DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-220, December 8, 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: WWCR: Wed 1030 9475 WSUI: Mon 0430 910 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 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 ** AUSTRALIA. RADIO AUSTRALIA: FEEDBACK LEAVES THE AIR; OTHER SEASONAL CHANGES Another radio and media-related program left the airwaves this past month: Feedback from Radio Australia. I, for one, will miss Feedback. I came to enjoy the ``behind the scenes`` look at Radio Australia programming plans and strategies each week. Once Communications World left the air, Feedback became one of the best programs for coverage of Digital Radio Mondiale and the relationships of shortwave to other media. This is also the time of year when Radio Australia has many seasonal changes as programs take summer holidays. This schedule isn`t complete yet – more is known about the programs taking holidays, versus what will be replacing these programs. I`ll pass along subsequent changes in the NASWA Flashsheet and the swprograms e-mail list. Weekdays, 0000: Asia Pacific will finish on 24 December. Some form of current affairs will air in this slot and the 2300 UT slot, but there is no title for the program as yet. Asia Pacific will return on January 5th. Weekdays, 0210: The World Today`s final broadcast will be 19 December. The program will return on January 19th. You can expect the Margaret Throsby Interview (from 0410) to fill this slot in the interim. Weekdays, 0320: Life Matters will finish on December 19th. Its replacement is not known at this time; the program returns January 28th. Weekdays, 0410: With Margaret Throsby moving to 0210, repeat editions of other programs will fill this slot as follows: AWAYE (Mondays), Science Show (Tuesdays), The National Interest (Wednesdays), Background Briefing (Thursdays), Hindsight (Fridays) Weekdays, 0810: PM`s final broadcast will be December 19th. It will be replaced with an as-yet unnamed current affairs special program, followed at 0830 by Health Report (Mondays), Law Report (Tuesdays), Religion Report (Wednesdays), Media Report (Thursdays), Sports Factor (Fridays). Weekdays 0910: Australia Talks Back`s final broadcast will be December 19th; the program will return January 28th. A replacement program has not yet been identified for this time slot. Weekdays 1005: Asia Pacific departs as of December 24th until January 5th; a current affairs special will replace it. Weekdays 1105: Asia Pacific departs as noted above; the full 55-minute Life Matters program will take its slot. This also fills the Bush Telegraph slot; it will return January 28th. Weekdays 1410: PM departs, as noted above; a replacement has not yet been identified. Weekdays 1505: Asia Pacific departs, as previously noted. A replacement has not yet been identified. Weekdays 1605: Bush Telegraph takes a holiday as of December 19th; a replacement hasn`t yet been named. Bush Telegraph returns January 28th. Weekdays 1705: Australia Talks Back takes a holiday from December 19th to December 28th; a replacement has not yet been named. Saturdays, 2205, and Sundays 0105, 0705, and 1105: Correspondent`s Report goes on holiday as of December 21st; it will return February 1st. A current affairs special program will air in its place. Another change sees Australia Now ending its run; it will be replaced by a repeat airing of the 13-part series Time to Talk, a series about governance in the Pacific. People from around the region talk about their culture, politics and society in the 21st century. An interactive website is at URL http://www.abc.net.au/timetotalk Time to Talk will air Wednesday 2130, Saturday 1505, Sunday 0830 UT. I apologize in advance if this information turns out to be incorrect; I`ll correct and amend this via the online information sources noted above (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** BOTSWANA. R. Botswana: Seems to have abandoned SW at night. 7255 sign-off at 100 [sic] and is not replaced by another frequency. 4820 has been silent for weeks. I'm not sure yet when 7255 signs on (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, DX-plorer via DXLD) ** CANADA. GIPP FORSTER'S IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS You've probably heard us poking fun at the Christmas vignettes which have appeared for several years now on CJAD radio in Montreal, and on other stations, at least across Canada, but perhaps you've never had the chance to really understand what we're talking about. Well, folks, now you can find out all about Gipp Forster. On the following website, http://www.thegiftofchristmas.com/ scroll down to the "It Feels Like Christmas" section towards the bottom of the page. You'll need QuickTime to play it, but here you can play and listen to a promotional recording used by the company to try to sell this feature to radio stations. This will let you actually hear the sappy accompanying song and the old "Gippster" himself, with three samples of what these Christmas pieces are all about. Enjoy it in the spirit of the season --- or not! (Sheldon Harvey, Radio H.F. - Canada's specialist in radio communications http://www3.sympatico.ca/radiohf President-Canadian International DX Club, Canada's national radio monitoring club since 1962 http://www.anarc.org/cidx/ DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. RCI was missing from 13655 at 1456 UT Dec 8, still on 17820 and 9515; but the CRI relay on 13675 was booming in. Now we know where Sackville priorities lie when one transmitter is offline (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. UT Dec. 6: heard one of the classical-music tests on 9410 from 0010 tune-in to signoff at 0145. Thought I was hearing a BBC transmitter on test but now I read it's coming from another Chinese transmitting site that's going on-air. Fair to good results here (Joe Hanlon in NJ, DX LISTENING DIGEST) unID classical music station, Monday 8th: Hi Everyone, noted the usual classical music on early morning only, 0500-0700 UT on 17480, 21730, 21850. No signals observed in 0700 to 1500 UT range. The other Chinese music station on 15730 kHz couldn't heard today. 73 (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Germany, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA. FIREDRAKE --- When DXing for Asia in particular it is impossible not to notice some of the jamming by the "Chinese Orchestral" jammer, playing a loop of often poorly modulated Chinese orchestral music, usually boisterous with lots of percussion, and occasional quiet flute / string sections. A few times I thought I had an interesting DX catch, but then the style, and repetition after about 20 minutes gave it away. All of these were noted in mid to late November in Utica, New York using Drake SW 8 with 50 ft. sloper in a faily quiet urban neighborhood. 7160 2215 VOA (Udorn) in Chinese 7415 1250 Target unclear; Radio Free Asia freq, not at this hour 9455 1806 RFA (Northern Marianas) in Chinese 9680 1110 VOA (Philippines) in Chinese 9790 2317 Target unclear 9905 1745 RFA in Chinese (Palau) 11635 2210, 2240 CBS Taiwan 11640 0005 CBS Taiwan dominant 11720 1640 RFA in Uighur (or Uigur) (Northern Marianas) 11875 1110, 1350 CBS Taiwan (also a CRI frequency) 11885 2235, 2255 CBS Taiwan 11925 2250 VOA (Udorn) in Chinese, noise jammer 11945 1105 BBC in Chinese (Thailand) 11995 2355 RFA in Chinese (Northern Marianas) 13670 1645 RFA in Chinese (Northern Marianas) 13745 1615 RFA in Chinese (Northern Marianas) 15285 1440 BBC in Chinese (Singapore) 15510 1557 RFA in Chinese (Northern Marianas) Signals nearly equal 17565 1600 RFA in Chinese (Northern Marianas) (Roger Chambers, NY, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CHINA [and non]. The abbreviations used in the Nagoya list for China International are as follows: B = CHN/Beijing C = CAN/Sackville Cu = CUB/Havana E = E/Noblejas F = F/Issoudun-Allouis G = GUF/Montsinery HU = CHN/Hohhot JI = CHN/Jinhua K = CHN/Kunming Lux = LUX/Marnach M = MLI/Bamako R = RUS/(M)Moscow, (P)St.Petersburg, (S)Samara Sit = LTU/Sitkunai U = CHN/Urumqi X = CHN/Xian Z = CHN/Shijiazhuang (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Many are followed by a number, signifying an individual transmitter? (gh, DXLD) ** COLOMBIA. Glenn, Re 3-219: misunderstanding. I heard LV del Llano on 6113.02 kHz. I wrote also "6115 kHz" where I have not noted LV del Llano for a very long time, not on LISTED 6115.00 kHz or nearby splits/off frequencies. The station was heard just once so I`m wondering if LV del Llano is there all the time but with very low, no detectable, signal? I heard the station with QRM from Unión that had moved from 6114.90 to 6115.06 kHz. 73s from (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CONGO DR. R. Okapi: Is not inactive, but perhaps irregular. I have heard them on most of the days that I have tried in the past two-three weeks, but on a couple of occasions they seemed to be silent. Heard on 11690 and 9550 with even weaker signals than in the past, but this could be seasonal; their signals never sounded like the nominal 10 kW. Not heard on 6030, but this channel is a mess here at night (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, DX-plorer Dec 7 via DXLD) ** COSTA RICA. I gotta tell you, I miss RFPI. If I was busy working on a project and not able to change frequencies, I'd just set the radio on RFPI and listen for hours. Haven't found any other station that I can do that with. Always listened to WOR twice a week, local Friday and Sunday night. Now I find myself having to scramble to catch it somewhere else. Listening on the web isn't an option for me and I find that I'm missing the Pacifica programs they used to carry. James Bean, Jim Hightower etc. etc. Hope that RFPI comes back, but I have a feeling they won't, or if they do, it will be a format not quite as palatable (John H. Carver Jr., Mid-North Indiana, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [and non]. Glenn, Tried 9560 Saturday night. VOA was in the clear, no jammer. Korean broadcast was free of jamming, but signal was so bad I couldn't listen to it. Tuned back at 0500 to try and catch CRI and couldn't hear anything except the jammer. I probably should check some other night of the week also, just to see what's going on (John H. Carver Jr., Mid-North Indiana, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. RADIO HABANA CUBA PROGRAMACION En la Mañana CARACAS 11705 KHZ - 25 M 1100 - 1500 NUEVA YORK 11760 KHZ - 25 M 1100 - 1500 NORTE, CENTRO Y SUDAMÉRICA 6000 KHZ - 49 M 1100 - 1500 CARIBE 9550 KHZ - 31 M 1100 - 1500 BUENOS AIRES 15230 KHZ - 19 M 1100 - 1500 1100 Lunes a Sábado, Revista Informativa Despertar con Cuba 1400 Lunes a Sábado, Boletín 1405 Lunes a Viernes, Voces de La Revolución 1405 Sábado, Cartas a la Redacción 1423 Lunes a Sábado, Boletín 1430 Lunes a Viernes, Formalmente Informal 1430 Sábado, Sonido Cubano 1448 Lunes a Sábado, Noticiero Resumen de la Mañana En la Tarde ROMA 15120 KHZ - 19 M 2100 - 2300 AMERICA DEL SUR 15230 KHZ - 19 M 2100 - 2300 CARIBE 9550 KHZ - 31 M 2100 - 2300 2100 a 2300 Lunes a Sábado, Revista Iberoamericana En la Noche CARACAS 9600 KHZ - 31 M 0000 - 0500 NUEVA YORK 11760 KHZ - 25 M 0000 - 0500 AMÉRICA CENTRAL 9505 KHZ - 31 M 0000 - 0500 MEXICO 5965 KHZ - 49 M 0000 - 0500 BUENOS AIRES 15230 KHZ - 19 M 0000 - 0500 CHICAGO 9820 KHZ - 31 M 0000 - 0100 WASHINGTON 6000 KHZ - 49 M 0000 - 0100 CARIBE 9550 KHZ - 31 M 0200 - 0500 CHILE 11875 KHZ - 25 M 0300 - 0500 0000 Lunes a Sábado, Revista Informativa de la Noche 0300 Lunes a Sábado, Noticiero 0310 Lunes a Viernes, Voces de La Revolución 0310 Sábado, Cartas a la Redacción 0330 Lunes a Sábado, Boletín 0335 Lunes a Viernes Formalmente Informal 0335 Sábado, Resumen Semanal "Mundo 7" 0353 Lunes a Viernes, Postales de América 0400 Lunes a Viernes, Resumen "24 Horas en el Mundo" 0400 Sábado, Noticiero 0410 Sábado, Sonido Cubano