DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-218, December 6, 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 1210: WRMI: Sat 1900+, Sun 1600+ via IBC Radio 15725 WPKN: Sat 1930 89.5 WWCR: Sun 0330 5070, Sun 0730 3210, Wed 1030 9475 WBCQ: Mon 0515 7415 WRN: Rest of world Sat 0900; Europe Sun 0530; North America Sun 1500 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 1210 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1210h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1210h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1210.html WORLD OF RADIO 1210 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1210.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1210.rm ** ALASKA. RADIO HOST STIRS FLAP WITH CAMPAIGN TALK http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/4484875p-4463507c.html (Anchorage Daily News via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO ROMANCE JUST TOO ROCKY By Wendy Frew December 6, 2003 It shouldn't be a surprise in an industry based on talk that a partial merger between Southern Cross Broadcasting's Sydney operation and rival radio network Macquarie Radio collapsed on Thursday under the weight of leaks, accusations and counter-accusations. The Melbourne-based Southern Cross and John Singleton's Macquarie both played down the significance of the collapsed deal, under which three Sydney talkback stations would have shared one newsroom and one advertising sales force. The collapse came as the Australian Broadcasting Authority announced Southern Cross, which holds the licence for Sydney station 2UE, had breached the broadcasting services standard 19 times, facing a fine of as much as $1 million. But as the dust settles, both sides appear guilty of under-estimating their employees' and public opposition to the deal, and each other... This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/05/1070351791700.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. Glenn, there is a short item in Saturday 6th December Daily Telegraph stating that "SBS has supended a Vietnamese state news broadcast after thousands protested it was promoting that country's communist regime." It talks further about Tuesday`s protests and the decision being made by the board due to it "causing significant emotional distress among some Vietnamese". I wasn't able to find a copy of the item on the website: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au Source: Daily Telegraph, 6th December 2003 (Wayne Bastow, Australia, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** BHUTAN. 6035, Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), Thimphu, heard 0105-0110 on Nov 28 with Buddhist monks singing. Pretty good signal: 35333 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 5952.46, R. Pio Doce, 0950-09 [sic] 5 Dec., Quechua (presumed) religious talk by usual morning lady announcer. Gave a TC and ID near the end. Then, at 0954, played a canned announcement (possibly a promo) with group of people shouting, followed by canned announcement by M. These are played every day at this time. WYFR carrier popped at 0953, and the IS started at 0955 ruining a nice reception. Unfortunately Pio Doce also always signs on in mid-program around 0940, so you can never get the sign-on. If it wasn't for WYFR on 5950, Pio Doce would be easy (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CANADA. Capital voices --- By Tony Lofaro, The Ottawa Citizen In turning his late father's dream into reality, Lenny Lombardi hopes to help Ottawa-Gatineau "bloom" into a multicultural metropolis. Mr. Lombardi officially launched CHIN Radio yesterday, a new Ottawa station that promises to give a voice to the members of the region's increasingly diverse communities. "It is not generally recognized that Ottawa-Gatineau is a vibrant, diverse and exciting multi-cultural metropolis," Mr. Lombardi said. "But it is, and CHINRadio Ottawa is dedicated to helping this multicultural metropolis develop into full bloom." The idea for the station, whose studios are on Murray Street, belonged to the late Johnny Lombardi, who pioneered multicultural broadcasting in Canada. "Canadians who knew my dad know what a tremendous contribution he made to broadcasting and in particular, ethnic broadcasting. You might say that he is the father of multicultural broadcasting in Canada," Mr. Lombardi told a municipal and federal politicians, ethnic business leaders and friends who crammed into the station's studios. The elder Mr. Lombardi founded CHINRadio in Toronto in 1966 and built a station that today has programming in 20 languages and serves 37 ethnic groups. More than two years ago, he was awarded a licence for an Ottawa station, but he died last year at the age of 86. "When CHIN won the licence for Ottawa, the first words my father said to me was to build a first-class station," he said. The station, CJLL, is at 97.9 FM. He said he hopes the new station builds on the successful Toronto station and captures Ottawa's diverse ethnic mix. The station's daily programming will include a mix of Caribbean, Italian, Arabic, Chinese, and other languages, while the weekend programs are devoted to Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Vietnamese and Russian programs, among other languages. A weekday noon-hour show, Cross Cultural Talk, hosted by well-known Ottawa broadcaster Gary Michaels, will have ethnic leaders talking about their culture and issues of the day. Cheryl Antoine is typical of the type of active ethnic personality the station has attracted. She's the host of Caribbean Exposure, an early-morning weekday show that brings the sounds of calypso, reggae and soca music, as well as news, to Ottawa listeners. "In terms of our culture, it's a matter of sharing it with the community. The news, the music, the interviews, the show is going to represent and be a voice for the community, which is a fast-growing one," said Ms. Antoine, an Ottawa travel consultant who hosted a similar show on Carleton University's CKCU. Mr. Lombardi said he has ambitious plans to bring Ottawa some big-name ethnic artists and other events that CHIN Radio Toronto sponsors. He said he's working on staging a version of CHIN's "International Picnic" at Major's Hill Park over the Canada Day weekend. The annual bikini contest at Toronto's picnic has created controversy among feminists and civic leaders. He said he doesn't know if the event will work here. "I don't think we'll have a bikini contest, unless Ottawa really wanted to see a bikini component at the picnic," said Mr. Lombardi, a resident of Toronto. "We do a very tasteful event, but there are some people who are not big fans of it. But I don't want to launch our picnic activities in Ottawa on a controversial note." (via Harry van Vugt, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, DXLD) ** CHINA. Re UNIDENTIFIED, 3-217: Hi Glenn, latest developments, just for your information. | Today's test txion is undoubtedly NOT from China. ||||||||| This was a big ERROR. But now the facts tell ANOTHER MEANING. Latest developments, just for your information. Has been noted on 9410, 11640, 11940, 13570, 13625, 13860, 17480, 21460, and 21730 kHz. Victor from Sri Lanka sent me this mail on Dec 5th: 13860 Music --- Hello Wolfy, noted here too on the 3rd December. Where would my beam heading about 350 degree and the European beam heading bisect??? Can anyone shed some light on the lovely instrumental music played on 13860 from around 1600 past 1830? Also same on 21460 around 1200. Is this China semi classical music test station? All western instrumental, some of my favourite like How Deep is the Night, Vienna Waltzes. My beam heading is almost a little bit West of North from Colombo, definitely not Beijing or the Opera jamming station heading. Looks very western end of China. Re to Victor: Acc DX Atlas and GEOCLOCK bearings display Kashgar far South West W China, 39.20N and 75.46E is 3832 km / 2381 miles away from Colombo, at 355 degrees northwards / 175 degrees southwards. Re test transmissions. I couldn`t hear any test transmissions today [Thur Dec 4th and Fri 5th] yet. Speculation was [on Dec 1st to 3rd], due to the very strong signals into Europe, that test outlet should be testing new equipment from a refurbished site in Europe. Signals were equal to Skelton and Rampisham 350/500 kW Merlin beasts. This was a big ERROR. But now the facts tell ANOTHER MEANING. No speculation, but only the facts, as told by 'our man' on the direction finding front, in Europe of course: 11640 narrowed to 074 degrees 17480 narrowed to 080 degrees Error measurement 2 degrees each side. So I assume real bearing is in the 72 to 82 degrees sector from Europe. Warsaw 52.04N 20.52E 79 degr 894 km Lviv Krasne 49.50N 24.00E 90 degr 1237 km Minsk 53.53N 27.31E 69 degr 1420 km Kiev 50.27N 30.13E 83 degr 1646 km Bolshakovo 54.42N 20.30E 60 degr 950 km Charkov Taranivka 50.00N 36.17E 83 degr 2035 km Moscow 55.45N 37.18E 64 degr 2050 km Mykolaiv Kopani 44.56N 34.06E 95 degr 1876 km Samara Zighulevsk 53.20N 50.10E 68 degr 2881 km Urumchi-CHN 43.35N 87.30E 65 degr 5800 km Kashgar Kashi-CHN 39.20N 75.46E 74/307 degrees 5204 km ||| that's it!!!!! UNBELIVABLE !!! but due to the low latitude of 39-41 degrees North, transmissions out of Kashgar result in a fine powerful signal into Europe. And I remembered the similar "Western Vienna and Russian composer" classical test music, which reported by Roland Schulze in the Philippines on October 17th, 2003, coming seemingly from a southern China site on DongFang Hainandao Island; and heard here in Germany on the very same day too. And also remember on the ITU registration item of Bernd Trutenau and Olle Alm of September 13, 2003. Both items copied, see BELOW. Conclusion: So, seemingly the Chinese are erecting also another powerful shortwave site, -- like the other one at Urumchi in far Western Xinjiang some three years ago --, next to the planned super power MW site in Kashgar, in far southwest China, on the border triangle to Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Wolfgang Büschel, df5sx, BC-DX wwdxc- Germany Dec 5 via DXLD) # # # # # # # History # # # # CHINA Again: ITU LW/MW COORDINATION SURVEY. This year's survey of MW stns that have been internationally coördinated or are still in the coordination process has now been uploaded on the ITU website: http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/publications/brific-ter/index.html See "GE75_110" in the file list. (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, MWDX Sept 9 via DXLD; BC-DX Sept 13) Interesting is also the new Chinese 600 kW stations on 1197, 1422 and 1539 kHz, all three at Kashgar southwest China, across Kyrgyzstan. Daytime at 140 degrees towards Tibet, nighttime towards AFG, PAK, UZB, TJK, IRN etc., so seemingly future foreign broadcast service?? (wb, BC-DX Sept 13) # # # # # # # History # # # # Since the data of all three entries for Kashi [Kashgar], China are identical I suspect that only one [MW] transmitter is planned and that the Chinese want to have a choice of frequencies. Analysis: Location: Kashi/Kashgar in SW Xinjiang province. The coordinates correspond to a location some distance SW of Kashi. Frequencies: 1197, 1422, 1539. Transmitter power: 600 kW. Directional: Day and night, different patterns. Daytime pattern: Main lobe 140 deg, 6000 kW ERP, backlobe 320 deg 1500 kW ERP. The main lobe covers a chain of towns in SW Xinjiang. Nighttime pattern: Main lobe 200 deg, 3000 kW ERP, backlobe 20 deg 750 kW ERP. Power at 320 deg (towards Europe) appr. 40 kW ERP. The main lobe covers Pakistan, NW India and eastern Afghanistan and obviously is intended for external services to these areas (Olle Alm, Sweden, BC-DX Sept 14) # # # # # # # History # # # # UNID. Continuous classic orchestra music heard on 7350, 13740, 15190, and 17615. New 500 kW Chinese antenna farm on test? Roland Schulze Mangaldan-PHL phoned me this morning: He noted - seemingly - an UNKNOWN test transmission on 7350, 15190, and 17615 kHz at least in the 1000-1200 UT time span. The program content was playing Russian [?Tchaikovsky? - sorry I'm not an expert] like classical orchestra music continuously. Observed both 15190 and 17615 kHz too here in southern Germany. 