DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-023, February 7, 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 1219: Sat 1900 on IBC Radio webcast http://www.ibcradio.com Sat 1930 on WPKN Bridgeport, 89.5, webcast http://www.wpkn.org Sat 2130 on WWCR 12160 Sat 2130 on WBCQ 17495-CUSB Sat 2300 on http://www.live365.com/stations/15660 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; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 1600 on IBC Radio, webcast http://www.ibcradio.com Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, 1584 Mon 0515 on WBCQ 7415, webcast http://wbcq.us Tue 0400 on SIUE Web Radio http://www.siue.edu/WEBRADIO/ Wed 1030 on WWCR 9475 WRN ONDEMAND: http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24 OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]: Check http://www.worldofradio.com/audiomid.html WORLD OF RADIO 1219 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1219h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1219h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1219.html WORLD OF RADIO 1219 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1219.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1219.rm WORLD OF RADIO on Radio Ozone International: see IRELAND WORLD OF RADIO on Live365.com: see USA Different Kind of Oldies Show ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. With effect from 14 Jan, our [4760] transmitter has increased power to nearly 8.5 kW (QSL letter from K. S. Venkateswarlu, Station Engineer, AIR Port Blair, 20 Jan, via Jose Jacob, dx_india Feb 5 via DXLD) ** BAHAMAS. MW beacon: 526 ZLS BAH Stella Maris 2/4 0240 -1050 (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) Does the last figure indicate the A2 audio pitch? Why are some negative and some with two differents? Further such loggings below under CAYMAN ISLANDS, CUBA, DOMIONICAN REPUBLIC, EASTER ISLAND, GUATEMALA, JAMAICA, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, TURKS & CAICOS (gh, DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4722.86, Radio Uncía, Uncía noted as back on the air 1045 to 1050. Radio Santa Ana noted strong on 4650.25 same time, but 4902v from Riberalta still silent. 6 February. Disturbing to see this! Two Bolivians silent. Es angustioso oír que las emisoras bolivianas no más transmitirán. Es una cultura muy importante! 5927.07, Radio Difusora Minería, Oruro, 1055 to 1105, very weak signal, first time noted in a long time (Bob Wilkner, NRD 535D, Pómpano Beach, South Florida, U S, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Er, I count only one Bolivian silent mentioned above, unless you meant that Uncía was *not* heard? (gh, DXLD) ** BURKINA FASO [and non]. Glenn: Dr. Scott's transmitter --- Costa Rica at 5029v -- seems to be off the air; heard very clearly at in his absence at precisely 5030.0, between 0630 and 0640Z, on 6 February, must surely have been Radio Burkina, not supposedly on at this time according to ILGRadio dB. Tuned in during charming indigenous African flute piece with plucked string accompaniment; then female, male voices in French; interval music; followed by what was probably news. Several voices heard, one with excellent French accent, introducing program with music being faded up and down between phrases; then others with apparently heavily African-accented French. Good reception, a few minutes after end of grayline reception period. Parallel transmission on 4815 not heard due to heavy noise as well as utility or data transmission interference. Very good evening for African stations, including R. Sondergrense (Meyerton) heard on 7185 in Afrikaans at 0604; possibly R. Zambia 1 (Lusaka) on 4910 in French & vernaculars at 0452; RFI via Moyabi, Gabon, in French, on 4890, very good reception at 0450; and several VOA transmissions from São Tomé. Nice to hear R. Burkina at this frequency; have not picked it up here since 6 May 2003, when the programming had to share Dr. Scott's sibilant sidebands. By 0652, R. Burkina signal had improved to peaks of S9, now in "program listening" quality, with excellent, rich audio, equal to or better than the quality of the best signals heard from larger African countries. By now, program had very hectic, excited male announcer in vernacular language, perhaps touched by a trace of a French word here and there, between very jolly and perky, melodically simple instrumental and vocal pieces, almost a cross between Caribbean music and African folktunes. A pleasure to enjoy while reading DXLD! Best, (Steve Waldee - San José, CA. - R75 with 350-foot dipole antenna, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Refer to the WRTH 2004 instead, where it is made clear that 5030 is an alternate to 4815, so would not expect to hear them both at same time, namely 0530-0800 (gh, DXLD) ** CANARY ISLANDS [non]. ESPAÑA/ISLAS CANARIAS: Radio Exterior de España anuncia que no envía más tarjetas QSL. Sin embargo, el programa "Españoles en la Mar" confirma informes enviados directamente a las Islas Canarias. Es decir: R.E.E., Programa "Españoles en la Mar", Apartado 1233, 38080 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Islas Canarias, España, nos informa José Moacir Portera de Melo, Brasil, Conexión Digital. De su esquema hasta fines de marzo, el programa se irradia como sigue: de lunes a sábados a las 1510 en 21700, 21610, 21570, 17755, 15585 y 15385; lunes a viernes 2105 en 11625 y 7275; sábados 2205 en 17850, 15125, 15110, 11625, 9765, 7275 y 7270 (Lic. Guillermo Glenn Hauser, RN Radio Enlace Feb 6 y Mundo Radial Febrero-Marzo via DXLD) ** CAYMAN ISLANDS. LW beacon logs: 344 ZIY CYY Grand Cayman 2/2 0248 -1027 415 CBC CYM Cayman Brac 2/4 0245 1020 strong (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC APPEALS FOR AID TO STATE BROADCASTER The government of the Central African Republic has launched an appeal for modern equipment for state-owned Radio Centrafrique, which risks closing down due to the continued use of outdated and faulty equipment. Communications Minister Parfait Mbay said on Wednesday that the radio might soon cease broadcasts its if nothing is done urgently to replace its old equipment. He added that the radio urgently needed a console, whose cost is between 17 million and 20 million francs CFA (US $1 = 515 francs CFA). Mbay said the government was holding talks with its development partners for assistance for the "only medium linking the provinces to [the capital] Bangui". Radio Centrafrique Information Director Christian Ndotah told IRIN that from Tuesday, the radio had been working with one studio after the second one became inoperable. As a result, the radio's broadcasts had experienced repeated interruptions and poor sound quality. Established in 1958, Radio Centrafrique, together with Television Centrafricaine which was set up in 1974, as well as the Agence Centrafrique Presse, remain the only state-owned media still in operation. The Forum de l'Unite Weekly and the government Web site collapsed with the 15 March 2003 coup that brought Francois Bozize to power. Humanitarian organisations said that should the radio stop its broadcasts, many activities in the social, health, educational and humanitarian sectors would be adversely affected. "It would be difficult to send out messages to parents and school authorities if the radio stopped broadcasting," David Bulman, the representative of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), told IRIN on Thursday. Since late 2003, WFP has been distributing food in primary schools in the northwestern war-affected provinces of Ouham, Ouham Pende, Kemo and Nana Grebizi. "The radio is the only way to communicate with the provinces, otherwise we will have to go on the ground all the time," Bulman added. Moreover, the health sector would have to find another medium for informing the public on community and public health, immunisation and HIV/AIDS. Ndotah said that the radio was preparing programmes aimed at the residents of the southern province of Ombella Mpoko to get them to take their children for vaccination during the 23-28 February anti- polio immunisation drive. A case of polio was confirmed in that province in January. The radio is also expected to play a major role in the country's electoral process, due to start in February, with the establishment of an electoral commission and culminate in general elections in January 2005. Only Radio Centrafrique has countrywide broadcast coverage. Presently, there are three private radios in the CAR: UN and Fondation Hirondelle-supported Radio Ndeke Luka, Roman Catholic Radio Notre Dame and Protestant Church-owned Radio Evangile Nehemie. (Source: IRINnews.org) # posted by Andy @ 14:47 UT Feb 6 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** CHINA. COMMENT: DON'T SMILE, YOU'RE ON CCTV By Richard McGregor Financial Times; Feb 07, 2004 http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=040207001110&query=cctv&vsc_appId=quickSearch&offset=0&resultsToShow=10&vsc_subjectConcept=&vsc_companyConcept=&state=More&vsc_publicationGroups=TOPWFT&searchCat=-1 A recent visitor to China, marvelling at the astonishing pace of development, remarked that the country was speeding "like a bullet train" into the future. But at least one significant institution is still stuck in the steam age - the 7 pm flagship news bulletin on China Central Television, the national broadcaster. China has nothing like a free press, but its media do have a vibrancy unimaginable a few years ago. The internet, commercial pressures to make up for declining state subsidies and consumers who demand real information rather than propaganda have all conspired to produce a better, more competitive media. None of these developments, however, has enlivened the grim face of the CCTV news, where the nightly bulletin remains a sturdy redoubt of old-fashioned communist information delivery. Top leaders are always shown in strict order of seniority, posing stiffly in tightly framed shots; their citizen-subjects are hearty and happy; harvests are bountiful and problems are resolutely solved. The two newsreaders' faces are well known, but their personalities are not; they dare not raise an eyebrow, let alone express an opinion. On one night in the lead-up to the spring festival holiday, the first item was about a new campaign for Communist party members to "search for and speak the truth", and care for the "needs of the masses". Two items later, the bulletin reported on a meeting convened by Tang Jiaxuan, a former foreign minister, to mark the anniversary of an important speech on the "Taiwan issue" by Jiang Zemin, the former president. The report consisted of Mr Tang reading out aloud from the speech, nearly a decade old, while the camera panned clumsily around his captive audience - soldiers and officials, diligently underlining the most important lines. The setting for this, and most other government meetings, will be familiar to official visitors to China - over-stuffed armchairs draped with antimacassars, which seemed to be slowly devouring their captive occupants. In some respects, such government news broadcasts are akin to a radio that someone has left on in the background - low-level noise that can be ignored while people get on with the real business of life. Even for serious-minded China watchers, the broadcasts provide little red meat with which to analyse top-level politics. But the CCTV news does symbolise an important truth about top-level Chinese politics - its unyielding secrecy, rigid rituals and extreme resistance to opening itself and the ruling party to genuine reform and competition. Anyone who has worked in China gets used to hearing go-go business visitors guffawing about how they never meet any "real communists" in this doggedly communist country. In some respects, they are right, as the Chinese Communist party has, on one level, turned itself into a kind of chamber of commerce, doubtless the world's biggest. But while there may not be many communists around, there is lots of communism. You only have to turn on the evening news to see. The author is the FT's Shanghai correspondent (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** CUBA. Hi All. Anyone else having trouble with RHC e-mail address recently? I know I have but this will explain all. I note that this address does appear in latest PWBR but not WRTV. Regards (Ian Cattermole, NZ, Feb 6, Cumbre DX via DXLD) Dear Ian: It's been a pleasure to receive your news again after a few years without hearing from you. Radio Havana Cuba's staff send you a fraternal embrace. Our e-mail address changed some time ago. As you can see above, it's radiohc @ enet.cu We apologize for the trouble it caused. Since your monitoring report matches with our station log, we're posting out a QSL card along with other station stuff. Please, acknowledge receipt. Hoping to be in regular contact with you in future, we remain. Cordially, Lourdes López. Head of Correspondence Dept. (via Ian Cattermole, NZ, Feb 6, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** CUBA. LW beacons: 283 UZG CUB Zarago 2/2 0349 875 (fast and loud for a Cuban!) 