DX LISTENING DIGEST 3-229, December 22, 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 1212: Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 Mon 0430 on WSUI, Iowa City, 910, webcast 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 1212 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1212.html (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1212.rm FIRST AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1213: Wed 2300 on WBCQ 7415, 17495-CUSB Thu 2130 on WWCR 9475 UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS Glenn, keep up your excellent work, that is so useful to us all. Thank you very much indeed. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Oporto, Portugal, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) gh --- You produce more in a week, gratis, than many well-salaried people do in a month. The value of your work is incalculable. Many thanks (Gerald T. Pollard, Raleigh, NC) I should like to say thanks for your fine work with DXLD/WOR. Are you doing the work in your home without help or do you have a staff of 6-7 persons and a private secretary --- Tell us! Merry Christmas to you and your family from (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Just me at home, spending entirely too much time on this. Maybe I`ll cut back next year (gh) To: webmaster of worldofradio.com Market research has shown your site to be one of the most popular websites on the Internet. Ranking.com has spent several years aggregating statistics from thousands of online users and found that worldofradio.com is now ranked as the 159,069 most visited site on the Web (Patrick Devereaux, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** AFGHANISTAN. Afghanistan has replaced the head of national television, effectively taking control of the station from the hands of the government's dominant Northern Alliance faction, which banned shows featuring women singing or dancing. Engineer Mohammad Ishaq, a key Northern Alliance member, was replaced by Ghulam Hassan Hazrati, who previously worked for the the national radio station, officials of the radio station told Reuters. Ishaq had been given a position as one of three deputy information and culture ministers, they said. Opponents of the Northern Alliance accused it of using the national Kabul Television to promote its views. Liberals also criticised a ban it imposed on shows showing Afghan women singing or dancing. Hazrati is seen as an ally of Information and Culture Minister Sayed Raheen Makhdoom, one of a group of Western-educated technocrats in President Hamid Karzai's government who have been trying to limit the influence of conservative Northern Alliance figures (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Dec 17 via DXLD) ** AFGHANISTAN. U.S. BROADCASTING TO AFGHANISTAN CONNECTS LISTENERS TO THE LOYA JIRGA Washington, D.C. - Dec. 22, 2003 - The Afghan services of the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) are using call-in shows and live coverage to provide listeners with up-to-date news and information about the Loya Jirga assembly underway in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Voice of America (VOA) http://www.voanews.com and Radio Free Afghanistan http://www.azadiradio.org part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), broadcast round-the-clock on a single frequency in Dari and Pashto, languages spoken in Afghanistan. Both services are supervised by the BBG http://www.bbg.gov By helping listeners learn more about developments in their own country and events around the world, these services are among the most popular broadcasters - domestic or international - in Afghanistan. Both services employ the call-in format to give listeners a chance to ask Loya Jirga delegates' questions on air. Listeners in Afghanistan - as well as Pakistan and elsewhere - have posed questions to Amin Farhang, Afghan Minister for Reconstruction; Qazi Amin Wegad, Constitutional Commission member; and Ahmad Wali Massoud, Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, among others. Radio Free Afghanistan has broadcast at least four hours of live Loya Jirga coverage since the gathering opened on Dec. 14. VOA has hosted daily in-depth discussions on subjects related to the assembly, including freedom of expression. In addition, the BBG services have provided live coverage of the opening speech of Transitional President Hamid Karzai, interviews with U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, senior Afghan government officials, and others such as former President Burhanuddin Rabbani. Stringers in the Afghan cities of Kandahar, Herat, Bamian, Jalalabad, and Mazar-i Sharif, as well as in Iran and Pakistan, provide daily reaction reports based on informal panel discussions with Afghan citizens. Additionally, stringers have interviewed women and religious minorities about the proposed constitution. VOA's Afghan services also broadcast hearings and seminars in the United States discussing the Loya Jirga. The Loya Jirga brought together about 500 delegates from across Afghanistan. They are debating the country's new draft constitution, a key element of the U.N.-supervised, two-year plan to stabilize the country. The Dari and Pashto services are available across Afghanistan on medium wave, shortwave, and via the Internet. Listeners in Kabul also can hear the services on FM (BBG press Dec 22 via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 15065, R. Australia (Site unknown). Very noisy with ID and ``Asia Pacific`` ann at 0100, 5/12. Nowhere near as good as // 15240 (Dennis Allen, Milperra NSW (Icom R75, longwire, ADXN via DXLD)) This Shepparton spur pops up every now and again, especially in Summer -cs (Craig Seager, ADXN via DXLD) Let`s see, mix of 15415 and 15240? (gh, DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. As is usually the case, Radio Australia`s schedule will see significant seasonal alterations in December and January as several programs take summer breaks. Specifically, at Christmastide, you can expect Radio Australia to link with a domestic network for most of our day - a combination of Radio National and Metropolitan networks. Expect the special programming to begin at 2100 UT on December 24 and continue until 0900 UT on December 25. Their format will be similar to previous years with religious specials, Christmas music, Christmas stories and talkback with Australians as they celebrate Christmas Day. Each Australian state will likely contribute a couple of hours to the broadcast (courtesy of John Figliozzi) (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. RA Previews #633; 22-26 Dec '03 The (for some) fortuitous intersection of a Southern Hemisphere summer with the Christmas season creates what Australians affectionately refer to as "the silly season", the prime occasion for the nation's holiday and vacation merry-making. For RA, it means that several programs go on a few weeks' hiatus, other programs schedule highlights and repeats from the previous year and a few new and special programs temporarily break into the RA schedule. For Christmas Day, RA is once again giving over 13 hours of its schedule (2205 Wed. to 1100 Thu.) to a relay of ABC Local Radio programs to give its listeners a taste of the unique flavour of a down under Christmas. The rest of the changes are too numerous to detail in this note; but the following schedule has them all. To ease your recognition, new and rescheduled programs are noted with this symbol +++. The special Christmas Day programming is set apart with this symbol ###. Regular programs will return to the RA schedule by the end of January... http://www.topica.com/lists/swprograms/read/message.html?sort=d&mid=1715563913&start=18575 (John Figliozzi, swprograms via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. 1611, 6GS Wagin - The Australian Broadcasting Authority has stripped radio station 6GS in Wagin, in southern Western Australia, of its commercial radio license. The authority assessed the business records of Cybervale Proprietary Limited and found it was an unsuitable licensee. It has refused to renew the license for Radio 6GS, which expired on Tuesday [25 November]. The AM station [1611 kHz] has been off the air for six months, due to lightning damage to the transmitter. Cybervale general manager Sherryl Chilcott says there will be little change for listeners. She believes the decision not to renew the license is part of a process of phasing out what are known as S40 licenses. ``It enables people to play news at the top of the hour, play fully commercial music and also commercial breaks with no restrictions,`` she said. ``They decided they were not going to issue any more of these licenses and I believe that we will be the first cab off the rank to have our license taken away from us.`` (Source: ABC News Online via Andy Sennitt, Media Network weblog via BDC, ADXN via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA. AUSSIE X-BAND – Many thanks to David Martin david667 @ optusnet.com.au Updated as of 25 Nov 2003 Notes: 1629 2NTC Armidale. It appears this has moved to 1638 kHz (needs confirmation). Radio 2 channels newly operated around the country need confirmation they are actually on-air. 1611 Darwin, 1620 Brisbane & 1620 Sunshine Coast are on air. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Address (0) Radio Italia, c/- John Wright, 29 Milford Rd, Peakhurst NSW 2210. Address (1) 2ME and/or 2NTC, 5 Macquarie St, Parramatta NSW 2150. Address (2) WorldAudio Ltd, Suite 1404B, Level 14, 33 Bligh St, Sydney NSW 2002 KHz Call Location Txer Site kW Program Sked Address ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1611 2RF Griffith (Altin Rd) 0.4 R.Italia 24h (0) 1611 2-- Sydney (St Mary's) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1611 2-- Dubbo (Brocklehurst) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1611 4-- Townsville (Cluden) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1611 7-- Hobart (Cygnet) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1611 8-- Darwin (Harvey St) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1611 2NTC Tamworth (Swan Street) 0.4 Country 24h (1) 1611 3-- Mildura (Byrne Court) 0.1Old Gold 24h 6 Byrne Court, Mildura 3500 1611 3XX Melbourne (Hoppers Cross.) 0.4 3XX 24h Box 173, Caulfield East 3145 1611 4GT Dalby (Branch Ck Rd) 0.4 24h 12 Pickering Cl, H/Cross 3029 1611 6AY Albany (Roberts Rd) 0.4 24h Box 1994, Albany 6330 1611 6-- Margaret River (Taunton Farm) 0.4 24h 46 Ord St, West Perth WA 6005 1620 2-- Sydney (Homebush Bay) 0.4 Arabic 24h 524 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards 2065 1620 1RF Canberra (Queanbeyan) 0.4 R.Italia 24h (0) 1620 2-- Newcastle (Shoal Bay) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 4-- Brisbane (Manly) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 4-- Gold Coast (Carrara) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 4-- Toowoomba (Old Noarlunga) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 4-- Sunshine Coast (Caloundra) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 4-- Cairns (Behan St) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 5-- Adelaide (Old Noarlunga) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1620 3GB Melbourne (Bayswater) 0.4 H'side/GB 24h 24 Macauley Pl, Bayswater 3153 1620 4KZ/t Innisfail (Georgetown) 0.4 4KZ 24h Box 19, Innisfail 4860 1629 2HRN Newcastle (Sandgate) 0.4 HRN 24h 70 Dawson St, Cooks Hill 2330 1629 2NTC Armidale (Ryan Street) 0.4 Country 24h (1) 1629 2NTC Bathurst (Kelso) 0.4 Country 24h (1) 1629 1-- Canberra (Murrumbateman) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1629 3-- Melbourne (Williamstown) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1629 6-- Perth (Mundarring) 0.4 Radio 2 24h (2) 1629 3RF Shepparton (Pine Lodge) 0.4 R.Italia 24h (0) 1629 4DB Dalby (Warrego Hwy) 0.4 24 Box 630, Dalby 4405 1629 4RF Brisbane (Mango Hill) 0.4 R.Italia 24h (0) 1629 5RF Adelaide (Regency Park) 0.4 R.Italia 24h (0) 1638 2ME Sydney (Thornleigh) 0.4 Arabic 24h (1) 1638 3ME Melbourne (South Morang) 0.4 Arabic 24h (1) 1665 2MM Sydney (St. Peters) 0.4 Greek 24h Level 1A, 503-507 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill 2203 1683 2-- Sydney (Earlwood) 0.4 Greek 24h Box 150, Earlwood 2206 1701 4-- Brisbane (17 Mile Rocks) 0.4 Hindi 24h 5 Cheviot Pl, Sinnamon Pk 4073 STATIONS OFF-AIR OR CLOSED DOWN 1611 2YC Sydney (St Mary's) 0.4 24h 132 Ernest St, Crows Nest 2065 1611 6GS Wagin (Brockman Rd) 0.4 1422 kHz 24h Box 280, Wagin 6315 1620 2AM Sydney (Homebush Bay) 0.4 Ethnic 24h Box 202, Caringbah 2229 1620 2KM Sydney ex 2AM (Homebush Bay) 0.4 2KY owned 24h Box 1304, Parramatta 2150 1620 4ADR Gold Coast (Carrara) 0.4 A Dance R 24h Box 609, Nerang 4211 1620 4-- Bowen (Cannonvale) 0.4 Reef R. 24h Box 707, Bowen QLD 4805 1629 3MM Melbourne (Ferny Creek) 0.4 Greek 24h Level 1A, 503-507 Marrickville Rd, Dulwich Hill 2203 1629 3-- Melbourne (Footscray) 0.15 Ethnic 24h Box 132, East Brunswick 3053 1629 3-- Melbourne (Williamstown) 0.1 R.Salsa 24h 12 Pickering Cl, H/Cross 3029 1674 2-- Penrith (Emu Plains) 0.4 NBS Radio 24h 24 Kurri St, Loftus 2232 1674 2-- Lake Macquarie (Charlestown) 0.4 Symban R. 24h 825 New Canterbury Rd, Hurlstone Park 2193 1692 6-- Perth (West Perth) 0.4 HBoWA Inc 24h 1 Dymchurch Crt, Marangaroo 6064 1692 4-- Gold Coast (Nerang) 0.01 Hot FM 24h Box 781, Nerang 4211 1701 2NTC Sydney (Camellia) 0.4 Country 24h (1) 1701 3SA Melbourne (Fitzroy) 0.4 Al Shark 24h 124A Johnstone St, Fitzroy 3065 (Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRALIA [and non]. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE HIGH FREQUENCY PROJECT: From various sources information is being released about this project which will see a HF transmitting and receiving station being commissioned in the Riverina area in the not too distant future. It is now apparent that thought is also being given to the vulnerability of the Australian telecommunications network which relies on satellite and fibre optics etc and the fact that HF is a cost effective back up system. It now appears that some U.S. Agencies find that the dismantling of some of their HF facilities over recent years has been to their disadvantage. Al-Queeda [sic] has shown that they can communicate from mobile facilities, thought to be in mountains of northeast Pakistan, to their operatives in other countries and associates in the Asian area on HF using sophisticated digital modes such as Pactor-2 etc. At the high data transfer rates used, transmission times are very short and it is difficult for authorities to locate the transmitter location (Allen Fountain, Utility DX, Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. VUELVE RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNACIONAL HOLA A TODOS. HE AQUI EL MENSAJE DE MANUEL ALETRINO DE RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNACIONAL. ESTEMOS A LA ESCUCHA A PARTIR DEL 2 DE ENERO. FELIZ NAVIDAD. SALUDOS, FRANCISCO RUBIO, Conexión Digital via DXLD) "Feliz Navidad y un sabroso Año Nuevo! Calurosos saludos desde Viena! Manuel Aletrino He aquí unas modestas perspectivas radiofónicas desde Austria: Noticiero de Austria, un panorama austríaco con noticias y temas de actualidad, de 5 minutos de duración, resume el acontecer diario austríaco. Se emite de lunes a viernes, salvo días festivos. Para Europa: a las 2155 UT en 5945 kHz y 6155 kHz y simultáneamente en 1476 kHz, en Onda Media Para América del Sur: a las 0000 y a las 0030 UT, en 13730 kHz Para América Central: a la 0100 y a la 0130 UT, en 9870 kHz Para América Este: a la 0100 y la 0130 UT, en 7325 kHz Todo ello, a partir del 2 de enero de 2004 (via Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** AUSTRIA. NEW WEB ADDRESS FOR AUSTRIAN FOREIGN SERVICE Since July 1st, 2003, Radio Österreich 1 has been providing the programming for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation`s external service. With the exception of the English language news and current affairs programme Report from Austria from Monday to Friday and the weekend feature Insight Central Europe, Ö1 International is a simultaneous broadcast of the ORF's German language domestic radio station "Österreich 1. As a result, the Web site of Radio Austria International is closing in January. The new English page is now online at http://oe1.orf.at/service/international_en # posted by Andy @ 12:49 UT Dec 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** BELGIUM [non]. I recently put together a short-wave set using a crystal detector such as was used sixty years, and more, ago. Built from parts most any radio hobbyist probably has lying around in a drawer or shoebox shoved under the bed. The single hand wound coil tunes two frequency ranges, 7.6-9.8 and 9.0-15.5 MHz. Selected by a two position switch. It is set up to use high impedance crystal headphones, about 2 kHz, or you may connect it to an external amplified speaker. It has a variable tuning capacitor; you do not have to do coil taps on the extremely primitive, but effective, copper strip slider. These sets have extremely broad selectivity! You may hear several stations at once, and they may be 50 Hz [sic] apart, maybe more. You have to guess the frequency, no readout of any kind, analog or digital or pointer. You might be surprised how quickly you will learn what the frequency is by the position of the plates on the variable tuning capacitor though! There is often a problem with BCB interference also, these sets need lots of antenna, but it also increases BCB problems. All sorts of fun things to work around. But there are ways around many of the issues, experimentation is mandatory! I heard 'Belgium Calling', out of Brussels, Belgium on December 8th. I sent them an e-mail reception report the following day. I inquired if I needed to mail them one by air mail with several IRC to cover return postage. (IRC = International Reply Coupons available from the post office). I did not receive any response from them. I have verified this station as far back as 1961 and have that QSL card yet. It is not uncommon for foreign short-wave stations not to reply to e-mail. Much to my surprise, on December 18th I received a letter from the station with their current English broadcast schedule and a full data QSL card! Unfortunately it did not mention the RX was a home-brew crystal set, but I can write that in. Tonight I was told that they read that reception report on the air! Not many MW or SW stations get reception reports from listeners using a crystal set as the receiver! If you have never tried this, or have not done it since being a kid decades ago, give it a try! It is incredible fun and the thrill of hearing a station way surpasses anything you get from using a modern RX. There are many places to get plans on the Internet for the MW set or the SW set. I also have plans here that I can mail out to interested persons (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, dfischer @ usol.com AMFMTVDX mailing list via DXLD) But keep a real radio handy to find the true frequency A fascinating story for Dx-ers now. Duane Fischer from Flint, Michigan Emailed us on Monday, December 8th and says: "I first verified your station in 1961. But early this morning I heard you with a RST of 444 on a home brew crystal short-wave radio. I was using a five band inverted vee antenna and an external amplified speaker on the crystal set. What a thrill that was! No battery, no wall outlet power, no tubes, no transistors, just a coil, a germanium crystal, a variable capacitor, a coil tap to tune with an antenna and a ground wire. Yet there you were, just as loud and clear as if I were using one of my powerful modern short-wave receivers!" Well done Duane! Of course we will send you a QSL (Brussels 1043 Dec 21 via Fischer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 4865, Rádio Verdes Florestas, 1055-1120 fade out Dec 16, group singing with nice ID and frequency announcement noted at 1103. Mix of talks by a man and woman with another ID at 1107. Some brief musical segments. Fair (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** CANADA. Radio Canada International / CBC As It Happens, especially on Christmas Eve, produces a special annual program. Each year, the program contacts members of the Canadian Armed Forces serving with the UN, NATO, NORAD and those serving in the far north. Each unit has 3 or 4 people speak for those serving with the unit. They send Christmas greetings to loved ones at home and describe how they are celebrating Christmas where they are. At the conclusion of the greetings, the units are each invited to sing a verse of a Christmas carol. In past years, the units have served in such diverse locations as Canadian Forces Base Alert (Arctic), Colorado Springs (Norad), Germany, Cyprus, Golan Heights, Bermuda (!), the Persian Gulf, Somalia, Bosnia and Croatia, and Kosovo. No doubt there will be greetings from the task force in the Gulf. It is a really nice program. It also has its moments of humor, such as the time the Canadian naval personnel stationed in Bermuda tried to claim they missed the Canadian winter real bad! (via Fred Waterer/ODXA). In general, As It Happens has had its own tradition of storytelling during the week or so leading up to Christmas (via John Figliozzi) (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** CHINA. Hi Jose & DX Friends, I did hear the station on 1422 kHz with perfect signal today Dec 18. In fact the station was much powerful than many AIR Stations. However, I heard Urdu at 1600 UT instead of Hindi. Actually 1630 was repeat of 1600 UT Urdu transmission. English was heard for 2 hours from 1400~1600. China Transmitter on 1422 kHz was silent today 19 Dec, 2003. No English, Urdu heard. 73s, (Harjot Singh Brar, Punjab for GRDXC via DXLD) ** CHINA. New transmitter site testing. unID classical music station tentatively from Kashi-Kashgar in south west China, 39.20N 75.46E. Test freqs discovered on various locations in Europe were 5915, 7010, 7630, 9410, 9780, 11445, 11450, 11460, 11510?, 11640, 11940, 11985, 12065, 13570, 13625[?], 13860, 15670, [probably from same site 13810/15730], 17480, 17580, 17820, 21460, 21730, and 21850 kHz (BC-DX Dec 18 via DXLD) 7010-BC-music, German DARC MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch German and Austrian Telecoms watch out: 7010: (7010 kHz is a part of the worldwide exclusive Amateur Radio Band of 40 metres 7000-7100 kHz). DARC MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch have also monitored the Kashi- Kashgar test transmissions of CRI-External Sce Station on 7010 kHz on 14 Dec from 1500 till sudden s/off at 1557 UT. The transmitter was performing the "Nutcracker Suite" (1524 - 1534) and "Sah ein Knab ein Roeslein stehn" a German lied (1550 - 1552). German Telecoms "RegTP" have pin-pointed the source of the intruder as to "Usbekistan Area". They told me that pin-pointing is difficult because of the great distance. They will invite the Austrian Telecoms. at Klagenfurt for pin-pointing to get a wider measuring basis and will monitor the "unknown" station for the next 3 or 4 days to come. DARC MONITORING SYSTEM Intruder Watch, The National Coordinator and PTT Liaison Officer Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR http://www.bandwacht.de (via Wolfgang Büschel, Dec 14, BC-DX via DXLD) ** CUBA. The squealy CRI relay on 17720 was off the air Dec 22, in the 1500 UT hour at least (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Radio Cima Sabor Navideño en 4960 kHz se está escuchando con muy buena señal, capatada a la 0155 UT con bachatas y la identificación del locutor diciendo: Cima Saborrrrrrr Naviiiideñoooooo. Atte: (José Elías, Venezuela, UT Dec 22, Conexión Digital via DXLD) ** EL SALVADOR. Re R. Imperial, 17835v: This is now easy in NAm when it's on; but I seldom see reports of it from other continents. Still a tough catch? (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST). I reckon I heard it during (our) winter 0400 s/off, best chance now 2000 approx. --- but certainly a difficult one -cs (Craig