17615 - Interfered DW Trincomalee Chinese, and Riyadh-ARS in Arabic. I have a strong feeling, - and guess - , that could be another test transmission from China mainland. The Chinese testing seemingly new erected powerful 500 kW transmitters and antenna arrays. Similar test transmissions playing Chinese music over and over again, then heard in previous years from Urumchi-Xinjiang location, just one week before new season started. I think - playing such kind of classical and operetta music - the Chinese would like to DECEIVE the WEST??? (later...) Roland Schulze Mangaldan-PHL completed his monitoring, at 1200 UT 17615 replaced by 13740, latter hetting Voice of Vietnam. 15190 signal is equal of IBB Udorn Thani in Urdu 1330-1430: 1000-1200 7350 (+70 dB), 15190 (+60dB), 17615 (+50 dB) 1200-1400 ... 13740 (+70 dB), 15190 (+60 dB) The program content was playing classical orchestra music continuously, but between 1300 and 1400 UT also light comic opera (operetta) music like Can-Can Musique Parisienne could be heard. Music has a 'crispy' kind, so seemingly also the satellite feed is tested from broadcast house to the new transmitter location. Maybe another powerful transmitter center erected in either Xian, Kunming or DongFang Hainandao Island ??? (wb, BC-DX Oct 17) vy 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. 1700, Radio Martí, good at times in Spanish with ID Radio Martí at 0700 UT 12/5. This is rather strange, unless WJCC-Miami is running this? Anyone know? (Pat Martin, OR, IRCA via DXLD) This was a Radio Martí transmission on 1700. I don't know who is running it. But there was no sign of WJCC at the time either. Has anyone heard WJCC and Radio Marti both on 1700 at the same time? The conditions were such last night that, they were good for WJCC. When conditions are auroral to a point, but not knocking out the East, I have heard Miami, yet they were not there, just Radio Martí. Is WJCC running Radio Martí programming? Maybe I should phone WJCC. A receiver image? That I doubt. At this distance using an R8. VOA also would not admit that they were using 1147.5 kHz at Poro Philippines either. They said the signal was only on 1143. They moved to get rid of the Taiwan (BEL3) QRM. They would never QSL my report for 1147.5, until I sent a f/up and listed it as 1143. A lot of you will remember all of the flak over Radio Swan in the 60s. There is a possibility that WJCC is running Radio Martí programming too (Patrick Martin, Seaside OR, Dec 5, KAVT Reception Manager, NRC-AM via DXLD) As I recall this was being widely heard at that time. Some of the theories put forth were: pirate station, receiver image, or some type of relay service that Marti does not want to admit to (Patrick Griffith, N0NNK / WPE9HVW, ibid.) Clearly, their denial would have to be taken with a grain of salt, given the political nature of their entire operation. Anyone knowledgeable would never admit it, and anyone else has probably either no knowledge of it or been told to deny it. They'd certainly not want to invite problems (Russ Edmunds, PA, ibid.) I was using my trusty Drake R8 and a pre-selector, as I always do, connected to a 1500 foot Eastern beverage. I don't live in an high RF area. There are only three 1 KW stations in the whole county. With this system I have heard several 10 watt (or less) TIS stations coast to coast with it. I have never seen an image on the receiver, generated by the receiver. Now if Radio Martí is putting out some image at the transmitter site this is possible I presume. I still believe someone is running Radio Martí on 1700. Oh by the way, there is a BBC Spanish relay in Argentina on 1670. The BBC does not admit it per the letter I got from them. Yet, it is there. Now maybe a pirate, but when I wrote the BBC, they also read my letter over the air. I got several letters from listeners to that station in Buenos Aires. The people were listening to it, yet the BBC does not admit it exists. Anything is possible (Pat Martin, OR, ibid.) 1670 BBC America Latina, Argentina, is listed in the 2003 WRTH. You can see a verification of reception for 1670 at the following URL: http://www.kbonet.com.br/radiowaysqsl/1670bbc.htm (Bruce Conti - Nashua NH, ibid.) The previous explanation was for R. Martí on 1710: 3 x 1710 = 5130 5130 + (2 x 450 IF) = 6030 But that does not quite work for 1700, even if the IF be 455. When hearing RM on 1700 or 1710, always check out the four SW frequencies in use at the time (5980 is another one at certain hours). Some are from Greenville, some from Delano, and may not be in sync. 73, (Glenn Hauser, ibid.) I wouldn't totally discount an image from an SW transmitter, as those can be heard at some pretty good distances (Russ Edmunds, Blue Bell, PA, ibid.) You mean a mixing product? Image implies generated in the receiver. Let`s see, are any two RM frequencies 1700 kHz apart? No. Could there be some other VOA frequency at the same site 1700 kHz from Martí at 0700? Not that I can figure (gh) I did not check it on a second receiver, as I was so surprised to catch the Radio Marti ID. I was expecting a WJCC ID. I guess (if I would have thought of it), I should have checked the R1000 to see if the signal was on that, or my beverage connected to a Super Radio. At times it was strong enough to hear on a portable with the beverage connected to it. If it was some kind of image, it is exactly on 1700, as there was no het of any kind. I phoned Radio Luz. They claim they don't run any Radio Marti programming. However Radio Martí does have offices in the building. He seemed a bit "evasive" when I asked him. Also they switched me around to several different people. I'll say one thing, Spanish is the main language there. So I still don't have the answer. It seemed a bit that way when I called WJCC [while many posters quote previous item in replies ad nauseam, Pat does not, sometimes making it difficult to figure out exactly what he is replying to --- gh]. I got the idea they were trying to hide something. At an educated guess, I think WJCC is running some Radio Martí programming. It will be interesting if someone logs Radio Martí and Radio Luz on at the same time. If anyone is interested, I do have a tape of the ID or slogan. 73s, (Patrick Martin, OR, ibid.) See also USA ** DENMARK [non]. R. Danmark, f/d w/ v/s for RR dated 10/26 12:30- 12:55 on 18950. Although program is in Danish, they accept reports and verify in English. RP of 1 USD, 1 Euro or IRC is appreciated. Response in 30 days including $1 and local postcard. Thx to tipster on Cumbre, station will end its programs on 12/31/03, so hurry and get them in while you can (Joseph Miller, Troy MI, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** EGYPT. Last night all Egyptian outlets in 25 mb were very strong. Like 11725, 11755, 11790, and especially 11780 and 12050 kHz. The latter had two spurious signals on 12063 and 12078 kHz, but not on lower flank. All noted in 0045 til 0210 UT span. 73 wb df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 5, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** GEORGIA. 4875.0, R Hara, Dusheti, *1700-1730*, Mo Nov 24, Fanfares and IDs by woman, probably in Georgian, orchestral music and a man talked about the resignation of President Shevardnadze, followed by a talk mentioning Azerbaijan and Russia. 1713 Italian opera and announcement in Abkhaz (?), 45444. Scheduled Mondays and Thursdays only (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, R. Verdad, Chiquimula, 0300, Nov 07, end of program ``grandes maestros de la música``, ID: ``Sintoniza la estación educatíva evangélica Radio Verdad en 4052 kHz de la banda de 75 metros transmitiendo desde Chiquimula, República de Guatemala en Centro América``, asking for reports, promising QSL card. Moderate signal. 4780, R. Cultural Coatán, San Sebastian Coatán, 0100, Nov 02, strong signal throughout Guatemala, heard daily, ID: ``TGLT - Radio Cultural Coatán en 4780 kHz banda de 60 metros en onda corta difundiendo desde San Sebastián Coatán, Huehuetenango, República de Guatemala, Centro América``. 4800, R. Buenas Nuevas, San Sebastian Huehuetenango, 0030, Nov 09, ID: ``Proclamando la salvación de Christo Jesús - Ustedes escuchan Radio Buenas Nuevas - T - G - M - I transmitiendo en 4800 kHz de la banda de 60 metros desde San Sebastián Huehuetenango, República de Guatemala, Centro América``, weak signal only. 4845, R. K`ekchi, Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, 0100, Nov 13, only heard in northern parts of Guatemala. Only programs in K`ekchi language heard with birthday greetings and music. Weak. No other Guatemala stations heard, so only the few religious broadcasters above seemed to be active these days! All others, including Radio Maya de Barillas, La Voz de Nahualá, La Voz de Atitlán are inactive including mediumwave! Even in the villages of the stations (I visited Nahualá and Santiago Atitlán) no trace of them... I only heard R Cultural on 730 MW with English programmes identifying as ``TGNA Radio from Guatemala``. (Dirk Nehring, Germany, visiting Guatemala, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) This also confirms that R Cultural has left 3300 and 5955 as mentioned in DX-Window no. 231 (DSWCI Ed, ibid.) ** HONDURAS. The following stations (again all religious) are active: 3250, R. Luz y Vida, HRPC, San Luís, Santa Bárbara has been broadcasting on this frequency for many years and is still heard daily in Spanish, also covers English programs. 3340, R. Misiones Internacionales HRMI, Comayagüela, 2350, Nov 13, heard at Rio Dulce/Guatemala near the Honduran border, ID: ``Comunicando el evangelio completo - Radio Misiones Internacionales`` or simply ``Radio MI``, SIO 353. I did not hear the station on other days, so I`m not sure whether they are on the air daily! 4832, R. Litoral HRLW, La Ceiba, heard daily with fair to good signal. It has programs in vernacular language, maybe Garifuna(?) around 2400, ID simply ``Radio Litoral``. No other stations in Honduras heard!! (Dirk Nehring, Germany, visiting Guatemala, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Dear friends, as an "attachment" to DX-Window no. 234 follows here the promised Clandestine List. It is not complete, and in other continents, more stations may be audible. It is not copyrighted and may be reproduced. Best 73, Anker CLANDESTINES HEARD ON SHORTWAVE IN DENMARK DURING NOVEMBER 2003 by Anker Petersen, DSWCI. Nov 30, 2003 In November the following clandestine programmes, broadcast into the countries mentioned, were audible here. More details about possible transmitters, identifications etc. can be found in our Domestic Broadcasting Survey. Abbreviations used: D = Daily; MF = Monday-Friday; Sa = Saturday; Su = Sunday; SS = Saturday-Sunday; W = Weekdays (Mondays-Saturdays). DR = Democratic Republic; ¤ = One hour earlier during local summer. ANGOLA R Ecclesia (Religious) D 1900-2000 Portuguese 7205 CHINA, P. D. R. Voice of Tibet D 1215-1245 Tibetan 11640, 15645 and 21545 Voice of Tibet D 1245-1300 Chinese 11640, 15645 and 21545 Voice of Tibet D 1430-1500 Tibetan 12025 Voice of Tibet D 1500-1515 Chinese 12025 World Falun Dafa R SS 1500-1600 Chinese 9930 ERITREA Voice of Peace and Democracy of Eritrea W 0315-0350 Tigrinya 5500 and 6350 Voice of the Eritrean People Su 1730-1800 Tigrinya 9990 ETHIOPIA Dejen R (to Tigre Province) Sa 1700-1800 Tigrinya 12120 R Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity Su 0700-0759 Amharic 17655 R Voice of the Democratic Path of Ethiopian Unity We 1830-1929 Amharic 7220 Voice of Democratic Eritrea Sa 1500-1558¤ Tigrinya 5925 Voice of Democratic Eritrea Mo/Th 1700-1759 Tigrinya 9820 Voice of Ethiopian Salvation Th/Su 1600-1659 Amharic 9820 Voice of Ethiopian Salvation Su 1830-1930 Amharic 12120 Voice of Oromo Liberation Tu/We/ 1700-1730 Oromo 9820 Fr/Su IRAN R International W 1730-1800¤ Farsi 7490 R Payam-e Doost (Religious) D 0230-0315 Farsi 7460 R Payam-e Doost (Religious) D 1800-1845 Farsi 7480 R Voice of Iran D 1630-1830¤ Farsi 11520 Voice of the Communist Party D 1730-1900¤ Farsi 3876v and 4376v of Iran Voice of Strugglers of Iranian Kurdistan D 0300-0345¤ Kurdish 4251 Voice of Strugglers of Iranian Kurdistan D 0345-0400¤ Farsi 4251 Voice of Strugglers of Iranian Kurdistan D 1700-1745¤ Kurdish 4251 Voice of Strugglers of Iranian Kurdistan D 1745-1800¤ Farsi 4251 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan D 0330-0345 Kurdish 3975 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan D 0345-0400 Farsi 3975 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan D 1430-1530 Kurdish 3970 Voice of Iranian Kurdistan D 1530-1557 Farsi 3970 Voice of Iranian Revolution D 0330-0430¤ Kurdish 3881v and 4376v Voice of Iranian Revolution D 1500-1600¤ Kurdish 3871v and 4376v Voice of Komala D ? 