283 UZG CUB Zarago 2/4 0200 - 0330 875 apparently off 380 UCY CUB Cayojabo 2/4 0236 1140 strong (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** DEUTSCHES REICH [non]. DANISH NEO-NAZI STATION MAY GET GRANT AFTER ALL Radio Oasen, the controversial neo-Nazi community broadcaster in Denmark, could receive a public grant-in-aid despite legislation passed in the Danish parliament that was intended to prevent it. Radio Oasen hopes to take advantage of a new regulation that will allow it to receive funding at local level rather than from central government. Such arrangements still have to be approved at national level by the Media Secretariaat, which says a decision will be made by 1 April. # posted by Andy @ 11:50 UT Feb 7 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** DJIBOUTI [and non]. Re: ``So I reckon SAWA might have a hard time reaching the listeners.`` Hi Tarek, The target map shows the northern point at Sinai peninsula southern tip, Kuwait City to Bahrain coast line on Persian Gulf, as well as Yemen, Eritrea, parts of Ethiopia and eastern part of Sudan. What's about Mr. President, still hostile to the BBG-IBB plans to erect a powerful Sam voice from Egyptian soil? Interesting for the DX community is the re-appearance of Arta Dorale Djibouti in 60 mb sssooooooooooooonnnn! 73 wolfgang df5sx (Wolfgang Büschel, DX LISTENING DIGEST) As reported here months ago, part of the deal is a 50 kW HF transmitter for Djibouti`s own use; presumably reactivating 4780. WB refers to a .gif he attached, source not clear, ``Planned MERN Transmission Sites`` showing four overlapping MW transmitters; each of them with roughly circular coverage, but with the transmitter at one edge, not in the center, and with sharp nulls to the opposite directions; frequencies not given, but we know: 990 Cyprus, null to slightly west of north 1431 Djibouti, main lobe up the Red Sea, [and incidentally most of Europe] with null to the SE. 1548 Kuwait, null to the SE ???? Cairo null to NNW, lobe to SSE covering Egypt, much of Sudan and parts of neighboring countries (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. LW Beacon: 450 PPA DOM Puerto Plata 2/2 0400 1020 (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** EASTER ISLAND. LW Beacon: 280 IPAe PAQ Easter Island 2/2 0404 -1030 (trailing dit back) (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** ECUADOR [and non]. If you get tired of waiting for DXPL audio to appear on its own website, a reminder that Alex records this and other DX programs off the air each week and availablizes them at http://www.piratearchive.com/dxprograms.htm Last week`s DXPL was off Australia, amazing quality if really received in Ontario (Glenn Hauser, OK, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** FRANCE. RADIO FRANCE NEGOTIATIONS WITH STRIKERS FAIL Yesterday's negotiations between the management of Radio France and the striking journalists broke up after just 15 minutes. Unions said that management was not able to produce proposals for a graduated pay settlement over the next few years, as they have demanded. The strike, which started on 27 January, is now the longest at Radio France for 10 years. Unions and management disagree about how well supported the strike is: management say that 43.28 % of the journalists were on strike on Thursday, while the trade unions claim 75 %. A mass meeting of the strikers is scheduled for 1300 UT today. # posted by Andy @ 11:41 UT Feb 6 (Media Network blog via DXLD) FAUTE D'INTERLOCUTEURS, RADIO FRANCE S'ENFONCE DANS LA GRÈVE par Jean-Pierre ALTIER 6 fevrier, 19h41 Lundi, pour le quatorzième jour consecutif, les auditeurs de France Info et de France Inter entendront le message devenu habituel les avertissant que certains programmes d'information sont perturbés. Engagée sur des révendications salariales, la grève des 610 journalistes de Radio France se prolonge et battra bientôt le record de 1994, ou elle avait duré 16 jours. . . http://infos.aol.fr/info/ADepeche?id=249452&cat_id=6 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** GUATEMALA. LW beacon [at Tikal?]: 385 TKL GTM 2/2 0308 1021 (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** HAWAII. MAUI RESIDENTS TO PETITION FCC OVER RADIO http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2004/02/02/daily75.html Residents of Maui have launched a petition drive to urge the Federal Communications Commission to lift a three-year-old freeze on construction permits so that Hawaii Public Radio can bring its second program channel to the Valley Isle. The freeze on construction of new FM stations is the only impediment to the project, including more than half the needed funding, a signed lease for a tower site, and the identification of an available, unused non-commercial frequency. "Everything necessary to bring full public radio service to the citizens of Maui County is in place save for the permission of the Federal Communications Commission to construct it," said Michael Titterton, general manager of Hawaii Public Radio. "The community that is supporting this is growing extremely restive." Hawaii Public Radio, an independent nonprofit with no connection to state or county governments, to public television, or to universities in the state, operates two stations on Oahu were four fifths of the state population lives. KHPR broadcasts news in the morning and classical music much of the rest of the time. KIPO broadcasts mostly news programs and jazz. The signal of KHPR is simulcast on KKUA Wailuku and KANO Hilo. What Maui members of HPR want is a second station to simulcast KIPO. Maui resident Ron Wilson, who led an earlier effort to put KANO on the air three years ago, is acting chairman of Maui Friends of Public Radio, the group that will spearhead the drive to press the FCC for permission to proceed. © 2004 American City Business Journals Inc. (via Radiointel.com via DXLD) ** IRELAND. For those that are at all interested in "Free Radio" its far from it, Radio Ozone International has as you know, been transmitting on the short wave bands for the last 35 years under various names, a little known operation bar from a few, much looked forward to on a Sunday morning for those can get out of bed, a one man operation with a lot of help from a few long standing friends, of which I happen to be one. The station is to be found within the range of 6.200-6.335 or on 7.445-7.490, even 5.770-5.835 and 5.965 has been used, with a one time test on 9.335, crystals supplied and painstakingly reground by myself. In the late 70's this little station, transmitting from the Republic of Ireland (important point there) came on air every Sunday morning on 6.280 starting at 08.00-13.00, letters (remember those) came to the maildrop at a rate of 35 plus each transmission, then into the 80's the station continued with its blend of presenters - features and relays, letters dropped off once the Berlin Wall came down, as most of the mail came from East Germany, the internet came into its own soon after with very little need to write, so into the 90's by which time letter stopped altogether as did e-mails' apart from the German free radio followers, the year 2000 soon came and the station was told WE ARE STILL WITH YOU! Be it in small numbers, the biggest downfall to the station was without any doubt the internet; loggers gave each station a 45 second tune in if it was lucky, then tuned to the next, a whole sheet of logs was sent by electronic mail to an address in Sweden and each logger had his weekend fix of free radio, not a word of thanks was sent electronically on by snail mail to the station. The reason I am telling you all this leads up to the fact that I write on behalf of Radio Ozone International as to his future intentions. For those that do tune in, remember the station has brought you "The World of Radio", The Irish Free Radio News", Irish station features, heavy Metal plus that friendly voice of Prince Terry with his Irish accent, Gary Steven's found you a German Service presenter Mr. Bobby Sparks recruited from his contacts. WELL, unfortunately a large chunk of this format is to STOP or be cut back! To reiterate, Mr. Ozone is going into SEMI RETIREMENT once again this could mean NO UP TO DATE FREE RADIO NEWS, NO WORLD OF RADIO on a weekly basis. If on at all, Ozone is going monthly and more than likely due to lack of response not on air at all. WHO CARES, time to learn some Dutch-Flemish as well as German I think. "The lifeblood of Any Station" is your feedback, letters, E-mails. If you want Irish, "Free Radio News", "The world of Radio" plus other features from Ozone let the station know you're interested in it remaining on air. If you would like some changes, tell the operator this as well we are to be guided by YOU; at the same time, if you think such stations are well past their sell-by date, please tell us, then we will wake up and say GOOD BYE. Contact details are: Radio Ozone International, c/o 85 Hillside Road West, Bungay NR35 1RH England. e-mail ozone3radio @ hotmail.co.uk (GARY STEVENS, Feb World DX Club Contact via DXLD) ** JAMAICA. LW beacon logs: 248 MBJ JAM Montego Bay 2/2 0255 -1030 New!! 360 KIN JAM Kingston 2/2 0247 1022 (unusually strong) (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** JAPAN [non]. QSL: Radio Japan for report of 22 Nov 2003, 1940-2000, 15725 kHz via WRMI Miami, F/D card confirming 22 Nov 2003, 1740-1800, 15355 kHz via Gabon, V/S Y. Takahashi for a mailed RR (Joe Miller, Troy MI, MARE Feb 7 via DXLD) That would have been when WRMI was carrying IBC Radio, on a Saturday, which in turn put on various stations including NHK. Evidently NHK couldn`t believe this and instead verified the next closest time and frequency, which were not reported!! (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. EMR at 2100 UTC on 9290 khz TODAY Sat, 7 Feb (Tom Taylor, EMR @ BLUEYONDER.CO.UK DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LIBERIA. Yesterday I received a jpg e-mail QSL from Voice of Liberty, Monrovia, Liberia 11514.4 kHz. It was sent by Morgan Freemen at WJIE (morgan @ wjie.org). The transmitter was formerly used by High Adventure in "Free Lebanon" and I actually have QSL-cards also from that station (both transmitter sites) from 1981 and 1990. While talking with Morgan, I got impression that he wants to handle the reception reports of this Liberian station and wishes the staff in Liberia not to be bothered with reports. I haven't heard them for last few days on/around 11515, so maybe there are again transmitter problems. 