Seager, Dec Australian DX News via DXLD) ** FINLAND. CHRISTMAS TRANSMISSION OF SWR - UNOFFICIAL STATION OF SANTA CLAUS! Merry X-mas radio folks! Scandinavian Weekend Radio Christmas Day transmission on 25th December 2003 day will provide to you elves Lasol, Esa, RadioJack and Tricky Trev. We do not have a strict schedule for programmes this time, so you have to listen yourself what's going on ;-D You can find us on 5980, 5990 or 6170 and 11690 or 11720 kHz on 48 and 25 mb SW-dial. More (updated?) details of programmes and frequency- table can be found from our web-pages: http://www.swradio.net/fin/tietoja.htm NOTE: Because this is a little bit Special transmission day, it might be possible that we had to change our frequencies without preforehand notice. IF YOU COULD NOT FIND US ON OUR TABLED FREQUENCY, PLEASE TRY OTHER ONES! We LIKE you to take LIVE-contacts to you during this Christmas transmission. So, do not hesitate to call or send SMS-messages. Our phone number is +358 400 995 559. And of course, there is (traditional?) X-mas message web form for shy ones in http://www.swradio.net/fin/viesti.htm Happy holidays! (Ville-Veikko Haikarainen, Scandinavian Weekend Radio, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GABON. Heard Africa Numéro Un very, very strongly this afternoon. However, they have transmitter problems. Each 17 or 18 minutes the transmitter cuts off and I hear nothing, but noises for about 4 minutes, then it sign off with the program again. It happened this spring too a few times, but this afternoon it was very severe. Also, Medi Un on 9575 was at the poor-fair mark at best (Bogdan Chiochiu, Montreal (Pierrefonds-Est), QC, Canada, Realistic DX150A communications solid state rx with long-wire antenna of 30 meters of length in our front yard, DX LISTENING DIGEST) WTFK? 15475? ** GERMANY. Deutsche Welle Last year, a Christmas special aired on December 24th in the English language editions airing from 0900 onward, and on December 25th through the 0600 English release. One version of the special aired December 24th at 09, 11, 16, and 19 UT; the second edition aired December 24th at 20, 21, and 23 UT and also December 25th hourly from 01 to 06 UT, including the North American releases at 01, 03, and 05 UT. Also, Deutsche Welle aired a New Year`s special on December 31st and January 1st using the same approach described above. Also, Deutsche Welle`s 24 hour German language service has always programmed a wide variety of Holiday music on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years` Eve and New Years Day. Even though Deutsche Welle has scaled back their German language shortwave service to North America, you should have no trouble locating them on the dial during local evenings. (via John Figliozzi) One doesn`t need to know German to appreciate good music! (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening, Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** GERMANY. Re: Mission Fridderstimmer (the name sounds so by my ear, maybe incorrect), is on the air in Russian on Saturdays, 1100-1130 on 15225 for Siberia, 1500-1530 on 9635 for Europe. Address: Mission Fridderstimmer, Post Box 1006, 51606 Cummersbach [sic, see below], Germany. (Kolesov-UKR, DXSignal, Dec 14) [51606 Gummersbach, is written correct with 'G' ] DTK sked shows Evangelische Missions Gemeinden at these times and frequencies, tho the above address is different from that for EMG. (Jerry Berg-D, DXplorer Dec 14) Missionswerk Friedensstimme e.V. Gimborner Str. 20 51709 Marienheide ||| street ZIP-code Tel ++49 [0] 2261 24717 Tel ++49 [0] 2261 60170 or Missionswerk Friedensstimme Postfach 100 638 D-51606 Gummersbach ||| Postbox ZIP-code Germany or Russian Gospel Ministries P. O. Box 1188. Elkhart, Indiana 46515-1188 USA tel: ++1 219-522-3486 fax: ++1 219-293-1932 Georgi Vins and Russian Gospel Ministries can be reached at RussGosp@s... [truncated by yahoogroups] "Missionswerk Friedensstimme" was founded in Germany in 1978 and is historically connected with the plight of non-registered Baptists in the former USSR. Some non-registered Baptists of German descent had managed to remigrate to Germany and had founded their own congregations. "Missionswerk Friedensstimme" was the official arm of this group of congregations to support non-registered Baptists. It organized Western public opinion for Baptists in prison as well as covert support for non-registered Baptist congregations. There were also radio broadcasts in Russian in co-operation with evangelical short wave broadcasters. After the fall of the Soviet regime it went on to support regular mission work in the former USSR (Dr Hansjoerg Biener, Germany, BC-DX Dec 15, all BC-DX via DXLD) How can one be a ``non-registered`` Baptist? Sounds like a good idea to me; but what difference should it make?? (gh, DXLD) ** GERMANY. SWR overnight relay change From Dec 31 / Jan 1 the Südwestrundfunk program SWR cont.ra (576, 666, 711, 1017, 1485, 7265) will relay MDR INFO of Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk daily between 2200 and 0500. MDR press release: http://www.mdr.de/presse/hoerfunk/1113332.html Until now SWR cont.ra relayed at night infoRADIO of Rundfunk Berlin- Brandenburg, but this program was criticized for ignoring the SWR relay completely. Contrary MDR assured that MDR INFO will cover also Baden-Württemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz at night as it does already with Bavaria where Bayerischer Rundfunk takes it as overnight service since 1997. Probably from next year MDR INFO will be relayed at night also by Hessischer Rundfunk on the hr-skyline network (including 594), but no decision has been made so far. So DXers who want to catch Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg on shortwave or via high power mediumwave transmitters have to hurry since from New Years Eve the only AM still carrying RBB programming will be Berlin Stallupöner Allee 567, dimmed to a mere 1.8 kW and hardly audible outside Berlin anymore. On the other hand Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk will return to shortwave after disappearing when Bayerischer Rundfunk changed the overnight programming on 6085 from MDR INFO to open carrier. They sell this as quite clever since it would result in a reduced power consumption of the DCC-equipped transmitter, nothing else than a big Telefunken S4005. Imagine Wertachtal running all transmitters with open carrier when no broadcasts are scheduled for them ... Two pictures of the new MDR radio headquarters at Halle, but do not read the text too carefully: http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/hag.htm And infoRADIO glass studio: Third picture at http://kailudwig.bei.t-online.de/sfb.htm (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GOA. Glenn, re DXLD 3-228: The official name of the capital of Goa is now Panaji, not Panagi. But many Goans still stick to the Portuguese name Panjim, as you can verify in the Goan website http://www.oheraldteam.com for example, where the word Panjim is written all over the place. In fact, a lot of towns and villages of Goa are still usually called by their Portuguese names: Mormugão, Canacona, Margão, Calangute, etc. The spelling Pangim was sometimes used during the colonial times, but is not used any more (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Oporto, Portugal, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUADELOUPE. 640, RFO / Radio Guadeloupe, DEC 18, 0436 - 0443 - with news about snowstorms and icestorms in France that did lock the interstate A6, about the supervision of sick persons followed by time- check "Il est cinq heures quarante-deux sur France Inter" followed by news about George Bush and Saddam Hussein. Very strong at tune-in and during much of the listening period, but quickly faded under WNNZ and the SS stations by 0442 UTC. + DEC 18 2302 - Woman in Parisian- accented French noted at a weak and fading level with sports comments. My earliest reception of this station ! + DEC 19 0413 - French folk song with accordions and lyrics about Paris, followed by man talk about this song with the comment "chanson du patrimonie" and mention of France Inter. When Radio Guadeloupe don't air their own programs, they now relay France Inter instead of France Info like they did the past season. In my opinion, this is a way better decision because one can hear variated programs, like curious comments, French music, etc. instead of the continuous and after a certain amount of time boring news line-up and also this makes the North-American DX'ers to really discover French radio, not just French news! (Bogdan Chiochiu, QC, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. Hoi, Tussen al het Navtex-geweld, ter afwisseling, een tropenband-logje van vannacht. :-)) 4052.47, Radio Verdad, 21-12-2003, 0217 Female speaker in Spanish, short musical interlude. At 0219 non-stop piano music until 0231. Then talk again, followed by more music, a.o. instrumental versions of "Silent Night" and "Jingle Bells". No audio from approximately 0241 to 0243, when back with music with male vocals. ID at 0246. 34433 at best (Mark Veldhuis, Holland, BDXC via DXLD) ** HUNGARY. Wednesday, December 24 and Thursday, December 25 2003: Radio Budapest Today Radio Budapest has a special programme: "Memorable Christmases", edited and presented by Gyorgyi Jakobi. The programme begins with the thoughts of the head principal of the Sapientia Religious School of Theology Laszlo Lukacs, continues with a young English teacher Judit Ferenczi's recollections of her most memorable Christmases. Judit comes from Transylvania, a mostly Hungarian populated region in Rumania, and she remembers the Romanian revolution of 1989. This is followed by a programme born during the Romanian revolution, when Charlie Coutts (then head of the English services) joined the Order of Malta Charity Services to take food and Clothes to a Transylvanian town. In North America: Wed 4.30pm ET / 1.30pm PT --- Wed 1130pm ET / 8.30pm PT [Wed 2130, UT Thu 0430] In Africa and the Middle East: Wed 2000 UTC / 2200 CAT In Africa and the Middle East: Wed 2000 UTC / 2200 CAT In Asia and the Pacific: Wed 2000 UTC / Thu 0700 AEDT In Asia on WorldSpace AsiaStar: Wed 2000 UTC / Thu 0700 AEDT In Europe: Thu 0000 UTC / 0100 CET Friday, December 26 and Saturday, December 27 2003: Radio Budapest On Boxing Day, Radio Budapest, in its modest way, would like to give some presents. Editor and presenter Gyorgyi Jakobi tells you about how Hungarian culture is represented for an entire year in the United Kingdom with the help of the director of the Hungarian Cultural Centre in London, Katalin Bogyai. This is followed by the folksinger Marta Sebestyen's recollections of her life, her love of music and her country [as above, 24 hours later]. (WRN English Newsletter Dec 19 via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. Some general remarks on special Xmas programming: Here are some programming suggestions compiled from past years. The ODXA`s Fred Waterer, who writes the programming column for the ODXA`s bulletin, Listening In, and John Figliozzi, no stranger to NASWA members, who writes about programming for Monitoring Times, helped out with much of this information. EWTN and Vatican Radio You can expect special Midnight Catholic masses from these stations, plus more detailed accounts of the Pope`s Christmas activities than you would find elsewhere (via Fred Waterer/ODXA) Eastern Europe (e.g. Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia) The communist regimes governing these countries for most of the 1900s officially stifled the outward expression of religion, and it is interesting to see how many of these countries` broadcasters seem to be making up for lost time by including religious celebrations more overtly than their non-communist brethren. Fred Waterer [Programming Matters, ODXA Listening In] recommends the shortwave services from Bulgaria, Russia, and Ukraine as likely sources for holiday music. Remember that the Orthodox Christian church celebrates Christmas on January 6th --- so you`ll near New Year`s programming before you hear Christmas programming! New Zealand Fred Waterer noted in 1999 that Radio New Zealand International featured, among other things a Maori rendition of Silent Night; a special Christmas edition of Sounds Historical; Christmas coincides with ANZAC Day and the anniversary of the foundation of the NZ Communist party. Other broadcasters As Fred Waterer reminded me, expect pre-recorded programming to prevail over the holidays, with heavy emphasis on year-in-review programs along with special extended features that were recorded in advance. Broadcasters do this to enable their staffs to spend time with their families around the holidays. Other examples reported by the ODXA`s Harold Sellers from years past: RAI Italy presented an extensive report on the Pope`s Christmas homily. Channel Africa, played a traditional African hymn during a brief tune- in. AIR India (All India Radio) from 2052 to the news at 2100 played several Christmas carols, performed by a children`s choir in Hindi. For example, Harold recognized Hark, The Herald Angels Sing and O Come, All Ye Faithful (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL. December 31 --- Don't forget to listen to or watch the New Years Eve celebrations around world. Lou Josephs has been hard at work, I've been doing some updates to the RNW Hitlist, etc, and so forth and so on... it's a lot of fun on December 31: http://trsc.com/weblog/index.html#2003 (Tom Sundstrom, trsc.com | sundstrom.org | swlfest.com Dec 21, swprograms via DXLD) NEW YEAR'S EVE ON THE WEB 2003 As in previous years, Media Network's Lou Josephs http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/html/mediateam.html#josephs has compiled an extensive list of more than 250 audio and video links to help you follow New Year's celebrations around the world on the Web. In previous years we have mirrored the pages on our own site, but now that Lou is updating the details in real time via his Weblog, we've decided this year to link directly to his pages. The links have been added on the left hand side of this Weblog. Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed on Lou's pages are his own, and not those of Radio Netherlands :-) New Year's Eve on the Web 2003 http://www.ibcworks.net Lou Josephs' Weblog http://www.myjamby.com/medianetwork/ # posted by Andy @ 09:59 UT Dec 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Alton Peltier, Jr. thought you would be interested in this Catholic News Story from the EWTN website. The headline of the story is: EWTN SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO The full text of the story is available at: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=42438 (via DXLD) ** IRAN. Any recent observations of IRIB transmissions aiming at Europe? Enclosed a message from Dec 21 about the German service announcing that this would be the last day of their shortwave transmissions (Kai Ludwig, Germany, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.: Subject: [A-DX] AKTUELL: IRIB JETZT letztmalig auf KW!!! Hallo, wer IRIB noch einmal auf KW hören möchte, sollte jetzt an den rx eilen. Heute morgen wurde angesagt, daß am heutigen Tag letztmalig über Kurzwelle gesendet wird (Dietrich Hommell, A-DX via Kai Ludwig, DXLD) ** IRAN. Winter B-03 schedule for VOIROI/IRIB including registered and active(#) freqsuencie: ALBANIAN 0630-0727 15235# 17680# 1830-1927 6100# 7165# 9610 2030-2127 6100# 9740# ARABIC 0330-0527 9895 9935# 13770 15125 15545 0530-0627 9895 13770 15125 15545# 0630-1227 13770 15125 15545# 1230-1527 13770 13820 15125 15545# 1530-1627 7285 13820 15125 15545# 1630-1857 3985# 6025 6065 6200 7285 9935# 1900-1927 3985 6025 6065 6200 7285 9935# 2030-2127 3985 6025 6065 6200 7285 9935# 2130-0127 3985 6065 6200 7285 9935# 11710 0130-0227 6065 6200 7285 9935# 0230-0327 6065 6200 7285 9895 9935# ARABIC* 0330-0427 7250# 9505# 1930-2027 3985 6025 6065 6200 7285 9935# ARABIC^ 0330-0527 6145 7100 9535 ARMENIAN 0300-0327 7295# 0930-0957 13740# 15260# 1630-1727 6185# 7230# AZERI 0330-0527 11720# 1430-1657 6220# BENGALI 0030-0127 5905# 9520# 0830-0927 11705# 1430-1527 9545# 9810# 11850# 15415# BOSNIAN 0530-0627 15235# 17680# 1730-1827 7295# 11660# 2130-2227 7235# 9710# CHINESE 1200-1257 9895# 11670# 13645# 15150# 2330-0027 7130# 7325# 9635# DARI 0300-0627 9885# 0830-1157 11860 1200-1457 5965# ENGLISH 0030-0127 6120 9580 1030-1127 15385 15460 15480# 15550# 21470# 21730# 1530-1627 7190# 9610# 11835 1930-2027 6110# 7320# 11695 15140 2130-2227 9780# 11740# ENGLISHœ 0130-0227 6120# 6135 9580# 9835 1130-1157 15550# 21470# 21730# ||||| irregular on air GERMAN 0730-0827 15084# 21770# 1730-1827 6110# 9500# FRENCH 0630-0727 17590# 21645# 21770# 1830-1927 6180# 9565# 9755# 2330-0027 6120# 9790# HAUSA 0600-0657 17810# 21810# 1830-1927 7335# 9775# HEBREW 0230-0257 6010# 6120# 0700-0727 21745# 1900-1927 3985# 6140 7120# 7315 HINDI 0230-0257 15165# 17635# 1430-1527 11640# 11840# 13745# 15490# ITALIAN 0630-0727 15084# 17560 17605# 1200-1257 15084# 15275# 1930-1957 7295# 9615# JAPANESE 1300-1327 9510# 9770# 2100-2127 6125# 7180# KAZAKH 0130-0227 9855# 9880# 1300-1357 11745# 13755# 15410 KURDISH S 0330-0527 13720# 1130-1427 13790# KURDISH K 1430-1627 9485# MALAY 1230-1327 15200# 15585# 17560 2230-2327 9785# 11895# PASHTO 0230-0327 6095# 9525# 9605# 0730-0827 15440# 1230-1327 9790# 11870# 13720# 1430-1527 3965# 7270 1630-1727 6005# 6015# 7195 PERSIAN 1630-1727 7350# 15084 2030-2127 7350# 15084 RUSSIAN 0300-0327 6040# 7225# 0500-0527 12025# 15530# 21480# 21610# 1430-1527 7165# 7325 9575# 9735# 1700-1757 6035# 7170# 1800-1857 6035# 7305# 1930-2027 3985# 7100 7205# SPANISH 0030-0127 6015# 7220# 9555# 9570 0130-0227 6015# 9555# 9570 9750# 0230-0327 9750# 0530-0627 15320# 17590# 2030-2127 7130# 9750# SWAHILI 0330-0427 13640 15260 1130-1227 17630# 21550# 1730-1827 9595# 11750# TAJIK 0100-0227 5950# 1600-1727 5955# TURKISH 0430-0557 15260# 15365# 1600-1727 7125# 9735# URDU 0130-0227 6010# 6190# 7210# 1330-1427 9835# 11640 11950# 13595# 1530-1727 3965# 7270 1730-1757 6140 7225 UZBEK 0230-0257 5950# 1500-1557 5955# * Voice of Islamic Palestinian Revolution ^ Voice of Islamic Revolution of Iraq œ Voice of Justice S Sorrani Dialect K Kirmanji Dialect 73! (Observer, Bulgaria, Dec 22 via DXLD) ** ISRAEL. Kol Israel --- update?? Regarding the January 1 suggested Kol Israel shortwave cutbacks: israelradio.org no longer has the warning about the cutbacks - but has a link to Bezeq's schedule which still does have the warning. Time will tell what happens (Doni Rosenzweig, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ITALY? 6310: Back again, Radio Tre Network. Playing pop music, ID in English at 2339 UTC on December 22, 2003. Good signal in New York. (George Maroti, NY, Cumbredx mailing list, via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. AWR dimezza!!!! A partire dal 1 gennaio 2004, AWR effettuerà una serie di considerevoli tagli per le trasmissioni in onda corta. Anche la trasmissione in lingua italiana subirà gli effetti di questa riduzione, e a partire da quella data sarà in onda solo la domenica mattina dalle 1000 alle 1100 UTC sempre su 11730 Khz (Roberto Scaglione http://www.bclnews.it Dec 21 via DXLD) ** ITALY [non]. IRRS-Shortwave 250 kW special Xmas 2003 broadcasts As previously announced, IRRS-Shortwave will run two special extended broadcasts on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, 2003 using 250 kW of power beamed to Europe. Reception will be possible outside of the main target areas especially due to the high power involved. The schedule will be as follows: Wednesday Dec 24, 2003, Freq.: 5,775 kHz, 250 kW to Europe, N Afica and the Middle East (and beyond) 2000-2030 UTC "Radio 510 International" winner of the 2003 IPAR award, 30 min. excerpt (English) 2030-2100 UTC "The World This Week" winner of the 2003 IPAR award (English) 2100-2200 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas eve program (Italian) 2100-2200 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas eve program (German) 2100-2200 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas eve program (English) Thursday Dec 25, 2003, Freq.: 13,840 kHz, 250 kW to Europe, N Afica and the Middle East (and beyond) 0900-1000 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas program (Italian) 1000-1100 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas program (German) 1100-1200 UTC Radio Santec, Christmas program (English) For our regular Shortwave broadcasts please check the latest schedules available on-line at: http://www.nexus.org/NEXUS-IBA/Schedules Please address reception reports directly to the stations involved, or to: email: reports@nexus.org snail mail: NEXUS-IBA, PO Box 11028, 20110 Milano, Italy. Best season's greetings, and stay tuned! 73 de (Ron Norton, IRRS, Dec 21 via Cumbre DX via DXLD) I would not dream of sending them a report unless they tell us the true transmitter site --- certainly not in their Milano backyard, and not in Italy either. There is absolutely no justification for such secrecy if IRRS is a legitimate business. Why am I the only one raising questions about where IRRS really transmits from? Is there a conspiracy of silence? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. EMR NEXT SUNDAY 9290 KHZ --- THE NEXT ON AIR DATE IS THE 28th OF DECEMBER AT 1400 UTC ON 9290 KHZ FROM LATVIA. GOOD LISTENING. 73s (Thomas Taylor AND STAFF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MALAYA [non]. Voice of the Malayan Revolution (Yunnan) (DXLD 3-198) Hi Glenn, hi Richard, whilst I was in Andalusia Spain on holiday in late October recently, I overlooked Richard's item to Cumbre Dx. Today, I came across that article in latest WDXC-UK CONTACT Magazine December 2003 again --- Very interesting stuff. I remember my contribution to WWDXC-Germany "DX Magazine" in April 1975, see the facsimile of the "Clandestine and FEEDER stations list" page as .tif format attachment. At that time BOEING JUMBOJET's appeared on the traveller scene, and between 1971 and 1979 I was in S/E Asia on holiday at least twice a year. Visited all these places like Bahrain, UAE Abu Dhabi, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Colombo, Bangkok, Golden Triangle/Burma/Laos except Cambodia was dangerous then, also Saigon before US army fall in 1975, Hong Kong, Malaya ---- was there at least six times in Georgetown-Penang, settled with local German engineers serving at BOSCH firm on Penang; visited the old Tebrau, Malya BBC relay station and took a round-trip from Singapore to Penang too, visited Java/Bali, Indonesia too. I took always handheld sets with me, like Panasonic, Barlow-Wadley, and Sony ICF5900 model receivers, which were available these days. I remember well the various Yunnan clandestines; programs could easily heard especially at Georgetown-Penang bungalow. And even these clandestines could be heard here in Stuttgart-Germany too. See the 1975-list of "strange" CL and FEEDER stations, based on various sources, own monitoring, and help of BBC engineer Bernard Bale of the BBC London German section, who provided me with internal list material from BBC receiving station at Tatsfield-England. 6034 Voice of the People of Thailand 9423 Voice of the People of Thailand 11830 Voice of Malayan Revolution 15790 Voice of Malayan Revolution 73 de (Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** MEXICO [and non]. From Novato CA, 26 miles from SF, KSFO 560 Still being beat up by Tecate on a regular basis. KSUR 540 also coming very well with their great show format. 