DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-192, October 27, 2003 edited by Glenn Hauser IMPORTANT NOTE: our hotmail accounts are being phased out. Please do not use them any further, but instead woradio at yahoo.com or wghauser at yahoo.com Items from DXLD may be reproduced and re-reproduced only if full credit be maintained at all stages and we be provided exchange copies. DXLD may not be reposted in its entirety without permission. Materials taken from Arctic or originating from Olle Alm and not having a commercial copyright are exempt from all restrictions of noncommercial, noncopyrighted reusage except for full credits HTML version of this issue will be posted later at [note change] http://www.w4uvh.net/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 1204: RFPI: Wed 0100, 0730 on 7445 [times nominal, subject to variation] WWCR: Wed 1030 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 1204 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1204.html WORLD OF RADIO 1204 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1204.rm MUNDO RADIAL EN SINTONÍA DX Que tal Glenn. Espero te encuentres muy bien. Te informo que todos los sábados entre 8 y 10 de la noche, tus informaciones están al aire a través de Sintonía DX, por la señal de Unión Radio Porteñas 640. Eres un invitado permanente al programa y pieza fundamental del mismo. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Venezuela, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGST) UT Sundays 0000-0200, also webcast. See http://www.worldofradio.com/wormast.html WORLD OF RADIO ON WBCQ. As usual, we`re the last to know when a station changes its WOR scheduling. UT Mon Oct 27 at time shifted to 0515, we were on 7415 as usual (download instead of phone feed improves quality), and 5105 was audible at last, but carrying something else at 0523 check, ``RMS Show``? talking about telemarketing. Altho the website http://wbcq.us has been improved, the schedule still had not been updated from EDT; then it was inaccessible at 1805 UT check Oct 27 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) WORLD OF RADIO FROM SHORTWAVE IN MP3 -- RETURN OF DX AUDIO WEBSITE Hello Glenn, I'm happy to say my radio website is back online after a masive computer crash. My site Alex's Radio has streaming mp3 files of the latest DX programs as heard via my location in Ontario Canada. Along with World of Radio i have Dxers Unlimited, Dxing with Cumbre and DX Partyline. The url is http://www.piratearchive.com/ most browsers will just need piratearchive.com This site also contain tons of shortwave pirate audio and QSLs. [specifically, it`s at: http://www.piratearchive.com/dxprograms.htm --- gh] On your Audio Page http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html could you change my URL as the site is not defunct any longer. Thanks Glenn! I love your show and haven't missed one since 1996, I believe. Take care 73 (Alex Draper, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIAL Glenn, it has been some time since we last communicated. We hope you are doing well. This past August, Miami Valley DX Club celebrated the 30th anniversary of our founding. We have some extra cash and what better time to donate it than to commemorate that achievement. If there are any questions or comments, feel free to Email us at mvdxc @ att.net (Dave Hammer, Publisher, DX World, October 22) Dave, many thanks for your generosity, and congratulations on your anniversary! More about the club is at http://www.anarc.org/mvdxc/ or Box 292132, Columbus, OH 43229 (gh) ** AFGHANISTAN. 9000, Info Radio? 1806 Oct 14 with an 'Azeri' type song and YL with unIDed type language due to S1 level signal at max and back to music. One of the most difficult stations to hear. Tune in 1831 with Farsi type music. S7 at 1831 with slow and deep fading. Sporadic QRM by operator (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki THS Greece, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. NUEVA EMISORA EN LA X-BAND Estimado Glenn: Esta mañana a las 0700 UT arribé de un encuentro que hemos realizado en la Ciudad de Mendoza con algunos colegas amigos del país trasandino, después de haber recorrido 1050 km desde la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y haber compartido un fin de semana maravilloso con Hugo López y Rubén González de Chile y los colegas Gabriel Iván Barrera y Arnaldo Slaen donde hemos disfrutado de buena comida y abundante bebida (dado que Mendoza es conocida como la tierra del buen sol y vino) a nuestro regreso después de haber chequeado el díal de varias provincias argentinas, ello tuvo su recompensa. Aquí la noticia: Nueva emisora en la X Band: AM 1610 Radio Buenas Nuevas Estudio y Planta Transmisora: Cosquin 40, Laboulaye, Prov. de Córdoba, Argentina -- e-mail buenasnuevas @ arnet.com.ar Emite mucha música instrumental, clásica, ocarina, música arabe instrumental y música religiosa interpretada por niños con acompañamiento de marimba, luegos pasaron un programa para chicos con el anuncio ``Aquí en Buenas Nuevas...`` No sé si estaban reproduciendo algún material de la emisora de América Central Buenas Nuevas, pero el estilo musical era muy parecido. Cordiales 73s (Nicolás Eramo, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AUSTRALIA. 1206, Canberra, 2CC, good on top for a bit at 0959.30 UT 10/26 with spot for water system and info on on City Council meeting, followed by "right here on 2 Double C'. I am really pleased with this as I used to get 2GF all of the time in the past when 1206 was in. New! The best DU morning I have seen in probably 10 years or more. After having one of the best DU mornings in many years on October 26th, the 27th was very poor. Only a handfull of DUs like 5AN-891 and some JJs came through weakly, so the auroral conditions were not nearly as intense this morning. Drake R8, EWE Antenna (Pat Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) See also MARSHALL ISLANDS, SAMOA, TAHITI. These are only a few excerpts; he heard many other Australians et al., mostly below 1206 (gh) ** BARBADOS. QSLs received for trans-equatorial FM DX: 92.9 - Voice of Barbados, Bridgetown, Recebida carta pessoal confirmando a recepção da emissora. De acordo com a carta a emissora foi inaugurada em 1981 e transmite com a potência de 5 kW. Faz parte de um grupo de radiodifusão denominado Starcom Network Inc., que também é formado por outras duas emissoras FM e uma AM: Hott 95.3 FM, Love 104.1 FM e Starcom Gospel 790 AM. Também foi recebido adesivos e farto material contendo informações turísticas sobre Barbados. A emissora foi captada em dezembro de 2002, período propício para escutas de FMs do Caribe em Santa Catarina devido à propagação transequatorial que vai de outubro a março. V/S: Patrick A. W. Gollop, QTH: River Road, Bridgetown, Barbados. 95.3 - Hott FM, Bridgetown, Recebida carta pessoal confirmando a recepção da emissora. De acordo com a carta a emissora foi inaugurada em 1997 e transmite com a potência de 3,5 KW. Ver mais detalhes nos comentários feitos anteriormente em relação à emissora Voice of Barbados, pois a Hott FM também faz parte do grupo Starcom Network Inc. e as confirmações de ambas as emissoras vieram juntas no mesmo envelope. V/S: Patrick A. W. Gollop, QTH: River Road, Bridgetown, Barbados (Márcio Polheim, Jaraguá do Sul, SC, @tividade DX Oct 27 via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. TDP`s latest station, 7560, Belgian Dance Music, 1959 with ID by man and station`s address (but not clear due to overmodulation). Then with hot mixed dance music, rave? Reception: With ICOM, signal is S9+20 to 30 db, 44444; with Kchibo 979, signal is nearly local and apparent overmodulation (Zacharias Lianga, Greece, Oct 26, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BELGIUM [non]. At a time when reception from other areas was poor I noted RVi, Belgium, from a new relay in Sackville! Noted on 10/26, first day of the new schedule, with news and sports reports at 1800 to past 1850 on 13790, very good here. Is RVi on the RCI list of foreign relays, which Bill Westenhaver usually sends us this information? (Joe Hanlon in NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That info is now classified ** BENIN. 7210.25, R. Dif. Benin, 2020 Oct 14, short news mentioning Qa`ida, ID as Radio Benin Chaîne Nationale. Good 2000 when tapped by R Minsk. However still with the use of USB and IF shift could listen a bit to them. Then the program was on agriculture and educational themes at 2007 with talks in vernacular and mix with short tunes. Poor to fair signal (Zacharias Liangas, Retziki THS, Greece, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. On October 24-26, I attended the MARE DXPedition at Brighton Recreation Area in Michigan. The solar flare made conditions unusual, although not spectacular. The most interesting DXing was on MW, and later I'll be sending my MW loggings. My receiver was a Sony ICF-2010 and I used three beverages of approximately 100, 175, and 250 meters in length. 5045, Rádio Guarujá Paulista, 2315-2334 Oct 25. Pop music, announcements, ID at 2329. Fair. No sign of // 3235 at this time, but it was in weakly at 2350 (Don Moore, MI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5045, R. Guarujá Paulista, verified with a standardized no-data form letter in 21 days for e-mail report to rampazo @ radioguarujaam.com.br v/s Orivaldo Rampazo, Diretor Presidente, who included stickers and a tourist brochure (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. Graças à intervenção de Marcelo Herondino Cardoso, dexista de Florianópolis (SC), a Rádio Guarujá, daquela localidade, que emite em 5980 kHz, em 49 metros, passou a confirmar os relatórios de recepção com QSL. Foi o que atestou Caio Fernandes Lopes, de Itajubá (MG). Ele recebeu carta QSL, acompanhada de adesivos e postal em apenas 20 dias. Fica aqui a dica para quem ainda não confirmou a estação: envie seu informe de recepção para Carlos Alberto Silva, Executivo de Contas, Rádio Guarujá, Rua Nunes Machado, 94, 10º andar, CEP: 88010-460, Florianópolis (SC), Brasil. E parabéns Marcelo pelo belo trabalho! BRASIL – Dica do Paulo Roberto e Souza, de Tefé (AM): A Rádio Rio Mar, de Manaus (AM), que emite em 6160 e 9695 kHz, também abre espaço, na sua programação, para a música sertaneja e de raízes. De segunda a sexta-feira, vai ao ar, das 0900 às 1000, o Alvorada Sertaneja. Já nos sábados, apresenta o Brasil Caboclo, das 2300 às 0000. Também os povos indígenas têm espaço na programação da Rio Mar, com A Voz do Parente, que vai ao ar, nos sábados, entre 0905 e 1000. Confira! BRASIL – A Rádio Cultura, de Araraquara (SP), comemorou 70 anos de atividades. Durante alguns anos, emitiu em 4915 kHz. Atualmente, pode ser sintonizada em 3365 kHz, em 90 metros. Você confere um relato sobre a história da emissora no seguinte sítio: http://www.sunrise.com.br/amoradio/ (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 26 via DXLD) ** CANADA/CHINA [non]/MONACO [non]. RCI and CRI are such good buddies with their relay exchanges, you`d think they would coördinate the frequencies one-to-one, if not via HFCC, but --- and they should have seen this one coming --- 9755 has a huge clash of roughly equal signal levels here at 0400-0420, as noted Oct 27. The Radio Monte Carlo relay in Arabic via Sackville made its usual switch from 0300 to 0400 for B- 03, on 9755; meanwhile, in A-03, CRI via French Guiana has been on 9755 in English at 0400 to North America, and it still is! Why CRI ever left 9730 is beyond me, as it was working fine for them for years, and is currently open (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. Monday morning at 0300 I noted that all RFA Mandarin frequencies were free from jamming at the 0300 sign on. This lasted until 0305, when all jammers were switched on. Then at 0600 I noted most jammers go off to return at 0605. Most likely the Chinese are leaving these windows open temporarily for their monitoring of the B03 schedules. Normally their jammers are switched on before or at the program start, while the Soviet jamming system operators used to listen for the programme start before giving orders to switch on the jammers. (As a consequence, Western broadcasters that were subject to jamming opened transmissions with a quick reading of the news headlines immediately after a brief ID.) Still mostly poor reception (Olle Alm, Sweden, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also CANADA ** CHINA. CHINA PLANS TO END ANALOGUE TV BROADCASTS IN 33 CITIES | Text of report by Radio TV Hong Kong audio web site on 27 October The mainland plans to end analogue television broadcasting in 33 major cities by the end of 2005. Officials say if everything goes as planned, they will be replaced by digital satellite broadcasts on 120 channels. However, the China Daily quotes insiders as saying the target date may not be met because of the lagging development of digital TV. Beijing has already launched three digital cable television channels on a trial basis. Source: RTHK Radio 3 audio web site, Hong Kong, in English 1000 gmt 27 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** CUBA. Startled to hear a Voz de Rusia IS and ID in Spanish on 17750 at 2200 UT Oct 26 --- but it was just RHC wrapping up their DX program En Contacto until 2202; time varies, but this week, must have started about 2147 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. Am hearing the Cuban bubble jammer on 1020, with Radio Reloj audio on one sideband. Stronger than usually heard here, thanks to conditions tonight. I'm using the -2010 for this, though a quick check with the R8 had the same thing. What could they be jamming on 1020? (Fred Vobbe, OH, Oct 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) IIRC, Commando Solo was on 1020 for a night or two, back in June. The jammer's been on ever since, jamming nothing (Gerry Bishop, FL, ibid.) That was a Martí test via Turks & Caicos on 1020 (gh, DXLD) ** EGYPT. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. El pasado 26 de octubre Radio Cairo empezó a emitir sus programas por una nueva frecuencia, la de 9415 kHz, en paralelo con 11755 kHz. Por lo visto, 11790 kHz ha sido suprimida. La señal en 9415 es mucho mejor que la de la banda de 25m. El horario habitual: de 0045 a 0200 UT (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Em mensagem de retificação enviada à coluna, a apresentadora dos programas em espanhol da Rádio El Cairo, Verônica Balderas, informa que a emissão, no idioma de Cervantes, irá ao ar, entre 0045 e 0200, apenas em 9415 kHz. Entretanto, já no primeiro dia de emissão do período B03, o colunista constatou que, além de 9415 kHz, o sinal também estava sendo irradiado em 11755 kHz, em 25 metros. Também no primeiro dia de emissão, monitoria de Lenildo Silva, de Niterói (RJ), apurou que é excelente a recepção dos programas em 9415 kHz (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 27 via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. 17834.9, Radio Imperial: 1906...2003+, 24-Oct; Lite Spanish tunes; M/Spanish ID at 1957; same music continued. SIO=333/ best ever heard; 2054-2100+, 24-Oct; Children's choral music to lengthy ID at 2059, "Radio Imperial... 17835 onda corta, Radio Imperial... escuchando Radio Imperial" then reggae tune. SIO=333, QRM de WYFR in English on 17845 and BBC in English via Ascension on 17830 (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts (M.A.R.E.) DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 1000' NEish unterminated bev + 65' TTFD, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 17835, Radio Imperial, 1910-1957 Oct 24. Ranchera music and frequent IDs to 1933, then switch to upbeat religious music with occasional religious announcements. Poor at tune-in but good by 1950 (Don Moore, Brighton MI MARE Dxpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 17835, with surprisingly strong carrier at 2245 Oct 27, averaging 10 over 9, about the same as NHK on 17825, but much less fading; unfortunately, also much less modulation, barely audible in fact, to confirm it was preaching in Spanish, so I would hardly want to hear it, anyway. Same situation at 0010 recheck Oct 28, but fading a bit more (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** EQUATORIAL GUINEA. 6250.3, Radio Nacional Malabo; 2143-2200+, 25- Oct; M&W in language with English rap and Afro tunes, all cut short. 2 R Nacional IDs in Spanish by W. Commentaries mostly by M in language. SIO=222/LSB helps with roar QRM; maybe drifting up in freq slightly (toward roar) (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts (M.A.R.E.) DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 1000' NEish unterminated bev + 65' TTFD, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** ERITREA [non]. BEHAVIOUR OF OPPOSITION RADIO ON 26 OCTOBER --- Please note that the Eritrean opposition radio station, Voice of the Eritrean People, was not traced on 9990 kHz at 1730 gmt on Sunday, 26 October. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 26 Oct 03 (via DXLD) ** FINLAND. RADIO FINLAND. COMPLETE B03 Northern Europe 0000-2400 963 0000-2400 558 0500-2015 6120 West and Southwest Europe, West-Africa 0600-2100 11755 0700-0900 9510 1400-1800 9630 Swedish 0500-0800 & 1700-2300 6120 1100-1200 13755 Swedish (Sun only) Northeast and East Europe 0500-0700 6120 0500-0630 6120 9745 11865 0800-0900 6180 (Sun only) 0500-2015 6120 Try also the frequences which are aimed to the Middle East 1400-1600 9600 1400-1430 15165 Southeast Europe, Middle East, East Africa 0300-0500 0500-0630 6120 (Does not carry to Africa) 9745 0500-0600 11865 1100-1200 21800 This daytime broadcast carries from Mediterranean to South Africa 1400-1600 9600 1500-1700 11755 1700-1800 11865 This frequency is heard widely in southern Africa 1900-1950 9805 Foreseen to be heard also in Southern Africa Australia, Asia 0700-0900 9510 0800-0900 21670 (Sat/Sun only) 0930-1045 17730 1100-1200 17820 Notice. Earlier, the usually towards Asia used 21800 is now towards Africa. Although it can be heard weak in Asia. 1200-1300 15330 Swedish (Sun only) 1400-1430 15165 0030-0045 9730 South America 1200-1300 21800 0200-0300 9730 North America 1300-1400 15400 17660 1630-1700 (Sat/Sun 1800-1900) 13665 (Website via Silvain Domen, Belgium. With thanks to "Willowcat", Finland for the translation, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GERMANY [and non]. Another opportunity to hear DW in North America is 12035 for SE Asia direct from Germany, as monitored at 2344 with a pop music show on Oct. 26 (Joe Hanlon in NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello all, Received this letter from DW this am so here it goes. North America / German 0400-0600 UT, 6100 kHz from Bonaire in the first hour, the second hour from Antigua. North America / English 0500 - 0600 UT, 15410 kHz will not be transmitted from Talata Volonondry, Madagascar, but from Dhabayya UAE. I hope this is of use to you (via Robert Thompson, eastern TX, Oct 27, swl at qth.net via DXLD) That`s not really for NAm, but they wanted you to monitor it?? (gh) ** GREECE [non]. Checked VOG Delano relay on 17705 around 1953 UT Sun Oct 26 and NO music, It`s All Greek to Me, as I expected to have been timeshifted from 1800-1900 to 1900-2000, but instead a stupid ballgame from the sound of it. Perhaps a one-off? Also, 17565 was overpowering and running beyond 2200 UT, as if it were now Delano instead of Greenville. Meanwhile the morning frequency noted around 1300 is 9690 ex-11730, so now the 31m band is subject to horrible overload from Delano. IBB Monitoring frequency http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_freqsked.txt and language http://sds.his.com:4000/fmds_z/schedules/cur_langsked.txt skeds are coming up blank at 0239 and 1742 UT Oct 27 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe this explains it: GRÉCIA – Dica de uma curiosa emissão, enviada por Caio Fernandes Lopes: aos domingos, vai ao ar uma programação esportiva do canal ERA Sport, da Rádio Nacional da Grécia. Tem regular sintonia, aqui no Brasil, por volta de 1730, em 15630 kHz, difundido através dos transmissores localizados em Avlis. Há muitas informações sobre as equipes gregas: AEK, Panionios, Olimpiakos e Panatinaikos. De quebra, segundo o Caio, você ficará sabendo também tudo do campeonato turco de futebol! (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 27 via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR B-2003 monitored changes Dear Friends, The following are the monitored changes noted of All India Radio for the first day of the B-2003 period today. Home Service 7235 (ex 7220) Delhi 0215-0320, 0330-0355 4760 Port Blair now sign on at 2355 (ex 2325). This started some days back. External Services 7275 Chennai (ex 7270) 1300-1500 7410 not heard today (dropped?) at 1215-1330 Tibetan, 1330-1430 Nepali 9845 (ex 9835) 0215-0300 Pushtu, 0300-0345 Dari 13620 Bangalore dropped for above transmissions. 13645 Bangalore add at 1500-1600 Gujarati 13710 Bangalore(ex 13695) 1000-1100 English, 1115-1215 Tamil, 1215- 1245 Telegu 15235 (ex 15410) 1000-1100 English (Delhi), 1115-1200 Thai (Panaji) New Station: Today, 26 Oct 2003, the foundation stone was laid for a new FM station in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh state. A new TV station was also inaugurated in that district today. More news soon! ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Later: ** INDIA. AIR EXTERNAL SERVICES 27-OCT-2003 UTC Language kHz (Transmitter site) Target Area 0000-0045 Tamil 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) SE Asia 0000-0045 ,, 1053(T) 4790(Ch) 9835(Ki) 11985 Sri Lanka 0015-0100 Urdu 1071 (R) Pakistan 0015-0430 ,, 702(J) 6155(Ki) 9595(Kh) Pakistan 0045-0115 Sinhala 1053(T) 4790(Ch) 11985 Sri Lanka 0100-0200 Sindhi 1071(R) 5990(P) 7125(Ki) 9635 Pakistan 0100-0430 Urdu 11620(Kh) Pakistan 0115-0330 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 0130-0230 Nepali 594(C) 3945(G) 7250(P) 9810(A) 11715 Nepal 0200-0430 Urdu 1071( R) Pakistan 0215-0300 Kannada 11985(B) 15075(B) West Asia 0215-0300 Pushtu 9835 9910(A) 11735(A) Pakistan, Afghanistan 0300-0345 Dari 9835 9910(A) 11735(A) Afghanistan 0300-0430 Bengali 594(C) Bangladesh 0315-0415 Hindi 11840(P) 13695(B) 15075(B) Middle East ,, ,, 15075(B) 15185(A) 17715 E.Af., Mauritius 0400-0430 Persian 11730 13620(B) 15770(A) 17845 Iran 0415-0430 Gujarati 15075(B) 15185(A) 17715 E.Af., Mauritius 0430-0530 Hindi 15075(B) 15185(A) 17715 E.Af., Mauritius 0430-0530 Arabic 11730 13620(B) 15770(A) 17845 West Asia 0530-0600 Urdu 11730 13620(B) 15770(A) 17845 (Haj Season) Saudi Arabia 0700-0800 Nepali 7250(G) 9595(Ki) 11850(Kh) Nepal 0800-0830 Punjabi 702(J) Pakistan 0800-1100 Bengali 594(C) Bangladesh 0830-1130 Urdu 702(J) 1071(R) 7250(G) 9595(Ki) 11620(Kh) Pakistan 0845-0945 Indonesian 15770(A) 17510(A) 17875(A) SE Asia 1000-1100 English 1053(T) 7270(Ch) 15260 Sri Lanka ,, ,, 13710(B) 15020(A) 15235 17800(B) NE Asia ,, ,, 13710(B) 17510 17895(A) Australia, NZ 1100-1300 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 1115-1215 ,, 7270(Ch) 15050 17860 Sri Lanka ,, ,, 13710(B) 15770(A) 17810(P) SE Asia 1115-1200 Thai 13645(B) 15235(P) 17740(A) ,, 1130-1200 Saraiki 702(J) Pakistan 1145-1315 Chinese 11840 15795 17705(B) NE Asia 1215-1245 Telugu 13710(B) 15770(A) 17810(P) SE Asia 1215-1315 Burmese 11620(Kh) 11710 Myanmar 1215-1330 Tibetan 1134(C) 9575 11775(P) Tibet 1230-1430 Punjabi 702(J) Pakistan 1230-1500 Sindhi 1071(R) 6165 9620 11585(B) Pakistan 1300-1500 Sinhala 1053(T) 7275(Ch) 9820(P) 15050 Sri Lanka 1315-1415 Dari 7255(A) 7410? 9910(A) Afghanistan 1330-1430 Nepali 1134(C) 3945(G) 4860(Ki) 6045(Kh) 11775(P) Nepal 1330-1500 English 9690(Kh) 11620 13710(B) E SE Asia 1415-1530 Pushtu 7255(A) 7410? 9910(A) Afghanistan, Pakistan 1430-1735 Urdu 3945(G) Pakistan 1430-1930 ,, 702(J) 4860(Ki) 6045(Kh) Pakistan 1445-1515 Bengali 1134( C) Bangladesh 1500-1530 Tamil 1053(T) Sri Lanka 1500-1600 Baluchi 1071(R) 6165 9620 11585(B) Pakistan 1515-1600 Gujarati 11620(B) 13645(B) 15175(B) E.Af., Mauritius 1515-1615 Swahili 9950 17670(A) E. Africa 1600-1730 Bengali 1134( C) Bangladesh 1600-1930 Urdu 1071( R) Pakistan 1615-1715 Russian 11620 15140(B) E. Europe 1615-1730 Hindi 7410(A) 12025(P) 13770(B) Middle East ,, ,, 9950 15075(A) 17670 E.Af., Mauritius 1615-1730 Persian 7115(P) 9905(A) 11585 Iran 1730-1830 Malayalam 7115(P) 12025(P) Middle East 1730-1945 Arabic 9905(A) 13620(B) ,, 1745-1945 English 7410(Kh) 9950 11620(B) UK & W.Europe ,, ,, 11935(M) 15075(A) 17670(A) E. Africa ,, ,, 9445 13605(B) 15155 W. NW Africa 1945-2030 French 9905(A) 13605(B) 13620(B) W. NW Africa 1945-2045 Hindi 7410 9950 11620 UK & W.Europe 2045-2230 English 7410 9445 9950 11620 UK & W.Europe ,, ,, 9575(P) 9910(A) 11620 11715 Australia, NZ 2245-0045 ,, 9705(P) 11620(B) 11645 13605(B) E & SE Asia ,, ,, 9950(Kh) 11645 13605(B) NE Asia 2300-0000 Hindi 9910(A) 11740(P) 13795(B) E SE Asia Hol = Holiday, HS= Home Service, V = Timings vary, + = Fq used by both HS & External Service. *= Not Known Power and Transmitter locations of some External Service frequencies are presumed only! [hope I got all the ditto marks back in right place; best avoided --- gh ] Note: Latest changes are listed in dark colour [in the original] External Service in UT order http://www.geocities.com/bcdxnet/sw/time.htm 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, Box 1555, Somajiguda, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) Pending: AIR ES & DS in frequency order ** INDONESIA. Ouvida Rádio Republik Indonesia nos 9525 kHz entre 1700 e 1800 UT, programa em espanhol com noticiário, arte e música, boa recepção utilizando um Sony ICF 77 e uma loop blindada e acoplador Mizuho. A programacao é agora de uma hora, o locutor fala um espanhol meio macarronico, devem ser indonésios mesmo. Não deu para fazer teste com a Loop blindada, tendo em vista a potencia do sinal recebido. Eles aguardam comentários e sugestões (Geraldo, Osaka, Japão, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 27 via DXLD) La Voz de Indonesia es otro caso de desidia: hoy no puedo ocultar mi rabia al recibir de vuelta un informe de recepción enviado el pasado 13 de junio al apartado 1157. La carta fue devuelta porque La Voz de Indonesia no fue a la oficina postal a recoger la correspondencia, según el sello impreso en el sobre. ¡Esto es el colmo! Una emisora que pide que le escriban y no va a recoger las cartas. ¿Será que algún otro colega ha vivido esa amarga experiencia? Estoy llegando a pensar que las EMISORAS PIRATAS tienen mejor política de correspondencia que las estaciones legalmente establecidas. 73's y buen DX... (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. The German service of IRIB is no longer aired via shortwave; see the discussion below. Such intentions of the management were mentioned by the editorial staff already a while ago, back in July I published such an item, mentioning DXLD as source. So they really did it... So has IRIB left shortwave completely? The English service still has a A03 schedule posted, and unfortunately I cannot read the Persian page http://www.irib.ir/worldservice/urduRADIO/fequenc.htm [sic] [A-DX] Was ist los mit IRIB-Teheran? Hallo, ich habe soeben via Satellit Hotbird die deutsche Sendung aus Teheran im Ohr :-) Es werden keine genutzten KW-Frequenzen genannt, lediglich Satellit. Hier die Erklärung, gefunden auf der Homepage: http://www.irib.ir/worldservice/germanRADIO/default.htm Demzufolge gibt es keine KW-Ausstrahlung mehr!!! Das Radiosterben geht weiter :-( Gruß, (Klaus Köhler, ADXB-OE) [A-DX] Was ist los mit IRIB-Teheran? Vorgestern um 1730 UT war der Empfang auf 17590 khz mit SINPO 44444 und seit der Zeitumstellung ist wieder auf 15084, noch 17590 khz, oder auch 11855 11765 khz was zu empfangen, gar kein empfang, hab gesern früh und anends versucht und heute morgen um 8.30, 9.30 --- aber kein empfang. Weiss jemand was da los ist, ob Techniosche schwierigkeiten bestehen? Schöne Grüsse aus dem Ruhrpott, (Sebastian Fiegler, Okt 27, A-DX) (all via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) http://www.iribworld.com/ Text on the German language Website: See the schedule page http://www.irib.ir/worldservice/germanRADIO/frequenzen.htm ---------- Frequenzen Sie können uns morgens von 7:30 Uhr bis 8:30 Uhr Weltzeit, das heißt von 11:00 Uhr bis 12:00 Uhr Teheraner Ortszeit, und abends von 17:30 Uhr bis 18:30 Uhr Weltzeit, das heißt von 21:00 Uhr bis 22:00 Uhr Teheraner Ortszeit hören. Unser deutschsprachiges Programm wird über Eutelsat Hot Bird 3, 13 Grad Ost auf der Frequenz 12437 MHZ, horizontal mit Symbolrate 27,5 und FEC ¾ ausgestrahlt. Der Service-Name lautet "International 1 und 2 Radio". Dabei ist darauf zu achten, dass das Fernsehgerät an die linke Buchse des Satellitenreceivers angeschlossen werden soll. Außerdem sind wir In Teheran auch auf der Frequenz 100.7 FM zu hören. ---------- That's all, no any mention of shortwave there anymore. This applies also for the on-air announcements, acc. to the posting I forwarded. Probably the services for Europe (or specifically "western" Europe) were removed from shortwave in favour of Eutelsat Hotbird? (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) take it slowy, to spread out comments on IRIB's shortwave service CUT OFF. http://www.iribworld.com/ Text on the German language Website: "Wir möchten Sie drauf hinweisen, dass unser deutschsprachiges Programm a u c h über Eutelsat Hot Bird 3, 13 Grad Ost auf der Frequenz 12437 MHZ, horizontal mit Symbolrate 27,5 und FEC 3/4 ausgestrahlt wird. Der Service-Name lautet "International 1 und 2 Radio". Dabei ist darauf zu achten, dass das Fernsehgerät an die linke Buchse des Satellitenreceivers angeschlossen werden soll." ... that means a l s o on satellite !!! All IRIB s h o r t w a v e frequencies on all various 25 foreign language service websites - except Arabic language [which is real updated now] - show s t i l l the summer schedule frequencies of past A-03 season. Maybe the German SW frequencies [of A-03 season] are deleted now, - until the new frequencies are available and spread out by the technical department to the language sections. Which transmitting stations could be heard today ??? - Real fact is, that super-power Kamalabad is n o t on air at present. - But noted some other outlets from other 500 kW site of external services like Sirjan, in Swahili on 21550 at around 1127-1135 UT, IRIB ID signal, gongs, and announcement. Also a common Arabic Ramadan program could be heard on daytime on Sirjan site too, on 15545 [scheduled 0330-1630 UT], and now super power (2100 Palestine Program) on 9935 kHz, also via Sirjan. Gong and 100% ID of IRIB Tehran Iran at 2130 and 2149 UT. 9935 - Moslem prayer still on air at 2213. Maybe since the Ramadan fast month started on Saturday, different Mullah fractions are oppose each other - on the Kamalabad transmitter site?? - to refuse working and strike during fast month then. So wait and see. Propaganda --- Very expensive 20 x 500 and 12 x 250 kW installations and antennas, as well as various 100 kW units of Thomcast-Thales and Telefunken should be used to reach the audience in the poor third World, like in Afghanistan and in the Turkish speaking states in Central Asia and ME. Hopefully IRIB external programmes will be back in 26 languages when Ramadan [western 2003] will over. And Ami's Farda programmes from Kavalla should be jammed also far off, acc Mullah's need. 73 wb (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Prime Time Shortwave has 6135 9590 9835 11920 for English to NAm at 0030, but none audible here Oct 28, either blocked or not propagating (or gone; I think those are really A-03 ones) (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ISRAEL. The Israel Radio shortwave schedule has been updated on the IBA website - but it currently has local times and not UT --- I'm going to email them http://bet.iba.org.il/shortwavws.html (Doni Rosenzweig, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** JORDAN. RTTY as usual dominates 11690, but Oct 27 at 1500 I was able to unearth a bit of English news, talking about Indonesia, and it seemed to be done before 1505; presumably R. Jordan (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYSIA. 7295, Radio Malaysia; 2232-45+, 24-Oct; Disco, soul and Macarena? music; M in English with clean RM ID at 2240. SIO=1+42/USB best with occasional ARO and cricket QRM. First time heard at this hour; only heard about 1200 previous years (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts (M.A.R.E.) DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 1000' NEish unterminated bev + 65' TTFD, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 7295, V of Malaysia, 2235-2300 Oct 24. Pop music and "Good Morning Malaysia" announcement. Poor with ARO QRM. Covered by ARO just before possible top-of-hour ID. Tnx Harold Frodge for pointing out this one coming in (Don Moore, Brighton MI MARE Dxpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MARSHALL ISLANDS. 1098, Majuro at 0650 10/23 with request program announcer, "This is dedicated to everyone in the Marshall Islands" With the song "Respect by Aretha Franklin (Pat Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) ** MAURITANIA. ORTM, Nouakchott, 10/28/03, 4845.1 kHz, 0225-0310+; SINPO 24333. Long talk by OM, 0242 alternate Qur`an reciation and brief talks by OM, ID at 0300, back to recitation / short talks by OM, talk by same OM starting 0305. As I remember it, Nouakchott had similar programming of Qur`an and talks during Ramadan last year (Mark Taylor, Madison, WI, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO. ANNOUNCING 2003-04, 9TH EDITION OF ``THE IRCA MEXICAN LOG`` The 9th Edition of the IRCA Mexican Log lists all AM stations in Mexico by frequency, including call letters, state, city, day/night power, slogans, schedule in UTC/GMT, formats, networks and notes. The call letter index gives call, frequency, city and state. The city index (listed by state, then city) includes frequency, call and day/ night power. The log has been completely updated from the 2002 edition and carefully cross-checked by several IRCA members. This is an indispensable reference for anyone who hears Mexican radio stations. Size is 8 1/2" x 11" and three hole punched for easy binding. Prices: IRCA/NRC members - $9.50 (US/Canada/Mexico/sea mail), $10.50 (rest of the Americas airmail), $11.00 (Europe/Asia airmail), $11.50 (Australia/ New Zealand airmail). Non-members: add $2.50 to the above prices. To order the IRCA Mexican Log from the IRCA Bookstore, send the correct amount (in US funds payable to Phil Bytheway) to: IRCA BOOKSTORE, 9705 MARY NW, SEATTLE WA 98117-2334 (Phil Bytheway, Oct 26, IRCA via DXLD) ** MEXICO. The end of a radio empire. Several Mexican media conglomerates are putting their radio stations up for sale, according to Radio Notas. The profits are not as good as those of their television sides. In fact, over 600 stations are being offered, many by Televisa, the Azcárraga media empire founded with XEW 900 AM Mexico City, which is not part of the deal. Too bad Mexican law does not permit the Church to own radio stations. A task force recommended to the Fox administration last year that the prohibitive laws remain in place; it said that each religious group sees itself in sole possession of the truth and there is no tolerance of opposing viewpoints. The effect, its chair said, was divisive on society (Mike Dorner, Catholic Radio Update Oct 27 via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS [non]. Well, this is the first regular weekday morning of the new schedule and I must say that it was most disappointing. I was trying to hear "Research File" at 1230 UT on 5965 kHz and it was not possible. Reception starting at 1200 UT was reasonable, but I have been amazed at how rapidly reception here in the central US deteriorates on that frequency from that transmitter. I could hear the news and Newsline fine; the first couple minutes of "Research File" was understandable. But then it dived into noise and faded away. Haven't any of your official monitors