DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-176, October 6, 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: Wed 0100, 0730 on 7445; maybe testing on 15115-USB WWCR: Wed 0930 on 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html 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 ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. 15615, CLANDESTINE. R. Amani, carrier on well before 1630, Fri Oct 3 (reported to be Fridays only), program started 1631, good signal, several good IDs, apparently Pushto or Dari. Mostly talk and conversations, but there was also some Afghan music, much of it pretty exotic. At 1722 gave contact info, incl. E-mail, URL, a P.O. Box in Flushing which I could not get because not in English, and I think their fax number. Contact info on the APA website gives APA address as Afghanistan Peace Association, 41-36 College Point Blvd., Suite #2A, Flushing, NY 11355; also gives a P. O. Box 926540, Flushing, NY 11354 under "Membership," but P. O. Box 926520 under "Contributions." No mention of R. Amani as such. Off 1730*. Supposed to be via Armavir, 100 kW, 104 degrees, per Bulgarian Observer (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Oct 5 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN [non]. R. Afghanistan, 18940, has not been relayed by Merlin via Kvitsøy, Norway since June 2003 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window 10 Sept via DX News, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ALASKA. 209, 1035-, CYT, Yakataga, AK, 60.05N, 142.29W, Oct 5. Volmet with the following announcement: 'The transcribed aviation weather broadcast is suspended ... 1400 zulu. ...contact flight service station or 1-800-weatherbrief.' Fair/good. Another weakly heard is on 385 with 3 listed beacons in Alaska (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ALASKA. KNLS, ALASKA B-03 SCHEDULE: 26 OCT 2003 TO 30 NOV 2003 English 0800-0900 9690 1300-1400 9690 Mandarin 1000-1100 7365 1200-1300 9690 1400-1500 9615 1500-1600 9615 1600-1700 7355 Russian 0900-1000 7365 1100-1200 7365 1700-1800 7355 [Website via Michael Beesley, World DX Club via Alan Roe, DXLD] ** ARGENTINA. PIRATE ARGENTINA: 6151.72, Radiodifusión Argentina Libre, 0128-0159, Spanish, Musical Program, man announcer, music interpretred by Joan Manuel Serrat, Victor Heredia, Christina Aguilera, Thalia etc. ID "Usted está ecuchando a RAL. Radiodifusión Argentina Libre, desde 1999 hacemos radio en Onda Corta y en castellano porque no querememos aprender inglés" Now 2305 [sic – means 0205 with 2305 being local time?] the announcer gives an e-mail, radio_bosques@y... [truncated], the station continues on the aire (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, Oct 5, Play-DX via DXLD) ** ASCENSION. Add a country relayed from here: see CZECH REPUBLIC ** AUSTRALIA. Grayland WA DX-pedition: Folks, it was a wonderful weekend of DXing (actually Thursday to Sunday). Conditions were the best ever for MW DXing Saturday morning with virtually every MW channel occupied with audio, including the 10 kHz channels, which were buried by far eastern stations (well over the domestics!). The other two mornings were about average. My own highlight was hearing and confirming the ARDS Australia with a positive ID this morning. Is this a North American first? I know there have been a few tentative loggings here in North America, but I haven't seen any confirmed loggings. Receivers were ERGO 4 operated HF-2050 and AOR 7030+. Three Beverages aimed SW, W, and NW with the later being the hot performer this time. Enjoy! 5049.94, 0913-, ARDS (Aboriginal Resource Development Service) Oct 3: I'm certain this is what I'm hearing from after 0900 tune-in. Very low level with talk in what sounds to me like Australian accented vernacular language, with short musical piece at 0515, and then same male speaker. Too weak so far to positively identify, but absolutely not the Chinese station (China is still in daylight this time of year). Also they're not sked until 1000. I'm hearing best on NW oriented Beverage. USB avoids a pulsed tone heard on the edge of LSB (presumably ocean wave research Radar). Signal gradually improving over the hour. Spoiled at 0945 by oriental fishermen, and Chinese sign-on at 1000. 5049.96, 0855-, ARDS (Aboriginal Resource Development Service), Oct 4: Tried again for this this morning with overall better reception and clear enough to know this is not in English. Long talk by male past 0900 without anything resembling an ID, and into a vocal (? religious) and then into more talk. Thought I heard the word 'radio' mentioned, though not sure. Discussion between two males. LSB has a strong utility. Monitored past 1000. Propagation definitely favours the southern path, as it's still at least the strength of the Chinese station which signs on at 1000. Reception would have been quite decent if not for the almost continual loud ute on LSB channel, causing some USB noise as well, necessitating narrowing the filtering to an unpleasant degree. 5049.98, 0858-, ARDS (Aboriginal Resource Development Service) Oct 5: Third time lucky! Much noisier morning. Tuned in just in time to get the MD recording and hear a positive ID for ARDS after a short choral piece, and then a monotone by OM. Apart from that difficult to understand anything more. Best reception on west or NW Beverage. At 0908:30 went into another choral piece. Should just be entering grayline at transmitter. Use USB only to avoid loud utility on LSB. Same OM back at 0913:30. Rechecked at 0957 with much weaker signal, but same OM and into similar gentle choral at 0958:30. No ID at TOH and the Chinese came on to make further listening impossible (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 1701.14, 1225-1229, R. Brisvaani, Brisbane Oct 5, presumed. Noted with female talk in Hindi, with subcont. music; low level signal before fading. Reportedly 100 watts power (Guy Atkins, DXing at Grayland, WA USA, R75 / AR7030 / Kiwa MAP / SW, W, and NW Beverages, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2310, 1315-1320, VL8A Alice Springs Oct 4. Booming, strong signal of male & female announcer chatter; 'ABC... your country music source' at 1316. Noted parallels 2325 VL8T Tennant Creek at fair level, and 2485 VL8K Katherine at good level (Guy Atkins, DXing at Grayland, WA USA, R75 / AR7030 / Kiwa MAP / SW, W, and NW Beverages, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 2485, 1437-, ABC Katherine, Oct 3. Heard with fair strength with ABC programming, parallel to MW 639! (thanks to John Bryant for the tip!). (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 6230, 1634-, VMW Wiluna, Oct 4. Coastal weather station, with good reception of weather forecasts for Australian coastal locations. Ended with ID at 1647 (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. RA will have special coverage of the commemoration of the first anniversary of the Bali bombing, UT Sat Oct 11 starting at 2355 (Roger Broadbent, RA Feedback Oct 3, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Frequencies not given, but that`s an inconvenient time when, e.g. 21740 is about to close (gh) ** AUSTRALIA. Radio Australia changes Sadly, Radio Australia is faced with a stagnant budget and program alterations at Radio National; this nets out as a loss of music programming, as Australian Express, Go Zone, Fine Music Australia and Blacktracker will all be leaving the Radio Australia schedule. Joining the schedule is a Radio National-produced program, The Music Show. Here are the specifics: Fridays, 2330 UT -- Lingua Franca moves out, In Conversation with Robyn Williams moves in. Saturdays, 0000 UT -- Australian Express makes way for The Business Report which is followed by Ockham's Razor and Lingua Franca [0045]. Saturdays, 0130 UT -- Music Deli moves out to make way for the Australian Music Show. Saturdays, 0400-0600 UT -- Six programs - Business Report, Australian Music Show, Correspondent's Notebook, Ockham's Razor, Lingua Franca and Fine Music Australia step aside for The Music Show. It's a mix of music, interviews and information about the latest developments in music, hosted by composer Andrew Ford. Saturdays, 1000 UT -- Out goes Australian Express, in comes a one-off feature called - Global Cultures: The Future of Japanese & Australian Identity in the Globalized World - this is an edited version of a forum jointly presented by Asialink, the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies and Deakin University. [but what thence?] Saturdays, 2230 UT -- Fine Music Australia makes way for Music Deli with Paul Petran who presents folk, traditional and acoustic music, and what is now commonly referred to as world music. Sundays, 0000 UT -- Go Zone is replaced by a repeat broadcast of the Asialink forum - Global Cultures: the Future of Japanese & Australian Identity in a Globalized World. Sundays, 0550 UT -- Health Beat has run its course and will be replaced by Business Weekend and the short music feature The Pulse. Sundays, 0630 UT -- Blacktracker makes way for The Australian Music Show. Sundays, 1000 UT -- Go Zone departs for Background Briefing and Correspondent's Notebook. Wednesdays, 0635 UT -- Not sure what you'll find... Blacktracker is shown here but is departing, has been noted above. For updates to this list, you may wish to check John Figliozzi's regular Radio Australia programming highlights, which he posts to multiple Internet services including the swprograms list and the rec.radio.shortwave USENET newsgroup. While I'm always disappointed when budgets are cut, the news isn't too bad here. Radio Australia is fortunate that, with English as the main language, there are programs designed for a domestic audience that work well for an international audience (though sometimes an international audience needs a working knowledge of Australian domestic life and issues (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** BELARUS`. 4982, R. Stalitsa (presumed), After hearing this the other night around 0500, heard it again during a Europirate micro- Dxpedition Oct 5. Seems to play nonstop current (unrecognizable) pop songs. There was an announcement by M at 0529 when I heard it at home the other night, but it wasn't quite strong enough to copy. Slowly fades after 0500 and is barely detectable by 0600. Haven't noted any carrier and both sidebands are audible, however LSB seems strongest (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BOTSWANA. DXer in Finland makes news in the local press --- but they got it all wrong: not satellite, but direct on MW 1350! See 3-150 LISTENERS CLUB TUNES TO RB THROUGH SATELLITE -- 06 October, 2003 A 35-year old man has disclosed that he was able to tune into Radio Botswana from Espoo, Finland. Jim Solatie, who is an active member of the listeners club, Espoon DX-Kuuntelijat in Finland said they have been tuning into Radio Botswana in Finland through a satellite. This is not the first time that listeners have tuned into Radio Botswana in other continents. Some people from as far afield as the United Kingdom are said to have written the station in the past to confirm having heard/received RB transmission in their respective countries. In a letter he wrote to the Tsabong BOPA office, Solatie, a father of two, disclosed that last week he listened to a phone-in programme aired by the national radio station, adding that despite the distance the reception was excellent. According to Solatie, the reception frequency for the station in Finland was through the Tsabong medium wave transmitter 1350 kHz. To prove this, Solatie enclosed a cassette on which he recorded the continuity announcer John Bome who was on air on September 5 between 1240 midnight and 0120 hrs in the morning Botswana time. Espoon DX-Kuuntelijat is a 20-member local radio listeners club in Finland meeting once a month and has listening-trips around the country. With