73 (Jari Savolainen, Kuusankoski, Finland, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Here is your QSL card. It is the very first one sent from the station. I will follow it up with a mailed copy (Morgan Freeman, WJIE, via Savolainen, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. SPECIAL FLEVO DRM TRANSMISSION TOWARDS DUBAI By special request, Nozema and Radio Netherlands will perform a DRM transmission towards the HFCC conference in Dubai on Monday 9 February 2004 at 0900-1300 UTC on 21790 kHz. The DRM transmission on 9850 kHz from Flevo will be suspended on this day. Reception reports are very much appreciated. # posted by Andy @ 17:02 UT Feb 6 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** NETHERLANDS. COVENANT ON LOPIK SIGNED Dutch transmission provider Nozema, together with the municipalities of IJsselstein, Lopik and Montfoort, the province of Utrecht and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, have signed the convenant on future use of the Lopik transmission site that formalises the decisions outlined in last month's declaration of intent. As previously reported, the total transmission capacity on mediumwave is reduced from 240 kW to 100 kW for regular transmissions, plus 40 kW for standby transmissions of Radio 747 when Flevo is is off the air. The northerly transmission mast at Lopik will be demolished. The higher frequencies of 1395 and 1008 kHz will be no longer transmitted from Lopik, and the costs will be borne by the municipality of IJsselstein and by Nozema. The signing of the covenant appears to have defeated an attempt by commercial broadcaster Quality Radio bv to block the agreement. Quality Radio was awarded a licence for 1395 kHz via Lopik in last summer's frequency distribution, but has been unable to use the site. Instead, it is using a temporary facility at Trintelhaven which itself is subject to severe power restrictions, and currently uses around 20 kW for the transmissions of Radio 10 Gold. Under the international plan that took effect in 1978, the Netherlands is entitled to broadcast with up to 500 kW (daytime) on 1395 kHz. # posted by Andy @ 15:07 UT Feb 6 (Media Network blog via DXLD) I think you'll find that there was a power restriction at night, partly as a result of an agreement with Radio Tirana. (Jonathan | 02.06.04 - 5:15 pm |, ibid.) The power on 675 AM has been up again since the engineering work on Monday and Tuesday so I'll make the most of it! Being this far away it does make a difference on a conventional receiver. For those who didn't hear it, Arrow decided to start re-branding midweek --- oddly they did it at 1300 UT on Thursday after gradually making changes on their website through the week. It has to be the oddest and lowest key rebranding I've heard. Since then they've been increasing use of the new idents but sometimes still using the old ones and strangely reverted back to the old travel jingle after playing it a couple of times on Thursday's drive. (Chris | 02.06.04 - 10:19 pm |, ibid.) OK, I've added daytime in parentheses. My copy of the plan didn't accompany when I left Denmark, so I can't check. Actually there's so much in there that has never materialised, the ITU ought to enter it for the Booker Prize in the fiction category (Andy 02.06.04 - 5:41 pm |, ibid.) In fact the original allocation for the Netherlands on 1395 kHz was 550 kW 24 hrs. When the frequency was finally activated, an agreement with Tirana reduced power to zero from 20-23 hrs local. No power restrictions for the rest of the day. But as there is no proper site available this is all just theory. The only solution I can think of is to add 1395 to the flevo MW site (Hans | 02.06.04 - 6:35 pm |, ibid.) Hmm. I wonder how they came up with 550 kW. I don't think I've ever seen a 550 kW mediumwave transmitter advertised. Seriously, it does look as if that was a bureaucratic decision rather than a technical one. But the plan does have some very odd things in it (Andy | 02.06.04 - 9:52 pm |, ibid.) ** NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR [and non]. 10051 USB, Gander Radio, Gander, Newfoundland, 1/31/04, 2157-2204, VOLMET weather conditions for various cities in Canada, station ID, closing "Gander out", no sign of New York at TOH - are they still on the air? fair to good signal (Joe Miller, Troy MI, MARE via DXLD) ** NIGERIA. On 01-05-04: 4770.0: (R. Kaduna presumed): African choral chant music and instrumental, 0432, followed by man speaking English with mellifluous-sounding and melodious African accent (several words distinguished, notably "peace" and "Africa"); followed by two different men with higher and lower pitched voices, presumably in English, from 0435 to 0445. Music resumed at 0447, with African sounding instruments and harmonies. ILGRadio database identifies this as R. Kaduna, as does the http://www.radioascolta.org comprehensive "DX Handbook"; however Guy Atkins reports hearing R. Nigeria ID on this frequency at 1705 during reception on 12 Jan. in DXLD 4-010. My rx same as his (R-75) but my antenna less than half the length of his Beverage; so noise level here in San José undoubtedly higher, and reception not as clear (Steve Waldee - San José, CA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PARAGUAY. New ZP45, La Voz de la Libertad, 1190 kHz, in the town of Hernandarias, located at Supercarretera Itaipú Km 26,5 was logged in Finland by Jim Solatie on January 31 0242 beneath LR9 Radio América. Per CIRD, the Centro de Información y Recursos para el Desarrollo, their phone number is 0631-20443 and the manager’s name is given as Cabrera. (No Christian name indicated). On Solatie’s recording the name of the station and the program were recognizable, but the actual QTH (and country) was confirmed only several days later by Samuel Cássio Martins, in Brazil, who was hearing the station with a good signal from his listening post in São Carlos, São Paulo state. No information on the station was retrievable on Google without the indication of the QTH and/or the call sign. Searching for ``La Voz de la Libertad + Paraguay`` was not enough. The CIRD media list includes 148 radio stations, some of which appear to be new or changed when comparing to the WRTH 2004 edition. Radio Oriental, Caaguazú, appears to be new on 1570, and Pilar AM seems to be a new slogan for the listed station on 700 kHz. For further info see http://www.cird.org.py/v2/medios.php?s_keyword=radio&mediosPage=1 (Henrik Klemetz, Sweden, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. 5486.76, La Reina De La Selva, 1120-1134 Feb 6. Between 1120 and 1128, noted a man in comments of announcements, TC's and possibly ads. At 1130 music is presented. The signal was good at 1120 but started to fade badly by 1130 and ended up threshold by 1136 (Chuck Bolland, Clewiston, Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** PERU. Hola Glenn, Saludos desde Catia La Mar, Venezuela. El 04/02 a la 0112 UT, en 5019.91 kHz, captado un rezo del Ave María en español. Presumo que es Radio Horizonte. SINPO 4/3. Escuchada con muy buena señal, el 04/02, a la 0104 UT, en los 6535.76 kHz, Radio La Poderosa. SINPO 3/3. Locutor con música rumbera y dedicatoria a todas las "rositas". ID's como: "La Poderosa te saluda" y "su radio, la nuevecita, La Poderosa". (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SAUDI ARABIA [and non]. SAWT AL-ISLAH Re Bernd's comments: I wouldn't put aside the matter of satellite jamming too quickly. As is well-known, satellite uplinks can be sabotaged by beaming a signal on the same frequency from elsewhere to the satellite. Considering that the shortwave transmissions of Sawt Al-Islah were soon heavily jammed, such an action appears to be well possible, and if the description of occurences at Usingen is true it appears to be very likely that the satellite transmissions were indeed jammed. Of course as collateral damage also any other programs by accident sharing the bouquet with Sawt Al-Islah were blocked, too. Concerning the origin of the shortwave transmissions: First frequency used in late 2002 was 7590, in a range already used by Sitkunai for special customers. Probably this led to some speculations that the transmissions would emanate from Lithuania. This is not the only such case of quick conclusions. Voice of Democratic Eritrea is also still attributed to Norway although the transmissions always stayed at Jülich. Again speaking about Sawt Al-Islah, it appears that their shortwave transmissions ceased by the end of October 2003, or were they ever heard on the registered B03 frequencies? It also appears to be an interesting question why no replacement arrangements were made, provided that Sawt Al-Islah is really off shortwave and not on air from elsewhere, just undiscovered so far. Anyway it was already known in autumn of last year that the Norwegian shortwave transmitters will be no longer available for airtime rental after Dec 31 2003. And yes, Sawt Al-Islah suffered from frequent and long losses of audio. In general, the technical quality was quite poor and production rather unprofessional, as this recording from December 2002 still at only 16 kbit/s demonstrates: http://www.radioeins.de/_/meta//sendungen/apparat/021214_a5.ram (Kai Ludwig, Germany, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) This is a small misunderstanding, my words were perhaps not exact enough: there certainly have been documented cases of satellite jamming in broadcasting history (and even more, cases of channel "highjacking"), and technically such a jamming is naturally possible. I cannot comment on the Usingen case because I do not know how correct the details are. My comment on satellite jamming was a general one; I was writing that "sometimes" what is happening on the screen seems to be misinterpreted as "jamming" while in reality this may be a "distortion" due to bad quality of a digital signal. When the article says e.g. "Since late December, the broadcast has been jammed only for brief intervals -- and flashes back on viewers' screens as soon as the jamming ends." - this would be an example which would remind much of such a quality problem. This can have its reason either in the uplink or in the reception of the digital signal. But I haven't seen it with my own eyes, so I am just expressing some thoughts :) The present uplink of Radio Sawt Al-Islah to the Telstar 12 is apparently done from the US (it's part of a package from Verestar in Fairfax, VA), and according to the Telstar 12 transponder plan, the current transponder only allows uplinks from the Americas. Thus, this transponder would be inaccessible now for jamming attempts originating in the Middle East. 73s, (Bernd Trutenau, Lithuania, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) "I assume the author, David Crawford, dateline London, is not the same David E. Crawford, DXer in Florida? (gh, DXLD)" I asked Nick Grace the same question, and Nick says it definitely *isn't* the same David Crawford! Maybe before long we'll all have digits appended to our names to avoid misidentification :-) (Andy Sennitt, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SIERRA LEONE. DX TARGET: RADIO UNAMSIL THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SIERRA LEONE By Richard A. D'Angelo Sierra Leone is a Western African country that had been locked in civil war conflict for over a decade. The United Nations ("UN") Security Council established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone ("UNAMSIL") to cooperate with the Government and the other parties in implementing the Lomé Peace Agreement and to assist in the implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration plan. On 22 October 1999, the UN Security Council ("Council") authorized the establishment of UNAMSIL. Subsequently, the Council has revised UNAMSIL's mandate and expanded its size on 7 February 2000, on 19 May 2000, and on 30 March 2001. Radio UNAMSIL is the voice of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. This DX Target will focus on Sierra Leone and the radio station with a mission of providing radio programming aimed at maintaining calm and cultivating trust among groups and individuals in this war torn African country. The Country Sierra Leone is a developing country in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia that is emerging from a ten-year civil war. English is the official language, but Krio, an English-based dialect, is widely used. The climate is tropical, hot and humid during the summer rainy season, which runs from May to December. The winter (December to April) is the dry season. Rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa. Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. It does have substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources. However, the economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development, following a more than a decade long civil war. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. There are plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during the conflict. The major source of hard currency consists of the mining of diamonds. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continuation of substantial aid from abroad. Background Beginning in March 1991, a civil war in Sierra Leone between the government and the Revolutionary United Front ("RUF") resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (well over one-third of the population) many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. After several setbacks, the end to the eleven-year conflict in Sierra Leone appears to be near. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces combatants has been completed. Reestablishment of government authority throughout the country is slowly proceeding and national elections took place in May 2002. The civil war commenced when fighters of the RUF launched a war from the east of the country near the border with Liberia to overthrow the government. Sierra Leone's army tried at first to defend the government however, the following year the army itself overthrew the government. Despite the change of power, the RUF continued its attacks. In February 1995, the United Nations appointed a Special Envoy, Mr. Berhanu Dinka (Ethiopia) to negotiate a settlement to the conflict and return the country to civilian rule. Parliamentary and presidential elections were held in February 1996, and the army relinquished power to the winner, Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. The RUF, however, did not participate in the elections and would not recognize the results, therefore, the conflict continued. Over the ensuing years numerous peace agreements were signed and subsequently derailed for various reasons continuing a pattern of disruption that kept the country in civil war. In June 1998, the Security Council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone ("UNOMSIL") for an initial period of six months. The mission monitored and advised efforts to disarm combatants and restructure the nation's security forces. Unarmed UNOMSIL teams, under the protection of the Military Observer Group of the Economic Community of Western African States, documented reports of on-going atrocities and human rights abuses committed against civilians. In early 1999, the Government and the RUF rebels signed an agreement in Lomé to end hostilities and form a government of national unity. The parties to the conflict also requested an expanded role for UNOMSIL. On 20 August 1999, the UN Security Council authorized an increase in the number of military observers to 210. On 22 October 1999, the Security Council authorized the establishment of UNAMSIL, a new and much larger mission with a maximum of 6,000 military personnel, including 260 military observers, to assist the Government and the parties in carrying out provisions of the Lomé peace agreement. At the same time, the Council decided to terminate UNOMSIL. On 7 February 2000, the Security Council revised the mandate of UNAMSIL to include additional tasks. It decided to expand the military component to a maximum of 11,100 military personnel. The Council also authorized increases in the civil affairs, civilian police, administrative and technical components of UNAMSIL. The Security Council again increased the authorized strength of UNAMSIL, to 13,000 military personnel. On 30 March 2001, a further increase was authorized to 17,500 military personnel. The Council approved a revised concept of operations. The Station Radio UNAMSIL is the voice of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. It is a Unit of the Public Information Section of the UN. The station is known as the Voice of Peace and broadcasts from Freetown, the country's capital city, on 103 FM and on shortwave using a nominal frequency 6,140 kHz although most reports have had them somewhat lower than that. Radio UNAMSIL utilizes a 1,000-watt Harris made transmitter, which has given it a sporadic worldwide reach. Its goal is to promote awareness, understanding, and tolerance among the peoples of Sierra Leone and help the people understand the implementation of the Lomé Peace Agreement. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in establishing the station said "Radio UNAMSIL would help the mission face the challenge of disseminating information on the peace process in a country whose infrastructure has been damaged by years of warfare." Consequently, the Secretary-General expected the station to play a significant role in the mission's efforts to inform the people of Sierra Leone, independent of any party or affiliation. The broadcasting equipment arrived in Freetown on 18 May 2000. Four days later, the station commenced test transmissions on FM for 12 hours a day. Shortwave transmissions began later that year enabling the station to reach about 85% of the more than four million inhabitants in this difficult terrain country. Radio UNAMSIL carries out its activities with a workforce of approximately 12 staff members, from its location at the Mammy Yoko Hotel in the West End of Freetown along Aberdeen Beach. The two production studios are also located at the Mammy Yoko Hotel. Radio UNAMSIL is now running 24 hours a day with programs aimed at maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and cultivating trust in the country. The station broadcasts 24 hours daily, airing programming featuring peace promotion, music, local news, and features relating to United Nations activities in Sierra Leone. Radio UNAMSIL, which is fully funded by the United Nations, operates with a stated objective to promote the peace process, entertainment and education, and to encourage the Revolutionary United Front rebel forces to disarm and bring the nation's decade long war to an end. The station broadcasts a Current Affairs Krio Magazine Program from 2200 hours UT. On Thursdays through Sundays from 2300 to 0600 UT is Contingent's Night where each of the UN military contingents are given a chance to run its own program on these nights. These broadcasts feature music and stories. Other evenings feature a locally produced program called NightLine. Most of Radio UNAMSIL's programming is produced in a live format, with the exception of the station's official statements. The station airs phone-in public participation programs and pre-recorded mini-documentaries on an infrequent basis. All broadcasts are aired in English with the exception of greetings in the different languages of countries that have contributed soldiers to the Peacekeeping Forces. About 70% of the programming features music and entertainment. Another 15% feature press releases from the UN headquarters in New York and 15% is devoted to reporting on UN activities on the ground. About a quarter of Radio UNAMSIL's programming is externally produced. Sheila Patricka Dallas is the General Manager of Radio UNAMSIL, a station committed to offering objective information in an environment often charged with rumors and politically driven news from all sides. The airwaves have become a critical tool for supporting the UN peacekeeping mission. Her motto is, "Misinformation is more deadly than no information at all." Radio UNAMSIL's staff is comprised primarily of international broadcast professionals and a few Sierra Leone broadcast journalists who are receiving training in equipment and performance, news writing, reporting, production, editing, and broadcast studio techniques. According to Ms. Dallas, "Radio is cheap to produce and to receive. There is a reason that radio is the media of the masses in the poorest parts of the world. Illiteracy is rampant, therefore newspapers are ineffectual. Unlike in the United States and other wealthier countries where television is the primary means of communications, the broadcast technology here is expensive and the price of sets is out of the reach of most people. There is some TV here in Freetown, but it doesn't reach the whole country. Radio can. In most places, electricity is erratic or even nonexistent. Radios can be powered by batteries or even hand-crank." Thus, the value of radio as a superior communications tool has been validated once again in another strife filled part of the world. Radio UNAMSIL is modeling its efforts at building a national audience on UN efforts elsewhere, like the UN station, Radio Minurca, operated by the Central African Republic ("CAR") mission. The CAR equipment was donated to the United Nations by the Danish government for use in the organization's peacekeeping operations. With the completion of the CAR mission, the radio equipment was available for redeployment for use in Sierra Leone. Radio UNAMSIL develops and produces energetic programs directed at all ethnic groups, including women and children's shows. The station features special programming on health, current affairs, civic education, human rights, arts, theatre, etc. Arts programs, current affairs, news and sports are prominent in the broadcast line-up. Music is driving the station's message to the youth of the country. Music continues to promote peace and harmony among the youth in Sierra Leone. All of these programs aim at maintaining calm and cultivating trust among groups and individuals. Similar to commercial radio stations throughout the world, Radio UNAMSIL uses buttons, bumper stickers, posters and tee shirts to promote the station. I was fortunate to receive one of the station's new logo tee shirts with my QSL response letter from Ms. Dallas. The station appears that it will be a good verifier of listener reception reports, however, hearing them could be a serious hurdle these days. I have not seen any recent logs for this station. A postal report may take some time but will be answered with a full data letter from Sheila Dallas, Station Manager and Executive Producer of Radio UNAMSIL. Written reception reports with return postage can be sent to: Radio UNAMSIL, Mammy Yoko, P. O. Box 5, Freetown, Sierra Leone As always, remember to send in those exotic Radio UNAMSIL logs to Edwin Southwell for the Shortwave Logbook. Of course, those interesting and rare QSL verifications should be sent to Mark Hattam for inclusion in the QSL Report column. Good luck with this DX Target (World DX Club Contact via Alan Roe, DXLD) ** SINGAPORE. ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH by Mak Mun San [illustrated:] http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,4386,233645,00.html ON SUNDAY, about 200 Malaysians, Indonesians and Thais travelled to Singapore for a special birthday bash. Their pilgrimage here was for one reason: to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their beloved radio station, Radio Singapore International (RSI). To many Singaporeans, the name RSI may not ring a bell. But to its legion of overseas listeners, the shortwave radio station has become an indispensable part of their lives. So much so that 'these listeners are willing to pay from their own pockets to come to Singapore', says an impressed Moses Lim, one of the guest performers at the event. 'It just goes to show how successful the station is,' he adds. Ms Chin Kwee Chin, the Chinese service's programme manager, is, likewise, 'touched by the overwhelming response'. 'Our listeners have developed a close bond with us in the past 10 years. Some even brought their whole family along.' At the bash held at MediaCorp's TV theatre and organised by the RSI's Chinese division, the listeners were treated to three hours of music and entertainment provided by stars such as S.K. Poon and Huang Wenyong, and, of course, the RSI team. They also got to visit the RSI studios after the show. On Monday, they were taken to the Esplanade and the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall on a free half-day tour. A SINGAPOREAN'S PERSPECTIVE RSI, which is run by MediaCorp Radio, broadcasts on shortwave in four languages. The English and Chinese services broadcast from 7 to 10 pm, Singapore time, on separate frequencies. The Malay service goes on air from 5 to 8 pm, followed by the Bahasa Indonesian service from 8 to 10 pm. Shortwave radio signals can travel longer distances than AM and FM stations, but the quality of sound will vary, depending on how strong the signal is at the listener's location. RSI's shortwave signals cannot be picked up clearly here, but Singaporeans can tune in to its programmes through FM relays (see other story). At the launch of RSI in 1994, the then Minister for Information and the Arts George Yeo said that the station would allow regional audiences to get an insight into the way Singaporeans viewed the world. They would not see Singaporeans only when big events took place, but also 'in the way we live our everyday lives, in the way we laugh at ourselves, in the way we interact with each other, common day events'. RSI offers a range of programmes in news and current affairs, lifestyle and music, put together by 26 full-time producer-presenters. Life! understands that many listeners have written in to the station asking for an extension of the broadcast hours, which they feel are too short. 'While we look forward to the growth of our services, it is the quality of our programmes that really matters,' says Ms Zainab Rahim, senior manager of the Malay and Indonesian services. The Malay service bagged a finalist award for international radio advertising and programming at the New York Radio Festival in 2001. The Chinese service also did the station proud by winning finalist awards for best international Chinese programme at Taiwan's Golden Bell Awards in 2001 and 2002. 'Being a small country, it is important for us to have a shortwave radio station to project the Singapore point of view,' says executive adviser Chandra Mohan. 'Our programmes provide an understanding of the nature of Singapore society and give a texture of life here.' Targeted at South-east Asian listeners living within 1,600 km of Singapore, RSI can be heard in Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand. But with spillover signals and the introduction of Internet broadcasting, the station has reached Japan, China, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United States and Scandinavian countries. THE CHINA FACTOR ALTHOUGH RSI is unable to provide listenership figures, it appears to be growing in popularity, judging by the number of letters, e-mail and faxes it attracts. When it was launched in 1994, it received about 4,500 letters from listeners. Last year, the number was close to 18,000, of which almost 12,000 were sent to the Chinese service. The service's executive producer-presenter, Mr Lee Yong Tick, says that they have received 'a lot of mail from China, even though it is not within our target area'. 'Despite the poor reception, these Chinese listeners still try all sorts of means to tune in to us, like buying better radio sets or putting up their own antennas,' he adds. According to Ms Sakuntala Gupta, the programme manager of the English service, one of the early challenges was getting interviews. 'We were not very well known then, so it was hard to find interviewees. Now, people know about us and that makes our job a lot easier. We've also set up contact bases in Malaysia and Indonesia.' To keep themselves at the forefront of developments, RSI producers travel regularly to the region to bring back special reports. Last year, they made 20 trips, which were also a good opportunity to meet listeners. Miss Oh Kwee Ngor, the assistant programme manager of the Chinese service, recalls an incident when she visited Myanmar in 1997. 'I was at a listener's home when there was a blackout. The listener took out some batteries, lit a candle, then continued tuning in to our broadcast. It was a very touching moment.' Loyal fans galore THE listeners of Radio Singapore International's (RSI) Chinese service are a passionate lot. They send birthday cakes, mooncakes, pineapples, boiled dumplings and even salted fish to the team of producers whom they regard as friends. When these producers go on overseas assignments, their fans can be counted upon to help out, from arranging interviews to chauffeuring them around. Sometimes, they will prepare banners and flags to welcome their Singapore guests. For example, executive producer-presenter Lee Yong Tick was given a VIP reception at the hotel when he visited Kuala Lumpur last year. A group of about 25 faithful supporters in Medan meet every year to celebrate the station's birthday on Feb 1. Eighteen made the trip here for the 10th anniversary party. 'Chinese language used to be banned in Indonesia, so RSI was an invaluable source of information for us. My Mandarin has improved after listening to the station for six years,' says 63-year-old businessman Sunamitro, who is an Indonesian Chinese. After former president Suharto was ousted in 1998, the country allowed Chinese-language radio broadcasts. Although the Chinese service had organised two major gatherings in Malaysia in 2000 and 2002, the event on Sunday was a first for some listeners. 'I'm very excited to finally meet them in person. I like RSI because its programmes carry a regional perspective and deal with Asean issues which are close to my heart,' says Mr Goh Yong Kuang, 47, who runs a photocopy shop in Thailand's Bentong town. For 33-year-old Shi Song Yuan, listening to RSI is a good way to spend quality time with his parents and elder brother. The family, originally from Jakarta, is now settled here. 'It happens that we all enjoy the oldies, which the station still plays. Tuning in to RSI has become a habit for us,' says Mr Shi, an engineer, of the shared moments in their HDB flat (Straits Times Interactive via Gerald T. Pollard, NC, Kim Elliott, DC, DXLD) RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL http://www.rsi.com.sg/ The official site of the shortwave service of Singapore, the page also provides a very good source of news for southeast Asia (via Gilles Letourneau, Montreal, Quebec, Radio HF Internet Newsletter, Feb, via DXLD) ** SOUTH AMERICA. PIRATAS SUDAMERICANAS --- RADIO COCHIGUAZ estará activa enarbolando la bandera pirata en 11430U kHz y en 6950L kHz - en esta oportunidad - retransmitiendo a KWRN Radio Nordland, una emisora pirata del Mar Báltico y a Radio Ruleta Rusa, de Estonia. Horas UT Sab 7 febrero 2004 - 11430U kHz 2200-2230 Radio Ruleta Rusa Dom 8 febrero 2004 - 6950L kHz 0200-0300 KWRN Radio Nordland 0300-0330 Radio Ruleta Rusa Enviar sus reportes a: (adjuntar franqueo de retorno) SRS-Germany; KWRN Radio Nordland; P.O. Box 101145; 99801 Eisenach; GERMANY. NATALIE; Linnamae 22-58; 13911 Tallin; ESTONIA. Radio Cochiguaz; Box 159; Santiago 14; CHILE. FFFR, ;-) Cachito, Radio Cochiguaz op. http://www.geocities.com/rcochiguaz (via hard-core-dx via DXLD) ** SPAIN. Full frequency list of REE during the Españoles en la Mar program which may be QSLed: see CANARY ISLANDS non ** TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. LW Beacon: 382 POS TRD Port of Spain 2/4 0210 -1076 1055 strong (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** TURKS & CAICOS. LW beacon: 387 PV TCA Providenciales 0310 -1050 (not hrd in long time) (Dave Tomasko, Downers Grove IL, MARE Tipsheet Feb 7 via DXLD) ** UKRAINE. From 5.02.03: 5905 --- (Nikolaev, RUI on Sowing. America, 0000-0500) - replacement on 5910 --- in connection with handicaps from VOIRI (Hindi) 0030-0130; CRI (Rus). 0100-0200; DW (Rus). 0200-0400. (Alexander Egorov, Kiev, Ukraine, "open_dx" via Rus-DX Feb 6 via DXLD) RUI QSY --- Glenn, Checked RUI 0050-0105 UT Feb 7 on 5910 kHz. Got S9 +30 dB average reading during this time. Before 0100 was getting slight QRM from R. Prague (positive ID) on 5915. At 0100 R. Prague apparently left 5915 as I no longer heard them. However, 5910 around 0102 I heard a CW V (di di dit dah) and what sounded like RTTY. The RTTY lasted less than 1 minute. I will attempt to check again, for a longer period, February 8, 2004. 73, (Kraig Krist, VA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U K. BBC Radio 4 have been trailing the fact that Mark Byford, former Butcher of Bush House and current acting DG, will be the guest on the special phone-in edition of Feedback at 1330 UT on 6 February, presumably repeated at 2002 UT on Sunday 8 February (PAUL DAVID, Wembley Park, United Kingdom, Feb 5, swprograms via DXLD) Viz.: ** U K. BYFORD STRIKES CAUTIOUS NOTE John Plunkett Friday February 6, 2004 The Guardian A new era of journalistic caution is being ushered in at the BBC after the acting director general, Mark Byford, said the corporation should not be in the business of competing with newspapers to break exclusive stories. Mr Byford, speaking today on a special edition of Radio 4's Feedback, said the job of the BBC was "first and foremost to report news in a reliable, accurate and impartial manner". "The notion of exclusive here, exclusive there, exclusive everywhere is not appropriate for the BBC in the sense it is giving the flavour of competing with newspapers or whatever in bringing original exclusives," he said. His comments will be interpreted as a sign that the era of investigative journalism that led to the Andrew Gilligan blunder on the Today programme is over. Gilligan's story was seen as part of the former editor Rod Liddle's drive to change the programme and make it more exciting through scoops, but after the Kelly affair erupted Liddle's initiative has come under fire with critics - many of them not from a journalistic background - saying the BBC shouldn't be in the business of "creating" news. However, Mr Byford added that he wasn't being proscriptive because it was too restrictive to demand that the BBC "must only report whatever everyone else is reporting". "The BBC in my view is the greatest broadcast journalism organisation in the world. It is packed with talent, with correspondents and editors and producers who have the confidence and ability to also bring stories to the audience. "The BBC should have a role of bringing original journalism to the audiences - that's who it serves - as well as being able to report events, issues, facts faithfully and reliably. It is a blend of the two." "But I agree the sense of exclusive here, there and everywhere gives a sense of over-competitiveness, over self confidence that that's its job, when what people really come to the BBC for is trust and reliability." Mr Byford also said the BBC had been guilty of not apologising quickly and clearly enough for mistakes it had made in the past. "[The BBC] is completely driven by accuracy, fairness and impartiality. It is also an institution that at times when it has got things wrong has not said it quickly enough or straight enough. This is an organisation I guarantee you in 2004 will make mistakes. What it needs to do when it makes them is say sorry." My Byford also addressed BBC staff today, 24 hours after thousands of employees up and down the country took to the streets in protest at Greg Dyke's resignation and the governors' reaction to the Hutton report. Many of the callers during the 30-minute phone-in