Programación del Domingo En la Mañana 1100 Noticiero 1110 El Mundo de la Filatelia 1130 Resumen semanal "Mundo 7" 1153 Andar La Habana 1200 Somos Jóvenes 1215 El idioma de Cervantes 1225 Así es mi tierra 1233 Cuba campesina 1300 Noticiero 1310 Amigos de Cuba 1330 Boletín 1335 En Contacto [DX PROGRAM] 1350 En Compañía del Doctor 1400 Noticiero 1410 El Mundo de la Filatelia 1430 Boletín 1435 La Cultura en Cuba 1453 Boletín Resumen de la Mañana En la Tarde 2100 a 2300 Revista Iberoamericana [we know that En Contacto is included around 2145 or 2150 --- gh] En la Noche 2400 Noticiero 2410 Cadena Deportiva Panamericana 0100 Noticiero 0110 Somos Jóvenes 0125 Andar La Habana 0130 Boletín 0135 En Contacto [DX PROGRAM] 0150 En Compañía del Doctor 0200 Noticiero 0210 El Mundo de la Filatelia 0230 Boletín 0235 Amigos de Cuba 0255 Menciones y Promociones 0300 Noticiero 0310 Indagaciones 0330 Al Encuentro de América 0400 Noticiero 0410 El idioma de Cervantes 0420 Así es mi tierra 0430 Boletín 0435 La Cultura en Cuba 0453 Andar La Habana (via José Bueno, Córdoba, Spain, Dec 6, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** CUBA. R Cadena Habana, 1100 kHz, unknown site, La Habana - 1750- 1832 Dec. 7, nonstop Muzak-ish instrumentals, ID, into net feed "Noticiero Nacional de la Radio" at 1800-1830, back to RCH programming. Fair (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA [non]. If WJCC and Martí are indeed in the same building I could easily understand a cross-connect in the phone lines within the building. As the fire investigator for my community I was looking into a problem with the fire alarm system at an apartment complex. It was only dialing through to the central station monitoring facility intermittently and failed to get through during a structure fire at the premises. The telco came out and inspected the line and assured the property manager that the circuits were correct and intact. I connected my butt set to the phone line at the alarm panel and called our 911 center so I could get a readout of the telephone number for that circuit. I then used my cell phone to call the number and was surprised when the resident of a home some distance away answered. It turned out that the telco had cross connected a residential line into the alarm system. When the line was free the panel would dial out. But when the resident was on the phone the alarm system wouldn't see dial tone and would time-out after several attempts. Now I'm a witness in the litigation between the insurer of the apartment complex and the telco! (Patrick Griffith, NØNNK, Westminster, CO, NRC-AM via DXLD) An issue I see here is that residential service is dial-on-demand, with battery voltage on the line which is pulled down when the handset goes offhook to signal the CO to set up the call. Program feeds AFAIK are full-period lines (always on) and don't or should not have battery on them (48 VDC) which means the crossconnect, if one exists, in an audio sense, should not be 'intermittent'. There should even be protective caps on the 66-block on those pairs. Part of the telco's apparent liability would be to not have properly secured the line --- IF it was a critical line. It may have just been a subscriber grade line. There may not be guarantees on such lines. IANAL. I think what happened here was the two dial-on-demand circuits were paralleled, which meant either could seize the line and keep the other from getting dial tone. The homeowner, if trying to call out during the time the alarm was using the line, couldn't understand what was happening. And the alarm is not working in audible mode. If the telco checked the line when were both onhook, probably all they would see is an extra bell impedance, so the check they did was probably valid -- as far as it went. They were likely connected at different appearance points (patch panels, if you will). This would be an interesting case on which to be a jury member. That said, I don't doubt that Patrick's story is that unusual. As for the buttinsky (butt set) ... Don't Leave Home without It !! (Bob Foxworth, FL, ibid.) I have been trying to find out information on whether there is a Martí office at 2828 Coral way, where Luz is located. The folks in Miami at WAMR/WAQI/WQBA/WRTO say there is no Martí opewration there --- and those stations were at 28282 until 2 years ago. Of course, the Miami Spanish radio people pay very little attention to Martí, so they could be wrong. I always thought that Martí was at a different location, in a hardened building. One of the reasons WAQI and the rest left 2828 was that the building had no way to become more secure, and the construction was not hardened. Given the bomb and death threats that WAQI gets, they had to get out of 2828. I'd be surprised if Martí was not in a hardened building. Does anyone know for sure? (David Gleason, CA, ibid.) WJCC "Radio Luz", Miami Springs, FL, 1700 kHz 2259-2315 Dec. 8. No Radio Martí at this time. My personal thought is that is was WJCC relaying Martí. As for the debate about it being illegal per US charter to broadcast to a domestic audience, I doubt that would apply to a private station that "on its own" chose to rebroadcast, taped or live (Terry L. Krueger, Clearwater, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Since there has been a lot of discussion about Radio Martí here the last couple days, I thought I would show you a web page I put together a couple years ago with pictures of the actual Radio Martí [MW] site in Marathon, Florida. When I flew down there, I could not hear Radio Martí, then 50 kW, until I had the towers in sight, about 8 miles north of the island at about 2,000 feet. From Sarasota till just north of Marathon, the only signal I could hear was Cuba on 1180. They send a powerful signal here. There is one heck of an RF collision over the Florida straits. Anyway, here's the link for anyone interested: http://www.sun-ray.com/radiomarti.htm There is a bonus pic at the bottom. Shows the difference between a first class government installation, and what passes for commercial AM today (Paul Smith, W4KNX, Sarasota, FL, ibid.) ** DAGESTAN. Re: DAGESTAN. RUSSIA'S DAGESTAN SETS UP BROADCASTING COMPANY Sure sounds like at least a radio country to me, or should I say, ``entity``, but WTFK??? (gh, DXLD) Today's Russia is a federal state (the full official name in English is Russian Federation), consisting of 89 entities: 49 oblasts, 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs, 6 krays, 2 federal cities and 1 autonomous oblast. The Republic of Dagestan is one of the 21 republics which all have their own ministries and legislation. In addition to various private broadcasting companies, each of the 89 entities has at least one regional state broadcaster. In some regions, the regional governments have been "unsatisfied" with the operation of the existing state broadcaster (for example, considering it to express more the views of the central government in Moscow than the views of the regional authorities) and have established their own state broadcaster. In some cases "competing" state broadcasters were later united (like in the Nizhnyy Novgorod oblast); in other regions there are now several state broadcasters operating in parallel (like in the Omsk oblast). The move in Dagestan seems to have a similar background. The state broadcaster in Dagestan has been GTRK "Dagestan" which according to the decree of the Dagestan government now was ordered to hand over its studio facilities to the new Republican Broadcasting Company "Dagestan". I have not been able to establish wether the old GTRK "Dagestan" was dissolved (which seems likely), or will continue from another studio location (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUINEA. 7125 & 9650, RTV Guinéenne, E-mail QSL in one day from Issa Conde. Total time I've been writing to Guinea -- 20 years! Issaconde@yahoo.fr (Sheryl Paszkiewicz, WI, DX-plorer via DXLD) 7125, RTG, no-data QSL E-mail from Issa Conde, Director of RTG. Letter reads in part, "It is with real pleasure that I have received your reception report. Thank you for your attention in listening to our broadcasting station. The technical services of RTG-Conakry-Guinea will send you more details in the days to come. Excellent work in hearing our station." This, for me, has been a 25 year quest. Remember their English broadcasts years ago? Although no-data, I am thrilled. Sheryl, I am with you on this one! Translation was done by a neighbor who speaks French (John Fisher, MA, DX-plorer Dec 7 via DXLD) ** HAWAII. 1500, KUMU, Honolulu, Dec 7, 1345 UT, Nostaglia and oldies music and ID. Good signals over KSTP. Only Hawaii heard checked all the others but nothing. Quite a fitting day to hear Hawaii (Dec 7). Well, quite a DXpedition!! Lots of new stations and TA`s, a TP and Pan Am DX all in one trip. The best conditions in months for us. The conditions were fluxing up and down. Logged Cuba then gone and never heard again. Mexicans showed up later. More were heard but are more common. Also good skip into the USA for new stations including some long time targets like KOIL, WVLZ. Nice to log a pirate station too from NY [see USA]. All that DX and an easy trip in. Almost no snow (maybe 1 inch) so we drove our cars to the bus over the open farm field that doubles as an antenna farm all winter. We took in 12 boxes of wood for the wood stove in the DX bus which will last us the year. That and a new propane tank for the BBQ for cooking. Drove up and unloaded. In past years we have had to sled the good in across the 1200 foot field. Some trips were no fun but no wood no heat so we did it. This type of DXing is NOT for the faint of heart. Hoping to go out in January again. Cannot wait (Shawn M. Axelrod, VE4DX1SMA, and Wayne McRae, DXing from Valhalla Beach MB; receivers: 2-Icom ICR-70; antennae: various wires and beverages and 2-MFJ 1026 phasing unit, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** INDIA. COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF AIR BANGALORE B-2003 (SW 6 x 500 KW) ------------------------------------------------------ UTC KHZ LANGUAGE TARGET AREA ------------------------------------------------------ BL-1 TRANSMITTER 0400-0430 13620 Persian West Asia 0430-0530 13620 Arabic West Asia 1000-1100 13710 English Au, NZ 1245-1315 15795 Chinese NE Asia 1515-1600 11620 Gujarati E Africa 1615-1715 11620 Russian E Europe 1730-1945 13620 Arabic West Asia 1945-2030 13620 French NW Africa 2045-2230 11620 English Europe 2245-0045 13605 English NE, E, SE Asia BL-2 TRANSMITTER 0215-0300 11985 Kannada West Asia 0315-0415 13695 Hindi West Asia 1115-1215 13710 Tamil SE Asia 1215-1245 13710 Telegu SE Asia 1330-1500 13710 English E, SE Asia 1745-1945 13605 English W, NW Africa 2245-0045 13605 English E, SE Asia BL-3 TRANSMITTER 0130-0530 9425 FM-Gold India 0930-1230 9425 FM-Gold India 1320-0043 9425 National Channel India BL-4 TRANSMITTER (OFF AIR TEMPERORILY) BL-5 TRANSMITTER 0215-0300 15075 Kannada West Asia 0315-0415 15075 Hindi E Africa 0415-0430 15075 Gujarati E Africa 1000-1100 17800 English NE Asia 1245-1315 17705 Chinese NE Asia 1330-1500 9690 English E, SE Asia 1515-1600 15175 Gujarati E Africa 1615-1730 13770 Hindi West Asia 1745-1945 9445 English W, NW Africa 2045-2230 9445 English Europe 2300-0000 13795 Hindi SE Asia 0000-0045 13795 Tamil SE Asia BL-6 TRANSMITTER 0025-0440 10330 Vividh Bharati India 0930-1200 10330 Vividh Bharati India 1245-1735 10330 Vividh Bharati India Note: At 2245-0015 13605 is both BL-1 & BL-2 to Asia, i.e. 500 kw x 2 = 1000 kw (via Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio Telefax: 91-40-23310287 EchoLink: Node 133507 VU2NRO http://www.niar.org dx_india Dec 8 via DXLD) ** INDIA [non]. Dear Glenn, The following station listed in DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-219, December 7, 2003 below is Radio Singapore in Tamil language which is spoken in Tamilnadu (S. India), Northern parts of Sri Lanka, Singapore etc. Yours sincerely, (Jose Jacob, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ``** INDIA. 7170, AIR Delhi, 1048-1106, Dec. 6, Hindi music, OM and YL with banter, jingle (ID?) at 1100, OM with talks until 1105, brief YL into more music. Fair with increasing ham QRM. PWBR lists this as "FM Gold" relay (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST)`` Greetings from "post-blizzard" NH. It snowed from 7 am Sat. thru 4 pm Sun! The following message from Bob Padula says it's Singapore, not India, I heard on 7170. 73, (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Hello Scott, I think you have confused this with Radio Singapore, 7170, Tamil service. This is audible here from fade in around 0945. Propagation to your part of the planet at 1048+ would be via darkness path, across N. Pacific, arriving your place around your sunrise. No India - too early and not operational! See the other entry under 7170 in PWBR for Singapore. The "slogan" details for India in PWBR04 is incorrect - "FM GOLD" refers to Radio Singapore (MediaCorp) in English, on 6150, from 90.5 FM - see page 322 of WRTH03. There is no "FM GOLD" operating from India! [o, yeah? See BANGALORE BL-3 schedule above!! -- gh] India will not propagate over long distances 7 MHz at 1048, as local time there is only 4.18 pm, broad daylight. The Delhi service listed on 7170 is actually only on the air for special occasional events for local daytime broadcasting 0615-1200. I know how the PWBR error occurred, as it is the same mistake showing up in the HFCC Master File for A03 and B03! Someone messed up a dataBase somewhere! You should be able to hear Radio Singapore Malay service on 7235: this carries the International Service up to 1200, then back to the National Network after that. However, 1200 is getting a bit too late at your end due to sunrise! (Bob Padula via Barbour, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Log list from Vermont, USA --- Hello All, Here's a current running list of harmonics I've logged this season so far from Vermont. CURRENT HARMONICS (Winter 2003/04) to 8 Dec 2003 1900.00 CUBA R Reloj [0753-1042/0146-0153] Nov 03 (h)2x950 2059.98 CUBA R Musical Nacional, Villa Clara [0148-0300+] Nov 03 (h)2x1030 2130.00 USA WOR New York, NY [0241] Nov 03 (h)3x710 2140.00 CUBA CMKS Guantánamo [0814-1004/0049-0300*] Sep 03 (h)2x1070 2180.00 CANADA CKKW Kitchener, ON [1117-1130/0140-0152] Nov 03 (h)2x1090 2200.08 COLOMBIA(t) HJMK Em Ideal, Planeta Rica [1038-1057] Dec 03 (h)2x1100 2259.98 UNIDENT talk [0250] Nov 03 (h)2x1130 2380.00 CUBA(t) CMHT R Sancti Spiritus, Yaguajay [0956-1117/0302] Dec 03 (h)2x1190 2479.98 USA WGVA Geneva, NY [0834-1110/0309-0311] Nov 03 (h)2x1240 2550 PERU(t) R Uno, Chiclayo [1010-1045/0250-0308](47.32-57.93) Nov 03 (h)2x1280 2560.00 USA\CANADA UNIDENT (WFBS?) [1045-1055] Nov 03 (h)2x1280 2580.00 CUBA? CMHW? Rancho Veloz? SS tlk [1025-1108] Dec 03 (h)2x1290 2600.05 UNIDENT LA Station? [1003] Nov 03 (h)2x1300 2740.01 COLOMBIA(p) HJXX R Mundial Bogotá [0400/0825-1000] Oct 03 (h)2x1370 2859.82 UNIDENT talk [1010] Nov 03 (h)2x1430 2979.99 UNIDENT LA Station? [1015-1050+] Nov 03 (h)2x1490 3160.02 VENEZUELA(p) R Celestial Santa Rita [0823-1030+] Oct 03 (h)2x1580 3300.08 COLOMBIA(t) HJMK Em Ideal, Planeta Rica [1038-1057] Dec 03 (h)3x1100 3510.00 UNIDENT talk, mx [1032] Nov 03 (h)3x1170 3600.00 UNIDENT SS tlk [1047] Nov 03 (h?) 3749.75 DOM REP(p) HIBC LVd Progreso SFd Macorís [0931-1101/0054-0205] Dec 03 (h)3x1250 Take care & 73's de (Mark Mohrmann, Coventry, VT, Dec 8, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL INTERNET. Hola, La AER ha creado una nueva sección en su sitio web, denominada MULTIMEDIA, que está en PRUEBAS. http://www.aer-dx.org/audio/ Pues bien, en un futuro cercano, esta página alojará archivos de audio de calidad en varios formatos con grabaciones de interés para los aficionados al DX así como transmisiones en vivo. Por el momento hay algunas identificaciones de emisoras de Oriente Próximo así como el programa Aventura DX nº 3. Por otro lado, com se sabe, la AER está emitiendo, en directo y en pruebas, grabaciones y programas de interés para los aficionados al DX. Los días de emisión se comunican previamente en esta lista. La próxima emisión de prueba tendrá las siguientes características: Fecha: 07.12.2003 UTC Horario: 1ª sesión 1700-1930 UTC 2ª sesión 1930-2200 UTC Contenido de cada sesión: Reemisión del programa en español de Radio Túnez Internacional (1 hora) Reemisión del programa en español de Radio Damasco (1 hora y 15 minutos) Reemisión del espacio producido por AER Aventura DX nº 3, en español, (+6 minutos) Formato de emisión: MP3 a 24 Kbps mono Dirección prevista para la escucha: http://diexismo.no-ip.com:8000/listen.pls Dirección de la emisión (historial, escucha, etc.): http://diexismo.no-ip.com:8000 Programa aconsejado para la escucha de esta emisión: Winamp Un saludo cordial, (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, AER http://www.aer-dx.org Conexión Digital via DXLD) ¿Por qué no disponibilizar los ficheros a pedido a cualquier hora? (gh) ** MYANMAR. 5985.8 kHz, Radio Myanmar, Yangon (PRESUMED) from 1210 to 1227 UT with nasal female Asian vocals with reeds, YL brief announcement between music, brief music interlude, YL announcement, music, then OM alternating with YL talk in unclear Asian language. SINPO 22222, poor modulation, with strong splatter from Radio Martí and jammer on 5980, increasing after 1220 December 8. Drake SW 8 with 50 ft. sloper (Roger Chambers, Utica, NY, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SINGAPORE. 7170: see INDIA ** SOLOMON ISLANDS. Just tuning around, Dec 8 at 1432 heard BBCWS ID on 5020, or a tad below that frequency; on the way to fading out (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SOUTH CAROLINA [non]. We request experimental test authorization to use 5770 kHz on a non-interference basis, for the period starting 8 December through 15 December 2003. We will use this frequency from 0400 to 1200 UT as a partial replacement of our evening use of 7465 and overnight 7560 for Transmitter #4, 100 kW, 90 degrees. Should tests be successful, we will subsequently submit as frequency usage chart for the remainder of the B-03 Winter broadcast season, using 5770, and subsequent seasons. As an additional adjustment to compensate for dropping 7560, we request temporary testing for the same time period for a change from 7560 1200-1400, back to 7465 in the early morning: 9475 1400-2100 7465 2100-0400 5770 0400-1200 7465 1200-1400 (George McClintock, Manager/Engineer, WWCR, Dec 5 fax to FCC, xc to DX LISTENING DIGEST) Get R. Miskut, Nicaragua, 5770 while you can, if it`s on at all --- not reported lately. Even tho the 0400-1200 usage by Brother Scare will not wipe it out, once one US station gets a NIB OOB frequency authorized, the others pile on at other dayparts (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SPAIN. EL GOBIERNO ESPAÑOL ESTABLECE LOS PLAZOS PARA LA EMISIÓN DE RADIO DIGITAL --- DEBERÁN EMITIR ANTES DEL 1 DE ENERO DE 2007 (Europa Press).- RTVE deberá iniciar sus emisiones de radiodifusión en onda media empleando la tecnología digital no más tarde del 1 de enero de 2007. Al resto de empresas concesionarias de emisoras en onda media se les impondrá esta obligación en un plazo no superior a dos años desde la renovación de sus licencias. Así lo recoge una enmienda del Grupo Popular en el Senado a la Ley de Acompañamiento de los Presupuestos de 2004, en la que se añade que las empresas concesionarias de emisoras de FM también podrán solicitar autorización para realizar sus emisiones con tecnología digital utilizando el dominio radioeléctrico que tengan reservado. En este caso se pone como salvedad "que existan normas armonizadas elaboradas por un organismo de normalización europeo reconocido y que el nivel de interferencia en el mismo canal o en los canales adyacentes no sea superior al que se produciría con modulación de frecuencia", según el texto al que ha tenido accesoaso [sic] de la Onda Media se especifica que las empresas podrán solicitar autorización al Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, que dispondrá de tres meses para notificar una resolución. Dec. 8, 2003 More on digital audio broadcasting in Spain http://www.rtve.es/dab/dabenglish.html (via Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, DXLD) ** U K. Tom Walters RIP --- It is with great sadness that we learned from Simon Spanswick of the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) that Tom Walters, one of the co-founders of the Association, passed away on 4th December after a long battle against illness. Tom Walters joined the AIB after leaving the BBC where he had worked since the early 1960s. He oversaw much of the AIB's day-to-day administration until ill health forced him to take a less active role in the organisation. I knew Tom quite well, and was pleased to be able to do a little to help out in the early days of the organisation. He will be remembered by those who used to attend the annual conferences of the European DX Council in the 1980's, and even after his retirement Tom could sometimes be heard reading the news on the BBC World Service. Our condolences to Tom's family and his many friends around the world. # posted by Andy @ 17:14 UT Dec 8 (Media Network blog via DXLD) I had the pleasure of meeting Tom personally at the last "Challenges" conference in Montreal a few years ago. We had several nice conversations about both AIB and the state of international broadcasting. Since that time, we were in touch occasionally. He was a gentleman and was one of those quiet but important "behind the scenes" people passionately committed to the profession of international broadcasting. I was not aware of his illness and feel bad about not being in touch with him more recently. Sincere condolences to his friends and family (John Figliozzi, NY, 12.08.03 - 9:34 pm, ibid.) ** U K. BBC WORLD SERVICE PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS Tuesdays, 1506 and 2206; Wednesdays, 0206: Go Digital will have two special programs asking whether or not digital technology can help alleviate world poverty. Special webcast features will be available at the World Service website; click on ``Technology`` to reach the Go Digital features. The specific dates for these programs was not available at presstime; check the online sources for updates. Wednesdays, beginning December 17th, 1545 and 2245; repeated Thursdays, 0245: Heart and Soul will feature a four-week series called Modern Muslim Marriage; the program visits Muslim communities in Britain, Malaysia and Iran to assess how Muslims are struggling to reconcile cultural expectations with their commitment to Islam. Wednesday, December 17th, 1506 and Thursday, 0206: Discovery airs a special program marking the centenary of the Wright brothers` first powered flight. One week later, Discovery takes up the landing of the spacecraft Beagle 2 on Mars with a special feature called Small Dog on Mars (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. VOICE OF AMERICA ENGLISH BROADCASTS TO THE AMERICAS Evening Transmission 0000-0200 UT Tuesday through Friday (Monday-Thursday local time) 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 11695 13790: 0000 News and Reports 0023 Sports 0030 News Headlines 0033 Coast to Coast 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 13790: 0100 News and Reports 0115 Focus 5995 6130 9455: 0130 News Headlines 0133 Business News 0144 Opinion Roundup 0147 Dateline 0155 Editorial 7405 9775 13790: 0130 Special English News and Features Saturday (Friday local time) 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 11695 13790: 0000 News and Reports 0018 Point of View 0023 Sports 0030 News Headlines 0033 Coast to Coast 5995 6130 7405 9455 9775 13790: 0100 News and Interviews 0123 Sports 5995 6130 9455: 0130 News Headlines 0133 Our World 0155 Editorial 7405 9775 13790: 0130 Special English News and Features Sunday and Monday (Saturday-Sunday local time) No Transmission Some VOA News Now frequencies directed to Africa may be audible in the Americas (via Kim Elliott, VOA, gh rearranged pdf grid for DX LISTENING DIGEST; other targets to come) ** U S A. WRONG PRIORITIES [Washington Post Editorial] Monday, December 8, 2003; Page A24 THEY PROVIDE what one Lithuanian politician calls "neutral, solid, Western programming" reflecting Western values. They give an American point of view but are not generally regarded as propaganda. They have millions of listeners across the new democracies of Eastern Europe as well as a long tradition. They cost, by U.S. budgetary standards, very little: The overall funding, for 11 countries, is $11 million a year. Yet if congressional appropriators have their way, one of the cheapest, most effective and most popular tools of U.S. public diplomacy -- the foreign language services of Radio Free Europe -- will soon cease to exist. Seven languages are to be cut altogether, including the services to Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Croatia and the Baltic states. Several more, including services to Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia and Serbia, will be cut by 25 percent. The logic behind the cuts -- which have been heavily pushed by the administration and opposed by many in Congress -- is allegedly financial: More money is now going to radio services in the Middle East, and budgets are limited. But the omnibus appropriations bill awaiting congressional approval is hardly austere. As we've said before, it is proving to be yet another example of lax congressional spending, funding everything from a rain forest museum in Iowa to Alaskan fishing communities. Like the relatively low funding for the newer but equally effective services of Radio Free Asia, the cuts to Radio Free Europe do not, therefore, really reflect a new administration push to control spending. Instead, they are yet another example of the administration's poor choice of foreign policy priorities. With a short attention span and little understanding that allies, too, require attention and diplomacy, the administration seems to have let whole chunks of the world fall off its diplomatic radar screen altogether. No iron law says that new democracies will remain democracies or even remain American allies. In this unstable part of the world, the sober presentation of an American point of view is still necessary. (c) 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. Radio Free Asia introduced its first QSL card at the EDXC Conference in August 2003, portrait of the Dalai Lama. The second QSL, with a different design not yet released, should come out in February or March 2004. Only certain transmitter sites, such as Sri Lanka, can be verified; due to political reasons, we are not free to comment on some other sites (Andrew Janitschek, RFA, on RVi Radio World Dec 7, notes by gh for DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Hi Jeff: We need to suspend programming at WRMI for a few months effective immediately. We are rethinking our business plan (Daryn Fleming, IBC Radio Network, Dec 8 via Jeff White, DXLD) Another SW outlet for WORLD OF RADIO gone; maybe they will keep webstream (gh) ** U S A. Updates to DX Programs --- Hi! Ran across a couple minor items to consider when the next update of the DX Programs list is prepared; these are WBCQ airings of the "Allan Weiner" monolog/ ramblings retransmissions. The Saturday 2200 UT listing: it wasn't on there and then 11/29 and 12/6/03. On 12/6, there was a GCN ID at the top of the hour followed by the first few sentences of a program called "Fire Base |something|" which was then faded out and some Christian Identity religious program began (didn't write down the title, sorry, and have forgotten it) which explicitly stated that this day and time was their new broadcast schedule. The Sunday 0100 UT listing: I think this airing has been shifted to 0000; I tuned in at about 0055 UT and heard the last five or so minutes of Allan, and then it went to some annoying music program at 0100. This was particularly irritating, as that 0100 airing was a good time between other stuff I want to hear, but 0000 conflicts with at least two other things on other stations and a local TV news discussion program broadcast at 0030, sigh... I just checked the WBCQ.us website schedule and these alterations are NOT reflected there; that still shows the Allan Weiner program at these times. But I've noticed that it seems that that on-line sked is not updated frequently enough and is often out of date. Regards, and thanks for maintaining such a useful list! (Will Martin, MO, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Strange propagation, or QRP? UT Sun Dec 8 at 0330, I could barely hear 5070 to confirm WOR was on as scheduled. Normally it`s booming in here; 5935 was even less. But WWRB was still loud and clear on 5050 and 5085. Could it be that the skip distance was such that the slightly greater distance to Manchester made all the difference? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also SOUTH CAROLINA non ** U S A. CBS SHOULD KEEP RATHER TO THE END Tim Goodman Friday, December 5, 2003 ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle http://sfgate.com/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/12/05/DDGNG3FDKC1.DTL Every year there are rumors about Dan Rather's demise. Every year it turns out to be a nonstory, no matter how titillatingly possible it seemed at the time. The latest showed up last week in the New York Times, on the front page (slow news day?) and noted that unnamed sources inside CBS are saying that Rather will get a dreaded phone call one day next year telling him he's out. For a network that has been absolutely golden in all of its moves in the past two years, this latest rumor, if it ever proves true, would signal a trifecta of stupidity. First, "The Reagans" debacle, which was completely unnecessary. Then the ill-timed (and ill-conceived) Michael Jackson special, now scrapped. Two is a pattern, correct? Three a trend? Let's hope CBS has just temporarily turned its ankle and will right itself, instead of taking a complete pratfall by forcing Rather out. Dan Rather needs to stay in the anchor chair at CBS News until he decides to stand up and leave it. On his own terms. Not only is the man owed that, for years of stellar service, but CBS is kidding itself with the ferocity of a searing stand-up comic if it thinks Rather's replacements -- John Roberts and Scott Pelley are the names always bandied about -- are going to improve ratings. This isn't about competence. In a TV news world where there are precisely three iconic anchors, Rather is the icon's icon. Peter Jennings of ABC and Tom Brokaw of NBC are both exceptionally good at what they do, and all three of them represent the last of a breed that TV news will no longer allow to grow. They are this country's final authoritative livingroom legends. No one else, regardless of journalistic talent or camera-friendly good looks, will ever reach their status as arbiters of news or replicate their influence. When these men leave, the anchor as icon is over. The next generation will be news people reading a TelePrompTer and announcing the news. No knock on them, but the game is changed. TV news is a watered-down business. If CBS is seriously considering removing Rather, now 72 but full of vigor, then it will be a business decision, period. Rather does not generate the ratings of Brokaw or Jennings, and it's been a very long time since the race was close. But since when did CBS News, which virtually created the concept of the authoritative news presence -- the oracle, if you will -- worry about ratings? The news at CBS has always been a hallowed institution, the biggest jewel in the so-called Tiffany Network, impervious to ratings taint, thanks largely to the high-mindedness of the network brass. Has that changed now? You bet it has. And logically it's hard to fault CBS for keeping an eye on the bottom line, on the Nielsen overnights. It has a right to be worried that its product -- and let's face it, in the Nielsens world anything that comes on after a commercial is product -- is losing its relevance. And yet, no, it doesn't have that right. You can't tout hard news credibility -- a clarion call from CBS for years -- and then worry about your demos. This very internal struggle is what has torn apart CNN for years. But all CNN does is news. That's the brand, that's the product. CBS is a broadcaster. The network can worry all it wants about selling soap in prime time. But it should be less furrow-browed over the fact that a couple of million people prefer to watch Brokaw or Jennings. More to the point, CBS is not struggling. It is essentially the dominant network. Leslie Moonves has taken a downtrodden network with older-skewing viewers and a shabby, unimpressive lineup of fiction programming and turned it around in a manner well past stunning. CBS is a powerhouse again. Which means it should not be publicly floating the idea that Rather's clock is running out. The network has a cushion now that should allow Rather to do what he does without some bean-counter working executives into a panic. So CBS News is a loss-leader. Fine. It doesn't mean the quality has suffered. In fact, CBS News has been consistently rock solid. And Rather is an integral part of that. Although he's a lightning rod for criticism -- far more so than either Jennings or Brokaw -- he's also a legend, detractors be damned. You don't put pressure on your most storied newsman and make him doubt himself in public, or force him to lobby for his job in a newspaper. The appreciation of Rather should not be affected by one's political party. Not only is he the essential election-night anchor, his now famous Ratherisms would, all by themselves, be sorely missed. Also, from where -- if not from political beliefs -- does this anti-Rather sentiment bubble up? What's not to like about him? He's straightforward and folksy on his broadcasts, perhaps the single most difficult trait to project. He never looks as if he's faking it, and he never looks too glossy. He has always looked like a man who just rolled his sleeves back down, set the black coffee down on the news desk, and put on his sports coat just in time to look into the live camera. And out of the anchor chair, he comes across as not only that rare, fully formed character but also as a genuinely nice man. He's funny and emotional and earnest. Why is that polarizing or wrong? The answer may rest in the public's shifting perceptions of the media. By the early '90s, television news had forever changed. Mostly because of cable - - which changes the landscape monthly. There are more and better competitors. There is also, sadly, this constant wondering about bias, which has entered the modern zeitgeist and fueled the creation (and success) of the Fox News Channel. Just as the public nearly demands (or certainly enables) the personal strip-mining of political candidates, there's an assumption now that the media is biased and that people like Rather have an agenda. Rather can't escape that perception (certainly not as deftly as Brokaw or Jennings have), and there is an undeniable headline-grabbing quality to the foibles of Rather's life. That's just modern media, and we're all soaking in it. But beyond that, nobody should forget that Rather is a superb and passionate journalist and always has been. It's probably true that Edward R. Murrow couldn't have lived up to his reputation if he had to play out his career in this new world of institutional fear, public suspicion and jadedness. (All directly linked, by the way, to years of cable news channels blurring the lines between objective journalism and talking-head shout-fests, often with the same people.) Neither could this country's most revered living newsman, Walter Cronkite, have come out as unscathed as he did in the modern world of TV news. His sainthood has protected him even in retirement from statements and a P.O.V. that might not have buffered him had his career been traded with Rather's. There's a certain distant sadness to the notion that this troika of old- school anchors will fade away. Already Brokaw is set to retire next year, replaced by Brian Williams. Now, Williams is a fine candidate, and he does bring to the table all the qualities one would jot down on a list if one were trying to replicate the essential qualities of an authoritative anchor. But as Rather had to live in the significant shadow of the most trusted newsman in America, Williams -- and future successors for Rather and Jennings -- will be battling the already prevalent notion that being a network news anchor is not that big of a deal anymore. And so it is that summoning a quaint sense of history passing is easy to do when pondering the retirement of Brokaw and the eventual evaporation of the Rather and Jennings anchor mystique. This whiff of nostalgia may not be so fragrant and memory-inducing for people on the West Coast. Based on lifestyle choices that find most people commuting home when the Big Three are presiding on TV, an argument can be made (and has been, right here) that the network news is a dinosaur. However true that may be for anyone here, it doesn't change the fact that we're never going to have the likes of Brokaw, Jennings and Rather again. New versions, new times, new television landscape -- everything marches on. You may not feel it now, but there will definitely be a void there, and a significant journalistic loss. Which makes the rumors about Rather all the more annoying, especially if they contain an element of truth. If CBS has any appreciation for history and particularly its own glossy news history, it will back off on Rather's forced retirement and the completely overblown, unimportant anointing of the new king. (On-the-record talk of Rather getting a new role or roles elsewhere conveniently miss the point -- he's your anchor, now and in the future, or at least should be.) CBS needs to realize that it's in a rare position not to fret over ratings in the news department. There is a high road here. And it leads only in one direction -- Rather stepping down when he's good and ready to do it, on his terms, with nobody checking his Blackberry devices for the overnight Nielsens. ©2003 San Francisco Chronicle (via Tom Roche, DXLD) ** U S A. VERMONT PUBLIC RADIO PUSHED TO PICK UP LEFT-WING NEWS SHOW http://www.timesargus.com/Story/75587.html http://rutlandherald.com/News/State/Story/75603.html December 6, 2003 By David Mace VERMONT PRESS BUREAU MONTPELIER - A group pushing to have the progressive radio news program Democracy Now! broadcast on Vermont Public Radio is taking their case to the citizen panel that advises the public radio station. But officials at VPR - which decided earlier this year not to air the program - say it isn't objective and doesn't fit into the statewide network's mix of shows, a charge supporters of Democracy Now! dispute. "I would not characterize it as advocacy radio," said Liz Blum, 61, of Norwich, who helped form the grassroots volunteer group Democracy Now! on VPR. "I would characterize it as in-depth news. A lot of times you hear things on Democracy Now! before you hear them on the regular news." |snip| She and other supporters say the hour-long independently produced show, hosted by award-winning journalist Amy Goodman, ... provides a viewpoint that National Public Radio news programs don't. |snip| Goodman's stances - strongly opposed to the war in Iraq, globalism, and corporatism - earn her plenty of support among Progressives in the state, but while VPR airs commentaries from a variety of viewpoints on the political spectrum, its news programs must be objective, he said. |snip| Blum, who considers herself a VPR listener, said she believes the station, and NPR, have become less willing to tackle issues because they're afraid of offending the companies that support them. "I think they are less independent than they used to be because, partly, they are more and more beholden to underwriters," she said, a charge Vogelzang flatly denied (via Ricky Leong, QC, DXLD) ** U S A. The Metropolitan Opera begins its 64th season of radio broadcasts today, after announcing earlier in the week it has received a major gift to help continue the unique series... http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune- review/entertainment/s_168613.html (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U S A. It`s almost time for another Winter Solstice Concert from the Cathedral of St. John the Allegedly Divine in New York: unfortunately the official webpage has no info about stations carrying it, but we may round up a few later; we got this link from KGOU which has scheduled it for UT Tue Dec 23 at 0100-0300: http://www.murraystreet.com/winter.htm PAUL WINTER'S WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION - 23RD ANNIVERSARY Click here for a high-res version of the photo Click here to see a Lucky Moyo photo gallery Ecumenical performance from New York's Cathedral of St. John The Divine, features the joyous vocals of Lucky Moyo (of Zimbabwe's Black Umfolosi), the expressive percussion of Valerie Dee Naranjo (of "Lion King" and "Saturday Night Live" band), mbira virtuoso Chris Berry and Paul Winter's soaring soprano saxophone. A New York and NPR holiday tradition, this Solstice Celebration also pays tribute to Winter's "Icarus" on the 30th anniversary of its release. We expect to hear from Icarus' original producer and Beatles mentor Sir George Martin, who called Icarus "The finest album I ever made." We'll hear a new arrangement of the tune in live performance with African percussion. Other highlights this year include gospel singer Theresa Thomason and Winter's "Song for the World." Song highlights (abbreviated) [audio sample links] Gayna Gayna (Zebra Song) - Lucky Moyo & Ensemble Tomorrow is my Dancing Day - PW Consort & friends The Rain is Over and Gone - Theresa Thomason Solstice Chant - PW Consort & Ensemble Minuit/ Adeste Fidelis - Ensemble & Audience WNYC's John Schaefer and WFUV's Pete Fornatale will host this year's Paul Winter Solstice broadcast. Schaefer is a veteran of the Solstice Special, having hosted all our prior broadcasts. Although his work on the Solstice broadcast began only last year, Fornatale is familiar to many listeners and fans of Paul Winter as a champion of his music on New York's pioneering stations. The broadcast is again produced by Murray Street Enterprise. For more information call Jennifer Kinloch at NPR (800 329 5380 x 2830) or Steve Rathe (800 793 1673). (via Glenn Hauser, DX LSITENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 1710, Pirate NY New York, 12/07 1105 UT, Poor signals with religious talk program from the Lubavitcher pirate station. New (Shawn M. Axelrod, VE4DX1SMA, and Wayne McRae, DXing from Valhalla Beach MB; receivers: 2-Icom ICR-70; antennae: various wires and beverages and 2- MFJ 1026 phasing unit, amfmtvdx at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A [and non]. Here is another X-band listing, this one from a Swedish point of view, the Umeå Shortwave Club: http://www.hard-core-dx.com/distance/x-band.htm#X-Band%20List%201610-1700 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The tower for WFOM 1230 Marietta, GA fell on Friday, December 5. It is still off the air as of Monday, December 8. It is (was) a 100% simulcast of WALR 1340 Atlanta, with Imus in AM drive, and second tier syndicated talk the rest of the day. Here in Lilburn, the frequency sounds like a graveyarder at night around the clock. At least four stations heard at 11 AM local (Brock Whaley, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WAMU'S BOTTOM LINE --- CRITICS ARE SEEING RED OVER UNIVERSITY FEES FOR SUPPORT OF PUBLIC RADIO STATION By Jennifer Frey Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, December 6, 2003; Page C01 Scrutinize WAMU's financial documents, its detailed budgets, its annual reports, its internal memos, and there are no "aha!" moments, no items that are revelatory in their excess, no large, unjustifiable expenses that might explain how the once financially stable public radio station has plummeted into the red over the past four years. There are no thousand-dollar designer trash cans lurking in the numbers, no junkets to Caribbean islands, nothing that smacks of illegality or unethical spending. What emerges, instead, is a complex picture that involves not just spending decisions, but also accounting ones. It is the story of a station that -- under the stewardship of Executive Director Susan Clampitt and in conjunction with American University, its license holder -- took on an ambitious strategic plan and spent the money believed necessary to achieve it. Yet the station increasingly failed to meet its revenue expectations during the three years the plan was in effect. After public scrutiny of those losses -- $4.6 million over three years, draining all of the station's cash reserves -- and a near-revolt by staff members who criticized Clampitt's management style, AU President Benjamin Ladner fired Clampitt on Oct. 30. It is also the story, though, about the nature of the financial relationship between the radio station and AU -- a relationship, Clampitt says, that is far more to blame for the station's fiscal problems than her stewardship. http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A40409-2003Dec5?language=printer (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. KGNU-FM in Boulder, Colo., is working with Public Radio Capital http://pubcap.org to help buy an AM signal [sic] in Denver. http://kgnu.org/signal/signalupdate.html (Current, posted at 11:17 AM EST Dec 3 via DXLD) Nothing really new here, but the signal they wanted was 1510, which has become an ``Americana`` alternative but commercial outlet, as in previous stories (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO FREE SANTA FE RETURNS TO 98.1 FM By DOUG MATTSON | The New Mexican http://www.santafenewmexican.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=36203&SectionID=2&SubSectionID=&S=1 The listeners spoke, and Radio Free Santa Fe listened. At least that's how radio station general manager Ira Gordon explained 104.1 FM KBAC's renewed focus on eclectic programming that once endeared local music lovers. Starting Dec. 4 the station will be targeted to the Santa Fe area and also get back its former, though weaker, signal at 98.1 FM, Gordon announced Tuesday. The return in format and frequency is a response to listeners who became enraged when the station began playing classic rock in hopes of drawing more adult listeners in both Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Many suspected meddling by media giant Clear Channel Communications, which owns both KBAC and the current 98.1 station, KLSK, and about 1,200 other stations nationwide. "As far as I know, I don't know of any major radio company that has responded to listener complaints in this fashion by actually giving them back a format that they wanted," Gordon said, noting Clear Channel signed off on the changes. Gordon said he received about 200 angry e-mails and phone calls after the station began adding oldies from Bob Seger, Led Zeppelin and others to its usual fare of independent and alternative music. For some reason, the Doobie Brothers drew the most wrath. Listener Glen Miller, who spearheaded the campaign against KBAC's classic-rock experiment, responded skeptically to Gordon's announcement. He also lamented that the 98.1 signal won't reach his Eldorado-area home. "It's good news, but it comes as mixed news," Miller said. "I mean, it's great to get the radio station back, and it sucks to get it back on a lesser frequency. And it sucks to lose (morning disc jockey) Sam Ferrara." Gordon said listeners in Eldorado and low-lying sections along Interstate 25 will get little or no reception, but options are under consideration to improve coverage. Radio Free Santa Fe now transmits 100,000 watts from Pajarito Mountain in Los Alamos and can reach Albuquerque listeners. KLSK, which plays classic rock at 98.1, transmits 100,000 watts from Bernal Mesa, between Las Vegas, N.M., and Pecos. Neither station will play classic rock under the format changes. "Santa Fe listeners definitely made their feelings known that they missed the old sound," Gordon said. "Much like old Coke and new Coke, we're going back to old Coke." At 104.1, KLSK will be dubbed "World Class Rock" and play adult album alternative music such as U2 and the Dave Matthews Band. A play list of about 800 songs will be targeted at Albuquerque and will be broadcast from there. The new Radio Free Santa Fe will have nearly 3,000 titles of funk, blues, world music and other genres played from the KBAC studio on Maclovia Street near Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe, Gordon said. Ferrara, host of the popular morning show, is returning to his native Colorado. Radio Free Santa Fe is nearly 8 years old and, until last year, had been at 98.1. Clear Channel bought the station three years ago. As for Miller, he believes corporate motive, rather than customer protest, spurred Clear Channel's moves. "We effected a little bit of change, but I don't think that's the whole story," Miller said. "I think there's more to it." (via New Mexico Radio Board Dec 1 via DXLD) ** U S A. KRON TRIES TO BLOCK TV TOWER Old foe NBC plans transmitter to boost viewership in S.F. Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle A long-simmering feud between NBC and its former affiliate KRON is back in public view, with KRON's owners attempting to scuttle the network's plans to move a transmitter closer to San Francisco. The objection was crafted by lawyers for Young Broadcasting and filed with the Federal Communications Commission a week and a half ago, contending that new NBC station KNTV is "abandoning San Jose for San Francisco'' with its application to move the signal antenna closer to the city. Thousands of San Franciscans can't get NBC's Channel 11 unless they have a satellite dish or cable. But the legal papers also highlight the contentious history between KRON and NBC, offering a blow-by-blow rehashing of the messy divorce. "NBC's 'public' interest argument is reminiscent of the child who slew his parents and then asked the court for mercy on the basis that he was now an orphan,'' Young Broadcasting's objection states. "NBC network coverage deficiencies in San Francisco are self-inflicted.'' NBC officials said on Wednesday that the claims are unfounded, and that the network's lawyers plan to submit their first response to the FCC today. NBC attorney William LeBeau claimed that NBC's engineering studies showed that Bay Area viewers would be better served by the proposal, which would move the transmitter from Loma Prieta in the South Bay to a tower on San Bruno Mountain. The move likely would have little effect on ratings for other local news stations, which broadcast from a different antenna on Sutro Tower in San Francisco. "This is simply a case of sour grapes,'' said Hilary Smith, a spokeswoman for NBC. KRON was an NBC affiliate for nearly four decades, but was replaced by KNTV in January 2002, after vitriol-filled negotiations broke down. KRON was for sale early in the negotiations, and alleges that NBC tried to scare off prospective buyers to devalue the station. NBC maintains that KRON was the one that walked away from the bargaining table, rejecting a fair deal. NBC later bought KNTV and moved from Channel 4 to 11, but was hit with a barrage of bad publicity when nearly 100,000 households in San Francisco and the North Bay couldn't receive the station's broadcast signal -- just as NBC was about to air the 2002 Winter Olympics. KNTV officials said in October that they had found a solution to the problem, and filed a construction application to move the antenna more than 25 miles north, telling the FCC that the move was in the public's best interest. Lawyers for Young Broadcasting responded with an objection that was received on Nov. 21, asking for the FCC to deny the application, while still fuming about NBC's actions before the split. Exhibit A in the legal papers is a 1999 letter from NBC President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Wright. Young Broadcasting lawyers say that Wright's letter was sent to the investment banking firm handling the KRON sale, seeking to warn prospective buyers of possible contract changes. Young says it was an attempt to secure an unfair bargaining advantage for NBC -- a claim that NBC has repeatedly denied. Earlier in the objection, lawyers for Young suggest that South Bay viewers in particular would be harmed by the transmitter relocation. While NBC told the FCC that more viewers would be able to get the station after the move, Young conducted its own study and concluded that viewers would lose out -- particularly in the South Bay. "NBC is, plainly, abandoning San Jose for San Francisco,'' the objection states. NBC officials said the allegations are untrue. KNTV general manager Linda Sullivan pointed out that the channel is in the process of building new headquarters in San Jose, while LeBeau said NBC's study is more extensive than Young's. "The public-interest benefits are very, very clear,'' LeBeau said. LeBeau said NBC is still hopeful that the FCC will approve the transmitter move in time to broadcast the Summer Olympics on the new tower. NBC officials said that San Jose will still receive a strong signal after the move, while large clusters of Bay Area viewers who don't get any signal -- mostly in West San Francisco, Marin County and the East Bay -- would finally be able to receive KNTV with an antenna (via Brock Whaley, DXLD December 8, 2003) ** VENEZUELA [non]. CUBA RHC, 11670, 1732-1750 Dec. 7, excellent signal and audio -- the only transmitter carrying "Alo, Presidente" I could find -- with babble about tractors, etc. by the baboon himself (Terry L Krueger, Clearwater, FL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ZIMBABWE. 6045, R. Zimbabwe, in vernaculars with lots of pops (mainly Afro), talks, phone-ins, good and strong signal. Not sure of sign-on time, but noted regular between 0600 to past 2300. It seems they have settled on this frequency for now (Vaclav Korinek, RSA, DXplorer via DXLD) UNIDENTIFIED. Since at least February 2003 I've been receiving what sounds like a time signal on 10509.6 kHz (carrier). Its format is much like the Russian time signals at 9996 and 10004 kHz. It is always very weak but fairly reliable. I can find no reference to it and it seems to be an odd frequency to me. I've ruled out local EMI, etc. I'm using a Ten-Tec Argonaut V with the TXCO for a receiver. It is best received in the CW mode with a narrow filter. Adjust for a carrier frequency of 10509.6 kHz. I would be interested if anyone else can receive the signal or has any information about it. 73, Steve Yates - AA5TB, Fort Worth TX, Nov 27, HF Radio loggings forum via DXLD) I'll give a listen and let you know, Steve. I have a recent copy of the Klingenfuss book, I'll see if anything is listed there (Chris KU4A, KY, ibid.) Nothing anywhere near that frequency in 2002 K`fuss. If it`s like the Russian TS stations, it should include IDs in CW! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Spanish 2-way on 17530 SSB, Dec 8 at 1458, mentioning coördinates of 92 something west, but missed the latitude; before I could measure it exactly, they decided to QSY to 8250.0, where also heard, but not as well here; mentioned avión (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. Reports of the Western classical music tests are filed in this and recent issues under CHINA, tho that has not been absolutely confirmed, based on triangulation and other factors as explained (gh) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLICATIONS ++++++++++++ EIKE BIERWIRTH SCHEDULE SITE Dear friends, After a good start, the last stations' schedules took a while. But now you may find (and hopefully find useful) my SW schedule, sorted as well as by time, and by frequency, on http://www.eibi.de.vu/ Good dx, (Eike Bierwirth, 04317 Leipzig, DL, Dec 8, hard-core-dx via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ FEMA TO FCC: BPL WILL ``SEVERELY IMPAIR`` MISSION-ESSENTIAL HF OPERATIONS NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 8, 2003 -- Expressing ``grave concerns`` about likely interference from unlicensed Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has told the FCC that BPL could ``severely impair FEMA`s mission-essential HF radio operations in areas serviced by BPL technology.`` FEMA filed comments December 4 in response to last April`s FCC BPL Notice of Inquiry, ET Docket 03-104. http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_document=6515292045 FEMA expressed primary concern over BPL`s potential impact on the FEMA National Radio System (FNARS), which operates on HF and serves as the agency`s primary command and control backup medium as part of the Federal Response Plan. ``FEMA has concluded that introduction of unwanted interference from the implementation of BPL technology into the high frequency radio spectrum will result in significant detriment to the operation of FEMA radio systems such as FNARS,`` FEMA`s comments assert. ``FNARS radio operators normally conduct communications with signals that are barely above the ambient noise levels.`` FEMA further noted that FNARS HF stations typically are in residential areas of the sort that BPL -- a form of power line carrier (PLC) technology -- might serve. BPL also could render such ``essential communications services`` as the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) useless, FEMA said. FEMA and ARRL last year signed a Memorandum of Understanding that focuses on how Amateur Radio personnel may coordinate with the agency to support emergency communications functions. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/FEMA-ARRL-SOA1.pdf Calling the HF spectrum ``an invaluable and irreplaceable public safety resource,`` FEMA said there`s no current alternative to HF in terms of meeting national security and emergency preparedness requirements at the national, state and local levels. The agency recommended beefing up the FCC`s Part 15 rules to ensure no increase in interference levels to existing FCC or NTIA-licensed communication systems, ``because any noise increase inevitably would diminish the ability to maintain essential communications,`` FEMA said, and would ``directly impair the safety of life and property.`` The BPL interference situation is reciprocal, FEMA noted, citing ``Interference to PLC systems from Amateur Radio Operation`` http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/Interference_to_PLC.htm That paper points out that Amateur Radio transmitters likely would interfere with BPL systems. BPL users likewise would experience service interruptions when its transmitters ``overpower the signal levels expected by BPL modems,`` FEMA predicted. FCC adoption of proposals to encourage widespread development and deployment of BPL also could result in consumer confusion regarding who would resolve interference issues and how. FEMA said it believes licensed radio services ``will be perceived by consumers as responsible for the interference, since most consumers do not understand that their unlicensed Part 15 devices `must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.``` ``The purported benefits of BPL in terms of expanded services in certain communications sectors do not appear to outweigh the benefit to the overall public of HF radio capability as presently used by government, broadcasting and public safety users,`` FEMA concluded. FEMA Chief Information Officer Barry C. West, who filed the comments on the agency`s behalf, characterized the issues it raises as being ``of great importance to the national public safety.`` Because FEMA now is part of the Department of Homeland Security, its perspectives on BPL could carry substantial weight at the FCC, which may issue a Notice of Proposed Rule Making as early as February. The ARRL announced last week that it plans to complete an independent BPL engineering study within a couple of months. The study will explore how BPL might affect HF and low-VHF amateur operation as well as how Amateur Radio operation could affect BPL systems. Additional information about BPL and Amateur Radio is on the ARRL Web site. http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/ To support the League`s efforts in this area, visit the ARRL`s secureBPL Web site https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/ Copyright © 2003, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) COMMENTARY ++++++++++ VERIFICATIONS ONLY FOR P.R. ``Verifing reception is part of a state broadcaster's responsibility --- it is part of demonstrating that the state is still properly functioning.`` (`mhev`, hard-core-dx via DXLD) This can't be serious. It's like being in a time warp. I remember even genial George Wood getting angry when someone made that point at an EDXC Conference many years ago. I thought such attitudes had been well and truly removed from the hobby. First of all, we are not state broadcasters. We are public broadcasters. Secondly, international broadcasters are not on the air for the gratification of people who are only interested in their technical operations. QSL cards were, in the past, sent out as a way of saying thanks because the broadcasters relied on reception reports to determine how well their transmissions were being received. Those days are long gone. Most broadcasters can check reception themselves via remotely operated receivers, or monitor each other's broadcasts on a professional level. The world has moved on, but some DXers' attitudes apparently haven't :-( Many international broadcasters continue to send out QSL cards as a public relations exercise. That's all it is - not a duty or a responsibility. Radio Netherlands is still threatened with further massive budget cuts. Do you imagine that QSL cards are high on the list of priorities? I have personal friends who have lost their jobs. Can I tell them, "never mind, at least we can still afford to send out postcards to DXers in Vladivostok"? I think instead of pontificating in this group, which is supposed to be (or at least was originally) for people who have some understanding of the subject, time would be better spent learning the basics. Our feature Writing Useful Reception Reports at http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/practical/html/receptionreports.html was written some years ago, but is still highly relevant. It also sets out Radio Netherlands' attitude to sending out QSL cards. (Andy Sennitt, Radio Netherlands, Dec 5, hard-core-dx via DXLD) 1. VOA is clearly a state broadcaster, beyond question. 2. The BBCWS, RN and even SRI are public broadcasters domestically – but state broadcasters (internatioally) by charter. 3. There are "office automation" methods to speed up QSL RSVPs; here are some: A. PDF email QSLs B. Bulk (but cheap) out of country remailing services C. Online QSL forms, to encourage A D. Outsourcing to interns, etc... 4. Ioncap, VOAarea and Ionarea are not perfect programs by any means; QSL cards are still needed as part of the Telecommunications Engineering endeavor that SW broadcasting is and will continue to be into the near future. 5. As international broadcasters 'delete' programs with technical content, segments of the audience leave. I have not listened to RN since Media Network vanished off the air... (`mhev` == ``Max Power``, I think, ibid.) Here is a little something I did for Creative Writing class in college. It covers DXing and my pathological desire for knowledge. Enjoy, it is all true! 73s, Terry Alan Klasek, Hazelwood, MIssouri THE MASTER OF THE WORLD --- By Terry Alan Klasek The Vision The grandest dream of man from time memorial has been the conquest of the known world. Alexander, Hitler, Caesar, and Napoleon were but a few of those lofty visionary dreamers of the past that sought to conquer the world. It is, however, instructive to note that there has never been a totally complete conquest of the known world until I came, I saw, and I conquered! Where all of the other would-be conquerors have failed, only I have succeeded! The fantastic curiosity about my conquest of the world was that it occurred non-violent, with not one drop of blood being spilled! Alas, dear reader, I perceive that you think me either mad or pretentious, and that my assertions are impossibility. I will, therefore, hasten to promulgate to you within this treatise abundant documentary proof that what I have said is fact, and simultaneously enlighten your unbelieving mind. The impetus to this remarkable occurrence was, "when faced with nothing to do, then one simply creates something to do!" It was a cold, gray depressing day, and the tress appeared as stark and lifeless reflections of their former selves. It was Saturday, October 24, 1964, which was a date to go down in infamy. Two young men were relaxing before a fireplace in heavy chairs having recently completed a hot session of conducting trio sonatas. The two inseparable friends were Stanley Glass and myself. We were devising new methods in combating the archenemy of all teenagers, namely boredom! We finally decided to declare a state of war on boredom by vowing to keep thinking up new and novel things to do that were intensely interesting. As that fateful October afternoon progressed Stan and my discussions turned, once again, to challenging new and innovative ideas in combating our old foe. I was relating to Stan that during the previous year I had written letters to some foreign leaders and U.S. governors to attain knowledge indigenous to their location, while boosting my ego in receiving lots of mail! I further promulgated the cogitation that high school seniors receive little, if any, mail, and that I felt important receiving more mail than my parents. Stan complained readily to the same plight, and said he would like to receive volumes of mail to boost his ego while, more importantly, furthering his knowledge. In a very short time we decided to write to foreign governments asking them for any printed matter, maps, flags, etc. on each nation's history, geography, government, culture, etc. We then came to the fateful decision to divide the world between us, and conquer! The plan and assault We mutually agreed to each of us "owning" one-half of the world, and when one of our selected countries replied with information we would consider it to be "conquered." Stan and I found this both appealing and exhilarating due, in part, to our fanatical love of history. We laid out a large wall map on the floor after dinner, and proceeded to energetically divide the world between us. It started thus: I'll take Japan and Egypt," Stan said. "I'll take Germany and Czechoslovakia," Terry said. "I'll take Taiwan and Liechtenstein," Stan said. "I'll take the U.S.S.R., Monaco, and San Marino," Terry said. On and on this went deep into the evening until finally we each "owned" one half of the world's nations. Stan ended up with the Orient, South America, 2/3 of Africa, Mexico, Canada, and two small European nations. I ended up with Europe, the Communist Bloc, 1/3 of Africa, part of South America, the U.S., and most of the Island nations of the Pacific. Immediately following the "great division" a non-aggression treaty was drafted and signed by Stan and myself. It was stipulated that neither of us could write to the other`s countries without first securing the permission of the conqueror. Non-conquered countries were the sole property of the prospective conqueror. Thus was the world divided between Stanley Glass and Terry Klasek! The next afternoon "Operation: Mit Flugpost (via air mail in German) was unleashed against an unsuspecting world and the U.S. Postal Department. During the next three weeks all of Stan's and my letters were written, logged, and mailed. Without the assistance of our parents in providing about 1/3 of the required postage we might not have gotten started. Determination, aggressiveness, and a capitalistic outlook favored us as the early heavy snowfalls provided us a means of earning postage and stationary money. A log was kept recording the dates the letters were mailed and replies received. Now the hardest part of the campaign came into play. This was waiting for the replies to appear. To our surprise replies started to arrive within two weeks of our first great assault upon the mailboxes. Liechtenstein, Belgium, and France all sent letters stating that a parcel of materials was being forwarded via surface mail. Most nations sent parcels by surface mail, but some of the larger ones sent them airmail either registered or certified. During January 1965 numerous packages were delivered to Stan and I from the proverbial four corners of the world! As soon as the parcels arrived they were compared, and a free exchange of materials and knowledge took place. During February and March 1965 not one day went by without a country responding with a package at each conquerors home. Stan and Terry, during this time, transported their daily "plunder" to Roosevelt High School for display to their teachers and anybody who showed any shred of interest. We ran off at the mouth freely at the mere mention of a nation's name, and were soon avoided by everybody except those students wanting help with schoolwork. However, teachers and peers alike supported the "conquerors" in the quest for knowledge. Unfortunately, the mailman, upon whose route BOTH houses were located, did not appreciate our passion for knowledge. He persistently was muttering vulgar and loathsome imprecations in retaliation for having to carry all the extra weight of the packages to which we vouchsafe, "just do your job with a smile," and bade him vanish in haste. In early March 1965 this world conquest came to the attention of Mrs. Polly Nash, spotlight on youth editor for the St. Louis Globe Democrat, who interviewed Stan and Terry at the latter's residence. The resulting article, "Armchair Global Jackpot" appeared in the March 25, 1965 issue (see page 8). After that Stan and I were called many names at school, but, at least, we were now not […] Meanwhile, responses continued to flood in from far off lands with strange sounding names from the sublime to the ridiculous. The replies varied from a terse note from Albania that suggested we drop dead to a mammoth goody U.S.S.R. that weighed 31 pounds! The Soviet reply featured newspapers maps, flags, books, and other printed material in English that provided a font of knowledge. Needless to say the larger nations usually sent the larger packages, while the smaller ones promulgating the least. Stan and I received maps of numerous cities, nations, and historical areas from nearly all of the conquered nations Further, we received a library of books, magazines, post cards, newspapers, photographs, and a sundry other printed materials. I received many photos of heads-of-state and noted personalities that I specifically requested in my letters. Marshall Tito of Yugoslavia sent his photo personally autographed in the Cyrillic language, and personally autographed photos arrived from Winston Churchill and Price Rainier and Grace Kelly of Monaco. Betrayal and Blitzkrieg In June 1965 I proved, once again, that history has a bad habit of repeating itself. I took on the