other clubs in Finland, Solatie said they publish a magazine called Radio World. "Thank you very much for your programme, I hope to hear your station in the future, too," he wrote. Solatie who is working with a marketing research company as a managing director, revealed that his hobbies are sports and listening to foreign radio stations. All local news stories were supplied by the Botswana Press Agency (BOPA) (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** BULGARIA. SPECIAL EVENT. Look for special event station, LZ100JVA (Lima Zulu 100 John Vincent Atanasoff), to operate as of October 1st to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Vincent Atanasoff, the father of the electronic computer. In the early forties, together with his assistant Clifford Berry, John V. Atanasoff created the ABC (Atanasoff Berry Computer) in a laboratory in Iowa State University. Some of the computer basics he invented are still used in modern computers. J.V.A. was born on October 4th, 1903. His father was an immigrant from Bulgaria. A Web page is under construction and will be soon available at: http://www.qsl.net/lz1pj/lz100jva LZ100JVA will be activated by a group of Bulgarian amateurs. QSL via LZ1PJ. Direct requests go to CBA: P.O.Box 15, BG-1324 Sofia, Bulgaria. PLEASE include SAE + postage (1 IRC or 1 USD). Bureau cards and e-mail requests are also welcome (KB8NW/OPDX October 6/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** CZECH REPUBLIC [non]. Hoy, durante la emisión en español de Radio Praga a las 2030 UT, fue informado que la emisora irá realizar entre 6 y 12 de octubre emisiones en la frecuencia de 11665 kHz desde la Isla de Ascensión. Esta emisión será destinada a la parte oriental de América del Sur. La emisora solicita envío de informes de recepción de los oyentes; los que enviaren recibirán un obsequio recuerdatorio de la emisora. Esta frecuencia será efectivamente utilizada a partir del día 26/10 cuando será iniciado el período radiofónico B02 (oct/03 - mar/04). (Lenildo C. Silva, Oct 5, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** ECUADOR. Received a postcard last week from Allen Graham expressing thanks for continuing to listen to/support DX Partyline through its broadcast revisions. Postcard had a spectacular photo of an 'A-bomb' type mushroom cloud of volcanic ash from a 1999 eruption near Quito, taken through the Pifo antenna curtain array. Also received two volcano QSLs Oct 4 from HCJB for reception reports sent in June, with a note from Karen Pedersen apologizing for the delay. Best Regards, (Ben Loveless WB9FJO, Michigan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) DXPL announced that HCJB`s German service will continue for another year following listener comments. It will continue in the mornings funded by HCJB Germany (it`s a pity that some similar arrangement for English, now dropped, was not made) (David Ansell, UK, 14 Sept, BDXC- UK Communication via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. 9561.02, 1602-, Radio Ethiopia, Oct 4. Sign on at 1600 with a harp-like instrument, then mentions of 41 meter band in English. A difficult spot on the dial. Modern western instrumental at 1203 when rechecked (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA [non]. CLANDESTINE from GERMANY to ETHIOPIA, 11840, Rainbow Radio Scheduled for Fridays *1900, checking on three different javaradios Oct 3 in Europe and just heard a loud buzzing (Hans Johnson, Cody WY, Cumbredx via DXLD) ** FRANCE. 162, R. France Allouis, 0130, Oct 5, Nice reception, with solid S9 signal between frequent 9+20db static crashes. Music and announcements by female. R France ID in passing. Peaked at 0535 (David Hodgson, TN, IC R75, 950 ft wire pointing NE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [non?]. Just today around 1130 UT I listened to RADIO FREE BAVARIA on 13860 in LSB, moderate signal strength. Program was in German and English, German ID clearly identified as: FREIER BAYERISCHER RUNDFUNK, played typical Bavarian music and also Bavarian pop songs from Spider Murphy group, IDs in between. Lost signal at around 1300 UT. During the transmission there was also an information that exactly next weekend the station will be back again on Saturday and/or Sunday on 13860 kHz or around. I'm not sure if I copied the e- mail correct, something "radiofreebavaria"@ ??? ... Mixture of clandestine and pirate ;-))) ?? Let's see ... 73's from Switzerland (Rashid al-Ayoun, Oct 4, swpirates yahoogroup via DXLD) ** GHANA. This morning I came across Ghana`s science museum. I didn`t know they had one until I stumbled on it. I don`t think the folks in South Kensington need fear the competition, as it is a very small and run-down affair. I wouldn`t be surprised if I was the only visitor there today. But tucked away in a very dusty corner were some gems in the form of old transmitters. There was an old GBC TV transmitter, two old telephone/telex transmitters with markings showing that they were used for links to London, Lagos and Abidjan) and, my star find, an old GBC shortwave transmitter! It was manufactured by RCA and rated at 250/350 watts (next to the transmitter was an amplifier manufactured by a firm called Savage!! -- so perhaps it operated at a higher power). And, still there in the RCA transmitter was its crystal, clearly marked as 3396 kc. Yes, 3396, not 3366. Well, I remember that Rhodesia used to be on 3396 but I don`t recall Ghana every being on that frequency. I wonder if any of the old-timers among the BDXC membership can remember? Or perhaps it is listed in an old WRTH? I have just checked the Transmitter Documentation Project web site, which lists two transmitters of unknown manufacture installed in 1939 and 1940, so perhaps the one I saw today was one of those? The TDP site lists various other GBC transmitters installed later, but all manufactured by Marconi or NEC (Chris Greenway, Ghana, Open to Discussion, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ICELAND. Hearing what I presume is AFN Reykjavik on 13855 kHz USB with a fair SIO 242 signals at both 0030Z and 1015Z today Oct 5, with NPR programing at 1015Z. First time I've heard them since they've been mentioned in DXLD this year (Ben Loveless WB9FJO, Michigan, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3515.48, 1235-, RSPK Ngada, Oct 4. Thanks to Chuck Hutton for alerting me to this one, which I missed yesterday. Typical Indo sounding transmission, with talk by male with some CW interference. Fair reception (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INDONESIA. 3345, 1341-1343, RRI Ternate Oct 4. Nice lagu melayu at excellent level; peaking S9+20db. Equal level on all three Beverages. 3515.45v, 1230-1238, RSPK Ngada Oct 4 Noted with poor signal at tune- in with frequency & ID (RS?? Ngada), and news by male announcer. Mentions of various Indonesian cities. Improving to fair by 1237. Drifting signal from 3515.4 to 3515.5 with buzzy audio. Some CW QRM. 4870.9, 1145-1205, RRI Sorong Oct 4, with powerhouse signal of soft lagu populer and lagu romantik music. Male announcer at 1155 with quick ID and into news apparently from local studio at 1200 (Guy Atkins, DXing at Grayland, WA USA, R75 / AR7030 / Kiwa MAP / SW, W, and NW Beverages, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4789.95, RRI Fak Fak, 1048-1055 Oct 5. Noted steady MOR music. Signal just starting to fade in. In about 20 minutes, expect it to be at a good level. Presently, the signal is poor (Bolland, Chuck, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. On July 1, 2003, the WorldSpace Foundation (WSF) changed its name to "First Voice International" and began a second phase in its evolution as an organization dedicated to effectively serving communities across Africa and Asia that are most vulnerable to poverty, isolation, and lack of infrastructure and information. See full details at http://www.firstvoiceint.org/history.html (Mike Terry, Oct 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. INFORMACIÓN IMPRECISA: UN FLACO SERVICIO A NUESTRO HOBBY El día de ayer escuché de la propia fuente la verdad sobre el supuesto cierre del servicio exterior de radiodifusión de Irán, en la onda corta. Pues, señores, hemos sido víctimas de una LEYENDA URBANA. Podría este capítulo pasar a la historia del DX como otro caso de los ARCHIVOS X del diexismo. En este caso, la leyenda ha sido FALSA. Según el mismo locutor-presentador del espacio "Conversando con los oyentes", hace algún tiempo se le hizo llegar una encuesta a un grupo de oyentes de La Voz de la República Islámica de Irán, en la cual se le pedía su opinión acerca de las trransmisiones de la estación en onda corta. Desde luego, sólo era un sondeo que si bien podía causar suspicacias o sospechas acerca de los planes de la directiva de la emisora, jamás justificaba el escándalo y la desinformación que luego se provocó. Objetivamente hablando, las emisiones en onda corta de la República Islámica nunca estuvieron en real peligro de desaparecer. Varios colegas, tal vez sorprendidos en su buena fé, difundieron la inexacta información de que era inminente el cierre de las ondas cortas persas. Lo más correcto, digo yo, es que ante la dichosa ENCUESTA, el oyente que procesó primero la información y responsable de su tergiversación, hubiese dado el alerta de la siguiente manera: "Atención colegas, me ha llegado un cuestionario acerca del servicio de radio exterior de Irán y al PARECER la directiva puede tomar decisiones trascendentales con base en la mismo. Atentos ante cualquier acción que pueda poner en jaque las emisiones de La Voz de la República Islámica de Irán". ¡Eso, una mera advertencia sin tintes amarillistas! Me molesta realmente este tipo de desinformación, cuyos efectos sólo dañan nuestra reputación como personas responsables y como fuentes fidedignas. Yo fui uno de los que me puse en alerta frente al caso IRÁN, aunque siempre mostré mis reservas. Ojalá esta lección sirva de reflexión, primero, para quien propaló de forma errónea la "noticia", y segundo, para todos aquellos que en su buena fé sirvieron de repetidores de la "nota" y no la confirmaron. 73's y buen DX Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA (Adán González, Oct 3, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISLE OF MAN [and non]. I have been in touch with the engineering section of Musicman Radio 279 and their engineer has been most helpful, probably because he is also a licensed amateur and also an NDB Dxer. Their daytime transmitter power is expected to be 500 kW reducing to about 100 kW at night to reduce any possible QRM to another new station located in Tunisia that will also be on 279 kHz. He also informed me that they hope to being transmissions next summer and will be looking for DX reports when it begins. Also he advised me that he has been informed that the following NDBs will change frequency before they commence transmissions: 282 kHz Lynham, England; 277 Chiltern, England; 276.5 BW Bremen, Germany. The status of 277 kHz Bray, France is currently unknown to him at this point in time but he suspects it may also move frequency. He also states that any service above 285 is unlikely to suffer any degradation (Robert Connolly via Steve Whitt via Tracey Gardner MWC via UK News, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. YOM KIPPUR, JEWISH DAY OF ATONEMENT, BEGINS SUNDAY Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins Sunday evening. In Jerusalem, the fast day begins Sunday at 4:43 p.m. and ends Monday at 5:55 p.m. During the 25 hours of the fast, all public transport will be suspended, including flights in and out of Ben Gurion International Airport. Israel radio and television will suspend all broadcasting, except in case of national emergency. The next scheduled English language news bulletin will be on the air at 8 p.m., Monday -- 18 hours UT (http://bet.iba.org.il/?lang=23 via Doni Rosenzweig, 05.10.2003 12:26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [and non]. Kol Israel / WRN - via Cellphone There's another way to listen to Israel Radio English news... via cellphone! - While looking through the list of ways to receive the World Radio Network in North America http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=50 I noticed that they now list a new way to listen... via Cellphone! - The Mobile Broadcast Network http://www.mymbn.com has News, Financial, Music, Religious, International, etc. radio stations. Not only is the WRN North American network available, but many of the broadcasts on the WRN are individually selectable. - That is, the WRN has Israel Radio on at 4:30 PM ET (it's the 2000 UT Israel Radio International (Reshet Hey) broadcast) and you can listen to it at that 4:30 PM ET. BUT, you can also listen to either a morning or evening Israel broadcast on demand, by itself! I confirmed with MBN, the only possible costs are your cellphone call costs (possibly including long distance). Many people have cellphone plans with included minutes and/or totally free nights/weekends, so it may not cost anything.. - You can dial the following number using your cell phone: Dial (615) 727-9201 - You can then, either enter in a code directly (found on their website) or make your way through voice menus, which only have 'frequently listened to' radio stations. Both WRN and Israel Radio are in the 'frequently listened to' list. They say that you can save station presets via their website. I'm waiting for a response, as I can't find them. - Codes of interest: World Radio Network 1025 WRN's website http://www.wrn.org - Israel Radio (Kol Israel) Morning broadcast 1019 (0500 UT broadcast - 7 AM Israel Time - On demand, I don't know how many minutes after the actual broadcast) - Israel Radio (Kol Israel) Evening broadcast 1032. At the moment, this code isn't working - I've emailed support about it. (2000 UT, 10 PM Israel Time International broadcast - NOT the 1800 UT, I've confirmed this.- On demand, I don't know how many minutes after the actual broadcast.) Kol Israel websites: http://www.iba.org.il http://www.israelradio.org - A Jewish radio station live (not Saturday, Jewish Holidays): Five Towns Radio 2459 Five Towns Radio website - which includes Windows Media audio and schedule: http://www.fivetownsradio.com - Alternatively, use your cellphone's WAP web browser (which may incur costs, depending upon your plan) to: http://www.mymbn.com/swing - If you have Nextel, go to: "Access Nextel Online and choose Web Sites, then Entertainment Choose MBN Audio". You'll then have menus to select the radio station of choice and your phone will prompt you and then automatically dial in (on the voice side of your phone) to a different 615 area code phone number and immediately connect you to the broadcast (Doni Rosenzweig, Oct 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Only on walkie-talkies, not wired phones?? This hardly makes sense (gh) ** ISRAEL [non]. IRAN, 9910, 0229-, Kol David, Oct 4. Strong reception with instrumental music at tune-in until 0231 when ID'd as 'Kol David', and into Hebrew news (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY [non?]. IRRS test on 5775 The 20 kW and the 100 kW portion prior and after 2000 were probably the same transmitter, I could not make out a carrier break but may be wrong since the reception was quite poor, actually noticeably poorer than what one would expect from a 100 kW transmitter within Europe, provided that 100 kW refers to carrier power and not PEP. Modulation was USB with reduced carrier, telcom-like audio quality noticeably below broadcast standard. In short, the whole thing did not sound like a professional 100 kW transmitter. The enclosed audio file contains three cuts: What appeared to be the power raise at 1959, the ID with cut into the first sentence at 2000 and a comparison of USB, AM and LSB reception (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Oct 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I read somewhere, tho I can`t seem to find it at the moment, that IRRS explained that the 20 and 100 kW transmissions overlapped, so there was no audible break (gh, DXLD) Dear listeners, 1) Further on our recent tests on IRRS-Shortwave, we want to thank all who sent their reception reports by email. By the end of next week QSLs will be mailed to all those who provided a mailing address. Reports indicate that Overall reception quality in Europe during our 100 kW tests was at least 1 point higher on the SIO scale than during our 20 kW broadcasts, and less subject to atmospheric noise, with an average of S4-5 for 100 kW, vs. an average of S3-4 for 20 kW. Reports from Internet radio receivers or from listeners in Italy or in neighbouring countries did not show any significant variance between 20 and 100 kW. Interference was mostly 5 (no interference) from all regions within the target. Interestingly, we received reports from Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand with an Overall of 3-4, until around sunrise in Australia. Reception in the Pacific was not possible during our broadcasts using 20 kW on 5,775 kHz. Reception in the Americas was not reported, mainly because far away reception on 6 MHz with current power and omni-directional antenna is at best possible during darkness. 2) Please notice that we will be testing again for one hour on Sunday Oct. 5, 2003 using 100 kW at 2030-2130 UT (2230-2330 Central European Time). We will be airing a one time (quite entertaining) English program called "Grandparent Factor". We will appreciate comments on this program, besides technical information on reception conditions. This will greatly help members of our non profit organization to continue sponsoring high power broadcasts. Please notice our schedule for **Sunday Oct 5, 2003** on 5,775 kHz Shortwave: 1900-2030 UT (2100-2230 CET): 5775, 20 kW to Europe (usual schedule) 2030-2130 UT (2230-2330 CET): 5775, 100 kW to Europe, Middle East and N. Africa (special one time broadcast) 3) As of Friday Oct. 10, 2003 we will run regular broadcasts with 100 kW on 5775 at 2100-2230 CET. Unless otherwise specified, all other broadcast will be using 20 kW to Europe. As usual we will be interested in receiving reception reports via email at: reports@n... Please include your mailing address, and we will confirm this special broadcasts by QSL. All our broadcasts may be heard in parallel via audio streaming at: http://mp3.nexus.org Please send reception reports and comments to what you hear on the air to: reports@n... [truncated, but you can guess]. Thank You for you again, and look forward to hearing from you. 73, (Ron Norton, NEXUS- IBA support, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy, ph: +39 02 70606603 - fax: +39 02 70638151 (via bclnews.it via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 3559.89, 1034-, Voice of Korea Oct 3 Usual cold war propaganda in English about the revolutionary workers party of Korea, etc. Good reception. Parallels noted: 9335.14 (very good), 11710.02 (good to very good), 11735.16 (good) and 13650.06 (very poor). Listeners who can stand listening for the whole transmission should be awarded a medal! 15180, 0111-, Voice of Korea, Oct 4. Very good reception in English, and exactly on frequency with good modulation --- very unusual for Pyongyang. // to: 13760.0 under VOA Delano, but would otherwise be strong. 11735.09 (good with a little buzz and unstable frequency). (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** KURDISTAN [and non]. MIDDLE EAST CLANDESTINE/OPPOSITION BROADCASTS Further to the list in last month`s issue: 3880/4830 V. of the Communist Party of Iran - *1457-1558* (program under the name V. of the Iranian Revolution, Komala section of CPI) and *1657-1758* (irregularly to 1835), Persian 3903 R. Freedom – not heard during period 1-6 Sept 2003 3925/4615 V. of Komala – (Voice of `another` Communist Party of Iran!). This is the same station broadcasting on Sundays via Norway on 7560 at 1700-1800. The daily program on 3925 and 4615 is *1625-1800*, but on Sundays at 1700-1800 the programs are not in parallel! 3970 V. of Iranian Kurdistan (jammed) – reactivated, noted in Kurdish till 1559* 6 Sept 4023 V. of the People of Kurdistan – heard in Sept *0350-0430 and 1350-1658* 4120 R. Kurdistan – not heard during period 1-6 Sept 2003 4163 V. of Independence (possibly not exact name) *1545-1655* in Kurdish/Arabic 4235 V. of the Toilers of Kurdistan – 1400-1625* (irregularly to 1825, such as 23 Aug) 4250-4280 V. of Mojahedin of Iranian Kurdistan – jammed *1558-1657* (Rumen Pankov, Bulgaria, 10 Sept, DX News, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** LATVIA. 9290, R. Seagull relay, *1000, Oct. 4, Barely audible music poking under noise floor, not enough to ID language or much of anything else. Gave up after a few minutes and went back to bed! Maybe better luck later this DX season. Thanx Bernd Trutenau tip (Scott Barbour, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Nieuwe informatie aanvraag. Funny response I got when I emailed them. Sent standard type reception report, requested QSL etc. From their reply, it seems they ain`t interested in QSL or even SWL unless you fancy coughing up about Au$10 a month. They switched off the HF transmitter at 1500 UT, btw. ----- Original Message ----- From: Anne Hondema Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2003 3:45 AM Subject: Re: Nieuwe informatie aanvraag. Hello, Thank you very much for your respons to the Radio Seagull programs. As you probably know we are a very young station and we are very curious for the number and sort of people who listen to us. We have our residence in a Dutch Sea port up North, called Harlingen. Our shows can be received via the Internet (24/7) or via our Shortwave broadcasts on Saturdays between 1200 and 1700 CET. The frequency to tune in to is 9290 kHz. Even though right now a minority of our programs is actually presented, very soon the majority will be. We have a very skilled crew who have all a long term experience with other stations. Our choice of music is mainly "rocky" and we tend to not always pick the obvious tracks [track 1]. There is too much extremely good music that no other radio station ever plays. We do! We are working on a merchandise range as well as an organisation that tries to recrute listeners who want to do something more than listen. They can support the station with a monthly contribution of at least 5 pound sterling or 7,50 euro. We will send the a three monthly magazine and they will be entitled to the "members-prices" if they want to buy merchandise. If you want to know more you can always contact us at Radio Seagull, PO Box 24, 8860 AA Harlingen http://www.radioseagull.com http://www.radioseagull.nl seagull-@radioseagull.nl [truncated] Greetings from Holland, Radio Seagull (via Jem Cullen, Australia, ARDXC via DXLD) ** LIBERIA. 4760, ELWA, 0559 Oct 2 with three repetitions of their celeste IS which I recognized but had not heard for a very long time. Into singing and announcement at 0600, but voice audio so low as to be completely useless. -- Also later, 2218 Oct 2 with religious vocals including the Lord's Prayer, apparent closing announcement 2229, voice again extremely low; NA, off 2231:30 after a minute of OC (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Oct 5 via DXLD) ** LIBYA [non]. FRANCE 17635, 1737-, Voice of Africa Oct 4 English news at good levels ending with ID at 13:38 into French. Stronger than // 17695. Both frequencies have Arabic music cochannel in background ?source? (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MOROCCO. 171, ANRT (Presumed), Nador, 0140, Oct 5, S9 signal between 9+30db static crashes. Arabic popular music. Good audio (David Hodgson, TN, IC R75, 950 ft wire pointing NE, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MYANMAR. 5985.81, 1552-, Radio Myanmar, Oct 4. Good signal with EZL instrumental music. Seems to me they're back on this split frequency after being on exactly 5986 for a while. Wonder why? (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. [Re 3-168 and WOR 1200:]. I just finished listening to your WOR # 1200 edition about a minute ago. I am writing to inform you of a small detail. This concerns the airing toward the end of the first half of the show. You mentioned that a radio station listener called in a request for some music. You mentioned 50 Cent. As you stated, it could mean a charged fee per music request-but as I recall, there exists a rap music artist called (singular) 50 cent (not 50 cents) so when you said the request was for 50 cent it became clear that it just might refer to the rap artist and not a charged fee. A small detail. I am not exactly sure if that is the case but if it is, it would then be the rap artist. Very informative program as usual. Keep up the good work (Michael Muller, Oct 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NETHERLANDS. Re 3-175: ``18710`` at 1900: Yes, it should be 17810 kHz. And while we're at it, the 1400 transmission to South Asia ends at 1600, not 1500 is I originally typed. These corrections have now been made. My apologies (Andy Sennitt • 10/4/03; Media Network blog via DXLD) Oh-oh. The airtime cut down to a single hour is indeed a surprise. Seems to me it will be quite interesting to check out the whole schedule, just as an example for 5955, already reported to go to Hörby for a single hour in the morning. I seem to recall that RNW wanted to cancel the noon transmission to Europe already a decade ago in favour of the late night release via Bolshakovo 1386 kHz, but finally kept it because listeners objected? Probably it is not so widely known that the second channel (somewhere on 41 metres then) was for some time operated by a former Radio Berlin International transmitter at Nauen until this transmitter was withdrawn from service and replaced by reduced power operation from the Wertachtal station (Kai Ludwig • 10/5/03; 3:33:45 AM, ibid.) A PDF version of our winter programme and frequency guide in Dutch can be downloaded from http://www.rnw.nl/nl/html/ta_frqtijden0304.html but it does not contain details of transmitter sites. However it may be of interest to those who can't wait for the final engineering schedule to be released :-) (Andy Sennitt • 10/5/03; 4:13:22 AM, ibid.) Sorry to see RNW having to cut back. I wish I had the funds to pay you otherwise not to reduce transmission time or frequencies. Unlike many who seem to listen to shortwave in the local morning, my schedule has always had me be an evening listener to shortwave. While I find 0000 to 0200 a better listening time for me (compared to 2330 to 0125, which seems to always start too early in the central part of the states with supper...), I'm sad to see the time split between two different frequencies. There will be days when neither frequency will work well for their scheduled hour, which now could mean a total loss of that hour (whereas before with redundant frequencies I was guaranteed that I could listen regardless of the propagation as one of the frequencies would always work). Cheers from Iowa, USA (Kevin Anderson • 10/5/03; 7:07:58 AM, ibid.) Looks like Aus/Nz is gone. We are entering the era of the swissifcation of radio. This is where it started at SRI. Far worse will be coming to VOA (lou josephs • 10/5/03; 7:27:29 AM, ibid.) What makes you say that? Our transmission at 1000-1100 UTC is beamed to To Asia, Far East & Pacific. The last time I checked, the Pacific included Australia and New Zealand :-) (Andy Sennitt • 10/5/03; 7:38:23 AM, ibid.) Yeah but wasn't there an 0730 transmission beamed from Bonaire? Having News on the hour is cool though. But I'd start the s/on at 58 to beat the BBC at the top of the hour (lou josephs • 10/5/03; 9:22:41 AM, ibid.) Sorry to lose your later morning transmission to North America on 15220 - it provided great reception from coast to coast. 5965 was never as good, and is very early for much of the Americas. Very grateful for the new weekend transmission at 1900; you will be the best signal on Shortwave in North America at that hour, when we usually just get weaker signals meant for Africa. You are now the main voice of Europe to many of us, hope you can always remain on Shortwave (Steve Shaffer • 10/5/03; 4:34:41 PM, ibid.) ** NETHERLANDS. Radio Netherlands - Sincerely Yours coming to an end in October The most recent edition of Sincerely Yours indicated the program would be ending with the seasonal changes in October. There was no mention of any planned replacement program. Also, Sound Fountain and Aural Tapestry, which have been seasonally alternating, will be merged into a single program, Vox Humana. Howie Shannon is asking for feedback concerning the most and least favorite Radio Netherlands programs over the past season -- he wants to use this feedback in one of the features on the last edition of Sincerely Yours. E-mail sent to the letters@rnw.nl address will reach Howie, as will snail mail sent to "Sincerely Yours" at the usual Radio Netherlands address: The English Language Service, Radio Netherlands, PO Box 222, Hilversum, The Netherlands (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) See also USA: WRMI/IBC Radio ** NEWFOUNDLAND. CKZN/CBN, 6160, 0954-1005, Sept.30, English, Program "Labrador Morning" with PSAs, weather, news re hurricane damage in Halifax. Fair (Scott Barbour, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. Radio New Zealand Transmitter Problems and (hopefully) new schedule I reported here a couple months ago regarding Radio New Zealand International's (RNZI's) schedule expansion to 24 hours/day. Unfortunately a significant transmitter problem has suspended all of RNZI's direct shortwave broadcasts, though their live webcast continues; the longest contiguous blocks of live webcasting are from 0700 to 0905 (weekdays), 1200 to 1405, 1700 to 2220 (Tuesday to Friday; shorter blocks other days). These can be heard at URL http://www.audionet.co.nz/ranzlive.ram [Note: some of this may be one hour off as DST has just started -gh] With the new schedule RNZI has added a new daily current affairs program, Dateline Pacific, augmenting what had been a once-weekly offering. Dateline Pacific now airs at 0308 (Daily?), 0808 (Mon-Fri), 1108 (Mon-Fri), 1308 (Mon-Fri), 1508 (Mon-Fri), 1815 (Sun-Thu), 2015 (Sun-Thu), 2215 (Sun-Thu, I think). Each day's edition is available for on-demand Internet listening as well. A new entry on the RNZI schedule is What's Going On, an update on the arts and entertainment from New Zealand's National Radio that airs every weekday at 0606 UT. From the National Radio website, What's Going On? is National Radio's arts program. It goes out live every weeknight and is basically the work of three stressed-out part-time enthusiasts. Their brief: 125 minutes of quality material a week, every week. Each weekday a show of reviews, previews, interviews and items of interest to the New Zealand arts community is built up virtually from scratch before being broadcast. Over the six months it's been running, What's Going On? has gained a strong following among arts providers and consumers (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND [non]. AUSTRALIA, 9580, 1707-, RNZI, Oct 3. Pacific regional news from RNZI concluding at 1707, then ID and into sports program. Nothing heard last night and overnight on any RNZI freq, so presumably still off the air. Spoke with coach of a NZ basketball team, the Breakers playing in the Australian league. SIO 4-5-5. 10:00 am local, so not a convenient time generally for me. Fair only on recheck at 1809 after the news from RNZI (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand: RNZI Valid from 26.10.03 to 28.3.04 1650-1750, 6095, NE Pacific, Daily 1751-1850, 11980, NE Pacific, Daily 1851-2239, 15265, Pacific/Europe, Daily 2240-0359, 17675, Pacific/West Coast USA, Daily 0400-0705, 15340, Pacific/Europe/Mid West USA, Daily 0706-1105, 11675, Pacific/Mid West USA, Daily 1106-1259, 15530, NW Pacific/East Timor/SE Asia, Daily 1300-1649, 6095, Pacific, Daily from 1.9.03 (Website via Michael Beesley, World DX Club via Alan Roe, DXLD] ** NIGERIA. R. Nigeria, Abuja on 7275 believed to be used only to relay network news at 0600, 1500, 1800, 2100 (Chris Greenway, Accra, Ghana, 10 Sept, DX News, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** NORWAY. [or NOWAY?] UKEsenderen, October 3, 2003. We are sorry to inform you that it will not be possible to listen to UKEsenderen this year. The board of directors of UKA has decided not to support our work. Without their support, we are not allowed to broadcast. This is very sad, not only for us, but also for all our listeners; both in Norway and abroad. We would like to use this opportunity to thank everybody for their interest through the years, and we hope to receive listeners' reports again in 2005. We will work very hard to try and convince the board of directors of UKA-05 that it is in their best interest to put UKEsenderen back on the air. If you would like to help us pursue this goal, please tell the people responsible for shutting us down: Martin Hartmann, kultursjef@uka.no and Kristian Wright Kristoffersen, ukesjef@uka.no When the UKA festival is over, they will write an evaluation report, and the more people that tell them they miss UKEsenderen, the better. As always, Academic Radio Club welcomes all support and feedback. You may contact us at ark-ukesender@stud.ntnu.no Yours faitfully, (Norvald H. Ryeng, Station Manager, Academic Radio Club, LA1K (http://www.stud.ntnu.no/studorg/ark/ukesenderen/ via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Station News KCSC/KBCW Classical Radio From the General Manager October, 2003 Bradford Ferguson A word about KCSC`s decision to drop the broadcast of A Prairie Home Companion. The decision to drop PHC was made with deliberation. Ever since the PHC audience was split (in 1997, when KCSC ceased to be the only PHC carrier in central Oklahoma), it has been tough to raise all the support the program needs. We have had to subsidize it these last few years as a large number of the pledges coming in for the program have not panned out. This is a risk inherent in a pledge drive, so in a sense, the audience already made the decision for us. We have received complaints over the last year that center on GK`s increasing use of ``potty humor`` in the broadcast and that the program is becoming stale as the years pass. This does not fit with the fine arts aim of our station. I want KCSC to be a station that families can listen to without embarrassment. Also, we are trying to ``hone`` our sound in the direction of music programming. As you know we have deliberately chosen a course different from the majority of public radio stations. PHC is still available in central Oklahoma on KOSU 91.7 and in eastern Oklahoma on KWGS 89.5. I sympathize with listeners who may have trouble picking up the signals from Stillwater or Tulsa, but internet listening is now available. We would not have dropped the program had we been the only outlet in this area, however with a price tag of $18,000 for this year (it increases each year based on an area`s population) coupled with GK`s comments following the Rhubarb Tour which I and the majority of others felt were arrogant, we decided that we would end carriage before the new season began and inform our listeners before they gave money this fall. The decision is akin to when we dropped NPR in 1985 and I have received both bravos and boos. I hope you continue to listen to and enjoy our other offerings. Sincerely, Bradford Ferguson, General Manager Programming Notes October, 2003 Kent Anderson: The fall quarter brings several changes to our schedule. Monday evenings are once again anchored by 26 weeks of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the broadcasts hosted by Dick Cavett. An old friend continues in a slightly different format on Tuesday`s European orchestra series. Live from the Concertgebouw returns, but instead of compilation programs, will be featuring complete concerts. Various orchestras, conductors, and soloists will be recorded in concert in Amsterdam and broadcast over the next 26 weeks. Here`s one daily note as well: The Composer`s Datebook moves up to 8:58 a.m. [CDT = UT -5], right before the Classical Birthday Hour. A new module series, Martin Perlich Interviews, takes over at 2:58 p.m. each weekday. Martin Perlich will interview some of the biggest names in classical music, and each artist will be featured in five separate two-minute programs. It`s an exciting addition to our lineup. The Saturday Blend makes its premiere on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. The first few weeks` playlists are complete, and I`m looking forward to bringing you a mix of music from eclectic sources-from symphonic works to bluegrass, from medieval songs to ragtime. The band program I mentioned last month is still in the development stages at this point. Sunday at 12:00 noon for fall will see a return of Indianapolis On the Air, featuring the outstanding Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. A repeat broadcast of Schickele Mix will air at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. I hope you enjoy our increasingly music-intensive program schedule this fall. Kent Anderson, Program Director (http://www.kcscfm.com downloaded October 5 by John Norfolk, DXLD) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. In some casual listening yesterday, I noted 3365 in parallel with 4890 at 1220 UT, with a pop music request program. I didn't do an exhaustive search, but none of the other PNG local stations I could hear were in parallel. I had noticed this parallel on earlier occasions but hadn't thought much of it. Being rather inactive in the hobby over our summer, I wonder it I'd missed something. Is 3365 always running parallel to 4890 these days? (Nigel Pimblett, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Oct 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Nigel, I frequently listen to the PNG local stations as I get almost constant reception from my location (armchair down at the coast and reasonably good here in Portland). The regionals sometimes (but rarely) are in parallel with 4890 for programming (The one exception is that most, but not all, carry the NBC news from 4890 after the ToH). After the usual signoff at 1200 --- if the station stays on, the programming is almost always parallel with 4890. There is no set pattern as to which station stays on after 1200 - but frequently 3205, 3315, 3335, 3355 and 3385 do... 3365 Milne Bay seems to have its transmitter repaired after July of this year - they were at pipsqueak levels down on the coastal beverages for the past two years.... The difficulty with QSLing after 1200 is that they seem to categorically reject any of the parallel 4890 as proof of reception -- you should try for the local programming. I have several letters stating this from a couple of different local stations (Don Nelson, Oregon, ibid.) ** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 3335, 1323-, Radio East Sepik, Oct 3. Huge signal from Wewak, on much later than normal. At least equal to 4890 (in fact relaying Port Moresby), with a late night call in program. Earlier in the morning, very few PNGs were noted on the air --- the worst I've ever noted, with no more than a small handful audible. 3204.98, 0918-, Radio West Sepik, Oct 4. Normally one of the stronger PNGs heard at 0917 with NA followed by Tok Pisin announcements rapidly. Then switched to English at 0920 'Thank you very much. It's wonderful to be back....' Spoiled by ute. Heard at 0917 with NA and Tok Pisin talk, and into English. Then at 0922, a press conference in English countering allegations of corruption by a parliamentarian. Good overall, but spoiled by a utility cochannel on upper side. 'A long and difficult time for my family'... Other PNGs: 2410 off the air 3219.98: Same Russian fishing net heard in past with the same women as I've heard in past on upper side. Weak audio on LSB audible. Rechecked at 1138 with fair to good C & W music. 3235: Fair to good with Tok Pisin news 'Provincial labor office'.... 3245: obliterated on both U/LSB by very loud utility. 3260: Radio Madang with very tinny audio but fair to good overall. Good, but with same phone quality audio at 1139. 3275: Loud tones only. 3290: Loud utility. 3305: Nothing audible 3315: Nothing heard 3325: Possibly there but dominated by Indonesian. Het present. 3335: Radio East Sepik with same program as 3205. Fair to good in English about same corruption scandal. Very strong at 1143. 3345: Indonesian only heard here. 3355: weak carrier only audible. Nothing at 1144. 3365: weak audio, phone quality. Possibly the PNG. Pretty strong carrier but barely audible hymn in background. Possibly a ute with an open carrier over PNG. Will have to remain possible only for Radio Milne Bay. Nope, a good signal at 1155 recheck with 70s oldies. 1200-, Radio Milne Bay, Oct 4. Into National news at 1200:30 at end of an oldie 'knock three times and I'll meet you....'. Good reception. 3375: Radio Western Highlands (?) cochannel with Brazilian and ute. Messy frequency. All by itself at 1148, with mentions of Western Province and Port Moresby with muddy audio, in English. 3375: Radio Western Highlands, good reception with National news relay. 3385: off air. 3395: off air. 3905: off air. 4890: 5-5-5 with National news 3290, 0934-, Radio Central, Boroko, Oct 5. Two PNGs in addition on the air this morning compared to the last two mornings: Radio Central with fair/good reception but use USB and notch to avoid ute tones. Nice s/off announcement by YL in Tok Pisin followed by NA. Also on this morning, 3355 Radio Simbu, Kundiawa with Tok Pisin at 0928 with mentions of 'program' and 'shortwave frequencies' at good reception quality. I checked them right after 3290 signed-off to hear their s/off announcement by OM in Tok Pisin followed by the NA. A het is heard on 2410, but if on, Radio Enga usually fades in later. Nothing when rechecked several times by 1200 (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) [another version:] PNG Bandscan Oct. 4, 2003 1145 UTC Grayland, WA 2410 R. Enga weak het only 3205 R. West Sepik good w/Pigin tk 3220 R. Morobe fair w/KCBS 3235 R. West New Britain vy good 3260 R. Madang fair-good w/PNG pop mx 3275 R. Southern Highlands weak het only 3290 R. Central het only 3335 R. East Sepik good w/Melanesian mx 3365 R. Milne Bay fair-good, //3375 & 4890 3375 R. Western Highlands poor-fair, //3365 & 4890 with mx by Sting 4890 NBC Port Moresby exc. with 70's mx Oct. 5, 2003 1115 UT 2410 R. Enga weak het only 3205 R. West Sepik good with PNG C&W mx 3220 R. Morobe good with PNG pop mx 3235 R. West New Britain good 3260 R. Madang good with Gospel mx 3290 R. Central exc. S-9 signal with IDs 3335 R. East Sepik vy good with Gospel mx, //3365, 3375, 4890 3365 R. Milne Bay exc. at S-9, with Gospel mx, //3335, 3375, 4890 3375 R. Western Highlands good level, //3335, 3365, 4890 4890 NBC Port Moresby exc. S-9 level with Gospel mx //3335, 3365, 3375 (Guy Atkins, DXing at Grayland, WA USA, R75 / AR7030 / Kiwa MAP / SW, W, and NW Beverages, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** PARAGUAY [non]. BRAZIL/PARAGUAY. 6105, relay of R. Primero de Marzo (Megacadena) is definitely via R. Cultura, Brazil. I listened this past Sunday at 1000 and there was never a stop or carrier change; Foz do Iguaçu obtains the signal via satelite or FM (Adán Mur, Paraguay via Eramo-Argentina Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** PERU. Henrik Klemetz mailar över ytterligare info om denna station: [R. Panorama, 5459.00] Björn! Alldeles intill dina egna fina inspelningar, i Peru-listan på TN:s hemsida, finns försthandsinformation om den här stationen. Där är också stationsorten korrekt stavad. WRTH-redaktören bjuder på en ultrakorrektion, tror jag. Så här skrevs om stationen i juni 1999 i den alltid om QSL och adresser välorienterade Play DX-bulletinen: RADIO PANORAMA 5906,8 KHz letter-QSL V/s: Segundo Ayala Brione (owner) station belong to an evangelic church. Schedule: 1000-1200; 2300-0200. QTH: San Juan De Recopampa, Sorochuco. Report may be sent via brother station LA VOZ DE LOS ANDES, Plaza de Armas, Sorochuco, Distrito de Sorochuco, Provincia de Celendin, Departamento de Cajamarca, Region Autónoma del Marañon. Reply in 90d. Phone: (+51) 44-820321 (public phone booth) (Thanks to DXer H.Klemetz for correct details & translation in English text) (DXer R.Rodriguez, Colombia) /(Henrik Klemetz) (SW Bulletin Oct 5 via DXLD) ** PHILIPPINES. 15190, 1730-, Radio Pilipinas, Oct 4. Strong reception with sign-on of Filipino language programming. Mentioned later '11.72 MHz'. Initial ID was in English. 11720 was even stronger at 5-5-5, vs 4-4-4. Nothing on third sked freq of 17720 (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PHILIPPINES. 1512, 1442-, DYAB, Oct 4. Nice ID in English 'standing down transmission'. Caught on an MD recording! Fair/good (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA, 153, 1250-, Radio Rossii, Oct 4. Komsomolsk with fair reception with what sounds suspiciously religious. 'Dosveedanya dorogiy radio slushatalee' at 0852. // 180 Petropavlovsk (poor), 243 Razdolnoe fair to good, 279 (good +, at 1258 with ads for upcoming programs on Radio Rossii, i.e. Dr. Blues). At 1300 Moscow TC for 1700, and into Russian news. Impressive signal. This has to be Yuzhno- Sakhalinsk. 153, 1022-, Radio Rossii, Komsomolsk, Oct 5. Good to very good reception this morning with Russian programming. Best of the three mornings. 180 poor. 189 good. 234 Arman, Magadan good. 243 Razdolnoe, Primorskyi Krai poor/fair. 279 Yuzhno Sakhalinsk good (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.88, 1023-, SIBC, Oct 3. Local news in Pidgin English about economic aid from Australia and Japan. English segments as well. Into English religious segment at 1033 by Australian accented minister. Very good as usual (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH AFRICA. RADIO VERITAS GETS MONTH-LONG SPECIAL TEMPORARY FM LICENSE FOR JOHANNESBURG AND PARALLEL MEDIUM-WAVE LICENSE FOR CAPETOWN [and reduces SW output] Johnannesburg, Oct 4 (RVSA) --- Radio Veritas South Africa will be broadcasting on FM by special licence again in Johannesburg from October 5 to November 2. That will be on 92.7 FM as it has been before. ``More good news,`` says Father Emil Blaser, a Dominican priest and head of Radio Veritas Productions, ``is that we have applied also to broadcast simultaneously on MW [AM] in Cape Town, and we are hopeful of getting the go-ahead. Now we have never been able to do that before and our usual signal, on shortwave, does not properly reach the Western Cape.`` Father Blaser also announced that, effective Wednesday, September 17, ``we are going to change our shortwave broadcasting times.`` Radio Veritas has been leasing shortwave transmitter time for well over a year now on 7240 kHz and 3230 kHz. On 7240 kHz, ``we'll still be there from 12 to 1 pm [1000-1100 UT], but will continue then until 4 pm [1400 UT] instead of going off [at 1 p.m. [1100 UT] and we will stay on the air] until 6 pm [1600 UT]. In other words we will not be broadcasting on shortwave in the evening, but will extend afternoon broadcasts when we think our signal will be strongest.`` Radio Veritas was leasing 3230 kHz from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. [1600-1900 UT], but that frequency will be relinquished, and its three hours of programming will be heard afternoons on 7240 kHz. ``We are trying to reach you the best way we can, and we ask for your comments to help keep us on track. Call us during office hours on 011 624-2516, fax 011 614-7711 or e-mail info@radioveritas.co.za `` —My thanks to Dr. Hansjeorg Biener, editor of Medien-Aktuell, for sending me this story. SPECIAL BROADCAST LICENCE Radio Veritas will be broadcasting for 24 hours a day in the month of October 2003 on the following frequencies: Johannesburg Greater Area 92.7 FM Cape Town and Surrounding Areas 729 AM Nationwide on Shortwave (12:00-13:00) Mass 7240 There will be NO evening SW broadcasts on 3230 during this time from 5 October to 2 November 2003 Database: Johannesburg: Radio Veritas 92.7 FM & on Meyerton shortwave transmitters: 7240 kHz from noon until 1 p.m., and 3280 kHz from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., local time. Director Fr. Emil Blaser, O.P., Radio Veritas Productions, 36 Beelaerts St., 2139 Troyeville, South Africa. Tel.: +27 (11) 624-2516 or 624-2517; fax 614-7711. E-mail: info@radioveritas.co.za.Website: http://www.radioveritas.co.za (Catholic Radio Update Oct 5 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN [and non]. R. Sweden B-03: 26 October 2003 - 28 March 2004 Arabic 1700-1715 ME/AF sa 7420 English 0130-0200 AU/AS 9435 0230-0300 NAM 9495sa 0330-0400 NAM 9495sa 1330-1400 AS/NAM 9430 17505 18960 1430-1500 ME/AF/AS/NAM 17505 18960 1830-1900 EU mo-sa 1179 9375 2030-2100 EU/AS 1179 6065 9400(9415) 2230-2300 EU 1179 6065 Estonian 1530-1545 EU 1179 6065 1700-1715 EU sa-su 6065 1730-1745 EU 5830 1800-1830* EU 1179 6065 German 1730-1800 EU mo-fr 1179 1930-2000 EU 1179 6065 2000-2030 EU su 1179 6065 Kurdish 1700-1715 ME/AF su 7420 Latvian 1715-1730 EU 1179 6065 1745-1800 EU 5830 1800-1830* EU 1179 6065 Russian 1300-1330 EU 15245 1400-1430 EU 7375 9865 1500-1530 EU 1179 1730-1800 EU sa-su 1179 1800-1830 EU 5830 1930-2000 EU 5840 2000-2030 EU mo-sa 1179 6065 Swedish 0000-0030 SAM 9495sa 0100-0130 AU/AS/SAM 9495sa 12060ma 0200-0230 NAM 9495sa 0300-0330 NAM 9495sa 1300-1315 AS 9920 18960 1315-1330 AS sa-su 9920 18960 1315-1330 AU/AS/NAM mo-fr 17505 18960 1400-1415 ME/AF/AS 17505 18960 1415-1430 ME/AF/AS sa-su 17505 18960 1415-1430 AS mo-fr 9920(13580) 18960 1500-1530 ME/AF/AS/NAM 17505 18960 1600-1630 EU 5840 5850 1730-1800 EU 6065 1900-1930 EU/ME/AF 1179 6065 7375 9375 2000-2030 AS 9445(9415) 2200-2230 EU 1179 6065 2300-2330 EU 1179 Swedish P1 0430-0600 ME/AF mo-fr 11775 0430-0700 EU 1179 0500-0700 EU mo-fr 5840(Dec+Jan) 6065 0554-0800 EU mo-fr 9490 0800-1000 EU su 6065 13790 1545-1600 NAM 18960 1545-1700 EU 1179 6065 1645-1700 ME/AF/EU 7420 13580 1700-1715 EU mo-fr 1179 6065 7420 13580 1700-1715 EU sa-su 1179 6065(sa) 2100-2200 EU/ME/AF/SAM 1179 6065 9510(9490) 12065 Swedish P4 0700-0900 EU sa 6065 13790 1100-1110 EU/AF/AS 9490 9920 21810 1110-1130 EU/AF/AS sa-su 9490 9920 21810 1130-1140 AU/AS/NAM 17505 21810 1140-1200 AU/AS/NAM sa-su 17505 21810 1200-1210 NAM 18960 1210-1230 NAM sa-su 18960 1800-1900 EU su 1179 6065 * = Estonian/Latvian program sa = Relay via Sackville ma = Relay via Madagascar Frequencies in (brackets) = alt frequencies [via Wolfgang Bueschel, extracted from spreadsheet by Alan Roe, DXLD] ** SYRIA [and non]. Oi pessoal, Estive acompanhando pela TV a reunião de emergência do Conselho de Segurança da ONU a respeito do conflito Israel - Síria e o embaixador de Israel, Dan Gillerman, citou a Rádio Damascus como meio de comunicação estatal que incentiva o terrorismo, lendo 3 transcrições de sua programação. Incrível, no mundo em que muitos se voltam apenas para a internet como meio de comunicação, o rádio foi o único citado nesta grave reunião (Flávio Archangelo, Jundiaí - SP, PY2ZX, Oct 5, radioescutas via DXLD) Ola Flávio e amigos... É isto, trata-se de populações sem recursos para internet. É o poder do radio, que está vivo e muito vivo. Valendo também para a emissora do exército de Israel (15785.9, a confirmar) que se não inventiva diretamente o terror mas emite mensagens nacionalistas. A invasão de territórios palestinos com conjuntos habitacionais é também uma violência!! O Rádio ta Forte! 73, saudações Islámicas a todos (Paulo Miled Zugaib, radioescutas via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. Radio Taiwan International -- Coming in October in the October 3rd, 10th, and 17th editions of the People interview program: Natalie Tso talks with Desmond Wang, the Communications Manager at AC Nielsen Taiwan. Natalie and Desmond talk about Taiwan's latest trends in consumer products and various media, his expertise in training personnel in making presentations and his work with the media. People airs to North America Fridays 0230 UT. (per RTI website) (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** TIBET. 9490, 1113-, Tibet PBS, Oct 3. Holy Tibet program presented by the same YL I've heard in previous years in English at fair level, but use LSB to avoid splatter. Parallels are: 4905 (good level), 4920 (poor under cochannel), 5240 (poor), 6200 (fair), and 7385 (poor). Still going at 0720, so sign-off of English program varies from 15 to 30 minutes. 9490, 1630-, Tibet PBS, Oct 4. Holy Tibet confirmed on at this time in English, about equal to cochannel probable VOR. // 7385 fair, but in the clear. 4905 (poor), 6200 best (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TRISTAN DE CUNHA. One of the stations DXers used to dream about picking up was ZOE Tristan Radio which operated with just 400 watts on 3290. Whilst digging through my archives I came across an interview the station's first operator, Alan Hemming, gave to the long defunct British Association of DXers in 1972 about the station`s early days: "I first went out to Tristan da Cunha in October 1965, as Superintendent of Posts and Telegraphs. On Tristan this fine title covers the work of single handed radio operator and technician, and Postmaster in charge of the slim mail deliveries - about five in and five out, per year. The normal postal work does not tax one, but the philatelic work takes a fair amount of time. Many of these friendly islanders owned transistor radios, shortwave models, and listening was restricted to poor reception, with inadequate aerials, to Springbok Radio and a few other stations in Africa. BBC had, at that time, not started to broadcast from Ascension Island, so reception was not very good. When the Governor of St. Helena came to the Island in 1966, I approached him to sound out his feelings about an idea which I had for putting a local programme out, with some local colour and rebroadcast of BBC news. The Governor, Sir John Field, who was also the Governor of Tristan, was for it, and so when he left I went ahead with preparations to put on our first programme as part of the 150th Anniversary Celebrations, due in August 1966. We had no materials, and few records, and the equipment to start with was the Oceanspan VII¹s ship's transmitter which we used for our communications. Our frequency was chosen to suit the band-coverage of most of the receivers, and was, in fact, a shipping frequency. We were not licenced at all, and so we kept the rig on low power. In fact, we were a pirate station in the first instance. We used an ordinary Philips record player and my own recorder for musical reproduction, and a pre-amplifier was built into the Oceanspan to feed those things in. We started off with just one night per week. To start with the Islanders just did not understand what was meant by a record request programme and, in fact, our first few programmes were cooked-up, requests and all. However the programmes were received enthusiastically and the Tristans were delighted to be getting their first radio entertainment with decent reception. Having made our start, and found that our efforts were appreciated, I decided that if I could count on support for further evenings from my various co-operators, I should go ahead with plans to get a frequency authorised, and to improve the equipment. By Ham Radio, contact was made with the G.P.O. in London. GB2SM, at the Science Museum in London, co-operated on this, and I was asked to listen on the 90 metre band and ask for a frequency which appeared to be clear. I eventually asked for 3290 kHz and this was granted, with a low power limit, intended for local reception only. By the time that I returned from leave in U.K. in 1967, plans for improvement had been made and Tristan Radio was officially one of the world's broadcasting stations - maybe the world's smallest in size of building, size of listening public (280 total population) and certainly one of the lowest-powered stations. We bought two `Garrard` record decks and a `Ferrograph` recorder, and these were built into a console along with a 6-channel mixer pre-amplifier which I constructed locally. An old navy 62 set transmitter was available locally and out of use, so this was modified to put out with its pair of 807's in the output, approximately 40 watts input. A good antenna was cut for the frequency, and we went on the air with a compact programme set-up in one room of our old wooden shack on the cliff at Tristan. We did three nights a week, Wednesday, Fridays and Sundays from 1900 to 2200 GMT. The signature tune "Scottish Soldier" was chosen because the early founder settler of the island community was Corporal Glass of Kelso in Scotland. He went to Tristan with the Army Garrison and stayed when they left. After the initial announcement in English we usually had Children`s Hour, conducted by a lady from the Island and, sometimes, supplemented by BBC Transcription Service material. The children`s programme makes way for a re-broadcast of the BBC overseas news at 2000 hrs - normally received well these days on a 9 MHz frequency, or on 15 MHz. We have local request programmes with birthday messages etc, such serial programmes as the Paul Temple series, comedy serials, Ken Dodd, Kenneth Horne etc. Locally produced programmes include some panel games. One currently running had the doctor as Question Master and a team of four people each time the game went on air. When I left in November I had introduced a further one night per week, on Mondays, same hours of broadcasting. The low power used makes it unlikely that reception will ever be good in Europe as there is competition from other much more powerful stations on or about the frequency. In fact the little transmitter, as I found when I was on relief there in 1971, was not being run at full efficiency. The ATU which goes with the transmitter had been disregarded, and the set was not loaded at all. Reception was even poor on the island. Whilst there I built a small pi-output which brought our reception up to a decent level on Gough Island about 250 miles to the South, which is a very unfavourable direction behind the mountain. Reports of reception reaching the Island have not been confirmable in the main, although one Swedish listener gave enough programme content to make it seem likely that he did hear something. The same applies to the South Africans expedition reports. They could have heard us but the reports are all very indeterminate. In fact, the only one who, whilst I was on the Island, made a likely report was the Swedish listener. Now the station may be heard more easily. A new transmitter has gone out to the island and it seems that the transmission may be with 1000 watts in the near future. If a good aerial is used there may now be a real chance of hearing Tristan Radio. Even with this greatly increased power it will not be an easy station to receive." I am not sure that the 1000 watt transmitter was ever installed though it was shown for some years in the WRTH under future plans. The station was last listed on 3290 in the 1993 Handbook, since 1994 it has been listed as an FM outlet. South African DXers have told me about their expeditions to the coastline stringing out long aerials to try and receive the station during its limited transmission hours. In 1982 a spoof station made a once only broadcast in the 48 metre free radio band via Radio Apollo. It called itself ZOE Tristan Radio North, the Voice of the Resistance to the Imperialist Capitalist Bourgeoisie "currently overrunning our beloved island of Tristan da Cunha." (Mike Barraclough, Oct World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** UGANDA. 5026, R. Uganda, good signal Oct 3 when apparently running late, nice African music at 2136, conversation in local lang. between songs, many mentions of Uganda. 2158 Celine Dion "Power of Love," 2201 echo announcements, more African music. Off around 2210 after a few words but no major closedown. Big carrier on 4976 too, closing at same time, but no audio there. Maybe this is now their regular s/off time? But not there on either frequency at 2200 Oct 4 (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Oct 5 via DXLD) ** UGANDA [non]. 17555, GERMANY, R. Rhino Int'l via DTK, 1545-1559*, Oct.4, English, YL with interview of OM, presumed station owner (tho never got his name) re reasons for starting broadcasts to Uganda; i.e. "bringing people together, platform for truth, open forum, etc", mentioned hearing from listeners around the world, slammed BBC for implying station is affiliated with UPC and Ugandan rebel groups. Nice English ballad, "I've seen (Bonanga?)" before s/off anouncement. Fair with fade in and out (Scott Barbour, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. R. Era via R. Dniprovska Khvyla, Zaproizhia, 11980, 1000 Sept 21 News, jingle ``Radio Era``, songs by request, Ukrainian, Sio 242 (Robertas Petraitas, Lithuania, HF Logbook, Oct BDXC-UK Communication via DXLD) ** U K. BBC World Service October Highlights [Americas stream times] Mondays, 1432, repeated Tuesdays, 0032 and 0532, beginning October 6th: Jazz and the Latin Connection is the four-part Music Feature for October. Pablo Aguirre explores the history and development of the trend, and looks at the current scene with a new generation of Latin musicians. Wednesdays 1406 and Thursdays 0006 and 0506: A new four-part documentary series, Our Street, looks at London through the eyes of a residential street popular with immigrants in the Tottenham borough of Grater London. More than 160 languages are reportedly spoken in this neighborhood; locals call it the "meeting point of the world." Wednesdays, 1506 and Thursdays, 0106 beginning October 8th: The science and technology documentary series, Discovery, begins a four- part series on nanotechnology. Nanotechnology includes technologies such as electromechanical actuators, carbon nanotubes, and nanoparticles which, when embedded into glass, provide a way for windows to clean themselves. Wednesdays, 1545 and Thursdays 0145, beginning October 8th: Heart and Soul features a three-part series entitled Selling Religion, which looks at the different methods involved in spreading the Christian faith in a world where evangelical techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Fridays, 1406 and Saturdays, 0006 and 0506, beginning October 10th: Sports International begins a new, four-part series called Basketball, tracking the birth, growth and development of the world's fastest- growing sport. It will be interesting to see how the BBC World Service approaches this - since it's much more popular in the USA than in the UK. Saturdays, 1032 and 2232 beginning October 11th: The Interview is the reincarnation of Agenda, now positioned as a half-hour single-guest interview of a prominent personality in the world of politics, economics, science or social affairs. This allows for more free- ranging discussion than is possible in short segments in current affairs programs. Sundays and Mondays, October 12th/13th and 19th/20th: Play of the Week presents a two-part presentation of William Gibson's cult science fiction novel, Neuromancer, which was the first place the term cyberspace was used. First airing Sundays 0101, repeated Mondays 0501. Mondays, 1406; Tuesdays, 0006; and, Sundays, 2306: America's Backyard is a new four-part 25-minute documentary beginning October 13th. Javier Lizarzaburu presents a "forensic" look at four key areas in which US institutions and individuals have had an impact on the lives of people in Latin America. The series also examines how domestic politics in the US shape attitudes towards Latin America (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. I was in the DC area on a business trip so I reserved a tour spot to see the Voice of America HQ in the Cohen building. The tour is free and takes about 45 minutes --- just make a reservation with the public affairs office at (202) 619-3919. I had E-mailed Dan Ferguson that I would be there that morning so he came down to say hi and we chatted a few minutes before the tour. Thanks Dan! So it was me --- the radio geek taking all kinds of photos --- and 20 high school students who looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there, haha. The highlights of the tour were the studios, where we watched a live VOA broadcast (in this case the Tibetan service), and a visit to the newsroom. You can take photos everywhere except the studios area. Since some announcers use fake names to avoid possible retaliation in their home countries, it is understandable that you can1t take any photos. It was a really neat little tour – I recommend it for those who are visiting Washington DC (Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, Kingston Springs TN, Musings, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) VOA service to ZIMBABWE: q.v. ** U S A. NEW BASE RADIO STATION PROVED VALUABLE DURING HURRICANE by 1st Lt. Justin Giovannettone, 11th Wing Public Affairs http://www.dcmilitary.com/airforce/beam/8_39/local_news/25594-1.html The 11th Wing's new low-power AM radio station and automated messaging system proved to be effective communication tools for base leadership as Bolling braced itself for a hit by Hurricane Isabel two weeks ago. The radio station was used during preparations for and throughout the storm and subsequent flooding in the storm's aftermath. The radio broadcasts of short, vital safety messages and current conditions on base helped wing leadership get needed information to base residents and employees quickly and clearly. Operated jointly by the 11th Wing's command post and public affairs office, the station's signal covers all of Bolling and reaches several miles beyond the base perimeter as well. Flashing amber lights placed in high-traffic areas around the base, alert motorists, residents and employees when to tune to AM 1660 to hear the urgent information being broadcast. The AM radio station is just one of several communication tools wing leadership used to communicate with personnel during the storm. On- base residents with access to Comcast cable television were able to watch the commander's access channel, called "Base-TV," on cable channel 13 for the latest information about Hurricane Isabel's impact. Wing personnel off base during the storm were encouraged to keep up to date by calling Bolling's Straight Talk Line at (202) 404-3422. Callers were able to get current information about base conditions, facility closures and activities from a frequently updated recorded announcement. The 11th Wing Command Post also employed the newly installed "mass communicator" system for the first time as a means for enhancing the recall process and keeping personnel informed. The device allows the command post to communicate a prerecorded message to hundreds of wing personnel over the phone in a matter of a few minutes (The Beam, Bolling AFB, Oct 3, via dcmilitary.com via Artie Bigley, DXLD) ** U S A. IBC RADIO'S SHORTWAVE RADIO NETWORK ON WRMI A small (though publicly traded) company based in California is in the business of promoting penny stocks - they themselves are a penny-stock company. They have an interesting sidelight activity of promoting shortwave broadcasting during the hours when they don't have their penny stock-based talk radio program or other paranormal and old-time radio programs. As a publicly traded company, investors can also get in on the "ground floor" of a company with an interest in shortwave. Their ticker symbol is IBCS. You won't find them in the online databases for the Wall Street Journal or Yahoo! Finance, because they're a small company. Their programs air via a webcast available at their own website http://www.ibcradio.com/CMN.htm and also, for 28 hours each weekend, via WRMI with the following schedule: Saturday 1200-2200 on 15725 kHz, Sunday 0300 - 0900 on 7385 kHz, Sunday 1400-2000 on 15725 kHz, Monday 0300-0900 on 7385 kHz. Originally, IBC Radio didn't publish the list of programs and their air times, but this problem has now been rectified; a couple recent checks indicated their website schedule matched the webcast within 10 minutes or so of their schedule. Glenn Hauser had previously mentioned that some program timings were cut off, and not aired in their entirety, but a Saturday 2130-2230 trio of programs from Radio Netherlands aired without being cut off. I wonder if IBC Radio has simply downloaded mp3 files for rebroadcast? The programs aired on September 13th were A Good Life, Wide Angle and Sincerely Yours -- some of the finest programs around. In addition, during the webcast I checked, IBC Radio didn't follow their "wheel" showing times set aside for advertising and local content insertion. These Radio Netherlands programs ended at 2238 UT, and, following a brief ad for IBC Media and its stock, the Radio Taiwan International programming shown for 2230 then began. While I'm not an investor in penny stocks, nor do I seek out the other paranormal or politically conservative programming aired on IBC Radio, I'm interested by this unusual opportunity for shortwave radio to reach potential new audiences. Interestingly, the IBC Radio website mentions that IBC Radio is intending to air its full 24-hour, 7-day schedule on shortwave. Information on IBC Radio's website offers the following publicity for Shortwave Radio Network: "News, features, business, talk and other radio shows from shortwave broadcasters all over the world, all in English. You won't find these broadcasts on your local AM or FM Station! Broaden your horizons by listening to media outlets outside of the United States or on the fringes. Some of it is political propaganda and religious programming. If you ever thought about getting into shortwave radio or wondered what you are missing out there in the world of shortwave radio, this broadcast is for you!" According to IBC's president, Daryn Fleming, IBC believes shortwave is an underutilized medium in North America (an opinion I think many NASWAns share), and the launch of digital shortwave (DRM), once perfected, could give satellite services like Sirius and XM serious competition. He makes an interesting point -- the attractiveness of XM and Sirius is its uniformity no matter where you're traveling; the wide range of shortwave provides the same advantages. Mr. Fleming wishes to provide 24 hours/day, 7 days/week alternative programming to the religious programming dominating domestic North American shortwave. For IBC to go 24/7 with shortwave programming would require WRMI or another domestic broadcaster to add transmitter capacity, and Jeff White says that WRMI will indeed be bringing another transmitter on line during the B-03 season (sometime between October 2003 and March 2004). The transmitter has been ordered; modifications will be needed, and FCC approvals will then be required (Richard D. Cuff, Easy Listening, Oct NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. WEWN B-03 Schedule: 26 Oct 2003 to 28 Mar 2004 English 0000-0500 AF/EU 5825 0000-1300 NAM 5825 0500-0800 AF/EU 7570 1300-1600 NAM 9955 1600-1800 AF 17635 1600-2200 NAM 13615 1800-2000 AF 15440 2000-2400 AF 17595 2200-2400 NAM 9975 Spanish 0000-0300 LAM 9355 13615 0300-0800 LAM 7425 13615 0800-1300 LAM 7425 11875 1300-1600 LAM 9355 15745 1600-2200 LAM 11530 15745 2200-2300 LAM 11530 13615 2300-2400 LAM 9355 13615 (via W. Glenn Tapley, EWTN via Wolfgang Bueschel, via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** U S A. SPECIAL EVENT. Pi, K1RV, informs OPDX that there will be an upcoming operation onboard the USS Constitution ``Old Ironsides`` during their annual ``Turn-around Cruise`` on October 11th. They have been trying for several years to get onboard and operate a HF station. Look for them to operate as N1S from 1200-1800z on October 11th. The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy and is permanently berthed at the Old Boston Navy Shipyard. Each year they turn her around to allow for weathering. They also mention that they will have another station, N1B, operating on the pier of the shipyard. QSL manager for both of these stations is W1QWT. There will be three other U.S. Naval vessels on the air with them. Look for USS Caisson Young (WW2DD), USS Chaffee (callsign not provided) and USS Salem (K1USN). Operations will center around 7260, 14260, 18160 and 14039 kHz. Here is a Web link with additional information: http://ema.arrl.org/article.php?sid=213 (KB8NW/OPDX October 6/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. Whatever respect we still had for Radio Free Brattleboro (which wasn't much) was pretty well drained away after we read about the unlicensed station's public meeting last week, at which the Brattleboro Reformer quoted station founder David Longsmith as saying that RFB never applied for an LPFM license because the process was "long and arduous." NERW wonders how that statement struck the folks at "Vermont Earth Works, Inc." and "Citizens to Educate Brattleboro," who are nearing the end of their own "long and arduous" process that will result in a legal LPFM service in town. (Earth Works' application for 107.7 and Citizens' application for 107.9 in Brattleboro were among hundreds of mutually exclusive LPFM applications for which a settlement window was opened last week by the FCC. If the two groups can reach a settlement, which could involve a frequency change by one or a share-time agreement, they'll be ready to get a construction permit - and we wonder what RFB's reaction will be when another community station signs on at its 107.9 frequency with legitimate "authority to broadcast," not just an Internet petition supporting a legally specious claim about authority granted by the people.) (Scott Fybush, NY, NE Radio Watch Oct 6 via DXLD) ** U S A. Re KTNS DX Test: You can run CW IDs at regular power and direction at any time of day and call it a DX test. However to run full power and non-directional you must do so during the experimental hours between 12 mid and 06 am. The other thing in the reg is that you can not interfere with other stations on the frequency. That goes for any time of the day (Kevin Redding, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. VENEZUELAN PRESS GROUP CONDEMNS GOVERNMENT ACTION AGAINST PRIVATE TV CHANNEL | Text of communiqué issued by the Venezuelan Press Bloc, BPV, executive board in Caracas on 3 October published by Venezuelan Unión Radio web site text on 5 October Staff from Conatel [National Telecommunications Commission] - which answers to the Ministry of Communications - on 3 October raided the private TV station Globovisión, Channel 33, where they seized equipment on the grounds that the station has been using a frequency without proper authorization from the Communications Ministry; Whereas, it appears that this argument is invalid on both legal and practical grounds and that the measure is intended as punishment and designed to censor the information broadcast by this channel, particularly unedited videotapes included in earlier newscasts. The Venezuelan Press Bloc [BPV] agrees to categorically and unequivocally reject measures that blatantly violate freedom of expression and to urgently report this situation to international organizations, such as the Inter-American Press Association [IAPA] and the International Broadcasting Association, IBA/AIR, demanding an immediate statement on this issue. Issued in Caracas on 3 October 2003 --- Signed: The Executive Board. [A related report was carried by Caracas Globovisión TV web site on 5 October: "The International Broadcasting Association (IBA/AIR) has issued a resolution concerning the seizure of microwave equipment belonging to the Globovisión TV channel. The IBA demanded 'the immediate reversal of illegal actions.' "According to IBA's resolution, 'all Venezuelan news media are under threat of closure from the president of the nation and there is overt and systematic government harassment of the news media and their staff.' "The IBA conveyed 'its deep concern over impending restrictions to freedom of thought, _expression, and information, that could lead to government actions.'"] Source: Union Radio web site text, Caracas, in Spanish 5 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA [non]. 13680, R. Nacional Venezuela (presumed), 1520- 1535, Oct 5. Spanish language music including an ode to Venezuela, followed by a weakening of the signal (sigh) and a mostly audible full ID with a gazillion frequencies at 1530. Then something sounding like a political speech at 1533. Note: this frequency is not listed for Venezuela. I'd appreciate confirmations/corrections ;) (Rik van Riel, NH, Cumbre DX via DXLD) My guess is that you are hearing a relay of the Aló Presidente (program of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez) relayed by Radio Havana Cuba. 13680 is one of the frequencies and I believe 17750 is another. The program starts at 1400 [Sunday only]. Glenn Hauser's DXLD has had a number of reports on this service in the past (Hans Johnson, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. 6378.81, 1141-, Radio Lai Chau, Oct 3. Presumed logging of this station at fair to good strength except for static crashes with gentle Vietnamese sounding vocals. Have to use LSB to escape utility noise. Talk by YL at 1159:35. Then OM at TOH with possible ID, once only (sounded official anyway), and into Vietnamese music. 5035.05, 1206-, Dai Tieng Noi Vietnam, Oct 3. H`mong service with distinctive music, and talk by YL. Music is fairly strong, but talk much weaker modulation. Best using USB, but suffers from some splatter from 'space zapper' pulses. Parallel to weaker 6165 (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** VIETNAM [non]. 15775, Chan Troi Moi, 3 Oct, 1340 with talks in Viet and many refs to Vietnam. After 1345 signal has long but strong fadeouts. 1355 after a 20 sec off-carrier with mentions to Hanoi then classic music. YL with news, referring to Bush, Osama Bin Lad'n, Taliban and Putin. Again classic music bridge at 1406, then OM with spellings 'Radio Fema'. 1409 with song. Signal about S6 (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki, Thessaloniki, Greece, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** WALES [non]. UNITED KINGDOM, 9795, 0226-, Wales Radio International, Oct 4. Pleasant 30 minute variety show via Rampisham. Good review of Wales culture, food, trade issues, holidays. Mentioned many www sites pertaining to Wales at the end of the program. Good reception overall. Weekly program? (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yes ** ZANZIBAR. 11734.1, 1757-, Radio Tanzania Zanzibar, Oct 4. Already in English when tuned in at 1757 with African accented male, so difficult to follow. Much adjacent splatter. Finished about 1758:30. Drums/xylophone at 1759:30. Time pips at TOH. Much splatter from 11735, but 'Dar es Salaam' heard. Seems still to be in English, though. Pretty much impossible to follow after TOH, unfortunately. Will have to check what program was being broadcast in English before 1800! Monitors closer to the action please take note. As the program went on, became easier to follow with most words understood by 1808, but still weak, buried in the noise. At some point they switched from English, but sure exactly when. Fair to good reception with talk by same OM at 1814 (Walter (Volodya) Salmaniw, MD, Grayland WA DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE [and non]. 1) (Excerpt from Herald in quotes; the rest is written by me -- KAE) Zimbabwe Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said that New Ziana (newly formed Zimbabwean government controlled media organization) is "just a few weeks from having its own radio news through the full use of an existing frequency on shortwave." The Herald, Harare, 4 Oct http://allafrica.com/stories/200310040118.html 2) (all of following is excerpt from SAPA news item...) Moyo, the architect of the notorious press-gag laws, the "Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act," also menaced Studio Seven, a Voice of America programme broadcast direct to Zimbabwe on shortwave. "Studio Seven will die," Moyo said. "It faces death, they think we are sleeping, we want to see whether are going with Studio Seven." The government two years ago quashed attempts to establish independent radio and television stations. Observers say that Moyo's attack appears to mark the start of a new campaign to destroy possibly the rest of the independent press that maintains critical coverage of the corrupt and repressive rule under Mugabe. South African news agency SAPA, 6 Oct, via http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimes/newsst/newsst1065417795.asp Studio Seven is transmitted Monday through Friday on 909 15730 17895, per http://www.voa.gov (can't access voa.his.com at the moment to confirm this) 73 (Kim Elliott, DC, Oct 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6573.41, unID LA with close down 0020 UT Oct 2 2003. Nonstop Ecuadorian pasillo music, among others "Las Hermnas Mendoza" was recognised. The music was interrupted a couple of times by a dull male voice, so very hard to hear a thing. Very exciting if it really is Ecuador, normally it is totally free from new stations here. But it is not unusual that northern Peruvian stations have programs with Ecuadorian music (Björn Malm, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Oct 5, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL`S FATAL FLAW Fortunately, we are not alone in pointing out BPL's fatal flaw. In its Reply Comments, ARINC, Inc, the communications company of the air transport industry, reports that it had to abandon the use of a frequency at its Half Moon Bay, California, facility because of interference from a Part 15 device that could be five miles away and that the FCC has been unable to locate. So much for the lack of interference complaints or the ease of resolving them under existing Part 15 regulations--the regulations that the BPL industry wants relaxed even further. www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/10/01/1/1?nc=1 (Jilly Dybka, KF4ZEO, NASWA Flashsheet Oct 5 via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO HF I wish to advise everybody of some changes at Radio HF. I have a new URL for the Radio HF web page and a new e-mail address to accompany it: NEW RADIO HF WEB PAGE: http://www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf NEW RADIO HF E-MAIL: radiohf@sympatico.ca (Sheldon Harvey, Radio HF Internet Newsletter, Oct via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ LOW A INDICES Looks as though the 'A' Index is hovering around 8 to 10. It`s been mostly in the quiet to unsettled range in the last few days and expected to remain so until Tuesday 7th October 2003 I note reports on rare MW Catches, both on our 'Board' and posted on Glenn Hauser`s DXLD. In view of the above 'this does not surprise me' (Ken Fletcher, UK, 1733 UT = 1833 UT +1 October 5th 2003, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###