1821 hrs. on KSFO, Brian S. makes a comment on interference from Mexican station. "We're working on it!" Listeners in the 707 area code reporting in big time. More to come for sure. Best of DX to All (John 73, Dec 19, IRCA via DXLD) George Thurman in Houston TX has been noticing new QRM in Spanish to 560 Beaumont at night, and thinks it could be Tecate, but I rather doubt it at that distance (gh, DXLD) ** NEPAL. PUBLIC RADIO PROGRAMMING IN NEPAL --- Madhu Acharya writes: "Please check out http://www.afn.org.np to know more about public radio programming and update on radio broadcasting in Nepal. Antenna Foundation Nepal, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to public broadcasting in Nepal, is producing a conflict resolution based radio magazine which is being broadcast through the National Network of Radio Nepal and a dozen more local radio stations throughout the country." (via Creative-Radio mailing list) # posted by Andy @ 19:24 UT Dec 22 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. PIRATE RADIO IN THE NETHERLANDS BECOMES LEGAL??!! The chance is high that in the future free radio will become legal in the Netherlands. Politicians have talks about free radio a few times the last few months and decided that if there is room for free radio (a huge research will be done) they are willing to talk about legalising free radio stations. Of course there will put up a basic set of rules such as, low power, frequency area and permits. Issue by now is only the FM 88/108 MHz 3 meter band. Hope soon this light will also shine on short-wave and medium wave pirates. We at Alfa Lima International have some connections with politician about this issue and will keep the SW and MW thought alive in their minds so they won't forget this section of free radio. Source: (Alfred Zoer/Alfa Lima International http://www.alfalima.net Dec 20, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. RNZI's New Web Site --- Season's Greetings to all on this list. RNZI has unveiled its new web site. My first impressions are that it is very pleasing to the eye, better organized than the previous iteration and overall a considerable improvement. The new opening or "splash" page offers useful information of an immediate nature and is much less "busy" or distracting than the previous page. Check it out yourself at http://www.rnzi.com (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon, NY, Dec 21, ODXA via DXLD) BTW, says the Dec 16 Mailbox was the final one for 2003; resumes on Jan 19 – that`s *five* weeks, not an even multiple of two, for those keeping up with its fortnightliness. Adrian Sainsbury says 9885 is their winter evening frequency, but it is open now, so they hope to make it a yearound channel. Will go back to 6095 come winter overnight, despite Luxembourg DRM co-channel. As far as the S Pacific is concerned, it is not a collision, not a problem (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Re RNZI, it was monitored today on what left me anxious to try, i.e. their new 31 m outlets. Here's what I monitored today, 21 Dec: 9885 kHz 1023-1059* at 35433. 9870 kHz *1300-1728 at 45433; Riyadh in Arabic noted 1755 when I rechecked Rangitaiki whose exact s/off time was not observed unfortunately. 11980 kHz 1800-1951* at 44533, but gradually deteriorating towards 1951; it's gradually become inaudible prior to 1930 for about a month, so 15265 1950 is even worse, typically inaudible. 15265 kHz *1952-... at 25432, but surely inaudible before QSY 17675. Both 19 & 16 m evenings have been fair/good in recent years though. This is all. May I wish you & yours a Happy 2004! Good DX & 73, (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, Dec 21, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NEW ZEALAND. R. NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL PREVIEWS Edition 279 Dec. 24-26, 2003 (UT) Here is the COMPLETE broadcast schedule for RNZI for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. . . http://www.topica.com/lists/swprograms/read/message.html?sort=d&mid=1715564239&start=18576 (John Figliozzi, Halfmoon NY, swprograms Dec 22 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Re: KMMZ 1640 is back on http://www.worldofradio.com/enid.html Es interesante ver esos informes en orden inverso. Es una brillante iniciativa (Henrik Klemetz, Suecia, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Interesting to read those reports in reverse order. A bright idea! (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, MWDX yahoogroup via DXLD) ** PERU. 4260.41, Radio Ilucán, 1020-1105 Dec 22. Noted steady Huaynos music with TC's and ID's by woman, "5,35 en ... Radio Ilucán..." and back to music. Sometimes a canned ID during music from a man. Signal was fair but faded badly by 1100. Tnx to Bob Wilkner with ID (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ex-5678?? ** PERU. 4991, Radio Ancash, 1039-1050 Dec 15, ad string followed by man announcer with Spanish chatter, vocal selections and ID at 1044 over music. Seemingly returning to this frequency from 4992.5 with Apintie on. Fair (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) 5906.4, Radio Panorama, 0940-1010 Dec 16, morning program with two men bantering back and forth. Nice Radio Panorama ID and TC at 0944 followed by group singing. Another Radio Panorama ID and frequency announcement at 1002 followed by an ad string. However, at 1004 I heard what sounded like a Radio Melodía ID. I have seen reports for both stations around this frequency. Could there be some sort of joint programming of some sort? Maybe a program on Melodía is called "Panorama?" Confusing. Weak (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** PORTUGAL. As to Rádio Renascença, from Portugal, I agree with mr. Carlos Gonçalves. I only add to his remarks that RR is essentially a commercial radio, instead of a religious one, as its religious content is very small. We hardly could consider Rádio Renascença a religious radio, although it calls itself "Emissora Católica Portuguesa". (Fernando de Sousa Ribeiro, Oporto, Portugal, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. Noted two symmetrical spurs, 60.55 kHz away of registered Galbeni site in French, Tuesday Dec 16th: 9560 0600-0626 27,28 GAL 250 kW 285 deg FRENCH ROU RRO FRENCH 0600-0626 9510 9560 11775 11840 Spurs on 9499.5 and 9620.5 kHz. Heard on three different receivers (Wolfgang Büschel, Stuttgart, Dec 16, BC-DX via DXLD) Radio Romania International nor any other SW broadcaster owe you or any other SWL a QSL card. Rude demanding behavior will only make it harder for other SWL's wanting an SWL card from them in the future. Last time I checked the Romanian government was not rolling in $$$ to support their international broadcasting service. 73 & Happy Holidays, (Thomas F. Giella, KN4LF, Plant City, FL, USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ROMANIA. ****NEWS*********NEWS***** The New Year sees new programmes from Romania and the USA. We are delighted to welcome Radio Romania International (RRI) to the family of international broadcasters that contribute programming to WRN. Radio Romania International can be heard at the following times: In Europe: UTC Central European Time 2000 2100 1530 1630 In North America 11 am ET and 5.30 pm ET [1600 & 2230 UT] In Africa/Middle East, Asia Pacific and South America: UTC Central African Time 1230 1430 1930 2130 You can listen to archived programmes from Radio Romania International on the WRN website at: http://www.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=106 By tuning into the programmes from RRI on WRN, you will hear the daily news as well as fascinating stories about life in Romania and the other countries in the South East Europe region. You will meet famous Romanians and foreign personalities and listen to the views and opinions of ordinary Romanians. During RRI's interactive programmes, listeners can join in the dialogue with guests and win great prizes in competitions run by RRI. Radio Romania International is also contributing daily programmes to our French, German and Russian networks. Let RRI know that you are tuning by contacting them: Radio Romania International 60-62 General Berthelot Street P. O. Box 111 Bucharest, ROMANIA Tel +40 21 303 13 5 / 14 65 Fax:+40 21 223 26 13 E-mail: engl @ rri.ro (English Department) Web: http://www.rri.ro (WRN English Newsletter Dec 19 via DXLD) ** RWANDA. 6055, Radio Rwanda, 2048-2100* Dec 14, in the clear with continuous highlife music until ID and sign off announcements in French by a man followed by orchestra national anthem at 2055 and choral national anthem at 2058. Fair signal with no QRM (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** SAUDI ARABIA [non]. SAUDI OPPOSITION TV CHANNEL AL-ISLAH OBSERVED TO CARRY TEST TRANSMISSION | London-based Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia, MIRA, TV station Al-Islah was observed to be broadcasting on-screen captions and a ticker-tape on 22 December. The on-screen ticker-tape says that it is a test transmission. The audio carries the same religious song (on Mecca, Jerusalem predicament of Muslims). On- screen information includes: "- The channel broadcast on four different satellites: 1. Intelsat 707. 2. Telstar 12. 3. Panamsat. 4. Hellas Sat 2." For direct or recorded participation it gives the following number: 00442082081141. It also provides telephone number: 00442084520303. - Fax: 00442084520808. - Internet address: tv @ islah.org - Web site: http://www.islah.tv The screen shows the following captions: "Welcome to Al-Islah experimental broadcasting. We ask those of you who are able to receive the channel to inform others on details of how to receive it. The experimental broadcasting will continue until the channel's audiences are able to receive it on the aforementioned satellites." End of monitor's report. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 22 Dec 03 (via DXLD) ** SRI LANKA. SRI LANKA'S STATE RADIO STOPS CRICKET BROADCAST TO HONOR BUDDHIST MONK WHO DIED COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP)-- Sri Lanka's state-owned radio station has stopped live commentaries of the ongoing third cricket test between England and Sri Lanka at the request by Buddhist monks mourning the death of a prominent cleric. An official of Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation said Sunday the commentaries were stopped to honor Gangodawila Soma, a popular preacher, scholar and writer who died while visiting in Russia last week. However, the state-run television Rupavahini continued to air live coverage of the third day's play of the final test Saturday. Cricket-crazy Sri Lanka comes to a virtual standstill, and its people are glued to television and radio sets whenever their national cricket team plays anywhere in the world. Sri Lankan players have worn saffron-colored badges and armbands on the field since Friday as a mark of respect. On Thursday, about 30 monks protested at Sinhalese Sports Club ground, the match venue, against playing cricket when the country is mourning. Soma died of a heart attack while visiting St. Petersburg to receive an honorary doctorate conferred by the International University of Fundamental Studies. The monk was popular among the country's Sinhalese Buddhist majority for his openness in espousing their cause during the island's two decade civil war, and for fervently opposing any concessions being given to minority Tamils. He was also once the chief priest of the Buddhist temple in Victoria, Australia. Seventy four percent of the island's 18.6 million people are Sinhalese Buddhists and the clergy command a great influence over the people. (kf/nf) (APws 12/20 0217 via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** SUDAN. Back on 15170 KHZ. Hi Guys, Radio Sudan on 15170 from 1500 UT with ID ``Al Idha`a al Sudaneya`` --- didn't get (From Om Durman) which is the formal ID that I know --- but it's 100% Sudan. QRM with Radio Sawa from Morocco. 19/12/03. Attached an audio file with the ID. All the best (Tarek Zeidan, Cairo, Egypt, Dec 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 15170 has been re-registered for years tho not heard; in HFCC B-03 it is shown as ``under repair``, along with 11835, and several other inactive frequencies; see DXLD 3-200: 15170 0500 2400 38E,39SE ALF 300 90 D under repa SDN SBC SBC 2 OLD-B01 Even tho there is no `F` in it, ALF site stands for Al Aitahab SDN at 15N30 032E28 (Glenn Hauser, Nov 5, DX LISTENING DIGEST via DXLD 3-229) ** SURINAM. QRM to 4990: see PERU ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN --- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Mon December 22: "SportScan" Tue December 23: Feature on the failed EU summit Wed-Fri December 24-26: "Bernadotte - Portrait of a Dynasty" three part series on Sweden's royal family, including an interview with Crown Princess Victoria Sat December 27: In "Studio 49" is Islam a threat to Swedish secularism, and Sweden appoints a special ambassador for HIV/AIDS issues Sun December 28: "Sounds Nordic" repeat from December 21: looks back at 2003 Mon December 29: "SportScan" Tue December 30: Feature on Stockholm's Modern Dance Theater Wed December 31: Review of 2003, including the murder of foreign minister Anna Lindh, the referendum in which Swedes gave the thumbs down to membership of the European Monetary Union and the scandal surrounding one of Sweden's leading pension and insurance companies Thu January 1: Feature on Stockholm's haunted houses Fri January 2: A politician, a journalist, a football coach and a singing duo recall their stories and memories of 2003 Sat January 3: "Network Europe" Sun January 4: "In Touch With Stockholm" There's a pattern to Vietnam's jamming of our Swedish broadcast to Asia at 1300 UT on 9920 kHz. The intentional interference seems to only come during the week. On weekends Vietnam lets us broadcast in peace (Anders Bäcklin, Radio Sweden, SCDX/MediaScan Dec 17 via DXLD) Because FEBC to Vietnam before it is M-F only? (gh, DXLD) ** THAILAND. BUDDHISM --- MONKS WANT MORE RADIO FREQUENCIES Attempts to siphon off funds, says office, [by] Suwanna Ratthavorn http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/21Dec2003_news14.html Monks have demanded more radio frequencies for educating people about Buddhism while the National Buddhism Office has accused some groups of people of trying to siphon off a 3.9-billion-baht budget for spreading Buddhism. The remarks were made during a seminar on ``Frequencies Management for Spreading Buddhism'' opened by Senate independent organisation panel chairman M.R. Kamloonthep Devakula and attended by five monks and about 200 laypeople at parliament on Friday. Phra Maha Chow Thassaneeyo, director of Mahachulalongkorn Rajavidhayalai monk university's education division, said more radio and television frequencies should be used for Buddhism in line with the government's frequency management policy. Monks had to pay 2,000-3,000 baht an hour to run radio programmes, which was expensive. Spreading the Buddha's teachings on television, radio and the internet was important. Pol Lt-Gen Udom Charoen, director of the National Buddhism Office, said special radio and television stations, the internet, newspapers and libraries were needed to publicise Buddhism in Thai and English. ``The centre for spreading Buddhism has a 3.9-billion-baht budget. I was pressured to give the budget to officials and politicians, so I alerted Deputy Prime Minister Visanu Krue-ngam. ``I want the government to find ways to deal with people trying to make a profit from Buddhism, because the budget is huge.'' Under the centre's plan to spread Buddhism during 2002-2006, a budget of 200 million baht will go into setting up radio stations for Buddhism, 100 million baht into setting up a television station, 146 million baht for opening libraries and museums for Buddhism, 10 million baht for forming an internet centre, 20 million baht for setting up publishing houses, and another 20 million baht for management. The radio stations will have their head office at Buddhamonthon Buddhist Centre in Nakhon Pathom. They will run 24 hours a day and also broadcast programmes in foreign languages on two satellite channels in Asia. The television station will be based at Buddhamonthon Centre and have 30 networks nationwide to broadcast programmes eight hours a day in Thailand and also in foreign languages on two satellite channels in Asia. The internet centre will publicise Buddhism both in Thai and English on the internet and server networks for temples and communities. It will also serve as a channel for people to gain access radio and TV programmes (via Kim Elliott, DXLD) ** U K. MV COMMUNICATOR OWNERS PLAN "NEW GENRE OF RADIO STATION" The owners of the MV Communicator, which left the Dutch port of IJmuiden yesterday, issued the following press release last night: The Super Station, a brand new ethical radio group, are thrilled to announce the return to the UK of the historical pirate radio ship, MV Communicator. The ship is due to arrive in Lowestoft on 20th December 2003 at lunchtime. The Super Station say the ship is to play a crucial part in their plans to create a new genre of radio station in 2004. The MV Communicator has an incredible past as a radio ship. Between 1984 and 1987, Laser 558 and Laser Hot Hits broadcast to the UK and Europe, peaking with an audience of 10 million. Since 1987 the ship has changed hands many times. The Super Station acquired the ship in 2002 from Clear Channel. The Company has worked tirelessly since to carry out the essential repairs and prepare her for the journey across the North Sea back home. The Super Station will continue the restoration work back in the UK to ensure that the work is carried out to the highest standards. Lowestoft and the MV Communicator share a joint past, it's a perfect homecoming. The Super Station's, Managing Director, Dave Miller is jubilant that phase one of the project is complete and the ship is home where she belongs: "I am passionate about the Communicator and about my vision for radio in the 21st century. I can't reveal any more details about the project at this stage, but can say that what we want to do with the ship is going to be innovative, exciting and fresh." Janie Ash, Chief Executive, is equally passionate about the company that she co-founded with Mr Miller: "Our Journey so far is a testament to our determination to make this project work. We are commited to building a profitable and happy company. We are very focussed and clear in our vision and key to it all is the MV Communicator, our most valuable asset. Our journey has been nothing short of miraculous and the future is extremely bright. What we have here is a new paradigm for business in the 21st century". # posted by Andy @ 10:49 UT Dec 20 (Media Network blog via DXLD) Hmmm - 'The Super Station, a brand new ethical radio group' with an office address in New York. Would this be an evangelical Christian outfit, aiming to broadcast illegally to the UK from the high seas to avoid regulation? (Colin | 12.20.03 - 10:09 pm, ibid.) Guess we'll have to wait and see. Ethical could cover a multitude of things not necessarily religious output. Could want to take a stance about war, fairtrade etc. The proof will be in the eating of the pudding I guess (LeeBoi, 12.20.03 - 10:43 pm, ibid.) I hope the new owners have read up on the law if they do intend to broadcast to the UK from the Communicator. Sadly, I`ve just been reading: Statutory Instrument 1990 No. 2503 The Marine, & c, Broadcasting (Offences) (Prescribed Areas of the High Seas) Order 1990 It seems that in 1990 the UK awarded itself the ability to convict anyone making a broadcast on the high seas (within certain prescribed areas) outside the 12 mile territorial limit (Colin | 12.21.03 - 2:16 am, ibid.) Yes, I don't think that law`s ever really been put to use yet. I guess there is always the question over if they will really think it worthwhile trying to enforce it. I guess a cheap old radio ship maybe a good a way as any of testing the water, sorry about the pun, before investing a lot in a newer better fitted radioship. Personally I have my doubts about the viability of offshore radio in the old sense of the word anyway even if the government wasn't trying to stop you. They'd need a pretty unique and interesting programme format to attract listeners away from the many local/regional FM and AM stations here in the UK. I can see many younger and older lsteners balking at the idea of listening to a poor AM signal against FM/DAB/local strong AM. Failing taking it to sea I guess they could use it as a roaming RSL station round the UK or simply as a base somewhere for satellite broadcasts just using the novelty of the ship based station as a launch vehicle (LeeBoi | 12.21.03 - 11:17 am, ibid.) Could it be the NRA... Nah (Lou Josephs, USA, 12.21.03 - 5:24 pm, ibid.) Maybe it's a quick fix way of getting MusicMann 279 on the air before the artificial island is ready? Might explain the bit about 'North West UK'! (Gerry | 12.22.03 - 2:24 am, ibid.) More on this story: MV Communicator leaves the Netherlands http://medianetwork.blogspot.com/2003_12_14_medianetwork_archive.html#107185442636982509 (Andy Sennitt, ibid.) HISTORICAL PIRATE SHIP MV COMMUNICATOR RETURNS TO THE UK The former Laser 558 ship, MV Communicator, is returning from the Netherlands to the United Kingdom. The ship is due to arrive in Lowestoft on December 20, 2003, according to a press release of the owner, the Super Station. The Super Station says the ship is to play a crucial part in its plans to create a new radio station in 2004. Once repairs to the ship are complete, the company aims to launch a live 24-hour station, broadcasting a mixture of AC and soft rock. The MV Communicator has played an important role in offshore radio history. Between 1984 and 1987 Laser 558 and Laser Hot Hits broadcast to the UK and Europe. Since 1987 the ship has changed hands many times. The Super Station acquired the ship in 2002 from Clear Channel. The station can be contacted by writing to the Super Station, Suite 449, 305 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10165, U.S.A. or by email (DXing.info, December 19, 2003, via DXLD) M/V Communicator: The local Lowestoft paper has just posted some superb photos on its web site http://www.suffolkcam.co.uk/latest.htm (Mike Terry, Dec 21, BDXC-UK via DXLD) ** U K. ARMY LAUNCHES INTERNET RADIO FOR SOLDIERS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS The British Army has launched for its own internet radio service for British soldiers in time for Christmas. Garrison Radio online brings together Army news and information into a radio format to connect soldiers overseas with family and friends back home in the UK. Former Radio 1 DJ Mark Page who formed the Garrison Radio network, which is headquartered in Catterick, said that the internet radio service was a major development in Army communications. "It means we can now reach any soldier, anywhere in the world with internet access." Colonel Johnny Hackett, Commander of Europe's largest garrison who launched the service at Catterick Garrison Radio HQ, said, "The exciting thing about this project is that anybody, anywhere, deployed on operations or normal training will be able to link back into home and I think that's very good. As the army's largest garrison I think this sort of facility is just right because it is the only way to get a worldwide service and get a true link between people left behind; families, dependents and those out doing the business wherever it is in the world." Brigadier Mathew Sykes the Director of Corporate Communications (Army), who handles the Army's external media at national and regional level, listened in to the launch and said "Very important to the Army is what we call internal communications, telling our own people what's going on and that's where Garrison Radio fits in. From an external perspective in 2003, the Army has maintained its very high reputation throughout the world. In that sense my job has been made easier by the wonderful performance of all the men and women serving in the Army." The Government's Defence Procurement Minister, Lord Bach, was the first voice heard on the new internet radio service saying "Congratulations on this initiative by Garrison Radio as the British Army's own radio service in the UK, to reach out to British soldiers around the world using the ever-popular medium of the internet. The online service has the ability to connect British soldiers overseas with their