guise of Adolf Hitler by violating our non-aggression treaty by writing to every one of Stan's nations within a week. Naturally, it was without asking his permission! The reason for this unprovoked maneuver was that I had contracted a dreaded disease common to all conquerors - "Greediest Maximums." Stan was tiring of the campaign at this time to, of all things, work, and quietly dropped from the scene when I pronounced myself "Emperor of the World" on June 15, 1965. Writing to all of Stan’s countries put me into an advanced case of "Greedius Maximus." About a week after I had "plundered" Stan's nations I still felt far from satisfied! It finally hit me that I was suffering from a pathological desire for knowledge, and I wondered if it would ever end, it didn't. I was far from satisfied after my elimination maneuver on Stan, and I decided that I was not to be outdone by anybody else’s or even my own GREED! The idea struck me that I could write to the United Nations for a list of member embassies, consulates, and information centers. Within a week after writing the magic list appeared, and I wrote to all of them within the next two weeks. My advanced case of "Greedius Maximus" had now become acute! However, believe it or not, I was still far from satisfied, and I still was determined not to be outdone by even my own super greed. So I launched "Operation: Unbelievable Greed!" Radio wars In early July 1965 a friend of mine sold me a Magnavox AM/Short Wave radio for $5 that came out of an old console. I sat transfixed listening to the world's short wave stations like BBC, Radio Nederland, Deutsche Welle, Voice of America, Radio Moscow, and HCJB in Ecuador to name a few. These stations aired programs in English for North American audiences during the hours of darkness. These programs are jammed with a wealth of information covering all aspects of that nation's culture, and much knowledge that I had not found in other sources. Within the first month I had logged over 75 stations in 63 countries, and the idea of writing to these stations manifested itself to me almost at once. These stations announced that they welcomed letters from listeners reporting technical data on the reception quality, program details, with the frequency and time of the reception, and they would respond with a verification card. When my first mailbox of "QSL Cards" arrived I was hooked! I knew that I would be a Short Wave radio listener for life, and my acute case of "Greedius Maximus" had now become terminal! What had started out as an ego trip to get volumes of mail delivered turned out to be a relentless and pathological desire for knowledge! The net result was having 637 pounds of mail delivered to my home between October 1964 and October 1965! 1 readily took in and stored in my memory a vast amount of knowledge and facts, and I read everything mailed to me. I had hand written 693 letters during the campaign, and have been undefeated in trivia games since I started playing them in October 1967! The Hiatus During the summer of 1965 my name became a common curse at my local Post Office, and that for obvious reasons. Starting in May 1965 the Post Office began sending my packages on the Parcel Post truck with the commercial bulk mail. When I joined the U.S. Navy in mid-October 1965 my mailman was the only person really glad to be leaving. When I told him the news the day before l left for Boot Camp he ran around wildly gesticulating like a roach running from a can of Raid! I donated most of my "plunder" to my high school and Saint Louis City public libraries. I have always believed that knowledge was totally useless unless it was shared! I served two tours of duty in Vietnam while in the Navy, and I purchased a good short wave radio as soon as possible. I began DXing, long distance listening, almost like one possessed. I corresponded with pen pals in five countries as I got free postage privileges in a war zone. Imagine my surprise when I was called into the Commanding officer of Naval Support Activity-DaNang's office to be confronted by two C.I.A. operatives. They acted like they were unaware that I was the "Master of the World." I was "questioned" for over two hours about what I was writing to my pen pals and the radio stations. They confiscated all my letters, envelopes, and, worst of all, my QSL verification cards! I suppose they thought I had microdots hidden under the stamps or some other cloak and dagger scenario. The only reason they gave me was that it was in the Interest of national security! The Emperor restored I dabbled with radio off and on since 1967 when I was discharged from the Navy, and passed the test for a Third-class Radiotelephone license from the FCC. I had ideas of working at a radio station then. In 1979 I got back into radio with a fanatical vengeance. I purchased a series of quality receivers with unexpected surplus funds, and tried to buy out the Post Office in the area of foreign stamps, IRCs and aerogrammes. I DXed every night, and often during the day as well loving every second as I learned! Now, in 1994 I have received over 2,500 "QSL" verifications from about 1,600 stations in numerous languages. I have verified stations in 223 different nations, and will keep trying for more as they become available. I have received over 100 diplomas and certificates from these stations and various radio clubs that I could probably wallpaper my home. I got involved in Dxing the AM ``Broadcast`` band as well. I logged over 1300 stations, and verifying 1,100 of them. I QSLed stations in the Carribean, South and Central America, Europe and a few from Africa! Juggling several languages, six clubs, starting my own club (SLIDX), and hosting meetings was almost a full time occupation. Burnout was inevitable. I did most of the newsletter, and month after month it took its toll. Here we are at 2003. I have DXed off and on since 85 adding to my totals with some new nations and many stations. I can see that I will have to rejoin IRCA and NASWA this Spring to get ready for the Fall / Winter DX season. I pity the letter carrier future of many books, bulletins and veries! Dxing NEVER EVER gets out of one`s system, eh? (That was for my Canadian friends. Heh heh heh.) I have learned extensive knowledge, most of which I retained, about different peoples, cultures, and peoples of the world, and I would do it all over again even if I could not be "The Master Of the World." The song "Here Comes the Rain" is coming through my receiver, and that national anthem means that Sierra Leone will soon be on the air. Well, l have just got to listen in again! The End, maybe? Article appeared in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat Friday, March 22, 1965. Spotlight on youth section (Terry Klasek, MO, Dec 6, 2003, IRCA via DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ JOSEF MURGAS, FORGOTTEN RADIO GENIUS WVIA-TV produced a show about the "Forgotten Radio Genius" Fr. Josef Murgas who was a parish priest in Wilkes-Barre, PA in the early 1900's. Apparently Fr. Murgas had 10 patents by 1907 on radio devices that helped to make use of radio over land much better than Marconi's system could. Fr. Murgas turned over the use of his patented system to Marconi when is was getting older because he knew that he couldn't complete the work on his radio research. I had never heard of Josef Murgas. His radio system had backers and they had built twin radio towers in Wilkes-Barre & Scranton around 1907. It also used some voice transmission along with coded messages (Bob Seaman, PA, Dec 6, WTFDA via DXLD) EARLY FM HISTORY An excellent site of early FM history at http://members.aol.com/jeff560/jeff.html Scroll down to the FM section & click on 'chronology' (John Ebeling in MN, WTFDA via DXLD) DRM +++ DRM 2010 ORDER INFORMATION Dear all who are interested in news about the availability of DRM2010 receivers, We are very glad to announce that DRM2010 will be still ready for delivery in 2003. This will allow DRM to get even more popular and also to fulfil most of you a wish for Christmas. The product has been successfully announced during WRC in Geneva, presented at IFA in Berlin, IBC in September and a lot fall exhibitions and presentation in various countries. The DRM2010 Digital Receiver will be delivered with following accessories: • Power supply • Manual in six languages (English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian) DRM2010 can now be ordered for EUR 695,-- net price. Private buyers will have to pay 16% VAT in addition which results in a total of EUR 806,20. Companies from EU will have to provide their VAT ID for buying at net price. For dealers and volume buyers, a discount table is available, please ask by Email at drm @ mayah.com or by fax +49 811 5517-55. Delivery is assumed to happen in December, first orders will be first served. Please order by fax to +49 811 5517-55 using our order form or in our shop which will be available in the next days and announced by a separate Email. This information could be downloaded as pdf- file http://www.mayah.com/content/download/pdfs/drm/DRM2010_Info_e.pdf (via Martin Gallas, Jacksonville, IL 62650, DX LISTENING DIGEST) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ OTTAWA 27 DAY MAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST, Dec 4-30: http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast27days_e.shtml Shows least unsettled dates Dec. 16-17, even better Dec. 26-28 (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) LF/MF/HF PROPAGATION OUTLOOK BY THOMAS GIELLA Back on the 12/02/03 I said: Recurrent Coronal Hole #071 will become geoeffective beginning on 12/5/03. As #066 on 11/9-14/03 it produced a Kp of 6 (moderate geomagnetic storm) and I expect at least a Kp of 5 (minor geomagnetic storming) this time around. Well, the high speed solar wind stream from recurrent Coronal Hole #071 arrived today and related minor Kp-5 to moderate Kp-6 geomagnetic storming began around 0300 UT. As #071 is very large it will remain geoeffective (Earth facing) for four or five more days. This means pretty consistent geomagnetic storming for the same period of time with occasional lesser active Kp-4 periods. With geomagnetic storming you see a lowering of the F2 layer maximum usable frequency (MUF), with the high bands impacted first. Before the storm began, even with the Solar Flux at under 100 I was hearing some signals yesterday on the 10 meter amateur band. Today nothing on 10 meters and weak signals on 15/13 meters, proof that the theory is correct. However not all is lost on shortwave. With the low solar flux at under 100, the low background x-ray flux at B1.2, the ongoing geomagnetic storming not presently impacting lower shortwave frequencies and also no current elevated energetic proton event greater than 10 MeV (10+o) in progress, D layer ionization is weaker then it has been lately. Therefore I'm able to receive R. Rebelde on 5025 kc in Cuba, AFRTS on 5446.5 kc in Key West, WTJC/WBOH on 5920 kc in North Carolina, the Dominican Republic on 6025 kc and CFRX 6070 kc in Canada, all with good signal levels at local noon here in Central Florida. Also yesterday evening I was able to recover a readable signal from R. Mauritania on 4845 kc at 2035, two plus hours before my local sunset of 223 UTC and the 160 meter amateur band opened up at 2130, with the MF AM broadcast band opening up at 2140. I also noticed earlier this morning that propagation was still strong on the 80 meter amateur band as late as 1600. Unfortunately, though, we will see poor north to south propagation (we call it auroral) on the MF AM broadcast band, also on high latitude E- W propagation paths. On the LF band we will see enhanced daytime propagation conditions via the D layer and degraded propagation conditions at night (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL, EL87WX, Dec 8, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###