were critical of the unreserved apology offered by acting chairman Lord Ryder. But Mr Byford insisted the BBC was as "courageous today as it was three months and three years ago". MediaGuardian.co.uk (c) Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. The Media Report: The Art of Fake Sincerity 5 February 2004 This week on the Media Report in this Federal Election year, we examine the marketing of politicians in the media. And we continue our focus on the fallout for the BBC from the Hutton Inquiry in the UK. Program Transcript [page down to last portion for BBC story] http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/mediarpt/stories/s1036908.htm (via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U K. DYKE SET TO TELL ALL TO MURDOCH Ousted BBC Director-General Greg Dyke looks set to sign a lucrative book deal, rumoured to be worth £1m, with the Harper Collins publishing house. Harper Collins is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Murdoch and Dyke have frequently been at loggerheads, but both have enough business experience to recognise when it's expedient to put personal rivalries aside. Dyke decided this week not to take legal action over the Hutton Report, but instead he will exact his revenge financially by writing an inside account of his four years at the BBC. In the meantime, the Guardian reports that Mr Dyke has been inundated with offers of after-dinner speaking engagements, which he is happy to accept at £25,000 a time. # posted by Andy @ 11:24 UT Feb 6 (Media Network blog via DXLD) ** U K. DYKE SIGNS BOOK DEAL WITH MURDOCH Lisa O'Carroll, Owen Gibson and Claire Cozens Friday February 6, 2004 The Guardian Deposed BBC director general Greg Dyke has sought assurances that any criticism of Rupert Murdoch will not be censored after signing a -L-500,000 book deal with the media mogul's HarperCollins publishing firm. The company today told readers to "expect fireworks" after signing a six-figure deal to publish Mr Dyke's account of the the row with the government that last week cost him his job. The Murdoch-owned publishing giant is to pay Mr Dyke up to -L-500,000 for what is certain to be an explosive account of the events that led to his emotional departure in the wake of the Hutton report. "In the words of one well-placed source, 'expect fireworks'," HarperCollins said today as it revealed the book would be published in September. . . http://media.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4853361-105236,00.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U K. MARTIN BELL APPLIES TO BE BBC GOVERNOR Claire Cozens Friday February 6, 2004 The Guardian Martin Bell, the former BBC war correspondent who criticised acting chairman Lord Ryder for his unreserved apology to the government, has applied to be a governor. Bell revealed today he had put himself forward to replace Baroness Hogg, who is due to step down this month after four years as a BBC governor. . . http://media.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4853459-105236,00.html (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. WSHB GOING QRT --- I received a letter today from the Station Manager at WSHB. Here are a couple excerpts: ``I am very sad to have to write to you today, to let you know that we will cease our shortwave broadcasts on February 29, 2004. We are hoping that someone will come forward and purchase the station so that we may continue our broadcasts, but so far we have not found anyone. Should we be successful in finding a buyer, I will let you know as soon as I can.`` WSHB RIP (Don Putnick, rec.radio.shortwave February 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) It seems there was not as much demand for Christian ``Science`` ``teaching`` as they had imagined. Nothing about this on the website which still shows B-03 frequencies effective until March 27. Take a look at their photo gallery: http://www.tfccs.com/GV/shortwave/photo.jhtml I was thinking WSHB was mentioned for sale on the George Jacobs website http://www.gjainc.com/stnsale.htm but not now, just WVHA, sold long ago, and WRMI, asking $950,000, quite a jump over last time I checked which I think was $650,000. Hey! GJA has finally put up their clients` B-03 schedule which in the case of KIMF and WRNO should not be taken to mean they are actually on the air! : CLIENT FREQUENCY SCHEDULE B-03 0100 UT October 26, 2003-March 28, 2004 FREQ STN LOCATION UTC TARGET POWER AZ (kHz) (kW) Deg. 5105.0 WBCQ KENNEBUNK, ME 2100-0800 N&CA 59.0 245 5835.0 KIMF PINON, NEW MEXICO 2300-1800 CA&CARIB 50.0 135 7355.0 WRNO NEW ORLEANS,LA 2300-0300 NA&CARIB 50.0 20 7395.0 WRNO NEW ORLEANS,LA 0300-1600 NA&CARIB 50.0 20 7395.0 WRNO NEW ORLEANS,LA 1600-2300 NA&CARIB 50.0 20 7415.0 WBCQ KENNEBUNK, ME 2000-1100 NA&CARIB 50.0 245 7505.0 KTBN SALT LAKE CITY, UT 0000-1600 NA 100.0 70 9330.0 WBCQ KENNEBUNK, ME 1700-0800 NA&CARIB 50.0 245 9955.0 KHBN PALAU * 0800-1700 SASIA 50.0 280 9955.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 SEASIA 50.0 280 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 0600-1700 CHINA 80.0 318 9965.0 KHBN PALAU 2200-2400 CHINA 80.0 318 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1600 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 9985.0 KHBN PALAU 2100-2400 KOR/JAP 50.0 345 11885.0 KIMF PINON, NEW MEXICO 1800-2300 CA&CARIB 50.0 135 12160.0 KHBN PALAU 1000-1600 S.ASIA 50.0 270 13840.0 KHBN PALAU 1100-1600 S.ASIA 50.0 270 15420.0 WRNO NEW ORLEANS, LA 1500-2300 NA&CARIB 50.0 20 15590.0 KTBN SALT LAKE CITY, UT 1600-0000 NA 100.0 70 15725.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1100 S.ASIA 50.0 270 15745.0 KHBN PALAU 0700-1600 SEASIA 50.0 270 17495.0 WBCQ KENNEBUNK, ME 1300-2300 NA&CARIB 50.0 245 * KHBN is licensed by the Govt. of Palau as T8BZ (via Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. The WWV spur is still coming in here on 15026 at a good level at 0011 UT Feb 6. That's on the Drake R8 with the 200' E-W wire. (Steve Lare, Holland, MI, swl at qth.net via DXLD) ** U S A. 5794.92, Radio Martí, Spur, 1100 Noted Spanish comments, ID and Mexican music mainly. Signal was poor initially, but became overwhelming by 1130 (Chuck Bolland, February 7, 2004, Clewiston Florida, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Most likely from Greenville 5745; the other two frequencies on 49m at this time are Delano 6030 and 5980; none of these and other IBB frequencies work out to be mixing products. You might check to see if 5795 is in synch with DL or GA, if not both. IBB online sked: SPAN OCB LARM 1000 1300 DL 04 7365 116 SPAN OCB LARM 1000 1200 DL 03 6030 100 SPAN OCB LARM 1000 1300 DL 01 5980 100 SPAN OCB LARM 1000 1400 GA 04 5745 205 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. A DIFFERENT KIND OF OLDIES SHOW --- THIS WEEK ON THE WEB Our prebroadcast warm up today is scheduled to start at 6:00 EST/ 2300 UT but if we finish our production earlier, we will start at 5 PM/ 2200. The warm up is presented only on our Live 365 station, http://www.live365.com/stations/15660. Here is the entire "live" schedule for Saturday & Sunday. -below on Live 365 only 5:00/2200 Rock The Universe with Rich Adcock 2/7-9/04 (RNI Remix, not shorter WWCR version) 6:00/2300 World Of Radio #1219 with Glenn Hauser 6:30/2330 Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Episode 8 7:00/0000 Stan Freberg Show #1 7/14/57 7:30/0030 Fill Music - Some of the biggest hits of 1975 -below on WBCQ/7415, Live 365, RNI, and the Doo Wop Cafe 8:00/0100 DKOS Show #259 - "I Couldn't Decide What To Play So Here's More Doo Wop" --- features a mini tribute to Gene Hughes of the Casinos -below on Live 365 and Doo Wop Cafe 9:00/0200 DKOS Show #259 - Doo Wop Portion --- featured groups: Vibrations, Riveras & Spaniels -below on Live 365 only 11:00/0400 Simulcast of Swingate's Late Night Oldies Party from Doo Wop Cafe Signoff when the listenership drops to zero or 2AM, whichever comes first. -below on Doo Wop Cafe only http://www.doowopcafe.net/doowop.ram 8AM/1300 Rock The Universe with Rich Adcock 2/7-9/04 (RNI Remix, not shorter WWCR version) Beginning this week Rock The Universe joins the RNI http://www.radionewyorkinternational.com schedule at 4PM EST/ 2100 UT, Monday-Friday (Steve Coletti, Feb 7, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. 760, WJR Detroit has rearranged their schedule, moving Dr. Laura from mornings to late evenings. The evening "sports wrap" talk show has been canceled after 20+ years. One of its hosts is doing a new late-morning talk show that sounds political. I always thought the "sports wrap" show drove away WJR's traditional listeners (Larry Russell, Flushing MI, MARE Feb 7 via DXLD) ** U S A. TiVo USERS, BEWARE: BIG BROTHER'S WATCHING February 5, 2004 BY PHIL ROSENTHAL TELEVISION CRITIC Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson exposed more than her distinctive taste in jewelry at halftime of the Super Bowl. You know TiVo? That newfangled digital video recorder that enables you to watch live telecasts as if they were on tape and remembers to record your favorite shows even when you don't? Justin and Janet's little dance with community standards served to remind us that when we watch TiVo, our TiVo can watch us. "The close of Timberlake and Jackson's halftime duet drew the biggest spike in audience reaction TiVo has ever measured," the company said in a news release issued Monday. "Viewership spiked up to 180 percent as viewers used unique TiVo DVR capabilities to pause and replay live television to view the incident again and again." You thought no one else knew you went back to see if you saw what you thought you saw, that you put Jackson's image on freeze frame so you could show your spouse and your pals or how you went back and forth to watch Justin tear Janet's dress, put it back, tear it and so on. Turns out there was a spy in the room with you, taking notes, keeping track of every click on your remote control. Your TiVo box may have been paying closer attention to what you were watching than you were . . . http://www.suntimes.com/output/rosenthal/cst-ftr-phil05.html (via Brock Whaley, DXLD) TIVO WATCHERS UNEASY AFTER POST-SUPER BOWL REPORTS Glenn, I found this amusing... http://news.com.com/2102-1041_3-5154219.html?tag=st.util.print 73, (Ken, Amateur Radio, KKØHF, Licensed since 1985, http://www.qsl.net/kk0hf/ Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. COMMENT: AMERICA'S HYPOCRISY LAID BARE BY A 'FLASH OF FLESH' By Michael Kalb Financial Times; Feb 06, 2004 The Columbia Broadcasting System was once America's most admired radio and television network - the "Tiffany network", it was called. For decades, it produced superb news and entertainment programmes and sported a stable of experienced correspondents, led by the famed Edward R. Murrow, best known for his reporting of the Battle of Britain. But sadly, much has changed - not only at CBS but throughout the universe of modern communications. In recent years, ethical and professional standards have collapsed in hot pursuit of ratings and profits, and taste be damned. . . http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=040206000895&query=cbs&vsc_appId=quickSearch&offset=0&resultsToShow=10&vsc_subjectConcept=&vsc_companyConcept=&state=More&vsc_publicationGroups=TOPWFT&searchCat=-1 (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. RICIN INVESTIGATION EXPANDS TO TENNESSEE, TRUCKER RADIO, BUT NO CLUES [excerpts] By CURT ANDERSON The Associated Press 2/6/04 3:59 PM WASHINGTON (AP) -- The ricin investigation has expanded to Tennessee and trucker radio shows, but investigators still had no clues about the origin of the poison found in a Senate office, officials said Friday. . . . . .The ricin investigation has other connections to Tennessee. A federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a letter containing a small vial of ricin and addressed to the White House, which was intercepted Nov. 6 by the Secret Service, bore a postmark from Chattanooga, Tenn. That letter was nearly identical to one found at a mail-sorting facility in Greenville, S.C., on Oct. 15. The letters, signed "Fallen Angel," complain about new rules requiring more rest for truckers and threaten use of more ricin if they are not repealed. Tom O'Neill, spokesman for the FBI field office in Columbia, S.C., said Friday that federal agents have persuaded two popular trucker radio programs -- "Truckin' Bozo" and "Satellite Cowboy" -- to publicize the case and the $100,000 reward being offered by the FBI, Transportation Department and Postal Inspection Service. The agencies also have been following trucker-oriented Internet sites and putting information about the mailings out on some of them, officials said. The "Fallen Angel" letters identify the author as the owner of a tanker fleet company. . . Associated Press writer Alan Fram contributed to this story. ------ On the Net: FBI: http://www.fbi.gov Postal Inspection Service: http://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/ http://wizzer.advance.net/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0696_BC_Ricin-Investigation&&news&newsflash-washington (via Mike Cooper, DXLD) ** U S A. EVEN MORE COOPERATION COMBATING 10 METER PIRATES FROM UPS A follow-up to our recent story concerning the use of unlicensed 10 meter radio gear on-board United Parcel Service Trucks. As reported, back on January 7th the FCC notified the UPS offices in Elkhart Indiana and Middleburg Heights Ohio of its findings. The company offered its full cooperation to end the problem. Now comes word from the FCC that they have been contacted by UPS national corporate headquarters has contacted the regulatory agency and the company did not mince any words. It told the FCC that the agency has its full cooperation in removing any unlicensed radio gear and any non-certified two-way gear from their delivery fleet, nation wide. According to UPS, the only personally owned radio gear permitted in their trucks under a collective bargaining agreement with their union drivers are commercially built unmodified CB sets, and that only on a regional as-needed basis. No other radios are allowed. (FCC, UPS, others via Newsline February 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** U S A. ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ARRL PROPOSAL Even though there are more than a dozen restructuring proposals before the FCC, its the American Radio Relay Leagues recent filing that really has the world of Amateur Radio talking. The obvious question is why, and that`s what we asked correspondent Mark Abramovich, NT3V, to find out: As more amateurs find out what the ARRL has to say, they`re starting to pay attention. When the ARRL speaks, the FCC generally listens. In the past, the FCC has used the organization`s proposals as a foundation for decisions. To understand where the ARRL is coming from, you might want to get some perspective from the past. Who better to offer it than Harry Dannals W2HD --- elected ARRL president in 1972 and re-elected to five consecutive terms. Now retired and living in Charlottesville, Va., Dannals is on top of the debate. ``It`s a long cry from the days of incentive licensing when we did have people who resigned their membership, withdrew their membership, or did not renew their membership, just to show their disappointment and utter dissatisfaction with the incentive licensing proposal as it was named,`` Dannals recalls. ``Because that was indeed (what it was), in the minds of the ARRL board headed at that time by President Herb Hoover. He believed that in order for us to show that we were improving ourselves and becoming better at what we do that we should upgrade our license structure.`` Dannals says the claim the ARRL proposal for a ``no code`` HF license ``dumbs down`` the hobby is off the mark. ``I think the new proposal, despite the criticism by those who say: `I had to do it and therefore, you have to do it,` I think the new proposal will bring more people into amateur radio than the `no code` proposal ever did,`` Dannals says. Dannals says the Novice concept will go a long way in revitalizing interest. ``The introductory grade of license will give them some of the things that will make amateur radio mean more, the long-distance communication, the long friendships that develop over the many thousands of miles,`` Dannals says. ``And I do believe we need this.`` Dannals laughs at the fears that we`ll need hundreds of FCC types to police the new hams. ``I think if the amateurs themselves who have experience, the older timers - and they don`t have to be white-haired and grizzly old- timers - they can be relatively newcomers, maybe 5-10 years,`` Dannals says. ``They can take care of tutoring the newcomers more than adequately.`` Dannals says local radio clubs are the key to success for any license restructuring. ``Put out a handshake and say: `Come on board. We`ll help you, we`ll teach the courses that you can use to get your license and we`ll help you once you`ve got your license.` The old Elmering still is working.`` For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia. Keep an ear open for more on this from both Harry Dannals and Mark Abramovich as all of the restructuring petitions wind their way through the FCC rules making process over the next several months (ARNewsline February 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ON RAIN: JIM HASYNIE W5JBP --- Meantime an in-depth conversation about this issue with ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, is available from RAIN --- the Radio Amateur Information Network. It`s in cyberspace at http://www.rainreport.com or on the phone at area code 847-827-7246 (RAIN via Newsline February 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Ecos del Torbes, escuchada el 25/01, a las 2312 UT, con la clausura de la 36ta. Maratón de San Sebastián. Frecuencia: 4830 kHz. SINPO 5/5. 73's y buen DX (Adán González, Catia La Mar, VENEZUELA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ BPL - FCC INTERNET BROADCAST The FCC will consider a Notice of Proposed Rule Making for BPL at a meeting on February 12 at 1430 UT. The meeting will be telecast live over the Internet from the FCC's Audio/Video Events web page at http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio I wonder if any domestic shortwave broadcaster would be interested in airing the audio part live? It is likely the website will be quickly overloaded but if we could limit the number of folks connecting by having the program available on the radio, we might all get to listen. ~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-., (Joe Buch, DE, Feb 6, swprograms via DXLD) -*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^'~*-.,_,.-*~'^ [Re Rochester MN]: Have you written to the FCC? If you, and others, just keep sitting on your hands, we are going to get this rammed down our throats. That is exactly what the power companies hope for, the usual dumb customer who complains after the fact. Once it is in, it is not going away. In spite of the several glaring failures already demonstrated in different parts of the country. If you people don't raise heck now, live with the consequences! (Duane W8DBF Fischer, swl at qth.net via DXLD) Duane has hit it on the head again. You have to fight this thing. Worthwhile reading: http://www.arrl.org/bpl It is important for amateurs and SWL fans to know about any BPL 'tests' - when it starts and what areas it covers so they don't just write off any increase in noise level or interference to solar cycles, weather, or the normal vagaries of propagation. The way to do this is to stay tuned to the groups that are on our side... Organized and collective reporting before and during the testing are important. Like all other 'public' utilities, once implemented it'll be tough if not impossible to get shut down. It would not be bad idea for everyone to just note the 'noise floor' on each band they use once a day while operating or listening. Just make a note in your log sheets or in the comments box of any computer based logs. That might just provide the extemporaneous information needed to show the increased noise levels if it is caused by BPL in your area -- or even nearby. Folks with spectrum analyzers or bandscopes (even those built into a lot of PC based radio control software) could provide valuable baseline information. ----------- The electric utility company that tested (is still 'testing'?) BPL in Manassas, Virginia seemed to be cleaver enough to do this first test in a small newly developed area with primarily underground power and phone lines. They have since expanded their 'test' to additional parts of that planned subdivision. The local municipality might possibly be on the side of the utility company -- seeing only increased revenues for the power company (and therefore fewer rate increases in the future) and possibly increased taxes and fees for their already stressed budgets. I believe that the ARRL made an effort to contact the licensed amateurs in that area -- to be on the lookout for increased noise and interference levels. Haven't seen any published feedback regarding any surveys other than the league's own driveby testings. Elsewhere in the world BPL is called PLC (Power Line Comm). And, so far it's been found to be troublesome to HF communications where tested – in Japan (which has already nixed it), Austria, and Spain. In Austria, it was the Red Cross and other relief agencies that noted the fact that PLC/BPL severely interfered with their HF emergency nets and comm facilities. In the US, FEMA has already spoke up about potential interference - noting the Red Cross comm tests in Austria. FEMA is using the mantra of 'Homeland Security' (FEMA is part of that agency) as a hammer with the FCC. NTIA, the quasi gov't agency that was established to monitor, regulate, coordinate, and balance the needs and priorities of public safety (police, fire, municipal, state, federal, military, and other gov't comm in the USA) communications has been monitoring BPL at the test sites. A report from NTIA is expected to be made public this spring. The BPL proponents seem bent of getting the FCC put out a rulemaking proposal before NTIA's data is published - I wonder why ? BPL's effects are the same - regardless of which hemisphere or continent you're on. Regardless of which way the whirlpool spins when flushing or what the average rainfall or seismic activity is. The laws of physics are not country specific and do not require the ratification of an international treaty to function. Putting rf onto an unshielded radiator (powerlines) creates RF noise --- plain and simple. No matter how much you pay your attorney, he or she cannot get the laws of physics overturned or remanded back to a 'lower court'. 73, Frank (swl at qth.net via DXLD) PLC Scotland (BBC) BBC "White Paper" PLC/PLT effects see http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp067.html Keywords EMC PLC - The pdf document (1.7 Mb) http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp-pdf-files/WHP067.pdf list Audio recordings demonstrating the interference are available. http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp-pdf-files/WHP067_list_of_audio_files.pdf White Paper Copyright Notice BBC R&D White Paper WHP067 The effects of power-line telecommunications on broadcast reception: brief trial in Crieff --- Jonathan Stott and John Salter Abstract A brief site visit to Crieff is reported; it took place, at the invitation of Scottish and Southern Electricity, to examine some Power Line Telecommunications (PLT) installations (used to connect domestic and commercial premises to the internet). Two competing systems are described, examples of which were seen, and the scope for interference to HF broadcasting assessed. The circumstances of the trial limited the scale of scientific experimentation, nevertheless some clear conclusions are drawn. Both systems caused interference to HF reception, although one system appeared to have made some attempts to limit this. Some suggestions are made how co-existence between PLT and home radio reception might be investigated; such investigation would be essential before any wide-scale implementation of PLT. Audio recordings demonstrating the interference are available. 