0325-0400¤ Kurdish 3928 and 4600 Voice of Komala D ? 0400-0430¤ Farsi 3928 and 4600 Voice of Komala D ? 1655-1800¤ Kurdish 3928 Voice of Komala D ? 1800-1900¤ Farsi 3928 Voice of Mojahed D 0227-0635¤ Farsi 4650v, 5350v, 5650v and 6450v Voice of Mojahed D 1427-1832¤ Farsi 4650v, 5350v, 5650v, 6450v, 8250v, 8550v and 9250v Voice of Southern Azerbaijan Mo?/Th 1630-1655¤ Azerbaijani 9375 IRAQ V. of the People of Kurdistan D 0300-0400¤ Arabic 4025 V. of the People of Kurdistan D 0400-0600¤ Kurdish 4025 V. of the People of Kurdistan D 1400-1700¤ Kurdish 4025 V. of the People of Kurdistan D 1700-1800¤ Turkmen 4025 Voice of the Conservative Party of Kurdistan D 0300-0355¤ Arabic/Kurdish 4161 Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan D 0400-0500¤ Arabic 4085 Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan D 1400-1930¤ Kurdish 4085 Voice of Kurdistan Toilers D 0300-0345¤ Kurdish 4235 Voice of Kurdistan Toilers D 0345-0600¤ Arabic 4235 Voice of Kurdistan Toilers D 1500-1600¤ Kurdish 4235 Voice of Kurdistan Toilers D 1600-1700¤ Arabic 4235 Voice of Mesopotamia D 0500-1200¤ Kurdish dialects 11530 Voice of Mesopotamia D 1200-1700¤ Kurdish dialects 11530 KOREA (North) Voice of the People D 1100-2100 Korean 6600 MOLDOVA R Pridnestrovia (External Sce.) MF 1700-1740 English/French/German 5960 MOROCCO (WESTERN SAHARA) Nat. R of the Saharan Arab DR D 0600-0900 Arabic 7460 Nat. R of the Saharan Arab DR D 1700-2300 Arabic 7460 Nat. R of the Saharan Arab DR D 2300-2400 Spanish 7460 MYANMAR Democratic Voice of Burma D 1430-1515 Burmese 5905 and 17495 Democratic Voice of Burma D 1515-1530 Burmese dialects 5905 and 17495 Democratic Voice of Burma D 2330-0015 Burmese 5945 and 12055 Democratic Voice of Burma D 0015-0030 Burmese dialects 5945 and 12055 PAKISTAN R Voice of Kashmir D 1430-1530 Urdu/Dogri 6100 SRI LANKA IBC Tamil D 0000-0100 Tamil 7460 SUDAN R Voice of Hope Sa-Tu 0427-0500 English/Sudanese Arabic 12060 and 15320 Sudan Radio Service MF 1500-1700 English/Arabic/Vernac.’s 15530 Voice of Freedom & Renewal Sa-Th 0400-0445 Arabic 6985 Voice of Sudan D 1530-1600 Arabic 8000 SYRIA The Arabic R D 0430-0500¤ Arabic 7510 The Arabic R D 1600-1630¤ Arabic 7470 and 12085 UGANDA R Rhino International - Africa Tu-Fr 1500-1530 English 17870 R Rhino International - Africa SS 1500-1600 English 17870 VIETNAM New Horizon R D 1330-1430 Vietnamese 9585 R Free Vietnam MF 1400-1430 Vietnamese 11850 ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ The following clandestine broadcasts heard earlier this year were inaudible during November and seem to be inactive (Please note the big number of broadcasts towards Iraq which have disappeared) : AFGHANISTAN Information R D 0030-1800 Dari/Pashto 9000 ETHIOPIA Rainbow R Sa 0900-1000 Amharic 6180 Netsanet Le-Ethiopia Su 1700-1800 Amharic 12120 Voice of Oromiyaa Mo/Th 1730-1800 Oromo 12120 R Solidarity Su 1700-1800 Tigrinya 12120 IRAN Voice of Mojahed 1 D 0227-0635¤ Farsi 6750v, 6950v, 7050v, 7750v, 8350v, 8550v, 8850v, 9350v, 10250v, 10450v and 13450v Voice of Mojahed 1 D 1158-1235¤ Farsi All frequencies Voice of Mojahed 1 D 1427-1832¤ Farsi 6750v, 6950v, 7050v, 7750v, 8350v, 8850v, 9350v, 10250v, 10450v and 13450v Voice of Mojahed 2 D 1700-1950¤ Farsi/Arabic 7070 R Yaran W 1630-1830 Farsi 15790 IRAQ Voice of Iraqi People D 0400-0530¤ Arabic 3900v and 5900v Voice of Iraqi People D 1730-2000¤ Arabic 3900v and 5900v Voice of Liberation of Iraq D 0630-0815¤ Arabic/Turkmen 4025 Voice of Liberation of Iraq D 1800-2030¤ Arabic/Turkmen 4025 R Kurdestan D 0300-0500¤ Arabic/Kurdish 4140 R Kurdestan D 1500-1700¤ Arabic/Kurdish 4140 R Kurdestan D 2000-2100¤ Arabic/Kurdish 4140 V. of the People of Kurdistan D 0300-0400¤ Arabic 4415v V. of the People of Kurdistan D 0400-0600¤ Kurdish 4415v V. of the People of Kurdistan D 1400-1700¤ Kurdish 4415v V. of the People of Kurdistan D 1700-1800¤ Turkmen 4415v Republic of Iraq R D 1300-0300 Arabic/Kurdish 4785, 9563, 9570 and 11710 V.o.Islamic Revolution of Iraq D 0330-0527 Arabic 6145, 7100 and 9535 R Assyria D 0800-1200 Arabic/Assyrian 9155 R Assyria D 1600-1800 Arabic/Assyrian 9155 Information R D 24 h Arabic 9715 ISRAEL Voice of Palestine D 1930-2027 Arabic 3985, 6025, 6065, 6200, 9705 and 11740 KOREA (South) Voice of National Salvation D 2000-0030 Korean 3480, 4120, 4450 and 6100 LEBANON Voice of Free Lebanon D 1600-1700 Arabic 11645 MYANMAR Voice of Burma MF 1200-1300 Maymo 9875 NIGERIA Salama R D 1830-2000 English/Hausa 13855 Jakada Radio International MF 1900-1930 Hausa/English 15170 SAUDI ARABIA Voice of Reform D 1800-2000 Arabic 15705 TOGO R Togo Libre MF 1300-1400 French 21760 R Togo Libre Su 2000-2100 French 12125 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI, Dec 5, via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. NEW YEAR'S EVE RADIO WORLDWIDE December 3, 2003 By Sheila Lennon / The Providence (R.I.) Journal 7:55 p.m. Tuesday New Year's Eve radio worldwide, now and then and live again: Lou Josephs has put together more than 250 links to events around the world, from among the more than 4,900 TV and radio stations worldwide that are webcasting. (Unfortunately, CARP fees -- royalty payments per song per listener -- killed most live U.S. radio streams.) [baloney – unless you only listen to commercial music radio --- gh] Here's how it came about: Several years ago, Kim Elliott at the Voice of America spent his New Year's Eve listening to how the world celebrated using short-wave radio to hear international and domestic stations ring in the New Year. Kim used to host Communications World every weekend on the Voice of America. We have assembled a list of webcasters (stations who transmit programs over the Internet) and webcams (cameras that take a photo every few seconds) who will usher in the New Year 2003 [sic]. To get you started here is a twenty two minute audio clip from WABC, it features Cousin Bruce Morrow (now at CBS FM in NYC), Guy Lombardo via remote and Charlie Greer (deceased) following on the overnight. Suddenly it's 1965. Moving forward a few years, NBC Radio's Ben Grauer reported the arrival of the New Year from Times Square in New York. He did this for several decades (and you thought Dick Clark was the first to do it?) This is one of his last live reports, on New Year's Eve 1971. It's the last clip on the page. There are tons of links and photos, a sad reminder of all we're missing here without web radio. Here's how Lou describes it all on his blog: Finished the New Year's Eve ultimate joy ride, three pages full of stations that webcast. Some surprises as well. The history of this was when Kim Andrew Eliot started this by listening to how the world welcomes the New Year in on Shortwave. I started the web site five years ago with the idea that streaming would allow you to do the same thing. Boy does it ever. OK, kick the tires, have fun. The site will mirror here over the New Years. And I will update it it in real time (via Artie Bigley, DXLD) Unfortunately, no URLs show. I used to have it bookmarked. Who can find it now? (gh, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. EXPEDITION 8 CREW MIGHT BE ON THE AIR FOR ARISS ROY NEAL, K6DUE, EVENT Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says a ``very challenging schedule`` kept the Expedition 8 crew from getting on the air November 29-30 for the ARISS Roy Neal, K6DUE, commemorative special event. Bauer says Crew Commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, may attempt to be on the air from NA1SS on Saturday, December 6. ``He requested that we make it clear that he would like to try again this weekend --- on Saturday only --- but not to get your hopes too high that he will be there,`` Bauer said. ``He requested a single pass over North America and over Europe.`` Also onboard the ISS is cosmonaut Sasha Kaleri, U8MIR. Foale and Kaleri both were active on Amateur Radio during their tours of duty aboard the Russian Mir space station. ARISS has provided pass information (ISS pass times, below) to NASA to communicate to the crew. Bauer said ARISS put its list of passes in priority order starting with those offering the greatest ground coverage. He noted, however, that the top-priority North American pass occurs just about the time the crew typically retires for the day. ``So it is not clear if this is a viable pass,`` he added. ``We included it because it was a superior pass for North America.`` Among other distractions last week was a peculiar ``crushing`` noise heard November 24 in the Zvezda Service Module --- the crew`s quarters. Another onboard problem involved what Bauer called ``serious issues`` with the treadmill the crew uses to keep fit in zero gravity. Bauer expressed hopes that the crew would be able to be on the air from NA1SS this weekend as part of a month-long special event in memory of Neal, who served as SAREX/ARISS Working Group Chairman. Neal died in August. ARISS has requested that special event participants keep all contacts short to give as many stations as possible a chance to work NA1SS. Those contacting the ISS by voice (NA1SS) or packet (RS0ISS) through the end of December will be eligible for a special anniversary event certificate. Bauer advised those working NA1SS for the event to not request a certificate until ARISS releases QSL instructions. ARISS http://www.rac.ca/ariss/ is an international project with participation and support from ARRL, NASA and AMSAT. ISS PASS TIMES IN PRIORITY ORDER: Saturday, December 6, (all times UTC) --- North America: 1. 2128-2150, 2. 1953-2014, 3. 1818-1839 and 4. 1646-1703. Europe: 1. 1348-1415, 2. 1525-1554, 3. 1701-1726, 4. 1836-1854, 5. 