DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-207, November 16, 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 http://www.w4uvh.net/dxldtd3k.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 1207: WBCQ: Mon 0515 7415 WWCR: Wed 1030 9475 WSUI: Mon Nov 24 0430 910 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 1207 (high version is in two parts): Part I: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207h.rm Part II: (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207i.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207i.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1207.html WORLD OF RADIO 1207 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1207.rm WORLD OF RADIO, CONTINENT OF MEDIA [not] ON SIUE WEB RADIO Glenn, Web Radio will not be broadcasting "World of Radio" and "Continent of Media" the week of November 23-29, 2003 and during the Christmas/New Year's semester break (beginning after the semester ends December 19, and continuing until January 12). "Continent of Media" wasn't aired last Friday night (11/7) (UTC Saturday 11/8) because of technical problems. "World of Radio" aired in COM's place. The times for airing of WOR and COM on Fridays will be flip-flopped effective January 15, 2004: World of Radio will air that night at 10:00 p.m. (UTC Saturday 0400), while Continent of Media shifts to 10:30 p.m. (UTC Saturday 0430). (E.B. Stevenson, Public Service Director, Web Radio, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Nov 14) DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS is being updated every few days as needed, by John Norfolk. Check frequently: http://worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** ARGENTINA [and non]. Band Scan MW Nov 10 - 14, 2003 --- Dear Friends: Here is a bandscan of MW stations listened to at Villa Lynch, all these IDs (Argentine radios) will be posted at http://www.dxing.info (Audio Files Section) Frequency Station Location UT Remarks 530 Radio República Buenos Aires 2159 570 Radio del Centro Buenos Aires 2355 590 LS4 Radio Continental Buenos Aires 0320 24 Hs 610 Radio Gral San Martín Villa Lynch 2104 24 Hs 650 La Nueva Radio Florida 0330 660 Radio Popular Claypole 2325 670 LU9 Radio Mar del Plata Mar del Plata 0409 24 Hs 680 Melody Lanus 2250 690 Radio Maranatha Buenos Aires 0950 24 Hs 710 LRL202 Radio Diez Buenos Aires 0303 24 Hs 730 Radio Excélsior Monte Grande 0656 740 Radio Cooperativa unID 0150 750 Radio del Pueblo 0502 770 Radio Urbana Prov. Buenos Aires 0650 24 Hs 790 LR6 Radio Mitre Buenos Aires 0000 24 Hs 820 Estación 820 0630 840 Radio Gral Belgrano Buenos Aires 0404 850 La Voz de América San Miguel 0220 24 Hs 870 LRA Radio Nacional Buenos Aires 0402 24 Hs 890 Radio Soberanía 0204 930 Radio Alfa Buenos Aires 0230 950 LR3 Radio Belgrano Buenos Aires 0600 24 Hs 1010 Onda Latina 0008 1150 Radio Cadena 1150 0016 1170 Radio Mi País 0339 1220 Radio Cadena Eco Buenos Aires 0538 24 Hs 1250 Estirpe Nacional Morón 0346 24 Hs 1270 LS11 Radio Provincia La Plata 0300 1280 Nuestra Señora de Itatí 0352 1280 Radio Tupi Brazil 0503 1300 unID Brazil Brazil 0506 1300 Radio Identidad Buenos Aires 0500 1330 Radio Cadena Central Buenos Aires 0459 1350 LS6 Radio Buenos Aires Buenos Aires 0400 24 Hs 1370 AM 13-70 Isidro Casanova 0334 24 Hs 1380 Radio Visión Morón 1800 *0900-0100* 1410 Radio Folklorísimo José León Suárez 0432 24 Hs 1440 Radio Impacto Buenos Aires 0557 24 Hs 1450 Radio Presencia 0045 1470 Radio Mbrucuya José León Suárez 0109 Ex 1480 1480 La Radio del Corazón Mataderos - Cap. Fed 0223 1490 Canaan Celestial Buenos Aires 0900 24 Hs 1530 Eco Porteña Buenos Aires 0845 1540 Radio Tradición San Martín 2000 24 Hs 1550 Radio Urkupiña Buenos Aires 2003 1570 Radio Interactiva Puerto Madero 2032 24 Hs 1600 Radio Armonía Caseros 1900 24 Hs 1610 Radio Éxitos Buenos Aires 0833 24 Hs 1620 Cadena Vida Buenos Aires 0431 1630 Radio Restauración Húrlingham 1903 24 Hs 1640 Radio Bolivia Buenos Aires 2212 1680 Radio Getro Lanus Oeste 2102 1690 Apocalipsis 2 San Justo 1920 24 Hs (Nicolás Eramo, Nov 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. PIRATE: 6192.73, Radio Bosques, QSL, f/d for e-mail report to radio_bosques@yahoo.com.ar in 27 days (Nicolás Eramo, Argentina, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARMENIA [and non]. Armenian and Diaspora Television and Radio stations -- This list looks useful: http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/inside/media_radio.html (A. Sennitt, Holland, Nov 11, for CRW via DXLD) ** BELARUS. THE INFORMATION BLOCKADE IN BELARUS... By Catherine A. Fitzpatrick The closures of several dozen newspapers and NGOs with independent news services in Belarus over the last few years has compelled the opposition in Belarus, as well as their foreign supporters and the public at large, to focus more intently than ever on how to break the information blockade imposed by the authoritarian administration of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka... http://www.rferl.org/mm/2003/11/43-141103.html Long article eventually touches on how ineffective a medium SW is now for this country; also Ukraine controls on the internet, and other items (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BIAFRA [non]. 7380, CLANDESTINE, Voice of Biafra International via Meyerton, South Africa, 2132-2159* Nov 15, vocals followed by ID "You are listening to the Voice of Biafra International coming to you from Washington, DC on 7380 kHz frequency equivalent to 41 meter band. There is more to come so please stay tuned for our entire hour long broadcast." Fair (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) So they did not move up a few bands for southern summer ** BRAZIL. Todos os sábados, às 1800, a Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), leva ao ar, em 9615 e 17815 kHz, a série ``Vinicius: poesia, música e paixão``. São apresentados depoimentos de familiares, amigos, parceiros e estudiosos da vida e obra de um dos maiores poetas do Brasil. Tem regular sintonia, no Sul do Brasil, em 17815 kHz. A Rádio Cultura, de São Paulo (SP), é a única emissora brasileira que ainda transmite em 16 metros. O endereço da emissora é o seguinte: Rua Cenno Sbrighi, 378, Água Branca, CEP: 05036-900, São Paulo (SP). (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Nov 9 via DXLD) also webcast ** BRAZIL. PROGRAMA QUINZENAL DO PRESIDENTE LULA ESTRÉIA DIA 17. Brasília, 14.11.2003 - Após um breve adiamento, o programa de rádio do Presidente da República Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, intitulado 'Café com o Presidente', estreará na próxima segunda-feira, dia 17, às 7 horas, pela Rádio Nacional de Brasília, em ondas curtas, médias e em freqüência modulada. Segundo informações da Radiobrás, o programa terá periodicidade quinzenal e duração de 06' (seis minutos), com exceção ao de estréia, que terá 08' (oito minutos), e será disponibilizado em quatro horários distintos - às 6 horas, 7 horas, 8 horas e 30 minutos e às 13 horas, nos mesmos canais usados para divulgação do programa 'A Voz do Brasil', além de que também estará disponível no formato MP3 no endereço http://www.radiobras.gov.br/ O programa, conforme anteriormente informado, é de veiculação voluntária pelas demais emissoras de rádio, que poderão retransmitir o programa em qualquer horário. Sugestões e dúvidas podem ser esclarecidas pelo endereço eletrônico presidentelula@r.... [truncated by yahoogroups] (Sarmento F. Campos, Rio de Janeiro - Brasil, radioescutas via DXLD) Does he QSL? I`ve noticed both 9665 and 11780 booming in around 0600. UT would be 0400, 0500, 0630, 1100 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BRAZIL. RADIO CLUBE DE PERNAMBUCO: "LA PRIMERA EMISORA DE RADIO DEL BRASIL" Me agradaria de mostrar a todos, de la lista "Radioescutas", la verdad de los hechos, de que la primera emisora brasilera fue fundada aqui en Pernambuco, y no en Rio de Janeiro (Radio Sociedade). Vengo a mostrar aqui en la lista, un extracto del sitio web. Este sitio es muy bueno, y realmente viene a establecer lo que debería ser mostrado, o sea, la radiodifusión brasilera surgió en la Región Nordeste, una region sufrida y que sufre de muchas discriminaciones... http://www.preserveoam.hpg.ig.com.br/radclubepe.htm (Antônio Schuler, Brasil, en lista Radioescutas, via Conexión Digital via DXLD) Seems I remember this station on SW from the `60s (gh, DXLD) ** CHINA [non?]. I`m having doubts that CRI`s new 9755 in English to NAm at 1300-1500 is direct from China. Since it replaced 7405, which definitely was, that was my first assumption. However, the signal holds up nicely even when EAs signals are severely attenuated, e.g. Nov 16 at 1450 past 1500, not much from Japan on 9505, 9535, VOA Philippines 9760 weak, and BBC Singapore even weaker on 9740. The 9755 signal was more akin to RCI on 9515. Cuba would also be possible, but this never has the audio problems that site does. BTW, contrary to the CRI sked in 3-206, 9755 is not on the air for the third hour, 1500- 1600. Need to catch opening before 1300, and closing before 1500, for a tell-tale RCI IS, as often happens with their relays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) see also MALI ** COLOMBIA. Hello David [Hodgson], you are not 100% sure on ID for Emisora Ideal but I heard the station 2 days ago on the same split: 2200.08 kHz. 73s from (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Harmonic 2200.11v, Radio "Emisora Ideal" ?, 1000-1030, no ID. This per David Crawford and Bjorn Malm, Quito, Ecuador recent logs (Bob Wilkner, Nov 16, Drake R 7 ~ Icom R75, Pompano Beach, South Florida, US, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** COLOMBIA [and non]. Terror Close to Home --- "A clandestine FARC radio station is located about 30 miles away, on the Colombian- Venezuelan border." http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/usn1001 (via A. Sennitt, Holland, Nov 13, for CRW via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. LESS THAN $10,000 WILL BRING RFPI BACK TO LIFE 11/16/2003 - The Copy Exchange - Less than ten thousand dollars will put RFPI back on the air. That is what James Latham, CEO and General Manager of Radio for Peace International, said in a November 15th telephone interview. An estimated $1,500 will be required to upgrade the hydroelectric plant at the new station location in the mountains east of San Jose, and six to seven thousand dollars will be required to build the initial structures to house the studio and transmitter. The existing hydroelectric plant, capable of producing 1 kilowatt, must be modified to produce 15 kilowatts in order to supply enough power to the smaller 10 kilowatt transmitter, which will be the sole transmitter in use the first year of broadcasting. A 220 volt generator must be obtained to make that possible. The "cabins," as James refers to the proposed rudimentary studio and transmitter shack, will be constructed of downed timber from the 2 and a half acres of donated land, cement, and roofed with tin. Local carpenters will be contracted. As time goes on these initial structures will be replaced by larger, permanent ones, not unlike those abandoned on University for Peace land. The current plan calls for the San Jose office to download programming from the Internet, produce local programming, and live stream to the Internet - a microwave link established with the mountain studio, where producers will piece together the program day and announce between shows. Latham estimates that the following time periods will be required to complete the initial phase: 2 to 3 months to reestablish a full day of programming and begin Internet live streaming. 3 to 6 months to construct buildings at the new mountain location. 6 months to a year for RFPI to restart broadcasting on shortwave using the low-power transmitter. The assigned frequency will likely be in the 6 MHz range, the licensing process to proceed immediately. (Franklin Seiberling, IA, Nov 16, Copy Exchange via DXLD) Better put a pronouncer in future stories so if BBC Monitoring picks them up, DX Partyline will know how to say ``Latham`` (gh, DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. Tuning around 13 MHz band after 2200 UT Nov 16, I found a weak and warbly carrier on 13720, impossible to zero-beat, which proved to carrying the same music as TIDGS on 13750 (and 13845), so a spur, but of which? Same warble interfered with much stronger DW relay signal on 13780, ergo it`s the 13750 transmitter putting out spurs plus and minus 30. With the BFO on the fundamental, it`s also unstable, but not as bad as the spurs. Furthermore, I could barely detect another spur a further 30 kHz out at 13690, and a trace of one at 13810, the latter masked in Martí`s huge signal of 13820, if not yet another DGS frequency, 13815 from KAIJ which was barely audible at this too-close skip distance. So DGS is getting his windbag on seven 13 MHz frequencies for the price of three (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 6120.02, Radio Rebelde: Seems to be on air very irregularly; I think I have heard the station only once before. At that time with the same type of "hot" disco music from LA (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. LA ADMINISTRACION BUSH DEBE ESTAR ATENTA A LAS MANIOBRAS DE BUROCRATAS EN WASHINGTON Y SUS PLANES DE SOCAVAR MISION DADA A RADIO MARTI DE INFORMAR AL PUEBLO DE CUBA Editorial, La Nueva Cuba, Noviembre 10, 2003 La Nueva Cuba siempre ha dedicado cuidadosa atención a todo lo que pueda amenazar la existencia y misión de Radio y Tele-Martí. Somos celosos guardianes de su integridad y permanencia hasta tanto esa herramienta cumpla la misión para la que fuera creada por los amigos de la causa de Cuba libre en el Congreso de los Estados Unidos de América. Nuestros lectores recordarán los aciagos días durante el Clintonato, de la agenda de demolición que redujera a un dígito la audiencia de Radio Martí. La Nueva Cuba no dejó de denunciar a los "plomeros" de esa agenda, tanto los de origen cubano como estadounidense. Es por todo ello que desde hace meses, cuando la Voz de los Estados Unidos de América --- uno de los servicios de transmisiones radiales al exterior del gobierno de E.U. -- iniciara un "servicio de información radial hacia Cuba" nos alarmamos ante lo que es sin lugar a dudas un intento nada sutil de socavar la misión de Radio Martí. Recientemente una nota de prensa de la propia Voz de las Américas [sic] y que reprodujéramos en nuestro periódico, se ufanaba de haber aumentado su audiencia en Cuba y de que su señal era recibida en la Isla sin interferencia. [nada más: óyese 9560 a 0100-0200+, etc. --- gh] Ahora en la Voz de las Américas, a alguien le ha parecido oportuno enviar a Cuba millares de calcomanías de manera que los oyentes cubanos las desplieguen y den así testimonio público de que escuchan la programación dirigida a Cuba de la Voz de las Américas. La iniciativa es un testimonio viviente y palpable del desconocimiento de la mayoría de las personas involucradas en el programa especial de la VOA hacia Cuba sobre la naturaleza y el contexto social y político que vive el cubano de a pie. Esto último no nos extraña. Sin embargo, todo esto resulta sospechosamente inusitado. ¿Cómo es posible que se haga necesario un servicio especial hacia Cuba? ¿No existe acaso un servicio radial hacia Cuba con 18 años de experiencia? ¿No es el personal de Radio Martí un personal que ha probado conocimiento de los temas y el sentido noticioso de lo cubano y con un especial adiestramiento, gente profesional y competente? Esos mismo empleados de Radio Martí han sido víctima muchas veces de esos mismos burócratas del Clintonato, aun atrincherados en sus poltronas bien pagadas en Washington, quienes son una vez más los que se encuentran detrás de estas nuevas maniobras para debilitar vulnerar y socavar la misión de Radio Martí. Los Nuevos directores de Radio y Tele Martí tienen nuestro voto de confianza mientras den muestras de obedecer el mandato presidencial de "liderazgo fuerte y nueva dirección" de manera de cambiar el rumbo descendente de las emisoras durante la época de la agenda de demolición. Debemos todos los cubanos de buena fe ofrecerles a la nueva dirección de los Martí nuestro apoyo y solidaridad. Aun les queda mucho por hacer para reparar todo el daño perpetrado por el Clintonato con la complicidad de algunos en Wáshington y en Miami de los cuales unos pocos aún permanecen en la burocracia y en la emisora en posiciones visibles de poder. Pedimos a la Administración Bush que se cancele el servicio hacia Cuba de la Voz de las Américas y que en cambio se le otorgue todo el respaldo moral, administrativo y económico a los Martís y al director de los servicios de transmisiones a Cuba, Pedro Roig, a fin de que pueda llevar a cabo la tarea que se ha puesto sobre sus hombros. El servicio radial hacia Cuba de la VOA no tiene sentido alguno y no sólo es un gasto innecesario de fondos públicos que duplica una tarea encomendada a Radio Martí, sino además envía una señal confusa sobre las intenciones de la administración con relación a SU respaldo a la misión de los Martís. Cordiales 73's (TOMADO DE LA EDICION ELECTRONICA DE "LA NUEVA CUBA" LA NUEVA CUBA via Oscar de Céspedes, Nov 12, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Fueracubanos view VOA`s separate Cuban service as threat. BTW, when programming or politics are involved, I tend to put R. Martí under CUBA non; but for technical matters, such as spurs, under USA (gh) ** DENMARK. Re : [DXLD classification : DEUTSCHES REICH [non]] I assume this station is directed to Denmark, not to Germany. Usually the 'new' Nazis refer to the 'old' German Nazis but that does not mean they want to 'rule' in Germany, they rather want to 'rule' in their own countries (M. Schöch, Deutschland, Nov 10, 2003 for CRW via DXLD) That`s why it`s `non`, just as articles about American Nazis are under DEUTSCHES REICH [non] (gh) ** DEUTSCHES REICH [non]. NAZIS ON THE RADIO AGAIN Dear Glenn: I thought American Dissident Voices was permanently off the air until I heard it on Saturday at 2300 UT on 6890. Where can I find the address of that station? I want to protest that poor excuse for free speech. I forget which station that is but they shouldn't put that stuff on the air and then claim to be Christian. Doing that shows that their god is their bottom line. Yours, (Bruce Atchison, Alberta, http://gideon.www2.50megs.com Nov 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That would be WWRB [see USA], where I think ADV has been running constantly, at least per the schedule. I`m sure Dave Frantz would be glad to hear from you: dfrantz @ tennessee.com (gh, DXLD) ** ECUADOR. 4815.00, Radio El Buen Pastor is almost not heard due to a strange buzz/noise on the same frequency heavily disturbing out Buen Pastor (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ERITREA [non]. Behaviour of opposition radio on 16 November --- Please note that today's news bulletin of the Eritrean opposition radio, Voice of the Eritrean People, was a repeat of a bulletin it broadcast on 9 November. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 16 Nov 03 (via DXLD) ** ETHIOPIA. Radio Ethiopia in English heard Nov. 14th, 1605-1700 on 9560, and 1635-1700 on // 7165. Press review, techno music, ID: "This is the external Service of Radio Ethiopia", News at :30, introducing Ethiopia at :45. Both channels blocked from 1700 --- no chance to hear French service. Before both channels very clear, fair-good signal. Good modulation, professionally produced programs. I never heard Radio Ethiopia in this quality before (Thorsten Hallmann, Münster, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) I assume frequencies are nominal/approximate, as they are usually somewhat off .0 (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** FINLAND. SPECIAL EVENT (Meet the real Santa before December 24th!). Juha, OH9MM, reports: ``As we all know the real Santa Claus comes from Finland! Santa Claus Land (OH9SCL) will be again active during this December from the Artic circle.`` This year there will be a special activity period between 17th of December and the 21st of December. Operation will be on 80-10 meters CW/SSB/RTTY/PSK31/SSTV. The main focus of digital modes will be during the weekend. The persons willing to help Santa this year are: OH2BH, OH2NWG, OH3BHL, OH9KL, OH9MDV, OH9MM, OH9RJ and OH9VC. QSL is via OH9UV. (KB8NW/OPDX November 17/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** FRANCE. What is the French arrangement with Merlin --- is Merlin the broker for the various RFI relays via Meyerton, Kigali, Ascension etc? But not with China. The only relays via Issoudun that I can think of are CRI [and Libya, wb.] and the Iranian clandestine, but there must be a lot of spare capacity at the French stations now. Perhaps French "pride" would not allow the BBC and IBB to use them! (Noel R. Green, UK, Nov 11, BC-DX via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. 11805.15, Radio Georgia, tail end of choral music at 0657 Nov 4, silent at 0659, IS played once at 0700, German ID by woman giving frequencies and meter bands, very brief music, into German talk by woman, many numbers given. Fluttery signal, and audio for opening ID was lower than the rest of the talk; signal went off in mid- sentence at 0708. Just a whisper at 0630 Nov 5. 11805.25 on Nov 6, broken audio before 0630, then IS once and into what could just be made out to be English, frequency mentioned, mostly talk, some music, audio broken up again around 0700, by which time they had drifted down to 11805.18. I have seen this one reported often by others, but this is the first time I have heard their 25 mb broadcast. Should be more usable with better propagation. They used to be fairly regular on 5040 (Jerry Berg, MA, DXplorer Nov 9 via BC-DX via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 3340, Radio Misiones Internacionales, HRMI, 0310-0336 Nov 14, mix of Spanish talks and relaxing musical selections. At 0422 a man gave English ID, frequency announcement and San Bernardino postal address for reception reports. The announcement was repeated before a Spanish language ID and frequency announcement was given. Back to continuous vocals. Poor with fair peaks in noisy conditions (Rich D`Angelo, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** HONDURAS. 4832, R. Litoral, carrier already there at 1045 Nov 4, opened 1055 with full ID, music in background; IDed as "HRLW, R. Litoral," gave frequency as 4830, location as La Ceiba, also the departamento. Continued with religious vocals past 1100. Audio a little low, and echoey, music better (Jerome Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet Nov 16 via DXLD) ** INDIA [non?]. Today at 1430 UT on 11620 test tones and following announcements heard "This is Tango Uniform Two Eight". Sign off at 1437. Normally it is used by AIR External Service in English but it was absent today. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS/AT0J, Hyderabad 500082, India, Nov 16, dx_india via DXLD) AIR transmitter used for tactical communications, by mistake??? Accent? (gh, DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4604.964, at 2015, RRI Serui only heard on this frequency at my place and not on 4606.4 where others have sometimes log them. Is it two stations or different transmitters at different times?? Usually very bad strength (Stif Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL. I noticed some changes on the TDP schedule. Radio Vilce(??) of Oromo Liberation 1700-1730 7560 (Mon/Thu) Oromo ex- 12120 Dejen Radio 1700-1800 7560 (Sat) Tigrigna ex-12120 Voice of Ethiopian Salvation 1830-1930 7520 (Sun) Amharic ex-12120 Gone are: Voice Of Oromia 1730-1800 12120 (Mon/Thu) Oromo Radio Solidarity 1700-1800 12120 (Sun) Tigrigna Voice Of Reform-Alislah 1800-2000 15705 Arabic (Silvain Domen, 16 November, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. RADIO HONORS: ARISS TO CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF ROY NEAL, K6DUE The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station team will be honoring the memory and the legacy of the late Roy Neal, K6DUE. This, with an operating event involving the crew on the orbiting outpost and hams on the ground. Amateur Radio Newsline`s Norm Seeley is here with the details: In a joint release, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and Sergej Samburov, RV3DR of the ARISS International team say that the event is being held to commemorate Roy Neal`s vision and dedication. This, in the development of manned Amateur Radio space communications. And as a celebration of Roy`s contributions ARISS has requested that the current ISS crew take to the airwaves the weekend of November 29th and 30th to communicate with as many ground based amateur radio operators as they can. After the initial two days, the operation will continue through the month of December using both voice and packet. Ham radio from the International Space Station signals will be on the usual frequencies. These are 145.80 MHz as the worldwide voice and packet downlink. That`s where you listen. The worldwide packet radio uplink channel is 145.99 MHz. 144.49 MHz is the voice uplink for the America`s and the Pacific while 145.20 MHz is where to call if you are in Europe, Central Asia and Africa. Roy Neal, K6DUE, died last August 15th due to complications following heart valve replacement surgery. He is very much missed by everyone in the world wide ham radio community especially by us here it the Amateur Radio Newsline where he was a friend and colleague. The full text of the ARISS International release about this special operation commemorating Roy Neal`s contributions to manned ham radio in space is now at our website. That URL is http://www.arnewsline.org Scroll down to the new ``This Just In`` area and you will find it there. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Norm Seeley, KI7UP. According to Bauer and Samburov hams making contact with the Roy Neal Commemorative Operation will be eligible for a special certificate. (ARISS VIA Amateur Radio Newsline Nov 14 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: SOUND OF A BLACK HOLE From the science page this question. Did you know that the voice of a black hole is a deep, deep bass? In fact, its 57 octaves below middle C. It is and Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has more: The Chandra X-ray Observatory has picked up sound waves for the first time from a cluster of galaxies 250 million light years away. Astronomers at the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge, England, discovered the sound waves while analyzing the Chandra images of the Perseus cluster. This is an immense grouping of galaxies held in formation by the powerful tug of a super massive black hole. Andy Fabian is a professor at the Institute of Astronomy. He says that a close study of the fine detail collected by Chandra shows ripples in the X-ray pattern that are caused by sound waves excited by the energy from the black hole. Fabiam says that the sound produced by the black hole is a B flat, the same pitch as a key near middle C on the piano. But the song of the Presses Black Hole is 57 octaves below that middle C. This is a tone or frequency more than a million, billion times deeper than the limits of the human ear. Fabian says that makes it the lowest note known in the universe. For the Amateur Radio Newsline I`m Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in New Zealand. Scientists expect more insight on this as the experiments progress. (Science Today via Amateur Radio Newsline Nov 14 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** IRAN. While in Andalusia in southern Spain off the Moroccan coast, observed IRIB on 15084 kHz again, afternoon Nov 5th (Wolfgang Bueschel, Andalusia Spain, BC-DX Nov 1-10 via DXLD) ** ITALY. 5775.1, AMIS (European Social Forum) program via IRRS, coming on with good level signal at 2130 Nov 13, French to 2200, then three English features on water conservation, AIDS in Uganda, and an Arab-Israeli hip-hop group. No AMIS or ESF IDs noted, but IRRS ID at 2230 promising numbered QSL, then music to 2233*. There was a weaker station in English on 5775.0 when this one came on, probably the IRRS 20 kW transmitter (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) As previously in DXLD, this special series ended Nov 16 (gh) ** JORDAN. 15290, Although missing for some time on other frequencies normally beamed to Eu/NAm, Amman is now heard regularly in Arabic with fair signals. On Nov. 14 noted at 1223, with no time bips or pause at TOH, although once had sudden s/off just before 1200; also heard on good old \\ 11810, one of R. Jordan's original outlets (with 7175) since its beginnings in the early 60's (Victor C. Jaar, QUEBEC, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN [non]. 11530, 1453-1635 tune-out, Denge Mezopotamya, tuned in to an empty 11530 kHz 1450 only big carrier. At 1453 a conversation between two men in Kurdish signal breaks once in a while --- a bit later some music and conversation --- sounded private, not for programming. From 1500 normal programming IDing as 'Denge Mezopotamya' with e-mail address announced as http://www.denge-mezopotamya.com --- From 1630 IDing as 'Denge Radyo Mezomotamya'. Had Radyo Mezopotamia on this channel 8/11 from sign on 1620 to s/off 1700 on this same channel. http://www.denge-mezopotamya.com/haber/ says 'Dengê Mezopotamya her roj li gorî saeta Amedê ji 07an hetanî 19an li ser frakansa 11530 sw 25 m. Wesan dike.' (F. Krone, Denmark, Nov 10, DXplorer-ML via CRW via DXLD) ** MALI. CRI Bamako Mali relay at 2230 UT very strong on 11975, scheduled 2130-2400 UT, 100 kW at 20 degrees to NEf/NE/ME. And on 15500 [registered on 15505, and 1930-2230 on new 13630, see below] 2230-2300 only, 100 kW at 85 degrees (Wolfgang Bueschel, Andalusia Spain, BC-DX Nov 4-7) Viz; it would be nice to know the languages: 7170 0830 0900 46 BKO 100 0 MLI CRI RTC 7170 2300 2400 46 BKO 100 0 11640 1730 1830 46 BKO 100 85 11640 1830 1930 47E,48NW BKO 100 85 11640 1930 2000 52S,53W BKO 100 111 11640 2000 2130 48,53 BKO 100 111 11975 2130 2230 37 BKO 100 20 11975 2230 2400 37,38W BKO 100 20 13630 1930 2000 52,53 BKO 100 111 13630 2000 2130 48,53 BKO 100 111 13630 2130 2230 46,47,52 BKO 100 111 13670 1730 1830 46 BKO 100 111 13685 1300 1400 46 BKO 100 111 13685 1400 1600 48,53 BKO 100 111 13685 1830 1930 37,38 BKO 100 20 15125 1400 1600 47,48 BKO 100 85 15125 1600 1700 47E,48NW BKO 100 85 15125 1700 1730 48SW,53NW BKO 100 111 15505 2230 2300 46-48 BKO 100 85 17880 1300 1400 46,47,52 BKO 100 111 17880 1600 1700 37,38 BKO 100 20 (HFCC B-03 via BC-DX Nov 16 via DXLD) ** MEXICO. 870 kHz, XETAR, Guachochi, Chih., 15 Nov. 0040-0104* Spanish / Indian language, excellent signal obliterating WWL with banda music, two selections by Jorge Luna, call letter ID by YL at 0045 UT, state PSA, OM DJ spoke both SS and Indian, MST TCs, mentioned program called "Banda Radar", sign-off announcements, schedule announced as 11 AM to 6 PM daily (which explains why I can't hear them in the mornings), choral NA at 0101 UT, off by 0104. Heard on Toyota car radio while driving home from work. (XE # 115, station # 739 on MW for this QTH.) (Chris Knight, Fort Lupton, CO, hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** MEXICO. Medios Publicitarios Mexico --- Fred Cantú's website notes that this company's quarterly publication, similar to Standard Rates and Data Service, is now available by subscription in U.S. through Amazon.com. URL: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00007KY60/fredcantucom-20/103-0360375-3168621 It's pricy at $137.52 but I've signed up. One problem, distribution of first issue under subscription not expected until January or February (John Callarman, KA9SPA, Family Genealogist, Krum TX, corazón dx via DXLD) You can subscribe directly to MPM with a U$S dollar check for $120. that is how I have been getting it for years (David F. Gleason, Vice President - Servicio de Información Programativa, Univisión Radio, Glendale, CA, ibid.) ** MEXICO. 6045, R. Universidad [SLP] 11-15 2215-2300 fadeout non-stop classical music, 2300 IDs (Sheryl Paszkiewicz, [f.] WI, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Unusual time of day for that; QRM window? (gh) ** MOUNT ATHOS. Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A, was heard this past Saturday on 20 meters SSB. He was first active on 14227 kHz around 0613z and then later on 14200 kHz around 2320z. (KB8NW/OPDX November 17/BARF-80 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** MYANMAR. [Burma], 5040.6, Radio Myanmar, 1120-1140 YL with melodic flutes music, local language. Excellent audio and signal with old Drake R 7 (Bob Wilkner, Nov 16, Pompano Beach, South Florida, US, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 5040.60, Radio Myanmar (Presumed), (Bamar?), 1131- 1140 Nov 16. Noted a woman in news type comments until 1136 when music and comments. Couldn't ID the language used. Signal was fair to poor (Bolland, Chuck, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NAMIBIA. 6060, NBC, 2250-0040 Nov 11. Light jazz instrumentals to 2300, then non-stop English R&B vocals thru 0040. No announcements heard. Weak signal on 6060 mostly in the clear after 0001. Was // 6174.95 with a poor signal with splatter from 6180 (Fred Kohlbrenner, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. RNW 5955 is a dreadful splattering signal in UK with a loud spur on 5845 and another not so loud on 6065. DMR 5960 [MOLDOVA] is not heard so clearly as a result of this (Noel R. Green, UK, Nov 11, BC-DX via DXLD) ** NEW ZEALAND/PORTUGAL. "Antipodal signal collision" again this season --- both RNZI and RDPI are using 11675 kHz simultaneously, viz. the former 0706-1105 beamed to the Pacific (but audible in NAm too), the latter 0600-0800 to WNAm. I could hear RNZI IS underneath the RDPI (and then both airing their TS); since playing the IS usually means a s/on or s/off, I wonder if Rangitaiki changed its schedule and is now signing on at 0800 instead of the announced 0706. Both stations use the same transmitter power, and the half distance between Portugal and northern NZ is approximately the coast of California (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Nov 7, BC-DX Nov 13 via DXLD) Exactly what RNZI did as previously reported here, and now we apparently know why; only inconvenience is the frequency change in the middle of a two-hour program, Sounds Historical on Sundays (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. AUDIBILITY GAP --- by Olivia Kember Someone has decreed that the new season's accessory is a radio station. It seems as though almost everyone has started one. All you need is a chunk of spectrum, a CD collection and vast, idiotic amounts of optimism. Like meerkats, tiny boutique radio stations are popping up all over Auckland, but they're coy little things, difficult to pin down. They each have a broadcasting range of about 100m, which on one hand is convenient, because a lot of them share frequencies. On the other hand, of the three microstations – Fleet FM, Radio K and Static – none can be found within a 20-minute walk from my house, no matter how carefully I twiddle the dial, until I get in my car and drive up the hill. The car is, I expect, where most people will find these stations. They tend to be cunningly clustered around the 88FM mark, allowing access for all those driving Japanese imports with radios that don't go above 90. [gee, we have Japanese imports all over the US, but they aren`t confined to the JP FM band; why in NZ? Hmmm, maybe because they both drive on the wrong side of the road --- gh] Static is based at the Auckland University of Technology and manned by that institution's radio students. They have got enough pulling power to get an endorsement from the lead singer of APRA Silver Scroll- winners Goldenhorse: "Hi, I'm Kirsten Morelle, and you're listening to Static." Well, yes, you are. Since the broadcasting range of the station ends 20 paces in any direction from the university campus, anyone searching for Static will most likely find just that. Did they not think it through? Static is accessible online, and it turns out that they play clever Kiwi music. The second time I tune in, there is Morelle again, singing a song based on a book about the hormones in American beef products. The students also do the ads, and fortunately they haven't yet learnt the hyperactive holler of commercial stations. Maybe it's just another unfortunate name, but Fleet's existence is … fleeting. A few days after posters announce its benefit concert, it disappears from the airwaves. Apparently, Fleet had been warring for spectrum territory with an Indian station out west, and lost when the transmitter went bung. According to its schedule, Fleet offers musical genres unlikely to be found elsewhere: "General Nicities", "Dada Bing" and "Lepor Colony" (spelling DJs' own). I also find Sunday Church with Ollie appealing. Ollie offers death metal, black metal, thrash metal, glam metal, doom metal and heavy metal. Good, strong, spiritually purging music. Hallelujah! Fortunately, the transmission is fixed in time for Ollie's show. But after a few minutes I feel appropriately doomed, and switch off. The nice thing about these little stations is their lack of advertising. Static has a few ads, Fleet none at all and Karangahape Rd's K FM is delicately edging towards the occasional sponsored show. I don't know who would be brave enough to take on Tame Iti in the mornings. He does a breakfast show under the name of Dr Tutu. I heard him announce, modestly, over some café-style tootling: "I'm an expert, commentator, shit-stirrer – anything you need to know, I know all about it. That's why I'm a doctor." K FM goes down well at Auckland Hospital, Dr Tutu notwithstanding. The car radio fails me when it comes to the Mulcher FM. There is one in Blockhouse Bay; there are others, locally produced in Opotiki and Kaikohe. The Mulcher is worthily trying to provide an outlet for youth and provincial radio, and rates itself as "New Zealand's best damn independent youth radio network". Celebrity interviews! Phone pranks! It is "YEAHverent – irreverent in a tasteful way"! Must be an inhouse survey. But respect has to be paid to these minnows of the airwaves, who create the sound for a suburb and keep pumping it out into the dark, not knowing who listens or cares and without any chance of fame or money, just because they love it (NZ Listener via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) R. Hauraki: see USA -- BROADCAST BAND UPDATE by Greg Hardison ** NIGERIA. V. of Nigeria is still on 9690 mornings (haven't discovered their s/on / s/off times in B03, but maybe nothing changed), almost blocked by RAI in Greek 1200 for instance, but for me the "blocking level" to a certain extent depends on the antenna used. The same station jingle is used almost every hour on the hour; today 7 Nov, they vanished at 1300, probably did s/off until later in the afternoon, but I've tried unsuccessfully tried them 9690 afternoons, so maybe they're on mornings only (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Nov 6, BC-DX Nov 13 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. 1640 KMMZ OK Enid 11/15 0134 EST. Fair to good signals fading in and out with adult standards music. Now on testing. NEW! 73 and Best of DX (Shawn Axelrod, Manitoba, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Did you get an ID? Ha! Of course not, since there aren`t any, yet. On its third day, Nov 16, 1640 was just open carrier from check at 2200 past sunset, still OC at 0515. Skywave was already in at 2200, and the 1630 and 1650 stations were not bothered in the least by this `local` OC. Modulating does not make too much difference, either. The OC also does a nice job of blocking the computer noise so I can hear R. Disney and WVNI on 1640 (Glenn Hauser, Enid, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 1640, KMMZ, Enid, presumed the oldies rock music through the jumble with "These Eyes" by The Guess Who at 0256 EST 11/16, followed by male announcer saying "Unforgettable Favorites". No call ID heard, but this is the only thing that fits. Thanks Glenn for the tip. Drake R8, 1500' Eastern beverage (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, IRCA via DXLD) 1640 kHz, KMMZ (presumed), Enid, 15 Nov. various times, oldies music, mixing with KBJA (Spanish), but never IDs!!! Latest update in NRC/IRCA shows them with new calls KMMZ (ex-KMKZ). (Chris Knight, Fort Lupton, CO, hard-core-dx via DXLD) Someone out west was reporting Coast to Coast on 1640, otherwise unID, earlier in the week to this list. WTNI Biloxi does carry Coast to Coast. Noted 11/15 at 0200 EST, with an oldies format heard underneath. The latter possibly the new KMMZ, but no ID caught on the oldies station (Gerry Bishop, Niceville, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That was I, Gerry (about Coast to Coast), thanks. That is them indeed, Gerry. I've listened to them [KMMZ Enid] for about 5 hours total in the past 3 days and haven't heard an ID yet (Patrick Griffith, Milehighsville, CO, NRC-AM via DXLD) Meanwhile, another format change at Chisholm Trail`s 96.9 outlet LMA`d for OKC: Website: http://www.969bobfm.com On November 3, 2003, Citadel's country endeavor ended. The station began playing comedy sketches at 9 a.m. later playing a Celine Dion marathon. Around 10:45 a.m., 96-9 Bob was born. ``Knows Classic Hits`` (http://www.okcityradio.com/ via DXLD) ** PERU. Re Radio Melodía, Provincia de Santiago de Chuco, Departamento de La Libertad, 1100/2330 UT: "The station can still be heard, sometimes very well. Look out for another station a few Hz higher up, an unID Colombian. Melodía has been drifting in frequency between 2680.10 - 2680.14 kHz Some notes in the margin: 4790.00, Radio Atlántida now with weakly modulated signal. 4965.00, Radio Santa Mónica now also has pretty distorted audio. (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5486.68, Radio La Reina de la Selva 1032-35, one of the strongest signals from Peru, ID by OM (Bob Wilkner, Nov 16, Drake R 7 ~ Icom R75, Pompano Beach, South Florida, US, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** POLAND. POLISH BROADCASTING AUTHORITY'S RADIO MARYJA ACTIONS LEGAL, CHAIRWOMAN SAYS | The Polish broadcasting authority is acting legally in relation to Radio Maryja, its chairwoman has said. As a result of monitoring of the station earlier this year, the Radio and Television Broadcasting Council [KRRiT] found anti-Semitism in the statements of listeners, falsified reports on an alleged blessing from the Pope, a lack of care for proper language. The following is the text of a report by Polish news agency PAP: Warsaw, 13 November: All actions undertaken by the National Radio and Television Broadcasting Authority [KRRiT] in relation to Radio Maryja transpire from its prerogatives and the necessity of the fulfilment by the KRRiT of the provisions of the constitution and the law on radio and television broadcasting, the head of the KRRiT, Danuta Waniek, has written in a statement that was sent to PAP on Thursday [13 November]. The statement is in association with articles on the subject of the monitoring of Radio Maryja that has been conducted by the KRRiT. Among others, in a Thursday commentary in the Gazeta Wyborcza weekly titled "Father Rydzyk's weapon", [journalist] Mikolaj Lizut wrote that the KRRiT should stand in guard of freedom of _expression and not audit content published in the media. According to Waniek, the actions of the KRRiT "are not expressions of repression or threats, because such behaviour would be an illegal act". Waniek recalled that the decision to conduct monitoring of Radio Maryja was taken at the KRRiT meeting on 3 December of last year. The head of the KRRiT was then Juliusz Braun and the monitoring had been sought by Waldemar Dubaniowski. Waniek admitted that she had then supported this initiative. "The results of the monitoring of Radio Maryja, as also of the other 44 concession-holding radio stations, were passed to the interested parties. In accordance with the provisions of the law on radio and television broadcasting, in cases where irregularities are confirmed the KRRiT sends out letters with reprimands," Waniek wrote. According to her, the letters sent to the father-provincial of the Warsaw Province of the Redemptorist Order [the owner of Radio Maryja], Father Zdzislaw Klafka, contained a detailed description of the KRRiT's accusations. "I also requested information on the subject of the measures undertaken for the purposes of eliminating the irregularities and also declared there would be further monitoring," the head of the KRRiT added. She announced that the KRRiT will monitor stations that do not fulfil the conditions of their concessions [broadcasting licences]. "The law on radio and television broadcasting also precisely specifies those steps that the KRRiT is obliged to undertake in relation to broadcasters who do not adhere to the law," Waniek wrote. The monitoring of Radio Maryja broadcasts conducted by the KRRiT related to the period from 27 February to 12 March 2003. After familiarizing itself with the results of the examination, the KRRiT accused Radio Maryja of [there being] anti-Semitism in the statements of listeners, falsified reports on an alleged blessing from the Pope, a lack of care for proper language. According to the KRRiT, the phone-in statements of Radio Maryja listeners contained anti-Semitic threads to which the broadcaster did not react and did not adopt a clear stance, "thereby confirming the erroneous convictions and improper attitude towards the problem of anti-Semitism". It transpires from the monitoring that on 27 February the radio many times repeated news in a way that was "consciously falsified". This concerns the alleged blessing given to Radio Maryja and TV Trwam by Pope John Paul II during a general audience. "This report was negatively verified by the Catholic Information Agency [KAI]. It was also denied at a press conference after a meeting of the Polish Episcopal Conference by Bishop Leszek Slawoj Glodz, the chairman of the episcopate's media council, who had been present at this audience," we read in the KRRiT document summing up the monitoring. During the monitoring period, Radio Maryja among other things carried in its news bulletins reports about farmers' protests. "The frequent, wide-ranging and approving and in certain cases co-organizing function of the news about farmer's road-blocks given in the "Wiadomosci" [News] and expanded in the "Aktualnosci Dnia" [Actualities of the Day] and "Rozmowy Niedokonczone" [Unfinished Conversations] programmes may be acknowledged (as regards the road-blocks that took place without the consent of the authorities) as the propagation of actions that were contrary to the law and the social good, sympathizing with threats to health or safety and thereby infringing article 18, points 1 and 3 of the law on radio and television broadcasting.," the KRRiT wrote. On 6 October, a former chairman of the KRRiT, Ryszard Bender, sent to the prosecutor's office a notification of the commitment of a crime by Danuta Waniek. This referred to an alleged infringement of the good name of Radio Maryja. Source: PAP news agency, Warsaw, in Polish 2050 gmt 13 Nov 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** QATAR. QATAR/UK: LONDON AL-JAZIRAH CHIEF ANNOUNCES ENGLISH-LANGUAGE CHANNEL IN 'ONE YEAR' | Text of report by Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung on 14 November The Arab news channel Al-Jazeera wants to air an English-language programme in one year. This was announced by the chief of the London Al-Jazeera office, Mostefa Souag, in an interview for Wiener Zeitung. As usually, these news will also be produced at the headquarters in Doha. Al-Jaziarah's goal is to increase its range considerably. In any case, there is strong interest in an English-language channel focussing on the Arab region, Souag stated. "We are trying to expand our activities, but this takes time." Souag is satisfied with the success story of the television station, which started in November 1996. Most of the Al-Jazeera staff have learned the job of producing news at the BBC. This also applies to Souag, who comes from Algeria and who was professor for literary theory at the university of Algiers between 1985 and 1993. In October 1994 he moved to London, became a BBC reporter and married an American. In 2002 he joined Al-Jazeera in Doha in Qatar. Souag said he was convinced that Al-Jazeera won millions of viewers with its critical and professional reporting in the past seven years. He believes that there are at least at 35 million, but the number of fans has even been estimated at 70 million, Souag added. "We are not only received in the Arab world." Since the Iraq war, it has been clear that the channel should also have an English-language programme. Numerous people who do not speak Arabic only followed the pictures out of interest. "Al-Jazeera is a big institution that enjoys respect worldwide." And countries like India and Pakistan represent a big market. In Europe, too, there is strong interest in English-language news, particularly on the Arab region. "Our English channel should be a window to the Arab world." It is also necessary to create a counterweight to the Western television stations. At present, the focus is on reports on Palestine and Iraq. "It is not us who are looking for news but the news is looking for us," is Souag's motto. The challenge is big. "We will carefully prepare the English channel, it must be a highly professional supplement. We must win new viewers and offer them something they do not yet have, in the best quality". To ensure that, the existing network of correspondents will be expanded, guaranteeing that Al-Jazeera will become even more successful. Cooperation with the BBC already exists at this point. It is obvious to Souag that the United States might be concerned about such a project. "Every government only wants news that are to its liking". Yet he expects more tolerance. "In fact, the United States propagates the right to freedom of speech, but in practice, it curbs this right". He pointed out that, nearly every week, an Al-Jazeera team is locked up or impeded massively in Iraq. It is clear that the critical reporting about the United States does not please the occupants. "But, basically, we are not against the US Administration, we are neutral. We simply show what is happening and cite people on the spot but also experts. We do not give any judgement. Our viewers should do that. Why are people afraid of the truth?" The US Administration is also given enough room. Thus, speeches by Bush, Powell, and Wolfowitz are aired in their entirety, without superimposed comment, Souag pointed out. The media expert does not understand why Al-Jazeera has the reputation of preferring the Arab position. "Very often people express a certain view without having watched our programme, like Tony Blair recently, who suggested certain things that we are following anyway". Souag is pleased that, after the US attacks, access to the extremely popular English-language Internet site has been possible again for one month. "Its reconstruction was extremely difficult," he stated. Source: Wiener Zeitung, Vienna, in German 14 Nov 03 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** ST. HELENA. 1999 QSL --- DSWCI-member Robert Kipp in Germany is in contact with the new station manager at Radio St. Helena, Mr. Ralph Peters. This station did issue about 250 QSL's on their special broadcast in 1999. However, the QSL's to the following DX-ers were returned due to insufficient mailing details or the DXer has moved address: B Cooley, Canada [deceased ---- gh] V.M. Deveault, Canada Rainer G. Berns, Germany [WWDXC member, living in German Embassy in Singapore now] Thomas Gollmer, Germany Hans Fred, Sweden Paul Biggin, UK Dick Goose, UK George Baitzel, DE, USA Richard Bonney, MO, USA and Cliff Cardwell, TX, USA. If you happen to know the current e-mail address or postal address of any of these DX-ers, please forward them to me at anker.petersen@g... [truncated by yahoogroups]. I will then forward them to Robert Kipp, so that they can get their QSL. Best 73, (Anker Petersen, Nov 9, BC-DX via DXLD) Another version: QSL from R St. Helena 1999 ? Through our member in Germany, Robert Kipp, the Danish Shortwave Club International (DSWCI) has contact with the new station manager of R St. Helena, Mr. Ralph Peters, to try to get the QSL situation settled for those DX-ers who did report their special broadcast on SW in 1999. About 250 QSLs were sent out to DXers around the world. R St. Helena has, however, NO knowledge as to whether the DXers have received the QSLs. They have asked the DSWCI to try to help find out whether the QSLs have arrived or not. Thus, if you did send R St. Helena a reception report in 1999 and have received their QSL, please do nothing. But if you did so and did not receive their QSL, please inform before 31st Dec. 2003 Robert Kipp at RDC-Roberts-Data@t-online.de or by letter to Robert Kipp, Hügelstrasse 25, D-63225 Langen, Germany (via Conexión Digital via BCLNews.it via DXLD) ** SIKKIM. Re QSL, 3-206: AIR Gangtok in Sikkim has verified many of my reports directly. You can see their latest QSL letter that was received in Sept. 2003 at: http://www.geocities.com/bcdxnet/qsl/air-gangtok.jpg Maybe they are not replying directly to reports got from overseas listeners and forward it to their HQ in Delhi which takes their own time to send out QSLs (Jose Jacob, Nov 16, dx_india via DXLD) ** SLOVAKIA. Comment: it is common practice and much cheaper to use the third Leningrad-type transmitter unit at Rimavska for SPARE PART needs in coming decade. Slovak Telecommunications government will never raise up the funds even for a single new SW transmitter or Alliss unit. Why should they erect an Alliss system; there are very powerful curtain arrays available at the site. The majority of Slovak Telecom is share-held by DTK Deutsche Telekom in the meantime, so even the Slovak Radio can rent airtime on the various DTK sites in Germany, like Juelich, Nauen, and Wertachtal, instead of investing in its own equipment (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, BC-DX Nov 13 via DXLD) ** SOMALIA. 7334.978, often at 1630, Radio Galkaio in heard every day but not too strong. Mixed program (Stif Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. 21610, REE, "Aquí España," new Sunday program for Spanish soldiers in Iraq, heard at 1405 Nov 16 opening after news with program name and that it was "para los soldados españoles en Irak." Had a message at the outset, also a telephone number, and a few other messages during the program, but seemed mainly to be interviews and conversation, plus a couple of pop vocals and some comedy before a big audience. Program ID again by woman at 1440, pips at 1500, Spanish- language program continued. Fair, fady signal. See http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/2003_11_09_medianetwork_archive.html (Jerry Berg, MA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** TINIAN. After a couple of weeks of trying, I finally heard: NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS (TINIAN), 9885 kHz, Radio Free Asia, in Chinese at 2125 UT, weak OM / YL talk primarily. SINPO 21122, dominating slightly Chinese orchestral jammer, very noisy. Heard much better in USB. Found on // 11950, even worse reception, and on 15510 originally weak, but peaking at 33223, by far the best of the 3 frequencies heard. Talk continued, then station theme music at 2157, and English ID "You have been listening to Radio Free Asia, more music theme. No evidence of jamming on 11950 or 15510. All three sites are Tinian, Northern Marianas, per Passport 2004 [sic]. There are numerous outlets such as this in 31, 25 and 19 meters mostly, that could be heard in right conditions from about 2130 to 0030, and from perhaps 1200-1400. But conditions have been such that it is a tough one to hear at all clearly (Roger Chambers, Utica, New York, Nov 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Finally posted on the VOA website, following the Oct 26 curtailments: VOA NEWS NOW PROGRAM SCHEDULE --- VOA News Now is your source for news 19 hours a day, including LIVE coverage of major events. We broadcast a full news summary at one minute past every hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most hours we also broadcast news headlines at half past every hour and have expanded news and in-depth coverage and analysis of the events and issues of the day. MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS look like this: Sportscasts are at 23 minutes past most hours. Business and economic news can be found throughout our programs, but particularly after the news headlines at half past 01, 03, 05, 13, 15, 18 and 23 UTC. A world business report will broadcast at 06 UTC and a close of business report at 22 UTC. Our Dateline documentary will broadcast at 45 minutes past at 01, 03, 05, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 23 UTC Focus, examines one of the day's top stories in perspective, at 15 minutes past 01, 04, 12, 14, 16, 20, and 23 UTC. Coast To Coast with Dave Arlington, is on Mondays through Fridays after the headlines at half past 00, 04, 06, 12, 16, and 22 UTC. (Plus 00 Saturdays for Latin America.) This will be home for all kinds of American topics, including our popular science coverage. For more information you can check out there website at http://www.voanews.com/coast Main Street with Barbara Klein, is on Saturdays and Sunday after the headlines at half past 00, 04, 06, 12, 16 and 22 UTC. It's a lively half-hour of ideas, information, people and places across America. For more information you can check out there [sic] website http://www.voanews.com/mainstreet Listen for our new Opinion Roundup at 55 minutes past 01, 03, 05, 13, 15, 18, 20 and 23 UTC. Add YOUR opinion to the mix by sending it to opinion@voanews.com. Talk to America will continue LIVE, Mondays through Fridays, at 17 UTC, on radio and the Internet, and we welcome your participation. More information is at http://www.voanews.com/talk. And we'll have music for you from the VOA Music Mix Network at 02 and 21 UTC. At 19 UTC it's Border Crossings. The other hours Music programs rotate as follows: Mondays - American Gold with Ray Freeman Tuesdays - Roots & Branches with Katherine Cole Wednesdays - Classic Rock with Ed Kowalski Thursdays - Top 20 with Ray McDonald Fridays - Country Hits with Mary Morningstar. Here's the hour-by-hour VOA News Now schedule for Mondays through Fridays: [grid follows; also more info on this page] http://www.voanews.com/newsnow/article.cfm?objectid=66CE6F42-55BA-42D6-95D45EFB805E4EDE (via Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** U S A. It`s never a good idea to operate two transmitters at the same site on nearby frequencies and on nearby antennas, at the same time. But that`s exactly what IBB is doing at Delano now for 6 hours a day on 16m, 1600-2200: R. Martí on 17670, and V. of Greece relay on 17705. Both these signals are extremely strong here, close to the azimuths and at ideal first-hop distance of about 2000 km. Either one would overload the receiver, but with both it`s an impossible situation, trashing much of the 16m band all day long. Main problem: two mixing spurs at 35 kHz above and below, on 17635 and 17740. Unfortunately, my longwire antenna E-W is aimed close to Delano, and even with maximum attenuation the FRG-7 cannot get rid of the spurs. I cannot be sure if they are generated in the receiver due to extreme overload, or actually transmitted (or both!). However, I can also hear the spurs on portable receivers with much less antenna at 2145 UT Nov 16. Does anyone not quite so close to the boresight of these also hear the mixes on 17635 and 17740? (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWRB testing in full digital --- no matter what, this makes WWRB the FIRST private shortwave station in the USA to use this mode of transmission. We are using an AOR 9800 Encoder to produce the digital signal. This off the shelf today technology is very inexpensive, easily obtained requiring NO modifications to shortwave radios in the field. It is plug and play; Requires 12 volts DC + headphone audio; check it out at http://www.aorusa.com This could be a very exciting mode of operation for Hams and SWLs and Content listeners. We have looked into the DRM exciter; we have been told it is about 100 grand to purchase; we get the very sickening feeling licensing fees could be a percentage of the gross revenues of the station! Everything is still up in the air; we are looking at alternatives. We doubt many private shortwave stations are going to shell out that amount of cash let alone let some one have a percentage of the gross revenues! In any event, nothing ventured is nothing gained if this works then great!! If not, then analog will still be around. So we blow $ 550 bucks to find out. By the way, we understand the vo-coder decoder chip is about $20. In quantities someone could take this chip make a receive only decoder plug and play and make a few shekels for himself, making the decoder. Perhaps companies like TEN TEC, MFJ etc. Our transmitters can produce 600 kW peak pulse power at 80 percent duty cycle, so we can produce a very potent digital pulse signal. Well, that's all for now, see ya! (Dave Frantz, WWRB, Nov 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also DEUTSCHES REICH [non] ** U S A. THE TALK SHOW HOST WITH THE MOST --- Glenn, I happened upon this talk show host on LA's KFI web site, complete with His e-mail address. http://www.kfi640.com/hosts/jesuschrist.html (Pete Costello, NJ, Nov 16, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``Done, but with errors on page`` -- Could be an imposter (gh) ** U S A. LIMBAUGH TO RETURN TO AIRWAVES MONDAY AFTER ADDICTION TREATMENT http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/nation/7278563.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp (Chicago Tribune via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. BROADCAST BAND UPDATE NOV 14 BY GREG HARDISON, CA HIS RUSHNESS RETURNS: Or at least, that`s the plan for Monday. Rush Limbaugh is slated to re-grace the Nation`s airwaves, following five weeks of Rehab, targeting his addiction to Painkillers --- otherwise known as ``The Red Scare`` of the 21st Century. Première Radio has generally been successful at keeping Rush-affiliates happy, by supplying substitute Conservatives such as Roger Hedgecock from San Diego`s KOGO/600, and Matt Drudge, among others, in the daypart. In California, Right-wing talker Eric Hogue of KTKZ/1380 is taking credit for the momentum behind our recent Gubernatorial recall. According to the KXTV/Channel 10 website: ``It was last February when Eric Hogue of KTKZ launched the recall drive on his show. `If it wasn`t for talk radio, there would be no recall,` said Hogue. `The newspaper, the TV, the mass media ignored this story, laughed at it until it was too late.` As he does each weekday morning, Hogue proudly espouses his right wing views on the conservative radio station. `It`s the hottest format in America,` he said. `It`s talk radio.` For many listeners, conservative talk radio is the only place they get their news and information. `It was gratifying to hear, not only Rush [Limbaugh], but all the people calling into the radio show, to know that I wasn`t alone,` said Sally Gereg of Fair Oaks.`` The very same piece notes that Democrats have earmarked $1.8 Million to get their own version of Rush on the national airwaves. They may have had a good candidate a year or so ago, in the form of ``Bowling for Columbine`` Producer Michael Moore, who yanked a number of appropriate chains back in `89 with ``Roger & Me``, you may recall. Alas, Michael Moore has sold out to the Disney Corporation, in the form of a film-production deal package. I predict, we`ve seen the last of Double-M; I do feel Disney has purchased the bearded Michigander, in order to keep him quiet. Time will tell the Truth, whatever that may be. [Greg, what`s your source for this about Michael Moore? All we can find is a 6-month-old Drudge Report item about such a Disney deal, and thus highly suspect --- gh] I have been remiss at not including the Best On-air Quote, from last month, regarding the California recall. That quote comes from KCBS- FM/93.1`s morning news-goddess Molly Paige: ``It might have been better for Arnold if he had groped Hitler and admired women.`` -- Meanwhile, a Right-fed teapot tempest may be brewing against Ian Anderson, the brains `n` heart of veteran UK Rock group Jethro Tull. No one could possibly tell the tale better than the always-superb All Access website, as such: ``NASSAU Classic Hits WTHK (94.5 THE HAWK)/ TRENTON, NJ and sister Classic Rock WCHR (105.7 THE HAWK)/ MONMOUTH- OCEAN, NJ are uniting to ban JETHRO TULL songs from their playlists after the group`s IAN ANDERSON made some allegedly controversial remarks about AMERICA. Seems ANDERSON was quoted as saying he `hate(s) to see the AMERICAN flag hanging out of every bloody station wagon, out of every SUV, every little Midwestern house . . . It`s easy to confuse patriotism with nationalism.` ANDERSON went on to explain that his displeasure with flag-waving stems from the fact that he feels the act `just engenders old animosities.` He then went on to state that AMERICANS weren`t as touchy about feelings of nationalism because they`d never had to endure being attacked over and over again on their own turf, as EUROPEANS had. Seems reasonable enough, right? Ha, WRONG! Well, THE HAWK`s morning program (which runs on both stations), the `FREE BEER AND HOT WINGS SHOW,` took offense to them there comments that commie ANDERSON made, and decided a ban of JETHRO TULL`s music would be a great way to punish the band and show them who`s #1! Apparently, listeners are `overwhelmingly` in favor of the ban. Emboldened by the popularity of their ironically un-AMERICAN move to ban music on public airwaves, the `FREE BEER AND HOT WINGS` morning show is strongly encouraging anyone attending the local JETHRO TULL show on FRIDAY (11/14) to bring AMERICAN flags and wave `em high `n` proud. The HAWKS are planning on being there in full-force to hand out flags of their own. Well yee-haw and a gun rack.`` Now, WCHR Program Director Phil LoCasio says the ban will last ``forever``, and he defends the move by equating the stations` right not to air Tull-tunes, with Anderson`s right of free speech. He does, however, admit that Anderson had some ``positive`` observations about America. Nice to hear all sides, is it not?-- as long as they agree with ``mine``! THE NEXT GREAT FORMAT?: Check this out, from ``The Atlanta Journal- Constitution```s Bob Townsend, published on November 2, 2003: ``While much of the music industry has been losing sales and hemorrhaging profits, many lean and hungry so-called Americana labels, such as Lost Highway, Rounder, Sugar Hill and Vanguard, are doing relatively well these days. Similarly, many icons of Americana, such as Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams, have been selling albums and packing concerts for years without the benefit of hit singles or much airplay. In fact, what most Americana labels and artists have in common is that mainstream radio doesn`t play their music. Until he died in September, Americana patron saint Johnny Cash wasn`t heard on country radio for some 20 years. But it was Cash`s particular brand of distinctly American music: a hybrid of folk, rock and country, written and sung with sincerity, wisdom and humor, that gave Americana its identity. Bluegrass-influenced artists are among Americana`s biggest-selling and hardest-touring acts, with Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch leading the way. Besides bluegrass, Americana`s other great musical pillar is rock. And if Cash is Americana`s father, Gram Parsons, who grew up in Georgia and Florida, is probably the artist most often cited as its cosmic architect. Parsons died in 1973 at the age of 26, but not before producing a wave of songs and recordings that would define the country-rock sound, including his seminal work with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers... Americana artists may still operate in a realm that pioneering Americana magazine No Depression once declared `radio free country`. But even that`s been changing lately, with a smattering of commercial, public, Internet and satellite stations adopting Americana-style formats. Borders Books and Music recently inked a cross-promotion deal with the syndicated radio show `This Week in Americana` [which is on WWCR] that includes in-store pricing and positioning of Americana CDs in all Borders locations. The paradigm shift was first signaled by the left-field success of `O Brother, Where Art Thou?`, a soundtrack recording on Lost Highway of old-timey and bluegrass music, featuring Krauss and Welch, that topped the sales charts in 2001 and won five Grammys, including album of the year. Conventional wisdom might consider `O Brother` a fluke. But J.D. May, executive director of the 4-year-old Americana Music Association, sees it as a sign that a market exists for more sophisticated adult music. He has facts and figures from the consulting firm Radio Research that show the typical Americana fan to be more active than the average consumer when it comes to purchasing CDs and attending live concerts. During one week in October, for instance, the top 25 Americana artists, including Cash, Harris, Krauss and Welch, sold a combined 167,000 CDs. And May offers a few side-by-side comparisons of Americana CDs with limited radio play vs. Top 40 CDs with much greater exposure: Cash`s `The Man Comes Around` was at 665,000 after 48 weeks on the chart (his first gold record since the mid-`70s), Krauss` `Live` CD hit gold status at 539,000 after just under a year on the chart, and Nickel Creek was at 457,000 after 60 weeks on the chart. Cash, Krauss and Nickel Creek all had Top 5 Americana records but received virtually no radio airplay. By comparison, country hit-makers Diamond Rio`s `Completely` CD was at 532,000 after 59 weeks and Montgomery Gentry`s `My Town` was at 497,000 after 58 weeks. Keith Urban`s `Golden Road` came in with sales of 777,000 after 52 weeks. All these recordings had regular radio airplay. But where they got played and why is a major concern in May`s mind. `Radio formats are increasingly narrow, bland and unsatisfying to music lovers who prefer diversity in their listening,` May says. `As this trend continues through further radio consolidation, Americana will be increasingly positioned as a viable alternative to relatively `safe,` mainstream, Top 40 formats.` With that in mind, there`s been a push to acknowledge Americana as a format more formally. In March, the Americana Music Association started providing a weekly Americana chart to Radio & Records magazine. The chart combines data from the album playlists of some 70 stations and several syndicated programs. Compared with the usual formula of simply tracking singles, the method may seem a bit arcane. But it does take into account the new media outlets that are emerging for listeners. If Americana has a real problem, it`s that most people in the music business still aren`t exactly sure what it is, even many who are called by its name. Singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell is certainly one of Americana`s favorite sons. He has a new Americana chart-topping disc out, `Fate`s Right Hand,` and was the featured artist at this year`s Americana Music Association conference. He`s heard lots of terms for the country-rooted music he`s been performing since he arrived in Nashville in 1972. `It used to be called country rock, didn`t it,` Crowell says. `I`ve been vocal and said that maybe this Americana thing doesn`t work as a title. If you`re looking for a bigger piece of the market, maybe you shouldn`t be so subtle. Maybe you should just step out there and say it`s `good music.` `` WHY IS IT?: I regularly hear MUCH better tunes, i.e. early 70`s rock, on retail store PA systems, than on the air? Why ask why, anyway?? BREAKING NEWS: Just got this Press Release from C-NET- ``CNET Networks, Inc., announced today that it has acquired certain assets of MP3.com, Inc. Please be advised that on Tuesday, December 2, 2003 at 12:00 PM PST the MP3.com website will no longer be accessible in its current form. CNET Networks, Inc. plans to introduce a new MP3 music service in the near future.`` MP3 promises not to transfer ``personal information`` on subscribers to C-NET, or anyone else, per the November 14 missive. MUSIC `N` MONEY: Recording Industry Association of America chief- honcho Mitch Bainwol has heartily endosed a bi-partisan move toward protection of Artists` rights`n` royalties. Senators John Cornyn (R/Texas) and Dianne Feinstein (D/California) have proposed the Artists` Rights and Theft Prevention Act, which would further criminalize downloading of pre-release selections. Now we grab some historical perspective on the whole affair, from fellow-traveler Tony Magon, of Sydney NSW, Australia: ``As far as I am concerned the RIAA and there like in other countries are pathetic money grabbing idiots- Probably not many people would remember the problems at least when early radio stations in the 1920s came on the air in New Zealand. There was a big hoopla then with the recording companies telling the stations in no uncertain terms that they would not be allowed to play records - so the air time was taken up by people reading poetry or stories. There was finally an agreement, but of course the record companies got their pound of flesh. In fact if you look at it, playing songs by stations in fact is free advertising for the record companies. (Damn good point, Tony!) The stations have to pay the copyright which nowadays is a percentage of station profit instead of a certain fee per song. The record companies pay nothing. The price of CDs is far too high - Here in OZ somewhere between $20 and $30 and normally someone will only buy the CD to obtain one song for themselves, not all the songs on the CD. Literally all the AM stations in Sydney are all talk, with the exception of 2CH which plays 30s/40s/50s. This apparently was to do with a punchup a number of years ago - probably around 20 years ago with the recording industry, about the payment of copyright. Apparently copyright lasts for 75 years. A patent is lucky if it lasts for 10 years, and if you can`t pay the patent fees the patent lapses. What a pack or rorters [?]. Radio Hauraki - the NZ pirate station which operated between `66 and `70 made the NZ record companies a heck of a lot of money, but the record companies still wanted their pound of flesh. When Hauraki closed down after it got its shore licence, literally all the profit which the station had made was handed over to the record companies for copyright purposes. The stations profit at the end was five bucks. After Radio Hauraki got through their problems (blown modulation transformer and several masts going over the side). They broadcast the top 40 hits. They were lucky in the fact that a steward from Air New Zealand who travelled regularly to LA or SF bought back the top hits from the states --- of course in those days, 45s. Apparently these 45s were given to Hauraki for nothing. Hauraki of course spun them very regularly. In this particular era, the only time other stations in New Zealand played pop tunes, was for half an hour per week, during the weekly top 10. The problem was that when the teenagers went to the record shops to try and buy these records, the record shops did not have them. They were usually told that there would be a delay of at least 6 to 8 weeks maybe until the records were obtained from the states. Also at that time there were very few cassette recorders. There were quite a few reel to reel, but these were expensive and had some drawbacks on the audio side. So the record companies held all the strings. So Hauraki was helping the record companies and the artists, but of course the NZ equivalent of the RIAA still wanted its pound of flesh when Hauraki came ashore.`` Nothing new under the Sun, they say --- but remember, artists have to eat too! ODDS `N` ENDS: The Los Ángeles County Board of Supervisors has honored former KNX/1070 General manager George Nicholaw with official recognition of his 36 years of service to the community. Keeping his class intact, George has expressed some surprise at his sudden ouster last month, but had nary a disparaging word for those behind said ouster --- one of whom is speculated to be David G. Hall, former Clear Channel/KFI programmer. D.G`s already gracing the KNX delivery with his touches, some subtle, some not so. Of the latter, is the removal of the KNX Drama Hour, directly descended from the old CBS Mystery Theatre series. KNX ended a 31-year run of nightly drama on Hallowe`en, appropriately enough with Orson Welles` ``War Of The Worlds`` --- originally heard on October 30, 1938. For us Westerners, some oldtyme drama was still available late nights over Salt Lake`s KSL/1160, at my own last listen. Also, Saul Levine says his K- SURF/1260 & 540 will bring nightly Radioplays back to the SoCal airwaves as of this Monday (November 17), at 8 PM PST. Clear Channel honchos say they`re cooperating with the Feds, who are investigating certain advertisers, namely, offshore and on-line Gambling enterprises, some of whom have been heard on XETRA- Sports/690. Grand Jury testimony is forthcoming. Meanwhile, the League of American Bicyclists is praising CC Head Honcho John Hogan, who promises an on-air Road Safety campaign as a response to broadcast war-cries against two-wheelers, mouthed recently by CC personalities in Cleveland, Houston and Raleigh-Durham. You saw this story here last month; since then Hogan says one person was fired, and other disciplinary actions have been taken against those who urged motorists to throw bottles at bicycles --- and worse, at those riding such contraptions. Broadcasters and local-Government types in San Diego are exchanging questions, after the failure of the Emergency Alert System, during their recent devastating fires. One wonders whether any fire-related deaths down in SD could`ve been prevented by a working EAS system. Nearby, Art Astor has sold his last FMer, KFSD-FM/92.1, to the shrewdly-run Jefferson Pilot firm. JP will simulcast their Country outlet KSON/97.3 for the North County, for the time being; Art`s Alternative Rock format migrates to evenings on his KCEO/1000 AM. Oh, uh, this also means JP has a greater lock on Alt Rock in America`s Finest City, over their KBZT/94.9, incidentally. Santa Bárbara keeps its Classical outlet, KDB/93.7 FM, by virtue of it`s sale to the Santa Bárbara Foundation, per ``The Santa Bárbara News-Press``. The tab: $2.7 million. Down the street, Lazer Broadcasting is now programming ex-Newser money-loser KEYT/1250. This means Spanish, not English, and gives KTMS/990 the exclusive News/Talk franchise there. And the Big Apple`s municipal NPR station is redefining the meaning of a ``heritage station``. WNYC/820 has teamed with Radio Netherlands for ``Dutch Week``, beginning Monday the 17th. This takes the form of several RN-produced features, under the theme, ``Old Amsterdam/New Amsterdam``. Radio Netherlands is truly one of the planet`s finest broadcasters; it`d be nice if NPR would abscond with some of this for National distribution. Until the next, Peace and Prosperity. -- GREG HARDISON (via DXLD) ** U S A. Remember about a year ago when WMQM was just starting up in Memphis on 1600? I kept trying to hear it at the ideal time, just before local sunset when 50 kW day power would be in effect, but sunset skip building up. Never heard it, despite numerous attempts, making it hard to believe they were really on the air and at full non- direxional power. Now today, Nov 16, 2003, at 2215 UT I am tuning around and find a strong gospel signal on 1600 -- St. Louis, as usual? No, Brother James says he is in Winchester, TN, and shortly a local announcer gives the address of another church ``right here in Memphis``. So it was WMQM, dominating the frequency for several minutes. BTW, there is something slightly off-frequency from 1600 too, judging from the low but audible het. BTW2, I never got a single response from anyone listening to WOR on WMQM, despite their kind offer of airtime; by the time it stopped last spring, the time had been changed to 5:30 am Saturdays, as I later found out, never having been notified until it was too late (Glenn Hauser, Enid, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Remember to check under OKLAHOMA for x-band 1640 ** U S A. WRNC is running a loop tonight promoting a change to talk format starting 9 am Monday, ending the gospel simulcast with WLCG- 1280 (Barry McLarnon, VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) While at the LBI Dxpedition this weekend, heard 1670 in [Warner Robins] GA running a promo that starting Monday they are going talk w/Dr. Laura and others, moving the gospel to 1280. FYI. 73, (Bruce WB3HVV, York, PA, amfmtvdx via Whaley) I can confirm this. Promos running all weekend. They do not run the full 10 kW day due to interference with medical equipment at a clinic near their tower site. They reduce power 9:00 AM-5:00 PM ET when the clinic is open. BTW, I just noted two absent or sleepy board operators here in Georgia. The Falcons football network went to a local break, but both 940 Macon and 960 Athens stayed with the feed from WZCG-FM in Atlanta, the key network station, and thus ran WZCG's FCC required license renewal announcement. This at 4:40 PM Eastern, today November 16 (Brock Whaley, WH6SZ/4, Lilburn, GA, Just east of Atlanta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** YEMEN. 760 kHz, Radio Mukalla, noted on 6 Nov 2146-2209 in Arabic with talks, songs, 5' news 2200 and more music; 24332. The modulation seemed rather weak. I first thought this might be some QSY of Polisario's short lived 700 kHz outlet (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, BC-DX Nov 13 via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 3204.99 kHz, Radio Mía, unknown QTH: You can listen to a clear ID at the SWB site. Very exciting as no station fits. After listening to the recording our member Henrik Klemetz/HK thinks it might be Perú. I had listenable audio at a few occasions but now there is only a carrier. Thanks Henrik for your mails (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4552.74, LA Spanish speaking 12/Nov/2003 - 0230: Is not back. Maybe it was Radiodifusora Trópico (a long time ago logged around this frequency), now heard irregularly around 6037 kHz (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson for DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 11726.3V, at 1845, station with monotonous French. Female news reader mentioned among others Congo. Unstable frequency, drifting between 11726.26 and 11726.38 up and down. Only heard Oct 28. Somebody who knows what it might be??? O=2 (Stif Adolfsson, Sweden, SW Bulletin Nov 16, translated by editor Thomas Nilsson, for DX LISTENING DIGEST) Maybe Okapi off 11690 before it crashed? (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ NORTH AMERICAN X-BAND STATIONS http://www.dxing.info/lists/x_na.dx (via David Ross, ODXA via DXLD) Includes addresses, hotlinks, unlike the NZ list, but updated Oct 23, not including KMMZ (gh, DXLD) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ PLAN AHEAD FOR THE INEVITABLE --- AS ANDY RUGG DID Hello, everyone. Throughout this month`s 68 page bulletin you will see various tributes to a great CIDX member. Andy Rugg, of Cornwall, Ontario, a longtime member of CIDX, passed away in Cornwall on October 9, 2003. He was only 58 years old. Many of you had the opportunity to meet Andy a number of the CIDX annual barbecues over the years, at CIDX conventions in Montreal and Edmonton, or perhaps at numerous National Radio Club conventions over the years. A number of you who are also ham radio operators may have had the opportunity to work Andy on the air. He was very active on the bands, particularly in the County Hunters` Net, one of his true passions in amateur radio. Andy was probably best known for his work in the field of mediumwave DXing and QSLing. Andy possessed one of the highest success rates of QSLing mediumwave stations of anyone in the hobby. He amassed a huge collection of MW cards, letters and station memorabilia throughout his years in the hobby. Andy passed away from a major heart attack at his home in Cornwall, just a few days before Canadian Thanksgiving Day. I had the opportunity to attend the visitation at the funeral home in Cornwall and to meet Andy`s mother, as well as his brother Jack. It was wonderful to be able to share memories with them of Andy. They knew so well that his activities in radio meant everything to him. Andy`s premature passing taught me a very important message which I would like to share with each and every member of the club, together with all members of our circle of hobbyists and radio enthusiasts. Andy was an extremely organized person, not only in his radio hobby, but in all aspects of his life. His brother, Jack, shared something very special with me. Andy had taken the time, several years ago, to write out a 6 or 7 page letter to his brother, detailing all of his possessions, his activities, and all the things that were important to him in his life. He prepared this document to assist his family members in the event that anything happened to him. In the document, there was a special section entitled ``Radio``. In that section, Andy outlined his equipment, his QSL files, his reference material, and other material he has collected throughout his years in the hobby. These all meant so much to him and he knew that his family members would be at a loss with what to do with all of these things. By documenting what he wanted done with these prize possessions, he not only secures that his legacy will carry on for others to enjoy in our hobby, but he helped out his family members in understanding how to deal with this important material. Too many times in the past, when people have passed on, their radio materials and collections are left in the hands of family members who often really don`t understand what they are all about. Andy left instructions about who to talk to, with phone numbers, addresses, etc.; people who they should pass specific material along to. This is a lesson we should all learn from. As difficult a task as it may be, we must deal with the inevitable before it has a chance to deal with us. We owe it to our family members, to our friends, to our fellow hobbyists and, most importantly, to ourselves. We put so much time into our chosen pastimes that we need to think ahead and detail exactly what we would like to happen to our things. Andy had the foresight to do this. As a result of this, I think CIDX, and other clubs in our hobby, should address this important issue with their club members. Perhaps we should be looking at ways that our clubs can be of assistance to club members, and should the unexpected happen, to family members, to help them out at difficult times such as this. Andy has moved on, hopefully to a better place, but in his time with us, he taught us many things, and shared his experiences with us. We owe it to him, and others who have gone before, to help to carry on their legacy. Thanks, Andy (Sheldon Harvey, Nov CIDX Messenger Board of Directors report via DXLD) LANGUAGE LESSON +++++++++++++++ LANG. ABBRS. [et al.] Hi Glenn, Re. your DXLD 3-206 question: "SPN" is simply Spanish. Historically, the SWL community has used two-letter abbreviations for language names. For instance, German used to be GG until someone in NASWA or thereabouts decreed it should become GR. Or was it GM? Or does GR mean Greek now? Despite the occasional ambiguity, this didn't work TOO badly until I started tracking the program formats of Florida ethnic stations using languages such as Haitian Kreyol, Cajun French, and Leeward Island Caribbean English. There are 676 combinations of two-letter abbreviations, and about 6800 documented living languages. So, we run out of two-letter combinations, particularly recognizable ones, very quickly. So, it would seem useful and logical to adopt a three-character abbreviation, since it would have more combination possibilities and would be less ambiguous to the reader. I've posted this suggestion previously in radio forums without any detectable response. As it turns out, there are two such systems in existence already, the SIL ethnologue system and the ISO 639-2 standard. I prefer the SIL standard myself; the abbreviations are usually more intuitive than ISO, and any proposed, needed changes don't have the slow review time inherent with an ISO standard. SIL documents both sets on its website at: http://www.ethnologue.com/language_index.asp Their Ethnologue overview page is at: http://www.ethnologue.com/ethno_docs/contents.asp (David E. Crawford, Titusville, Florida, United States of America, 28.51N 80.83W, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Interesting points, but: why abbr. at all? As you MAY have noticed, I am constantly expanding language and other abbrs. in DXLD to make it more reader-friendly. When langs. get 3-letter abbrs. in a condensed logging, it isn`t even clear what kind of abbr. it is, at least not to me, in the case where SPN appeared. Satellite Programming Network? Seemed pretty neat? This would certainly help in a tabular log-by- frequency format, but we don`t do that here. While SIL has good linguistic credentials, note that its very raison d`être is to deprive as many minority cultures as possible of their original religions, and they`re willing to die to accomplish this. Sound familiar? While every DX item and logging sent to DXLD is appreciated and evaluated on its own merits, no matter what its format (as are many more picked up from secondary, tertiary sources), I again urge contributors to rethink this abbr.-mania. WE CAN AFFORD A BIT MORE BANDWIDTH TO SPEAK ORDINARY ENGLISH (or --- several other languages). Get away from this antiquated DX-subculture where every other word has to abbr`d to fit on a few pages of dittoed P-mail bulletins. Some newer recruits to the hobby seem to have adopted this outmoded practice, apparently feeling it necessary to be part of the in-crowd. Others, no doubt, for whom every keystroke is an effort, condense for that reason, and I can hardly prevail upon them not to, tho it causes me a lot more work to make their items readable. OTOH, gh would very much appreciate it if those who send multiple copies of their DX items would avoid the abbrs. if sent to us, and let the other editors do the condensing for a change if they require it (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ RADIO HOBBYISTS 'SPREAD THE WORD' ON BPL Amateur radio hobbyists work to remind the FCC and power companies about the interference dangers of broadband over power-lines. In a speech delivered at the United PowerLine Council Annual Conference, FCC commissioner Kathleen Abernathy referred to BPL (Broadband Via Power-line) technology as an important step on the path to "Broadband Nirvana." In a continuing effort to remind the FCC of the technology's inherent spectrum pollution problems, the ARRL fired off this letter. The ARRL and other hobbyists warn that the technology could pose a serious threat to wireless spectrum and particularly emergency radio networks (See follow-up ARRL article). Trials are forging on across the United States, despite a long list of failed trials worldwide, many due to interference. The majority of these U.S. communities are either unaware or unconcerned with the interference threat the technology poses. Only some of the trials, like those being conducted by California PG&E, involve BPL technology with no interference problems (emissions occurring in the 5 GHz ISM band). As Eham.net reports, there are some instances of cooperation between power companies and amateur hobbyists. In North Carolina, Progress Energy is working closely with amateur radio operators in the latest phase of their own trials in the region. Whether or not the company will actually take the advice and reduce interference in their trials is anyone's guess. Would you sign up for BPL despite interference worries? Speak your mind in our latest poll. Posted 11-13 15:40 See: trouble alternatives (BROADBANDREPORTS.COM via Mark Durenberger, NRC-AM via DXLD) ARRL SPONSORS BPL GATHERING FOR COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONALS The interference potential of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) to over- the-air radio services was the topic of an ARRL-sponsored meeting of 25 communications professionals November 7. The National Association of Broadcasters hosted the gathering at its headquarters in Washington, DC. ``Listening to everyone introduce themselves and explain why they had come made the trip to Washington worthwhile all by itself,`` said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, who offered opening remarks and guided the discussion. Sumner showed excerpts from the ARRL BPL field test videos, which graphically demonstrate that BPL`s interference potential at HF is real, not just theoretical. During the meeting, representatives from the shortwave broadcasting, public safety, aeronautical and scientific communities joined amateur and amateur-satellite representatives to discuss the threat of BPL and possible avenues to combat its interference potential to licensed HF and low-VHF spectrum users. Military and consumer electronics representatives participated as observers. Coming the farthest was Chip Margelli, K7JA, who attended on behalf of the Yaesu Amateur Division of Vertex-Standard. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, reviewed the status of last April`s FCC`s Notice of Inquiry on BPL and noted that more than 5000 comments were filed with the Commission --- most of them from Amateur Radio operators. Imlay said that proposed FCC rules changes could come as soon as early next year. Imlay added that a number of non-amateur organizations support ARRL`s position on BPL. Representing the National Association of Shortwave Broadcasters, George Jacobs, W3ASK, affirmed their strong support for the ARRL position. ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, provided a technical review of BPL. BPL delivery systems would use existing low and medium-voltage power lines to distribute Internet and other broadband services to homes and businesses. Other points the group touched upon included: * BPL emission measurements by government agencies are under way, but the results have not yet been made public. The FCC denied an ARRL Freedom of Information Act request on the grounds that their test results represent work-in-progress. * A government representative observed that concerned groups should be wary of tying in the overused term ``homeland security`` with any anti-BPL campaign, since it could be spun back against BPL opponents. * Meeting attendees cited numerous and increasing instances of interference from Part 15 devices, suggesting that such instances only infrequently result in complaints to the FCC --- and even less frequently in any FCC action. A follow-up meeting may be held early next year if it becomes clear that the FCC intends to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding BPL. Some attendees indicated a willingness to accompany ARRL representatives to meetings with federal officials to underscore that concerns about BPL are not confined to radio amateurs. ``It`s apparent that concerns about BPL run very deep and include nearly every over-the-air radio service,`` Sumner remarked after the meeting. ``Now we can work together much more effectively to express our concerns both inside and outside of government.`` --- Derek Riker, KB3JLF, compiled information for this report (ARRL Letter Nov 14 via John Norfolk, DXLD) DRM +++ How much could DRM cost a private station? See USA --- WWRB ###