colleagues and families back home, adding to the growing welfare and communications package that the Ministry of Defence is constantly reviewing and enhancing. I am pleased to be the first voice to be heard on Garrison Radio online, around the world and would encourage soldiers, families and the many MoD workers in supporting roles, to become listeners. Congratulations Garrison Radio online." Welfare communications provided worldwide by Paradigm Services, now feature Garrison Radio online at all global locations. In recent weeks the company's engineers have been enabling the service in air- conditioned computer cabins in places as diverse as Croatia and Iraq to provide a link in time for Christmas. The First Battalion the Royal Scots have been first to make use of the service with families in Edinburgh hearing their messages at the same time as their loved ones deployed on Operation Telic. The station can be listened to at http://www.garrisonradio.com For more information contact: Mark Page / Tracy Mattear A photo is available of Colonel Hackett and Mark Page launching the service. For a jpg copy via email phone or email hq@g.... [truncated] Footnote: Garrison Radio Ltd is an independent company and was formed in 2001 to provide the British Army with their own radio service for the first time since World War 2. The stations broadcast on MoD Estate to British soldiers, their dependents and MoD workers. http://armydev.dera.gov.uk/presscentre/database/showPR.asp?id=2921 (via Mike Terry, BDXC-UK via DXLD) In competition with BFBS??? You would never know it exists, from reading this. As I recall, it is run by an agency separate from the government/military, SVSC (gh, DXLD) ** U S A. Voice of America --- VOA News Now will be featuring a Special Christmas program called ``The 12 Hours of Christmas``. It is a syndicated program from Kris Eric Stevens Productions. The show features Christmas classics from yesterday and today plus holiday features and vignettes. This program will run from 00 through 23 UT on Christmas day. Kim Elliott (formerly of Communications World) will be hosting Talk to America on January 1st. The future of international broadcasting will be Kim`s subject. Talk to America airs after the 1700 UT news. Hearing the VOA on shortwave at that time of day isn`t easy in North America; frequencies targeting Africa may be your best bet: 13710, 15240, 15445 and 17895 kHz. A live webcast is also available at the VOA website (Richard Cuff, Easy Listening Dec NASWA Journal via DXLD) ** U S A. ANOTHER VOICE SILENCED Monday, December 22, 2003; Page A24 The Dec. 8 editorial "Wrong Priorities" argued that the imminent shutdown or reduction of Radio Free Europe broadcasts to many Eastern European countries is counterproductive to America's interests. It didn't mention that broadcasts of the Voice of America, the other major U.S. international broadcaster, also are being eliminated to the Baltic states and other Eastern European countries. The exodus from the region of these reputable instruments of public diplomacy can be stopped if Congress and the White House reinstitute the necessary funding. DACE COPELAND President Joint Baltic American National Committee, Kalamazoo, Mich. (c) 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WRMI Christmas Special --- WRMI will broadcast "The Hand of God," a Christmas oratorio by Ukrainian composer Fridrich Bruk, performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, on Thursday, December 25 at 1200-1300 UT on 9955 kHz. The oratorio is sung in Finnish, with some English narration (Jeff White, WRMI, Dec 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WWCR-4 is still on 5770 for the Brother Scare service, at 0530 check Dec 22, 0635 Dec 23. It`s unusual for WWCR to be running two transmitters in the same band, and presumably increases the chances for mixing products, unless some additional filtering has been done. The place to look for a mix with 5935 is 5605 (-165) since (+165) would probably be masked by non-mixing-products on 6100. Nothing audible on 5605 around 0530 check Dec 22 (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. LIBERAL NETWORK According to author/comedian Al Franken, a nationwide all-liberal radio network where Franken would host a three-hour daily talk show could surface as early as March. Franken has been in talks with a group of venture capitalists for several months, but is not yet under contract to host a show. Their plan for the network is "pretty far along," he said Tuesday in New York, where he was honored with a comedy award during the 2003 New York Magazine Awards. He told New York's Newsday, "We're playing around with names, but won't make the announcement until it's the right time. We want it to be as big as "We captured Saddam." "If I do this radio show, I'm going to try to do it drug-free." Franken said the time has come for an effort that analyzes daily news events with a strong liberal bias, because there is no strong counterpart to the nationally broadcast opinions of conservatives like Rush Limbaugh (Radio Ink 12/18/03 via Art Blair, Folsom, CA, IRCA via DXLD) ** U S A. PASCUA YAQUI FINALLY GETS CP TWO YEARS TOO LATE --12/22/2003 Pascua Yaqui finally gets CP two years too late - Commentary on the slow handling of LPFM applications and NCE ownership issues. After several years of waiting, Pascua Yaqui Tribe in Tucson finally gets their CP. The FCC today has issued a Construction Permit to the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. A federally recognized Native American community located south of Tucson. The application was "held back" by two LPFM applications filed by an individual, Michael Krueger. Krueger actually filed 7 LPFM applications in the Tucson area. FCC rules prohibit LPFM applicants from filing more than one application in the same area. They also prohibit applications from individuals. Both REC and the Pasqua Yaqui filed informal objections with the FCC regarding the Krueger applications and how they were impacting the Pascua Yaqui from being able to construct their station. On August 13, 2003, REC and Pascua Yaqui received a letter from the FCC advising that the Krueger applications will be dismissed. This story brings to light an ongoing problem in the FCC Media Bureau where applications are not closely being watched when they were filed. The window for filing these applications was in June 2001. The defective applications were not dismissed until two years later. Then another 4 months, the Pascua Yaqui application waited in limbo for a grant. The Krueger applications should have been dismissed after they were filed (within 6 months). If that was the case, PYT would have been on building their station two Christmases ago. [WTFK????] Within our Area of Interest in Southern California, we have several situations that the FCC appears to be "sitting" on. There is no visible action such as informal objections that are holding up these applications. In Southern California: * East County Broadcasters in Alpine (Eastern San Diego County) has been in "Accepted for Filing" limbo since February. * Another organization, Startree Foundation originally filed a defective application (had a channel but no location specified). Suddenly they appear on a different channel (their original channel had several competing applications) and now they are Accepted for Filing with no further action. * In Corona, Templo Palabra Vida, another LPFM application that was "rescued" by REC was originally shown as being dismissed (due to the imposition of third adjacent channel restrictions) and then was put on two different cut-off lists as accepted for filing is still patiently waiting for it's turn to be on the air. * Calvary Chapel of Fallbrook who found a hole on the dial during the January 2003 remedial filing window in the reserved band is still in limbo due to an objection filed by XETV, the Channel 6 station in Tijuana. FM stations in the US operating in the reserved band (88-92 MHz) are required to protect domestic TV Channel 6 stations but are not required to protect foreign Channel 6 stations. * In Ventura County, an individual applicant who was a part of a group of 3 competing applications was dismissed. The two remaining applicants, Thomas Aquinas College and Friendships Unlimited are far enough apart to both legally operate. Both stations were declared mutually exclusive (even though they aren't). They are still in limbo. In Arizona: * The Center for Living Education in Patagonia (near Nogales) has been Accepted for Filing since September, 2002. * Avra Valley Community Resources in Marana has been in the Accepted for Filing purgatory since March, 2002. The FCC seems to be focusing more of its attention on the "Translator Invasion" window of earlier this year. Of course, the feds were hoping that the translator window would have resulted in a bumper crop of auction money and regulatory fees. The fact that a large majority of the applications were non-commercial (making them not subject to auctions and regulatory fees) is just more egg on Chairman Powell's face. We hear about Chairman Powell's "localism in broadcasting" push. That's fine and dandy for TV. Myself, I don't watch a lot of TV. Just "Las Vegas" on NBC. We need the FCC to step to the plate on the abuse of our airwaves (specifically FM) by alleged "non-commercial educational" organizations who have used a loophole in the law to set up translators thousands of miles away. We feel that there should be ownership caps in the non-commercial educational services. LPFM has them, why not full power FM? We note that during the "Great Translator Invasion" filing window earlier this year, a large majority of the applications were filed by two very questionable organizations that have no other broadcast holdings. One of these organizations plans to have a booth at this year's National Religious Broadcasters convention in Charlotte NC on February 13-18, 2004. REC urges everyone who cares about local access to the airwaves to comment to the Commission in RM-10803 and raise the issue about ownership caps on non-commercial educational stations as well as the laws about satellite-fed translators. (From REC Networks http://www.recnet.com via DXLD) ** U S A. PHILADELPHIA, NEW HOME FOR 88.5 WXPN STUDIOS AND WORLD CAFE LIVE! --- The Historic Hajoca Building at 3025 Walnut Street Will Make Musical History PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Now nothing can put a wrench on the development of a former plumbing supply building into a world- class performance and studio space. WXPN, the public radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, and Real Entertainment Group officially signed leases allowing the 40,000-square-foot building to be developed into the new home for WXPN Studios, and an entertainment complex - World Cafe Live - complete with two live music venues and restaurants. The building, located at 3025 Walnut Street and owned by the University of Pennsylvania, is being developed by Dranoff Properties as part of a $15 million renovation project that will open to the public in October 2004. "Great things take a long time," said Hal Real, founder of Real Entertainment Group, who approached WXPN five years ago with the idea of creating a musical venue where people who are members and fans of WXPN can listen to singer-songwriters in an "intimate and exciting atmosphere." "I'm not only thrilled that our original vision has never been compromised, but that Penn officials, our private investors, the City of Philadelphia and everyone who supported us can now look forward to this project becoming a reality," Real said. For WXPN, the project means that the award-winning public radio station will broadcast from a more technically advanced facility, featuring multiple recording and production capabilities. In addition, the new WXPN Studios will bring both the radio station's on-air personalities and business staff into one new state-of-the-art facility. WXPN has long needed a new home, with cramped facilities on Spruce Street