2012-2026 and 6 1213-1235 (ARRL Letter Dec 5 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Six hams set to ride shuttle ``Return to Flight`` mission: Six Amateur Radio licensees will be aboard when the shuttle Atlantis returns to space late next year. The mission, STS- 114 --- which NASA is calling the ``Return to Flight`` mission --- will be the first since Columbia broke apart February 1, 2003, during reentry following a 15-day space flight. The mishap claimed the lives of seven astronauts --- three of them Amateur Radio licensees. According to still-tentative NASA information, Atlantis will go into space no sooner than September 2004. NASA has announced the STS-114 crew members as Mission Commander Eileen Collins, KD5EDS; Pilot James Kelly, KC5ZSW; Mission Specialist Charles Camarda, KC5ZSY; Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence, KC5KII; Mission Specialist Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP; Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson, and Mission Specialist Andy Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR. A veteran of three space flights, Mission Commander Collins has logged more than 530 hours in space. During the Return to Flight mission, the crew will test and evaluate new procedures for flight safety and shuttle inspection and repair techniques (ARRL December 3 via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** IRAN. IRIB Japanese service had replaced its Short wave service by Internet at our night time program at 1300, but returned to Short wave from Nov 20! Earlier, from the beginning of B03 schedule on Oct 26, IRIB`s Japanese service had become inaudible in any of Summer and expected Winter frequencies. A few days later, two frequencies of our morning time transmission at 2100 came back on 6125 and 7180, which were the expected Winter frequencies. They had kept announcing Summer frequencies for our night time program without actual transmission, but all of a sudden in the middle of November they started announcing the live program from Teheran studio at 1300 was now broadcast on Internet only. This was to our big surprise, because a couple of months ago, IRIB`s Japanese program director had e-mailed to many Japanese listeners that IRIB management had an idea of replacing shortwave by internet and asked our comments. Many Japanese listeners complained and sent clear objection to the internet replacement idea. There had been no words on our responses and changed to internet without any previous announcement. But finally on Nov 20, IRIB Japanese program came back on short wave at 1300 transmission too. They said this was because of complaints and requests of listeners (Toshimichi Ohtake, Japan SW Club, via DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** IRAN. 9580, Voice of Justice, 0030-0048 12/4. In English; opening with "Voice of Justice" ID, then English sked (0030-0130 on 9580, 6120); 0031-0036 Kor`an, followed by news to 0048 commentary. Actually, the "Voice of Justice" ID was heard only at beginning of transmission; the usual "Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran" IDs were heard at other times. VG signal; 6120 not heard, although there was a weak carrier there (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** JAPAN. 5006, JG2XA (Nagoya?) 1426-1436 12/4. Noted with 1000-Hz long time pip every minute at :00; no second pips heard. CW IDs ("JG2XA" repeated) heard at 1426-27 and 1433-34 and possibly at other times, but signal was becoming weak and couldn't tell. Supposedly // to 8006, and there was a fair-sized carrier there, but no pips or CW heard. Anybody have an address for this one? (John Wilkins, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Drake R-8, 100-foot RW, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** KURDISTAN. 3975, Voice of Iranian Kurdistan, (still broadcasting from Al-Sulaymaniyah, Northern Iraq?), *0330-0400, Nov 30, Sign on with IDs in Kurdish: ``Aira dangi Kurdistan Irana``, Call to prayer, IDs again and talk about Kurdistan, 0345-0355 talk about Kurdistan in Farsi with ID 0350: ``Seda-ye Kordestan-e Iran.`` Folksong and probably Kurdish talk again, but then R Budapest signed on with its program in Russian. Heard best in USB due to noise on the frequency. 33343 (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) 4280.77, UNID, 0310-0325, Nov 28, Kurdish, fighting songs, Kurdish music, no ID heard, only audible in USB due to heavy QRM from utility. Not observed later in the morning at 0540. 21221 (Bjarke Vestesen, Radby, Blommenslyst, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD). Not heard 0358 on Nov 30 or 0258-0318 on Dec 01. This summer the Voice of Strugglers of Iranian Kurdistan was on 4277, but it is now heard regularly on 4250.8 with sign on *0300 and clear ID in Kurdish: ``Aira dangi Khabati Kurdistani Irana``. (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** LAOS. 4649.10, R. National Lao, Luang Prabang, *0955-1230*, Nov 11, 12 and 13, Interval signal and Laotian program. At 1200-1230 Seven gongs, National Anthem and world news relayed from Vientiane with a few seconds delay compared to 7145. Also heard signing on *2300 (Roland Schulze, Philippines, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** MALAYSIA. 7270, Kuching, RTM Sarawak (tentative), 1420-1500*, Dec 01. A clear frequency until Tirana put their ``wobbly`` carrier on about 7270 at 1454, but this station still audible, altho now suffering loud QRM. I heard some popular local style music and a long talk by a man with music bridges. Language not recognised, but should be Iban. May have concluded with news at 1445. At 1446 a male group were heard singing/chanting, and this was still on-going when Albania arrived. I believe I heard a brief announcement before tentative Kuching went off at 1500. Good signal. Thanks to Martien Groot (Noel Green, UK, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** NAMIBIA. 6060, NBC (presumed), 2046-2200 5 Dec., Romantic Pop ballads, 2100 W with possible ID sounding like "This is the NBC, ? Radio", then into news by same W to 2104. Presumed promo by M with what sounded like a mention of Africa, and quick ascending musical notes a the end. Then back to music program hosted by deep, Barry White-like, voice M announcer. Took a few phone calls at 2124, and 2130. 2159 M mentioned information and house, maybe a PSA. Weak signal made readability difficult. Was clear however. This should be easy at a quiet location with a Beverage antenna (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** RUSSIA. 7200, Yakutsk, 0910, Dec 01, local ID in Yakutian and then Russian, which sounded like ``Radio Respublika Sakha``. Then advertising [reklama] mainly in Russian // 7345 both with fairly good strength (Noel Green, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. ANALYSIS: RWANDAN HATE BROADCASTERS JAILED FOR LIFE | Text of editorial analysis by BBC Monitoring Media Services on 4 December Three Rwandan journalists were handed long sentences on 3 December for their part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. They worked for "hate media" outlets which incited the killings of up to a million people. Two were charged with using a radio station and one with publishing as part of a campaign of incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity. Ferdinand Nahimana, a founder of Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which was said to have openly incited the 100 days of massacres, and Hassan Ngeze, publisher of the Hutu extremist Kangura publication, received life sentences. Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza, also a founder of the radio station, was jailed for 35 years, the French news agency AFP reported. The three-year hate media trial was considered among the most important to come before the Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) since it was set up. Life imprisonment is the harshest sentence available to the ICTR. A dozen convictions have been secured by the tribunal in the nine years of its existence. The radio station had become infamous as a result of its broadcasts inciting Hutus to kill Tutsis. Established in 1993, the privately- owned radio initially criticized peace talks between the government of President Juvenal Habyarimana and the Tutsi-led rebels of the Rwandan Patriotic Front, which now forms the government. Hardline Hutus saw the peace process as a threat to their power base. After Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash in April 1994, the radio called for a "final war" to "exterminate the cockroaches". It played a role in organizing militias, broadcasting lists of wanted people and, above all, incited hatred: "In truth, all Tutsis will perish. They will vanish from this country... They are disappearing little by little thanks to the weapons hitting them, but also because they are being killed like rats." The court heard incitement to kill through expressions like "go work", "go clean" and "the graves are not yet full". As the forces of the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front moved down through the country during 1994, the broadcasters of Radio Mille Collines fled across the border into what was then Zaire. Throughout the trial, the prosecution sought to prove that both the radio and magazine played a crucial role in the genocide. "... RTLM guided the activities of ordinary people during the genocide," prosecutor Stephen Rapp of the United States said in August 2003. Other prosecutors said that the station was "a monster that contributed to the extermination of almost one million Rwandans..." and accused Barayagwiza and Nahimana of running and having control over the output of the station. Nahimana denied having any editorial control at the station after 6 April 1994, the day the genocide started. RTLM had been taken over by "radicals, extremists whose vision and way of doing things I do not share", he said. "RTLM broadcasts were a drumbeat calling on listeners to take action against Tutsis," presiding Judge Pillay said. "RTLM spread petrol throughout the country little by little..." The spectre of media running out of control and nervousness over rogue media outlets is shown still in the continuing high level of media control and the lack of media diversity in Rwanda. The independent newspaper, Umeseso, is frequently accused of causing divisions and its journalists arrested. Uganda prints newspapers for Rwanda and sends many of its own English-language papers over the border. The information minister, Laurent Nkusi, believes that the past continues to have an influence but told the French news agency AFP that things have improved for the press and radio. Foreign broadcasters including the BBC World Service, Voice of America and German external radio Deutsche Welle can be heard there and two private radio licences are under consideration. What the dreadful events in Rwanda showed was that responsibility for genocide lay with those who spread messages of hate through the media, as well as those doing the killing, the Rwandan prosecutor-general Gerard Gahima suggested in reaction to the convictions. Direct action could have silenced the hate from RTLM in the same way Serbian TV was removed from the airwaves. General Romeo Dallaire, the commander of the UN peacekeeping operation in Rwanda at the time of the genocide, said: "Simply jamming [the] broadcasts and replacing them with messages of peace and reconciliation would have had a significant impact on the course of events." It is not clear what action will be taken in future occurrences, but the international community of governments and NGOs are now fully aware of the awful power hate media outlets can wield, especially in already unstable situations. Source: BBC Monitoring research 4 Dec 03 (via DXLD) ** SOMALIA [non]. 9820, R Xoriyo, via Juelich, Germany, *1630-1659*, Tu Dec 02, Somali IDs ``Radio Xoriyo``, Call to prayer, talk often mentioning Somalia, but also Iraq and Al Fatah, Horn of Africa string music, speech and interview held at a school with lively children, a word sounding like ``Denmark`` was mentioned several times; scheduled Tuesdays and Fridays, ex 15670, 34444. At *1700 a program in Oromo from the Voice of the Oromo Liberation was transmitted, but having a much weaker audio feed (Anker Petersen, Denmark, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN--Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: In "Nordic Lights" deportations from Finland to Nazi Germany Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: "Network Europe" Sunday: "In Touch With Stockholm" focuses on returning a totem pole, the EU constitution, and the Swedish court and the German press We're sorry to report that Vietnam seems to have resumed jamming of our Swedish broadcast to Asia at 13:00 hrs UTC on 9920 kHz (Anders Bäcklin, Radio Sweden, SCDX/MediaScan Dec 4 via DXLD) ** THAILAND [and non]. 1575, VOA Ayutthaya NOV 30 1135-1150 - Burmese program parallel 9890 kHz. When this is coming in it is the strongest TP ever heard here in Florida. 