DX LISTENING DIGEST 4-037, February 28, 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 1221: Sun 0130 on WBCQ 9330-CLSB Sun 0330 on WWCR 5070 Sun 0730 on WWCR 3210 Sun 1100 on WRN1 to North America, webcast; also KSFC 91.9 Spokane WA, and WDWN 89.1 Auburn NY; maybe KTRU 91.7 Houston TX, each with webcasts Sun 2000 on Studio X, Momigno, 1584 Sun 2100 on RNI webcast, http://www.11L-rni.com Mon 0430 on WSUI 910, webcast http://wsui.uiowa.edu [last week`s 1220] 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 1221 (high version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1221h.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1221h.rm (summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1221.html WORLD OF RADIO 1221 (low version): (stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1221.ram (download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1221.rm DX/SWL/MEDIA PROGRAMS. Feb. 28 revision by John Norfolk posted soon: http://www.worldofradio.com/dxpgms.html ** AFGHANISTAN. NEW RADIO STATION INAUGURATED IN NORTHERN AFGHAN PROVINCE | Text of report by Afghan Balkh Province television on 28 February A new independent radio station named Nawbahar Radio Station was inaugurated in a ceremony in Balkh District of Balkh Province today. The ceremony, which was held in the government of Balkh District, was attended by Mohammad Zahir Wahdat, the acting deputy governor of Balkh Province; Mohammad Sardar Saidi, [the head of Wahdat party in the north]; Abdollah Roeen, the head of Information and Culture Department of Balkh Province; Ustad Jahid, the head of Balkh Radio and TV station; Mohammad Abdo, the former deputy governor; Farida Paktin, the head of Rabia Balkhi Radio, and some members of staff of that radio; representatives of United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan [UNAMA] and the UK Provincial Reconstruction Team [PRT]; some elders and scholars and culture officers. The ceremony started with recitation of some verses from the Holy Koran. Then Mohammad Sardar Saidi and Abdollah Roeen made a speech and congratulated all people on its establishment and expressed their hopes that this radio would serve the interests of all residents of the district. Then a message from Juma Khan Hamdard [commander of Military Corps No 8] was read out by Mohammad Hasan Hayran. Later Mohammad Zahir Wahdat made a speech, explaining the instructions of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan about the importance of media. He said: "The restoration of other things can be done in a short amount of time, but spiritual restoration takes much more time." He expressed the hope that the members of staff of this radio can perform their national duty of enlightening the people. Then the governor of Balkh District made a speech and promised to give any kind of assistance to that radio station but for the time being he gave one jerib [an area of 44 by 44 meters] of land for the construction of the radio station. Then Wakil Abdol Qayum, a representative of people, spoke about the inauguration of the radio station and promised assistance. At the end Farida Paktin made a speech and also promised assistance to that radio. At the end of the ceremony, the radio station was established and the participants attended a feast organized in the government of Balkh District. The radio station, which is funded by the Internews organization in cooperation with the national cooperation organization, broadcasts six hours a day and covers 25 km around it. [Video shows the deputy governor making a speech at the ceremony] Source: Balkh TV, Mazar-e Sharif, in Dari 1530 gmt 28 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) WTFK??? ** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. AIR Port Blair, 4760, f/d letter with details, station and island info in 70 days for 1 IRC (returned) and and English report sent registered mail. V/S K. S. Venkateswarlu, Station Engineer. Nice stamps on envelope too! Extremely pleased with this, my first, AIR QSL (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** ARGENTINA. FIRE DAMAGES ARGENTINIAN RADIO STATION A fire at Radiodifusion Argentina al Exterior's [RAE - the Argentinian external service] General Pacheco shortwave transmission complex caused damage to facilities and threatened to put the station off the air. The fire occured after the station's close-down on 23 February and RAE director Marcela Campos feared the worst for the radio's future. However, the damage was not as serious as had been feared. RAE is now operating normally, despite staff having to work with fire- damaged equipment. Source: BBC Monitoring research in English 27 Feb 04 (via DXLD) ** BANGLADESH. Radio Metrowave is the one and only private radio station in Bangladesh. It began broadcast on the Independence Day on March 26, 1999 under the slogan, "Feel the power of music and information". As much as their programming is targeted towards the youth, it also caters to housewives, executives on the move and people of Dhaka who want to move ahead in this fast changing new millennium. Metrowave gives a balanced radio. Metrowave is a new radio for a new Bangladesh, which believes in the power of information in a new century. Radio Metrowave currently broadcasts 9 hours of programmes every day. The station still uses the facilities of Bangladesh Betar, Dhaka to produce the programmes as well as to broadcast. This station also relays the News of Bangladesh Betar. Radio Metrowave jointly produces and broadcasts a talk show "Addar Table A" with a private satellite TV channel 'Channel I'. Radio Metrowave broadcasts are at 0130-0430, 0600-0900 and 1200-1500 UT on 1170 kHz on mediumwave and FM 106.5 MHz. Submitted by Ashik Eqbal Tokon, Rajshahi, Bangladesh (DX Asia Feb 29 via DXLD) ** BOLIVIA. 4722.7, Radio Uncía [?] and 5952.4 both running Em Pio XII programming at 1000-1020, per Dave Valko observation on 27 Feb. Is Emisora Pio XII, Siglo Veinte now on two frequencies? (Robert Wilkner, NRD 535D - Icom R75 -Noise reducing antenna, Pómpano Beach, Florida, U S, DX LISTENING DIGEST) R. Uncía/R. Pio Doce, 4722.82, Tnx to Bob Wilkner for discovering that Pio Doce here was //5952.5. When I had the Pio Doce program on 4722.82, 5952.5 wasn't on the air yet and was still not on when I had to leave. Another reason which led me to believe 4722.82 was probably Pio Doce was that Uncía popped on suddenly the day before, similar to and at about the same time as Pio Doce. So it wasn't hard to believe 4722.82 was Pio Doce. Sorry for the confusion. The quest for an Uncía ID still goes on!! (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** BRAZIL. 6183.19, R. Nacional da Amazonia, 28 Feb, 1043, What sounded like a news program hosted by W with actualities by M. // 11780. This frequency very weak and getting weaker, with 6185 Educación splash QRM (Dave Valko, Dunlo PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** CHINA [non]. China Radio International in Czech from 1 March on 1458 kHz via Albania at 2230-2330 UT. Test transmissions from 1 MAR, regular operation from 5 MAR 04 (Karel Honzik, the Czech Republic (Czechia), MWC via DXLD) ** GHANA. R. Ghana: Glenn: 4915: This frequency, most of the night, is *mush* as audited here in San José, CA. It's not as bad as 6010 -- nothing on the SW bands IS that bad -- but most of the time, the interference from co-channel transmitters (R. Anhanguera, Goiânia; R. Difusora, Macapá; R. Educação Rural, Tefé -- all from Brazil -- plus occasionally stations in Perú and Kenya) makes it impossible to listen to anything. But tonight, 02-28-04 around 0635Z, I tuned past and heard a remarkably clear, distinct, and absolutely listenable signal from GBC 1, Radio Ghana: the best reception of this station since last spring. I always try to listen to it, if possible, because I know two nice people here in San José who have emigrated from Accrá, and they seem pleased every time I tell them I've picked up "die Heimat", as it were! The language spoken by the male announcer was likely Hausa, though on some occasions I've often heard English and the last time I listened a few months ago, an English lesson. At 0643 on came the distinctive IS (rapid drums) but before I could settle in for a good visit, the signal rapidly faded back to the howly, rumbly melange, with snatches of Portuguese, wailing voices, crackles, whistles, and the usual SW mess. The ionosphere is really remarkable; almost perfect reception one minute; the next -- nothing. (How is DRM going to stand up under such conditions? Don't bother to answer.) Best, (Steve Waldee - retired radio station CE, using 107 m. dipole and R75, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** GUATEMALA. 4052, R. Verdad According to station managers` daughter (who is a secretary at the station), they have recently increased their power to 800 watts (Dave Valko, PA, Feb 27, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** INDONESIA. 4750: see UNIDENTIFIED ** INTERNATIONAL. Clarification: The story ``NPR Feature Spotlights Addition of @ Symbol to Morse Code`` in The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 08 (Feb 20, 2004) [reprinted in 4-031], may have incorrectly implied that ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, originated the idea of adding the ``@``; symbol to the Morse code. Rinaldo did conceive of the new character --- the letters A and C run together --- but others had suggested years earlier the need to establish a Morse equivalent for the ``@`` symbol (ARRL Letter February 27 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. UO-11 SATELLITE TO MARK 20 YEARS IN SPACE SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS004 ZCZC AS04 QST de W1AW Space Bulletin 004 ARLS004 From ARRL Headquarters Newington, CT February 26, 2004 To all radio amateurs UO-11 -- also known as UOSAT-2 -- turns 20 years old on March 1. To mark the event, AMSAT-UK will issue a commemorative QSL card in exchange for listener reports from stations monitoring the satellite's signal during the entire month of March. The reports must be posted via the reporting page on the AMSAT-UK Web site, http://www.uk.amsat.org/uo-11/default.php and QSL cards will be in the form of a downloadable E-QSL. UO-11 was the second satellite to be launched by the University of Surrey group headed by Martin Sweeting, G3YJO. Its telemetry beacon can be heard on 145.825 MHz FM using just a handheld radio. UO-11 also has a 2401.5 MHz beacon, although hearing the 2.4 GHz signal could present a challenge. The University of Surrey Ground station staff reportedly will attempt to maximize the number of days the transmitters are active during March. More information is available on the AMSAT-UK Web site, http://www.uk.amsat.org/ NNNN (via Fabrizio Magrone, Italy, DXLD) ** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM [and non]. XM TO AIR TRAFFIC, WEATHER FOR REGION --- CHANNELS MARK DEBUT OF LOCAL CONTENT By Anitha Reddy, Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, February 28, 2004; Page E01 XM Satellite Radio plans to begin broadcasting local traffic and weather information today, over the protests of traditional radio stations. XM will eventually beam the reports on 21 major U.S. cities from its satellites in space, beginning with a Washington channel scheduled to begin today. It is the company's first foray into local content. Washington-based XM uses an array of satellites and ground-based repeaters to transmit more than 120 channels of music, news and talk shows to subscribers who pay $10 a month and have bought specialized receivers for their cars or homes. Until now, none of the channels have had information specific to a city. The new channels, one for each metro area, will broadcast updates on heavily congested roads, less-crowded detours, and the weather 24 hours a day. Channels for 14 other cities, including Baltimore, will debut Monday, and the rest will go live by 2005. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., XM's only and smaller competitor, said yesterday it will begin broadcasting traffic and weather information for Los Angeles and New York on one channel tomorrow and will offer nine more channels, each covering two major cities, by April. Both services plan to sell advertising on the channels. XM's decision to offer programming tailored to local markets has angered some traditional radio stations that fear satellite radio services will compete for local advertising dollars. The National Association of Broadcasters, a trade group representing local radio stations, argued last month that XM's new service was "an appalling back-door attempt to bypass the [Federal Communication Commission]'s intent to limit satellite radio to a national service only." But an FCC spokeswoman said XM appears to be in compliance with regulations governing its service. The FCC "did not specifically prohibit the provision of local weather and traffic information" when it approved satellite radio service in 1997, the spokeswoman said. Both XM, which has 1.5 million subscribers, and Sirius, which has 261,000, said the FCC did not object to the new channels in informal discussions. "We've talked to the FCC and they haven't indicated that there's any issue at all," said Chancellor Patterson, an XM spokesman. The controversy hinges on what the definition of "local" is. XM and Sirius are barred by the FCC from using only their network of land- based repeaters -- broadcasting towers on earth that boost satellite signals interrupted by tall buildings or tunnels -- to deliver local content. However, since the city traffic channels will be broadcast through its satellites in space and will be available all over the country, XM says it is not violating the terms of its license or any regulations. "There is a difference between locally generated broadcasts and local information that happens to be broadcast nationwide," said James Collins, a spokesman for Sirius. Patterson, the XM spokesman, echoed Collins's distinction when asked how the company's current service was consistent with earlier public statements that it had "no intention of broadcasting locally." Dennis Wharton, a spokesman for the National Association of Broadcasters, said XM and Sirius are playing "fast and loose with the FCC rules." The group believes the channels are a violation of the companies' FCC licenses, he said, and it is pursuing several options in response. He declined to elaborate on the group's strategy. The FCC said it is not in a position to take any action, because no one has petitioned the FCC to examine whether XM and Sirius can or should broadcast local information. XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. has lost more than $1.4 billion since 1999 as it developed programming and deployed satellites to deliver it. XM launched the service in late 2002, and expects to have 2.8 million subscribers by the end of this year (via Matt Francis, DC, Tom McNiff, VA, Mike Cooper, GA, DXLD) ** IRAQ [and non]. MEDIA IN POST-WAR IRAQ - UPDATED 26 FEB 2004 NEW SATELLITE TV CHANNELS IN IRAQ SINCE 13 JANUARY 2004 Since 14 February, satellite viewers in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world have been able to watch a new US government-funded Arabic- language satellite TV channel, Al-Hurra (meaning "the free"). The channel sees its role as promoting democracy and winning over public opinion in the Arab world. Al-Hurra is aimed at the younger audience that dominates most Arab countries. The channel focuses on news, current affairs and discussion programmes, but is also to carry general interest features on health, entertainment, sports, fashion and science and technology. "Al-Hurra endeavours to broaden its viewers' perspectives, enabling them to make more informed decisions," the station says on its web site, http://www.alhurra.com The station broadcasts free-to-air via the direct-to-home Arabsat and Nilesat satellites. It is also distributed via other satellites. In a few months, it will also be available over terrestrial transmitters in Iraq. Meanwhile, Arab investors are competing to launch satellite TV services aimed at viewers in Iraq. One of these channels, Al-Diyar (The Homeland), has been observed by BBC Monitoring testing on the Nilesat 101 satellite. According to the Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir, Al-Diyar will be run by Iraqi media figure Faysal al-Yasiri in cooperation with the pan-Arab satellite pay-TV service Arab Radio and Television Network, ART, which contributed to setting up and financing the new channel. Arab investors vie to launch satellite TV for Iraq - Egyptian paper The following report by Jabir al-Qarmuti headlined "Arabs compete to set up satellite TV channels in Iraq", was published by Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram al-Arabi on 21 February: "It appears that Iraq will become an arena in the coming days for a novel type of Arab satellite TV competition. "Businessman Najib Sawiris has announced that he is in the process of starting the first private Arab satellite TV channel in Iraq soon, with investments amounting to 25m dollars. Al-Ahram al-Arabi learns meanwhile that a Lebanese investor who heads a Lebanese satellite TV channel visited Washington recently to obtain a US promise to let him set up a private satellite TV channel. He justified his request by saying that he had the experience necessary for the success of such a channel. But it seems that the Lebanese entrepreneur did not get his wish, because Washington's reply was that the matter was in the hands of American officials in Iraq. "The Lebanese investor had requested American financial consolidation (60m dollars) to set up the channel. This was backed by some people in Washington but rejected by others. The result was a temporary halt in the implementation of the project. "The idea is still pending and might be implemented in the near future, but there is still a possibility that it will be abandoned." NEW RADIO BROADCASTS IN IRAQ SINCE SINCE 13 JANUARY 2004 Radio France Internationale opens relay in Baghdad Radio France Internationale (RFI) started a relay of its French- language programme on 93.5 MHz in Baghdad on 16 February. This is the third FM relay of the RFI group in Iraq. RFI plans to launch a fourth relay in Mosul for its Radio Monte Carlo service in the near future. The 93.5 MHz frequency was previously used by the Arabic-language Radio Monte Carlo Middle East, which has now moved to 88.0 MHz. Radio Monte Carlo Middle East can also be heard in Basra on 88.8 MHz. Nasiriyah - Kull al-Iraq (All Of Iraq) radio is to begin broadcasting in March from Nasiriyah on 610 kHz mediumwave, the Iraqi National Accord newspaper Baghdad reported on 24 February. The radio "will be independent and will not represent any movement, party, political or religious trend". Test transmissions of Kull al-Iraq TV will begin shortly from Nasiriyah, according to the same newspaper report. [lengthy section on Press snipped by gh. Much of the rest of this has already appeared, but this is a monthly roundup and it would be too tedious for gh to try to weed out the duplicates] POST-WAR BROADCAST MEDIA -- RADIO FM BAND IN BAGHDAD (MHz) 88.0 - Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East in Arabic & French 88.5 - MBC in Arabic 89.0 - BBC World Service in Arabic 90.1 - Iranian Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic 92.3 - AFN in English (different stream to 107.8 MHz) 93.5 - Radio France Internationale in French 95.0 - IMN Radio Diyala, Baquba, in Arabic 96.7 - Iranian IRIB Arabic Service 97.1 - Continuous US pop music, no announcements 97.4 - As 97.1 MHz 97.7 - As 97.1 MHz 98.0 - BBC World Service in English 98.3 - IMN-Baghdad FM in Arabic 100.4 - US Radio Sawa in Arabic 102.4 - Radio Free Iraq (RFE/RL) in Arabic 104.1 - IQ4 Radio Iraq in English and Arabic 107.8 - AFN-Iraq ["Freedom Radio"] in English MAIN AM STATIONS INTENDED FOR IRAQ (kHz) 657 - IMN Baghdad FM Radio in Arabic 720 - Voice of the Mujahidin in Arabic 756 - Information Radio in Arabic 909 - Radio Nahrain in Arabic 1000 - Voice of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq 1026 - Iraqi Media Network - Radio Baghdad in Arabic 1161 - IRIB Arabic Service 1179 - Voice of Iraq in Arabic (English 1200-1300 gmt) 1206 - Voice of the People of Kurdistan in Arabic & Kurdish 1206 - Voice of Iraqi Turkmen Radio in Turkmen 1224 - IRIB Arabic Service 1233 - Radio Monte Carlo Middle East, Cyprus, in Arabic 1260 - (US-run) Radio Sawa, Rhodes, Greece, in Arabic 1305 - Radio Al-Mustaqbal in Arabic 1314 - (US-run) Radio Free Iraq via Abu Dhabi 1323 - BBC World Service, Cyprus, in English 1548 - (US-run) Radio Sawa in Arabic 1566 - Radio of the Land of the Two Rivers in Arabic 1575 - Continuous pop music - no announcements observed 1593 - VoA English/Kurdish/Persian + Radio Free Iraq in Arabic Iraqi Media Network, Voice of New Iraq - operated by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Has also identified as Republic of Iraq Radio from Baghdad and Voice of Free Iraq (Sawt al-Iraq al-Hurr). Broadcasts on 98.3 MHz FM in Baghdad, identifying as Iraqi Media Network, Baghdad FM Radio, with a different service on 1026 kHz identifying as Iraqi Media Network-Radio Baghdad. A new station identifying in Arabic as "Iraqi Media Network, Radio Diyala" was observed in Baghdad on 95.0 MHz. Diyala is a governate neighbouring Baghdad, of which Baqubah, approximately 50 km north-east of Baghdad, is the capital. Shamin Rassam, an Iraqi-American, directs IMN's FM radio outlet as well as news bulletins on the mediumwave station, according to the Washington Post. Radio Nahrain Since the end of March 2003, Radio Nahrain, also known as Twin Rivers Radio, has been transmitting on FM on 100.4 and 94.6 MHz from a location south of Basra. It has also been monitored on 96.0 MHz and 909 kHz mediumwave. The station is operated by British forces, but was due to be taken over at some stage by the Coalition Provisional Authority. Voice of Iraq - This radio station, which launched in Baghdad in summer 2003, has a web site at http://www.voiraq.com The web site states that the station broadcasts for 12 hours a day, from 0800-2000 local time (0500-1700 gmt), on 1179 kHz. It says that the station "covers an area with 12 million Iraqi inhabitants". Material on the site is entirely in Arabic. The site adds, among other things: "The Voice of Iraq, which transmits from Baghdad on 1179 kHz, is the first independent radio in Iraq's history. It started transmitting on 15 July 2003 after a month of testing. The founders of the radio wanted the station to be a distinguished media organ in terms of both accuracy and objectivity, broadcasting all news reports and analysing developments in a serious, impartial, professional and unbiased manner. "The Voice of Iraq presents a wide variety of intellectual talks, field investigations, panel discussions and many programmes on various subjects. "The radio is eager to safeguard unity and amity among the Iraqi people following decades of attempts to foment sectarianism and practise murder and oppression against the majority of the Iraqi people and the rest of Iraq's citizens. "The editorial policy of the Voice of Iraq takes great care of the Iraqi people's national unity, encouraging close relations among the various ethnic groups - Arabs, Kurds and Turkomans - who must have equal rights without any form of prejudice. "The Voice of Iraq is also eager to strengthen relations with neighbouring states and peoples and promote them in a way that would eradicate the harm that the defunct regime's aggression against these states had caused." The following e-mail addresses are also given: admin@voiraq.com, director@voiraq.com, and webmaster@voiraq.com. English-language programmes have been observed daily since October 2003 at 1200-1300 gmt. Al-Salam TV and Radio from Baghdad - The following report headlined "This is Al-Salam television and radio from Al-Kazimiyah city" was published by the Iraqi National Accord newspaper Baghdad on 14 February: "After the fall of the former regime and the end of the phase of propaganda media and obscuring the voice of others, Al-Salam Television and Radio station was established in Al-Kazimiyah City, in Baghdad, to broadcast programmes that call for love and harmony among the people of Iraq. "This station also provides people with useful media and reflects the wishes of the people from all ethnic, religious and sectarian affiliation within the framework of democracy and freedom of _expression, which they were deprived of under the former regime, without favouritism or taking the side of any sect or religion, and without circulating this or that ideology. "Radio transmission starts from 1000 [0700 gmt] until 1600 on the FM frequency 92.035 MHz. The station has a variety of programmes that include religious programmes, news, prayers. The station hosts well- known figures that have influence in society. "The television station has started its daily test transmission on Channel 5 from 1600 until 2000. "This station has an elite range of well-known media figures, including announcer Amal al-Mudarris, director Ali al-Ansari, writer Sabah Ruhaymah, and announcer Samirah Jiyad." IQ4 Radio Iraq - In Baghdad, a previously unidentified FM radio station on 104.1 MHz playing continuous Arabic and Western pop music was observed on 16 August with the following announcement in English: "This is IQ4 Radio Iraq, Iraq's first independent music station, 104.1 FM". Karbala - Karbala FM Radio has been set up in Karbala Governorate, the Iraqi National Congress (INC) weekly newspaper Al-Mu'tamar reported on 15 November. The radio broadcasts on 99.1 MHz FM. It will be on the air for seven hours a day, from 1300 (1100 gmt) to 1700 and from 1900 to 2200. Nasiriyah - Kull al-Iraq (All Of Iraq) radio is to begin broadcasting in March from Nasiriyah on 610 kHz mediumwave, the Iraqi National Accord newspaper Baghdad reported on 24 February. The radio "will be independent and will not represent any movement, party, political or religious trend". Initially it will be heard only in Nasiriyah and Basra governorates, and later it plans to extend its coverage area nationwide. Test transmissions of Kull al-Iraq TV will begin shortly from Nasiriyah, according to the same newspaper report. Voice of Freedom, Voice of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan radio in Arabic and Kurdish is operated by the PUK. It broadcasts daily from 1000-1900 gmt on 95.0 MHz. The station identifies on air as "Radio Freedom". Turkomaneli TV and radio was launched in Kirkuk in April 2003 and broadcasts on behalf of the Iraqi Turkoman Front. Turkomaneli Radio opened radio stations in Talla'far and Mosul on 6 and 8 May respectively, the Iraqi Turkoman Front newspaper Turkomaneli reported on 11 May. Dangi Komal-Kirkuk radio broadcasts on 1341 kHz in Kurdish, Arabic and Turkish to Kirkuk on behalf of the Kurdistan Islamic Group. The Worker-Communist Party of Iraq's "Radio Bopeshawa" is reportedly back on the air. The internet site of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq http://www.wpiraq.org reports that Ila al-Amam (Forward) Radio [usually rendered as Radio Bopeshawa, meaning "Forward"], voice of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq, broadcasts for one hour a day on shortwave from 1100 gmt (half an hour in Arabic and half an hour in Kurdish), to the areas of Arbil, Kirkuk and Mosul. The same programme is repeated between 0500-0600 gmt the next day. Identifies on air as "Voice of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq". Polish Radio The 4 September edition of Radio Polonia's "Multimedia" programme included information on relays of Polish Radio in Iraq. Polish Radio Programme 1 is received in Iraq by satellite and rebroadcast in the canteen on one of the four Polish bases; further loudspeaker relays will be added at the other bases. A studio has been set up to insert local programming and contribute to Polish Radio Programme 1, and there are plans to establish FM radio stations in the Polish controlled sector in Iraq to carry the programmes. Funding has also been provided for all Polish troops to be given radio receivers so they can listen to the broadcasts. Broadcasts for Spanish soldiers On 9 November, Radio Exterior de Espana (REE) launched a weekly programme linking Spanish soldiers serving in Iraq with their families at home. The programme "Aqui Espana" (This is Spain) is a joint production between REE and the domestic network Radio 5 Todo Noticias, and is on the air between 1405 and 1500 gmt. The broadcast is beamed to the Middle East on shortwave 21610 kHz and relayed over an FM transmitter recently installed at Diwaniya. According to the REE web site, it is also carried on frequencies beamed to Europe, Africa and the Americas. US American Forces Radio American Forces Network radio was observed on 107.7 MHz in Baghdad with local programming starting at 0305 gmt, following an AP [Associated Press] Network news bulletin. Identification within the programme was "Freedom Radio" and "Freedom Radio 107.7." AFN Radio on 92.3 MHz carried a separate programme stream. According to an article in Stars and Stripes online, live local programming is presented at 0300-0600 and 1200-1500 gmt daily. American Forces Network-Iraq has its own web site at http://www.vcorps.army.mil/www/CJTF7/afniraq/index.htm The site contains a list of AFN transmission sites in Iraq, but does not currently feature a programming guide. US Christian broadcaster Fundamental Broadcasting Network (FBN) The Fundamental Broadcasting Network (FBN), which operates shortwave radio stations in the US, says it is already on the air with Christian programming in Baghdad, using its FM "radio station in a briefcase", Radio Netherlands reported on 6 January. According to the FBN web site http://home.ec.rr.com/fbn the station is "sending out the Gospel in Arabic along with Bible Reading in Arabic and music." FBN says it has has applied to the Iraqi Government for an official licence, and the Government has accepted the application. The Web site adds that the same type of equipment was assembled for a new station in Peru: "The station had to be built quickly before the Government took back the frequency from the missionary there." The following are among stations in operation before April 2003 that continue to be heard inside Iraq: Voice of the People of Kurdistan, operated by the PUK Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan, operated by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Radio Azadi, Voice of the Communist Party of Iraqi Kurdistan Ashur Radio - The station reportedly began operation in April 2000 and is operated by the Assyrian Democratic Movement, an opposition organization in northern Iraq. It broadcasts in Assyrian and Arabic on shortwave, reportedly from a transmitter in Azerbaijan. Voice of the Iraqi People, Voice of the Iraqi Communist Party - The station broadcasts from northern Iraq, possibly using Kurdish facilities. Voice of the Mojahed, the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization's radio, used to broadcast via shortwave, satellite and with archive audio files on the Internet. On 12 January 2004 the radio station in Baqubah was disabled by the CPA and Coalition forces. At the time of writing the radio, as well as the Mojahedin-e Khalq television station, Simaye Azadi, continue to be observed via the Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees west, 12589V. The radio is also observed on the Internet at: http://www.iran.mojahedin.org Al-Mustaqbal [The Future] radio is operated by the Iraqi National Accord. TELEVISION The Iraqi Media Network launched on 13 May 2003. The Washington Post reported on 11 May that the US planned a nationwide Iraqi TV network to succeed the airborne Towards Freedom TV. The programme, initially for two hours but projected as a 24-hour full-service network, includes 30 minutes of news each night, including a local news segment, the report said. The station began broadcasts amid squabbling between its US and Canadian advisers, and complaints from its Iraqi journalists about "American censorship", international agencies reported. Since around 20 June the Iraqi Media Network TV has broadcast to Iraq from Eutelsat W1, located at 10 degrees east. IMN TV was renamed Al-Iraqiyah TV in November 2003. At present Iraqi Media Network TV and radio programmes are prepared and pre-recorded in facilities in the Convention Centre near the headquarters of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). They are physically taken to the TV and FM radio transmitter site some two km away to be broadcast. With 10 reporters and a staff of 50 in Baghdad only, the TV station broadcasts for up to 12 hours per day. The same reporters also work for radio. The role of the IMN in shaping post-war national broadcasting in Iraq, and the extent of its powers, came under the international spotlight at the beginning of August 2003, when senior IMN official Ahmad al- Rikabi, head of US-backed Iraqi TV, resigned. Rikabi complained that inadequate funding prevented the station from competing with rival channels from Iran and the Gulf states. The IMN's director, George Mansur, said in an interview with the French news agency AFP on 22 August that the network had received new equipment and would broadcast 24 hours a day "within a few weeks". "The move is hoped to end weeks of squabbles at the channel, seen by many as nothing more than a mouthpiece of the coalition authorities in Iraq," the AFP report added. According to the US weekly The Village Voice, the IMN continues to lose senior staff with a background in professional journalism. George Mansur is said to have been removed in early November 2003 and replaced by a former CNN executive editor, Ted Iliff, the weekly reported. Al-Diyar - new satellite channel testing on Nilesat - On 20 February Al-Diyar (The Homeland), a new satellite channel for Iraq, was observed testing on the Nilesat 101 satellite, which is located at 7 degrees west and covers the Middle East, North Africa and some parts of Europe. The Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir had reported on 9 February that Al- Diyar will be run by Iraqi media figure Faysal al-Yasiri in cooperation with the pan-Arab satellite pay-TV service Arab Radio and Television Network, ART, which contributed to setting up and financing the new channel. The channel's trial transmissions will end on 1 March, the paper added. According to the on-screen information card, the channel identifies itself, both in Arabic and English, as: "Al-Diyar, the Arabic channel with an Iraqi flavour." A map of Iraq is also shown in the background. The transponder information is as follows: Frequency: 11881 Mhz; Polarization: horizontal; Symbol Rate: 27500; FEC: 3/4. In an interview published by the Iraqi National Congress (INC) weekly newspaper Al-Mu'tamar on 23 February, Faysal al-Yasiri said the new service would be "an Arab channel with an Iraqi flavour. The head office is in Baghdad, which will be the base for programme production and news editing by the technical and engineering staff, which will operate it and run the headquarters. The broadcasting will be either from Amman or Rome centres on both Nilesat and Hotbird satellites. The experimental broadcasting is expected this month and will continue for three months. During the experimental period, only Iraqi programmes will be broadcast, other Arabic programmes will be aired afterwards. Saudi producer Salih Kamil [Saudi billionaire entrepreneur and owner of ART] will finance this purely Iraqi channel." Karbala - a local TV channel was launched on 16 April, according to United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi TV on 6 May. Similar small-scale local channels are reported to be operating in Najaf and Kut, according to BBC News Online reporter Tarik Kafala, who visited the stations in June 2003. Ninawa TV was launched in mid-July 2003. The Baghdad newspaper Al-Ittihad reported on 14 July that an independent radio station called Ninawa Radio also operates in the city. Tikrit - US soldiers are working to fill a relative media vacuum in Tikrit, Saddam Husayn's home town 120 miles north of Baghdad, which has been bypassed by the proliferation of local print media that has occurred in many other cities across Iraq, the Associated Press news agency reported on 22 October. Maj Joe Cox, from the US Fourth Infantry Division headquarters, is leading a four-man team in charge of getting local media outlets up and running in Tikrit. They have set up a radio and TV station operating from Tikrit University as well as a transmitter to carry Iraqi Media Network radio and TV signals from Tikrit across the northern Salah al-Din Province, AP reported. Three weekly newspapers are distributed in Tikrit, but are published in Baghdad because there is no printing press in the town, the AP report added. Basra - A Czech businessman who wishes to remain anonymous has launched a project to build a private TV station in Basra in conjunction with an Iraqi partner, the Czech news agency CTK reported on 13 November, citing that day's edition of the Czech daily Lidove noviny. The station would be called the Voice of the South, and would be partly financed by advertising. "The Czech-Iraqi television station may start broadcasting in southern Iraq as early as February, three hours a day at the beginning," the CTK report said. It added: "The project of a joint television station is supported not only by Czech officials but also by the British, in whose sector the broadcasting will take place, the paper writes. The television station is to be independent and should be supervised by both partners together. Interest in the project has also been shown by some Kuwaiti companies. The Voice of the South owners expect the station to be profit-making within two years. This also depends on whether the broadcasting will spread to the north as well, the paper adds." Freedom TV [Al-Hurriyah TV] is a PUK-sponsored television station that began test transmissions from Baghdad on 30 April. A PUK statement said viewers can access Freedom TV on UHF channel 38 from 1700-2200 gmt. Mosul TV was the "first station" to resume transmission in Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Husayn, Dubai-based news channel Al-Arabiya TV reported on 10 May. Kirkuk TV channel started broadcasts on 23 April "under the supervision of the coalition forces", according to a report by the Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) newspaper Brayati on 25 April. Turkomaneli TV and radio was launched in Kirkuk in April 2003 and broadcasts on behalf of the Iraqi Turkoman Front. Turkomaneli Radio opened radio stations in Talla'far and Mosul on 6 and 8 May respectively, the Iraqi Turkoman Front newspaper Turkomaneli reported on 11 May. The Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization's (MKO) "Vision of Resistance TV" (Sima-ye Moqavemat) continues to be observed via the trans-Atlantic Telstar 12 satellite at 15 degrees west, 12589V. The web site is http://www.iranntv.com KurdSat, the television station of the PUK, has expanded its broadcasts to Kirkuk and Khanaqin. The KDP's television station Kurdistan TV now beams its programmes to Kirkuk and Mosul. TV BAND IN BAGHDAD (sound frequencies in MHz ) VHF 194.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television 222.75 - Iranian Television First Channel UHF 484.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television 508.75 - Iranian Television First Channel 532.75 - Iranian Television Regional Service 604.75 - Al-Iraqiyah (Iraqi Media Network) Television 644.75 - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Radio (in parallel with radio transmission on 4025 kHz) IRANIAN BROADCAST MEDIA ACCESSIBLE IN IRAQ --- TELEVISION The Iran-based Al-Alam TV channel in Arabic and English is a 24-hour news channel transmitted on four satellites (Arabsat, Asiasat, Telstar and Hot Bird satellites) and can be received in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America. Al-Alam broadcasts into Baghdad from a powerful transmitter about 150 km away, just over the Iran-Iraq border. It is the only foreign channel that can be viewed by Iraqis without a satellite dish. That has sent its viewership soaring among Iraqis, who cannot afford a satellite dish and receiver. The Arabic channel began broadcasting in February 2003. English content currently is limited to horizontal news subtitles or news tickers. The station has a web site at http://www.alalamnews.com Sahar Universal Network 1 and 2 television, Iran's external satellite TV service on the Hot Bird 1-6 satellites, is viewable across Iraq and includes Arabic programming. It broadcasts on the 13 degrees East Hot Bird 1-6 satellite daily from 0500-2300 gmt. Its web site is located at http://www.sahartv.com. Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran television in Arabic is based in Tehran and sponsored by the state-run Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran. It broadcasts daily to Iraq on the satellite parameter 11172 MHz V (6.8 MHz) 62 degrees East Intelsat 902. Al-Thaqalayn TV This channel, affiliated to an Iranian cultural institute of the same name, is targeted at viewers in Iraq and broadcasts religious programmes, the Tehran Times newspaper reported on 14 July. People in Iran's Ilam Province can watch the programmes as well, the report noted. Resistance Channel - this TV channel is called "Al-Estiqamah TV" in Arabic; in April 2003 it was reported to be using the facilities of Iranian radio and TV, including the aerial of Iran's Education Channel, to broadcast to Iraq. The station was inaugurated in early April 2003 by Ayatollah Baqr al-Hakim, the head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq [SCIRI], according to the Tehran- based Baztab web site. The channel was untraced when checked from 5-7 July 2003, and may no longer be operational. A search of internet sites on 6 July revealed that the channel has left Intelsat 902, Hot Bird and Arabsat. RADIO Voice of the Mujahidin. First observed on 17 April and broadcasting in Arabic, the station's content suggests that it is operated by the Iranian-backed Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). In addition, the station is transmitting on one of several frequencies used by Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting for its external transmissions. Has been heard on 90.1 MHz FM, in parallel with 720 kHz. The content generally parallels that of the main SCIRI web site located at http://www.majlesaala.com The station has its own web site with a live audio stream at http://www.radiomojahedin.com Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran (VIRI) external service in Arabic can be heard on mediumwave and shortwave inside Iraq as well as via the Internet at http://www.irib.ir Voice of Rebellious Iraq - broadcasts in Arabic and supports the Iranian-sponsored Shi'i group, the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI); believed to transmit from Iran. The station was untraced when checked from 5-7 July 2003. INTERNATIONAL MEDIA Major international radio and television stations, such as pan-Arab satellite television stations, the BBC Arabic and World service radio, the Paris-based Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, US Radio Sawa and US- sponsored Radio Free Iraq are available in Iraq. BBC World Service is now 24 hours a day in Arabic on FM in Baghdad and Basra. The FM frequencies are 89.0 MHz in Baghdad and 90.0 MHz in Basra in Arabic. BBC World Service in English can be heard on FM in Basra on 88.0 MHz and 98.1 MHz. Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East is now on FM on 88.0 MHz in Baghdad for 24 hours a day. Radio Monte Carlo Middle East can also be heard in Basra on 88.8 MHz. Radio France Internationale started a relay of its French-language programme on 93.5 MHz in Baghdad on 16 February. This is the third FM relay of the RFI group in Iraq. RFI plans to launch a fourth relay in Mosul for its Radio Monte Carlo service in the near future. Radio Sawa is on FM in Baghdad (100.4 MHz), Arbil (100.5 MHz) and Sulaymaniyah (88.0 MHz), as well as on 1548 MW. Al-Hurra TV - Since 14 February 2004 satellite viewers in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world have been able to watch a new US government- funded Arabic-language satellite TV channel, Al-Hurra (meaning "the free"). The station broadcasts free-to-air via the direct-to-home Arabsat and Nilesat satellites. It is also distributed via other satellites. In a few months, it will also be available over terrestrial transmitters in Iraq. Since mid-May 2003, Libya has been broadcasting specifically to Iraq in Arabic. The shortwave broadcasts carrry the following announcement: "This is the general centre for broadcasts beamed from the Great Jamahiriyah: A message to the people of the two rivers [Iraq]." Libya broadcasts to Iraq daily on 17600 kHz from 1200-1300 and on 7245, 9605, and 11660 kHz from 1800-1900 gmt. Syrian Arab Republic Radio is the Syrian state-owned radio. It broadcasts on shortwave on 12085 and 13610 kHz. It has also been heard in Iraq on the MW frequency of 819 kHz between 1100 and 1145 gmt. Radio Kuwait is the state-owned Kuwaiti radio. It can be received in Iraq on the MW frequency of 540 kHz 24 hours. Voice of Israel is Israel's state-owned radio. It broadcasts daily in Arabic on shortwave from 0300-2115 gmt on 5915 kHz. Access to all broadcast media is limited by the availability of electricity, radio and TV sets and the satellite equipment. Source: BBC Monitoring research 26 Feb 04 (via DXLD) ** JAPAN [and non]. AUM-SHINRIKYO CHIEF FOUND GUILTY IN TOKYO COURT On Friday the Tokyo district court, after a case lasting eight years, delivered its verdict on Soko Asahara (real name Chizuo Matsumoto), head of the Aum-Shinrikyo religious sect. Asahara was found guilty of organizing acts of terrorism involving the use of chemicals in 1994 and 1995. As the result of those attacks, eighteen people died and over five thousand were injured. It's though that Asahara may be given the death penalty. In the late 1980s Aum-Shinrikyo arrived in Russia and the Ukraine. The sect’s speeches were translated and broadcast in a number of languages over the Voice of Russia's shortwave transmitters. The money received from Aum-Shinrikyo helped to subsidise the foreign service. In 1992 the Russian Justice Ministry registered the organization. According to the Russian General Prosecutor’s office there were more than 30 thousand salesmen in Aum-Shinrikyo. In March 1995 the General Prosecutor’s office laid criminal information against Aum-Shinrikyo, and broadcasts via Russian transmitters were promptly terminated. # posted by Andy @ 14:02 UT Feb 28 (Media Network blog via DXLD) When Vasily Strelnikov first put Radio 7 on the air in Moscow, his neighbors at that time included an uplink station for Radio Moscow. They had DAT tapes from the Aum Shinrikyo folks, that they were feeding to the RM transmitter sites (Lou Josephs, 02.28.04 - 6:58 pm, ibid.) ** KURDISTAN [non]. FRANCE/KURDISTAN--A Kurdish satellite channel based in Paris, Medya TV, has been taken off the air by French authorities because of suspected links with a Kurdish militant group banned in Turkey, the head of the station said February 24. A high court, the Council of State, ruled February 11 that the channel posed "risks to public order" and therefore could not obtain a broadcast licence required under a 2001 law, Medya TV chief executive Musa Kaval said. The station, one of the more popular seen by the Kurdish population in Turkey, ceased operating the next day, he said, adding that it had existed for nearly five years without any problem. The French court believed that the station had ties with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an armed group outlawed as a terrorist organisation in Turkey, according to documents giving the verdict. The PKK was officially dissolved in 2002, but has continued under a succession of different names. Asked about France's suspicions, Kaval said he "personally" had no links to the PKK, but noted that the group had been one of a few parties which had responded to the channel's invitations to air its views in front of the camera.The court's decision meant the channel would now be wound up, with most of its 100 employees laid off, he said (AFP via SCDX/MediaScan Feb 25 via DXLD) ** LAOS. 6130, Laotian National Radio, 1151-1204, Feb. 27, Laotian, Ballad at tune-in, OM and YL between brief musical bits, presumed ID over music followed by familiar 7 gongs at 1200, OM with news. Poor, noisy. SE Asians fading as NH sunrise gets earlier by the day (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** LATVIA. Radio Marabu, 9290, f/d "Stork" card with sticker, German info sheet, "Friends of Radio Marabu" membership form and note of next broadcasts, March 14 and April 18, 9290, 1300-1700, in 88 days for 1 IRC (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) No 1-hour shift due to DST? (gh) ** MEXICO. 4810, XERTA, received a nice frequency/address multi- colored (31) flag JPEG e-QSL today. No v/s. E-mail address is charlaxerta @ yahoo.com.mx And mailing address is: Radio Trans- Continental, S.A. de C.V., Plaza San Juan No. 5-2 Col., Centro México D.F. Even though I'd much rather have a f/d hard copy QSL, this is a nice design and still glad to have it!! The message with JPEG QSL attachment was also sent to Jerry Berg and Rich D'Angelo (Dave Valko, PA, Feb 28, Cumbredx mailing list via DXLD) ** MEXICO [and non]. The Surf, at 540 AM in San Diego, will change music directions next week. The new format will be oldies. LARadio.com reports that the station will be jockless for a while. The station at 540 has been all news, classical (twice), jazz, and most recently pop standards. John Regan, long-time San Diego radio icon, is presently in the 10 to 3 mid-day slot. The change is expected to be Saturday. Stay Tuned (SDRadio.net Feb 24 via DXLD) Will some former radio personalities from Z90 resurface soon on XHMORE -FM? The Tijuana station at 98.9 shifted it music to a more mix of hip-hop and rhythmic -- all in Spanish. Previously, the station was Más Rock in Español. The 50,000 watt FMer throws a good signal from Rosarita to Oceanside. Stay Tuned (SDRadio.net Feb 25 via DXLD) Dial Changes: Oldies 540 is set to kick off on Saturday. The new website will be http://Oldies540.com The station is slated to kick off on Saturday morning at 7 a.m. The LA half will remain adult standards for the time being. Also, SDR has learned that XHMORE-FM is set to party-down starting Friday at 5 p.m. It could be a Blast as the new hip-hop station takes the town. XHMORE is in the same building as XESPN, ESPN 800. And get ready for XEDD-AM 920 from Baja California. The station is authorized by the Mexican government to be 20,000 watts days, non-directional. Stay Tuned (SDRadio.net Feb 28 via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. KOSU ANNUAL REPORT Excerpts Future To keep pace with escalating programming and production costs, it is important the current program schedule continue to reflect a dynamic effort to balance listener preferences with budgetary limitations. Solicited and unsolicited feedback and input is collected through on- going research that allows the staff to analyze listener comments made through telemarketing, mail and web-based vehicles. In concert with this effort, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a major source of funding in support of community service, requires that KOSU demonstrate proficiency in meeting established performance criteria. These criteria are defined by specific parameters of total listeners, average time spent listening, and total potential audience. These data are collected and disseminated by an independent accredited source (Arbitron Radio Market Report produced by the Radio Research Consortium). The success or failure of programming decisions and changes are typically reflected in these results. KOSU must meet the minimum performance standard, or loss of financial support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting could result. The World Wide Web, direct broadcast satellites, and new ``High Definition`` digital technologies present profound challenges for all radio stations. Already, direct satellites offer hundreds of specialized formats (all jazz, bluegrass and classical) for subscribers. Differentiating KOSU among competing sources of news and cultural programming is essential. For KOSU to maintain and improve the current level of program service and remain vital to the quality of life in Oklahoma, production of local news and program features will remain a priority. It has been estimated that to convert KOSU to the new ``High Definition`` technologies will cost approximately $180,000 to $190,000. In March of 1991, KOSU completed a signal expansion project with the construction of a new broadcasting facility West of Stillwater. Thanks to this expansion, KOSU was able to broaden the coverage area and as a result has thrived. However, over this same time period, program acquisition and production costs have continued to rise. We have a two-pronged strategy for again improving our service and for acquiring the resources to meet the challenge of increasing costs: • Enhance our efforts for increasing support from corporations, organizations and individuals including increased underwriting commitments, grants and private gifts through continued efforts in this area. • Broaden our service region --- Presently, ninety-three percent of our potential listeners in our broadcast region live outside Stillwater. The number one request by listeners on the fringe of our current coverage area is to improve the signal. Signal expansion in 1991 was the end-result of a seven-year process (1985 – 1991). The process included obtaining University support, Federal Communications Commission approval, construction of a new broadcast facility, and raising the funds from private and public sources. Broadening the service region today will involve establishing a second broadcast entity in another location but operated by KOSU in Stillwater [should be in NW Oklahoma, underserved area! ---gh]. Successful completion of this expansion will require the same commitment of support from the same sources, i.e. the University, the Federal Communications Commission and additional public and private sources of funding. Broadening our service region means making news and cultural programming available to a broader base of Oklahomans with a stronger signal. It means expanding the reach of KOSU to the population centers of the state, all day, and everyday. This expansion is complicated even more with the High Definition conversion we will need to address with the existing station in Stillwater. Weaknesses The current potential audience does not provide the financial resources to expand local programming services. (Per capita nationally, KOSU is one of the top listener supported stations. The limitation comes from potential audience size.) Current audience size is monetarily contributing near maximum potential. Opportunities Signal expansion into metropolitan areas continues to be the greatest opportunity for growth. High Definition radio will offer new digital expansion opportunities for listeners. KOSU trains and supervises over 4,200 OSU student hours each year. This includes hours of programming segments produced by students for on-air service and on-line resources to listeners available twenty-four hours a day. Threats Maintaining minimal performance and operation standards that includes five full-time staff is necessary in order to maintain status as an NPR member station and to receive grant funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Important local or national programming could be sacrificed due to inadequate funds to support conversion to the new High Definition Radio broadcasting standards (from KOSU Annual Report, Feb 29, 2004 http://kosu.org/kosu/Annual%20Report%20KOSU.pdf via DXLD) ** OKLAHOMA. Our page about KFNY/KMMZ 1640 and KXOK LPTV 32 has been updated: http://www.worldofradio.com/enid.html (Glenn Hauser, DXLD) ** SEYCHELLES [non]. RUSSIA: FEBA Radio via Novosibirsk, 9445, f/d "Legacy" card with site and friendly personal note from Mike Proctor with previously reported info regarding FEBA QSLs and experimenting with e-mail attachment "Quasi-QSLs" for those writing to "Spotlight" program. Back of card also mentions closure of Seychelles site and contact Cyprus NOT defunct Seychelles address. This in 41 days for $1 and report to Cyprus address (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** SWEDEN. RADIO SWEDEN -- Coming up on Radio Sweden: Thursday: The "S-Files" look at why the Soviets bombed Stockholm during World War II Friday: Our weekly review Saturday: "Studio 49" Sunday: "Sounds Nordic" DAB -- Here is part of the press release issued by Swedish Radio following the report from the Swedish Parliament's Committee on Digital Radio February 18: After 18 months of consideration the Swedish Parliament's Committee on Digital Radio proposes a gradual expansion of digital radio in Sweden. On Wednesday the committee turned over its final report to the government. The committee was faced with three alternatives: a rapid expansion of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting), continued test broadcasts, or abandoning digital radio transmissions. Since 1995 Swedish Radio has been conducting Sweden's only test broadcasts of digital radio channels. The proposal from Committee on Digital Radio calls for a gradual expansion of digital radio for both Swedish Radio and commercial radio. The broadcasters themselves will determine the pace of expansion. Today Swedish Radio's digital broadcasts reach 35 percent of Sweden's population, in the three large metropolitan areas and the northern city of Luleå. A new evaluation in 2008 will determine how well the radio industry has succeeded in attracting Swedish radio listeners to digital radio. Under the proposal Swedish Radio is allocated the entire capacity of a national multiplex, which has room for 5-7 national channels. Commercial radio, which today does not broadcast in digital mode, would be allocated two-thirds of the capacity in the 19 regional DAB ensembles, which will give the opportunity for both local and national broadcasts. Altogether, digital radio offers capacity for more radio channels than today, both nationally and local, from both Swedish Radio and the commercial stations. But the report says both the radio industry and politicians believe the transition from analog FM radio to digital radio will take a relatively long time. The Committee on Digital Radio proposes that Swedish Radio receive a modest extra allocation of SEK 14 million (just under USD 2,000,000) annually as compensation for the cost of dual broadcasts in both the DAB and FM networks. As an incentive to begin broadcasting in digital radio, commercial radio stations would be offered lowered licence concession fees of SEK 40,000 a year plus a variable component of 4 percent of their advertising revenue. Today Swedish Radio has the following digital channels, available in DAB (in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Luleå only) and via the Internet at http://www.sr.se --- SR X - pop and rock music from the past five decades SR Klassiskt - classical music from Gregorian chants to Bach, Beethoven and Berwald SR P3 Star - for the teen audience SR P7 Sisuradio - the Finnish language channel SR c - cultural channel with experimental formats on the web and via digital radio SR Sverige - multi-cultural channel with world music From late spring 2004: SR Favorit (working name): programs from SR's abundant archives mixed with current affairs and news (Swedish Radio) (SCDX/MediaScan Feb 25 via DXLD) ** SYRIA [non]. SYRIA/USA: ISRAEL TV NOTES "QUIET EARTHQUAKE" IN SYRIA; SAYS US BACKING "RADIO FREE SYRIA" | Text of live studio talk between presenter Aharon Barnea and Arab affairs correspondent Ehud Ya'ari by Israeli Channel 2 TV on 27 February [Barnea] Arab affairs correspondent Ehud Ya'ari, what is this report about a Radio Free Syria? [Ya'ari] It is very interesting. The Americans are backing an Syrian opposition group based in Washington which is about to start operating a radio station named Radio Free Syria from Cyprus on 31 March 2004. [980 kHz, otherwise R. Sawa?? --- gh] The station is named after Radio Free Europe which broadcast from Prague to the East Bloc countries on behalf of the Americans throughout all the years of the Cold War. This joins a series of signs coming within the framework of what I would call a quiet earthquake in Syria. For the first time, a group of leading Syrian businessmen has signed a manifesto against the government. The businessmen are saying that the Syrian regime's economic policy is leading to disaster and that Syria's international isolation will bring about the country's bankruptcy. Students at Halab University, an opposition stronghold, went on strike and the authorities were forced to disperse them. The students are protesting against the Syrian intelligence service's interference in the students' daily lives. An important Syrian journalist, who dared write an article in a Lebanese paper which Syrian citizens are allowed to write for, disappeared after leaving an e-mail message saying that he feared that the Syrian authorities would abduct him and that people should know what happened. The Syrians had been careful not to carry out such acts recently. All in all, there are signs of grave agitation. And now, on top of everything else, there will be the radio broadcasts from Cyprus pouring oil on the flames. Source: Channel 2 TV, Jerusalem, in Hebrew 1800 gmt 27 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** TAIWAN. RTI's English Service is preparing a brand-new program schedule and an updated web page which will give you more information in a brand new way, starting this March. Stay tuned to RTI broadcasts for more details, and keep visiting our web page to find out more! (Via RTI web site) (Swopan Chakroborty, Kolkata, India, Feb 29, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Which is what? ** TIBET [non]. I heard the Voice Of Tibet at 1430 Feb 28 on 17520 starting with their opening song accompanied by flute. Unfortunately 3 minutes later the Chinese jammer found out as well and started blasting out their big band orchestra (Silvain Domen, Belgium, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** TURKMENISTAN. I heard recently about the authoritarian president of Turkmenistan forbidding people from listening to car radios (among many other things that are banned in that country). I found a story that mentions this briefly at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3486776.stm Regards, (Chris Greenway, Kenya, Feb 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UGANDA. 4976, R. Uganda, 2044-2100*, Feb. 24, Vernacular, Continuous Afropop music, NA cut-off at 2100. No ID or announcement noted, Very noisy at tune-in, improved at bit by sign-off (Scott R. Barbour, Jr., Intervale, NH, R75, MLB-1, RS longwire with RBA balun, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** UKRAINE. RADIO LIBERTY GETS NEW REBROADCASTER IN UKRAINE | The US- funded Radio Liberty Ukrainian Service will resume broadcasting in the FM band on 28 February, the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN reported on 27 February. The one-hour programme "Morning Liberty" will be rebroadcast by the Kiev-based Radio Kontynent between 0600 and 0700 local time (0400 and 0500 gmt), UNIAN quoted Radio Liberty as saying. Radio Liberty's previous Ukrainian partner, Radio Dovira, stopped rebroadcasting Radio Liberty's programmes on 17 February after Dovira's head was replaced with a supporter of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma. Dovira said that Radio Liberty programming clashed with its new entertainment format. The Ukrainian opposition, Western critics and Radio Liberty itself said the move was political and aimed at stifling freedom of speech in Ukraine in the run-up to the October presidential election. Radio Kontynent rebroadcasts the BBC Ukrainian Service, Voice of America, Deutsche Welle and the Western-funded Hromadske Radio (Public Radio). The station has frequently complained of government pressure, which it says is politically motivated. It suffers from constant interference from another FM radio station, which makes the quality of reception poor most of the time. [Please send queries to kiev.bbcm@mon.bbc.co.uk] Source: UNIAN news agency, Kiev, in Ukrainian 1710 gmt 27 Feb 04 (via BBCM via DXLD) ** U A E. Abu Dhabi, 15320, Adventist World Radio, full data "Philippians 4: 6&7" card, in 9 months, V/S Adrian Peterson. Received magazine, sample QSLs, bookmark, calendar and QSL stamp. A difficult site to hear in Alberta Canada. Thank You! (Joe Talbot VA6JWT, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, DX LISTENING DIGEST) ** U S A. WHO IS ALFRED J. FINCH AND WHY IS HE INVESTIGATING VOICE OF AMERICA EMPLOYEES? Dateline: Washington, 02/25/04. Only six months after the Union and the Agency settled a Free Speech grievance the Agency is investigating Voice of America employees for what appears to be a free speech issue. It has been reported to the Union that the Agency has hired a contractor, Alfred J. Finch, for the sole purpose of finding out who spoke with an Egyptian reporter. Who hired Mr. Finch is unclear. Was he hired competitively is another question. An article appeared in an Egyptian Newspaper, El-Osboa, that Radio Sawa and Al-Hurrah poobahs apparently found offensive. It is believed that these officials feel that someone in the Agency, and they seem to be concentrating on ex-VOA Arabic Service employees, may have spoken with the author of the article. These employees have been subjected to interrogations that certainly seem to border on harassment. AFGE Local 1812 reminds all bargaining unit employees that they have the right to have a Union representative present during any investigatory meeting. They should refuse to meet with any investigator unless a Union representative is present. Isn't the Voice of America supposed to be an example to the world of what freedom of speech is all about? (AFGE Local 1812 via DXLD) ** U S A. Is Radio Free SYRIA next? q.v. ** U S A. Clarification Boston Globe article, February 5, 2004 The Boston Globe article `Christian Science church eyes cuts` (and similar articles picked up from the Globe by a few other media outlets) contained a number of statements that require clarification. . . http://www.tfccs.com/media/media_communications_clar_globe020504.jhtml (via Jim Moats, DXLD) ** U S A. In DXLD 4-035 Glenn mentioned that IBC Radio (which has dabbled with renting shortwave time from WRMI) is experimenting with some sort of "alternative energy" means of broadcasting an "FCC Part 15-compliant" signal "similar to WiFi". I went and visited the IBC Radio website and saw the press release posted here: http://www.ibcmedia.com/company-news59.htm A subsequent release says the technology is being successfully tested in Philadelphia: http://www.ibcmedia.com/company-news63.htm Has anyone down in Philly noticed anything different lately – particularly on AM? (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA, swprograms via DXLD) Viz. #59: International Broadcasting Corporation to Develop and Implement an Alternative Energy Powered Digital or Analog AM, FM or Shortwave Radio Transmitter Using Technology Similar to Wi-Fi SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Feb. 2, 2004 - International Broadcasting Corporation (OTCBB:IBCS) said today that it has developed a prototype for an alternative energy powered digital and/or analog AM, FM or shortwave Radio transmitter, which can be implemented using technology and a legal framework similar to Wi-Fi. No FCC license will be required with this device. The company plans to introduce the all- talk format of IBC Radio Network into a target metropolitan area as part of its beta testing. Airtime will also be made available for local content such as school closings, traffic and weather. This product could also be marketed to other broadcasters in different communities without the need for an FCC license. Once this technology is introduced to communities it has the same potential for advertising that a fully FCC licensed station would have. Daryn Fleming, President of IBCS, says "We are very excited about this project. The good news is that our current revenues from operations will provide enough funds to begin the early phases immediately. We will announce progress and the implementation of the first working model within weeks. Once completed, we will reveal our business model for the project, which will provide for enhanced advertising revenues for IBCS. This latest project will confirm that IBCS is a pioneer, not only in the area of content but technology. Mr. Lou Gentile, the IBCS strategic partner, says "We have developed this new technology with hopes of bringing radio back to the people instead of big business. We will begin to test the system in heavily populated areas using actual IBC radio shows. Watch the newswires for updates." This project is only one of the planned initiatives regarding AM radio this year. Another AM-related project is being planned and will be announced in a future press release. The Company will also soon announce details of its debt reduction program, which will eliminate most of the debt [+ standard stox disclaimer] (IBC Radio via DXLD) ** U S A. BRUDNOY PLOTS HIS LATEST COMEBACK MEDIA --- BY DAN KENNEDY BRUDNOY: ' When you go through a lot of real trouble, you tend to challenge your conception that you know all.' [caption] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- One night last week, talk-radio legend David Brudnoy popped up as a guest on his own station, chitchatting with Paul Sullivan on WBZ Radio (AM 1030). Brudnoy, 63, had been off the air since October to battle Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer. Several months of radiation and chemotherapy robbed Brudnoy of his voice and left him gaunt and exhausted. But now, incredibly, he is attempting another comeback, nearly 10 years after nearly dying from AIDS complications. Brudnoy lost almost a third of his normal 180-pound weight. But his voice is recovering — though it’s softer and less mellifluous than listeners are used to . . . http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/this_just_in/documents/03632984.asp (via Bill Westenhaver, DXLD) ** U S A. RADIO HOST SAYS GOODBYE TO HER SHOW By JAMIE JONES Published February 27, 2004 http://www.sptimes.com/2004/02/27/Northpinellas/Radio_host_says_goodb.shtml CLEARWATER - The former Hawaiian Tropic model envisioned a provocative morning talk show where women could discuss men, sex and relationships. For almost two months, Ali Diaz has been trying to craft that show from 6 to 8 a.m. on WTAN 1340-AM in Clearwater. She would begin with a round of Kegel exercises as Madonna's Like a Virgin played. Then she welcomed speakers - a sexologist, a psychologist, a plastic surgeon discussing the pros and cons of Botox. Diaz had hoped to become a toned-down, female version of Howard Stern. But today, she will air her last segment. Diaz decided to give up her show at a time when the station received about 500 e-mails and hundreds of calls about the cancellation of the popular Imus in the Morning show, which had aired during the same time slot. That program will return Monday, from 6 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Diaz said the complaints about Imus had nothing to do with her decision. "It was too much for one person," she said. Since her debut in January, Diaz has been rising at 3 a.m., brewing a pot of coffee and surfing the Internet to prepare for Hittin' Below the Belt with Ali Diaz. After, she would go home for a nap, then spend hours searching for advertisers and promoting her program. "I was pretty much producing the show, starring on it and selling the ads," Diaz said. "Emotionally, it took a toll on me." Diaz had tried to fashion a program in the style of HBO's Sex and the City, with shows focused on how to have an orgasm, how to deal with incontinence and how to communicate with a sexual partner. This week, she gave away a free divorce. "We focused on topics people didn't want to discuss," Diaz said. For now, Diaz, 30, plans to spend time with her two children, 9 and 3. © Copyright 2002-2004, St. Petersburg Times (via Jim Moats, OH, DXLD) ** U S A. WQAM/MIAMI HOST SLAMS EFFORTS TO REGULATE INDECENCY Controversial midday talk host Neil Rogers lamented during today's program that "everything you say" will now be subject to scrutiny by both the FCC and Congress. "America, man --- your freedoms are gone," Rogers said, joking that, starting Monday, WQAM's new format will feature Sports/Talk and Anne Murray records. "I tell you, you can't get any butcher than that!" Rogers said. He also gave out the e-mail address for Clear Channel Radio President/CEO John Hogan in a show of solidarity for Stern (Rogers works for Beasley), as well as the URL for Clear Channel's website. "This is a total copout, knowing that their feet would be held under the fire by the lunatic Congress," Rogers said of Clear Channel's moves this week to suspend Stern's show and to sever ties with WXTB/Tampa-based morning host Bubba The Love Sponge Clem. "The thing is that Howard Stern and Bubba The Love Sponge just didn't go on the air last week. They've been on for years, and the problem is the FCC is using those people as an excuse for prohibiting people from hearing what they want to hear." For the most part, Rogers' show was typical, including a listener poll of the "worst movie of the past 15 years." In the final half-hour of his program Rogers aired a parody song to the tune of the Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" that made light of Premiere Radio Networks- syndicated Rush Limbaugh's addiction to painkillers. But he also said free speech is being squelched and added, "I will be real selective in the things I read" on the air. WQAM GM Greg Reed tells the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that he's drafted a policy on indecency and that "Neil has been very cooperative. He knows the situation in Washington and has no problems with what we're doing (From radioandrecords.com via Brock Whaley, Feb 26, DXLD) ** U S A. Here's notice of an upcoming DX test... PLEASE NOTE: Even if you don't hear a test, be sure and drop a card, letter, or e-mail to the station personnel, thanking them for going to the trouble to run a test! Sunday, March 14, 2004 - KEVA-1240, Evanston, WY will conduct a DX test from 12:00 to 1 am MST [0700-0800 UT]. The test will consist of numerous Morse code IDs (many thanks to Doug Smith (W9WI) for creating the CD!). More details will follow. Reception reports (with return postage) may be sent to: Michael Richard KEVA-AM P.O. Box 190 Evanston, WY 82931 Also, if you hear a test, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know, via either e-mail or in rec.radio.shortwave! And if you send a reception report to a station, please remember to include return postage with your report... Lynn Hollerman, LA ircamember @ ircaonline.org Visit the IRCA Web site at http://www.ircaonline.org (via DXLD) ** U S A. KVEZ-99.3 AZ deleted --- Well, this one is interesting... In one of the Public Notices last week, it was reported that KVEZ-99.3 (Parker, AZ) lost its license, for remaining silent for over a year. Today, the letter the Commission sent to the station was released. Turns out they weren't actually silent, but... Dec. 20, 2002: KVEZ informs the Commission they're going to go temporarily silent, for approximately 60 days, to relocate to a new transmitter site. The new site has not yet been approved by the Commission. Nov. 24, 2003: KVEZ informs the Commission they've installed a new transmitter and antenna at their *original* site, and had returned to the air two days previously. The application for a new site remains on hold. Jan. 2004: Commission staff receives a complaint suggesting that KVEZ is not operating from their authorized site. Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, 2004: The Commission contacts KVEZ's General Manager and Station Manager. Both confirm that the station is operating from the *new* site - which has not yet been approved - not the licensed site. In an interesting decision, the FCC ruled that a silent station returning to the air with unauthorized facilities doesn't count as returning to the air! Legally, KVEZ was still off the air. (I suppose legally, the 99.3 operation from the unauthorized site was considered a pirate!) Section 312(g) of the Communications Act *requires* the FCC to revoke the license of any station that remains off the air for more than a year. KVEZ hasn't operated from an authorized site since Dec. 20, 2002. So, their license officially expired at midnight on Dec. 21, 2003... and the application to move to the new site has been dismissed as moot. I suppose further appeals are possible. (probable!) (I note the "call sign availability" lookup page says the KVEZ call letters are NOT available for other stations, I'm betting they aren't going to release them until the appeals run out.) The last sentence of the FCC letter is very appropriate: "If KVEZ is currently operating, it is hereby advised to cease such operations immediately and to maintain any required tower painting and lighting until the facilities are dismantled." -- (Doug Smith W9WI, Pleasant View (Nashville), TN EM66, Feb 25, WTFDA via DXLD) ** U S A. EARLY FM DX MEMORIES --- by JOHN EBELING As a long time FM DXer for over 50 years. I thought 1 should commit a few thoughts to paper to indicate how FM DX reception has vastly changed over the years. With the FM band being filled with new stations in the past few years - almost as bad as the AM band - my thoughts frequently revert to the early days (circa 1948-1958) of FM broadcasting when the band, literally, was wide open with few stations in operation. Those that *were* operating often were part timers, being on the air for limited hours. Trops reception of those early stations was truly long distance in that during a signal fade, only background noise prevailed and there were usually no other stations on the same frequency. Now, during a signal fade, there RTC usually several stations fighting for the same frequency. I recall that in Duluth, MN (where I started DXing) of consistently tuning in a somewhat maverick station around 1950. The station was WWCF 94.9 (now WOLX) located in Baraboo, WI. They usually signed on at 10:30 AM and always had announcers that sounded as if they had no experience whatsoever. Their ID always said ``WWCF from high atop the Baraboo bluffs in Greenfield Township``. The effective radiated power back then was about 37 kw. Now, from a closer location, I can not receive WOLX due to other stations dominating the frequency. Another aspect of early FM radio was that of music programmed to city bus riders: Transit Radio. This was done in Duluth and Minneapolis/St. Paul. MN. The Duluth version was done by WEBC-FM on 92.3, using 33-1/3 RPM transcriptions. A tone was used to boost the audio during commercials. The Twin Cities version was done by then WMIN-FM on 99.5 (later to become WLOL-FM & then KSJN) which used the new, at the time, 45 RPM records along with RCA`s new player, which could hold up to 12 records. One could hear the lead-in grooves at the start of the record(s) as well as the cycle noise of the player as these players had no mute during the change cycle. Another station using the 45 RPM system, but not for transit, was WOW- FM on 99.9 in Omaha, NE. They usually put in a fairly good signal into the Twin Cities area. Occasionally, a record would have a bad groove or two, and usually would repeat for some time before someone at the station actually listened and activated the reject switch. Another early FM practice, which never would be done today, is the practice of changing the level of modulation of the main carrier. This was done by WLOL-FM in the mid-fifties. WLOL-FM. 99.5 signed on the air in December of 1956, basically as a means to distribute Muzak to the area via a 67 kHz sub-carrier, which was to replace the then used telephone lines. WLOL-FM’s main carrier duplicated the WLOL-AM programming during the day, with the modulation at a reduced audio level to minimize ``cross-talk`` between the main & sub carriers. At 7 PM or so, the FM outlet began for the limited audience at the tune, classical music programming, at which time the audio level increased to a normal level. One could really hear the difference! About midnight, the separate programming ceased and the audio level would again drop. Back then, in the early days of SCA use. I suspect that technology was not as refined as later on, as the FCC had just recently approved the use of SCA technology. Speaking of Muzak, one more incident comes to mind, back around 1965. KYSM-FM, 103.5 in Mankato, MN had Muzak on both their main carrier and their 67 kHz sub-carrier --- the same music on both channels. Why, I don`t know. But this lasted for a few months, as I recall. --- John Ebeling, Oct 2002 (March 2004 E-VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) ** U S A. FCC KEEPS UP PRESSURE ON ALLEGED UNLICENSED 10-METER OPERATIONS The FCC is continuing efforts to stem alleged unlicensed operation -- - primarily by long-haul truckers --- on the 10-meter amateur band. Enforcement Bureau Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth, this month Wrote FedEx Corporation CEO Frederick W. Smith enclosing a complaint Asserting that some FedEx drivers have used ``Amateur Radio transmitters to communicate on the 10-meter Amateur Radio band without a license,`` Hollingsworth said. The complaint focused on alleged operations in Tennessee. ``Many truckers use CB radio, which does not require a license,`` Hollingsworth told Smith. ``However, any person using a radio Transmitter on Amateur Radio frequencies must possess both a station and operator license, for which an examination is required.`` He pointed out that some truckers have been known to use uncertificated dual-purpose CB radios that also can transmit on 10 meters. CB gear must be FCC certificated, formerly known as type acceptance, but ham radio gear does not need to be. So-called dual-use ham/CB transceivers may not be sold or marketed under FCC rules. Two additional trucking firms this month were the target of FCC warning notices involving complaints of unlicensed operation on 10 meters. Hollingsworth wrote Carl Leonard Ross of CLR Transport in Saluda, North Carolina, citing allegations that a CLR Transport vehicle traveling on I-85 in North Carolina ``was the source of unlicensed radio Transmissions on the 10-meter Amateur Radio band on July 14, 2003.`` Cassidy`s Express of Bristol, Pennsylvania, heard from the FCC regarding reports that one of its vehicles was the source of unlicensed radio transmissions while under way in Pennsylvania last October 9. Hollingsworth asked Smith to advise FedEx drivers that such operation Of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Federal law and could subject violators to stiff fines and even jail time as well as seizure of equipment. Pointing out the same penalties for violators, Hollingsworth asked the other two trucking firms to contact him to discuss the allegations. Earlier this year, the FCC sent warning notices to two shipping companies in the wake of reports to the Commission that some of the companies` vehicles may have been illegally transmitting on 10 meters. At least one of the companies, UPS, offered its full cooperation and promised to investigate (ARRL Letter February 27 via John Norfolk, DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. 4939.6, R. Amazonas, Nice computer generated station/ tourist f/d card, Spanish form letter, and English info sheet on Amazonas state in 2 months from QSL Manager and v/s: Econ. Jorge García Rangel. For a Spanish report, $2 and CD of reception. His address is: Calle Roma, Qta: Costa Rica No. A-16, Urbanización Alto Barinas, Barinas 5201, Venezuela. His e-mail address is: jorge.garcia @ rocketmail.com Did in fact get an e-mail from him when my report arrived (Dave Valko, PA, Cumbre DX via DXLD) ** VENEZUELA. Queridos amigos diexistas, luego de la situación crítica que se presentó el dia ayer en Venezuela y que presuntamente va seguir el día de hoy con más actos de calle y motivado al alto grado de tensión y de inseguridad que se vive actualmente, me reuní con el Dpto Técnico de Unión Radio 640 y decidimos que el programa Sintonía DX no salga hoy al aire, para mantener el servicio de información desde Caracas. Por tal motivo, el programa que teníamos programado para hoy, se transmitirá el sábado que viene con ligeras modificaciones que serán avisadas oportunamente a través de las listas DX. Reciban todos un fuerte abrazo y seguimos en contacto (José Elías Díaz Gómez, Feb 28, Conexión Digital via DXLD) Re the extensive rundown in 4-036; I was rather surprised at that time they planned to go ahead with it; postponed a week (gh, DXLD) ** VIETNAM. You should have heard the documentary, full of airchex, about AFVN, which was on the DKOS webstream at 0030 UT Feb 29 (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST) UNIDENTIFIED. 4750, 1540-1600*, Feb. 28. Perhaps this is RRI Makassar, surprisingly on-frequency rather than their 4753v frequency of many years; however, programming was unlike any I've heard on an RRI station before. From 1540 to 1556 there was nearly continuous "electronica" dance music, with a voice-over announcer in possible Indonesian language. Modulation was only fair, and with the constant music it was tough to ID the language for certain as Indonesian; it's possible I was hearing Tagalog or similar. As 1600 approached, I was expecting to hear "RRI Makassar" and possibly the Love Ambon sign-off tune or a scrap of the Song of the Coconut Islands. However, the announcer just continued with rapid-fire talk over the pounding music. At 1600 the music changed to what sounded like a promo or musical ID with a female vocalist singing possible call letters or station name, and then off at 1600*. This fits with Makassar's typical sign-off time, but the nontraditional programming and lack of typical RRI sign- off routine has me wondering. Chuck Bolland in DXLD #4-036 reported 4749.96 at 1100-1110 as a "probable" Makassar log, but no ID heard. Perhaps Makassar has changed their late-night programming for a younger audience appeal in addition to abandoning RRI network formalities such as SCI, Love Ambon, Jakarta news relay, etc. (Guy Atkins, Puyallup, WA USA, Modified ICOM R-75 / Racal RA6790GM, Kiwa MAP / ERGO / 450-ft. Western Beverage Ant., hard-core-dx via DXLD) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CONVENTIONS & CONFERENCES +++++++++++++++++++++++++ OMAHA 2004 --- THE WTFDA CONVENTION JULY 30, 31 AND AUGUST 1, 2004 Mike Hawk and Matt Sittel welcome you to Omaha for the 2004 WTFDA Convention. You’ll be staying at the Park Plaza Regency Lodge with a central Omaha location near 108th and Pacific just off of I-680. Additionally, they have promised that we can assemble antennas on-site during the convention. You can reach the hotel at (402)397-8000. Please call the hotel for rates and tell them you’re with the WTFDA. Be there! (March VHF-UHF Digest via DXLD) POWERLINE COMMUNICATIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++ THE BPL FIGHT: WHAT HAMS CAN DO ...The story that refuses to go away has yet some new twists. Of course, we are referring to the imminent introduction of Broadband Over Powerline Internet access, and the massive interference that ham radio operators believe it will create. Amateur Radio Newsline`s Mark Abramovicz, NT3V, is here with the latest: Now that the FCC has released the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Broadband Over Powerlines issue, it`s time for amateurs to look it over, digest it and begin composing a well-reasoned letter or e- mail. So says Jim Haynie W5JBP the American Radio League`s president. Here are some things in the filing you might consider. ``Noise levels, potential interference both ingress and egress. Those are things that need to be addressed, `` Haynie says. ``Public relations: What`s going to happen when you get on the air on 20 meters and you knock 10 of your neighbors off line all of sudden? They call the local power company, it`s a public relations nightmare.`` Haynie says once you decide to write that letter, keep in mind it has to be supported with facts. ``I don`t see much water being drawn if somebody writes a letter and says, `Well, this is good for this and it`s good for that and it`s going to interfere with my ham radio hobby and stuff.` I never, ever use the word hobby to anybody in the Washington. It`s the Amateur Radio Service,`` Haynie says. ``And what you`ve got to do is use a little bit more fact, a little bit more of concrete-type evidence that you can conclude on your own. And that`s pretty simple to do. It`s got to be well-reasoned arguments. It can`t be emotional argument.`` And, once you`ve finished the letter or e-mail, Haynie says make a copy or print a copy of what you`ve prepared. ``Put it in an envelope with your QSL card and send it into your local representative at his district office, not in Washington but his district office,`` Haynie advises. ``I`m just amazed how much power that letter has to your local congressman and your local senator when you mail it to one of his local district offices.`` Haynie continues to express disappointment the FCC failed to wait for a report from the National Telecommunications Information Agency. The agency oversees radio spectrum use by government agencies and services, including the military. He says its technicians have been busy at BPL trial sites across the country. ``We know that they`ve done over 18,000 measurements over the last four months in the various (BPL) test areas,`` Haynie says. ``We have gotten actually photographs of their trucks, we`ve seen them working hard at it. And that`s what surprised me that the commission rolled this out before the information was made available. ``We were told by NTIA that it would be available the first part of this year. Now in government-speak, I don`t know what that means. I know we got, the League`s got petitions sitting up in the commission now since I took office as president in 2000. It is 2004 and they`re still sittting on somebody`s desk. ``So, FCC and NTIA, I`m sure, have their own timetables and they`re not going to worry about what the ARRL or what some ham radio operators think about it. They`re going to do their own work in the own way in their own time.`` Haynie hopes the NTIA finishes its work soon and gets its report to the FCC pronto. He says it`s clear BPL is targeted for special FCC attention. ``I think they`ll put this on the fastest of fast tracks and get something going,`` Haynie says. ``Typically, the window, the comment window will be 45-60 days. I`d be really surprised if they gave it 90 days. ``And, once that`s done they start the wheels in motion and they`ll (FCC) be under tremendous pressure from industry to get this thing out the door.`` Haynie says the amateur radio service has allies in this fight and he`s confident they will submit comments or speak to their congressmen or senators. Haynie says he`s both cautious and optimistic about the outcome. ``I`m very concerned because I`ve seen the speed at which this thing has happened,`` Haynie says. ``And I`ve seen the comments that the commission has made and I`ve seen the denials that the industry has made. ``And it just doesn`t make sense. There`s something more behind this. And I know people are going to say it`s the almighty dollar. And that`s true, it probably is. You`re looking at millions and millions and millions of dollars of investment here. ``But there`s something that just doesn`t smell right, I guess, is what I`m trying to say. So, until I get a better handle and the League - our staff people get a better handle on where this is going and trust me we`re on top of it every day - I`m just going to be to on the little plus side of a little cautious.`` And finally, Haynie says to those who think the ARRL and other hams are overreacting like Chicken Little who cried out: The sky is falling! The sky is falling! He has these sobering thoughts. ``Just because we want, doesn`t mean that we get our way. And I`m concerned about that,`` Haynie says. ``And I`m concerned about another possibility that`s probably the horror of all horrors. ``And that is if the (BPL) rollout is so big and you get tens of hundreds of thousands of people on, suddenly amateur radio relegates down to the same level as Part 15. That would be the most horrible thing that could happen to amateur radio.`` For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I`m Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia. To read or download the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the FCC on Broadband over Powerlines, you can find it on the FCC`s website: www- dot-fcc-dot gov. And, to learn more more about the ARRL`s position, go to http://www.arrl.org (Newsline February 27 via John Norfolk, DXLD) RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM +++++++++++++++++++++ "AFTER TiVo, RADIO REWOUND" The NY Times' weekly technology section, "Circuits", written by David Pogue (one of the better IT writers out there) reviewed RadioYourWay today. See the relatively unfavorable review of "RadioYourWay" here: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/technology/circuits/26stat.html IMHO a digital voice recorder with an external microphone jack --- such as the Olympus VN-3600, see http://www.recordersplus.com/olympus/vn3600/oly_vn3600_home.html hooked up to a decent timer-activated radio would do the same thing. What I don't know is what the encoding bit rate is for the Olympus unit, though reviews posted at Amazon.com were generally favorable (Richard Cuff / Allentown, PA USA, swprograms via DXLD) JAPANESE USED CAR RADIOS Glenn, I've been meaning to reply for some time to something you had in DXLD a while ago (relating to NEW ZEALAND) about radios in Japanese cars, which you found puzzling. It's sometimes not appreciated that Japan is a major exporter of USED cars. Of course, they have to market them in countries which also drive on the left. So, a lot of them end up here in Africa. The cars are shipped without any modifications, so in many African towns and cities you see roadside workshops advertising "FM expanders", i.e. to convert the frequency range on Japanese car radios to cover the portion of the FM band above 92 MHz. It seems from your posting that there's also a market for FM expanders in New Zealand. I heard from a friend in Uganda that the private FM stations there all bid to get frequency allocations below 92 FM, to reach those who haven't had their car radios converted Regards, (Chris Greenway, Kenya, Feb 28, DX LISTENING DIGEST) See also TURKMENISTAN PROPAGATION +++++++++++ 27-DAY MAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST http://www.spaceweather.gc.ca/forecast27days_e.shtml (Propagation Outlook from Ottawa via gh, DXLD) Looks like they forgot about Leap Day so I`m not going to attempt to cite peak and trough dates! (gh, DXLD) ###