told you about the data- transmission interference that plagues 5965 kHz? It is only a few seconds at a time, but it makes listening to that frequency annoying. That appeared near the start of "Research File", before the signal disappeared. I know that you state that this signal is for the "Eastern US". But you could provide a transmission at the same time and at the same cost in transmitter hours that would be usable by BOTH the Eastern and Central US! Use a higher frequency and send it from Bonaire; it will work. If I am awake at 1000 UT (4 AM locally), I listen to 9785 kHz and it is fine. I heard some of that transmission this morning. Unfortunately, I usually cannot stay awake at 4:30 AM in order to listen to the complete feature program, and I really shouldn't. I should be asleep at that time anyway. That transmission isn't even aimed at us and yet it gets here fine; why not use that capability intentionally later in the morning and serve more audience with the same expense? If you refuse to change 5965's frequency or origin, at least do something that would cost you nothing and would help all of us: switch the programs around so that the feature begins at 1200 UT and the news and Newsline start at 1230 UT. That would give two advantages -- we here could hear the feature at the start of the broadcast before the signal deteriorates, and your Eastern audience, who have been used to hearing your news broadcast begin at the half-past-the-hour mark, will hear it then again. I know that there are a number of RN listeners who are unhappy with your change to beginning on the hour anyway. Go ahead and do this now. It would make "On Target" slightly wrong, but you've made mid-season changes and corrections before, and your North American audience will be served better with no increase in your costs (William Martin (Saint Louis, Missouri USA), Oct 27, letter to RN, cc to DXLD) Altho RN has deprived North Americans of the 1430-1630 transmission via Sackville on 15220, just as I expected, the Madagascar relay is quite listenable at the same time on 15595. Don`t you believe the time-signals on RN: at least there were three pips as Research File started Monday, not at 1430 but at 1429!! So I suppose all their half- hour shows actually start a minute early to get them done in time for frequency changes now at hourtop (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hi Glenn, No comments from me regarding 5965. This is a matter for our Programme Distribution Department, to whom I have forwarded the message, although they will see it anyway as they read DXLD :-) BTW our announcers do (or at least, are supposed to) give a time check before the pips. I agree it's a little unorthodox to have pips at times other than 00, 15, 30 and 45 minutes - but time signal stations do, so why not, provided the time is clearly stated? And we've always liked to be a little bit different at RNW :-) There will probably be a few teething troubles with all our announcers getting used to the new schedule. Some are freelancers and only come in a few days in the month. The presentation cells are self-op, so the programmes are played out digitally by the duty announcer. 73, (Andy Sennitt, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Will Martin and Daniel Say posted a few queries/comments a few days ago regarding the whys and wherefores of Radio Netherlands moving to "on the hour" starts for their transmissions from the (now previous) practice of starting at the half hour. Knowing Radio Netherlands to be a listener-friendly lot (even experienced in-person on-site during the summer), I took the liberty of posing the question directly to them. Here's the reply I received from Andy Sennitt. All I can say is, "Makes perfect sense to me!" :-) (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) Viz.: A couple of factors were involved here: Radio Netherlands has a mandate to serve Dutch expatriates well as our audiences in English, Spanish and Indonesian. Programmes in Dutch account for the majority of our shortwave transmission hours. It has been a long time wish of the Dutch department to change to the full hour. For Dutch people abroad there is no competition from other broadcasters as there is with English, and therefore no reason to start on the half hour. So why have we decided to make the change at this time? With the increasing use of relays via other international broadcasters and exchanges of airtime, planning and co-ordinating schedules can no longer be done in isolation, but needs to be done in cooperation with other broadcasters. It is more efficient to occupy frequencies for an hour at 0000-0059 than split across two hours, and also makes it easier to find slots for broadcasters whose own transmissions start on the full hour. This will be increasingly important as we seek to subsidise the cost of operating our shortwave transmitters by selling the airtime that has been freed by the recent cuts. In doing this, we are increasing the efficiency of our operation, which will be very important when we come to negotiate future budget requirements from the Dutch government. To sit back and do nothing would make it harder to justify our future budget requests, and could result in us having to make further transmission cuts, something we want to avoid. Within the designated slots, the programme departments have the option of deciding in which order the various programme items should be aired. In the long term audience feedback will determine whether any changes need to be made to the current arrangement. Radio Netherlands welcomes constructive feeback, which in the case of the English programmes should be sent to letters @ rnw.nl (Andy Sennitt, RN, via Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) This is a radio station, not a soap opera The new shortwave schedule of Radio Netherlands went into effect today, with major reductions in shortwave frequency hours. This is part of an overall reorganisation, which also sees around a quarter of all job functions at Radio Netherlands being replaced by a slightly lower number of new positions. What this means in real terms is that some of my colleagues are leaving the organisation between now and next April. I have been impressed by the way in which everyone at Radio Netherlands has been coping with the situation since it was first announced earlier this year. Unfortunately, one or two individuals on shortwave mailing lists have taken to commenting on the personal situation of named individuals as if they are characters in a soap opera. And these comments are so wide of the mark it would be funny were it not for the fact that they are real people with feelings. If you come across such comments, treat them with the contempt they deserve. One reason I've started this personal Weblog is to try and share a slice of reality. Because I don't see much of it on some of the mailing lists! (Andy Sennitt`s blog, Oct 26 via DXLD) NEWSLINE NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND We're pleased to announce that from today you can listen to the latest edition of our current affairs programme Newsline on demand. You can choose between a 48 kbps MP3 file, 20 or 44 kbps Real Audio, or 32 kbps Windows Media. You still have the option of selecting just the latest news bulletin. Please note: Newsline is a Mon-Fri programme. The news is broadcast at the start of all our transmissions 7 days a week. For full details of all the options visit our Online Radio page. # posted by Andy @ 17:08 UTC (Media Network weblog Oct 27 via DXLD) ** PERU. 4386.6, Radio Imperio, 1042-1052 Oct 26. Live religious revival program with lots of "Gloria a Jesús" announcements and faith- healing talk in Spanish. Larry Russell, who stayed up all night, said that he noted this as early as 0744. Fair (Don Moore, Brighton MI MARE DXpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. I have just monitored a news item on Voice of Russia (on a rather noisy 6.235 MHZ), stating that the station plans to have 100% digital transmission facilities within the next 5 Years. Their present air time procurement is taking 70% of their budget and they are seeking to reduce this substantially. I presume this refers to DRM (Ken Fletcher, 1916 UT October 27th 2003, BDXC-UK via DXLD) I may be overly negative, but I fear the Voice of Russia may also be referring to the Internet when they say "digital". It's possible the may go down the route Swiss R International did, and become a dedicated Internet broadcaster. I'm not sure how much money would actually be saved becoming 100% DRM in the next 5 years. Without knowing the facts, and thinking of how new technologies take a long time to reduce in price, I would have assumed the initial costs would be much higher (Stephen Howie, ibid.) ** SAMOA. [This follows up the log in 3-191 on the same date:] 540, Apia, 2AP, unbelievable signal at S9+20 DB+ with older US pop music and some Samoan pops. Songs like "Faith" by George Michael". then at 0730 a Samoan version of The Tennessee Waltz. The song made famous by Patti Page in the 50s in the US. Many IDs as "SBS" (Samoan Broadcasting Service) and time checks, plus some dedications 10/26. Really an exciting station is listen to. It was fun. Later heard on late after 1100+ with soccer in Samoan and English. 783, UNID, very weak signal here off and on during the night, but no ID possible. I would doubt that Samoan Capital Radio would be that weak, but with conditions the way they were, who knows? 10/26 (Pat Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA. SAUDI ARABIA: OPPOSITION MOVEMENT WARNS VIOLENCE POSSIBLE DURING RAMADAN | Excerpt from report entitled "New report on Al-Islah channel and important warnings to the public of what might happen during Ramadan" published by London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site on 27 October [Introductory passage omitted] In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Praise be to God and prayers and peace be upon God's Messenger and may God accept from you and us the good deeds. The movement would like to assure its public that efforts are being made quickly to restore Al-Islah channel and it might succeed in presenting a media surprise with which it will unsettle the regime. In any case, every cloud has a silver lining. The regime's perpetration of an international crime in order to silence the Al- Islah channel is tantamount to an official recognition on the part of the regime that a single audio channel, a black screen, and primitive resources defeated its media machine. When we talk about the regime's media machine, we talk about more than 70 satellite television channels, dozens of audio channels, three local television channels, more than 11 newspapers, an army of cheering and protected journalists, writers and intellectuals, and dozens of regime-backed international research centres. We also talk about an Arab media charter of honour by which every Arab country protects the reputation of the other rulers and we talk about billions spent on public relations programmes locally and abroad. Therefore and despite its obstinacy, the regime admits by resorting to jamming that the Al-Islah channel has defeated all this massive network, admits that the nation's hearts and souls are with the Al- Islah channel, admits that Al-Islah's public is much greater than all this network's public and admits that the public responds to the Al- Islah and not to this network. In as much as the regime thinks that it has extricated itself from this predicament through its desperate attempts to silence the Al- Islah channel, it has in fact embroiled itself in a much more dangerous predicament, that of pushing the people strongly into the conviction that the hope of reforming this regime is impossible. If this behaviour is placed within the context of the repression of those who took part in the recent protests, the observer does not find it surprising when he hears that many sectors in society are now adopting violence as the means for dealing with the regime that is suppressing those demanding reforms peacefully and violating international law by silencing the only voice opposed to the state. [Passage omitted] The prisons are still full of reformers and this is another factor that is pushing the people into the option of violence and force. The movement now has indications that many groups are being formed at present as military organizations that are thinking of carrying out operations during the coming days and weeks. The movement holds the state in advance responsible for the outbreak of any acts of violence [passage omitted on people "primarily responsible"]. These are of course aside from the groups thought to be affiliated to Al-Qa'idah, about whom the state has information of their intention to carry out operations during the month of Ramadan, yet is concealing this information and pretending to be in control and capable. Against these challenges, the state remains disunited and the senior princes continue their power struggle and are united only by one thing, namely, the agreement to repress the people. Some signs indicate that this struggle is likely to surface publicly in a very short period of time. In view of the possibility of the outbreak of disagreements inside the ruling family and the possible outbreak of acts of violence, the movement prepares the people anew for the stage of chaos and refers to the instructions set out by the movement and which we will publish again soon. Source: Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia web site, London, in Arabic 27 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) FRENCH-BASED WATCHDOG CALLS ON SAUDI GOVERNMENT TO STOP "INTIMIDATION" OF MEDIA | Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 24 October Reporters Without Borders called on the Saudi government today to stop its extensive intimidation of the country's media that has included jamming an opposition radio station this week, cutting off TV broadcasts by the same group and making death threats to liberal journalists. The radio station, Al-Islah, run by the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA) is the first and only opposition voice broadcasting to the country from abroad. Satellite broadcasts by MIRA's London-based TV station were also cut off in late August after only a few months on the air. "The country's powerful hardline religious leaders are obsessed with crushing dissident opinions and the authorities have been cracking down ruthlessly in recent months on those in the press and elsewhere calling for speedier and more radical reforms than those offered by the government," said Reporters Without Borders Secretary-General Robert Menard. The government has announced unprecedented elections next year for town councils and for the Majlis, the national consultative body. The pro-government media has welcomed this, but the entire Saudi media remains under the tight control of the Interior and Information Ministries. About 100 reformist journalists, writers and intellectuals have recently been censored or banned from the country's press, according to US-based Saudi dissident Ali al-Ahmad. Journalist Husayn Shubukshi was banned from the daily paper Ukaz after writing an article saying he dreamed that one day the Saudi people would have the right to vote freely, discuss human rights and, in the case of women, to drive vehicles. He was also banned from writing in the Arab News and his political programme on the Saudi-funded TV station Al-Arabiyah was dropped. A regular column in the daily Al-Hayat by Dawud al-Shiriyan was stopped four months ago and the daily Al-Riyad sent its commentator Mansur al-Nugaydan on indefinite leave. Like Shubukshi, Nugaydan has had death threats. "Newsapers prefer to avoid problems by simply asking journalists to stop writing," he says. MIRA leader Sa'd al-Faqih told Reporters Without Borders that the Saudis had jammed Al-Islah radio broadcasts since 22 October to head off MIRA's call for street demonstrations in nine of the country's towns to demand the release of those jailed after an earlier protest. A rare demonstration by several hundred people was staged on 14 October in front of Riyadh's conference centre where a human rights meeting was being held. The Interior Ministry, which forbids all public gatherings or demonstrations throughout the country, said 83 people were arrested and would soon be tried. Al-Islah, launched by the opposition last December and broadcasting from Europe round the clock via the Hotbird satellite on the 11,096 MHz frequency, carries interviews with the MIRA leadership, other figures and ordinary people, especially Saudis, as well as cultural and news programmes. In May this year, MIRA started up a satellite TV station (also called Al-Islah), whose programme production, broadcasting and technical signals pass through several European countries. But it was mysteriously cut off in August, and Faqih said strong Saudi government pressure had been exerted on the various operators involved in the station's broadcasting. Source: Reporters Sans Frontières press release, Paris, in English 24 Oct 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** SENEGAL. SENEGAL EXPELS FRENCH RFI JOURNALIST OVER ``BIAS'' DAKAR, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The French correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI) in Senegal has been ordered to leave after authorities in the West African nation accused her of biased reporting, Paris-based RFI said on Thursday. Sophie Malibeaux was ordered out of Senegal because of what authorities said was her "biased coverage" of a meeting of separatist rebels from the southern Casamance region. Authorities accused her of trying to sabotage a fledgling peace process between the government and rebels. RFI's assistant director general in charge of broadcasting and information, Gilles Schneider, travelled to Dakar to argue that the expulsion order be lifted but to no avail. "The series of meetings... did not permit the lifting of this expulsion order. RFI deplores the fact that (Malibeaux) is obliged to leave Senegalese territory," RFI said in a statement published in the capital Dakar on Thursday. Malibeaux, who denies the charges, told Reuters she would leave Senegal on Friday. Her expulsion comes just two days after her colleague, Jean Helene, was shot dead by a policeman in nearby Ivory Coast, where civil war has split the country and inflamed anti-French sentiment and ethnic hatreds. The expulsion order was first issued during the Casamance meeting earlier this month but was suspended pending talks. RFI said it disputed the order and reaffirmed its confidence in Malibeaux (RTw 10/23 1550 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** SPAIN. Re REE: Verdaderamente lamentable tener que leer en este mensaje que la emisora internacional, que representa a nuestro país en el exterior, no tiene QSL's para contestar a los informes de recepción. Una gota más en el vaso de las reducciones de personal y presupuesto en los últimos años. Y no deseo añadir mucho más, pues los motivos de este desatino escapan y exceden a los ámbitos de nuestra afición. Dice un viejo refrán que a buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan. Reciban un muy afectuoso saludo (Tomás Méndez, Spain, Oct 26, noticias dx via DXLD) Pero, lo peor de todo es que las pérdidas de RTVE son desmesuradas... o sea, que no me explico cómo es posible tanto desatino. Sería mejor que cambiase el estatuto de REE y pasase a estar directamente subvencionada por los ministerios de Asuntos Exteriores y Asuntos Sociales. Un saludo (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, ibid.) ** SUDAN [non]. Re Joe Hanlon`s Merlin unID on 15530: seems EDC via Woofferton-UK: 15530 1500 1700 smtwtfs MNO Woofferton 300 140 EDUCATIONAL DEVT CNC E AF HR 4/4/1 (via Andreas Volk-D, ADDX, Sept 23 via Wolfgang Bueschel, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TAHITI. 738, good and about equal with KCBS at 0645 10/26. Island pops and man in French. Not quite as strong as Samoa 540 but still armchair copy (Pat Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) ** TUNISIA. Quem foi que disse que a Radiodiffusion Television Tunisienne não enviava o cartão QSL? Pois o conselheiro do DX Clube do Brasil, Rudolf W. Grimm, de São Bernardo do Campo (SP), recebeu a confirmação da emissora em 245 dias! Ele aproveita para informar todos os detalhes. O verificador é Mondher Guirat. A direção postal é a seguinte: ONT Cite Ennassim I, Bourjel, BP 399, 1080, Tunis, Tunísia. Endereço eletrônico: ont @ ati.tn (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Oct 27 via DXLD) ** TURKEY. See INTRUDER WATCH below ** U K. I was really irritated by your segment in this weekend's "Write On" about the replacement of "Off The Shelf" on the Americas stream. The writer you read asked why you didn't make an on-air announcement about the substitution at the start of each timeslot. I, too, had written a similar query last week. Your response, to the effect that it would take too long to air an "explanation" of the rights dispute, was ridiculous. You assembled special editions of "Instant Guide" and "From Our Own Correspondent" to fill those slots. You should have included at the start of each of these a *few seconds* of a statement such as "Due to a broadcast rights issue, 'The Day of the Jackal' will not be aired to the Americas." and left it at that. No lengthy explanations on-air were needed, but a simple statement WAS needed! You could (and should) have put a paragraph with all the releasable details on the "Off The Shelf" web site. I have long noted that you, and just about all other radio (and TV, too) stations have a terrible time simply TELLING the listeners/ viewers about changes in scheduled lineups. When something changes, you have the facility to make an announcement as soon as you know about it, and at the exact time the change takes place. The audience relies upon previously-distributed printed or listed schedules; when changes happen, it is simple courtesy (as you read from the letter writer) to let them know about it. Why on earth not? (William Martin (Saint Louis, Missouri USA), Oct 27, letter to Write On, cc to DXLD) ** U S A. VOA`s Talk to America checked Mon Oct 27 at 1700: the VOA Video stream still works, but now it`s a dark screen with various glitches as if transmitting the missing video, rather than just cutting it off. Instead of News and TTA, this was a lo-fi (tho displayed as 34 kbps) ``live`` concert of Gershwin, perhaps from the VOA Auditorium? What became of TTA? I could not hear a single one of the SW frequencies Kim mentioned in 3-189, tho conditions were below normal. Per http://www.voanews.com/talktoamerica/ the show is still on at 1700 UT; could not get the audio-only stream to work, but that`s likely a problem at my end (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A [and non]. Glen[n]: I have been a listener since I got back into the hobby shortly before show 1000. I have asked several sources this question and find no one has the answers. I'm wondering if there is a master schedule to the Armed Forces Radio network programs that are being aired available on the net. I can't find one and I can't get a response from ARN. Specifically, I am looking to catch Broadcasts of the Chicago Blackhawks games while I'm in school. I am in the Carribean and while here I caught WOR on WBCQ a couple of times. Thank you, (Craig M. Pradarelli, C/O Medical University of The Americas, Charlestown, Nevis, West Indies, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Craig, I`m not aware of any webcasts from AFN. However, they are on some SW USB frequencies, closest to you being PR and Key West. Strangely enough, NPR has a page about this with extensive AFN schedule, but that`s only one of the streams and probably not the one where games would be put. I do think games appear on the SW frequencies, although they are something I myself avoid. Finding out when they will broadcast what could be difficult. http://www.npr.org/worldwide/shortwave.html Perhaps you could uncover the info at AFRTS` own site: http://www.afrts.osd.mil/default.htm Sports schedules are here: http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/radio/sports/schedule.asp Regards, (Glenn to Craig, via DXLD) ** U S A [non]. The reason for sending a three month schedule is because the AWR board just voted large reductions in airtime for 2004 due to severe budget constraints. All languages will be affected by at least a 50% cut in airtime for 2004 (Roberto Scaglione, Sicily, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. I was wondering if anyone could tell us about any available online references that would answer these questions: 1) Radio Networks on SW: When listening to the various US-based SW stations, I often hear references to radio networks, like "Genesis Communications Network", "Christian Media Network", "Omega Radio Network", etc. Is there someplace that lists all of these and somehow characterizes them with their true nature? That is, are they a real traditional "network" like the old NBC or CBS radio networks were, with a heirarchical structure? Do they produce programs themselves? Are they merely a broker of air-time, selling slots to anyone with the cash? Or are they merely a name for a long program run by some one organization or sect to put forward their own philosophy, combining seemingly-separate programs with different hosts that are actually all put out by the same group? 2) How can I find a local phone number contact for low-powered TV stations? Is there an FCC database one can search that contains this data? I'm specifically trying to find a 314-area-code number for channel 18 in St. Louis, which carries TBN and which has been off the air for weeks now. Thanks and regards, (Will Martin, MO, Oct 27, swprograms via DXLD) K18BT is a translator station licensed directly to Trinity Broadcasting. These stations operate unattended and are fed directly by satellite. Contact TBN directly. They always have their 800 number on the screen for some reason (Joe Buch, ibid.) ** U S A. FIRE AT THE KCAL-FM/KFRG(FM)/KSGN(FM) TRANSMITTER SITE! A firestorm has seriously damaged the unattended KCAL-FM/ KFRG(FM)/ KSGN(FM) transmitter site which is located on the brush-covered slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains about six miles due north of downtown San Bernardino, CA. The catastrophe occurred Saturday, October 25, 2003, as part of the wildfires now sweeping through southern California. KSGN reports that their emergency power generator kicked into operation at about 12:30 p.m. Saturday, and that at about 1:30 p.m. their station went off the air. (KSGN is a non- commercial/educational station operating on 89.7 MHz.) Bruce Potterton, C.E. of KSGN, was the only engineer who managed to penetrate police lines and visit the transmitter site on Saturday. He reports that while all towers are still standing with antennas apparently intact, the roofs of the broadcast transmitter buildings have been destroyed. Bruce was unable to view the condition of KCAL's transmitting equipment (presumed to be seriously damaged or destroyed), but did confirm the destruction of the transmitting gear at KSGN and KFRG. Anything made of aluminum no longer exists. Furthermore, it appears as if an explosion had occurred inside the KFRG building. Obviously the stations are scrambling to get back on the air although their strategies vary. KFRG has commenced low power operations from a loaner site on Box Spring Mountain despite an attenuated STL path. KSGN, on the other hand, plans to resume operations from its burnt-out site using borrowed transmitting equipment. (Miraculously, their emergency power generator still works.) KCAL-FM is currently assessing the situation and may resume operations from Strawberry Peak (their booster site), Box Spring Mountain or their burnt-out primary site. All stations are working through local contacts for emergency supplies and engineering assistance. However, KSGN has noted that it may need approximately 75 to 100 feet of air-dielectric 7/8" or 1-5/8" coax with end connectors. In addition, reducer cones may be required. Their main antenna uses a 1-5/8" connector while their loaner transmitter will probably require a 7/8" connector. (KSGN had used 1- 1/4" line, but that is an odd-ball size and the standard line sizes of 7/8" or 1-5/8" will work just fine.) As of this hour, none of the stations have made a formal request for outside assistance or equipment. However, if you have coax and/or reducer cones for KSGN, please mailto: rgonsett @ ieee.org your name, a description on the items and your contact information (phone numbers preferable). We will pass that data along to KSGN later today, and there is a chance that KCAL-FM will be looking for similar equipment. KFRG is holding its own for the moment, and we have a preliminary report indicating that their main transmission line on the burnt-out site managed to survive the wildfire. Whether it will pass power remains to be seen (From the CGC Communicator http://www.bext.com via Scott Fybush, NY, Oct 26, NRC FM-TV via DXLD) There are numerous out of control fires burning in San Diego. Over 100,000 acres have burned in Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Kearny Mesa, Tierrasanta, Valley Center, Dulzura. Over 100 homes lost (mostly in Ramona) with 8 fatalities. I-8, I-15 are both closed, and I-805 may close soon. Flames are burning across CA-67 near Poway. At least one of my co-workers has been evacuated. It looks like a war zone here. So far the only station off the air is KECR-910, but others may follow. SDG&E lost a major power line on the Dulzura fire east of here. Santa Ana winds are pushing the fire west toward populated areas. [Later:] The Lord is good to us. The fire hit the shore of Otay Lake and appears to have stalled just short of the Olympic Training Center (<2 miles from here). Voluntary evacuations are on hold for now (my old QSLs are spending the night in the car anyway! A co-worker near the start of the fire in Ramona was awakened at 2am last night and had to leave right away). I-5 and I-805 are the only major highways that are open. KECR-910 El Cajón is still the only AM station off the air. The Dulzura fire crossed the border into Mexico about 4 hours ago, but is still several miles from the closest transmitter (XEUT-1630). The Chargers' first Monday Night Footbal appearance in 7 years has been postponed (Qualcomm Stadium has been used as an emergency shelter for everyone evacutaed from Tierrasanta); the game might take place in San Francisco, Oakland, or Phoenix on Tuesday night. Unfortunately 12 people have died, including 8 in Ramona. A co-worker of mine in Ramona lived near the start of the fire and may well have lost his house. The fire was heading west toward our old (XE) beverage site and may have reached that location by now. 73, (Tim Hall, Chula Vista, CA, Oct 26, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. Per CNN at 0300 UT Oct 28, Simi Valley is now threatened by the fires --- wonder if that includes the KVOH transmitter site, which is atop a mountain as described here recently. Keep an ear on 17775 during the daytime (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. As of about 5 years ago, WQBA 1140 Miami is focused on the non-Cuban community, while WAQI 710 is totally focused on Cuba. Over 50% of the under 55 Hispanic population in Miami now is non-Cuban, and WQBA is using a "we are all neighbors in Miami" approach, minimizing the ranting about Cuba that typifies WAQI. The Spanish talker heard on 1140 could very well be WQBA --- remembering that it no longer IDs as "La Cubanísima" as it did in the past (David Gleason, CA, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. Thanks for your valuable DX info, here is something to add to your list: KJR AM 950 Seattle will be conducting tests from a new transmitter site today and tomorrow. The switch from the current main site to the test site will occur in the 9:00 am hour and continue until approx. 3:30 pm, Monday October 27 and tomorrow, Tuesday. [PST = 1700-2330 UT] There will be a minor shift in location, to Vashon, Wa. and a major shift in directional pattern. Today field measurements on the new DAY pattern will be made at 50 kW. To see the graphics on the theoretical patterns and the existing patterns see: http://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProFacLookup.php Enter KJR in the search box. The new patterns and site are the ones listed as CP. Testing will continue sporadically over the next few weeks. Mostly in the daytime without skywave. Some post 11 pm adjustments may be made, however that is usually done with no modulation, lower power, and without much notice. This may happen tonight (Monday night/Tuesday morning.) Feel free to communicate your reception reports or any questions. (Dave Grytness, Assistant Director of Engineering, KJR-AM/FM, KHHO-AM, KUBE, KFNK Seattle davegrytness @ clearchannel.com Oct 26, NRC-AM via DXLD) ** U S A. 8992-ssb at 2312 Oct 27, contact between Moffett Rescue and King 23 regarding some equipment malfuxion, with advice what to do about it; meanwhile keep flying (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. In the past month I have had three new pirates sign on the air. The latest one was discovered last night during the e-skip opening, on 95.3. Never caught a slogan, but listened to them for about 15 minutes, as two male dj's and one woman dj chattered about Boulder-Denver area stuff. They royally bashed Clear Channel and after awhile I couldn't believe I was actually listening to them. They made a point of using four letter expletives (isn't the 'f' word illegal on the airwaves???). The rest of the time they spent playing albums in their entirety. This is one pirate station that should be reported to Uncle FCC. Might be a prob' tho'...... A couple weeks ago the second pirate (calling themselves Darkstar Radio) showed up in my area, on 89.5, broadcasting in Fort Collins. These three pirates have all shown up on the heels of the FCC closing their Denver office and moving the Rocky Mountain region operations to San Francisco (Jim Thomas, wdx0fbu, Milliken, Colorado, Oct 26, WTFDA via DXLD) 95.3 would be KBFR Boulder as in 3-191 (gh) ** URUGUAY. 6140, R. Montecarlo noted active last Sunday on local daytime (Horacio Nigro, Uruguay, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. 6025, Radio Tashkent Int'l; 1216-1227:45*, 26-Oct; language folk music; English feature on UNESCO in Uzbekistan; English close with program info at 1225. SIO=343/USB helps; // 5975 SIO=2+32+_/LSB; // 9715 Poor. 6025 by far the best (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts (M.A.R.E.) DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 1000' NEish unterminated bev + 65' TTFD, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4830, Radio Táchira; 0449-0458*, 25-Oct; M in Spanish with EZL vocals. ID and off without anthem. SIO=2+43-; 1020-24+, 26- Oct; Campesino tunes; ID and M in Spanish with spot about listening to and calling the station in the morning. SIO=4+43/ute bursts (Harold Frodge, Michigan Area Radio Enthusiasts (M.A.R.E.) DXpedition, Brighton MI, Drake R8B + 1000' NEish unterminated bev + 65' TTFD, Cumbre DX via DXLD) That was UT Sat ** VENEZUELA. Re 3160 harmonic: En relación con la señal de Radio Celestial 1580 AM, informo que esta emisora es venezolana, transmite desde la población de San Francisco en el Estado Zulia con 15000 vatios de potencia. Ahora es dirigida por una organización religiosa, cuando llamé por telefono hace aproximadamente 4 meses, me informaron que la identificación de Radio Occidental había sido eliminada y que ahora su nombre era Radio Celestial 1580. La identificación que tengo grabada dice lo siguiente: ``Ésta es Celestial 1580 kHz, generando su poderosa señal con 15000 vatios de potencia efectiva, desde San Francisco, Estado Zulia, para toda Venezuela y el universo --- Celestial 1580, La Voz de Dios en tu hogar. Nota: La grabación está a la orden. Atte: (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VIETNAM. See INTRUDER WATCH below ** WESTERN SAHARA [non]. Glenn: Just thought I'd let you know that the Polisario Front station of the SADR at 7460 -- mentioned in your DXLD from 14 Oct 2003, is coming in now at 0654 UT with a very strong signal; I've been listening since 0619 while reading the history of the Saharan conflicts in the interesting website at http://web.jet.es/rasd/ The program has been commentary interspersed between exceptionally interesting and beautiful vocal music with what sounds like an oud (and percussion) accompaniment, both male and female voices. It is pointless to try the parallel frequencies on MW from this location. The shortwave signal is being received virtually without interference or background noise, just after the peak of this weekend's solar flare event. Some previously dead paths seem to be open tonight; other normal ones are closed (Steve Waldee - San José, CA, Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZAMBIA. 4910, Radio Zambia, 2145-2202 Oct 24. Vocal music, two OMs talking in language with ID. Also many mentions of Katanga and Lumbumbashi. Choral music (anthem?) at 2200, then off. Fair (Don Moore, Brighton MI MARE Dxpedition, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 6108.39 kHz, música y radio-aficionados --- Gracias Henrik y José Elías por información y explicaciones tratando de radio- aficionados y música andina. Información apasionante y realmente muy interesante. Puede ser radio-aficionados jugando o una emisora verdadera probando su equipo. En el mejor de los casos es una nueva emisora peruana/boliviana que está en punto de comenzar a transmitir en 6108 kHz y por supuesto voy a controlar la frecuencia regularmente. Siempre estoy en la cabina antes a las 0500 hora local en la mañana, por lo menos 5 días por semana, tomando el cafecito escuchando las emisoras nuevas de LA. 73ss de.... Bjorn Malm, Quito, Ecuador - SWB América Latina, Quito 26/Oct/2003 21:05, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Coincido con Henrik. La música es peruana y el modo de hablar del locutor así lo confirma. 73s (Alfredo Spacemaster Cañote, Perú, ibid.) UNIDENTIFIED. Caught this while bandscanning this AM: 9875, SITE?, VT Merlin test, 1234-1249, Oct. 27, Vernacular/English, light pop music by female vocalist at tune-in in a language I could not ID, (Presumed) Eastern European?, OM at 1239 with usual VT Merlin test loop, "You are listening to a test transmission by VT Merlin Communications..." with a web address that I could not fully copy. Music resumed at 1245. Fair/poor, signal seemed to be slowly improving during broadcast (Scott R Barbour Jr, Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire w/ RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 15530: see SUDAN [non] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ LISTA MUNDIAL DE EMISIONES EN ESPAÑOL La AER acaba de actualizar la LISTA MUNDIAL DE EMISIONES EN ESPAÑOL (lmee) con los primeros esquemas del nuevo período en la dirección http://www.aer-dx.org/listas/lmee.htm En esta página encontrarás la lista en forma de 3 listados PDF, según se ordenen las emisiones (xEmisoras, xHorario, xRadiopaís). Te informamos que en la lista faltan por actualizar los siguientes esquemas del nuevo periodo: [33 de ellos, véase] ... te rogamos que si los tienes nos los hagas llegar. Muchas gracias por tu colaboración. Un saludo cordial (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, EDITOR, Noticias DX via DXLD) INTRUDER WATCH ++++++++++++++ To Amateur Radio Clubs world wide: Will you please monitor *** 7100 kHz *** yourself and inform your national telecoms. authorities for help! Regards, Uli, DJ9KR Subject: Re: Voice of Turkey on 7100 kHz in the evening hours in A3E (AM)] (fwd) Aziz Sasa schrieb: Lieber Ulli, Wir stehen mit TRT in Verbindung. Ich nehme an, dass wir das Problem kurzfristig lösen können. Hoffe, dass ich in ca. 1 Stunde Gutes berichten kann. Ich weiss nicht, wen RegTP angeschrieben hat, ich hoffe aber, dass es die Telekommunikationsbehörde ist. Deren Webseite ist www.tk.gov.tr. Ich kann, falls erforderlich, bei der Auffindung der richtigen Person behilflich sein. Falls die Sache bei TRT stockt, werde ich mich umgehend zur TK wenden. 73! Aziz SASA, TA1E - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Dear fellow radio amateurs of TRAC, merhaba, as in the year 2000 the Turkish Radio Station "Voice of Turkey" has been transmitting in the evening hours (1800 - 2300 UT) on the exclusive amateur radio frequency *** 7100 kHz *** Yesterday (26 October 2003) it was the first day. And it is indicated that the transmissions on 7100 kHz will last until 23 March 2004. The signal strength is S 9 + 40 dB with a dipole antenna. DARC Monitoring System have already informed the German Telecoms. Authorities "RegTP" for help. Will you please also contact the Directorate of Voice of Turkey and the Turkish Telecoms. Authorities to stop this harmful interference which is a hazard to Amateur Radio world wide. The radio amateurs of the world have the right to use the exclusive 40-m-Band without the interference of Voice of Turkey. Kind regards and fraternally yours in Amateur Radio, Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, Coordinator of DARC MONITORING SYSTEM - Intruder Watch - and PTT Liaison Officer Eichhaldenstrasse 35, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany URL: http://www.bandwacht.de (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Also Voice of Vietnam on 7100 kHz in the evening hours in A3E (AM) - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Alert! - Dear fellow radio amateurs, There is a second "new" BC Intruder on 7100 kHz besides Voice of Turkey since yesterday! Yesterday evening when I was listening carefully for Radio Voice of Turkey on 7100 kHz I realized that there was a second radio station transmitting at the same time. First I thought it might be an IM-product of V.of Turkey, but then I heard the announcement: I was not sure if it was "This is Radio Iran" or "This is the Voice of Vietnam". Today I listened again very carefully. At 1604 UT there was the station again in English language. It was very loud. Radio Voice of Turkey was not yet transmitting. On LSB there were some radio hams with loud signals, but the frequency was clear when using USB as a listening mode. The announcement clearly was: "This is the Voice of VIETNAM". At 1745 Voice of VIETNAM was still there with a signal of S 9 + 25 dB with a dipole antenna transmitting in Vietnamese language and broadcasting typical Vietnamese music. At 1800 there was an English program. At 1800 Voice of TURKEY started a program in Turkish language even louder than V. of Vietnam, but they seem to have had difficulties with their tx-er because there were long breaks in the program of some minutes. DARC Monitoring System have already informed the German Telecoms. Authorities "RegTP" and asked for help. Will you please also monitor the frequency 7100 kHz and inform your national telecoms. authorities and your amateur radio club for help. Kind regards and fraternally yours in Amateur Radio, Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR Coordinator of DARC MONITORING SYSTEM - Intruder Watch - and PTT Liaison Officer Eichhaldenstrasse 35, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany URL: http://www.bandwacht.de (via Wolfgang Büschel, DXLD) Sounds as if he was surprised by Vietnam; guess he doesn`t read DXLD where this upcoming usage was pointed out previously (gh) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ HOMEPLUG POWERLINE ALLIANCE NEWS Glenn, The following EE Times article of 27 October has information about the latest efforts of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance efforts to come up with a new standard to be able to transmit audio and video digitally through a home powerline network. It seems that consumers are not attracted to powerline networking because of the price so far. Wireless networking based on the IEEE 802.11b standard (WiFi, 2.4 GHz) is cheaper than current home powerline networking. Also with wireless networking devices based on the IEEE 802.11g (2.4 GHz) and 802.11a (5.6 GHz) standards starting to be sold and which offer data throughput than home powerline networking, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance is scrambling to catch up to release a new standard which can handle AV content. A link to the article is below along with a copy. (Harry S., Oct 27, DX LISTENING DIGEST) http://www.commsdesign.com/printableArticle?doc_id=OEG20031027S0072 ALLIANCE TARGETS AUDIO, VIDEO STREAMING OVER HOME NETS By Robert Keenan, EE Times, Oct 27, 2003 (9:49 AM) URL: http://www.commsdesign.com/story/OEG20031027S0072 WAYNE, N.J. --- With service providers looking to deliver triple-play services-voice, video and data-over broadband pipes, interest in streaming signals throughout the home is at an all-time high in the development community. The HomePlug Powerline Alliance is returning to the drawing board to craft a ground-up specification, HomePlug AV, that will be optimized for audio and video streaming over home power lines. "No new wires!" was the rallying cry the HomePlug alliance adopted last year for its campaign to use existing power lines to deliver 14- Mbit/second throughput for distributing broadband connections in the home. In the ensuing months, however, the group's contention that its approach would be a formidable competitor on the home front to 802.11 wireless LANs has largely fallen on deaf ears. As the alliance has struggled to convince chip companies and systems houses to ante up for development and marketing, WLAN systems have grabbed the lion's share of home-networking applications. The difference still comes down to the wire: Both wireless and HomePlug deliver the ability to distribute broadband connections, said Peter Kempf, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, but "wireless delivers the added benefit of mobility." Now HomePlug vendors are regrouping to attack the WLAN behemoth from another angle. They are already calling the upcoming spec a better home A/V streaming option than wireless LANs. A few members of the HomePlug camp have pointed to the disparity in marketing budgets as a reason for WLAN's victories on the home front. But while there's no doubt that far more marketing dollars have flowed to wireless, a more salient reason for Wi-Fi's dominance to this point may be the disparities in chip set implementations. Currently, the cost for implementing 802.11b in a router or other networking product falls in the $10 range, said Michael Greeson, principal analyst at research firm Parks Associates. Competing solutions must ask how they stack up against that cost, he said. In HomePlug's case, the answer thus far is that they haven't measured up well. According to Kempf, adding HomePlug to a design will run between $12 and $15. HomePlug chip costs are coming more in line with 802.11b pricing with the release of second generation of chip sets. But even if they can match the cost, HomePlug vendors face issues on the on the data rate front. HomePlug 1.0 systems deliver a peak throughput of 14 Mbits/s, while 802.11b WLAN systems cap out at 11 Mbit/s: advantage HomePlug. But most of the design effort in the WLAN sector has moved beyond 802.11b systems toward developing 802.11g or 802.11a architectures, which increase data rates into the 54-Mbit range: advantage wireless. And, like 802.11b silicon, the cost of these chips is quickly coming down, again prompting OEMs to lean toward WLANs for home-networking designs. "Existing HomePlug technology delivers a real throughput of about 3 to 8 Mbits/s," said Allen Huotari, technical leader at Cisco Systems' Linksys unit. "That falls short of what you can get with 802.11g and .11a systems." The problems with HomePlug have clearly been felt at the equipment level. Siemens, once a shining star in the sector, has abandoned its HomePlug efforts. Linksys has bridging devices and a wall adapter reference design for HomePlug but is still focusing on the WLAN arena. And Iogear Inc., Phonex Broadband Corp. and NetGear Inc. see interest rising for HomePlug, but nowhere near the levels seen for WLANs. But hopes are high for the follow-on, HomePlug AV spec. "We're getting to the point where people want to know what's next," Kempf said. And for HomePlug, what's next is a spec that is optimized for multimedia delivery in the home. Whereas the WLAN sector is looking to make changes at the media-access control (MAC) layer to support advanced quality-of-service (QoS) capabilities, the HomePlug camp has pursued what is "really a top-down rework" of its spec, said Arnaud Perrier, product-marketing manager at HomePlug chip vendor Intellon Corp. Audio/video system vendors, he noted, do not base the movement of signals on the Ethernet model-the model used for WLAN system development. "Video streams are isochronous in nature," Perrier said. Thus, with the new spec, the HomePlug Alliance intends to enable solutions more optimized for video transfers. "We think by starting from scratch we can do something 802.11 cannot do," said HomePlug's Kempf. Right now, the HomePlug association has five proposals on the table for the AV spec. Kempf said the organization is conducting a "bake- off" on the technologies and could adopt a solution as early as late November. "In less than two months, we could have a technology for AV," he said. Since the decision hasn't been made, HomePlug backers are being quiet on the specific technology options under consideration. But they're forthcoming about the data rate performance the technology is expected to provide. Clearly, to support high-bandwidth streams like high-definition TV, HomePlug AV systems will need to provide real throughput in the 50- Mbit/s range. What's up for debate is whether the AV spec should define a 100- or 200-Mbit/s peak throughput to achieve it. While 200 Mbits/s is possible under some of the proposals, analyst Greeson said, 100 Mbit/s is the likely stop for the spec. What designers still must question, however, is whether the move to 100 Mbits/s and optimization for multimedia streaming will be enough for HomePlug to win ports away from WLAN systems. Clearly, the WLAN camp has also been moving forward, adding extensions to the 802.11 specification to support audio and video streaming. The 802.11e spec, which defines the QoS upgrades for the 802.11 MAC, is in draft form could be ratified next year, observers of the process said. And chip set vendors are already prepping support for the QoS capabilities defined in 802.11e, thus setting the stage for a battle between 802.11 and HomePlug on a new front. "802.11 hasn't had the QoS capabilities needed to handle A/V services," Linksys' Huotari said, "but it will." As for which camp will win this next phase of the war for home broadband delivery, some observers say it doesn't have to be an either/or proposition. A merged HomePlug/wireless network, these sources say, could be the best option for handling audio and video distribution. Under this model, HomePlug AV technology would be used to establish a home backbone. End users would then connect either ultrawideband or 802.11 wireless access points around the house to stream audio, video and data the last few feet. Greeson is among those who consider this scenario viable for the home-networking environment. With the cost of wireless on the decline, he said, wireless-access points will be embedded in all kinds of devices. But to make this model effective, a strong backbone is needed to move content from room to room. and HomePlug AV might fill the bill. Huotari also sees merit in using HomePlug AV as a backbone, provided the alliance lives up to its promise that the spec will deliver 50 Mbits/s in 90 percent of the cases. And it would behoove HomePlug's backers to deliver on that promise as quickly as possible, whether the follow-on spec is used to build wireless backbones or standalone nets. Kempf said that chips based on the AV specification could hit the market by midyear 2004, with end- user systems hitting the shelves in time for next year's holiday shopping season (via Harry S, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ TOTAL HF RADIO BLACKOUT As I surmised might happen today, a radio blackout began just a few minutes ago at approximately 1745 UTC impacting the daylight side of our planet. Here in Plant City, FL, USA at 1800 UT the blackout is total and complete up to approximately 30,000 kc. The tentative culprit is a large approximate M8 solar flare. It may have also produced another CME also. 73, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL, USA, EL87WX, Oct 26, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Solar Flare Blackout was in progress around 0500 GMT on the 27th of Oct from the 21 MHz band down to the 9 MHz band. No dxing that evening here!!! (Stewart H. MacKenzie, WDX6AA, Huntington Beach, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I just read that the SFI has climbed to a stunning 298. That would technically be the peak for this solar cycle, as the official peak was two years ago at 283. I sure wish the F layer would act accordingly. Do I hear 300? (Peter Baskind, J.D., LL.M., N4LI, Germantown, TN/EM55, Oct 26, wtfda via DXLD) A full halo CME could reach the Earth by late October 27 or early October 28. A long duration X1.2 proton flare in region 10484 at 18:19 UTC on October 26 is another piece of bad propagation news. Not only will the polar cap absorption event in progress limit HF propagation over polar and near polar paths, but a CME associated with this event could reach the Earth on October 28 and severely degrade HF and LF propagation, particularly over high latitude paths. Another X class proton flare from region 10484 anytime over the next few days could limit propagation even over middle and low latitude paths. While not yet numbered by NOAA/SEC, STAR region S291 emerged very quickly on October 26 in the northeast quadrant and could soon begin producing M class flares and contribute to an even higher solar flux, perhaps to levels exceeding the previous high for solar cycle 23 (Jan Alvestad, Solar Terrestrial Activity Report http://www.dxlc.com/solar/ hard-core-dx via DXLD) A s t r o A l e r t Sun-Earth Alert Solar Terrestrial Dispatch http://www.spacew.com Images of this event are available at: http://www.spacew.com/astroalert.html 27 October 2003 EFFECTS OF RECENT STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY Two major X-class solar flares were observed on 26 October, one from each of the major sunspot groups presently visible (Regions 484 and 486). Each major flare was associated with a coronal mass ejection, but it appears that the mass from each ejection is directed primarily away from the Earth (to the east and west of the Earth, essentially bracketing the Earth between ejections of mass). Because of this, the chances of observing a space weather storm are subdued, yet still possible on 28 and 29 October. A middle latitude auroral activity watch has been extended to cover the period from 27 through to 29 October. The first disturbance from Sunday's activity is expected to impact early in the UTC day of 28 October (late evening hours of Monday night over eastern North America). Although forecasters are not expecting this to be a particularly impressive disturbance, it is valuable to understand that each disturbance is unique. No two are alike. And for this reason, even though predictions say activity might not be particularly strong, it is a possibility that cannot be discounted. Space weather forecasting is not a precise science. We do not have the ability to take measurements at critical points in space as we can take measurements of critical atmospheric quantities on the Earth. What tools we have would be somewhat analagous to a meteorologist predicting the arrival and intensity of a storm front based on the data from a single station located over a thousand miles away. It's possible to do, but accuracy and timing suffer. So don't be surprised if space weather predictions aren't always as accurate as might be desired. Mankind has a long way to go before space weather forecasting is as routine as meteorological forecasting. /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY WATCH WATCH EXTENDED: 13:30 UTC, 27 OCTOBER 2003 /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ VALID BEGINNING AT: 19:00 UTC ON 27 OCTOBER VALID UNTIL: 23:00 UTC (7 pm EDT) ON 29 OCTOBER HIGH RISK PERIOD: 28 OCTOBER (UTC DAYS) MODERATE RISK PERIOD: 27 - 29 OCTOBER PREDICTED ACTIVITY INDICES: 20, 40, 30, 25 (27 OCTOBER - 30 OCTOBER) POTENTIAL MAGNITUDE OF MIDDLE LATITUDE AURORAL ACTIVITY: MODERATE POTENTIAL DURATION OF THIS ACTIVITY: MAIN BELT = 12 TO 18 HOURS MINOR BELT = 18 TO 24 HOURS ESTIMATED OPTIMUM OBSERVING CONDITIONS: NEAR LOCAL MIDNIGHT EXPECTED LUNAR INTERFERENCE: NONE OVERALL OPPORTUNITY FOR OBSERVATIONS FROM MIDDLE LATITUDES: FAIR AURORAL ACTIVITY *MAY* BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM... OREGON TO SOUTHERN IDAHO TO WYOMING TO NORTHERN NEBRASKA TO IOWA TO NORTHERN ILLINOIS TO NORTHERN INDIANA TO OHIO TO PENNSYLVANIA TO NEW JERSEY. ACTIVITY *MAY* ALSO BE OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY NORTH OF A LINE FROM... EXTREME NORTHERN FRANCE TO BELGIUM TO CENTRAL GERMANY TO NORTHERN POLAND TO LITHUANIA TO LATVIA TO NORTH-CENTRAL RUSSIA. NEW ZEALAND AND EXTREME SOUTHERN (PARTICULARLY SOUTHEASTERN) REGIONS OF AUSTRALIA MAY ALSO OBSERVE PERIODS OF ACTIVITY. SYNOPSIS... Active to brief major auroral storm conditions could develop over the next 24 hours in response to recent strong coronal mass ejection activity. Additional stronger impacts are possible over the next several days. Observers are encouraged to keep a close eye on conditions. This watch will remain valid through 23:00 UTC (7 pm EDT) on 29 October. It will then be updated or allowed to expire. For updated information, visit: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html For real- time plots of current activity, visit: http://www.spacew.com/plots.html PLEASE REPORT OBSERVATIONS OF AURORAL ACTIVITY TO: http://www.spacew.com/submitsighting.html ** End of the AstroAlert Bulletin ** ================================================================== AstroAlert is a free service of SKY & TELESCOPE, the Essential Magazine of Astronomy (http://SkyandTelescope.com/) (via Stewart MacKenzie, swl at qth.net via DXLD) MORE SOLAR EXPLOSIONS Space Weather News for Oct. 27, 2003 http://spaceweather.com Giant sunspots 484 and 486 remain visible on the sun, posing a continued threat for X-class solar explosions. Indeed, on Sunday, Oct. 26th, there were two such blasts -- one from each sunspot. The explosions hurled coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into space and somewhat toward Earth. Because of these events, sky watchers should be alert for auroras during the nights ahead. High-latitude sites such as Alaska, Canada and US northern border states from Maine to Washington are favored, as usual, but auroras could descend to lower latitudes as well. Forecasters estimate a 25% chance of severe geomagnetic storming when the incoming CMEs sweep past Earth and deliver (probably glancing) blows to our planet's magnetic field. Visit Spaceweather.com for details and updates (via Stewart MacKenzie, swl at qth.net via DXLD) TRANS-PACIFIC MW TARGETS INLAND USA If youse guys want to do some trans-Pacific DX, I'd recommend 1575 at local dawn. That is the mega-watt VOA station in Thailand and it really should be audible at times in the central and eastern USA. Also the FEBC station in Korea, HLAZ, 1566. If the low band is active, give a dawn listen to 747//774//828//873. Those are the Big Gun Japanese NHK2 stations which put in audio here, even on bad mornings. I've heard all of those four in Oklahoma.... Give'm a try (I'd bet part of the pension on VOA Thailand!) (John H. Bryant, WA, Oct 25, Corazón DX via DXLD) ###