9700 miles, directly over the pole. Must be coming in at a very high angle as can never get a null on my high precision loop. Over the years peak reception of this station has been from DEC 15 to JAN 15. + DEC 1, 1128-1142 - Booming in, best signal ever here in southwest Florida. At 1128 tune-in man singing. Great tape of VOA sign-on at 1130, "You are listening to the Voice of America, Washington, DC... Welcome to Voice of America in Burmese." Then into Burmese. Almost as strong and readable as shortwave parallel on 9890 kHz (Sri Lanka). This season has been up and down, mostly down. Started off well in August with fair audio from 1503 kHz (New Zealand) AUG 4, 16, 1512 kHz (Australia) AUG 6, 1098 kHz (Marshall Is) AUG 21, 22, 1475 kHz (Sabah) AUG 17, big carrier, hints of audio. September was very poor. OCT 2 1611, 1629, 1638 kHz weak jumble of audio on each channel. OCT 3 1098 kHz sounded like accented English. November poor (Ray Moore, North Fort Myers FL; R8, homebrew receiver, 23-in spiral loop, 28 dB preamp, 23-in SW loop with R1000, NRC IDXD via DXLD) ** U K. VETERAN DJS IN RADIO HALL OF FAME John Peel has been at BBC Radio 1 since it started in 1967 DJs John Peel and Chris Tarrant were inducted into a broadcasting hall of fame on Thursday. The hall of fame, set up by the Radio Academy last year, has already honoured DJs Kenny Everett, Alistair Cooke and Tony Blackburn. Peel has had a radio career spanning 40 years and is BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ. Tarrant, the breakfast show host on London's Capital FM for 17 years, will leave the station next year. Other broadcasters entered into the hall of fame on Thursday were BBC Radio 4's Sue MacGregor, former radio 2 drivetime host John Dunn and LBC presenter Douglas Cameron. The five DJs were honoured at a lunch at London's Savoy hotel. Collecting his award, Peel reflected on his career and said: "I would have to say the happiest time is now. "The fact that listeners can communicate with you immediately all over the world is amazing. "You play a record and someone contacts you from Sacramento and says 'Have you heard the B-side'. So you flip it over and hear the B-side - it's fantastic." 'More popular' Radio Academy director John Bradford said: "These five names have set the standard to which others follow. "Their voices have helped make radio today more popular than it has ever been, even as media diversifies beyond all recognition." The academy's hall of fame has been created online, with biographies, photos and audio clips as a permanent reminder of their careers. Tarrant said: "I'm going to take a while off and do a bit of television, but I love radio. "Radio is the best because it has that urgency. I love it all, music and speech stations, so I'm sure I'll do some stuff in the future." (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO AND TV MARTI ON THE NET: CONSPIRACY OR FRAUD? "It is logical that a page with three or four dysfunctional links is the result of permissible human or technical error. But 80% of dead links cannot be merely a human error, but must be a premeditated action." "If you are not satisfied with our site, you are free to go away to another one." Anonymous e-mail from Radio Martí to the author of this article --- By Alexis Molina* Ireland, December 1, 2003, La Nueva Cuba Years ago I was at the right age to be fascinated by a radio broadcast that used to enter in my home and say things impossible to listen to in Castro's Cuban Radio programs in the 80s. Now to leave the communist hell and begin to survive the hardships of exile was like a bucket of cold water and the idea of the fraud started to materialize in my mind as soon as I arrived to "The Land of Freedom". From then on, the interest in keeping myself fully informed of what was happening in Cuba has not diminished, but to be clear about it, Radio Martí on the Internet is not a helpful hand in that aspect of the information. At the end of the year 2002, a couple of friends and I started the task of opening a web page on which we denounced some cases of kidnapped children of Cuban Exiles by Castro's Dictatorship. In order to give more complete information to our potential readers we decided to include a section dedicated to daily news about our homeland, but unfortunately, we chose the online version of Radio Martí as one of the sources. Many of the readers who by then were interested in our project told us that when visiting our suggested links in Radio and TV Martí website, they came across many dead links. In the six months that our experiment lasted, I could say that I sent dozens of e-mails to the Webmaster of the site without receiving an answer other than the one that today heads this article. I can say also that I reported that even to The Broadcasting Board of Governors. And after so much poking and alerting, I believe that if I doubt the seriousness of Radio and TV Martí on the Internet, I have to also (and without ambiguity) doubt the government of the United States. What motives are here to exclude it? Formerly (less than one year ago) TV Martí was using the Real Player (RP), which could show video images instantly, but after they redesigned their Web site they eliminated it to leave only Windows Media Player (WMP), which needs a wait of around 30 minutes to watch the same video images. The Voice of the United States of America (VOA) and Radio Martí belong to the same independent agency The Broadcasting Board of Governors. Nevertheless, the service of the former is extremely efficient, well structured and it responds to the interest of the users offering them endless number of options that make the site a pleasant place to visit, informative and interesting. The transmissions of radio and video of the VOA are offered in both supports (RP and WMP). But how is it possible that two agencies belonging to the Broadcasting Board of Governors can have such a large difference in quality between them? A few weeks ago I wanted to highlight the topic after I had read an editorial of La Nueva Cuba, and I prefer writing about it myself with the hope that it will call the attention to this matter instead of searching for the right person to do it. I came to the conclusion that I could risk losing, in other hands, the inconsistencies that I have found at Radio and TV Martí online with their daily slip-ups. Here we have a small compendium of them: On Saturday 29 of November I chose at random 12 programs with a total of 142 links, 114 did not work. This, besides being shameful, indicated 80% of inactivity in the service. Now, who in the American Government pays for such a terrible work? Or is it that the question is wrongly formulated and I am the one who does not realize that the apparent inefficiency is actually their biggest success. Today, the day on which I have decided to distribute this text, I can describe the functionality of Radio and TV Martí as follows: "Noticiero Radio Martí", of a total of 12 links to programs, none of them works. "A la Luz de la Verdad", of a total of 12 links to programs, none of them works. "A Media Mañana", the same. "Al duro y sin guantes", Ditto; "Alto Voltaje", the same", Aquí y ahora", 6 out of 12 links work; "Boleros de Siempre", 6 out of 9 work;. "Con voz propia", out of 12 links none works; "Contacto Cuba", none works; "Cuba es su Música", 5 out of 8 links work; "Cuba hoy, Cuba mañana; 5 out of 9 work; "Cuba sin Fronteras", of 12 programs, none works; "Cubanola", 6 out of 8 work. Therefore, one could reach the conclusion that if Fidel Castro needed an aspirin to alleviate his headaches, Radio and TV Martí Online are better than Tylenol. God forgive me for the comparison but neither in "Granma Digital ", nor in" Granma International ", or in" La Jiribilla ", nor in" Juventud Rebelde ", or in" Prensa Latina ", nor in the" Tribuna de La Havana ", also in" Trabajadores ", or in "CENAI Internet", nor in the "Gaceta Oficial de Cuba", or in "Radio Rebelde ", one finds a link that is not active to broadcast their disinformation. It is logical that a page with three or four dysfunctional links is the result of permissible human or technical error. But 80% of dead links cannot be merely a human error, but must be a premeditated action. And I want to make it clear that I have softened the tone of a problem that is hardly irreconcilable with innocence. In my opinion, the burden of proof must be now in the hands of those who receive a decent wage from the government of The United States, or those who consider Radio and TV Martí "on line" as an instrument to the service of the freedom of Cuba. *Alexis Molina is a graduate in Economy, specialist in Computerized Systems and Computer science (Hardware and Software), Editor of Digital Videos, Graphical Design and Web Pages. His interests include politics and human rights. He lives in exile since 1992 and resides in Ireland (LA NUEVA CUBA via Oscar de Céspedes, FL, Dec 4, DXLD) ** U S A. George, you beat me to it! Was getting ready to post the following when I read your messsage. Nice work! Heard the unID, 4846,20, 0020+, Dec. 4, that John Herkimer first noted on Dec. 1. I recognized the program as the "Apocalypse Chronicles" and sure enough, its on 5105, WBCQ! Checked WBCQ, 5105 schedule and I believe the "pirate" we thought we heard was the "Area 51" block, featuring ""Firesign Theatre" via a spur! 73, (Scott R Barbour Jr., NH, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Scott, You should still report it to Cumbre also, as it's an indication of how widespread it really is. As with most spurs, there's an associated one offset an equal amount above the fundamental frequency. It's on 5363.4. 5105.2 - 4847 = 258.2 kHz. 5105.2 + 258.2 = 5363.4 kHz (George Maroti via Barbour, ibid.) ** U S A. Howdy, Sitting in the deer blind yesterday evening, killing time till zero hour, I was scanning the shortwave dial with my handy dandy Grundig mini. (This post eventually gets to Pirate Radio) I came across some loudmouth ranting on the NWO, having an affinity for these programs I listened awhile. When the show ended (5:00 Eastern) I finally ID the station as WBCQ (non pirate)out of Maine. http://wbcq.com The next show that came on was some guy named Weiner, yep pronounced like the tubesstake. There was a running joke 'round these parts about touching another guy`s Weiner, So I thought I'd better listen! He turned out to be the station`s GM and gave a radio history lesson on the first 500,000 watt Station of the Nation, Back in the 20's, technical but interesting. Anyway, back to the Pirate connection. He mentioned two things that caught my ear, first, that he started out as a pirate (and still runs a pirate station on the side). Second, he does a pirate oriented show (The Pirates Cove) on Sunday nights (11:00 pm, 5105). Haven’t caught it yet, but I might try to stay up for it tonight. I really don’t know anything about this guy/station/ show, Probably other here do, anyway just thought I'd pass it along. See Below for info from their website. (R. Daneskjold, FRN Grapevine via DXLD) The Pirate's Cove, Sun, 5105, 11:00PM 12:00PM [EST], 0400 0500 [UT] Inaugural broadcast noted on Sunday 10/19/3 at 11 PM. Scott Becker and Allan Weiner live in the studio discussed a bit of their respective pirate histories, including Scott's blues station 'KBLU' on 7415 upper sideband (c. 1990, on the air about the time Alan was trying to get the Sarah back on air). Then a tape of "the history of the ARBS/ Falling Star Radio Network," an air check of one of Allan's broadcasts in the 1970s. Wednesday November 19, 2003, 0030 UTC, 7415. "A Voice in the wilderness" ended at 0030, contrary to the published schedule which says it's supposed to run until 0100. In its place we were treated to the third installment of the "History of the ARBS" retrospective broadcast on The Pirate's Cove, a rebroadcast of the show from Sunday evening on 5105. This show rebroadcasts an excerpt from a 1976 program from WRNE 89.1 (10 watts) that itself retrospects Allan's pirate history from the late sixties and early seventies. (11/18/3) (FRN Grapevine via DXLD) Hi Ragnar dude. Yeah mannnnn, I know them WBCQ guys real good now. Allan Weiner is an ex-pirate, as well as quite a few others involved with the station which went on the air in 1998 I believe. I still haven't had the pleasure of hearing The Pirates Cove on 5105 as the station fades out too much by then, and for some reason the online feed always goes down before it comes on. But that could be the internet there too. LOL! By the way, my show Radio Free Euphoria is on 3 times a month on Sundays at 2200 UTC on 7.415 kHz. Radio 3 comes on in my place once a month usually the 2nd or 3rd Sunday. Me and Radio 3 are both ex- pirates as well. Luckily three of listeners (especially my good friend Jim in Rock Village) and the WBCQ program director help with my airtime as I can't afford it myself due a messed up lower back which prevents me from working much. But at the same time, their airtime is the cheapest if someone wanted to buy time to get on there. Anyways WBCQ has a lot of real cool programming on the weekends, and sometimes they'll run some interesting pirate related things in the off-hours after 0700 UT on their online audio feeds. I've heard cool stuff like Juliet's Wild Kingdom (great 'BCQ show by Pirate Juliet of Voice Of Juliet), pirate shows like Radio Bingo, Voice Of The Inky Pen, and my old pirate shows from the nineties on them feeds along with funny audio clips of Jay Bozo Smilkstein between shows. I love it mannnnn! (St. Ganjacontin, Nov 23, FRN Grapevine via DXLD) ** U S A. PIRATE, 6950FM, Undercover Radio, Dec 2, 2340-0000 Clear signal with full quieting in FM mode, SINPO 44444. ID at 2344, followed by Billy Idol's version of "Heroin". Also heard the next day around 2300 UT with on old program titled "An Adventure in Space and Time". e-mail : undercoverradio@mail.com Audio clip can be heard here: http://www.piratearchive.com/undercoverradio_12-02-03.m3u (George Maroti, NY, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) PIRATE (CANADA?) Today's mail included an unsolicited QSL from Merlin, Ontario for an e-mail reception log of Canadian pirate Undercover Radio back in October on 13915 USB. (The proprietor quickly responded during the transmission, indicating he would send me a QSL and CD.) I received a CD (complete with mutant 4-color insert of gothic and semi-S&M photos) of the entire program, along with a glossy color QSL. Awesome production, with some original goth/thrash music; the lyrics, story and script-writing credited to Dr. Benway and M. Francis Fester. A very cool package. I am playing the thing right now, and my dog is going absolutely apeshit trying to locate the stereo speakers (mounted very high) to this (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, Florida, USA, 27.55.83 N, 82.46.08 W, Dec 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST) QSL card (confirmation #112), and CD (21 cuts) of the Undercover Radio show received today. Card says transmitter: Drs. Hombrew, antenna: whip, and power: 300 watts, 13915 kHz (Jerry WWØE Rappel, Iowa, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** U S A. KBPS 1450 NOW BROADCASTING IN STEREO! I received this E-mail from an engineer at KBPS 1450 Portland, OR. With so many stations wasting valuable spectrum space by transmitting IBOC, it's comforting to know that there are new stations broadcasting in the technologically advanced sound of AM Stereo. The engineer at KBPS, who shall remain nameless,"...wanted to let you know that we installed AM stereo on KBPS, Portland, OR on Nov. 28. KBPS is a 738 watt non-D station run by the K-12 Portland Public Schools. It is located at Benson Polytechnic High School and operated by the school's radio education program." "Unused stereo equipment was available in town, so we did some begging and 'horse-trading' and voila' -stereo. The station has a recent Nautel ND1 solid state transmitter, and we're using the Broadcast Electronics AX10 exciter, considered by many to possess the best sound quality. The audio processing consists of a Behringer Ultradyne 6-band digital processor feeding a stereo Orban Optimod 9100A. The sound is pretty good. It would be better with an Omnia AM stereo digital processor, but that is out of financial reach at the moment." "KBPS is one of the few AM stations in Portland with a music format. It is a 'Kid Rhythm' format during the day, somewhat like a Radio Disney format, but skewed younger. At night the station is leased to Portland State University and has a typical college radio fare. (The PSU program is currently in mono, but we're working on a low-cost means to get their program to the transmitter in stereo)." "We intentionally did not promote this ahead of time, turned it on and waited to see if anyone noticed. On the same day, two radio station engineers noticed and emailed me. Now the word is out in the local industry. I'm somewhat expecting the 'waste of time' comment soon. But, who cares? It's an interesting thing to do." "I've said enough. Comments are welcomed." IRCAns who own AM Stereo tuners/receivers, there's a new target for you! 73 and good DX from (Eric Bueneman, Amateur Radio Station N0UIH, Dec 3, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO UPSTART KCUV BUCKS ALL THE TRENDS By Dick Kreck, Denver Post Columnist, Friday, December 05, 2003 It's buried so deep on the right end of the radio dial you probably haven't stumbled across our town's brassiest new station. KCUV (1510 AM) is old-school FM radio in AM duds. "Free form" they called it back in the day. Those whose ears have been around since the 1970s will think of KFML-FM or KTCL-FM. KCUV, which went on the air on Oct. 15, is the creation of Tim Brown, who grew tired of what was being offered on local FM stations. That his father-in-law is rich guy Phil Anschutz didn't hurt his own-your- own aspirations. "I got into broadcasting because I love it," Brown says. "Radio's become such a wasteland. It's predictable. It doesn't have a lot of thought in it anymore." How to describe what KCUV plays? One recent morning, there were songs by Carl Perkins, The Band, Bonnie Raitt, Muddy Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Patsy Cline and Otis Taylor. You say "eclectic." Brown says "Americana," a catch-all term that covers "roots music, all of the (musical) influences that got us where we are today. It's all those formats - folk, bluegrass, progressive rock, country - that you're not going to hear on the FM dial." It's not revolutionary. It just went missing when the FM band got gobbled up by conglomerates and the music went flat as the drive for profits soared. Brown makes no secret of his disdain for his FM rivals. "They used to be beacons of free-form radio. What happened is people paid a lot of money for the stations. You've got two choices because you have to pay the mortgage. First, you eliminate local programming. The programming has been reduced, the commercial count has gone up." Brown is a romantic when it comes to the music and a businessman when it comes to the bottom line. "We're by no means a public radio station. We're still building our advertising. We're going to rachet up to eight units an hour." The average on FM, he says, is 16-20 an hour. There is a downside. So far, the station's signal, to put it politely, is lame, a flaw Brown grudgingly acknowledges with a Homer Simpson- style "D'oh" when the subject comes up. FCC regs require KCUV to drop to 1,300 watts at night (it's 10,000 during the day), meaning it's barely audible in much of the metro area. Change is inevitable. It's free-form radio, after all. Brown is chasing an FM outlet, asking for a boost in the AM station's night- time wattage and tinkering with programming. An all-blues show from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays went on the air last week and the all-bluegrass- all-day overkill on Sundays will be cut back. (from http://www.denverpost.com via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. Albuquerque's KRQE-TV News anchor Dick Knipfing interrupted the CBS presentation of "Miss Congeniality" Tuesday night to prematurely report the death of former New Mexico congressman Joe Skeen, one of the state's longest serving federal lawmakers. Knipfing attributed the report of Skeen's death to New Mexico Republican Party Chairwoman Ramsay Gorham. Fifteen minutes later, Knipfing interrupted the movie again to report that Gorham was misinformed, the 76-year old Skeen was still alive. Eastern New Mexico Medical Center in Roswell, where Skeen has been for about a week, refused to release details of his condition, citing privacy concerns and respect for the family. After KRQE's report and retraction, Skeen's hospitalization became the top story Tuesday night on each, Albuquerque, network affiliate's 10 pm newscast. KRQE's current promotional slogan is "Earning Your Trust." Knipfing is currently in his third stint with Emmis-owned KRQE. He has also served as the main news anchor in Albuquerque at ABC affiliate KOAT-TV (Hearst) and NBC affiliate KOB-TV (Hubbard). (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) ** U S A. Regarding WBZ 1030 kHz possibly transmitting IBOC, I made the following observations. (I'm in Natick, MA, within ground wave of WBZ.) I just checked the adjacent channels at 4:40 pm local. WBZ on 1030 kHz is 10db/S9 with no preamp (Drake R8). Loud digital hash/noise centered at 1043.5 kHz is just above S9. Loud digital hash/noise centered at 1017.6 kHz is also just above S9. For the record, I can pick up a weak music station on 1000 kHz at S7. This would have been masked by the digital hash/noise. For a relative noise floor check, I tried 1700 kHz. The signal meter was about S3-S4. So there's a big jump from the noise floor of S4, to noise around 1030 kHz of S9+. I don't remember this noise around 1030 kHz ever being there before. Does anyone on the NRC list have ties to anyone working on the technical side of WBZ to confirm or deny? Have fun, (Paul McDonough, Natick, MA, NRC-AM via DXLD) see also RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM ** U S A. NWS/ARRL SKYWARN Recognition Day is December 6 (Dec 4, 2003) --- The fifth annual ARRL/National Weather Service (NWS) SKYWARN Recognition Day takes place Saturday, December 6, 0000 UTC to 2400 UTC. During this event, Amateur Radio operators at National Weather Service (NWS) offices will contact other operators around the world. The purpose of the event is to recognize Amateur Radio for its vital public service in times of severe weather and to strengthen the bond between radio amateurs and the NWS. Traditionally, hams have assisted the National Weather Service during times of severe weather by providing real-time reports of severe events and storm evolution. ``You simply can`t put a price tag on it,`` said Scott Mentzer, N0QE, the event`s organizer and meteorologist-in-charge at the Goodland, Kansas, NWS office. Those taking part will exchange call signs, signal reports, and QTH plus a one or two word description of the weather (i.e., sunny, partly cloudy, windy). Last year, participants logged nearly 23,000 QSOs during the 24 hour event. For details, visit the 2003 SKYWARN Recognition Day Web page http://www.crh.noaa.gov/hamradio/ (ARRL December 4 via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** URUGUAY. "La Nueva Radio Oriental, La Radio Católica del Uruguay" Este parece ser el eslogan de la nueva etapa de Radio Oriental, AM 770, ahora en manos de la Iglesia Católica del Uruguay, que se inaugura el próximo 8 de diciembre. Hoy apareció en el diario capitalino "Últimas Noticias" más información sobre la emisora, artículo que estoy transcribiendo más abajo. Más tarde escuchando la misma y llamando a los números telefónicos en sus actuales estudios pude obtener lo siguiente: - El nombre de la emisora se mantiene. - Siguen las principales figuras de su programación. - La nueva dirección de estudios y administracion: Calle Cerrito 475, 11000 Montevideo ...en la Ciudad Vieja de Montevideo. - Teléfono: 916 11 30 (habilita con extensiones) Teléfonos de estudios: 915 08 98 y 915 40 05 - La asignación de la onda corta se mantiene tal como ahora, CXA12 11735 - La planta emisora no se cambia, o sea seguirá en el mismo lugar de Radio Montecarlo y el trasmisor de onda corta por ahora seguirá siendo el mismo. (Tengo que investigar, con el personal de la Gerencia Técnica; me informaron una persona de apellido Velázquez, que quedará de los planes de conversión en el equipo de onda corta de AM a Banda Lateral Única, que me había adelantado el Sr. Técnico de Montecarlo, Sr. Gustavo Cirino. Director de la emisora: Presbítero Jorge Techera La emisora se inaugura el 8 de diciembre próximo, que antes en Uruguay era dia feriado ("Dia de las Playas" o "Dia de la Familia"), y que en este 2003 coincide con un referéndum de validación a una Ley sobre el futuro de la empresa estatal de combustibles y cemento (ANCAP). Aunque un titulado en la foto del artículo periodístico indica que la "Radio Católica emitirá desde el 12 de diciembre" - Reitero, el nombre oficial NO es Radio Católica, sino que mantiene el nombre, y lo de los permisos es una cuestión de forma, pues la emisora YA está trasmitiendo desde sus nuevos estudios (Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, dic 2) --- Transcripcion de la nota del Diario "Últimas Noticias", Montevideo, diciembre 2, 2003 por Marcelo Bonjour: "Iglesia ya definió algunas incorporaciones a la programación - Radio Católica será oficialmente inaugurada el lunes 8, una vez que se aprueben los permisos - Si los permisos se conceden y el Poder Ejecutivo accede a la firma del decreto correspondiente, el lunes próximo quedará oficialmente inaugurada la Radio Católica, [seguirá llamándose Radio Oriental...HN] que tomará la frecuencia que utiliza Radio Oriental a la cual seguirá conectada con gran parte de su programación. Además de destacar que el 8 del comente se inicia el Año Mariano para los católicos, el futuro director de la emisora, presbítero Jorge Techera, señaló que la esencia del proyecto que llevó a la Iglesia a incorporarse al sector es "educar en valores, colaborando con la sociedad para recuperar el camino perdido en las sucesivas crisis que hemos vivido". SIN CONTRADICCIONES Además, Techera dijo que aspira a que "la radio no proponga mensajes contradictorios con la fe y los valores cristianos, sin dejar de confirmar el principio de autonomía de opiniones de cada persona y, en particular, de cada colaborador. Sin duda, la 12 ya a ser una radio cristiana y católica, pero admitirá, sin dudarlo, la pluralidad, con la condición de que no se expongan mensajes contradictorios con la esencia que impulsó su creación, que tiene un profundo sentido educativo". Techera dijo no tener datos sobre cuál fue la operación económica que llevó a la Iglesia de Montevideo a hacerse cargo de la radio, y ratificó que se mantendrá la presencia en la onda de los informativos de CX 20 Montecarlo y los programas que dirigen Omar Gutiérrez, Abel Duarte e Ismael Ferraro, y las transmisiones y audiciones deportivas que tienen como cabeza visible a Máximo Goñi. INCORPORACIONES Como primeras incorporaciones ya decididas, informó Techera que los periodistas Martha Vila y Matías Prado conducirán un programa de 13.30 a 14.30 de lunes a viernes, con el nombre "Nunca es tarde", mientras el presbitero Néstor Falco se hará cargo de una "Reflexión con la palabra de Dios" y, desde el lunes, se emitirá "Chiquilines" para niños y jóvenes. A nivel de información agropecuaria, se mantendrá el programa sobre lechería de Juan De Marco y se incorporara "Nuevo agro" de Jorge Tognola. Por supuesto, los domingos, se tomará el audio de la misa que transmite canal 4, que alternativamente impartirán los presbiteros Gonzalo Estévez y Guillermo Portas, y se mantendrán y ampliarán los espacios de "Entre Todos", que dirigía Techera en la misma radio, y que ampliarán sus salidas en el fin de semana (via Horacio Nigro, Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec 3, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.66, R. Amazonas, 0203-0341* 3 Dec., Appears to have corrected its transmitter fault as the audio seemed clear at this time. However, announcements (live and canned) still seemed a tad weak. After usual music program, 0337 nice canned full ID by M with AM (1130) and SW (4940) frequencies, then another canned ID with frequency, choral NA, and off (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) 4939.6, R. Amazonas with Birthdays greetings in Spanish at 0115 Dec 4. Good modulation. Fair (Claes Olsson, Port Charlotte, FLORIDA, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. 7220, UNID (Cf. DX-Window no. 233), 1400-1428*, Nov 29, Chinese male speaker, usual religious monologue ending with ``tsai hui`` (=goodbye), carrier off 1429, occasional peaks at S9; Sat only, 35333 (Martien Groot, Netherlands, DSWCI DX Window Dec 5 via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ Glenn: Re: QSL'ing webcasts, in latest DXLD: TOP TEN NEW QSL CHALLENGES QSL'ing the following: 10. Any TV station whose booth announcer fails to say "All New" when doing promos for syndicated talkshow re-runs; 9. The Telco Information Service voice-synthesizer; 8. All possible McDonald's drive-up window announcers; 7. Art Bell, the *moment* he announces his next retirement from radio; 6. The green, dented Dodge Dakota with the 2kw CB linear that drives past your house every weekday evening at 5:45pm; 5. Anybody on an FRS; 6. 802.11 wi fi's; 5. Spurs. hets, cross-mods, and rusty corrugated tin roof re- radiation; 4. Baby monitors; 3. Liberal Ham operators; 2. Diathermy machines; 1. Any Radio Shack salesman who forgets to try to hawk a cell phone and satellite antenna. Best, (Steve Waldee - retired broadcast engineer, San Jose, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ CLUELESS CLUELESS IN CYBERSPACE CLUELESS First of all, I am pleased people are paying attention, and I'm very pleased that Harry Helms finds Inside the Book useful and can actually find books. He, of course, knew the title of the book he was looking for, which of course is often the case when one uses Amazon. I tried to find English translations of books by a famous Swedish author, and was unsure of the English titles. I had to resort to his name and a keyword or two, and got dozens of unhelpful hits. I never could find anything and consequently did not buy anything. On the other hand, when I tried the same search on Amazon.co.uk, which doesn't have "Inside the Book" I found what I was looking for in seconds. Surely a "feature" that results in a potential customer giving up and going elsewhere is not very useful for Amazon. But this misses the point of the nomination. As I wrote, the feature is undoubtedly useful for some, but what is clueless is the inability of users to TURN IT OFF. If Amazon made it an optional feature that would be fine. But I have two e-mails from Amazon Customer Service confirming you can't choose to not use Inside the Book. Finally, I'm pleased to hear that Amazon has not, as implied in an online letter from Jeff Bezos, made every page of every book in the database available in this manner. The current Help documentation just says that "millions of pages" are accessible. This should make using the system less useless, although "millions of pages" still sounds pretty staggering. A better solution would be to make the entire database searchable, but as an optional feature that can be turned off (Thanks to Andy Sennitt) (George Wood, SCDX/MediaScan Dec 4 via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ ARRL`S BPL STUDY IMMINENT; LEAGUE TO SOLICIT BPL TRIAL INTERFERENCE REPORTS An ARRL-sponsored independent engineering study to accurately quantify the interference potential of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) is set to start in the very near future. In addition, the League soon will elicit interference reports from amateurs in communities where BPL trials are known to be under way. ``We`re contracting for an independent measurement of potential interaction between BPL and Amateur Radio,`` said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. The study --- to be conducted under the auspices of certified professional engineers --- not only will examine and document how BPL might affect HF and low-VHF amateur operation but how Amateur Radio operation could affect BPL systems. The ARRL-sponsored engineering study should be completed within a couple of months, Sumner said. The ARRL anticipates that the FCC could issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the proceeding (ET Docket 02-104) early in 2004. The FCC`s Notice of Inquiry in the matter, released last April, has attracted more than 5100 comments --- many of them from the amateur community. At this point, while some BPL system trials are operating under existing Part 15 rules for unlicensed devices, other systems have secured FCC Part 5 experimental licenses that permit them to use higher power levels. In either case, however, FCC rules require BPL operators to cease operation if their systems result in harmful interference. In a related initiative, the ARRL will be contacting amateurs in about a half-dozen US communities where BPL field trials now are in progress. The League will ask amateurs to listen on the air for any increase in noise level that might be related to the BPL trial. Sumner says it`s most important that hams in trial areas who detect noise first verify that it is indeed caused by BPL before they document and report their observations to the FCC. ``It is important that each interference complaint be a valid case of actual harmful interference,`` an attachment to Sumner`s letter says. ``It is possible to misidentify other noise sources as BPL.`` Sumner says amateurs must carefully avoid ``crying wolf`` by filing invalid reports of BPL interference. The League suggests amateurs receiving the solicitation letters enlist the support of ``a technically qualified observer`` --- an ARRL Technical Coordinator, Technical Specialist or local club interference committee --- then submit a recording of the interference to the ARRL Laboratory for review and analysis. The ARRL`s solicitation includes a form to document suspected instances of harmful interference from BPL. Sumner says the League hopes the effort will result in a ``body of technical evidence that will protect the Amateur Service from this source of potential interference.`` In a related development, a California technology company this month wrote the FCC`s Office of Engineering and Technology to refute ARRL assertions that BPL necessarily poses a severe interference potential. Corridor Systems http://www.corridor.biz/ says its ``breakthrough`` BPL system, operated under existing Part 15 rules, uses frequencies in the 2 to 20 GHz range, will not interfere with HF and low-VHF reception and can provide up to 216 MB per second throughput [sic]. ``Corridor Systems has demonstrated a BPL technology which is completely compatible with the Amateur Radio Service and, indeed, with all users of the HF-VHF spectrum,`` Corridor`s Chief Technology Officer Glenn Elmore, N6GN, said in the ``open letter`` http://www.corridor.biz/031201-fcc-letter.pdf that was copied to ARRL. Sumner pointed out in responding to Elmore that ARRL only first became aware of Corridor`s work in mid-October and that the League`s comments were appropriate within the context of the FCC`s definition of BPL systems operating in the 2 to 80 MHz HF and low-VHF spectrum. ``The Corridor Systems approach deserves to be distinguished from the spectrum-polluting HF and low VHF systems, not only because of its much lower interference potential but also because of the higher data rates it can support,`` Sumner said. Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/ (ARRL Letter Dec 5 via John Norfolk, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ THE NRC IBOC DEBATE CONTINUES At the CES [Consumer Electronics Show] there were prototypes of under- 100-dollar IBOC radios. With the chip fabs in Asian and the manufacturing economies now available, I'd even anticipate $50 IBOC boom boxes in 2-3 years. As mentioned, the analog sounds the same with IBOC on as off (if the antenna system is good for IBOC... KTNQ's, set up by Ron Rackley and adjusted yesterday by him, is). On many consumer radios, the music and speech on the AM sounded as good as anything else on the LA dial. The royalties are actually fairly insignificant... considering the potential to improve AM quality. And I have heard WOJO in Chicago on its IBOC and an A-B comparison favors the IBOC. I don't care if it is colored or whatever, it sounds good Digital is a very big buzz word, especially if you are not digital. The system achieves parity of positioning with alternative entertainment sources. Radio is not looking for new audience. It is looking to compete in the future for existing audience. The idea that radio is losing audience is simply not true. Radio listening levels are at the same point, per person, as they were 50 years ago! Alternative media is often designed for a certain type of listener, often in the small percentage of the population that does not use radio. However, radio needs to be competitive in the listener's mind with newer technologies. Digital does that. In the late 70's, the cost of CD players was still very high, not because of perceived value, but because the cost of the electronics was still high. Motors, chips and fabrication today are far less costly. And this will make IBOC gear cheap for the consumer. The fact that the average American listens to just a few minutes under 21 hours of radio a week indicates that most people are very happy with radio. There is not a significant product issue, and going digital will only help. There was data published this week showing Summer, 2003 listening to be an average of 20 hours and 54 minutes per American. The whole report is on the Arbitron website. If you read Garay's biography of Gordon McLendon, there is a footnoted and sourced referenced to a study in the early 50's during the TV freeze that showed 21 hours per person listening. Nothing has changed. It is pretty interesting to see this, since the 80's and 90's have brought expanded cable, video games, the web, DVDs (and video cassettes before them), CDs, satellite radio and TV and longer working hours for most Americans. Yet, amazingly, radio has kept its relevance (David Gleason, CA, Nov 21, NRC-AM via DXLD) One word: over-hyped. Okay, maybe that's two words. :-) The concept of "being digital" has been oversold. Broadcasters are being duped into believing that going digital is a technological silver bullet that will bring them new audiences. In reality, except for a few techno-geeks, the public doesn't care whether a service is being delivered by analog or digital means. Those who are subscribing to XM, Sirius, digital services, etc. aren't doing it because they're digital. Content is still king. Only time will tell, but the desire of manufacturers to sell new radios doesn't necessarily translate into sales. People had good reason to replace their turntables and cassette decks with CD players, but I don't see the same kind of motivation for replacing all those radios. Better reception quality is a possible selling point, especially for AM IBOC, but doing it with a hybrid system that significantly degrades the existing analog service is not the way to go. The hybrid system gives a broadcaster a blank check to suddenly start using two new channels in an already overcrowded band, just to simulcast his analog service in digital. Bad idea. AM IBOC should go on hold until it is clear whether FM IBOC will be successful. If it is, then the AM broadcasters could apply to change their operations to all-digital, without trashing the adjacent channels (Barry McLarnon VE3JF, Ottawa, ON, NRC-AM via DXLD) CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS: FT. TUTHILL BECOMES WILLIAMS HAMFEST The Ft. Tuthill Arizona hamfest has changed its name, its location and its date. Now the Williams Hamfest and ARRL Arizona State Convention, this premiere event will be held next July 2nd to the 4th, at the Williams Rodeo Grounds, Williams Arizona. According to a news release from Mark Keshauer, N7KKQ, the move Means that the hamfest sponsors can provide lower fees for tailgaters and campers, bigger spaces, a fireworks display and free admission. Most important, the famed Saturday night BBQ which is a staple of this show --- will continue. Sorry, that`s not free but is among the best feeds found at any hamfest in the United States. More information is on-line at http://www.arca-az.org/arca/images/press%20release (N7KKQ, Amateur Radio Newsline Dec 5 via John Norfolk, DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ QST DE W1AW. PROPAGATION FORECAST BULLETIN 50 ARLP050 From Tad Cook, K7RA Seattle, WA December 5, 2003 To all radio amateurs Geomagnetic conditions have been quite stable this week, and as a result, HF propagation has been good. Right now the earth is entering a solar wind stream, which could trigger auroras. The interplanetary magnetic field is currently pointing south, which means earth is vulnerable to the effects of solar wind. The current forecast is for geomagnetic indices to rise over the next few days. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday, December 5-8 is 20, 35, 25 and 20. Predicted solar flux for those same days is 115, 110, 105 and 105. Solar flux values are predicted to run between 105 and 110 and then reach a slightly lower minimum around December 12, then rise again toward a short-term peak around December 18-22. Petr Kolman, OK6MGW is predicting active geomagnetic conditions for December 10-11, unsettled to active on December 5 and 9, unsettled conditions on December 6 and quiet to unsettled conditions on December 7-8. Conditions this weekend during the ARRL 160-Meter CW contest will be affected by any geomagnetic disturbance. Check WWV at 18 minutes after the hour or check the WWV text http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/latest/wwv.txt at 0018, 0318, 0618, 0918, 1218, 1518, 1818, and 2118z for the latest mid-latitude K index. If the value is 3 or less, conditions should be good. Right now conditions don`t look very promising, with the mid-latitude K index at 0600z on Friday, December 5 at 5. WWV is reporting an A index of 6, but that is really based on all the K indices for December 4. Otherwise, that would be quite good. As an example of how different these values are, if the K value of 5 were measured during an entire UTC day, the resulting A index for that day would be 48. An A index of only 6 indicates K indices for the day between 1 and 2. Diane Leveque, NH6HE sent in a news item from NASA this week concerning openings in the earth`s magnetic field detected by NASA`s IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration) satellite. You can read the story on the NASA.GOV web site at http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/image_ssu.html vor at the SCIENCE.NASA.GOV web site at http://www.science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/03dec_magneticcracks.htm?l ist609156. This story is of interest to amateur radio operators because openings in the magnetic field allow solar wind to pass through, affecting earth. The IMAGE satellite is the first spacecraft dedicated to imaging the earth`s magnetosphere, and NASA has a fascinating web page for IMAGE at http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/ David Moore also sent an article from SpaceRef.com on outbursts of gas from the sun, which is at, http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13071 And finally, Stephane Burgoyne, VE2OWL of Drummondville, Quebec sent in a truly wonderful link recently at http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/ which provides a unique view and forecast of geomagnetic conditions in northern latitudes. Stephane`s own web site is at http://www3.sympatico.ca/stephane.burgoyne/ in French. For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site at http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Sunspot numbers for November 27 through December 3 were 154, 185, 177, 178, 159, 119 and 100 with a mean of 153.1. 10.7 cm flux was 174.7, 167.7, 165.9, 152.8, 143.3, 139.3 and 123.8, with a mean of 152.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 10, 10, 9, 10, 10, 9 and 7, with a mean of 9.3. Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) NW7US PROPAGATION UPDATE: 5-XII-2003 Howdy, Folks. This weekend is quite active on the Amateur Radio bands. The ARRL 160-Meter Contest starts at 2200 on 5-XII-2003 UTC to 1600, 7-XII-2003 UTC, while the PSK Death Match starts at 0000, 6-XII-2003 and runs until 2400 7-XII-2003 on 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, and 6 meters. The TARA RTTY Melee runs from 0000 to 2400 on 6-XII-2003 on 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. There's also the TOPS Activity 80m Contest, which starts at 1800 on 6-XII-2003 and runs to 1800 on 7-XII-2003 in CW only on 80 meters. Finally, there's the QRP ARCI Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint that runs from 2000 to 2400 on 7-XII-2003 in CW mode only on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. What is the propagation outlook on the High Frequency (HF) bands during this weekend? Earlier, today (5-XII-2003 UTC), between 0100 and 0300, a weak shock wave was detected that indicated the arrival of the glancing blow from the coronal mass ejection from the prominence eruption on 2-XII-2003. The geomagnetic field activity increased to minor storm levels with a planetary K index reaching 6. Since, the geomagnetic field activity is remaining at the active (Kp of 5) level. After about 1200 UTC, the solar wind speed further increased, and the interplanetary magnetic field has remained moderately to strongly southward in its orientation. This will continue to keep the geomagnetic field active to somewhat stormy. There has been no clear influence of the small coronal hole that is now situated moving closer to the western limb of the sun. However, another large coronal hole is moving into a position that will directly increase the solar wind speed and therefore possibly influence the geomagnetic activity starting today. This coronal hole, originally numbered CH66 and now numbered CH71 by Jan Alvestad, was geo-effective in previous 27-day solar cycles. The leading edge of the coronal hole is now at the central meridian. Soon, the solar wind speed will become even stronger, with the possibility of strongly negative (southward) interplanetary field orientation as this coronal hole moves fully into a geo-effective position. The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to active on 6-XII-2003, increasing to minor storm levels, off and on, from 7-XII-2003 through 15-XII-2003. This will cause the highest HF bands to become degraded and unreliable. At the same time, we don't expect much flare activity, so the middle to low HF bands will be in fair to good condition. That means that conditions on HF this weekend will be fair to good for most of the contests and for general HF activity, except on the highest bands. Long distance low frequency HF, below 2 MHz, propagation along east-west paths over high and upper middle latitudes will remain poor, while propagation along long distance north-south paths will be fair. Above 2 MHz, to about 18 MHz, should be fair to good over most low- to mid-latitude paths, but somewhat degraded over the polar paths. Frequencies above 18 MHz will be degraded, with at least a fifteen-percent depression of normal maximum usable frequencies. I will continue to monitor space weather and propagation conditions, reporting updates at http://prop.hfradio.org/ - the NW7US Live Propagation Center. Happy DXing! 73 de Tomas, NW7US (AAR0JA/AAM0EWA) -- : Propagation Editor for CQ, CQ VHF, and Popular Communications : : Quarterly Propagation Columnist for Monitoring Times Magazine : : Creator of live propagation center - http://prop.hfradio.org/ : (via swl at qth.net via DXLD) ###