in West Philadelphia, and additional offices more than five blocks away. "The need for a new space is unquestionable," said Roger LaMay, general manager of WXPN. "The advantages are many. WXPN will be producing more programming, on better equipment, and the station will also become more accessible. Sharing this world-class studio and recording space with a separate but related venue - World Cafe Live - means we'll have a physical place where XPN members, our on-air talent and staff, and musical artists can come together as one community." LaMay said that WXPN Studios is financed and managed separately from World Cafe Live. Each entity is responsible for its own operations, with World Cafe Live licensing its name from WXPN's award-winning radio show hosted by David Dye, called World Cafe. Currently, there are more than 350,000 WXPN listeners in the region. World Cafe is broadcast on more than 160 affiliated public radio stations across the country. "Roger and I are also thrilled that our venture is helping to further the revitalization efforts of Penn in West Philadelphia," Real added. "We believe that we will significantly enhance the music scene in Philadelphia, and create the physical embodiment of XPN members' experience with the station - that is, high-quality music in a comfortable listening experience." WXPN-FM is the non-commercial public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania and the premier radio showcase for contemporary music that spans the progressive edges of rock, folk, rhythm and blues, and American roots. WXPN can be heard in the greater Philadelphia/South Jersey area on 88.5 FM, in the Lehigh Valley at 104.9 FM, in Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, and in Harrisburg at 88.1 WXPH-FM, and is available worldwide via streaming audio at http://www.xpn.org The station produces programming for national syndication. Its signature series, World Cafe with David Dye, is distributed by Public Radio International and broadcasts daily on more than 160 public radio stations nationwide. WXPN produces the Peabody Award-winning Kids Corner, hosted by Kathy O'Connell. WXPN also produces the annual Singer Songwriter Weekend two-day music festival. For more information visit http://www.xpn.org http://www.WorldCafe.org http://www.KidsCorner.org or call WXPN at (215) 898-6677. Real Entertainment Group is the developer and operator of World Cafe Live. This privately held company was founded in 2001 by Philadelphia area entrepreneur Hal Real. Real Entertainment Group's mission is to create dynamic, intimate live music environments where artists can deliver their best performances for audiences who come to listen and experience new musical discoveries - "Live Music for Music Lovers." For more information on World Cafe Live, http://www.worldcafelive.com SOURCE WXPN-FM -0- 12/18/2003 /CONTACT: Dava Guerin, Guerin Public Relations, Inc., +1-215-914-2040 or +1-215-262-0740 - wireless; or Kim Winnick, WXPN, +1-215-573-3339/ /Web site: http://www.WorldCafe.org / /Web site: http://www.worldcafelive.com / /Web site: http://www.KidsCorner.org / /Web site: http://www.xpn.org / (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. A happy 50th anniversary to WCSH (Channel 6) in Portland, which marks the occasion with an hour-long special Tuesday night at 8; we'd love to hear from a reader up that way who'd be willing to tape it for our collection! WWVA (1170 Wheeling) is getting back some of the local talk it'll lose with the advent of the Quinn Show network next month - the Clear Channel talker has cut Sean Hannity's show back to two hours and will run local talker Bert Furoli from 5-7 PM on weekday afternoons (Scott Fybush, NE Radio Watch Dec 22 via DXLD) ** U S A. KID`S DAY IS SUNDAY, JANUARY 4! NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 17, 2003 --- For the first time, Kid`s Day will occur on a Sunday. The first 2004 running of this popular operating event will be Sunday, January 4 (the second Kid`s Day in 2004 will be Saturday, June 19). Intended to encourage young people --- licensed or not --- to enjoy Amateur Radio, Kid`s Day offers a ``mentoring opportunity`` for experienced amateurs while giving youngsters some firsthand hamming experience and perhaps sparking a lifelong interest. ``Kid`s Day is an opportunity to introduce your own youngsters, neighborhood kids and nieces and nephews to participate in the magic of ham radio,`` suggests Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS, of ARRL Field and Educational Services. Originated by the Boring Amateur Radio Club http://jzap.com/k7rat/ [which apparently hasn`t been updated in nearly two and a half years --- Norfolk] Kid`s Day now is sponsored and administered by the ARRL with BARC`s cooperation and assistance. Now entering its tenth year, each running of Kid`s Day typically attracts more than 1000 participants. Kid`s Day is not a contest, and patience is the byword on both sides of each contact. The role of the licensee and control operator is to help youngsters with the basics, keep an eye on the technical aspects of the operation, observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX QSOs and ensure station identification at proper intervals. In this event, it`s quality of the contacts that counts, not quantity. Kid`s Day will run from 1800 to 2400 UTC, and there`s no limit on operating time. The suggested exchange is name, age, location and favorite color. Stations may work the same station again if an operator has changed. Call ``CQ Kid`s Day.`` Suggested frequencies are 14.270-14.300, 21.380-21.400 and 28.350- 28.400 MHz plus 2 meter repeater frequencies, with permission from the repeater`s sponsor). Guidelines for this event are available on the ARRL Web site http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kd-rules.html All participants are eligible to receive a colorful certificate. Visit the ARRL Kid`s Day Survey page http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/kids-day-survey.html to complete a short survey and post your comments. You will then have access to download the certificate page. Or you can send a 9x12 SASE to Boring Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 1357, Boring, OR 97009. Kid`s Day participants are invited to post logs and comments on the Internet http://lists.contesting.com/pipermail/kids/ (ARRL via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST ** U S A. ABBOTT WASHBURN, 88, DIES; USIA OFFICIAL AND FCC MEMBER Friday, December 19, 2003; Page B08 http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13795-2003Dec18?language=printer Abbott McConnell Washburn, 88, a former public relations official who became deputy director of the U.S. Information Agency and a Federal Communications Commission member, died Dec. 11 at the Washington Home hospice after a stroke. He was a Washington resident. As an FCC commissioner from 1974 to 1982, he advocated creating bandwidth for cellular telephone development and more educational programming on television. He also contributed to an opinion about what constituted indecent or obscene material for broadcast outlets. The last was the basis for the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica Foundation, which found that the government could punish speech deemed indecent. In the high court case, the FCC was able to penalize a daytime radio broadcast of comedian George Carlin's "seven dirty words" monologue. Mr. Washburn was a native of Duluth, Minn., and a 1937 cum laude graduate of Harvard University. He served in the Navy during World War II and was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services in Europe. He was head of public relations for General Mills Inc. in Minneapolis and then executive vice chairman of Crusade for Freedom, which raised money for Radio Free Europe. He also did presidential campaign work for Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was deputy director of the USIA from 1953 to 1961, acting as liaison between the broadcast agency and the White House and National Security Council during a peak period of the Cold War. He helped oversee the American National Exhibition in Moscow in 1959 and received the USIA distinguished service award in 1960. From 1962 to 1968, he co-owned a public relations firm, Washburn, Stringer Associates Inc. in Washington. In 1968, he was public relations director for Citizens for Nixon. He spent the next three years as chairman with rank of ambassador of the U.S. delegation to a conference on the global satellite communications system (Intelsat). In the early 1980s, he was chairman with the rank of ambassador to a conference about access to satellites for worldwide radio transmissions. His board memberships included the Eisenhower Institute in Washington. He was a former president of People-to-People Inc., a private, nonprofit organization that encourages personal exchanges between U.S. citizens and others. His marriage to Mary Brennan Washburn ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Wanda Allender Washburn of Washington; two sons from his first marriage, Abbott Michael Washburn of New York and Daniel N. Washburn of Gaithersburg; a daughter from his second marriage, Julia Washburn of Takoma Park; and four grandchildren. (c) 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. 9595, Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Oriental, 2346-0012 Dec 15, program of vocals with mentions of Uruguay. Ad string at 0000 followed by the news in Spanish. Nice ID at end of the news mentioning both stations. Poor to fair and seemingly best in LSB (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4830, Radio Táchira, *2200-2212 Dec 14, opening choral National Anthem followed by regional anthem. A woman with Spanish ID and announcements followed by a man with formal opening announcements. Into a program of Latin vocals. Fair to good signal and first time I've noted sign on at this hour (Rich D`Angelo, French Creek DXpedition, PA, NASWA Flashsheet via DXLD) Are you sure it was sign-on and there was no carrier or programming before 2200? YVs are likely -– required? -- to play anthems at 6 am and pm local, amid programming (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 17910: English program today, 21 Dec., featuring popular Christmas music. American or Canadian English, OM and YL commentators. 1630-1658Z cutoff of signal before completion of station ID. I could not find this station in the lists available to us. Anyone know what it is? Thanks (Wayne Leman, KL7FDQ, Busby, Montana, Grid: DN65, hard- core-dx via DXLD) Surely yet another transmitter mixing product at Sackville, 17820 RCI in English, leapfrogging 17865 relay of Austria another 45 kHz higher. This can happen only on Sat & Sun when 17820 stays on an hour later than weekdays. Next weekend, check for same audio on 17820. 73, Glenn Hauser, OK, ibid.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ SOUTH AMERICA`S FIRST WEB RECEIVER Javoradio has new sites in Caracas as well as Vancouver. http://www.javoradio.com/servlet/IBMainServlet/?ib_page=1 (Brad Wall, Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:13 am, GRDXC via DXLD) GRUNDIG HAS NEW RECEIVER Dear Glenn: Thought I`d pass on some receiver news: Grundig North America announced a new shortwave world receiver on the url: http://www.grundigradio.com/products It's the YB 550PE with a titanium alloy finish, direct entry keypad, up/down manual and thumbwheel style tuning; 100 pages of stations can be programmed easily. The radio looks like the old Portuguese made YB 500 which was discontinued in 1993. It comes with stereo earbuds, windup antenna, 3 double "A" cells, leatherette case, shortwave guide, manual and Grundig's warranty. The best news is it's only 100 bucks! Please add the link in the WOR summary if news permits, and visit my sites which are: http://home.comcast.net/~braindude11/wsb/index.html or at: http://www.geocities.com/braindude11/techie.html Thanks, and 73! (Noble West, TN, Dec 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ##