcasts. The IBC has stated its intention to operate independently from any government or authority. However, for the time being the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), operated by the Coalition Provisional Authority, continues to dominate domestic broadcasting. At present IMN TV and radio programmes are produced and prerecorded in facilities in the Convention Centre near the headquarters of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). They are physically taken to the TV and FM radio transmitter site some two km away to be broadcast. With 10 reporters and a staff of 50 in Baghdad only, the TV station broadcasts for up to 12 hours per day. The same reporters also work for radio. The role of the IMN in shaping post-war national broadcasting in Iraq, and the extent of its powers, came under the international spotlight at the beginning of August, when senior IMN official Ahmad al-Rikabi, head of US-backed Iraqi TV, resigned. Rikabi complained that inadequate funding prevented the station from competing with rival channels from Iran and the Gulf states. Later in August the US authorities appointed Simon Haselock as media commissioner to govern broadcasters and the press in Iraq, establish training programmes for journalists and plan for the establishment of a state-run radio and TV network. Haselock's last appointment was as spokesman and media supervisor for UN authorities overseeing Kosovo. A joint UN and World Bank needs assessment mission to Iraq in August concluded that the country needed a genuine public service oriented broadcaster that could provide the population with credible news about developments in their country. Decisions on following up this assessment will be taken at a donors' meeting in Madrid in late October. In the light of the deteriorating security situation, the BBC World Service Trust decided at the end of September to put its journalists' training programme in Iraq on hold temporarily. Iraq's US-backed Governing Council in September imposed a partial ban on two pan-Arab satellite TV channels, Al-Jazeera based in Qatar and Al-Arabiya based in Dubai, accusing them of encouraging terrorism and working against a new Iraqi democracy. The measure, which banned the channels from covering any Governing Council business for a fortnight, resulted in condemnation from media freedom groups around the world. US spokesmen have said Al-Jazeera provides a platform for terrorists and incites attacks against Coalition soldiers in Iraq. To compete with Al-Jazeera and other pan-Arab news channels, the Bush administration plans to start its own 24-hour Arabic-language satellite TV network by the end of this year. Iraqi Satellite TV, meanwhile, is due to resume broadcasting in October 2003, once 80m dollars worth of equipment arrives from the US and the UK. The US communications equipment manufacturer Harris Corporation announced on 29 September that it had been awarded a contract by the US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) to supply FM radio transmitters and other equipment to help rebuild Iraq's communications infrastructure. Harris said it had recently created "an Iraq Initiatives Office that pools the products and resources of its five communications businesses to address the business opportunities related to the rebuilding of Iraq". New publications continue to appear in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Husayn's regime in April 2003. At the time of writing, more than 200 newspapers and other publications are available. International broadcasters such as the BBC, Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East and the US-run Radio Sawa are all available on FM in Baghdad and some other Iraqi cities. Internet services are on offer in the capital, and the state internet service provider, Uruklink, is back in operation after several months offline. Source: BBC Monitoring research 1 Oct 03 (via DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. BBC MEDIA TRAINING ON HOLD ANKARA, 29 September (IRIN) - The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service Trust has put its activities on hold in Iraq temporarily due to deteriorating security. "We are really waiting for security to improve and we would have to see NGOs go back in first before we move in again," projects director for the BBC World Service Trust, Tim Williams, told IRIN from London on Monday. However, one radio programme entitled 'calling Iraq' is continuing. Six journalists trained in Baghdad straight after the war are providing material to be broadcast on the programme, which is transmitted from London. Since the end of the war, the BBC has trained 100 journalists in south central Iraq and conducted a one week training course in conjunction with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) introducing children to radio. "This project has been put on hold for the time being," he said. The trust has carried out two surveys of the Iraqi broadcast media firstly in April in the southern cities of Basra, Umm Qasr and Amara followed by another on the south central cities of Baghdad, Hilla, Najaf and Karbala in June. The surveys found that the process of developing a strategy for the rebuilding of the Iraqi media was just getting underway. "We felt that despite the bombing and disappearance of the entire management there were pockets of people who were trying to set up the media and trying to provide local information," Williams said, adding that there was a clear need to rebuild management. The report underscored the security situation: "Baghdad is still in chaos and security in the city is a constant worry". Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the media was state controlled and satellite dishes were banned. However, a new free media is emerging with international support. At present Iraqi Media Network TV and radio programmes are being prepared and pre-recorded in facilities in the Convention Centre near the headquarters of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). They are physically taken to the TV and FM radio transmitter site some two km away so they can be aired. With 10 reporters and a staff of 50 in Baghdad only, the TV station broadcasts for up to 12 hours per day. The same reporters also work for radio. According to the survey findings, Iraqis all over the country had high broadcast engineering skills. However, production and editorial skills were poor. In south central Iraq, the findings were encouraging: "The presence of enthusiastic, determined people working to set up radio and TV stations in post offices and relay stations owned by the former broadcaster led to the conclusion that opportunities in this region for supporting the emergence of an indigenous independent media are very good". However, the document pinpointed that there was a need to encourage more women into the media in this region. In the southern city of Basra, former senior employees of the Iraqi TV station were working from the local football stadium where they added an antenna to one of the floodlight rigs and connected the feeder cables to a one kilo watt transmitter salvaged from the main complex. However, Williams noted overall that Iraqis were in need of support in the media industry. "There was a sense that people were waiting to be told what to do and weren't sure that they could do it themselves," he explained. The survey findings also made reference to the CPA's involvement in rebuilding the media industry: "While CPA officials of all kinds insist they want to foster a free independent and responsible media that will be at the centre of the democratisation process in Iraq, at the moment they are too busy trying to convince Iraqis of their good intentions and getting public information announcements on the airwaves". Commenting on the news values of Iraqi journalists, he said: "When it comes to news Iraq is definitely a country run by rumour. One of the dangers for any media organisation is that it will have to deal with the rumour mill." He explained that there was a concern that these rumours could be manipulated by the wrong people to be used to their advantage. "Audiences are provided with both information and rumour," he remarked. "People have to deal with irrational thoughts and fears as well as dealing with the day to day issues and problems," he added. Copyright (c) UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2003 via Creative-Radio mailing list, 1 October 2003 (via Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DXLD) Unfinished business --- The decision of the BBC World Service Trust to suspend its operations in Iraq, where it has been training Iraqi broadcasters, is a serious blow to hopes of constructing a new Iraqi public broadcasting service in a short time frame. Cynics might conclude that it is in the interests of the Coalition Provisional Authority to prolong the status quo, where it has de facto control of the key media installations. Read my commentary at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features/html/media031002.html (Andy Sennitt, Media Network newsletter Oct 2 via DXLD) ** IRELAND. Glenn, I have e-mailed RTÉ today to bring to their attention the problems people are experiencing in the transmissions on 612. I requested that the bring the information to the attention of the transmitter maintenance dept. Yours sincerely, (Paul Guckian, Ennis, Co Clare. Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. A reminder: Clocks set back Friday http://bet.iba.org.il/?lang=23 Summertime in Israel will end during the night between Thursday, October 2nd and Friday, October 3rd. At 1 o'clock a.m., Friday, clocks in Israel will be turned back one hour to midnight. The change in times will only affect our overseas listeners who will hear our shortwave broadcasts at 5, 11:10, 18 and 20 hours UT -- starting Friday, October 3 (Doni Rosenzweig, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY. 6060 carries 2200-0400/2300-0500 together with 900 and 846 bzw. Some other mediumwave frequencies the Notturno Italiano overnight service. This is a Prato Smeraldo transmitter, so not affected by the discontinuation of shortwave transmissions from Caltanissetta earlier this year, and the tinny sound caused by tight highpass filters (cut- off hardly lower than 200 Hz, rather even higher) is especially striking when comparing 6060 with mediumwave (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non?]. Dear listeners, On Friday Oct. 3, 2003, IRRS- Shortwave will be broadcasting from Milan, Italy, a one hour test using 100 kW and a omni-directional antenna. These broadcasts are intended to test our newly modified transmitters and Carrier Controlled Modulation, and will cover Europe, North Africa and the Middle East as a primary target. Reception in other far away countries will also be possible depending on propagation conditions. We welcome your reception reports, by email, to: reports@n... [truncated] - especially if you are listening from any country within the target areas above. Please take a note of the following details: IRRS-Shortwave test transmission from Milan, Italy on: Date : Friday Oct. 3, 2003 Freq.: 5,775 kHz Time: 1900-2000 UT (2100-2200 CE[S]T) - 20 kW (omni-directional to Europe, N. Africa, Middle East) Time: 2000-2100 UT (2200-2300 CE[S]T) - 100 kW (omni-directional to Europe, N. Africa, Middle East) Please notice the use of two different power levels (20 and 100 kW) during a 2-hour slot. These test are in anticipation of regular broadcasts starting Oct. 10, 2003 using 100 kW. More details will be available next week on our web site at http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules and via our mailing lists. For our religious slots, please also see http://www.egradio.org May I finally remind you that you can hear us daily on the air on 5,775 kHz between 1900-2030 UT (2100-2230 CE[S]T) and on Sat & Sun also on 13,840 kHz between 0800-1200 UT (1000-1400 CE[S]T), with a wide variety of news, religion and music in English and other European languages. All our broadcasts may be heard in parallel via audio streaming at: http://mp3.nexus.org Thank You for you co-operation, and look forward to hearing from you. Best 73, de Ron Norton, NEXUS-IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy e-mail : ron@nexus.org (IRRS mailing list via Anker Petersen, Oct 1 via WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DXLD) So apparently IRRS has their own 100 kW in Milan, rather than hiring time at other sites?? Why doesn`t IRRS confirm or deny claims like the following? (gh, DXLD) Ciao! a dire il vero sono 2 anni che la "menano" con la bufala che trasmettono da MILANO con 100 kW... poi in realtà i 100 kW sono della deutsche telekom.... che mi pare non opera da Milano....e poi da MILANO ... dove ?? dal Parco Ravizza ??? (Dario Monferini, MILANO, Play-DX via WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DXLD) ** LATVIA. Starting 4 October, the Dutch Internet radio station Radio Seagull will be relayed regularly via Ulbroka 9290 kHz 100 kW each Saturday from 1000 to 1500 UT. This is a commercial relay provided by the relay service of Laser Radio UK (in cooperation with a Latvian broker). Radio Seagull contact info: P.O. Box 24, 8860 AA Harlingen, The Netherlands. E-mail: info@radioseagull.nl Website: http://www.radioseagull.nl and http://www.radioseagull.com (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LITHUANIA. Dear Short Wave Listeners and Radio Enthusiasts. Radio Ezra is pleased to announce a new series of weekly broadcasts commencing on Sunday 30th November 2003. The broadcasts will be targeted towards Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in the 41 meter band on 7560 kHz between 1900 and 1930 UT via the Sitkunai transmitter in Lithuania. Radio Ezra is the Radio Voice of the World Karaite Movement and the first and only counter-missionary radio station in the world. Reception reports are very welcome and a QSL certificate will be issued to any correct reports. Due to limited funding there is unfortunately no PO Box contact and reception reports can only be sent by either fax or e-mail, details of which will be read out on air and may also be found on the station's website. To commemorate Radio Ezra's new image and purpose, ten special QSL cards will be issued to the first ten reception reports received. Thank you. Radio Ezra http://www.radioezra.com World Karaite Movement http://www.karaites.info radioezra@ntlworld.com (John D. Hill, UK, Station Owner, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I don`t recall Ezra being associated with Karaism in previous incarnations. What`s that? Intro from website above: Karaism is the original form of Judaism as prescribed by God in the Torah. Karaite Judaism rejects later additions to the Tanach (Jewish Bible) such as the Rabbinic Oral Law and places the ultimate responsibility of interpreting the Bible on each individual. Karaism does not reject Biblical interpretation but rather holds every interpretation up to the same objective scrutiny regardless of its source. To receive notifications of New Moon Sightings, Abib, New Articles, and other important updates please Subscribe to the Karaite Korner Newsletter (via gh, DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. R. Malaysia heard at 2100-2140+ UT Oct 2 on new, unlisted 6180, in English (Chris Hambly, Victoria, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. Here`s a Finnish website with extensive listings of Mexican stations; I see many of the few SW items are long silent, tho not labeled as such; the list overall has been updated only last week. It rounds up info from many sources, including DXLD: MEXICO ON THE AIR - KUULTAVISSA OLEVAT MEKSIKOLAISET 2003-2004 http://www.diccons.com/radio/komex.htm Thanks to a tip from Neil Kazaross, NRC-AM (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi! KOMEX is an English Mexico site for Finnish dx'ers. I'm collecting there all the information for Mexican stations I can find. The address for that site is http://www.diccons.com/radio/komex.htm Best regards, (Esa Hanninen from Finland, NRC-AM via DXLD) The SCT map-by-state page still lives on the website, http://www.sct.gob.mx/satelital/am/ but is apparently not updated and seems to be considerably more out of date than the information/ concesiones/radio AM or Radio FM PDF files (David Gleason, ibid.) ** MOLDOVA. On October 1, I heard presumably Moldova's sweep-signal jammer to Radio Pridnestrovia's half-hour transmission from Tiraspol via Grigoriopol at 1600-1630 on 549 kHz. The jamming was so strong that it affected to the [q.v.] Ukrainian Radio transmission on the same frequency here in Kyiv. Jamming was stopped at 1633 (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, BC-DX Oct 2 via DXLD) ** NEWFOUNDLAND. CLUB TO CONTINUE 60-METER EXPERIMENTAL WORK Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland club station VO1MRC http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/mrcn.html has resumed experimentation on 60 meters. Radio Amateurs of Canada http://www.rac.ca/ariss had recommended that Industry Canada grant the club`s request to continue its work on the 5-MHz band through the end of 2003. Newfoundland- Labrador RAC Section Manager Joe Craig, VO1NA, at VO1MRC worked ARRL Senior News Editor Rick Lindquist, N1RL, in Massachusetts on September 27 for the first Canada-US two-way amateur contact on 60 meters. VO1MRC was operating on CW, while N1RL was on SSB. Craig reports he was running a Canadian Marconi CH-150 at 75 W to a half- wave vertical. The experiment is authorized to operate on a ``no protection, non-interference basis`` to primary users. VO1MRC may run up to 100 W on CW or USB phone ``to compare propagation up to several hundred miles between 80, 60 and 40 meters.`` Last December, VO1MRC completed a crossband (5 MHz/7 MHz) CW contact with VK7RO in Tasmania. There more information on the VO1MRC 5 MHz Experiment Web pages http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/5megex.html. Experimental operations on 5 MHz also continue on a limited basis in the United Kingdom. (ARRL October 2 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [and non]. For a short period of time in 1940, the new government shortwave service, ``Australia Calling``, carried a bulletin of New Zealand news for New Zealand soldiers on duty in North Africa. These broadcasts were carried by VLQ near Sydney and by VLW near Perth in Western Australia. For a couple of years beginning in 1950, the 100 kW Shepparton transmitter VLB provided a daily bulletin of news from New Zealand for the benefit of their soldiers stationed in Japan. On this current occasion, the feeder line from the 100 kW Thomson- Thales transmitter of Radio New Zealand International at Rangitaiki (RANG-ee-tah-EE-kee) in the centre of the North Island failed. This problem occurred at 0505 UTC on Saturday August 30 during their scheduled transmission on 17675 kHz. While parts are awaited from the manufacturer in Europe, RNZI took out a relay over a 100 kW unit at Radio Australia Shepparton, beginning on September 8. This broadcast of the ``Pacific Breakfast Show`` is on the air daily from around 1700 UT on 9580 kHz. It is presumed that Radio Australia receives the programming from New Zealand either by satellite or the internet. It is expected that the RNZI transmitter will return to the air some time during the early part of this new month, October. Those who can hear this emergency relay should endeavor to obtain QSL cards from both Radio Australia and Radio New Zealand International while this unusual opportunity is still available (Adrian Michael Peterson, AWR Wavescan Oct 5 via DXLD) ?? RNZI itself says the transmitter itself was damaged, not merely the feeder line. 17675 still not back early UT Oct 3 (gh, DXLD) ** NICARAGUA. Re PARAGUAY [non]. ``University Station broadcasting on 9905 from Nicaragua`` --- WRTH lists a Radio Universidad on 99.5 FM.... 73's, (Michiel Schaay, Holland, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** OKLAHOMA. Oklahoma research balloon carries Amateur Radio payloads to new heights: The Oklahoma Research Balloon launched September 14 reached an altitude of more than 77,000 feet --- ``an Okie first,`` said Rich Conn, KD5JXU. The balloon lifted off at around 7:30 AM from Collinsville, Oklahoma, and was recovered about three hours later near Tiff, Oklahoma. Onboard APRS was used to determine its altitude. In addition to APRS, ORB-5 --- as it was called --- carried a 2-meter FM CW beacon. ``Soon we will be launching ORB-6 expecting to reach 80,000+ feet,`` Conn said. The ORB-6 payload will include a UHF/VHF crossband repeater, APRS and a CW beacon. For more information, visit the Northeast Oklahoma Simplex Group Web site http://www.neoksimplex.com/ (ARRL October 2 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** PARAGUAY. Dear Glenn Hauser: To share a bit of news, that ZP44 Radio Libre, Fernando de la Mora, is interested in receiving reception reports. ZP44 Radio Libre transmits on the frequency of 1200 kHz, and has an authorised power of 10 KW. The antenna used is of the five- octaves type. Reception reports may be sent to the attention of: Doctor Benjamín Fernández Bogado rlibre@highway.com.py With best regards from Paraguay, (Adán Mur, Radiodifusión América, Asunción, Paraguay radioamerica@lycos.com Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Radio Onda Imperial, 5055.19 kHz reactivada! Ciao! interessante segnalazione da provare anche da noi. Dove pare che ormai quasi tutti seguono le chimere sulle onde medie.... La WEB http://www.ondaimperial.pe.nu/ funziona ed è molto gradevole... specialmente las "chicas de Onda Imperial" hi ! (Dario Monferini, Oct 1, Play-DX via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. Sept 30, 1300 UT, 12095, FEBC with interval signal ``Jesus Saves`` with an English announcement also with the Beeb in the background and lots of CW on 12092, very strong at times. FEBC was only there for just a few minutes and then gone (Robert Thompson, TX, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL. Hi Glenn, Here's the link to a piece from The Independent newspaper in England, about plans to introduce minimum quotas for Portuguese music to be played on radio stations in Portugal: http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=448651 73- (Bill Westenhaver, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PORTUGAL [non]. The Portuguese government on Wednesday pledged "total willingness" to step up its support for the mass media in the Portuguese speaking African countries (Mozambique, Angola, Guinea- Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé & Príncipe)… http://allafrica.com/stories/200309100677.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL Use your chance to tune in to one of the final features of our Bless the Lord, o my Soul series tracing the millennium-old history of Russian church music. Year after year, century after century, thousands of names --- The upcoming edition of Bless the Lord, o my Soul will be introducing a one-of-a-kind modern Russian composer of church music ALEMDAR KARAMANOV whose Gospels-based It Is Finished symphony we are going to play for you on October 9. The program can be heard on Thursday at 1630 and 1830 UT and on Friday at 0330. Copyright © 2003 The Voice of Russia (via maryanne kehoe, Sept 30, swprograms via WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: Coverage of the Nobel Prize in Literature and "Nordic Lights" Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: "Network Europe" Sunday: "In Touch With Stockholm" looks at names (Saint's days) on calendars, the statue of Poseidon in Gothenburg, and what Swedes eat and drink Next week: rest of the Nobel Prizes (SCDX MediaScan Oct 1 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. Just to save it from falling into oblivion: It appears that no one of the usual suspects operates [the clandestine on] 12085. So the origin of this one is an interesting mystery (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** THAILAND. Thai stations authorized to operate 80 and 160 meters for contests: Thailand`s Post and Telegraph Department has authorized Thai hams to operate on 80 and 160 meters bands during all major worldwide contests in 2003. Frequency allocations are 1800-1825, 3500- 3505 and 3524-3536 kHz. The authorization is for 200 W and includes Thai amateurs who hold a General or Extra class license (The Daily DX via ARRL October 2 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** UKRAINE. On October 1, 500 kW transmitter in Kopani (Mykolaiv, Southern Ukraine) has been reactivated. The programming on 549 kHz is in // with Oktiabrske (1242 kHz, 50 kW, the Crimea): UR-2 R. Promin 2200-0230 (0300 at weekends); UR-3 R. Kultura 0230 (0300 at weekends)- 2200 (Alexander Yegorov, Ukraine, BC-DX Oct 2 via DXLD) see MOLDOVA ** U K. Never afraid to experiment with bands - frequencies and propagation conditions and on the advice of the now retired Gary Stevens, Radio Ozone Int. will be testing on the lower section of the 49 mb. Try tuning in at 07.45 BST on either 5.965 preferred 5.925 or 5.870 on Sunday. Now it would seem rather daring of Ozone to venture into the lower 49 mb and be on 5.965 only being 10 kHz away from Radio Netherlands on 5.955 but reaction is required and, who knows, Ozone Radio may pick up a few short-wave listeners instead of just a few hobby pirate loggers after all stations need even more so now than ever before feedback and response. I know Radio Pandora will agree with that. As to programming, there will be the normal contingent, Ozone LIVE - Glenn Hauser's World Of Radio, with once a month the German service from Bobby Sparks; how much Gary Stevens is behind all this planning I leave you to wonder. You know you love him. So, the week you receive this club's publication look for Radio Ozone on any of the above frequencies and respond, remembering pen/paper and a stamp, who knows we might even have a letter box program (Mike Evans, Oct World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** U S A. Dear Glenn, I hope that this e-mail finds you well and in good spirits. I have good news, in that your Monday morning airing of WOR will be simulcast on 5.105 MHz beginning this weekend (Monday, Oct 6th). Amos and Andy are also simulcast, following the end of "Area 51". There also are two new additions to the weekend 5.105 MHz line-up: The Frankie V Radio Show - Saturdays from 8 - 9pm / Sundays from 5 - 6pm - 5.105 MHz [UT Sun 0000-0100, 2100-2200] The Joe Mazza Show - Mondays from 1 - 3 am / 5.105 MHz [0500-0700 UT] Both of these shows are entertainment programs, and they both begin this week. Sorry about writing you this late in the week, but I knew that you would want to know about the simulcast info as soon as I could confirm it. Take care, and have a great week! (and thank you), (Michael Ketter, WBCQ, Oct 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 2479.98, WGVA, Geneva, NY (harmonic 2,x,1240), Oct 2, 0834, end of newsbreak with weather and ID for "Finger Lakes News Network", fair to poor signal (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) A regular ** U S A. If you are really pissed at the Bush administration, you can get lots of reinforcement (and if you aren`t, perhaps you should be), by listening to the Mike Malloy Show, at 0107-0400 UT weeknights on the i.e. America radio network. He really pulls no punches about the `Bush Crime Family` in this `former republic`, etc., etc., and also attacked Arnold and Rush in the first hour. Seems Mike has become a bit more radical than when I used to hear him occasionally on some AM station --- was it WSB? I am not aware of any major stations carrying him now, and i.e. America isn`t saying what stations are affiliated, but winamp, wm and Real audio links for the network are at http://www.ieamericaradio.com/listen.asp I do believe there is already a `liberal` radio network, but one is hardly enough (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. REGIONAL STATION SWITCHES TO NEWS By Susan Port, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Wednesday, October 1, 2003 http://www.palmbeachpost.com/business/content/auto/epaper/editions/wednesday/business_f3a7d3186098014b0045.html James Crystal Radio Group officials want WFTL-850 AM to be known as a news powerhouse. They're making good on that plan. James Crystal launched WFTL as an all-news radio station this week, boosting its signal to 50,000 watts, a tenfold increase that will allow the signal to be heard from the Treasure Coast to Key Biscayne. The new WFTL features local news programming from 5 a.m. to 4 p.m., a local sports program from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and syndicated news shows at night. Crystal has hired a staff of 10, including anchors, reporters and producers, to work on news gathering and carve out an identity for Fort Lauderdale-based WFTL as a South Florida news provider, said Steve Lapa, vice president and general manager of the station. "There's a huge void in the market," Lapa said. "I can't tell you how many people we spoke to who said there is a real need for an all-news radio station." Lapa said the company has invested "millions" to change WFTL's format from business news to all-news, with a "strong local flavor." "It will have a real news sound," he said. "It's a huge undertaking." The Crystal Group has five area stations and offices in West Palm Beach, Delray Beach and Fort Lauderdale. WFTL will be unique for South Florida's AM radio market, said Tom Taylor, a Princeton, N.J.-based editor of Inside Radio, a daily radio newsletter. He called the format change "a bold move." There aren't many stations doing all-news nationally, and it's a format that's more common in bigger markets, Taylor said. In South Florida, there are a handful of news/talk radio stations, such as WBZT-1230 AM and WJNO-1290 AM, that feature some local news but also a lot of syndicated news and talk programs throughout the day, he said. But South Florida, the 47th-largest radio market in the country, is an attractive one for an all-news format because of the area's growth, he said. "All-news is not cheap," Taylor said. "It's a long-term commitment." Hal Brown, news director of WFTL, started working in February on the launch of the new format. WFTL is the fourth news/talk news radio station he's launched throughout the country. He's served as news director for stations in St. Louis, Washington and San Diego. "I thoroughly enjoy building something from nothing," Brown said. "We have a brand-new opportunity to bring a service to South Florida." Brown said the station will have news-gathering staff working on stories as early as 2 a.m. for the first broadcast, and that transplants to South Florida from other markets will appreciate having an all-news station. "It's a simple goal: We intend to be the news station of South Florida," he said (Palm Beach Post via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. SPARK TO VOICE, EARLY WOI RADIO The year was 1911. An Iowa State College physics professor fondly known as "Dad" Hoffman became interested in the new medium "wireless." Hoffman thought radio might have a future and that the college should begin experimentation. Professor Hoffman approached college administrators requesting money to build a "wireless station" on campus. The rotary spark-gap transmitter and receiving equipment was assembled in 1912, mostly of hand made and the then few available commercial parts. Most likely the station was operated during the forepart of 1912 to a limited extent, unlicensed, as was common practice of the era. On August 13, 1912, Iowa State College received a United States Department of Commerce Land Station License bearing assigned call letters "9YI, " The station operated as an amateur, or ham radio station, through personalized two-way communication with other similar stations as far as several hundred miles distance. Through 1913 station 9YI remained on-air. The highly recognizable 240-cycle tone note of 9YI`s synchronous spark gap transmitter became well known to ham radio operators throughout the Midwest. The frequency was near 375 meters. In 1914 the station came under control of the college Electrical Engineering Department directed by Professor F. A. Fish. He maintained 9YI as a highly efficient station, an educational tool for a half- dozen years transmitting weather, farm products and market reports as well as amateur radio communications. In the fall of 1915 Iowa State College demonstrated their wireless expertise at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. Soon after KDKA*, generally accredited as America`s first "broadcast" station, went on-air November 2, 1920, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania broadcasting in voice Harding-Cox presidential election returns. Professor Fish first heard a voice radio transmission and Iowa State College began seriously investigating broadcast radio. Iowa State College was paying due heed to KDKA developments which were proving the possibilities of and the future for "broadcast" radio. Determined to construct a broadcast station, the college`s Electrical Engineering Department chose Massachusetts Institution of Technology graduate Harmon B. Deal to supervise the project. Construction of the transmitter, designed for 50 watts power, began in early 1921 by engineering students Andrew G. (Andy) Woolfries and Eugene Fritschel, both radio amateurs, at the ISC Engineering Annex. A multiple-wire "cage" aerial was strung between the annex and the college water tower, but this presented a hazard. The water tower was the only metal structure on campus and lightning vulnerable. To minimize danger to the transmitter and staff the station went off-air during storms. The aerial was connected directly to earth ground. At least one engineer refused to return to work during inclement weather following a lightning bolt mishap. In early 1921, 50 watts was considered a "super-power outfit," but by October, the transmitter design was changed to an even more powerful 100 watts as the constructors learned by doing. The "Big Outfit" was completed and tested the evening of November 21, 1921, on a wavelength of 375 meters. Andy Woolfries, using a carbon element microphone, spoke the first words over 9YI thus becoming "chief announcer." The first program was one hour of concert music. We shall visit Woolfries' distinguished history at WOI later. That first evening on-air 9YI with Woolfries had two-way voice communication with stations in Pennsylvania, Fort Worth, Texas and Denver, Colorado`s Fort Simmons General Hospital. The 100-watt radiotelephone transmitter, technically described by the engineering staff as "a constant current system of modulation of alternating current filament lighting and 1500 volt plate potential," was constructed at a cost of $1396. Station 9YI initially broadcast only a few hours a week. Each broadcast began with playing Bacchanal from the Tales of Hoffmann. This was done so that listeners could locate the signal of 9YI amongst the clamor of other stations. After an appropriate length of time, either Woolfries or Fritschel would read weather reports and a few market figures, then sign 9YI off the air. Chancy Hoover, a young Iowa State electrical engineering student and amateur radio operator, recalled later when he joined the WOI radio staff, "You had to search around for 9YI because of interference from other stations, most ham, but Ames always played the Bacchanal so you knew you had the right station." 9YI`s broadcast operation was not nearly as smooth as it may seem. Government rules of the time required all news and entertainment content to be transmitted upon 833.3 kilocycles (360 meters) and all government reports, e.g., weather information, to be transmitted at 618 kilocycles (485 meters). This regulation, imposed upon all American broadcast stations, forced both the radio station and the listener to change frequencies from 360 to 475 meters and back to 360 meters during the course of single broadcast. Fortunately this regulation was short-lived. In May 1922 Iowa State College hosted and the Campus Radio Club 9YI sponsored the first statewide radio convention and short course. Over 500 radio operators from across the Iowa attended. The annual conventions continued through at least 1925. A month earlier, on April 28, 1922, Iowa State College received its official broadcast station license with the call sign WOI and assigned an 800-kilocycle frequency assignment. WOI began immediate broadcasting. As true in many discussions of early broadcasting, there is conjecture of how the call sign became WOI, but it appears it was a random selection by the United States Department of Commerce. The original license has not been seen for many years, presumably forever lost. While the WOI engineering staff performed marvelous feats constructing superior equipment and coverage area, the purpose of WOI was its broadcast program content. The station had outgrown its original function as an engineering school experiment. The 100-watt transmitter soon proved inadequate to cover the whole of the intended fledgling Iowa radio audience. A 500-watt transmitter was built and placed into operation during December 1923. This new transmitter, too, was considered the "last word" in equipment and power. The 500 watts gave `fair` coverage of central Iowa and under favorable conditions, the state. Expansion within WOI brought 1924 demand for additional physical space. It was commandeered from adjacent users in the same building. Improvements included new wooden furniture and the hanging of large, heavy velvet drapes to deaden unwanted studio sound. The drapes remained until the studios were moved in 1939 although reportedly tattered. In late 1924 another 500-watt transmitter, having the capability of 750 watts with government approval was built by WOI engineering staff. Permission was granted in August 1925. The new 750- watt transmitter was built at a cost of $3402. General Electric had asked $18,000 for a similar transmitter they would build. Inasmuch as Iowa State`s president received a $10,000 salary in 1924, it seemed imprudent to spend nearly double for a commercially built transmitter. In January 1925 WOI was reassigned to an operating frequency of 1110 kilocycles by the Department of Commerce. Shared with 13 other stations and therefore interference laden, 1110 proved detrimental to the station's geographical coverage. To offset the lost of coverage area, ISC graduate student Ralph Knouf, who had been employed by General Electric, was contracted to build a 5,000 watt transmitter. It went into operation in January 1927. Once again WOI boasted one of the most powerful and technically advanced transmitters in the United States. The new transmitter featured automatic crystal-controlled frequency in use by only eight other broadcast stations. June 1927 brought yet another frequency assignment, 1130 kilocycles, which proved interference plagued by stations on nearby frequencies. Similar problems were developing throughout the country as more broadcast stations came on the air. A general nationwide US Government change of broadcast frequency assignments came in 1928 implementing directives of the Radio Act of 1927. This was most welcomed at WOI. Ames was assigned a shared frequency of 560 kilocycles with KFEQ, St. Joseph, Missouri for daylight broadcasting. WOI had to reduce power to 3,500 watts, but that power level at 560 proved vastly superior coverage to any previous frequency. WOI and KFEQ operated without difficulty on 560 kilocycles, although out of KFEQ's commercial necessity and their need of a full-time license, WOI moved frequency once again. In November 1929, WOI was licensed for daylight hours at 5,000 watts on present day 640 kilocycles. The frequency was also used full-time by commercial stations KFI, Los Angeles, and WAIU, Columbus, Ohio, but caused no problem with WOI`s daytime broadcast schedule. The Iowa State College administration mandated that "WOI exists for the primary purpose of making available to the state of Iowa (by radio) services of the College. Therefore, the station should stand for education, information and such entertainment as will be recognized as Iowa State programs." In July 1922 scheduled daily weather reports were broadcast, one of the first American stations to do so on the exclusive 485-meter wavelength. Market reports were hand copied in code over-the-air from NAJ, a government station near Chicago, and rebroadcast. Come fall 1922 WOI broadcast its first ever college football game with the announcer sitting upon a high wood fence, holding his microphone. Coe College (of Cedar Rapids, Iowa) beat Iowa State 24 - 0. WOI was reorganized in 1925 funded from the college`s agricultural extension service, engineering extension service and the general college fund. Professor D. B. Faber, director of the engineering extension service, was put in charge of WOI. Professor W. I. Griffith was named program director and Professor Fish was charged with technical operations. During 1925, WOI broadcast a total of 425 hours. The program schedule included short course lectures, weather forecasts, market reports, educational talks, chapel and music played from the famous Iowa State Campanile Andy Woolfries began his popular program "The Music Shop" which is still aired today on WOI-FM. The program remains as one of the longest running radio programs in the United States. In 1925 the program aired between 7:30 and 8:50 AM and included Woolfries` comments about the composers and their works. Woolfries retired in 1941 after a distinguished engineering and broadcast career at Iowa State. 1926 was a banner year for WOI. Station organization was simplified and placed under Professor Griffith`s supervision, a position he held for two decades. Griffith is credited with fostering positive notoriety for WOI`s broadcast product. The United States Department of Agriculture installed its long-sought current crop and market news wire service in July ending the hand copied code reports from NAJ. This valuable information source coupled with expanded services from the college`s educational, music and athletic programs found much favor with the station`s growing audience. WOI broadcast 1,228 hours in 1927 including the beginnings of four book club programs which were popular due to lack of rural libraries. WOI began a by-mail circulating library in 1930. The library operated as a nonprofit organization and was granted a special postal rate by the government. This service has highly used by rural Iowans. In 1931, WOI was selected Iowa`s most popular radio station in a national magazine poll. WOI remains today at 640 kiloHertz with 5,000 watts and a full-time license. WOI is affiliated with National Public Radio, a consortium of cooperating educational broadcast stations in the United States. WOI- FM began broadcasting July 1, 1949, with 100 kilowatts on 90.1 megacycles as an early Iowa FM station. WOI-FM remains as such today. WOI-TV became Iowa`s second broadcast licensed television station February 21, 1950 when it signed on channel 4. It was the country's first educationally owned television station that also broadcast commercial programming. WOI-TV exists today as a fully commercial station on channel 5 although no longer owned by now Iowa State University. *KDKA had its beginnings as land station, 8XK, built by Westinghouse engineer Frank Conrad. Westinghouse and Dr. Conrad were interested in radio as a means of marketing newly developed products, none other than $10 radio receiving sets selling in a Pittsburgh department store. Author's Statement: I gratefully acknowledge the permission of Donald T. Wirth allowing me to research WOI archives for information contained in this article. Mr. Wirth is WOI`s Associate General Manager, Finance and Operations. The information was gleaned from newspaper clippings, albums, station memos, thesis papers and my previous knowledge of the subject matter. Any factual error in this article is my sole responsibility. This article is not copywrited and may be republished as useful. --- (Bill Smith; Sachse, TX. September 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. KFRM-550 has a day pattern which rivals anything else on the lower channels in size. At one time it simulcast KMBC-980 (now KMBZ), during the days when its City of License was still Concordia and not Salina (these photos would be in Cloud County). Studios have been in Salina, Great Bend, and Wichita and probably at the transmitter site, which gives you an idea of its signal quality during the day. On the other hand, it is weak in Topeka (right in a null but much stronger in SE Kansas and quite audible in NE New Mexico. I wonder if a history has ever been written of this station? -pls. (Paul L. Swearingen, KS, NRC-AM via DXLD) The studios now are in Clay Center, co-owned with KCLY-FM 100.9 - some 55 miles north from me. They provide a great service to the farming community, otherwise running a bunch of third-rate talk. A picture of the old transmitter studio was on their web site, but I don't think it's there now (Mark Erdman, Herington/Salina KS, ibid.) If you're speaking purely in terms of stations with directional daytime patterns, then perhaps it does. But in terms of daytime coverage emanating from ALL AM stations in the U.S., nothing (and I know I've said this before) tops KFYR-550, which anyone in the Dakotas can get on their fillings -- PLUS it covers most of Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. It is easily audible here during the day, and Omaha is approx. 435 air miles from Bismarck -- which means it probably can get out for about 500 miles (Rick Dau. Omaha, NE, ibid.) And it's ironic that KFRM protects KFYR with its pattern pointed towards the SW to the point that there's very little overlap between the two daytime patterns. I can barely get KFYR at certain sunset skip times, as the St. Louis station tends to dominate shortly before sunset, with the Texas station to the south also interfering. Topeka isn't such a bad DX location, come to think of it. Now, if I could just tape KTLK-1080 for my first Oregon. -pls. (Paul Swearingen, ibid.) The 500 mile figure sounds about right - KFYR can be heard in Kindersley, Saskatchewan easily on a Superradio barefoot. According to mu measurement, the distance involved is just about exactly 500 miles (800 kilometers). Attempts to log them here in Calgary on groundwave have been hampered by a mixing product of 50 kW locals CFFR-660 and CHQR-770. CBK-540 has better groundwave coverage, as one would expect given 50 kW, their frequency right at the bottom of the band and their location (very high ground conductivity). They put a solid signal into Calgary that can be heard day and night on any radio (distance about 400 miles/640 km). 73, (Deane McIntyre VE6BPO, ibid.) I have to give props here to KFI, 640, in Los Angeles. It puts a listenable signal into Las Vegas on all my radios (including my car radio) all day, and its signal has to cross some very non-conductive desert and high granite mountains to get here (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, ibid.) Here in central-western Oregon, KFI is readily available at high noon in winter [skywave?? -- gh], even on a car radio. KDWN 720 in Las Vegas also used to be, until the advent of KFIR several years ago (Guy Kudlemyer, Thurston, OR, ibid.) ** U S A. 1690 - BERWYN, IL TESTING I get it from a good source that they will go on the air tomorrow !!!. Look for an Oldies format. Based on what I learned, it'll be "interesting". I am guessing it will sound similar to the old WLS. Larry Lujack is rumored to be returning. And the person I talked to said that would be "a pretty accurate rumor" (Lee Freshwater, Sept 30, NRC-AM via DXLD) 1690's CP info says their tower is 199' tall at N41-44-14 / W87-42-04, which happens to be at the site of co-owned WCGI-1390. Probably diplexed into one of 1390's four towers, which are all 199'. According to Street Atlas 2004, this is on the east side of South Kedzie between 85th and 87th in Chicago, across from something called "Tastebuds". (BILL Hale, TX, ibid.) Diplexed happens to be correct, too. That's how they were able to get it on the air so quickly. Anyone notice any silent periods on 1390? There should be one or two as they get all the diplexing gear into place... s (Scott Fybush, NY, ibid.) It has been reported by a poster on the Chicago forum of Radio- Info.Com, that Berwyn, Illinois has been testing last night around 4 am with easy listening tunes. This is from Jim Kirk's column in the Chicago Tribune business section: Clear Channel's new station: Clear Channel Communications' newest radio station will go by the call letters WRLL-AM 1690. Marketed as "real oldies," the new station is expected to reunite former WLS-AM 890 personalities Larry Lujack and Tommy Edwards. The station will sign on before the end of the year. The full column is here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/jimkirk/chi-0310010272oct01,1,402428.column So, 1690 will go by WRLL, and the interesting thing in the column is the last sentence, which says the station will be on before the end of the year. I thought it was supposed to be on any day now (Christos Rigas, Wood Dale, Illinois, Oct 1, ibid.) New 1690 Berwyn, Ill, signal heard during afternoon drive from Morris, Illinois back home. While in Morris at 4:10 PM signal was medium in strength. would fade under bridges and subject to power line noise - suspect only a few hundred watts of power. WGCI on 1390 is stronger on car radio. At home in Shorewood at 4:30 PM CDT can easily null them to hear the weather TIS in Aurora 20 miles away. They are playing a mix of music now - no other audio heard as yet. New Berwyn, Ill station on 1690 just shut down at 5:05 PM CDT. No ID - no nothin` - a flip of the switch and they are gone! All that's on 1690 now is clear signal from Aurora weather TIS (Tom Jasinski, Shorewood, Ill, Oct 1, ibid.) ** U S A. Re Lubavitcher 1710: So much for fines as they where back on the air last nite with a booming signal, actually appeared stronger than in the past (Bob Montgomery, Levittown, PA USA, Oct 1, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. Just in from FCC: WHAT IS DIGITAL RADIO Digital radio is the transmission and reception of sound that has been processed using technology comparable to that used in CD players. In short, a digital radio transmitter processes sounds into patterns of numbers, or "digits" - hence the term "digital radio." In contrast, traditional analog radios process sounds into patterns of electrical signals which resemble sound waves. FM digital radio is capable of providing crystal clear sound comparable in quality to compact disks (CDs), or to the acoustics of a fine concert hall. Receivers provide a standard of sound quality that is significantly clearer than conventional analog radios, just as CDs sound clearer than record albums. Conventional analog radio cannot meet this standard. AM digital radio is capable of providing sound quality equivalent to that of standard day analog FM. AM digital improvement qualities are limited due to available spectrum bandwidth. In any event, audio quality improves significantly. Digital radio reception is largely immune to interference. Digital radio eliminates many imperfections relating to analog radio transmission and reception. There may be some interference to digital radio signals in areas that are distant from a station's transmitter. With digital radio, static is virtually nonexistent. Inside each digital radio receiver is a tiny computer ("smart receiver") which is capable of filtering unwanted signals. In contrast, an "unintelligent" analog receiver cannot differentiate the useful information from the useless noise, which results in static. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has moved a step closer to bringing digital radio to millions of Americans, read more at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/digitalradio.html (via Bill Hale, TX, Sept 29, NRC-AM via DXLD) When one see how nice 1080 line resolution DTV from 65 miles away looks on my friend's 65 inch DTV, you'll start to understand a reason why the FCC is forcing digital upon us. (Yes, I do understand that it means billions for manufacturers and retailers) Hmm --- my ears are so trashed (and I was certified 50% tone deaf in first grade) that I doubt I can hear the difference and I find conventional FM to be just fine. I doubt that the FCC has come close to conducting studies of what happens when everything on FM is digital and there's some tropo bringing in IBOC splatter on adjacents from deep fringe areas all around. Have they studied what happens when your semi-local is QRMed on its own frequency by a digital FM 3db weaker (i.e. can the receiver hold lock?). FM DXers like myself certainly must hope that there will be less sideband garbage once IBOC goes into mass use. Digital FM honestly may be a good thing, provided QRM issues can be dealt with. Honestly, I think that the FCC is simply very wrong with digital AM. Who really cares about AM hi-fi sound anyhow ?!? Again, who'll care that AM sounds as good as present day FM when FM will sound like CD's? Perhaps there's benefits in less noise pickup but I'd rather see the FCC lean on the RF noise polluters. Just listen to 1540 and 1520 when WSAI is in well and testing IBOC and you'll see that the technology has a way to go and that a dial full of IBOC will make it very hard for those lacking sophisticated equipment to get semi-locals, IMHO. Time will tell whether it is too many of our tax dollars at waste so corporations can make billions. Currently I am in favor of DTV from what I've seen (although having DTV and analog locals everywhere killed the UHF DX hobby for me currently). I am neutral on digital FM, but would be more in favor with their IBOC having less sideband hash. I simply don't see the need for digital AM and would rather the FCC leave AM alone and not force many struggling small market stations to come up with addition bucks for digital. 73 KAZ (Neil Kazaross, IL, NRC-AM via DXLD) For anyone who knows the full, warm sound of analog, the phrase "CD quality" is really such a slap! And it will be years until I bother to get a radio that receives "digital." So maybe I'll never know the difference. Ever notice that when "they" change the packaging on anything, or hype an added ingredient, it usually means the contents are mediocre? (Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL, ibid.) Very true. Although sampling rates for professional digital recording are now at 96 kHz and 192 kHz, CDs are still reduced to 44.1 kHz, which means the highest frequency on a CD is 22.05 kHz. Although 20 kHz is the typical limit to human hearing, there's the psychoacoustic effect of sounds beyond the limits that scientists are just beginning to understand. Old-fashioned LPs weren't limited to 22 kHz which is why a well pressed LP and good turntable could produce better sound than a CD. Then there's this thing about odd and even harmonics. Tubes reproduced (or produced) one type of harmonic (I forget which, odd or even) better than transistors which accounts for the warm sound. Lastly, digital remasters of old music just don't sound the same as the originals, almost too harsh or lacking warmth, perhaps due to the limitations of digital sample rates and hard-of-hearing recording engineers jacking up the EQ in the remastering process. I'll take a scratchy old LP over a digital remaster anyday (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) A story appearing on Techweb today titled "Digital Car Radio Drives for 2005" mentions the appearance of a Kenwood HD tuner, chip offerings etc. http://www.techweb.com/wire/story/TWB20030930S0002 The Phillips SAF3550 chip, at $25 is mentioned as being part of a chipset allowing easy addition of HD capability to existing lines. The Kenwood tuner has no price mentioned. The article states the HD system has economic appeal as it requires "little investment on the part of broadcasters" in the words of industry analysts. (possibly considering the FM operators, and not AM ??) (Bob Foxworth, Tampa, Florida, ibid.) It's part of the Kenwood "audio keg" system which includes hard-drive capability like a computer to store and retrieve audio in various formats including MP3 and IBOC. Visit the Kenwood site for info (sorry, I don't have the URL handy at the moment). Very likely. The primary focus of IBOC seems to be on FM. The AM side is more like an after-thought anyway, no different than how analog AM receivers are designed, manufactured and sold today. If you can't receive an analog AM station on the floor demos in the mall stores today, then there's nothing that IBOC can do to fix it. And in selling AM IBOC to broadcasters, nobody cared to tell them about potential costs involved in redesigning their tuned transmitting antenna systems (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) ** U S A. US FCC TO HIT ROAD TO HEAR ABOUT LOCAL RADIO, TV Wed October 1, 2003 03:13 PM ET WASHINGTON, Oct 1 (Reuters) - U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell said on Wednesday that the agency will soon hit the road to take the nation's pulse on how radio and television stations are doing on presenting local issues to the public. . . http://reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=governmentFilingsNews&storyID=3542088 (via Mike Terry, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Re: ``6042.5, R Sarandí Sport, Rivera, 2239-2305, Aug 30, finally identified in a Spanish program with songs, advertisements, pops and talks on sport. 42331 with the "2" standing for adjacent QRM. (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DSWCI DX Window Sep 24 via DXLD [3173])`` Glenn, please forward to original reporter that this station is located in Montevideo (capital city), not Rivera (north of the country). The mistake comes from the times the ex-owners of Radio Sport had an arrangement with Radio Reconquista, Rivera to put the 6045 transmitter there for the Radio Integración Americana venture, several years ago. Radio Sport was sold to radio Sarandí and took the name Sarandí Sport. SW transmitter returned to Montevideo. Regards, (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo - Uruguay, Oct. 1, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. On 19 September 2003, the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe declared unconstitutional certain sections of the Broadcasting Services Act (BSA) that gave the minister of information and publicity the power to licence would-be broadcasters. . . http://allafrica.com/stories/200310010760.html (via Jilly Dybka, TN, DXLD) ** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa changes frequency on 26 October London-based SW Radio Africa, which broadcasts on shortwave to Zimbabwe daily at 1600-1900 UTC, advises that from 26 October it will be using its "summer" frequency of 6145 kHz instead of the current 4880 kHz. The station uses a transmitter in South Africa (© Radio Netherlands Media Network 1 October 2003 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 1100: I was thinking that this may be local, but I want to make sure first. I'm hearing a strange noise on 1100 AM in addition to WTAM. It is a rapidly changing series of whistles. It sounds shockingly like R2D2! I can hear it much stronger when I turn the radio to reduce WTAM's signal. Anybody else hear anything strange on 1100 or is it just me? (Adam Myrow, TN, 0138 UT Sept 28, NRC-AM via DXLD) Hearing the same noises here in MN (Paul LaFreniere, Grand Marais, ibid.) It's coming in here (Montreal Canada) too in addition to WTAM. Sounds a little like a chirping bird. Comes in well when WTAM fades (Sam McLauchlan, ibid.) I also heard the noises on 1090 and 1110. I tuned around and at 1107 or so, it sounded like short bursts of music. I know one thing, WWV indicated low A index and K index readings, and conditions are very good. Even the electrical noise is quiet tonight here (Adam Myrow, Memphis TN, ibid.) I believe someone mentioned strange sounds on 1100 kc. Well, as of 2020 EDST I am hearing what I would describe as "gurgling" sounds on this frequency (Ben Dangerfield, Wallingford, PA [SE corner] UT Sept 30, ibid.) Am picking up the same gurgling sounds on 1100 kHz here in Shorewood, Ill, 45 miles SW of Chicago (Tom Jasinski, Shorewood, Ill, ibid.) I hear what sounds like a small crowd washing a batch of windows with squeegees - is that what it sounds like to others ? Or is this computer noise? (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA (15 mi NNW Philadelphia), ibid.) "Gurglers" are often heard in the shortwave utility bands and are frequency-hopping spread spectrum signals; the AN/PRC-104A HF transceiver, widely used by U.S. military land forces, uses this technology. Because of their narrow bandwidth, these signals are more susceptible to jamming than other spread spectrum methods. However, they can't be demodulated unless the receiver has the appropriate "despreading" code (which an adversary wouldn't, presumably, have). If an MP3 of this goes on the NRC web site I'll have a listen. For now it sounds like Uncle Sam is playing games again, as happened around 1140 back in February, 2001 (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, ibid.) Loop bearing for the "Odd Sounds" on 1100 is N/S from Shorewood, 45 miles southwest of Chicago. This evening 19:40 PM CDT on 1090 Khz am hearing clear signal from WISS, Berlin, Wisc with CW and "Cow Country" slogan- no sign of KAAY. Could the odd sounds on 1100 be coming from KAAY 1090 with problems? Anybody close to KAAY out there this evening? (Tom Jasinski, Shorewood, Ill, ibid.) I just checked now 845 pm EDT 0045 UTC. Here in Brookneal, Virginia it sounds like the sound that occurs when a signal slides up and down the band and heterodynes with another signal. It almost sounds like a person is transmitting an unmodulated RF carrier and moving across the frequency. The equipment here is a stock Sony 2010 (Dave Marthouse, 0248 UT Sept 30, ibid.) Odd thing about it --- there seems (seemed, I should say, 'cause I'm no longer hearing it as of 8:45pm CDT) to be no carrier attached to it. And when you tune across 1100 in single-sideband, the het-like noises do NOT change in pitch, they just keep doing what they were doing. Seems stronger in USB to me (Randy Stewart/Springfield (Battlefield) MO, ibid.) We could make a mint on commissions selling time for Drano on this station, whatever it is! (Ron Gitschier, Jacksonville, FL, ibid.) The sounds I was hearing sounded more like R2D2 from Star Wars. They were short whistles raising and falling. I just checked and it's louder than ever tonight. Could this be a Cuban jammer? (Myrow, ibid.) Russ: That's exactly what it sounds like "Wishy Washy- Squeegie sounds" - potent signal on 1100 here with N/S loop (Tom Jasinski, Shorewood, Ill, ibid.) I heard weak Spanish mixed with the noises. Now, I'm thinking it's a malfunctioning transmitter. It stopped or faded right after 8:00 PM local time shortly after I made my recording (Myrow, TN, ibid.) Seems to be KAAY on 1090, fading up and down, and not a great signal. Prop is very odd tonight. KDKA on 1020 is just a whisper, making the Cuban jammer (bubble jammer with Reloj audio added) all the more of a pest on 1020 (Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL, ibid.) From the various responses I gather that the gurgling noise on 1100 was heard widely last night [9-29]. From these it would seem to be that this noise is indeed a "bubble jammer" from Cuba. I don't know why they would be jamming 1100. But later on in the evening the gurgling noise was not heard and in its place was a Cuban with SS talking. What those Cuban stations do never surprises me. Ever since I started Dxing, Cuban stations have done strange things like shifting frequencies, increasing or decreasing power, jamming U.S. stations and spouting anti-U.S. propaganda. I wonder if anyone in Castro-land ever listens to them? (Ben Dangerfield, PA, ibid.) Russ Edmunds kindly sent me a MP.3 file of his reception of the 1100 noise and the signal sounds nothing like the spread spectrum "gurglers" found on the shortwave utility bands. To me, the signal sounds more like a VFO being "swished" across a frequency while the transmitter is on (a sound familiar to those who operate the HF ham phone bands!). I suspect this is some sort of malfunctioning transmitter, perhaps one with carrier frequency shift on modulation peaks (Harry Helms W7HLH, Las Vegas, NV DM26, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. 2740.01 (presumed harmonic 2 x 1370), Oct 1/2, 0825- 0935, religious programs, 0830 female preacher in Spanish non-stop for a full hour to 0930, a few brief announcements into soft vocals. Weak signal with fair peaks. DXer Adán González has logged the harmonic of Radio Capital, Bogotá, Colombia here at his QTH in Venezuela with a very strong signal. He says that they are indeed a religious station, so this may well be it (Mark Mohrmann, VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Glenn, I heard an unID pirate at 0800-0853* UT on 3266.4 usb; the signal was good. Tuned in to rock music, then played a Jack- in-the-Box restaurant spoof. Then continuous 70s and 80s rock music until off at 0853 with 1-2 minutes of pause between music (Ron Trotto, Waggoner, IL, WDX4KWI, DX Listening Digest) Certainly an unusual frequency for a pirate, tho seems like KSMR or UPR briefly operated around there, and/or WWFV (gh) UNIDENTIFIED. 6069.97: Hi Glenn, The unidentified reported by Mark Mohrmann is almost certainly Radio Capital, Rio de Janeiro, according to a Brazilian member of the DSWCI. It can be heard at my location occasionally around 0600/0630, and is always at that time in // with Radio Tupi on 6060 9565 & 11765 as well as R.Victoria, Perú on 6020.3. Once heard, the preacher can always be recognised again! The language[s?] seem to be a mix of Portuguese and Spanish, but spoken as it is, I don't find it easy to tell. 73s from (Noel Green, England, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE EFFECTS OF POWER-LINE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ON BROADCAST RECEPTION http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp-pdf-files/WHP067.pdf (35 page document; via Dennis Gibson, CA, Oct 1, IRCA via WORLD OF RADIO 1201, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ [At John Norfolk`s suggestion, we are reviving this more inclusive heading, to replace ``RECEIVER NEWS`` -- gh] HD receiver: see USA FCC ISSUES NOTICE REGARDING NON-COMPLIANT BATTERY CHARGERS The FCC`s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) laboratory has determined that certain vehicle battery chargers manufactured and distributed in the United States by Vector Products are not in compliance with Part 15 technical standards. The FCC said its Enforcement Bureau recently obtained six Vector Smart battery chargers --- models VEC086, VEC087, VEC088, VEC090, VEC092 and VEC093 --- from several different retailers and submitted the devices to the OET Lab for testing to determine whether they comply with Part 15. ``All of the devices were labeled as being in compliance with the Part 15 rules,`` the FCC said in a public notice. ``However, the OET Laboratory tested the devices and determined that all six models significantly exceed the emission limits set forth in Part 15.`` The Commission said that because the devices significantly exceeded Part 15 emission limits, ``they present a serious potential for harmful interference to licensed radio services.`` The FCC said the Enforcement Bureau is considering ``appropriate enforcement action`` against Vector for importing and marketing radio frequency devices that do not comply with the FCC`s technical standards in violation of §302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and §2.803(a) of the rules. The FCC said its public notice was intended to warn retailers that continued marketing of the six models of Vector battery chargers it tested will constitute violations and may result in sanctions, including fines (ARRL October 2 via John Norfolk, DXLD) RADIO - DUTCH HEALTH STUDY By Lucas van Grinsven AMSTERDAM - The world's mobile phone industry said on Wednesday nothing has been proven by the first survey suggesting that radio signals for the next generation of wireless phones can cause headaches and nausea among the public. . . http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-10-01-g3-study_x.htm (via Mike Terry, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ GEOMAGNETIC INDICES Phil Bytheway - Seattle WA - phil_tekno@yahoo.com Geomagnetic Summary September 17 2003 through September 30 2003 Tabulated from daily email status Date Flux A K SA Forecast GM Forecast Etc. 9/17 99 36 5 moderate minor 10 18 106 45 5 strong minor 7 19 109 32 4 moderate minor 10 20 111 26 5 minor minor 7 21 112 34 2 minor no storms 6 22 120 19 2 minor no storms 6 23 123 17 2 no storms no storms 5 24 125 13 5 minor minor 7 25 134 28 4 minor minor 8 26 133 29 3 minor no storms 7 27 131 25 3 no storms no storms 8 28 130 6 2 no storms no storms 4 29 137 3 1 no storms no storms 5 9/30 135 5 2 no storms no storms 6 (IRCA Soft DX Monitor via DXLD) ###