73 wb df5sx (via Wolfgang Büschel, Germany, Feb 6, DXLD) We referenced a BBC study about this some months ago, so I wonder if there have been more, or if this be exactly the same material (gh, DXLD) THE BPL FIGHT: PA HAMS ORGANIZE TO FIGHT ALLENTOWN ROLLOUT Hams in Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, just outside of Allentown, are organizing a campaign to protest announced plans by PP&L to offer Broadband Internet Service over power lines in a development in Hanover Township. The Allentown-based utility has been doing field tests of the technology in nearby Emmaus, Pa. The ARRL`s Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL says PP&L sent out 2,000 letters to residents in a section of Hanover Township and already has received replies from 200 people interested in subscribing to the service. Olena says an ARRL District Emergency Coordinator and other hams met with township officials to warn them about the massive interference Broadband over Power Lines brings to the radio spectrum, including fire and emergency frequencies. But, he says, the officials apparently were swayed by the utility`s assurances no such interference exists. An interview with Olena and others involved in the battle, coming in next week`s Newsline (ARNewsline February 6, NT3V via john Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES - AUSTRALIA SHOULD WAIT AND SEE ...The pitfalls of broadband over powerlines technology have been highlighted down-under by a group calling itself The Spectrum Issues Group Australia or SIGA. This, in a letter published in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age newspapers. Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB has the details. While BPL holds out the promise of always-on internet availability from every household power point, overseas experience with this new technology shows Australia should not rush into adopting it. BPL/PLC systems installed here would cause significant interference to high frequency communications users across Australia which include emergency services, aircraft, police, rural and remote services, maritime, government agencies and private users such as we Radio Amateurs. Roger Harrison, VK2ZRH, speaking for the group says they are an informal alliance of organisations and individuals across Australia with interests in RF communications and technologies. Alliance members come from broadcasting, community service bodies, consultancies, emergency services, equipment manufacturers and suppliers, government, industry bodies, the radio amateur community and other radiocommunications users. Graham Kemp, VK4BB. The SIGA letter makes fascinating reading no matter where you are in the world. It can be viewed on line at the Fairfax f2 website. That URL is in this week's printed Amateur Radio Newsline report. http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/19/1074360700131.html (Newsline February 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ TESTS OF COMPUTER NOISE EFFECTS ON SW RADIOS Dear Glenn: I have just compiled a systematic report on various computer gadgets as they effect my shortwave radios: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~srw-swling/sw-comput.htm Unfortunately I find that the "ferrite RF suppressors" that so many people have recommended have little effect as far as I can measure. The solutions seem to be to use certain systems that have low intrinsic noise generating capacity, especially displays with excellent RF noise-avoidance design; to be cautious of some types of unshielded power supplies used in certain routers and peripherals; and to employ a *balanced* antenna system and shielded, well-grounded coax: the "received wisdom" offered by the best and most experienced SWL's is here born out by systematic tests. Best, (Steve Waldee - retired broadcast station CE, San José, CA, Feb 6, DX LISTENING DIGEST) CRYSTAL SW DXPEDITION Hello, I have now hit the one hundred mark in requests for the short- wave crystal set plans. The set being offered, as you may know, is not my design. It is fairly complex and quite an amazing piece of engineering. The set I use is my own home-brew design and I will be releasing the plans to it sometime in the Spring. We are now nearing completion of an innovative set unlike anything we are aware of. It is presently built and being put through performance tests and adjusted for optimum reception and unwanted signal rejection. I hope to have it in use about the third week of this month. This design is so powerful and unique that I may not release the design because of a high theft risk. This set could easily be marketed for several hundred dollars and protecting the product outside of the United States could be very difficult. It offers five bands, one BCB and four SW. During tests, the BCB band was able to tune in fifteen distinct stations, which is almost unheard of for a crystal set! The interesting part about all of this, is that the primary interest is not from the short-wave community. They comprise only five percent, which really surprised me. The interest seems to be from almost everyone but short-wave listeners (Duane Fischer, W8DBF, DX LISTENING DIGEST) MIKE VILLARD * Correction: In the story ``SSB, Radar Pioneer Mike Villard, W6QYT, SK,`` which appeared in The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 05 (Jan 30) [and in DXLD 4-018], we incorrectly described a civilian award to Villard from the Department of Defense. We should have said that among his awards for contributions to the military were a Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the Department of the Air Force and the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service (ARRL Letter Feb 6 via John Norfolk, DXLD) PROPAGATION ++++++++++++ NEW SPACE WEATHER E-ALERT! To stay on top of the latest developments and breakthroughs in the space weather, turn to the online journal, 'Space Weather: The International Journal of Research and Applications'. Sign up now to receive E-alert notifications of new articles published. Sign up at http://www.agu.org/e_alert/ MOST RECENT ARTICLES SEEN IN SPACE WEATHER: ****The Evolving Vulnerability of Electric Power Grids The increasing complexity and capacity of electric power systems has made them more vulnerable to space weather disturbances. By John G. Kappenman, Space Weather, Vol. 2, No. 1, S01004 10.1029/2003SW000028, 20 January 2004/Feature ****Existence of Thresholds in Proton Flares and Application to Solar Energetic Particle Alerts Strong proton flares may provide early warning of potentially dangerous space weather. By Yuki Kubo and Maki Akioka Space Weather, Vol. 2, No. 1, S01002 10.1029/2003SW000022, 14 January 2004/Technical ****Probabilistic Forecasting of Geomagnetic Indices Using Solar Wind Air Mass Analysis Terrestrial weather forecasting methods may give physicists new techniques to predict geomagnetic conditions from solar activity.By Robert McPherron and George Siscoe Space Weather, Vol. 2, No. 1, S01001 10.1029/2003SW000003, 9 January 2004/Technical For complete coverage of the latest space weather research, news, and information, log on today. Http://www.agu.org/journals/spaceweather Online access to Space Weather is FREE through 31 March 2004. Paid subscriptions begin 1 April 2004. -------------------------------------------- To subscribe to Space Weather, visit http://www.agu.org/journals/sw/?content=subscribe Space Weather is published by AGU and co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the International Space Environment Service (via DXLD) THE K7RA SOLAR UPDATE SEATTLE, WA, Feb 6, 2004 --- Sunspots are back in view. Last week`s update reported two days with no sunspots, but this week the average daily sunspot number rose 28 points to 66.7. This is nice for short- term HF propagation, but now that January has passed, a look at monthly averages shows a clear decline in the sunspot cycle. The monthly average of daily sunspot numbers in January 2003 through January 2004 were 150.0, 87.9, 119.7, 114.3, 89.6, 118.4, 132.8, 114.3, 82.6, 118.9, 103, 75.7 and 62.3. Average daily solar flux values over the same months were 144, 124.5, 133.5, 126.8, 116.6, 129.4, 127.7, 122.1, 112.2, 155.5, 140.8, 116.1 and 114.1. You can see that over the past 13 months average daily sunspot numbers dipped below 100 several times but were never below 82.6 until December and January, when they dropped to 75.7 and 62.3. Look for declining solar activity over the next few years, with the predicted bottom of the solar cycle still three years off. Right now sunspot 551 is moving into the center of the visible solar disk, the place where sunspots have the most effect on earth. Geomagnetic conditions at mid-day today were unsettled, but unless the active region around sunspot 551 spews forth, conditions should be normal over the next few days. Predicted solar flux February 6-9 is 105-110. Solar flux values should peak around 130 toward the middle of the month. This week let`s look at paths to Brazil, where it is currently late summer. We will look at 20 meters and above only. From Dallas Texas, check 20 meters 1230-1400 UTC and 1800-0730 UTC. Signals may be strongest around 2230-0200 UTC. Seventeen meters looks good at most times from 1300-0100 UTC, best from 2000-0100 UTC. Fifteen meters looks great from 1330-0000 UTC, and 12 meters 1400-2330 UTC. Check 10 meters from 1430-2230 UTC. From Cleveland Ohio check 20 meters around 0700-0800 UTC 1230-1400 UTC and 1800-0200 UTC. Best conditions should be around 2130-0030 UTC. Check 17 meters from 1230-0000 UTC, best around 1230-1300 UTC and 1930-2300 UTC. Fifteen meters is promising 1300-2300 UTC, 12 meters 1330-2130 UTC and 10 meters 1430-2030 UTC. From Boston Massachusetts, check 20 meters 0630-0730 UTC and 1100-0200 UTC, best around 2100-0000 UTC. Seventeen meters should work from 1200-2330 UTC, best around 1200-1300 UTC and 1900-2230 UTC. Check 15 meters 1230-2230 UTC, 12 meters 1300-2100 UTC and 10 meters 1400-2000 UTC. From Atlanta Georgia check 20 meters 1230-1400 UTC and 2000-0200 UTC, best from 2130-0030 UTC. Check 17 meters 1230-0000 UTC, best 1230-1330 UTC and 1900-2330 UTC. Fifteen meters should work from 1300-2300 UTC, 12 meters 1330-2330 UTC and 10 meters 1430-2130 UTC. From Salt Lake City Utah, check 20 meters around 1330-1400 UTC and 2130-0230 UTC. 17 meters should work 1430-0100 UTC, with the weakest signals around 1600 UTC and strongest later in the period. Fifteen meters looks good from 1500-0000 UTC, 12 meters 1530-2230 UTC and 10 meters 1630-2130 UTC. From California, 20 meters 2300-0800 UTC, 17 meters 1830-0200 UTC, 15 meters 1500-0100 UTC, 12 meters 1530-0000 UTC and 10 meters 1630-2300 UTC. From the center of the continental U.S. (in Kansas), 20 meters 2000- 0130 UTC, 17 meters 1400-0000 UTC, 15 meters 1430-2230 UTC, 12 meters 1530-2130 UTC and 10 meters 1630-2000 UTC. For more information about propagation and an explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site. http://www2.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html Sunspot numbers for January 29 through February 4 were 25, 42, 49, 57, 106, 103 and 85, with a mean of 66.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 87.4, 92.7, 94.4, 97.3, 101.5, 99.4 and 101.4, with a mean of 96.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 10, 17, 12, 11, 21, 17 and 15, with a mean of 14.7. Copyright © 2004, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved (via John Norfolk, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ###