DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-009, January 14, 2004 edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.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 For restrixions and searchable 2004 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 1216: Thu 2130 on WWCR 9475 Sat 0000 on Studio X, Momigno, Italy, 1584 Sat 0900 on WRN1 to Europe, Africa, Asia, Australasia, webcast Sat 0955 on WNQM, Nashville, 1300 Sat 1130 on WWCR 5070 Sat 1900 on IBC Radio webcast Sat 1930 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, webcast Sat 2130 on WWCR 12160 Sun 0130 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 0845 on Ozone Radio, Ireland, 6201v, time variable Sun 1100 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, webcast and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY Sun 1600 on IBC Radio, webcast Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, 1584 Mon 0430 on WSUI, Iowa City, 910, webcast [last week`s 1215] Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast, 5105 Tue 0400 on SIUE Web Radio Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND [from Fri]: 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 1216 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1216h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1216h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1216.html [from Fri?] WORLD OF RADIO 1216 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1216.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1216.rm ** ALBANIA. 14539, R. Tirana, 2 x 7269.5 at 1549 UT 13/1 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, Cheshire, UK, Icom R75 + ALA1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. Port Blair SW: AIR Port Blair's SW transmitter of 10 kW which was running at about 4 kW for some time now, is expected to be back to full power this week. Their frequencies are 4760 and 7115. At my location, it does not seem to make much difference. ===== 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, Jan 13, dx_india via DXLD) From today, 14 January 2004, AIR Port Blair is using the full power of 10 kW for its SW transmitter. For some time it was running at 4 kW. Reception Reports may be sent to Mr. K. S. Venkateswarlu who is the Station Engineer at the following email ID: ks_venkateswarlu@h... [truncated by yahoogroups --- Jose, would you please replace the @ symbol by space at space so this doesn`t happen --- gh] The sked of AIR Port Blair is: 4760 2355-0300 1030-1630/1700/1730 7115 0315-0346 (Sat 0415, Sun 0505), 0700-0930 Note: 4760 is also used by AIR Leh, both in the mornings and evenings! While sending the reports to AIR Port Blair (or any other AIR station), please write the date and time in Indian Standard time also [UT +5.5]. Instead of writing SINPO reports in numbers, briefly explain details of reception quality in words. The Spectrum Management & Synergy Division of All India Radio HQ in New Delhi have now created a separate mail account to receive reception reports from listeners. It is : spectrum-manager@a... [truncated!] It`s festival time in India now. Today and tomorrow it is Makar Shankaranthi and Pongal festivals, etc. Flying kites is part of this celebration. Many AIR stations have extended broadcasts for the occasion. Happy festival season to all! 73 (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india via WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. 2379.84, LRA15, Radio Nacional Tucumán (2 x 1190), Jan 12, 0923-1000, apparent news program with male and female announcer, canned "Nacional" ID's, 0930 3 time pips into longer network ID "...Nacional... Santa Rosa... Rosario, Córdoba, Formosa, Governador... Bahia Blanca... somos RNA...Santiago de..." fair to good signal, fading and gone by 1010 (Mark Mohrmann, VT, harmonics yahoogroup, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** ARGENTINA. PROGRAMA DIEXISTA DE RAE Amigos, Éste es el esquema del programa diexista que hace mi queridísimo amigo Gabriel Iván Barrera. A agendárselo y escucharlo. Saludos (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via DXLD) RAE --- RADIODIFUSION ARGENTINA AL EXTERIOR EMISION MICROS --- ACTUALIDAD DX Y SUPLEMENTO de ACTUALIDAD DX Horas y dias son UTC IDIOMA ACTUALIDAD DX SUPLEMENTO ACTUALIDAD DX JAPONES Jueves 1100 Viernes 1100 CASTELLANO I Martes 1220 Viernes 1220 INGLES Miércoles 1840 y Jueves 0240 Viernes 1840 y sábados 0240 ITALIANO Viernes 1945 Martes 1930 FRANCES Jueves 2040 Martes 2040 ALEMAN Viernes 2130 Lunes 2130 CASTELLANO II Martes 2315 Viernes 2315 PORTUGUES I Viernes 0130 Jueves 0010 PORTUGUES II Martes 0130 Miércoles 0010 (Arnaldo Slaen, Conexión Digital via, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) Previously had the supplement in Spanish, but we didn`t have the Friday supplement in English on the DX Program list (gh, DXLD) Hace tiempo que en la web de RAE (la general de la radio pública) decía que saldrían todas las emisiones por internet, pero hasta la fecha no. Por cierto, en la web de AER hemos incluido una nueva lista dedicada a los programas DX en español de las emisoras interacionales. Indicando si emite en OC, en la red, si está o no disponible bajo demanda y si hay guión en texto. La dirección es http://www.aer-dx.org/listas/programasdx.htm y se me gustaría que me notificaseis los cambios o errores. Prometo actualizarla contínuamente. Un saludo y gracias Arnaldo por la info (Pedro Sedano, Madrid, España, ibid.) ** BRAZIL. Há poucos relatos de sintonia da Rádio Brasil, de Campinas (SP). Mas a emissora está firme nas ondas curtas! Em Maricá (RJ), Sarmento Campos ouviu a emissora, em primeiro de janeiro, às 2310, com entrevista, pela freqüência de 4785 kHz. BRASIL - A Rádio Cacique, de Sorocaba (SP), é uma das poucas emissoras brasileiras que ainda emite em 120 metros. Foi sintonizada, em Maricá, no litoral do estado do Rio de Janeiro, por Sarmento Campos, em 2 de janeiro, às 0035, pela freqüência de 2470 kHz, irradiando programa da Igreja da Graça. Por sua vez, Lenildo Silva ouviu a emissora, em Araruama, também no estado fluminense, em 4 de janeiro, às 0425, com música sertaneja de Rio Negro & Solimões. BRASIL - Pelo visto, não são apenas os cupins e as goteiras do histórico estúdio da Nacional, do Rio de Janeiro (RJ), que a direção da estatal Radiobrás está atacando. Já faz algum tempo que o transmissor da Rádio Nacional da Amazônia, em 25 metros, vem funcionando no capricho. No Sul do Brasil, em qualquer horário do dia, quem tinha o melhor sinal, entre as estações brasileiras, era a Rádio Bandeirantes, de São Paulo (SP), em 11925 kHz. Já faz bom tempo, no entanto, que a recepção, pela freqüência de 11780 kHz, é considerada boa, superando ao sinal da Bandeirantes. A direção da Radiobrás não brinca em serviço! (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 12 via DXLD) ** CANADA. Don Moman told me of 4610.11, Radio Telephone Lac La Ronge Saskatchewan, telephone service for people living/working in the remote Saskatchewan bush (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. Hi, Glenn. Just read the report in DXLD from DXing.info about the new CFAV 1570 AM, Radio Nostalgie, in Laval. It is not correct that I first identified the station. Two people in Montreal first reported the station to me back on December 23. One, unfortunately, is unidentified. He left a message on my answering machine in the mid-afternoon of December 23rd. The second person who told me about hearing the station was Montreal area broadcast engineer Michel Mathieu, who called me during the station's December 23rd late afternoon test transmission. I believe I was the first to report it to the National Radio Club groups on the Internet, though (Sheldon Harvey, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CANADA. YOKO ONO, COPPOLA DEFEND SOOK-YIN LEE By GAYLE MacDONALD UPDATED AT 9:12 PM EST Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004 The CBC is expected to decide today whether Sook-Yin Lee, host of Radio One's Definitely Not the Opera, will be able to bare all and star in an art-house film by acclaimed U.S. director John Cameron Mitchell. Lee's radio boss, Jane Chalmers, has apparently been reconsidering a decision, hastily made before Christmas, in which she urged the DNTO host to turn down a role in Mitchell's upcoming, sexually explicit film, Short Bus. Upset by the move, many of Lee and Mitchell's high- profile arts pals weighed in, writing e-mails of support to Lee, a former MuchMusic VJ, musician and actor. Lee did not return calls yesterday. But sources in Canada's tightly knit arts community said her champions are a veritable who's who of feature film. Apparently, Mitchell's friends such as Yoko Ono, Gus Van Sant, Francis Ford Coppola and Julianne Moore all wrote letters supporting Lee's right to appear in the film, about a pan-sexual community of New Yorkers grappling with relationships, sexuality and their identities. Several well-known Canadians also e-mailed on Lee's behalf, including filmmakers David Cronenberg and Atom Egoyan, authors Ann-Marie MacDonald and Douglas Coupland and singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. Yesterday, CBC spokeswoman Ruth-Ellen Soles said Lee and Chalmers "are still in discussions, and there has been no final decision." In Short Bus, Lee is cast to play a relationship counsellor whose own marriage is a shambles. Her character lies to her husband, fakes orgasms, and then resolves to achieve the Big O through innovative self-help techniques. Mitchell, who dazzled critics off-Broadway in 1998 with his rock 'n' roll musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, also did not return calls yesterday (Globe & Mail Jan 14 via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** CHINA. 19640, CPBS, 2 x 9820 (fundamental inaudible) 1033 UT 13/1 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, Cheshire, UK, Icom R75 + ALA1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** CHINA. A freqüência de 6020 kHz é utilizada pela Rádio Internacional da China em sua emissão em espanhol. No entanto, sofre interferências em grande parte do Brasil, por parte da Rádio Gaúcha, de Porto Alegre (RS), detentora do mesmo canal. Em Araruama, no litoral do Rio de Janeiro, Lenildo Silva ouviu a emissão da estação chinesa, em primeiro de janeiro, às 2103, com o resumo dos acontecimentos de 2003. [para Europa] Atenção ouvintes dos programas em português da Rádio Internacional da China no Rio de Janeiro e redondezas! No dia 20 de fevereiro, delegação da emissora fará encontro com os ouvintes na Cidade Maravilhosa. O objetivo é agradecer aos brasileiros pela audiência. Para maiores informações remeta um e-mail para: cripor@cri.com.cn (Célio Romais, Panorama, @tividade DX Jan 12 via DXLD) ** CONGO. Hi Glenn, Radio Congo possibly the one here, noted at 1600 at threshold level on 9610. Left the frequency at 1655. 13 January 2004. Last checked this frequency for them on the 9th of December, 2003, when they were apparently in at a reasonable level with a sports match (soccer?) on at 1610, at that time I noticed them leave the frequency at 1720. Sign off time of 9610 and the shift to other frequencies seems to vary, possibly depending on the programming that they are carrying (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** CUBA. 15570, Radio Rebelde/Radio Habana Cuba; 1801-1810+, 14-Jan; 2M+W in Spanish news to 1808, every story re USA. Dual ID at 1808, then sports. SIO=433+/USB to avoid 15565 WYFR "Family Radio" also in Spanish. Not in 2004 Passport (Harold Frodge, MI, MARE via DXLD) But reported here for some months now (gh) ** CUBA [and non]. Spanish on the AM BCB The existence of this list has prompted me to spend some time listening for Spanish-speaking stations on the AM BCB. On Monday night, 12 January, I began listening at about 1730 local time [EST = 2230 UT], and the first ID I got was at 1742 on 780 with Venezuela's Radio Coro (YVMN). At 1744 the ubiquitous "RR" in Morse indicating the presence of a Radio Reloj (Cuba) outlet was heard on 760. If the 2003 WRTH is right, this is CMCD in Las Mercedes, though from what I have read here and elsewhere the reliability of Cuban listings is somewhat questionable. When Radio Habana's Arnie Coro visited my home last year we discussed this a bit but I don't believe Arnie wants to get involved in providing e-mail answers to individual queries due to his busy schedule. At 1905 Venezuela's "Radio Caracas Radio" or "RCR" (YVKS) was strongly overpowering WSB on 750. At 1917 another "RR" was detected on 830. If the WRTH is correct this would be Holguín. At 1931 "RR" was heard on 950, and WRTH says this outlet is right in Habana. At 2000 I caught an ID from a loud "Doblevé" (which translates as simply the letter "W") on 840 in Santa Clara, Cuba. (CMHW). Almost no CCI was detected from WHAS at that moment. At 2005 an equally clear Radio Cadena Habana (CMCH) was heard ID'ing on 1080, with little interference from WTIC. Shortly thereafter the AM BCB got back to normal and the skywave regulars began to assert themselves. Regards, (Fred Laun, K3ZO, Temple Hills, MD, Jan 14, WTFDA AM via DXLD) ** DIEGO GARCIA. Hi Glenn, While I do hear Diego Garcia on occassion on 13254 USB I have not heard nor seen any reports for some time of the AFN station on 4319 USB and 12579 USB. Though shown on their web site, do you or anyone else know if AFN is still actually using those frequencies? I last heard 4319 back in October of 2000 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) That`s a while ** ECUADOR. 2960.22v, Radio Atlántida, Alausí, 14/Ene/2004 1030 UT SWB MICROINFORMATIVO! Quito 14/Ene/2004 9:17 hora local "Somos Radio Atlántida" or just a short ID with echo: "Atlántida". Ecuadorian music and some boleros. Weak signal deifting this morning from .22 down to .19. Probably Mark Mohrmann`s unID on 2960.22 kHz with ID (sounded like) "La H" - "At LA H ntida" [sic]. Harmonic from 1480 kHz. 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, SWB América Latina, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** ERITREA [and non]. Hi Everyone: Here are a few of our loggings from a recent DXpedition at Don Moman's DX QTH. In attendance were Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, Don Moman and myself. To see photos of this world class site, visit: http://andor.net/ve6jy/index.htm Conditions were outstanding, along with Don's 4-30 MHz 19 element rotatable Log Periodic Antenna at 113' (34m) made for several great DX catches. At times terrible T-storm QRN across the Tropical Bands this weekend. Also heard LW stations: 153 Norway, 162 France, 177 Germany and 189 Iceland. On Jan. 12 162 France was still audible well after our local sunrise. On to the loggings: Eritrea, VOTBMOE, 7009.96, Tentative No ID heard, 1540-1603 fade-out, Jan 10, YL announcer with long talk in language, Horn of Africa Music, several OMs talking, short instrumental music bridges. Poor-Fair (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ETHIOPIA. Radio Fana, 6210//6940, Tentative No ID heard, 1638, Jan. 12, OM announcer with talk, into interview sounding program with three OM's. Ute QRM. 6940 Fair. 6210 Fair with no QRM (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GREECE. Macedonia (Greece), Radio Thessalonki/ Macedonia Radio Station, 9935, Jan. 10, 1430-1530+, program of Greek music with brief talk by YL between songs, ID by YL at 1459, talk between YL and OM. Fair to Good. 35 kw (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) 19870, RS Makedonias, Athens, 2 x 9935 at 1538 UT 13/1 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, Cheshire, UK, Icom R75 + ALA1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** HAITI. Vandals armed with sledgehammers smashed radio antennas January 13, forcing at least seven radio stations and one television station off the air, a station owner said. A group of men tied up guards and began attacking antennas on a hillside outside of suburban Petionville, witnesses said. Privately-owned stations Radio Galaxie, Radio Kiskeya, Radio Melodie, Radio Magique-Stereo, Radio Plus, and Radio Signal-F.M. went off the air. Radio and Television Ti-Moun, which are owned by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's Foundation for Democracy, were also silenced. Radio Kiskeya co-owner Marvel Dandin, who blamed the government, accompanied authorities to the site. Police said they were investigating. The vandals damaged the antennas of pro-government stations only because their "attack was blind. Nothing marks the difference between one antenna and another", Dandin said. The attackers tried to force the security guards to identify the antenna of Radio Caraïbes, which government partisans have accused of anti- government bias in its reporting, Dandin said. Haïti has been in turmoil since May 2000 elections the opposition charges were rigged. Aristide has said he opposes violence and favors a free press. Haitian media groups, however, accuse police and government supporters of regularly harassing journalists. Some 30 Haitian journalists have gone into self-imposed exile in the past two years after receiving threats. There have been several attacks recently on private radio and television stations (AP via SCDX/ MediaScan Jan 14 via WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** HAWAII. NEW KAUAI TV STATION IS REALLY RADIO WITH PICTURES The Buzz, Erika Engle, Tuesday, January 13, 2004 [illustrated] http://starbulletin.com/2004/01/13/business/engle.html Former California TV weatherman Jeff Chang is realizing his dream of station ownership with a television station that he operates as a radio station. Huh? Chang fired up a low-power TV station at the beginning of the year. Its call sign is K06NC, but he has named the station "Coast-FM." It is broadcast over Kauai's television airwaves on channel 6, but its audio format of local music and "lite hits" can be picked up at 87.7 on the FM dial. Key artists include Keahiwai, Native Blend, Sting and Sarah McLachlan. PHOTO COURTESY CHANG MEDIA GROUP --- Jeff Chang plans to support his Kauai TV station with radio advertising revenues. [caption] There are no rules requiring cable companies to carry the signals of low-power TV stations, limiting the reach of Coast-FM's video signal to homes with a TV antenna. "What we offer on our video signal are Kauai facts, island history and public service announcements," said Chang. Video content is produced in-house at a studio in Lihue. FM radio is a much larger animal, which is why the radio signal is his focus. "From the financial point of view, it's more logical to run it as a radio station," Chang said. Coast-FM's audio signal reaches into Hanalei and Princeville as well as to Poipu, according to station engineers. "It's a great signal," which he believes will generate revenue for Chang Broadcasting of Hawaii LLC. KZND, or "The End," a low-power TV station in Alaska, was his inspiration. "The precedent is set. As long as I'm maintaining the technical end by having a video signal, you can operate in this way," said Chang. Industry publication Radio & Records' story about "Alaska's New Rock Rebel" is linked at http://www.kznd.com. Chang was a TV weatherman in San Bernardino, Calif., until his general manager encouraged him to switch to advertising sales in order to pursue his dream of station ownership. He did, selling spots for stations in San Francisco and Santa Barbara until he struck out on his own, setting up a firm to place broadcast and billboard advertising. That company, Chang Media Group, also produces SCANS, the Southern California Advertising News, a trade publication for broadcasters and advertisers. "I always wanted to start out in the state of Hawaii," he said. "This is my first venture as far as broadcast ownership, but I'm looking at other stations on other islands." Another radio mover Neighbor island broadcaster George Hochman has increased his reach from Oahu to Kauai. The purchase of KORL-AM 650 has closed and the format has flipped from Radio Disney for 'tweens to "local talk and multicultural programming," Hochman said. Japanese programming from the old KJPN crew, formerly at 940 AM, airs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. [HST UT -10 = 1600-0400] For now, the rest of the day is used to pitch blocks of time to potential program providers. "We're getting a lot of interest," he said. One person wants to put on a jazz show, another wants to put on an arts and cultural show, a chiropractor is looking to buy time and "a Korean church wants to come on board," said Hochman. Rates go from $100 to $200 per hour, depending on time of day. Programming is coming out of Hochman-McCann Hawaii Inc. partner Byron McCann's offices at the moment, but new studios are being built in Pioneer Plaza space that once housed KCCN radio (via Andy Sennitt, DXLD) More on 87.75 et al.: http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jan/14/bz/bz30a.html/?print=on (via Mike Cooper, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) From RR online. Hawaii TV station on Ch 6 targets FM radio listeners. Isn`t there one in Alaska doing the same thing? (Paul Smith, Sarasota, FL, NRC FMTV via DXLD) KAUAI'S NEWEST STATION IS ON RADIO AND TV Chang Broadcasting of Hawaii LLC this week has launched a new broadcast station on Kauai. "Coast-FM" mixes soft contemporary hits and island hits. The station features local artists such as Keahiwai, Mana'o Company, Native Blend, as well as Sting, Jewel, and Sarah Mclachlan. "We've been developing this station for over three years, and we're proud to say it's finally on the air," President Jeff Chang said. The station is unique in that it is licensed to broadcast as a television station on Channel 6. The audio for the channel, however, can be received on standard FM radios at 87.7FM. Along with its audio programming, the station broadcasts video programming consisting of Kauai information such as history facts, traveler's information, and local public service messages. The station's studios are in Lihue. Chang Broadcasting is a subsidiary of Chang Media Group, a diversified media company encompassing publishing, television station representation, and outdoor media. Chang Media said Tuesday it is hoping to expand with further broadcast acquisitions on both the Hawaiian Islands and the Mainland. (via Paul Smith, NRC-FMTV via DXLD) ** INDIA. AIR Mumbai QSL -- Dear friends, I have just received a full data QSL letter from AIR Mumbai within 6 days of my sending a report for their transmission on 4840 kHz. v/s is Mr. M. Indiran, Suptg. Engineer. Their correct address is: Superintending Engineer All India Radio Backbay Reclamation H. T. Parekha Marg Mumbai 400020 (AIR Mumbai's SW frequencies are 4840, 7240 & 11935) (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, National Institute of Amateur Radio, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad 500082, India, dx_india via DXLD) see also ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ** INDIA. SPECIAL BROADCASTS FOR HAJ PILGRIMS The yearly special broadcasts by AIR for the Indian Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia has started as follows: Urdu 0530-0600 11730 13620 17845 This will continue till the pilgrimage season is over. Wonder if the Indian pilgrims carry a transistor radio also along with them?! (Jose Jacob, VU2JOS, dx_india Jan 14 via WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [non]. Re: Breaking News From Mars! No, I did not write it either, it truly came from Lowell Observatory! (Duane B. Fischer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** KOREA NORTH. 1/14, STRONG ENGLISH RECEPTION OF NORTH KOREA HEARD Dear Mr. Hauser: This is the first time, that I have written to you with a reception report, so I hope it proves to be of some use. Please note, that I am writing, about what I heard broadcast from North Korea, and not, the usually much stronger South Korea broadcasts. I cannot say, that I have really paid much attention, to listening to this murderous Stalinist dictatorship, for some time now. Usually, the reception is so poor, at any time, and on any frequency, that it is simply not worth the bother, to even try to listen to them. In any event, at 1554 UT this morning, 1/14, I happened to tune, to both frequencies, used by North Korea's English language service, to N America. I wanted to hear, what their current frequencies and schedules are, as per their usual announcement, at the end of their broadcasts . 9335 could not be heard at all. This did not surprise me, as the propagation on 11710, is usually very marginally better. However, 11710 was a very BIG surprise! Instead of their usually barely intelligable signal, it lit up 8 leds, fairly steadily, on the 10 led signal strength meter on my radio. This equaled the signal strength, that I used to receive at times, years ago, on some of the frequencies, used by the former NA service of the BBC. The signal was clear, and seemed to have no obvious technical problems. I heard their usual sign off, at 1556, and it was most definitely, North Korea. A few days ago, I listened to the same two frequencies at 1000 UT, (aimed at C and S America), and heard nothing on either one. I have not listened to the other time, that North Korea broadcasts to N America, (1300-1356) yet, so I don't know, as of when I write this, what may be happening at that time. I have no idea what is going in P`yongyang, except to guess, that maybe they were running 2 transmitters in parallel, on 11710, and/or, have done something to their antenna system. I very much doubt, that they have bought broadcast time from someone else, because the country is broke, and they don't have the money to pay for it, even if, someone would be willing to sell it to them. Because of the dictatorship NK is, I rather doubt, that anyone would be willing to swap air time with them either. The only country I can think of, that might be willing to do so, would be Cuba's dictatorship. In case you are trying to determine the antenna azimuth used, I live in Butte, Montana. Hope I did not waste your time. Sincerely, (Scott Steen, MT, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Scott, Thanks for the interesting observations. I suspect it was due to propagation, an exceptionally good day over that path. Power output could also vary a lot from the nominal, depending on electricity shortages... Perhaps you can keep checking and see if this keeps up. Please feel free to send in any further monitoring observations, including such peculiarities. Regards, Glenn to Scott (via DXLD) ** MALI. Radio Mali, 11960, 1730, Jan. 12, IDed by I/S, matching I/S on Dave Kernick`s excellent Interval Signal site, OM talk in language, songs by YL to sign-off at 1758 with I/S (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** NIUE [and non]. POSSIBLE END OF NU DOMAIN The Pacific nation of Niue could return to New Zealand's rule if its population declines as a result of a cyclone that decimated much of the tiny island, Niuean and New Zealand officials said. Cyclone Heta struck Niue January 5, leveling houses, government buildings and the island's only hospital, and laying waste to the crops on which the fragile economy depends. Niue's leaders believe the population of the world's smallest independent state could fall from around 1,500 to 500 because of the disaster, making continued self-government unviable. (AP via SCDX/MediaScan Jan 14 via DXLD) This tragic disaster for the people of Niue could also have an effect on more than one hundred thousand websites around the world, especially in Scandinavia. Niue has been assigned the Internet domain "nu", which means "new" in Swedish and Norwegian. Because of the previous restrictions on registering sites in Sweden's "se" domain, many Swedish sites are registered under "nu". Of the 110,000 "nu" registrations, 70,000 are for Swedish sites. Niue has been independent from New Zealand since 1974. If enough of the 20,000 citizens of Niue who live in New Zealand do not return home after the cyclone, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Phil Goff says the island's independent status could be withdrawn and it return to being part of New Zealand (Tomas Gilsa, "Sakerhet & Sekretess" via SCDX/MediaScan Jan 14 via, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DXLD) ** RUSSIA. FINLAND'S RADIO AMATEURS LOVE TO LISTEN TO KOMI GOR BROADCASTS SYKTYVKAR (KomiInform) - Radio amateurs in Finland love to listen to the broadcasts of the State TV/Radio Company Komi Gor [The Voice of the Komi]. Natalia Makarova, the program director of the Republican Radio Broadcasting told the KomiInform correspondent that recently workers [of the station] received a New Year greeting and the so-called "listening report" from a 39-year-old Tom Hegga who lives in the Finnish city of Espoo. In his letter he noted that he listened to Radio Komi in the morning of December 25, on the frequency of 621 kHz. At that moment, the radio stations of Egypt and Norway were also "getting trough" on the air. N. Makarova added that every year the editorial office [of the station] receives approximately five such letters. It is primarily listeners in Finland and Estonia who enjoy the Komi radio broadcasts. The oldest radio [station] of Komi [Republic] broadcasts on the medium [sic!] frequency of 66.8 MHz and has about 150 relay stations throughout the Republic. Natalia Likhachyeva, KomInform News Agency, 01/14/2004 The Russian text of the report: http://www.komiinform.ru/?id=25444 N.B. Komi is the Finnic language spoken in NW Urals in Russia. For English info about Russia's Komi Republic go to: http://www.parma.ru/~emin/brief.html (via Sergei Sosedkin, IL, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** RUSSIA. 14730, R. Rossii, Samara, 2 x 7365 at 1546 UT 13/1 14940, VOR, St. Petersburg, 10 x 1494 at 1541 UT 13/1 (Tim Bucknall, Congleton, Cheshire, UK, Icom R75 + ALA1530 Outdoor loop, harmonics yahoogroup via DXLD) ** RWANDA. Radio Rwanda, 6054.95, 1649, Jan. 12, OM with French talk, several mentions of Rwandan towns Butare (sp)/ Nianza (sp)/ Gitaram (sp); I think he was talking about the rains in that area and how the road to Kigali was being affected (?). Fair with QRM adjacent stations. Best in USB (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA. Sa`udi Arabia has launched an all-news satellite television channel to present a new image of the Gulf Arab state, portrayed in the West as a haven for Muslim militants. Ikhbariya, inaugurated on January 11 by the kingdom's first female news presenter, will broadcast in Arabic for 12 hours a day before stepping up to round-the-clock programming, director Mohammad Barayan told Reuters. Saudi Arabia has faced fierce criticism from U.S. media since the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States which were carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers. Critics say the kingdom fuelled militancy by promoting anti-Western sentiment in schools, giving radical clerics a platform and failing to stem the flow of funds to extremists, charges denied by officials who say they have cracked down hard on militants. Barayan said the state-owned channel would correct false perceptions, including some about the role of Saudi women. Breaking new ground in the deeply conservative Muslim kingdom, the opening news bulletin was delivered by female presenter Buthaina al-Nasr, modestly dressed in black headscarf and white jacket (Reuters via SCDX/MediaScan Jan 14 vi DXLD) ** SUDAN. Radio Sudan, 7200, Tentative, No ID heard, 0434, Jan. 12, OM with Arabic talk, then YL and OM with alternating talk. Fair (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Wednesday: Our coverage of the opening day of the Anna Lindh murder trial, plus a feature on the Swedish pharmacy monopoly Thursday: More from the Anna Lindh murder trial and "GreenScan" Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: In "Spectrum" Japanese dance and a retrospective on the late Swedish actress Ingrid Thulin Sunday: Another chance to hear "Sounds Nordic" with the Latin Kings and sneak preview of who might be singing for Sweden at the Eurovision Song Contest (SCDX/MediaScan Jan 14 via DXLD) ** SWEDEN. Tomorrow, Thursday Jan 15, it is 80 years since the first official broadcast in Sweden. The Amateur Radio Club in Gothenburg, Sweden, is celebrating this event with a 3 hour long transmission on MW 981 kHz. There will be parts of the original broadcast that took place 80 years ago, interviews and more. Starting time is 1700 UT (Claes Olsson, Port Charlotte FL, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** U K. To the BBC management: You seem to be constantly harping on your website as something your listenership should use constantly and rely upon. I find it just about worthless. I am trying to get current schedule information. I use public-access computers or one at a neighbor's house by their courtesy. This means that I have limited time each session and that I cannot access the net anytime I want; I have to get everything I need to do on-line during that specific time. I cannot afford to waste precious minutes and cannot "try again later". When I go to your bbc.co.uk/worldservice website today, it wastes my time sitting there with very slow response. When it eventually displays a schedule-request page and I input the city I want to see the schedule for, it again slows to a crawl, finally displaying the current day schedule. I then request the weekly schedule I need, and it sits there for many minutes, then eventually comes back with an infuriating screen that gives me the offensive message that the BBC "schedules" section of the website is down and cannot display! How could it be down if it gave me today's schedule in the first place?!?!? And why do you insult your website visitors by responding so slowly instead of just honestly stating at the very start on the home page, when someone selects the "schedules" option, that it is not available? That latter should display a simple, no-graphics screen that comes up immediately. There are people all over the world, many of which are paying per- minute charges for internet access, whom you are insulting and actually injuring by this behavior. Wasting the time and, in some cases, money, of your patrons is unforgivable! If the website doesn't work, and doesn't give its visitors the information they need and want, which is why they connected to it in the first place, all the funds you spend on it are a waste. You could use the money to restore full 24-hour-a-day shortwave coverage to North America, which is something people would really appreciate (William Martin, Saint Louis, Missouri USA, Jan 14, to BBC Write On, cc to DXLD) ** U S A. Re the mention of the "new" January 7th WBCQ sked in DXLD 4- 007: Take a closer look at the header on that. It says "Updated 1 / 7 / 2003" --- Note the '03 instead of '04! I wrote them an e-mail mentioning that a week ago and it is still that way as of this morning, just before I am writing this e-mail. Also, I note that the schedule does NOT reflect current things discussed here like that Tues 0200 UT "Secular Bible Study" program on 7415 kHz. And, as noted in the headers to your DX Programs list, the Saturday 2200 on 9330 is not Allan Weiner but some uninteresting religious program. That is wrong in the sked. The other thing annoying about the WBCQ.us website is the sloppy construction of the header info, with some words displaying overlapping others. It is a mystery to me why someone would go to all the trouble to set up a website and then not do it right and keep the data current. Yet they still advertise it on-air as if it is worthwhile! Heavy sigh... 73, (Will Martin, MO, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. Don Moman told me of two interesting stations on SW: 4634.5, Montana Park Service, used by Rangers out on patrol with a check in of sorts around 0030 [see also CANADA] (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A LIBERAL HAVEN ON THE RADIO DIAL --- By Jennifer Frey The much-discussed liberal radio network, designed to challenge conservatives' dominance of talk radio, took its first steps toward reality yesterday, when newly formed Progress Media announced it had both signed comedian and author Al Franken to host his own talk show and completed its first distribution deal in a major market. Franken's show is expected to air weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. [EST, I suppose, grrr ---gh], in direct competition with the popular "Rush Limbaugh Show." Franken is the author of two best-selling nonfiction books, the first titled "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot." Progress Media also announced that it had signed environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to co-host another program for its anticipated lineup of round-the-clock talk radio. "We're trying to give people an alternative," Franken said in a telephone interview. "We want to provide a change in the political landscape and a beacon of hope for ordinary Americans who work hard and play by the rules." And of course he also wants another platform to attack his nemeses, including conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly. "We're trying to get sued by a right-wing jerk -- hence the name of our program, 'The O'Franken Factor,' " Franken joked. Though its name has yet to be chosen, the network plans to go on the air by March or April, according to Progress Media CEO Mark Walsh. According to Walsh, the first distribution deal -- a lease for round- the-clock air time at WNTD (950 AM) in Chicago -- will be followed by several others in the next two weeks, likely in the New York, Los Ángeles and San Francisco markets. No deal with a Washington area station is imminent, although talks have taken place, Walsh said. "There's been a lot of heat and light, and now we have some more traction in commitments to infrastructure and distribution," Walsh said in a phone interview. The announcements came two months after a new leadership team bought the majority interest in the proposed network from Sheldon and Anita Drobny, major Democratic donors who formed AnShell Media early last year. The new owners -- led by Evan Cohen, a New York venture capitalist, and Walsh, a Chevy Chase-based Internet entrepreneur who has served as a technology adviser to the Democratic National Committee -- moved quickly to sign Franken, who from the beginning had been in talks to be the network's flagship talk-show host. "I wasn't going to agree to get involved in this unless it had a chance to succeed," said Franken, who agreed to a one-year deal but would not disclose the terms. "There's always a risk. But I wanted to make a calculated risk." Liberal talk radio has largely failed in the past in part because the industry is so heavily dominated by conservatives that liberal shows sandwiched between right-wing programming were all but destined to fail. As Franken put it, "That's like having three hours of country followed by three hours of hip-hop. It's not going to work." As an alternative, Progress Media plans to provide a 24-hour liberal-dominated home base for its talkers, albeit one that works in humor and an openness to debate. "If all we are perceived as is being the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party, we have failed," Walsh said. Walsh is tempering his expectations in the early going -- "we expect to have a pretty decent radio product that we hope gets some ratings; our ambition is not blockbusterish," he says -- and Progress Media expects to make a significant financial investment in the network as it attempts to expand its audience. "Considering the state of politics, I believe that the times might be more fertile in the years ahead for liberals to be able to do what the conservatives have done, and that is to develop a core audience for liberal talk radio," said Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers, the leading trade magazine on the subject. "However, even with the times being right, it won't be easy, because it took Limbaugh years to develop his following." © 2003 The Washington Post Company (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** URUGUAY. Radio Monte Carlo, 6139.81, 0233-0301, Jan. 10, program of music with little talk by OM, ID by OM at 0252 "....de la Republic... Uruguay, transmite... Monte Carlo la Súper Radio...", off mid song at 0301. Poor-Fair. Best in LSB (Joe Talbot, with Mickey Delmage, Nigel Pimblett, at Don Moman`s, Alberta, details at ERITREA, WORLD OF RADIO 1216, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UZBEKISTAN. OVERVIEW OF THE MEDIA IN UZBEKISTAN BACKGROUND Uzbekistan is the largest Central Asian country in terms of population, with some 25 million inhabitants. Over 70 per cent are Uzbeks; Russians make up less than 10 per cent of the population. Significant Uzbek minorities live in northern Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and southern Kazakhstan. One third of the population live in the Fergana Valley, Central Asia's most densely populated region and one that has been idenitified by many observers as a potential flashpoint. Two small Uzbek enclaves, administererd by Uzbekistan, lie inside Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan's neighbours are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Current issues War on terror: With its 137 km border with Afghanistan, Uzbekistan is on the frontline in the so-called war against terror, and has been in the international media spotlight to some extent since US forces were allowed to open a base at Khanabad in the south of the country for operations inside Afghanistan. German troops are also stationed in the south. Uzbekistan is a predominantly Muslim country. Democracy and human rights: Human rights and torture allegations in Uzbekistan have also attracted international attention and sparked a number of minor demonstrations in several Uzbek cities over the past few months. The British ambassador's denunciation of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan in 2002, the demonstrations in this connection outside the UK embassy in Tashkent in 2003, and the ambassador's medical treatment in the UK led to a spate of British press coverage which further helped internationalize the human rights issue. In November 2003 two senior US officials - the US assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, Elizabeth Jones, and the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labour, Lorne Craner - also met Uzbek human rights activists in Tashkent, and they are quoted as saying that the USA would help opposition parties to get officially registered (opposition Uzbek Harakat magazine web site, 11 Nov 03). In December the Ezgulik human rights organization held a news conference at which its chief, Vasila Inoyatova, said the topicality of human rights protection had reached an all-time high. (Harakat web site 10 Dec 03). On 5 December 2003 the Uzbek authorities failed to give approval to the holding of an international conference on the death penalty, saying that the organizer, an NGO, had not been registered with the Justice Ministry (BBC Uzbek Service, 5 Dec 03). Economy: On 15 October the Uzbek som was officially made convertible. Uzbekistan has considerable economic potential and untapped mineral wealth: it is one of the world's leading producers of cotton, gold and uranium (The Europa World Year Book, 2001). Water resources: The receding of the Aral Sea is a controversial issue rarely discussed in the media. There have been disputes over water resources - especially with water-rich Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Elections: Parliamentary elections are scheduled for December 2004 (Uzbek radio 1000 gmt 11 Dec 03); presidential elections may be held in 2007. Media environment President Islam Karimov and his government maintain tight control of the media, and self-censorship is the norm despite the fact that censorship was officially abolished under the media law adopted on 13 May 2002 (Uzreport.com web site 14 May 2002). Censorship also continues despite the Uzbek president's exhortations to the media to be active in building a "free thinking society". In June 2003 Karimov accused journalists of "lacking courage at times". He said that "the authorities never come in for criticism", and added that journalists were prone to the "stereotypical habit of taking officials' words as gospel." (Uzbek TV first channel 1530 gmt 26 Jun 03). Cimera, a Geneva-based NGO which specializes in analysing the media in Central Asia, has described censorship in Uzbekistan as a combination of cultural and economic factors, self-censorship and government control of the media. A conference of Central Asian journalists and human rights activists held in Almaty on 23 December 2003 stated that censorship and self- censorship were the norm in Uzbekistan (Kazakh newspaper Respublika Assandi Times, 26 Dec 03). After censorship was officially abolished, only Russian and Uzbek- language newspapers such as Mohiyat, Hurriyat, Pravda Vostoka and Vremya i My started running reports raising the "burning issues" of Uzbek society (Ferghana.ru web site 31 Mar 03). Journalists who do occasionally publish articles critical of the regime can face problems: Staff of the Tashkent-based Mohiyat weekly faced legal damages of 95,000 dollars in three separate cases brought against them allegedly over critical articles - one about bribery and extortion at a hospital; another about social injustice (Harakat web site, 14 Nov 03). Staff at Mohiyat resigned on 15 July 2003. "The reason for this was the fact that the new director of the Turkiston-press news agency (the newspaper's founder), Sadulla Hakim, had stopped publishing critical articles... This was the only newspaper reporting more or less the truth" (Centrasia.ru web site 17 Jul 03). Numerous radio and TV programmes and newspaper articles extol the achievements of President Karimov. There are currently no Uzbekistan- based media outlets which are consistently, or even occasionally, critical of the Karimov government. A recent example of a new newspaper which is supportive of the current government is Asr XXI (21st Century). An opposition web site reported its launch in November 2003: "The publishing body of this new rubber-stamp party - the Liberal [Democratic] Party [of Uzbekistan] - in its first issue carries the full text of Islam Karimov's speech made at the party congress. Apart from this, the newspaper publishes [political commentator] Qiyomiddin Nazarov's banal commentaries, and exaltations by a 'political scientist', Muqimjon Qirghizboyev, a man known for his servility." "XXI Century has been a new addition to rubber-stamp party newspapers such as Ozbekiston Ovozi, Fidokor, Adolat and Milliy Tiklanish," the report concludes (Harakat web site, 19 Nov 03). The only media sources that report on media freedom infringements, censorship or protests against media censorship are the independent Uzbek Internet media based abroad. Their web sites are not always publicly accessible in Tashkent. In November 2003 Uzbek state TV journalist Elmira Hasanova filed a complaint with the Tashkent prosecutor's office about censorship imposed by some senior officials at state TV. She claimed state TV had broken the law on freedom of speech and the prohibition of censorship (Muslim Uzbekistan web site 11 Nov 03). The same report also called on all local and foreign journalists to launch a campaign against censorship in Uzbekistan. Over 25 journalists are currently behind bars in Uzbekistan, according to the Harakat web site (29 Nov 03). Commenting on a robbery at the Tashkent office of Deutsche Welle radio on the night of 23-24 December, the Harakat web site noted that just prior to this incident a Deutsche Welle correspondent at a news conference had asked the Uzbek president about the registration of Birlik. "The question startled Islam Karimov and he started mumbling incoherently to the effect that there was a link between Birlik and terrorism," the web site said (Harakat web site 24 Dec 03). State control is also exercised over radio frequencies: The state commission on radio frequencies met in December 2003 to discuss "measures to improve the system of state control over the use of the radio frequency spectrum" (Khalq Sozi, 30 Dec 03, p 1). Internet censorship Uzbek Internet providers have been involved in exercising technical censorship over a number of Uzbek web sites based abroad, according to the Muslim Uzbekistan web site (in Russian 17 Nov 03). The same report said: "Formerly while downloading banned web sites people used to see notes saying that an error had occurred or that a server or a web page had not been found. Then innovations were introduced. For instance, a Tashkent-based Internet provider, Uzsaynet, allows Internet users to access the main menu of the popular [Russian-based] web site http://www.centrasia.ru. However, access is denied to those reports which mention cases of human rights violations or criticize the present political system in Uzbekistan and its top officials. "Sarkor is another Internet provider that censors material published on web sites. While downloading such foreign web sites as Navigator http://www.navi.kz --- Free Asia http://www.freeas.org and banned Uzbek web sites backed by the Erk Democratic Party and local journalistic human rights organization Ozod Ovoz - Free Voice http://www.ozodovoz.org users may see that the web sites are being downloaded by a search engine which is not operational. "Thus dozens of interesting web sites, including those which uncover the truth about the regime and state officials, are being hidden from many Uzbek citizens, and foreigners who temporarily live in the country. "This has led to some foreign organizations protesting about the situation... Following that, the provider had to unblock some web sites," the Muslim Uzbekistan web site said. Straws in the wind? The proliferation of media sources is a global phenomenon and part of the global Internet and telecoms revolution - a trend from which Uzbekistan, and especially, its major cities, have not been immune. Formally the number of media outlets is impressive but, as noted above, virtually all of them are strictly controlled in Uzbekistan. However, some recent reports - mainly those published by Uzbek opposition web sites - suggest that certain changes are perhaps beginning to take place in the country's media environment: The lawsuit mentioned above, and filed by a state TV journalist against state censorship "was the first time that this kind of lawsuit had been brought in Uzbekistan" (Muslim Uzbekistan web site 11 Nov 03). There have been a number of small media and human rights related demonstrations, mainly in Tashkent, over the past few months, for example: Some 10 Uzbek protesters in Tashkent demanded the interior minister's resignation on 2 December 2003 "because of the Muslims that had been arrested and tortured" during Ramadan and Id al-Fitr. They also demanded that opposition political parties and human rights organizations be registered (Harakat web site 3 Dec 03). A demonstration was staged in front of the Uzbek state TV and radio building in Tashkent on 20 November. About 10 protestors demanded the annulment of a presidential ruling which would turn the Uzbek channel, TV-4, which carried international news including BBC and CNN reports, into a sports channel (Harakat web site, 21 Nov 03). However, the sports channel started six-hour per day operations in early January 2004 (Uzbek TV 0300 gmt 2 Jan 04). Some 10 Uzbek human rights champions staged a protest outside the Uzbek state-run TV and radio company's office in Tashkent on 4 December. The protesters demanded that President Islam Karimov, Interior Minister Zohirjon Almatov and the chairman of the state TV and radio company, Abdusaid Kuchimov, resign. Commenting on the protest, Iranian radio said: "The rights campaigners said that they decided to hold the demonstration outside the company's premises to express their protest over the fact that the broadcasting company was turning a blind eye to the real situation and problems in the country, and was only engrossed in heaping praise on the country's leadership. They said that despite the fact the company operated on taxpayers' money, it was failing to cover problems being encountered by people and was violating the rules of freedom of speech...The broadcasting company's workers and officials from administrative bodies approached the protesters and tore up their placards, demanding that they leave the place immediately." (Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mashhad, in Uzbek 1500 gmt 8 Dec 03). A journalist at the state-run Andizhan TV and radio company in eastern Uzbekistan won an unfair dismissal case in October 2003, Moscow-based Centrasia web site reported on 22 October. The pro-government newspaper, Khalq Sozi, reported on 4 December that police and other officials were often ignorant of the role of the Uzbek parliament's human rights ombudsman and his recommendations "were not receiving due attention in some places" (Khalq Sozi, p 1, 4 Dec 03). Russian media Uzbekistan has a dwindling minority of ethnic Russians, mainly in Tashkent and other large towns. But Russian is still a lingua franca in Tashkent and elsewhere and the influence of the Russian media should not be underestimated. Over 30 Russian language newspapers are registered in Uzbekistan (Ferghana.ru web site 31 Mar 03). A distinction should be made between the local media in Russian and the Russia-based media, which report events in Uzbekistan more openly. The impact of these media may be significant, especially amongst well- educated, urban opinion formers and decision makers. Examples of international interest in Uzbek media "The World Association of Newspapers has awarded Ruslan Sharipov, an independent journalist and rights activist who was charged with paedophilia and sentenced to four years in prison, the 2003 Golden Pen of Freedom." (Harakat web site, 27 Nov 03). Ruslan Sharipov is the first journalist in Central Asia to receive the award, it added. The British government and the Eurasia Foundation are funding a project to create a "single information space" in Fergana Valley. The project is designed to fill an information vacuum in this ethnically mixed region. Three newspapers - Iqbol (Andizhan), Varorud (Khujand) and Fergana (Dzhalal-Abad) in eastern Uzbekistan, northern Tajikistan and southern Kyrgyzstan respectively - are to issue a bimonthly supplement Neighbours. The supplements will carry identical items but in their own languages. Topics have already been agreed. The project will last one year. "The... supplement will provide Fergana Valley people, divided by the borders of sovereign states, with reliable information from the horse's mouth." (Andizhanskaya Pravda, Andizhan, in Russian 17 Oct 03) The Open Society Institute, founded by George Soros and dedicated to building and maintaining the infrastructure of an open society, has helped set up a new independent Uzbek web site, www.tribune-uz.info, which appeared on the Internet on 19 December 2003 (Uzbek newspaper Biznes-Vestnik Vostoka 25 Dec 03, page 2). Internews Internews is a US government funded NGO engaged in training Central Asian journalists and helping them to make informative programmes which sometimes appear on regional radio and TV stations. Its direct political influence in Uzbekistan may be limited, however, owing to the fact that it works exclusively with the regional media, and often with low-profile broadcasters. It carries analytical articles on the Uzbek and Central Asian media in English on its web site: http://www.internews.uz (The most recent Uzbek-related report was dated 16 September 2003). Newspapers There are over 400 newspapers and some 20 are read nationwide, according to a media report on the Uzland web site http://uzland.uz/fact/media.htm A list of the most important ones can be found on this web site. A few newspapers have web sites but none of them are updated regularly. Here are some of the more prominent newspapers: Khalq Sozi - government-owned daily Narodnoye Slovo - same as above, but in Russian http://hc.uzpak.uz Pravda Vostoka - government-owned, Russian-language daily Hurriyat - set up by the Foundation for Democratic Media Support, a government agency (used to be more outspoken than at present) Fidokor in Uzbek - mouthpiece of the Fidokor People's Democratic Party, one of the main pro-government parties Ozbekiston Ovozi in Uzbek - organ of the ruling People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Mohiyat in Uzbek - weekly in Uzbek; calls itself independent TV stations with near nationwide coverage Uzbek Television and Radio Company - four channels; broadcasts in Uzbek, Russian (and several brief news roundups per week in English); state-owned Yoshlar Youth Radio and TV channel - state-owned It should also be noted that Uzbek TV broadcasts also reach into neighbouring countries. For instance, reception of Uzbek TV First and Yoshlar channels is very good in Mazar-e Sharif, capital of northern Afghanistan's Balkh Province, and in the southern Kyrgyz town of Osh where they offer the ethnic Uzbek-speaking population an alternative to local television programmes. Some privately-owned TV stations The following are some privately owned, nongovernment TV stations: YOTRK - Andijan Bagdad-TV - TV covering Fergana Region Muloqot - covers Fergana Region Bekobod TV - covering Tashkent Region Aloqa-AK - covers Syrdarya Region Samarkand TV Bakhtiyor TV - in Dzhizak - started broadcasting 24 hours per day in July 2002 to the Fergana Valley Orbita TV, based in Angren near Tashkent; privately owned; broadcasts in Uzbek and Russian Turtkul TV - Karakalpakstan Istiklol TV - Bukhara Koinot TV - Bukhara Chirchik TV, based in Chirchik near Tashkent, privately owned; broadcasts in Uzbek and Russian; cooperates with Internews, as do a number of other privately-owned TV stations Kamalak TV - an Uzbek-US joint venture specializing in satellite TV broadcasts in the Tashkent area Main radio stations Uzbek Television and Radio Company - Radio 1 and 2 are both state-run and have nationwide reach. Yoshlar Youth Radio and TV channel is also state-owned and broadcasts to the whole country. Ekho Doliny is privately owned and broadcasts to the Fergana Valley, Tashkent, and the Syrdarya region. It broadcasts on FM in Tashkent and the Fergana Valley (undated press release). FM radio The number of FM radio stations in Tashkent has doubled since 2001, when there were seven, according to the Uzland web site. At the end of December 2003 there were 15. It is not yet possible to gauge the impact of these radio stations which broadcast mainly music and appear to be listened to mainly by young people. Most are privately owned, broadcast 24 hours a day and get their income from advertising. FM radio stations are also starting up in regional centres: Radio Oltin Voha, described as an entertainment station, started broadcasting in the southern Uzbek town of Karshi on 2 January 2004 (Harakat web site 6 Jan 04). The FM dial in Tashkent 83. 6 and 83.7 FM - These frequencies broadcast what appears to be the new Uzbek TV Sports Channel in the evenings. At other times Radio Terra is audible with variable reception (Radio Terra's primary FM frequency is 105.0 - see below) 85.8 FM - (Very poor reception) Same as 107.2 - Radio Poytakht-Inform (see below) 88.4 FM - Radio Navruz - mainly music; broadcasts in Russian and Uzbek; also broadcasts readings from the Koran and other Islamic material 90.0 FM - Setar FM 90 broadcasts 24 hours per day to the Tashkent region. Mainly pop music; some news; aimed at the 25-49 age group. 99.7 FM - Radio Mashal (Uzbek radio channel 2); broadcasts 24 hours a day; mainly Uzbek folk music; regular news bulletins; (sometimes same as Uzbek TV First Channel) 100.5 FM - Oriat FM: From same stable as Oriat Dono (see below). Broadcasts 24 hours per day; mainly music, but not Uzbek folk music. Broadcasts local news in English at 1300 gmt on Sundays. First started on 5 January 2002. Web site: http://www.oriat.uz (in Russian only). Web site claims radio can be heard in the Sukhandariya, Dzhizak, Samarkand and Tashkent areas 101 FM - O'zbegim Taronasi. Started broadcasting on 24 July 2000. Broadcasts 24 hours per day mainly pop music to the Tashkent area; also on FM in Samarakand, Bukhara and Navoi. Target audience 14-24. Employs 23 staff. Broadcasts six news bulletins per day - three in Uzbek, three in Russian. Web site: http://www. fm101.uz 101.5 FM - Radio Grand. Uzbekistan's first FM station, set up with the support of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation; broadcasts 24 hours per day; mainly music. First broadcast 10 January 1998; web site: http://www.grand.uz 102.0 FM - Radio Hamroh (Autoradio). Started broadcasting on 12 October 2000 - aimed at the in-car market. Music, traffic news, adverts to the Tashkent region; (heard broadcasting in Turkish on Sunday 28 Dec 03). Web site in Russian: http://www.radiohamroh.uz 102.7 FM - Ekho Doliny (Vodiy Sadosi in Uzbek) radio. Mainly pop music. Broadcasts in Russian and Uzbek; also on FM in the Fergana valley 103.5 FM - Uzbek Radio First Programme (Radio Uzbekistan) - also broadcasts on other frequencies; has weekly news review in English at 1200 gmt on Sundays 104.0 FM - Yoshlar state radio - also broadcasts nationwide on other frequencies) 105.0 FM - Radio Terra (allegedly set up by President Karimov's daughter) http://www.radioterra.uz; broadcasts mainly music, brief news 105.4 FM - Sezam FM, a product of the Uzbek-US joint venture Rubicon Telecommunications, according to http://uzland.uz./fact/media.htm. Broadcasts to Tashkent region; is also on 105.2 in Samarkand and reaches Dzhizak, Syrdarya and the border areas of some neighbouring countries (undated press release). 106.5 FM - Oriat Dono - mainly music and entertainment, some news bulletins currently only in Uzbek. First started broadcasting on 17 December 2000. Web site: http://www. Dono.oriat.uz (in Uzbek only). According to the web site, the ratio of music to news is 70:30. 107.2 FM - Poytakht-Inform. Started broadcasting in 2002. Broadcasts music with brief news 24 hours per day in Uzbek and Russian. Coverage: "Tashkent fully, 85 per cent of the Tashkent region and 60 per cent of the Syrdarya and Dzhizak regions, and also the border districts of Kazakhstan's Shymkent Region and Tajikistan's Khujand Region" (undated press release). News agencies UzA - http://www.uza.uz - government news agency Jahon news agency http://www.jahon.tiv.uz - run by the Foreign Ministry Turkiston-press news agency - pro-government; describes itself as independent Uzbek media web sites - government http://www.uzreport.com/ - in Uzbek, Russian and English Uzbek media web sites - nongovernment http://www.uzland.uz/ - in Russian; set up by Odil Ruzaliev; covers political, social and other events in Uzbekistan http://www.ferghana.ru/ - opposition-orientated; based in Moscow; cooperates with the Soros-funded Open Society http://www.centrasia.ru/ - independent, based in Moscow with network of correspondents throughout Central Asia http://www.zamon.info/ - independent; in Russian only http://www.stability.uz - pro-government; articles in Russian and Uzbek http://www.ozodovoz.org/ - strongly anti-government human rights organization (not publicly available in Tashkent in November and early December 2003) http://www.tribune-uz.info - set up by the Soros-funded Open Society in December 2003 Web sites not accessible in Tashkent on 2 Jan 04 http://www.uzbekistanerk.org/ - banned opposition Erk party web site - also has a news service http://www.erkinyurt.org/ - opposition, based in the Netherlands (was publicly available in Tashkent in November and early December 2003) http://www.harakat.net/ - set up by banned opposition party, Birlik http://www.stopdictatorkarimov.com/ - mainly in Russian, with some Uzbek and English contributions. "This page is devoted to struggle against a severe politics of authorities of Uzbekistan, against the roughest infringements of human rights by representatives of authorities, against cruelty, against actions of authorities of the central and local level," the web site says in English. http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com - describes itself as "the political, analytical Islamic site" (was publicly available in Tashkent in November and early December 2003) Web sites with information on Uzbek media http://uzland.uz/fact/media.htm (the Uzland web site) - This has a useful analysis in English of the media in Uzbekistan, together with a fairly comprehensive list of radio and TV stations, newspapers, news agencies and contact details. The information is undated but appears to have been compiled in about 2001. http://www.camsp.osh.kg - web site of Cimera, an international NGO based in Geneva and campaigning for media rights in Central Asia; a number of analyses of the Uzbek and Central Asian media can be found here. http://www.internews.uz - (see above). Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 13 Dec 03 (via DXLD) Tho we hesitate to run an item so long, much of which is about the print media, here it is without excerpting. Another IRAQ update is pending, but without the print media (gh, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA. Ecos del Torbes, captada de nuevo en los 4830 kHz, a las 2337 UT, con SINPO 5/5. Emitìa el programa "Reporte Ferial", con las incidencias de la popular Feria Internacional de San Sebastián. En mi anterior reseña la llamé --- erróneamente --- Feria de San Cristóbal. Es uno de los eventos más famosos de nuestro país, por esta época. ¿Será que Ecos del Torbes confirmaría reportes en 4830 kHz? Sería una QSL de colección, sin lugar a dudas. 73's y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ COMMENTARY ++++++++++ SWL CALL SIGNS Hi, Glenn: Re. your article in Dec MT: In 1986, I acquired SWL call sign sign KMA1ES from what was then CRB Research. I didn't want it for an ego trip - I already had a ham call, but I wasn't getting too great response as far as signal report confirmations on SW bands were coming in. I figured that a call sign might help to indicate I was a serious SWL. So I worked up a report form, with "Reg'd Monitor KMA1ES" on the heading. The report stated the usual info - euipment, antenna, GMT(!) times, program notes etc. It worked. My return QSLs went from about 65% to over 90%. And some of those stations in the Middle East and Central Europe still send Christmas Greetings and programs listings. So I'm surprised to find that the SWL call signs are "for personal ego,'' and "served no other purpose." And I certainly wasn't aware I was part of a "dying hobby". I've suggested CRB Books call signs to other SWLs, and have been told they applied. Thanks for continuing an interesting column. 73, (Francis Donovan, Jan 11, to gh at MONITORING TIMES, via DXLD) Can`t argue with results, and no doubt some bureaucracy-laden overseas SW stations (most of them) would be more impressed by some made-up monicker than simply hearing from a lone individual. Disgusting (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS [non] ++++++++++++++++++++++++ WIRELESS BROADBAND I AM CONTACTING THE FCC AND THE STATE; THEY PUT THI S THING IN WITHOUT NO ONE`S KNOWLEDGE. AND A FEW NEW ABOUT IT, SO I`M RAISING HELL. SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS. I`M REPAIRING THE KEY BOARD, STUPID BUTTON IS STUCK, LOL (RON TROTTO, IL, SWL AT QTH.NET VIA DXLD) Later: I was doing some detective work today with some of the neighbors. I found out the story they told the town board was: this is wireless cable. I began getting thoughts when a lady across the street put up a satellite dish when she had the so called wireless cable. Last week she got rid of her PC, two days later they took the so called wireless cable tower and antenna. Very curious. Was also told that this has been on going for 6 months, and they are ending it because under 14 subscribers don`t cut it. At 40 bucks a pop they`re losing money. So there is a ray of hope. But I will be pursuing it, they will not return. Thanks and I`ll keep you informed; just beware of their sneaky tactics (Ron Trotto, ibid.) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ YET ANOTHER LOW-END RADIO The new Sportsman's Guide catalog I just received contains yet another cheapy SW radio. This one has the "Bell + Howell" brand name that was on the $10 analog model mentioned here previously and discussed on-air by Allan Weiner, but is a digital readout model with 30 presets but not direct frequency entry at $59.97. Here is the page on it on the Sportsman's Guide website: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=114197 It appears from the blurry pictures online and in the catalog that the model number on the case is "KK-C180", but that is never mentioned in the text. Personally, considering how bad the $10 Bell + Howell radio is, I'm surprised they are using that brand name on this one. Sort of taints it, in my opinion. However, that $10 radio is getting pretty wide distribution. One of the senior ladies in the local group showed up with one of them at the usual Jack In The Box gathering yesterday. She was using it for AM & FM and didn't know how to use the SW part, so I tuned around and found one receivable SW broadcast in the uppermost frequency band. It was playing Greek music, so I guesstimated it was the VOA relay of Greece. The ladies were all amazed to hear something at all foreign. Too bad it wasn't a better radio that would have given them a more representative sample. At least it wasn't Brother Stair! :-) 73, (Will Martin, MO, Jan 14, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Yeah, I`m never going to buy a B&H 16mm projector now (gh, DXLD) THE USE OF RF, IF AND AUDIO FILTERS IN SWLing A filter primer for the beginning SWL (long) by Phil Atchley, KO6BB This article is primarily a basic primer aimed at the new or neophyte SWL (Shortwave Listener). It is not intended to be all inclusive of every facet of filter use or design as it applies to radio reception. While it is aimed at beginners, it is anticipated that even the "Old Timer" may find some useful information and tips that he/she may find useful. Each section consists of a basic explanation of why that particular filter may be of use to the SWL followed by examples of filter use and possibly some commercial and or home made devices that I have found useful for that application. I DO NOT have any pecuniary interest in any of the products mentioned, (wish I did, grin) but are just some items that either I or others have found to do a good job. RF FILTERS (also known as "front end filters"): 1. Why do we need a filter in the front end of the receiver? The RF spectrum that the receiver "sees" from the average antenna consists of a very wide spectrum exceeding 60-30,000 KHz. Among these signals are very strong ones throughout the Medium Wave broadcast band right up through the shortwave spectrum. If there is no front end "selectivity", (ability to see a narrow bandwidth) some of these signals which are widely separated from the desired signal may overload the front end of the receiver. MANY of the more inexpensive receivers have NO front end selectivity at all while some modest priced receivers can use some help in this area. 2. What effect does front end overloading have on a receiver? When the front end of a receiver is overloaded a number of very undesirable things take place. They are. . . A. The receiver may be "desensed". That is, its overall sensitivity to weak signals will be reduced, often to the point where you will not hear any weak DX (distant stations). B. You will hear stations that "aren't really there". These are called "spurs", or more correctly IMD (Intermodulation Distortion) products. Especially common are IMD products from MW Broadcast stations audible throughout the Longwave and/or Tropical Broadcast bands. Examples: 1. A mishmash of two stations on 1480 & 1580 being heard on 100, 3060, 3160 KHz and any number of other frequencies. These are "mixing products" of two stations. 2. A strong station on 1580 KHz being heard on 3160, 4740 etc. These are harmonics of the station in question and may be either transmitted by the offending station OR generated in your receiver itself. 3. Beginners (and some old timers) often make the mistake of calling these various undesirable products "images". That is incorrect as "images" refers to stations heard at frequencies twice the IF frequency removed from the desired frequency and is usually caused by a combination of a low first IF frequency and poor front end selectivity. Modern receivers only rarely have problems with real images and even in cases of older sets images are usually less of a problem to DXing than IMD products if the receiver is overloaded. 3. How do we eliminate these problems? What we need is more Front end selectivity or "out of band rejection". By "out of band" I mean that if we are listening in the 90 Meter Broadcast band we don't want stations from the MW wave broadcast band (the biggest offender) hitting the front end of the receiver. How can we accomplish this when all these signals come off the antenna? A. We can insert an outboard filter between the antenna and receiver. If you want to listen to shortwave, placing a BCB HPF (High Pass Filter) between receiver and antenna will do it. The "roll off" (how quickly it starts rejecting stations) should be quite steep to be effective. It "should" be either removable or "bypassable" for when you DO want to listen to MW BCB stations. 1. Where can I get this device and what do I ask for? a. Kiwa makes a very good one, available directly from Kiwa or I believe Universal Radio sells it. Ask for their BCB HPF (High Pass Filter) for shortwave. b. They are quite simple to build from scratch and plans are available either on the Internet at some of the DX sites OR use the filter tables in any late ARRL Amateur Radio Handbook. c. The typical Ham oriented "Tee antenna tuner" such as the many units by MFJ, Vectronics and others make VERY effective High Pass Filters by the very nature of their operation. They have the added advantage of being able to match the antenna to the receiver, possibly increasing signal strength significantly on certain bands. THIS IS WHAT I USE, ESPECIALLY IN THE TROPICAL BANDS (an MFJ 949E). For SWLing you DO NOT need a fancy one with dummy loads, cross needle meters etc. The ham transmitting types are better than the receiver only types made by MFJ etc as they have larger coils and capacitors giving them a higher "Q". This leads to less loss and better rejection through the tuner. Many also allow switching between two or more antennas and may contain a balun for higher impedance wire antennas. IF FILTERS, what are they and what do they do? Now that we have narrowed the bandwidth down to a single shortwave band or group of shortwave bands we need a way to select one and (hopefully) only one signal out of the hundreds that may still remain. This is the job of the IF (Intermediate Frequency) filters. Inexpensive receivers may have only a single IF filter or bandwidth determined by the "natural bandwidth" of the transformers and other devices in the IF amplifier. These sets DO NOT fare very well in picking one station out of the many available ones. The result is that the listener is bombarded with a mish-mash of stations. Better receivers will have a number of filters that can be selected by the listener. Each filter is designed to maximize one aspect of listening, from very broad for "High Fidelity" to very narrow or "sharp" to reduce adjacent channel interference. Let's look at what may be available in the receiver and what you may be able to do to correct a receiver deficiency. 1. Bandwidth, what is it? In "normal" AM (Amplitude Modulation), the overall bandwidth is twice as wide as the highest audio frequency the station transmits. If station "A" transmits an audio bandwidth of 50-6,000 Hz on 9580 KHz the transmitted bandwidth will be 12,000 Hz, a fairly broad signal. If the listener wants to hear this entire audio range in his receiver he will need an IF filter of 12 kHz (6 kHz either side of the center frequency). The problem is that shortwave broadcast "channels" are typically 5 kHz apart. Now let's assume that Station "B" is on 9575 and Station "C" on 9585. If you are tuned to 9580 with that 12 kHz filter you are going to hear Stations B & C nearly as well as you hear station A. OK, so you say "enough of this" and switch in a narrower filter, lets say 4 kHz wide instead of 12. Immediately you notice that interference from the adjacent channels is either greatly reduced or gone. Of course the audio of the desired signal is no longer "high fidelity" since there are no audio frequencies above 2 kHz present. But what if your receiver doesn't have multiple filter bandwidths or those it does have are not effective? What can I do without buying a new gold plated receiver? 1. Analyze what your "real" needs are for SWLing. Questions to ask yourself. A. Do I primarily want to listen to the stronger stations transmitted from nearby relay points or do I want to chase the weak and elusive DX (distant station)? B. Is this receiver otherwise a good enough performer making it worth spending a modest amount of money on to "upgrade"? In other words, if this set had better selectivity would it meet my needs for the style of listening I wish to do with it? Is it sensitive enough (ability to hear weak stations), stable enough (not drift all over the place) and RELIABLE enough to upgrade? C. If the answers to A & B above are all "yes" then the receiver is a good candidate for upgrade. Now, what do I do? 2. Decide what bandwidths you "really" want in your receiver. A DXer would primarily want good sharp selectivity. As such, my "favorites" for DXing are primarily 4.5-5 KHz for a "wide" filter and something on the order of 3 to 3.5 KHz for a narrow filter. I also find a narrow SSB filter of about 1.8 to 2.1 KHz VERY useful for DXing when things get really tough! 3. Determine if "optional" or aftermarket filters are available for your receiver. Most communications receivers have at least one extra socket or internal location for an optional filter. If this is the case your job is much easier, at least for any empty slots you have. In this case you have the choice of either buying the filter directly from the company who made your set (like an Icom dealer) OR from an "aftermarket" maker of filters. Two such makers of aftermarket units are International Crystal and Kiwa. International Crystal makes a wide variety of filters in various bandwidths for "most" of the communications receivers, past and present! These have the advantage of "usually" mounting directly into the receiver slot for that receiver. They are also usually cheaper, perform as well as/better than factory units and also usually have a wider variety of bandwidths available. Kiwa is a little more of a "specialty house". They have "ready to go" filter upgrades for many sets that don't otherwise have replaceable filters, Sony 2010, Sangean products, JRC and others. The upgrade "wide" filter for the Sony 2010 will also work in many other sets. In fact, after the warranty is up I plan on replacing the Horrible (10-11 KHz Wide) AM filter in my new Icom IC-718 transceiver with a pair of these in cascade. Kiwa also has a series of "Filter Modules" in various bandwidths from wide to narrow that are VERY good and do a good job as replacements of the cheap Murata 455 KHz filters often found in inexpensive receivers. Reasonably priced, these contain internal amplifiers and are "No Loss" meaning that replacing a cheap ceramic filter with one will actually increase the receiver gain a little. I am a GREAT fan of these filter modules and have used a number of them in various sets. They also have "Premium Filter Modules" available with even better ultimate selectivity and shielding. These have a nominal loss similar to the filter they are used to replace. Kiwa ALSO provides nice instructions for installing their filters in the more common sets and if you have no desire to dig into the guts of your receiver will do a professional install for a reasonable fee. They have other receiver upgrades available too. Check out their website! AUDIO FILTERS, do I need one of these too? Maybe. Remarks here about audio filters primarily pertain to the human voice for the SWL, NOT CW for which extreme filtering may often work miracles of signal recovery. The following remarks are primarily directed towards the DXer trying to dig that weak one out of the mud. I have used MANY different types of audio filters for various DXing tasks. First, let's look at what an audio filter WILL NOT do for you, whether analog or DSP. 1. It will NOT eliminate any problems created by front end overloading of the receiver; only a front end filter will do that. 2. It will NOT increase overall sensitivity of the receiver (though due to narrower bandwidth it may "appear" to). 3. While it might help, it will NOT pull a clean audio signal out that is buried below the "noise floor" (something DSP users often expect of their filters). 4. By their very nature, to do their work they must remove undesired segments from the frequency spectrum. This means they will NOT have a "Hi-Fi" sound. The object is clarity, NOT fidelity. 5. Excessive audio filtering will actually make your reception LESS intelligible as essential elements of human speech are removed. A "peak" in the upper midrange will often increase intelligibility more than excessive filtering of the highs, especially since excessively eliminating the highs will dip down into the vital upper midrange. 6. A GOOD set of COMMUNICATIONS headphones coupled with the audio filter will often complement each other, something I recently "re- discovered" with the addition of a pair of Navy headphones to the shack. Other times the "Hi-Fi" headset may have an edge. What, you don't use headphones? If you really want to DX the weak ones GET A SET! It will effectively cut the distance between you and that DX station at least in half. WHAT WILL A QUALITY AUDIO FILTER DO FOR ME? (Not all filters may have all these features, see the "suggested" filters later for features). 1. It will allow you to "shape" the audio response that you hear to the actual voice characteristics of the transmitted signal by cutting high and low frequencies and eliminating distracting audio products outside of the essential voice range. It is FAR more effective at this than the simple audio tone controls on receivers and amplifiers. 2. It will allow you to "notch out" offending heterodynes (whistles) and other distracting items WITHIN the desired audio passband. For this to be effective this "notch" should be VERY narrow so as not to remove an excessive amount of the desired voice products. A notch that is too wide may be worse than no notch at all as it can lend a "hollow" sound to the audio, making things difficult to understand. This is common to some DSP units. 3. Depending on the filter design it may have various filter "modes", such as Low Pass Filter (eliminate all highs), High Pass Filter (eliminate all lows), Band Reject Filter (Notch) or Bandpass Filter (Peak) or a combination of the above. 4. If it is primarily a Bandpass filter (with or without a notch/peak filter added) it should, as a minimum, have separate adjustments for the low and high cutoff frequencies and Notch/peak frequency. 5. Many of the better audio filters, either analog or DSP also have a tape output jack in addition to the usual speaker and headphone output jacks. This is a good point to connect your tape recorder or computer audio card to for recording purposes, especially for receivers with no tape output jack. 6. Most audio filters can be plugged into the headphone jack of the receiver if the receiver doesn't have an external speaker plug. The filter can then be used to drive either an outboard speaker or headset. NOW, HOW DO I USE THIS CRITTER? 1. Connect it between the receiver and the outboard speaker, following the instructions included with your filter (if you have them). 2. MOST audio filters require an outboard 12-13.6 VDC source of power to operate (The Autek QF-1A and a couple others have internal AC power supplies). Do NOT use a cheap wall wart to provide power for your audio filter as most aren't well filtered and may produce hum in your headset. And since you are trying to get rid of extraneous noise this is something you want to avoid. As most don't require more than 1 to 1.5 amps, the relatively inexpensive REGULATED 12 Volt power supply that Radio Shack sells (or similar) is a good choice to power these units. 3. Put any selector switches in the Voice, SSB or whatever they call it mode. Some may have selectors like SSB, SSB & Notch or SSB & Peak. (Note, the Autek units work a little differently, read the manual). A. To start with, select SSB. B. Turn the "Low" control fully anti-clockwise. C. Turn the "High" control fully Clockwise. This sets up maximum bandwidth. D. Turn volume control (if present) up halfway. E. Operate your receiver as you normally would. When you run across a troublesome signal adjust the high and low controls for maximum intelligibility. You'll find rolling off the lows and highs a modest amount can often work wonders, especially when things are REALLY tough. ONLY use the notch when it is needed to eliminate something specific. F. If your filter has a "SSB & Peak" function, activate that and try adjusting the "peak" control for maximum intelligibility of the signal. SUGGESTIONS: WHAT FILTERS DO I LIKE, WHAT IS OUT THERE? First, for SWLing I like good quality "analog" filters MUCH better than the DSP units. They just sound "cleaner" (read better). Cheap analog units such as some of the little "project kits" are better than nothing, but not by much. So what "types" are there to choose from? 1. Analog filters using Op-amps or transistors. The oldest of the "active" filter designs, they are, at best, so-so. The Autek QF-1A is probably the best of these and can often be bought for a reasonable price (around 35-40 Dollars). The QF-1A has a variety of High Pass, Low Pass, Bandpass and notch filters. They ring pretty heavily when set for VERY sharp CW bandwidths but that isn't of any concern to the average SWL. Others in this category are units like the MFJ SSB filter (NOT DSP) but I don't feel they're very effective. 2. SCAF (Switched Capacitor) Analog filters. These are the newest generation of analog filters and are much more effective than the earlier designs. The best of them compete head on with the even newer DSP units, and to my mind sound much better for SWLing. Here are some SCAF models to look for ranked in what I feel are order of quality (there are others). I have had and used all of them. A. Datong FL-2 and FL-3. These are the "Cadillac's" of analog filters and are both basically the same filter, except that the FL-3 also has an effective "Auto-Notch" function that is nearly as effective as a DSP auto-notch. Both also have a "manual" notch. These both require external 12VDC power and have a very funky DC connector (Sub mini phone plug). Price usually runs 75-125 dollars depending on source/condition. B. Heathkit HD-1418Active audio filter. This is essentially a CLONE of the Datong FL-2 and is just as effective. It has a couple features the Datong lacks such as volume control (a NICE feature) and input overload indicator LED. It too has a separate manual peak/notch control. It does have SSB & Peak as well as SSB & Notch functions. It also requires an external 12VDC supply but has a decent "standard" DC barrel connector as well as a tape output. THIS ONE IS MY OVERALL FAVORITE AND IS WHAT I NOW USE! Price usually runs 50-85 dollars depending on source/condition. C. SUPERSCAF. This one is quite effective. HOWEVER, it's NOT the easiest one to use as the lower and upper cutoff frequencies are adjusted by two "thumbwheels" each. And the numbers on the thumbwheels don't correspond to actual frequency requiring a separate paper chart to determine frequency response. However, once you get familiar with it the thing is quick and easy to set, is VERY effective as a filter and is a favorite among the EME (Moonbounce) crowd. NO NOTCH FILTER. It does have an internal 110VAC power supply but is difficult to convert to 12VDC for portable operation. Overall good value for the money at usual prices of 25.00 to 40.00 dollars. DSP FILTERS, FOR THOSE WHO NEED THE LATEST GEAR. OK, here we go, venturing forth into some very controversial territory. I have had and have used quite a few different DSP filters from the very cheap (and lousy) Radioshack DSP-40 to the top rated (and expensive) Timewave DSP-599zx (which is a VERY nice piece of gear). For beacon hunting and other very weak CW work there is NOTHING that will compete with a good DSP unit for Non-ringing, extremely sharp selectivity! But here we go with a few "pointers" and my opinions (and they are just that, my opinions). 1. Internal DSP in a receiver is a "help" but NOT a replacement for a good outboard audio filter. Especially the more inexpensive DSP's commonly found in the Icom (like my IC-718 Transceiver and R-75 receiver) and Yaesu rigs. The "auto notch" is effective in removing heterodynes (whistles) and works well. The "Noise reduction" is "OK". That is, a small amount of noise reduction cranked in will lower the noise somewhat and is particularly useful when listening to a ham radio net as it quiets things down between transmissions. However, I find that with very much DSP cranked in the audio turns to mush, this because the filters crank in too much high cut (which is how they reduce the noise) and remove essential voice products too. I don't recommend using the Noise reduction mode of receiver internal DSP's for "real" DXing, if you do, just a LITTLE of it. NOW, I CAN'T SPEAK FOR HIGH END UNITS LIKE THE ICOM 756Pro II transceiver as my budget hasn't permitted me to have one. 2. Timewave DSP's. A. Timewave DSP-9. A basic DSP unit it has preset filters for voice, CW, etc. It has an effective auto-notch (heterodyne elimination) circuit. It requires 12-13.6VDC supply. It is NOT very versatile in filter settings. For its typical price of 60-80 Dollars I would suggest finding a Heathkit HD-1418 analog unit instead. B. Timewave DSP-59+ (go for the + model, not the Plain Jane one). About the MINIMUM that I would buy in a DSP filter anymore. It has effective auto-notch operation, adjustable aggressiveness on the noise reduction, adjustable upper and lower limits on filter bandwidth etc. A nice unit and offers a lot of bang for the buck. Requires a 12- 13.6VDC supply. Expect to pay about 80.00 to 130.00 for one. C. Timewave DSP-599zx. The "Rolls Royce" of audio filters of any genre. This critter can do everything but wash your dishes for you, including all the usual DSP functions superbly with filter frequencies displayed on the lighted LCD display and adjustable in 10 Hz steps! It also is usable as a test instrument to generate test tones, measure audio levels, Detect RTTY signals and send them to your computer (internal modem) etc. Expect to pay anywhere from 230.00 to over 300.00 dollars for a used one. 3. The various JPS NIR DSP units. I have no direct experience with these, but my understanding is that they usually aren't as user friendly or versatile as the similar Timewave units. 73 from the "Beaconeers Lair". (Phil, KO6BB, Atchley, Merced, Central California, 37.18N 120.29W CM97sh, swl at qth.net via DXLD) QSLs on E-BAY For anyone who has ever gone QSL hunting on eBay, there are usually about 100-200 at any given time. This week, there are approximately 5,500 mostly due to a seller in the U.K. who may be putting up his entire collection. Most items seem to be from AROs in Europe. Just how far is this buying craze going to go anyway? (Joe Miller, MARE via DXLD) PROPAGATION +++++++++++ LOGS DE FM DO CARIBE Caro amigos: a seguir os logs das minhas escutas feita em Garopaba no dia 10/01 entre 2100 e 2300 horario de Brasília [UT -2 = 2300-0100 UT]. O receptor usado foi o Sony ICF SW 7600D emprestado do meu amigo Cláudio Rotulo de Moraes, com a antena telescópica do próprio receptor. 92.9, Voice of Barbados, Barbados: 2103. Locutor em inglês e várias músicas, acredito se cristã. 98.1, Radio Liberty, Barbados: 2108. ID ...Radio Liberty... Barbados. Locução em inglês. 88.1, Radio Revelación, Porto Rico, 2117. Cancion Cristiana e ID.... Radio Revelación Puerto Rico... locução em espanhol. 88.9, Radio Guadeloupe, Guadalupe, 2125. Voz feminina em Francês. 107.9, Radio Cairi, cidade de ruso, Dominicana. 2139. Várias músicas estilo reggae 93.1, Radio Cairi, cidade de ruso, Dominicana (a mesma da 107.9) 94.9, Radio Martinica, Martinica. 2157. Voz de uma mulher e de um homem conversando em francês 94.5, ???????- ??????. 2215. Várias músicas estilo reggae. Durou 7 minutos no ar depois desapareceu o sinal 100.1, pode ser uma emissora de Santa Lucia ou alguma da América Latina. 2228. Músicas em espanhol. Também durou pouco tempo (11 minutos) 95.3, Radio Hott Barbados, Barbados. 2243. Locutor em inglês e várias músicas estilo rap. Agradeço ao Cláudio Rotulo de Moraes (o superdexista em FM) que forneceu o seu receptor para as escutas e pelas informações fornecidas pois sem ele, não saberia dizer qual emissora em inglês por exemplo estaria ouvindo ja que não entendo muito bem o idioma. Agradeço também o Rudolf W. Grimm pelo grande incentivo e apóio no hobby. Um abraço a todos e um forte 73 (Ânderson José Torquato, Garopaba, SC, Brasil, Jan 12, radio-escutas via DXLD) LINK FOR SPACE STATION SCATTER RECEPTION TIMES Hi Folks, DX has been a bit slow recently, so I thought it time to try to scare up some do-it-yourself. Here is a link detailing when the International Space Station will pass over several thousand cities: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/station/viewing/issvis.html DX'ers have been reporting very short lived (several minutes) Es now and then, it is entirely possible these were signals reflected off the ISS (Curtis Sadowski WTFDA, Jan 12 via DXLD) Well, if that can happen, it would have been happening from countless other satellites (gh, DXLD) ###